UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT
OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-09729
iShares Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
c/o: State Street Bank and Trust Company
100 Summer Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02110
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
The Corporation Trust Company
1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (415) 670-2000
Date of fiscal year end: August 31, 2021
Date of reporting period: August 31, 2021
Item 1 Reports to Stockholders.
(a) The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.
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AUGUST 31, 2021 |
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2021 Annual Report | |
iShares Trust
| · |
iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF | AGT | Cboe BZX |
| · |
iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF | EWZS | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares MSCI China ETF | MCHI | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF | ECNS | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF | EIDO | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI Peru ETF | EPU | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI Philippines ETF | EPHE | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI Poland ETF | EPOL | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI Qatar ETF | QAT | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF | KSA | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI UAE ETF | UAE | NASDAQ |
Dear Shareholder,
The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The United States, along with most of the world, began the reporting period emerging from a severe recession, prompted by pandemic-related restrictions that disrupted many aspects of daily life. However, easing restrictions and robust government intervention led to a strong rebound, and the economy grew at a significant pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.
Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets rebounded substantially.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.
The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2023 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2022.
Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.
Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and healthcare, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries and Asian fixed income offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.
In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
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Total Returns as of August 31, 2021
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| 6-Month | 12-Month | |||||||
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U.S. large cap equities
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19.52% | 31.17% | ||||||
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U.S. small cap equities
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3.81 | 47.08 | ||||||
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International equities
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10.31 | 26.12 | ||||||
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Emerging market equities
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(0.98) | 21.12 | ||||||
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3-month Treasury
bills
|
0.02 | 0.08 | ||||||
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U.S. Treasury securities
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2.36 | (4.12) | ||||||
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U.S. investment grade bonds
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1.49 | (0.08) | ||||||
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Tax-exempt municipal
bonds
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2.50 | 3.44 | ||||||
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U.S. high yield bonds
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3.82 | 10.14 | ||||||
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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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| 2 |
T H I S P A G E I S N O T P A R T O F Y O U R F U N D R E P O R T |
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Financial Statements |
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iShares Trust
Global Market Overview
Global equity markets advanced significantly during the 12 months ended August 31, 2021 (reporting period). The MSCI ACWI, a broad global equity index that includes both developed and emerging markets, returned 28.64% in U.S. dollar terms for the reporting period. Stocks continued to recover from the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nearing all-time highs by the end of the reporting period. Reopening economies led to a substantial global economic expansion, and the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines bolstered investors optimism. Nonetheless, vaccination rates varied considerably across countries, and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to increased cases and renewed restrictions toward the end of the reporting period. Inflation also rose in many parts of the world amid supply chain constraints and elevated consumer spending.
Equity markets in the U.S. advanced strongly, helped by fiscal and monetary stimulus and an ongoing mass vaccination program. Congress passed two fiscal stimulus bills during the reporting period, providing significant relief in the form of direct payments to individuals, tax credits, aid to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners and renters. Personal incomes rose significantly following the stimulus payments, and consumer spending recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Increased consumer spending and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions helped the U.S. economy continue to grow following a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020, as activity recovered from the pandemic-induced recession in the first half of 2020. The economy grew at a brisk pace for the rest of the reporting period, finally exceeding pre-pandemic output levels in the second quarter of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve Banks (the Fed) action also played a notable role in the recovery. Monetary policy remained accommodative, with short-term interest rates maintained near zero to encourage lending and stimulate economic activity. The Fed further acted to stabilize bond markets by continuing an unlimited, open-ended, bond-buying program for U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Stocks in Europe also posted strong gains, despite a recovery that trailed other major economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) provided monetary stimulus by maintaining ultra-low interest rates and continuing a large bond-buying program. Growth resumed with a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020 as restrictions eased, and Eurozone countries enacted a deal for a collective 750 billion of stimulus spending. However, a new wave of coronavirus cases beginning in October 2020 led to renewed restrictions, weakening the fragile recovery. Consequently, the Eurozone economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, even as much of the world was returning to growth. Although the initial vaccine rollout trailed in many European countries, the pace of vaccinations accelerated late in the reporting period, and economic growth resumed in the second quarter of 2021.
Asia-Pacific regional stocks also posted a solid advance amid a sharp rebound in economic activity. Continued economic growth in China helped the regional economy recover, as many Asia-Pacific countries rely on China as a major trading partner. Japanese and Australian stocks benefited from a sharp rise in exports amid resurgent global trade. Emerging market stocks advanced overall, aided by economic recovery and rising prices for many commodities. However, investor concerns about increased government regulatory activity weighed on Chinese stocks late in the reporting period. Relatively slow vaccination rollouts in parts of Asia also prompted concerns, particularly as the Delta variant spread.
| 4 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based equity index with exposure to Argentina, as represented by the MSCI All Argentina 25/50 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 |
Since Inception |
1 Year |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
43.35 | % | 6.16% | 43.35 | % | 29.72% | ||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
42.82 | 6.06 | 42.82 | 29.18 | ||||||||||||
|
Index |
43.78 | 6.13 | 43.78 | 29.50 | ||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 4/25/17. The first day of secondary market trading was 4/27/17.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During
|
|
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,249.60 | $ 1.36 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,024.00 | $ 1.22 | 0.24 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Equities with exposure to Argentina advanced strongly during the reporting period as the country moved from a steep economic contraction amid the coronavirus pandemic into expansion. The Argentine government, which was already weak financially prior to the pandemic, widened the budget deficit for pandemic relief and sought to extend the term of its loan from the International Monetary Fund. On the upside, Argentina resolved its position with private bond holders and worked to reduce its budget deficit, raising taxes on wealth and exports and using heavy-handed market interventions, like price caps and export bans, to artificially support its goods. A prominent market index provider reacted to the tightening by revoking the countrys emerging markets status, which weighed on investor sentiment, as it can pull billions of dollars of tracking fund investment from the local economy. While the governments tightened capital controls artificially supported the Argentine pesos value, it nevertheless declined 24% relative to the U.S. dollar, due in part to hyperinflation of 51.4% annually.
The consumer discretionary sector contributed the most to the Indexs return, led by the internet and direct marketing retail industry. Online purchases amid pandemic-related restrictions continued to drive record revenue growth for large online retailers, which also benefited from digital payments and expanded logistics networks.
The information technology sector also contributed meaningfully to the Indexs return. A large software company advanced due to rising sales amid increased commercial demand for digital transformation strategies that leverage 5G networks, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.
The consumer staples sector also contributed. A large food producer benefited from price and production increases of its core products, sugar and ethanol. A beer and wine conglomerate posted steady demand during 2020 and projected a sharp rise in consumption and profitability in 2021.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
|
||||
| Sector |
Percent of Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
27.4% | |||
|
Information Technology |
18.9 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
16.1 | |||
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Financials |
11.8 | |||
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Materials |
10.7 | |||
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Energy |
6.1 | |||
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Utilities |
5.2 | |||
|
Communication Services |
2.2 | |||
|
Other (each representing less than 1%) |
1.6 | |||
|
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GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION
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|
||||
| Country/Geographic Region |
Percent of
Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Argentina |
53.7% | |||
|
United States |
21.5 | |||
|
Chile |
12.0 | |||
|
Canada |
8.7 | |||
|
Brazil |
4.1 | |||
|
|
||||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 6 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of small-capitalization Brazilian equities, as represented by the MSCI Brazil Small Cap 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 |
30.34 | % | 12.15 | % | (1.45 | )% | 30.34 | % | 77.41 | % | (13.59 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
30.57 | 12.10 | (1.55 | ) | 30.57 | 76.99 | (14.44 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
32.58 | 13.27 | (0.81 | ) | 32.58 | 86.48 | (7.82 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,177.10 | $ 3.13 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.30 | $ 2.91 | 0.57 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Brazilian equities advanced during the reporting period, despite a severe second wave of COVID-19 infections, rising inflation, and a depreciating currency. Although the countrys economy contracted later in the reporting period with persistently high unemployment, investors anticipated that Brazils economy would benefit from improving global growth. As a leading producer and exporter of select crops, Brazil benefited from strong global demand for its agricultural products.
The industrials sector was the largest contributor to the Indexs return, as industrial output stabilized toward the end of the reporting period, rising above pre-pandemic levels for the first half of 2021. As the capital goods industry expanded, a major aerospace and defense company increased deliveries as travelers slowly returned to flying, posting a profit for the second quarter of 2021, along with significant backlogs and new orders of jets. Similarly, airline companies advanced as COVID-19 cases declined, and expectations of acquisitions activity in the industry were reported. Trucking companies also contributed as long-term contracts, market position, and diversified service offerings supported business operations.
The materials sector was another contributor to the Indexs return as several government infrastructure programs were announced. The metals and mining industry advanced as steel prices remained elevated and supplies limited. Analysts expectations that steel sales would continue to increase further benefited the industry. Meanwhile, key producers announced production expansion efforts to meet ongoing demand.
The consumer staples sector also contributed to the Indexs return, driven by the food and staples retail industry. Consumer spending increased overall in the second quarter of 2021 despite high unemployment and inflation rates. Although hypermarkets and supercenters posted mixed performance amid pandemic-related restrictions, cost control strategies, loyalty programs, and robust e-commerce platforms were sources of strength.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Consumer Discretionary |
23.1 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
19.2 | |||
|
Utilities |
13.6 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
12.0 | |||
|
Real Estate |
7.0 | |||
|
Financials |
6.2 | |||
|
Materials |
5.8 | |||
|
Information Technology |
4.4 | |||
|
Energy |
4.1 | |||
|
Health Care |
3.7 | |||
|
Communication Services |
0.9 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Embraer SA |
4.3 | % | ||
|
Sendas Distribuidora SA |
3.6 | |||
|
Petro Rio SA |
3.1 | |||
|
Eneva SA |
2.9 | |||
|
Azul SA |
2.8 | |||
|
Locaweb Servicos de Internet SA |
2.8 | |||
|
Metalurgica Gerdau SA (Preferred) |
2.5 | |||
|
Sul America SA |
2.3 | |||
|
Cia. de Locacao das Americas |
2.2 | |||
|
Marfrig Global Foods SA |
2.1 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 8 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI China ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI China ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of Chinese equities that are available to international investors, as represented by the MSCI China 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 |
(5.69 | )% | 10.15 | % | 6.65 | % | (5.69 | )% | 62.12 | % | 90.36 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
(5.50 | ) | 10.18 | 6.61 | (5.50 | ) | 62.35 | 89.70 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
(5.10 | ) | 10.80 | 7.25 | (5.10 | ) | 67.03 | 101.30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
|||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 821.80 | $ 2.57 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.40 | $ 2.85 | 0.56% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
9 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI China ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Chinese stocks declined during the reporting period as government crackdowns on technology-related companies and other industries weighed on the market. Chinese equities advanced through February 2021 as global demand for goods propelled strong export growth, then retreated amid investor concerns surrounding regulatory actions and signs of a decelerating domestic economic recovery.
The consumer discretionary sector detracted the most from the Indexs return due to the impact of government restrictions. A large online retailers stock fell sharply amid new antitrust rules and penalties, including the suspension of a sizeable initial public offering (IPO) and a $2.75 billion fine. Additional rules under consideration raised significant concerns about Chinese companies continued ability to launch IPOs, list shares abroad, or store data on privately owned cloud platforms. Education services stocks, particularly tutoring companies, also declined substantially as new guidelines designed to reduce education costs would require shifting to a not-for-profit model, fee standardization, and prohibitions on foreign ownership and raising capital.
The government crackdown also pressured Chinas media and entertainment industry in the communication services sector. New limits on online gaming and concerns that cloud storage could be restricted to a state-sponsored platform constrained the Indexs performance, as did the threat of large fines. Real estate stocks also declined amid concerns over high debt levels, regulatory investigations, and asset freezes.
In contrast, the materials sector contributed to the Indexs return as recovering demand outpaced supply, driving up prices for copper, lithium, and other metals. Capital goods stocks in the industrials sector further aided performance, led by manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries, as demand grew for vehicles powered by renewable energy.
Healthcare stocks also advanced as treatments used to combat COVID-19 drove strong profits. Robust project pipelines and increased backlogs amid rising global demand fueled earnings growth.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Consumer Discretionary |
32.9 | % | ||
|
Communication Services |
17.4 | |||
|
Financials |
13.4 | |||
|
Health Care |
7.8 | |||
|
Information Technology |
7.3 | |||
|
Industrials |
5.1 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
4.8 | |||
|
Real Estate |
4.2 | |||
|
Materials |
3.3 | |||
|
Utilities |
2.4 | |||
|
Energy |
1.4 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Tencent Holdings Ltd. |
12.6 | % | ||
|
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. |
11.3 | |||
|
Meituan, Class B |
4.6 | |||
|
China Construction Bank Corp., Class H |
2.5 | |||
|
JD.com Inc. |
2.4 | |||
|
Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc. |
2.0 | |||
|
NIO Inc. |
1.9 | |||
|
Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class H |
1.7 | |||
|
Xiaomi Corp., Class B |
1.6 | |||
|
Pinduoduo Inc. |
1.6 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 10 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI China Small-Cap ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of small-capitalization Chinese equities that are available to international investors, as represented by the MSCI China Small Cap 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 |
23.33 | % | 8.41 | % | 6.29 | % | 23.33 | % | 49.77 | % | 84.06 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
22.63 | 8.53 | 6.12 | 22.63 | 50.60 | 81.05 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
22.22 | 7.53 | 5.44 | 22.22 | 43.74 | 69.91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 929.10 | $ 2.72 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.40 | $ 2.85 | 0.56 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
11 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI China Small-Cap ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Small-capitalization Chinese equities advanced during the reporting period amid a continued economic recovery, as surging global demand for Chinese goods propelled exports to all-time highs. Stocks peaked in February 2021, before trimming gains amid concerns around regulatory crackdowns and signs of a decelerating recovery. Smaller stocks proved more resilient than their larger peers, supported by investors search for earnings growth and the perception that smaller companies were less likely to be targets of government antitrust actions.
Information technology (IT) stocks contributed the most to the Indexs return. Smaller companies benefited as investors moved away from large technology firms targeted by new government regulations. The software and services industry advanced amid increased corporate spending on technology, such as tools to improve productivity. The acceleration of digital transformation drove demand for cloud services and data centers, fueling earnings growth for IT services companies. E-commerce growth and demand for online merchant services helped application software companies attract new customers and increase earnings. Manufacturers of semiconductors and semiconductor equipment used in solar energy also advanced sharply amid Chinas decarbonization efforts.
The materials sector added to the Indexs performance as demand for chemicals and other commodities outpaced supply, driving prices sharply higher. Chemicals companies exposed to surging demand for electric vehicles posted strong earnings growth and attracted attention from foreign investors. Metals and mining stocks benefited from rising prices for metals and steel export limits.
On the downside, the real estate sector detracted from the Indexs return as several new government rules aimed at cooling home prices weighed on real estate management and development stocks. Media and entertainment stocks in the communication services sector also declined amid new limits on online gaming and negative statements about gaming in state-run media.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Real Estate |
17.9 | % | ||
| Consumer Discretionary | 16.0 | |||
| Health Care | 15.3 | |||
| Information Technology | 10.5 | |||
| Industrials | 10.3 | |||
| Materials | 10.2 | |||
| Communication Services | 6.3 | |||
| Utilities | 5.2 | |||
| Financials | 4.8 | |||
| Consumer Staples | 2.4 | |||
|
Energy |
1.1 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Dongyue Group Ltd. |
3.7 | % | ||
|
GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd. |
3.0 | |||
|
Xtep International Holdings Ltd. |
2.1 | |||
|
Lifetech Scientific Corp. |
1.9 | |||
|
JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. |
1.7 | |||
|
China Overseas Grand Oceans Group Ltd. |
1.0 | |||
|
Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd. |
1.0 | |||
|
Fu Shou Yuan International Group Ltd. |
1.0 | |||
|
CIMC Enric Holdings Ltd. |
1.0 | |||
|
XD Inc. |
0.9 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 12 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Indonesia ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of Indonesian equities, as represented by the MSCI Indonesia IMI 25/50 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 |
9.88 | % | (2.27 | )% | (2.35 | )% | 9.88 | % | (10.86 | )% | (21.13 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
9.91 | (2.09 | ) | (2.80 | ) | 9.91 | (10.03 | ) | (24.73 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
11.18 | (1.70 | ) | (1.85 | ) | 11.18 | (8.22 | ) | (17.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Index performance through May 28, 2019 reflects the performance of MSCI Indonesia Investable Market Index. Index performance beginning on May 29, 2019 reflects the performance of the MSCI Indonesia IMI 25/50 Index.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 925.30 | $ 2.72 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.40 | $ 2.85 | 0.56 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
13 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Indonesia ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Indonesian stocks rose significantly during the reporting period as the economy expanded at a historic rate, rebounding from a coronavirus pandemic-related recession. To counter economic disruptions due to COVID-19, Bank Indonesia, Indonesias central bank, added liquidity to the financial system, reduced the reserve requirement for banks, and lowered interest rates to record-low levels. The government announced a large stimulus program, although slow disbursement of funds limited its effects. As global economies rebounded, Indonesian exporters benefited from higher commodities prices and the economic recovery of its large trading partners. Domestic industrial activity increased and consumer optimism rose as the government eased pandemic-related restrictions, boosting household consumption, which constitutes the majority of the countrys economy.
The communication services sector contributed the most to the Indexs return, led by the telecommunication services industry. Indonesia began its rollout of 5G internet technology, boosting stocks of telecommunication services providers as investors anticipated growth in consumer demand amid the strengthening economic recovery. In addition, government plans to significantly increase communications infrastructure buoyed companies that lease space on towers for communications equipment.
The financials sector also contributed significantly to the Indexs performance. Indonesias diversified banks led the advance, bolstered by Bank Indonesias assurances of continued supportive monetary policy. Bank profits rose due to substantial increases in microcredit loans to small- and medium-sized businesses as well as growth in demand for consumer credit.
On the downside, the consumer staples sector detracted from the Indexs return. In the household and personal products industry, profits declined due to increased commodities prices and lingering effects of reduced demand for consumer goods as households exercised caution in purchases amid ongoing disruptions from the pandemic.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
43.8 | % | ||
|
Communication Services |
16.5 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
10.9 | |||
|
Materials |
10.3 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
6.4 | |||
|
Energy |
3.8 | |||
|
Real Estate |
3.2 | |||
|
Health Care |
2.0 | |||
| Industrials | 1.8 | |||
|
Other (each representing less than 1%) |
1.3 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Bank Central Asia Tbk PT |
21.4 | % | ||
|
Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
12.6 | |||
|
Telkom Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
9.7 | |||
|
Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk PT |
4.6 | |||
|
Astra International Tbk PT |
4.3 | |||
|
Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk PT |
3.1 | |||
|
Bank Negara Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
2.6 | |||
|
Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT |
2.0 | |||
| Barito Pacific Tbk PT | 2.0 | |||
|
Kalbe Farma Tbk PT |
1.9 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 14 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Peru ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Peru ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of Peruvian equities, as represented by the MSCI All Peru Capped 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 |
(13.49 | )% | (1.63 | )% | (2.31 | )% | (13.49 | )% | (7.88 | )% | (20.81 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
(13.45 | ) | (1.22 | ) | (2.27 | ) | (13.45 | ) | (5.93 | ) | (20.54 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
(14.43 | ) | (1.40 | ) | (1.93 | ) | (14.43 | ) | (6.79 | ) | (17.74 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 733.00 | $ 2.45 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.40 | $ 2.85 | 0.56 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
15 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Peru ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Peruvian equities declined for the reporting period amid a change in government that weighed on markets. As the new, leftist president promised to limit public spending and debt, Perus economy, long considered one of the most stable in the region, rebounded from a steep decline during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. However, equity markets did not reflect the broader economy amid political turmoil that concerned investors; Perus current president is the fifth in five years, and he appointed a member of his own party as prime minister. Stocks stabilized on the appointment of a moderate finance minister, but friction between the president and congress drove continued uncertainty, weighing on equities. The government also pursued a deal with Perus mining sector, which comprises the worlds second-largest copper producer, with incentives for social justice goals. Sovereign bond prices declined during the reporting period, and the Peruvian sol weakened significantly against the U.S. dollar.
The materials sector gained as copper prices rallied due to increased demand amid recovering markets across the globe. The price rally combined with supply constraints to support Peruvian copper companies, which posted increased revenues. With revenue rising, mining companies worked to bring new mines online to meet the increased demand and announced plans for a railway to connect the copper-rich Andean region to the coast.
Financials stocks declined as a socialist government and the prospect of increasing government involvement in business, such as public credit facilities, fee regulations, and other interventions, weighed on investor sentiment. Despite increased COVID-19 vaccination levels and an economic recovery that drove income for banks, political risk discouraged some investors.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Materials |
51.4 | % | ||
|
Financials |
27.5 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
7.1 | |||
|
Industrials |
5.6 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
4.2 | |||
|
Real Estate |
2.3 | |||
|
Energy |
1.9 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Credicorp Ltd. |
23.5 | % | ||
|
Southern Copper Corp. |
20.9 | |||
|
Cia. de Minas Buenaventura SAA |
4.7 | |||
|
Hochschild Mining PLC |
4.1 | |||
|
Alicorp SAA |
3.9 | |||
|
Ferreycorp SAA |
3.3 | |||
|
MMG Ltd. |
3.1 | |||
|
Volcan Cia. Minera SAA, Class B |
2.8 | |||
|
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. |
2.8 | |||
|
Union Andina de Cementos SAA |
2.8 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 16 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Philippines ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Philippines ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of Philippine equities, as represented by the MSCI Philippines IMI 25/50 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 |
15.57 | % | (4.24 | )% | 2.93 | % | 15.57 | % | (19.48 | )% | 33.47 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
14.24 | (4.13 | ) | 2.69 | 14.24 | (19.03 | ) | 30.43 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index(a) |
16.44 | (3.56 | ) | 3.68 | 16.44 | (16.59 | ) | 43.54 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Philippines Investable Market Index (IMI) |
16.96 | (3.48 | ) | 3.73 | 16.96 | (16.22 | ) | 44.19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Philippines IMI 25/50 Index(b) |
17.82 | (3.88 | ) | N/A | 17.82 | (17.93 | ) | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
| (a) |
Index performance through November 30, 2020 reflects the performance of the MSCI Philippines Investible Market Index (IMI). Index performance beginning on December 1, 2020 reflects the performance of the MSCI Philippines IMI 25/50 Index, which, effective as of December 1, 2020, replaced the MSCI Philippines Investible Market Index as the underlying index of the fund. |
| (b) |
The inception date of the MSCI Philippines IMI 25/50 Index was July 20, 2016. The cumulative total return for this index for the period July 20, 2016 through August 31, 2021 was -19.58%. |
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,003.20 | $ 2.83 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.40 | $ 2.85 | 0.56 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
17 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Philippines ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in the Philippines advanced substantially during the reporting period as the economy rebounded from a recession driven by the coronavirus pandemic. The economy grew at a historic rate as pandemic-related restrictions eased, leading to increased commerce and reduced unemployment. While government spending declined, household consumption and industrial activity increased, supporting economic growth. Accommodative monetary policy aided recovery as the Philippine central bank kept interest rates at historically low levels. As the economies of the countrys largest trading partners rebounded due to the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, demand for exports, especially electronics, increased sharply, supporting economic recovery.
The Philippine industrials sector was the leading contributor to the Indexs return. Profits rose sharply within the industrial conglomerates industry amid successful expansion in banking and real estate. Conglomerates retail sales profitability also increased due to cost reductions and the rise of online ordering and delivery services. International demand for alcoholic beverages rose amid pandemic-related restrictions, bolstering the industry. In the transportation infrastructure industry, volumes increased at shipping terminals as international trade recovered, leading to sharp revenue increases for trading port operators.
The financials sector also contributed substantially to the Indexs performance, led by banks. While demand for loans remained relatively flat as the Philippine economy recovered, customer deposits and service fees increased, leading to sharply higher profits. As the economy improved, banks reduced their excess reserves for nonperforming loans, bolstering profitability.
The real estate sector added significantly to the Indexs return. In the real estate management and development industry, revenue from domestic and international malls recovered as pandemic-related restrictions were lifted and demand for residential units rose sharply. Solid office leasing revenues and new construction further benefited the industry.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Industrials |
32.2 | % | ||
|
Real Estate |
23.2 | |||
|
Financials |
15.3 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
7.7 | |||
|
Communication Services |
7.1 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
6.8 | |||
|
Utilities |
5.7 | |||
|
Materials |
1.0 | |||
|
Energy |
1.0 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
SM Prime Holdings Inc. |
10.7 | % | ||
|
Ayala Land Inc. |
8.5 | |||
|
SM Investments Corp. |
7.4 | |||
|
Ayala Corp. |
6.7 | |||
|
JG Summit Holdings Inc. |
5.9 | |||
|
International Container Terminal Services Inc. |
4.5 | |||
|
Bank of the Philippine Islands |
4.3 | |||
|
BDO Unibank Inc. |
4.3 | |||
|
PLDT Inc. |
4.1 | |||
|
Universal Robina Corp. |
3.9 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 18 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Poland ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Poland ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of Polish equities, as represented by the MSCI Poland IMI 25/50 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 |
27.44 | %(a) | 7.09 | % | (0.15 | )% | 27.44 | %(a) | 40.84 | % | (1.50 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
28.35 | 7.14 | (0.10 | ) | 28.35 | 41.19 | (0.99 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
28.27 | 7.25 | 0.14 | 28.27 | 41.87 | 1.40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Index performance through February 11, 2013 reflects the performance of the MSCI Poland Investable Market Index. Index performance beginning on February 12, 2013 reflects the performance of the MSCI Poland IMI 25/50 Index.
| (a) |
The NAV total return presented in the table for the one-year period differs from the same period return disclosed in the financial highlights. The total return in the financial highlights is calculated in the same manner but differs due to certain adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During
|
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,225.50 | $ 3.59 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.00 | $ 3.26 | 0.64 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
19 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Poland ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in Poland advanced strongly for the reporting period, rebounding from a relatively modest economic contraction due to the coronavirus pandemic. To counteract the economic disruptions of the pandemic, the government spent robustly to stimulate the economy. Despite concerns about rising inflation, the National Bank of Poland maintained loose monetary policy, keeping interest rates low, purchasing government bonds, and selling some of its currency reserves to weaken the Polish zloty. In this environment, unemployment rates remained low, and the weak currency aided exports. As pandemic-related restrictions eased, the economy grew briskly, driven by recovery in household consumption. Industrial production also rebounded, despite disruptions to global supply networks.
The financials sector contributed the most to the Indexs return, driven by banks. While Polish banks continued to be challenged by reduced demand for loans and the National Bank of Polands maintenance of low interest rates, banks nonetheless rebounded from sharp declines in revenue amid the pandemic. Reduced operating costs, increased commissions and fees, and lower credit loss provisions increased bank profitability. Diversification into new business areas, especially insurance, helped one large bank post record profits.
The consumer discretionary sector also contributed significantly to the Indexs return. The textiles and apparel industry led the advance as retail sales rebounded sharply after pandemic-related restrictions eased in April 2021. Domestic businesses benefited from reduced competition as foreign competitors closed stores during the pandemic. Additionally, companies with a strong digital infrastructure advanced as shoppers increasingly turned to e-commerce for purchases.
On the downside, the communication services sector detracted substantially from the Indexs performance. The entertainment industry led the decline as a video game company released a new title with significant technical issues, leading to low sales and multiple lawsuits, which weighed heavily on the stock.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
36.0 | % | ||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
14.9 | |||
|
Energy |
12.4 | |||
|
Communication Services |
11.1 | |||
|
Materials |
9.8 | |||
|
Utilities |
5.8 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
4.6 | |||
|
Information Technology |
2.5 | |||
|
Health Care |
1.5 | |||
|
Industrials |
1.4 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA |
11.0 | % | ||
|
KGHM Polska Miedz SA |
7.3 | |||
|
Allegro.eu SA |
7.3 | |||
|
Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA |
7.1 | |||
|
Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN SA |
6.3 | |||
|
Bank Polska Kasa Opieki SA |
5.5 | |||
|
LPP SA |
4.7 | |||
|
Dino Polska SA |
4.1 | |||
|
Santander Bank Polska SA |
4.0 | |||
|
Cyfrowy Polsat SA |
3.9 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 20 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Qatar ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Qatar ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of Qatar equities, as represented by the MSCI All Qatar Capped 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
13.70 | % | 2.99 | % | 0.50 | % | 13.70 | % | 15.85 | % | 3.73 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
15.26 | 3.07 | 0.59 | 15.26 | 16.34 | 4.41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
15.10 | 3.88 | 1.27 | 15.10 | 20.94 | 9.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 4/29/14. The first day of secondary market trading was 5/1/14.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,112.40 | $ 3.03 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.30 | $ 2.91 | 0.57 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
21 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Qatar ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Qatari stocks advanced significantly for the reporting period. The economy rebounded from the economic disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic as restrictions eased amid a relatively successful vaccination program. Demand for natural gas and oil, key drivers of Qatars economy and government revenues, recovered, and prices rose as world economies reopened. Higher natural gas prices particularly benefited Qatar. Already the worlds leading producer of liquified natural gas due to its low production costs, Qatar boosted production amid increased commitments from world governments to reduce carbon emissions. Construction spending in preparation for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament also supported Qatars economic recovery. In addition, the favorable resolution of a conflict with regional neighbors removed a lingering constraint on economic growth.
The financials industry, which represented approximately 50% of the Index on average for the reporting period, contributed the most to the Indexs return, led by banks. Bank profits rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, supported by the recovery of oil prices, strong capital buffers, and reduced interest expenses in the low interest rate environment. Profits rose due to strength in demand for loans and a sharp increase in non-interest income as fee waivers implemented during the pandemic were removed. Banks also benefited from reduced risks from non-performing loans and wider diversification of financing sources, which led to increased customer deposits. Cost-control measures, such as reducing travel expenses, further increased bank profits.
The industrials sector also contributed significantly to the Indexs return. Profits rose sharply in the capital goods industry as the easing of pandemic-related restrictions led to increased international consumer demand for industrial products. Global supply chain challenges drove up prices of inputs such as fertilizer and steel, boosting industry profit margins. Increased production and higher sales volumes bolstered revenues.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
51.1 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
13.9 | |||
|
Energy |
8.5 | |||
|
Materials |
8.3 | |||
|
Real Estate |
6.6 | |||
|
Communication Services |
4.4 | |||
|
Utilities |
3.7 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
2.4 | |||
|
Health Care |
1.1 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Qatar National Bank QPSC |
22.4 | % | ||
|
Qatar Islamic Bank SAQ |
8.1 | |||
|
Industries Qatar QSC |
8.0 | |||
|
Masraf Al Rayan QSC |
6.3 | |||
|
Commercial Bank PSQC (The) |
4.6 | |||
|
Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Co. |
4.0 | |||
|
Qatar Fuel QSC |
3.9 | |||
|
Qatar Electricity & Water Co. QSC |
3.7 | |||
|
Qatar Gas Transport Co. Ltd. |
3.5 | |||
|
Qatar International Islamic Bank QSC |
3.3 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 22 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of Saudi Arabian equities, as represented by the MSCI Saudi Arabia IMI 25/50 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
45.37 | % | 16.38 | % | 11.23 | % | 45.37 | % | 113.46 | % | 88.60 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
44.60 | 16.35 | 11.23 | 44.60 | 113.20 | 88.57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
46.66 | 17.21 | 12.06 | 46.66 | 121.21 | 97.06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 9/16/15. The first day of secondary market trading was 9/17/15.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
|
Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period(a) |
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period(a) |
|
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,265.10 | $ 4.22 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,021.50 | $ 3.77 | 0.74 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
23 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in Saudi Arabia climbed sharply during the reporting period as oil prices strengthened, global economies recovered, and vaccines against the coronavirus spread. Saudi Arabia increased oil production late in the reporting period as it phased out a previous cut in production, leading the oil output from OPEC to rise to the highest levels in 15 months. The Saudi Arabian economy grew in the second quarter of 2021 for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, boosted by strong growth outside of the oil sector. Disruptions in pilgrimages to Saudi Arabias two holiest cities impacted the economy for a second year, particularly the hospitality and tourism sectors, although authorities expanded the number of worshippers who could take part during the reporting period.
The financial services sector contributed the most to the Indexs performance, led by the diversified banking industry. Banks posted higher earnings amid signs of the economic turnaround, an increase in financing and investment income, and growth in mortgages. Despite the stronger earnings, Saudi Arabian banks faced the risk of increased non-performing loans due to the ongoing pandemic disrupting industries such as hospitality, retail, and tourism.
Saudi Arabias materials sector also contributed strongly to the Indexs performance. Chemicals companies posted higher earnings as the global economic recovery fueled a rebound in demand for products such as packaging, flooring, and roofing materials. Higher prices for chemical ingredients such as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, used to make plastics, solvents, and construction materials, as well as supply constraints, contributed to the industrys higher earnings.
Stocks in the communication services sector also contributed to the Indexs return. Telecommunication services companies posted stronger revenues, driven by increased sales in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and other areas.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
41.9 | % | ||
|
Materials |
24.4 | |||
|
Energy |
7.7 | |||
|
Communication Services |
7.3 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
4.4 | |||
|
Health Care |
3.8 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
3.5 | |||
|
Utilities |
2.6 | |||
|
Real Estate |
2.2 | |||
|
Industrials |
2.1 | |||
|
Information Technology |
0.1 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Al Rajhi Bank |
13.2 | % | ||
|
Saudi National Bank (The) |
11.8 | |||
|
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. |
9.7 | |||
|
Saudi Arabian Oil Co. |
6.6 | |||
|
Saudi Telecom Co. |
4.6 | |||
|
Riyad Bank |
3.5 | |||
|
Saudi Arabian Mining Co. |
3.1 | |||
|
Saudi British Bank (The) |
2.8 | |||
|
Banque Saudi Fransi |
2.4 | |||
|
Saudi Electricity Co. |
2.3 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 24 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI UAE ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI UAE ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of UAE equities, as represented by the MSCI All UAE Capped 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
40.74 | % | 1.39 | % | (2.91 | )% | 40.74 | % | 7.14 | % | (19.52 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
43.65 | 1.73 | (2.83 | ) | 43.65 | 8.94 | (19.01 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
44.90 | 2.23 | (2.22 | ) | 44.90 | 11.63 | (15.22 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 4/29/14. The first day of secondary market trading was 5/1/14.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 27 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual |
Hypothetical 5% Return |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
|||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,204.50 | $ 3.17 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.30 | $ 2.91 | 0.57 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 27 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
25 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI UAE ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) rose sharply during the reporting period, boosted by an accelerating economic recovery, recovering oil output, and higher oil prices. The U.A.E., a federation of seven emirates, has among the most diversified economies in the Gulf region, but is still largely dependent upon oil wealth. Despite having one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world, daily infections remained high, and border restrictions on travelers impacted the regions tourism industry. The U.A.E. eased some restrictions on tourists late in the reporting period ahead of the opening of the Expo 2020 world fair, originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed to October 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The financials sector contributed the most to the Indexs performance. Banks posted stronger earnings in the first half of 2021 as non-performing loans declined and fee incomes rose amid growing economic activity and the continued disbursement of vaccinations. Despite low interest rates, which pressure banking margins, the expected costs from loan losses and other risks returned to pre-pandemic levels. Gains in investments and derivatives also boosted the banking industry.
The real estate sector also contributed to the Indexs return. Property developers in the emirate of Abu Dhabi posted profits nearly unchanged from the previous year, despite the economic impact of the coronavirus, due to strong sales and the phased start of new projects. Real estate developers in the emirate of Dubai fared worse than those in nearby Abu Dhabi, due to the weaker tourism industry, but nevertheless posted an increase in sales. The communication services sector also contributed to the Indexs performance. Telecommunication services companies increased subscriber levels as more people worked remotely due to the pandemic.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
52.9 | % | ||
|
Real Estate |
14.4 | |||
|
Communication Services |
12.0 | |||
|
Industrials |
9.8 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
4.4 | |||
|
Energy |
4.1 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
2.4 | |||
|
Health Care |
0.0 | (b) | ||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC |
22.0 | % | ||
|
Emirates Telecommunications Group Co. PJSC |
12.1 | |||
|
Emirates NBD Bank PJSC |
9.7 | |||
|
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC |
4.4 | |||
|
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. for Distribution PJSC |
4.4 | |||
|
Aldar Properties PJSC |
4.4 | |||
|
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC |
4.4 | |||
|
Emaar Properties PJSC |
4.2 | |||
|
Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC |
3.9 | |||
|
Dana Gas PJSC |
3.5 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| (b) |
Rounds to less than 0.1%. |
| 26 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 Funds investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or NAV is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such funds NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the funds 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.
As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled Expenses Paid During the Period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Funds actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
A B O U T F U N D P E R F O R M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R E X P E N S E S |
27 |
|
August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
| Argentina 53.6% | ||||||||
|
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc., Class A(a) |
53,080 | $ | 289,817 | |||||
|
Banco BBVA Argentina SA, ADR(a) |
29,392 | 127,855 | ||||||
|
Banco Macro SA, ADR(a) |
18,405 | 344,173 | ||||||
|
Central Puerto SA, ADR(a) |
40,468 | 118,571 | ||||||
|
Corp. America Airports SA(a)(b) |
13,209 | 74,499 | ||||||
|
Cresud SACIF y A, ADR(a) |
14,597 | 84,955 | ||||||
|
Despegar.com Corp.(a) |
21,480 | 257,545 | ||||||
|
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte, ADR(a)(b) |
8,637 | 62,532 | ||||||
|
Globant SA(a) |
5,508 | 1,775,118 | ||||||
|
Grupo Financiero Galicia SA, ADR |
44,750 | 482,405 | ||||||
|
Grupo Supervielle SA, ADR(b) |
25,987 | 65,487 | ||||||
|
IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones SA, ADR(a)(b) |
9,518 | 43,878 | ||||||
|
IRSA Propiedades Comerciales SA, ADR |
11,128 | 32,160 | ||||||
|
Loma Negra Cia Industrial Argentina SA, ADR |
24,509 | 192,151 | ||||||
|
Pampa Energia SA, ADR(a) |
16,758 | 305,163 | ||||||
|
Telecom Argentina SA, ADR(b) |
36,157 | 202,841 | ||||||
|
Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA, Class B, ADR(a) |
28,819 | 153,893 | ||||||
|
YPF SA, ADR(a) |
80,856 | 421,260 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,034,303 | ||||||||
| Brazil 4.1% | ||||||||
|
Adecoagro SA(a) |
41,013 | 383,471 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Canada 8.7% | ||||||||
|
SSR Mining Inc. |
24,827 | 414,816 | ||||||
|
Yamana Gold Inc. |
90,677 | 400,326 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 815,142 | ||||||||
| Chile 8.3% | ||||||||
|
Cencosud SA |
211,517 | 399,066 | ||||||
|
Cia. Cervecerias Unidas SA |
37,359 | 377,044 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 776,110 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| United States 21.5% | ||||||||
|
MercadoLibre Inc.(a) |
1,082 | $ | 2,020,581 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 96.2%
|
|
9,029,607 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Chile 3.7% | ||||||||
|
Embotelladora Andina SA, Class B, Preference Shares |
145,179 | 345,010 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Preferred Stocks 3.7%
|
|
345,010 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 1.2% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 0.06%(c)(d)(e) |
114,807 | 114,864 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 1.2%
|
|
114,864 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 101.1%
|
|
9,489,481 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (1.1)% |
|
(99,428 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 9,390,053 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (e) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 335,147 | $ | | $ | (220,075 | )(a) | $ | (200 | ) | $ | (8 | ) | $ | 114,864 | 114,807 | $ | 1,891 | (b) | $ | | |||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares(c) |
| 0 | (a) | | | | | | 3 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (200 | ) | $ | (8 | ) | $ | 114,864 | $ | 1,894 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
| (c) |
As of period end, the entity is no longer held. |
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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
| 28 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF |
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 9,029,607 | $ | | $ | | $ | 9,029,607 | ||||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
345,010 | | | 345,010 | ||||||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
114,864 | | | 114,864 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 9,489,481 | $ | | $ | | $ | 9,489,481 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
29 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Aerospace & Defense 4.3% | ||||||||
|
Embraer SA(a) |
1,026,033 | $ | 4,647,190 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Sequoia Logistica e Transportes SA(a) |
90,265 | 349,134 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Auto Components 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Mahle-Metal Leve SA |
56,084 | 429,079 | ||||||
|
Tupy SA |
105,231 | 453,421 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 882,500 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Ambipar Participacoes e Empreendimentos S/A |
66,058 | 849,551 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Communications Equipment 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Intelbras SA Industria de Telecomunicacao Eletronica Brasileira |
119,914 | 670,209 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Consumer Services 5.3% | ||||||||
|
Anima Holding SA(a) |
441,238 | 826,873 | ||||||
|
Cogna Educacao(a) |
2,737,199 | 1,699,236 | ||||||
|
Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional SA |
138,160 | 259,177 | ||||||
|
MPM Corporeos SA |
196,798 | 690,780 | ||||||
|
YDUQS Participacoes SA |
450,834 | 2,231,152 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,707,218 | ||||||||
| Electric Utilities 6.4% | ||||||||
|
AES Brasil Energia SA |
232,853 | 685,392 | ||||||
|
Alupar Investimento SA |
213,617 | 1,046,437 | ||||||
|
EDP - Energias do Brasil SA |
442,573 | 1,578,295 | ||||||
|
Light SA |
489,065 | 1,309,962 | ||||||
|
Transmissora Alianca de Energia Eletrica SA |
305,454 | 2,239,452 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,859,538 | ||||||||
| Electrical Equipment 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Aeris Industria E Comercio De Equipamentos Para Geracao De Energia SA(a) |
336,376 | 520,424 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 5.8% | ||||||||
|
Cia Brasileira de Distribuicao |
235,013 | 1,287,599 | ||||||
|
Grupo Mateus SA(a) |
805,775 | 1,111,081 | ||||||
|
Sendas Distribuidora SA |
1,174,245 | 3,817,409 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,216,089 | ||||||||
| Food Products 6.2% | ||||||||
|
Camil Alimentos SA |
188,282 | 345,919 | ||||||
|
M. Dias Branco SA |
123,369 | 754,653 | ||||||
|
Marfrig Global Foods SA |
570,678 | 2,261,390 | ||||||
|
Minerva SA |
402,607 | 650,924 | ||||||
|
Sao Martinho SA |
258,179 | 1,604,756 | ||||||
|
SLC Agricola SA |
139,000 | 1,095,161 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,712,803 | ||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 3.7% | ||||||||
|
Fleury SA |
277,744 | 1,270,872 | ||||||
|
Instituto Hermes Pardini SA |
76,133 | 376,925 | ||||||
|
Odontoprev SA |
389,185 | 944,587 | ||||||
|
Qualicorp Consultoria e Corretora de Seguros SA |
331,408 | 1,369,651 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,962,035 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.8% | ||||||||
|
BK Brasil Operacao e Assessoria a Restaurantes SA(a) |
322,704 | 585,396 | ||||||
|
CVC Brasil Operadora e Agencia de Viagens SA(a) |
290,774 | 1,197,219 | ||||||
|
CVC Brasil Operadora e Agencia de Viagens SA, NVS(a) |
39,283 | 160,146 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,942,761 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Household Durables 4.3% | ||||||||
|
Construtora Tenda SA |
106,756 | $ | 417,048 | |||||
|
Cyrela Brazil Realty SA Empreendimentos e Participacoes |
437,296 | 1,710,011 | ||||||
|
Even Construtora e Incorporadora SA |
156,345 | 253,076 | ||||||
|
Ez Tec Empreendimentos e Participacoes SA |
165,357 | 857,037 | ||||||
|
MRV Engenharia e Participacoes SA |
457,806 | 1,212,069 | ||||||
|
Trisul SA |
122,726 | 181,331 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,630,572 | ||||||||
| Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 4.0% | ||||||||
|
Eneva SA(a) |
1,015,647 | 3,077,897 | ||||||
|
Omega Geracao SA(a) |
185,913 | 1,191,528 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,269,425 | ||||||||
| Insurance 3.6% | ||||||||
|
IRB Brasil Resseguros S/A |
1,386,999 | 1,432,385 | ||||||
|
Sul America SA |
435,841 | 2,473,879 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,906,264 | ||||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Meliuz SA(b) |
127,544 | 1,003,421 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| IT Services 3.7% | ||||||||
|
Cielo SA |
1,791,102 | 994,133 | ||||||
|
Locaweb Servicos de Internet SA(b) |
636,413 | 3,014,186 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,008,319 | ||||||||
| Machinery 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Iochpe Maxion SA(a) |
191,076 | 574,987 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Marine 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Hidrovias do Brasil SA(a) |
612,692 | 526,099 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 4.1% | ||||||||
|
3R Petroleum Oleo Gas SA(a) |
86,876 | 645,841 | ||||||
|
Enauta Participacoes SA |
155,118 | 411,284 | ||||||
|
Petro Rio SA(a) |
896,787 | 3,324,709 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,381,834 | ||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Dexco SA |
454,063 | 1,809,824 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Professional Services 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Boa Vista Servicos SA |
309,671 | 775,555 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 7.0% | ||||||||
|
Aliansce Sonae Shopping Centers SA |
211,575 | 1,027,023 | ||||||
|
BR Malls Participacoes SA(a) |
1,273,555 | 2,224,066 | ||||||
|
BR Properties SA |
323,488 | 523,632 | ||||||
|
Iguatemi Empresa de Shopping Centers SA |
128,666 | 850,756 | ||||||
|
Jereissati Participacoes SA |
51,016 | 293,519 | ||||||
|
JHSF Participacoes SA |
454,056 | 580,434 | ||||||
|
LOG Commercial Properties e Participacoes SA |
66,975 | 365,003 | ||||||
|
Multiplan Empreendimentos Imobiliarios SA |
412,187 | 1,681,973 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,546,406 | ||||||||
| Road & Rail 4.8% | ||||||||
|
Cia. de Locacao das Americas |
482,318 | 2,324,469 | ||||||
|
Movida Participacoes SA |
195,696 | 700,158 | ||||||
|
SIMPAR SA |
422,452 | 1,213,238 | ||||||
|
Vamos Locacao de Caminhoes Maquinas e Equipamentos SA(a) |
332,173 | 977,093 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,214,958 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 3.8% | ||||||||
|
C&A Modas Ltda(a) |
156,438 | 268,959 | ||||||
|
Grupo SBF SA(a) |
141,751 | 951,531 | ||||||
|
Lojas Quero Quero S/A |
259,399 | 995,798 | ||||||
| 30 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Specialty Retail (continued) | ||||||||
|
Pet Center Comercio e Participacoes SA |
373,536 | $ | 1,912,902 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,129,190 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 5.5% | ||||||||
|
Arezzo Industria e Comercio SA |
79,927 | 1,382,199 | ||||||
|
Cia. Hering |
189,656 | 1,365,532 | ||||||
|
Grendene SA |
462,596 | 956,361 | ||||||
|
GRUPO DE MODA SOMA SA(a) |
283,324 | 964,906 | ||||||
|
Guararapes Confeccoes SA |
146,020 | 435,168 | ||||||
|
Vivara Participacoes SA |
138,416 | 888,723 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,992,889 | ||||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 1.9% | ||||||||
|
EcoRodovias Infraestrutura e Logistica SA(a) |
507,507 | 966,764 | ||||||
|
Santos Brasil Participacoes SA(a) |
691,737 | 1,052,829 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,019,593 | ||||||||
| Water Utilities 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Cia. de Saneamento de Minas Gerais-COPASA |
276,706 | 747,044 | ||||||
|
Cia. de Saneamento do Parana |
237,784 | 891,207 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,638,251 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 85.0%
|
|
91,747,039 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Airlines 3.9% | ||||||||
|
Azul SA, Preference Shares, NVS(a) |
413,543 | 3,017,517 | ||||||
|
Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA, Preference Shares, NVS(a) |
297,944 | 1,150,105 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,167,622 | ||||||||
| Banks 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Banco ABC Brasil SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
123,062 | 398,164 | ||||||
|
Banco do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul SA, Class B Preference Shares, NVS |
296,728 | 716,169 | ||||||
|
Banco Pan SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
439,214 | 1,596,894 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,711,227 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Unipar Carbocloro SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
64,798 | 1,133,226 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electric Utilities 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Cia. Energetica do Ceara, Class A, Preference Shares, NVS |
20,677 | 239,888 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Cia. Energetica de Sao Paulo, Class B, Preference Shares, NVS |
276,919 | $ | 1,255,315 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Lojas Americanas SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
1,341,196 | 1,545,898 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Machinery 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Marcopolo SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
706,165 | 379,658 | ||||||
|
Randon SA Implementos e Participacoes, Preference Shares, NVS |
266,513 | 597,371 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 977,029 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 3.0% | ||||||||
|
Cia. Ferro Ligas da Bahia-Ferbasa, Preference Shares, NVS |
55,940 | 603,561 | ||||||
|
Metalurgica Gerdau SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
1,053,294 | 2,633,846 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,237,407 | ||||||||
| Water Utilities 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Cia. de Saneamento do Parana, Preference Shares, NVS |
518,351 | 391,961 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Preferred Stocks 14.5%
|
|
15,659,573 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.1% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(c)(d) |
100,000 | 100,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.1%
|
100,000 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.6%
|
107,506,612 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.4% |
469,370 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 107,975,982 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 150,000 | $ | | $(50,000)(a) | $ | | $ | | $ | 100,000 | 100,000 | $ | 306 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
31 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Brazil Index |
10 | 09/17/21 | $ | 515 | $ | (29,192 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 29,192 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 307,900 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (9,087 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 819,847 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 91,747,039 | $ | | $ | | $ | 91,747,039 | ||||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
15,659,573 | | | 15,659,573 | ||||||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
100,000 | | | 100,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 107,506,612 | $ | | $ | | $ | 107,506,612 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | (29,192 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | (29,192 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 32 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Aerospace & Defense 0.2% | ||||||||
|
AECC Aviation Power Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,876 | $ | 3,681,716 | |||||
|
AVIC Electromechanical Systems Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,400 | 1,324,262 | ||||||
|
AviChina Industry & Technology Co. Ltd., Class H |
5,668,000 | 4,742,737 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,748,715 | ||||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 0.5% | ||||||||
|
SF Holding Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,483 | 5,454,390 | ||||||
|
Yunda Holding Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,557 | 1,042,149 | ||||||
|
ZTO Express Cayman Inc., ADR |
950,916 | 26,825,340 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 33,321,879 | ||||||||
| Airlines 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Air China Ltd., Class A(a) |
872,089 | 978,969 | ||||||
|
Air China Ltd., Class H(a)(b) |
4,360,000 | 2,924,117 | ||||||
|
China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd., Class A(a) |
1,744,096 | 1,269,929 | ||||||
|
China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
1,744,088 | 1,555,955 | ||||||
|
China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd., Class H(a) |
3,488,000 | 2,028,657 | ||||||
|
Spring Airlines Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
130,885 | 1,078,318 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,835,945 | ||||||||
| Auto Components 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Changzhou Xingyu Automotive Lighting Systems Co. Ltd., Class A |
34,195 | 1,025,829 | ||||||
|
Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,698 | 1,942,086 | ||||||
|
Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd.,
|
1,395,200 | 8,585,789 | ||||||
|
Huayu Automotive Systems Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,672 | 1,723,168 | ||||||
|
Kuang-Chi Technologies Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
305,200 | 1,080,534 | ||||||
|
Minth Group Ltd. |
1,744,000 | 7,238,100 | ||||||
|
Shandong Linglong Tyre Co. Ltd., Class A |
218,028 | 1,009,942 | ||||||
|
Weifu High-Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,441 | 626,079 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 23,231,527 | ||||||||
| Automobiles 5.9% | ||||||||
|
Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. |
5,760,000 | 2,223,331 | ||||||
|
Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd., ADR(a) |
27,344 | 105,548 | ||||||
|
BYD Co. Ltd., Class A |
218,059 | 9,388,926 | ||||||
|
BYD Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,744,000 | 58,631,708 | ||||||
|
Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd., Class A |
855,118 | 2,733,005 | ||||||
|
Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
5,890,000 | 6,449,487 | ||||||
|
Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. |
13,080,000 | 47,404,852 | ||||||
|
Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd., Class A |
305,400 | 3,135,833 | ||||||
|
Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd., Class H |
6,758,000 | 31,170,070 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
6,104,400 | 6,146,026 | ||||||
|
Li Auto Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
1,183,304 | 36,516,761 | ||||||
|
NIO Inc., ADR(a) |
2,976,136 | 116,991,906 | ||||||
|
SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd., Class A |
1,133,676 | 3,394,286 | ||||||
|
XPeng Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
843,224 | 35,837,020 | ||||||
|
Yadea Group Holdings Ltd.(c) |
2,342,000 | 4,167,185 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 364,295,944 | ||||||||
| Banks 8.1% | ||||||||
|
Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., Class A |
10,333,200 | 4,738,570 | ||||||
|
Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., Class H |
55,808,000 | 18,708,957 | ||||||
|
Bank of Beijing Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,488,099 | 2,344,843 | ||||||
|
Bank of Chengdu Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,493 | 1,143,919 | ||||||
|
Bank of China Ltd., Class A |
4,447,200 | 2,087,753 | ||||||
|
Bank of China Ltd., Class H |
173,092,000 | 60,657,235 | ||||||
|
Bank of Communications Co. Ltd., Class A |
5,319,222 | 3,642,244 | ||||||
|
Bank of Communications Co. Ltd., Class H |
18,312,200 | 10,516,747 | ||||||
|
Bank of Hangzhou Co. Ltd., Class A |
915,660 | 1,897,979 | ||||||
|
Bank of Jiangsu Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,354,455 | 2,342,965 | ||||||
|
Bank of Nanjing Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,569,600 | 2,279,622 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Banks (continued) | ||||||||
|
Bank of Ningbo Co. Ltd., Class A |
828,484 | $ | 4,144,804 | |||||
|
Bank of Shanghai Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,180,097 | 2,435,294 | ||||||
|
China Bohai Bank Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
6,540,000 | 2,657,221 | ||||||
|
China CITIC Bank Corp. Ltd., Class H |
19,184,800 | 8,819,724 | ||||||
|
China Construction Bank Corp., Class A |
1,090,009 | 987,446 | ||||||
|
China Construction Bank Corp., Class H |
210,152,000 | 151,426,629 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
5,842,400 | 3,031,304 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Bank Co. Ltd., Class H |
6,104,000 | 2,187,809 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,746,868 | 20,838,144 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., Class H |
8,502,150 | 70,122,375 | ||||||
|
China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd., Class A |
4,708,870 | 2,896,833 | ||||||
|
China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd., Class H(b) |
12,426,160 | 5,189,540 | ||||||
|
China Zheshang Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,523,500 | 1,387,906 | ||||||
|
Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank Co. Ltd., Class H |
7,848,000 | 3,002,208 | ||||||
|
Huaxia Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,180,091 | 1,890,747 | ||||||
|
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Class A |
8,414,800 | 6,019,949 | ||||||
|
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Class H(b) . |
122,952,000 | 68,468,824 | ||||||
|
Industrial Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,790,400 | 7,993,019 | ||||||
|
Ping An Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,572,455 | 7,089,345 | ||||||
|
Postal Savings Bank of China Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,749,600 | 2,982,920 | ||||||
|
Postal Savings Bank of China Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
17,440,000 | 12,564,191 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
4,011,298 | 5,624,864 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 502,121,930 | ||||||||
| Beverages 2.1% | ||||||||
|
Anhui Gujing Distillery Co. Ltd., Class A |
54,396 | 1,787,190 | ||||||
|
Anhui Gujing Distillery Co. Ltd., Class B |
262,030 | 3,197,632 | ||||||
|
China Resources Beer Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,252,000 | 26,742,432 | ||||||
|
Chongqing Brewery Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
87,200 | 1,898,792 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Kings Luck Brewery JSC Ltd., Class A |
174,403 | 1,137,083 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Yanghe Brewery Joint-Stock Co. Ltd., Class A |
218,076 | 5,669,056 | ||||||
|
JiuGui Liquor Co. Ltd., Class A |
44,200 | 1,439,225 | ||||||
|
Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd., Class A |
168,104 | 40,615,979 | ||||||
|
Luzhou Laojiao Co. Ltd., Class A |
194,900 | 5,145,293 | ||||||
|
Nongfu Spring Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
872,000 | 4,614,588 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Bairun Investment Holding Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
122,140 | 1,357,513 | ||||||
|
Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,486 | 7,512,119 | ||||||
|
Sichuan Swellfun Co. Ltd., Class A |
43,600 | 787,680 | ||||||
|
Tsingtao Brewery Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,263 | 1,166,932 | ||||||
|
Tsingtao Brewery Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,204,000 | 9,851,650 | ||||||
|
Wuliangye Yibin Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,677 | 15,022,099 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 127,945,263 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology 1.7% | ||||||||
|
3SBio Inc.(a)(c) |
2,834,000 | 3,157,154 | ||||||
|
Akeso Inc.(a)(c) |
636,000 | 3,294,030 | ||||||
|
BeiGene Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
100,280 | 30,916,324 | ||||||
|
Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Corp. Ltd., Class A |
174,472 | 838,059 | ||||||
|
Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co. Ltd., Class A |
43,600 | 1,571,249 | ||||||
|
BGI Genomics Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,299 | 1,268,414 | ||||||
|
Burning Rock Biotech Ltd., ADR(a) |
95,484 | 1,778,867 | ||||||
|
Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co. Ltd., Class A |
218,040 | 5,978,389 | ||||||
|
Hualan Biological Engineering Inc., Class A |
259,872 | 1,185,475 | ||||||
|
I-Mab, ADR(a) |
70,632 | 5,009,221 | ||||||
|
Imeik Technology Development Co. Ltd., Class A |
20,000 | 1,819,044 | ||||||
|
Innovent Biologics Inc.(a)(c) |
2,616,000 | 21,123,287 | ||||||
|
Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,177,200 | 1,265,793 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
33 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Biotechnology (continued) | ||||||||
|
Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
87,255 | $ | 1,638,253 | |||||
|
Walvax Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Class A |
218,097 | 2,623,538 | ||||||
|
Zai Lab Ltd., ADR(a) |
164,808 | 23,814,756 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 107,281,853 | ||||||||
| Building Products 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Beijing New Building Materials PLC, Class A |
261,670 | 1,341,320 | ||||||
|
China Lesso Group Holdings Ltd. |
2,616,000 | 5,599,141 | ||||||
|
Guangdong Kinlong Hardware Products Co. Ltd., Class A |
44,200 | 1,107,302 | ||||||
|
Zhuzhou Kibing Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,800 | 1,474,309 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,522,072 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Changjiang Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,264,436 | 1,465,025 | ||||||
|
China Cinda Asset Management Co. Ltd., Class H |
19,184,000 | 3,402,478 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Ltd. |
1,744,000 | 2,188,615 | ||||||
|
China Galaxy Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
631,000 | 1,005,984 | ||||||
|
China Galaxy Securities Co. Ltd., Class H |
7,630,000 | 4,283,168 | ||||||
|
China Huarong Asset Management Co. Ltd., Class H(a)(c)(d) |
20,400,000 | 2,006,570 | ||||||
|
China International Capital Corp. Ltd., Class H(c) |
3,488,000 | 8,110,547 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,002,868 | 2,820,579 | ||||||
|
CITIC Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,482,475 | 5,898,898 | ||||||
|
CITIC Securities Co. Ltd., Class H |
4,796,000 | 12,147,196 | ||||||
|
CSC Financial Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,499 | 2,646,364 | ||||||
|
Dongxing Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,494 | 1,050,900 | ||||||
|
East Money Information Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,395,281 | 6,693,359 | ||||||
|
Everbright Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
523,299 | 1,288,271 | ||||||
|
First Capital Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,689 | 691,726 | ||||||
|
Founder Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,438,899 | 1,902,241 | ||||||
|
GF Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
860,199 | 2,528,018 | ||||||
|
GF Securities Co. Ltd., Class H |
2,354,400 | 4,183,860 | ||||||
|
Guosen Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,046,433 | 1,977,986 | ||||||
|
Guotai Junan Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,177,243 | 3,238,444 | ||||||
|
Guoyuan Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
784,860 | 957,059 | ||||||
|
Haitong Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,351,659 | 2,662,099 | ||||||
|
Haitong Securities Co. Ltd., Class H |
5,929,600 | 5,478,527 | ||||||
|
Hithink RoyalFlush Information Network Co. Ltd., Class A |
75,387 | 1,350,754 | ||||||
|
Huatai Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,220,893 | 3,098,750 | ||||||
|
Huatai Securities Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
3,052,000 | 4,377,853 | ||||||
|
Huaxi Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
654,073 | 982,967 | ||||||
|
Industrial Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,046,440 | 1,611,762 | ||||||
|
Noah Holdings Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
74,556 | 2,906,193 | ||||||
|
Orient Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
915,664 | 2,122,293 | ||||||
|
Pacific Securities Co. Ltd. (The), Class A(a) |
1,124,193 | 568,178 | ||||||
|
SDIC Capital Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,127,414 | 1,629,334 | ||||||
|
Sealand Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,351,660 | 867,203 | ||||||
|
Shanxi Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
741,221 | 752,131 | ||||||
|
Shenwan Hongyuan Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,749,639 | 2,731,085 | ||||||
|
Sinolink Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,626 | 816,222 | ||||||
|
SooChow Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,650 | 1,022,029 | ||||||
|
Up Fintech Holding Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
175,708 | 2,421,256 | ||||||
|
Western Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,002,830 | 1,265,815 | ||||||
|
Zheshang Securities Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
566,800 | 1,088,999 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 108,240,738 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
131,200 | 2,771,169 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Chemicals (continued) | ||||||||
|
Hengli Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Class A |
828,410 | $ | 3,361,793 | |||||
|
Hengyi Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Class A |
741,276 | 1,344,945 | ||||||
|
Huabao International Holdings Ltd. |
1,744,000 | 4,166,342 | ||||||
|
Huafon Chemical Co. Ltd., Class A |
740,000 | 1,591,677 | ||||||
|
Inner Mongolia Junzheng Energy & Chemical Industry Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,395,200 | 1,255,827 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Eastern Shenghong Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,000 | 2,188,086 | ||||||
|
Kingfa Sci & Tech Co. Ltd., Class A |
435,500 | 1,093,440 | ||||||
|
LB Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,800 | 2,026,304 | ||||||
|
Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
957,500 | 2,379,295 | ||||||
|
Rongsheng Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,395,242 | 4,034,293 | ||||||
|
Shandong Hualu Hengsheng Chemical Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,870 | 1,968,080 | ||||||
|
Shandong Sinocera Functional Material Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,700 | 1,239,940 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Putailai New Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,200 | 2,066,903 | ||||||
|
Skshu Paint Co. Ltd., Class A |
61,000 | 1,377,073 | ||||||
|
Tongkun Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
392,476 | 1,451,976 | ||||||
|
Transfar Zhilian Co. Ltd., Class A |
654,093 | 879,822 | ||||||
|
Wanhua Chemical Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,073 | 7,198,002 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Longsheng Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
828,471 | 1,736,405 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,604 | 1,698,151 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 45,829,523 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Originwater Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
872,097 | 1,023,762 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Environment Group Ltd. |
8,284,148 | 5,727,370 | ||||||
|
Shanghai M&G Stationery Inc., Class A |
130,800 | 1,400,033 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,151,165 | ||||||||
| Communications Equipment 0.3% | ||||||||
|
BYD Electronic International Co. Ltd.(b) |
1,527,000 | 6,985,104 | ||||||
|
Fiberhome Telecommunication Technologies Co. Ltd., Class A |
208,477 | 587,454 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Haige Communications Group Inc. Co., Class A |
697,684 | 1,209,177 | ||||||
|
Yealink Network Technology Corp. Ltd., Class A |
116,694 | 1,556,153 | ||||||
|
Zhongji Innolight Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,897 | 718,058 | ||||||
|
ZTE Corp., Class A |
508,956 | 2,620,588 | ||||||
|
ZTE Corp., Class H |
1,656,840 | 5,835,774 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 19,512,308 | ||||||||
| Construction & Engineering 0.7% | ||||||||
|
China Communications Services Corp. Ltd., Class H |
6,104,800 | 3,244,091 | ||||||
|
China Conch Venture Holdings Ltd. |
3,706,000 | 15,168,007 | ||||||
|
China National Chemical Engineering Co. Ltd., Class A |
872,095 | 1,826,927 | ||||||
|
China Railway Group Ltd., Class A |
3,444,498 | 3,003,375 | ||||||
|
China Railway Group Ltd., Class H |
8,284,000 | 3,967,410 | ||||||
|
China State Construction Engineering Corp. Ltd., Class A |
5,929,698 | 4,409,394 | ||||||
|
China State Construction International Holdings Ltd. |
4,360,000 | 3,525,942 | ||||||
|
Metallurgical Corp. of China Ltd., Class A |
3,444,400 | 2,677,797 | ||||||
|
Power Construction Corp. of China Ltd., Class A |
2,354,497 | 2,264,729 | ||||||
|
Suzhou Gold Mantis Construction Decoration Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,468 | 671,404 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 40,759,076 | ||||||||
| Construction Materials 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Anhui Conch Cement Co. Ltd., Class A |
598,591 | 3,706,420 | ||||||
|
Anhui Conch Cement Co. Ltd., Class H |
2,616,000 | 14,154,174 | ||||||
|
China Jushi Co. Ltd., Class A |
654,005 | 1,777,830 | ||||||
|
China National Building Material Co. Ltd., Class H |
8,720,000 | 11,908,024 | ||||||
| 34 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Construction Materials (continued) | ||||||||
|
China Resources Cement Holdings Ltd. |
5,232,000 | $ | 5,129,913 | |||||
|
Tangshan Jidong Cement Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,068 | 857,829 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 37,534,190 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 0.1% | ||||||||
|
360 DigiTech Inc.(a) |
187,044 | 4,264,603 | ||||||
|
Lufax Holding Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
392,836 | 3,405,888 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,670,491 | ||||||||
| Containers & Packaging 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Yunnan Energy New Material Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,800 | 5,724,406 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Distributors 0.0% | ||||||||
|
Wuchan Zhongda Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
828,403 | 780,392 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Consumer Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
China East Education Holdings Ltd.(c) |
1,308,000 | 1,403,387 | ||||||
|
China Education Group Holdings Ltd.(b) |
1,744,000 | 3,297,262 | ||||||
|
China Yuhua Education Corp. Ltd.(c) |
3,488,000 | 1,863,827 | ||||||
|
Gaotu Techedu Inc.(a)(b) |
272,064 | 783,544 | ||||||
|
New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc., ADR(a) |
3,394,260 | 7,671,028 | ||||||
|
Offcn Education Technology Co. Ltd.,
|
348,805 | 569,245 | ||||||
|
TAL Education Group, ADR(a)(b) |
916,908 | 4,877,951 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20,466,244 | ||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
AVIC Industry-Finance Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,700,482 | 1,042,780 | ||||||
|
Far East Horizon Ltd. |
3,488,000 | 3,964,528 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,007,308 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 0.2% | ||||||||
|
China Tower Corp. Ltd., Class H(c) |
93,304,000 | 12,238,384 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electrical Equipment 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
310,171 | 23,829,726 | ||||||
|
Eve Energy Co. Ltd., Class A |
270,036 | 4,278,885 | ||||||
|
Fangda Carbon New Material Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,647 | 1,397,169 | ||||||
|
Gotion High-tech Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
174,400 | 1,452,289 | ||||||
|
Hongfa Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,800 | 1,263,704 | ||||||
|
NARI Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
784,877 | 4,254,679 | ||||||
|
Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd., Class A |
197,800 | 4,817,624 | ||||||
|
Sunwoda Electronic Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,698 | 1,590,048 | ||||||
|
Suzhou Maxwell Technologies Co. Ltd., Class A |
13,620 | 1,640,087 | ||||||
|
TBEA Co. Ltd., Class A |
566,857 | 2,153,837 | ||||||
|
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
705,620 | 1,596,543 | ||||||
|
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,569,720 | 3,009,296 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Chint Electrics Co. Ltd., Class A |
305,268 | 2,974,405 | ||||||
|
Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co. Ltd., Class H(a) |
1,177,200 | 7,075,136 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 61,333,428 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.8% | ||||||||
|
AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. |
1,526,000 | 8,459,630 | ||||||
|
Avary Holding Shenzhen Co. Ltd., Class A |
217,000 | 1,065,649 | ||||||
|
BOE Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
4,796,000 | 4,321,516 | ||||||
|
Chaozhou Three-Circle Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
305,200 | 1,778,114 | ||||||
|
Foxconn Industrial Internet Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,177,296 | 2,093,916 | ||||||
|
GoerTek Inc., Class A |
479,600 | 3,458,571 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Shiyuan Electronic Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,219 | 1,176,541 | ||||||
|
Kingboard Holdings Ltd. |
1,526,000 | 7,503,225 | ||||||
|
Kingboard Laminates Holdings Ltd. |
1,962,000 | 3,858,211 | ||||||
|
Lens Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,688 | 2,547,791 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (continued) | ||||||||
|
Lingyi iTech Guangdong Co., Class A |
1,177,200 | $ | 1,219,620 | |||||
|
Luxshare Precision Industry Co. Ltd., Class A |
959,224 | 5,025,611 | ||||||
|
Maxscend Microelectronics Co. Ltd., Class A |
44,320 | 2,603,475 | ||||||
|
Raytron Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
70,314 | 1,355,110 | ||||||
|
Shengyi Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
392,400 | 1,427,717 | ||||||
|
Shennan Circuits Co. Ltd., Class A |
61,224 | 867,115 | ||||||
|
Sunny Optical Technology Group Co. Ltd |
1,569,600 | 47,498,554 | ||||||
|
Tianma Microelectronics Co. Ltd., Class A |
523,299 | 1,146,965 | ||||||
|
Unisplendour Corp. Ltd., Class A |
392,420 | 1,444,364 | ||||||
|
Universal Scientific Industrial Shanghai Co. Ltd., Class A |
250,200 | 536,579 | ||||||
|
Wingtech Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,400 | 3,224,870 | ||||||
|
Wuhan Guide Infrared Co. Ltd., Class A |
359,665 | 1,525,055 | ||||||
|
WUS Printed Circuit Kunshan Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,708 | 831,321 | ||||||
|
Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd., Class A |
139,796 | 1,613,325 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
523,200 | 1,864,996 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 108,447,841 | ||||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
China Oilfield Services Ltd., Class H |
4,360,000 | 3,787,268 | ||||||
|
Offshore Oil Engineering Co. Ltd., Class A |
688,198 | 483,041 | ||||||
|
Yantai Jereh Oilfield Services Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,892 | 745,112 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,015,421 | ||||||||
| Entertainment 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Alibaba Pictures Group Ltd.(a)(b) |
30,520,000 | 3,252,839 | ||||||
|
Beijing Enlight Media Co. Ltd., Class A |
470,198 | 678,979 | ||||||
|
Bilibili Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
357,956 | 28,718,810 | ||||||
|
Giant Network Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,471 | 956,587 | ||||||
|
HUYA Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
178,324 | 1,906,283 | ||||||
|
iQIYI Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
623,916 | 5,652,679 | ||||||
|
Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd., Class A |
218,061 | 569,010 | ||||||
|
Mango Excellent Media Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,680 | 1,855,566 | ||||||
|
NetEase Inc., ADR |
878,104 | 85,544,892 | ||||||
|
Perfect World Co. Ltd., Class A |
325,600 | 676,388 | ||||||
|
Tencent Music Entertainment Group, ADR(a)(b) |
1,460,600 | 12,911,704 | ||||||
|
Wuhu Sanqi Interactive Entertainment Network Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,800 | 921,155 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Century Huatong Group Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
1,220,898 | 1,182,123 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 144,827,015 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 0.1% | ||||||||
|
DaShenLin Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,836 | 923,183 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Bailian Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,700 | 561,049 | ||||||
|
Sun Art Retail Group Ltd.(b) |
4,360,000 | 2,645,116 | ||||||
|
Yifeng Pharmacy Chain Co. Ltd., Class A |
140,798 | 1,130,647 | ||||||
|
Yonghui Superstores Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,918,434 | 1,132,855 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,392,850 | ||||||||
| Food Products 1.9% | ||||||||
|
Angel Yeast Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,824 | 812,817 | ||||||
|
Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,600 | 805,899 | ||||||
|
China Feihe Ltd.(c) |
7,848,000 | 14,181,536 | ||||||
|
China Huishan Dairy Holdings Co. Ltd.(a)(d) |
1,366,667 | 2 | ||||||
|
China Mengniu Dairy Co. Ltd. |
6,976,000 | 41,958,969 | ||||||
|
Chongqing Fuling Zhacai Group Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
130,823 | 521,062 | ||||||
|
Dali Foods Group Co. Ltd.(c) |
4,796,000 | 2,688,614 | ||||||
|
Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,614 | 7,068,673 | ||||||
|
Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co. Ltd., Class A |
44,200 | 1,070,065 | ||||||
|
Guangdong Haid Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
252,097 | 2,511,106 | ||||||
|
Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co. Ltd., Class A |
443,708 | 1,657,881 | ||||||
|
Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
828,425 | 4,371,324 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
35 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security |
Shares |
Value | ||||||
| Food Products (continued) | ||||||||
|
Jiangxi Zhengbang Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
566,800 | $ | 751,460 | |||||
|
Juewei Food Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,200 | 851,649 | ||||||
|
Muyuan Foods Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,616 | 4,570,808 | ||||||
|
New Hope Liuhe Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
654,099 | 1,108,385 | ||||||
|
Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp. |
4,360,000 | 7,764,051 | ||||||
|
Tongwei Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,499 | 5,776,764 | ||||||
|
Uni-President China Holdings Ltd. |
3,052,000 | 2,884,622 | ||||||
|
Want Want China Holdings Ltd. |
10,464,000 | 7,110,901 | ||||||
|
Wens Foodstuffs Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,220,816 | 2,455,819 | ||||||
|
Yihai International Holding Ltd.(b) |
1,069,000 | 5,783,333 | ||||||
|
Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,400 | 1,827,232 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 118,532,972 | ||||||||
| Gas Utilities 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd. |
1,308,000 | 4,501,401 | ||||||
|
China Gas Holdings Ltd. |
6,714,400 | 19,435,585 | ||||||
|
China Resources Gas Group Ltd. |
2,156,000 | 13,084,391 | ||||||
|
ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. |
1,700,400 | 33,646,904 | ||||||
|
Kunlun Energy Co. Ltd. |
8,720,000 | 9,222,623 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 79,890,904 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Autobio Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,256 | 667,218 | ||||||
|
Intco Medical Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
44,200 | 699,702 | ||||||
|
Jafron Biomedical Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,820 | 993,070 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co. Ltd., Class A |
193,500 | 981,751 | ||||||
|
Lepu Medical Technology Beijing Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,600 | 1,046,632 | ||||||
|
Microport Scientific Corp. |
1,395,200 | 8,654,190 | ||||||
|
Ovctek China Inc., Class A |
122,240 | 1,267,852 | ||||||
|
Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co. Ltd., Class H |
5,600,000 | 9,214,416 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,495 | 8,888,408 | ||||||
|
Venus MedTech Hangzhou Inc., Class H(a)(c) |
436,000 | 2,063,706 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 34,476,945 | ||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Aier Eye Hospital Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,674 | 4,568,801 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Kingmed Diagnostics Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
77,794 | 1,270,949 | ||||||
|
Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,680 | 1,248,662 | ||||||
|
Jinxin Fertility Group Ltd.(b)(c) |
3,018,000 | 4,795,717 | ||||||
|
Meinian Onehealth Healthcare Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
610,481 | 670,478 | ||||||
|
Ping An Healthcare and Technology Co.
|
1,002,800 | 7,411,241 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd., Class A |
347,064 | 1,032,288 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,613,200 | 3,200,313 | ||||||
|
Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
2,964,800 | 7,629,927 | ||||||
|
Topchoice Medical Corp., Class A(a) |
43,600 | 1,590,709 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 33,419,085 | ||||||||
| Health Care Technology 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Alibaba Health Information Technology
|
8,720,000 | 14,393,054 | ||||||
|
Winning Health Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
390,556 | 859,268 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 15,252,322 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.1% | ||||||||
|
Haidilao International Holding Ltd.(b)(c) |
2,180,000 | 8,896,974 | ||||||
|
Huazhu Group Ltd., ADR(a) |
388,040 | 18,738,452 | ||||||
|
Jiumaojiu International Holdings Ltd.(c) |
1,744,000 | 5,853,379 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,264,438 | 1,319,457 | ||||||
|
Songcheng Performance Development Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,077 | 1,032,116 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (continued) | ||||||||
|
Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Ltd.(a) |
2,267,200 | $ | 5,285,259 | |||||
|
Trip.com Group Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
1,117,032 | 34,058,306 | ||||||
|
Yum China Holdings Inc. |
916,908 | 56,444,856 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 131,628,799 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Roborock Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
8,720 | 1,229,492 | ||||||
|
Ecovacs Robotics Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,600 | 1,992,476 | ||||||
|
Guangdong Xinbao Electrical Appliances Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
131,200 | 420,617 | ||||||
|
Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd., Class A |
959,246 | 4,018,138 | ||||||
|
Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd., Class H |
4,708,800 | 17,738,068 | ||||||
|
Huizhou Desay Sv Automotive Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,700 | 1,199,653 | ||||||
|
Jason Furniture Hangzhou Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,800 | 1,393,531 | ||||||
|
Midea Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,600 | 4,908,104 | ||||||
|
NavInfo Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
523,218 | 900,094 | ||||||
|
Oppein Home Group Inc., Class A |
59,920 | 1,433,603 | ||||||
|
Suofeiya Home Collection Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,214 | 250,477 | ||||||
|
TCL Technology Group Corp., Class A |
2,049,200 | 2,262,906 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Supor Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,896 | 990,088 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 38,737,247 | ||||||||
| Household Products 0.0% | ||||||||
|
Vinda International Holdings Ltd.(b) |
872,000 | 2,570,175 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 0.9% | ||||||||
|
CGN Power Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
20,056,000 | 4,433,953 | ||||||
|
China Longyuan Power Group Corp. Ltd., Class H |
7,480,000 | 15,245,347 | ||||||
|
China National Nuclear Power Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,441,676 | 2,072,791 | ||||||
|
China Power International Development Ltd. |
9,156,000 | 3,697,258 | ||||||
|
China Resources Power Holdings Co. Ltd. |
4,360,000 | 10,713,936 | ||||||
|
China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,052,041 | 9,143,353 | ||||||
|
Huaneng Power International Inc., Class A |
977,000 | 839,473 | ||||||
|
Huaneng Power International Inc., Class H |
7,848,000 | 3,796,223 | ||||||
|
SDIC Power Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,002,896 | 1,407,632 | ||||||
|
Shenergy Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,002,855 | 1,011,564 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Energy Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
566,880 | 685,636 | ||||||
|
Sichuan Chuantou Energy Co. Ltd., Class A |
690,562 | 1,217,622 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 54,264,788 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 0.4% | ||||||||
|
China Baoan Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,800 | 1,513,761 | ||||||
|
CITIC Ltd. |
12,644,000 | 15,709,311 | ||||||
|
Fosun International Ltd. |
5,450,000 | 6,893,684 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 24,116,756 | ||||||||
| Insurance 3.3% | ||||||||
|
China Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,080 | 1,949,671 | ||||||
|
China Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Class H |
15,696,000 | 26,318,306 | ||||||
|
China Pacific Insurance Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
959,247 | 3,910,801 | ||||||
|
China Pacific Insurance Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
5,842,400 | 16,466,044 | ||||||
|
China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,575,324 | 5,223,855 | ||||||
|
New China Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Class A |
341,924 | 2,153,027 | ||||||
|
New China Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,700,400 | 5,005,543 | ||||||
|
Peoples Insurance Co. Group of China Ltd. (The), Class H |
18,312,000 | 5,648,802 | ||||||
|
PICC Property & Casualty Co. Ltd., Class H |
14,824,462 | 13,402,976 | ||||||
|
Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class A |
1,526,043 | 11,808,669 | ||||||
|
Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class H |
13,734,000 | 106,343,424 | ||||||
|
ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co. Ltd., Class H(a)(b)(c) |
1,090,000 | 5,314,793 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 203,545,911 | ||||||||
| 36 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 14.7% | ||||||||
|
Autohome Inc., ADR |
160,884 | $ | 7,120,726 | |||||
|
Baidu Inc., ADR(a) |
605,604 | 95,091,940 | ||||||
|
Hello Group Inc., ADR |
339,644 | 4,462,922 | ||||||
|
JOYY Inc., ADR |
121,644 | 7,700,065 | ||||||
|
Kuaishou Technology(a)(b)(c) |
566,800 | 6,184,494 | ||||||
|
Tencent Holdings Ltd. |
12,600,400 | 778,235,739 | ||||||
|
Weibo Corp., ADR(a) |
138,648 | 7,004,497 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 905,800,383 | ||||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 20.3% | ||||||||
|
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.(a) |
33,223,268 | 695,681,695 | ||||||
|
Baozun Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
129,928 | 3,128,666 | ||||||
|
Dada Nexus Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
130,364 | 3,087,020 | ||||||
|
HengTen Networks Group Ltd.(a)(b) |
6,976,000 | 3,423,413 | ||||||
|
JD Health International Inc.(a)(b)(c) |
741,200 | 6,934,861 | ||||||
|
JD.com Inc., ADR(a) |
1,900,960 | 149,339,418 | ||||||
|
Meituan, Class B(a)(c) |
8,807,200 | 281,606,335 | ||||||
|
Pinduoduo Inc., ADR(a) |
958,764 | 95,895,575 | ||||||
|
Vipshop Holdings Ltd., ADR(a) |
992,336 | 14,676,649 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,253,773,632 | ||||||||
| IT Services 0.6% | ||||||||
|
21Vianet Group Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
203,176 | 4,020,853 | ||||||
|
Beijing Sinnet Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,096 | 945,553 | ||||||
|
China TransInfo Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,047 | 1,038,067 | ||||||
|
Chinasoft International Ltd. |
5,232,000 | 8,866,371 | ||||||
|
Chindata Group Holdings Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
190,096 | 2,258,341 | ||||||
|
DHC Software Co. Ltd., Class A |
784,828 | 930,248 | ||||||
|
GDS Holdings Ltd., ADR(a) |
192,712 | 11,269,798 | ||||||
|
Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
122,080 | 3,929,755 | ||||||
|
TravelSky Technology Ltd., Class H |
2,251,000 | 4,216,665 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 37,475,651 | ||||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 2.8% | ||||||||
|
Genscript Biotech Corp.(a) |
2,666,000 | 12,674,817 | ||||||
|
Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co. Ltd., Class A |
43,637 | 907,944 | ||||||
|
Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
281,500 | 4,994,575 | ||||||
|
Pharmaron Beijing Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,700 | 2,619,159 | ||||||
|
Pharmaron Beijing Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
305,200 | 6,771,531 | ||||||
|
WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd., Class A |
366,564 | 7,553,101 | ||||||
|
WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
697,681 | 13,913,882 | ||||||
|
Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc., New(a)(c) |
7,848,000 | 121,502,365 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 170,937,374 | ||||||||
| Machinery 0.9% | ||||||||
|
China CSSC Holdings Ltd., Class A |
697,600 | 2,582,373 | ||||||
|
CRRC Corp. Ltd., Class A |
3,270,000 | 3,419,946 | ||||||
|
Haitian International Holdings Ltd. |
1,308,000 | 5,011,720 | ||||||
|
Hefei Meiya Optoelectronic Technology Inc., Class A |
129,023 | 858,596 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Hengli Hydraulic Co. Ltd., Class A |
192,204 | 2,831,594 | ||||||
|
Sany Heavy Equipment International Holdings Co. Ltd. |
2,616,000 | 3,361,656 | ||||||
|
Sany Heavy Industry Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,133,609 | 4,606,620 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Inovance Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,830 | 3,842,901 | ||||||
|
Sinotruk Hong Kong Ltd. |
1,526,000 | 3,006,623 | ||||||
|
Weichai Power Co. Ltd., Class A |
872,068 | 2,712,166 | ||||||
|
Weichai Power Co. Ltd., Class H |
4,360,000 | 11,001,800 | ||||||
|
Wuxi Shangji Automation Co. Ltd., Class A |
44,200 | 2,203,345 | ||||||
|
XCMG Construction Machinery Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,360,399 | 1,372,300 | ||||||
|
Yutong Bus Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,699 | 914,816 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Dingli Machinery Co. Ltd., Class A |
104,605 | 1,138,674 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co. Ltd., Class A |
566,887 | 2,218,007 | ||||||
|
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,046,416 | 1,278,586 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Machinery (continued) | ||||||||
|
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Class H |
2,877,600 | $ | 2,742,030 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 55,103,753 | ||||||||
| Marine 0.3% | ||||||||
|
COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co. Ltd.,
|
1,700,400 | 5,459,529 | ||||||
|
COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co. Ltd.,
|
7,194,100 | 13,578,045 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 19,037,574 | ||||||||
| Media 0.2% | ||||||||
|
China Literature Ltd.(a)(b)(c) |
872,000 | 7,334,748 | ||||||
|
Focus Media Information Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,049,238 | 2,285,392 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,620,140 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd., Class A(a) |
2,049,200 | 2,477,474 | ||||||
|
Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd., Class H(a) |
8,720,000 | 6,327,647 | ||||||
|
Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,139,277 | 4,955,210 | ||||||
|
China Hongqiao Group Ltd. |
5,014,000 | 7,436,871 | ||||||
|
China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,746,800 | 3,325,406 | ||||||
|
China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., Class H |
6,540,000 | 5,102,289 | ||||||
|
China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,600 | 4,308,255 | ||||||
|
Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., Class A |
130,895 | 4,466,938 | ||||||
|
Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., Class H(c) |
610,400 | 14,063,379 | ||||||
|
GEM Co. Ltd., Class A |
784,800 | 1,635,317 | ||||||
|
Hunan Valin Steel Co. Ltd., Class A |
957,500 | 1,156,518 | ||||||
|
Inner Mongolia BaoTou Steel Union Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
6,409,292 | 3,734,275 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Shagang Co. Ltd., Class A |
395,100 | 443,826 | ||||||
|
Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd., Class H |
2,616,000 | 5,293,291 | ||||||
|
MMG Ltd.(a) |
6,976,000 | 3,359,931 | ||||||
|
Shandong Gold Mining Co. Ltd., Class A |
392,491 | 1,096,243 | ||||||
|
Shandong Gold Mining Co. Ltd., Class H(b)(c) |
1,853,000 | 2,994,317 | ||||||
|
Shandong Nanshan Aluminum Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,914,500 | 1,711,290 | ||||||
|
Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,002,800 | 1,567,082 | ||||||
|
Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,528,800 | 1,660,645 | ||||||
|
Yunnan Aluminium Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
479,000 | 1,303,194 | ||||||
|
Zhaojin Mining Industry Co. Ltd., Class H |
2,834,000 | 2,314,805 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. Ltd., Class A |
164,998 | 3,588,649 | ||||||
|
Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,964,800 | 5,110,557 | ||||||
|
Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
12,208,000 | 17,274,035 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 106,707,444 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.3% | ||||||||
|
China Merchants Energy Shipping Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,308,115 | 879,465 | ||||||
|
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class A |
4,229,488 | 2,787,575 | ||||||
|
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class H |
52,321,000 | 25,173,589 | ||||||
|
China Shenhua Energy Co. Ltd., Class A |
784,805 | 2,431,203 | ||||||
|
China Shenhua Energy Co. Ltd., Class H |
7,412,000 | 16,390,215 | ||||||
|
PetroChina Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,790,490 | 2,133,253 | ||||||
|
PetroChina Co. Ltd., Class H |
46,216,000 | 20,188,069 | ||||||
|
Shaanxi Coal Industry Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,526,088 | 3,238,651 | ||||||
|
Shanxi Luan Environmental Energy Development Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,600 | 1,179,557 | ||||||
|
Shanxi Meijin Energy Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
654,000 | 1,407,380 | ||||||
|
Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,803 | 1,375,222 | ||||||
|
Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. Ltd., Class H |
3,488,000 | 6,080,030 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 83,264,209 | ||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Ltd. |
3,052,000 | 2,678,597 | ||||||
|
Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Ltd. |
3,488,000 | 4,765,023 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,443,620 | ||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
37 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Personal Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
By-Health Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,600 | $ | 1,019,169 | |||||
|
Hengan International Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
1,308,000 | 7,574,740 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Jahwa United Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,200 | 643,754 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,237,663 | ||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 1.9% | ||||||||
|
Asymchem Laboratories Tianjin Co. Ltd., Class A |
37,300 | 2,024,281 | ||||||
|
Betta Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Class A |
77,798 | 887,896 | ||||||
|
CanSino Biologics Inc., Class H(a)(b)(c) |
174,400 | 6,892,119 | ||||||
|
Changchun High & New Technology Industry Group Inc., Class A |
68,396 | 2,705,140 | ||||||
|
China Medical System Holdings Ltd. |
3,052,000 | 5,990,343 | ||||||
|
China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.(c) |
3,488,000 | 1,813,963 | ||||||
|
China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,694 | 1,132,414 | ||||||
|
China Traditional Chinese Medicine Holdings Co. Ltd.(a) |
6,104,000 | 2,905,337 | ||||||
|
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. |
20,056,400 | 25,443,582 | ||||||
|
Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Class A |
131,188 | 698,797 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
348,895 | 1,592,346 | ||||||
|
Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd.(c) |
2,616,000 | 7,132,613 | ||||||
|
Humanwell Healthcare Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,700 | 585,216 | ||||||
|
Hutchmed China Ltd., ADR(a) |
187,044 | 7,549,096 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co. Ltd., Class A |
828,490 | 5,805,574 | ||||||
|
Joincare Pharmaceutical Group Industry Co. Ltd., Class A |
385,362 | 659,241 | ||||||
|
Nanjing King-Friend Biochemical Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
170,574 | 760,224 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,684 | 2,565,683 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,090,000 | 6,992,486 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
174,400 | 684,417 | ||||||
|
Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
244,640 | 647,728 | ||||||
|
Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,665 | 737,762 | ||||||
|
Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. |
22,672,000 | 18,962,327 | ||||||
|
SSY Group Ltd. |
2,616,000 | 1,623,172 | ||||||
|
Yunnan Baiyao Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,432 | 2,397,038 | ||||||
|
Zhangzhou Pientzehuang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,309 | 4,697,081 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
218,046 | 540,950 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang NHU Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,095 | 1,944,790 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Wolwo Bio-Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
81,506 | 647,200 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 117,018,816 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
51job Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
65,836 | 5,056,205 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 4.2% | ||||||||
|
Agile Group Holdings Ltd. |
2,616,000 | 2,999,996 | ||||||
|
A-Living Smart City Services Co. Ltd.(c) |
1,199,000 | 4,765,239 | ||||||
|
China Aoyuan Group Ltd. |
2,616,000 | 1,564,035 | ||||||
|
China Evergrande Group(b) |
4,360,000 | 2,446,675 | ||||||
|
China Fortune Land Development Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
784,895 | 460,814 | ||||||
|
China Jinmao Holdings Group Ltd. |
13,080,000 | 4,252,342 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,395,233 | 2,150,923 | ||||||
|
China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. |
8,284,000 | 19,083,740 | ||||||
|
China Overseas Property Holdings Ltd. |
2,180,000 | 1,859,160 | ||||||
|
China Resources Land Ltd. |
7,136,665 | 26,507,851 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development (continued) | ||||||||
|
China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services
|
1,133,600 | $ | 5,949,281 | |||||
|
China Vanke Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,438,809 | 4,412,245 | ||||||
|
China Vanke Co. Ltd., Class H |
3,575,231 | 9,646,532 | ||||||
|
CIFI Ever Sunshine Services Group Ltd. |
1,442,000 | 2,978,805 | ||||||
|
CIFI Holdings Group Co. Ltd. |
6,976,000 | 4,689,421 | ||||||
|
Country Garden Holdings Co. Ltd.(b) |
16,568,727 | 18,313,409 | ||||||
|
Country Garden Services Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,191,000 | 24,349,596 | ||||||
|
Financial Street Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,659 | 700,211 | ||||||
|
Gemdale Corp., Class A |
742,297 | 1,198,303 | ||||||
|
Greenland Holdings Corp. Ltd., Class A |
1,419,525 | 978,165 | ||||||
|
Greentown China Holdings Ltd.(b) |
1,962,000 | 3,009,628 | ||||||
|
Greentown Service Group Co. Ltd. |
3,488,000 | 3,731,321 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. Ltd., Class H |
3,488,000 | 2,973,905 | ||||||
|
Hopson Development Holdings Ltd. |
1,395,200 | 5,435,530 | ||||||
|
Jinke Properties Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
916,881 | 681,087 | ||||||
|
Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. |
6,540,000 | 2,176,920 | ||||||
|
KE Holdings Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
784,800 | 14,197,032 | ||||||
|
KWG Group Holdings Ltd. |
2,834,000 | 2,983,618 | ||||||
|
Logan Group Co. Ltd. |
3,052,000 | 3,637,867 | ||||||
|
Longfor Group Holdings Ltd.(c) |
3,924,000 | 16,980,387 | ||||||
|
Poly Developments and Holdings Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,700,475 | 2,999,199 | ||||||
|
Poly Property Services Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
261,600 | 1,599,133 | ||||||
|
Powerlong Real Estate Holdings Ltd. |
3,052,000 | 2,479,417 | ||||||
|
RiseSun Real Estate Development Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,351,630 | 993,983 | ||||||
|
Seazen Group Ltd.(b) |
4,360,000 | 3,861,588 | ||||||
|
Seazen Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
305,264 | 1,590,862 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone Development Co. Ltd., Class B |
2,877,694 | 2,585,585 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Zhangjiang High-Tech Park Development Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,009 | 1,165,732 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Investment Ltd. |
6,976,000 | 2,070,631 | ||||||
|
Shimao Group Holdings Ltd. |
2,616,000 | 5,405,489 | ||||||
|
Shimao Services Holdings Ltd.(c) |
1,308,000 | 3,064,728 | ||||||
|
Sunac China Holdings Ltd. |
5,668,000 | 14,492,036 | ||||||
|
Sunac Services Holdings Ltd.(a)(c) |
1,744,000 | 4,543,467 | ||||||
|
Wharf Holdings Ltd. (The) |
3,052,000 | 10,300,708 | ||||||
|
Yuexiu Property Co. Ltd. |
2,957,600 | 2,772,424 | ||||||
|
Zhenro Properties Group Ltd. |
3,488,000 | 2,036,081 | ||||||
|
Zhongtian Financial Group Co. Ltd.,
|
1,526,091 | 578,759 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 257,653,860 | ||||||||
| Road & Rail 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway Co. Ltd., Class A |
5,711,600 | 4,203,691 | ||||||
|
DiDi Global Inc.(a)(b) |
656,616 | 5,397,383 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,601,074 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc., Class A(a) |
79,788 | 2,037,953 | ||||||
|
Daqo New Energy Corp., ADR(a)(b) |
124,696 | 7,645,112 | ||||||
|
Flat Glass Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
872,000 | 5,096,734 | ||||||
|
GCL System Integration Technology Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
959,245 | 810,016 | ||||||
|
Gigadevice Semiconductor Beijing Inc., Class A |
97,287 | 2,308,199 | ||||||
|
Hangzhou First Applied Material Co. Ltd., Class A |
131,200 | 3,089,518 | ||||||
|
Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,400 | 1,482,065 | ||||||
|
Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd.(a)(b)(c) |
1,153,000 | 6,785,715 | ||||||
|
Ingenic Semiconductor Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,600 | 1,933,844 | ||||||
|
JA Solar Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
177,350 | 2,138,869 | ||||||
|
JCET Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
261,700 | 1,384,292 | ||||||
| 38 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (continued) | ||||||||
|
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
697,625 | $ | 9,680,268 | |||||
|
National Silicon Industry Group Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
256,368 | 1,191,264 | ||||||
|
NAURA Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
66,000 | 3,637,694 | ||||||
|
Sanan Optoelectronics Co. Ltd., Class A |
610,460 | 3,436,882 | ||||||
|
SG Micro Corp., Class A |
43,400 | 2,149,613 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,200 | 1,408,184 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen SC New Energy Technology Corp., Class A |
43,600 | 1,391,555 | ||||||
|
Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co. Ltd., Class A |
392,498 | 3,281,643 | ||||||
|
Tianshui Huatian Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,629 | 947,061 | ||||||
|
TongFu Microelectronics Co. Ltd., Class A |
257,296 | 820,841 | ||||||
|
Unigroup Guoxin Microelectronics Co. Ltd., Class A |
80,000 | 2,772,347 | ||||||
|
Will Semiconductor Co. Ltd. Shanghai, Class A |
130,800 | 4,908,953 | ||||||
|
Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd. |
10,464,000 | 25,324,831 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical Co. Ltd., Class A |
174,428 | 2,098,666 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 97,762,119 | ||||||||
| Software 1.0% | ||||||||
|
360 Security Technology Inc., Class A(a) |
1,046,400 | 1,929,584 | ||||||
|
Agora Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
108,128 | 3,667,702 | ||||||
|
Beijing E-Hualu Information Technology Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
146,920 | 776,923 | ||||||
|
Beijing Kingsoft Office Software Inc., Class A |
50,140 | 1,938,307 | ||||||
|
Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
183,404 | 485,258 | ||||||
|
China National Software & Service Co. Ltd., Class A |
87,200 | 657,447 | ||||||
|
China Youzan Ltd.(a) |
31,392,000 | 4,394,682 | ||||||
|
Hundsun Technologies Inc., Class A |
216,674 | 1,665,438 | ||||||
|
Iflytek Co. Ltd., Class A |
299,359 | 2,428,737 | ||||||
|
Kingdee International Software Group Co. Ltd.(a) |
5,668,000 | 20,639,306 | ||||||
|
Kingsoft Corp. Ltd. |
2,092,800 | 8,395,026 | ||||||
|
Ming Yuan Cloud Group Holdings Ltd. |
872,000 | 3,029,995 | ||||||
|
OneConnect Financial Technology Co.
|
297,352 | 1,397,554 | ||||||
|
Sangfor Technologies Inc., Class A |
55,000 | 2,326,152 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Baosight Software Co. Ltd., Class A |
170,580 | 1,857,341 | ||||||
|
Thunder Software Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
44,200 | 812,199 | ||||||
|
Weimob Inc.(a)(b)(c) |
3,924,000 | 5,752,100 | ||||||
|
Yonyou Network Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
479,612 | 2,492,236 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 64,645,987 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 0.6% | ||||||||
|
China Meidong Auto Holdings Ltd. |
1,246,000 | 6,249,736 | ||||||
|
China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp. Ltd., Class A |
261,689 | 9,266,880 | ||||||
|
GOME Retail Holdings Ltd.(a)(b) |
26,596,000 | 2,873,703 | ||||||
|
Suning.com Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
1,874,871 | 1,533,815 | ||||||
|
Topsports International Holdings Ltd.(c) |
3,488,000 | 4,598,997 | ||||||
|
Zhongsheng Group Holdings Ltd. |
1,308,000 | 10,936,184 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 35,459,315 | ||||||||
| Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 2.0% | ||||||||
|
China Greatwall Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,000 | 992,173 | ||||||
|
GRG Banking Equipment Co. Ltd., Class A |
436,000 | 719,575 | ||||||
|
Inspur Electronic Information Industry Co. Ltd., Class A |
232,280 | 1,078,992 | ||||||
|
Lenovo Group Ltd. |
15,696,000 | 17,313,196 | ||||||
|
Ninestar Corp., Class A |
261,626 | 1,428,384 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Kaifa Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
257,104 | 635,492 | ||||||
|
Xiaomi Corp., Class B(a)(c) |
31,392,000 | 101,189,347 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 123,357,159 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 2.6% | ||||||||
|
ANTA Sports Products Ltd. |
2,399,000 | 49,277,526 | ||||||
|
Bosideng International Holdings Ltd. |
6,976,000 | 5,694,934 | ||||||
|
Li Ning Co. Ltd. |
5,014,000 | 67,236,590 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (continued) | ||||||||
|
Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd. |
1,831,200 | $ | 39,693,312 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 161,902,362 | ||||||||
| Tobacco 0.4% | ||||||||
|
RLX Technology Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
1,277,916 | 6,568,488 | ||||||
|
Smoore International Holdings Ltd.(c) |
3,924,000 | 21,060,851 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 27,629,339 | ||||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Beijing United Information Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
44,200 | 745,252 | ||||||
|
BOC Aviation Ltd.(c) |
479,600 | 3,595,420 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,340,672 | ||||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Capital International Airport Co. Ltd., Class H(a) |
4,360,000 | 2,624,742 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Port Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,488,000 | 5,867,951 | ||||||
|
COSCO SHIPPING Ports Ltd. |
4,360,000 | 3,625,766 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Expressway Co. Ltd., Class H |
2,616,000 | 2,714,401 | ||||||
|
Shanghai International Airport Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
174,699 | 1,170,938 | ||||||
|
Shanghai International Port Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,180,077 | 1,887,808 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen International Holdings Ltd. |
2,616,000 | 3,413,743 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Expressway Co. Ltd., Class H |
2,616,000 | 2,293,955 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 23,599,304 | ||||||||
| Water Utilities 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Enterprises Water Group Ltd.(b) |
10,464,000 | 4,315,727 | ||||||
|
Guangdong Investment Ltd. |
6,104,000 | 8,477,104 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,792,831 | ||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.0% | ||||||||
|
China United Network Communications Ltd., Class A |
3,400,800 | 2,207,816 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.7%
|
|
6,163,100,114 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 2.5% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 0.06%(e)(f)(g) |
148,005,488 | 148,079,490 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(e)(f) |
6,820,000 | 6,820,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 154,899,490 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 2.5%
|
|
154,899,490 | ||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 102.2%
|
|
6,317,999,604 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (2.2)% |
|
(135,530,588 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 6,182,469,016 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
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. |
| (d) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (e) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (f) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (g) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
39 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China ETF |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
from Underlying Funds |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 249,675,557 | $ | | $ | (101,489,583 | )(a) | $ | 8,629 | $ | (115,113 | ) | $ | 148,079,490 | 148,005,488 | $ | 1,640,280 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
2,710,000 | 4,110,000 | (a) | | | | 6,820,000 | 6,820,000 | 2,097 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 8,629 | $ | (115,113 | ) | $ | 154,899,490 | $ | 1,642,377 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI China Index |
297 | 09/17/21 | $ | 15,245 | $ | (1,635,087 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 1,635,087 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (4,765,750 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (1,328,396 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 12,618,877 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
| 40 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China 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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 1,079,635,023 | $ | 5,081,458,519 | $ | 2,006,572 | $ | 6,163,100,114 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
154,899,490 | | | 154,899,490 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 1,234,534,513 | $ | 5,081,458,519 | $ | 2,006,572 | $ | 6,317,999,604 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | (1,635,087 | ) | $ | | $ | (1,635,087 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
41 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Aerospace & Defense 0.6% | ||||||||
|
EHang Holdings Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
18,381 | $ | 499,963 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 0.2% | ||||||||
|
BEST Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
160,652 | 208,848 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Auto Components 2.4% | ||||||||
|
Chaowei Power Holdings Ltd. |
396,000 | 122,681 | ||||||
|
Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd. |
726,000 | 817,613 | ||||||
|
Prinx Chengshan Holdings Ltd. |
138,000 | 136,803 | ||||||
|
Tianneng Power International Ltd.(b) |
542,000 | 725,387 | ||||||
|
Wuling Motors Holdings Ltd.(b) |
990,000 | 192,501 | ||||||
|
Xingda International Holdings Ltd. |
778,000 | 175,722 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,170,707 | ||||||||
| Automobiles 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Niu Technologies, ADR(a)(b) |
24,783 | 666,415 | ||||||
|
Qingling Motors Co. Ltd., Class H |
560,000 | 144,387 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 810,802 | ||||||||
| Beverages 0.3% | ||||||||
|
China Foods Ltd. |
700,000 | 235,426 | ||||||
|
China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd.(c) |
81,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 235,426 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology 4.1% | ||||||||
|
Alphamab Oncology(a)(e) |
297,000 | 764,662 | ||||||
|
Ascentage Pharma Group
|
115,500 | 574,138 | ||||||
|
Ascletis Pharma Inc.(a)(e) |
280,000 | 101,607 | ||||||
|
Beyondspring Inc.(a) |
17,630 | 551,995 | ||||||
|
CStone Pharmaceuticals(a)(e) |
381,500 | 643,985 | ||||||
|
Essex Bio-Technology Ltd. |
245,000 | 206,964 | ||||||
|
Genetron Holdings Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
14,625 | 194,366 | ||||||
|
Immunotech Biopharm Ltd.(a)(b) |
77,000 | 156,170 | ||||||
|
JHBP CY Holdings Ltd.(a)(e) |
115,500 | 162,226 | ||||||
|
JW Cayman Therapeutics Co. Ltd.(a)(b)(e) |
132,000 | 280,301 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,636,414 | ||||||||
| Building Products 0.5% | ||||||||
|
China Fangda Group Co. Ltd., Class B(a) |
244,650 | 88,392 | ||||||
|
Luoyang Glass Co. Ltd., Class H(a) |
198,000 | 352,893 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 441,285 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 0.7% | ||||||||
|
BC Technology Group Ltd.(a) |
148,500 | 284,636 | ||||||
|
China Renaissance Holdings Ltd.(e) |
132,700 | 334,205 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 618,841 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 5.9% | ||||||||
|
China BlueChemical Ltd., Class H |
1,452,000 | 449,929 | ||||||
|
China Longevity Group Co. Ltd.(a)(c) |
96,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
China Lumena New Materials Corp.(a)(b)(c) |
21,700 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
China Sanjiang Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd. |
594,000 | 237,128 | ||||||
|
China XLX Fertiliser Ltd. |
350,000 | 260,111 | ||||||
|
Dongyue Group Ltd.(b) |
960,000 | 3,302,216 | ||||||
|
Fufeng Group Ltd. |
1,224,600 | 466,786 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Co. Ltd., Class B |
327,293 | 211,278 | ||||||
|
Sinofert Holdings Ltd.(b) |
1,706,000 | 348,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,275,448 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Enterprises Urban Resources Group Ltd.(a) |
1,672,000 | 171,624 | ||||||
|
Binjiang Service Group Co. Ltd. |
66,000 | 190,031 | ||||||
|
CT Environmental Group Ltd.(a)(c) |
600,000 | 13,115 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies (continued) | ||||||||
|
Dynagreen Environmental Protection Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
313,000 | $ | 148,990 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 523,760 | ||||||||
| Communications Equipment 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Eastern Communications Co. Ltd., Class B |
240,900 | 112,258 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction & Engineering 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Changsha Broad Homes Industrial Group Co Ltd., Class H(a)(b)(e) |
83,400 | 123,181 | ||||||
|
Greentown Management Holdings Co. Ltd.(e) |
397,000 | 192,175 | ||||||
|
Hebei Construction Group Corp. Ltd., Class H |
375,500 | 114,782 | ||||||
|
ReneSola Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
31,383 | 219,681 | ||||||
|
Sinopec Engineering Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,188,000 | 629,479 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,279,298 | ||||||||
| Construction Materials 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Asia Cement China Holdings Corp. |
378,500 | 278,970 | ||||||
|
West China Cement Ltd. |
1,794,000 | 286,096 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 565,066 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 2.7% | ||||||||
|
Differ Group Holding Co. Ltd.(b) |
2,376,000 | 821,791 | ||||||
|
FinVolution Group, ADR |
89,039 | 542,247 | ||||||
|
LexinFintech Holdings Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
82,673 | 575,404 | ||||||
|
Qudian Inc., ADR(a) |
147,708 | 251,104 | ||||||
|
Yixin Group Ltd.(a)(e) |
1,058,500 | 214,857 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,405,403 | ||||||||
| Containers & Packaging 0.5% | ||||||||
|
CPMC Holdings Ltd. |
331,000 | 197,951 | ||||||
|
Greatview Aseptic Packaging Co. Ltd. |
642,000 | 264,148 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 462,099 | ||||||||
| Distributors 0.6% | ||||||||
|
China Tobacco International HK Co. Ltd.(b) |
170,000 | 338,817 | ||||||
|
Xinhua Winshare Publishing and Media Co. Ltd., Class H |
330,000 | 231,666 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 570,483 | ||||||||
| Diversified Consumer Services 3.7% | ||||||||
|
17 Education & Technology Group Inc., ADR(a) |
62,766 | 69,043 | ||||||
|
China Kepei Education Group Ltd.(b) |
330,000 | 195,604 | ||||||
|
China Maple Leaf Educational Systems Ltd.(a) |
1,214,000 | 244,797 | ||||||
|
China New Higher Education Group Ltd.(e) |
708,000 | 380,826 | ||||||
|
China Online Education Group, ADR(a) |
5,425 | 17,089 | ||||||
|
China Xinhua Education Group Ltd.(e) |
385,000 | 87,619 | ||||||
|
Edvantage Group Holdings Ltd. |
264,000 | 187,769 | ||||||
|
Fu Shou Yuan International Group Ltd. |
964,000 | 869,548 | ||||||
|
Hope Education Group Co. Ltd.(e) |
2,322,000 | 394,729 | ||||||
|
JH Educational Technology Inc.(b) |
396,000 | 110,998 | ||||||
|
Koolearn Technology Holding Ltd.(a)(b)(e) |
297,000 | 165,116 | ||||||
|
Minsheng Education Group Co. Ltd.(e) |
832,000 | 130,126 | ||||||
|
OneSmart International Education Group Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
52,440 | 27,924 | ||||||
|
Scholar Education Group |
117,000 | 30,731 | ||||||
|
Tianli Education International Holdings Ltd. |
965,000 | 249,394 | ||||||
|
Wisdom Education International Holdings Co. Ltd. |
660,000 | 132,535 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,293,848 | ||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 0.9% | ||||||||
|
CSSC Hong Kong Shipping Co. Ltd. |
990,000 | 166,775 | ||||||
|
Haitong UniTrust International Leasing Co. Ltd., Class H(e) |
1,154,000 | 181,021 | ||||||
|
National Agricultural Holdings Ltd.(b)(c) |
108,900 | 140 | ||||||
|
Sheng Ye Capital Ltd. |
350,000 | 445,068 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 793,004 | ||||||||
| 42 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Electrical Equipment 1.0% | ||||||||
|
China Fiber Optic Network System Group Ltd.(c) |
181,600 | $ | 0 | (d) | ||||
|
China High Speed Transmission Equipment Group Co. Ltd.(a)(b) |
330,000 | 238,705 | ||||||
|
Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co. Ltd., Class B |
224,423 | 466,884 | ||||||
|
Harbin Electric Co. Ltd., Class H |
552,000 | 181,547 | ||||||
|
Trony Solar Holdings Co. Ltd.(c) |
216,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 887,136 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Anxin-China Holdings Ltd.(c) |
672,000 | 1 | ||||||
|
FIH Mobile Ltd.(a)(b) |
2,656,000 | 395,889 | ||||||
|
MH Development Ltd.(a)(c) |
112,000 | 9,188 | ||||||
|
PAX Global Technology Ltd. |
640,000 | 791,257 | ||||||
|
Tongda Group Holdings Ltd.(a) |
3,150,000 | 101,265 | ||||||
|
Zepp Health Corp., ADR(a)(b) |
24,718 | 268,932 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,566,532 | ||||||||
| Entertainment 3.4% | ||||||||
|
BAIOO Family Interactive Ltd.(e) |
924,000 | 99,459 | ||||||
|
Cathay Media And Education Group Inc.(e) |
346,000 | 138,718 | ||||||
|
CMGE Technology Group Ltd. |
792,000 | 355,414 | ||||||
|
DouYu International Holdings Ltd., ADR(a) |
119,658 | 512,136 | ||||||
|
FriendTimes Inc. |
528,000 | 96,356 | ||||||
|
Homeland Interactive Technology Ltd.(a)(b) |
346,000 | 112,554 | ||||||
|
iDreamSky Technology Holdings Ltd.(a)(e) |
411,600 | 249,603 | ||||||
|
IMAX China Holding Inc.(e) |
100,200 | 145,840 | ||||||
|
NetDragon Websoft Holdings Ltd. |
214,500 | 479,582 | ||||||
|
Untrade SMI Holdings(c) |
267,200 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
XD Inc.(a)(b) |
157,000 | 833,392 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,023,054 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 1.0% | ||||||||
|
China Merchants Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust |
500,000 | 190,937 | ||||||
|
Yuexiu REIT |
1,360,000 | 711,489 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 902,426 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 0.1% | ||||||||
|
111 Inc.(a)(b) |
21,207 | 130,423 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 2.0% | ||||||||
|
China Modern Dairy
Holdings
|
2,343,000 | 469,361 | ||||||
|
COFCO Joycome Foods Ltd. |
1,932,000 | 571,209 | ||||||
|
Zhou Hei Ya International Holdings Co. Ltd.(e) |
681,500 | 701,439 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,742,009 | ||||||||
| Gas Utilities 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Gas Blue Sky Holdings Ltd.(a)(c) |
3,264,000 | 34,506 | ||||||
|
China Tian Lun Gas
|
250,000 | 256,270 | ||||||
|
Towngas China Co. Ltd. |
862,000 | 627,299 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 918,075 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.6% | ||||||||
|
AK Medical Holdings Ltd.(e) |
396,000 | 407,100 | ||||||
|
Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments Co. Ltd.,
|
69,600 | 175,193 | ||||||
|
China Isotope & Radiation Corp.(b) |
42,000 | 130,679 | ||||||
|
Kangji Medical Holdings Ltd. |
247,500 | 346,629 | ||||||
|
Lifetech Scientific Corp.(a) |
3,036,000 | 1,640,868 | ||||||
|
Peijia Medical Ltd.(a)(e) |
132,000 | 387,758 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Kindly Medical Instruments Co. Ltd., Class H |
21,400 | 74,341 | ||||||
|
Untrade Hosa International Ltd.(c) |
220,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,162,568 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 1.7% | ||||||||
|
China Resources Medical Holdings Co. Ltd. |
698,500 | $ | 615,492 | |||||
|
Genertec Universal Medical Group Co. Ltd.(e) |
780,000 | 634,585 | ||||||
|
IVD Medical Holding Ltd. |
630,000 | 247,947 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,498,024 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.7% | ||||||||
|
BIT Mining Ltd., SP ADR(a)(b) |
32,337 | 305,585 | ||||||
|
CA Cultural Technology Group Ltd.(a)(b) |
482,000 | 170,071 | ||||||
|
China Travel International Investment Hong Kong Ltd.(a) |
1,794,000 | 250,984 | ||||||
|
GreenTree Hospitality Group Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
11,076 | 101,124 | ||||||
|
Huangshan Tourism Development Co. Ltd., Class B(a) |
185,400 | 129,557 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Jin Jiang Capital Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,096,000 | 215,281 | ||||||
|
Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co. Ltd.(e) |
353,000 | 311,912 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,484,514 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Konka Group Co. Ltd., Class B |
408,000 | 128,875 | ||||||
|
Q Technology Group Co. Ltd. |
342,000 | 600,416 | ||||||
|
Skyworth Group Ltd.(a) |
1,210,000 | 378,019 | ||||||
|
TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd. |
693,000 | 367,120 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,474,430 | ||||||||
| Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Energy International Holding Co. Ltd.(a) |
5,478,000 | 193,695 | ||||||
|
Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,152,000 | 296,211 | ||||||
|
Canvest Environmental Protection Group Co. Ltd. |
401,000 | 222,736 | ||||||
|
CGN New Energy Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,062,000 | 641,445 | ||||||
|
China Datang Corp. Renewable Power Co. Ltd., Class H |
1,856,000 | 539,359 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Greentech Ltd.(e) |
535,000 | 183,473 | ||||||
|
Concord New Energy Group Ltd. |
4,620,000 | 462,351 | ||||||
|
GCL New Energy Holdings Ltd.(a) |
6,864,000 | 308,425 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,847,695 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Shanghai Industrial Holdings Ltd. |
367,000 | 570,297 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Insurance 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Fanhua Inc., ADR |
33,099 | 473,978 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 1.9% | ||||||||
|
Inke Ltd.(a) |
924,000 | 213,988 | ||||||
|
Meitu Inc.(a)(e) |
1,782,000 | 426,022 | ||||||
|
Qutoutiao Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
70,632 | 98,885 | ||||||
|
Sohu.com Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
24,156 | 565,250 | ||||||
|
So-Young International Inc., ADR(a)(b) |
18,946 | 110,834 | ||||||
|
Tongdao Liepin Group(a) |
149,000 | 263,997 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,678,976 | ||||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Cango Inc./KY, ADR(b) |
22,341 | 98,300 | ||||||
|
Maoyan Entertainment(a)(b)(e) |
326,600 | 430,276 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 528,576 | ||||||||
| IT Services 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Digital China Holdings Ltd. |
603,000 | 376,053 | ||||||
|
Hi Sun Technology China Ltd.(a) |
1,500,000 | 253,562 | ||||||
|
INESA Intelligent Tech Inc., Class B |
247,500 | 112,674 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 742,289 | ||||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Viva Biotech Holdings(e) |
561,000 | 489,016 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Machinery 2.8% | ||||||||
|
China Yuchai International Ltd. |
11,583 | 165,058 | ||||||
|
CIMC Enric Holdings Ltd. |
590,000 | 866,707 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
43 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Machinery (continued) | ||||||||
|
CIMC Vehicles Group Co. Ltd., Class H(a)(e) |
192,500 | $ | 164,347 | |||||
|
First Tractor Co. Ltd., Class H |
330,000 | 178,149 | ||||||
|
Lonking Holdings Ltd. |
1,572,000 | 492,815 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Diesel Engine Co. Ltd., Class B |
284,065 | 148,833 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Highly Group Co. Ltd., Class B |
219,140 | 116,582 | ||||||
|
Sunpower Group Ltd.(b) |
260,700 | 120,020 | ||||||
|
Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
186,400 | 233,865 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,486,376 | ||||||||
| Media 1.0% | ||||||||
|
iClick Interactive Asia Group Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
51,315 | 246,825 | ||||||
|
Joy Spreader Group Inc.(a)(b) |
528,000 | 175,566 | ||||||
|
Mobvista Inc.(a)(b)(e) |
396,000 | 403,985 | ||||||
|
Netjoy Holdings Ltd.(a) |
165,000 | 91,389 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 917,765 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 3.1% | ||||||||
|
China Metal Recycling Holdings Ltd.(c) |
184,800 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
China Oriental Group Co. Ltd. |
930,000 | 343,657 | ||||||
|
China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd.(a)(b) |
1,271,200 | 275,870 | ||||||
|
Inner Mongolia Eerduosi Resources Co. Ltd., Class B |
204,900 | 367,220 | ||||||
|
Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd.(b) |
2,594,000 | 461,859 | ||||||
|
Perennial Energy Holdings Ltd. |
660,000 | 145,112 | ||||||
|
Shougang Fushan Resources Group Ltd. |
1,654,000 | 530,913 | ||||||
|
Tiangong International Co. Ltd. |
902,000 | 593,477 | ||||||
|
Untrade Real Gold Mining(c) |
126,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
Youyuan International Holdings Ltd.(c) |
120,000 | 2,206 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,720,314 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal Co. Ltd., Class B |
869,600 | 686,449 | ||||||
|
Sinopec Kantons Holdings Ltd. |
794,000 | 293,581 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 980,030 | ||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 0.0% | ||||||||
|
China Forestry Holdings Co. Ltd.(c) |
306,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
Qunxing Paper Holdings Co. Ltd.(c) |
148,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
Superb Summit International Group Ltd.(c) |
2,975 | 2 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 5.4% | ||||||||
|
Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Co. Ltd. |
212,000 | 292,327 | ||||||
|
China Animal Healthcare Ltd.(c) |
140,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Ltd., Class A(b) |
868,000 | 691,949 | ||||||
|
China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.(b) |
245,000 | 264,931 | ||||||
|
Consun Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. |
330,000 | 155,262 | ||||||
|
Hua Han Health Industry Holdings Ltd.(c) |
651,960 | 1 | ||||||
|
Hua Medicine(a)(e) |
561,000 | 331,805 | ||||||
|
Lees Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd. |
192,500 | 99,834 | ||||||
|
Luye Pharma Group Ltd.(a)(e) |
1,452,000 | 772,840 | ||||||
|
Ocumension Therapeutics(a)(b)(e) |
132,000 | 323,078 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class H |
210,000 | 112,093 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Haixin Group Co., Class B |
359,763 | 126,592 | ||||||
|
Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd.(b) |
3,093,000 | 918,572 | ||||||
|
Tianjin ZhongXin Pharmaceutical Group Corp. Ltd., Class S(b) |
161,700 | 213,444 | ||||||
|
Tong Ren Tang Technologies Co. Ltd., Class H |
495,000 | 369,144 | ||||||
|
YiChang HEC ChangJiang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class H(b)(e) |
188,000 | 130,321 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,802,193 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Professional Services 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Renrui Human Resources Technology Holdings Ltd. |
44,700 | $ | 53,542 | |||||
|
SOS Ltd.(a)(b) |
144,738 | 392,240 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 445,782 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 16.9% | ||||||||
|
Aoyuan Healthy Life Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
243,000 | 137,242 | ||||||
|
Beijing Capital Land Ltd., Class H(a) |
1,214,000 | 429,254 | ||||||
|
Beijing North Star Co. Ltd., Class H |
540,000 | 92,383 | ||||||
|
C&D International Investment Group Ltd.(a) |
278,000 | 570,151 | ||||||
|
C&D Property Management Group Co. Ltd.(a) |
330,000 | 179,960 | ||||||
|
Central China Management Co. Ltd. |
793,038 | 175,243 | ||||||
|
Central China New Life Ltd. |
245,000 | 176,556 | ||||||
|
Central China Real Estate Ltd. |
743,038 | 181,228 | ||||||
|
China Logistics Property Holdings Co. Ltd.(a)(b)(e) |
477,000 | 245,938 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Land Ltd. |
1,004,000 | 131,625 | ||||||
|
China Overseas Grand Oceans Group Ltd. |
1,395,000 | 927,060 | ||||||
|
China SCE Group Holdings Ltd. |
1,397,800 | 559,816 | ||||||
|
China South City Holdings Ltd. |
3,664,000 | 338,973 | ||||||
|
China Vast Industrial Urban Development Co. Ltd.(e) |
298,000 | 98,089 | ||||||
|
Colour Life Services Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
348,000 | 120,005 | ||||||
|
Cosmopolitan International Holdings Ltd.(a) |
1,424,000 | 205,065 | ||||||
|
DaFa Properties Group Ltd.(b) |
210,000 | 180,908 | ||||||
|
Datang Group Holdings Ltd.(b) |
267,000 | 159,543 | ||||||
|
Dexin China Holdings Co. Ltd. |
675,000 | 247,350 | ||||||
|
E-House China Enterprise Holdings Ltd. |
579,600 | 163,987 | ||||||
|
Excellence Commercial Property & Facilities Management Group Ltd. |
264,000 | 212,056 | ||||||
|
Fantasia Holdings Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
1,435,500 | 130,751 | ||||||
|
Ganglong China Property Group Ltd. |
397,000 | 239,357 | ||||||
|
Gemdale Properties & Investment Corp. Ltd. |
5,388,000 | 604,238 | ||||||
|
Glory Sun Financial Group Ltd.(a) |
8,996,000 | 268,349 | ||||||
|
Greenland Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. |
677,000 | 187,874 | ||||||
|
Huijing Holdings Co. Ltd. |
630,000 | 157,957 | ||||||
|
Jiayuan International Group Ltd.(b) |
1,144,000 | 454,514 | ||||||
|
Jingrui Holdings Ltd. |
430,000 | 140,432 | ||||||
|
JY Grandmark Holdings Ltd.(b) |
393,000 | 162,709 | ||||||
|
Kaisa Prosperity Holdings Ltd. |
46,500 | 146,621 | ||||||
|
KWG Living Group Holdings Ltd. |
745,000 | 625,001 | ||||||
|
Leading Holdings Group Ltd.(a) |
243,000 | 207,171 | ||||||
|
LVGEM China Real Estate Investment Co.
|
860,000 | 200,143 | ||||||
|
Poly Property Group Co. Ltd. |
1,568,000 | 414,892 | ||||||
|
Powerlong Commercial Management Holdings Ltd. |
131,500 | 364,590 | ||||||
|
Radiance Holdings Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
661,000 | 399,450 | ||||||
|
Redco Properties Group Ltd.(e) |
864,000 | 294,521 | ||||||
|
Redsun Properties Group Ltd. |
827,000 | 287,099 | ||||||
|
Road King Infrastructure Ltd. |
192,000 | 218,128 | ||||||
|
Ronshine China Holdings Ltd.(b) |
484,500 | 261,693 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Industrial Urban Development Group Ltd. |
1,584,000 | 130,252 | ||||||
|
Shoucheng Holdings Ltd. |
1,755,600 | 377,305 | ||||||
|
Shui On Land Ltd.(a) |
2,967,500 | 484,311 | ||||||
|
Sino-Ocean Group Holding Ltd. |
2,484,000 | 509,970 | ||||||
|
Skyfame Realty Holdings Ltd. |
2,000,000 | 239,153 | ||||||
|
SOHO China Ltd.(a) |
1,706,500 | 700,601 | ||||||
|
Sunkwan Properties Group Ltd. |
528,000 | 179,905 | ||||||
|
Times Neighborhood Holdings Ltd.(b) |
430,000 | 270,391 | ||||||
|
Yincheng International Holding Co. Ltd. |
350,000 | 139,056 | ||||||
|
Yuzhou Group Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,629,059 | 314,189 | ||||||
|
Zhuguang Holdings Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
1,474,000 | 325,952 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14,969,007 | ||||||||
| 44 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Road & Rail 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Shanghai Jin Jiang Online Network Service Co. Ltd., Class B |
132,739 | $ | 92,558 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.4% | ||||||||
|
GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd.(a)(b) |
18,365,000 | 2,618,815 | ||||||
|
JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
30,690 | 1,509,948 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics Group Co. Ltd., Class H(a) |
222,000 | 687,686 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,816,449 | ||||||||
| Software 1.2% | ||||||||
|
AsiaInfo Technologies Ltd.(e) |
145,200 | 238,425 | ||||||
|
Bit Digital Inc.(a)(b) |
31,614 | 405,291 | ||||||
|
Inspur International Ltd.(a) |
374,000 | 189,233 | ||||||
|
Newborn Town Inc.(a) |
330,000 | 206,892 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,039,841 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Boshiwa International Holding Ltd.(c) |
67,000 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
China Harmony Auto Holding Ltd. |
646,000 | 363,805 | ||||||
|
Mulsanne Group Holding Ltd.(a)(e) |
192,500 | 149,249 | ||||||
|
Pou Sheng International Holdings Ltd.(a)(b) |
1,757,000 | 355,225 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 868,279 | ||||||||
| Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Canaan Inc.(a)(b) |
80,190 | 753,787 | ||||||
|
Ebang International Holdings Inc.,
|
108,293 | 277,230 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,031,017 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 3.3% | ||||||||
|
361 Degrees International Ltd.(a) |
675,000 | 321,989 | ||||||
|
China Dongxiang Group Co. Ltd. |
2,423,000 | 286,493 | ||||||
|
China Lilang Ltd. |
330,000 | 205,910 | ||||||
|
Fuguiniao Co. Ltd.(c) |
43,200 | 0 | (d) | |||||
|
JNBY Design Ltd. |
124,500 | 295,824 | ||||||
|
Xtep International Holdings Ltd.(b) |
1,072,500 | 1,828,902 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,939,118 | ||||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 0.2% | ||||||||
|
China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Ltd. |
199,500 | 140,929 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Anhui Expressway Co. Ltd., Class H |
350,000 | 214,299 | ||||||
|
COSCO SHIPPING International Hong Kong Co. Ltd. |
436,000 | 145,642 | ||||||
|
Hainan Meilan International Airport Co. Ltd., Class H(a) |
150,000 | 472,471 | ||||||
|
Sichuan Expressway Co. Ltd., Class H |
638,000 | 145,957 | ||||||
|
Tianjin Port Development Holdings Ltd. |
1,494,000 | 122,614 | ||||||
|
Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure Ltd. |
794,000 | 468,593 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,569,576 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Water Utilities 0.9% | ||||||||
|
China Everbright Water Ltd. |
698,000 | $ | 137,452 | |||||
|
China Water Affairs Group Ltd. |
670,000 | 667,635 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 805,087 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.8%
|
88,647,294 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Rights |
||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.0% | ||||||||
|
Tongda Group Holdings Ltd., (Expires 09/06/21)(a) |
1,620,000 | 2,083 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Rights 0.0%
|
2,083 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
| Money Market Funds 25.0% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 0.06%(f)(g)(h) |
22,107,318 | 22,118,371 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(f)(g) |
50,000 | 50,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 22,168,371 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 25.0%
|
22,168,371 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 124.8%
|
110,817,748 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (24.8)% |
(21,996,899 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 88,820,849 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (d) |
Rounds to less than $1. |
| (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) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (g) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (h) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
45 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China Small-Cap ETF |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 8,354,349 | $ | 13,769,362 | (a) | $ | | $ | (3,154 | ) | $ | (2,186 | ) | $ | 22,118,371 | 22,107,318 | $ | 415,280 | (b) | $ | | |||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
40,000 | 10,000 | (a) | | | | 50,000 | 50,000 | 27 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (3,154 | ) | $ | (2,186 | ) | $ | 22,168,371 | $ | 415,307 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI China Index |
6 | 09/17/21 | $ | 308 | $ | (3,678 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 3,678 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (180,689 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (3,678 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 245,379 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
| 46 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI China Small-Cap 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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 23,388,387 | $ | 65,199,748 | $ | 59,159 | $ | 88,647,294 | ||||||||
|
Rights |
2,083 | | | 2,083 | ||||||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
22,168,371 | | | 22,168,371 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 45,558,841 | $ | 65,199,748 | $ | 59,159 | $ | 110,817,748 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | (3,678 | ) | $ | | $ | (3,678 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
47 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Indonesia ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
| Auto Components 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Selamat Sempurna Tbk PT |
13,213,900 | $ | 1,315,599 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Automobiles 4.3% | ||||||||
|
Astra International Tbk PT |
41,391,530 | 15,153,236 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 42.9% | ||||||||
|
Bank BTPN Syariah Tbk PT |
8,392,400 | 1,645,961 | ||||||
|
Bank Central Asia Tbk PT |
32,765,858 | 75,211,206 | ||||||
|
Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk PT |
37,787,360 | 16,153,740 | ||||||
|
Bank Negara Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
24,490,258 | 9,253,989 | ||||||
|
Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat Dan Banten Tbk PT |
15,151,436 | 1,310,752 | ||||||
|
Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Timur Tbk PT |
23,482,200 | 1,176,610 | ||||||
|
Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
161,595,260 | 44,439,494 | ||||||
|
Bank Tabungan Negara Persero Tbk PT(a) |
19,493,426 | 1,916,328 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 151,108,080 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Pacific Strategic Financial Tbk PT(a) |
26,469,600 | 1,614,622 | ||||||
|
Pool Advista Indonesia Tbk PT(a)(b) |
7,126,300 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,614,622 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Barito Pacific Tbk PT |
93,224,900 | 6,954,671 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction & Engineering 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Agung Semesta Sejahtera Tbk PT(a) |
30,569,008 | 107,166 | ||||||
|
PP Persero Tbk PT(a) |
16,075,322 | 1,018,168 | ||||||
|
Waskita Karya Persero Tbk PT(a) |
22,236,500 | 1,300,586 | ||||||
|
Wijaya Karya Persero Tbk PT(a) |
15,810,370 | 1,040,170 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,466,090 | ||||||||
| Construction Materials 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa Tbk PT |
5,311,844 | 4,185,453 | ||||||
|
Semen Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
10,076,955 | 6,526,018 | ||||||
|
Waskita Beton Precast Tbk PT(a) |
71,271,100 | 669,333 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,380,804 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 13.4% | ||||||||
|
Inovisi Infracom Tbk PT(b) |
9,476,400 | 0 | (c) | |||||
|
Link Net Tbk PT |
5,739,100 | 1,629,520 | ||||||
|
Sarana Menara Nusantara Tbk PT |
57,590,000 | 5,409,669 | ||||||
|
Telkom Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
142,505,390 | 34,007,700 | ||||||
|
Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk PT |
28,038,700 | 6,148,952 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 47,195,841 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Erajaya Swasembada Tbk PT |
42,417,200 | 1,794,812 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Pelayaran Tamarin Samudra Tbk PT(a) |
87,360,300 | 306,259 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 7.3% | ||||||||
|
Astra Agro Lestari Tbk PT |
439,100 | 259,887 | ||||||
|
Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk PT |
23,961,625 | 10,740,313 | ||||||
|
Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk PT |
8,071,854 | 4,769,793 | ||||||
|
Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk PT |
14,806,230 | 6,405,032 | ||||||
|
Inti Agri Resources Tbk PT(a)(b) |
190,840,700 | 0 | (c) | |||||
|
Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk PT |
17,832,500 | 2,257,434 | ||||||
|
Perusahaan Perkebunan London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk PT |
17,058,000 | 1,309,257 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 25,741,716 | ||||||||
| Gas Utilities 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk PT(a) |
40,382,507 | 2,926,413 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Metro Healthcare Indonesia TBK PT(a) |
16,224,200 | $ | 477,678 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Household Products 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT |
24,681,120 | 7,007,884 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Insurance 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Panin Financial Tbk PT(a) |
83,650,778 | 1,095,409 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Marine 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk PT(a) |
20,933,614 | 73,387 | ||||||
|
Trada Alam Minera Tbk PT(a)(b) |
163,879,000 | 0 | (c) | |||||
|
Transcoal Pacific Tbk PT |
680,500 | 405,556 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 478,943 | ||||||||
| Media 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Media Nusantara Citra Tbk PT(a) |
24,226,600 | 1,485,714 | ||||||
|
MNC Vision Networks Tbk PT(a) |
21,878,000 | 426,439 | ||||||
|
Surya Citra Media Tbk PT(a) |
18,279,900 | 2,599,684 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,511,837 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 3.0% | ||||||||
|
Aneka Tambang Tbk |
29,761,354 | 4,983,443 | ||||||
|
Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk PT(a) |
25,266,600 | 4,992,828 | ||||||
|
Timah Tbk PT(a) |
4,006,300 | 428,083 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,404,354 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk PT(a) |
38,055,300 | 1,973,618 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 3.7% | ||||||||
|
Adaro Energy Tbk PT |
52,452,939 | 4,630,158 | ||||||
|
AKR Corporindo Tbk PT |
8,261,400 | 2,249,942 | ||||||
|
Bukit Asam Tbk PT |
14,894,600 | 2,202,658 | ||||||
|
Indo Tambangraya Megah Tbk PT |
1,981,100 | 2,220,975 | ||||||
|
Medco Energi Internasional Tbk PT(a) |
37,763,786 | 1,256,492 | ||||||
|
Sekawan Intipratama Tbk PT(b) |
30,572,100 | 0 | (c) | |||||
|
Sugih Energy Tbk PT(a)(b) |
39,886,700 | 28 | ||||||
|
United Tractors Tbk PT |
220,396 | 309,802 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,870,055 | ||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 2.1% | ||||||||
|
Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk PT |
9,306,000 | 5,150,012 | ||||||
|
Pabrik Kertas Tjiwi Kimia Tbk PT |
4,083,900 | 2,160,702 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,310,714 | ||||||||
| Personal Products 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Industri Jamu Dan Farmasi Sido Muncul Tbk PT |
31,104,100 | 1,733,760 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 1.9% | ||||||||
|
Kalbe Farma Tbk PT |
71,148,885 | 6,705,961 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Bumi Serpong Damai Tbk PT(a) |
31,711,222 | 2,133,436 | ||||||
|
Ciputra Development Tbk PT |
38,017,013 | 2,329,240 | ||||||
|
Hanson International Tbk PT(a)(b) |
372,896,535 | 0 | (c) | |||||
|
Lippo Karawaci Tbk PT(a) |
123,442,442 | 1,149,566 | ||||||
|
Pakuwon Jati Tbk PT(a) |
72,492,077 | 2,323,768 | ||||||
|
Puradelta Lestari Tbk PT |
67,730,600 | 891,214 | ||||||
|
Rimo International Lestari Tbk PT(a)(b) |
54,096,000 | 0 | (c) | |||||
|
Summarecon Agung Tbk PT(a) |
43,415,986 | 2,416,063 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,243,287 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Ace Hardware Indonesia Tbk PT |
28,175,479 | 2,739,915 | ||||||
|
Bintang Oto Global Tbk PT(a) |
13,356,800 | 1,292,001 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,031,916 | ||||||||
| 48 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Indonesia ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Tobacco 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Gudang Garam Tbk PT |
1,647,442 | $ | 3,814,863 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Jasa Marga Persero Tbk PT(a) |
8,927,008 | 2,475,846 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Indosat Tbk PT(a) |
5,938,500 | 2,633,772 | ||||||
|
Smartfren Telecom Tbk PT(a) |
114,617,700 | 1,076,170 | ||||||
|
XL Axiata Tbk PT |
14,536,800 | 2,718,218 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,428,160 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.9%
|
351,522,428 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.0% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(d)(e) |
20,000 | 20,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.0%
|
20,000 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.9%
|
351,542,428 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.1% |
415,292 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 351,957,720 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (c) |
Rounds to less than $1. |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds from Sales |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 560,000 | $ | | $(540,000 | )(a) | $ | | $ | | $ | 20,000 | 20,000 | $ | 109 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
5 | 09/17/21 | $ | 325 | $ | 346 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
49 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Indonesia ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
|
|||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 346 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 148,649 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (27,384 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 700,002 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 5,982,788 | $ | 345,539,612 | $ | 28 | $ | 351,522,428 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
20,000 | | | 20,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 6,002,788 | $ | 345,539,612 | $ | 28 | $ | 351,542,428 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 346 | $ | | $ | | $ | 346 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 50 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Peru ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Banks 27.3% | ||||||||
|
Banco BBVA Peru SA |
4,854,748 | $ | 2,041,431 | |||||
|
Credicorp Ltd.(a) |
209,193 | 22,306,250 | ||||||
|
Intercorp Financial Services Inc. |
79,414 | 1,795,550 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 26,143,231 | ||||||||
| Construction & Engineering 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Aenza SAA(a) |
6,464,096 | 2,165,050 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction Materials 4.7% | ||||||||
|
Cementos Pacasmayo SAA |
1,760,520 | 1,893,796 | ||||||
|
Union Andina de Cementos SAA |
7,726,817 | 2,644,650 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,538,446 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 2.5% | ||||||||
|
InRetail Peru Corp.(b) |
85,148 | 2,426,718 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 4.5% | ||||||||
|
Alicorp SAA |
3,192,801 | 3,738,926 | ||||||
|
Casa Grande SAA |
482,984 | 604,564 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,343,490 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 46.2% | ||||||||
|
Cia. de Minas Buenaventura SAA, ADR(a) |
591,544 | 4,436,580 | ||||||
|
Corp. Aceros Arequipa SA, NVS |
2,646,165 | 659,867 | ||||||
|
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.(a) |
490,189 | 2,152,457 | ||||||
|
Hochschild Mining PLC |
1,879,223 | 3,901,312 | ||||||
|
MMG Ltd.(a) |
6,052,000 | 2,914,895 | ||||||
|
Pan American Silver Corp. |
92,833 | 2,410,501 | ||||||
|
Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde SAA |
162,886 | 2,557,310 | ||||||
|
Southern Copper Corp. |
317,396 | 19,865,816 | ||||||
|
Volcan Cia. Minera SAA, Class B, NVS(a) |
22,570,437 | 2,703,806 | ||||||
|
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. |
59,411 | 2,677,533 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 44,280,077 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 4.2% | ||||||||
|
Falabella SA |
625,112 | 2,475,907 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Multiline Retail (continued) | ||||||||
|
Ripley Corp. SA(a) |
6,782,332 | $ | 1,531,151 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,007,058 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.9% | ||||||||
|
PetroTal Corp.(a) |
8,041,041 | 1,794,473 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Parque Arauco SA(a) |
1,815,336 | 2,181,654 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 3.3% | ||||||||
|
Ferreycorp SAA |
7,468,716 | 3,140,609 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.1%
|
|
95,020,806 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.6% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(c)(d) |
540,000 | 540,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.6%
|
|
540,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.7%
|
|
95,560,806 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.3% |
|
300,964 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 95,861,770 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 110,000 | $430,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 540,000 | 540,000 | $ | 72 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
51 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Peru ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
12 | 09/17/21 | $ | 780 | $ | 7,289 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 7,289 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 47,443 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 6,201 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 444,324 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 90,311,438 | $ | 4,709,368 | $ | | $ | 95,020,806 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
540,000 | | | 540,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 90,851,438 | $ | 4,709,368 | $ | | $ | 95,560,806 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 7,289 | $ | | $ | | $ | 7,289 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 52 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Philippines ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Airlines 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Cebu Air Inc.(a) |
371,740 | $ | 328,387 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 13.2% | ||||||||
|
Bank of the Philippine Islands |
3,232,875 | 5,406,537 | ||||||
|
BDO Unibank Inc. |
2,436,204 | 5,381,685 | ||||||
|
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. |
4,140,314 | 3,761,652 | ||||||
|
Security Bank Corp. |
854,700 | 1,943,290 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,493,164 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 1.0% | ||||||||
|
D&L Industries Inc. |
8,026,500 | 1,302,079 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. |
32,555,050 | 2,517,471 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electric Utilities 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Manila Electric Co |
542,120 | 3,071,575 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Cosco Capital Inc. |
8,758,500 | 880,251 | ||||||
|
Puregold Price Club Inc. |
2,301,160 | 1,931,124 | ||||||
|
Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. |
808,450 | 828,763 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,640,138 | ||||||||
| Food Products 4.8% | ||||||||
|
Century Pacific Food Inc. |
2,231,700 | 1,146,940 | ||||||
|
Universal Robina Corp. |
1,590,558 | 4,821,229 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,968,169 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 4.4% | ||||||||
|
Bloomberry Resorts Corp.(a) |
11,075,265 | 1,317,901 | ||||||
|
Jollibee Foods Corp. |
1,030,891 | 4,181,584 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,499,485 | ||||||||
| Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 2.8% | ||||||||
|
AC Energy Corp. |
12,274,054 | 2,365,994 | ||||||
|
First Gen Corp.(b) |
2,066,547 | 1,175,543 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,541,537 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 27.3% | ||||||||
|
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. |
3,798,037 | 3,275,437 | ||||||
|
Alliance Global Group Inc. |
8,781,339 | 1,818,046 | ||||||
|
Ayala Corp. |
526,188 | 8,381,990 | ||||||
|
DMCI Holdings Inc. |
11,300,700 | 1,433,315 | ||||||
|
GT Capital Holdings Inc. |
240,946 | 2,611,802 | ||||||
|
JG Summit Holdings Inc. |
5,644,891 | 7,363,888 | ||||||
|
SM Investments Corp. |
457,586 | 9,249,630 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 34,134,108 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Semirara Mining & Power Corp. |
3,696,700 | 1,260,993 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 23.0% | ||||||||
|
Ayala Land Inc. |
15,504,950 | $ | 10,518,433 | |||||
|
DoubleDragon Properties Corp. |
3,029,790 | 609,003 | ||||||
|
Filinvest Land Inc. |
39,811,590 | 904,263 | ||||||
|
Megaworld Corp. |
29,262,960 | 1,657,401 | ||||||
|
Robinsons Land Corp. |
2,708,706 | 895,531 | ||||||
|
SM Prime Holdings Inc. |
19,570,835 | 13,351,209 | ||||||
|
Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. |
12,348,900 | 886,142 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 28,821,982 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 2.3% | ||||||||
|
AllHome Corp. |
4,691,500 | 759,127 | ||||||
|
Wilcon Depot Inc. |
4,288,800 | 2,154,195 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,913,322 | ||||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 4.5% | ||||||||
|
International Container Terminal Services Inc. |
1,491,013 | 5,580,031 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Water Utilities 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Manila Water Co. Inc.(a) |
1,211,829 | 442,333 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 7.1% | ||||||||
|
Globe Telecom Inc. |
70,035 | 3,829,049 | ||||||
|
PLDT Inc. |
172,089 | 5,053,666 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,882,715 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.5%
|
|
124,397,489 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.1% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(c)(d) |
140,000 | 140,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.1%
|
|
140,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.6%
|
|
124,537,489 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.4% |
|
505,708 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 125,043,197 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (c) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
53 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Philippines ETF |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $140,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 140,000 | 140,000 | $ | 67 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
7 | 09/17/21 | $ | 455 | $ | 5,047 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 5,047 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 30,210 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 59,178 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 1,017,297 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
| 54 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Philippines ETF |
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 67,379,976 | $ | 55,841,970 | $ | 1,175,543 | $ | 124,397,489 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
140,000 | | | 140,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 67,519,976 | $ | 55,841,970 | $ | 1,175,543 | $ | 124,537,489 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 5,047 | $ | | $ | | $ | 5,047 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
55 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Poland ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Banks 25.8% | ||||||||
|
Alior Bank SA(a)(b) |
104,555 | $ | 1,192,700 | |||||
|
Bank Handlowy w Warszawie SA(a) |
177,629 | 2,124,341 | ||||||
|
Bank Millennium SA(a) |
3,006,618 | 5,180,914 | ||||||
|
Bank Polska Kasa Opieki SA(a) |
559,207 | 15,637,507 | ||||||
|
mBank SA(a) |
67,437 | 6,527,489 | ||||||
|
Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA(a) |
2,852,073 | 31,307,620 | ||||||
|
Santander Bank Polska SA(a) |
143,995 | 11,363,154 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 73,333,725 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Warsaw Stock Exchange |
147,384 | 1,666,952 | ||||||
|
X-Trade Brokers Dom Maklerski SA(b)(c) |
140,869 | 522,960 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,189,912 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Ciech SA |
162,868 | 1,998,563 | ||||||
|
Grupa Azoty SA(a) |
241,822 | 1,849,897 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,848,460 | ||||||||
| Construction & Engineering 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Budimex SA |
53,230 | 4,113,698 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Consumer Finance 2.3% | ||||||||
|
KRUK SA |
78,359 | 6,482,338 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 2.1% | ||||||||
|
Orange Polska SA(a) |
2,811,237 | 6,077,319 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electric Utilities 5.8% | ||||||||
|
Enea SA(a) |
1,138,826 | 2,955,054 | ||||||
|
PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA(a) |
3,395,317 | 8,939,617 | ||||||
|
Tauron Polska Energia SA(a) |
4,988,377 | 4,725,733 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,620,404 | ||||||||
| Entertainment 5.1% | ||||||||
|
CD Projekt SA(b) |
238,363 | 10,585,851 | ||||||
|
HUUUGE Inc.(c) |
85,416 | 824,761 | ||||||
|
PlayWay SA(b) |
5,299 | 604,070 | ||||||
|
TEN Square Games SA(b) |
17,531 | 2,350,159 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14,364,841 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 4.6% | ||||||||
|
Dino Polska SA(a)(c) |
137,233 | 11,630,310 | ||||||
|
Eurocash SA(b) |
439,346 | 1,365,164 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,995,474 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Mercator Medical SA(a)(b) |
14,144 | 666,551 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Neuca SA |
12,328 | 3,009,459 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.1% | ||||||||
|
AmRest Holdings SE(a)(b) |
386,468 | 3,167,348 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Insurance 7.1% | ||||||||
|
Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA(a) |
1,903,419 | 20,171,643 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 7.3% | ||||||||
|
Allegro.eu SA(a)(c) |
1,122,713 | 20,814,811 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Media 3.9% | ||||||||
|
Cyfrowy Polsat SA |
1,156,802 | $ | 11,042,043 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Metals & Mining 8.4% | ||||||||
|
Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa SA(a)(b) |
287,114 | 3,025,283 | ||||||
|
KGHM Polska Miedz SA |
447,450 | 20,840,973 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 23,866,256 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 12.4% | ||||||||
|
Grupa Lotos SA |
407,996 | 6,201,576 | ||||||
|
Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN SA |
927,118 | 17,975,494 | ||||||
|
Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA |
6,680,623 | 10,988,584 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 35,165,654 | ||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Celon Pharma SA(b) |
59,762 | 663,910 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Software 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Asseco Poland SA |
256,521 | 5,620,653 | ||||||
|
LiveChat Software SA(b) |
49,960 | 1,466,132 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,086,785 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 6.5% | ||||||||
|
CCC SA(a) |
159,247 | 5,098,096 | ||||||
|
LPP SA |
3,659 | 13,350,761 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 18,448,857 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 100.0%
|
|
284,129,488 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 5.6% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 0.06%(d)(e)(f) |
13,500,374 | 13,507,125 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(d)(e) |
2,310,000 | 2,310,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 15,817,125 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 5.6%
|
|
15,817,125 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 105.6%
|
|
299,946,613 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (5.6)% |
|
(15,800,378 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 284,146,235 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
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. |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (f) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
| 56 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Poland ETF |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 5,967,786 | $ | 7,544,567 | (a) | $ | | $ | (3,553 | ) | $ | (1,675 | ) | $ | 13,507,125 | 13,500,374 | $ | 217,973 | (b) | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
1,381,000 | 929,000 | (a) | | | | 2,310,000 | 2,310,000 | 754 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (3,553 | ) | $ | (1,675 | ) | $ | 15,817,125 | $ | 218,727 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
16 | 09/17/21 | $ | 1,039 | $ | (13,633 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 13,633 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 133,522 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (43,729 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 1,128,390 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
57 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Poland 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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 81,169,143 | $ | 202,960,345 | $ | | $ | 284,129,488 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
15,817,125 | | | 15,817,125 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 96,986,268 | $ | 202,960,345 | $ | | $ | 299,946,613 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | (13,633 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | (13,633 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 58 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Qatar ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Gulf Warehousing Co. |
719,943 | $ | 993,697 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 48.0% | ||||||||
|
Commercial Bank PSQC (The) |
2,414,420 | 3,945,404 | ||||||
|
Doha Bank QPSC |
2,695,655 | 2,101,079 | ||||||
|
Masraf Al Rayan QSC |
4,415,799 | 5,437,587 | ||||||
|
Qatar First Bank(a) |
1,715,005 | 839,633 | ||||||
|
Qatar International Islamic Bank QSC |
1,084,486 | 2,817,609 | ||||||
|
Qatar Islamic Bank SAQ |
1,410,863 | 6,987,495 | ||||||
|
Qatar National Bank QPSC |
3,713,524 | 19,266,104 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 41,394,911 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 3.9% | ||||||||
|
Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Co. |
6,297,520 | 3,406,865 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction Materials 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Qatar National Cement Co. QSC |
661,256 | 896,133 | ||||||
|
Qatari Investors Group QSC |
963,146 | 683,195 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,579,328 | ||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Salam International Investment Ltd. QSC(a) |
3,329,971 | 856,149 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 2.7% | ||||||||
|
Ooredoo QPSC |
1,248,553 | 2,335,926 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Gulf International Services QSC(a) |
2,269,494 | 912,378 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Al Meera Consumer Goods Co. QSC |
216,954 | 1,163,155 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Baladna |
1,973,952 | 879,330 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Medicare Group |
393,454 | 899,780 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 10.5% | ||||||||
|
Aamal Co. |
3,682,219 | 987,572 | ||||||
|
Industries Qatar QSC |
1,990,214 | 6,921,313 | ||||||
|
Mannai Corp. QSC |
437,300 | 473,396 | ||||||
|
Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Co. QSC |
821,184 | 640,279 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,022,560 | ||||||||
| Insurance 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Qatar Insurance Co. SAQ(a) |
2,562,229 | 1,724,200 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Marine 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Qatar Navigation QSC |
958,297 | $ | 1,942,469 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Metals & Mining 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Qatar Aluminum Manufacturing Co. |
4,877,323 | 2,151,566 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Multi-Utilities 3.7% | ||||||||
|
Qatar Electricity & Water Co. QSC |
706,315 | 3,174,090 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 7.4% | ||||||||
|
Qatar Fuel QSC |
682,394 | 3,377,413 | ||||||
|
Qatar Gas Transport Co. Ltd. |
3,616,049 | 3,028,560 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,405,973 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 6.6% | ||||||||
|
Barwa Real Estate Co. |
2,929,283 | 2,429,627 | ||||||
|
Ezdan Holding Group QSC(a) |
2,959,299 | 1,267,013 | ||||||
|
Mazaya Real Estate Development QPSC |
2,207,942 | 635,792 | ||||||
|
United Development Co. QSC |
3,368,396 | 1,377,300 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,709,732 | ||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Vodafone Qatar QSC |
3,366,296 | 1,445,822 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.7%
|
|
85,997,931 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.0% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(b)(c) |
20,000 | 20,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.0%
|
|
20,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.7%
|
|
86,017,931 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.3% |
|
216,024 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 86,233,955 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (c) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 30,000 | $ | | $(10,000 | )(a) | $ | | $ | | $ | 20,000 | 20,000 | $ | 68 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
59 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Qatar ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
2 | 09/17/21 | $ | 130 | $ | (172 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 172 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 5,525 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 31 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 116,372 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 63,728,896 | $ | 22,269,035 | $ | | $ | 85,997,931 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
20,000 | | | 20,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 63,748,896 | $ | 22,269,035 | $ | | $ | 86,017,931 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | (172 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | (172 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 60 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
61 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Specialty Retail (continued) | ||||||||
|
Jarir Marketing Co. |
207,427 | $ | 11,978,628 | |||||
|
Saudi Co. For Hardware CJSC |
102,356 | 1,757,466 | ||||||
|
United Electronics Co. |
132,672 | 5,064,118 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20,914,232 | ||||||||
| Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Amlak International for Real |
99,651 | 624,363 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Saudi Ground Services Co.(a) |
376,067 | 3,509,625 | ||||||
|
Saudi Industrial Services Co. |
112,626 | 1,312,224 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,821,849 | ||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Etihad Etisalat Co. |
1,328,041 | 11,330,501 | ||||||
|
Mobile Telecommunications Co.(a) |
1,705,015 | 6,582,403 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 17,912,904 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.7%
|
|
896,163,372 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.4% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(c)(d) |
3,190,000 | $ | 3,190,000 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.4%
|
|
3,190,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.1%
|
|
899,353,372 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.1)% |
|
(669,715 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 898,683,657 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 1,200,000 | $ | 1,990,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 3,190,000 | 3,190,000 | $ | 333 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
33 | 09/17/21 | $ | 2,144 | $ | 46,634 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 46,634 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
| 62 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 200,375 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 45,092 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 1,362,302 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 515,542,415 | $ | 380,620,957 | $ | | $ | 896,163,372 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
3,190,000 | | | 3,190,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 518,732,415 | $ | 380,620,957 | $ | | $ | 899,353,372 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 46,634 | $ | | $ | | $ | 46,634 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
63 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI UAE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Aramex PJSC |
542,235 | $ | 591,889 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Airlines 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Air Arabia PJSC(a) |
1,770,558 | 683,766 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 44.3% | ||||||||
|
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC |
507,061 | 1,036,720 | ||||||
|
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC |
677,690 | 1,040,255 | ||||||
|
Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC |
661,975 | 918,650 | ||||||
|
Emirates NBD Bank PJSC |
607,420 | 2,290,341 | ||||||
|
First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC |
1,126,016 | 5,211,405 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,497,371 | ||||||||
| Building Products 0.7% | ||||||||
|
National Central Cooling Co. PJSC |
212,860 | 163,999 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Capital Markets 3.4% | ||||||||
|
Dubai Financial Market PJSC(a) |
1,784,305 | 548,920 | ||||||
|
SHUAA Capital PSC |
1,296,348 | 248,543 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 797,463 | ||||||||
| Construction & Engineering 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Arabtec Holding PJSC(a)(b) |
2,433,366 | 7 | ||||||
|
Drake & Scull International PJSC(a)(b) |
2,972,998 | 119,789 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 119,796 | ||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 4.9% | ||||||||
|
Al Waha Capital PJSC |
1,217,714 | 646,102 | ||||||
|
Amanat Holdings PJSC(a) |
1,278,035 | 413,778 | ||||||
|
Gulf General Investment Co.(a)(b) |
7,295,803 | 106,364 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,166,244 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 12.0% | ||||||||
|
Emirates Telecommunications Group Co. PJSC |
444,149 | 2,853,659 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Lamprell PLC(a) |
305,733 | 156,365 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 2.4% | ||||||||
|
Agthia Group PJSC |
308,125 | 562,035 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 0.0% | ||||||||
|
NMC Health PLC(b) |
112,588 | 1 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Dubai Investments PJSC |
1,516,377 | 754,313 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 3.4% | ||||||||
|
Dana Gas PJSC |
2,763,838 | $ | 819,248 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 14.3% | ||||||||
|
Aldar Properties PJSC |
919,414 | 1,038,258 | ||||||
|
DAMAC Properties Dubai Co. PJSC(a) |
1,666,861 | 571,783 | ||||||
|
Deyaar Development PJSC(a) |
1,504,728 | 126,438 | ||||||
|
Emaar Development PJSC(a) |
18,965 | 20,375 | ||||||
|
Emaar Malls PJSC(a) |
66,710 | 37,403 | ||||||
|
Emaar Properties PJSC |
877,695 | 1,001,582 | ||||||
|
Eshraq Investments PJSC(a) |
1,451,584 | 132,484 | ||||||
|
RAK Properties PJSC(a) |
1,252,533 | 250,235 | ||||||
|
Union Properties PJSC(a) |
2,678,120 | 220,706 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,399,264 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 4.4% | ||||||||
|
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. for Distribution PJSC |
845,520 | 1,040,168 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Amlak Finance PJSC(a) |
764,494 | 57,860 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.8%
|
|
23,663,441 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.3% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(c)(d) |
70,000 | 70,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.3%
|
|
70,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.1%
|
|
23,733,441 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.1)% |
|
(15,911 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 23,717,530 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (c) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 60,000 | $ 10,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 70,000 | 70,000 | $ | 10 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| 64 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI UAE ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 9,407 | ||
|
|
|
|||
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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 13,453,087 | $ | 9,984,193 | $ | 226,161 | $ | 23,663,441 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
70,000 | | | 70,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 13,523,087 | $ | 9,984,193 | $ | 226,161 | $ | 23,733,441 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The following table includes a rollforward for the year ended August 31, 2021 of investments whose values are classified as Level 3 as of the beginning or end of the year.
|
|
||||||||
| Common Stocks | ||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Balance at beginning of period(a) |
$ | 274,624 | ||||||
|
Realized gain (loss) and change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation |
(492,383 | ) | ||||||
|
Purchases |
| |||||||
|
Sales |
(5,698 | ) | ||||||
|
Transfers in |
449,618 | (b) | ||||||
|
Transfers out |
| |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Balance at end of period |
$ | 226,161 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments still held at end of period |
$ | (484,396 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Represents the value as of the beginning of the reporting period. |
| (b) |
Transfers in to Level 3 are due to the suspension of trading of equity securities. |
The Funds investments that are categorized as Level 3 were valued utilizing a single broker quote without adjustment. Such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of such Level 3 investments.
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
65 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 66 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 (continued)
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
67 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 68 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
69 |
Statements of Operations (continued)
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 70 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Operations (continued)
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
71 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 72 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
73 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 74 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
75 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 76 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
77 |
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period From | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
|
04/25/17 | (a) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| to 08/31/17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 22.01 | $ | 19.34 | $ | 22.20 | $ | 25.71 | $ | 25.23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
0.15 | 0.17 | 0.27 | 0.63 | 0.03 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c) |
9.36 | 2.65 | (2.88 | ) | (3.61 | ) | 0.46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
9.51 | 2.82 | (2.61 | ) | (2.98 | ) | 0.49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.22 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.22 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 31.30 | $ | 22.01 | $ | 19.34 | $ | 22.20 | $ | 25.71 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
43.35 | % | 14.65 | % | (12.05 | )% | (12.00 | )% | 2.00 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses after fees waived |
0.24 | % | 0.24 | % | 0.45 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
0.59 | % | 0.85 | % | 1.14 | % | 2.22 | % | 0.34 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 9,390 | $ | 7,705 | $ | 8,704 | $ | 22,203 | $ | 15,428 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
30 | % | 51 | % | 27 | % | 42 | % | 17 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 78 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 13.62 | $ | 16.92 | $ | 11.87 | $ | 16.19 | $ | 11.51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.37 | 0.23 | 0.50 | 0.40 | 0.36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
3.79 | (3.30 | ) | 5.15 | (4.01 | ) | 4.74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
4.16 | (3.07 | ) | 5.65 | (3.61 | ) | 5.10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.36 | ) | (0.23 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.71 | ) | (0.42 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.36 | ) | (0.23 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.71 | ) | (0.42 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 17.42 | $ | 13.62 | $ | 16.92 | $ | 11.87 | $ | 16.19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
30.34 | % | (18.40 | )% | 48.35 | % | (22.95 | )% | 45.92 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.26 | % | 1.51 | % | 3.26 | % | 2.55 | % | 2.76 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 107,976 | $ | 97,375 | $ | 106,588 | $ | 48,679 | $ | 62,316 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
40 | %(f) | 65 | %(f) | 47 | %(f) | 67 | %(f) | 58 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(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 Funds 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) Portfolio turnover rate includes portfolio transactions that are executed as a result of the Fund offering and redeeming Creation Units solely for cash in U.S. dollars (cash creations). |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excluding cash creations was as follows: |
39 | % | 26 | % | 30 | % | 25 | % | 26 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
79 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI China ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 75.92 | $ | 56.43 | $ | 60.85 | $ | 62.06 | $ | 46.87 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.74 | 0.90 | 0.95 | 1.05 | 0.86 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
(4.98 | ) | 19.40 | (4.49 | ) | (1.10 | ) | 14.94 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
(4.24 | ) | 20.30 | (3.54 | ) | (0.05 | ) | 15.80 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.78 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.88 | ) | (1.16 | ) | (0.61 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.78 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.88 | ) | (1.16 | ) | (0.61 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 70.90 | $ | 75.92 | $ | 56.43 | $ | 60.85 | $ | 62.06 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
(5.69 | )% | 36.29 | % | (5.76 | )% | (0.22 | )% | 34.13 | % | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
0.93 | % | 1.43 | % | 1.63 | % | 1.57 | % | 1.70 | % | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 6,182,469 | $ | 6,118,904 | $ | 3,588,927 | $ | 3,444,143 | $ | 2,594,247 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
18 | % | 16 | % | 14 | % | 14 | % | 6 | % | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 80 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 45.21 | $ | 38.46 | $ | 47.23 | $ | 48.50 | $ | 43.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
1.50 | 1.46 | 1.39 | 1.51 | 1.22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
8.86 | 6.48 | (7.78 | ) | (1.14 | ) | 5.21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
10.36 | 7.94 | (6.39 | ) | 0.37 | 6.43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(1.74 | ) | (1.19 | ) | (2.38 | ) | (1.64 | ) | (1.72 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(1.74 | ) | (1.19 | ) | (2.38 | ) | (1.64 | ) | (1.72 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 53.83 | $ | 45.21 | $ | 38.46 | $ | 47.23 | $ | 48.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
23.33 | % | 21.21 | % | (13.60 | )% | 0.58 | % | 15.29 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.82 | % | 3.70 | % | 3.26 | % | 2.91 | % | 2.72 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 88,821 | $ | 51,989 | $ | 19,230 | $ | 25,977 | $ | 21,825 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
51 | % | 39 | % | 38 | % | 63 | % | 26 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
81 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 19.69 | $ | 25.22 | $ | 23.57 | $ | 26.89 | $ | 25.82 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.27 | 0.36 | 0.41 | 0.43 | 0.31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
1.68 | (5.66 | ) | 1.70 | (3.27 | ) | 1.11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
1.95 | (5.30 | ) | 2.11 | (2.84 | ) | 1.42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.31 | ) | (0.23 | ) | (0.46 | ) | (0.48 | ) | (0.35 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.31 | ) | (0.23 | ) | (0.46 | ) | (0.48 | ) | (0.35 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 21.33 | $ | 19.69 | $ | 25.22 | $ | 23.57 | $ | 26.89 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
9.88 | % | (21.04 | )% | 9.00 | % | (10.67 | )% | 5.53 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.26 | % | 1.65 | % | 1.64 | % | 1.63 | % | 1.22 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 351,958 | $ | 319,892 | $ | 402,185 | $ | 414,758 | $ | 501,411 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
10 | % | 13 | % | 12 | % | 7 | % | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 82 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Peru ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 31.65 | $ | 34.11 | $ | 37.44 | $ | 37.54 | $ | 32.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.79 | 0.69 | 0.85 | 1.09 | 0.46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
(5.00 | ) | (2.34 | ) | (3.36 | ) | (0.06 | ) | 4.99 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
(4.21 | ) | (1.65 | ) | (2.51 | ) | 1.03 | 5.45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.44 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (1.13 | ) | (0.70 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.44 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (1.13 | ) | (0.70 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 27.00 | $ | 31.65 | $ | 34.11 | $ | 37.44 | $ | 37.54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
(13.49 | )% | (4.78 | )% | (6.75 | )% | 2.60 | % | 16.89 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.42 | % | 2.15 | % | 2.33 | % | 2.65 | % | 1.37 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 95,862 | $ | 82,297 | $ | 163,738 | $ | 164,717 | $ | 170,794 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
33 | % | 26 | % | 18 | % | 11 | % | 13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
83 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Philippines ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 26.63 | $ | 34.45 | $ | 33.08 | $ | 35.88 | $ | 39.19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.26 | 0.17 | 0.28 | 0.14 | 0.15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
3.90 | (7.80 | ) | 1.35 | (2.79 | ) | (3.26 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
4.16 | (7.63 | ) | 1.63 | (2.65 | ) | (3.11 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.29 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.29 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 30.50 | $ | 26.63 | $ | 34.45 | $ | 33.08 | $ | 35.88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
15.57 | % | (22.16 | )% | 4.93 | % | (7.40 | )% | (7.87 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
0.87 | % | 0.57 | % | 0.83 | % | 0.40 | % | 0.42 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 125,043 | $ | 118,507 | $ | 217,028 | $ | 172,013 | $ | 172,245 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
20 | % | 16 | % | 8 | % | 8 | % | 7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 84 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Poland ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 18.24 | $ | 20.68 | $ | 24.31 | $ | 27.33 | $ | 18.06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.16 | (b) | 0.17 | (b) | 0.65 | (b) | 0.33 | (b) | 0.45 | (b) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c) |
4.86 | (1.95 | ) | (3.93 | ) | (2.90 | ) | 9.25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
5.02 | (1.78 | ) | (3.28 | ) | (2.57 | ) | 9.70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.16 | ) | (0.66 | ) | (0.35 | ) | (0.45 | ) | (0.43 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.16 | ) | (0.66 | ) | (0.35 | ) | (0.45 | ) | (0.43 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 23.10 | $ | 18.24 | $ | 20.68 | $ | 24.31 | $ | 27.33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
27.65 | %(b) | (8.76 | )%(b) | (13.64 | )%(b) | (9.53 | )%(b) | 54.79 | %(b) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.61 | % | 0.78 | % | 0.61 | % | 0.63 | % | 0.63 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses excluding professional fees for foreign withholding tax claims |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
0.80 | %(b) | 0.93 | %(b) | 2.81 | %(b) | 1.28 | %(b) | 2.07 | %(b) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 284,146 | $ | 253,594 | $ | 260,578 | $ | 263,758 | $ | 363,537 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(f) |
22 | % | 15 | % | 5 | % | 7 | % | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (b) |
Reflects the positive effect of foreign withholding tax claims, net of the associated professional fees, which resulted in the following increases for the years ended August 31, 2021, August 31, 2020, August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, respectively: |
|
Net investment income per share by $0.07, $0.28, $0.05, $0.08 and $0.03, respectively. |
|
Total return by 0.38%, 1.40%, 0.21%, 0.41% and 0.11%, respectively. |
|
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets by 0.34%, 1.54%, 0.22%, 0.32% and 0.14%, respectively. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
85 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Qatar ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 17.62 | $ | 17.44 | $ | 17.82 | $ | 16.19 | $ | 20.18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.37 | 0.56 | 0.64 | 0.66 | 0.57 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
2.03 | 0.11 | (0.26 | ) | 1.71 | (3.90 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
2.40 | 0.67 | 0.38 | 2.37 | (3.33 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.42 | ) | (0.45 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (0.74 | ) | (0.66 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return of capital |
| (0.04 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.42 | ) | (0.49 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (0.74 | ) | (0.66 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 19.60 | $ | 17.62 | $ | 17.44 | $ | 17.82 | $ | 16.19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
13.70 | % | 4.10 | % | 1.98 | % | 14.96 | % | (16.52 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.98 | % | 3.31 | % | 3.48 | % | 4.09 | % | 3.05 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 86,234 | $ | 87,223 | $ | 50,576 | $ | 55,253 | $ | 49,390 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
26 | %(f) | 24 | %(f) | 33 | %(f) | 58 | %(f) | 47 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(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 Funds 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) Portfolio turnover rate includes portfolio transactions that are executed as a result of the Fund offering and redeeming Creation Units solely for cash in U.S. dollars (cash creations). |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excluding cash creations was as follows: |
9 | % | 14 | % | 23 | % | 22 | % | 20 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| 86 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 28.70 | $ | 30.21 | $ | 29.72 | $ | 26.15 | $ | 21.52 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.71 | 0.57 | 1.11 | 1.28 | 0.91 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
12.27 | (1.26 | ) | 0.12 | 2.92 | 4.24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
12.98 | (0.69 | ) | 1.23 | 4.20 | 5.15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.46 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.74 | ) | (0.63 | ) | (0.52 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.46 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.74 | ) | (0.63 | ) | (0.52 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 41.22 | $ | 28.70 | $ | 30.21 | $ | 29.72 | $ | 26.15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
45.37 | % | (2.21 | )% | 4.14 | % | 16.23 | % | 24.06 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.74 | % | 0.74 | % | 0.74 | % | 0.74 | % | 0.74 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.06 | % | 2.03 | % | 3.46 | % | 4.31 | % | 3.68 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 898,684 | $ | 516,629 | $ | 646,591 | $ | 257,099 | $ | 18,306 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
13 | %(f) | 64 | %(f) | 82 | %(f) | 20 | %(f) | 21 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(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 Funds 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) Portfolio turnover rate includes portfolio transactions that are executed as a result of the Fund offering and redeeming Creation Units solely for cash in U.S. dollars (cash creations). |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excluding cash creations was as follows: |
6 | % | 20 | % | 14 | % | 10 | % | 21 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
87 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI UAE ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 10.91 | $ | 14.09 | $ | 15.61 | $ | 17.74 | $ | 17.15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.46 | 0.53 | 0.57 | 0.70 | 0.50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
3.96 | (3.16 | ) | (1.54 | ) | (2.04 | ) | 0.72 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
4.42 | (2.63 | ) | (0.97 | ) | (1.34 | ) | 1.22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.51 | ) | (0.55 | ) | (0.55 | ) | (0.79 | ) | (0.63 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.51 | ) | (0.55 | ) | (0.55 | ) | (0.79 | ) | (0.63 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 14.82 | $ | 10.91 | $ | 14.09 | $ | 15.61 | $ | 17.74 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
40.74 | % | (18.43 | )% | (5.95 | )% | (7.55 | )% | 7.33 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.57 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
3.61 | % | 4.46 | % | 3.95 | % | 4.18 | % | 2.94 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 23,718 | $ | 38,177 | $ | 45,807 | $ | 39,018 | $ | 49,663 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
112 | % | 67 | % | 55 | % | 33 | % | 33 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 88 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| 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 |
|||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
Diversified | |||
|
MSCI China |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
Diversified | |||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Peru |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Philippines |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Poland |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Qatar |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Saudi Arabia |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI UAE |
Non-diversified | |||
| 2. |
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:
Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis.
Foreign Currency Translation: Each Funds 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.
Foreign Taxes: The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as Other foreign taxes, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of August 31, 2021, if any, are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The Funds file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Funds may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdictions applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statements of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and record cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
89 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Funds. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Funds and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Funds tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (NAV) per share.
Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
| 3. |
INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Investment Valuation Policies: Each Funds investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) each day that the Funds 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. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board). If a securitys market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Funds assets and liabilities:
| |
Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that days published NAV. |
| |
Futures contracts are valued based on that days last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded. |
Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (Systematic Fair Value Price). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.
If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a funds NAV and the prices used by the funds underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the funds performance and the performance of the funds 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 Global Valuation Committees 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
| 90 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
| 4. |
SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS |
Securities Lending: Each Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by each Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, each Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.
As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA), the Funds investment adviser, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in each Funds 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 counterpartys 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 partys 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 |
|
Market Value of
Securities on Loan |
|
|
Cash Collateral
Received |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash Collateral
Received |
|
Net Amount | ||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
||||||||||||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
$ | 53,074 | $ | 53,074 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
40,266 | 40,266 | | | ||||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
670 | 670 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
13,536 | 13,536 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 107,546 | $ | 107,546 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
91 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
iShares ETF and Counterparty |
|
Market Value of
Securities on Loan |
|
|
Cash Collateral
Received |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash Collateral
Received |
|
Net Amount | ||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI China |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 11,550,159 | $ | 11,392,313 | $ | | $ | (157,846 | )(b) | |||||||
|
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
5,639,976 | 5,639,976 | | | ||||||||||||
|
BNP Paribas SA |
1,685,642 | 1,603,567 | | (82,075 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
22,490,714 | 22,490,714 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Citadel Clearing LLC |
1,963,500 | 1,934,934 | | (28,566 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
34,106,258 | 34,106,258 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
2,068,498 | 2,068,498 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
230,454 | 216,030 | | (14,424 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
14,015,215 | 14,015,215 | | | ||||||||||||
|
HSBC Bank PLC |
442,843 | 442,843 | | | ||||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
9,700,180 | 9,658,173 | | (42,007 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Jefferies LLC |
31,304 | 29,342 | | (1,962 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Macquarie Bank Ltd. |
2,030,120 | 2,030,120 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
24,594,702 | 24,594,702 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Nomura Securities International, Inc. |
43,776 | 43,776 | | | ||||||||||||
|
SG AMERICAS Securities LLC |
2,137,729 | 2,137,729 | | | ||||||||||||
|
State Street Bank & Trust Co. |
3,576,645 | 3,475,219 | | (101,426 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Toronto Dominion Bank |
1,167,448 | 1,167,448 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
5,434,115 | 5,264,115 | | (170,000 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
UBS Securities LLC |
560,348 | 532,093 | | (28,255 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. |
3,479 | 3,444 | | (35 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Wells Fargo Securities LLC |
19,684 | 19,486 | | (198 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 143,492,789 | $ | 142,865,995 | $ | | $ | (626,794 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 1,453,509 | $ | 1,453,509 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
1,703,607 | 1,703,607 | | | ||||||||||||
|
BNP Paribas SA |
51,040 | 51,040 | | | ||||||||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
3,990,360 | 3,990,360 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Citadel Clearing LLC |
35,072 | 34,556 | | (516 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
740,240 | 740,240 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
2,025,605 | 2,025,605 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
431,520 | 425,497 | | (6,023 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
2,222,713 | 2,222,713 | | | ||||||||||||
|
HSBC Bank PLC |
526,471 | 526,471 | | | ||||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
1,419,742 | 1,419,742 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
1,232,467 | 1,232,467 | | | ||||||||||||
|
National Financial Services LLC |
318,593 | 318,593 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Nomura Securities International, Inc. |
227,388 | 227,388 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Scotia Capital (USA), Inc. |
611,035 | 611,035 | | | ||||||||||||
|
SG AMERICAS Securities LLC |
9,113 | 9,113 | | | ||||||||||||
|
State Street Bank & Trust Co. |
27,472 | 27,472 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
28,956 | 28,956 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS Securities LLC |
242,874 | 240,288 | | (2,586 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Wells Fargo Securities LLC |
132,730 | 132,578 | | (152 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 17,430,507 | $ | 17,421,230 | $ | | $ | (9,277 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Poland |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
$ | 350,229 | $ | 350,229 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
246,074 | 246,074 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
314,102 | 314,102 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
560,284 | 560,284 | | | ||||||||||||
|
HSBC Bank PLC |
75,400 | 75,400 | | | ||||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
124,036 | 124,036 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
11,259,701 | 11,259,701 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
94,252 | 94,252 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 13,024,078 | $ | 13,024,078 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Collateral received in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by each Fund is disclosed in the Funds statement of assets and liabilities. |
| 92 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| (b) |
The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of August 31, 2021. Additional collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by a counterparty. |
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). BlackRocks indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. Each Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by each Fund.
| 5. |
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).
Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contracts size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (variation margin). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.
| 6. |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES |
Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of each Funds assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Funds, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).
Effective July 14, 2021, for its investment advisory services to each of the iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap, iShares MSCI China, iShares MSCI China Small-Cap, iShares MSCI Indonesia, iShares MSCI Peru, iShares MSCI Philippines, iShares MSCI Poland, iShares MSCI Qatar and iShares MSCI UAE ETFs, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on each Funds allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds, as follows:
| Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
First $2 billion |
0.7400 | % | ||
|
Over $2 billion, up to and including $4 billion |
0.6900 | |||
|
Over $4 billion, up to and including $8 billion |
0.6400 | |||
|
Over $8 billion, up to and including $16 billion |
0.5700 | |||
|
Over $16 billion, up to and including $24 billion |
0.5100 | |||
|
Over $24 billion, up to and including $32 billion |
0.4800 | |||
|
Over $32 billion, up to and including $40 billion |
0.4500 | |||
|
Over $40 billion |
0.4275 | |||
Prior to July 14, 2021, for its investment advisory services to each of the iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap, iShares MSCI China, iShares MSCI China Small-Cap, iShares MSCI Indonesia, iShares MSCI Peru, iShares MSCI Philippines, iShares MSCI Poland, iShares MSCI Qatar and iShares MSCI UAE ETFs, BFA was entitled to an annual
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
93 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on each Funds allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds, as follows:
| Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
First $2 billion |
0.74 | % | ||
|
Over $2 billion, up to and including $4 billion |
0.69 | |||
|
Over $4 billion, up to and including $8 billion |
0.64 | |||
|
Over $8 billion, up to and including $16 billion |
0.57 | |||
|
Over $16 billion, up to and including $24 billion |
0.51 | |||
|
Over $24 billion, up to and including $32 billion |
0.48 | |||
|
Over $32 billion |
0.45 | |||
For its investment advisory services to each of the following Funds, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:
| iShares ETF | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
0.59 | % | ||
|
MSCI Saudi Arabia |
0.74 | |||
Expense Waivers: BFA may from time to time voluntarily waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, if any). BFA has elected to implement a voluntary fee waiver in order to limit the iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETFs total annual operating expenses after fee waiver to 0.24%, and currently intends to keep such voluntary fee waiver for the Fund in place through December 31, 2021. Any such voluntary waiver or reimbursement may be eliminated by BFA at any time.
This amount is included in investment advisory fees waived in the Statements of Operations. For the year ended August 31, 2021, the amounts waived in investment advisory fees pursuant to this arrangement were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Amounts waived | |||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 26,643 | ||
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. 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 funds 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.
| 94 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
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 August 31, 2021, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:
| iShares ETF |
Fees Paid
to BTC |
|||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 542 | ||
|
MSCI China |
440,616 | |||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
96,879 | |||
|
MSCI Poland |
53,611 | |||
Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.
Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, transactions executed by the Funds pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
|||||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 263,329 | $ | 730,438 | $ | 258,909 | ||||||
|
MSCI China |
74,333,563 | 56,064,491 | (8,263,372 | ) | ||||||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
5,441,220 | 18,387,799 | 6,506,113 | |||||||||
|
MSCI Peru |
3,870,543 | 5,886,013 | (1,051,297 | ) | ||||||||
|
MSCI Poland |
8,112,291 | 361,984 | (169,930 | ) | ||||||||
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 funds underlying index.
| 7. |
PURCHASES AND SALES |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 2,242,850 | $ | 2,414,850 | ||||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
42,867,641 | 56,569,205 | ||||||
|
MSCI China |
1,837,888,530 | 1,170,948,468 | ||||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
89,838,210 | 38,466,065 | ||||||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
36,435,594 | 32,898,898 | ||||||
|
MSCI Peru |
49,534,182 | 44,668,934 | ||||||
|
MSCI Philippines |
28,560,628 | 25,210,423 | ||||||
|
MSCI Poland |
57,177,976 | 55,765,526 | ||||||
|
MSCI Qatar |
22,955,482 | 33,221,568 | ||||||
|
MSCI Saudi Arabia |
217,138,191 | 87,290,674 | ||||||
|
MSCI UAE |
24,551,231 | 42,941,341 | ||||||
For the year ended August 31, 2021, in-kind transactions were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
In-kind
Purchases |
In-kind Sales |
||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | | $ | 936,434 | ||||
|
MSCI China |
279,107,376 | 444,438,996 | ||||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
13,139,286 | 35,810,656 | ||||||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
131,209,092 | 129,763,751 | ||||||
|
MSCI Peru |
137,912,958 | 102,796,661 | ||||||
|
MSCI Philippines |
36,261,304 | 42,596,411 | ||||||
|
MSCI Poland |
92,570,172 | 128,492,597 | ||||||
|
MSCI UAE |
287,431 | 422,524 | ||||||
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
95 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| 8. |
INCOME TAX INFORMATION |
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trusts other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Funds policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of August 31, 2021, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the 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 August 31, 2021, the following 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) |
||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 15,641 | $ | (15,641 | ) | |||
|
MSCI China |
242,229,786 | (242,229,786 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
11,633,605 | (11,633,605 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
10,649,816 | (10,649,816 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI Peru |
7,808,876 | (7,808,876 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI Philippines |
(4,032,638 | ) | 4,032,638 | |||||
|
MSCI Poland |
18,553,613 | (18,553,613 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI UAE |
(261,911 | ) | 261,911 | |||||
The tax character of distributions was as follows:
|
|
||||||||
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 64,808 | $ | 83,697 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 2,361,269 | $ | 1,745,003 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI China |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 64,101,259 | $ | 60,135,118 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 2,247,618 | $ | 1,006,664 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 4,987,704 | $ | 4,209,575 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Peru |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 2,273,885 | $ | 2,716,932 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Philippines |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 1,185,812 | $ | 924,498 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Poland |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 2,299,648 | $ | 8,800,235 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Qatar |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 1,877,384 | $ | 2,263,201 | ||||
|
Return of capital |
| 191,392 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 1,877,384 | $ | 2,454,593 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Saudi Arabia |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 9,483,509 | $ | 19,204,482 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI UAE |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 741,238 | $ | 2,128,226 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 96 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
As of August 31, 2021, 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 | ||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | | $ | (4,727,042 | ) | $ | (1,149,218 | ) | $ | (5,876,260 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
1,201,502 | (55,778,419 | ) | 13,070,888 | (41,506,029 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI China |
41,925,082 | (649,443,403 | ) | 874,192,051 | 266,673,730 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
2,790,867 | (4,605,075 | ) | (10,243,095 | ) | (12,057,303 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
1,369,072 | (161,291,249 | ) | (117,948,465 | ) | (277,870,642 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Peru |
1,230,112 | (140,440,764 | ) | (57,956,089 | ) | (197,166,741 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Philippines |
225,207 | (60,067,144 | ) | (30,569,614 | ) | (90,411,551 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Poland |
1,333,875 | (121,342,231 | ) | (31,196,629 | ) | (151,204,985 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Qatar |
278,598 | (18,006,638 | ) | 11,423,890 | (6,304,150 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Saudi Arabia |
5,449,113 | (65,216,720 | ) | 211,071,535 | 151,303,928 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI UAE |
523,295 | (36,039,405 | ) | (2,042,566 | ) | (37,558,676 | ) | |||||||||
| (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, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains (losses) on certain futures contracts, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies, the characterization of corporate actions and foreign withholding tax reclaims. |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds utilized the following amounts of their respective capital loss carryforwards:
| iShares ETF | Utilized | |||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 104,622 | ||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
2,247,993 | |||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
4,347,590 | |||
A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as passive foreign investment companies. Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.
As of August 31, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Tax Cost |
Gross Unrealized
Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized
Depreciation |
Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 10,639,184 | $ | 2,845,574 | $ | (3,995,277 | ) | $ | (1,149,703 | ) | ||||||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
94,439,963 | 28,892,665 | (15,826,016 | ) | 13,066,649 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI China |
5,443,818,609 | 1,585,941,564 | (711,760,570 | ) | 874,180,994 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
121,061,032 | 9,774,453 | (20,017,737 | ) | (10,243,284 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
469,499,731 | 14,552,396 | (132,509,699 | ) | (117,957,303 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Peru |
153,512,160 | 657,660 | (58,609,013 | ) | (57,951,353 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Philippines |
155,112,618 | 4,497,261 | (35,072,390 | ) | (30,575,129 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Poland |
331,138,410 | 22,898,105 | (54,089,902 | ) | (31,191,797 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Qatar |
74,594,018 | 12,462,935 | (1,039,022 | ) | 11,423,913 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI Saudi Arabia |
688,281,746 | 211,484,314 | (412,688 | ) | 211,071,626 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI UAE |
25,775,964 | 6,375,833 | (8,418,356 | ) | (2,042,523 | ) | ||||||||||
| 9. |
LINE OF CREDIT |
The iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Qatar ETF, iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF and iShares MSCI UAE ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), are parties to a $300 million credit agreement (Credit Agreement) with State Street Bank and Trust Company, which expires on October 15, 2021. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Credit Agreement sets specific sub limits on aggregate borrowings based on two tiers of Participating Funds: $300 million with respect to the funds within Tier 1 and $200 million with respect to Tier 2, including the Funds. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was terminated on August 12, 2021.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
97 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Effective August 13, 2021, the iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI China ETF, iShares MSCI Qatar ETF, iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF and iShares MSCI UAE ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), are parties to a $800 million credit agreement (Syndicated Credit Agreement) with a group of lenders, which expires on August 12, 2022. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.
During the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds did not borrow under the Credit Agreement or Syndicated Credit Agreement.
| 10. |
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 Funds prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.
BFA uses a passive or index approach to try to achieve each Funds investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.
The Funds may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.
Market Risk: An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a funds investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a funds NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.
The price each Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from each Funds 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.
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing brokers customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into
| 98 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing brokers customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a funds 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 Funds portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in that country or those countries may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Investment percentages in specific countries are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in China or with significant exposure to Chinese issuers or countries. Investments in Chinese securities, including certain Hong Kong-listed securities, involves risks specific to China. China may be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to developed markets. Chinese markets generally continue to experience inefficiency, volatility and pricing anomalies resulting from governmental influence, a lack of publicly available information and/or political and social instability. Internal social unrest or confrontations with other neighboring countries may disrupt economic development in China and result in a greater risk of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation. Incidents involving Chinas or the regions security may cause uncertainty in Chinese markets and may adversely affect the Chinese economy and a funds investments. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of tariffs or other trade barriers, or a downturn in any of the economies of Chinas key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. In addition, measures may be taken to limit the flow of capital and/or sanctions may be imposed, which could prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer fund assets and may also include retaliatory actions, such as seizure of fund assets.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Asia or with significant exposure to Asian issuers or countries. The Asian financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns in several Asian countries regarding monetary policy, government intervention in the markets, rising government debt levels or economic downturns. These events may spread to other countries in Asia and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
| 11. |
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:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended 08/31/21 |
Year Ended 08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
| $ | | 400,000 | $ | 8,087,879 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(50,000 | ) | (1,067,643 | ) | (500,000 | ) | (8,532,436 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net decrease |
(50,000 | ) | $ | (1,067,643 | ) | (100,000 | ) | $ | (444,557 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
50,000 | $ | 1,032,617 | 4,200,000 | $ | 85,559,973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(1,000,000 | ) | (15,793,256 | ) | (3,350,000 | ) | (46,869,954 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
(950,000 | ) | $ | (14,760,639 | ) | 850,000 | $ | 38,690,019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI China |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
12,600,000 | $ | 1,029,902,450 | 26,600,000 | $ | 1,641,516,575 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(6,000,000 | ) | (515,258,867 | ) | (9,600,000 | ) | (621,317,392 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase |
6,600,000 | $ | 514,643,583 | 17,000,000 | $ | 1,020,199,183 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
99 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
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 Trusts 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.
| 12. |
FOREIGN WITHHOLDING TAX CLAIMS |
The iShares MSCI Poland ETF is expected to seek a closing agreement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to address any prior years U.S. income tax liabilities attributable to Fund shareholders resulting from the recovery of foreign taxes. The closing agreement would result in the Fund paying a compliance fee to the IRS, on behalf of its shareholders, representing the estimated tax savings generated from foreign tax credits claimed by Fund shareholders on their tax returns in prior years. The Fund has accrued a liability for the estimated IRS compliance fee related to foreign withholding tax claims, which is disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The actual IRS compliance fee may differ from the estimate and that difference may be material.
| 100 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| 13. |
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.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
101 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust and Shareholders of iShares MSCI Argentina and Global
Exposure ETF, iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI China ETF, iShares MSCI
China Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF, iShares MSCI Peru ETF, iShares MSCI
Philippines ETF, iShares MSCI Poland ETF, iShares MSCI Qatar ETF, iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia
ETF and iShares MSCI UAE ETF
Opinions on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF, iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI China ETF, iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF, iShares MSCI Peru ETF, iShares MSCI Philippines ETF, iShares MSCI Poland ETF, iShares MSCI Qatar ETF, iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF and iShares MSCI UAE ETF (eleven of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the Funds) as of August 31, 2021, the related statements of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021, 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 August 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021 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.
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 August 31, 2021 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
October 22, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.
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Important Tax Information (unaudited)
The following percentage, or maximum percentage allowable by law, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 qualified for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders:
| iShares ETF |
Dividends-Received
Deduction |
|||
|
MSCI China |
0.64 | % | ||
|
MSCI Peru |
31.92 | % | ||
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Dividend
Income |
|||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 8,014 | ||
|
MSCI China |
68,398,319 | |||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
322,646 | |||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
7,703,534 | |||
|
MSCI Peru |
1,347,760 | |||
|
MSCI Philippines |
2,560,437 | |||
|
MSCI Poland |
3,440,185 | |||
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 August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Foreign Source Income Earned |
Foreign
Taxes Paid |
||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure |
$ | 77,051 | $ | 16,022 | ||||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
3,251,172 | 166,243 | ||||||
|
MSCI China |
103,929,126 | 7,100,289 | ||||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
2,460,294 | 38,525 | ||||||
|
MSCI Indonesia |
7,760,008 | 1,478,732 | ||||||
|
MSCI Peru |
3,281,132 | 140,161 | ||||||
|
MSCI Philippines |
2,563,452 | 662,931 | ||||||
|
MSCI Poland |
4,840,140 | | ||||||
|
MSCI Qatar |
2,272,604 | | ||||||
|
MSCI Saudi Arabia |
20,182,793 | 1,021,915 | ||||||
|
MSCI UAE |
872,085 | | ||||||
|
I M P O R T A N T T A X I N F O R M A T I O N |
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF, iShares MSCI Peru ETF, iShares MSCI Philippines ETF, iShares MSCI Qatar ETF, iShares MSCI UAE ETF (each the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members)
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105 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue,
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs 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 Funds investment advisory fee rate, and the Board and BFA agreed during the June 15-16, 2021 meeting to revise the Advisory Agreement for the Fund to provide for one or more additional breakpoints, as the assets of the Fund, on an aggregated basis with the assets of certain other iShares funds, increase. The Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding new or revised breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI China ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board
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107 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
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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 BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs 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 Funds investment advisory fee rate, and the Board and BFA agreed during the June 15-16, 2021 meeting to revise the Advisory Agreement for the Fund to provide for one or more additional breakpoints, as the assets of the Fund, on an aggregated basis with the assets of certain other iShares funds, increase. The Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding new or revised breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI Poland ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
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After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs 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
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
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 Funds investment advisory fee rate, and the Board and BFA agreed during the June 15-16, 2021 meeting to revise the Advisory Agreement for the Fund to provide for one or more additional breakpoints, as the assets of the Fund, on an aggregated basis with the assets of certain other iShares funds, increase. The Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding new or revised breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the
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expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
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B O A R D R E V I E W A N D A P P R O V A L O F I N V E S T M E N T A D V I S O R Y C O N T R A C T |
113 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (Rule 18f-4). The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.
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 Funds investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
August 31, 2021
|
Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year |
% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
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|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure(a) |
$ | 0.213533 | $ | | $ | 0.002495 | $ | 0.216028 | 99 | % | | % | 1 | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Brazil Small-Cap |
0.356466 | | | 0.356466 | 100 | | | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI China(a) |
0.770720 | | 0.010409 | 0.781129 | 99 | | 1 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI China Small-Cap |
1.740884 | | | 1.740884 | 100 | | | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Indonesia(a) |
0.294136 | | 0.019724 | 0.313860 | 94 | | 6 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Peru(a) |
0.438936 | | 0.003901 | 0.442837 | 99 | | 1 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Philippines |
0.287397 | | | 0.287397 | 100 | | | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI UAE |
0.512775 | | | 0.512775 | 100 | | | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholders investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Funds net asset value per share. |
Premium/Discount Information
Information on the Funds 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 (the Directive) imposes detailed and prescriptive obligations on fund managers established in the European Union (the EU). These do not currently apply to managers established outside of the EU, such as BFA (the Company). Rather, non-EU managers are only required to comply with certain disclosure, reporting and transparency obligations of the Directive if such managers market a fund to EU investors.
The Company has registered the iShares MSCI China ETF and iShares MSCI Philippines ETF (each a Fund, collectively the Funds) to be marketed to EU investors in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and Luxembourg.
Report on Remuneration
The Company is required under the Directive to make quantitative disclosures of remuneration. These disclosures are made in line with BlackRocks 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 Funds.
All individuals included in the aggregated figures disclosed are rewarded in line with BlackRocks 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 each Fund is included in the aggregate figures disclosed.
BlackRock has a clear and well defined pay-for-performance philosophy, and compensation programmes which support that philosophy.
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Supplemental Information (unaudited) (continued)
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, a significant percentage of variable remuneration is deferred over time. All employees are subject to a claw-back policy.
Remuneration decisions for employees are made once annually in January following the end of the performance year, based on BlackRocks 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.
Annual incentive awards are paid from a bonus pool which is reviewed throughout the year by BlackRocks 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 organisational structures which are independent of the business units. 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 BlackRocks 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. Therefore, the figures disclosed are a sum of each individuals portion of remuneration attributable to each Fund according to an objective apportionment methodology which acknowledges the multiple-service nature of the Company. Accordingly the figures are not representative of any individuals actual remuneration or their remuneration structure.
The amount of the total remuneration awarded by the Company to its staff which has been attributed to the iShares MSCI China ETF in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020 is USD 509.55 thousand. This figure is comprised of fixed remuneration of USD 237.28 thousand and variable remuneration of USD 272.27 thousand. There were a total of 490 beneficiaries of the remuneration described above.
The amount of the aggregate remuneration awarded by the Company, which has been attributed to the iShares MSCI China ETF in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020, to its senior management was USD 83 thousand, and to members of its staff whose actions have a material impact on the risk profile of the Fund was USD 6.7 thousand.
The amount of the total remuneration awarded by the Company to its staff which has been attributed to the iShares MSCI Philippines ETF in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020 is USD 12.09 thousand. This figure is comprised of fixed remuneration of USD 5.63 thousand and variable remuneration of USD 6.46 thousand. There were a total of 490 beneficiaries of the remuneration described above.
The amount of the aggregate remuneration awarded by the Company, which has been attributed to the iShares MSCI Philippines ETF in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020, to its senior management was USD 1.97 thousand, and to members of its staff whose actions have a material impact on the risk profile of the Fund was USD 0.16 thousand.
|
S U P P L E M E N T A L I N F O R M A T I O N |
115 |
Trustee and Officer Information
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 Fund is 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 374 funds as of August 31, 2021. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Charles Park, 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. Park is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated Cecilia H. Herbert 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).
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Trustee and Officer Information (continued)
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
John E. Kerrigan (66) |
Trustee (since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs (since 2019). | Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011). | |||
|
Drew E. Lawton (62) |
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). | |||
|
John E. Martinez (60) |
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 (57) |
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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
||||
|
Armando Senra (50) |
President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007); Head of U.S., Canada and Latam iShares, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2019); Head of Latin America Region, BlackRock, Inc. (2006-2019); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (1994-2006). | ||||
|
Trent Walker (47) |
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. | ||||
|
Charles Park (54) |
Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006). | Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex (since 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of BFA (since 2006). | ||||
|
Deepa Damre Smith (46) |
Secretary (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2013). | ||||
|
Scott Radell (52) |
Executive Vice President (since 2012). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Head of Portfolio Solutions, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||||
|
Alan Mason (60) |
Executive Vice President (since 2016). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||||
|
Marybeth Leithead (58) |
Executive Vice President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2017); Chief Operating Officer of Americas iShares (since 2017); Portfolio Manager, Municipal Institutional & Wealth Management (2009-2016). | ||||
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T R U S T E E A N D O F F I C E R I N F O R M A T I O N |
117 |
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
| |
Go to icsdelivery.com. |
| |
If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor. |
Householding
Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The 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 SECs 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 Companys policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.
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Glossary of Terms Used in this Report
| Portfolio Abbreviations - Equity | ||
| ADR | American Depositary Receipt | |
| JSC | Joint Stock Company | |
| NVS | Non-Voting Shares | |
| PJSC | Public Joint Stock Company | |
| REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust | |
|
G L O S S A R Y O F T E R M S U S E D I N T H I S R E P O R T |
119 |
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 MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
iS-AR-806-0821
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AUGUST 31, 2021 |
| 2021 Annual Report | ||
iShares Trust
| · |
iShares MSCI Denmark ETF | EDEN | Cboe BZX |
| · |
iShares MSCI Finland ETF | EFNL | Cboe BZX |
| · |
iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF | EWGS | Cboe BZX |
| · |
iShares MSCI Ireland ETF | EIRL | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF | KWT | Cboe BZX |
| · |
iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF | ENZL | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares MSCI Norway ETF | ENOR | Cboe BZX |
Dear Shareholder,
The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The United States, along with most of the world, began the reporting period emerging from a severe recession, prompted by pandemic-related restrictions that disrupted many aspects of daily life. However, easing restrictions and robust government intervention led to a strong rebound, and the economy grew at a significant pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.
Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets rebounded substantially.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.
The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2023 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2022.
Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.
Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and healthcare, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries and Asian fixed income offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.
In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
| Total Returns as of August 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| 6-Month | 12-Month | |||||||
|
U.S. large cap equities
|
19.52 | % | 31.17 | % | ||||
|
U.S. small cap equities
|
3.81 | 47.08 | ||||||
|
International equities
|
10.31 | 26.12 | ||||||
|
Emerging market equities
|
(0.98 | ) | 21.12 | |||||
|
3-month Treasury
bills
|
0.02 | 0.08 | ||||||
|
U.S. Treasury securities
|
2.36 | (4.12 | ) | |||||
|
U.S. investment grade bonds (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index) |
1.49 | (0.08 | ) | |||||
|
Tax-exempt municipal bonds (S&P Municipal Bond Index) |
2.50 | 3.44 | ||||||
|
U.S. high yield bonds
|
3.82 | 10.14 | ||||||
| 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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iShares Trust
Global Market Overview
Global equity markets advanced significantly during the 12 months ended August 31, 2021 (reporting period). The MSCI ACWI, a broad global equity index that includes both developed and emerging markets, returned 28.64% in U.S. dollar terms for the reporting period. Stocks continued to recover from the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nearing all-time highs by the end of the reporting period. Reopening economies led to a substantial global economic expansion, and the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines bolstered investors optimism. Nonetheless, vaccination rates varied considerably across countries, and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to increased cases and renewed restrictions toward the end of the reporting period. Inflation also rose in many parts of the world amid supply chain constraints and elevated consumer spending.
Equity markets in the U.S. advanced strongly, helped by fiscal and monetary stimulus and an ongoing mass vaccination program. Congress passed two fiscal stimulus bills during the reporting period, providing significant relief in the form of direct payments to individuals, tax credits, aid to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners and renters. Personal incomes rose significantly following the stimulus payments, and consumer spending recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Increased consumer spending and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions helped the U.S. economy continue to grow following a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020, as activity recovered from the pandemic-induced recession in the first half of 2020. The economy grew at a brisk pace for the rest of the reporting period, finally exceeding pre-pandemic output levels in the second quarter of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve Banks (the Fed) action also played a notable role in the recovery. Monetary policy remained accommodative, with short-term interest rates maintained near zero to encourage lending and stimulate economic activity. The Fed further acted to stabilize bond markets by continuing an unlimited, open-ended, bond-buying program for U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Stocks in Europe also posted strong gains, despite a recovery that trailed other major economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) provided monetary stimulus by maintaining ultra-low interest rates and continuing a large bond-buying program. Growth resumed with a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020 as restrictions eased, and Eurozone countries enacted a deal for a collective 750 billion of stimulus spending. However, a new wave of coronavirus cases beginning in October 2020 led to renewed restrictions, weakening the fragile recovery. Consequently, the Eurozone economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, even as much of the world was returning to growth. Although the initial vaccine rollout trailed in many European countries, the pace of vaccinations accelerated late in the reporting period, and economic growth resumed in the second quarter of 2021.
Asia-Pacific regional stocks also posted a solid advance amid a sharp rebound in economic activity. Continued economic growth in China helped the regional economy recover, as many Asia-Pacific countries rely on China as a major trading partner. Japanese and Australian stocks benefited from a sharp rise in exports amid resurgent global trade. Emerging market stocks advanced overall, aided by economic recovery and rising prices for many commodities. However, investor concerns about increased government regulatory activity weighed on Chinese stocks late in the reporting period. Relatively slow vaccination rollouts in parts of Asia also prompted concerns, particularly as the Delta variant spread.
| 4 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Denmark ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Denmark ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of Danish equities, as represented by the MSCI Denmark IMI 25/50 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
37.21 | % | 17.16 | % | 18.37% | 37.21% | 120.79% | 405.06 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
38.01 | 17.15 | 18.36 | 38.01 | 120.70 | 404.69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
37.51 | 17.46 | 18.67 | 37.51 | 123.55 | 417.38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 1/25/12. The first day of secondary market trading was 1/26/12.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 19 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,218.40 | $ 2.96 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.50 | $ 2.70 | 0.53 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 19 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Denmark ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Danish stocks strongly advanced during the reporting period amid a rapid economic recovery. High vaccination rates, government stimulus, and a gradual lessening of coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions contained the economic fallout. Danish economic activity outpaced the average expansion of the Eurozone, buoyed by increasing employment levels and strong household spending.
The healthcare sector, which represented approximately 40% of the Index on average, led contribution to the Indexs return. Pharmaceuticals companies advanced due to steady sales of drugs used in treating chronic medical problems, such as diabetes, particularly in China. In the U.S., new, lower-cost, private-label distribution channels presented manufacturers with an answer to pricing strategy criticism from regulators and government oversight committees. U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of a new obesity care drug also benefited the pharmaceuticals industry as demand outstripped supply following its release.
The industrials sector further contributed to the Indexs return. Strong global e-commerce activity led to increased business in the transportation industry and bolstered air freight and logistics companies. Cargo volume grew substantially in 2020, benefiting Danish air freight and logistics companies. Acquisitions within the transportation industry increased as companies accelerated investment in digital logistics solutions and e-commerce capabilities. Increased volume and higher freight rates also supported earnings of marine shipping companies amid a sharp rebound in global trade. The capital goods industry also contributed as global wind companies recorded their strongest year of new installations in 2020. This was a major source of strength for heavy electrical equipment makers despite a rise in raw material prices and transportation costs. Customer demand for renewable energy remained strong as countries seek ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Portfolio Information
|
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
|
|||
| Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Health Care |
39.2 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
27.8 | |||
|
Financials |
8.6 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
6.3 | |||
|
Materials |
5.7 | |||
|
Utilities |
5.6 | |||
|
Information Technology |
3.1 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
3.1 | |||
|
Energy |
0.6 | |||
|
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
|
|||
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B |
21.3 | % | ||
|
DSV Panalpina A/S |
9.6 | |||
|
Vestas Wind Systems A/S |
7.6 | |||
|
Orsted A/S |
5.6 | |||
|
Genmab A/S |
4.5 | |||
|
Coloplast A/S, Class B |
4.2 | |||
|
Carlsberg A/S, Class B |
3.6 | |||
|
Novozymes A/S, Class B |
3.5 | |||
|
AP Moller - Maersk A/S, Class B |
3.0 | |||
|
Pandora A/S |
2.6 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 6 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Finland ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Finland ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of Finnish equities, as represented by the MSCI Finland IMI 25/50 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
29.37 | % | 13.25 | % | 11.37% | 29.37 | % | 86.31 | % | 181.35 | % | |||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
29.05 | 13.21 | 11.38 | 29.05 | 85.93 | 181.45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
28.72 | 12.73 | 10.83 | 28.72 | 82.03 | 168.32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 1/25/12. The first day of secondary market trading was 1/26/12.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 19 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,164.40 | $ 3.06 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.40 | $ 2.85 | 0.56 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 19 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Finland ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in Finland advanced for the reporting period as the regional recovery accelerated. Government stimulus efforts, successful vaccine rollout, a strong rebound in industrial production, and increased demand for exports helped drive growth. Business confidence improved as unemployment declined and expectations for continued economic strengthening rose.
The industrials sector was the leading contributor to the Indexs return as machinery companies reported a resurgence in new orders and demand for services. The marine market experienced a more general recovery, as new vessel orders improved despite the ongoing pressure from the still-recovering cruise industry. Increased demand for emissions-free power production and renewable fuels also supported makers of maritime and offshore engines and equipment, further bolstering partnerships with energy and marine companies.
The materials sector contributed to the Indexs return, driven by the paper and forest products industry. Consumer behavior during the pandemic drove specific paper divisions, including wood pulp, used in soft paper products, and self-adhesive labeling materials. Strong consumer demand for goods also benefited producers of packaging materials.
Information technology stocks also contributed to the Indexs return as the countrys largest communications equipment maker completed a substantial operational overhaul to improve its 5G capabilities and reported a stronger than expected operating profit. The decision to ban a leading Chinese company from 5G telecommunications networks in the U.K. increased business opportunities in that country.
The financials and consumer services sectors also contributed. Continued demand in the housing market drove strong underwriting activity, benefiting the insurance industry. A resurgence in consumer spending boosted the consumer staples sector, as sales in the food and staples retail industry showed strong growth.
Portfolio Information
| ALLOCATION BY SECTOR |
|
|||
| Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Industrials |
25.6 | % | ||
|
Information Technology |
17.0 | |||
|
Materials |
14.4 | |||
|
Financials |
10.6 | |||
|
Energy |
10.2 | |||
|
Communication Services |
5.0 | |||
|
Utilities |
4.6 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
4.2 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
4.2 | |||
|
Health Care |
2.8 | |||
|
Real Estate |
1.4 | |||
| TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS |
|
|||
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Nokia OYJ |
13.3 | % | ||
|
Kone OYJ, Class B |
11.2 | |||
|
Neste OYJ |
10.2 | |||
|
Sampo OYJ, Class A |
10.1 | |||
|
Fortum OYJ |
4.6 | |||
|
UPM-Kymmene OYJ |
4.4 | |||
|
Stora Enso OYJ, Class R |
4.3 | |||
|
Kesko OYJ, Class B |
4.2 | |||
|
Elisa OYJ |
3.6 | |||
|
Wartsila OYJ Abp |
3.0 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 8 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of small-capitalization German equities, as represented by the MSCI Germany Small Cap 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
35.96 | % | 16.53 | % | 15.27% | 35.96 | % | 114.86 | % | 291.43 | % | |||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
35.99 | 16.55 | 15.27 | 35.99 | 115.05 | 291.42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
35.91 | 16.37 | 15.14 | 35.91 | 113.44 | 286.94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 1/25/12. The first day of secondary market trading was 1/26/12.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 19 for more information.
Expense Example
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical 5% Return
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,090.20 | $ 3.11 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.20 | $ 3.01 | 0.59 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 19 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
9 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Small-capitalization stocks in Germany advanced strongly for the reporting period despite new waves of COVID-19 infections and business disruptions that continued to hamper economic growth. Although Germanys economy contracted in 2020, it outperformed several other European economies due to a surge in global trade that boosted its export-focused manufacturing sector. The deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021, additional pandemic relief aid, and optimism about an economic recovery supported equity market gains.
The industrials sector contributed the most to the Indexs return, benefiting from the markets shift toward economically sensitive stocks amid expectations of a resurgence in economic growth. Gains were concentrated primarily within the capital goods industry, where rising investments in equipment, machines, and services drove demand. Order strength was particularly strong among manufacturers of data processing equipment, lens systems, planes, and ships. Additionally, the sector benefited from the rapid economic recovery in China and the U.S., as well as pledges by several European governments to significantly increase public investment over the next two years, which provided incentive for manufacturing companies to invest in equipment.
The information technology sector was also a strong contributor to the Indexs return. A global semiconductor shortage that led chip companies to ramp up production supported semiconductor and semiconductor equipment companies. In particular, manufacturers of equipment used to produce gallium nitride transistors, alternatives to silicon chips that are used in data centers, power supplies, automotive systems, and other applications, contributed.
The materials sector also contributed amid global economic expansion and robust demand for raw materials, which drove commodities prices higher. Steel companies were particularly strong contributors, supported by order growth amid recoveries in the automotive and construction industries.
Portfolio Information
| ALLOCATION BY SECTOR |
|
|||
| Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Industrials |
26.5 | % | ||
|
Information Technology |
12.5 | |||
|
Health Care |
12.4 | |||
|
Real Estate |
11.1 | |||
|
Communication Services |
9.3 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
9.1 | |||
|
Materials |
8.7 | |||
|
Financials |
6.1 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
2.3 | |||
|
Utilities |
1.0 | |||
|
Energy |
1.0 | |||
| TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS |
|
|||
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Evotec SE |
3.9 | % | ||
|
TAG Immobilien AG |
2.9 | |||
|
thyssenkrupp AG |
2.7 | |||
|
Rheinmetall AG |
2.5 | |||
|
CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA |
2.2 | |||
|
Hugo Boss AG |
2.0 | |||
|
Gerresheimer AG |
2.0 | |||
|
AIXTRON SE |
1.9 | |||
|
alstria office REIT-AG |
1.9 | |||
|
Befesa SA |
1.9 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 10 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Ireland ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Ireland ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of Irish equities, as represented by the MSCI All Ireland Capped 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 |
44.90 | % | 10.98 | % | 14.00 | % | 44.90 | % | 68.39 | % | 270.63 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
46.25 | 11.13 | 13.95 | 46.25 | 69.46 | 269.05 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
45.99 | 11.41 | 14.49 | 45.99 | 71.67 | 287.12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Index performance through November 26, 2013 reflects the performance of the MSCI Ireland Investable Market Index 25/50. Index performance beginning on November 27, 2013 reflects the performance of the MSCI All Ireland Capped Index.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 19 for more information.
Expense Example
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical 5% Return
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,205.20 | $ 2.72 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.70 | $ 2.50 | 0.49 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 19 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
11 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Ireland ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Irish stocks advanced strongly during the reporting period amid economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The Irish economy expanded amid an export surge, government investment, and increased household consumption. Demand for Irish goods abroad remained steady despite the pandemic, and news of a planned trade mission to western Europe helped further an export led recovery. Unprecedented government stimulus continued, bolstering the economy with programs to support employers and employees. This contributed to a projected budget deficit of approximately 8.5% of national income and 4.7% of economic growth, which was on par with other European nations. The government announced that it would reduce the deficit more gradually than previously planned as it invests in housing construction to meet increased demand. Consumer spending surpassed pre-pandemic levels as restrictions loosened and Irish consumers shopped for everything from clothing to apps and gaming.
The materials sector was the largest contributor to the Indexs return. Construction rebounded strongly in the second quarter of 2021, reflecting pent-up demand from spring 2021 when nonessential work was paused amid increasing COVID-19 infection rates. This strong underlying demand combined with pricing increases bolstered revenue despite increased costs and weather events that disrupted businesses in Europe and North America.
The financials sector also contributed significantly to the Indexs return. Banks led contributions as profits rose despite low interest rates and a brief resumption of pandemic-related restrictions in spring 2021. Impairment losses were lower as Ireland distributed COVID-19 vaccines widely, and the Irish economy reopened. The industrials sector was another meaningful contributor, led by capital goods firms that focus on trading and distribution. The rise in construction benefited the industry, as a large building materials distributor posted higher revenues and profits, driving contribution.
Portfolio Information
| ALLOCATION BY SECTOR | ||||
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
Materials |
28.0 | % | ||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
27.5 | |||
|
Industrials |
14.6 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
9.9 | |||
|
Financials |
9.4 | |||
|
Health Care |
6.8 | |||
|
Real Estate |
3.8 | |||
| TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS |
|
|||
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
CRH PLC |
22.4 | % | ||
|
Flutter Entertainment PLC, Class DI |
21.5 | |||
|
AIB Group PLC |
4.6 | |||
|
Grafton Group PLC |
4.6 | |||
|
Bank of Ireland Group PLC |
4.6 | |||
|
Glanbia PLC |
4.5 | |||
|
Kingspan Group PLC |
4.5 | |||
|
ICON PLC |
4.5 | |||
|
Ryanair Holdings PLC |
4.4 | |||
|
Kerry Group PLC, Class A |
4.3 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 12 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Kuwait ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based equity index with exposure to Kuwait, as defined by the index provider, as represented by the MSCI All Kuwait Select Size Liquidity Capped Index (the Index). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index.
Performance
| Cumulative Total Returns | ||||
|
Since Inception |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Fund NAV |
37.03% | |||
|
Fund Market |
37.60 | |||
|
Index |
37.94 | |||
|
|
||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 9/1/20. The first day of secondary market trading was 9/3/20.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions since the Fund commenced operations. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 19 for more information.
Expense Example
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical 5% Return
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,234.90 | $ 4.17 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,021.50 | $ 3.77 | 0.74 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 19 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
13 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Kuwait ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in Kuwait posted a strong advance for the reporting period despite government deficits and political gridlock. The appointed government and the elected parliament clashed over how to reduce the governments record deficit, which widened due to a sharp drop in oil prices and government spending during 2020. Consequently, prominent credit rating agencies downgraded debt issued by the Kuwaiti government. Despite these challenges, Kuwait continued to open its financial markets to foreign investment, leading a major equity index provider to upgrade their status from frontier to emerging market. Kuwaits large public sector, which accounts for approximately half of the countrys economic output, continued to employ approximately 85% of the Kuwaiti work force, holding the national unemployment rate at 2.3% during 2020. As oil prices rebounded strongly during the reporting period, Kuwait, the worlds tenth largest oil producer in 2020, sharply increased its oil production. Oil represented approximately half of Kuwaits economic output, 95% of its exports, and 90% of government revenue. The oil price recovery, in addition to the possibility of drawing on Kuwaits U.S. $600 billion sovereign wealth fund, helped forestall an imminent liquidity crisis.
The Indexs performance was driven primarily by a solid advance in the financials sector, which represented approximately 66% of the Index at the end of the reporting period. The two largest banks in the Index posted strong earnings growth. As the economy rebounded from coronavirus pandemic lows, provisions for credit losses decreased, and household demand for credit increased. The Kuwaiti airline industry also improved, as the number of international flights increased sharply. In the real estate sector, strong demand and limited supply continued to drive up the prices of residential real estate.
Portfolio Information
| ALLOCATION BY SECTOR |
|
|||
| Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
66.5 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
12.4 | |||
|
Real Estate |
7.5 | |||
|
Communication Services |
4.4 | |||
|
Materials |
3.3 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
2.6 | |||
|
Utilities |
1.2 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
1.1 | |||
|
Energy |
1.0 | |||
| TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS |
|
|||
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
National Bank of Kuwait SAKP |
22.9 | % | ||
|
Kuwait Finance House KSCP |
20.1 | |||
|
Agility Public Warehousing Co. KSC |
4.4 | |||
|
Mobile Telecommunications Co. KSCP |
4.4 | |||
|
Ahli United Bank BSC |
4.1 | |||
|
Mabanee Co. KPSC |
3.7 | |||
|
Gulf Bank KSCP |
3.2 | |||
|
National Industries Group Holding SAK |
2.6 | |||
|
Humansoft Holding Co. KSC |
2.6 | |||
|
Warba Bank KSCP |
2.3 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 14 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI New Zealand ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of New Zealand equities, as represented by the MSCI New Zealand IMI 25/50 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 |
6.58 | % | 9.91 | % | 11.53 | % | 6.58 | % | 60.38 | % | 197.88 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
6.63 | 9.87 | 11.41 | 6.63 | 60.07 | 194.65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
6.94 | 10.37 | 11.98 | 6.94 | 63.81 | 209.94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Index performance through February 11, 2013 reflects the performance of the MSCI New Zealand Investable Market Index. Index performance beginning on February 12, 2013 reflects the performance of the MSCI New Zealand IMI 25/50 Index.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 19 for more information.
Expense Example
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical 5% Return
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,010.00 | $ 2.48 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.70 | $ 2.50 | 0.49 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 19 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
15 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI New Zealand ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in New Zealand advanced modestly during the reporting period, despite a strong, broadly based economic recovery, as production in most sectors exceeded levels reached before the coronavirus pandemic. Strong household spending and higher demand for commodities drove much of the economic recovery. However, the emergence of COVID-19 variants and new coronavirus outbreaks led to the enactment of new restrictions on business and public activities, which restrained economic activity late in the reporting period.
Within the utilities sector, higher commodities prices raised electricity demand from smelters as they maximized operations to increase profits while prices remained high and committed to maintaining high levels of production. A buyout offer for one major company in the electric utilities industry also raised stock prices in the sector.
Within the materials sector, building activity across New Zealand soared as restrictions related to the pandemic eased. The strong home housing market, which climbed to historically high levels across New Zealand, raised demand for construction materials, which were already in short supply due to pandemic-related disruptions.
On the downside, in the consumer staples sector, the stock of one major New Zealand dairy producer declined moderately as pandemic-related restrictions led to reduced revenues from infant milk formula sales. Tough restrictions put in place in major Australian cities to mediate the effects of the pandemic disrupted the dairy producers informal daigou network, whereby Chinese nationals in Australia buy infant milk formula locally to import back into China in order to evade customs duties or to assure quality products. A decline in Chinas birth rate also impacted sales for dairy producers.
Portfolio Information
| ALLOCATION BY SECTOR |
|
|||
| Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Health Care |
28.8 | % | ||
|
Utilities |
22.2 | |||
|
Industrials |
14.5 | |||
|
Communication Services |
12.6 | |||
|
Real Estate |
9.5 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
4.5 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
3.7 | |||
|
Energy |
2.2 | |||
|
Information Technology |
2.0 | |||
| TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS |
|
|||
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. |
18.9 | % | ||
|
Spark New Zealand Ltd. |
9.2 | |||
|
Auckland International Airport Ltd. |
9.1 | |||
|
Meridian Energy Ltd. |
6.9 | |||
|
Ryman Healthcare Ltd. |
4.8 | |||
|
Infratil Ltd. |
4.4 | |||
|
Contact Energy Ltd. |
4.4 | |||
|
Mercury NZ Ltd. |
4.4 | |||
|
Fletcher Building Ltd. |
4.3 | |||
|
a2 Milk Co. Ltd. (The) |
3.9 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 16 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Norway ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Norway ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of a broad-based index composed of Norwegian equities, as represented by the MSCI Norway IMI 25/50 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
31.42 | % | 10.08 | % | 4.03% | 31.42 | % | 61.61 | % | 46.20 | % | |||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
32.93 | 10.20 | 4.07 | 32.93 | 62.49 | 46.75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
32.01 | 10.48 | 4.37 | 32.01 | 64.62 | 50.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 1/23/12. The first day of secondary market trading was 1/24/12.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 19 for more information.
Expense Example
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical 5% Return
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,113.50 | $ 2.82 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.50 | $ 2.70 | 0.53 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 19 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
17 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Norway ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Norwegian stocks advanced strongly for the reporting period as the regional recovery accelerated. Economic activity rose in tandem with a gradual lifting of coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions and widespread vaccination distribution. Employment numbers markedly improved as the service sectors most impacted by the pandemic reopened. Revenues from oil, Norways largest export, rebounded late in the reporting period, as crude oil and natural gas prices rose amid an expansion in industrial production.
The financials sector was the largest contributor to the Indexs return. Banks reported strong lending growth and near pre-pandemic levels of customer activity. Larger banks used a record-low sight deposit-rate environment to acquire smaller, regional banks. Additionally, facing increased competition in the digital payments category, Norways largest financial services group merged its mobile payment offerings with competitors in Denmark and Finland, expanding the breadth of its digital service offerings for consumers across Europe.
The materials sector was also a source of strength for the Indexs return, as sustained demand for construction and electric vehicle production in China benefited the aluminum industry and offset rising raw material costs. Price increases for high-demand fertilizer products drove contribution from the chemicals industry.
The energy sector also contributed to the Indexs return, as investment in Norways integrated oil and gas industry remained solid, partly due to temporary government tax breaks. The industry also strongly benefited from the sale of stakes in offshore renewable energy projects.
A resurgence in consumer spending helped the consumer staples sector contribute to the Indexs return amid strong growth from the packaged foods and meats industry. The information technology sector also contributed as brisk purchases from consumer electronics manufacturers drove gains of semiconductors manufacturers.
Portfolio Information
| ALLOCATION BY SECTOR |
|
|||
| Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
21.4 | % | ||
|
Consumer Staples |
17.7 | |||
|
Communication Services |
15.0 | |||
|
Energy |
14.8 | |||
|
Materials |
11.6 | |||
|
Industrials |
9.7 | |||
|
Information Technology |
5.0 | |||
|
Utilities |
1.8 | |||
|
Real Estate |
1.8 | |||
|
Other (each representing less than 1%) |
1.2 | |||
| TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS |
|
|||
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Equinor ASA |
11.3 | % | ||
|
DNB Bank ASA |
10.7 | |||
|
Telenor ASA |
6.7 | |||
|
Mowi ASA |
6.5 | |||
|
Yara International ASA |
4.9 | |||
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
4.7 | |||
|
Tomra Systems ASA |
3.9 | |||
|
Orkla ASA |
3.8 | |||
|
Nordic Semiconductor ASA |
2.8 | |||
|
Adevinta ASA |
2.7 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 18 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 Funds investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or NAV is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such funds NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the funds 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.
As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled Expenses Paid During the Period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Funds actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
A B O U T F U N D P E R F O R M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R E X P E N S E S |
19 |
|
August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Denmark ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
|
Air Freight & Logistics 9.6% |
||||||||
|
DSV Panalpina A/S |
62,592 | $ | 15,943,548 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 5.3% | ||||||||
|
Danske Bank A/S |
246,535 | 4,136,983 | ||||||
|
Jyske Bank A/S, Registered(a) |
29,340 | 1,280,809 | ||||||
|
Ringkjoebing Landbobank A/S |
13,320 | 1,579,823 | ||||||
|
Spar Nord Bank A/S |
72,347 | 833,951 | ||||||
|
Sydbank A/S |
35,807 | 1,048,009 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,879,575 | ||||||||
| Beverages 5.1% | ||||||||
|
Carlsberg A/S, Class B |
34,395 | 6,007,602 | ||||||
|
Royal Unibrew A/S |
19,646 | 2,538,013 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,545,615 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology 6.1% | ||||||||
|
Bavarian Nordic A/S(a)(b) |
32,901 | 1,613,338 | ||||||
|
Genmab A/S(a) |
15,922 | 7,542,774 | ||||||
|
Zealand Pharma A/S(a) |
30,777 | 949,009 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,105,121 | ||||||||
| Building Products 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Rockwool International A/S, Class B |
3,656 | 1,934,155 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Chemicals 5.6% | ||||||||
|
Chr Hansen Holding A/S |
38,785 | 3,579,093 | ||||||
|
Novozymes A/S, Class B |
70,941 | 5,734,664 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,313,757 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 1.0% | ||||||||
|
ISS A/S(a) |
73,540 | 1,692,330 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction & Engineering 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Per Aarsleff Holding A/S |
18,095 | 853,492 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Containers & Packaging 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Brodrene Hartmann A/S(a) |
2,668 | 180,247 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electric Utilities 5.6% | ||||||||
|
Orsted A/S(c) |
58,630 | 9,321,263 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electrical Equipment 8.2% | ||||||||
|
NKT A/S(a) |
24,050 | 1,083,219 | ||||||
|
Vestas Wind Systems A/S |
313,326 | 12,651,043 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 13,734,262 | ||||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Drilling Co. of 1972 A/S (The)(a) |
21,621 | 793,640 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Schouw & Co. A/S |
9,133 | 990,601 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 9.0% | ||||||||
|
Ambu A/S, Class B(b) |
69,999 | 2,213,788 | ||||||
|
Coloplast A/S, Class B |
40,044 | 6,937,959 | ||||||
|
Demant A/S(a) |
43,451 | 2,464,668 | ||||||
|
GN Store Nord A/S |
45,971 | 3,460,461 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 15,076,876 | ||||||||
| Health Care Technology 0.2% | ||||||||
|
NNIT A/S(b)(c) |
15,846 | 355,253 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Insurance 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Alm Brand A/S |
105,565 | 831,716 | ||||||
|
Topdanmark A/S |
24,194 | 1,273,635 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Insurance (continued) | ||||||||
|
Tryg A/S |
133,535 | $ | 3,306,370 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,411,721 | ||||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Chemometec A/S |
8,576 | 1,362,436 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Machinery 1.2% | ||||||||
|
FLSmidth & Co. A/S |
29,461 | 1,068,015 | ||||||
|
Nilfisk Holding A/S(a) |
23,133 | 855,798 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,923,813 | ||||||||
| Marine 5.5% | ||||||||
|
AP Moller - Maersk A/S, Class A |
876 | 2,373,899 | ||||||
|
AP Moller - Maersk A/S, Class B, NVS |
1,735 | 4,942,596 | ||||||
|
D/S Norden A/S |
29,646 | 769,202 | ||||||
|
Dfds A/S(a) |
20,208 | 1,156,087 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,241,784 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.1% | ||||||||
|
TORM PLC, Class A |
28,550 | 220,970 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 22.8% | ||||||||
|
ALK-Abello A/S(a) |
3,218 | 1,572,965 | ||||||
|
H Lundbeck A/S |
40,752 | 1,204,961 | ||||||
|
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B |
352,617 | 35,300,448 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 38,078,374 | ||||||||
| Road & Rail 0.4% | ||||||||
|
NTG Nordic Transport Group AS, Class A(a) |
8,462 | 713,598 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Software 3.1% | ||||||||
|
cBrain AS |
11,209 | 771,506 | ||||||
|
Netcompany Group A/S(c) |
16,817 | 2,173,901 | ||||||
|
SimCorp A/S |
16,557 | 2,258,322 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,203,729 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Matas A/S |
40,275 | 834,506 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 2.6% | ||||||||
|
Pandora A/S |
35,504 | 4,255,656 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Tobacco 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S, Class A(c) |
46,165 | 937,555 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total Common Stocks 99.4% | ||||||||
|
(Cost: $133,855,355) |
165,903,877 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Short-Term Investments | ||||||||
| Money Market Funds 2.1% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares,
|
3,385,035 | 3,386,728 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares,
|
90,000 | 90,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,476,728 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 2.1%
|
3,476,728 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 101.5%
|
169,380,605 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (1.5)% |
(2,512,796 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 166,867,809 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| 20 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Denmark ETF |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
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. |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (f) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 624,875 | $ | 2,762,792 | (a) | $ | | $ | (961 | ) | $ | 22 | $ | 3,386,728 | 3,385,035 | $ | 8,064 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
34,000 | 56,000 | (a) | | | | 90,000 | 90,000 | 39 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (961 | ) | $ | 22 | $ | 3,476,728 | $ | 8,103 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
OMX Copenhagen 25 Index |
38 | 09/17/21 | $ | 1,190 | $ | (7,260 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 7,260 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
21 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Denmark ETF |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 382,373 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (13,226 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 1,058,721 | ||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 21,641,220 | $ | 144,262,657 | $ | | $ | 165,903,877 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
3,476,728 | | | 3,476,728 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 25,117,948 | $ | 144,262,657 | $ | | $ | 169,380,605 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | (7,260 | ) | $ | | $ | (7,260 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 22 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Finland ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
|
Airlines 0.4% |
||||||||
|
Finnair OYJ(a)(b) |
174,275 | $ | 136,149 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Auto Components 2.3% |
||||||||
|
Nokian Renkaat OYJ |
18,517 | 705,730 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Banks 0.6% |
||||||||
|
Aktia Bank OYJ |
13,085 | 187,255 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Building Products 1.0% |
||||||||
|
Uponor OYJ |
9,792 | 315,789 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Chemicals 1.0% |
||||||||
|
Kemira OYJ |
18,436 | 311,329 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.7% |
||||||||
|
Caverion OYJ |
23,068 | 214,298 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Communications Equipment 13.2% |
||||||||
|
Nokia OYJ(a) |
685,881 | 4,120,177 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Construction & Engineering 0.6% |
||||||||
|
YIT OYJ |
29,969 | 181,554 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Containers & Packaging 2.4% |
||||||||
|
Huhtamaki OYJ |
13,808 | 737,685 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Diversified Telecommunication Services 3.6% |
||||||||
|
Elisa OYJ |
17,537 | 1,123,958 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Electric Utilities 4.5% |
||||||||
|
Fortum OYJ |
46,433 | 1,411,330 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Entertainment 0.5% |
||||||||
|
Remedy Entertainment OYJ |
595 | 28,278 | ||||||
|
Rovio Entertainment OYJ(c) |
15,436 | 122,023 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 150,301 | ||||||||
|
Food & Staples Retailing 4.2% |
||||||||
|
Kesko OYJ, Class B |
31,551 | 1,305,565 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.5% |
||||||||
|
Revenio Group OYJ |
1,936 | 148,485 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Health Care Providers & Services 0.4% |
||||||||
|
Oriola OYJ, Class B |
50,069 | 113,863 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Insurance 10.0% |
||||||||
|
Sampo OYJ, Class A |
60,187 | 3,110,182 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
IT Services 1.5% |
||||||||
|
TietoEVRY OYJ |
13,606 | 484,568 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Leisure Products 0.1% |
||||||||
|
Harvia OYJ |
620 | 41,508 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Machinery 22.6% |
||||||||
|
Cargotec OYJ, Class B |
6,241 | 346,608 | ||||||
|
Kone OYJ, Class B |
41,623 | 3,453,888 | ||||||
|
Konecranes OYJ |
9,159 | 414,940 | ||||||
|
Metso Outotec OYJ |
84,502 | 903,619 | ||||||
|
Neles OYJ |
16,057 | 248,367 | ||||||
|
Valmet OYJ |
18,721 | 751,278 | ||||||
|
Wartsila OYJ Abp |
65,195 | 924,867 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,043,567 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Media 0.8% |
||||||||
|
Sanoma OYJ |
14,193 | $ | 260,761 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Metals & Mining 1.2% |
||||||||
|
Outokumpu OYJ(a) |
56,135 | 389,772 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Multiline Retail 0.8% |
||||||||
|
Tokmanni Group Corp. |
8,904 | 256,877 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 10.1% |
||||||||
|
Neste OYJ |
51,876 | 3,159,867 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Paper & Forest Products 9.7% |
||||||||
|
Metsa Board OYJ |
28,917 | 302,551 | ||||||
|
Stora Enso OYJ, Class R |
68,043 | 1,334,957 | ||||||
|
UPM-Kymmene OYJ |
33,734 | 1,374,275 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,011,783 | ||||||||
|
Pharmaceuticals 2.0% |
||||||||
|
Orion OYJ, Class B |
15,033 | 613,198 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Professional Services 0.1% |
||||||||
|
Talenom OYJ |
1,823 | 36,679 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Real Estate Management & Development 1.4% |
||||||||
|
Citycon OYJ |
16,974 | 151,166 | ||||||
|
Kojamo OYJ |
12,229 | 297,776 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 448,942 | ||||||||
|
Software 2.1% |
||||||||
|
Admicom OYJ |
260 | 28,557 | ||||||
|
BasWare OYJ(a) |
3,046 | 138,971 | ||||||
|
F-Secure OYJ |
29,544 | 167,095 | ||||||
|
QT Group OYJ(a) |
1,728 | 317,969 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 652,592 | ||||||||
|
Specialty Retail 0.9% |
||||||||
|
Kamux Corp. |
1,631 | 26,297 | ||||||
|
Musti Group OYJ |
6,303 | 255,555 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 281,852 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.2%
|
30,955,616 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Short-Term Investments | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds 1.0% |
||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares,
|
143,156 | 143,228 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares,
|
165,000 | 165,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 308,228 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 1.0%
|
308,228 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.2%
|
31,263,844 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.2)% |
(65,412 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 31,198,432 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
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. |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
23 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Finland ETF |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (f) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 485,403 | $ | | $ | (342,017 | )(a) | $ | (123 | ) | $ | (35 | ) | $ | 143,228 | 143,156 | $ | 8,111 | (b) | $ | | |||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
175,000 | | (10,000 | )(a) | | | 165,000 | 165,000 | 73 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (123 | ) | $ | (35 | ) | $ | 308,228 | $ | 8,184 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
Euro STOXX 50 Index |
5 | 09/17/21 | $ | 247 | $ | 8,010 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 8,010 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 64,754 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 9,440 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| 24 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Finland ETF |
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 228,110 | ||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 1,205,829 | $ | 29,749,787 | $ | | $ | 30,955,616 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
308,228 | | | 308,228 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 1,514,057 | $ | 29,749,787 | $ | | $ | 31,263,844 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 8,010 | $ | | $ | 8,010 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
25 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
|
Aerospace & Defense 0.6% |
||||||||
|
Hensoldt AG |
10,609 | $ | 179,882 | |||||
|
OHB SE |
1,324 | 61,047 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 240,929 | ||||||||
|
Auto Components 0.7% |
||||||||
|
ElringKlinger AG(a)(b) |
7,202 | 117,261 | ||||||
|
SAF-Holland SE(a) |
11,467 | 163,424 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 280,685 | ||||||||
|
Biotechnology 1.1% |
||||||||
|
MorphoSys AG(a) |
8,308 | 481,821 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Building Products 0.5% |
||||||||
|
Steico SE(b) |
1,423 | 202,612 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Capital Markets 1.8% |
||||||||
|
AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA |
7,517 | 239,326 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Beteiligungs AG |
3,325 | 145,359 | ||||||
|
flatexDEGIRO AG(a) |
2,067 | 214,767 | ||||||
|
MLP SE |
16,571 | 150,660 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 750,112 | ||||||||
|
Chemicals 3.3% |
||||||||
|
K+S AG, Registered(a) |
48,349 | 689,206 | ||||||
|
Wacker Chemie AG |
3,952 | 697,332 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,386,538 | ||||||||
|
Commercial Services & Supplies 3.0% |
||||||||
|
Befesa SA(c) |
10,104 | 819,425 | ||||||
|
Bilfinger SE |
7,259 | 254,660 | ||||||
|
Cewe Stiftung & Co. KGaA |
1,405 | 209,692 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,283,777 | ||||||||
|
Communications Equipment 0.4% |
||||||||
|
ADVA Optical Networking SE(a) |
10,842 | 179,736 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Construction & Engineering 1.0% |
||||||||
|
HOCHTIEF AG |
5,354 | 428,222 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Diversified Financial Services 2.2% |
||||||||
|
GRENKE AG |
7,047 | 313,859 | ||||||
|
Hypoport SE(a) |
902 | 623,369 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 937,228 | ||||||||
|
Electrical Equipment 3.5% |
||||||||
|
Nordex SE(a) |
26,274 | 491,757 | ||||||
|
PNE AG |
8,708 | 75,559 | ||||||
|
SGL Carbon SE(a)(b) |
15,452 | 171,556 | ||||||
|
Varta AG(b) |
4,595 | 733,086 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,471,958 | ||||||||
|
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.8% |
||||||||
|
Basler AG |
928 | 161,292 | ||||||
|
Jenoptik AG |
13,013 | 470,283 | ||||||
|
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG(b) |
6,188 | 156,726 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 788,301 | ||||||||
|
Entertainment 2.8% |
||||||||
|
Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA(a) |
16,268 | 121,100 | ||||||
|
CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA(a) |
14,550 | 938,765 | ||||||
|
Media and Games Invest SE(a) |
22,686 | 146,905 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,206,770 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 2.4% | ||||||||
|
alstria office REIT-AG |
40,420 | 823,430 | ||||||
| 26 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Hugo Boss AG |
15,116 | $ | 844,001 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Aareal Bank AG |
15,120 | 399,610 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG(c) |
33,969 | 389,100 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 788,710 | ||||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 0.9% | ||||||||
|
BayWa AG |
3,452 | 149,995 | ||||||
|
Kloeckner & Co. SE(a) |
18,898 | 255,160 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 405,155 | ||||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide(a)(b) |
9,343 | 604,195 | ||||||
|
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG |
7,245 | 159,628 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 763,823 | ||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 2.7% | ||||||||
|
1&1 AG |
11,163 | 352,615 | ||||||
|
Freenet AG |
32,349 | 799,021 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,151,636 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 96.8%
|
|
41,265,227 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
|
|||||||
|
Construction Materials 0.4% |
|
|||||||
|
STO SE & Co. KGaA, Preference Shares, NVS |
641 | 148,496 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Draegerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Preference Shares, NVS |
2,172 | 183,368 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Machinery 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Jungheinrich AG, Preference Shares, NVS |
12,125 | 654,817 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Road & Rail 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Sixt SE, Preference Shares, NVS |
4,187 | 329,081 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Preferred Stocks 3.1%
|
|
1,315,762 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
|
Money Market Funds 8.5% |
|
|||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares,
|
3,633,096 | 3,634,912 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares,
|
10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,644,912 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 8.5%
|
|
3,644,912 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 108.4%
|
|
46,225,901 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (8.4)% |
|
(3,584,098 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 42,641,803 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
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. |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
27 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (f) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 1,913,301 | $ | 1,723,385 | (a) | $ | $ | (1,122 | ) | $ | (652 | ) | $ | 3,634,912 | 3,633,096 | $ | 147,423 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
10,000 | 0 | (a) | | | | 10,000 | 10,000 | 4 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (1,122 | ) | $ | (652 | ) | $ | 3,644,912 | $ | 147,427 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
Euro STOXX 50 Index |
1 | 09/17/21 | $ | 49 | $ | 1,266 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 1,266 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 21,816 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 3,135 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| 28 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF |
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 94,873 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 7,399,761 | $ | 33,865,466 | $ | | $ | 41,265,227 | ||||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
331,864 | 983,898 | | 1,315,762 | ||||||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
3,644,912 | | | 3,644,912 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 11,376,537 | $ | 34,849,364 | $ | | $ | 46,225,901 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 1,266 | $ | | $ | 1,266 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
29 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Ireland ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
|
Airlines 4.4% |
||||||||
|
Ryanair Holdings PLC, ADR(a) |
33,961 | $ | 3,657,600 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 9.3% | ||||||||
|
AIB Group PLC(a) |
1,274,231 | 3,828,699 | ||||||
|
Bank of Ireland Group PLC(a) |
604,140 | 3,781,476 | ||||||
|
Permanent TSB Group Holdings PLC(a) |
60,179 | 99,479 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,709,654 | ||||||||
| Building Products 4.5% | ||||||||
|
Kingspan Group PLC |
32,589 | 3,721,504 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction Materials 22.5% | ||||||||
|
CRH PLC |
351,189 | 18,604,565 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Containers & Packaging 5.4% | ||||||||
|
Ardagh Group SA |
32,897 | 864,204 | ||||||
|
Smurfit Kappa Group PLC |
62,603 | 3,588,021 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,452,225 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 3.9% | ||||||||
|
Hibernia REIT PLC |
1,166,002 | 1,745,015 | ||||||
|
Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC |
790,043 | 1,432,848 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,177,863 | ||||||||
| Food Products 10.0% | ||||||||
|
Dole PLC(a) |
1 | 16 | ||||||
|
Glanbia PLC |
209,894 | 3,744,748 | ||||||
|
Kerry Group PLC, Class A |
24,563 | 3,602,145 | ||||||
|
Origin Enterprises PLC |
221,279 | 875,272 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,222,181 | ||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Uniphar PLC(a) |
407,484 | 1,910,114 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 23.4% | ||||||||
|
Dalata Hotel Group PLC(a) |
353,383 | 1,576,830 | ||||||
|
Flutter Entertainment PLC, Class DI(a) |
91,525 | 17,792,945 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 19,369,775 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 4.1% | ||||||||
|
Cairn Homes PLC(a) |
1,305,012 | 1,753,537 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Household Durables (continued) | ||||||||
|
Glenveagh Properties PLC(a)(b) |
1,304,649 | $ | 1,669,864 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,423,401 | ||||||||
| Insurance 0.1% | ||||||||
|
FBD Holdings PLC(a) |
11,513 | 104,540 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 4.5% | ||||||||
|
ICON PLC(a) |
14,488 | 3,705,596 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Marine 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Irish Continental Group PLC(a) |
174,384 | 881,269 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Metals & Mining 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Kenmare Resources PLC |
36,251 | 212,815 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 4.6% | ||||||||
|
Grafton Group PLC |
199,181 | 3,827,613 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 100.4%
|
|
82,980,715 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
|
Money Market Funds 0.1% |
|
|||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares,
|
30,000 | 30,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.1%
|
|
30,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.5%
|
|
83,010,715 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.5)% |
|
(381,177 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 82,629,538 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 20,000 | $ | 10,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 30,000 | 30,000 | $ | 8 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| 30 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Ireland ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 41,605 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 45,258 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 24,409,507 | $ | 58,571,208 | $ | | $ | 82,980,715 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
30,000 | | | 30,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 24,439,507 | $ | 58,571,208 | $ | | $ | 83,010,715 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
31 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Kuwait ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
|
Air Freight & Logistics 4.4% |
||||||||
|
Agility Public Warehousing Co. KSC |
246,045 | $ | 817,422 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Airlines 1.1% |
||||||||
|
Jazeera Airways Co. KSCP(a) |
73,555 | 205,474 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Banks 59.2% |
||||||||
|
Ahli United Bank BSC |
875,439 | 771,731 | ||||||
|
Ahli United Bank KSCP(a) |
21,258 | 22,693 | ||||||
|
Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait KSCP(a) |
218,831 | 161,558 | ||||||
|
Boubyan Bank KSCP(a) |
8,912 | 23,206 | ||||||
|
Burgan Bank SAK |
530,063 | 400,147 | ||||||
|
Gulf Bank KSCP |
736,066 | 587,482 | ||||||
|
Kuwait Finance House KSCP |
1,365,793 | 3,751,730 | ||||||
|
Kuwait International Bank KSCP(a) |
460,167 | 345,961 | ||||||
|
Kuwait Projects Holding KSCP |
541,919 | 277,538 | ||||||
|
National Bank of Kuwait SAKP |
1,372,572 | 4,270,972 | ||||||
|
Warba Bank KSCP(a) |
492,730 | 437,509 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,050,527 | ||||||||
|
Capital Markets 2.9% |
||||||||
|
Boursa Kuwait Securities Co. KPSC |
56,116 | 311,652 | ||||||
|
Noor Financial Investment Co. KSC |
236,041 | 225,064 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 536,716 | ||||||||
|
Chemicals 3.3% |
||||||||
|
Boubyan Petrochemicals Co. KSCP |
135,444 | 393,225 | ||||||
|
Qurain Petrochemical Industries Co. |
171,857 | 218,893 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 612,118 | ||||||||
|
Construction & Engineering 0.6% |
||||||||
|
Combined Group Contracting Co. SAK |
91,335 | 109,651 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Diversified Consumer Services 2.6% |
||||||||
|
Humansoft Holding Co. KSC |
42,309 | 479,234 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Diversified Financial Services 4.4% |
||||||||
|
Aayan Leasing & Investment Co. KSCP(a) |
563,803 | 292,495 | ||||||
|
Alimtiaz Investment Group KSC(a) |
767,392 | 316,451 | ||||||
|
National Investments Co. KSCP |
319,049 | 213,265 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 822,211 | ||||||||
|
Electrical Equipment 1.5% |
||||||||
|
Gulf Cable & Electrical Industries Co. KSCP |
106,229 | 287,613 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Energy Equipment & Services 1.0% |
||||||||
|
Heavy Engineering & Ship Building Co. KSCP |
124,277 | 192,594 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Food Products 1.1% |
||||||||
|
Mezzan Holding Co. KSCC |
102,993 | $ | 203,794 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity
|
||||||||
|
Shamal Az-Zour Al-Oula for the First Phase of Az-Zour Power Plant KSC |
289,348 | 224,204 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Industrial Conglomerates 2.6% |
||||||||
|
National Industries Group Holding SAK(a) |
645,089 | 491,617 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Real Estate Management & Development 7.5% |
||||||||
|
Kuwait Real Estate Co. KSC(a) |
627,151 | 296,160 | ||||||
|
Mabanee Co. KPSC |
266,437 | 684,035 | ||||||
|
National Real Estate Co. KPSC(a) |
583,699 | 415,403 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,395,598 | ||||||||
|
Trading Companies & Distributors 2.2% |
||||||||
|
ALAFCO Aviation Lease & Finance Co. KSCP(a) |
273,450 | 203,701 | ||||||
|
Integrated Holding Co. KCSC(a) |
166,943 | 205,972 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 409,673 | ||||||||
|
Wireless Telecommunication Services 4.4% |
||||||||
|
Mobile Telecommunications Co. KSCP |
402,014 | 816,169 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 100.0%
|
18,654,615 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
|
Money Market Funds 0.0% |
||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(b)(c) |
10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.0%
|
10,000 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.0%
|
18,664,615 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.0)% |
(2,595 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 18,662,020 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (c) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the period ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value
at
09/01/20(a) |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $10,000 | (b) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 10,000 | 10,000 | $ | 1 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund commenced operations on September 01, 2020. |
| (b) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| 32 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Kuwait 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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 10,966,254 | $ | 7,688,361 | $ | | $ | 18,654,615 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
10,000 | | | 10,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 10,976,254 | $ | 7,688,361 | $ | | $ | 18,664,615 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
33 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI New Zeland ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
|
Airlines 1.1% |
||||||||
|
Air New Zealand Ltd.(a)(b) |
1,550,485 | $ | 1,649,990 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Building Products 4.2% |
||||||||
|
Fletcher Building Ltd. |
1,150,683 | 6,070,819 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Diversified Telecommunication Services 12.5% |
||||||||
|
Chorus Ltd. |
974,655 | 4,826,478 | ||||||
|
Spark New Zealand Ltd. |
3,815,023 | 13,099,704 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 17,926,182 | ||||||||
|
Electric Utilities 15.3% |
||||||||
|
Contact Energy Ltd. |
1,097,488 | 6,299,383 | ||||||
|
Genesis Energy Ltd. |
1,248,426 | 2,982,994 | ||||||
|
Infratil Ltd. |
1,204,453 | 6,348,728 | ||||||
|
Mercury NZ Ltd. |
1,326,669 | 6,219,752 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 21,850,857 | ||||||||
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 9.5% |
||||||||
|
Argosy Property Ltd. |
2,146,941 | 2,490,303 | ||||||
|
Goodman Property Trust |
2,498,677 | 4,590,845 | ||||||
|
Kiwi Property Group Ltd. |
3,680,761 | 3,008,934 | ||||||
|
Precinct Properties New Zealand Ltd. |
2,906,199 | 3,500,875 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 13,590,957 | ||||||||
|
Food Products 4.5% |
||||||||
|
a2 Milk Co. Ltd. (The)(a)(b) |
1,299,907 | 5,533,863 | ||||||
|
Synlait Milk Ltd.(a)(b) |
384,749 | 894,674 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,428,537 | ||||||||
|
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 18.9% |
||||||||
|
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. |
1,155,314 | 26,962,617 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Health Care Providers & Services 9.8% |
||||||||
|
Oceania Healthcare Ltd. |
1,828,474 | 2,026,747 | ||||||
|
Ryman Healthcare Ltd. |
621,305 | 6,784,979 | ||||||
|
Summerset Group Holdings Ltd. |
488,881 | 5,208,885 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14,020,611 | ||||||||
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 3.7% |
||||||||
|
Restaurant Brands New Zealand Ltd.(a) |
115,519 | 1,302,408 | ||||||
|
SKYCITY Entertainment Group Ltd.(a) |
1,716,166 | 3,942,308 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,244,716 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity
|
||||||||
|
Meridian Energy Ltd. |
2,651,508 | $ | 9,793,064 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
IT Services 2.0% |
||||||||
|
Pushpay Holdings Ltd.(a) |
2,300,176 | 2,871,403 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 2.2% |
||||||||
|
Z Energy Ltd. |
1,252,354 | 3,097,474 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Transportation Infrastructure 9.1% |
||||||||
|
Auckland International Airport Ltd.(a) |
2,558,325 | 12,997,691 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.7%
|
142,504,918 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
|
Money Market Funds 4.8% |
||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares,
|
6,791,156 | 6,794,552 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares,
|
50,000 | 50,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,844,552 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 4.8%
|
|
6,844,552 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 104.5%
|
|
149,349,470 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (4.5)% |
|
(6,493,394 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 142,856,076 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (e) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $ | 6,796,742 | (a) | $ | | $ | (2,190 | ) | $ | | $ | 6,794,552 | 6,791,156 | $ | 18,733 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
68,000 | | (18,000 | )(a) | | | 50,000 | 50,000 | 54 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (2,190 | ) | $ | | $ | 6,844,552 | $ | 18,787 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
| 34 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Zealand ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
ASX SPI 200 Index |
2 | 09/16/21 | $ | 272 | $ | 447 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 447 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 70,332 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 617 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 255,651 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 9,236,864 | $ | 133,268,054 | $ | | $ | 142,504,918 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
6,844,552 | | | 6,844,552 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 16,081,416 | $ | 133,268,054 | $ | | $ | 149,349,470 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 447 | $ | | $ | 447 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
35 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Norway ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Aker Horizons Holding ASA(a)(c) |
16,269 | $ | 55,077 | |||||
|
Scatec ASA(b) |
30,641 | 632,965 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 688,042 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Bonheur ASA |
5,470 | 203,845 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Insurance 5.4% | ||||||||
|
Gjensidige Forsikring ASA |
51,561 | 1,205,309 | ||||||
|
Protector Forsikring ASA |
18,840 | 212,257 | ||||||
|
Storebrand ASA |
120,598 | 1,070,807 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,488,373 | ||||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 2.7% | ||||||||
|
Adevinta ASA(a) |
62,112 | 1,250,023 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| IT Services 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Atea ASA |
21,248 | 433,072 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Machinery 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Hexagon Composites ASA(a) |
28,416 | 107,437 | ||||||
|
Hexagon Purus ASA(a)(c) |
11,995 | 45,341 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 152,778 | ||||||||
| Marine 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Golden Ocean Group Ltd. |
33,478 | 380,348 | ||||||
|
Stolt-Nielsen Ltd. |
6,600 | 82,264 | ||||||
|
Wallenius Wilhelmsen ASA(a) |
27,213 | 107,797 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 570,409 | ||||||||
| Media 4.8% | ||||||||
|
Schibsted ASA, Class A |
19,092 | 1,018,583 | ||||||
|
Schibsted ASA, Class B |
25,189 | 1,172,208 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,190,791 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 4.7% | ||||||||
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
309,599 | 2,137,236 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Europris ASA(b) |
42,956 | 303,535 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 12.6% | ||||||||
|
BW Energy Ltd.(a) |
16,414 | 52,767 | ||||||
|
BW LPG Ltd.(b) |
20,084 | 106,938 | ||||||
|
DNO ASA(a) |
125,476 | 113,794 | ||||||
|
Equinor ASA |
243,460 | 5,159,923 | ||||||
|
Flex LNG Ltd. |
7,656 | 115,180 | ||||||
|
Frontline Ltd./Bermuda |
25,471 | 179,414 | ||||||
|
Hafnia Ltd. |
28,783 | 54,047 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,782,063 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Meltwater Holding BV(a) |
7,996 | 38,117 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Entra ASA(b) |
33,044 | 748,352 | ||||||
|
Selvaag Bolig ASA |
10,882 | 76,475 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 824,827 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Nordic Semiconductor ASA(a) |
39,761 | 1,293,467 | ||||||
|
REC Silicon ASA(a) |
25,786 | 46,893 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,340,360 | ||||||||
| Software 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Crayon Group Holding ASA(a)(b) |
12,662 | 243,090 | ||||||
|
LINK Mobility Group Holding ASA(a) |
15,675 | 73,959 | ||||||
|
Pexip Holding ASA(a) |
18,229 | 141,530 | ||||||
| 36 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Norway ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Software (continued) |
|
|||||||
|
Volue ASA(a) |
9,177 | $ | 48,554 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 507,133 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 0.2% | ||||||||
|
XXL ASA(a)(b) |
35,720 | 75,801 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.4%
|
45,568,163 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
|
Money Market Funds 1.7% |
|
|||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares,
|
775,165 | 775,553 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares,
|
20,000 | 20,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 795,553 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 1.7%
|
795,553 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 101.1%
|
46,363,716 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (1.1)% |
(496,193 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 45,867,523 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (f) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 126,224 | $649,462 | (a) | $ | | $ | (104 | ) | $ | (29 | ) | $775,553 | 775,165 | $ 3,246 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
10,000 | 10,000 | (a) | | | | 20,000 | 20,000 | 5 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (104 | ) | $ | (29 | ) | $795,553 | $ 3,251 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
Euro STOXX 50 Index |
1 | 09/17/21 | $ | 49 | $ | (233 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
37 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Norway ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 233 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 11,671 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 211 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 99,199 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 5,540,615 | $ | 40,027,548 | $ | | $ | 45,568,163 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
795,553 | | | 795,553 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 6,336,168 | $ | 40,027,548 | $ | | $ | 46,363,716 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | (233 | ) | $ | | $ | (233 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 38 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
39 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 40 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
41 |
Statements of Operations (continued)
Year Ended August 31, 2021
| (a) |
For the period from September 01, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2021. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 42 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
43 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 44 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
45 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 46 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Denmark ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 84.54 | $ | 60.99 | $ | 67.75 | $ | 67.57 | $ | 56.39 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.76 | 0.50 | 0.97 | 0.90 | 0.94 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
30.62 | 23.52 | (5.99 | ) | 0.77 | 11.07 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
31.38 | 24.02 | (5.02 | ) | 1.67 | 12.01 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.84 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (1.74 | ) | (1.49 | ) | (0.83 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.84 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (1.74 | ) | (1.49 | ) | (0.83 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 115.08 | $ | 84.54 | $ | 60.99 | $ | 67.75 | $ | 67.57 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
37.21 | % | 39.52 | % | (7.41 | )% | 2.58 | % | 21.43 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
0.77 | % | 0.71 | % | 1.59 | % | 1.34 | % | 1.66 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 166,868 | $ | 109,899 | $ | 33,544 | $ | 40,649 | $ | 67,567 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
11 | % | 21 | % | 14 | % | 13 | % | 14 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
47 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Finland ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 41.34 | $ | 35.63 | $ | 41.83 | $ | 39.79 | $ | 33.19 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
1.10 | 0.85 | 1.30 | 1.39 | 1.02 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
10.93 | 6.25 | (5.98 | ) | 2.16 | 6.74 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
12.03 | 7.10 | (4.68 | ) | 3.55 | 7.76 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(1.37 | ) | (1.39 | ) | (1.52 | ) | (1.51 | ) | (1.16 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(1.37 | ) | (1.39 | ) | (1.52 | ) | (1.51 | ) | (1.16 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 52.00 | $ | 41.34 | $ | 35.63 | $ | 41.83 | $ | 39.79 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
29.37 | % | 20.61 | % | (11.24 | )% | 9.08 | % | 23.32 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.55 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.55 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total expenses excluding professional fees for foreign withholding tax claims |
0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | N/A | 0.53 | % | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.39 | % | 2.36 | % | 3.40 | % | 3.38 | % | 2.84 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 31,198 | $ | 35,139 | $ | 26,725 | $ | 39,735 | $ | 45,753 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
12 | % | 22 | % | 16 | % | 11 | % | 12 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 48 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 63.72 | $ | 52.75 | $ | 63.43 | $ | 57.18 | $ | 43.23 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.99 | 0.38 | 1.07 | 1.33 | 0.78 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
21.79 | 10.74 | (10.06 | ) | 6.19 | 13.87 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
22.78 | 11.12 | (8.99 | ) | 7.52 | 14.65 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(1.22 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (1.69 | ) | (1.27 | ) | (0.70 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(1.22 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (1.69 | ) | (1.27 | ) | (0.70 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 85.28 | $ | 63.72 | $ | 52.75 | $ | 63.43 | $ | 57.18 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
35.96 | % | 21.12 | % | (14.08 | )% | 13.22 | % | 34.12 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.30 | % | 0.69 | % | 1.95 | % | 2.09 | % | 1.65 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 42,642 | $ | 31,862 | $ | 36,927 | $ | 60,260 | $ | 40,025 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
24 | % | 25 | % | 13 | % | 14 | % | 14 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
49 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Ireland ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 42.50 | $ | 39.39 | $ | 46.25 | $ | 43.80 | $ | 38.94 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.32 | 0.43 | 0.61 | 0.61 | 0.47 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
18.74 | 3.34 | (6.80 | ) | 2.62 | 4.94 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
19.06 | 3.77 | (6.19 | ) | 3.23 | 5.41 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.35 | ) | (0.66 | ) | (0.67 | ) | (0.78 | ) | (0.55 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.35 | ) | (0.66 | ) | (0.67 | ) | (0.78 | ) | (0.55 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 61.21 | $ | 42.50 | $ | 39.39 | $ | 46.25 | $ | 43.80 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
44.90 | % | 9.59 | % | (13.44 | )% | 7.38 | % | 13.99 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.50 | % | 0.51 | % | 0.49 | % | 0.47 | % | 0.49 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
0.62 | % | 1.06 | % | 1.49 | % | 1.31 | % | 1.19 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 82,630 | $ | 53,119 | $ | 55,151 | $ | 69,381 | $ | 67,883 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
40 | % | 47 | % | 24 | % | 20 | % | 14 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 50 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
51 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 60.80 | $ | 51.80 | $ | 49.11 | $ | 46.26 | $ | 46.90 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
1.04 | 1.06 | 1.58 | 1.71 | 1.96 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
2.97 | 9.49 | 2.70 | 2.86 | (0.39 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase from investment operations |
4.01 | 10.55 | 4.28 | 4.57 | 1.57 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(1.32 | ) | (1.55 | ) | (1.59 | ) | (1.72 | ) | (2.21 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(1.32 | ) | (1.55 | ) | (1.59 | ) | (1.72 | ) | (2.21 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 63.49 | $ | 60.80 | $ | 51.80 | $ | 49.11 | $ | 46.26 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
6.58 | % | 20.71 | % | 9.00 | % | 10.02 | % | 3.95 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.50 | % | 0.51 | % | 0.50 | % | 0.47 | % | 0.49 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.64 | % | 1.96 | % | 3.16 | % | 3.58 | % | 4.45 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 142,856 | $ | 167,203 | $ | 165,751 | $ | 142,406 | $ | 175,790 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
16 | % | 12 | % | 15 | % | 14 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 52 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Norway ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 22.40 | $ | 22.63 | $ | 27.67 | $ | 25.07 | $ | 20.36 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.69 | 0.34 | 0.67 | 0.72 | 0.69 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
6.30 | (0.15 | ) | (4.91 | ) | 2.56 | 4.70 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
6.99 | 0.19 | (4.24 | ) | 3.28 | 5.39 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.72 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.68 | ) | (0.68 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.72 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.68 | ) | (0.68 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 28.67 | $ | 22.40 | $ | 22.63 | $ | 27.67 | $ | 25.07 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
31.42 | % | 1.04 | % | (15.42 | )% | 13.21 | % | 27.10 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.61 | % | 1.58 | % | 2.66 | % | 2.67 | % | 3.11 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 45,868 | $ | 31,364 | $ | 22,632 | $ | 30,434 | $ | 32,589 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
12 | % | 16 | % | 13 | % | 13 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
53 |
| 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 |
|||
|
MSCI Denmark |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Finland |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
Diversified | |||
|
MSCI Ireland |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Kuwait(a) |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Norway |
Non-diversified | |||
| (a) |
The Fund commenced operations on September 01, 2020. |
| 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. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain.
Foreign Currency Translation: Each Funds 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.
Foreign Taxes: The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as Other foreign taxes, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of August 31, 2021, if any, are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The Funds file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Funds may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdictions applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statements of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and record cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
| 54 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Funds. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Funds and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Funds tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (NAV) per share.
Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
| 3. |
INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Investment Valuation Policies: Each Funds investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) each day that the Funds 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. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board). If a securitys market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Funds assets and liabilities:
| |
Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that days published NAV. |
| |
Futures contracts are valued based on that days last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded. |
Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (Systematic Fair Value Price). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.
If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a funds NAV and the prices used by the funds underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the funds performance and the performance of the funds 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 Global Valuation Committees assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments). |
The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
55 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| 4. |
SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS |
Securities Lending: Each Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by each Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, each Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.
As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA), the Funds investment adviser, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in each Funds 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 counterpartys 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 partys 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 |
|
Market Value of
Securities on Loan |
|
|
Cash Collateral
Received |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash Collateral
Received |
|
Net Amount | ||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
||||||||||||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
$ | 1,511,754 | $ | 1,496,834 | $ | | $ | (14,920 | )(b) | |||||||
|
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
141,240 | 141,240 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
1,682,474 | 1,682,474 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 3,335,468 | $ | 3,320,548 | $ | | $ | (14,920 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
||||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
$ | 13,258 | $ | 13,258 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
Scotia Capital (USA), Inc. |
121,529 | 121,529 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 134,787 | $ | 134,787 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
$ | 72,710 | $ | 72,710 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
1,286,168 | 1,286,168 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
318,630 | 318,630 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Credit Suisse AG |
1,929 | 1,929 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
590,251 | 590,251 | | | ||||||||||||
|
HSBC Bank PLC |
139,307 | 139,307 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
818,083 | 818,083 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
251,905 | 251,905 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 3,478,983 | $ | 3,478,983 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
||||||||||||||||
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
$ | 377,217 | $ | 377,217 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
Macquarie Bank Ltd. |
5,471,338 | 5,471,338 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
621,726 | 621,726 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 6,470,281 | $ | 6,470,281 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 56 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
iShares ETF and Counterparty |
|
Market Value of
Securities on Loan |
|
|
Cash Collateral
Received |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash Collateral
Received |
|
Net Amount | ||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
||||||||||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
$ | 14,952 | $ | 14,952 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
Credit Suisse AG |
54,526 | 54,526 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
674,988 | 674,988 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
854 | 854 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 745,320 | $ | 745,320 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Collateral received in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by each Fund is disclosed in the Funds statement of assets and liabilities. |
| (b) |
The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of August 31, 2021. Additional collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by a counterparty. |
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). BlackRocks indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. Each Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by each Fund.
| 5. |
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).
Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contracts size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (variation margin). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.
| 6. |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES |
Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of each Funds assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Funds, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).
For its investment advisory services to each of the following Funds, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:
| iShares ETF | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
MSCI Denmark |
0.53 | % | ||
|
MSCI Finland |
0.53 | |||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
0.59 | |||
|
MSCI Kuwait |
0.74 | |||
|
MSCI Norway |
0.53 | |||
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
57 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
For its investment advisory services to each of the iShares MSCI Ireland and iShares MSCI New Zealand ETFs, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on each Funds allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds, as follows:
| Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
First $7 billion |
0.59 | % | ||
|
Over $7 billion, up to and including $11 billion |
0.54 | |||
|
Over $11 billion, up to and including $24 billion |
0.49 | |||
|
Over $24 billion, up to and including $48 billion |
0.44 | |||
|
Over $48 billion, up to and including $72 billion |
0.40 | |||
|
Over $72 billion, up to and including $96 billion |
0.36 | |||
|
Over $96 billion |
0.32 | |||
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. 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 funds 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 August 31, 2021, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:
| iShares ETF |
Fees Paid
to BTC |
|||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 2,482 | ||
|
MSCI Finland |
1,905 | |||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
33,602 | |||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
5,483 | |||
|
MSCI Norway |
781 | |||
Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.
| 58 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, transactions executed by the Funds pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
|||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 6,115,736 | $ | 3,581,948 | $ | 527,337 | ||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
447,528 | 487,822 | 54,320 | |||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
2,109,498 | 1,640,980 | 130,372 | |||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
4,545,707 | 731,732 | 126,223 | |||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
5,757,165 | 2,492,569 | 127,991 | |||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
65,638 | 627,075 | (79,582 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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 funds underlying index.
| 7. |
PURCHASES AND SALES |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 17,963,932 | $ | 19,103,255 | ||||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
3,940,617 | 4,439,672 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
12,969,507 | 9,590,408 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
25,179,751 | 24,801,398 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Kuwait |
16,825,172 | 2,304,210 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
27,312,958 | 28,102,803 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
4,243,781 | 4,073,255 | ||||||||||
For the year ended August 31, 2021, in-kind transactions were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
In-kind
Purchases |
In-kind Sales |
||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 90,488,284 | $ | 82,899,980 | ||||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
14,555,735 | 26,230,602 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
3,884,288 | 7,393,547 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
11,885,101 | 5,066,739 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
68,456,794 | 99,642,957 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
18,127,163 | 9,987,926 | ||||||||||
| 8. |
INCOME TAX INFORMATION |
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trusts other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Funds policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of August 31, 2021, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds financial statements.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
59 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
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 August 31, 2021, the following 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) |
||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 23,607,562 | $ | (23,607,562 | ) | |||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
5,400,402 | (5,400,402 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
2,858,531 | (2,858,531 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
1,818,008 | (1,818,008 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
25,396,002 | (25,396,002 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
524,671 | (524,671 | ) | |||||||||
The tax character of distributions was as follows:
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
||||||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 1,262,684 | $ | 292,573 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
||||||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 1,012,192 | $ | 1,036,942 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
||||||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 638,366 | $ | 82,622 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
||||||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 400,086 | $ | 940,239 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| iShares ETF |
Period Ended
08/31/21 |
|||
|
MSCI Kuwait |
||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 314,726 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
||||||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 3,787,802 | $ | 4,674,204 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
||||||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 908,885 | $ | 358,083 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
As of August 31, 2021, 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 | ||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 45,539 | $ | (1,855,801 | ) | $ | 31,812,496 | $ | 30,002,234 | |||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
116,420 | (2,246,283 | ) | 1,500,916 | (628,947 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
185,944 | (1,629,412 | ) | 4,364,577 | 2,921,109 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
78,184 | (9,782,016 | ) | 20,500,920 | 10,797,088 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI Kuwait |
1,047,686 | | 3,060,878 | 4,108,564 | ||||||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
1,382,789 | (25,824,419 | ) | (624,960 | ) | (25,066,590 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
6,801 | (8,910,431 | ) | 3,463,157 | (5,440,473 | ) |
| (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, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains(losses) on certain futures contracts, characterization of corporate actions and the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies. |
| 60 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
For the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds utilized the following amounts of their respective capital loss carryforwards:
| iShares ETF | Utilized | |||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 1,842,119 | ||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
435,303 | |||
A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as passive foreign investment companies. Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.
As of August 31, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Tax Cost |
Gross Unrealized
Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized
Depreciation |
Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 137,583,876 | $ | 34,886,903 | $ | (3,097,434 | ) | $ | 31,789,469 | |||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
29,766,496 | 3,118,871 | (1,621,523 | ) | 1,497,348 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
41,861,169 | 7,930,015 | (3,565,283 | ) | 4,364,732 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
62,511,122 | 22,205,352 | (1,705,759 | ) | 20,499,593 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI Kuwait |
15,603,734 | 3,143,818 | (82,937 | ) | 3,060,881 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
149,978,970 | 15,167,434 | (15,796,487 | ) | (629,053 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
42,895,119 | 6,067,752 | (2,599,155 | ) | 3,468,597 | |||||||||||
| 9. |
LINE OF CREDIT |
The iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), is a party to a $300 million credit agreement (Credit Agreement) with State Street Bank and Trust Company, which expires on October 15, 2021. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Credit Agreement sets specific sub limits on aggregate borrowings based on two tiers of Participating Funds: $300 million with respect to the funds within Tier 1 and $200 million with respect to Tier 2, including the Fund. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was terminated on August 12, 2021.
Effective August 13, 2021, the iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), is a party to a $800 million credit agreement (Syndicated Credit Agreement) with a group of lenders, which expires on August 12, 2022. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.
During the year ended August 31, 2021, the Fund did not borrow under the Credit Agreement or Syndicated Credit Agreement.
| 10. |
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 Funds prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.
BFA uses a passive or index approach to try to achieve each Funds investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.
The Funds may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
61 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Market Risk: An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a funds investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a funds NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing brokers customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing brokers customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a funds 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 Funds portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in that country or those countries may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Investment percentages in specific countries are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union, and one or more other countries may withdraw from the European Union and/or abandon the Euro, the common currency of the European Union. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far reaching.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
| 62 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| 11. |
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:
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
1,000,000 | $ | 91,288,280 | 1,050,000 | $ | 80,969,860 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(850,000 | ) | (83,752,792 | ) | (300,000 | ) | (17,316,103 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
150,000 | $ | 7,535,488 | 750,000 | $ | 63,653,757 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Finland |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
350,000 | $ | 15,197,344 | 550,000 | $ | 20,358,805 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(600,000 | ) | (27,150,118 | ) | (450,000 | ) | (15,868,508 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
(250,000 | ) | $ | (11,952,774 | ) | 100,000 | $ | 4,490,297 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
100,000 | $ | 7,312,000 | 250,000 | $ | 14,941,898 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(100,000 | ) | (7,531,216 | ) | (450,000 | ) | (25,209,803 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net decrease |
| $ | (219,216 | ) | (200,000 | ) | $ | (10,267,905 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
200,000 | $ | 11,938,016 | 100,000 | $ | 4,420,595 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(100,000 | ) | (5,074,189 | ) | (250,000 | ) | (9,172,271 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
100,000 | $ | 6,863,827 | (150,000 | ) | $ | (4,751,676 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Period Ended
08/31/21 |
||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | ||||||
|
MSCI Kuwait |
||||||||
|
Shares sold |
550,000 | $ | 14,553,456 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
1,100,000 | $ | 70,195,179 | 1,800,000 | $ | 94,694,895 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(1,600,000 | ) | (101,220,800 | ) | (2,250,000 | ) | (114,926,269 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net decrease |
(500,000 | ) | $ | (31,025,621 | ) | (450,000 | ) | $ | (20,231,374 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
700,000 | $ | 19,084,489 | 1,450,000 | $ | 27,971,333 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(500,000 | ) | (10,512,298 | ) | (1,050,000 | ) | (22,441,740 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
200,000 | $ | 8,572,191 | 400,000 | $ | 5,529,593 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
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 Trusts 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.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
63 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| 12. |
FOREIGN WITHHOLDING TAX CLAIMS |
The iShares Finland ETF is expected to seek a closing agreement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to address any prior years U.S. income tax liabilities attributable to Fund shareholders resulting from the recovery of foreign taxes. The closing agreement would result in the Fund paying a compliance fee to the IRS, on behalf of its shareholders, representing the estimated tax savings generated from foreign tax credits claimed by Fund shareholders on their tax returns in prior years. The Fund has accrued a liability for the estimated IRS compliance fee related to foreign withholding tax claims, which is disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The actual IRS compliance fee may differ from the estimate and that difference may be material.
| 13. |
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.
| 64 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
To the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust and Shareholders of iShares MSCI Denmark ETF,
iShares MSCI Finland ETF, iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Ireland ETF,
iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF, iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF and iShares MSCI Norway ETF
Opinions on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of iShares MSCI Denmark ETF, iShares MSCI Finland ETF, iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Ireland ETF, iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF, iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF and iShares MSCI Norway ETF (seven of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the Funds) as of August 31, 2021, the related statements of operations and 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 August 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations and the changes in each of their net assets for each of 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 MSCI Denmark ETF, iShares MSCI Finland ETF, iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Ireland ETF, iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF and iShares MSCI Norway ETF: statements of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021 and statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021.
|
|
iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF: statements of operations and changes in net assets for the period September 1, 2021 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2021.
|
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 August 31, 2021 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
October 22, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.
|
R E P O R T O F I N D E P E N D E N T R E G I S T E R E D P U B L I C A C C O U N T I N G F I R M |
65 |
Important Tax Information (unaudited)
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Dividend Income |
|||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 2,422,860 | ||
|
MSCI Finland |
964,005 | |||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
802,976 | |||
|
MSCI Ireland |
664,155 | |||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
3,826,947 | |||
|
MSCI Norway |
1,316,847 | |||
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 August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Foreign Source
Income Earned |
Foreign Taxes Paid |
||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 2,443,850 | $ | 365,697 | ||||
|
MSCI Finland |
975,947 | | ||||||
|
MSCI Germany Small-Cap |
823,355 | 66,543 | ||||||
|
MSCI Ireland |
717,073 | 24,967 | ||||||
|
MSCI Kuwait |
404,698 | | ||||||
|
MSCI New Zealand |
4,222,301 | 573,722 | ||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
1,382,636 | 315,584 | ||||||
| 66 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
iShares MSCI Denmark ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected
|
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67 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI Finland ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service
| 68 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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,
|
B O A R D R E V I E W A N D A P P R O V A L O F I N V E S T M E N T A D V I S O R Y C O N T R A C T |
69 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds 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
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evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
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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 BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI Ireland ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
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After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs 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
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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 Funds 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 further 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized
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by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did
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not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
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Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs 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 Funds 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 further 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
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Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI Norway ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds
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Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end
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funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
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Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (Rule 18f-4). The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.
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 Funds investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
August 31, 2021
|
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Denmark |
$ | 0.837074 | $ | | $ | | $ | 0.837074 | 100 | % | | % | | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Finland(a) |
1.332818 | | 0.039328 | 1.372146 | 97 | | 3 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Kuwait(a) |
0.537286 | | 0.034943 | 0.572229 | 94 | | 6 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Norway |
0.715676 | | | 0.715676 | 100 | | | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholders investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Funds net asset value per share. |
Premium/Discount Information
Information on the Funds net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads can be found at iShares.com.
|
S U P P L E M E N T A L I N F O R M A T I O N |
81 |
Trustee and Officer Information
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 Fund is 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 374 funds as of August 31, 2021. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Charles Park, 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. Park is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated Cecilia H. Herbert 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).
| Independent Trustees | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
Cecilia H. Herbert (72) |
Trustee (since 2005); Independent Board Chair (since 2016). |
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 Yorks public media company (since 2011) and Member of the Audit Committee (since 2018) and Investment Committee (since 2011); Chair (1994-2005) and Member (since 1992) of the Investment Committee, Archdiocese of San Francisco; Trustee of Forward Funds (14 portfolios) (2009-2018); Trustee of Salient MF Trust (4 portfolios) (2015-2018); Director (1998-2013) and President (2007-2011) of the Board of Directors, Catholic Charities CYO; Trustee (2002-2011) and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee (2006-2010) of the Thacher School; Director of the Senior Center of Jackson Hole (since 2020). | 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 2016); Trustee of Thrivent Church Loan and Income Fund (since 2019). | |||
|
Jane D. Carlin (65) |
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 (66) |
Trustee (since 2017); Audit Committee Chair (since 2019). |
Partner, KPMG LLP (2002-2016). |
Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2017); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2017). | |||
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Trustee and Officer Information (continued)
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
John E. Kerrigan (66) |
Trustee (since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs (since 2019). |
Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011). | |||
|
Drew E. Lawton (62) |
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). | |||
|
John E. Martinez (60) |
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 (57) |
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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
||
|
Armando Senra (50) |
President (since 2019). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007); Head of U.S., Canada and Latam iShares, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2019); Head of Latin America Region, BlackRock, Inc. (2006-2019); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (1994-2006). | ||
|
Trent Walker (47) |
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. | ||
|
Charles Park (54) |
Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006). |
Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex (since 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of BFA (since 2006). | ||
|
Deepa Damre Smith (46) |
Secretary (since 2019). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2013). | ||
|
Scott Radell (52) |
Executive Vice President (since 2012). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Head of Portfolio Solutions, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
|
Alan Mason (60) |
Executive Vice President (since 2016). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
|
Marybeth Leithead (58) |
Executive Vice President (since 2019). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2017); Chief Operating Officer of Americas iShares (since 2017); Portfolio Manager, Municipal Institutional & Wealth Management (2009-2016). | ||
|
T R U S T E E A N D O F F I C E R I N F O R M A T I O N |
83 |
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
| |
Go to icsdelivery.com. |
| |
If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor. |
Householding
Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The 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 SECs 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 Companys policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.
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Glossary of Terms Used in this Report
| Portfolio Abbreviations - Equity | ||
| ADR | American Depositary Receipt | |
| NVS | Non-Voting Shares | |
| REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust | |
|
G L O S S A R Y O F T E R M S U S E D I N T H I S R E P O R T |
85 |
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 MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
iS-AR-808-0821
|
|
|
|
|
AUGUST 31, 2021 |
|
2021 Annual Report
|
||
iShares Trust
· iShares MSCI India ETF | INDA | Cboe BZX
· iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF | SMIN | Cboe BZX
Dear Shareholder,
The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The United States, along with most of the world, began the reporting period emerging from a severe recession, prompted by pandemic-related restrictions that disrupted many aspects of daily life. However, easing restrictions and robust government intervention led to a strong rebound, and the economy grew at a significant pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.
Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets rebounded substantially.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.
The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2023 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2022.
Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.
Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and healthcare, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries and Asian fixed income offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.
In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
| Total Returns as of August 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| 6-Month | 12-Month | |||||||
|
U.S. large cap equities
|
19.52% | 31.17% | ||||||
|
U.S. small cap equities
|
3.81 | 47.08 | ||||||
|
International equities
|
10.31 | 26.12 | ||||||
|
Emerging market equities
|
(0.98) | 21.12 | ||||||
|
3-month Treasury
bills
|
0.02 | 0.08 | ||||||
|
U.S. Treasury securities
|
2.36 | (4.12) | ||||||
|
U.S. investment grade bonds
|
1.49 | (0.08) | ||||||
|
Tax-exempt municipal
bonds
|
2.50 | 3.44 | ||||||
|
U.S. high yield bonds
|
3.82 | 10.14 | ||||||
| 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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| 2 | T H I S P A G E I S N O T P A R T O F Y O U R F U N D R E P O R T |
| Page | ||
| 2 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 5 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 10 | ||
|
Consolidated Financial Statements |
||
| 18 | ||
| 19 | ||
| 20 | ||
| 21 | ||
| 23 | ||
| 30 | ||
| 31 | ||
| 32 | ||
| 36 | ||
| 38 | ||
| 40 | ||
| 41 | ||
iShares Trust
Global Market Overview
Global equity markets advanced significantly during the 12 months ended August 31, 2021 (reporting period). The MSCI ACWI, a broad global equity index that includes both developed and emerging markets, returned 28.64% in U.S. dollar terms for the reporting period. Stocks continued to recover from the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nearing all-time highs by the end of the reporting period. Reopening economies led to a substantial global economic expansion, and the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines bolstered investors optimism. Nonetheless, vaccination rates varied considerably across countries, and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to increased cases and renewed restrictions toward the end of the reporting period. Inflation also rose in many parts of the world amid supply chain constraints and elevated consumer spending.
Equity markets in the U.S. advanced strongly, helped by fiscal and monetary stimulus and an ongoing mass vaccination program. Congress passed two fiscal stimulus bills during the reporting period, providing significant relief in the form of direct payments to individuals, tax credits, aid to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners and renters. Personal incomes rose significantly following the stimulus payments, and consumer spending recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Increased consumer spending and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions helped the U.S. economy continue to grow following a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020, as activity recovered from the pandemic-induced recession in the first half of 2020. The economy grew at a brisk pace for the rest of the reporting period, finally exceeding pre-pandemic output levels in the second quarter of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve Banks (the Fed) action also played a notable role in the recovery. Monetary policy remained accommodative, with short-term interest rates maintained near zero to encourage lending and stimulate economic activity. The Fed further acted to stabilize bond markets by continuing an unlimited, open-ended, bond-buying program for U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Stocks in Europe also posted strong gains, despite a recovery that trailed other major economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) provided monetary stimulus by maintaining ultra-low interest rates and continuing a large bond-buying program. Growth resumed with a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020 as restrictions eased, and Eurozone countries enacted a deal for a collective 750 billion of stimulus spending. However, a new wave of coronavirus cases beginning in October 2020 led to renewed restrictions, weakening the fragile recovery. Consequently, the Eurozone economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, even as much of the world was returning to growth. Although the initial vaccine rollout trailed in many European countries, the pace of vaccinations accelerated late in the reporting period, and economic growth resumed in the second quarter of 2021.
Asia-Pacific regional stocks also posted a solid advance amid a sharp rebound in economic activity. Continued economic growth in China helped the regional economy recover, as many Asia-Pacific countries rely on China as a major trading partner. Japanese and Australian stocks benefited from a sharp rise in exports amid resurgent global trade. Emerging market stocks advanced overall, aided by economic recovery and rising prices for many commodities. However, investor concerns about increased government regulatory activity weighed on Chinese stocks late in the reporting period. Relatively slow vaccination rollouts in parts of Asia also prompted concerns, particularly as the Delta variant spread.
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI India ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI India ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of Indian equities, as represented by the MSCI India 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 |
Since Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
46.54 | % | 11.37 | % | 7.82 | % | 46.54 | % | 71.33 | % | 105.69 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
45.89 | 11.31 | 7.76 | 45.89 | 70.90 | 104.67 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
53.15 | 12.88 | 8.89 | 53.15 | 83.30 | 126.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 2/2/12. The first day of secondary market trading was 2/3/12.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 9 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,198.20 | $ 3.55 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.00 | $ 3.26 | 0.64 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 9 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI India ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Indian equities advanced strongly during the reporting period despite continued high unemployment and inflation rates, as well as local lockdowns related to a severe second wave of COVID-19 cases. Late in the reporting period, however, Indias economic activity improved as pandemic-related restrictions began to lift and vaccination rates increased.
The financials sector contributed the most to the Indexs return, mainly due to the banking industry. An increase in corporate lending and efforts to shore up balance sheets benefited some of the bigger banks. The Reserve Bank of Indias programs to provide financial institutions with liquidity further supported the industry. Analysts viewed the departure of a major global financial services firm from the region as a meaningful growth opportunity for Indian diversified banks, particularly in the credit card and higher net worth client markets.
The information technology sector was another leading contributor to the Indexs return, particularly software and services stocks. Corporate spending on technology increased as more employees worked from home, prompting companies to adopt cloud services, strengthen cybersecurity measures, and improve automation processes. Indias largest IT services companies signed significant new deals tied to these digital transformations and announced new hire programs to meet growing client demand.
The materials sector also contributed to the Indexs return. The reopening of the global economy and planned infrastructure projects boosted the sectors post-pandemic recovery. Analysts expectations of rising inflation also benefited the materials sector, where companies can often pass cost increases on to customers. Metals and mining stocks advanced as the countrys largest steelmakers also announced major spending plans to compete with China for U.S. and European demand.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
| Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
26.1 | % | ||
|
Information Technology |
18.2 | |||
|
Energy |
11.4 | |||
|
Materials |
10.2 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
9.5 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
7.5 | |||
|
Health Care |
5.4 | |||
|
Industrials |
4.3 | |||
|
Utilities |
3.9 | |||
|
Communication Services |
3.2 | |||
|
Real Estate |
0.3 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Reliance Industries Ltd. |
9.2 | % | ||
|
Infosys Ltd. |
8.3 | |||
|
Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. |
6.9 | |||
|
ICICI Bank Ltd. |
5.3 | |||
|
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. |
5.0 | |||
|
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. |
3.2 | |||
|
Bajaj Finance Ltd. |
2.9 | |||
|
Axis Bank Ltd. |
2.6 | |||
|
Bharti Airtel Ltd. |
2.3 | |||
|
HCL Technologies Ltd. |
1.8 | |||
| 6 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI India Small-Cap ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of small-capitalization Indian equities, as represented by the MSCI India Small Cap 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 |
Since Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
67.69 | %(a) | 11.45 | % | 10.41 | % | 67.69 | %(a) | 71.97 | % | 157.74 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
68.16 | 11.56 | 10.44 | 68.16 | 72.82 | 158.47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
75.19 | 13.28 | 11.61 | 75.19 | 86.57 | 185.86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 2/8/12. The first day of secondary market trading was 2/9/12.
| (a) |
The NAV total return presented in the table for the one-year period differs from the same period return disclosed in the financial highlights. The total return in the financial highlights is calculated in the same manner but differs due to certain adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 9 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense
|
|
||||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,225.90 | $ 4.10 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,021.50 | $ 3.72 | 0.73 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 9 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI India Small-Cap ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Indian small-capitalization equities advanced strongly during the reporting period despite continued high unemployment and inflation rates, as well as local lockdowns related to a severe second wave of COVID-19 cases. Late in the reporting period, however, Indias economic activity improved as pandemic-related restrictions began to lift and vaccination rates increased.
The materials sector was the top contributor to the Indexs return, driven by the chemicals industry. Indian chemicals manufacturers benefited from increased demand as pandemic-related restrictions eased worldwide and clients shifted to Indian producers to lessen their dependence on China. Growth in the electric vehicles industry, which uses soda ash and other chemicals, also helped chemicals companies.
The industrials sector contributed significantly to the Indexs performance amid a rebound in manufacturing activity. As commodities prices moved higher, some industrials companies were able to pass through the increases to their customers by raising product prices. Strong demand in both the industrial and the construction and heavy trucks machinery industries drove the sectors contribution.
The information technology sector was another contributor to the Indexs return, particularly software and services companies. Corporate spending on technology increased as more employees worked from home, prompting companies to adopt cloud services and improve processes and efficiencies. Indias IT services companies reported notable revenue growth rates as they signed new deals tied to these digital transformations and expanded their services to top clients.
The financials sector also contributed to the Indexs return as the Reserve Bank of India unveiled programs to grant financial institutions access to loans for coronavirus-related businesses, and the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions increased demand for financial services. The consumer finance industry benefited from a recovery in collections, while the capital markets industry advanced as demand for financial services increased
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
| Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Materials |
19.0 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
17.4 | |||
|
Financials |
15.2 | |||
|
Information Technology |
11.2 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
11.1 | |||
|
Health Care |
10.1 | |||
|
Utilities |
4.6 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
3.6 | |||
|
Communication Services |
3.6 | |||
|
Real Estate |
3.4 | |||
|
Energy |
0.8 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
| Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
SRF Ltd. |
1.9 | % | ||
|
Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. |
1.6 | |||
|
Mphasis Ltd. |
1.5 | |||
|
Max Financial Services Ltd. |
1.4 | |||
|
Voltas Ltd. |
1.3 | |||
|
Laurus Labs Ltd. |
1.3 | |||
|
Mindtree Ltd. |
1.3 | |||
|
Tata Power Co. Ltd. (The) |
1.2 | |||
|
Astral Ltd. |
1.1 | |||
|
Ashok Leyland Ltd. |
1.1 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 8 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 Funds investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or NAV is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such funds NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the funds 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.
As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled Expenses Paid During the Period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Funds actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
A B O U T F U N D P E R F O R M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R E X P E N S E S |
9 |
|
Consolidated Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI India ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
|
Aerospace & Defense 0.3% |
||||||||
|
Bharat Electronics Ltd. |
8,136,695 | $ | 20,758,336 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Airlines 0.3% | ||||||||
|
InterGlobe Aviation Ltd.(a)(b) |
645,410 | 16,824,820 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Auto Components 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Balkrishna Industries Ltd. |
581,008 | 18,231,742 | ||||||
|
Bharat Forge Ltd. |
1,554,803 | 16,296,606 | ||||||
|
Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd.(b) |
8,436,399 | 25,183,785 | ||||||
|
MRF Ltd. |
12,844 | 14,005,583 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 73,717,716 | ||||||||
| Automobiles 4.4% | ||||||||
|
Bajaj Auto Ltd. |
463,859 | 23,645,189 | ||||||
|
Eicher Motors Ltd. |
912,780 | 33,418,641 | ||||||
|
Hero MotoCorp Ltd. |
800,641 | 30,006,446 | ||||||
|
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. |
5,812,087 | 62,978,230 | ||||||
|
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. |
907,896 | 84,942,131 | ||||||
|
Tata Motors Ltd.(b) |
11,087,759 | 43,665,190 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 278,655,827 | ||||||||
| Banks 10.8% | ||||||||
|
Axis Bank Ltd.(b) |
15,198,623 | 163,154,094 | ||||||
|
Bandhan Bank Ltd.(a) |
4,317,771 | 16,817,698 | ||||||
|
ICICI Bank Ltd. |
34,206,970 | 335,008,282 | ||||||
|
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. |
3,707,201 | 88,837,356 | ||||||
|
State Bank of India |
11,921,040 | 69,322,757 | ||||||
|
Yes Bank Ltd.(b) |
75,298,800 | 11,130,876 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 684,271,063 | ||||||||
| Beverages 0.3% | ||||||||
|
United Spirits Ltd.(b) |
1,941,249 | 18,970,838 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Biotechnology 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Biocon Ltd.(b) |
2,795,232 | 13,721,454 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Capital Markets 0.2% | ||||||||
|
HDFC Asset Management Co. Ltd.(a) |
357,096 | 15,004,488 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Chemicals 3.5% | ||||||||
|
Asian Paints Ltd. |
2,562,517 | 112,254,789 | ||||||
|
Berger Paints India Ltd. |
1,621,780 | 18,214,101 | ||||||
|
PI Industries Ltd. |
559,355 | 25,981,688 | ||||||
|
Pidilite Industries Ltd. |
1,018,175 | 31,768,120 | ||||||
|
UPL Ltd. |
3,316,883 | 33,577,154 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 221,795,852 | ||||||||
| Construction & Engineering 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Larsen & Toubro Ltd. |
4,596,706 | 105,018,758 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction Materials 2.8% | ||||||||
|
ACC Ltd. |
501,697 | 16,554,324 | ||||||
|
Ambuja Cements Ltd. |
4,661,605 | 26,829,933 | ||||||
|
Grasim Industries Ltd. |
1,757,974 | 36,040,159 | ||||||
|
Shree Cement Ltd. |
72,329 | 27,966,096 | ||||||
|
UltraTech Cement Ltd. |
674,757 | 72,285,588 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 179,676,100 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 4.3% | ||||||||
|
Bajaj Finance Ltd. |
1,813,783 | 186,327,122 | ||||||
|
Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Co. Ltd. |
2,738,502 | 20,744,043 | ||||||
|
Muthoot Finance Ltd. |
803,855 | 16,641,114 | ||||||
|
SBI Cards & Payment Services Ltd.(b) |
1,570,412 | 24,500,973 | ||||||
| 10 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
|
Consolidated Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI India ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| IT Services (continued) | ||||||||
|
Wipro Ltd. |
9,148,627 | $ | 80,226,063 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,157,266,334 | ||||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Divis Laboratories Ltd. |
886,503 | 62,765,949 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Metals & Mining 3.9% | ||||||||
|
Hindalco Industries Ltd. |
10,503,522 | 67,178,102 | ||||||
|
JSW Steel Ltd. |
5,646,244 | 53,026,437 | ||||||
|
Tata Steel Ltd. |
4,827,218 | 95,553,300 | ||||||
|
Vedanta Ltd. |
7,454,631 | 30,798,447 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 246,556,286 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Trent Ltd. |
1,210,852 | 16,669,605 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 11.4% | ||||||||
|
Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. |
5,703,752 | 36,750,754 | ||||||
|
Coal India Ltd. |
10,334,173 | 20,615,034 | ||||||
|
Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. |
4,260,707 | 15,531,198 | ||||||
|
Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. |
12,629,179 | 19,138,209 | ||||||
|
Oil & Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. |
16,804,085 | 27,660,255 | ||||||
|
Petronet LNG Ltd. |
5,030,673 | 15,665,748 | ||||||
|
Reliance Industries Ltd. |
19,052,757 | 587,877,067 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 723,238,265 | ||||||||
| Personal Products 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd. |
817,447 | 18,936,787 | ||||||
|
Dabur India Ltd. |
4,131,459 | 35,140,524 | ||||||
|
Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.(b) |
2,390,127 | 35,946,565 | ||||||
|
Marico Ltd. |
3,464,642 | 25,822,652 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 115,846,528 | ||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 3.5% | ||||||||
|
Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. |
1,956,701 | 19,464,508 | ||||||
|
Cipla Ltd. |
3,231,741 | 41,914,795 | ||||||
|
Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd. |
777,472 | 50,071,510 | ||||||
|
Ipca Laboratories Ltd. |
467,916 | 16,490,695 | ||||||
|
Lupin Ltd. |
1,515,186 | 19,845,152 | ||||||
|
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. |
5,608,477 | 60,912,624 | ||||||
|
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. |
339,052 | 14,411,139 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 223,110,423 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 0.3% | ||||||||
|
DLF Ltd. |
4,133,013 | 18,097,778 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Road & Rail 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Container Corp. of India Ltd. |
1,634,744 | 15,177,509 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Page Industries Ltd. |
37,423 | $ | 16,117,824 | |||||
|
Titan Co. Ltd. |
2,371,718 | 62,305,770 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 78,423,594 | ||||||||
| Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 6.9% | ||||||||
|
Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. |
11,446,915 | 437,225,745 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Tobacco 0.9% | ||||||||
|
ITC Ltd. |
19,729,878 | 57,005,881 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Adani Enterprises Ltd. |
1,836,356 | 39,887,304 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. |
3,407,045 | 34,801,772 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 2.4% | ||||||||
|
Bharti Airtel Ltd. |
16,456,838 | 149,331,033 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 100.2%
|
|
6,364,927,596 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 2.2% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(c)(d) |
138,250,000 | 138,250,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 2.2%
|
|
138,250,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 102.4%
|
|
6,503,177,596 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (2.4)% |
|
(152,585,848 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 6,350,591,748 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors. |
| (b) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (c) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at 08/31/20 |
Purchases at Cost |
Proceeds from Sales |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at 08/31/21 |
Shares Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $ | 138,250,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 138,250,000 | 138,250,000 | $ | 12,235 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
|
C O N S O L I D A T E D S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
11 |
|
Consolidated Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI India ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of Contracts |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Value/ Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
SGX Nifty 50 Index |
74 | 09/30/21 | $ | 2,526 | $ | 67,434 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 67,434 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. In the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 2,596,202 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (925,348 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$4,311,742 | |||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 36,534,202 | $ | 6,328,393,394 | $ | | $ | 6,364,927,596 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
138,250,000 | | | 138,250,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 174,784,202 | $ | 6,328,393,394 | $ | | $ | 6,503,177,596 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 67,434 | $ | | $ | 67,434 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 12 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
|
Consolidated Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
|
Air Freight & Logistics 0.2% |
||||||||
|
Blue Dart Express Ltd. |
7,127 | $ | 571,340 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Airlines 0.1% | ||||||||
|
SpiceJet Ltd.(a) |
357,055 | 347,694 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Auto Components 3.1% | ||||||||
|
Apollo Tyres Ltd. |
478,140 | 1,390,964 | ||||||
|
Ceat Ltd. |
33,791 | 590,704 | ||||||
|
Endurance Technologies Ltd.(b) |
52,741 | 1,199,275 | ||||||
|
Exide Industries Ltd. |
576,328 | 1,270,160 | ||||||
|
Mahindra CIE Automotive Ltd.(a) |
170,488 | 561,624 | ||||||
|
Minda Industries Ltd. |
102,577 | 1,000,143 | ||||||
|
Sundram Fasteners Ltd. |
142,502 | 1,550,640 | ||||||
|
Tube Investments of India Ltd. |
145,215 | 2,709,800 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,273,310 | ||||||||
| Banks 3.5% | ||||||||
|
AU Small Finance Bank Ltd.(a)(b) |
117,732 | 1,818,708 | ||||||
|
Canara Bank(a) |
546,165 | 1,186,314 | ||||||
|
City Union Bank Ltd. |
543,741 | 1,129,143 | ||||||
|
DCB Bank Ltd.(a) |
232,222 | 292,435 | ||||||
|
Federal Bank Ltd. |
2,224,976 | 2,468,132 | ||||||
|
IDFC First Bank Ltd.(a) |
4,578,169 | 2,686,646 | ||||||
|
Karur Vysya Bank Ltd. (The) |
584,165 | 350,821 | ||||||
|
RBL Bank Ltd.(a)(b) |
541,033 | 1,221,810 | ||||||
|
Yes Bank Ltd., (Acquired 03/16/20,
|
4,044,378 | 504,554 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,658,563 | ||||||||
| Beverages 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Radico Khaitan Ltd. |
110,936 | 1,325,160 | ||||||
|
Varun Beverages Ltd. |
228,067 | 2,644,179 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,969,339 | ||||||||
| Building Products 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Astral Ltd. |
135,935 | 3,791,470 | ||||||
|
Blue Star Ltd. |
87,389 | 925,926 | ||||||
|
Cera Sanitaryware Ltd. |
7,780 | 472,919 | ||||||
|
Kajaria Ceramics Ltd. |
119,985 | 1,929,914 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,120,229 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 4.1% | ||||||||
|
Central Depository Services India Ltd. |
76,911 | 1,249,839 | ||||||
|
CRISIL Ltd. |
21,888 | 818,354 | ||||||
|
Dhani Services Ltd.(a) |
317,777 | 865,958 | ||||||
|
Edelweiss Financial Services Ltd. |
773,287 | 858,997 | ||||||
|
ICICI Securities Ltd.(b) |
121,815 | 1,201,824 | ||||||
|
IDFC Ltd.(a) |
1,679,950 | 1,154,685 | ||||||
|
IIFL Wealth Management Ltd. |
53,023 | 1,176,077 | ||||||
|
Indian Energy Exchange Ltd.(b) |
219,549 | 1,515,236 | ||||||
|
JM Financial Ltd. |
645,473 | 814,829 | ||||||
|
Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. |
55,189 | 614,624 | ||||||
|
Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. |
37,572 | 779,867 | ||||||
|
Nippon Life India Asset Management Ltd.(b) |
185,874 | 1,077,966 | ||||||
|
Tata Investment Corp. Ltd. |
19,308 | 333,185 | ||||||
|
UTI Asset Management Co. Ltd. |
67,079 | 1,096,755 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 13,558,196 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 12.9% | ||||||||
|
Aarti Industries Ltd. |
288,163 | 3,695,006 | ||||||
|
Advanced Enzyme Technologies Ltd. |
66,387 | 346,194 | ||||||
|
Akzo Nobel India Ltd. |
13,588 | 411,590 | ||||||
|
Alkyl Amines Chemicals |
19,276 | 1,128,362 | ||||||
|
Atul Ltd. |
22,298 | 2,785,489 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Chemicals (continued) | ||||||||
|
Balaji Amines Ltd. |
14,706 | $ | 813,076 | |||||
|
BASF India Ltd. |
16,221 | 795,294 | ||||||
|
Bayer CropScience Ltd./India |
20,317 | 1,541,749 | ||||||
|
Castrol India Ltd. |
593,412 | 1,087,875 | ||||||
|
Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. |
248,925 | 1,092,953 | ||||||
|
Coromandel International Ltd. |
176,512 | 1,915,144 | ||||||
|
Deepak Nitrite Ltd. |
102,743 | 3,207,593 | ||||||
|
EID Parry India Ltd.(a) |
106,449 | 587,877 | ||||||
|
Fine Organic Industries Ltd. |
11,467 | 445,775 | ||||||
|
Finolex Industries Ltd.(a) |
373,689 | 858,068 | ||||||
|
Galaxy Surfactants Ltd. |
16,007 | 690,605 | ||||||
|
Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd.(a) |
32,928 | 793,049 | ||||||
|
Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. |
117,571 | 534,165 | ||||||
|
Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd. |
22,962 | 191,440 | ||||||
|
Indigo Paints Ltd.(a) |
14,364 | 508,778 | ||||||
|
Linde India Ltd. |
32,096 | 1,005,619 | ||||||
|
Navin Fluorine International Ltd. |
48,489 | 2,670,576 | ||||||
|
Rain Industries Ltd. |
254,700 | 785,296 | ||||||
|
Rallis India Ltd. |
116,532 | 449,359 | ||||||
|
SRF Ltd. |
44,544 | 6,177,957 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Chemical India Ltd. |
151,163 | 879,123 | ||||||
|
Supreme Industries Ltd. |
95,671 | 2,861,976 | ||||||
|
Supreme Petrochem Ltd. |
49,750 | 450,685 | ||||||
|
Tata Chemicals Ltd. |
249,511 | 2,879,847 | ||||||
|
Vinati Organics Ltd. |
38,822 | 955,071 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 42,545,591 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corp. Ltd. |
84,394 | 3,176,513 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Communications Equipment 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Sterlite Technologies Ltd. |
239,391 | 847,192 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction & Engineering 3.0% | ||||||||
|
Dilip Buildcon Ltd.(b) |
52,225 | 363,220 | ||||||
|
Engineers India Ltd. |
377,133 | 376,887 | ||||||
|
IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd. |
183,697 | 414,329 | ||||||
|
Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd. |
100,657 | 566,240 | ||||||
|
KEC International Ltd. |
175,074 | 1,020,394 | ||||||
|
KNR Constructions Ltd.(a) |
191,474 | 870,142 | ||||||
|
NBCC India Ltd. |
1,083,281 | 656,516 | ||||||
|
NCC Ltd./India |
599,737 | 649,380 | ||||||
|
PNC Infratech Ltd.(a) |
134,714 | 578,650 | ||||||
|
Voltas Ltd. |
324,116 | 4,413,916 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,909,674 | ||||||||
| Construction Materials 3.4% | ||||||||
|
Birla Corp. Ltd. |
40,580 | 751,019 | ||||||
|
Dalmia Bharat Ltd.(a) |
112,490 | 3,381,366 | ||||||
|
HeidelbergCement India Ltd. |
103,765 | 375,533 | ||||||
|
India Cements Ltd. (The) |
208,944 | 467,297 | ||||||
|
JK Cement Ltd. |
52,337 | 2,343,699 | ||||||
|
JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd. |
89,079 | 863,725 | ||||||
|
Prism Johnson Ltd.(a) |
188,365 | 332,588 | ||||||
|
Ramco Cements Ltd. (The) |
195,598 | 2,698,804 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,214,031 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Ltd. |
140,900 | 1,319,701 | ||||||
|
CreditAccess Grameen Ltd.(a) |
70,238 | 673,892 | ||||||
|
Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd. |
927,874 | 2,031,417 | ||||||
|
Manappuram Finance Ltd. |
762,502 | 1,670,735 | ||||||
|
MAS Financial Services Ltd.(b) |
24,950 | 262,691 | ||||||
|
C O N S O L I D A T E D S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
13 |
|
Consolidated Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Consumer Finance (continued) |
|
|||||||
|
Shriram City Union Finance Ltd. |
34,947 | $ | 1,002,236 | |||||
|
Spandana Sphoorty Financial Ltd.(a) |
29,435 | 253,377 | ||||||
|
Sundaram Finance Ltd. |
91,319 | 3,252,635 | ||||||
|
Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd. |
45,555 | 95,614 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,562,298 | ||||||||
| Containers & Packaging 0.2% | ||||||||
|
EPL Ltd. |
190,975 | 607,682 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Aditya Birla Capital Ltd.(a) |
688,898 | 1,014,001 | ||||||
|
L&T Finance Holdings Ltd.(a) |
1,115,082 | 1,268,872 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,282,873 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Tata Communications Ltd. |
171,785 | 3,332,536 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electric Utilities 2.0% | ||||||||
|
CESC Ltd. |
90,017 | 990,513 | ||||||
|
Tata Power Co. Ltd. (The) |
2,166,631 | 3,819,814 | ||||||
|
Torrent Power Ltd. |
253,635 | 1,670,403 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,480,730 | ||||||||
| Electrical Equipment 2.6% | ||||||||
|
Amara Raja Batteries Ltd. |
141,475 | 1,352,975 | ||||||
|
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.(a) |
1,308,069 | 938,942 | ||||||
|
CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd.(a) |
802,878 | 941,006 | ||||||
|
Finolex Cables Ltd. |
103,743 | 660,862 | ||||||
|
Graphite India Ltd. |
88,518 | 773,394 | ||||||
|
HEG Ltd. |
17,369 | 533,816 | ||||||
|
KEI Industries Ltd. |
81,217 | 846,481 | ||||||
|
Polycab India Ltd. |
56,096 | 1,586,701 | ||||||
|
V-Guard Industries Ltd. |
259,687 | 864,891 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,499,068 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Redington India Ltd. |
761,166 | 1,604,783 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Entertainment 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd.(a)(d) |
206,787 | 28 | ||||||
|
Inox Leisure Ltd.(a) |
85,488 | 362,116 | ||||||
|
PVR Ltd.(a) |
68,432 | 1,239,179 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,601,323 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Mindspace Business Parks REIT(b) |
224,198 | 892,529 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Avanti Feeds Ltd. |
81,981 | 630,565 | ||||||
|
Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd. |
189,157 | 954,220 | ||||||
|
Bombay Burmah Trading Co. |
26,383 | 429,050 | ||||||
|
CCL Products India Ltd. |
109,712 | 604,736 | ||||||
|
Kaveri Seed Co. Ltd. |
36,295 | 286,965 | ||||||
|
Zydus Wellness Ltd. |
19,097 | 604,573 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,510,109 | ||||||||
| Gas Utilities 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Gujarat Gas Ltd. |
259,018 | 2,559,384 | ||||||
|
Gujarat State Petronet Ltd. |
425,577 | 2,040,326 | ||||||
|
Mahanagar Gas Ltd. |
81,708 | 1,281,761 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,881,471 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Poly Medicure Ltd.(a) |
36,206 | 472,643 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 3.4% | ||||||||
|
Aster DM Healthcare Ltd.(a)(b) |
186,482 | 546,221 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Health Care Providers & Services (continued) |
|
|||||||
|
Dr Lal PathLabs Ltd.(b) |
49,735 | $ | 2,753,745 | |||||
|
Fortis Healthcare Ltd.(a) |
682,124 | 2,706,365 | ||||||
|
Max Healthcare Institute Ltd.(a) |
435,766 | 2,295,347 | ||||||
|
Metropolis Healthcare Ltd.(b) |
38,451 | 1,486,291 | ||||||
|
Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd.(a) |
106,684 | 788,283 | ||||||
|
Thyrocare Technologies Ltd.(b) |
27,704 | 491,564 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,067,816 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Burger King India Ltd.(a) |
230,969 | 508,536 | ||||||
|
EIH Ltd.(a) |
237,838 | 332,781 | ||||||
|
Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. (The) |
983,383 | 1,886,512 | ||||||
|
Westlife Development Ltd.(a) |
81,850 | 616,068 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,343,897 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 3.8% | ||||||||
|
Amber Enterprises India Ltd.(a) |
25,456 | 1,007,495 | ||||||
|
Bajaj Electricals Ltd.(a) |
69,303 | 1,150,747 | ||||||
|
Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. |
803,668 | 5,201,673 | ||||||
|
Dixon Technologies India Ltd.(a) |
48,549 | 2,760,529 | ||||||
|
Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd.(a) |
10,375 | 311,610 | ||||||
|
Orient Electric Ltd. |
190,895 | 862,701 | ||||||
|
Symphony Ltd. |
25,963 | 336,284 | ||||||
|
TTK Prestige Ltd. |
6,270 | 757,375 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,388,414 | ||||||||
| Household Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Jyothy Labs Ltd. |
220,083 | 486,997 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Adani Power Ltd.(a) |
1,166,054 | 1,567,107 | ||||||
|
JSW Energy Ltd. |
371,507 | 1,344,199 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,911,306 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 0.6% | ||||||||
|
3M India Ltd.(a) |
4,245 | 1,416,596 | ||||||
|
Godrej Industries Ltd.(a) |
75,772 | 578,657 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,995,253 | ||||||||
| Insurance 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Max Financial Services Ltd.(a) |
312,013 | 4,644,175 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Just Dial Ltd.(a) |
51,183 | 665,705 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| IT Services 6.4% | ||||||||
|
Coforge Ltd. |
31,858 | 2,270,017 | ||||||
|
Computer Age Management Services Ltd. |
32,987 | 1,721,990 | ||||||
|
Firstsource Solutions Ltd. |
420,297 | 1,042,000 | ||||||
|
Happiest Minds Technologies Ltd. |
88,275 | 1,722,903 | ||||||
|
Infibeam Avenues Ltd.(a) |
507,872 | 328,184 | ||||||
|
Mindtree Ltd. |
86,863 | 4,309,081 | ||||||
|
Mphasis Ltd. |
126,776 | 5,026,501 | ||||||
|
Persistent Systems Ltd. |
72,810 | 3,305,195 | ||||||
|
Sonata Software Ltd. |
94,246 | 1,075,839 | ||||||
|
Vakrangee Ltd. |
646,759 | 345,646 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 21,147,356 | ||||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Syngene International Ltd.(a)(b) |
179,361 | 1,572,336 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Machinery 5.4% | ||||||||
|
AIA Engineering Ltd. |
64,080 | 1,772,639 | ||||||
|
Ashok Leyland Ltd. |
2,211,268 | 3,706,771 | ||||||
|
BEML Ltd. |
28,306 | 511,469 | ||||||
|
Carborundum Universal Ltd. |
156,792 | 1,779,443 | ||||||
| 14 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
|
Consolidated Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Machinery (continued) |
|
|||||||
|
Cochin Shipyard Ltd.(b) |
50,031 | $ | 243,449 | |||||
|
Cummins India Ltd. |
187,816 | 2,567,680 | ||||||
|
Escorts Ltd. |
101,652 | 1,870,090 | ||||||
|
GMM Pfaudler Ltd. |
9,890 | 572,403 | ||||||
|
Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd. |
4,796 | 523,755 | ||||||
|
Schaeffler India Ltd. |
11,797 | 1,171,864 | ||||||
|
SKF India Ltd. |
33,397 | 1,407,050 | ||||||
|
Thermax Ltd. |
62,668 | 1,206,308 | ||||||
|
Timken India Ltd. |
28,209 | 641,518 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 17,974,439 | ||||||||
| Media 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Affle India Ltd.(a) |
16,047 | 1,042,322 | ||||||
|
Sun TV Network Ltd. |
119,304 | 787,042 | ||||||
|
TV18 Broadcast Ltd.(a) |
680,324 | 326,042 | ||||||
|
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. |
1,303,152 | 3,057,884 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,213,290 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 2.2% | ||||||||
|
APL Apollo Tubes Ltd.(a) |
84,545 | 1,920,511 | ||||||
|
Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.(a) |
614,802 | 3,163,095 | ||||||
|
National Aluminium Co. Ltd. |
1,244,114 | 1,540,852 | ||||||
|
Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd.(a) |
24,624 | 727,621 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,352,079 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Future Retail Ltd.(a) |
329,180 | 199,249 | ||||||
|
V-Mart Retail Ltd.(a) |
14,571 | 716,243 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 915,492 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Aegis Logistics Ltd. |
209,978 | 764,056 | ||||||
|
Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd. (The) |
155,250 | 764,014 | ||||||
|
Oil India Ltd. |
408,846 | 1,016,682 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,544,752 | ||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Century Plyboards India Ltd. |
83,728 | 461,268 | ||||||
|
Century Textiles & Industries Ltd. |
67,042 | 712,308 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,173,576 | ||||||||
| Personal Products 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Bajaj Consumer Care Ltd. |
143,877 | 483,576 | ||||||
|
Emami Ltd. |
301,318 | 2,460,280 | ||||||
|
Gillette India Ltd. |
9,822 | 782,757 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,726,613 | ||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 6.1% | ||||||||
|
Aarti Drugs Ltd. |
48,824 | 411,615 | ||||||
|
Ajanta Pharma Ltd. |
39,248 | 1,196,548 | ||||||
|
Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd. |
88,471 | 909,149 | ||||||
|
AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd. |
7,661 | 326,032 | ||||||
|
Eris Lifesciences Ltd.(b) |
50,874 | 508,635 | ||||||
|
FDC Ltd./India(a) |
75,398 | 356,415 | ||||||
|
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. |
211,738 | 1,535,956 | ||||||
|
Granules India Ltd. |
205,731 | 931,969 | ||||||
|
IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. |
35,637 | 272,175 | ||||||
|
JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. |
52,203 | 1,216,373 | ||||||
|
Jubilant Pharmova Ltd. |
95,496 | 866,251 | ||||||
|
Laurus Labs Ltd.(b) |
484,024 | 4,412,361 | ||||||
|
Natco Pharma Ltd. |
137,201 | 1,774,997 | ||||||
|
Procter & Gamble Health Ltd. |
11,275 | 839,560 | ||||||
|
Sanofi India Ltd. |
12,122 | 1,495,384 | ||||||
|
Shilpa Medicare Ltd.(a) |
49,489 | 389,919 | ||||||
|
Solara Active Pharma Sciences Ltd. |
18,957 | 421,056 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Pharmaceuticals (continued) |
|
|||||||
|
Strides Pharma Science Ltd. |
88,016 | $ | 737,779 | |||||
|
Sun Pharma Advanced Research Co. Ltd.(a) |
99,882 | 410,256 | ||||||
|
Suven Pharmaceuticals Ltd. |
134,622 | 986,674 | ||||||
|
Wockhardt Ltd.(a) |
49,368 | 273,652 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20,272,756 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 1.3% | ||||||||
|
L&T Technology Services Ltd.(b) |
39,573 | 2,120,523 | ||||||
|
Quess Corp. Ltd.(b) |
100,366 | 1,162,061 | ||||||
|
TeamLease Services Ltd.(a) |
16,718 | 940,989 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,223,573 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 3.1% | ||||||||
|
Brigade Enterprises Ltd. |
143,376 | 655,934 | ||||||
|
Godrej Properties Ltd.(a) |
167,549 | 3,412,163 | ||||||
|
Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd.(a) |
270,352 | 503,938 | ||||||
|
NESCO Ltd. |
32,157 | 251,877 | ||||||
|
Oberoi Realty Ltd.(a) |
192,028 | 1,850,631 | ||||||
|
Phoenix Mills Ltd. (The)(a) |
142,464 | 1,681,113 | ||||||
|
Prestige Estates Projects Ltd.(a) |
211,489 | 1,019,890 | ||||||
|
Sobha Ltd. |
56,660 | 482,949 | ||||||
|
Sunteck Realty Ltd. |
77,950 | 388,942 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,247,437 | ||||||||
| Software 4.1% | ||||||||
|
Birlasoft Ltd. |
209,473 | 1,194,542 | ||||||
|
Cyient Ltd. |
124,177 | 1,661,062 | ||||||
|
Intellect Design Arena Ltd.(a) |
119,918 | 1,067,449 | ||||||
|
KPIT Technologies Ltd. |
248,761 | 1,143,465 | ||||||
|
Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd. |
32,376 | 2,081,515 | ||||||
|
Route Mobile Ltd. |
30,210 | 816,205 | ||||||
|
Tanla Platforms Ltd. |
100,058 | 1,217,343 | ||||||
|
Tata Elxsi Ltd. |
51,501 | 3,363,719 | ||||||
|
Zensar Technologies Ltd. |
135,940 | 836,435 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 13,381,735 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.(a) |
445,833 | 1,267,898 | ||||||
|
Alok Industries Ltd.(a) |
1,876,600 | 568,156 | ||||||
|
Bata India Ltd. |
77,551 | 1,880,010 | ||||||
|
Garware Technical Fibres Ltd.(a) |
13,939 | 598,338 | ||||||
|
KPR Mill Ltd. |
25,812 | 625,670 | ||||||
|
Rajesh Exports Ltd. |
88,791 | 712,121 | ||||||
|
Relaxo Footwears Ltd. |
74,563 | 1,215,610 | ||||||
|
Vaibhav Global Ltd. |
73,595 | 728,509 | ||||||
|
Vardhman Textiles Ltd.(a) |
34,654 | 872,903 | ||||||
|
VIP Industries Ltd.(a) |
84,617 | 539,044 | ||||||
|
Welspun India Ltd. |
376,493 | 653,090 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,661,349 | ||||||||
| Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Aavas Financiers Ltd.(a) |
53,050 | 1,748,809 | ||||||
|
Can Fin Homes Ltd. |
90,093 | 702,943 | ||||||
|
IIFL Finance Ltd. |
170,707 | 659,043 | ||||||
|
Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd. |
382,400 | 1,170,628 | ||||||
|
LIC Housing Finance Ltd. |
456,136 | 2,506,159 | ||||||
|
PNB Housing Finance Ltd.(a)(b) |
88,638 | 795,954 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,583,536 | ||||||||
| Tobacco 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. |
18,985 | 255,963 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 0.6% | ||||||||
|
IndiaMART Intermesh Ltd.(b) |
18,249 | 1,957,221 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
C O N S O L I D A T E D S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
15 |
|
Consolidated Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Transportation Infrastructure 0.5% |
||||||||
|
GMR Infrastructure Ltd.(a) |
2,737,271 | $ | 1,086,589 | |||||
|
Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd. |
399,872 | 556,297 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,642,886 | ||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Vodafone Idea Ltd.(a) |
12,990,031 | 1,082,772 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 100.3%
|
|
330,352,441 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
|
Money Market Funds 2.2% |
||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(e)(f) |
7,290,000 | 7,290,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 2.2%
|
|
7,290,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 102.5%
|
|
337,642,441 | ||||||
| Other Assets, Less Liabilities (2.5)% | (8,176,683) | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net Assets 100.0% | $ 329,465,758 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
Restricted security as to resale, excluding 144A securities. The Fund held restricted securities with a current value of $504,554, representing 0.2% of its net assets as of period end, and an original cost of $3,554,476. |
| (d) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (e) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (f) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $ | 7,290,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 7,290,000 | 7,290,000 | $ | 758 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
SGX Nifty 50 Index |
14 | 09/30/21 | $ | 478 | $ | 11,004 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| 16 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
|
Consolidated Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI India Small-Cap ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 11,004 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. In the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 260,189 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 6,179 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 193,264 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 1,282,484 | $ | 329,069,929 | $ | 28 | $ | 330,352,441 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
7,290,000 | | | 7,290,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 8,572,484 | $ | 329,069,929 | $ | 28 | $ | 337,642,441 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 11,004 | $ | | $ | 11,004 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
|
C O N S O L I D A T E D S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
17 |
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
August 31, 2021
|
iShares MSCI India ETF |
iShares
MSCI India
ETF |
|||||||
|
ASSETS |
||||||||
|
Investments in securities, at value: |
||||||||
|
Unaffiliated(a) |
$ | 6,364,927,596 | $ | 330,352,441 | ||||
|
Affiliated(b) |
138,250,000 | 7,290,000 | ||||||
|
Cash |
| 3,914 | ||||||
|
Foreign currency, at value(c) |
872,294 | 315,215 | ||||||
|
Cash pledged: |
||||||||
|
Futures contracts |
116,000 | 52,000 | ||||||
|
Receivables: |
||||||||
|
Investments sold |
142,819,700 | 1,042,173 | ||||||
|
Variation margin on futures contracts |
15,378 | 9,561 | ||||||
|
Dividends |
3,907,928 | 209,468 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total assets |
6,650,908,896 | 339,274,772 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
LIABILITIES |
||||||||
|
Bank overdraft |
21,005 | | ||||||
|
Deferred foreign capital gain tax |
177,713,886 | 8,755,569 | ||||||
|
Payables: |
||||||||
|
Investments purchased |
17,013,717 | 852,298 | ||||||
|
Capital shares redeemed |
102,260,170 | | ||||||
|
Investment advisory fees |
3,308,370 | 201,147 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total liabilities |
300,317,148 | 9,809,014 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
NET ASSETS |
$ | 6,350,591,748 | $ | 329,465,758 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF: |
||||||||
|
Paid-in capital |
$ | 4,558,855,554 | $ | 270,942,235 | ||||
|
Accumulated earnings |
1,791,736,194 | 58,523,523 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
NET ASSETS |
$ | 6,350,591,748 | $ | 329,465,758 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Shares outstanding |
130,150,000 | 5,700,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net asset value |
$ | 48.79 | $ | 57.80 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Shares authorized |
Unlimited | Unlimited | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Par value |
None | None | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
(a) Investments, at cost Unaffiliated |
$ | 3,517,939,857 | $ | 183,343,284 | ||||
|
(b) Investments, at cost Affiliated |
$ | 138,250,000 | $ | 7,290,000 | ||||
|
(c) Foreign currency, at cost |
$ | 867,361 | $ | 310,340 | ||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 18 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
|
C O N S O L I D A T E D F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
19 |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 20 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Consolidated Financial Highlights
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI India ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 33.37 | $ | 32.38 | $ | 35.68 | $ | 34.20 | $ | 29.61 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.14 | 0.14 | 0.29 | 0.25 | 0.26 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
15.35 | 0.96 | (3.00 | ) | 1.54 | 4.53 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
15.49 | 1.10 | (2.71 | ) | 1.79 | 4.79 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.07 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.49 | ) | (0.31 | ) | (0.20 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Return of capital |
| | (0.10 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.07 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.59 | ) | (0.31 | ) | (0.20 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 48.79 | $ | 33.37 | $ | 32.38 | $ | 35.68 | $ | 34.20 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
46.54 | % | 3.40 | % | (7.61 | )% | 5.26 | % | 16.27 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.65 | % | 0.69 | % | 0.69 | % | 0.68 | % | 0.68 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
0.35 | % | 0.43 | % | 0.86 | % | 0.72 | % | 0.87 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 6,350,592 | $ | 3,093,833 | $ | 4,899,749 | $ | 5,082,120 | $ | 5,263,819 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
25 | %(f) | 25 | %(f) | 9 | %(f) | 10 | %(f) | 13 | %(f) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
(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 Funds 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) Portfolio turnover rate includes portfolio transactions that are executed as a result of the Fund offering and redeeming Creation Units solely for cash in U.S. dollars (cash creations). |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excluding cash creations was as follows: |
17 | % | 19 | % | 6 | % | 5 | % | 5 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
|
C O N S O L I D A T E D F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
21 |
Consolidated Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 34.60 | $ | 33.39 | $ | 44.10 | $ | 46.27 | $ | 36.01 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income (loss)(a) |
(0.01 | ) | 0.15 | 0.10 | (0.00 | )(b) | 0.09 | |||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c) |
23.26 | 1.88 | (10.60 | ) | (1.06 | ) | 10.55 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
23.25 | 2.03 | (10.50 | ) | (1.06 | ) | 10.64 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.05 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.63 | ) | (0.38 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Return of capital |
(0.00 | )(b) | | | (0.48 | ) | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.05 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (1.11 | ) | (0.38 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 57.80 | $ | 34.60 | $ | 33.39 | $ | 44.10 | $ | 46.27 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
67.25 | % | 6.35 | % | (23.88 | )% | (2.36 | )% | 29.97 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.74 | % | 0.81 | % | 0.76 | % | 0.77 | % | 0.75 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income (loss) |
(0.01 | )% | 0.45 | % | 0.28 | % | (0.00 | )%(f) | 0.21 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 329,466 | $ | 193,770 | $ | 270,433 | $ | 282,264 | $ | 205,914 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(g) |
55 | %(h) | 32 | %(h) | 24 | %(h) | 49 | %(h) | 38 | %(h) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
(a) Based on average shares outstanding. |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
(b) Rounds to less than $0.01. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
(c) The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) Rounds to less than 0.01%. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
(g) Portfolio turnover rate includes portfolio transactions that are executed as a result of the Fund offering and redeeming Creation Units solely for cash in U.S. dollars (cash creations). |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
(h) Portfolio turnover rate excluding cash creations was as follows: |
37 | % | 28 | % | 19 | % | 31 | % | 22 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 22 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements relate only to the following funds (each, a Fund, and collectively, the Funds):
| iShares ETF |
Diversification Classification |
|
|
MSCI India |
Non-diversified | |
|
MSCI India Small-Cap |
Diversified | |
Basis of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements for each Fund includes the accounts of its subsidiary in the Republic of Mauritius, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary (each, a Subsidiary) of the Fund that invests in Indian securities. Through this investment structure, each Fund expects to obtain certain benefits under a current tax treaty between Mauritius and India. The net assets of the Subsidiary of the iShares MSCI India ETF and iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF as of period end were $6,317,556,989 and $322,288,175, which is 99.5% and 97.8% of each Funds consolidated net assets. Intercompany accounts and transactions, if any, have been eliminated.
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. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis.
Foreign Currency Translation: Each Funds 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 Consolidated 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.
Foreign Taxes: The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as Other foreign taxes, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of August 31, 2021, if any, are disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The Funds file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Funds may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdictions applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Consolidated Statements of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.
Each Fund has conducted its investment activities in India through its Subsidiary and expects to obtain benefits under the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Mauritius. In order to be eligible to claim benefits under the DTAA, each Subsidiary must have commercial substance, on an annual basis, to satisfy certain tests and conditions, including the establishment and maintenance of valid tax residence in Mauritius, have the place of effective management outside of India, and related requirements. Each Fund has obtained a current tax residence certificate issued by the Mauritian Revenue Authorities.
|
N O T E S T O C O N S O L I D A T E D F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
23 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
Based upon current interpretation and practice of the current tax laws in India and Mauritius and the DTAA, each Subsidiary is subject to tax in Mauritius on its net income at the rate of 15%. However, each Subsidiary is entitled to a tax credit equivalent to the higher of the actual foreign tax incurred or 80% of the Mauritius tax on its foreign source income, thus reducing its maximum effective tax rate to 3% up to June 30, 2021. After June 30, 2021, under the new tax regime and subject to meeting the necessary substance requirements as required under the Financial Services Act 2007 (as amended by the Finance Act 2018) and such guidelines issued by the Financial Services Commission (the FSC), each Subsidiary is entitled to either (a) a foreign tax credit equivalent to the actual foreign tax suffered on its foreign income against each Subsidiarys tax liability computed at 15% on such income, or (b) a partial exemption of 80% of some of the income derived, including interest income or foreign source dividends. Taxes on income, if any, are paid by each Subsidiary and are disclosed in its Consolidated Statements of Operations. Any dividends paid by a Subsidiary to its Fund are not subject to tax in Mauritius. Each Subsidiary is currently exempt from tax in Mauritius on any gains from the sale of securities.
The DTAA provides that capital gains will be taxable in India with respect to the sale of shares acquired on or after April 1, 2017. Capital gains arising from shares acquired before April 1, 2017, regardless of when they are sold, will continue to be exempt from taxation under the amended DTAA, assuming requirements for eligibility under the DTAA are satisfied. There can be no assurance, however, that the DTAA will remain in effect during the Subsidiarys existence or that it will continue to enjoy its benefits on the shares acquired prior to April 1, 2017.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and record cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
3. INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Investment Valuation Policies: Each Funds investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) each day that the Funds 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. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board). If a securitys market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Funds assets and liabilities:
| |
Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that days published net asset value (NAV). |
| |
Futures contracts are valued based on that days last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded. |
Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (Systematic Fair Value Price). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.
If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a funds NAV and the prices used by the funds underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the funds performance and the performance of the funds underlying index.
| 24 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
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 Global Valuation Committees assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments). |
The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
4. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).
Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contracts size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (variation margin). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.
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 Funds 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 MSCI India ETF, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund as follows:
| Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
First $4 billion |
0.6500 | % | ||
|
Over $4 billion, up to and including $6 billion |
0.6175 | |||
|
Over $6 billion, up to and including $8 billion |
0.5867 | |||
|
Over $8 billion |
0.5573 | |||
For its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee of 0.74%, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund.
Each Subsidiary has entered into a separate contract with BFA under which BFA provides investment advisory services to the Subsidiary but does not receive separate compensation from the Subsidiary for providing it with such services. Each Subsidiary has also entered into separate arrangements that provide for the provision of other services to the Subsidiary (including administrative, custody, transfer agency and other services), and BFA pays the costs and expenses related to the provision of those services.
|
N O T E S T O C O N S O L I D A T E D F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
25 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
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.
Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.
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 Consolidated 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 funds underlying index.
6. PURCHASES AND SALES
For the year ended August 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
|
MSCI India |
$ | 2,566,576,831 | $ | 1,199,388,531 | ||||
|
MSCI India Small-Cap |
144,520,794 | 148,060,793 | ||||||
There were no in-kind transactions for the year ended August 31, 2021.
7. INCOME TAX INFORMATION
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trusts other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Funds policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of August 31, 2021, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds consolidated financial statements.
The tax character of distributions was as follows:
|
iShares ETF |
Year Ended 08/31/21 |
Year Ended 08/31/20 |
||||||
|
MSCI India |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 8,540,172 | $ | 12,672,573 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI India Small-Cap |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 268,669 | $ | 5,550,007 | ||||
|
Return of capital |
1,270 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 269,939 | $ | 5,550,007 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
As of August 31, 2021, 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) |
|
Qualified
Late-Year Losses |
(c) |
Total | |||||||
|
MSCI India |
$ | 48,842 | $(655,989,828 | ) | $ | 2,447,677,180 | $ | | $ | 1,791,736,194 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI India Small-Cap |
| (62,205,401 | ) | 121,440,016 | (711,092 | ) | 58,523,523 | |||||||||||||
| (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, characterization of corporate actions and the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies. |
| (c) |
The Funds have elected to defer certain qualified late-year losses and recognize such losses in the next taxable year. |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds utilized the following amounts of their respective capital loss carryforwards:
| iShares ETF | Utilized | |||
|
MSCI India |
$ | 73,395,355 | ||
|
MSCI India Small-Cap |
20,303,839 | |||
A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as passive foreign investment companies. Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.
| 26 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
As of August 31, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Tax Cost |
Gross Unrealized
Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized
Depreciation |
Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
MSCI India |
$ | 3,877,931,427 | $ | 2,712,276,615 | $ | (86,963,012 | ) | $ | 2,625,313,603 | |||||||
|
MSCI India Small-Cap |
207,466,028 | 144,484,427 | (14,297,010 | ) | 130,187,417 | |||||||||||
8. LINE OF CREDIT
The Funds, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), are parties to a $300 million credit agreement (Credit Agreement) with State Street Bank and Trust Company, which expires on October 15, 2021. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Credit Agreement sets specific sub limits on aggregate borrowings based on two tiers of Participating Funds: $300 million with respect to the funds within Tier 1 and $200 million with respect to Tier 2, including the Funds. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was terminated on August 12, 2021.
Effective August 13, 2021, the Funds, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), are parties to a $800 million credit agreement (Syndicated Credit Agreement) with a group of lenders, which expires on August 12, 2022. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.
During the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds did not borrow under the Credit Agreement or Syndicated Credit Agreement.
Effective August 26, 2021, the Funds, along with certain other iShares funds (Mauritius Participating Funds), are parties to a $750,000,000 unsecured and uncommitted line of credit (Uncommitted Liquidity Facility) with State Street Bank and Trust Company, which may be used solely to facilitate trading associated with the closure of each Funds Mauritius subsidiary. The Uncommitted Liquidity Facility has interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.25% per annum or (b) the Overnight Bank Funding rate (not less than zero) plus 1.25% per annum on amounts borrowed. Each Mauritius Participating Fund will be removed from the Uncommitted Liquidity Facility once trading out of its holdings in the Mauritius subsidiary is complete. During the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds did not borrow under the Uncommitted Liquidity Facility.
9. PRINCIPAL RISKS
In the normal course of business, each Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including, among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate or price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Funds and their investments. Each Funds prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.
BFA uses a passive or index approach to try to achieve each Funds 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: An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a funds investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market
|
N O T E S T O C O N S O L I D A T E D F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
27 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a funds NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.
The price each Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from each Funds 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.
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing brokers customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing brokers customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a funds 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 Funds portfolio are disclosed in its Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in that country or those countries may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities.
The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Asia or with significant exposure to Asian issuers or countries. The Asian financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns in several Asian countries regarding monetary policy, government intervention in the markets, rising government debt levels or economic downturns. These events may spread to other countries in Asia and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
10. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
Capital shares are issued and redeemed by each Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (Creation Units) at NAV. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of each Fund are not redeemable.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
Transactions in capital shares were as follows:
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|
Year Ended 08/31/21 |
Year Ended 08/31/20 |
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|||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||
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|
MSCI India |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
44,850,000 | $ | 1,805,890,047 | 8,400,000 | $ | 324,117,985 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(7,400,000 | ) | (307,587,733 | ) | (67,000,000 | ) | (1,832,735,628 | ) | ||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
37,450,000 | $ | 1,498,302,314 | (58,600,000 | ) | $ | (1,508,617,643 | ) | ||||||||
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MSCI India Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
1,000,000 | $ | 49,353,215 | 300,000 | $ | 10,982,558 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(900,000 | ) | (44,342,623 | ) | (2,800,000 | ) | (77,393,679 | ) | ||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
100,000 | $ | 5,010,592 | (2,500,000 | ) | $ | (66,411,121 | ) | ||||||||
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|
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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 Trusts 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.
11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.
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N O T E S T O C O N S O L I D A T E D F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
29 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust and Shareholders of iShares MSCI India ETF and
iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF
Opinions on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedules of investments, of iShares MSCI India ETF and iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF and their subsidiaries (two of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the Funds) as of August 31, 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended August 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of August 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021 and each of the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended August 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinions
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2021 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
October 22, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.
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Important Tax Information (unaudited)
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Dividend Income |
|||
|
MSCI India |
$ | 61,540,118 | ||
|
MSCI India Small-Cap |
2,961,002 | |||
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 August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Foreign Source Income Earned |
Foreign
Taxes Paid |
||||||
|
MSCI India |
$ | 61,695,761 | $ | 14,079,845 | ||||
|
MSCI India Small-Cap |
2,994,228 | 1,415,702 | ||||||
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I M P O R T A N T T A X I N F O R M A T I O N |
31 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
iShares MSCI India ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs 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 Funds 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 further 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service
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B O A R D R E V I E W A N D A P P R O V A L O F I N V E S T M E N T A D V I S O R Y C O N T R A C T |
33 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue,
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
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B O A R D R E V I E W A N D A P P R O V A L O F I N V E S T M E N T A D V I S O R Y C O N T R A C T |
35 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (Rule 18f-4). The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.
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 Funds investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
August 31, 2021
|
Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year |
% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI India(a) |
$ | 0.070620 | $ | | $ | 0.002824 | $ | 0.073444 | 96 | % | | % | 4 | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholders investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Funds net asset value per share. |
Premium/Discount Information
Information on the Funds 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 (the Directive) imposes detailed and prescriptive obligations on fund managers established in the European Union (the EU). These do not currently apply to managers established outside of the EU, such as BFA (the Company). Rather, non-EU managers are only required to comply with certain disclosure, reporting and transparency obligations of the Directive if such managers market a fund to EU investors.
The Company has registered the iShares MSCI India ETF (the Fund) to be marketed to EU investors in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and Luxembourg.
Report on Remuneration
The Company is required under the Directive to make quantitative disclosures of remuneration. These disclosures are made in line with BlackRocks 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 BlackRocks 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 programmes 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, a significant percentage of variable remuneration is deferred over time. All employees are subject to a claw-back policy.
| 36 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited) (continued)
Remuneration decisions for employees are made once annually in January following the end of the performance year, based on BlackRocks 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.
Annual incentive awards are paid from a bonus pool which is reviewed throughout the year by BlackRocks 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 organisational structures which are independent of the business units. 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 BlackRocks 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. Therefore, the figures disclosed are a sum of each individuals portion of remuneration attributable to the Fund according to an objective apportionment methodology which acknowledges the multiple-service nature of the Company. Accordingly the figures are not representative of any individuals actual remuneration or their remuneration structure.
The amount of the total remuneration awarded by the Company to its staff which has been attributed to the Fund in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020 is USD 364.25 thousand. This figure is comprised of fixed remuneration of USD 169.62 thousand and variable remuneration of USD 194.63 thousand. There were a total of 490 beneficiaries of the remuneration described above.
The amount of the aggregate remuneration awarded by the Company, which has been attributed to the Fund in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020, to its senior management was USD 59.34 thousand, and to members of its staff whose actions have a material impact on the risk profile of the Fund was USD 4.79 thousand.
|
S U P P L E M E N T A L I N F O R M A T I O N |
37 |
Trustee and Officer Information
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 Fund is 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 374 funds as of August 31, 2021. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Charles Park, 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. Park is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated Cecilia H. Herbert 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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
Robert S.
Kapito(a) (64) |
Trustee (since 2009). | President, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2006); Vice Chairman of BlackRock, Inc. and Head of BlackRocks 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 Childrens 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)
(51) |
Trustee (since 2019). | Senior Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Global Head of BlackRocks ETF and Index Investments Business (since 2019); Head of BlackRocks 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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
Cecilia H.
Herbert (72) |
Trustee (since 2005); Independent Board Chair (since 2016). | 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 Yorks public media company (since 2011) and Member of the Audit Committee (since 2018) and Investment Committee (since 2011); Chair (1994-2005) and Member (since 1992) of the Investment Committee, Archdiocese of San Francisco; Trustee of Forward Funds (14 portfolios) (2009-2018); Trustee of Salient MF Trust (4 portfolios) (2015-2018); Director (1998-2013) and President (2007-2011) of the Board of Directors, Catholic Charities CYO; Trustee (2002-2011) and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee (2006-2010) of the Thacher School; Director of the Senior Center of Jackson Hole (since 2020). | 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 2016); Trustee of Thrivent Church Loan and Income Fund (since 2019). | |||
|
Jane D.
Carlin (65) |
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 (66) |
Trustee (since 2017); Audit Committee Chair (since 2019). | Partner, KPMG LLP (2002-2016). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2017); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2017). | |||
| 38 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Trustee and Officer Information (continued)
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
John E.
Kerrigan (66) |
Trustee (since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs (since 2019). | Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011). | |||
|
Drew E.
Lawton (62) |
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). | |||
|
John E.
Martinez (60) |
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 (57) |
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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years |
||||
|
Armando
Senra (50) |
President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007); Head of U.S., Canada and Latam iShares, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2019); Head of Latin America Region, BlackRock, Inc. (2006-2019); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (1994-2006). | ||||
|
Trent
Walker (47) |
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. | ||||
|
Charles
Park (54) |
Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006). | Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex (since 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of BFA (since 2006). | ||||
|
Deepa Damre
Smith (46) |
Secretary (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2013). | ||||
|
Scott
Radell (52) |
Executive Vice President (since 2012). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Head of Portfolio Solutions, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||||
|
Alan
Mason (60) |
Executive Vice President (since 2016). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||||
|
Marybeth
Leithead (58) |
Executive Vice President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2017); Chief Operating Officer of Americas iShares (since 2017); Portfolio Manager, Municipal Institutional & Wealth Management (2009-2016). | ||||
|
T R U S T E E A N D O F F I C E R I N F O R M A T I O N |
39 |
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
| |
Go to icsdelivery.com. |
| |
If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor. |
Householding
Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The 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 SECs 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 Companys policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Glossary of Terms Used in this Report
| Portfolio Abbreviations - Equity | ||
| REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust | |
|
G L O S S A R Y O F T E R M S U S E D I N T H I S R E P O R T |
41 |
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 MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
iS-AR-809-0821
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AUGUST 31, 2021 |
| 2021 Annual Report | ||
iShares Trust
| · |
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF | HEWC | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF | HEZU | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF | HEWG | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF | HEWJ | NYSE Arca |
Dear Shareholder,
The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The United States, along with most of the world, began the reporting period emerging from a severe recession, prompted by pandemic-related restrictions that disrupted many aspects of daily life. However, easing restrictions and robust government intervention led to a strong rebound, and the economy grew at a significant pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.
Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets rebounded substantially.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.
The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2023 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2022.
Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.
Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and healthcare, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries and Asian fixed income offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.
In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
| Total Returns as of August 31, 2021 | ||||
| 6-Month | 12-Month | |||
|
U.S. large cap
equities
|
19.52% | 31.17% | ||
|
U.S. small cap
equities
|
3.81 | 47.08 | ||
|
International
equities
|
10.31 | 26.12 | ||
|
Emerging market
equities
|
(0.98) | 21.12 | ||
|
3-month Treasury bills
|
0.02 | 0.08 | ||
|
U.S. Treasury
securities
|
2.36 | (4.12) | ||
|
U.S. investment
grade bonds
|
1.49 | (0.08) | ||
|
Tax-exempt municipal bonds
|
2.50 | 3.44 | ||
|
U.S. high yield
bonds
|
3.82 | 10.14 | ||
|
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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iShares Trust
Global Market Overview
Global equity markets advanced significantly during the 12 months ended August 31, 2021 (reporting period). The MSCI ACWI, a broad global equity index that includes both developed and emerging markets, returned 28.64% in U.S. dollar terms for the reporting period. Stocks continued to recover from the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nearing all-time highs by the end of the reporting period. Reopening economies led to a substantial global economic expansion, and the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines bolstered investors optimism. Nonetheless, vaccination rates varied considerably across countries, and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to increased cases and renewed restrictions toward the end of the reporting period. Inflation also rose in many parts of the world amid supply chain constraints and elevated consumer spending.
Equity markets in the U.S. advanced strongly, helped by fiscal and monetary stimulus and an ongoing mass vaccination program. Congress passed two fiscal stimulus bills during the reporting period, providing significant relief in the form of direct payments to individuals, tax credits, aid to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners and renters. Personal incomes rose significantly following the stimulus payments, and consumer spending recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Increased consumer spending and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions helped the U.S. economy continue to grow following a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020, as activity recovered from the pandemic-induced recession in the first half of 2020. The economy grew at a brisk pace for the rest of the reporting period, finally exceeding pre-pandemic output levels in the second quarter of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve Banks (the Fed) action also played a notable role in the recovery. Monetary policy remained accommodative, with short-term interest rates maintained near zero to encourage lending and stimulate economic activity. The Fed further acted to stabilize bond markets by continuing an unlimited, open-ended, bond-buying program for U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Stocks in Europe also posted strong gains, despite a recovery that trailed other major economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) provided monetary stimulus by maintaining ultra-low interest rates and continuing a large bond-buying program. Growth resumed with a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020 as restrictions eased, and Eurozone countries enacted a deal for a collective 750 billion of stimulus spending. However, a new wave of coronavirus cases beginning in October 2020 led to renewed restrictions, weakening the fragile recovery. Consequently, the Eurozone economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, even as much of the world was returning to growth. Although the initial vaccine rollout trailed in many European countries, the pace of vaccinations accelerated late in the reporting period, and economic growth resumed in the second quarter of 2021.
Asia-Pacific regional stocks also posted a solid advance amid a sharp rebound in economic activity. Continued economic growth in China helped the regional economy recover, as many Asia-Pacific countries rely on China as a major trading partner. Japanese and Australian stocks benefited from a sharp rise in exports amid resurgent global trade. Emerging market stocks advanced overall, aided by economic recovery and rising prices for many commodities. However, investor concerns about increased government regulatory activity weighed on Chinese stocks late in the reporting period. Relatively slow vaccination rollouts in parts of Asia also prompted concerns, particularly as the Delta variant spread.
| 4 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization Canadian equities while mitigating exposure to fluctuations between the value of the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar, as represented by the MSCI Canada 100% Hedged to USD 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. The Fund currently seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing a substantial portion of its assets in one underlying fund, the iShares MSCI Canada ETF.
Performance
| Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
28.81 | % | 10.52 | % | 8.95 | % | 28.81 | % | 64.86 | % | 69.75 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
28.74 | 10.51 | 8.98 | 28.74 | 64.84 | 70.08 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
27.46 | 10.49 | 8.98 | 27.46 | 64.64 | 69.98 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 6/29/15. The first day of secondary market trading was 7/1/15.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 13 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
(a) |
||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,159.00 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,025.10 | $ | 0.15 | 0.03 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Annualized expense ratio and expenses paid during the period do not include fees and expenses of the underlying fund in which the Fund invests. |
| (b) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 13 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Canadian equities advanced for the reporting period, as rising COVID-19 vaccination rates and loosened restrictions against the pandemic supported a recovery in the Canadian economy. Canadas vaccination rate ended the reporting period at among the highest levels among major industrialized nations, eclipsing the U.S., the U.K., France, and Germany.
The financials sector contributed the most to the Indexs return in U.S. dollar terms as the banking industry benefited from the recovery of provisions for credit losses, which are funds that the institutions set aside to cover projected credit losses that failed to materialize. A recovery in mergers and acquisitions activity to record levels, supported by low interest rates and strong balance sheets with large cash reserves, also boosted the banking industry. Government stimulus programs that prevented widespread loan defaults along with high demand for a limited supply of homes drove home prices higher, which helped banks involved in mortgage lending. Canadas insurance industry also contributed to the Indexs return. Rising stock markets raised fee income for the wealth and asset management units of life insurance companies, increasing earnings.
The information technology sector also contributed significantly to the Indexs return. A pandemic-driven shift toward online shopping increased demand for many technology products and services. The internet services and infrastructure industry led the advance as companies initiated services to help brick-and-mortar merchants set up operations for online storefronts and added more options for consumers. Sales volumes at these online storefronts increased significantly, as the number of merchants with e-commerce stores rose sharply during the pandemic. The energy sector also contributed to the Indexs return. Oil and gas storage and transportation companies benefited from increases in oil production and pipeline volumes.
In terms of currency performance during the reporting period, the Canadian dollar appreciated by approximately 3% relative to the U.S. dollar. Higher oil and commodities prices buoyed the Canadian dollar, as the value of Canadas large resource exports is closely tied to its currency.
The Canadian dollars positive performance meant hedging activity detracted from the Indexs return. A fully hedged investor seeks to bypass the currency fluctuations both on the upside and on the downside related to holding foreign-currency-denominated securities. The Indexs hedging activity offset the positive impact of the Canadian dollars performance relative to the U.S. dollar, resulting in an Index return that was relatively close to the return of Canadian equities measured in Canadian dollars.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY INVESTMENT TYPE
| Investment Type |
Percent of
Net Assets |
|||
|
Investment Companies |
100.1 | % | ||
|
Short-term Investments |
2.5 | |||
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, net cumulative appreciation | 0.9 | |||
|
Other assets less liabilities |
(3.5 | ) | ||
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR (of the UNDERLYING FUND)
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investment(a) |
|||
|
Financials |
36.3 | % | ||
|
Information Technology |
13.7 | |||
|
Energy |
12.7 | |||
|
Materials |
11.1 | |||
|
Industrials |
10.4 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
4.1 | |||
|
Utilities |
4.0 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
3.7 | |||
|
Communication Services |
2.6 | |||
|
Other (each representing less than 1%) |
1.4 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 6 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization equities from developed market countries which use the euro as their official currency while mitigating exposure to fluctuations between the value of the euro and the U.S. dollar, as represented by the MSCI EMU 100% Hedged to USD 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. The Fund currently seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing a substantial portion of its assets in one underlying fund, the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF.
Performance
| Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
35.04 | % | 11.82 | % | 8.86 | % | 35.04 | % | 74.79 | % | 83.51 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
34.77 | 11.81 | 8.86 | 34.77 | 74.74 | 83.45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
34.09 | 11.91 | 9.12 | 34.09 | 75.50 | 86.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 7/9/14. The first day of secondary market trading was 7/10/14.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 13 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
(a) |
||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,173.50 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,025.10 | $ | 0.15 | 0.03 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Annualized expense ratio and expenses paid during the period do not include fees and expenses of the underlying fund in which the Fund invests. |
| (b) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 13 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in the Eurozone advanced for the reporting period despite a mild recession, delays in COVID-19 vaccine rollouts in some countries, and the reinstitution of social distancing mandates. Coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions slowed economic activity in European countries. However, the ECB invested 750 billion to provide employment support, loans, and grants on an unprecedented scale, in addition to existing social safety nets, which helped lessen the impact of the pandemic on economic growth. The ECB also provided monetary support by buying government and corporate bonds and keeping interest rates low to encourage corporate investment. However, Eurozone economic growth did not recover to pre-pandemic levels and trailed the U.S. and China amid the uncertain impacts of the Delta variant.
French stocks were the largest contributors to the Indexs return in U.S. dollar terms, as economic recovery drove gains in the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors. Textiles and apparel companies advanced, particularly during the second half of the reporting period, reflecting pent-up demand for luxury purchases among high end consumers. French electrical equipment makers benefited from improved demand and infrastructure opportunities such as vehicle electrification. Household savings were high, as a recovery in retail banking, following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions, outweighed weakened corporate and investment banking activity. Increased fixed income trading also bolstered the banking industry.
Stocks in the Netherlands contributed meaningfully to the Indexs return. The information technology sector led contributions as global demand for high-powered semiconductor chips, required to run everything from car engines to smart toasters, continued to outstrip supply. Semiconductors and semiconductor equipment companies led the advance, as increased sales of advanced chipmaking equipment amid a global semiconductor shortage supported profits in the industry.
German stocks also contributed to the Indexs return, advancing due to an economic rebound. In the consumer discretionary sector, automobile manufacturers benefited from strong cost management, solid products, and corporate restructuring. The industrials sector also contributed as strong sales of industrial software drove the industrial conglomerates industry.
In terms of currency performance during the reporting period, the euro depreciated by approximately 1% against the U.S. dollar. Investors expectations that interest rates in the E.U. would stay low longer than U.S. interest rates pressured the euro.
The euros negative performance meant hedging activity contributed to the Indexs return. A fully hedged investor seeks to bypass the currency fluctuations both on the upside and on the downside related to holding foreign-currency-denominated securities. The Indexs hedging activity offset the negative impact of the euros performance relative to the U.S. dollar, resulting in an Index return that was relatively close to the return of Eurozone equities measured in euros.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY INVESTMENT TYPE
| Investment Type |
Percent of
Net Assets |
|||
|
Investment Companies |
100.0 | % | ||
|
Short-term Investments |
0.1 | |||
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, net cumulative appreciation | 0.5 | |||
|
Other assets less liabilities |
(0.6 | ) | ||
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR (of the UNDERLYING FUND)
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investment(a) |
|||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
17.5 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
14.9 | |||
|
Information Technology |
14.9 | |||
|
Financials |
14.1 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
7.7 | |||
|
Health Care |
7.7 | |||
|
Materials |
7.3 | |||
|
Utilities |
6.2 | |||
|
Communication Services |
4.4 | |||
|
Energy |
3.5 | |||
|
Real Estate |
1.8 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 8 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization German equities while mitigating exposure to fluctuations between the value of the euro and the U.S. dollar, as represented by the MSCI Germany 100% Hedged to USD 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. The Fund currently seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing a substantial portion of its assets in one underlying fund, the iShares MSCI Germany ETF.
Performance
| Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
22.12 | % | 9.27 | % | 7.71 | % | 22.12 | % | 55.76 | % | 75.58 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
21.79 | 9.26 | 7.70 | 21.79 | 55.73 | 75.46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
22.60 | 9.68 | 8.03 | 22.60 | 58.70 | 79.69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 1/31/14. The first day of secondary market trading was 2/4/14.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 13 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
(a) |
||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,136.60 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,025.00 | $ | 0.20 | 0.04 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Annualized expense ratio and expenses paid during the period do not include fees and expenses of the underlying fund in which the Fund invests. |
| (b) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 13 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
9 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in Germany advanced strongly for the reporting period despite new waves of COVID-19 infections and business disruptions that continued to hamper economic growth. Although Germanys economy contracted in 2020, it outperformed several other European economies due to increased global trade that benefited its export-focused manufacturing sector. The deployment of coronavirus vaccines in early 2021, additional fiscal stimulus and relief packages, and optimism about the economic recovery contributed to equity market gains. Improved economic data and positive earnings also supported market strength.
The consumer discretionary sector contributed the most to the Indexs performance in U.S. dollar terms, as accelerating vaccination rates and easing pandemic restrictions buoyed consumer confidence and spending. The largest source of contribution within the sector came from the automobile manufacturers industry. Favorable conditions in global car markets, improved pricing, and robust demand, particularly for premium cars and electric vehicles, led to robust earnings growth for select carmakers. The internet and direct marketing retail industry also advanced, as food delivery companies benefited from increased demand for their services amid restaurant closures and social distancing mandates.
The industrials sector also bolstered the Indexs return. Strength in the industrial conglomerates industry, largely driven by strong sales of industrial software, led contribution. The transportation industry also contributed, as increased global business activity and growth in e-commerce and digitalization drove the need for logistics services.
The materials sector also contributed. Global economic expansion and robust demand for raw materials led to gains in commodities prices. The largest source of strength within the sector was the diversified chemicals industry, particularly companies that were able to pass on higher raw materials costs to industrials customers.
In terms of currency performance during the reporting period, the euro depreciated by approximately 1% against the U.S. dollar. Investors expectations that interest rates in the E.U. would stay low longer than U.S. interest rates pressured the euro.
The euros negative performance meant hedging activity contributed to the Indexs return. A fully hedged investor seeks to bypass the currency fluctuations both on the upside and on the downside related to holding foreign-currency-denominated securities. The Indexs hedging activity offset the negative impact of the euros performance relative to the U.S. dollar, resulting in an Index return that was relatively close to the return of German equities measured in euros.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY INVESTMENT TYPE
| Investment Type |
Percent of
Net Assets |
|||
|
Investment Companies |
100.0 | % | ||
|
Short-term Investments |
0.0 | (a) | ||
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, net cumulative appreciation | 0.4 | |||
|
Other assets less liabilities |
(0.4 | ) | ||
| (a) |
Rounds to less than 0.1%. |
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR (of the UNDERLYING FUND)
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investment(a) |
|||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
20.9 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
16.5 | |||
|
Information Technology |
14.1 | |||
|
Financials |
13.1 | |||
|
Health Care |
11.2 | |||
|
Materials |
8.1 | |||
|
Communication Services |
5.3 | |||
|
Real Estate |
4.8 | |||
|
Utilities |
3.6 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
2.4 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 10 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization Japanese equities while mitigating exposure to fluctuations between the value of the Japanese yen and the U.S. dollar, as represented by the MSCI Japan 100% Hedged to USD 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. The Fund currently seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing a substantial portion of its assets in one underlying fund, the iShares MSCI Japan ETF.
Performance
| Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
24.08 | % | 11.22 | % | 8.87 | % | 24.08 | % | 70.15 | % | 90.49 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
24.10 | 11.22 | 8.86 | 24.10 | 70.16 | 90.34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
24.60 | 11.90 | 9.11 | 24.60 | 75.42 | 93.70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 1/31/14. The first day of secondary market trading was 2/4/14.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 13 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
(a) |
||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,042.50 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,025.20 | $ | 0.00 | 0.00 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Annualized expense ratio and expenses paid during the period do not include fees and expenses of the underlying fund in which the Fund invests. |
| (b) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 13 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
11 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in Japan advanced during the reporting period as the country emerged from its worst recession since World War II, though the pace of economic growth trailed many developed peers. Rising exports and government stimulus programs supported Japans recovery, but a surge in COVID-19 cases, a slow vaccine rollout, and renewed restrictions weighed on domestic household spending. Nevertheless, demand for Japanese exports continued to bolster the economy, and manufacturers confidence rose amid the global recovery.
The information technology sector was the largest contributor to the Indexs return in U.S. dollar terms. The electronic equipment and instruments industry benefited from the ongoing adoption of robotics and automated systems in both the manufacturing and service industries. A recovery in demand for sensors and machine vision systems also boosted the industry. Demand for healthcare-related products, semiconductor materials, and office equipment drove strong profits for technology hardware, storage, and peripherals manufacturers. Semiconductor equipment stocks advanced as rising demand for chips amid a global shortage of semiconductors, especially those used in electric vehicles and smartphones, drove earnings growth.
Industrials stocks contributed notably to the Indexs return as overseas demand for capital goods improved. In the machinery industry, rising exports of robots and factory automation equipment boosted profits. Trading companies and distributors benefited from increased demand for commodities and higher prices as economies reopened. The commercial and professional services industry also advanced due to strength in online job advertising.
Consumer discretionary stocks also contributed solidly to the Indexs performance, particularly the automobiles industry. Global demand for cars recovered sharply in 2021, and companies that maintained high production levels despite the global semiconductor shortage logged an increase in sales. In addition, the consumer electronics industry benefited as consumers increased spending on home entertainment during the pandemic.
In terms of currency performance during the reporting period, the Japanese yen depreciated by approximately 4% relative to the U.S. dollar. Weak domestic demand and deflationary pressure weighed on the Japanese yen.
The Japanese yens negative performance meant hedging activity contributed to the Indexs return. A fully hedged investor seeks to bypass the currency fluctuations both on the upside and on the downside related to holding foreign-currency-denominated securities. The Indexs hedging activity offset the negative impact of the Japanese yens performance relative to the U.S. dollar, resulting in an Index return that was relatively close to the return of Japanese equities measured in Japanese yen.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY INVESTMENT TYPE
| Investment Type |
Percent of
Net Assets |
|||
|
Investment Companies |
99.8 | % | ||
| Short-term Investments | 0.1 | |||
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, net cumulative appreciation | 0.3 | |||
|
Other assets less liabilities |
(0.2 | ) | ||
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR (of the UNDERLYING FUND)
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investment(a) |
|||
|
Industrials |
22.2 | % | ||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
18.9 | |||
|
Information Technology |
14.5 | |||
|
Health Care |
10.3 | |||
|
Financials |
8.9 | |||
|
Communication Services |
8.0 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
7.1 | |||
|
Materials |
5.0 | |||
|
Real Estate |
3.5 | |||
|
Utilities |
1.0 | |||
|
Energy |
0.6 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 12 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 Funds investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or NAV is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such funds NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the funds 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.
As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled Expenses Paid During the Period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Funds actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
A B O U T F U N D P E R F O R M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R E X P E N S E S |
13 |
|
August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Investment Companies |
||||||||
| Exchange-Traded Funds 100.1% | ||||||||
|
iShares MSCI Canada ETF(a) |
444,225 | $ | 16,587,362 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investment Companies 100.1%
|
16,587,362 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
| Money Market Funds 2.5% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency
Shares,
|
420,000 | 420,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 2.5%
|
420,000 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 102.6%
|
17,007,362 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (2.6)% |
(437,679 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 16,569,683 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (b) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Distributions
Underlying
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $ | 420,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 420,000 | 420,000 | $ | 2 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
iShares MSCI Canada ETF |
11,540,157 | 7,296,395 | (5,306,502 | ) | 666,712 | 2,390,600 | 16,587,362 | 444,225 | 220,567 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 666,712 | $ | 2,390,600 | $ | 17,007,362 | $ | 220,569 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
|
Currency Purchased
|
Currency
Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| CAD | 20,581,000 | USD | 16,286,908 | MS | 09/02/21 | $ | 25,821 | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 14,916,576 | CAD | 18,631,000 | MS | 09/02/21 | 149,439 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 175,260 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| CAD | 126,000 | USD | 101,002 | MS | 09/02/21 | (1,133 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 1,641,028 | CAD | 2,076,000 | MS | 09/02/21 | (4,433 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 379,038 | CAD | 479,000 | MS | 10/04/21 | (604 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| CAD | 88,000 | USD | 69,790 | MS | 10/05/21 | (44 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 16,285,819 | CAD | 20,581,000 | MS | 10/05/21 | (26,070 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (32,284 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized appreciation | $ | 142,976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 175,260 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 32,284 | ||
|
|
|
|||
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | (763,750 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 448,798 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts: |
||||
|
Average amounts purchased in USD |
$ | 12,712,948 | ||
|
Average amounts sold in USD |
$ | 25,363,827 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting as of Period End
The Funds derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:
| Assets | Liabilities | |||||||
|
Derivative Financial Instruments: |
||||||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 175,260 | $ | 32,284 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
175,260 | 32,284 | ||||||
|
Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (MNA) |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA |
175,260 | 32,284 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The following tables present the Funds derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received and pledged by the Fund:
| Counterparty |
|
Derivative
Assets Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
|
|
Derivatives
Available for Offset |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash
Collateral Received |
|
|
Cash
Collateral Received |
(b) |
|
Net Amount
of Derivative Assets |
|
|||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
$ | 175,260 | $ | (32,284 | ) | $ | | $ | (142,976 | ) | $ | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Counterparty |
|
Derivative
Liabilities Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
|
|
Derivatives
Available for Offset |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash
Collateral Pledged |
|
|
Cash
Collateral Pledged |
|
|
Net Amount
of Derivative Liabilities |
|
|||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
$ | 32,284 | $ | (32,284 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
15 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF |
| (a) |
The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA. |
| (b) |
Excess of collateral received from the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes. |
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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Investment Companies |
$ | 16,587,362 | $ | | $ | | $ | 16,587,362 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
420,000 | | | 420,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 17,007,362 | $ | | $ | | $ | 17,007,362 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
$ | | $ | 175,260 | $ | | $ | 175,260 | ||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
| (32,284 | ) | | (32,284 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | | $ | 142,976 | $ | | $ | 142,976 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 16 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Asset) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Investment Companies |
|
|||||||
| Exchange-Traded Funds 100.0% | ||||||||
|
iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF(a) |
14,647,260 | $ | 744,520,226 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investment Companies 100.0%
|
|
744,520,226 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.1% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency
Shares,
|
1,160,000 | 1,160,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.1%
|
|
1,160,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.1%
|
|
745,680,226 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.1)% |
|
(1,010,307 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 744,669,919 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (b) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $ | 1,160,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 1,160,000 | 1,160,000 | $ | 234 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF |
568,545,846 | 644,205,860 | (615,398,673 | ) | 29,374,105 | 117,793,088 | 744,520,226 | 14,647,260 | 15,265,025 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 29,374,105 | $ | 117,793,088 | $ | 745,680,226 | $ | 15,265,259 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
|
Currency
Purchased |
Currency
Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 15,998,000 | USD | 18,877,741 | DB | 09/03/21 | $ | 12,248 | |||||||||||||||
| EUR | 55,513,834 | USD | 65,532,282 | MS | 09/03/21 | 16,893 | ||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 557,543,511 | USD | 658,152,237 | SSB | 09/03/21 | 179,466 | ||||||||||||||||
| USD | 5,480,851 | EUR | 4,624,000 | JPM | 09/03/21 | 20,962 | ||||||||||||||||
| USD | 75,295,902 | EUR | 63,461,834 | MS | 09/03/21 | 361,952 | ||||||||||||||||
| USD | 660,973,118 | EUR | 557,086,511 | UBS | 09/03/21 | 3,181,027 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 3,772,548 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 2,522,000 | USD | 2,992,154 | JPM | 09/03/21 | (14,248 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| USD | 5,585,253 | EUR | 4,767,000 | BOA | 09/03/21 | (43,486 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| USD | 1,917,398 | EUR | 1,638,000 | JPM | 09/03/21 | (16,706 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| EUR | 1,259,000 | USD | 1,487,860 | JPM | 10/05/21 | (323 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| USD | 65,465,840 | EUR | 55,423,834 | MS | 10/05/21 | (18,687 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
17 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (continued)
|
Currency
Purchased |
Currency
Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 680,073,165 | EUR | 575,749,511 | SSB | 10/05/21 | $ | (188,046 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (281,496 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized appreciation |
|
$ | 3,491,052 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
|
|||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 3,772,548 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 281,496 | ||
|
|
|
|||
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
||||
| Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 3,987,483 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 8,111,878 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts: |
||||
|
Average amounts purchased in USD |
$ | 655,712,437 | ||
|
Average amounts sold in USD |
$ | 1,282,605,099 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting as of Period End
The Funds derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:
| Assets | Liabilities | |||||||
|
Derivative Financial Instruments: |
||||||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 3,772,548 | $ | 281,496 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
3,772,548 | 281,496 | ||||||
|
Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (MNA) |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA |
3,772,548 | 281,496 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 18 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF |
The following tables present the Funds derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received and pledged by the Fund:
| Counterparty |
|
Derivative
Assets Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
|
|
Derivatives
Available for Offset |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash
Collateral Received |
|
|
Cash
Collateral Received |
(b) |
|
Net Amount
of Derivative Assets |
(c)(d) |
|||||
|
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. |
$ | 12,248 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 12,248 | ||||||||||
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A |
20,962 | (20,962 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
378,845 | (18,687 | ) | | (360,158 | ) | | |||||||||||||
|
State Street Bank and Trust Co. |
179,466 | (179,466 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
3,181,027 | | | | 3,181,027 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| $ | 3,772,548 | $ | (219,115 | ) | $ | | $ | (360,158 | ) | $ | 3,193,275 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Counterparty |
|
Derivative
Liabilities Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
|
|
Derivatives
Available for Offset |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash
Collateral Pledged |
|
|
Cash
Collateral Pledged |
|
|
Net Amount
of Derivative Liabilities |
(d)(e) |
|||||
|
Bank of America N.A |
$ | 43,486 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 43,486 | ||||||||||
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A |
31,277 | (20,962 | ) | | | 10,315 | ||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
18,687 | (18,687 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
State Street Bank and Trust Co |
188,046 | (179,466 | ) | | | 8,580 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| $ | 281,496 | $ | (219,115 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | 62,381 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (a) |
The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA. |
| (b) |
Excess of collateral received from the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes. |
| (c) |
Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default. |
| (d) |
Net amount may also include forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not required to be collateralized. |
| (e) |
Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default. |
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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Investment Companies |
$ | 744,520,226 | $ | | $ | | $ | 744,520,226 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
1,160,000 | | | 1,160,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 745,680,226 | $ | | $ | | $ | 745,680,226 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
$ | | $ | 3,772,548 | $ | | $ | 3,772,548 | ||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
| (281,496 | ) | | (281,496 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | | $ | 3,491,052 | $ | | $ | 3,491,052 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
19 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Investment Companies |
||||||||
| Exchange-Traded Funds 100.0% | ||||||||
|
iShares MSCI Germany ETF(a) |
1,813,477 | $ | 63,381,021 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investment Companies 100.0%
|
63,381,021 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.0% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency
Shares,
|
30,000 | 30,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.0%
|
30,000 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.0%
|
63,411,021 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.0)% |
(16,649 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 63,394,372 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (b) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net
Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
|
$ | | $ | 30,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 30,000 | 30,000 | $ | 24 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
iShares MSCI Germany ETF |
75,787,255 | 337,652,888 | (360,684,706 | ) | 6,145,419 | 4,480,165 | 63,381,021 | 1,813,477 | 1,871,322 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 6,145,419 | $ | 4,480,165 | $ | 63,411,021 | $ | 1,871,346 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
|
Currency
|
Currency
Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 26,000 | USD | 30,625 | CBA | 09/03/21 | $ | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 40,000 | USD | 46,957 | CITI | 09/03/21 | 274 | ||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 5,283,400 | USD | 6,236,911 | MS | 09/03/21 | 1,579 | ||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 47,550,600 | USD | 56,131,106 | SSB | 09/03/21 | 15,306 | ||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 4,270,000 | USD | 5,015,946 | TDB | 09/03/21 | 25,951 | ||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 4,304,000 | USD | 5,078,746 | UBS | 09/03/21 | 3,296 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 1,652,768 | EUR | 1,396,000 | BSCH | 09/03/21 | 4,410 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 5,441,063 | EUR | 4,585,800 | MS | 09/03/21 | 26,280 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 59,165,372 | EUR | 49,863,200 | UBS | 09/03/21 | 288,307 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 15,363 | EUR | 13,000 | JPM | 10/05/21 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 365,481 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 4,161,000 | USD | 4,928,402 | JPM | 09/03/21 | (15,210 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| 20 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (continued)
|
Currency Purchased
|
Currency
Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 24,000 | USD | 28,476 | MS | 09/03/21 | $ | (138 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 232,000 | USD | 275,239 | RBS | 09/03/21 | (1,299 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| EUR | 11,000 | USD | 13,030 | SSB | 09/03/21 | (42 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 8,336,089 | EUR | 7,101,000 | CBA | 09/03/21 | (48,572 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 74,225 | EUR | 63,000 | CITI | 09/03/21 | (164 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 3,369,093 | EUR | 2,860,000 | SSB | 09/03/21 | (7,915 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 38,680 | EUR | 33,000 | UBS | 09/03/21 | (285 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 6,240,692 | EUR | 5,283,400 | MS | 10/05/21 | (1,766 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| USD | 57,459,997 | EUR | 48,645,600 | SSB | 10/05/21 | (15,892 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (91,283 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized appreciation | $ | 274,198 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
|
|||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 365,481 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 91,283 | ||
|
|
|
|||
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
||||
| Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 202,748 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 903,840 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts: |
||||
|
Average amounts purchased in USD |
$ | 89,729,124 | ||
|
Average amounts sold in USD |
$ | 154,618,401 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
21 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting as of Period End
The Funds derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:
| Assets | Liabilities | |||||||
|
Derivative Financial Instruments: |
||||||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 365,481 | $ | 91,283 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
365,481 | 91,283 | ||||||
|
Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (MNA) |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA |
365,481 | 91,283 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The following tables present the Funds derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received and pledged by the Fund:
| Counterparty |
|
Derivative
Assets Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
|
|
Derivatives
Available for Offset |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash
Collateral Received |
|
|
Cash
Collateral Received |
|
|
Net Amount
of Derivative Assets |
(b)(c) |
|||||
|
Banco Santander Central Hispano |
$ | 4,410 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 4,410 | ||||||||||
|
Citibank N.A |
274 | (164 | ) | | | 110 | ||||||||||||||
|
Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
75 | (75 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. |
3 | (3 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
27,859 | (1,904 | ) | | | 25,955 | ||||||||||||||
|
State Street Bank and Trust Co |
15,306 | (15,306 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
Toronto Dominion Bank |
25,951 | | | | 25,951 | |||||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
291,603 | (285 | ) | | | 291,318 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| $ | 365,481 | $ | (17,737 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | 347,744 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Counterparty |
|
Derivative
Liabilities Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
|
|
Derivatives
Available for Offset |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash
Collateral Pledged |
|
|
Cash
Collateral Pledged |
|
|
Net Amount
of Derivative Liabilities |
(c)(d) |
|||||
|
Citibank N.A |
$ | 164 | $ | (164 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
48,572 | (75 | ) | | | 48,497 | ||||||||||||||
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. |
15,210 | (3 | ) | | | 15,207 | ||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
1,904 | (1,904 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC |
1,299 | | | | 1,299 | |||||||||||||||
|
State Street Bank and Trust Co |
23,849 | (15,306 | ) | | | 8,543 | ||||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
285 | (285 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| $ | 91,283 | $ | (17,737 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | 73,546 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (a) |
The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA. |
| (b) |
Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default. |
| (c) |
Net amount may also include forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not required to be collateralized. |
| (d) |
Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default. |
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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
| 22 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF |
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Investment Companies |
$ | 63,381,021 | $ | | $ | | $ | 63,381,021 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
30,000 | | | 30,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 63,411,021 | $ | | $ | | $ | 63,411,021 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
$ | | $ | 365,481 | $ | | $ | 365,481 | ||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
| (91,283 | ) | | (91,283 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | | $ | 274,198 | $ | | $ | 274,198 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
23 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Investment Companies |
||||||||
| Exchange-Traded Funds 99.8% | ||||||||
|
iShares MSCI Japan ETF(a) |
7,812,678 | $ | 534,387,175 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investment Companies 99.8%
|
534,387,175 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.1% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency
Shares,
|
210,000 | 210,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.1%
|
210,000 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.9%
|
534,597,175 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.1% |
801,233 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 535,398,408 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (b) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $ | 210,000 | (a) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 210,000 | 210,000 | $ | 95 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
iShares MSCI Japan ETF |
247,444,914 | 640,437,539 | (405,086,210 | ) | 31,871,559 | 19,719,373 | 534,387,175 | 7,812,678 | 5,011,836 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 31,871,559 | $ | 19,719,373 | $ | 534,597,175 | $ | 5,011,931 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
|
Currency
Purchased |
Currency
|
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| JPY | 4,963,000 | USD | 44,885 | CITI | 09/03/21 | $ | 228 | |||||||||||||||||
| JPY | 634,998,000 | USD | 5,756,465 | UBS | 09/03/21 | 15,498 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 5,679,821 | JPY | 622,655,000 | JPM | 09/03/21 | 20,052 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 53,466,238 | JPY | 5,866,225,600 | MS | 09/03/21 | 143,804 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 485,504,073 | JPY | 53,272,371,400 | UBS | 09/03/21 | 1,272,361 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 478,652,147 | JPY | 52,569,982,400 | CITI | 10/05/21 | 673,108 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 49,607,848 | JPY | 5,448,479,600 | MS | 10/05/21 | 68,950 | ||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 5,122,817 | JPY | 562,639,000 | SSB | 10/05/21 | 7,167 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,201,168 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| JPY | 52,569,982,400 | USD | 478,521,003 | CITI | 09/03/21 | (673,820 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| JPY | 248,106,000 | USD | 2,260,972 | JPM | 09/03/21 | (5,754 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| JPY | 6,518,132,600 | USD | 59,343,772 | MS | 09/03/21 | (95,678 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| 24 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (continued)
| Currency Purchased |
Currency
Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| USD | 1,946,717 | JPY | 214,930,000 | RBS | 09/03/21 | $ | (6,940 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| JPY | 175,599,000 | USD | 1,597,171 | CBA | 10/05/21 | (583 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (782,775 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized appreciation | $ | 1,418,393 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
|
|||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 2,201,168 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 782,775 | ||
|
|
|
|||
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
||||
| Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 15,043,782 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: | ||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 882,392 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts: |
||||
|
Average amounts purchased in USD |
$ | 404,157,475 | ||
|
Average amounts sold in USD |
$ | 796,005,296 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting as of Period End
The Funds derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:
| Assets | Liabilities | |||||||
|
Derivative Financial Instruments: |
||||||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 2,201,168 | $ | 782,775 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
2,201,168 | 782,775 | ||||||
|
Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (MNA) |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA |
2,201,168 | 782,775 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
25 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF |
The following tables present the Funds derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received and pledged by the Fund:
| Counterparty |
|
Derivative
Assets Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
|
|
Derivatives
Available for Offset |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash
Collateral Received |
|
|
Cash
Collateral Received |
|
|
Net Amount
of Derivative Assets |
(b)(c) |
|||||
|
Citibank N.A |
$ | 673,336 | $ | (673,336 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A |
20,052 | (5,754 | ) | | | 14,298 | ||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
212,754 | (95,678 | ) | | | 117,076 | ||||||||||||||
|
State Street Bank and Trust Co. |
7,167 | | | | 7,167 | |||||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
1,287,859 | | | | 1,287,859 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| $ | 2,201,168 | $ | (774,768 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | 1,426,400 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Counterparty |
|
Derivative
Liabilities Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
|
|
Derivatives
Available for Offset |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash
Collateral Pledged |
|
|
Cash
Collateral Pledged |
|
|
Net Amount
of Derivative Liabilities |
(c)(d) |
|||||
|
Citibank N.A |
$ | 673,820 | $ | (673,336 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | 484 | |||||||||
|
Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
583 | | | | 583 | |||||||||||||||
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A |
5,754 | (5,754 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
95,678 | (95,678 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC |
6,940 | | | | 6,940 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| $ | 782,775 | $ | (774,768 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | 8,007 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (a) |
The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA. |
| (b) |
Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default. |
| (c) |
Net amount may also include forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not required to be collateralized. |
| (d) |
Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default. |
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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Investment Companies |
$ | 534,387,175 | $ | | $ | | $ | 534,387,175 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
210,000 | | | 210,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 534,597,175 | $ | | $ | | $ | 534,597,175 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
$ | | $ | 2,201,168 | $ | | $ | 2,201,168 | ||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
| (782,775 | ) | | (782,775 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | | $ | 1,418,393 | $ | | $ | 1,418,393 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 26 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
27 |
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 28 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
29 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 30 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 25.68 | $ | 26.41 | $ | 26.79 | $ | 24.70 | $ | 23.54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.53 | 0.71 | 0.59 | 0.56 | 0.24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain(b) |
6.80 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 2.10 | 1.38 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase from investment operations |
7.33 | 1.01 | 0.89 | 2.66 | 1.62 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.52 | ) | (1.37 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (0.57 | ) | (0.46 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net realized gain |
| (0.37 | ) | (0.63 | ) | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.52 | ) | (1.74 | ) | (1.27 | ) | (0.57 | ) | (0.46 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 32.49 | $ | 25.68 | $ | 26.41 | $ | 26.79 | $ | 24.70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
28.81 | % | 4.08 | % | 3.84 | % | 10.82 | % | 6.86 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses(e) |
0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses after fees waived(e) |
0.03 | % | 0.03 | % | 0.03 | % | 0.03 | % | 0.03 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.84 | % | 2.75 | % | 2.31 | % | 2.12 | % | 0.98 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 16,570 | $ | 11,556 | $ | 38,290 | $ | 5,357 | $ | 2,470 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(f)(g) |
10 | % | 15 | % | 12 | % | 10 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (b) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested (acquired fund fees and expenses). This ratio does not include these acquired fund fees and expenses. |
| (f) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
| (g) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes the portfolio activity of the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested. See the underlying funds financial highlights for its respective portfolio turnover rates. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
31 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 28.36 | $ | 29.86 | $ | 29.76 | $ | 28.83 | $ | 24.73 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.83 | 0.35 | 0.76 | 0.79 | 0.64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
9.00 | (0.64 | ) | 0.24 | 1.03 | 4.07 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
9.83 | (0.29 | ) | 1.00 | 1.82 | 4.71 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.86 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.89 | ) | (0.61 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net realized gain |
| (0.83 | ) | (0.00 | )(d) | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return of capital |
| (0.00 | )(d) | | | (0.00 | )(d) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.86 | ) | (1.21 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.89 | ) | (0.61 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 37.33 | $ | 28.36 | $ | 29.86 | $ | 29.76 | $ | 28.83 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
35.04 | % | (1.21 | )% | 3.41 | % | 6.36 | % | 19.13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses(f) |
0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses after fees waived(f) |
0.03 | % | 0.03 | % | 0.03 | % | 0.03 | % | 0.03 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.52 | % | 1.18 | % | 2.63 | % | 2.61 | % | 2.32 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 744,670 | $ | 569,970 | $ | 868,987 | $ | 1,660,448 | $ | 1,791,673 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(g)(h) |
14 | % | 10 | % | 5 | % | 11 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds underlying securities. |
| (c) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
| (d) |
Rounds to less than $0.01. |
| (e) |
Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions. |
| (f) |
The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested (acquired fund fees and expenses). This ratio does not include these acquired fund fees and expenses. |
| (g) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes the portfolio activity of the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested. See the underlying funds financial highlights for its respective portfolio turnover rates. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 32 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 28.13 | $ | 26.21 | $ | 27.64 | $ | 26.82 | $ | 24.03 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.85 | 0.21 | 0.55 | 0.53 | 0.74 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
5.31 | 2.06 | (1.25 | ) | 1.02 | 2.62 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
6.16 | 2.27 | (0.70 | ) | 1.55 | 3.36 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.92 | ) | (0.35 | ) | (0.73 | ) | (0.73 | ) | (0.57 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Return of capital |
| (0.00 | )(d) | (0.00 | )(d) | | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.92 | ) | (0.35 | ) | (0.73 | ) | (0.73 | ) | (0.57 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 33.37 | $ | 28.13 | $ | 26.21 | $ | 27.64 | $ | 26.82 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
22.12 | % | 8.71 | % | (2.65 | )% | 5.83 | % | 13.88 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses(f) |
0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total expenses after fees waived(f) |
0.03 | % | 0.02 | % | 0.04 | % | 0.06 | % | 0.05 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.78 | % | 0.77 | % | 2.09 | % | 1.87 | % | 2.75 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 63,394 | $ | 75,957 | $ | 154,620 | $ | 330,346 | $ | 791,051 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(g)(h) |
16 | % | 12 | % | 5 | % | 11 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (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 Funds underlying securities. |
| (c) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
| (d) |
Rounds to less than $0.01. |
| (e) |
Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions. |
| (f) |
The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested (acquired fund fees and expenses). This ratio does not include these acquired fund fees and expenses. |
| (g) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes the portfolio activity of the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested. See the underlying funds financial highlights for its respective portfolio turnover rates. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
33 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 31.50 | $ | 29.13 | $ | 32.36 | $ | 29.56 | $ | 24.73 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.51 | 0.72 | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.52 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
7.06 | 2.35 | (3.04 | ) | 2.81 | 4.78 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
7.57 | 3.07 | (2.59 | ) | 3.27 | 5.30 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.41 | ) | (0.70 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (0.47 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.41 | ) | (0.70 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (0.47 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 38.66 | $ | 31.50 | $ | 29.13 | $ | 32.36 | $ | 29.56 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
24.08 | % | 10.52 | % | (8.06 | )% | 11.07 | % | 21.50 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses(e) |
0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | 0.53 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total expenses after fees waived(e) |
0.00 | %(f) | 0.00 | %(f) | 0.00 | %(f) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(f) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.38 | % | 2.31 | % | 1.47 | % | 1.41 | % | 1.84 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 535,398 | $ | 247,256 | $ | 329,138 | $ | 1,004,834 | $ | 1,198,726 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(g)(h) |
7 | % | 9 | % | 9 | % | 9 | % | 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 Funds 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) |
The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested (acquired fund fees and expenses). This ratio does not include these acquired fund fees and expenses. |
| (f) |
Rounds to less than 0.01%. |
| (g) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes the portfolio activity of the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested. See the underlying funds financial highlights for its respective portfolio turnover rates. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 34 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| 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 |
|||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
Diversified | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
Diversified | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
Diversified | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
Diversified |
Currently each Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing a substantial portion of its assets in an iShares fund (an underlying fund). The financial statements, including the accounting policies, and schedules of investments for the underlying funds are available on iShares.com and should be read in conjunction with the Funds financial statements.
| 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 from the underlying funds, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recognized daily on an accrual basis.
Foreign Currency Translation: Each Funds 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. However, each Fund has elected to treat realized gains (losses) from certain foreign currency contracts as capital gain (loss) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and record cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Funds. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Funds and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Funds tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (NAV) per share.
Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
35 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| 3. |
INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Investment Valuation Policies: Each Funds investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) each day that the Funds 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. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board). If a securitys market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Funds assets and liabilities:
| |
Exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days last traded price or official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the fund is primarily traded. Funds traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day may be valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that days published NAV. |
| |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued based on that days prevailing forward exchange rate for the underlying currencies. |
If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a funds NAV and the prices used by the funds underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the funds performance and the performance of the funds 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 Global Valuation Committees assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments). |
The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
| 4. |
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are entered into to gain or reduce exposure to foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).
A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set exchange rate on a specified date. These contracts help to manage the overall exposure to the currencies in which some of the investments held by the Funds are denominated and in some cases, may be used to obtain exposure to a particular market.The contracts are traded over-the-counter (OTC) and not on an organized exchange.
The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Non-deliverable forward foreign currency exchange contracts are settled with the counterparty in cash without the delivery of foreign currency. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts involves the risk that the value of a contract changes unfavorably due to movements in the value of the referenced foreign currencies, and such value may exceed the amount(s) reflected in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Cash amounts pledged for forward foreign
| 36 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
currency exchange contracts are considered restricted and are included in cash pledged as collateral for OTC derivatives in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. A Funds risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally limited to the aggregate unrealized gain netted against any collateral held by the Fund.
Master Netting Arrangements: In order to define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help mitigate its counterparty risk, a Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (ISDA Master Agreement) or similar agreement with its derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, a Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency, or other events.
For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement, and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by a Fund and the counterparty.
Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Funds and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral and cash received as collateral, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Funds, if any, is noted in the Schedules of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty is subject to a certain minimum transfer amount threshold before a transfer is required, which is determined at the close of business of the Funds. Any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Funds on the next business day. Typically, the counterparty is not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use cash and non-cash collateral it receives. A Fund generally agrees not to use non-cash collateral that it receives but may, absent default or certain other circumstances defined in the underlying ISDA Master Agreement, be permitted to use cash collateral received. In such cases, interest may be paid pursuant to the collateral arrangement with the counterparty. To the extent amounts due to the Funds from the counterparty are not fully collateralized, each Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. Likewise, to the extent the Funds have delivered collateral to a counterparty and stand ready to perform under the terms of their agreement with such counterparty, each Fund bears the risk of loss from a counterparty in the amount of the value of the collateral in the event the counterparty fails to return such collateral. Based on the terms of agreements, collateral may not be required for all derivative contracts.
For financial reporting purposes, each Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
| 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 Funds 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 each Fund, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:
| iShares ETF | Investment Advisory Fee | |
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
0.62% | |
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
0.62 | |
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
0.53 | |
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
0.53 |
Expense Waivers: A fund may incur its pro rata share of fees and expenses attributable to its investments in other investment companies (acquired fund fees and expenses). The total of the investment advisory fee and acquired fund fees and expenses is a funds total annual operating expenses. Total expenses as shown in the Statement of Operations does not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
For the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF, BFA has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fee for the Fund through December 31, 2025 so that the Funds total annual operating expenses after fee waiver is equal to the acquired fund fees and expenses attributable to the Funds investment in the iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC), after taking into account any fee waivers by EWC, plus 0.03%.
For the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF, BFA has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fee for the Fund through December 31, 2025 so that the Funds total annual operating expenses after fee waiver is equal to the acquired fund fees and expenses attributable to the Funds investment in the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU), after taking into account any fee waivers by EZU, plus 0.03%.
For the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF, BFA has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fee for the Fund through December 31, 2025 in an amount equal to the acquired fund fees and expenses, if any, attributable to the Funds investments in other iShares funds, provided that the waiver be no greater than the Funds investment advisory fee of 0.53%.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
37 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
For the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF, BFA has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fee for the Fund through December 31, 2025 in an amount equal to the acquired fund fees and expenses, if any, attributable to the Funds investments in other iShares funds, provided that the waiver be no greater than the Funds investment advisory fee of 0.53%. BFA has also contractually agreed to waive an additional portion of its investment advisory fee for the Fund through December 31, 2025 such that the Funds total annual operating expenses after fee waiver will be equal to the greater of the acquired fund fees and expenses or 0.48%.
These amounts are included in investment advisory fees waived in the Statements of Operations. For the year ended August 31, 2021, the amounts waived in investment advisory fees pursuant to this arrangement were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Amounts waived | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
$ | 69,635 | ||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
3,531,566 | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
331,772 | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
1,913,542 | |||
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.
Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.
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.
| 6. |
PURCHASES AND SALES |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
$ | 1,254,975 | $ | 1,471,791 | ||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
93,544,398 | 84,213,555 | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
12,279,046 | 10,365,951 | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
40,495,427 | 25,217,092 | ||||||
For the year ended August 31, 2021, in-kind transactions were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
In-kind
Purchases |
In-kind
Sales |
||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
$ | 6,041,420 | $ | 3,834,711 | ||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
550,661,462 | 531,185,118 | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
325,373,842 | 350,318,755 | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
599,942,113 | 379,869,118 | ||||||
| 7. |
INCOME TAX INFORMATION |
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trusts other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Funds policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of August 31, 2021, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the 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 August 31, 2021, the following permanent differences attributable to realized gains (losses) from in-kind redemptions and distributions paid in excess of taxable income were reclassified to the following accounts:
| iShares ETF | Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated
Earnings (Loss) |
||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
$ | 582,909 | $ | (582,909 | ) | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
28,686,839 | (28,686,839 | ) | |||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
5,966,456 | (5,966,456 | ) | |||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
32,434,592 | (32,434,592 | ) | |||||
| 38 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The tax character of distributions was as follows:
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 217,525 | $ | 1,199,794 | ||||
|
Long-term capital gains |
| 311,447 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 217,525 | $ | 1,511,241 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 15,122,753 | $ | 16,858,976 | ||||
|
Long-term capital gains |
| 17,009,885 | ||||||
|
Return of capital |
| 28,592 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 15,122,753 | $ | 33,897,453 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 1,854,347 | $ | 966,557 | ||||
|
Return of capital |
| 1,677 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 1,854,347 | $ | 968,234 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 5,002,254 | $ | 6,967,089 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
As of August 31, 2021, 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 | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
$ | | $ | (258,109 | ) | $ | 2,220,700 | $ | 1,962,591 | |||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
| (35,252,249 | ) | 65,571,162 | 30,318,913 | |||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
| (43,562,482 | ) | (546,247 | ) | (44,108,729 | ) | |||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
6 | (52,181,274 | ) | 10,176,353 | (42,004,915 | ) |
| (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 and the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains(losses) on certain foreign currency contracts. |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds utilized the following amounts of their respective capital loss carryforwards:
| iShares ETF | Utilized | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
$ | 12,077,578 | ||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
1,024,564 | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
15,883,648 | |||
As of August 31, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Tax Cost |
Gross Unrealized
Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized
Depreciation |
Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
$ | 14,786,662 | $ | 2,253,452 | $ | (32,752 | ) | $ | 2,220,700 | |||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
680,109,064 | 66,134,154 | (562,992 | ) | 65,571,162 | |||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
63,957,268 | 365,481 | (911,728 | ) | (546,247 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
524,420,822 | 11,660,427 | (1,484,074 | ) | 10,176,353 | |||||||||||
| 8. |
LINE OF CREDIT |
Effective August 13, 2021, the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF and iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), are parties to a $800 million credit agreement (Syndicated Credit Agreement) with a group of lenders, which expires on August 12, 2022. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
39 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.
During the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds did not borrow under the Syndicated Credit Agreement.
| 9. |
PRINCIPAL RISKS |
In the normal course of business, each Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including, among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate or price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Funds and their investments. Each Funds prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.
BFA uses a passive or index approach to try to achieve each Funds 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: An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a funds investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a funds 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 Funds portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.
LIBORTransition Risk: The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
| 10. |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
Capital shares are issued and redeemed by each Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (Creation Units) at NAV. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of each Fund are not redeemable.
Transactions in capital shares were as follows:
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
190,000 | $ | 6,100,407 | 350,000 | $ | 9,479,812 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(130,000 | ) | (3,828,268 | ) | (1,350,000 | ) | (34,101,197 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
60,000 | $ | 2,272,139 | (1,000,000 | ) | $ | (24,621,385 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
16,600,000 | $ | 546,988,458 | 19,500,000 | $ | 558,814,358 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(16,750,000 | ) | (531,517,446 | ) | (28,500,000 | ) | (769,020,192 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
(150,000 | ) | $ | 15,471,012 | (9,000,000 | ) | $ | (210,205,834 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 40 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
10,850,000 | $ | 325,501,335 | 6,550,000 | $ | 173,708,899 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(11,650,000 | ) | (349,791,460 | ) | (9,750,000 | ) | (258,118,785 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net decrease |
(800,000 | ) | $ | (24,290,125 | ) | (3,200,000 | ) | $ | (84,409,886 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
16,600,000 | $ | 599,727,410 | 16,550,000 | $ | 516,879,826 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(10,600,000 | ) | (379,102,463 | ) | (20,000,000 | ) | (611,238,530 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
6,000,000 | $ | 220,624,947 | (3,450,000 | ) | $ | (94,358,704 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
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 Trusts administrator, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in shares sold in the table above.
From time to time, settlement of securities related to in-kind contributions or in-kind redemptions may be delayed. In such cases, securities related to in-kind transactions are reflected as a receivable or a payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
| 11. |
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
41 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust and Shareholders of iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF and iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF
Opinions on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF and iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (four of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the Funds) as of August 31, 2021, the related statements of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended August 31, 2021 (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 August 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021 and each of the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended August 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
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 August 31, 2021 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
October 22, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.
| 42 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Important Tax Information (unaudited)
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Dividend
Income |
|||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
$ | 191,190 | ||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
11,923,601 | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
1,827,104 | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
5,007,633 | |||
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 August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Foreign Source
Income Earned |
Foreign
Taxes Paid |
||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada |
$ | 265,195 | $ | 45,137 | ||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
15,205,602 | | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Germany |
2,089,514 | 215,463 | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Japan |
5,900,372 | 888,506 | ||||||
|
I M P O R T A N T T A X I N F O R M A T I O N |
43 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (each the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares
| 44 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
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 BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
|
B O A R D R E V I E W A N D A P P R O V A L O F I N V E S T M E N T A D V I S O R Y C O N T R A C T |
45 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (Rule 18f-4). The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.
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 Funds investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
August 31, 2021
|
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Canada(a) |
$ | 0.476460 | $ | | $ | 0.042554 | $ | 0.519014 | 92 | % | | % | 8 | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone |
0.859440 | | | 0.859440 | 100 | | | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholders investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Funds net asset value per share. |
Premium/Discount Information
Information on the Funds net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads can be found at iShares.com.
| 46 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Trustee and Officer Information
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 Fund is 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 374 funds as of August 31, 2021. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Charles Park, 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. Park is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated Cecilia H. Herbert 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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
Robert S.
(64) |
Trustee
(since 2009). |
President, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2006); Vice Chairman of BlackRock, Inc. and Head of BlackRocks 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 Childrens 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) (51) |
Trustee
(since 2019). |
Senior Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Global Head of BlackRocks ETF and Index Investments Business (since 2019); Head of BlackRocks 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. |
|
T R U S T E E A N D O F F I C E R I N F O R M A T I O N |
47 |
Trustee and Officer Information (continued)
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
John E.
Kerrigan (66) |
Trustee (since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs (since 2019). | Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011). | |||
|
Drew E.
Lawton (62) |
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). | |||
|
John E.
Martinez (60) |
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 (57) |
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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years |
||
|
Armando
Senra (50) |
President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007); Head of U.S., Canada and Latam iShares, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2019); Head of Latin America Region, BlackRock, Inc. (2006-2019); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (1994-2006). | ||
|
Trent
Walker (47) |
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. | ||
|
Charles
Park (54) |
Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006). | Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex (since 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of BFA (since 2006). | ||
|
Deepa Damre
Smith (46) |
Secretary (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2013). | ||
|
Scott
Radell (52) |
Executive Vice President (since 2012). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Head of Portfolio Solutions, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
|
Alan
Mason (60) |
Executive Vice President (since 2016). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
|
Marybeth
Leithead (58) |
Executive Vice President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2017); Chief Operating Officer of Americas iShares (since 2017); Portfolio Manager, Municipal Institutional & Wealth Management (2009-2016). | ||
| 48 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
| |
Go to icsdelivery.com. |
| |
If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor. |
Householding
Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The 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 SECs 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 Companys policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.
|
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N |
49 |
Glossary of Terms Used in this Report
| Counterparty Abbreviations | ||
| BOA | Bank of America N.A. | |
| BSCH | Banco Santander Central Hispano | |
| CBA | Commonwealth Bank of Australia | |
| CITI | Citibank N.A. | |
| DB | Deutsche Bank AG London | |
| JPM | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | |
| Currency Abbreviations | ||
| CAD | Canadian Dollar | |
| EUR | Euro | |
| JPY | Japanese Yen | |
| USD | United States Dollar | |
| Counterparty Abbreviations (continued) | ||
| MS | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | |
| RBS | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | |
| SSB | State Street Bank and Trust Co. | |
| TDB | Toronto Dominion Bank | |
| UBS | UBS AG | |
| 50 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
iS-AR-801-0821
|
|
|
|
|
AUGUST 31, 2021 |
|
2021 Annual Report
|
||
iShares Trust
| · |
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF | HEWU | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF | EWU | NYSE Arca |
| · |
iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF | EWUS | Cboe BZX |
Dear Shareholder,
The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The United States, along with most of the world, began the reporting period emerging from a severe recession, prompted by pandemic-related restrictions that disrupted many aspects of daily life. However, easing restrictions and robust government intervention led to a strong rebound, and the economy grew at a significant pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.
Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets rebounded substantially.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.
The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2023 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2022.
Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.
Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and healthcare, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries and Asian fixed income offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.
In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
| Total Returns as of August 31, 2021 | ||||
| 6-Month | 12-Month | |||
|
U.S. large cap equities (S&P 500® Index) |
19.52% | 31.17% | ||
|
U.S. small cap equities (Russell 2000® Index) |
3.81 | 47.08 | ||
|
International equities (MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Index) |
10.31 | 26.12 | ||
|
Emerging market equities (MSCI Emerging Markets Index) |
(0.98) | 21.12 | ||
|
3-month Treasury bills (ICE BofA 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index) |
0.02 | 0.08 | ||
|
U.S. Treasury securities (ICE BofA 10-Year U.S. Treasury Index) |
2.36 | (4.12) | ||
|
U.S. investment grade bonds (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index) |
1.49 | (0.08) | ||
|
Tax-exempt municipal bonds (S&P Municipal Bond Index) |
2.50 | 3.44 | ||
|
U.S. high yield bonds (Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index) |
3.82 | 10.14 | ||
| Past performance is not an indication of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index. | ||||
| 2 |
T H I S P A G E I S N O T P A R T O F Y O U R F U N D R E P O R T |
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| 4 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| 11 | ||||
| 11 | ||||
| 12 | ||||
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Financial Statements |
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| 23 | ||||
| 24 | ||||
| 25 | ||||
| 27 | ||||
| 30 | ||||
| 39 | ||||
| 40 | ||||
| 41 | ||||
| 45 | ||||
| 47 | ||||
| 49 | ||||
| 50 | ||||
iShares Trust
Global Market Overview
Global equity markets advanced significantly during the 12 months ended August 31, 2021 (reporting period). The MSCI ACWI, a broad global equity index that includes both developed and emerging markets, returned 28.64% in U.S. dollar terms for the reporting period. Stocks continued to recover from the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nearing all-time highs by the end of the reporting period. Reopening economies led to a substantial global economic expansion, and the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines bolstered investors optimism. Nonetheless, vaccination rates varied considerably across countries, and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to increased cases and renewed restrictions toward the end of the reporting period. Inflation also rose in many parts of the world amid supply chain constraints and elevated consumer spending.
Equity markets in the U.S. advanced strongly, helped by fiscal and monetary stimulus and an ongoing mass vaccination program. Congress passed two fiscal stimulus bills during the reporting period, providing significant relief in the form of direct payments to individuals, tax credits, aid to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners and renters. Personal incomes rose significantly following the stimulus payments, and consumer spending recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Increased consumer spending and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions helped the U.S. economy continue to grow following a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020, as activity recovered from the pandemic-induced recession in the first half of 2020. The economy grew at a brisk pace for the rest of the reporting period, finally exceeding pre-pandemic output levels in the second quarter of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve Banks (the Fed) action also played a notable role in the recovery. Monetary policy remained accommodative, with short-term interest rates maintained near zero to encourage lending and stimulate economic activity. The Fed further acted to stabilize bond markets by continuing an unlimited, open-ended, bond-buying program for U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Stocks in Europe also posted strong gains, despite a recovery that trailed other major economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) provided monetary stimulus by maintaining ultra-low interest rates and continuing a large bond-buying program. Growth resumed with a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020 as restrictions eased, and Eurozone countries enacted a deal for a collective 750 billion of stimulus spending. However, a new wave of coronavirus cases beginning in October 2020 led to renewed restrictions, weakening the fragile recovery. Consequently, the Eurozone economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, even as much of the world was returning to growth. Although the initial vaccine rollout trailed in many European countries, the pace of vaccinations accelerated late in the reporting period, and economic growth resumed in the second quarter of 2021.
Asia-Pacific regional stocks also posted a solid advance amid a sharp rebound in economic activity. Continued economic growth in China helped the regional economy recover, as many Asia-Pacific countries rely on China as a major trading partner. Japanese and Australian stocks benefited from a sharp rise in exports amid resurgent global trade. Emerging market stocks advanced overall, aided by economic recovery and rising prices for many commodities. However, investor concerns about increased government regulatory activity weighed on Chinese stocks late in the reporting period. Relatively slow vaccination rollouts in parts of Asia also prompted concerns, particularly as the Delta variant spread.
| 4 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization United Kingdom equities while mitigating exposure to fluctuations between the value of the British pound and the U.S. dollar, as represented by the MSCI United Kingdom 100% Hedged to USD 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. The Fund currently seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing a substantial portion of its assets in one underlying fund, the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF.
Performance
| Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Year | 5 Years |
|
Since
Inception |
|
1 Year | 5 Years |
|
Since
Inception |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
24.59 | % | 4.92 | % | 5.21 | % | 24.59 | % | 27.12 | % | 36.86 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
24.45 | 4.91 | 5.22 | 24.45 | 27.06 | 36.91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
24.63 | 5.73 | 5.77 | 24.63 | 32.13 | 41.35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 6/29/15. The first day of secondary market trading was 7/1/15.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 11 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a)(b) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio (a) |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,120.10 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,025.20 | $ | 0.00 | 0.00% | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Annualized expense ratio and expenses paid during the period do not include fees and expenses of the underlying fund in which the Fund invests. |
| (b) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 11 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in the U.K. advanced strongly for the reporting period, recovering amid an easing of coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions, which had weighed on the U.K.s economy. A post-Brexit trade agreement between the U.K. and the E.U. also contributed to an improved environment for the economy and markets. Economic growth returned to pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter of 2021, ending five sequential quarters of contraction.
The financials sector contributed the most to the Indexs return in U.S. dollar terms, as economic recoveries in the U.K. and other key geographical regions drove profit growth for U.K. banks. Lower-than-expected losses on loans during the pandemic, as well as a strong housing market and a subsequent increase in mortgage lending, contributed to a supportive environment for banks. The reinstatement of dividend payments, which had been reduced or suspended amid pandemic-related uncertainty, also helped the industry.
The materials sector contributed meaningfully to the Indexs performance. Global economic expansion and robust demand for raw materials drove commodities prices higher. Metals and mining companies were particularly strong, benefiting from rising prices for copper, iron ore, and platinum. Strong profit growth and a subsequent increase in dividend payments by some metals and mining companies also supported the industrys contribution.
The industrials sector also contributed, as the reopening of economies in Europe, the U.S., and China led to a rapid acceleration in industrial output. Trading companies and distributors advanced, as an increase in construction activity led to strong demand in the industrial equipment rental industry. The energy sector was another contributor to the Indexs return. Rising global demand for oil and supply constraints set by oil-producing nations drove the price of the commodity higher, benefiting integrated oil and gas producers.
In terms of currency performance during the reporting period, the British pound appreciated by approximately 3% relative to the U.S. dollar. Solid economic growth and resolution of trade negotiations with the E.U. supported the British pound.
The British pounds positive performance meant hedging activity detracted from the Indexs return. A fully hedged investor seeks to bypass the currency fluctuations both on the upside and on the downside related to holding foreign-currency-denominated securities. The Indexs hedging activity offset the positive impact of the British pounds performance relative to the U.S. dollar, resulting in an Index return that was relatively close to the return of British equities measured in British pounds.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY INVESTMENT TYPE
|
Investment Type |
|
Percent of
Net Assets |
|
|
|
Investment Companies |
99.8 | % | ||
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, net cumulative appreciation | 1.1 | |||
|
Other assets less liabilities |
(0.9 | ) | ||
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR (of the UNDERLYING FUND)
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investment(a) |
|
|
|
Consumer Staples |
19.7 | % | ||
|
Financials |
17.8 | |||
|
Health Care |
12.3 | |||
|
Materials |
12.1 | |||
|
Industrials |
11.5 | |||
|
Energy |
9.5 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
6.3 | |||
|
Communication Services |
4.5 | |||
|
Utilities |
3.6 | |||
|
Real Estate |
1.4 | |||
|
Information Technology |
1.3 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 6 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI United Kingdom ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.K. equities, as represented by the MSCI United Kingdom 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 |
26.46 | % | 4.89 | % | 4.09 | % | 26.46 | % | 26.94 | % | 49.35 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
27.45 | 4.72 | 4.10 | 27.45 | 25.94 | 49.40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
27.24 | 5.46 | 4.65 | 27.24 | 30.44 | 57.55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 11 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,104.10 | $ | 2.60 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,022.70 | $ | 2.50 | 0.49% | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 11 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI United Kingdom ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Stocks in the U.K. advanced strongly for the reporting period, recovering amid an easing of coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions, which had weighed on the U.K.s economy. A post-Brexit trade agreement between the U.K. and the E.U. also contributed to an improved environment for the economy and markets. Economic growth returned to pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter of 2021, ending five sequential quarters of contraction.
The financials sector contributed the most to the Indexs return, as economic recoveries in the U.K. and other key geographical regions drove profit growth for U.K. banks. Lower-than-expected losses on loans during the pandemic, as well as a strong housing market and a subsequent increase in mortgage lending, contributed to a supportive environment for banks. The reinstatement of dividend payments, which had been reduced or suspended amid pandemic-related uncertainty, also helped the industry.
The materials sector contributed meaningfully to the Indexs performance. Global economic expansion and robust demand for raw materials drove commodities prices higher. Metals and mining companies were particularly strong, benefiting from rising prices for copper, iron ore, and platinum. Strong profit growth and a subsequent increase in dividend payments by some metals and mining companies also supported the industrys contribution.
The industrials sector also contributed, as the reopening of economies in Europe, the U.S., and China led to a rapid acceleration in industrial output. Trading companies and distributors advanced, as an increase in construction activity led to strong demand in the industrial equipment rental industry. The energy sector was another contributor to the Indexs return. Rising global demand for oil and supply constraints set by oil-producing nations drove the price of the commodity higher, benefiting integrated oil and gas producers.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Consumer Staples |
19.7 | % | ||
|
Financials |
17.8 | |||
|
Health Care |
12.3 | |||
|
Materials |
12.1 | |||
|
Industrials |
11.5 | |||
|
Energy |
9.5 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
6.3 | |||
|
Communication Services |
4.5 | |||
|
Utilities |
3.6 | |||
|
Real Estate |
1.4 | |||
|
Information Technology |
1.3 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
AstraZeneca PLC |
7.3 | % | ||
|
Unilever PLC |
5.9 | |||
|
Diageo PLC |
4.5 | |||
|
HSBC Holdings PLC |
4.4 | |||
|
GlaxoSmithKline PLC |
4.1 | |||
|
Rio Tinto PLC |
3.4 | |||
|
BP PLC |
3.3 | |||
|
British American Tobacco PLC |
3.3 | |||
|
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A |
3.3 | |||
|
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B |
2.9 | |||
| 8 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of small-capitalization U.K. equities, as represented by the MSCI United Kingdom Small Cap 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 |
|
Since
Inception |
|
1 Year | 5 Years |
|
Since
Inception |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
42.88 | % | 9.78 | % | 10.22 | % | 42.88 | % | 59.41 | % | 154.47 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
43.78 | 9.61 | 10.20 | 43.78 | 58.24 | 154.08 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
43.77 | 10.46 | 10.89 | 43.77 | 64.43 | 169.85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 1/25/12. The first day of secondary market trading was 1/26/12.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 11 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,138.70 | $ | 3.18 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,022.20 | $ | 3.01 | 0.59% | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 11 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
9 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Small-capitalization stocks in the U.K. advanced strongly for the reporting period, recovering following an easing of pandemic-related restrictions that led to a record 9.9% contraction in the U.K.s economy in 2020. A post-Brexit trade agreement between the U.K. and the E.U. also contributed to an improved environment for the economy and markets. Economic growth rebounded in the second quarter of 2021, ending five sequential quarters of contraction.
The industrials sector contributed the most to the Indexs return, as the lifting of social distancing mandates and reopening of economies in Europe, the U.S., and China led to a rapid acceleration in industrial output. Trading companies and distributors were particularly strong. Despite significant cost inflation stemming from Brexit- and pandemic-related business disruptions, trading companies and distributors that were able to pass price increases along to customers and expand market share posted revenue increases.
The consumer discretionary sector also contributed significantly to the Indexs return, as rising COVID-19 vaccination rates and greater consumer confidence led to a surge in household spending. Specialty retail companies benefited from an increase in interests and activities during the pandemic, such as pet ownership and exercise, and from store reopenings.
In the financials sector, the capital markets industry was another contributor to the Indexs return. Asset management and custody bank stocks led the advance, as low interest rates, ongoing fiscal and monetary stimulus, and improving COVID-19 vaccination numbers bolstered investor sentiment. Rising markets and increases in assets under management led to strong profit growth for some asset management companies.
The real estate sector also bolstered the Indexs performance. Rising business confidence and an improving economy in London contributed to higher property and leasing activity, benefiting office real estate investment trusts.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Industrials |
21.9 | % | ||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
18.3 | |||
|
Financials |
14.2 | |||
|
Real Estate |
11.1 | |||
|
Information Technology |
8.4 | |||
|
Health Care |
6.7 | |||
|
Communication Services |
6.4 | |||
|
Materials |
5.8 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
3.5 | |||
|
Utilities |
2.2 | |||
|
Energy |
1.5 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Meggitt PLC |
1.5 | % | ||
|
Intermediate Capital Group PLC |
1.5 | |||
|
DS Smith PLC |
1.4 | |||
|
Rightmove PLC |
1.4 | |||
|
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC |
1.3 | |||
|
Howden Joinery Group PLC |
1.3 | |||
|
B&M European Value Retail SA |
1.2 | |||
|
Electrocomponents PLC |
1.2 | |||
|
IMI PLC |
1.2 | |||
|
Spectris PLC |
1.1 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 10 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 Funds investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or NAV is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such funds NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the funds 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.
As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled Expenses Paid During the Period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Funds actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
A B O U T F U N D P E R F O R M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R E X P E N S E S |
11 |
|
August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Investment Companies |
||||||||
| Exchange-Traded Funds 99.8% | ||||||||
|
iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF(a) |
250,021 | $ | 8,253,193 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investment Companies 99.8%
|
8,253,193 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.8%
|
8,253,193 | |||||||
| Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.2% | 12,990 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net Assets 100.0% | $ 8,266,183 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at 08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds from Sales |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at 08/31/21 |
Shares Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares(a) |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | | $ | 23 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
|
iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF |
10,400,203 | 2,501,747 | (6,668,574 | ) | (687,283 | ) | 2,707,100 | 8,253,193 | 250,021 | 243,887 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (687,283 | ) | $ | 2,707,100 | $ | 8,253,193 | $ | 243,910 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
As of period end, the entity is no longer held. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
| Currency Purchased | Currency Sold | Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
|
USD |
8,225,879 | GBP | 5,916,000 | MS | 09/03/21 | $ | 92,249 | |||||||||||||
|
USD |
8,322,895 | GBP | 6,047,000 | MS | 10/05/21 | 8,439 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| 100,688 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
GBP |
5,916,000 | USD | 8,142,744 | MS | 09/03/21 | (9,113 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
GBP |
18,000 | USD | 24,762 | MS | 10/05/21 | (13 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| (9,126 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized appreciation | $ | 91,562 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||||
|
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 100,688 | ||||
|
|
|
|||||
| 12 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure (continued)
|
|
||||||
|
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
||||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 9,126 | ||||
|
|
|
|||||
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
|
Foreign
Currency Exchange Contracts |
|
||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | (525,874) | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 319,164 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts: |
||||
|
Average amounts purchased in USD |
$ | 10,099,092 | ||
|
Average amounts sold in USD |
$ | 18,676,100 | ||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting as of Period End
The Funds derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:
|
|
||||||||
|
|
Assets |
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|||
|
|
||||||||
|
Derivative Financial Instruments: |
||||||||
|
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 100,688 | $ 9,126 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
100,688 | 9,126 | ||||||
|
Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (MNA) |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA |
100,688 | 9,126 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The following tables present the Funds derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received and pledged by the Fund:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Derivative
Assets Subject to an MNA by |
|
|
Derivatives
Available |
|
|
Non-Cash
Collateral |
|
|
Cash Collateral |
|
|
Net Amount
of Derivative |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Counterparty |
Counterparty | for Offset | (a) | Received | Received | Assets | (b) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
$ | 100,688 | $ | (9,126 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | 91,562 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Derivative
Liabilities Subject to an MNA by |
|
|
Derivatives
Available |
|
|
Non-Cash
Collateral |
|
|
Cash Collateral |
|
|
Net Amount
of Derivative |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Counterparty |
Counterparty | for Offset | (a) | Pledged | Pledged | Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
$ | 9,126 | $ | (9,126 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA. |
| (b) |
Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default. |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
13 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom 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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Investment Companies |
$ | 8,253,193 | $ | | $ | | $ | 8,253,193 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
$ | | $ | 100,688 | $ | | $ | 100,688 | ||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
| (9,126 | ) | | (9,126 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | | $ | 91,562 | $ | | $ | 91,562 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 14 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI United Kingdom ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 0.0% | ||||||||
|
NMC Health PLC(b) |
122,262 | $ | 2 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Compass Group PLC(a) |
2,541,677 | 52,510,923 | ||||||
|
Entain PLC(a) |
833,786 | 22,158,552 | ||||||
|
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC(a) |
260,232 | 16,627,283 | ||||||
|
Whitbread PLC(a) |
287,262 | 12,685,304 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 103,982,062 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Barratt Developments PLC |
1,450,844 | 14,757,408 | ||||||
|
Berkeley Group Holdings PLC |
173,208 | 11,505,273 | ||||||
|
Persimmon PLC |
454,585 | 18,397,711 | ||||||
|
Taylor Wimpey PLC |
5,186,019 | 13,054,693 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 57,715,085 | ||||||||
| Household Products 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC |
1,015,507 | 77,525,022 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 1.0% | ||||||||
|
DCC PLC |
140,299 | 11,925,996 | ||||||
|
Melrose Industries PLC |
6,258,432 | 14,451,211 | ||||||
|
Smiths Group PLC |
564,707 | 11,207,733 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 37,584,940 | ||||||||
| Insurance 4.7% | ||||||||
|
Admiral Group PLC |
274,638 | 13,645,705 | ||||||
|
Aviva PLC |
5,597,426 | 31,111,129 | ||||||
|
Direct Line Insurance Group PLC |
1,924,545 | 8,176,019 | ||||||
|
Legal & General Group PLC |
8,502,073 | 31,582,072 | ||||||
|
Phoenix Group Holdings PLC |
922,676 | 7,905,864 | ||||||
|
Prudential PLC |
3,722,979 | 77,566,866 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 169,987,655 | ||||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Auto Trader Group PLC(c) |
1,375,888 | 11,898,151 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Machinery 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC |
105,058 | 23,297,186 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Media 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Informa PLC(a) |
2,140,187 | 15,640,600 | ||||||
|
Pearson PLC |
1,072,878 | 11,314,145 | ||||||
|
WPP PLC |
1,715,638 | 23,262,074 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 50,216,819 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 10.4% | ||||||||
|
Anglo American PLC |
1,844,953 | 77,922,514 | ||||||
|
Antofagasta PLC |
560,730 | 11,232,459 | ||||||
|
BHP Group PLC |
3,009,100 | 93,570,772 | ||||||
|
Evraz PLC |
732,134 | 5,955,337 | ||||||
|
Glencore PLC |
14,237,981 | 64,181,005 | ||||||
|
Rio Tinto PLC |
1,600,379 | 118,402,795 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 371,264,882 | ||||||||
| Multi-Utilities 1.8% | ||||||||
|
National Grid PLC |
5,064,199 | 65,501,445 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Next PLC |
189,392 | 20,596,564 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 9.4% | ||||||||
|
BP PLC |
28,840,232 | 117,330,552 | ||||||
|
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A |
5,843,093 | 115,806,836 | ||||||
|
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B |
5,280,253 | 103,902,745 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 337,040,133 | ||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
15 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI United Kingdom ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Mondi PLC |
691,774 | $ | 19,082,537 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Personal Products 5.8% | ||||||||
|
Unilever PLC |
3,732,679 | 207,835,170 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 11.5% | ||||||||
|
AstraZeneca PLC |
2,207,014 | 258,095,767 | ||||||
|
GlaxoSmithKline PLC |
7,172,820 | 144,285,609 | ||||||
|
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC |
246,291 | 8,596,719 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 410,978,095 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 4.4% | ||||||||
|
Experian PLC |
1,315,359 | 58,020,625 | ||||||
|
Intertek Group PLC |
229,937 | 16,672,022 | ||||||
|
RELX PLC |
2,756,571 | 82,727,919 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 157,420,566 | ||||||||
| Software 0.7% | ||||||||
|
AVEVA Group PLC |
171,633 | 9,766,107 | ||||||
|
Sage Group PLC (The) |
1,530,788 | 15,633,210 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 25,399,317 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 0.7% | ||||||||
|
JD Sports Fashion PLC |
734,894 | 10,204,918 | ||||||
|
Kingfisher PLC |
3,007,287 | 14,480,149 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 24,685,067 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Burberry Group PLC |
576,729 | 14,767,553 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Tobacco 4.1% | ||||||||
|
British American Tobacco PLC |
3,108,010 | 116,591,888 | ||||||
|
Imperial Brands PLC |
1,348,407 | 28,595,387 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 145,187,275 | ||||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Ashtead Group PLC |
639,438 | 49,986,711 | ||||||
|
Bunzl PLC |
480,142 | 17,397,144 | ||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (c) |
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. |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares(a) |
$ | 1,317,900 | $ | | $ | (1,315,614 | )(b) | $ | (2,606 | ) | $ | 320 | $ | | | $ | 1,680 | (c) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
800,000 | 620,000 | (b) | | | | 1,420,000 | 1,420,000 | 566 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (2,606 | ) | $ | 320 | $ | 1,420,000 | $ | 2,246 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
As of period end, the entity is no longer held. |
| (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. |
| 16 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI United Kingdom ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
FTSE 100 Index |
446 | 09/17/21 | $ | 43,522 | $ | 91,300 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 91,300 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 2,891,806 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 682,251 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$30,018,240 | |||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 8,176,019 | $ | 3,526,776,999 | $ | 2 | $ | 3,534,953,020 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
1,420,000 | | | 1,420,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 9,596,019 | $ | 3,526,776,999 | $ | 2 | $ | 3,536,373,020 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 91,300 | $ | | $ 91,300 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
17 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
| Aerospace & Defense 3.3% | ||||||||
|
Avon Protection PLC |
6,769 | $ | 174,866 | |||||
|
Babcock International Group PLC(a) |
56,506 | 282,174 | ||||||
|
Chemring Group PLC |
63,101 | 288,458 | ||||||
|
Meggitt PLC(a) |
173,411 | 1,979,284 | ||||||
|
QinetiQ Group PLC |
127,965 | 607,947 | ||||||
|
Senior PLC(a) |
94,196 | 230,002 | ||||||
|
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC |
15,706 | 692,482 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,255,213 | ||||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Royal Mail PLC |
177,957 | 1,212,020 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Airlines 0.8% | ||||||||
|
easyJet PLC(a) |
40,347 | 441,743 | ||||||
|
JET2 PLC(a) |
35,632 | 565,329 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,007,072 | ||||||||
| Auto Components 0.2% | ||||||||
|
AB Dynamics PLC |
3,417 | 84,562 | ||||||
|
TI Fluid Systems PLC(b) |
52,578 | 220,836 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 305,398 | ||||||||
| Automobiles 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC(a)(b) |
15,284 | 421,325 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Bank of Georgia Group PLC(a) |
8,839 | 202,943 | ||||||
|
Close Brothers Group PLC |
33,350 | 707,485 | ||||||
|
TBC Bank Group PLC |
9,286 | 181,289 | ||||||
|
Virgin Money UK PLC(a) |
286,502 | 837,135 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,928,852 | ||||||||
| Beverages 1.5% | ||||||||
|
AG Barr PLC(a) |
19,556 | 149,758 | ||||||
|
Britvic PLC |
59,078 | 791,928 | ||||||
|
C&C Group PLC(a) |
85,979 | 291,738 | ||||||
|
Fevertree Drinks PLC |
23,349 | 713,293 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,946,717 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Abcam PLC(a) |
47,815 | 1,015,002 | ||||||
|
Avacta Group PLC(a)(c) |
55,094 | 98,470 | ||||||
|
Genus PLC |
14,469 | 1,180,694 | ||||||
|
Oxford Biomedica PLC(a) |
12,907 | 262,984 | ||||||
|
Silence Therapeutics PLC(a) |
8,777 | 69,868 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,627,018 | ||||||||
| Building Products 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Genuit Group PLC |
54,633 | 595,842 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Capital Markets 8.5% | ||||||||
|
AJ Bell PLC |
68,507 | 405,380 | ||||||
|
Alpha FX Group PLC |
6,355 | 156,395 | ||||||
|
Ashmore Group PLC |
103,428 | 568,409 | ||||||
|
Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC |
67,481 | 369,394 | ||||||
|
CMC Markets PLC(b) |
28,545 | 165,418 | ||||||
|
Draper Esprit PLC(a) |
30,568 | 456,407 | ||||||
|
IG Group Holdings PLC |
82,133 | 1,057,652 | ||||||
|
IntegraFin Holdings PLC |
62,288 | 496,469 | ||||||
|
Intermediate Capital Group PLC |
64,495 | 1,950,295 | ||||||
|
Investec PLC |
154,085 | 648,030 | ||||||
|
IP Group PLC |
223,714 | 390,654 | ||||||
|
Jupiter Fund Management PLC |
98,085 | 359,831 | ||||||
|
Liontrust Asset Management PLC |
13,501 | 436,570 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Capital Markets (continued) | ||||||||
|
Man Group PLC |
320,609 | $ | 954,750 | |||||
|
Ninety One PLC |
76,620 | 269,884 | ||||||
|
Numis Corp. PLC |
15,368 | 79,233 | ||||||
|
Polar Capital Holdings PLC |
16,683 | 201,384 | ||||||
|
Quilter PLC(b) |
388,704 | 807,921 | ||||||
|
Rathbone Brothers PLC |
12,780 | 359,347 | ||||||
|
Sanne Group PLC |
35,953 | 459,699 | ||||||
|
TP ICAP Group PLC |
174,290 | 487,033 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,080,155 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Elementis PLC(a) |
129,919 | 273,644 | ||||||
|
Essentra PLC |
67,476 | 269,203 | ||||||
|
Synthomer PLC |
75,852 | 558,589 | ||||||
|
Victrex PLC |
19,196 | 700,331 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,801,767 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Biffa PLC(a)(b) |
67,927 | 365,153 | ||||||
|
Clipper Logistics PLC |
16,652 | 187,273 | ||||||
|
HomeServe PLC |
67,192 | 865,591 | ||||||
|
Johnson Service Group PLC(a) |
100,194 | 203,597 | ||||||
|
Mitie Group PLC(a) |
316,229 | 330,423 | ||||||
|
Restore PLC(a) |
27,276 | 176,252 | ||||||
|
Serco Group PLC |
266,963 | 489,256 | ||||||
|
Smart Metering Systems PLC |
22,678 | 300,876 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,918,421 | ||||||||
| Communications Equipment 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Spirent Communications PLC |
135,162 | 553,566 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Construction & Engineering 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Balfour Beatty PLC |
147,195 | 578,651 | ||||||
|
John Laing Group PLC(b) |
109,899 | 605,643 | ||||||
|
Keller Group PLC |
16,191 | 222,157 | ||||||
|
Morgan Sindall Group PLC |
8,783 | 310,335 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,716,786 | ||||||||
| Construction Materials 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Breedon Group PLC |
337,149 | 481,143 | ||||||
|
Forterra PLC(b) |
51,363 | 222,795 | ||||||
|
Ibstock PLC(b) |
91,357 | 300,969 | ||||||
|
Marshalls PLC |
44,311 | 492,546 | ||||||
|
Rhi Magnesita NV |
6,349 | 335,191 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,832,644 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Arrow Global Group PLC(a) |
34,835 | 145,834 | ||||||
|
Funding Circle Holdings PLC(a)(b) |
39,289 | 81,025 | ||||||
|
Provident Financial PLC(a) |
56,684 | 277,875 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 504,734 | ||||||||
| Containers & Packaging 1.4% | ||||||||
|
DS Smith PLC |
304,783 | 1,854,621 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Distributors 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Inchcape PLC |
87,206 | 1,102,436 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Burford Capital Ltd. |
41,210 | 511,618 | ||||||
|
Plus500 Ltd. |
20,426 | 419,696 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 931,314 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Gamma Communications PLC |
18,034 | 570,634 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 18 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Electrical Equipment 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Ceres Power Holdings PLC(a) |
21,103 | $ | 342,445 | |||||
|
ITM Power PLC(a)(c) |
85,243 | 569,039 | ||||||
|
Luceco PLC(b) |
17,543 | 109,500 | ||||||
|
Volex PLC |
25,702 | 146,646 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,167,630 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Renishaw PLC |
8,115 | 602,810 | ||||||
|
Spectris PLC |
25,629 | 1,389,046 | ||||||
|
Strix Group PLC |
44,921 | 231,599 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,223,455 | ||||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Hunting PLC |
31,337 | 90,476 | ||||||
|
John Wood Group PLC(a) |
152,254 | 523,121 | ||||||
|
Petrofac Ltd.(a)(c) |
64,156 | 92,880 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 706,477 | ||||||||
| Entertainment 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Cineworld Group PLC(a)(c) |
216,596 | 197,375 | ||||||
|
Frontier Developments PLC(a) |
4,714 | 182,765 | ||||||
|
Sumo Group PLC(a) |
24,289 | 164,297 | ||||||
|
Team17 Group PLC(a) |
23,535 | 259,011 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 803,448 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 8.9% | ||||||||
|
Assura PLC |
594,760 | 645,601 | ||||||
|
Big Yellow Group PLC |
36,969 | 775,109 | ||||||
|
BMO Commercial Property Trust Ltd. |
179,047 | 245,418 | ||||||
|
Capital & Counties Properties PLC |
160,496 | 383,485 | ||||||
|
Civitas Social Housing PLC |
139,687 | 202,964 | ||||||
|
Custodian REIT PLC |
90,012 | 121,154 | ||||||
|
Derwent London PLC |
22,325 | 1,164,306 | ||||||
|
Empiric Student Property PLC(a) |
131,610 | 174,973 | ||||||
|
GCP Student Living PLC |
101,314 | 296,691 | ||||||
|
Great Portland Estates PLC |
50,452 | 542,142 | ||||||
|
Hammerson PLC |
699,125 | 350,317 | ||||||
|
LondonMetric Property PLC |
191,201 | 688,645 | ||||||
|
LXI REIT PLC |
156,335 | 321,089 | ||||||
|
Picton Property Income Ltd. (The) |
123,244 | 167,748 | ||||||
|
Primary Health Properties PLC |
293,884 | 681,174 | ||||||
|
Regional REIT Ltd.(b) |
88,927 | 109,057 | ||||||
|
Safestore Holdings PLC |
46,868 | 744,241 | ||||||
|
Secure Income REIT PLC |
61,226 | 339,715 | ||||||
|
Shaftesbury PLC |
42,655 | 377,669 | ||||||
|
Tritax Big Box REIT PLC |
380,722 | 1,241,021 | ||||||
|
UK Commercial Property REIT Ltd. |
176,003 | 192,522 | ||||||
|
UNITE Group PLC (The) |
74,908 | 1,259,019 | ||||||
|
Warehouse REIT PLC |
90,901 | 200,460 | ||||||
|
Workspace Group PLC |
30,120 | 385,325 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,609,845 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Naked Wines PLC(a) |
12,771 | 147,489 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Bakkavor Group PLC(b) |
32,519 | 51,773 | ||||||
|
Cranswick PLC |
11,703 | 639,063 | ||||||
|
Greencore Group PLC(a) |
118,327 | 231,262 | ||||||
|
Hotel Chocolat Group PLC(a) |
11,107 | 57,264 | ||||||
|
Premier Foods PLC |
133,935 | 222,810 | ||||||
|
Tate & Lyle PLC |
103,846 | 1,008,565 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,210,737 | ||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
19 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 2.2% | ||||||||
|
AO World PLC(a) |
69,910 | $ | 222,220 | |||||
|
ASOS PLC(a) |
15,535 | 828,788 | ||||||
|
Auction Technology Group PLC(a) |
14,450 | 322,236 | ||||||
|
boohoo Group PLC(a) |
224,237 | 873,476 | ||||||
|
Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC |
119,372 | 416,533 | ||||||
|
Moonpig Group PLC(a) |
33,592 | 178,732 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,841,985 | ||||||||
| IT Services 3.1% | ||||||||
|
Capita PLC(a) |
373,441 | 251,377 | ||||||
|
Computacenter PLC |
16,519 | 668,234 | ||||||
|
Equiniti Group PLC(a)(b) |
81,882 | 201,285 | ||||||
|
Finablr PLC(a)(b)(d) |
61,710 | 1 | ||||||
|
iomart Group PLC |
20,882 | 68,903 | ||||||
|
Kainos Group PLC |
17,673 | 476,721 | ||||||
|
Keywords Studios PLC(a) |
15,866 | 681,014 | ||||||
|
NCC Group PLC |
68,491 | 304,153 | ||||||
|
Network International Holdings PLC(a)(b) |
103,210 | 555,106 | ||||||
|
Softcat PLC |
26,515 | 770,641 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,977,435 | ||||||||
| Leisure Products 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Games Workshop Group PLC |
7,259 | 1,154,690 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Clinigen Group PLC |
28,304 | 243,600 | ||||||
|
Ergomed PLC(a) |
8,164 | 163,875 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 407,475 | ||||||||
| Machinery 4.0% | ||||||||
|
Bodycote PLC |
42,771 | 567,759 | ||||||
|
IMI PLC |
60,117 | 1,507,525 | ||||||
|
Judges Scientific PLC |
1,112 | 111,687 | ||||||
|
Morgan Advanced Materials PLC |
63,526 | 350,725 | ||||||
|
Rotork PLC |
194,117 | 891,110 | ||||||
|
Vesuvius PLC |
48,169 | 372,269 | ||||||
|
Weir Group PLC (The)(a) |
57,441 | 1,382,320 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,183,395 | ||||||||
| Media 3.7% | ||||||||
|
Ascential PLC(a) |
88,938 | 510,214 | ||||||
|
Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC |
24,286 | 345,191 | ||||||
|
Future PLC |
25,479 | 1,348,647 | ||||||
|
ITV PLC(a) |
805,591 | 1,283,937 | ||||||
|
Reach PLC |
65,873 | 370,866 | ||||||
|
S4 Capital PLC(a) |
60,804 | 680,475 | ||||||
|
Tremor International Ltd.(a)(c) |
23,053 | 233,905 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,773,235 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Centamin PLC |
256,992 | 351,336 | ||||||
|
Central Asia Metals PLC |
38,409 | 132,017 | ||||||
|
Eurasia Mining PLC(a) |
391,270 | 99,312 | ||||||
|
Ferrexpo PLC |
65,206 | 341,755 | ||||||
|
Greatland Gold PLC(a) |
878,929 | 223,824 | ||||||
|
Hill & Smith Holdings PLC |
17,628 | 448,848 | ||||||
|
Hochschild Mining PLC |
72,883 | 151,307 | ||||||
|
Petropavlovsk PLC(a) |
518,090 | 149,582 | ||||||
|
SolGold PLC(a)(c) |
204,796 | 83,061 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,981,042 | ||||||||
| Multi-Utilities 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Centrica PLC(a) |
1,303,160 | 931,237 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Multi-Utilities (continued) | ||||||||
|
Telecom Plus PLC |
14,190 | $ | 200,944 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,132,181 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 2.0% | ||||||||
|
B&M European Value Retail SA |
200,089 | 1,539,801 | ||||||
|
Marks & Spencer Group PLC(a) |
434,570 | 1,074,210 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,614,011 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Cairn Energy PLC |
111,401 | 295,084 | ||||||
|
Diversified Energy Co. PLC |
180,328 | 277,000 | ||||||
|
Energean PLC(a) |
25,860 | 240,876 | ||||||
|
Harbour Energy PLC(a) |
50,489 | 248,048 | ||||||
|
Serica Energy PLC |
35,080 | 76,010 | ||||||
|
Tullow Oil PLC(a) |
262,938 | 161,379 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,298,397 | ||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Alliance Pharma PLC |
101,542 | 150,774 | ||||||
|
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC |
24,017 | 1,730,236 | ||||||
|
Indivior PLC(a) |
162,655 | 434,729 | ||||||
|
Vectura Group PLC |
132,862 | 299,206 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,614,945 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Hays PLC(a) |
373,054 | 816,527 | ||||||
|
Pagegroup PLC(a) |
73,202 | 634,043 | ||||||
|
RWS Holdings PLC |
64,450 | 575,516 | ||||||
|
SThree PLC |
28,564 | 204,603 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,230,689 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 2.1% | ||||||||
|
CLS Holdings PLC |
40,002 | 131,504 | ||||||
|
Grainger PLC |
149,997 | 659,929 | ||||||
|
Helical PLC |
24,546 | 160,265 | ||||||
|
IWG PLC(a) |
167,033 | 686,435 | ||||||
|
Savills PLC |
31,614 | 594,024 | ||||||
|
Sirius Real Estate Ltd. |
221,933 | 381,329 | ||||||
|
Watkin Jones PLC |
45,809 | 149,894 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,763,380 | ||||||||
| Road & Rail 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Firstgroup PLC(a) |
271,958 | 337,566 | ||||||
|
Go-Ahead Group PLC (The)(a) |
9,404 | 121,921 | ||||||
|
National Express Group PLC(a) |
122,422 | 432,225 | ||||||
|
Redde Northgate PLC |
52,056 | 312,552 | ||||||
|
Stagecoach Group PLC(a) |
90,151 | 88,930 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,293,194 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 0.1% | ||||||||
|
IQE PLC(a)(c) |
165,997 | 119,588 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Software 3.1% | ||||||||
|
Argo Blockchain PLC(a) |
79,135 | 153,577 | ||||||
|
Avast PLC(b) |
147,989 | 1,217,099 | ||||||
|
Blue Prism Group PLC(a) |
18,052 | 273,007 | ||||||
|
Bytes Technology Group PLC(a) |
47,956 | 338,892 | ||||||
|
dotdigital group PLC |
60,239 | 234,794 | ||||||
|
FD Technologies PLC(a) |
5,004 | 161,674 | ||||||
|
GB Group PLC |
41,175 | 508,919 | ||||||
|
Ideagen PLC |
46,762 | 201,873 | ||||||
|
Kape Technologies PLC(a)(c) |
16,977 | 91,029 | ||||||
|
Learning Technologies Group PLC |
123,453 | 388,341 | ||||||
|
Micro Focus International PLC |
74,458 | 455,376 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,024,581 | ||||||||
| 20 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Specialty Retail 2.4% | ||||||||
|
Dixons Carphone PLC |
245,365 | $ | 471,289 | |||||
|
Dunelm Group PLC |
26,854 | 474,640 | ||||||
|
Frasers Group PLC(a) |
46,066 | 424,062 | ||||||
|
Halfords Group PLC |
43,447 | 217,190 | ||||||
|
Pets at Home Group PLC |
110,628 | 761,805 | ||||||
|
WH Smith PLC(a) |
28,963 | 650,979 | ||||||
|
Wickes Group PLC(a) |
56,930 | 189,414 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,189,379 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Coats Group PLC |
323,517 | 339,373 | ||||||
|
Dr. Martens PLC(a) |
99,760 | 579,617 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 918,990 | ||||||||
| Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 0.9% | ||||||||
|
OSB Group PLC |
99,457 | 696,682 | ||||||
|
Paragon Banking Group PLC |
57,061 | 440,891 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,137,573 | ||||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 5.2% | ||||||||
|
Diploma PLC |
27,587 | 1,163,733 | ||||||
|
Electrocomponents PLC |
104,415 | 1,527,966 | ||||||
|
Grafton Group PLC |
50,486 | 970,177 | ||||||
|
Howden Joinery Group PLC |
132,597 | 1,724,807 | ||||||
|
SIG PLC(a) |
154,690 | 112,399 | ||||||
|
Travis Perkins PLC(a) |
49,816 | 1,234,179 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,733,261 | ||||||||
| Water Utilities 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Penno Group PLC |
62,350 | 1,071,012 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Airtel Africa PLC(b) |
209,879 | 268,209 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.0%
|
129,210,284 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
|
Money Market Funds 1.8% |
||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds:
|
2,278,336 | $ | 2,279,475 | |||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds:
|
50,000 | 50,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,329,475 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 1.8%
|
|
2,329,475 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.8%
|
|
131,539,759 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.8)% |
(980,089 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 130,559,670 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (d) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (e) |
Rounds to less than $1. |
| (f) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (g) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (h) |
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 year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 1,170,176 | $ | 1,110,182 | (a) | $ | | $ | (611 | ) | $ | (272 | ) | $ | 2,279,475 | 2,278,336 | $ | 90,623 | (b) | $ | | |||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
20,000 | 30,000 | (a) | | | | 50,000 | 50,000 | 13 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (611 | ) | $ | (272 | ) | $ | 2,329,475 | $ | 90,636 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
21 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
FTSE 250 Index |
20 | 09/17/21 | $ | 1,325 | $ | 34,500 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 34,500 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 94,379 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 29,590 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$716,888 | |||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 50,665,999 | $ | 78,544,284 | $ | 1 | $ | 129,210,284 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
2,329,475 | | | 2,329,475 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 52,995,474 | $ | 78,544,284 | $ | 1 | $ | 131,539,759 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 34,500 | $ | | $ | 34,500 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 22 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
23 |
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 24 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S | 25 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 26 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 18.95 | $ | 23.43 | $ | 23.83 | $ | 23.84 | $ | 24.87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.59 | 0.74 | 0.92 | 1.11 | 0.48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
4.04 | (4.46 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.05 | ) | 2.39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
4.63 | (3.72 | ) | 0.66 | 1.06 | 2.87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.62 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (1.06 | ) | (1.07 | ) | (0.84 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net realized gain |
| | | | (3.06 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.62 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (1.06 | ) | (1.07 | ) | (3.90 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 22.96 | $ | 18.95 | $ | 23.43 | $ | 23.83 | $ | 23.84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
24.59 | % | (16.34 | )% | 2.92 | % | 4.42 | % | 13.48 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses(e) |
0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | 0.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses after fees waived(e) |
0.00 | %(f) | 0.00 | %(f) | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.82 | % | 3.31 | % | 3.96 | % | 4.62 | % | 1.99 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 8,266 | $ | 10,420 | $ | 35,146 | $ | 22,643 | $ | 19,073 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(g)(h) |
15 | % | 15 | % | 11 | % | 17 | % | 20 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested (acquired fund fees and expenses). This ratio does not include these acquired fund fees and expenses. |
| (f) |
Rounds to less than 0.01%. |
| (g) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes the portfolio activity of the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested. See the underlying funds financial highlights for its respective portfolio turnover rates. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
27 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
(a) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 26.88 | $ | 30.27 | $ | 33.62 | $ | 33.76 | $ | 31.36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
1.20 | 0.90 | 1.49 | 1.29 | 1.13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c) |
5.87 | (3.30 | ) | (3.39 | ) | 0.06 | 2.43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
7.07 | (2.40 | ) | (1.90 | ) | 1.35 | 3.56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.90 | ) | (0.99 | ) | (1.45 | ) | (1.49 | ) | (1.16 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.90 | ) | (0.99 | ) | (1.45 | ) | (1.49 | ) | (1.16 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 33.05 | $ | 26.88 | $ | 30.27 | $ | 33.62 | $ | 33.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
26.46 | % | (8.25 | )% | (5.64 | )% | 3.90 | % | 11.60 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.50 | % | 0.51 | % | 0.50 | % | 0.47 | % | 0.49 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
3.91 | % | 3.12 | % | 4.64 | % | 3.66 | % | 4.07 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 3,579,181 | $ | 2,191,064 | $ | 2,000,722 | $ | 1,986,971 | $ | 2,764,746 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(f) |
9 | % | 4 | % | 11 | % | 5 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Per share amounts reflect a one-for-two reverse stock split effective after the close of trading on November 4, 2016. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 28 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 35.68 | $ | 35.95 | $ | 42.65 | $ | 39.92 | $ | 35.91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
0.86 | 0.72 | 1.05 | 1.15 | 0.92 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
14.32 | 0.03 | (6.69 | ) | 2.93 | 4.12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
15.18 | 0.75 | (5.64 | ) | 4.08 | 5.04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.64 | ) | (1.02 | ) | (1.06 | ) | (1.35 | ) | (1.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.64 | ) | (1.02 | ) | (1.06 | ) | (1.35 | ) | (1.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 50.22 | $ | 35.68 | $ | 35.95 | $ | 42.65 | $ | 39.92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
42.88 | % | 1.90 | % | (13.17 | )% | 10.22 | % | 14.40 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.59 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.94 | % | 1.99 | % | 2.76 | % | 2.68 | % | 2.50 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 130,560 | $ | 60,657 | $ | 61,109 | $ | 57,571 | $ | 31,935 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
15 | % | 25 | % | 20 | % | 20 | % | 19 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
29 |
| 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 |
|||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
Diversified | |||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
Diversified | |||
Currently the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing a substantial portion of its assets in the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (the underlying fund). The financial statements, including the accounting policies, and Schedule of Investments for the underlying fund are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF.
| 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. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain.
Foreign Currency Translation: Each Funds 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. However, the currency hedged fund has elected to treat realized gains (losses) from certain foreign currency contracts as capital gain (loss) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Foreign Taxes: The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as Other foreign taxes, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of August 31, 2021, if any, are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The Funds file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Funds may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdictions applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statements of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and record cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
| 30 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Funds. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Funds and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Funds tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (NAV) per share.
Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
| 3. |
INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Investment Valuation Policies: Each Funds investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) each day that the Funds 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. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board). If a securitys market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Funds assets and liabilities:
| |
Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days last traded price or official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the fund is primarily traded. Funds traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day may be valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that days published NAV. |
| |
Futures contracts are valued based on that days last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded. |
| |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued based on that days prevailing forward exchange rate for the underlying currencies. |
Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (Systematic Fair Value Price). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.
If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a funds NAV and the prices used by the funds underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the funds performance and the performance of the funds 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 Global Valuation Committees 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
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
31 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
| 4. |
SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS |
Securities Lending: Each Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by each Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, each Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.
As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA), the Funds investment adviser, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in each Funds 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 counterpartys 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 partys 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 |
|
Market Value of
Securities on Loan |
|
|
Cash Collateral
Received |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash Collateral
Received |
|
Net Amount | ||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
$ | 3,534 | $ | 3,534 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
27,822 | 27,822 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
682,516 | 682,516 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
93,546 | 92,627 | | (919 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
263,749 | 263,749 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
900,002 | 900,002 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 1,971,169 | $ | 1,970,250 | $ | | $ | (919 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Collateral received in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by each Fund is disclosed in the Funds statement of assets and liabilities. |
| (b) |
The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of August 31, 2021. Additional collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by a counterparty. |
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). BlackRocks indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. Each Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by each Fund.
| 5. |
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).
Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment
| 32 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contracts size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (variation margin). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are entered into to gain or reduce exposure to foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).
A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set exchange rate on a specified date. These contracts help to manage the overall exposure to the currencies in which some of the investments held by the Funds are denominated and in some cases, may be used to obtain exposure to a particular market. The contracts are traded over-the-counter (OTC) and not on an organized exchange.
The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Non-deliverable forward foreign currency exchange contracts are settled with the counterparty in cash without the delivery of foreign currency. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts involves the risk that the value of a contract changes unfavorably due to movements in the value of the referenced foreign currencies, and such value may exceed the amount(s) reflected in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Cash amounts pledged for forward foreign currency exchange contracts are considered restricted and are included in cash pledged as collateral for OTC derivatives in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. A Funds risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally limited to the aggregate unrealized gain netted against any collateral held by the Fund.
Master Netting Arrangements: In order to define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help mitigate its counterparty risk, a Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (ISDA Master Agreement) or similar agreement with its derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, a Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency, or other events.
For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement, and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by a Fund and the counterparty.
Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Funds and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral and cash received as collateral, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Funds, if any, is noted in the Schedules of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty is subject to a certain minimum transfer amount threshold before a transfer is required, which is determined at the close of business of the Funds. Any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Funds on the next business day. Typically, the counterparty is not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use cash and non-cash collateral it receives. A Fund generally agrees not to use non-cash collateral that it receives but may, absent default or certain other circumstances defined in the underlying ISDA Master Agreement, be permitted to use cash collateral received. In such cases, interest may be paid pursuant to the collateral arrangement with the counterparty. To the extent amounts due to the Funds from the counterparty are not fully collateralized, each Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. Likewise, to the extent the Funds have delivered collateral to a counterparty and stand ready to perform under the terms of their agreement with such counterparty, each Fund bears the risk of loss from a counterparty in the amount of the value of the collateral in the event the counterparty fails to return such collateral. Based on the terms of agreements, collateral may not be required for all derivative contracts.
For financial reporting purposes, each Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
| 6. |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES |
Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of each Funds assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Funds, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
33 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
For its investment advisory services to each of the following Funds, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:
| iShares ETF | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
0.62 | % | ||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
0.59 | |||
For its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the Funds allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds, as follows:
| Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
First $7 billion |
0.59 | % | ||
|
Over $7 billion, up to and including $11 billion |
0.54 | |||
|
Over $11 billion, up to and including $24 billion |
0.49 | |||
|
Over $24 billion, up to and including $48 billion |
0.44 | |||
|
Over $48 billion, up to and including $72 billion |
0.40 | |||
|
Over $72 billion, up to and including $96 billion |
0.36 | |||
|
Over $96 billion |
0.32 | |||
Expense Waivers: A fund may incur its pro rata share of fees and expenses attributable to its investments in other investment companies (acquired fund fees and expenses). The total of the investment advisory fee and acquired fund fees and expenses are a funds total annual operating expenses. Total expenses as shown in the Statement of Operations does not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
For the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF, BFA has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fee for the Fund through December 31, 2025 so that the Funds total annual operating expenses after fee waiver is equal to the acquired fund fees and expenses attributable to the Funds investment in the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU), after taking into account any fee waivers by EWU, plus 0.03%. BFA has also contractually agreed to an additional reduction in its investment advisory fee of 0.03% through December 31, 2025.
This amount is included in investment advisory fees waived in the Statements of Operations. For the year ended August 31, 2021, the amounts waived in investment advisory fees pursuant to this arrangement were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Amounts waived | |||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 53,678 | ||
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. 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 funds 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.
| 34 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
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 August 31, 2021, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:
| iShares ETF |
Fees Paid to BTC |
|||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 620 | ||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
20,359 | |||
Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.
Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, transactions executed by the Funds pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
|||||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 10,642,251 | $ | 4,460,850 | $ (2,730,823 | ) | ||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
28,815 | 926,529 | (17,112 | ) | ||||||||
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 funds underlying index.
| 7. |
PURCHASES AND SALES |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 1,259,545 | $ | 1,413,365 | ||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
291,862,442 | 262,104,318 | ||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
16,873,889 | 13,347,499 | ||||||
For the year ended August 31, 2021, in-kind transactions were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
In-kind
Purchases |
In-kind Sales |
||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 1,242,201 | $ | 5,255,209 | ||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
1,181,926,915 | 431,952,871 | ||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
57,398,867 | 15,662,381 | ||||||
| 8. |
INCOME TAX INFORMATION |
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trusts other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Funds policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of August 31, 2021, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the 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 August 31, 2021, the following 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) |
||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | (633,886 | ) | $ | 633,886 | |||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
137,253,642 | (137,253,642 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
1,124,917 | (1,124,917 | ) | |||||
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
35 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The tax character of distributions was as follows:
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 243,738 | $ | 1,298,842 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 95,207,591 | $ | 75,813,059 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 1,264,047 | $ | 2,244,985 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
As of August 31, 2021, 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 | ||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 3 | $ | (6,862,396 | ) | $ | (134,527 | ) | $ | (6,996,920 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
49,853,465 | (494,263,919 | ) | (200,933,767 | ) | (645,344,221 | ) | |||||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
2,352,822 | (8,929,580 | ) | 10,989,927 | 4,413,169 |
| (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, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains(losses) on certain foreign currency contracts and futures contracts, characterization of corporate actions and the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies. |
A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as passive foreign investment companies. Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.
As of August 31, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Tax Cost |
Gross Unrealized
Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 8,387,720 | $ | 8,747 | $ | (143,274 | ) | $ | (134,527 | ) | ||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
3,737,158,019 | 361,007,224 | (561,792,223 | ) | (200,784,999 | ) | ||||||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
120,550,036 | 18,751,637 | (7,761,914 | ) | 10,989,723 | |||||||||||
| 9. |
PRINCIPAL RISKS |
In the normal course of business, each Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including, among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate or price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Funds and their investments. Each Funds prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.
BFA uses a passive or index approach to try to achieve each Funds investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.
The Funds may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.
Market Risk: An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a funds investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or
| 36 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a funds NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.
The price each Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from each Funds 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.
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing brokers customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing brokers customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a funds 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 Funds portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in that country or those countries may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Investment percentages in specific countries are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union, and one or more other countries may withdraw from the European Union and/or abandon the Euro, the common currency of the European Union. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far reaching.
LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
| 10. |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
Capital shares are issued and redeemed by each Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (Creation Units) at NAV. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of each Fund are not redeemable.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
37 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Transactions in capital shares were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended 08/31/21 |
Year Ended 08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
60,000 | $ | 1,246,734 | 1,400,000 | $ | 32,825,295 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(250,000 | ) | (5,214,033 | ) | (2,350,000 | ) | (44,560,697 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net decrease |
(190,000 | ) | $ | (3,967,299 | ) | (950,000 | ) | $ | (11,735,402 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
40,300,000 | $ | 1,197,285,969 | 27,900,000 | $ | 816,367,221 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(13,500,000 | ) | (434,821,111 | ) | (12,500,000 | ) | (296,737,007 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
26,800,000 | $ | 762,464,858 | 15,400,000 | $ | 519,630,214 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
1,300,000 | $ | 58,198,236 | 1,600,000 | $ | 67,533,603 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(400,000 | ) | (15,762,686 | ) | (1,600,000 | ) | (51,505,339 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
900,000 | $ | 42,435,550 | | $ | 16,028,264 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
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 Trusts administrator, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in shares sold in the table above.
From time to time, settlement of securities related to in-kind contributions or in-kind redemptions may be delayed. In such cases, securities related to in-kind transactions are reflected as a receivable or a payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
| 11. |
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.
| 38 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust and Shareholders of iShares Currency Hedged MSCI
United Kingdom ETF, iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and iShares MSCI United Kingdom
Small-Cap ETF
Opinions on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF, iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (three of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the Funds) as of August 31, 2021, the related statements of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended August 31, 2021 (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 August 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021 and each of the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended August 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
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 August 31, 2021 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
October 22, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.
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Important Tax Information (unaudited)
The following percentage, or maximum percentage allowable by law, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 qualified for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders:
| iShares ETF |
Dividends-Received Deduction |
|||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
0.54 | % | ||
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Dividend Income |
|||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 243,671 | ||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
133,614,329 | |||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
1,943,174 | |||
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 by the underlying funds for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Foreign Source Income Earned |
Foreign Taxes Paid |
||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 245,923 | $ | 2,039 | ||||
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 August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Foreign Source
Income Earned |
Foreign Taxes Paid |
||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom |
$ | 137,627,229 | $ | 694,323 | ||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap |
2,285,472 | 58,518 | ||||||
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF, iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (each the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were higher than the median of overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue,
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs 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 Funds 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 further 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
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Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (Rule 18f-4). The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.
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 Funds investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
August 31, 2021
|
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom(a) |
$ | 0.617230 | $ | | $ | 0.000770 | $ | 0.618000 | 100 | % | | % | 0 | %(b) | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom(a) |
0.897185 | | 0.001119 | 0.898304 | 100 | | 0 | (b) | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap(a) |
0.622545 | | 0.016872 | 0.639417 | 97 | | 3 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholders investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Funds net asset value per share. |
| (b) |
Rounds to less than 1%. |
Premium/Discount Information
Information on the Funds 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 (the Directive) imposes detailed and prescriptive obligations on fund managers established in the European Union (the EU). These do not currently apply to managers established outside of the EU, such as BFA (the Company). Rather, non-EU managers are only required to comply with certain disclosure, reporting and transparency obligations of the Directive if such managers market a fund to EU investors.
The Company has registered the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (the Fund) to be marketed to EU investors in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg.
Report on Remuneration
The Company is required under the Directive to make quantitative disclosures of remuneration. These disclosures are made in line with BlackRocks 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 BlackRocks 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 programmes which support that philosophy.
|
S U P P L E M E N T A L I N F O R M A T I O N |
45 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited) (continued)
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, a significant percentage of variable remuneration is deferred over time. All employees are subject to a claw-back policy.
Remuneration decisions for employees are made once annually in January following the end of the performance year, based on BlackRocks 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.
Annual incentive awards are paid from a bonus pool which is reviewed throughout the year by BlackRocks 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 organisational structures which are independent of the business units. 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 BlackRocks 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. Therefore, the figures disclosed are a sum of each individuals portion of remuneration attributable to the Fund according to an objective apportionment methodology which acknowledges the multiple-service nature of the Company. Accordingly the figures are not representative of any individuals actual remuneration or their remuneration structure.
The amount of the total remuneration awarded by the Company to its staff which has been attributed to the Fund in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020 is USD 222.56 thousand. This figure is comprised of fixed remuneration of USD 103.64 thousand and variable remuneration of USD 118.92 thousand. There were a total of 490 beneficiaries of the remuneration described above.
The amount of the aggregate remuneration awarded by the Company, which has been attributed to the Fund in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020, to its senior management was USD 36.25 thousand, and to members of its staff whose actions have a material impact on the risk profile of the Fund was USD 2.93 thousand.
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Trustee and Officer Information
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 Fund is 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 374 funds as of August 31, 2021. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Charles Park, 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. Park is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated Cecilia H. Herbert 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).
|
T R U S T E E A N D O F F I C E R I N F O R M A T I O N |
47 |
Trustee and Officer Information (continued)
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
|
John E.
Kerrigan (66) |
Trustee (since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs (since 2019). | Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011). | |||
|
Drew E.
Lawton (62) |
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). | |||
|
John E.
|
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 (57) |
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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
||
|
Armando Senra (50) |
President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007); Head of U.S., Canada and Latam iShares, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2019); Head of Latin America Region, BlackRock, Inc. (2006-2019); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (1994-2006). | ||
|
Trent Walker (47) |
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. | ||
|
Charles Park (54) |
Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006). | Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex (since 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of BFA (since 2006). | ||
|
Deepa Damre Smith (46) |
Secretary (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2013). | ||
|
Scott Radell (52) |
Executive Vice President (since 2012). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Head of Portfolio Solutions, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
|
Alan Mason (60) |
Executive Vice President (since 2016). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
|
Marybeth Leithead (58) |
Executive Vice President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2017); Chief Operating Officer of Americas iShares (since 2017); Portfolio Manager, Municipal Institutional & Wealth Management (2009-2016). | ||
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
| |
Go to icsdelivery.com. |
| |
If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor. |
Householding
Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The 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 SECs 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 Companys policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.
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G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I ON |
49 |
Glossary of Terms Used in this Report
| Portfolio Abbreviations - Equity | ||
| REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust | |
| Currency Abbreviations | ||
| GBP | British Pound | |
| USD | United States Dollar | |
| Counterparty Abbreviations | ||
| MS | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | |
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
iS-AR-813-0821
|
|
|
|
|
AUGUST 31, 2021 |
| 2021 Annual Report | ||
iShares Trust
| · |
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF | ESGD | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF | ESGU | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF | ESML | Cboe BZX |
| · |
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF | LDEM | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF | SUSL | CBOE BZX |
| · |
iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF | SDG | NASDAQ |
Dear Shareholder,
The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The United States, along with most of the world, began the reporting period emerging from a severe recession, prompted by pandemic-related restrictions that disrupted many aspects of daily life. However, easing restrictions and robust government intervention led to a strong rebound, and the economy grew at a significant pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.
Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets rebounded substantially.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.
The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2023 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2022.
Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.
Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and healthcare, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries and Asian fixed income offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.
In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
|
Total Returns as of August 31, 2021
|
||||
|
6-Month |
12-Month |
|||
|
U.S. large cap equities
|
19.52% | 31.17% | ||
|
U.S. small cap equities
|
3.81 | 47.08 | ||
|
International equities
|
10.31 | 26.12 | ||
|
Emerging market equities
|
(0.98) | 21.12 | ||
|
3-month Treasury
bills
|
0.02 | 0.08 | ||
|
U.S. Treasury securities
|
2.36 | (4.12) | ||
|
U.S. investment grade bonds
|
1.49 | (0.08) | ||
|
Tax-exempt municipal
bonds
|
2.50 | 3.44 | ||
|
U.S. high yield bonds
|
3.82 | 10.14 | ||
|
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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T H I S P A G E I S N O T P A R T O F Y O U R F U N D R E P O R T |
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| 17 | ||||
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Financial Statements |
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| 94 | ||||
iShares Trust
Global Market Overview
Global equity markets advanced significantly during the 12 months ended August 31, 2021 (reporting period). The MSCI ACWI, a broad global equity index that includes both developed and emerging markets, returned 28.64% in U.S. dollar terms for the reporting period. Stocks continued to recover from the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nearing all-time highs by the end of the reporting period. Reopening economies led to a substantial global economic expansion, and the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines bolstered investors optimism. Nonetheless, vaccination rates varied considerably across countries, and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to increased cases and renewed restrictions toward the end of the reporting period. Inflation also rose in many parts of the world amid supply chain constraints and elevated consumer spending.
Equity markets in the U.S. advanced strongly, helped by fiscal and monetary stimulus and an ongoing mass vaccination program. Congress passed two fiscal stimulus bills during the reporting period, providing significant relief in the form of direct payments to individuals, tax credits, aid to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners and renters. Personal incomes rose significantly following the stimulus payments, and consumer spending recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Increased consumer spending and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions helped the U.S. economy continue to grow following a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020, as activity recovered from the pandemic-induced recession in the first half of 2020. The economy grew at a brisk pace for the rest of the reporting period, finally exceeding pre-pandemic output levels in the second quarter of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve Banks (the Fed) action also played a notable role in the recovery. Monetary policy remained accommodative, with short-term interest rates maintained near zero to encourage lending and stimulate economic activity. The Fed further acted to stabilize bond markets by continuing an unlimited, open-ended, bond-buying program for U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Stocks in Europe also posted strong gains, despite a recovery that trailed other major economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) provided monetary stimulus by maintaining ultra-low interest rates and continuing a large bond-buying program. Growth resumed with a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020 as restrictions eased, and Eurozone countries enacted a deal for a collective 750 billion of stimulus spending. However, a new wave of coronavirus cases beginning in October 2020 led to renewed restrictions, weakening the fragile recovery. Consequently, the Eurozone economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, even as much of the world was returning to growth. Although the initial vaccine rollout trailed in many European countries, the pace of vaccinations accelerated late in the reporting period, and economic growth resumed in the second quarter of 2021.
Asia-Pacific regional stocks also posted a solid advance amid a sharp rebound in economic activity. Continued economic growth in China helped the regional economy recover, as many Asia-Pacific countries rely on China as a major trading partner. Japanese and Australian stocks benefited from a sharp rise in exports amid resurgent global trade. Emerging market stocks advanced overall, aided by economic recovery and rising prices for many commodities. However, investor concerns about increased government regulatory activity weighed on Chinese stocks late in the reporting period. Relatively slow vaccination rollouts in parts of Asia also prompted concerns, particularly as the Delta variant spread.
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada that have positive environmental, social and governance characteristics, as identified by the index provider while exhibiting risk and return characteristics similar to those of the parent index, as represented by the MSCI EAFE Extended ESG Focus 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
26.69 | % | 10.12 | % | 11.75 | % | 26.69 | % | 61.93 | % | 77.78 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
27.32 | 10.05 | 11.76 | 27.32 | 61.40 | 77.87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
26.83 | 10.21 | 11.88 | 26.83 | 62.59 | 78.69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 6/28/16. The first day of secondary market trading was 6/30/16.
Index performance through May 31, 2018 reflects the performance of the MSCI EAFE ESG Focus Index. Index performance beginning on June 1, 2018 reflects the performance of the MSCI EAFE Extended ESG Focus Index.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 17 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,106.40 | $ 1.06 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,024.20 | $ 1.02 | 0.20 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 17 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Investor interest in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes of companies continued to grow during the reporting period as the global economy recovered from the effects of the pandemic. For many investors, the threat to public health from the virus underscored the importance of a reporting system that accounts for the effects of company behavior on global social and environmental well-being. Countries around the world continued to advance measures to address climate issues, including Japan, which announced a large increase in its decarbonization goals. The U.K. also shortened its timeline to net-zero with a target to reduce emissions 78% by 2035. In France, the governments 2021 budget for renewable energy projects increased by 25% compared to 2020, and a court ruling required the government to accelerate measures to meet climate goals. Additionally, as part of its push to provide more standardization around ESG-labeled investment products to both retail and institutional investors, the European Union began enforcing Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) in March 2021.
In this environment, stocks with positive ESG characteristics in developed markets outside of North America posted a significant return for the reporting period. Japanese stocks contributed the most to the Indexs performance, benefiting from an increase in exports, particularly to China. The information technology sector was the top performer among Japanese stocks, driven by gains among makers of factory automation equipment as strong demand and labor shortages accelerated automation trends. Industrials stocks also gained as demand for capital goods improved.
U.K. stocks were another source of strength, benefiting from loosening coronavirus restrictions and one of the worlds swiftest vaccination programs. Financials stocks led the advance in the U.K., as the improving economy boosted loan quality at banks, prompting the release of loan loss reserves. French equities also advanced, led by the consumer discretionary sector, where apparel, accessories, and luxury goods companies benefited from easing COVID-19 restrictions in major markets.
In terms of relative performance, the Index outperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI EAFE Index, while tracking it relatively closely. Relative to the broader market, the ESG selection process can lead to overweight stocks with higher ESG ratings and underweight stocks with lower ESG characteristics in order to maximize overall portfolio ESG score while maintaining similar risk and return levels to the broad market index. Consequently, the Index achieved an ESG quality score that was 23.4% higher than the broader market. The Index held underweight positions in the consumer discretionary and utilities sectors, and overweight positions in industrials and energy. Stock selection in the consumer staples and healthcare sectors contributed the most to the Indexs relative performance, while positioning in the consumer discretionary sector detracted somewhat.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
17.1 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
16.6 | |||
|
Health Care |
12.3 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
11.7 | |||
|
Information Technology |
10.6 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
10.3 | |||
|
Materials |
7.6 | |||
|
Communication Services |
4.2 | |||
|
Energy |
3.5 | |||
|
Utilities |
3.1 | |||
|
Real Estate |
3.0 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION
|
Country/Geographic Region |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Japan |
22.7 | % | ||
|
United Kingdom |
13.3 | |||
|
France |
10.8 | |||
|
Switzerland |
10.4 | |||
|
Germany |
8.9 | |||
|
Australia |
7.5 | |||
|
Netherlands |
5.7 | |||
|
Sweden |
3.7 | |||
|
Denmark |
3.0 | |||
|
Hong Kong |
2.8 | |||
| 6 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. companies that have positive environmental, social and governance characteristics, as identified by the index provider while exhibiting risk and return characteristics similar to those of the parent index, as represented by the MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
31.71 | % | 19.51 | % | 31.71 | % | 133.22 | % | ||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
31.86 | 19.52 | 31.86 | 133.28 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
31.94 | 19.75 | 31.94 | 135.30 | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 12/1/16. The first day of secondary market trading was 12/2/16.
Index performance through May 31, 2018 reflects the performance of the MSCI USA ESG Focus Index. Index performance beginning on June 1, 2018 reflects the performance of the MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus Index.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 17 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,188.30 | $ 0.83 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,024.40 | $ 0.77 | 0.15 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 17 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF
|
Portfolio Management Commentary
Investor interest in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes of companies continued to grow during the reporting period as the global economy recovered from the effects of the pandemic. For many investors, the threat to public health from the virus underscored the importance of a reporting system that accounts for the effects of company behavior on global social and environmental well-being. The stimulus bill passed in December 2020 included significant wind and solar power incentives. The new administration also began to review for possible reversal of a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that would curb investment in ESG products, and the DOL announced that it would suspend enforcement of the rule during the review.
In this environment, the stocks of U.S. companies with positive ESG characteristics posted a significant return for the reporting period. The information technology sector contributed the most, led by the software and services industry, which benefited from investments to support remote work. Companies in the industry worked toward implementing carbon-neutral or carbon-negative goals. The semiconductors and semiconductor equipment industry benefited from a global microchip shortage and higher demand for advanced graphics cards amid an increase in gaming.
U.S. financials stocks contributed meaningfully to the Indexs return as robust retail stock trading and brisk merger activity benefited the diversified financials industry. Communication services stocks also gained due to substantially higher revenues from online advertising, bolstering the profitability of the interactive media and services industry.
In terms of relative performance, the Index slightly underperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI USA Index, while tracking it relatively closely. Relative to the broader market, the ESG selection process can lead to overweight stocks with higher ESG ratings and underweight stocks with lower ESG characteristics in order to maximize overall portfolio ESG score while maintaining similar risk and return levels to the broad market index. Consequently, the Index achieved an ESG quality score that was 18.2% higher than the broader market. The Index held an overweight position in the industrials sector and an underweight position in the communication services sector. Stock selection in the information technology sector was the largest detractor from the Indexs relative performance.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Information Technology |
29.8 | % | ||
|
Health Care |
12.8 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
11.9 | |||
|
Financials |
10.5 | |||
|
Communication Services |
10.4 | |||
|
Industrials |
8.9 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
5.6 | |||
|
Real Estate |
3.0 | |||
|
Materials |
2.5 | |||
|
Energy |
2.3 | |||
|
Utilities |
2.3 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Apple Inc. |
6.1 | % | ||
|
Microsoft Corp. |
5.5 | |||
|
Amazon.com Inc. |
3.8 | |||
|
Alphabet Inc., Class C |
2.1 | |||
|
Alphabet Inc., Class A |
2.0 | |||
|
Facebook Inc., Class A |
2.0 | |||
|
NVIDIA Corp. |
1.5 | |||
|
Tesla Inc. |
1.5 | |||
|
JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
1.2 | |||
|
Home Depot Inc. (The) |
1.0 | |||
| 8 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an optimized index designed to produce investment results comparable to a capitalization weighted index of small-capitalization U.S. companies, while reflecting a higher allocation to those companies with favorable environmental, social and governance (ESG) profiles, (as determined by the index provider), as represented by the MSCI USA Small Cap Extended ESG Focus 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
48.95 | % | 15.74 | % | 48.95 | % | 64.25 | % | ||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
48.80 | 15.76 | 48.80 | 64.33 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
49.26 | 15.94 | 49.26 | 65.09 | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 4/10/18. The first day of secondary market trading was 4/12/18.
Certain sectors and markets performed exceptionally well based on market conditions during the one-year period. Achieving such exceptional returns involves the risk of volatility and investors should not expect that such exceptional returns will be repeated.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 17 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,070.40 | $ 0.89 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,024.30 | $ 0.87 | 0.17 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 17 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
9 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF
|
Portfolio Management Commentary
Investor interest in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes of companies continued to grow during the reporting period as the global economy recovered from the effects of the pandemic. For many investors, the threat to public health from the virus underscored the importance of a reporting system that accounts for the effects of company behavior on global social and environmental well-being. The stimulus bill passed in December 2020 included significant wind and solar power incentives. The new administration also began to review for possible reversal of a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that would curb investment in ESG products, and the DOL announced that it would suspend enforcement of the rule during the review.
In this environment, U.S. small-capitalization stocks with positive ESG characteristics performed well during the reporting period. A significant rebound in consumer spending benefited the consumer discretionary sector, which contributed to the Indexs return. Stimulus money and loosened restrictions drove sales in the specialty retail industry, where more consumers paid full price for items. The industrials sector also gained, as the economic recovery sparked growth in manufacturing orders and production, and a measure of manufacturing managers optimism hit an all-time high.
The financials sector was another source of strength, as banks relatively low proportion of bad loans allowed for higher dividends and stock repurchases. The information technology sector also gained, helped by strong sales of back-office software for small- and medium-sized businesses.
In terms of relative performance, the Index slightly outperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI USA Small Cap Index, while tracking it relatively closely. Relative to the broader market, the ESG selection process can lead to overweight stocks with higher ESG ratings and underweight stocks with lower ESG characteristics in order to maximize overall portfolio ESG score while maintaining similar risk and return levels to the broad market index. Consequently, the Index achieved an ESG quality score that was 25.6% higher than the broader market. The Index held an overweight position in the industrials sector which contributed and an underweight position in the financials sector which detracted. Stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector was the largest contributor to the Indexs relative performance.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Industrials |
17.0 | % | ||
|
Information Technology |
15.7 | |||
|
Health Care |
15.4 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
14.5 | |||
|
Financials |
13.7 | |||
|
Real Estate |
8.4 | |||
|
Materials |
4.5 | |||
|
Energy |
3.6 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
2.8 | |||
|
Utilities |
2.2 | |||
|
Communication Services |
2.2 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Bill.com Holdings Inc. |
0.4 | % | ||
|
Quanta Services Inc. |
0.4 | |||
|
Comerica Inc. |
0.4 | |||
|
Zions Bancorp. NA |
0.3 | |||
|
Repligen Corp. |
0.3 | |||
|
Entegris Inc. |
0.3 | |||
|
Williams-Sonoma Inc. |
0.3 | |||
|
Toro Co. (The) |
0.3 | |||
|
Deckers Outdoor Corp. |
0.3 | |||
|
Kilroy Realty Corp. |
0.3 | |||
| 10 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large and mid-capitalization stocks of emerging market companies with high environmental, social, and governance performance relative to their sector peers as determined by the index provider, as represented by the MSCI EM Extended ESG Leaders 5% Issuer Capped Net 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
24.68 | % | 16.18 | % | 24.68 | % | 26.60 | % | ||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
24.51 | 16.16 | 24.51 | 26.55 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
25.85 | 17.01 | 25.85 | 27.95 | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 2/5/20. The first day of secondary market trading was 2/7/20.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 17 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,025.30 | $ 0.82 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,024.40 | $ 0.82 | 0.16 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 17 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
11 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Investor interest in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes of companies continued to grow during the reporting period as the global economy recovered from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. For many investors, the threat to public health from the coronavirus underscored the importance of a reporting system that accounts for the effects of company behavior on global social and environmental well-being. Many countries continued to advance measures to address climate issues, including China, which announced a major emissions trading program after pledging to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. Taiwan pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, partly to prepare its export-driven economy for expected carbon border taxes, such as those recently proposed by the European Commission. Indias 2021 stimulus package advanced green recovery goals, including spending billions on battery and solar development.
In this environment, emerging market stocks with positive ESG characteristics posted significant gains for the reporting period, driven by the information technology sector. Taiwanese stocks contributed the most to the Indexs performance as surging global demand for semiconductors and electronics reinvigorated the local economy and drove robust earnings. Indian software and services companies benefited as businesses increased technology spending on cloud services, cybersecurity measures, and automation processes. In South Korea, robust sales of consumer electronics drove record revenues in the technology hardware and equipment industry.
In terms of relative performance, the Index outperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. Relative to the broader market, the ESG index methodology seeks exposure to companies with higher ESG characteristics within each sector. Consequently, the Index achieved an ESG quality score that was 34.9% higher than the broader market. The Index held underweight positions in China and South Korea and overweight positions in India and South Africa. Stock selection and the underweight position in China contributed the most to the Indexs relative performance, while stock selection in Brazil detracted.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Financials |
20.2 | % | ||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
18.8 | |||
|
Information Technology |
15.5 | |||
|
Communication Services |
10.7 | |||
|
Materials |
8.0 | |||
|
Energy |
6.2 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
6.2 | |||
|
Health Care |
5.2 | |||
|
Industrials |
5.1 | |||
|
Real Estate |
2.4 | |||
|
Utilities |
1.7 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION
|
Country/Geographic Region |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
China |
34.0 | % | ||
|
Taiwan |
15.7 | |||
|
India |
13.6 | |||
|
South Korea |
8.8 | |||
|
South Africa |
5.6 | |||
|
Brazil |
3.6 | |||
|
Russia |
3.5 | |||
|
Thailand |
2.5 | |||
|
Malaysia |
2.2 | |||
|
Mexico |
1.6 | |||
| 12 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. large- and mid-capitalization stocks of companies with high environmental, social, and governance performance relative to their sector peers, as determined by the index provider, as represented by the MSCI USA Extended ESG Leaders 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
33.44 | % | 24.90 | % | 33.44 | % | 67.53 | % | ||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
33.32 | 24.87 | 33.32 | 67.45 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
33.59 | 25.09 | 33.59 | 67.88 | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 5/7/19. The first day of secondary market trading was 5/9/19.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 17 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,207.40 | $ 0.56 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,024.70 | $ 0.51 | 0.10 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 17 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
13 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Investor interest in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes of companies continued to grow during the reporting period as the global economy recovered from the effects of the pandemic. For many investors, the threat to public health from the virus underscored the importance of a reporting system that accounts for the effects of company behavior on global social and environmental well-being. The stimulus bill passed in December 2020 included significant wind and solar power incentives. The new administration also began to review for possible reversal of a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that would curb investment in ESG products, and the DOL announced that it would suspend enforcement of the rule during the review.
In this environment, large- and mid-capitalization U.S. stocks with high ESG characteristics posted significant gains for the reporting period. The information technology sector contributed the most, led by the software and services industry, which benefited from investments to support remote work. Companies in the industry worked toward implementing carbon-neutral or carbon-negative goals.
Communication services stocks also gained amid substantially higher revenues from online advertising, bolstering the interactive media and services industrys profitability. U.S. financials stocks contributed meaningfully to the Indexs return, as robust retail stock trading benefited the diversified financials industry. The consumer discretionary sector advanced amid a rebound in consumer spending, as a rise in home remodeling drove strong gains among home improvement retailers.
In terms of relative performance, the Index outperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI USA Index. Relative to the broader market, the ESG index methodology seeks exposure to companies with higher ESG characteristics within each sector. Consequently, the Index achieved an ESG quality score that was 36.5% higher than the broader market. The Index held an overweight position in the consumer discretionary sector and underweight positions in the utilities and energy sectors. Stock selection in the consumer discretionary and communication services sectors contributed the most to the Indexs relative performance.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Information Technology |
29.0 | % | ||
|
Health Care |
13.5 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
12.3 | |||
|
Communication Services |
12.0 | |||
|
Financials |
11.1 | |||
|
Industrials |
8.4 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
5.9 | |||
|
Materials |
2.9 | |||
|
Real Estate |
2.8 | |||
|
Energy |
1.1 | |||
|
Utilities |
1.0 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
|
Security |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Microsoft Corp. |
10.6 | % | ||
|
Alphabet Inc., Class A |
4.3 | |||
|
Alphabet Inc., Class C |
4.2 | |||
|
Tesla Inc. |
3.0 | |||
|
NVIDIA Corp. |
2.7 | |||
|
Johnson & Johnson |
2.2 | |||
|
Visa Inc., Class A |
1.9 | |||
|
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) |
1.7 | |||
|
Home Depot Inc. (The) |
1.7 | |||
|
Walt Disney Co. (The) |
1.6 | |||
| 14 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Global Impact ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of positive impact companies that derive a majority of their revenue from products and services that address at least one of the worlds major social and environmental challenges as identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as represented by the MSCI ACWI Sustainable Impact 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year | 5 Years |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
23.60 | % | 17.15 | % | 16.40 | % | 23.60 | % | 120.64 | % | 125.88 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
23.60 | 16.23 | 16.44 | 23.60 | 112.11 | 126.34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
23.93 | 17.40 | 16.66 | 23.93 | 123.01 | 128.48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 4/20/16. The first day of secondary market trading was 4/22/16.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 17 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,076.20 | $ 2.56 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,022.70 | $ 2.50 | 0.49 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 17 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
15 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Global Impact ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
The coronavirus pandemic reversed years of progress toward achieving the U.N. sustainable development goals (SDGs), as its economic impact in 2020 led to the first rise in extreme poverty globally since the late 1990s. Nonetheless, a survey of thought leaders indicated that most believed the pandemic increased the priority of the SDGs, providing a framework for progress as the global economy recovers. Investor interest in investments aligned with one or more of the SDGs increased significantly in 2020. Despite the pandemics disruption, many countries continued to monitor their SDG implementation, with 42 nations presenting voluntary progress reviews to the U.N. in 2021.
In this environment, global stocks deriving revenue from sustainable themes related to the SDGs posted strong performance for the reporting period. Stocks in China were the largest contributors to the Indexs performance. The consumer discretionary sector was the leading source of strength, with electric vehicle (EV) makers in the automobile manufacturing industry providing much of the contribution. Despite semiconductor shortages that constrained supply, Chinas EV market grew at a rapid pace.
Stocks in the U.S. also benefited from the ongoing shift toward EVs, as the consumer discretionary sector solidly advanced. Strong deliveries helped the automobile manufacturing industry to report significant earnings growth despite parts shortages and stiff competition.
U.K. materials stocks and Danish industrials stocks also contributed to the Indexs performance. The U.K. chemicals industry gained as the recovering auto market benefited producers of catalysts that filter pollution from diesel engines. In Denmark, large international orders for wind turbines benefited the Danish electrical equipment industry.
In terms of relative performance, the Index outperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI ACWI Index. The positive impact selection process leads to overweight and underweight positions in stocks with higher or lower sustainable impact attributes, respectively. Consequently, the Index had an environmental, social, and governance quality score of 7.5 out of 10, which places it in the 79th percentile among peers. The Index held an overweight position in the consumer staples sector and underweight positions in information technology and financials. Stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector contributed the most to the Indexs relative performance. Positioning in the consumer staples sector and stock selection in industrials were the largest detractors.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
|
Sector |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
Health Care |
19.6 | % | ||
|
Consumer Staples |
19.6 | |||
|
Industrials |
18.0 | |||
|
Materials |
15.8 | |||
|
Real Estate |
11.7 | |||
|
Utilities |
5.6 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
4.6 | |||
|
Information Technology |
3.3 | |||
|
Communication Services |
1.8 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION
|
Country/Geographic Region |
|
Percent of
Total Investments |
(a) |
|
|
United States |
24.0 | % | ||
|
Japan |
14.9 | |||
|
China |
11.8 | |||
|
Denmark |
7.8 | |||
|
United Kingdom |
7.2 | |||
|
Hong Kong |
6.0 | |||
|
Canada |
4.7 | |||
|
Belgium |
4.7 | |||
|
France |
3.8 | |||
|
Sweden |
3.1 | |||
| 16 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| 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 Funds investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or NAV is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such funds NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the funds 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.
As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled Expenses Paid During the Period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Funds actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
A B O U T F U N D P E R F O R M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R E X P E N S E S |
17 |
|
August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Australia 7.5% | ||||||||
|
Afterpay Ltd.(a) |
95,864 | $ | 9,324,634 | |||||
|
APA Group |
1,337,187 | 8,953,898 | ||||||
|
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. |
263,236 | 8,736,981 | ||||||
|
ASX Ltd. |
214,690 | 13,740,606 | ||||||
|
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. |
965,824 | 19,548,464 | ||||||
|
BlueScope Steel Ltd. |
517,727 | 9,465,251 | ||||||
|
Brambles Ltd. |
1,590,597 | 14,059,740 | ||||||
|
Cochlear Ltd. |
69,367 | 11,782,436 | ||||||
|
Coles Group Ltd. |
506,717 | 6,687,260 | ||||||
|
Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
673,916 | 49,102,948 | ||||||
|
Computershare Ltd. |
559,658 | 6,725,175 | ||||||
|
CSL Ltd. |
167,301 | 38,051,390 | ||||||
|
Dexus |
1,351,849 | 10,520,110 | ||||||
|
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. |
876,517 | 13,362,723 | ||||||
|
Glencore PLC |
3,035,287 | 13,682,261 | ||||||
|
Goodman Group |
406,936 | 6,873,197 | ||||||
|
GPT Group (The) |
1,939,520 | 6,866,399 | ||||||
|
Insurance Australia Group Ltd. |
1,701,586 | 6,497,442 | ||||||
|
Lendlease Corp. Ltd. |
771,064 | 6,699,859 | ||||||
|
Macquarie Group Ltd. |
146,052 | 17,726,411 | ||||||
|
Mirvac Group |
4,334,159 | 9,870,554 | ||||||
|
National Australia Bank Ltd. |
980,383 | 19,765,636 | ||||||
|
Newcrest Mining Ltd. |
425,433 | 7,681,099 | ||||||
|
Northern Star Resources Ltd. |
967,747 | 6,884,490 | ||||||
|
QBE Insurance Group Ltd. |
752,991 | 6,479,696 | ||||||
|
Ramsay Health Care Ltd. |
140,594 | 7,059,618 | ||||||
|
Rio Tinto Ltd. |
193,779 | 15,766,847 | ||||||
|
Rio Tinto PLC |
504,278 | 37,308,616 | ||||||
|
Seek Ltd. |
291,682 | 6,909,366 | ||||||
|
Stockland |
2,089,127 | 7,040,129 | ||||||
|
Sydney Airport(a) |
1,489,129 | 8,644,613 | ||||||
|
Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. |
1,861,034 | 6,481,787 | ||||||
|
Transurban Group |
1,541,242 | 15,952,268 | ||||||
|
Wesfarmers Ltd. |
408,265 | 17,831,572 | ||||||
|
Westpac Banking Corp. |
1,231,951 | 23,177,350 | ||||||
|
Woodside Petroleum Ltd. |
1,148,394 | 16,238,871 | ||||||
|
Woolworths Group Ltd. |
339,512 | 10,334,727 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 501,834,424 | ||||||||
| Austria 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Erste Group Bank AG |
167,453 | 6,686,263 | ||||||
|
OMV AG |
265,331 | 14,696,878 | ||||||
|
voestalpine AG |
149,435 | 6,783,595 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 28,166,736 | ||||||||
| Belgium 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV |
333,662 | 20,464,229 | ||||||
|
KBC Group NV |
166,289 | 13,974,925 | ||||||
|
Solvay SA |
50,538 | 6,614,960 | ||||||
|
UCB SA |
56,361 | 6,448,203 | ||||||
|
Umicore SA |
130,957 | 8,617,232 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 56,119,549 | ||||||||
| Denmark 3.0% | ||||||||
|
AP Moller - Maersk A/S, Class A |
3,734 | 10,118,878 | ||||||
|
Carlsberg A/S, Class B |
87,024 | 15,200,046 | ||||||
|
Chr Hansen Holding A/S |
74,545 | 6,879,038 | ||||||
|
Coloplast A/S, Class B |
49,520 | 8,579,756 | ||||||
|
DSV Panalpina A/S |
63,825 | 16,257,620 | ||||||
|
Genmab A/S(a) |
26,824 | 12,707,409 | ||||||
|
GN Store Nord A/S |
87,727 | 6,603,639 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Denmark (continued) | ||||||||
|
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B |
769,021 | $ | 76,986,606 | |||||
|
Novozymes A/S, Class B |
97,172 | 7,855,102 | ||||||
|
Orsted A/S(b) |
94,050 | 14,952,494 | ||||||
|
Pandora A/S |
53,082 | 6,362,627 | ||||||
|
Vestas Wind Systems A/S |
484,556 | 19,564,731 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 202,067,946 | ||||||||
| Finland 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Elisa OYJ |
100,803 | 6,460,531 | ||||||
|
Kesko OYJ, Class B |
243,702 | 10,084,269 | ||||||
|
Neste OYJ |
258,454 | 15,742,931 | ||||||
|
Nokia OYJ(a) |
2,264,903 | 13,605,568 | ||||||
|
Nordea Bank Abp |
665,420 | 7,815,387 | ||||||
|
Orion OYJ, Class B |
161,126 | 6,572,347 | ||||||
|
UPM-Kymmene OYJ |
394,378 | 16,066,395 | ||||||
|
Wartsila OYJ Abp |
499,414 | 7,084,768 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 83,432,196 | ||||||||
| France 10.7% | ||||||||
|
Air Liquide SA |
102,497 | 18,371,804 | ||||||
|
Airbus SE(a) |
164,835 | 22,548,795 | ||||||
|
Alstom SA |
152,298 | 6,547,772 | ||||||
|
Amundi SA(b) |
71,285 | 6,746,634 | ||||||
|
Atos SE |
130,437 | 6,781,607 | ||||||
|
AXA SA |
1,181,636 | 33,196,281 | ||||||
|
BNP Paribas SA |
439,354 | 27,833,013 | ||||||
|
Bouygues SA |
163,702 | 6,854,813 | ||||||
|
Capgemini SE |
66,187 | 14,877,999 | ||||||
|
Carrefour SA |
328,535 | 6,540,508 | ||||||
|
Cie. de Saint-Gobain |
169,449 | 12,283,856 | ||||||
|
Cie. Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA |
107,947 | 17,476,184 | ||||||
|
CNP Assurances |
387,691 | 6,643,053 | ||||||
|
Covivio |
59,519 | 5,658,711 | ||||||
|
Danone SA |
334,440 | 24,422,742 | ||||||
|
Dassault Systemes SE |
329,925 | 18,843,997 | ||||||
|
Edenred |
117,961 | 6,690,688 | ||||||
|
Eiffage SA |
65,873 | 6,854,004 | ||||||
|
Engie SA |
461,120 | 6,607,754 | ||||||
|
EssilorLuxottica SA |
98,049 | 19,265,650 | ||||||
|
Gecina SA |
68,771 | 10,690,289 | ||||||
|
Hermes International |
4,619 | 6,798,282 | ||||||
|
Kering SA |
31,423 | 25,029,066 | ||||||
|
Klepierre SA |
263,541 | 6,441,346 | ||||||
|
Legrand SA |
86,528 | 9,927,727 | ||||||
|
LOreal SA |
125,367 | 58,814,566 | ||||||
|
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE |
98,435 | 72,921,638 | ||||||
|
Pernod Ricard SA |
90,120 | 18,970,970 | ||||||
|
Publicis Groupe SA |
104,701 | 6,873,627 | ||||||
|
Safran SA |
131,115 | 16,447,799 | ||||||
|
Sanofi |
273,507 | 28,345,886 | ||||||
|
Schneider Electric SE |
266,735 | 47,656,604 | ||||||
|
Societe Generale SA |
550,967 | 17,341,196 | ||||||
|
Teleperformance |
29,606 | 13,097,266 | ||||||
|
Thales SA |
67,849 | 6,891,257 | ||||||
|
TotalEnergies SE |
1,081,745 | 47,848,409 | ||||||
|
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield(a) |
77,915 | 6,827,671 | ||||||
|
Valeo |
250,964 | 7,163,155 | ||||||
|
Vinci SA |
113,683 | 12,197,216 | ||||||
|
Vivendi SE |
333,904 | 12,718,924 | ||||||
|
Worldline SA(a)(b) |
90,568 | 8,064,444 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 716,113,203 | ||||||||
| 18 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Germany 8.6% | ||||||||
|
adidas AG |
89,801 | $ | 31,856,881 | |||||
|
Allianz SE, Registered |
213,730 | 50,175,632 | ||||||
|
BASF SE |
356,851 | 27,605,712 | ||||||
|
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG |
176,615 | 16,764,073 | ||||||
|
Beiersdorf AG |
56,421 | 6,847,483 | ||||||
|
Brenntag SE |
74,400 | 7,508,323 | ||||||
|
Commerzbank AG(a) |
1,067,197 | 6,678,945 | ||||||
|
Continental AG(a) |
9,867 | 1,326,003 | ||||||
|
Daimler AG, Registered |
271,278 | 22,883,588 | ||||||
|
Delivery Hero SE(a)(b) |
64,088 | 9,301,139 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Bank AG, Registered(a) |
810,068 | 10,017,382 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Boerse AG |
120,127 | 20,716,733 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Post AG, Registered |
446,178 | 31,370,366 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Telekom AG, Registered |
526,419 | 11,193,380 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Wohnen SE |
135,900 | 8,435,733 | ||||||
|
E.ON SE |
1,181,722 | 15,591,118 | ||||||
|
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA |
120,416 | 6,260,817 | ||||||
|
HeidelbergCement AG |
94,737 | 8,216,206 | ||||||
|
HelloFresh SE(a) |
66,066 | 7,133,003 | ||||||
|
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA |
75,897 | 6,831,098 | ||||||
|
Infineon Technologies AG |
585,824 | 24,943,074 | ||||||
|
LEG Immobilien SE |
42,590 | 6,793,444 | ||||||
|
Merck KGaA |
95,218 | 22,623,481 | ||||||
|
MTU Aero Engines AG |
34,445 | 7,905,023 | ||||||
|
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG in Muenchen, Registered |
60,745 | 17,729,549 | ||||||
|
Puma SE |
97,497 | 11,837,576 | ||||||
|
SAP SE |
495,644 | 74,450,659 | ||||||
|
Siemens AG, Registered |
314,127 | 52,112,032 | ||||||
|
Symrise AG |
44,821 | 6,378,473 | ||||||
|
TeamViewer AG(a)(b) |
200,902 | 6,693,358 | ||||||
|
Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG |
2,282,341 | 6,406,812 | ||||||
|
Volkswagen AG |
20,574 | 6,883,899 | ||||||
|
Vonovia SE |
142,367 | 9,611,319 | ||||||
|
Zalando SE(a)(b) |
106,106 | 11,764,480 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 572,846,794 | ||||||||
| Hong Kong 2.8% | ||||||||
|
AIA Group Ltd. |
4,923,400 | 58,788,964 | ||||||
|
BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. |
4,261,000 | 12,894,519 | ||||||
|
Hang Seng Bank Ltd. |
635,800 | 11,366,431 | ||||||
|
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. |
505,600 | 31,940,799 | ||||||
|
MTR Corp. Ltd.(c) |
3,161,000 | 17,795,056 | ||||||
|
Sands China Ltd.(a) |
3,702,400 | 11,894,326 | ||||||
|
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. |
668,500 | 9,428,506 | ||||||
|
Swire Pacific Ltd., Class A |
1,404,000 | 9,504,837 | ||||||
|
Swire Properties Ltd. |
4,183,400 | 11,306,551 | ||||||
|
Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. |
473,000 | 10,468,540 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 185,388,529 | ||||||||
| Ireland 0.9% | ||||||||
|
CRH PLC |
445,846 | 23,619,108 | ||||||
|
Flutter Entertainment PLC, Class DI(a) |
61,487 | 11,953,399 | ||||||
|
Kerry Group PLC, Class A |
100,605 | 14,753,644 | ||||||
|
Kingspan Group PLC |
64,336 | 7,346,856 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 57,673,007 | ||||||||
| Israel 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Bank Hapoalim BM |
1,020,957 | 8,782,916 | ||||||
|
Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM |
778,179 | 6,428,702 | ||||||
|
CyberArk Software Ltd.(a)(c) |
42,140 | 7,076,991 | ||||||
|
Isracard Ltd. |
1 | 5 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Israel (continued) | ||||||||
|
Nice Ltd.(a) |
23,387 | $ | 6,822,606 | |||||
|
Wix.com Ltd.(a)(c) |
39,187 | 8,702,649 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 37,813,869 | ||||||||
| Italy 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Amplifon SpA |
130,397 | 6,820,724 | ||||||
|
Assicurazioni Generali SpA |
529,158 | 10,795,374 | ||||||
|
CNH Industrial NV |
655,024 | 10,828,095 | ||||||
|
Enel SpA |
4,493,275 | 40,935,703 | ||||||
|
Eni SpA |
1,367,883 | 16,876,381 | ||||||
|
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA |
13,277,965 | 37,574,716 | ||||||
|
Snam SpA |
1,053,688 | 6,230,040 | ||||||
|
Terna - Rete Elettrica Nazionale |
859,414 | 6,798,016 | ||||||
|
UniCredit SpA |
555,930 | 6,931,898 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 143,790,947 | ||||||||
| Japan 22.5% | ||||||||
|
Advantest Corp. |
82,500 | 7,107,508 | ||||||
|
Aeon Co. Ltd. |
403,700 | 10,687,114 | ||||||
|
Ajinomoto Co. Inc. |
249,300 | 7,348,457 | ||||||
|
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. |
218,900 | 10,175,483 | ||||||
|
Asahi Kasei Corp. |
1,063,800 | 10,967,859 | ||||||
|
Astellas Pharma Inc. |
1,038,100 | 17,491,891 | ||||||
|
Azbil Corp. |
208,900 | 9,058,735 | ||||||
|
Bridgestone Corp. |
236,300 | 10,877,747 | ||||||
|
Canon Inc. |
281,200 | 6,690,346 | ||||||
|
Central Japan Railway Co. |
46,600 | 6,820,834 | ||||||
|
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
334,700 | 13,077,710 | ||||||
|
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. |
294,300 | 6,992,499 | ||||||
|
Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. |
411,500 | 8,142,459 | ||||||
|
Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. |
814,100 | 19,336,843 | ||||||
|
Daikin Industries Ltd. |
113,900 | 28,423,351 | ||||||
|
Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd. |
217,300 | 6,626,289 | ||||||
|
Daiwa Securities Group Inc. |
1,230,500 | 6,960,954 | ||||||
|
Denso Corp. |
243,700 | 17,057,289 | ||||||
|
East Japan Railway Co. |
177,000 | 11,896,918 | ||||||
|
Eisai Co. Ltd. |
145,000 | 11,958,111 | ||||||
|
ENEOS Holdings Inc. |
2,550,900 | 9,859,016 | ||||||
|
Fanuc Corp. |
59,000 | 12,853,799 | ||||||
|
Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. |
24,300 | 16,005,873 | ||||||
|
FUJIFILM Holdings Corp. |
173,600 | 14,285,921 | ||||||
|
Fujitsu Ltd. |
122,300 | 22,513,822 | ||||||
|
Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc. |
238,700 | 7,142,984 | ||||||
|
Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. |
236,100 | 6,764,083 | ||||||
|
Hitachi Ltd. |
413,000 | 22,825,065 | ||||||
|
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. |
570,600 | 17,270,131 | ||||||
|
Hoya Corp. |
144,400 | 23,318,299 | ||||||
|
Ibiden Co. Ltd. |
158,700 | 8,539,061 | ||||||
|
Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. |
277,800 | 6,653,467 | ||||||
|
Inpex Corp. |
1,389,300 | 9,545,729 | ||||||
|
Itochu Corp. |
1,203,900 | 36,214,659 | ||||||
|
JFE Holdings Inc. |
469,500 | 7,615,228 | ||||||
|
Kao Corp. |
213,900 | 12,920,963 | ||||||
|
KDDI Corp. |
1,058,500 | 32,353,452 | ||||||
|
Keio Corp. |
120,400 | 6,478,683 | ||||||
|
Keyence Corp. |
63,400 | 38,061,103 | ||||||
|
Kikkoman Corp. |
102,000 | 7,657,662 | ||||||
|
Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. |
392,700 | 7,114,442 | ||||||
|
Komatsu Ltd. |
619,200 | 15,060,623 | ||||||
|
Kubota Corp. |
454,000 | 9,380,392 | ||||||
|
Kurita Water Industries Ltd. |
151,600 | 7,110,242 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
19 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Japan (continued) | ||||||||
|
Kyocera Corp. |
161,000 | $ | 10,008,890 | |||||
|
Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. |
200,000 | 6,544,152 | ||||||
|
Lawson Inc. |
126,600 | 6,088,984 | ||||||
|
Lixil Corp. |
238,400 | 6,937,849 | ||||||
|
M3 Inc. |
103,900 | 6,968,309 | ||||||
|
Marubeni Corp. |
818,100 | 6,509,059 | ||||||
|
Mazda Motor Corp.(a) |
738,800 | 6,413,387 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. |
788,700 | 6,924,832 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Corp. |
270,500 | 8,140,012 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. |
497,500 | 6,801,373 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. |
251,200 | 6,636,420 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. |
2,908,500 | 15,779,894 | ||||||
|
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. |
192,400 | 6,642,110 | ||||||
|
Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd. |
396,900 | 9,108,049 | ||||||
|
Miura Co. Ltd. |
149,200 | 6,698,297 | ||||||
|
Mizuho Financial Group Inc. |
918,900 | 12,875,467 | ||||||
|
MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. |
339,700 | 10,995,705 | ||||||
|
Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
221,300 | 18,243,481 | ||||||
|
Nabtesco Corp. |
164,900 | 6,521,023 | ||||||
|
NEC Corp. |
131,900 | 6,922,531 | ||||||
|
Nidec Corp. |
132,500 | 15,135,302 | ||||||
|
Nintendo Co. Ltd. |
43,308 | 20,806,858 | ||||||
|
Nippon Building Fund Inc. |
1,004 | 6,519,910 | ||||||
|
Nippon Express Co. Ltd. |
99,700 | 6,779,267 | ||||||
|
Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Ltd. |
515,400 | 6,400,859 | ||||||
|
Nippon Steel Corp. |
366,900 | 7,498,736 | ||||||
|
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. |
504,200 | 13,433,291 | ||||||
|
Nippon Yusen KK |
122,200 | 9,826,696 | ||||||
|
Nitto Denko Corp. |
89,500 | 6,789,545 | ||||||
|
Nomura Holdings Inc. |
1,943,600 | 9,386,113 | ||||||
|
Nomura Research Institute Ltd. |
274,500 | 10,293,846 | ||||||
|
NTT Data Corp. |
383,600 | 6,903,650 | ||||||
|
Obayashi Corp. |
784,400 | 6,454,342 | ||||||
|
Odakyu Electric Railway Co. Ltd. |
279,900 | 6,521,577 | ||||||
|
Omron Corp. |
230,100 | 21,681,412 | ||||||
|
Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
275,000 | 6,602,866 | ||||||
|
Oriental Land Co. Ltd. |
79,900 | 12,088,533 | ||||||
|
ORIX Corp. |
608,900 | 11,360,534 | ||||||
|
Panasonic Corp. |
1,206,000 | 14,417,811 | ||||||
|
Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd. |
518,600 | 30,536,282 | ||||||
|
Resona Holdings Inc. |
2,085,400 | 8,064,540 | ||||||
|
Rohm Co. Ltd. |
75,500 | 7,258,336 | ||||||
|
Secom Co. Ltd. |
124,600 | 9,448,759 | ||||||
|
Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. |
384,100 | 6,573,564 | ||||||
|
Sekisui House Ltd. |
483,400 | 9,630,875 | ||||||
|
Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. |
210,200 | 9,172,357 | ||||||
|
SG Holdings Co. Ltd. |
252,400 | 6,852,036 | ||||||
|
Shimadzu Corp. |
153,100 | 6,859,967 | ||||||
|
Shimizu Corp. |
861,200 | 6,179,946 | ||||||
|
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. |
97,400 | 16,087,346 | ||||||
|
Shionogi & Co. Ltd. |
175,900 | 11,051,918 | ||||||
|
Shiseido Co. Ltd. |
119,100 | 7,893,840 | ||||||
|
Softbank Corp. |
1,436,200 | 19,220,425 | ||||||
|
SoftBank Group Corp. |
436,900 | 24,620,959 | ||||||
|
Sohgo Security Services Co. Ltd. |
140,000 | 6,342,215 | ||||||
|
Sompo Holdings Inc. |
242,200 | 10,646,552 | ||||||
|
Sony Group Corp. |
589,900 | 60,992,924 | ||||||
|
Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. |
252,700 | 6,306,206 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. |
2,195,800 | 11,131,863 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. |
228,300 | 8,748,677 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Japan (continued) | ||||||||
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. |
332,500 | $ | 11,476,470 | |||||
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. |
295,300 | 9,645,441 | ||||||
|
Sysmex Corp. |
137,900 | 15,671,825 | ||||||
|
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
686,194 | 22,840,307 | ||||||
|
TDK Corp. |
62,400 | 6,540,237 | ||||||
|
Terumo Corp. |
271,500 | 11,329,891 | ||||||
|
Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. |
203,000 | 9,932,649 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Century Corp. |
125,000 | 7,147,746 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Electron Ltd. |
70,300 | 30,112,551 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. |
344,900 | 6,629,929 | ||||||
|
Tokyu Corp. |
517,300 | 7,113,239 | ||||||
|
Toray Industries Inc. |
1,202,600 | 8,108,791 | ||||||
|
Toshiba Corp. |
159,100 | 6,900,922 | ||||||
|
TOTO Ltd. |
119,000 | 6,476,480 | ||||||
|
Toyota Motor Corp. |
816,300 | 71,094,291 | ||||||
|
West Japan Railway Co. |
129,300 | 7,061,937 | ||||||
|
Yamaha Corp. |
117,200 | 6,910,234 | ||||||
|
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. |
360,400 | 9,169,192 | ||||||
|
Yaskawa Electric Corp. |
150,100 | 7,326,248 | ||||||
|
Yokogawa Electric Corp. |
419,600 | 6,563,890 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,507,575,925 | ||||||||
| Netherlands 5.6% | ||||||||
|
Adyen NV(a)(b) |
6,973 | 22,537,258 | ||||||
|
Aegon NV |
1,333,924 | 6,586,570 | ||||||
|
Akzo Nobel NV |
127,852 | 15,756,389 | ||||||
|
ArcelorMittal SA |
200,700 | 6,731,474 | ||||||
|
Argenx SE(a) |
23,630 | 7,883,980 | ||||||
|
ASM International NV |
18,160 | 7,045,947 | ||||||
|
ASML Holding NV |
179,029 | 149,307,919 | ||||||
|
Heineken NV |
132,205 | 14,479,357 | ||||||
|
ING Groep NV |
1,601,804 | 22,095,887 | ||||||
|
Just Eat Takeaway.com NV(a)(b) |
68,290 | 6,186,198 | ||||||
|
Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV |
282,925 | 9,545,167 | ||||||
|
Koninklijke DSM NV |
95,675 | 20,368,930 | ||||||
|
Koninklijke KPN NV |
2,463,276 | 7,890,779 | ||||||
|
Koninklijke Vopak NV |
154,722 | 6,700,980 | ||||||
|
NN Group NV |
130,839 | 6,786,978 | ||||||
|
Prosus NV |
352,603 | 31,210,832 | ||||||
|
Randstad NV |
92,538 | 6,815,068 | ||||||
|
Stellantis NV |
477,021 | 9,542,348 | ||||||
|
Wolters Kluwer NV |
163,873 | 18,845,519 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 376,317,580 | ||||||||
| New Zealand 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. |
307,472 | 7,175,755 | ||||||
|
Meridian Energy Ltd. |
1,820,070 | 6,722,236 | ||||||
|
Ryman Healthcare Ltd. |
651,685 | 7,116,744 | ||||||
|
Xero Ltd.(a) |
70,825 | 7,833,479 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 28,848,214 | ||||||||
| Norway 1.0% | ||||||||
|
DNB Bank ASA |
1,436 | 30,490 | ||||||
|
DNB Bank ASA, New |
313,897 | 6,625,343 | ||||||
|
Equinor ASA |
924,388 | 19,591,599 | ||||||
|
Mowi ASA |
270,781 | 7,252,951 | ||||||
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
1,158,222 | 7,995,485 | ||||||
|
Orkla ASA |
987,959 | 8,824,825 | ||||||
|
Telenor ASA |
775,600 | 13,587,704 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 63,908,397 | ||||||||
| Portugal 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Galp Energia SGPS SA |
1,241,046 | 12,694,553 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Singapore 1.1% | ||||||||
|
CapitaLand Ltd. |
3,424,700 | $ | 10,161,005 | |||||
|
City Developments Ltd. |
1,750,100 | 8,880,886 | ||||||
|
DBS Group Holdings Ltd. |
836,000 | 18,536,690 | ||||||
|
Keppel Corp. Ltd. |
2,647,800 | 10,207,423 | ||||||
|
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd. |
2,053,800 | 17,380,093 | ||||||
|
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. |
5,414,000 | 9,320,456 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 74,486,553 | ||||||||
| Spain 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Amadeus IT Group SA(a) |
179,533 | 10,965,495 | ||||||
|
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA |
3,625,348 | 23,727,873 | ||||||
|
Banco Santander SA |
4,013,117 | 14,797,380 | ||||||
|
CaixaBank SA |
2,269,431 | 7,049,862 | ||||||
|
Cellnex Telecom SA(b) |
144,884 | 9,917,057 | ||||||
|
Iberdrola SA |
2,967,171 | 36,767,602 | ||||||
|
Industria de Diseno Textil SA |
731,874 | 25,001,843 | ||||||
|
Naturgy Energy Group SA |
410,235 | 10,552,268 | ||||||
|
Red Electrica Corp. SA |
174,858 | 3,487,286 | ||||||
|
Repsol SA |
1,022,759 | 11,736,320 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 154,002,986 | ||||||||
| Sweden 3.7% | ||||||||
|
Alfa Laval AB |
164,264 | 6,669,957 | ||||||
|
Assa Abloy AB, Class B |
374,231 | 11,975,649 | ||||||
|
Atlas Copco AB, Class A |
249,199 | 17,131,755 | ||||||
|
Atlas Copco AB, Class B |
149,667 | 8,667,367 | ||||||
|
Boliden AB |
427,611 | 14,929,304 | ||||||
|
Epiroc AB, Class A |
319,169 | 7,003,828 | ||||||
|
Epiroc AB, Class B |
336,657 | 6,398,125 | ||||||
|
Essity AB, Class B |
427,892 | 13,734,361 | ||||||
|
Evolution AB(b) |
68,235 | 11,016,699 | ||||||
|
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B(a) |
382,986 | 7,690,594 | ||||||
|
ICA Gruppen AB |
147,869 | 7,356,223 | ||||||
|
Investor AB, Class B |
439,011 | 10,500,548 | ||||||
|
Kinnevik AB, Class B(a) |
167,369 | 6,557,698 | ||||||
|
Nibe Industrier AB, Class B |
686,895 | 9,574,124 | ||||||
|
Sandvik AB |
490,031 | 12,505,151 | ||||||
|
Sinch AB(a)(b) |
337,794 | 7,594,112 | ||||||
|
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Class A |
493,585 | 6,619,937 | ||||||
|
SKF AB, Class B |
270,971 | 6,920,463 | ||||||
|
Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B |
537,634 | 9,501,839 | ||||||
|
Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A |
593,038 | 6,663,789 | ||||||
|
Swedbank AB, Class A |
352,387 | 6,793,148 | ||||||
|
Tele2 AB, Class B |
668,719 | 10,039,563 | ||||||
|
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B |
1,211,166 | 14,346,386 | ||||||
|
Telia Co. AB |
2,758,995 | 11,861,926 | ||||||
|
Volvo AB, Class A |
316,323 | 7,338,511 | ||||||
|
Volvo AB, Class B |
305,837 | 6,925,004 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 246,316,061 | ||||||||
| Switzerland 10.3% | ||||||||
|
ABB Ltd., Registered |
832,186 | 30,786,417 | ||||||
|
Alcon Inc. |
190,823 | 15,715,972 | ||||||
|
Barry Callebaut AG, Registered |
2,600 | 6,623,611 | ||||||
|
Coca-Cola HBC AG, Class DI |
186,809 | 6,761,534 | ||||||
|
Credit Suisse Group AG, Registered |
979,528 | 10,376,645 | ||||||
|
Geberit AG, Registered |
16,883 | 14,099,084 | ||||||
|
Givaudan SA, Registered |
5,670 | 28,446,261 | ||||||
|
Julius Baer Group Ltd. |
96,208 | 6,566,541 | ||||||
|
Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Registered |
46,188 | 16,880,225 | ||||||
|
Logitech International SA, Registered |
85,625 | 8,767,132 | ||||||
|
Lonza Group AG, Registered |
44,467 | 37,606,907 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Switzerland (continued) | ||||||||
|
Nestle SA, Registered |
1,128,268 | $ | 142,487,542 | |||||
|
Novartis AG, Registered |
764,953 | 70,751,166 | ||||||
|
Partners Group Holding AG |
6,363 | 11,281,622 | ||||||
|
Roche Holding AG, Bearer |
35,273 | 15,789,980 | ||||||
|
Roche Holding AG, NVS |
256,722 | 103,087,974 | ||||||
|
SGS SA, Registered |
5,328 | 16,745,046 | ||||||
|
Sika AG, Registered |
40,134 | 14,460,532 | ||||||
|
Sonova Holding AG, Registered |
30,618 | 11,799,211 | ||||||
|
STMicroelectronics NV |
305,881 | 13,625,989 | ||||||
|
Straumann Holding AG, Registered |
4,742 | 9,162,686 | ||||||
|
Swiss Life Holding AG, Registered |
14,223 | 7,413,438 | ||||||
|
Swiss Re AG |
183,199 | 16,843,698 | ||||||
|
Swisscom AG, Registered |
15,607 | 9,160,327 | ||||||
|
Temenos AG, Registered |
44,306 | 7,029,651 | ||||||
|
UBS Group AG, Registered |
1,429,266 | 23,841,925 | ||||||
|
Vifor Pharma AG |
59,205 | 8,429,953 | ||||||
|
Zurich Insurance Group AG |
59,903 | 26,284,914 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 690,825,983 | ||||||||
| United Kingdom 13.2% | ||||||||
|
3i Group PLC |
543,443 | 9,994,506 | ||||||
|
Abrdn PLC |
1,819,690 | 6,648,611 | ||||||
|
Antofagasta PLC |
548,888 | 10,995,242 | ||||||
|
Ashtead Group PLC |
197,314 | 15,424,604 | ||||||
|
Associated British Foods PLC |
238,170 | 6,493,936 | ||||||
|
AstraZeneca PLC |
608,002 | 71,101,834 | ||||||
|
Aviva PLC |
1,526,766 | 8,485,939 | ||||||
|
BAE Systems PLC |
1,581,016 | 12,351,871 | ||||||
|
Barclays PLC |
5,838,981 | 14,804,206 | ||||||
|
Barratt Developments PLC |
932,277 | 9,482,750 | ||||||
|
Berkeley Group Holdings PLC |
136,155 | 9,044,042 | ||||||
|
BP PLC |
10,797,717 | 43,928,291 | ||||||
|
British Land Co. PLC (The) |
1,034,666 | 7,559,000 | ||||||
|
BT Group PLC(a) |
4,122,686 | 9,637,208 | ||||||
|
Burberry Group PLC |
352,117 | 9,016,204 | ||||||
|
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC |
128,859 | 7,440,319 | ||||||
|
Compass Group PLC(a) |
572,907 | 11,836,231 | ||||||
|
Croda International PLC |
124,336 | 15,651,613 | ||||||
|
DCC PLC |
79,833 | 6,786,136 | ||||||
|
Diageo PLC |
1,171,386 | 56,311,648 | ||||||
|
Entain PLC(a) |
295,932 | 7,864,637 | ||||||
|
Experian PLC |
169,848 | 7,492,013 | ||||||
|
Ferguson PLC |
143,692 | 20,768,984 | ||||||
|
GlaxoSmithKline PLC |
2,147,219 | 43,192,608 | ||||||
|
HSBC Holdings PLC |
8,136,992 | 42,970,270 | ||||||
|
Informa PLC(a) |
931,054 | 6,804,192 | ||||||
|
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC(a) |
106,416 | 6,799,352 | ||||||
|
Intertek Group PLC |
90,799 | 6,583,555 | ||||||
|
J Sainsbury PLC |
1,942,653 | 8,119,517 | ||||||
|
Johnson Matthey PLC |
188,322 | 7,613,630 | ||||||
|
Kingfisher PLC |
1,722,483 | 8,293,791 | ||||||
|
Legal & General Group PLC |
2,613,036 | 9,706,467 | ||||||
|
Lloyds Banking Group PLC |
30,844,098 | 18,464,935 | ||||||
|
London Stock Exchange Group PLC |
122,882 | 13,460,970 | ||||||
|
Mondi PLC |
474,600 | 13,091,808 | ||||||
|
National Grid PLC |
1,987,549 | 25,707,388 | ||||||
|
Natwest Group PLC |
2,977,904 | 8,695,370 | ||||||
|
Next PLC |
62,965 | 6,847,505 | ||||||
|
Ocado Group PLC(a) |
250,750 | 6,949,593 | ||||||
|
Pearson PLC |
621,597 | 6,555,115 | ||||||
|
Prudential PLC |
861,476 | 17,948,528 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
21 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| United Kingdom (continued) | ||||||||
|
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC |
289,862 | $ | 22,128,413 | |||||
|
RELX PLC |
1,021,603 | 30,659,500 | ||||||
|
Rentokil Initial PLC |
879,743 | 7,027,836 | ||||||
|
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC(a) |
854,346 | 1,347,322 | ||||||
|
Sage Group PLC (The) |
655,617 | 6,695,504 | ||||||
|
Schroders PLC |
172,431 | 8,964,736 | ||||||
|
Segro PLC |
991,824 | 17,529,579 | ||||||
|
Smiths Group PLC |
334,868 | 6,646,121 | ||||||
|
Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC |
30,563 | 6,777,512 | ||||||
|
SSE PLC |
638,058 | 14,333,478 | ||||||
|
St. Jamess Place PLC |
337,561 | 7,475,200 | ||||||
|
Standard Chartered PLC |
1,211,678 | 7,556,187 | ||||||
|
Taylor Wimpey PLC |
2,763,479 | 6,956,467 | ||||||
|
Tesco PLC |
2,978,680 | 10,457,016 | ||||||
|
Unilever PLC |
982,891 | 54,727,266 | ||||||
|
Vodafone Group PLC |
10,693,806 | 17,961,002 | ||||||
|
Whitbread PLC(a) |
158,951 | 7,019,173 | ||||||
|
Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC |
2,036,476 | 8,100,205 | ||||||
|
WPP PLC |
553,617 | 7,506,409 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 886,793,345 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.0%
|
|
6,627,016,797 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Germany 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Preference Shares, NVS |
65,020 | 6,352,656 | ||||||
|
Sartorius AG, Preference Shares, NVS |
11,488 | 7,568,440 | ||||||
|
Volkswagen AG, Preference Shares, NVS |
28,817 | 6,854,254 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20,775,350 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Preferred Stocks 0.3%
|
|
20,775,350 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.2% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
|
11,004,457 | $ | 11,009,959 | |||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
|
1,190,000 | 1,190,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,199,959 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.2%
|
|
12,199,959 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.5%
|
|
6,659,992,106 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.5% |
|
34,676,481 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 6,694,668,587 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (f) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Distributions
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 18,348,810 | $ | | $ | (7,329,447 | )(a) | $ | (10,264 | ) | $ | 860 | $ | 11,009,959 | 11,004,457 | $ | 143,718 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
430,000 | 760,000 | (a) | | | | 1,190,000 | 1,190,000 | 465 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (10,264 | ) | $ | 860 | $ | 12,199,959 | $ | 144,183 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
| 22 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF
|
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
TOPIX Index |
75 | 09/09/21 | $ | 13,393 | $ | 95,851 | ||||||||||
|
ASX SPI 200 Index |
45 | 09/16/21 | 6,154 | 138,898 | ||||||||||||
|
Euro STOXX 50 Index |
386 | 09/17/21 | 19,058 | 201,264 | ||||||||||||
|
FTSE 100 Index |
98 | 09/17/21 | 9,561 | 26,115 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| $ | 462,128 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts
|
$ | 462,128 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 6,670,558 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 386,284 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 33,012,983 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
23 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE 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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 71,804,085 | $ | 6,555,212,712 | $ | | $ | 6,627,016,797 | ||||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
| 20,775,350 | | 20,775,350 | ||||||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
12,199,959 | | | 12,199,959 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 84,004,044 | $ | 6,575,988,062 | $ | | $ | 6,659,992,106 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 462,128 | $ | | $ | 462,128 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 24 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Aerospace & Defense 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Howmet Aerospace Inc. |
678,826 | $ | 21,552,726 | |||||
|
Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. |
207,885 | 42,443,880 | ||||||
|
L3Harris Technologies Inc. |
254,173 | 59,224,851 | ||||||
|
Raytheon Technologies Corp. |
1,197,765 | 101,522,561 | ||||||
|
TransDigm Group Inc.(a) |
36,567 | 22,213,356 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 246,957,374 | ||||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 0.9% | ||||||||
|
CH Robinson Worldwide Inc. |
408,596 | 36,798,156 | ||||||
|
Expeditors International of Washington Inc. |
595,185 | 74,183,858 | ||||||
|
FedEx Corp. |
107,536 | 28,571,240 | ||||||
|
United Parcel Service Inc., Class B |
340,677 | 66,646,641 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 206,199,895 | ||||||||
| Auto Components 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Aptiv PLC(a) |
346,795 | 52,778,731 | ||||||
|
BorgWarner Inc. |
506,890 | 21,634,065 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 74,412,796 | ||||||||
| Automobiles 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Tesla Inc.(a) |
452,785 | 333,122,980 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 3.8% | ||||||||
|
Bank of America Corp. |
4,463,629 | 186,356,511 | ||||||
|
Citigroup Inc. |
1,636,335 | 117,668,850 | ||||||
|
Huntington Bancshares Inc./OH |
3,424,258 | 53,178,727 | ||||||
|
JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
1,671,171 | 267,303,801 | ||||||
|
KeyCorp |
1,091,829 | 22,185,965 | ||||||
|
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (The) |
215,361 | 41,155,487 | ||||||
|
Regions Financial Corp. |
2,392,869 | 48,886,314 | ||||||
|
SVB Financial Group(a) |
42,263 | 23,646,148 | ||||||
|
Truist Financial Corp. |
999,920 | 57,055,435 | ||||||
|
U.S. Bancorp. |
514,622 | 29,534,157 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 846,971,395 | ||||||||
| Beverages 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Brown-Forman Corp., Class B, NVS |
313,139 | 21,988,621 | ||||||
|
Coca-Cola Co. (The) |
2,942,006 | 165,664,358 | ||||||
|
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. |
765,247 | 27,296,361 | ||||||
|
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B |
536,297 | 25,490,196 | ||||||
|
PepsiCo Inc. |
1,053,606 | 164,773,442 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 405,212,978 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology 2.2% | ||||||||
|
AbbVie Inc. |
869,160 | 104,977,145 | ||||||
|
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
109,407 | 22,037,852 | ||||||
|
Amgen Inc. |
441,749 | 99,627,652 | ||||||
|
Biogen Inc.(a) |
124,156 | 42,077,710 | ||||||
|
Gilead Sciences Inc. |
1,029,499 | 74,926,937 | ||||||
|
Moderna Inc.(a) |
176,328 | 66,420,994 | ||||||
|
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
44,627 | 30,051,822 | ||||||
|
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
229,084 | 45,883,234 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 486,003,346 | ||||||||
| Building Products 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Allegion PLC |
153,713 | 22,133,135 | ||||||
|
Carrier Global Corp. |
680,721 | 39,209,530 | ||||||
|
Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. |
221,325 | 21,550,415 | ||||||
|
Johnson Controls International PLC |
1,246,675 | 93,251,290 | ||||||
|
Owens Corning |
235,325 | 22,485,304 | ||||||
|
Trane Technologies PLC |
335,829 | 66,662,056 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 265,291,730 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Capital Markets 3.3% | ||||||||
|
Ameriprise Financial Inc. |
82,779 | $ | 22,591,218 | |||||
|
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The) |
952,776 | 52,612,291 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Inc.(b) |
131,812 | 124,336,941 | ||||||
|
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) |
643,133 | 46,852,239 | ||||||
|
CME Group Inc. |
222,349 | 44,852,240 | ||||||
|
FactSet Research Systems Inc. |
59,029 | 22,444,006 | ||||||
|
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (The) |
125,496 | 51,893,851 | ||||||
|
Invesco Ltd. |
920,269 | 23,301,211 | ||||||
|
Moodys Corp. |
121,132 | 46,123,432 | ||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
1,149,367 | 120,028,396 | ||||||
|
Northern Trust Corp. |
368,558 | 43,681,494 | ||||||
|
S&P Global Inc. |
144,307 | 64,046,333 | ||||||
|
State Street Corp. |
436,730 | 40,576,584 | ||||||
|
T Rowe Price Group Inc. |
187,806 | 42,044,129 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 745,384,365 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. |
79,423 | 21,405,293 | ||||||
|
Dow Inc. |
458,355 | 28,830,530 | ||||||
|
DuPont de Nemours Inc. |
398,394 | 29,489,124 | ||||||
|
Ecolab Inc. |
368,935 | 83,143,192 | ||||||
|
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. |
203,849 | 30,883,123 | ||||||
|
Linde PLC |
344,965 | 108,522,539 | ||||||
|
LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A |
221,585 | 22,236,055 | ||||||
|
Mosaic Co. (The) |
728,874 | 23,455,165 | ||||||
|
PPG Industries Inc. |
214,642 | 34,246,131 | ||||||
|
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) |
77,470 | 23,525,315 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 405,736,467 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Copart Inc.(a) |
156,654 | 22,608,306 | ||||||
|
Waste Management Inc. |
142,157 | 22,049,972 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 44,658,278 | ||||||||
| Communications Equipment 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Cisco Systems Inc. |
2,985,852 | 176,224,985 | ||||||
|
Motorola Solutions Inc. |
143,759 | 35,108,823 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 211,333,808 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Ally Financial Inc. |
544,063 | 28,780,933 | ||||||
|
American Express Co. |
721,735 | 119,779,141 | ||||||
|
Discover Financial Services |
171,315 | 21,966,009 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 170,526,083 | ||||||||
| Containers & Packaging 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Amcor PLC |
2,989,963 | 38,421,025 | ||||||
|
Ball Corp. |
463,716 | 44,498,187 | ||||||
|
International Paper Co. |
370,575 | 22,267,852 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 105,187,064 | ||||||||
| Distributors 0.2% | ||||||||
|
LKQ Corp.(a) |
476,427 | 25,102,939 | ||||||
|
Pool Corp. |
44,495 | 21,993,878 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 47,096,817 | ||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class B(a) |
447,196 | 127,795,201 | ||||||
|
Voya Financial Inc. |
336,077 | 21,838,283 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 149,633,484 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.0% | ||||||||
|
AT&T Inc. |
3,231,888 | 88,618,368 | ||||||
|
Lumen Technologies Inc. |
1,900,598 | 23,377,355 | ||||||
|
Verizon Communications Inc. |
2,075,958 | 114,177,690 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 226,173,413 | ||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
25 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
|
Security |
Shares | Value | ||||||
| Electric Utilities 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Entergy Corp. |
277,062 | $ | 30,645,828 | |||||
|
Eversource Energy |
748,340 | 67,896,888 | ||||||
|
Exelon Corp. |
1,071,952 | 52,547,087 | ||||||
|
NextEra Energy Inc. |
2,057,274 | 172,790,443 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 323,880,246 | ||||||||
| Electrical Equipment 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Eaton Corp. PLC |
129,108 | 21,736,623 | ||||||
|
Emerson Electric Co. |
212,912 | 22,462,216 | ||||||
|
Generac Holdings Inc.(a) |
55,004 | 24,035,648 | ||||||
|
Rockwell Automation Inc. |
73,128 | 23,799,507 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 92,033,994 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Cognex Corp. |
257,936 | 22,858,288 | ||||||
|
Keysight Technologies Inc.(a) |
162,265 | 29,107,096 | ||||||
|
TE Connectivity Ltd. |
146,678 | 22,033,969 | ||||||
|
Teledyne Technologies Inc.(a) |
55,075 | 25,520,654 | ||||||
|
Trimble Inc.(a) |
428,351 | 40,359,231 | ||||||
|
Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A(a) |
43,589 | 25,594,153 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 165,473,391 | ||||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Baker Hughes Co. |
1,067,530 | 24,318,334 | ||||||
|
Schlumberger Ltd. |
1,508,556 | 42,299,910 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 66,618,244 | ||||||||
| Entertainment 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Activision Blizzard Inc. |
273,297 | 22,511,474 | ||||||
|
Electronic Arts Inc. |
151,792 | 22,041,716 | ||||||
|
Netflix Inc.(a) |
217,357 | 123,717,431 | ||||||
|
Roku Inc.(a) |
64,039 | 22,567,343 | ||||||
|
Walt Disney Co. (The)(a) |
1,143,329 | 207,285,548 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 398,123,512 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 2.8% | ||||||||
|
American Tower Corp. |
326,998 | 95,539,006 | ||||||
|
Boston Properties Inc. |
191,074 | 21,589,451 | ||||||
|
Crown Castle International Corp. |
299,743 | 58,356,965 | ||||||
|
Digital Realty Trust Inc. |
132,308 | 21,686,604 | ||||||
|
Equinix Inc. |
84,645 | 71,393,825 | ||||||
|
Equity Residential |
315,192 | 26,498,191 | ||||||
|
Healthpeak Properties Inc. |
1,193,203 | 42,955,308 | ||||||
|
Host Hotels & Resorts Inc.(a) |
1,450,388 | 24,018,425 | ||||||
|
Prologis Inc. |
553,603 | 74,548,180 | ||||||
|
Regency Centers Corp. |
334,674 | 22,965,330 | ||||||
|
SBA Communications Corp. |
59,912 | 21,506,611 | ||||||
|
Simon Property Group Inc. |
176,236 | 23,694,930 | ||||||
|
Ventas Inc. |
509,841 | 28,520,506 | ||||||
|
Welltower Inc. |
449,154 | 39,314,450 | ||||||
|
Weyerhaeuser Co. |
1,157,367 | 41,665,212 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 614,252,994 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Costco Wholesale Corp. |
187,556 | 85,429,882 | ||||||
|
Kroger Co. (The) |
766,716 | 35,291,938 | ||||||
|
Sysco Corp. |
319,782 | 25,470,636 | ||||||
|
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. |
487,672 | 24,749,354 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 170,941,810 | ||||||||
| Food Products 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. |
579,482 | 34,768,920 | ||||||
|
Bunge Ltd. |
353,434 | 26,758,488 | ||||||
|
Campbell Soup Co. |
498,905 | 20,819,306 | ||||||
|
Conagra Brands Inc. |
642,601 | 21,282,945 | ||||||
|
Security |
Shares | Value | ||||||
| Food Products (continued) | ||||||||
|
General Mills Inc. |
517,047 | $ | 29,890,487 | |||||
|
Hormel Foods Corp. |
616,598 | 28,079,873 | ||||||
|
JM Smucker Co. (The) |
162,810 | 20,134,713 | ||||||
|
Kellogg Co. |
932,980 | 58,908,357 | ||||||
|
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. |
327,896 | 21,362,424 | ||||||
|
McCormick & Co. Inc./MD, NVS |
246,456 | 21,266,688 | ||||||
|
Mondelez International Inc., Class A |
430,085 | 26,695,376 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 309,967,577 | ||||||||
| Gas Utilities 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Atmos Energy Corp. |
218,500 | 21,305,935 | ||||||
|
UGI Corp. |
491,705 | 22,770,859 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 44,076,794 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.1% | ||||||||
|
Abbott Laboratories |
653,834 | 82,625,003 | ||||||
|
Align Technology Inc.(a) |
41,284 | 29,270,356 | ||||||
|
Becton Dickinson and Co. |
104,097 | 26,201,215 | ||||||
|
Danaher Corp. |
288,126 | 93,398,924 | ||||||
|
Dexcom Inc.(a)(c) |
77,115 | 40,826,223 | ||||||
|
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a) |
558,018 | 65,388,549 | ||||||
|
Hologic Inc.(a) |
361,619 | 28,622,144 | ||||||
|
IDEXX Laboratories Inc.(a) |
79,260 | 53,402,218 | ||||||
|
Insulet Corp.(a) |
115,748 | 34,470,912 | ||||||
|
Intuitive Surgical Inc.(a) |
61,350 | 64,635,906 | ||||||
|
Medtronic PLC |
167,178 | 22,314,919 | ||||||
|
Novocure Ltd.(a) |
167,257 | 22,447,562 | ||||||
|
ResMed Inc. |
130,788 | 37,997,838 | ||||||
|
STERIS PLC |
103,328 | 22,216,553 | ||||||
|
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. |
169,518 | 76,557,719 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 700,376,041 | ||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 2.4% | ||||||||
|
Anthem Inc. |
126,884 | 47,597,995 | ||||||
|
Cardinal Health Inc. |
419,969 | 22,044,173 | ||||||
|
Centene Corp.(a) |
337,239 | 21,239,312 | ||||||
|
Cigna Corp. |
271,622 | 57,488,796 | ||||||
|
CVS Health Corp. |
627,271 | 54,189,942 | ||||||
|
DaVita Inc.(a) |
163,096 | 21,328,064 | ||||||
|
HCA Healthcare Inc. |
188,280 | 47,631,074 | ||||||
|
Humana Inc. |
71,584 | 29,021,585 | ||||||
|
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(a) |
80,957 | 24,560,735 | ||||||
|
Quest Diagnostics Inc. |
184,913 | 28,260,254 | ||||||
|
UnitedHealth Group Inc. |
416,953 | 173,565,025 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 526,926,955 | ||||||||
| Health Care Technology 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Cerner Corp. |
510,423 | 38,970,796 | ||||||
|
Teladoc Health Inc.(a)(c) |
158,943 | 22,954,548 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 61,925,344 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Booking Holdings Inc.(a) |
21,742 | 49,999,425 | ||||||
|
Caesars Entertainment Inc.(a) |
261,341 | 26,560,086 | ||||||
|
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.(a) |
12,845 | 24,448,274 | ||||||
|
Darden Restaurants Inc. |
157,597 | 23,741,988 | ||||||
|
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.(a) |
357,427 | 44,628,335 | ||||||
|
Marriott International Inc./MD, Class A(a) |
165,463 | 22,360,670 | ||||||
|
McDonalds Corp. |
365,971 | 86,903,473 | ||||||
|
MGM Resorts International |
572,306 | 24,391,682 | ||||||
|
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(a) |
281,738 | 23,308,185 | ||||||
|
Starbucks Corp. |
496,027 | 58,278,212 | ||||||
| 26 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (continued) | ||||||||
|
Vail Resorts Inc.(a) |
84,181 | $ | 25,662,578 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 410,282,908 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Newell Brands Inc. |
894,683 | 22,733,895 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Household Products 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Clorox Co. (The) |
186,086 | 31,271,752 | ||||||
|
Colgate-Palmolive Co. |
844,032 | 65,792,295 | ||||||
|
Kimberly-Clark Corp. |
425,998 | 58,706,784 | ||||||
|
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) |
1,255,031 | 178,703,864 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 334,474,695 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 1.5% | ||||||||
|
3M Co. |
685,162 | 133,428,448 | ||||||
|
General Electric Co. |
476,900 | 50,270,029 | ||||||
|
Honeywell International Inc. |
494,595 | 114,701,526 | ||||||
|
Roper Technologies Inc. |
85,471 | 41,306,425 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 339,706,428 | ||||||||
| Insurance 1.9% | ||||||||
|
American International Group Inc. |
697,428 | 38,051,672 | ||||||
|
Aon PLC, Class A |
78,071 | 22,395,447 | ||||||
|
Arthur J Gallagher & Co. |
151,777 | 21,798,213 | ||||||
|
Chubb Ltd. |
274,575 | 50,499,834 | ||||||
|
Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (The) |
326,903 | 21,974,420 | ||||||
|
Lincoln National Corp. |
329,554 | 22,623,882 | ||||||
|
Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. |
483,108 | 75,944,577 | ||||||
|
MetLife Inc. |
947,543 | 58,747,666 | ||||||
|
Progressive Corp. (The) |
234,117 | 22,554,832 | ||||||
|
Prudential Financial Inc. |
388,122 | 41,094,357 | ||||||
|
Travelers Companies Inc. (The) |
243,871 | 38,948,637 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 414,633,537 | ||||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 6.4% | ||||||||
|
Alphabet Inc., Class A(a) |
156,467 | 452,807,675 | ||||||
|
Alphabet Inc., Class C, NVS(a) |
158,414 | 460,864,345 | ||||||
|
Facebook Inc., Class A(a) |
1,180,080 | 447,698,750 | ||||||
|
Snap Inc., Class A, NVS(a) |
518,743 | 39,481,530 | ||||||
|
Twitter Inc.(a) |
347,355 | 22,404,398 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,423,256,698 | ||||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 4.3% | ||||||||
|
Amazon.com Inc.(a) |
241,666 | 838,771,936 | ||||||
|
eBay Inc. |
410,418 | 31,495,477 | ||||||
|
Etsy Inc.(a) |
112,090 | 24,240,583 | ||||||
|
MercadoLibre Inc.(a) |
28,372 | 52,983,292 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 947,491,288 | ||||||||
| IT Services 5.7% | ||||||||
|
Accenture PLC, Class A |
346,062 | 116,470,627 | ||||||
|
Akamai Technologies Inc.(a) |
190,698 | 21,596,548 | ||||||
|
Automatic Data Processing Inc. |
439,467 | 91,866,182 | ||||||
|
Cloudflare Inc., Class A(a) |
182,415 | 22,024,787 | ||||||
|
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A |
284,380 | 21,701,038 | ||||||
|
Fidelity National Information Services Inc. |
264,596 | 33,807,431 | ||||||
|
Fiserv Inc.(a) |
317,292 | 37,373,825 | ||||||
|
International Business Machines Corp. |
786,719 | 110,408,144 | ||||||
|
Mastercard Inc., Class A |
496,915 | 172,046,880 | ||||||
|
MongoDB Inc.(a) |
59,067 | 23,144,222 | ||||||
|
Okta Inc.(a)(c) |
130,204 | 34,321,774 | ||||||
|
PayPal Holdings Inc.(a) |
610,559 | 176,243,961 | ||||||
|
Snowflake Inc., Class A(a) |
119,411 | 36,342,738 | ||||||
|
Square Inc., Class A(a)(c) |
216,215 | 57,960,755 | ||||||
|
Twilio Inc., Class A(a) |
129,958 | 46,389,808 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| IT Services (continued) | ||||||||
|
VeriSign Inc.(a) |
101,745 | $ | 22,003,374 | |||||
|
Visa Inc., Class A |
974,938 | 223,358,296 | ||||||
|
Western Union Co. (The) |
994,592 | 21,522,971 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,268,583,361 | ||||||||
| Leisure Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Hasbro Inc. |
305,673 | 30,050,713 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Agilent Technologies Inc. |
430,819 | 75,595,810 | ||||||
|
Illumina Inc.(a) |
103,452 | 47,294,116 | ||||||
|
Mettler-Toledo International Inc.(a) |
26,696 | 41,454,350 | ||||||
|
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. |
201,047 | 111,571,033 | ||||||
|
Waters Corp.(a) |
128,163 | 53,062,045 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 328,977,354 | ||||||||
| Machinery 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Caterpillar Inc. |
330,743 | 69,743,777 | ||||||
|
Cummins Inc. |
135,287 | 31,925,026 | ||||||
|
Deere & Co. |
162,444 | 61,408,705 | ||||||
|
Fortive Corp. |
302,580 | 22,351,585 | ||||||
|
IDEX Corp. |
147,212 | 32,975,488 | ||||||
|
Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
156,806 | 36,513,845 | ||||||
|
Pentair PLC |
298,690 | 23,046,920 | ||||||
|
Xylem Inc./NY |
590,270 | 80,459,704 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 358,425,050 | ||||||||
| Media 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Cable One Inc. |
11,999 | 25,192,981 | ||||||
|
Comcast Corp., Class A |
1,995,709 | 121,099,622 | ||||||
|
Discovery Inc., Class C, NVS(a)(c) |
814,850 | 22,481,712 | ||||||
|
Fox Corp., Class A, NVS |
595,711 | 22,303,420 | ||||||
|
Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (The) |
766,736 | 28,545,581 | ||||||
|
ViacomCBS Inc., Class B, NVS |
544,232 | 22,558,416 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 242,181,732 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Newmont Corp. |
511,494 | 29,661,537 | ||||||
|
Nucor Corp. |
183,539 | 21,576,845 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 51,238,382 | ||||||||
| Multi-Utilities 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Consolidated Edison Inc. |
624,486 | 47,117,469 | ||||||
|
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. |
863,599 | 55,218,520 | ||||||
|
Sempra Energy |
335,066 | 44,349,336 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 146,685,325 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Target Corp. |
337,712 | 83,408,110 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Cheniere Energy Inc.(a) |
259,543 | 22,699,631 | ||||||
|
Chevron Corp. |
1,012,242 | 97,954,658 | ||||||
|
ConocoPhillips |
1,189,874 | 66,073,703 | ||||||
|
Exxon Mobil Corp. |
2,008,171 | 109,485,483 | ||||||
|
Hess Corp. |
510,894 | 35,123,963 | ||||||
|
Kinder Morgan Inc. |
1,356,394 | 22,068,530 | ||||||
|
Marathon Petroleum Corp. |
447,065 | 26,497,543 | ||||||
|
Occidental Petroleum Corp. |
975,677 | 25,065,142 | ||||||
|
ONEOK Inc. |
437,449 | 22,974,822 | ||||||
|
Phillips 66 |
325,236 | 23,121,027 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 451,064,502 | ||||||||
| Personal Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (The), Class A |
65,829 | 22,414,116 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
27 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
|
Security |
Shares | Value | ||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 3.3% | ||||||||
|
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. |
1,351,194 | $ | 90,340,831 | |||||
|
Catalent Inc.(a) |
178,279 | 23,254,713 | ||||||
|
Eli Lilly & Co. |
456,184 | 117,827,765 | ||||||
|
Johnson & Johnson |
1,280,906 | 221,763,256 | ||||||
|
Merck & Co. Inc. |
1,375,775 | 104,957,874 | ||||||
|
Pfizer Inc. |
1,683,442 | 77,556,173 | ||||||
|
Zoetis Inc. |
435,598 | 89,105,927 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 724,806,539 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 0.6% | ||||||||
|
IHS Markit Ltd. |
420,298 | 50,687,939 | ||||||
|
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. |
163,365 | 22,047,740 | ||||||
|
Leidos Holdings Inc. |
286,081 | 28,067,407 | ||||||
|
Robert Half International Inc. |
252,146 | 26,071,897 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 126,874,983 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 0.2% | ||||||||
|
CBRE Group Inc., Class A(a) |
454,620 | 43,779,906 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Road & Rail 0.9% | ||||||||
|
CSX Corp. |
1,656,863 | 53,897,753 | ||||||
|
Kansas City Southern |
111,141 | 31,193,945 | ||||||
|
Norfolk Southern Corp. |
179,925 | 45,618,185 | ||||||
|
Uber Technologies Inc.(a) |
541,239 | 21,184,094 | ||||||
|
Union Pacific Corp. |
246,593 | 53,471,226 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 205,365,203 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.4% | ||||||||
|
Advanced Micro Devices Inc.(a)(c) |
579,646 | 64,178,405 | ||||||
|
Analog Devices Inc. |
269,425 | 43,902,804 | ||||||
|
Applied Materials Inc. |
720,910 | 97,416,568 | ||||||
|
Broadcom Inc. |
102,857 | 51,141,529 | ||||||
|
Intel Corp. |
2,628,013 | 142,070,383 | ||||||
|
Lam Research Corp. |
120,886 | 73,114,271 | ||||||
|
Marvell Technology Inc. |
489,803 | 29,971,046 | ||||||
|
Micron Technology Inc.(a) |
583,347 | 42,992,674 | ||||||
|
NVIDIA Corp. |
1,495,183 | 334,696,715 | ||||||
|
NXP Semiconductors NV |
142,532 | 30,662,909 | ||||||
|
ON Semiconductor Corp.(a) |
552,831 | 24,523,583 | ||||||
|
QUALCOMM Inc. |
379,244 | 55,631,302 | ||||||
|
Skyworks Solutions Inc. |
121,609 | 22,310,387 | ||||||
|
Texas Instruments Inc. |
864,633 | 165,067,086 | ||||||
|
Xilinx Inc. |
151,238 | 23,531,120 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,201,210,782 | ||||||||
| Software 10.5% | ||||||||
|
Adobe Inc.(a) |
318,513 | 211,397,078 | ||||||
|
ANSYS Inc.(a) |
95,360 | 34,840,730 | ||||||
|
Autodesk Inc.(a) |
174,225 | 54,025,430 | ||||||
|
Cadence Design Systems Inc.(a) |
199,159 | 32,558,513 | ||||||
|
Coupa Software Inc.(a) |
102,511 | 25,095,718 | ||||||
|
Crowdstrike Holdings Inc., Class A(a) |
100,477 | 28,234,037 | ||||||
|
DocuSign Inc.(a) |
104,872 | 31,067,281 | ||||||
|
Fair Isaac Corp.(a) |
48,198 | 22,158,549 | ||||||
|
HubSpot Inc.(a) |
37,840 | 25,900,345 | ||||||
|
Intuit Inc. |
192,154 | 108,780,301 | ||||||
|
Microsoft Corp. |
4,030,637 | 1,216,768,698 | ||||||
|
Oracle Corp. |
845,672 | 75,374,745 | ||||||
|
Palantir Technologies Inc., Class A(a) |
892,086 | 23,497,545 | ||||||
|
Paycom Software Inc.(a) |
47,153 | 23,053,102 | ||||||
|
PTC Inc.(a) |
170,717 | 22,476,600 | ||||||
|
RingCentral Inc., Class A(a) |
85,871 | 21,661,818 | ||||||
|
salesforce.com Inc.(a) |
588,916 | 156,221,747 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Software (continued) | ||||||||
|
ServiceNow Inc.(a) |
131,472 | $ | 84,620,638 | |||||
|
Splunk Inc.(a) |
152,581 | 23,325,058 | ||||||
|
Synopsys Inc.(a) |
97,618 | 32,432,604 | ||||||
|
VMware Inc., Class A(a)(c) |
140,806 | 20,961,789 | ||||||
|
Workday Inc., Class A(a)(c) |
148,162 | 40,471,932 | ||||||
|
Zoom Video Communications Inc., Class A(a) |
94,237 | 27,281,612 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,342,205,870 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Best Buy Co. Inc. |
403,036 | 46,957,724 | ||||||
|
Home Depot Inc. (The) |
695,784 | 226,950,825 | ||||||
|
Lowes Companies Inc. |
496,240 | 101,178,374 | ||||||
|
Ross Stores Inc. |
170,280 | 20,161,152 | ||||||
|
TJX Companies Inc. (The) |
674,435 | 49,044,913 | ||||||
|
Tractor Supply Co. |
114,970 | 22,332,923 | ||||||
|
Ulta Beauty Inc.(a) |
59,727 | 23,132,864 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 489,758,775 | ||||||||
| Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 6.4% | ||||||||
|
Apple Inc. |
8,846,515 | 1,343,166,372 | ||||||
|
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. |
1,888,494 | 29,196,117 | ||||||
|
HP Inc. |
916,004 | 27,241,959 | ||||||
|
Western Digital Corp.(a) |
361,804 | 22,866,013 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,422,470,461 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Lululemon Athletica Inc.(a) |
77,356 | 30,955,550 | ||||||
|
Nike Inc., Class B |
749,440 | 123,462,746 | ||||||
|
VF Corp. |
430,338 | 32,907,947 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 187,326,243 | ||||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Fastenal Co. |
462,393 | 25,824,649 | ||||||
|
WW Grainger Inc. |
138,925 | 60,251,773 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 86,076,422 | ||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
T-Mobile U.S. Inc.(a) |
152,987 | 20,962,279 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.6%
|
|
22,170,944,732 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.6% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
|
47,532,314 | 47,556,080 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
|
84,248,000 | 84,248,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 131,804,080 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.6%
|
|
131,804,080 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.2%
|
|
22,302,748,812 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.2)% |
|
(40,118,409 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 22,262,630,403 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (c) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (e) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
| 28 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF
|
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 3,563,398 | $ | 44,018,518 | (a) | $ | | $ | (19,745 | ) | $ | (6,091 | ) | $ | 47,556,080 | 47,532,314 | $ | 339,463 | (b) | $ | | |||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
16,098,000 | 68,150,000 | (a) | | | | 84,248,000 | 84,248,000 | 8,084 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Inc. |
38,648,494 | 66,081,007 | (15,839,781 | ) | 4,666,670 | 30,780,551 | 124,336,941 | 131,812 | 1,399,608 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 4,646,925 | $ | 30,774,460 | $ | 256,141,021 | $ | 1,747,155 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
S&P 500 E-Mini Index |
388 | 09/17/21 | $ | 87,698 | $ | 2,907,853 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 2,907,853 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 7,198,350 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 1,158,642 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 46,857,227 | ||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
29 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA 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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 22,170,944,732 | $ | | $ | | $ | 22,170,944,732 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
131,804,080 | | | 131,804,080 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 22,302,748,812 | $ | | $ | | $ | 22,302,748,812 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 2,907,853 | $ | | $ | | $ | 2,907,853 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 30 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
|
Aerospace & Defense 1.5% |
||||||||
|
AAR Corp.(a) |
16,449 | $ | 556,799 | |||||
|
Aerovironment Inc.(a)(b) |
6,237 | 638,419 | ||||||
|
Axon Enterprise Inc.(a) |
15,562 | 2,830,261 | ||||||
|
BWX Technologies Inc. |
43,720 | 2,510,840 | ||||||
|
Curtiss-Wright Corp. |
13,787 | 1,678,981 | ||||||
|
Ducommun Inc.(a) |
10,140 | 534,378 | ||||||
|
Hexcel Corp.(a) |
23,266 | 1,319,415 | ||||||
|
Kaman Corp. |
13,429 | 524,805 | ||||||
|
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
|
24,583 | 607,692 | ||||||
|
Maxar Technologies Inc. |
22,844 | 726,211 | ||||||
|
Mercury Systems Inc.(a) |
32,616 | 1,643,194 | ||||||
|
Moog Inc., Class A |
11,730 | 931,831 | ||||||
|
PAE Inc.(a) |
69,705 | 466,326 | ||||||
|
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., Class A |
13,496 | 529,583 | ||||||
|
Vectrus Inc.(a) |
11,387 | 572,880 | ||||||
|
Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc.(a)(b) |
32,594 | 883,623 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,955,238 | ||||||||
|
Air Freight & Logistics 0.1% |
||||||||
|
Echo Global Logistics Inc.(a) |
23,710 | 779,585 | ||||||
|
Hub Group Inc., Class A(a) |
11,419 | 801,614 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,581,199 | ||||||||
|
Airlines 0.2% |
||||||||
|
Alaska Air Group Inc.(a) |
13,161 | 754,652 | ||||||
|
American Airlines Group Inc.(a) |
26,844 | 535,269 | ||||||
|
JetBlue Airways Corp.(a) |
38,132 | 576,937 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,866,858 | ||||||||
|
Auto Components 1.0% |
||||||||
|
Adient PLC(a) |
13,643 | 536,716 | ||||||
|
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.(a) |
61,605 | 546,436 | ||||||
|
Dana Inc. |
39,450 | 917,607 | ||||||
|
Dorman Products Inc.(a) |
6,242 | 585,874 | ||||||
|
Fox Factory Holding Corp.(a) |
7,767 | 1,193,555 | ||||||
|
Gentex Corp. |
24,570 | 756,756 | ||||||
|
Gentherm Inc.(a) |
22,692 | 1,947,427 | ||||||
|
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)(a) |
38,472 | 609,396 | ||||||
|
LCI Industries |
8,769 | 1,242,217 | ||||||
|
Luminar Technologies Inc.(a) |
34,068 | 592,102 | ||||||
|
Modine Manufacturing Co.(a) |
40,723 | 506,594 | ||||||
|
Veoneer Inc.(a)(b) |
18,707 | 669,711 | ||||||
|
Visteon Corp.(a) |
6,619 | 699,496 | ||||||
|
XPEL Inc.(a)(b) |
7,266 | 552,071 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,355,958 | ||||||||
|
Automobiles 0.4% |
||||||||
|
Canoo Inc.(a) |
89,414 | 644,675 | ||||||
|
Harley-Davidson Inc. |
36,430 | 1,440,078 | ||||||
|
Thor Industries Inc. |
12,844 | 1,456,895 | ||||||
|
Winnebago Industries Inc. |
7,727 | 537,954 | ||||||
|
Workhorse Group Inc.(a)(b) |
59,667 | 585,333 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,664,935 | ||||||||
|
Banks 7.2% |
||||||||
|
Amalgamated Financial Corp. |
38,225 | 594,399 | ||||||
|
Amerant Bancorp Inc.(a) |
23,589 | 626,760 | ||||||
|
Ameris Bancorp. |
22,137 | 1,090,026 | ||||||
|
Associated Banc-Corp. |
30,870 | 636,539 | ||||||
|
Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp. |
17,164 | 635,068 | ||||||
|
Bancorp. Inc. (The)(a) |
21,386 | 527,379 | ||||||
|
BancorpSouth Bank |
37,211 | 1,091,399 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Banks (continued) |
||||||||
|
Bank of Hawaii Corp. |
18,049 | $ | 1,512,687 | |||||
|
Bank OZK |
49,220 | 2,088,405 | ||||||
|
Banner Corp. |
17,063 | 976,004 | ||||||
|
Berkshire Hills Bancorp. Inc. |
21,645 | 554,761 | ||||||
|
BOK Financial Corp. |
12,771 | 1,124,486 | ||||||
|
Bryn Mawr Bank Corp. |
15,913 | 649,250 | ||||||
|
Cadence BanCorp. |
19,850 | 426,973 | ||||||
|
Camden National Corp. |
19,664 | 917,719 | ||||||
|
Cathay General Bancorp. |
18,535 | 737,322 | ||||||
|
CIT Group Inc. |
19,607 | 1,086,620 | ||||||
|
Columbia Banking System Inc. |
14,247 | 518,021 | ||||||
|
Comerica Inc. |
52,542 | 3,883,379 | ||||||
|
Commerce Bancshares Inc. |
29,849 | 2,110,921 | ||||||
|
Community Bank System Inc. |
6,472 | 478,928 | ||||||
|
Community Trust Bancorp. Inc. |
16,774 | 698,805 | ||||||
|
Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc. |
13,380 | 1,528,264 | ||||||
|
CVB Financial Corp. |
23,754 | 483,631 | ||||||
|
East West Bancorp. Inc. |
30,412 | 2,230,416 | ||||||
|
First Busey Corp. |
35,404 | 839,075 | ||||||
|
First Financial Bancorp. |
33,388 | 784,952 | ||||||
|
First Hawaiian Inc. |
51,430 | 1,435,411 | ||||||
|
First Horizon Corp. |
134,907 | 2,211,126 | ||||||
|
First Interstate BancSystem Inc., Class A |
24,051 | 1,059,687 | ||||||
|
First of Long Island Corp. (The) |
28,645 | 607,274 | ||||||
|
FNB Corp. |
82,179 | 959,851 | ||||||
|
Fulton Financial Corp. |
129,276 | 2,049,025 | ||||||
|
Glacier Bancorp. Inc. |
24,305 | 1,294,484 | ||||||
|
Great Western Bancorp. Inc. |
16,876 | 522,481 | ||||||
|
Hancock Whitney Corp. |
20,724 | 952,475 | ||||||
|
Heritage Financial Corp./WA |
15,372 | 391,217 | ||||||
|
Hilltop Holdings Inc. |
17,672 | 591,482 | ||||||
|
Independent Bank Corp. |
7,372 | 565,432 | ||||||
|
Independent Bank Corp./MI |
30,821 | 645,392 | ||||||
|
International Bancshares Corp. |
26,381 | 1,104,836 | ||||||
|
Live Oak Bancshares Inc. |
9,749 | 596,736 | ||||||
|
National Bank Holdings Corp., Class A |
9,683 | 363,112 | ||||||
|
OceanFirst Financial Corp. |
43,179 | 917,985 | ||||||
|
Old National Bancorp./IN |
16,368 | 272,691 | ||||||
|
PacWest Bancorp. |
14,941 | 635,740 | ||||||
|
Park National Corp. |
5,427 | 636,261 | ||||||
|
Peoples United Financial Inc. |
136,541 | 2,243,369 | ||||||
|
Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. |
22,683 | 2,198,436 | ||||||
|
Popular Inc. |
17,852 | 1,355,681 | ||||||
|
Prosperity Bancshares Inc. |
13,778 | 962,807 | ||||||
|
QCR Holdings Inc. |
13,400 | 696,130 | ||||||
|
Sandy Spring Bancorp. Inc. |
21,798 | 949,739 | ||||||
|
ServisFirst Bancshares Inc. |
15,247 | 1,119,435 | ||||||
|
Signature Bank/New York NY |
9,562 | 2,479,713 | ||||||
|
Silvergate Capital Corp., Class A(a) |
5,514 | 622,972 | ||||||
|
Simmons First National Corp., Class A |
15,256 | 443,187 | ||||||
|
South State Corp. |
16,338 | 1,120,460 | ||||||
|
Southside Bancshares Inc. |
14,310 | 539,344 | ||||||
|
Synovus Financial Corp. |
33,439 | 1,441,221 | ||||||
|
Texas Capital Bancshares Inc.(a) |
9,769 | 664,194 | ||||||
|
TriState Capital Holdings Inc.(a) |
28,517 | 576,329 | ||||||
|
Triumph Bancorp. Inc.(a) |
7,081 | 582,200 | ||||||
|
Trustmark Corp. |
23,223 | 734,311 | ||||||
|
Umpqua Holdings Corp. |
84,273 | 1,640,795 | ||||||
|
United Community Banks Inc./GA |
12,371 | 373,233 | ||||||
|
Valley National Bancorp. |
152,809 | 1,992,629 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
31 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Banks (continued) |
||||||||
|
Webster Financial Corp. |
35,623 | $ | 1,799,674 | |||||
|
Western Alliance Bancorp. |
26,826 | 2,617,145 | ||||||
|
Wintrust Financial Corp. |
19,696 | 1,474,049 | ||||||
|
Zions Bancorp. NA |
66,081 | 3,826,090 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 79,098,030 | ||||||||
|
Beverages 0.1% |
||||||||
|
Celsius Holdings Inc.(a)(b) |
7,909 | 646,640 | ||||||
|
MGP Ingredients Inc. |
8,672 | 566,281 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,212,921 | ||||||||
|
Biotechnology 6.0% |
||||||||
|
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
40,120 | 702,501 | ||||||
|
Acceleron Pharma Inc.(a) |
13,837 | 1,852,498 | ||||||
|
Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a)(b) |
16,870 | 753,752 | ||||||
|
Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc.(a)(b)(c) |
3,497 | 3,077 | ||||||
|
Alector Inc.(a)(b) |
21,626 | 584,551 | ||||||
|
Alkermes PLC(a) |
28,576 | 893,286 | ||||||
|
Allakos Inc.(a) |
8,059 | 718,540 | ||||||
|
Allogene Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
24,843 | 592,506 | ||||||
|
Amicus Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
51,465 | 586,186 | ||||||
|
AnaptysBio Inc.(a) |
22,565 | 577,890 | ||||||
|
Anavex Life Sciences Corp.(a) |
28,461 | 554,705 | ||||||
|
Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
9,700 | 638,745 | ||||||
|
Arcus Biosciences Inc.(a) |
18,972 | 553,413 | ||||||
|
Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
19,477 | 1,030,723 | ||||||
|
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
23,134 | 1,552,754 | ||||||
|
Atara Biotherapeutics Inc.(a) |
43,684 | 654,386 | ||||||
|
Beam Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
7,142 | 792,191 | ||||||
|
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
45,970 | 731,842 | ||||||
|
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co.
|
10,963 | 1,438,784 | ||||||
|
Bluebird Bio Inc.(a) |
30,075 | 550,373 | ||||||
|
Blueprint Medicines Corp.(a) |
7,058 | 658,300 | ||||||
|
Bridgebio Pharma Inc.(a) |
18,463 | 925,181 | ||||||
|
CareDx Inc.(a) |
7,294 | 534,504 | ||||||
|
Cortexyme Inc.(a) |
5,807 | 559,214 | ||||||
|
CRISPR Therapeutics AG(a)(b) |
11,491 | 1,435,800 | ||||||
|
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
19,793 | 623,479 | ||||||
|
Denali Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
16,774 | 892,377 | ||||||
|
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
26,509 | 545,555 | ||||||
|
Dynavax Technologies Corp.(a)(b) |
45,125 | 878,132 | ||||||
|
Eagle Pharmaceuticals Inc./DE(a) |
15,270 | 814,960 | ||||||
|
Editas Medicine Inc.(a) |
15,091 | 959,637 | ||||||
|
Emergent BioSolutions Inc.(a) |
11,346 | 715,706 | ||||||
|
Exelixis Inc.(a) |
52,990 | 1,015,818 | ||||||
|
Fate Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
14,957 | 1,095,600 | ||||||
|
FibroGen Inc.(a) |
45,560 | 529,863 | ||||||
|
Global Blood Therapeutics Inc.(a)(b) |
20,313 | 582,780 | ||||||
|
Halozyme Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
25,163 | 1,056,594 | ||||||
|
ImmunoGen Inc.(a) |
104,067 | 629,605 | ||||||
|
Immunovant Inc.(a) |
70,908 | 614,063 | ||||||
|
Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a)(b) |
67,438 | 582,664 | ||||||
|
Insmed Inc.(a) |
24,158 | 677,390 | ||||||
|
Intellia Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
13,918 | 2,234,257 | ||||||
|
Invitae Corp.(a)(b) |
31,114 | 921,908 | ||||||
|
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
28,673 | 1,140,038 | ||||||
|
Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc.(a) |
29,409 | 707,875 | ||||||
|
Karuna Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
5,185 | 616,497 | ||||||
|
Kodiak Sciences Inc.(a) |
5,906 | 556,227 | ||||||
|
Krystal Biotech Inc.(a) |
10,059 | 582,818 | ||||||
|
Kura Oncology Inc.(a) |
33,912 | 626,016 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Biotechnology (continued) |
||||||||
|
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
5,110 | $ | 676,053 | |||||
|
MacroGenics Inc.(a) |
24,091 | 568,789 | ||||||
|
Mirati Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
8,931 | 1,515,859 | ||||||
|
Myovant Sciences Ltd.(a) |
24,383 | 593,482 | ||||||
|
Myriad Genetics Inc.(a) |
17,627 | 630,694 | ||||||
|
Natera Inc.(a) |
15,052 | 1,782,608 | ||||||
|
Ocugen Inc.(a) |
75,656 | 574,229 | ||||||
|
OPKO Health Inc.(a) |
152,697 | 589,410 | ||||||
|
Passage Bio Inc.(a) |
48,712 | 585,518 | ||||||
|
Prothena Corp. PLC(a) |
9,976 | 669,589 | ||||||
|
PTC Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
14,201 | 619,874 | ||||||
|
REGENXBIO Inc.(a) |
18,083 | 584,081 | ||||||
|
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
44,557 | 579,687 | ||||||
|
Rocket Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
18,998 | 649,922 | ||||||
|
Sage Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
13,158 | 608,031 | ||||||
|
Sangamo Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
58,171 | 576,475 | ||||||
|
Sarepta Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
20,205 | 1,578,415 | ||||||
|
Sorrento Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
63,539 | 571,851 | ||||||
|
SpringWorks Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
7,090 | 532,459 | ||||||
|
Sutro Biopharma Inc.(a) |
28,402 | 616,891 | ||||||
|
TG Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
25,969 | 702,981 | ||||||
|
Turning Point Therapeutics Inc.(a)(b) |
9,082 | 699,496 | ||||||
|
Twist Bioscience Corp.(a) |
7,435 | 841,716 | ||||||
|
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.(a)(b) |
18,344 | 1,766,344 | ||||||
|
uniQure NV(a) |
19,909 | 577,361 | ||||||
|
United Therapeutics Corp.(a) |
8,870 | 1,905,986 | ||||||
|
Veracyte Inc.(a) |
15,816 | 760,908 | ||||||
|
Vericel Corp.(a) |
10,566 | 572,360 | ||||||
|
Vir Biotechnology Inc.(a) |
14,943 | 770,162 | ||||||
|
Xencor Inc.(a) |
17,356 | 587,848 | ||||||
|
Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
32,897 | 580,632 | ||||||
|
Y-mAbs Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
18,986 | 584,389 | ||||||
|
Zymeworks Inc.(a)(b) |
17,155 | 565,943 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 65,495,604 | ||||||||
|
Building Products 1.6% |
||||||||
|
AAON Inc. |
15,558 | 1,059,655 | ||||||
|
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. |
16,310 | 1,861,786 | ||||||
|
Armstrong World Industries Inc. |
13,650 | 1,418,645 | ||||||
|
AZEK Co. Inc. (The)(a) |
23,392 | 993,926 | ||||||
|
Builders FirstSource Inc.(a) |
47,044 | 2,506,975 | ||||||
|
Carlisle Companies Inc. |
14,449 | 3,044,982 | ||||||
|
Cornerstone Building Brands Inc.(a) |
35,607 | 591,788 | ||||||
|
Gibraltar Industries Inc.(a) |
7,381 | 551,065 | ||||||
|
JELD-WEN Holding Inc.(a) |
19,231 | 529,622 | ||||||
|
Masonite International Corp.(a) |
5,197 | 621,977 | ||||||
|
Resideo Technologies Inc.(a) |
35,348 | 1,139,620 | ||||||
|
Trex Co. Inc.(a) |
28,492 | 3,127,282 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 17,447,323 | ||||||||
|
Capital Markets 2.0% |
||||||||
|
Affiliated Managers Group Inc. |
13,048 | 2,219,595 | ||||||
|
Ares Management Corp., Class A |
20,849 | 1,609,126 | ||||||
|
Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc., Class A |
17,905 | 930,344 | ||||||
|
Cohen & Steers Inc. |
7,855 | 688,962 | ||||||
|
Cowen Inc., Class A |
14,987 | 540,132 | ||||||
|
Diamond Hill Investment Group Inc. |
3,409 | 623,949 | ||||||
|
Donnelley Financial Solutions Inc.(a) |
19,886 | 663,198 | ||||||
|
Evercore Inc., Class A |
6,335 | 884,619 | ||||||
|
Focus Financial Partners Inc., Class A(a) |
11,122 | 577,009 | ||||||
|
Interactive Brokers Group Inc., Class A |
15,218 | 983,692 | ||||||
| 32 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Capital Markets (continued) | ||||||||
|
Janus Henderson Group PLC |
59,849 | $ | 2,595,053 | |||||
|
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. |
32,343 | 1,195,397 | ||||||
|
LPL Financial Holdings Inc. |
22,144 | 3,273,990 | ||||||
|
Morningstar Inc. |
6,438 | 1,725,320 | ||||||
|
Open Lending Corp., Class A(a)(b) |
25,789 | 953,419 | ||||||
|
Stifel Financial Corp. |
8,455 | 584,241 | ||||||
|
StoneX Group Inc.(a) |
8,386 | 584,420 | ||||||
|
Victory Capital Holdings Inc., Class A |
19,531 | 684,171 | ||||||
|
Virtu Financial Inc., Class A |
20,935 | 512,489 | ||||||
|
Virtus Investment Partners Inc. |
2,292 | 716,708 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 22,545,834 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Amyris Inc.(a)(b) |
42,649 | 641,868 | ||||||
|
Avient Corp. |
19,702 | 1,026,277 | ||||||
|
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.(a) |
93,087 | 2,842,877 | ||||||
|
Balchem Corp. |
7,412 | 1,040,793 | ||||||
|
Chemours Co. (The) |
36,867 | 1,235,413 | ||||||
|
HB Fuller Co. |
19,162 | 1,294,776 | ||||||
|
Ingevity Corp.(a) |
6,794 | 546,170 | ||||||
|
Innospec Inc. |
14,349 | 1,343,066 | ||||||
|
Koppers Holdings Inc.(a) |
17,329 | 570,124 | ||||||
|
Livent Corp.(a) |
35,982 | 894,872 | ||||||
|
Minerals Technologies Inc. |
18,414 | 1,448,077 | ||||||
|
Orion Engineered Carbons SA(a) |
42,153 | 744,844 | ||||||
|
Quaker Chemical Corp. |
2,178 | 564,363 | ||||||
|
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The) |
8,159 | 1,279,576 | ||||||
|
Sensient Technologies Corp. |
6,344 | 550,976 | ||||||
|
Stepan Co. |
6,599 | 775,778 | ||||||
|
Trinseo SA |
17,304 | 898,597 | ||||||
|
Tronox Holdings PLC, Class A |
28,713 | 606,706 | ||||||
|
Valvoline Inc. |
44,649 | 1,346,614 | ||||||
|
WR Grace & Co. |
8,484 | 590,826 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20,242,593 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 1.7% | ||||||||
|
ABM Industries Inc. |
19,127 | 947,169 | ||||||
|
ACCO Brands Corp. |
62,087 | 581,755 | ||||||
|
ADT Inc. |
64,383 | 551,118 | ||||||
|
Brady Corp., Class A, NVS |
10,906 | 581,617 | ||||||
|
Brinks Co. (The) |
6,794 | 531,019 | ||||||
|
Clean Harbors Inc.(a) |
7,742 | 794,484 | ||||||
|
Covanta Holding Corp. |
42,491 | 851,945 | ||||||
|
Deluxe Corp. |
13,417 | 514,542 | ||||||
|
Harsco Corp.(a) |
29,411 | 536,457 | ||||||
|
Healthcare Services Group Inc. |
25,732 | 673,149 | ||||||
|
Herman Miller Inc. |
29,858 | 1,254,932 | ||||||
|
HNI Corp. |
14,332 | 543,039 | ||||||
|
IAA Inc.(a) |
41,365 | 2,197,309 | ||||||
|
KAR Auction Services Inc.(a) |
49,015 | 828,844 | ||||||
|
Matthews International Corp., Class A |
23,995 | 888,535 | ||||||
|
Montrose Environmental Group Inc.(a)(b) |
11,790 | 589,500 | ||||||
|
MSA Safety Inc. |
10,089 | 1,642,893 | ||||||
|
Pitney Bowes Inc. |
36,549 | 273,021 | ||||||
|
Steelcase Inc., Class A |
58,209 | 820,165 | ||||||
|
Tetra Tech Inc. |
12,205 | 1,755,567 | ||||||
|
UniFirst Corp./MA |
3,047 | 697,976 | ||||||
|
Viad Corp.(a) |
12,873 | 555,985 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 18,611,021 | ||||||||
| Communications Equipment 0.9% | ||||||||
|
ADTRAN Inc. |
34,639 | 715,642 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Communications Equipment (continued) | ||||||||
|
Calix Inc.(a) |
12,222 | $ | 569,545 | |||||
|
Ciena Corp.(a) |
41,081 | 2,346,958 | ||||||
|
CommScope Holding Co. Inc.(a) |
52,492 | 829,374 | ||||||
|
Harmonic Inc.(a)(b) |
66,155 | 611,272 | ||||||
|
Infinera Corp.(a) |
63,381 | 536,837 | ||||||
|
Lumentum Holdings Inc.(a)(b) |
18,264 | 1,582,393 | ||||||
|
Plantronics Inc.(a) |
18,664 | 555,814 | ||||||
|
Ribbon Communications Inc.(a) |
84,799 | 553,737 | ||||||
|
ViaSat Inc.(a) |
10,573 | 545,990 | ||||||
|
Viavi Solutions Inc.(a) |
33,543 | 546,415 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,393,977 | ||||||||
| Construction & Engineering 1.9% | ||||||||
|
AECOM(a) |
40,911 | 2,682,125 | ||||||
|
API Group Corp.(a)(d) |
33,623 | 779,717 | ||||||
|
Arcosa Inc. |
12,579 | 639,265 | ||||||
|
Argan Inc. |
12,282 | 568,657 | ||||||
|
Comfort Systems USA Inc. |
17,057 | 1,295,991 | ||||||
|
Dycom Industries Inc.(a) |
7,614 | 573,563 | ||||||
|
EMCOR Group Inc. |
20,296 | 2,465,964 | ||||||
|
Fluor Corp.(a) |
33,585 | 559,526 | ||||||
|
Granite Construction Inc. |
16,108 | 653,018 | ||||||
|
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp.(a) |
36,863 | 557,000 | ||||||
|
IES Holdings Inc.(a) |
10,711 | 523,768 | ||||||
|
MasTec Inc.(a) |
12,817 | 1,171,986 | ||||||
|
MYR Group Inc.(a) |
6,974 | 725,366 | ||||||
|
Primoris Services Corp. |
21,506 | 552,704 | ||||||
|
Quanta Services Inc. |
40,219 | 4,106,360 | ||||||
|
Sterling Construction Co. Inc.(a) |
25,138 | 579,682 | ||||||
|
Valmont Industries Inc. |
5,134 | 1,277,647 | ||||||
|
WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.(a) |
51,703 | 1,530,409 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 21,242,748 | ||||||||
| Construction Materials 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Summit Materials Inc., Class A(a) |
31,168 | 1,049,427 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Consumer Finance 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Credit Acceptance Corp.(a)(b) |
1,234 | 715,325 | ||||||
|
Encore Capital Group Inc.(a) |
12,910 | 635,301 | ||||||
|
Green Dot Corp., Class A(a) |
13,074 | 682,986 | ||||||
|
LendingClub Corp.(a) |
19,958 | 619,896 | ||||||
|
OneMain Holdings Inc. |
16,099 | 931,005 | ||||||
|
PRA Group Inc.(a) |
20,421 | 857,682 | ||||||
|
PROG Holdings Inc. |
18,295 | 865,719 | ||||||
|
SLM Corp. |
61,277 | 1,148,944 | ||||||
|
Upstart Holdings Inc.(a) |
3,190 | 730,893 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,187,751 | ||||||||
| Containers & Packaging 0.9% | ||||||||
|
AptarGroup Inc. |
20,160 | 2,717,568 | ||||||
|
Berry Global Group Inc.(a) |
25,749 | 1,729,560 | ||||||
|
Graphic Packaging Holding Co. |
45,663 | 937,005 | ||||||
|
Greif Inc., Class A, NVS |
10,665 | 675,308 | ||||||
|
Myers Industries Inc. |
25,066 | 571,505 | ||||||
|
O-I Glass Inc.(a) |
36,776 | 556,421 | ||||||
|
Sonoco Products Co. |
35,659 | 2,328,532 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,515,899 | ||||||||
| Diversified Consumer Services 1.4% | ||||||||
|
2U Inc.(a)(b) |
20,330 | 752,820 | ||||||
|
Adtalem Global Education Inc.(a) |
15,815 | 585,155 | ||||||
|
American Public Education Inc.(a) |
21,008 | 552,510 | ||||||
|
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.(a) |
17,964 | 2,618,433 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
33 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Diversified Consumer Services (continued) | ||||||||
|
Chegg Inc.(a) |
29,317 | $ | 2,439,761 | |||||
|
frontdoor Inc.(a) |
17,240 | 752,009 | ||||||
|
Graham Holdings Co., Class B |
1,118 | 689,594 | ||||||
|
Grand Canyon Education Inc.(a) |
9,756 | 869,650 | ||||||
|
H&R Block Inc. |
45,935 | 1,178,233 | ||||||
|
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co.(a)(b) |
40,365 | 543,716 | ||||||
|
Service Corp. International |
27,024 | 1,696,026 | ||||||
|
Strategic Education Inc. |
7,089 | 554,927 | ||||||
|
Terminix Global Holdings Inc.(a) |
51,264 | 2,134,120 | ||||||
|
WW International Inc.(a)(b) |
24,093 | 521,613 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 15,888,567 | ||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 0.0% | ||||||||
|
Cannae Holdings Inc.(a) |
17,309 | 552,503 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Bandwidth Inc., Class A(a)(b) |
8,031 | 826,390 | ||||||
|
Cincinnati Bell Inc.(a) |
24,658 | 381,953 | ||||||
|
Cogent Communications Holdings Inc. |
10,674 | 774,719 | ||||||
|
Iridium Communications Inc.(a) |
28,879 | 1,285,404 | ||||||
|
Liberty Latin America Ltd., Class C, NVS(a) |
42,344 | 609,330 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,877,796 | ||||||||
| Electric Utilities 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. |
38,400 | 1,674,240 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electrical Equipment 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Acuity Brands Inc. |
10,662 | 1,967,459 | ||||||
|
Atkore Inc.(a) |
11,151 | 1,034,478 | ||||||
|
Blink Charging Co.(a) |
17,510 | 567,849 | ||||||
|
Bloom Energy Corp., Class A(a)(b) |
34,609 | 741,325 | ||||||
|
EnerSys |
11,313 | 956,967 | ||||||
|
FuelCell Energy Inc.(a)(b) |
91,044 | 568,114 | ||||||
|
Hubbell Inc. |
13,010 | 2,681,491 | ||||||
|
Regal Beloit Corp. |
10,040 | 1,500,177 | ||||||
|
Shoals Technologies Group Inc., Class A(a) |
17,519 | 570,594 | ||||||
|
TPI Composites Inc.(a) |
14,458 | 524,970 | ||||||
|
Vertiv Holdings Co. |
54,553 | 1,536,758 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,650,182 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Advanced Energy Industries Inc. |
6,222 | 561,100 | ||||||
|
Avnet Inc. |
28,350 | 1,147,041 | ||||||
|
Badger Meter Inc. |
25,913 | 2,775,023 | ||||||
|
Benchmark Electronics Inc. |
23,778 | 642,719 | ||||||
|
Coherent Inc.(a) |
6,871 | 1,736,096 | ||||||
|
CTS Corp. |
15,852 | 556,088 | ||||||
|
ePlus Inc.(a) |
10,597 | 1,146,807 | ||||||
|
Fabrinet(a) |
5,242 | 540,031 | ||||||
|
FARO Technologies Inc.(a) |
9,409 | 648,656 | ||||||
|
Flex Ltd.(a)(b) |
144,941 | 2,693,004 | ||||||
|
II-VI Inc.(a) |
16,813 | 1,058,883 | ||||||
|
Insight Enterprises Inc.(a)(b) |
12,178 | 1,252,994 | ||||||
|
Itron Inc.(a) |
16,404 | 1,378,100 | ||||||
|
Jabil Inc. |
23,381 | 1,444,478 | ||||||
|
Kimball Electronics Inc.(a) |
24,941 | 602,824 | ||||||
|
Knowles Corp.(a) |
34,171 | 683,420 | ||||||
|
Littelfuse Inc. |
4,582 | 1,307,703 | ||||||
|
Methode Electronics Inc. |
26,834 | 1,249,659 | ||||||
|
MicroVision Inc.(a) |
40,263 | 593,074 | ||||||
|
National Instruments Corp. |
56,335 | 2,355,930 | ||||||
|
Novanta Inc.(a) |
11,377 | 1,743,184 | ||||||
|
OSI Systems Inc.(a) |
19,086 | 1,888,369 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (continued) | ||||||||
|
PAR Technology Corp.(a) |
9,514 | $ | 646,286 | |||||
|
Plexus Corp.(a) |
15,854 | 1,455,873 | ||||||
|
Rogers Corp.(a) |
5,561 | 1,181,212 | ||||||
|
SYNNEX Corp. |
9,065 | 1,151,890 | ||||||
|
Vishay Intertechnology Inc. |
24,550 | 539,364 | ||||||
|
Vishay Precision Group Inc.(a) |
19,171 | 716,420 | ||||||
|
Vontier Corp. |
41,092 | 1,494,516 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 35,190,744 | ||||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Archrock Inc. |
73,250 | 562,560 | ||||||
|
Cactus Inc., Class A |
15,895 | 596,221 | ||||||
|
ChampionX Corp.(a) |
48,932 | 1,141,584 | ||||||
|
Core Laboratories NV |
21,183 | 583,804 | ||||||
|
DMC Global Inc.(a) |
14,328 | 575,556 | ||||||
|
Liberty Oilfield Services Inc., Class A(a) |
54,854 | 560,608 | ||||||
|
NOV Inc.(a) |
106,284 | 1,399,760 | ||||||
|
Oceaneering International Inc.(a) |
47,841 | 588,444 | ||||||
|
TechnipFMC PLC(a)(b) |
198,288 | 1,314,649 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,323,186 | ||||||||
| Entertainment 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Cinemark Holdings Inc.(a) |
37,372 | 666,343 | ||||||
|
IMAX Corp.(a) |
38,158 | 599,462 | ||||||
|
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class A(a) |
43,850 | 566,542 | ||||||
|
World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., Class A |
10,911 | 568,572 | ||||||
|
Zynga Inc., Class A(a) |
214,345 | 1,896,953 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,297,872 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 7.4% | ||||||||
|
Agree Realty Corp. |
9,597 | 715,456 | ||||||
|
Alexander & Baldwin Inc. |
49,002 | 1,023,162 | ||||||
|
American Assets Trust Inc. |
15,533 | 618,524 | ||||||
|
American Campus Communities Inc. |
48,097 | 2,445,732 | ||||||
|
American Homes 4 Rent, Class A |
49,463 | 2,074,478 | ||||||
|
Americold Realty Trust |
47,317 | 1,738,427 | ||||||
|
Apartment Income REIT Corp. |
25,541 | 1,297,994 | ||||||
|
Apple Hospitality REIT Inc. |
37,211 | 549,979 | ||||||
|
Armada Hoffler Properties Inc. |
42,394 | 569,351 | ||||||
|
Brandywine Realty Trust |
72,492 | 1,006,189 | ||||||
|
Brixmor Property Group Inc. |
89,786 | 2,105,482 | ||||||
|
Centerspace |
6,409 | 648,463 | ||||||
|
Columbia Property Trust Inc. |
55,230 | 923,446 | ||||||
|
CoreSite Realty Corp. |
13,962 | 2,071,542 | ||||||
|
Corporate Office Properties Trust |
66,655 | 1,878,338 | ||||||
|
Cousins Properties Inc. |
28,298 | 1,091,171 | ||||||
|
CubeSmart |
35,822 | 1,916,477 | ||||||
|
CyrusOne Inc. |
28,293 | 2,177,995 | ||||||
|
DiamondRock Hospitality Co.(a) |
76,412 | 690,764 | ||||||
|
DigitalBridge Group Inc.(a) |
104,447 | 720,684 | ||||||
|
Douglas Emmett Inc. |
69,508 | 2,294,459 | ||||||
|
Easterly Government Properties Inc. |
36,783 | 786,053 | ||||||
|
Empire State Realty Trust Inc., Class A |
80,392 | 825,626 | ||||||
|
EPR Properties |
15,569 | 790,127 | ||||||
|
Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc. |
28,390 | 920,120 | ||||||
|
Federal Realty Investment Trust |
20,604 | 2,508,949 | ||||||
|
First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. |
31,297 | 1,752,319 | ||||||
|
Four Corners Property Trust Inc. |
22,686 | 649,046 | ||||||
|
Franklin Street Properties Corp. |
113,802 | 546,250 | ||||||
|
Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. |
41,782 | 2,059,853 | ||||||
|
Healthcare Trust of America Inc., Class A |
28,771 | 872,624 | ||||||
|
Hudson Pacific Properties Inc. |
39,037 | 1,029,796 | ||||||
| 34 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (continued) | ||||||||
|
Independence Realty Trust Inc. |
35,307 | $ | 723,087 | |||||
|
Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. |
3,815 | 938,147 | ||||||
|
iStar Inc. |
38,304 | 1,013,141 | ||||||
|
JBG SMITH Properties |
57,548 | 1,733,921 | ||||||
|
Kilroy Realty Corp. |
51,328 | 3,369,683 | ||||||
|
Kimco Realty Corp. |
142,226 | 3,099,104 | ||||||
|
Lamar Advertising Co., Class A |
12,004 | 1,366,415 | ||||||
|
Life Storage Inc. |
24,764 | 3,081,632 | ||||||
|
Macerich Co. (The) |
59,560 | 1,017,285 | ||||||
|
National Retail Properties Inc. |
25,309 | 1,204,961 | ||||||
|
National Storage Affiliates Trust |
9,971 | 570,840 | ||||||
|
Outfront Media Inc.(a) |
39,689 | 982,700 | ||||||
|
Paramount Group Inc. |
60,840 | 539,042 | ||||||
|
Park Hotels & Resorts Inc.(a) |
66,178 | 1,266,647 | ||||||
|
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust |
26,296 | 579,301 | ||||||
|
Physicians Realty Trust |
42,775 | 791,765 | ||||||
|
Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc., Class A |
61,206 | 1,090,691 | ||||||
|
PotlatchDeltic Corp. |
11,054 | 574,255 | ||||||
|
QTS Realty Trust Inc., Class A |
16,138 | 1,258,441 | ||||||
|
Rayonier Inc. |
24,833 | 913,358 | ||||||
|
Retail Properties of America Inc., Class A |
46,571 | 615,669 | ||||||
|
Rexford Industrial Realty Inc. |
28,886 | 1,788,910 | ||||||
|
Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc.(a) |
12,258 | 1,018,272 | ||||||
|
Sabra Health Care REIT Inc. |
47,400 | 758,400 | ||||||
|
SITE Centers Corp. |
46,396 | 747,440 | ||||||
|
SL Green Realty Corp. |
19,485 | 1,365,509 | ||||||
|
Spirit Realty Capital Inc. |
16,207 | 839,036 | ||||||
|
STAG Industrial Inc. |
20,432 | 863,252 | ||||||
|
STORE Capital Corp. |
50,656 | 1,827,162 | ||||||
|
Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.(a) |
51,152 | 592,852 | ||||||
|
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. |
33,220 | 555,438 | ||||||
|
Uniti Group Inc. |
82,981 | 1,084,562 | ||||||
|
Washington REIT |
47,566 | 1,195,809 | ||||||
|
Xenia Hotels & Resorts Inc.(a) |
36,184 | 630,325 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 81,295,928 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 0.8% | ||||||||
|
BJs Wholesale Club Holdings Inc.(a)(b) |
30,303 | 1,716,968 | ||||||
|
Caseys General Stores Inc. |
6,964 | 1,424,556 | ||||||
|
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.(a)(b) |
20,510 | 533,875 | ||||||
|
PriceSmart Inc. |
14,278 | 1,208,062 | ||||||
|
SpartanNash Co. |
25,707 | 552,701 | ||||||
|
Sprouts Farmers Market Inc.(a) |
33,791 | 841,396 | ||||||
|
U.S. Foods Holding Corp.(a) |
49,744 | 1,691,296 | ||||||
|
United Natural Foods Inc.(a) |
18,163 | 668,398 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,637,252 | ||||||||
| Food Products 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Beyond Meat Inc.(a)(b) |
12,126 | 1,450,755 | ||||||
|
Cal-Maine Foods Inc. |
15,067 | 544,823 | ||||||
|
Darling Ingredients Inc.(a) |
37,817 | 2,817,366 | ||||||
|
Flowers Foods Inc. |
52,728 | 1,272,327 | ||||||
|
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. |
17,174 | 564,681 | ||||||
|
Freshpet Inc.(a) |
13,210 | 1,692,729 | ||||||
|
Hain Celestial Group Inc. (The)(a) |
24,402 | 912,879 | ||||||
|
Ingredion Inc. |
38,025 | 3,340,876 | ||||||
|
Landec Corp.(a) |
50,713 | 549,222 | ||||||
|
Post Holdings Inc.(a)(b) |
11,291 | 1,263,576 | ||||||
|
Sanderson Farms Inc. |
2,733 | 537,035 | ||||||
|
Simply Good Foods Co. (The)(a) |
20,454 | 728,571 | ||||||
|
TreeHouse Foods Inc.(a) |
16,193 | 606,752 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Food Products (continued) | ||||||||
|
Vital Farms Inc.(a) |
30,585 | $ | 549,918 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,831,510 | ||||||||
| Gas Utilities 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Chesapeake Utilities Corp. |
5,003 | 653,892 | ||||||
|
National Fuel Gas Co. |
22,246 | 1,152,565 | ||||||
|
New Jersey Resources Corp. |
32,531 | 1,214,708 | ||||||
|
Northwest Natural Holding Co. |
11,583 | 595,945 | ||||||
|
ONE Gas Inc. |
27,609 | 1,982,879 | ||||||
|
South Jersey Industries Inc. |
49,534 | 1,228,939 | ||||||
|
Southwest Gas Holdings Inc. |
19,533 | 1,373,365 | ||||||
|
Spire Inc. |
17,566 | 1,171,652 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,373,945 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.4% | ||||||||
|
Alphatec Holdings Inc.(a) |
44,078 | 638,249 | ||||||
|
AngioDynamics Inc.(a) |
19,459 | 550,690 | ||||||
|
AtriCure Inc.(a) |
12,986 | 956,029 | ||||||
|
Axonics Inc.(a) |
7,197 | 539,631 | ||||||
|
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.(a) |
22,885 | 819,054 | ||||||
|
CONMED Corp. |
5,646 | 741,546 | ||||||
|
CryoLife Inc.(a) |
21,007 | 551,224 | ||||||
|
CryoPort Inc.(a) |
9,620 | 611,543 | ||||||
|
Envista Holdings Corp.(a) |
34,513 | 1,476,811 | ||||||
|
Establishment Labs Holdings Inc.(a) |
7,449 | 558,675 | ||||||
|
Glaukos Corp.(a) |
11,093 | 661,476 | ||||||
|
Globus Medical Inc., Class A(a) |
15,763 | 1,286,261 | ||||||
|
Haemonetics Corp.(a) |
15,055 | 944,701 | ||||||
|
Heska Corp.(a) |
3,472 | 921,122 | ||||||
|
Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. |
17,152 | 2,496,988 | ||||||
|
ICU Medical Inc.(a) |
2,666 | 531,467 | ||||||
|
Inari Medical Inc.(a) |
7,711 | 631,222 | ||||||
|
Inogen Inc.(a) |
8,916 | 527,738 | ||||||
|
Integer Holdings Corp.(a) |
6,918 | 683,429 | ||||||
|
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.(a) |
12,811 | 963,772 | ||||||
|
Intersect ENT Inc.(a) |
21,891 | 595,654 | ||||||
|
iRhythm Technologies Inc.(a) |
12,418 | 593,580 | ||||||
|
LivaNova PLC(a) |
9,604 | 794,155 | ||||||
|
Merit Medical Systems Inc.(a) |
15,830 | 1,136,119 | ||||||
|
Natus Medical Inc.(a) |
25,469 | 675,438 | ||||||
|
Nevro Corp.(a) |
6,527 | 796,294 | ||||||
|
NuVasive Inc.(a) |
8,968 | 557,271 | ||||||
|
OraSure Technologies Inc.(a) |
52,008 | 569,488 | ||||||
|
Orthofix Medical Inc.(a) |
22,224 | 942,298 | ||||||
|
OrthoPediatrics Corp.(a) |
8,440 | 591,644 | ||||||
|
Outset Medical Inc.(a) |
13,309 | 656,001 | ||||||
|
Penumbra Inc.(a) |
8,074 | 2,219,946 | ||||||
|
Quidel Corp.(a)(b) |
8,807 | 1,135,663 | ||||||
|
Shockwave Medical Inc.(a) |
8,937 | 1,914,395 | ||||||
|
SI-BONE Inc.(a)(b) |
26,424 | 645,010 | ||||||
|
Silk Road Medical Inc.(a) |
11,839 | 701,816 | ||||||
|
STAAR Surgical Co.(a) |
9,820 | 1,516,895 | ||||||
|
Surmodics Inc.(a) |
10,184 | 611,753 | ||||||
|
Tactile Systems Technology Inc.(a) |
13,049 | 580,419 | ||||||
|
Tandem Diabetes Care Inc.(a) |
18,348 | 2,058,095 | ||||||
|
Varex Imaging Corp.(a) |
23,212 | 677,094 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 37,060,656 | ||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 3.2% | ||||||||
|
1Life Healthcare Inc.(a) |
26,303 | 644,687 | ||||||
|
Acadia Healthcare Co. Inc.(a) |
15,983 | 1,056,796 | ||||||
|
Accolade Inc.(a) |
13,122 | 621,720 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
35 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services (continued) | ||||||||
|
AdaptHealth Corp.(a) |
22,982 | $ | 552,487 | |||||
|
Addus HomeCare Corp.(a) |
10,177 | 915,116 | ||||||
|
Amedisys Inc.(a) |
9,101 | 1,669,578 | ||||||
|
AMN Healthcare Services Inc.(a) |
14,389 | 1,633,439 | ||||||
|
Brookdale Senior Living Inc.(a) |
81,696 | 596,381 | ||||||
|
Chemed Corp. |
2,994 | 1,427,240 | ||||||
|
CorVel Corp.(a) |
5,820 | 959,194 | ||||||
|
Covetrus Inc.(a) |
24,885 | 562,152 | ||||||
|
Encompass Health Corp. |
34,211 | 2,683,853 | ||||||
|
Ensign Group Inc. (The) |
11,996 | 979,713 | ||||||
|
Fulgent Genetics Inc.(a)(b) |
6,429 | 586,582 | ||||||
|
Guardant Health Inc.(a) |
16,073 | 2,045,611 | ||||||
|
Hanger Inc.(a) |
24,263 | 579,400 | ||||||
|
HealthEquity Inc.(a) |
12,866 | 825,611 | ||||||
|
Joint Corp. (The)(a) |
6,256 | 639,176 | ||||||
|
LHC Group Inc.(a) |
9,960 | 1,860,130 | ||||||
|
MEDNAX Inc.(a) |
17,918 | 575,347 | ||||||
|
ModivCare Inc.(a) |
5,293 | 1,044,097 | ||||||
|
National Research Corp. |
12,612 | 681,048 | ||||||
|
Option Care Health Inc.(a) |
23,662 | 632,959 | ||||||
|
Owens & Minor Inc. |
20,016 | 746,197 | ||||||
|
Patterson Companies Inc. |
28,727 | 880,195 | ||||||
|
Pennant Group Inc. (The)(a) |
20,341 | 621,824 | ||||||
|
PetIQ Inc.(a) |
21,791 | 565,476 | ||||||
|
Premier Inc., Class A |
34,505 | 1,282,896 | ||||||
|
Progyny Inc.(a) |
12,884 | 719,829 | ||||||
|
R1 RCM Inc.(a) |
60,102 | 1,185,211 | ||||||
|
RadNet Inc.(a) |
23,021 | 723,090 | ||||||
|
Select Medical Holdings Corp. |
25,452 | 879,876 | ||||||
|
Signify Health Inc., Class A(a) |
20,729 | 538,747 | ||||||
|
Surgery Partners Inc.(a) |
12,058 | 593,254 | ||||||
|
Tenet Healthcare Corp.(a) |
15,351 | 1,156,698 | ||||||
|
Tivity Health Inc.(a)(b) |
23,793 | 553,187 | ||||||
|
U.S. Physical Therapy Inc. |
4,881 | 573,029 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 34,791,826 | ||||||||
| Health Care Technology 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc.(a) |
39,431 | 605,660 | ||||||
|
Health Catalyst Inc.(a) |
10,580 | 577,774 | ||||||
|
Inspire Medical Systems Inc.(a) |
5,336 | 1,192,916 | ||||||
|
NextGen Healthcare Inc.(a) |
35,218 | 537,427 | ||||||
|
Omnicell Inc.(a) |
4,381 | 680,238 | ||||||
|
Phreesia Inc.(a) |
8,102 | 579,698 | ||||||
|
Schrodinger Inc.(a) |
9,643 | 575,591 | ||||||
|
Simulations Plus Inc. |
12,481 | 552,908 | ||||||
|
Vocera Communications Inc.(a) |
16,082 | 779,816 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,082,028 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Accel Entertainment Inc.(a) |
49,970 | 575,654 | ||||||
|
Ballys Corp.(a) |
11,846 | 595,143 | ||||||
|
Boyd Gaming Corp.(a) |
16,925 | 1,038,687 | ||||||
|
Brinker International Inc.(a) |
11,006 | 586,290 | ||||||
|
Cheesecake Factory Inc. (The)(a) |
12,715 | 593,155 | ||||||
|
Choice Hotels International Inc. |
4,648 | 554,785 | ||||||
|
Churchill Downs Inc. |
6,315 | 1,329,307 | ||||||
|
Dave & Busters Entertainment Inc.(a) |
16,605 | 621,359 | ||||||
|
Everi Holdings Inc.(a) |
30,054 | 683,729 | ||||||
|
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.(a) |
43,669 | 1,907,899 | ||||||
|
Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A(a) |
7,331 | 539,488 | ||||||
|
Jack in the Box Inc. |
6,107 | 647,098 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (continued) | ||||||||
|
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.(a) |
7,033 | $ | 1,051,785 | |||||
|
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.(a)(b) |
75,257 | 1,944,641 | ||||||
|
Papa Johns International Inc. |
4,059 | 517,644 | ||||||
|
Penn National Gaming Inc.(a)(b) |
34,738 | 2,817,252 | ||||||
|
Planet Fitness Inc., Class A(a) |
25,080 | 2,039,004 | ||||||
|
Scientific Games Corp./DE, Class A(a) |
18,813 | 1,361,121 | ||||||
|
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.(a) |
15,781 | 776,267 | ||||||
|
Shake Shack Inc., Class A(a) |
8,979 | 778,928 | ||||||
|
Six Flags Entertainment Corp.(a) |
17,401 | 735,018 | ||||||
|
Texas Roadhouse Inc. |
9,124 | 866,780 | ||||||
|
Travel + Leisure Co. |
22,992 | 1,259,042 | ||||||
|
Wendys Co. (The) |
47,827 | 1,100,978 | ||||||
|
Wingstop Inc. |
7,020 | 1,206,949 | ||||||
|
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc. |
25,312 | 1,840,182 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 27,968,185 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Cavco Industries Inc.(a) |
2,276 | 581,518 | ||||||
|
Century Communities Inc. |
8,834 | 619,263 | ||||||
|
Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. |
22,503 | 540,522 | ||||||
|
GoPro Inc., Class A(a) |
53,378 | 532,179 | ||||||
|
Green Brick Partners Inc.(a) |
21,691 | 542,058 | ||||||
|
Helen of Troy Ltd.(a) |
8,393 | 2,007,522 | ||||||
|
iRobot Corp.(a) |
8,545 | 693,170 | ||||||
|
KB Home |
23,344 | 1,004,492 | ||||||
|
Leggett & Platt Inc. |
27,495 | 1,330,483 | ||||||
|
LGI Homes Inc.(a) |
5,806 | 930,876 | ||||||
|
Lovesac Co. (The)(a) |
9,744 | 551,121 | ||||||
|
MDC Holdings Inc. |
10,082 | 526,785 | ||||||
|
Meritage Homes Corp.(a) |
9,422 | 1,050,930 | ||||||
|
Purple Innovation Inc., Class A(a)(b) |
21,311 | 519,988 | ||||||
|
Skyline Champion Corp.(a) |
8,915 | 559,149 | ||||||
|
Sonos Inc.(a) |
26,425 | 1,049,865 | ||||||
|
Taylor Morrison Home Corp.(a) |
29,890 | 839,610 | ||||||
|
Tempur Sealy International Inc. |
34,803 | 1,555,694 | ||||||
|
Toll Brothers Inc. |
16,292 | 1,043,666 | ||||||
|
TopBuild Corp.(a) |
6,451 | 1,411,414 | ||||||
|
TRI Pointe Homes Inc.(a) |
27,141 | 645,142 | ||||||
|
Tupperware Brands Corp.(a) |
24,007 | 573,047 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 19,108,494 | ||||||||
| Household Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Energizer Holdings Inc. |
16,805 | 661,109 | ||||||
|
Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. |
7,925 | 618,625 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,279,734 | ||||||||
| Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Clearway Energy Inc., Class C |
49,049 | 1,539,648 | ||||||
|
NextEra Energy Partners LP |
26,043 | 2,081,617 | ||||||
|
Ormat Technologies Inc. |
13,318 | 947,309 | ||||||
|
Sunnova Energy International Inc.(a) |
27,192 | 984,351 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,552,925 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Raven Industries Inc. |
19,679 | 1,148,270 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Insurance 1.9% | ||||||||
|
American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. |
17,775 | 563,290 | ||||||
|
Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. |
11,807 | 624,590 | ||||||
|
Assured Guaranty Ltd. |
14,910 | 743,413 | ||||||
|
Axis Capital Holdings Ltd. |
16,683 | 853,669 | ||||||
|
Brighthouse Financial Inc.(a) |
12,155 | 595,109 | ||||||
|
CNO Financial Group Inc. |
31,150 | 761,929 | ||||||
| 36 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Insurance (continued) | ||||||||
|
eHealth Inc.(a) |
13,372 | $ | 516,828 | |||||
|
Enstar Group Ltd.(a) |
2,227 | 513,702 | ||||||
|
First American Financial Corp. |
32,862 | 2,317,757 | ||||||
|
Genworth Financial Inc., Class A(a) |
107,185 | 401,944 | ||||||
|
Goosehead Insurance Inc., Class A |
3,823 | 561,140 | ||||||
|
Hanover Insurance Group Inc. (The) |
13,587 | 1,919,979 | ||||||
|
Horace Mann Educators Corp. |
10,579 | 433,739 | ||||||
|
Kemper Corp. |
8,194 | 562,108 | ||||||
|
Kinsale Capital Group Inc. |
3,093 | 562,462 | ||||||
|
Lemonade Inc.(a)(b) |
7,608 | 574,708 | ||||||
|
Primerica Inc. |
8,266 | 1,264,202 | ||||||
|
ProAssurance Corp. |
18,305 | 466,777 | ||||||
|
Reinsurance Group of America Inc. |
14,193 | 1,643,833 | ||||||
|
Selective Insurance Group Inc. |
14,066 | 1,175,496 | ||||||
|
State Auto Financial Corp. |
10,703 | 541,358 | ||||||
|
Stewart Information Services Corp. |
6,220 | 391,549 | ||||||
|
Trupanion Inc.(a)(b) |
7,637 | 699,396 | ||||||
|
Unum Group |
45,488 | 1,210,891 | ||||||
|
White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd.(b) |
522 | 585,063 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20,484,932 | ||||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Cargurus Inc.(a) |
19,798 | 601,463 | ||||||
|
TripAdvisor Inc.(a) |
20,978 | 734,230 | ||||||
|
Vimeo Inc.(a) |
25,337 | 965,847 | ||||||
|
Yelp Inc.(a) |
15,106 | 581,732 | ||||||
|
ZoomInfo Technologies Inc., Class A(a) |
39,304 | 2,562,228 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,445,500 | ||||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 0.4% | ||||||||
|
1-800-Flowers.com Inc., Class A(a) |
17,922 | 569,203 | ||||||
|
Overstock.com Inc.(a) |
10,124 | 730,447 | ||||||
|
RealReal Inc. (The)(a) |
41,917 | 521,447 | ||||||
|
Revolve Group Inc.(a) |
9,207 | 529,034 | ||||||
|
Stamps.com Inc.(a) |
3,187 | 1,048,204 | ||||||
|
Stitch Fix Inc., Class A(a) |
13,090 | 548,602 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,946,937 | ||||||||
| IT Services 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Alliance Data Systems Corp. |
9,034 | 886,326 | ||||||
|
BigCommerce Holdings Inc., Series 1(a) |
10,606 | 631,481 | ||||||
|
Concentrix Corp.(a) |
10,487 | 1,818,341 | ||||||
|
Conduent Inc.(a) |
77,193 | 563,509 | ||||||
|
CSG Systems International Inc. |
11,851 | 571,337 | ||||||
|
DXC Technology Co.(a) |
57,855 | 2,124,436 | ||||||
|
Euronet Worldwide Inc.(a) |
3,951 | 526,392 | ||||||
|
ExlService Holdings Inc.(a) |
8,337 | 1,026,618 | ||||||
|
Fastly Inc., Class A(a)(b) |
21,129 | 921,224 | ||||||
|
LiveRamp Holdings Inc.(a) |
11,808 | 578,592 | ||||||
|
Maximus Inc. |
10,304 | 897,375 | ||||||
|
Perficient Inc.(a) |
6,693 | 797,939 | ||||||
|
Rackspace Technology Inc.(a)(b) |
39,459 | 551,242 | ||||||
|
Sabre Corp.(a) |
51,142 | 574,325 | ||||||
|
TTEC Holdings Inc. |
5,191 | 547,443 | ||||||
|
Unisys Corp.(a) |
23,737 | 574,673 | ||||||
|
Verra Mobility Corp.(a) |
38,881 | 603,044 | ||||||
|
WEX Inc.(a)(b) |
11,114 | 2,040,197 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,234,494 | ||||||||
| Leisure Products 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Brunswick Corp./DE |
15,030 | 1,455,956 | ||||||
|
Callaway Golf Co.(a) |
24,447 | 685,983 | ||||||
|
Johnson Outdoors Inc., Class A |
4,734 | 543,416 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Leisure Products (continued) | ||||||||
|
Malibu Boats Inc., Class A(a) |
8,312 | $ | 595,139 | |||||
|
Mattel Inc.(a) |
75,966 | 1,621,874 | ||||||
|
Polaris Inc. |
8,534 | 1,022,032 | ||||||
|
YETI Holdings Inc.(a) |
22,245 | 2,209,818 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,134,218 | ||||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp.(a) |
25,623 | 930,627 | ||||||
|
BioNano Genomics Inc.(a) |
101,212 | 590,066 | ||||||
|
Bruker Corp. |
12,577 | 1,110,675 | ||||||
|
Codexis Inc.(a)(b) |
23,846 | 644,319 | ||||||
|
Medpace Holdings Inc.(a) |
5,353 | 976,119 | ||||||
|
NanoString Technologies Inc.(a) |
10,158 | 591,196 | ||||||
|
NeoGenomics Inc.(a) |
30,309 | 1,473,624 | ||||||
|
Pacific Biosciences of California Inc.(a) |
34,396 | 1,076,939 | ||||||
|
Repligen Corp.(a) |
12,555 | 3,552,814 | ||||||
|
Syneos Health Inc.(a) |
13,343 | 1,237,963 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,184,342 | ||||||||
| Machinery 4.5% | ||||||||
|
AGCO Corp. |
11,405 | 1,569,556 | ||||||
|
Alamo Group Inc. |
3,902 | 604,849 | ||||||
|
Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. |
31,561 | 1,167,126 | ||||||
|
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. |
11,429 | 669,282 | ||||||
|
Astec Industries Inc. |
10,529 | 643,743 | ||||||
|
Barnes Group Inc. |
11,842 | 564,508 | ||||||
|
Chart Industries Inc.(a)(b) |
8,558 | 1,612,156 | ||||||
|
Columbus McKinnon Corp./NY |
12,745 | 586,907 | ||||||
|
Donaldson Co. Inc. |
27,686 | 1,875,727 | ||||||
|
Douglas Dynamics Inc. |
14,834 | 589,503 | ||||||
|
Energy Recovery Inc.(a) |
29,936 | 611,592 | ||||||
|
Enerpac Tool Group Corp. |
22,255 | 559,936 | ||||||
|
EnPro Industries Inc. |
7,115 | 608,404 | ||||||
|
ESCO Technologies Inc. |
6,520 | 587,582 | ||||||
|
Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.(a) |
25,917 | 1,008,690 | ||||||
|
Federal Signal Corp. |
18,153 | 737,556 | ||||||
|
Flowserve Corp. |
37,561 | 1,459,996 | ||||||
|
Franklin Electric Co. Inc. |
14,152 | 1,202,637 | ||||||
|
Graco Inc. |
33,569 | 2,632,481 | ||||||
|
Hillenbrand Inc. |
19,266 | 894,328 | ||||||
|
Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc. |
8,999 | 527,431 | ||||||
|
ITT Inc. |
26,964 | 2,579,646 | ||||||
|
John Bean Technologies Corp. |
7,126 | 1,039,612 | ||||||
|
Kennametal Inc. |
14,815 | 550,822 | ||||||
|
Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. |
8,754 | 1,222,146 | ||||||
|
Lindsay Corp. |
4,055 | 668,061 | ||||||
|
Luxfer Holdings PLC |
26,753 | 571,177 | ||||||
|
Meritor Inc.(a) |
22,614 | 536,404 | ||||||
|
Middleby Corp. (The)(a) |
10,087 | 1,845,316 | ||||||
|
Mueller Water Products Inc., Class A |
76,911 | 1,278,261 | ||||||
|
Nikola Corp.(a)(b) |
56,805 | 592,476 | ||||||
|
Oshkosh Corp. |
23,075 | 2,643,934 | ||||||
|
Proto Labs Inc.(a) |
7,597 | 563,394 | ||||||
|
Rexnord Corp. |
27,406 | 1,665,189 | ||||||
|
Shyft Group Inc. (The) |
13,200 | 580,932 | ||||||
|
SPX FLOW Inc. |
9,551 | 769,142 | ||||||
|
Tennant Co. |
10,754 | 795,581 | ||||||
|
Terex Corp. |
17,885 | 913,029 | ||||||
|
Timken Co. (The) |
14,545 | 1,069,639 | ||||||
|
Toro Co. (The) |
31,123 | 3,421,663 | ||||||
|
TriMas Corp.(a) |
16,784 | 538,934 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
37 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Machinery (continued) | ||||||||
|
Trinity Industries Inc. |
19,400 | $ | 563,182 | |||||
|
Wabash National Corp. |
36,845 | 572,571 | ||||||
|
Watts Water Technologies Inc., Class A |
11,271 | 1,933,765 | ||||||
|
Welbilt Inc.(a) |
40,978 | 958,885 | ||||||
|
Woodward Inc. |
11,550 | 1,396,857 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 49,984,608 | ||||||||
| Media 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Cardlytics Inc.(a) |
8,346 | 757,650 | ||||||
|
EW Scripps Co. (The), Class A |
29,765 | 551,843 | ||||||
|
Gray Television Inc. |
29,782 | 677,243 | ||||||
|
Iheartmedia Inc., Class A(a) |
29,871 | 743,190 | ||||||
|
John Wiley & Sons Inc., Class A |
16,447 | 955,571 | ||||||
|
Magnite Inc.(a) |
23,555 | 683,566 | ||||||
|
New York Times Co. (The), Class A |
40,263 | 2,044,555 | ||||||
|
Nexstar Media Group Inc., Class A |
8,460 | 1,266,885 | ||||||
|
Scholastic Corp. |
16,050 | 533,502 | ||||||
|
TEGNA Inc. |
61,226 | 1,084,925 | ||||||
|
WideOpenWest Inc.(a) |
26,547 | 563,327 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,862,257 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Alcoa Corp.(a) |
45,705 | 2,027,931 | ||||||
|
Allegheny Technologies Inc.(a) |
28,911 | 516,351 | ||||||
|
Arconic Corp.(a)(b) |
27,392 | 944,750 | ||||||
|
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.(a) |
99,572 | 2,336,955 | ||||||
|
Coeur Mining Inc.(a) |
84,144 | 593,215 | ||||||
|
Commercial Metals Co. |
27,358 | 892,418 | ||||||
|
Compass Minerals International Inc. |
15,386 | 1,029,785 | ||||||
|
Hecla Mining Co. |
95,992 | 590,351 | ||||||
|
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. |
16,808 | 2,521,872 | ||||||
|
Royal Gold Inc. |
18,983 | 2,113,377 | ||||||
|
Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc., Class A |
19,299 | 913,036 | ||||||
|
United States Steel Corp. |
43,903 | 1,174,405 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 15,654,446 | ||||||||
| Mortgage Real Estate Investment 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Inc. |
39,829 | 619,341 | ||||||
|
Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc., Class A |
23,189 | 760,831 | ||||||
|
Chimera Investment Corp. |
37,010 | 566,993 | ||||||
|
Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Inc. |
24,485 | 1,478,160 | ||||||
|
KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. |
27,019 | 576,315 | ||||||
|
New Residential Investment Corp. |
55,229 | 603,101 | ||||||
|
Redwood Trust Inc. |
44,622 | 556,436 | ||||||
|
Starwood Property Trust Inc. |
73,006 | 1,883,555 | ||||||
|
Two Harbors Investment Corp. |
87,045 | 574,497 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,619,229 | ||||||||
| Multi-Utilities 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Avista Corp. |
30,089 | 1,259,225 | ||||||
|
MDU Resources Group Inc. |
102,522 | 3,298,133 | ||||||
|
Unitil Corp. |
11,206 | 555,817 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,113,175 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Big Lots Inc. |
9,643 | 469,228 | ||||||
|
Franchise Group Inc. |
16,077 | 558,354 | ||||||
|
Kohls Corp. |
33,724 | 1,935,758 | ||||||
|
Macys Inc.(a) |
58,451 | 1,308,718 | ||||||
|
Nordstrom Inc.(a)(b) |
30,591 | 875,209 | ||||||
|
Ollies Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc.(a)(b) |
8,514 | 616,243 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,763,510 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Antero Midstream Corp. |
81,316 | $ | 781,447 | |||||
|
Antero Resources Corp.(a) |
64,164 | 880,330 | ||||||
|
APA Corp. |
95,152 | 1,853,561 | ||||||
|
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. |
65,013 | 1,033,057 | ||||||
|
California Resources Corp.(a) |
18,558 | 635,240 | ||||||
|
Callon Petroleum Co.(a)(b) |
20,105 | 686,988 | ||||||
|
Cimarex Energy Co. |
22,847 | 1,467,234 | ||||||
|
Clean Energy Fuels Corp.(a) |
79,058 | 626,930 | ||||||
|
CNX Resources Corp.(a) |
59,350 | 674,216 | ||||||
|
Continental Resources Inc./OK |
15,435 | 606,287 | ||||||
|
Delek U.S. Holdings Inc. |
37,588 | 643,131 | ||||||
|
Diamondback Energy Inc. |
37,436 | 2,887,813 | ||||||
|
EnLink Midstream LLC |
108,615 | 585,435 | ||||||
|
EQT Corp.(a) |
70,311 | 1,288,801 | ||||||
|
Equitrans Midstream Corp. |
64,081 | 559,427 | ||||||
|
Green Plains Inc.(a) |
13,938 | 489,224 | ||||||
|
HollyFrontier Corp. |
34,026 | 1,100,061 | ||||||
|
Kosmos Energy Ltd.(a) |
284,358 | 671,085 | ||||||
|
Marathon Oil Corp. |
208,302 | 2,447,548 | ||||||
|
Matador Resources Co. |
24,114 | 693,277 | ||||||
|
Murphy Oil Corp. |
33,918 | 721,097 | ||||||
|
Oasis Petroleum Inc. |
7,107 | 615,395 | ||||||
|
Ovintiv Inc. |
72,614 | 1,979,458 | ||||||
|
PDC Energy Inc. |
17,488 | 730,124 | ||||||
|
Range Resources Corp.(a) |
63,450 | 927,639 | ||||||
|
Renewable Energy Group Inc.(a)(b) |
11,943 | 578,280 | ||||||
|
SM Energy Co. |
34,234 | 653,869 | ||||||
|
Southwestern Energy Co.(a) |
167,339 | 761,392 | ||||||
|
Targa Resources Corp. |
44,794 | 1,967,352 | ||||||
|
Texas Pacific Land Corp. |
1,164 | 1,582,737 | ||||||
|
World Fuel Services Corp. |
21,783 | 704,898 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 31,833,333 | ||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Domtar Corp.(a) |
17,397 | 953,878 | ||||||
|
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. |
24,301 | 1,541,655 | ||||||
|
Neenah Inc. |
11,131 | 560,891 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,056,424 | ||||||||
| Personal Products 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Edgewell Personal Care Co. |
19,789 | 837,075 | ||||||
|
Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.(a) |
23,492 | 1,206,079 | ||||||
|
Medifast Inc. |
3,206 | 730,647 | ||||||
|
Nu Skin Enterprises Inc., Class A |
10,471 | 530,042 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,303,843 | ||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
37,215 | 554,876 | ||||||
|
Antares Pharma Inc.(a) |
142,943 | 563,195 | ||||||
|
Arvinas Inc.(a) |
9,688 | 835,202 | ||||||
|
Atea Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
17,797 | 528,927 | ||||||
|
BioDelivery Sciences International Inc.(a) |
152,693 | 589,395 | ||||||
|
Cassava Sciences Inc.(a) |
7,951 | 452,014 | ||||||
|
Corcept Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
30,738 | 654,105 | ||||||
|
Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc.(a) |
20,510 | 680,932 | ||||||
|
Nektar Therapeutics(a) |
39,771 | 615,655 | ||||||
|
NGM Biopharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
24,979 | 545,292 | ||||||
|
Nuvation Bio Inc.(a) |
66,989 | 618,308 | ||||||
|
Pacira BioSciences Inc.(a) |
9,750 | 578,078 | ||||||
|
Perrigo Co. PLC |
39,566 | 1,620,228 | ||||||
|
Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc.(a) |
9,537 | 547,328 | ||||||
|
Provention Bio Inc.(a)(b) |
92,320 | 619,467 | ||||||
| 38 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Pharmaceuticals (continued) | ||||||||
|
Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc., Class A(a) |
6,635 | $ | 706,694 | |||||
|
Relmada Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
23,092 | 552,130 | ||||||
|
Revance Therapeutics Inc.(a) |
22,828 | 611,334 | ||||||
|
Theravance Biopharma Inc.(a) |
38,697 | 321,185 | ||||||
|
Tilray Inc., Class 2 (a)(b) |
97,047 | 1,328,573 | ||||||
|
Zogenix Inc.(a)(b) |
39,981 | 592,119 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14,115,037 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 1.7% | ||||||||
|
ASGN Inc.(a)(b) |
14,701 | 1,649,305 | ||||||
|
CACI International Inc., Class A(a) |
4,812 | 1,239,283 | ||||||
|
Exponent Inc. |
7,825 | 914,743 | ||||||
|
FTI Consulting Inc.(a) |
10,286 | 1,437,057 | ||||||
|
Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. |
13,452 | 581,395 | ||||||
|
Huron Consulting Group Inc.(a) |
10,755 | 530,974 | ||||||
|
ICF International Inc. |
9,134 | 855,491 | ||||||
|
Insperity Inc. |
7,751 | 855,245 | ||||||
|
KBR Inc. |
17,743 | 690,912 | ||||||
|
Kelly Services Inc., Class A, NVS |
40,038 | 778,339 | ||||||
|
Kforce Inc. |
9,195 | 537,172 | ||||||
|
Korn Ferry |
14,977 | 1,058,724 | ||||||
|
ManpowerGroup Inc. |
17,260 | 2,095,709 | ||||||
|
Nielsen Holdings PLC |
86,834 | 1,863,458 | ||||||
|
Science Applications International Corp. |
9,801 | 825,538 | ||||||
|
TriNet Group Inc.(a) |
13,915 | 1,281,293 | ||||||
|
TrueBlue Inc.(a) |
29,521 | 806,809 | ||||||
|
Upwork Inc.(a) |
25,156 | 1,124,725 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 19,126,172 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Cushman & Wakefield PLC(a)(b) |
57,424 | 1,041,671 | ||||||
|
eXp World Holdings Inc. |
12,985 | 595,362 | ||||||
|
Howard Hughes Corp. (The)(a) |
10,451 | 946,129 | ||||||
|
Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.(a) |
12,928 | 3,134,135 | ||||||
|
Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc. |
27,758 | 610,398 | ||||||
|
Marcus & Millichap Inc.(a) |
14,106 | 553,237 | ||||||
|
Newmark Group Inc., Class A |
42,438 | 578,006 | ||||||
|
Realogy Holdings Corp.(a) |
32,356 | 567,848 | ||||||
|
Redfin Corp.(a) |
15,033 | 730,153 | ||||||
|
RMR Group Inc. (The), Class A |
14,238 | 659,789 | ||||||
|
St Joe Co. (The) |
12,451 | 576,108 | ||||||
|
Tejon Ranch Co.(a) |
35,793 | 687,942 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,680,778 | ||||||||
| Road & Rail 1.0% | ||||||||
|
ArcBest Corp. |
8,506 | 567,605 | ||||||
|
Avis Budget Group Inc.(a) |
13,517 | 1,226,668 | ||||||
|
Landstar System Inc. |
13,634 | 2,290,921 | ||||||
|
Marten Transport Ltd. |
35,168 | 548,269 | ||||||
|
Ryder System Inc. |
20,502 | 1,629,704 | ||||||
|
Saia Inc.(a) |
4,147 | 995,819 | ||||||
|
Schneider National Inc., Class B |
23,880 | 538,255 | ||||||
|
Werner Enterprises Inc. |
31,037 | 1,463,705 | ||||||
|
XPO Logistics Inc.(a) |
16,189 | 1,406,986 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,667,932 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 2.7% | ||||||||
|
Amkor Technology Inc. |
28,068 | 771,028 | ||||||
|
Brooks Automation Inc. |
14,240 | 1,209,830 | ||||||
|
Cirrus Logic Inc.(a) |
18,035 | 1,508,988 | ||||||
|
CMC Materials Inc. |
4,266 | 565,757 | ||||||
|
Cree Inc.(a) |
31,772 | 2,699,985 | ||||||
|
Entegris Inc. |
29,078 | 3,493,431 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (continued) | ||||||||
|
First Solar Inc.(a) |
27,230 | $ | 2,559,620 | |||||
|
Ichor Holdings Ltd.(a) |
13,325 | 590,431 | ||||||
|
Kulicke & Soffa Industries Inc. |
24,204 | 1,698,879 | ||||||
|
Lattice Semiconductor Corp.(a) |
27,904 | 1,733,396 | ||||||
|
MaxLinear Inc.(a) |
10,620 | 554,683 | ||||||
|
MKS Instruments Inc. |
5,003 | 736,341 | ||||||
|
Onto Innovation Inc.(a) |
17,553 | 1,301,204 | ||||||
|
Power Integrations Inc. |
13,461 | 1,462,403 | ||||||
|
Rambus Inc.(a) |
36,198 | 861,512 | ||||||
|
Semtech Corp.(a) |
11,837 | 827,643 | ||||||
|
Silicon Laboratories Inc.(a) |
10,077 | 1,588,337 | ||||||
|
SunPower Corp.(a) |
25,198 | 543,017 | ||||||
|
Synaptics Inc.(a) |
8,359 | 1,586,371 | ||||||
|
Ultra Clean Holdings Inc.(a) |
13,090 | 605,282 | ||||||
|
Universal Display Corp. |
12,657 | 2,640,124 | ||||||
|
Veeco Instruments Inc.(a)(b) |
26,180 | 596,642 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 30,134,904 | ||||||||
| Software 7.1% | ||||||||
|
8x8 Inc.(a) |
26,255 | 634,058 | ||||||
|
ACI Worldwide Inc.(a) |
40,006 | 1,289,393 | ||||||
|
Alarm.com Holdings Inc.(a) |
6,807 | 574,034 | ||||||
|
Altair Engineering Inc., Class A(a) |
11,089 | 820,475 | ||||||
|
Alteryx Inc., Class A(a) |
10,802 | 799,024 | ||||||
|
Anaplan Inc.(a) |
29,098 | 1,745,298 | ||||||
|
Appian Corp.(a) |
8,067 | 864,782 | ||||||
|
Asana Inc., Class A(a) |
12,022 | 908,262 | ||||||
|
Aspen Technology Inc.(a)(b) |
17,778 | 2,302,251 | ||||||
|
Avaya Holdings Corp.(a) |
25,963 | 523,674 | ||||||
|
Bill.com Holdings Inc.(a) |
16,276 | 4,465,972 | ||||||
|
Blackbaud Inc.(a) |
11,628 | 810,355 | ||||||
|
Blackline Inc.(a) |
15,939 | 1,738,945 | ||||||
|
Bottomline Technologies DE Inc.(a) |
17,837 | 753,970 | ||||||
|
Box Inc., Class A(a) |
39,767 | 1,025,193 | ||||||
|
CDK Global Inc. |
29,190 | 1,214,304 | ||||||
|
Cerence Inc.(a) |
8,684 | 941,693 | ||||||
|
Cloudera Inc.(a) |
42,783 | 681,533 | ||||||
|
CommVault Systems Inc.(a) |
9,792 | 792,858 | ||||||
|
Digital Turbine Inc.(a) |
12,176 | 711,687 | ||||||
|
Dolby Laboratories Inc., Class A |
16,819 | 1,666,931 | ||||||
|
Domo Inc., Class B(a) |
6,052 | 541,654 | ||||||
|
Duck Creek Technologies Inc.(a) |
12,091 | 563,803 | ||||||
|
Elastic NV(a) |
15,217 | 2,427,872 | ||||||
|
Envestnet Inc.(a) |
10,438 | 833,683 | ||||||
|
Everbridge Inc.(a) |
6,548 | 1,027,840 | ||||||
|
FireEye Inc.(a) |
58,083 | 1,056,530 | ||||||
|
Five9 Inc.(a) |
16,368 | 2,589,909 | ||||||
|
InterDigital Inc. |
7,694 | 554,814 | ||||||
|
Jamf Holding Corp.(a) |
20,421 | 717,798 | ||||||
|
LivePerson Inc.(a)(b) |
13,192 | 845,607 | ||||||
|
Manhattan Associates Inc.(a) |
13,234 | 2,157,010 | ||||||
|
Marathon Digital Holdings Inc.(a) |
16,568 | 672,495 | ||||||
|
Medallia Inc.(a) |
22,396 | 756,313 | ||||||
|
MicroStrategy Inc., Class A(a) |
1,486 | 1,031,730 | ||||||
|
Mimecast Ltd.(a) |
16,798 | 1,172,668 | ||||||
|
Model N Inc.(a)(b) |
16,749 | 567,959 | ||||||
|
Momentive Global Inc.(a) |
37,596 | 737,258 | ||||||
|
nCino Inc.(a) |
8,565 | 531,116 | ||||||
|
NCR Corp.(a) |
30,939 | 1,314,289 | ||||||
|
New Relic Inc.(a) |
17,047 | 1,363,249 | ||||||
|
Nuance Communications Inc.(a) |
60,491 | 3,330,030 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
39 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Software (continued) | ||||||||
|
Nutanix Inc., Class A(a) |
50,552 | $ | 1,865,874 | |||||
|
Pagerduty Inc.(a) |
22,102 | 945,966 | ||||||
|
Paylocity Holding Corp.(a) |
11,699 | 3,149,371 | ||||||
|
Pegasystems Inc. |
4,887 | 672,598 | ||||||
|
Progress Software Corp. |
32,199 | 1,499,185 | ||||||
|
Proofpoint Inc.(a)(c) |
12,806 | 2,252,575 | ||||||
|
PROS Holdings Inc.(a) |
14,740 | 637,358 | ||||||
|
Q2 Holdings Inc.(a) |
6,287 | 553,822 | ||||||
|
Qualys Inc.(a)(b) |
9,012 | 1,057,829 | ||||||
|
Rapid7 Inc.(a) |
17,204 | 2,090,630 | ||||||
|
Riot Blockchain Inc.(a) |
16,246 | 606,301 | ||||||
|
SailPoint Technologies Holdings Inc.(a) |
13,878 | 650,323 | ||||||
|
Smartsheet Inc., Class A(a) |
31,593 | 2,513,855 | ||||||
|
Sprout Social Inc., Class A(a) |
11,208 | 1,362,893 | ||||||
|
SPS Commerce Inc.(a)(b) |
9,861 | 1,336,461 | ||||||
|
Tenable Holdings Inc.(a) |
12,965 | 575,257 | ||||||
|
Teradata Corp.(a) |
33,806 | 1,848,850 | ||||||
|
Varonis Systems Inc.(a) |
25,048 | 1,728,562 | ||||||
|
Workiva Inc.(a)(b) |
13,645 | 1,913,984 | ||||||
|
Xperi Holding Corp. |
25,927 | 554,060 | ||||||
|
Zuora Inc., Class A(a) |
34,950 | 593,451 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 78,467,524 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 3.6% | ||||||||
|
Aarons Co. Inc. (The) |
18,867 | 500,353 | ||||||
|
Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A(a) |
14,173 | 506,826 | ||||||
|
American Eagle Outfitters Inc. |
36,098 | 1,101,711 | ||||||
|
Asbury Automotive Group Inc.(a) |
4,143 | 771,592 | ||||||
|
AutoNation Inc.(a) |
10,774 | 1,175,336 | ||||||
|
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.(a) |
20,454 | 563,303 | ||||||
|
Boot Barn Holdings Inc.(a) |
7,230 | 645,494 | ||||||
|
Buckle Inc. (The) |
12,358 | 478,625 | ||||||
|
Caleres Inc. |
22,281 | 547,890 | ||||||
|
Childrens Place Inc. (The)(a) |
5,492 | 476,925 | ||||||
|
Five Below Inc.(a) |
12,492 | 2,658,423 | ||||||
|
Floor & Decor Holdings Inc., Class A(a) |
21,185 | 2,612,110 | ||||||
|
Foot Locker Inc. |
22,814 | 1,293,326 | ||||||
|
GameStop Corp., Class A(a)(b) |
13,525 | 2,951,696 | ||||||
|
Gap Inc. (The) |
72,416 | 1,935,680 | ||||||
|
Genesco Inc.(a) |
8,847 | 548,779 | ||||||
|
Group 1 Automotive Inc. |
5,323 | 880,637 | ||||||
|
GrowGeneration Corp.(a)(b) |
17,967 | 574,764 | ||||||
|
Haverty Furniture Companies Inc. |
14,771 | 526,291 | ||||||
|
Hibbett Inc. |
6,545 | 626,291 | ||||||
|
Leslies Inc.(a) |
26,705 | 644,125 | ||||||
|
Lithia Motors Inc. |
5,915 | 1,959,639 | ||||||
|
MarineMax Inc.(a) |
10,877 | 528,840 | ||||||
|
Monro Inc. |
10,598 | 603,132 | ||||||
|
Murphy USA Inc. |
8,840 | 1,372,675 | ||||||
|
National Vision Holdings Inc.(a) |
19,873 | 1,191,983 | ||||||
|
ODP Corp. (The)(a) |
12,469 | 588,163 | ||||||
|
Petco Health & Wellness Co. Inc.(a) |
26,152 | 563,053 | ||||||
|
Rent-A-Center Inc./TX |
16,650 | 1,050,282 | ||||||
|
RH(a)(b) |
3,428 | 2,401,897 | ||||||
|
Sally Beauty Holdings Inc.(a) |
29,970 | 557,142 | ||||||
|
Signet Jewelers Ltd. |
12,570 | 995,544 | ||||||
|
Sleep Number Corp.(a) |
6,907 | 638,967 | ||||||
|
Urban Outfitters Inc.(a) |
14,839 | 489,984 | ||||||
|
Vroom Inc.(a) |
19,961 | 536,152 | ||||||
|
Williams-Sonoma Inc. |
18,381 | 3,431,733 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Specialty Retail (continued) | ||||||||
|
Zumiez Inc.(a) |
13,002 | $ | 522,550 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 39,451,913 | ||||||||
| Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 0.3% | ||||||||
|
3D Systems Corp.(a) |
24,755 | 753,542 | ||||||
|
Pure Storage Inc., Class A(a) |
47,907 | 1,237,438 | ||||||
|
Xerox Holdings Corp. |
58,552 | 1,318,006 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,308,986 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 2.1% | ||||||||
|
Capri Holdings Ltd.(a) |
27,651 | 1,562,558 | ||||||
|
Carters Inc. |
13,364 | 1,368,206 | ||||||
|
Columbia Sportswear Co. |
12,562 | 1,281,450 | ||||||
|
Crocs Inc.(a) |
16,035 | 2,290,119 | ||||||
|
Deckers Outdoor Corp.(a) |
8,062 | 3,373,544 | ||||||
|
Hanesbrands Inc. |
101,806 | 1,901,736 | ||||||
|
Kontoor Brands Inc. |
13,160 | 710,114 | ||||||
|
Levi Strauss & Co., Class A |
40,316 | 1,056,682 | ||||||
|
Oxford Industries Inc. |
5,988 | 540,716 | ||||||
|
PVH Corp.(a) |
19,883 | 2,083,539 | ||||||
|
Ralph Lauren Corp. |
11,059 | 1,284,282 | ||||||
|
Steven Madden Ltd. |
19,991 | 809,036 | ||||||
|
Tapestry Inc.(a) |
62,339 | 2,513,508 | ||||||
|
Under Armour Inc., Class A(a) |
27,819 | 643,732 | ||||||
|
Under Armour Inc., Class C, NVS(a)(b) |
32,480 | 651,549 | ||||||
|
Wolverine World Wide Inc. |
24,980 | 895,783 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 22,966,554 | ||||||||
| Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Essent Group Ltd. |
19,831 | 933,644 | ||||||
|
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., Class C, NVS |
8,629 | 844,779 | ||||||
|
Flagstar Bancorp. Inc. |
18,447 | 912,389 | ||||||
|
HomeStreet Inc. |
14,704 | 600,659 | ||||||
|
MGIC Investment Corp. |
110,668 | 1,689,900 | ||||||
|
Mr Cooper Group Inc.(a) |
20,931 | 813,797 | ||||||
|
New York Community Bancorp. Inc. |
85,949 | 1,076,082 | ||||||
|
NMI Holdings Inc., Class A(a) |
25,260 | 570,118 | ||||||
|
PennyMac Financial Services Inc. |
15,143 | 1,007,767 | ||||||
|
Premier Financial Corp. |
19,940 | 606,176 | ||||||
|
Radian Group Inc. |
53,240 | 1,258,061 | ||||||
|
Rocket Companies Inc., Class A |
29,621 | 513,924 | ||||||
|
TFS Financial Corp. |
30,667 | 613,033 | ||||||
|
Walker & Dunlop Inc. |
5,787 | 642,646 | ||||||
|
Washington Federal Inc. |
19,084 | 635,497 | ||||||
|
WSFS Financial Corp. |
7,997 | 363,144 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 13,081,616 | ||||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Air Lease Corp. |
18,604 | 739,323 | ||||||
|
Beacon Roofing Supply Inc.(a) |
12,259 | 631,093 | ||||||
|
Boise Cascade Co. |
31,064 | 1,797,052 | ||||||
|
GATX Corp. |
12,159 | 1,114,737 | ||||||
|
GMS Inc.(a) |
14,127 | 698,015 | ||||||
|
Herc Holdings Inc.(a) |
5,091 | 669,212 | ||||||
|
McGrath RentCorp |
11,487 | 801,563 | ||||||
|
Rush Enterprises Inc., Class A |
12,627 | 556,851 | ||||||
|
SiteOne Landscape Supply Inc.(a) |
14,095 | 2,820,410 | ||||||
|
Triton International Ltd. |
22,475 | 1,229,832 | ||||||
|
Univar Solutions Inc.(a) |
25,529 | 602,740 | ||||||
|
Veritiv Corp.(a) |
6,672 | 598,278 | ||||||
|
Watsco Inc. |
3,427 | 954,145 | ||||||
|
WESCO International Inc.(a) |
13,337 | 1,560,696 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14,773,947 | ||||||||
| 40 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Transportation Infrastructure 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Macquarie Infrastructure Corp. |
23,451 | $ | 934,522 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Water Utilities 0.3% | ||||||||
|
American States Water Co. |
16,040 | 1,479,048 | ||||||
|
Middlesex Water Co. |
7,796 | 852,960 | ||||||
|
SJW Group |
9,214 | 638,807 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,970,815 | ||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. |
17,529 | 522,890 | ||||||
|
Telephone and Data Systems Inc. |
27,216 | 553,029 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,075,919 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 100.1%
|
1,100,431,026 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
|
Money Market Funds 4.1% |
||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
|
43,527,022 | 43,548,786 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
|
1,390,000 | 1,390,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 44,938,786 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 4.1%
|
|
44,938,786 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 104.2%
|
|
1,145,369,812 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (4.2)% |
|
(46,331,515 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 1,099,038,297 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. |
| (d) |
Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors. |
| (e) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (f) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (g) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at
|
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 13,849,687 | $ | 29,710,119(a | ) | $ | | $ | (7,420 | ) | $ | (3,600 | ) | $ | 43,548,786 | 43,527,022 | $ | 136,154 | (b) | $ | | |||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
360,000 | 1,030,000(a | ) | | | | 1,390,000 | 1,390,000 | 327 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (7,420 | ) | $ | (3,600 | ) | $ | 44,938,786 | $ | 136,481 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
41 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF
|
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
Russell 2000 E-Mini Index |
10 | 09/17/21 | $ | 1,136 | $ | 28,245 | ||||||||||
|
S&P MidCap 400 E-Mini Index |
2 | 09/17/21 | 550 | 8,581 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| $ | 36,826 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 36,826 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (31,872 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 36,826 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 337,200 | ||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 1,098,175,374 | $ | | $ | 2,255,652 | $ | 1,100,431,026 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
44,938,786 | | | 44,938,786 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 1,143,114,160 | $ | | $ | 2,255,652 | $ | 1,145,369,812 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 36,826 | $ | | $ | | $ | 36,826 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 42 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Argentina 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Globant SA(a) |
8,870 | $ | 2,858,624 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Brazil 3.0% | ||||||||
|
Adecoagro SA(a) |
21,111 | 197,388 | ||||||
|
Americanas SA(a) |
99,549 | 796,269 | ||||||
|
Atacadao SA |
113,138 | 397,125 | ||||||
|
B3 SA - Brasil, Bolsa, Balcao |
1,375,141 | 3,741,826 | ||||||
|
Banco Bradesco SA |
328,701 | 1,267,560 | ||||||
|
Banco do Brasil SA |
192,736 | 1,134,246 | ||||||
|
Banco Santander Brasil SA |
92,646 | 751,445 | ||||||
|
CCR SA |
273,589 | 648,152 | ||||||
|
Cosan SA |
231,718 | 988,122 | ||||||
|
CPFL Energia SA |
53,013 | 297,729 | ||||||
|
Energisa SA |
42,176 | 361,907 | ||||||
|
Equatorial Energia SA |
203,831 | 1,003,229 | ||||||
|
Klabin SA(a) |
158,260 | 805,257 | ||||||
|
Localiza Rent a Car SA |
136,255 | 1,461,418 | ||||||
|
Lojas Renner SA |
201,122 | 1,480,371 | ||||||
|
Natura & Co. Holding SA(a) |
200,808 | 2,004,663 | ||||||
|
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA |
117,134 | 1,810,879 | ||||||
|
Rede DOr Sao Luiz SA(b) |
87,877 | 1,169,586 | ||||||
|
Rumo SA(a) |
291,062 | 1,053,740 | ||||||
|
Telefonica Brasil SA |
113,936 | 963,569 | ||||||
|
TIM SA |
188,269 | 453,669 | ||||||
|
Ultrapar Participacoes SA |
160,114 | 447,135 | ||||||
|
Via S/A(a) |
290,055 | 582,825 | ||||||
|
WEG SA |
376,591 | 2,589,846 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 26,407,956 | ||||||||
| Chile 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Cencosud Shopping SA |
111,145 | 157,990 | ||||||
|
Empresas CMPC SA |
253,093 | 562,214 | ||||||
|
Empresas COPEC SA |
87,399 | 813,064 | ||||||
|
Enel Americas SA |
4,964,747 | 697,642 | ||||||
|
Falabella SA |
168,697 | 668,165 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,899,075 | ||||||||
| China 33.9% | ||||||||
|
360 Security Technology Inc., Class A(a) |
87,000 | 160,430 | ||||||
|
3SBio Inc.(a)(b) |
298,000 | 331,980 | ||||||
|
51job Inc., ADR(a) |
6,645 | 510,336 | ||||||
|
AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. |
162,500 | 900,845 | ||||||
|
Air China Ltd., Class A(a) |
83,600 | 93,846 | ||||||
|
Air China Ltd., Class H(a) |
392,000 | 262,902 | ||||||
|
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.(a) |
2,005,916 | 42,003,064 | ||||||
|
Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd.(a) |
908,000 | 1,498,726 | ||||||
|
A-Living Smart City Services Co. Ltd.(b) |
129,250 | 513,684 | ||||||
|
Angel Yeast Co. Ltd., Class A |
11,700 | 72,693 | ||||||
|
Baozun Inc., ADR(a) |
13,332 | 321,035 | ||||||
|
BBMG Corp., Class A |
135,300 | 56,807 | ||||||
|
Beijing Capital International Airport Co. Ltd., Class H(a) |
364,000 | 219,501 | ||||||
|
Beijing Enterprises Water Group Ltd. |
1,014,000 | 418,210 | ||||||
|
BOC Aviation Ltd.(b) |
48,400 | 362,840 | ||||||
|
BYD Co. Ltd., Class A |
24,500 | 1,054,892 | ||||||
|
BYD Co. Ltd., Class H |
176,000 | 5,916,961 | ||||||
|
By-Health Co. Ltd., Class A |
24,100 | 93,891 | ||||||
|
CanSino Biologics Inc., Class A(a) |
1,169 | 69,907 | ||||||
|
CanSino Biologics Inc., Class H(a)(b) |
18,200 | 719,246 | ||||||
|
Changzhou Xingyu Automotive Lighting Systems Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,565 | 106,948 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| China (continued) | ||||||||
|
China Aoyuan Group Ltd. |
288,000 | $ | 172,187 | |||||
|
China Communications Services Corp. Ltd., Class H |
470,000 | 250,185 | ||||||
|
China Conch Venture Holdings Ltd. |
364,500 | 1,491,834 | ||||||
|
China Construction Bank Corp., Class A |
127,500 | 115,503 | ||||||
|
China Construction Bank Corp., Class H |
21,560,000 | 15,535,223 | ||||||
|
China East Education Holdings Ltd.(b) |
123,000 | 131,970 | ||||||
|
China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd., Class A(a) |
162,900 | 118,612 | ||||||
|
China Education Group Holdings Ltd. |
179,000 | 338,423 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Environment Group Ltd. |
826,000 | 571,067 | ||||||
|
China Feihe Ltd.(b) |
802,000 | 1,449,234 | ||||||
|
China Gas Holdings Ltd. |
691,800 | 2,002,493 | ||||||
|
China Jinmao Holdings Group Ltd. |
1,232,000 | 400,526 | ||||||
|
China Jushi Co. Ltd., Class A |
51,178 | 139,121 | ||||||
|
China Lesso Group Holdings Ltd. |
240,000 | 513,683 | ||||||
|
China Medical System Holdings Ltd. |
302,000 | 592,753 | ||||||
|
China Mengniu Dairy Co. Ltd. |
709,000 | 4,264,465 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., Class H |
875,000 | 7,216,654 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Property Operation & Service Co. Ltd., Class A |
11,700 | 22,302 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
108,900 | 167,883 | ||||||
|
China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., Class A |
234,300 | 283,655 | ||||||
|
China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., Class H |
741,000 | 578,103 | ||||||
|
China National Medicines Corp. Ltd., Class A |
11,400 | 51,546 | ||||||
|
China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. |
857,500 | 1,975,411 | ||||||
|
China Resources Gas Group Ltd. |
208,000 | 1,262,316 | ||||||
|
China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.(b) |
360,000 | 187,221 | ||||||
|
China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
13,300 | 57,552 | ||||||
|
China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
157,500 | 140,563 | ||||||
|
China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd., Class H(a) |
346,000 | 201,529 | ||||||
|
China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp. Ltd., Class A |
26,800 | 949,036 | ||||||
|
China Vanke Co. Ltd., Class A |
132,000 | 404,791 | ||||||
|
China Vanke Co. Ltd., Class H |
381,900 | 1,030,426 | ||||||
|
Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd., Class A |
85,680 | 273,838 | ||||||
|
CIFI Ever Sunshine Services Group Ltd. |
166,000 | 342,914 | ||||||
|
CIFI Holdings Group Co. Ltd. |
766,000 | 514,922 | ||||||
|
CITIC Ltd. |
1,307,000 | 1,623,859 | ||||||
|
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
31,400 | 2,412,390 | ||||||
|
Country Garden Services Holdings Co. Ltd. |
342,000 | 2,609,703 | ||||||
|
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. |
2,013,360 | 2,554,152 | ||||||
|
Dali Foods Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
446,000 | 250,025 | ||||||
|
Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
610,000 | 667,943 | ||||||
|
ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. |
177,400 | 3,510,327 | ||||||
|
ENN Natural Gas Co. Ltd., Class A |
21,400 | 67,840 | ||||||
|
Eve Energy Co. Ltd., Class A |
24,532 | 388,725 | ||||||
|
Fosun International Ltd. |
567,500 | 717,829 | ||||||
|
Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,500 | 60,524 | ||||||
|
Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
29,100 | 215,954 | ||||||
|
Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
134,000 | 824,610 | ||||||
|
Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., Class A |
15,300 | 522,130 | ||||||
|
Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
58,400 | 1,345,513 | ||||||
|
Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. |
1,320,000 | 4,783,976 | ||||||
|
GEM Co. Ltd., Class A |
62,500 | 130,234 | ||||||
|
Genscript Biotech Corp.(a) |
254,000 | 1,207,578 | ||||||
|
GoerTek Inc., Class A |
48,000 | 346,146 | ||||||
|
Gotion High-tech Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
15,900 | 132,405 | ||||||
|
Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd., Class A |
31,500 | 323,441 | ||||||
|
Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd., Class H |
692,500 | 3,194,033 | ||||||
|
Greenland Holdings Corp. Ltd., Class A |
112,245 | 77,346 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
43 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| China (continued) | ||||||||
|
Greentown Service Group Co. Ltd. |
342,000 | $ | 365,858 | |||||
|
Guangdong Xinbao Electrical Appliances Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
12,700 | 40,715 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
662,000 | 666,514 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
18,900 | 86,259 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Kingmed Diagnostics Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
6,500 | 106,193 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. Ltd., Class H |
364,800 | 311,032 | ||||||
|
Hangzhou Robam Appliances Co. Ltd., Class A |
12,700 | 70,246 | ||||||
|
Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
268,000 | 730,711 | ||||||
|
HengTen Networks Group Ltd.(a)(c) |
636,000 | 312,112 | ||||||
|
Hopson Development Holdings Ltd. |
147,900 | 576,200 | ||||||
|
Huaxia Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
169,900 | 147,351 | ||||||
|
Industrial Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
280,500 | 803,484 | ||||||
|
Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
79,100 | 417,384 | ||||||
|
Jafron Biomedical Co. Ltd., Class A |
8,600 | 65,284 | ||||||
|
Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
34,800 | 43,808 | ||||||
|
Jinke Properties Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
80,100 | 59,501 | ||||||
|
Jinxin Fertility Group Ltd.(b) |
292,000 | 463,999 | ||||||
|
Joyoung Co. Ltd., Class A |
9,100 | 29,635 | ||||||
|
Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. |
665,000 | 221,354 | ||||||
|
Kingdee International Software Group Co. Ltd.(a) |
584,000 | 2,126,562 | ||||||
|
Kuang-Chi Technologies Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
29,400 | 104,088 | ||||||
|
KWG Group Holdings Ltd. |
273,000 | 287,413 | ||||||
|
Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Ltd. |
309,000 | 271,195 | ||||||
|
Lenovo Group Ltd. |
1,620,000 | 1,786,912 | ||||||
|
Li Auto Inc., ADR(a) |
120,999 | 3,734,029 | ||||||
|
Li Ning Co. Ltd. |
503,000 | 6,745,115 | ||||||
|
Liaoning Cheng Da Co. Ltd., Class A |
18,900 | 71,063 | ||||||
|
Logan Group Co. Ltd. |
326,000 | 388,580 | ||||||
|
Longfor Group Holdings Ltd.(b) |
408,000 | 1,765,545 | ||||||
|
Meituan, Class B(a)(b) |
903,000 | 28,873,027 | ||||||
|
Microport Scientific Corp. |
141,400 | 877,080 | ||||||
|
Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Ltd., Class A |
24,100 | 83,942 | ||||||
|
Minth Group Ltd. |
166,000 | 688,948 | ||||||
|
NARI Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
77,360 | 419,355 | ||||||
|
NIO Inc., ADR(a) |
305,050 | 11,991,515 | ||||||
|
Offshore Oil Engineering Co. Ltd., Class A |
80,100 | 56,222 | ||||||
|
Ovctek China Inc., Class A |
11,960 | 124,047 | ||||||
|
Pharmaron Beijing Co. Ltd., Class A |
9,300 | 277,744 | ||||||
|
Pharmaron Beijing Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
29,600 | 656,741 | ||||||
|
Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class A |
145,600 | 1,126,667 | ||||||
|
Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class H |
1,419,500 | 10,991,298 | ||||||
|
Poly Developments and Holdings Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
151,300 | 266,854 | ||||||
|
Poly Property Services Co. Ltd., Class H |
28,200 | 172,384 | ||||||
|
Shandong Sinocera Functional Material Co. Ltd., Class A |
7,400 | 52,522 | ||||||
|
Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co. Ltd., Class H |
572,000 | 941,187 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Electric Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
155,700 | 118,010 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
27,800 | 272,565 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
110,500 | 708,871 | ||||||
|
Shanghai M&G Stationery Inc., Class A |
12,700 | 135,936 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd., Class A |
26,100 | 77,630 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd., Class H |
171,000 | 339,235 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Inovance Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
36,050 | 397,146 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen International Holdings Ltd. |
279,000 | 364,080 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Investment Ltd. |
602,000 | 178,687 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co. Ltd., Class A |
109,100 | 113,847 | ||||||
|
Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd. |
185,300 | 4,016,585 | ||||||
|
Shimao Group Holdings Ltd. |
281,000 | 580,635 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| China (continued) | ||||||||
|
Sichuan Chuantou Energy Co. Ltd., Class A |
47,300 | $ | 83,401 | |||||
|
Sinotrans Ltd., Class A |
52,600 | 40,477 | ||||||
|
Sinotruk Hong Kong Ltd. |
158,000 | 311,302 | ||||||
|
Skshu Paint Co. Ltd., Class A |
4,900 | 110,617 | ||||||
|
Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd., Class A |
19,700 | 479,814 | ||||||
|
Suning.com Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
144,000 | 117,805 | ||||||
|
TCL Technology Group Corp., Class A |
187,200 | 206,723 | ||||||
|
Tencent Holdings Ltd. |
772,100 | 47,687,043 | ||||||
|
Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Ltd.(a) |
218,800 | 510,063 | ||||||
|
Topchoice Medical Corp., Class A(a) |
4,500 | 164,179 | ||||||
|
Topsports International Holdings Ltd.(b) |
348,000 | 458,845 | ||||||
|
Transfar Zhilian Co. Ltd., Class A |
42,600 | 57,301 | ||||||
|
Uni-President China Holdings Ltd. |
302,000 | 285,438 | ||||||
|
Unisplendour Corp. Ltd., Class A |
43,000 | 158,268 | ||||||
|
Vinda International Holdings Ltd.(c) |
79,000 | 232,848 | ||||||
|
Vipshop Holdings Ltd., ADR(a) |
102,437 | 1,515,043 | ||||||
|
Want Want China Holdings Ltd. |
1,090,000 | 740,719 | ||||||
|
Weifu High-Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
9,800 | 35,173 | ||||||
|
Wuchan Zhongda Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
61,000 | 57,465 | ||||||
|
Wuhu Sanqi Interactive Entertainment Network Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
30,100 | 79,492 | ||||||
|
WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd., Class A |
34,392 | 708,652 | ||||||
|
WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
76,560 | 1,526,839 | ||||||
|
Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc., New(a)(b) |
806,000 | 12,478,454 | ||||||
|
Xiamen Intretech Inc., Class A |
10,075 | 49,906 | ||||||
|
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
39,100 | 88,468 | ||||||
|
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Class H |
177,600 | 340,475 | ||||||
|
Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd. |
1,086,000 | 2,628,322 | ||||||
|
XPeng Inc., ADR(a) |
86,118 | 3,660,015 | ||||||
|
Yadea Group Holdings Ltd.(b) |
270,000 | 480,418 | ||||||
|
Yantai Jereh Oilfield Services Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
12,800 | 72,865 | ||||||
|
Yum China Holdings Inc. |
94,107 | 5,793,227 | ||||||
|
Yunnan Baiyao Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
17,600 | 241,859 | ||||||
|
Yutong Bus Co. Ltd., Class A |
26,300 | 50,156 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Chint Electrics Co. Ltd., Class A |
27,500 | 267,949 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Expressway Co. Ltd., Class H |
324,000 | 284,114 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. Ltd., Class A |
15,500 | 337,120 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
10,500 | 65,617 | ||||||
|
Zhejiang Weixing New Building Materials Co. Ltd., Class A |
20,900 | 63,963 | ||||||
|
Zhenro Properties Group Ltd. |
307,000 | 179,208 | ||||||
|
Zhongsheng Group Holdings Ltd. |
129,000 | 1,078,569 | ||||||
|
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
107,000 | 130,740 | ||||||
|
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Class H |
298,800 | 284,723 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 299,247,945 | ||||||||
| Czech Republic 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Komercni Banka AS(a) |
16,561 | 636,785 | ||||||
|
Moneta Money Bank AS(a)(b) |
78,177 | 317,416 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 954,201 | ||||||||
| Egypt 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE(a) |
380,204 | 1,132,846 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Greece 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Eurobank Ergasias Services and Holdings SA, Class A(a) |
576,390 | 549,286 | ||||||
| 44 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Greece (continued) | ||||||||
|
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA |
51,952 | $ | 1,022,674 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,571,960 | ||||||||
| Hong Kong 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Hutchmed China Ltd., ADR(a)(c) |
18,814 | 759,333 | ||||||
|
Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. |
2,327,500 | 1,946,666 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,705,999 | ||||||||
| Hungary 0.4% | ||||||||
|
MOL Hungarian Oil & Gas PLC |
92,377 | 757,401 | ||||||
|
OTP Bank Nyrt(a) |
50,238 | 3,033,961 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,791,362 | ||||||||
| India 13.6% | ||||||||
|
Adani Green Energy Ltd.(a) |
87,655 | 1,280,002 | ||||||
|
Adani Total Gas Ltd. |
23,954 | 476,570 | ||||||
|
Asian Paints Ltd. |
85,952 | 3,765,253 | ||||||
|
Axis Bank Ltd.(a) |
508,105 | 5,454,403 | ||||||
|
Bajaj Auto Ltd. |
15,530 | 791,641 | ||||||
|
Bandhan Bank Ltd.(b) |
144,086 | 561,214 | ||||||
|
Berger Paints India Ltd. |
54,560 | 612,760 | ||||||
|
Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. |
192,086 | 1,237,660 | ||||||
|
Biocon Ltd.(a) |
96,747 | 474,919 | ||||||
|
Britannia Industries Ltd. |
24,304 | 1,328,284 | ||||||
|
Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd. |
27,458 | 636,086 | ||||||
|
Dabur India Ltd. |
138,956 | 1,181,904 | ||||||
|
DLF Ltd. |
138,278 | 605,496 | ||||||
|
Eicher Motors Ltd. |
30,579 | 1,119,556 | ||||||
|
Grasim Industries Ltd. |
58,932 | 1,208,163 | ||||||
|
Havells India Ltd. |
54,609 | 947,272 | ||||||
|
HCL Technologies Ltd. |
243,213 | 3,932,100 | ||||||
|
Hero MotoCorp Ltd. |
26,775 | 1,003,474 | ||||||
|
Hindalco Industries Ltd. |
352,542 | 2,254,777 | ||||||
|
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. |
184,376 | 6,866,815 | ||||||
|
Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. |
383,995 | 14,667,052 | ||||||
|
Info Edge India Ltd. |
17,307 | 1,461,705 | ||||||
|
Infosys Ltd. |
763,845 | 17,827,689 | ||||||
|
Lupin Ltd. |
50,205 | 657,560 | ||||||
|
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. |
194,975 | 2,112,697 | ||||||
|
Marico Ltd. |
116,357 | 867,231 | ||||||
|
Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd.(a) |
283,251 | 845,542 | ||||||
|
Nestle India Ltd. |
7,583 | 2,019,335 | ||||||
|
PI Industries Ltd. |
19,142 | 889,134 | ||||||
|
Pidilite Industries Ltd. |
34,323 | 1,070,913 | ||||||
|
Piramal Enterprises Ltd. |
22,730 | 809,708 | ||||||
|
Reliance Industries Ltd. |
639,262 | 19,724,572 | ||||||
|
Shree Cement Ltd. |
2,423 | 936,856 | ||||||
|
Siemens Ltd. |
16,701 | 518,974 | ||||||
|
State Bank of India |
399,527 | 2,323,314 | ||||||
|
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. |
207,213 | 10,726,681 | ||||||
|
Titan Co. Ltd. |
79,405 | 2,085,994 | ||||||
|
Trent Ltd. |
41,566 | 572,232 | ||||||
|
UPL Ltd. |
111,373 | 1,127,441 | ||||||
|
Wipro Ltd. |
307,010 | 2,692,230 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 119,675,209 | ||||||||
| Indonesia 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Aneka Tambang Tbk |
1,856,500 | 310,865 | ||||||
|
Bank Central Asia Tbk PT |
2,483,100 | 5,699,743 | ||||||
|
Barito Pacific Tbk PT |
6,420,800 | 478,998 | ||||||
|
Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk PT |
617,500 | 341,729 | ||||||
|
Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk PT |
161,800 | 69,993 | ||||||
|
Kalbe Farma Tbk PT |
4,655,900 | 438,830 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Indonesia (continued) | ||||||||
|
Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk PT(a) |
2,478,100 | $ | 489,687 | |||||
|
Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk PT |
1,783,800 | 391,192 | ||||||
|
Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT |
1,682,000 | 477,582 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,698,619 | ||||||||
| Kuwait 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Kuwait Finance House KSCP |
1,041,668 | 2,861,383 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Malaysia 2.2% | ||||||||
|
AMMB Holdings Bhd |
384,300 | 280,113 | ||||||
|
Axiata Group Bhd |
642,800 | 640,444 | ||||||
|
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd |
1,453,900 | 1,717,610 | ||||||
|
Dialog Group Bhd |
900,600 | 576,195 | ||||||
|
DiGi.Com Bhd |
699,400 | 739,173 | ||||||
|
Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd |
30,800 | 206,793 | ||||||
|
HAP Seng Consolidated Bhd |
142,900 | 292,129 | ||||||
|
Hartalega Holdings Bhd |
389,700 | 691,842 | ||||||
|
IHH Healthcare Bhd |
396,800 | 610,474 | ||||||
|
Kossan Rubber Industries |
293,100 | 218,573 | ||||||
|
Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd |
98,300 | 505,097 | ||||||
|
Malayan Banking Bhd |
882,800 | 1,783,428 | ||||||
|
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd(a) |
252,763 | 403,132 | ||||||
|
Maxis Bhd |
542,700 | 612,284 | ||||||
|
MISC Bhd |
301,000 | 522,254 | ||||||
|
Nestle Malaysia Bhd |
14,300 | 463,452 | ||||||
|
Petronas Dagangan Bhd |
69,600 | 334,924 | ||||||
|
Petronas Gas Bhd |
175,400 | 708,857 | ||||||
|
PPB Group Bhd |
140,600 | 626,392 | ||||||
|
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd |
723,100 | 939,317 | ||||||
|
Public Bank Bhd |
3,256,800 | 3,274,819 | ||||||
|
QL Resources Bhd |
247,400 | 330,898 | ||||||
|
RHB Bank Bhd |
401,900 | 540,856 | ||||||
|
Sime Darby Bhd |
615,800 | 349,296 | ||||||
|
Supermax Corp. Bhd |
342,900 | 272,208 | ||||||
|
Telekom Malaysia Bhd |
259,400 | 381,987 | ||||||
|
Top Glove Corp. Bhd(c) |
1,194,300 | 1,149,194 | ||||||
|
Westports Holdings Bhd |
233,200 | 246,832 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 19,418,573 | ||||||||
| Mexico 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Arca Continental SAB de CV |
96,700 | 622,888 | ||||||
|
Cemex SAB de CV, CPO, NVS(a) |
3,387,976 | 2,783,390 | ||||||
|
Coca-Cola Femsa SAB de CV |
118,100 | 683,703 | ||||||
|
Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV |
435,500 | 3,791,868 | ||||||
|
Gruma SAB de CV, Class B |
47,675 | 544,474 | ||||||
|
Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV, Series A |
353,400 | 894,233 | ||||||
|
Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O |
581,300 | 3,837,321 | ||||||
|
Industrias Penoles SAB de CV(a) |
32,360 | 458,541 | ||||||
|
Kimberly-Clark de Mexico SAB de CV, Class A |
339,300 | 599,232 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14,215,650 | ||||||||
| Pakistan 0.0% | ||||||||
|
Lucky Cement Ltd.(a) |
28,303 | 141,232 | ||||||
|
MCB Bank Ltd. |
80,408 | 79,867 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 221,099 | ||||||||
| Philippines 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Ayala Land Inc. |
1,830,100 | 1,241,525 | ||||||
|
Bank of the Philippine Islands |
407,090 | 680,802 | ||||||
|
Globe Telecom Inc. |
5,110 | 279,381 | ||||||
|
GT Capital Holdings Inc. |
20,920 | 226,768 | ||||||
|
JG Summit Holdings Inc. |
688,248 | 897,835 | ||||||
|
SM Investments Corp. |
55,140 | 1,114,598 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
45 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Philippines (continued) | ||||||||
|
SM Prime Holdings Inc. |
2,305,200 | $ | 1,572,606 | |||||
|
Universal Robina Corp. |
201,840 | 611,809 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,625,324 | ||||||||
| Poland 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Bank Polska Kasa Opieki SA(a) |
41,235 | 1,153,084 | ||||||
|
CD Projekt SA |
15,605 | 693,028 | ||||||
|
Cyfrowy Polsat SA |
65,824 | 628,311 | ||||||
|
KGHM Polska Miedz SA |
31,393 | 1,462,198 | ||||||
|
Orange Polska SA(a) |
147,320 | 318,476 | ||||||
|
Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN SA |
66,007 | 1,279,782 | ||||||
|
Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA(a) |
196,578 | 2,157,865 | ||||||
|
Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA(a) |
135,250 | 1,433,323 | ||||||
|
Santander Bank Polska SA(a) |
8,253 | 651,273 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,777,340 | ||||||||
| Qatar 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Commercial Bank PSQC (The) |
468,086 | 764,899 | ||||||
|
Ooredoo QPSC |
175,759 | 328,829 | ||||||
|
Qatar Fuel QSC |
105,642 | 522,860 | ||||||
|
Qatar National Bank QPSC |
1,016,767 | 5,275,081 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,891,669 | ||||||||
| Russia 3.5% | ||||||||
|
Gazprom PJSC |
2,650,520 | 11,051,740 | ||||||
|
LUKOIL PJSC |
93,165 | 7,966,637 | ||||||
|
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC, ADR |
98,923 | 927,898 | ||||||
|
Moscow Exchange MICEX-RTS PJSC |
330,470 | 826,870 | ||||||
|
Novatek PJSC, GDR(d) |
20,452 | 4,847,405 | ||||||
|
Novolipetsk Steel PJSC |
333,926 | 1,125,884 | ||||||
|
PhosAgro PJSC, GDR(d) |
31,158 | 613,813 | ||||||
|
Polymetal International PLC |
79,515 | 1,589,547 | ||||||
|
Polyus PJSC |
7,620 | 1,374,931 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 30,324,725 | ||||||||
| Saudi Arabia 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Almarai Co. JSC |
56,460 | 873,607 | ||||||
|
Bank AlBilad(a) |
82,593 | 941,110 | ||||||
|
Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group Co. |
12,050 | 589,768 | ||||||
|
Saudi Arabian Mining Co.(a) |
96,840 | 1,879,336 | ||||||
|
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. |
201,617 | 6,610,111 | ||||||
|
Savola Group (The) |
58,789 | 629,317 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,523,249 | ||||||||
| South Africa 5.6% | ||||||||
|
Absa Group Ltd.(a) |
161,466 | 1,748,653 | ||||||
|
Anglo American Platinum Ltd. |
11,897 | 1,349,408 | ||||||
|
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd.(a) |
86,940 | 1,173,724 | ||||||
|
Bid Corp. Ltd.(a) |
75,249 | 1,657,045 | ||||||
|
Bidvest Group Ltd. (The) |
64,432 | 908,502 | ||||||
|
Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd. |
18,150 | 2,371,104 | ||||||
|
Clicks Group Ltd. |
55,060 | 1,146,817 | ||||||
|
Discovery Ltd.(a) |
97,220 | 863,216 | ||||||
|
FirstRand Ltd. |
1,131,623 | 4,817,436 | ||||||
|
Gold Fields Ltd. |
199,350 | 1,893,294 | ||||||
|
Growthpoint Properties Ltd. |
766,505 | 816,831 | ||||||
|
Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. |
178,478 | 2,734,407 | ||||||
|
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. |
14,333 | 643,685 | ||||||
|
MTN Group Ltd.(a) |
380,100 | 3,488,833 | ||||||
|
MultiChoice Group |
84,181 | 665,856 | ||||||
|
Naspers Ltd., Class N |
48,781 | 8,416,626 | ||||||
|
Nedbank Group Ltd.(a) |
84,465 | 1,075,710 | ||||||
|
NEPI Rockcastle PLC |
95,891 | 692,402 | ||||||
|
Northam Platinum Ltd.(a) |
80,117 | 1,103,881 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| South Africa (continued) | ||||||||
|
Old Mutual Ltd. |
1,054,493 | $ | 1,115,017 | |||||
|
Remgro Ltd. |
118,196 | 982,997 | ||||||
|
Sanlam Ltd. |
424,937 | 1,885,066 | ||||||
|
Shoprite Holdings Ltd. |
112,628 | 1,425,465 | ||||||
|
SPAR Group Ltd. (The) |
43,183 | 617,233 | ||||||
|
Standard Bank Group Ltd. |
290,369 | 2,965,799 | ||||||
|
Vodacom Group Ltd. |
144,284 | 1,426,824 | ||||||
|
Woolworths Holdings Ltd.(a) |
223,371 | 974,189 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 48,960,020 | ||||||||
| South Korea 8.7% | ||||||||
|
Amorepacific Corp. |
7,209 | 1,411,991 | ||||||
|
AMOREPACIFIC Group |
6,644 | 330,563 | ||||||
|
BGF retail Co. Ltd. |
1,664 | 255,735 | ||||||
|
Celltrion Healthcare Co. Ltd.(a) |
19,091 | 2,029,953 | ||||||
|
CJ CheilJedang Corp. |
1,837 | 718,309 | ||||||
|
CJ Corp. |
3,383 | 295,499 | ||||||
|
CJ Logistics Corp.(a) |
2,069 | 304,860 | ||||||
|
Coway Co. Ltd. |
12,374 | 834,321 | ||||||
|
Doosan Bobcat Inc.(a) |
10,972 | 408,844 | ||||||
|
Fila Holdings Corp. |
11,223 | 433,712 | ||||||
|
GS Engineering & Construction Corp. |
14,707 | 566,038 | ||||||
|
GS Holdings Corp. |
10,272 | 375,714 | ||||||
|
Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. |
16,723 | 670,916 | ||||||
|
Hanon Systems |
42,065 | 595,826 | ||||||
|
Hanwha Solutions Corp.(a) |
27,634 | 967,953 | ||||||
|
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. |
17,453 | 833,138 | ||||||
|
Hyundai Glovis Co. Ltd. |
4,009 | 670,789 | ||||||
|
Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. Ltd. |
10,635 | 597,521 | ||||||
|
Kakao Corp. |
69,628 | 9,290,525 | ||||||
|
KB Financial Group Inc. |
88,485 | 4,025,185 | ||||||
|
Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd.(a) |
38,506 | 1,037,328 | ||||||
|
LG Chem Ltd. |
10,252 | 6,680,265 | ||||||
|
LG Corp. |
19,405 | 1,591,637 | ||||||
|
LG Display Co. Ltd.(a) |
52,018 | 915,058 | ||||||
|
LG Electronics Inc. |
23,836 | 2,911,130 | ||||||
|
LG Household & Health Care Ltd. |
2,098 | 2,643,648 | ||||||
|
Lotte Chemical Corp. |
3,941 | 847,603 | ||||||
|
NAVER Corp. |
27,606 | 10,452,650 | ||||||
|
POSCO Chemical Co. Ltd. |
6,949 | 928,436 | ||||||
|
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. Ltd. |
12,537 | 1,989,471 | ||||||
|
Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd.(a) |
35,532 | 682,702 | ||||||
|
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. |
6,895 | 1,342,117 | ||||||
|
Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. |
12,328 | 8,402,601 | ||||||
|
Samsung SDS Co. Ltd. |
7,824 | 1,161,354 | ||||||
|
Shinhan Financial Group Co. Ltd. |
98,375 | 3,277,228 | ||||||
|
SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.(a) |
6,107 | 659,585 | ||||||
|
SK Inc. |
7,094 | 1,607,231 | ||||||
|
SK Innovation Co. Ltd.(a) |
11,397 | 2,443,200 | ||||||
|
SK Telecom Co. Ltd. |
2,031 | 522,189 | ||||||
|
SKC Co. Ltd. |
4,621 | 632,499 | ||||||
|
Yuhan Corp. |
10,796 | 580,966 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 76,926,290 | ||||||||
| Taiwan 15.7% | ||||||||
|
Acer Inc. |
647,000 | 587,193 | ||||||
|
ASE Technology Holding Co. Ltd. |
736,000 | 3,389,260 | ||||||
|
AU Optronics Corp. |
1,831,000 | 1,154,433 | ||||||
|
Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
1,771,000 | 3,803,362 | ||||||
|
Chailease Holding Co. Ltd. |
292,502 | 2,806,034 | ||||||
|
Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. Ltd. |
406,000 | 545,091 | ||||||
| 46 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Taiwan (continued) | ||||||||
|
China Steel Corp. |
2,645,000 | $ | 3,633,338 | |||||
|
Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. |
851,000 | 3,442,499 | ||||||
|
Compal Electronics Inc. |
932,000 | 769,116 | ||||||
|
CTBC Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
4,150,000 | 3,439,665 | ||||||
|
Delta Electronics Inc. |
436,000 | 4,247,053 | ||||||
|
E.Sun Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
2,687,140 | 2,575,877 | ||||||
|
Eclat Textile Co. Ltd. |
45,000 | 904,433 | ||||||
|
Evergreen Marine Corp. Taiwan Ltd. |
567,000 | 2,767,832 | ||||||
|
Far Eastern New Century Corp. |
657,000 | 711,304 | ||||||
|
Far EasTone Telecommunications Co. Ltd. |
355,000 | 789,796 | ||||||
|
Feng TAY Enterprise Co. Ltd. |
97,000 | 754,991 | ||||||
|
First Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
2,314,324 | 1,911,394 | ||||||
|
Fubon Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
1,490,000 | 4,563,924 | ||||||
|
Hiwin Technologies Corp. |
59,660 | 698,792 | ||||||
|
Hotai Motor Co. Ltd. |
67,000 | 1,405,429 | ||||||
|
Hua Nan Financial Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,869,232 | 1,408,542 | ||||||
|
Innolux Corp. |
2,053,000 | 1,271,645 | ||||||
|
Inventec Corp. |
590,000 | 516,142 | ||||||
|
Lite-On Technology Corp. |
473,000 | 1,042,970 | ||||||
|
MediaTek Inc. |
339,000 | 10,992,828 | ||||||
|
Mega Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
2,432,000 | 2,876,426 | ||||||
|
Nan Ya Plastics Corp. |
1,157,000 | 3,738,902 | ||||||
|
Nien Made Enterprise Co. Ltd. |
36,000 | 536,748 | ||||||
|
Oneness Biotech Co. Ltd.(a) |
51,000 | 355,170 | ||||||
|
President Chain Store Corp. |
128,000 | 1,317,960 | ||||||
|
Ruentex Development Co. Ltd. |
189,000 | 472,003 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank Ltd. (The) |
804,000 | 1,304,882 | ||||||
|
SinoPac Financial Holdings Co. Ltd. |
2,278,000 | 1,169,750 | ||||||
|
Taishin Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
2,202,117 | 1,536,469 | ||||||
|
Taiwan Cement Corp. |
1,118,000 | 1,952,017 | ||||||
|
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. |
425,000 | 462,939 | ||||||
|
Taiwan Mobile Co. Ltd. |
369,000 | 1,344,796 | ||||||
|
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
2,090,000 | 45,844,612 | ||||||
|
Uni-President Enterprises Corp. |
1,084,000 | 2,825,222 | ||||||
|
United Microelectronics Corp. |
2,644,000 | 5,991,120 | ||||||
|
Wan Hai Lines Ltd. |
124,000 | 1,109,640 | ||||||
|
Wistron Corp. |
629,000 | 621,237 | ||||||
|
Yageo Corp. |
84,000 | 1,446,183 | ||||||
|
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.(a) |
353,000 | 1,700,453 | ||||||
|
Yuanta Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
2,179,720 | 1,963,543 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 138,703,015 | ||||||||
| Thailand 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Advanced Info Service PCL, NVDR |
264,100 | 1,539,953 | ||||||
|
Airports of Thailand PCL, NVDR(c) |
960,400 | 1,897,537 | ||||||
|
Asset World Corp. PCL, NVDR(a) |
1,821,800 | 244,727 | ||||||
|
B Grimm Power PCL, NVDR |
178,400 | 255,818 | ||||||
|
Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PCL, NVDR |
2,129,900 | 1,545,012 | ||||||
|
Berli Jucker PCL, NVDR |
284,800 | 320,030 | ||||||
|
BTS Group Holdings PCL, NVDR |
1,796,900 | 523,906 | ||||||
|
Bumrungrad Hospital PCL, NVDR |
109,800 | 452,572 | ||||||
|
Central Pattana PCL, NVDR |
451,100 | 750,912 | ||||||
|
Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL, NVDR |
859,400 | 720,054 | ||||||
|
CP ALL PCL, NVDR |
1,306,300 | 2,633,537 | ||||||
|
Energy Absolute PCL, NVDR(c) |
329,900 | 669,796 | ||||||
|
Gulf Energy Development PCL, NVDR |
655,800 | 848,874 | ||||||
|
Home Product Center PCL, NVDR |
1,334,700 | 591,383 | ||||||
|
Indorama Ventures PCL, NVDR |
376,700 | 510,620 | ||||||
|
Intouch Holdings PCL, NVDR |
246,000 | 652,376 | ||||||
|
Land & Houses PCL, NVDR |
1,781,900 | 450,170 | ||||||
|
Minor International PCL, NVDR(a) |
700,500 | 711,471 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Thailand (continued) | ||||||||
|
Muangthai Capital PCL, NVDR |
171,600 | $ | 344,259 | |||||
|
Osotspa PCL, NVDR |
252,200 | 285,387 | ||||||
|
PTT Exploration & Production PCL, NVDR |
307,400 | 1,060,850 | ||||||
|
PTT Global Chemical PCL, NVDR |
501,800 | 995,106 | ||||||
|
Siam Cement PCL (The), NVDR |
174,600 | 2,327,661 | ||||||
|
Siam Commercial Bank PCL (The), NVDR |
188,400 | 621,530 | ||||||
|
Sri Trang Gloves Thailand PCL, NVDR |
224,500 | 257,706 | ||||||
|
Thai Oil PCL, NVDR(c) |
257,000 | 395,512 | ||||||
|
Thai Union Group PCL, NVDR |
662,400 | 408,959 | ||||||
|
True Corp. PCL, NVDR(c) |
2,685,900 | 276,649 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 22,292,367 | ||||||||
| Turkey 0.2% | ||||||||
|
KOC Holding AS |
172,688 | 478,313 | ||||||
|
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS |
268,326 | 530,584 | ||||||
|
Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS |
509,113 | 603,870 | ||||||
|
Turkiye Is Bankasi AS, Class C |
343,980 | 238,122 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,850,889 | ||||||||
| United Arab Emirates 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC |
624,112 | 1,276,039 | ||||||
|
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC |
328,835 | 504,762 | ||||||
|
Aldar Properties PJSC |
859,133 | 970,185 | ||||||
|
Emirates NBD Bank PJSC |
569,819 | 2,148,563 | ||||||
|
Emirates Telecommunications Group Co. PJSC |
390,382 | 2,508,205 | ||||||
|
First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC |
979,300 | 4,532,377 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,940,131 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 98.9%
|
872,475,520 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
||||||||
| Brazil 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Banco Bradesco SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
1,086,191 | 4,862,946 | ||||||
|
Cia. Energetica de Minas Gerais, Preference Shares, NVS |
235,640 | 615,669 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,478,615 | ||||||||
| Chile 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA, Class B, Preference Shares, NVS |
30,224 | 1,581,063 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Colombia 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Bancolombia SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
102,667 | 855,298 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| South Korea 0.1% | ||||||||
|
LG Chem Ltd., Preference Shares, NVS |
1,777 | 528,655 | ||||||
|
LG Household & Health Care Ltd., Preference Shares, NVS |
473 | 280,086 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 808,741 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Preferred Stocks 1.0%
|
8,723,717 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Warrants |
||||||||
| Thailand 0.0% | ||||||||
|
BTS Group Holdings PCL
|
628,915 | 0 | (e) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Warrants 0.0%
|
0 | (e) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
47 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.4% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
|
1,398,672 | $ | 1,399,372 | |||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
|
2,330,000 | 2,330,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,729,372 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.4%
|
3,729,372 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.3%
|
884,928,609 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.3)% |
(2,399,231 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 882,529,378 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (d) |
This security may be resold to qualified foreign investors and foreign institutional buyers under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. |
| (e) |
Rounds to less than $1. |
| (f) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (g) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (h) |
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 year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at 08/31/21 |
Shares Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 4,152,885 | $ | | $ | (2,750,470 | )(a) | $ | (3,122 | ) | $ | 79 | $ | 1,399,372 | 1,398,672 | $ | 330,349 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
1,070,000 | 1,260,000 | (a) | | | | 2,330,000 | 2,330,000 | 664 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (3,122 | ) | $ | 79 | $ | 3,729,372 | $ | 331,013 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
5 | 09/17/21 | $ | 325 | $ | 19,860 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| 48 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF
|
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 19,860 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 90,257 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (3,429 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 462,866 | ||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 138,344,933 | $ | 734,130,587 | $ | | $ | 872,475,520 | ||||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
7,914,976 | 808,741 | | 8,723,717 | ||||||||||||
|
Warrants |
| 0 | (a) | | 0 | (a) | ||||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
3,729,372 | | | 3,729,372 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 149,989,281 | $ | 734,939,328 | $ | | $ | 884,928,609 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(b) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 19,860 | $ | | $ | | $ | 19,860 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Rounds to less than $1. |
| (b) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
49 |
|
Schedule of Investments August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
| Aerospace & Defense 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Howmet Aerospace Inc. |
77,904 | $ | 2,473,452 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 0.8% | ||||||||
|
CH Robinson Worldwide Inc. |
26,709 | 2,405,413 | ||||||
|
Expeditors International of Washington Inc. |
33,768 | 4,208,843 | ||||||
|
United Parcel Service Inc., Class B |
144,306 | 28,230,583 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 34,844,839 | ||||||||
| Airlines 0.0% | ||||||||
|
Delta Air Lines Inc.(a) |
31,843 | 1,287,731 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Auto Components 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Aptiv PLC(a) |
53,861 | 8,197,106 | ||||||
|
BorgWarner Inc. |
47,747 | 2,037,842 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,234,948 | ||||||||
| Automobiles 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Tesla Inc.(a) |
163,366 | 120,191,634 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Banks 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Citizens Financial Group Inc. |
84,766 | 3,711,903 | ||||||
|
First Republic Bank/CA |
34,741 | 6,911,374 | ||||||
|
Huntington Bancshares Inc./OH |
294,132 | 4,567,870 | ||||||
|
KeyCorp. |
193,171 | 3,925,235 | ||||||
|
M&T Bank Corp. |
25,617 | 3,586,636 | ||||||
|
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (The) |
84,439 | 16,136,293 | ||||||
|
Regions Financial Corp. |
191,425 | 3,910,813 | ||||||
|
SVB Financial Group(a) |
11,142 | 6,233,949 | ||||||
|
Truist Financial Corp. |
268,563 | 15,324,205 | ||||||
|
U.S. Bancorp. |
284,508 | 16,327,914 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 80,636,192 | ||||||||
| Beverages 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Coca-Cola Co. (The) |
816,161 | 45,958,026 | ||||||
|
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. |
140,279 | 5,003,752 | ||||||
|
PepsiCo Inc. |
275,070 | 43,018,197 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 93,979,975 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Amgen Inc. |
115,117 | 25,962,337 | ||||||
|
Biogen Inc.(a) |
30,392 | 10,300,153 | ||||||
|
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.(a) |
36,252 | 3,052,781 | ||||||
|
Gilead Sciences Inc. |
250,542 | 18,234,447 | ||||||
|
Horizon Therapeutics PLC(a) |
42,405 | 4,583,556 | ||||||
|
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
51,852 | 10,385,437 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 72,518,711 | ||||||||
| Building Products 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Allegion PLC |
18,136 | 2,611,403 | ||||||
|
Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. |
27,618 | 2,689,165 | ||||||
|
Johnson Controls International PLC |
143,581 | 10,739,859 | ||||||
|
Lennox International Inc. |
6,807 | 2,281,570 | ||||||
|
Masco Corp. |
51,210 | 3,109,471 | ||||||
|
Owens Corning |
20,915 | 1,998,428 | ||||||
|
Trane Technologies PLC |
47,507 | 9,430,139 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 32,860,035 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 4.9% | ||||||||
|
Ameriprise Financial Inc. |
23,294 | 6,357,165 | ||||||
|
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The) |
166,459 | 9,191,866 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Inc.(b) |
30,448 | 28,721,294 | ||||||
|
Carlyle Group Inc. (The) |
31,774 | 1,569,000 | ||||||
|
Cboe Global Markets Inc. |
21,411 | 2,700,998 | ||||||
|
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) |
287,581 | 20,950,276 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Capital Markets (continued) | ||||||||
|
CME Group Inc. |
71,576 | $ | 14,438,311 | |||||
|
FactSet Research Systems Inc. |
7,553 | 2,871,802 | ||||||
|
Franklin Resources Inc. |
60,531 | 1,963,626 | ||||||
|
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. |
111,960 | 13,382,579 | ||||||
|
Invesco Ltd. |
69,042 | 1,748,143 | ||||||
|
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. |
7,556 | 3,596,051 | ||||||
|
Moodys Corp. |
33,585 | 12,788,160 | ||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
278,399 | 29,073,208 | ||||||
|
Nasdaq Inc. |
22,968 | 4,496,675 | ||||||
|
Northern Trust Corp. |
39,484 | 4,679,644 | ||||||
|
Raymond James Financial Inc. |
24,676 | 3,452,172 | ||||||
|
S&P Global Inc. |
47,996 | 21,301,585 | ||||||
|
State Street Corp. |
70,101 | 6,513,084 | ||||||
|
T Rowe Price Group Inc. |
45,419 | 10,167,951 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 199,963,590 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 2.2% | ||||||||
|
DuPont de Nemours Inc. |
107,291 | 7,941,680 | ||||||
|
Ecolab Inc. |
51,216 | 11,542,038 | ||||||
|
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. |
49,559 | 7,508,188 | ||||||
|
Linde PLC |
104,342 | 32,824,950 | ||||||
|
LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A |
53,288 | 5,347,451 | ||||||
|
Mosaic Co. (The) |
71,883 | 2,313,195 | ||||||
|
PPG Industries Inc. |
47,200 | 7,530,760 | ||||||
|
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) |
50,929 | 15,465,609 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 90,473,871 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Copart Inc.(a) |
42,375 | 6,115,560 | ||||||
|
Waste Management Inc. |
84,336 | 13,081,357 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 19,196,917 | ||||||||
| Communications Equipment 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Cisco Systems Inc. |
841,673 | 49,675,540 | ||||||
|
Motorola Solutions Inc. |
33,704 | 8,231,191 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 57,906,731 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Ally Financial Inc. |
74,502 | 3,941,156 | ||||||
|
American Express Co. |
136,494 | 22,652,544 | ||||||
|
Discover Financial Services |
61,162 | 7,842,192 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 34,435,892 | ||||||||
| Containers & Packaging 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Amcor PLC |
311,087 | 3,997,468 | ||||||
|
Ball Corp. |
64,920 | 6,229,723 | ||||||
|
International Paper Co. |
74,473 | 4,475,083 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14,702,274 | ||||||||
| Distributors 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Genuine Parts Co. |
28,753 | 3,513,329 | ||||||
|
LKQ Corp.(a) |
57,426 | 3,025,776 | ||||||
|
Pool Corp. |
8,023 | 3,965,769 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,504,874 | ||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Equitable Holdings Inc. |
78,227 | 2,425,819 | ||||||
|
Voya Financial Inc. |
24,743 | 1,607,800 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,033,619 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Verizon Communications Inc. |
825,017 | 45,375,935 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electric Utilities 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Edison International |
75,625 | 4,374,150 | ||||||
| 50 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Electric Utilities (continued) | ||||||||
|
Eversource Energy |
68,397 | $ | 6,205,660 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,579,810 | ||||||||
| Electrical Equipment 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Eaton Corp. PLC |
79,399 | 13,367,615 | ||||||
|
Generac Holdings Inc.(a) |
12,517 | 5,469,679 | ||||||
|
Rockwell Automation Inc. |
23,182 | 7,544,582 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 26,381,876 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Cognex Corp. |
35,119 | 3,112,246 | ||||||
|
Keysight Technologies Inc.(a) |
37,084 | 6,652,128 | ||||||
|
Teledyne Technologies Inc.(a) |
9,235 | 4,279,314 | ||||||
|
Trimble Inc.(a) |
49,895 | 4,701,107 | ||||||
|
Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A(a) |
10,633 | 6,243,379 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 24,988,174 | ||||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Baker Hughes Co. |
145,190 | 3,307,428 | ||||||
|
Schlumberger Ltd. |
278,749 | 7,816,122 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,123,550 | ||||||||
| Entertainment 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Activision Blizzard Inc. |
154,468 | 12,723,529 | ||||||
|
Electronic Arts Inc. |
57,342 | 8,326,632 | ||||||
|
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.(a) |
22,935 | 3,697,581 | ||||||
|
Walt Disney Co. (The)(a) |
361,870 | 65,607,031 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 90,354,773 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 2.6% | ||||||||
|
American Tower Corp. |
90,719 | 26,505,370 | ||||||
|
Boston Properties Inc. |
29,476 | 3,330,493 | ||||||
|
Crown Castle International Corp. |
85,990 | 16,741,393 | ||||||
|
Equinix Inc. |
17,775 | 14,992,324 | ||||||
|
Equity Residential |
70,585 | 5,934,081 | ||||||
|
Healthpeak Properties Inc. |
107,296 | 3,862,656 | ||||||
|
Host Hotels & Resorts Inc.(a) |
140,854 | 2,332,542 | ||||||
|
Prologis Inc. |
147,431 | 19,853,059 | ||||||
|
Welltower Inc. |
83,194 | 7,281,971 | ||||||
|
Weyerhaeuser Co. |
149,105 | 5,367,780 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 106,201,669 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Kroger Co. (The) |
144,207 | 6,637,848 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Food Products 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Bunge Ltd. |
27,959 | 2,116,776 | ||||||
|
Campbell Soup Co. |
39,219 | 1,636,609 | ||||||
|
Conagra Brands Inc. |
97,301 | 3,222,609 | ||||||
|
General Mills Inc. |
121,895 | 7,046,750 | ||||||
|
Hormel Foods Corp. |
59,155 | 2,693,918 | ||||||
|
JM Smucker Co. (The) |
21,851 | 2,702,313 | ||||||
|
Kellogg Co. |
51,363 | 3,243,060 | ||||||
|
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. |
29,252 | 1,905,768 | ||||||
|
McCormick & Co. Inc./MD, NVS |
49,600 | 4,279,984 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 28,847,787 | ||||||||
| Gas Utilities 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Atmos Energy Corp. |
25,587 | 2,494,988 | ||||||
|
UGI Corp. |
41,660 | 1,929,275 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,424,263 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 2.3% | ||||||||
|
ABIOMED Inc.(a) |
9,043 | 3,291,290 | ||||||
|
Align Technology Inc.(a) |
14,961 | 10,607,349 | ||||||
|
Baxter International Inc. |
100,677 | 7,673,601 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies (continued) | ||||||||
|
DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. |
43,558 | $ | 2,687,529 | |||||
|
Dexcom Inc.(a)(c) |
19,192 | 10,160,629 | ||||||
|
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a) |
124,533 | 14,592,777 | ||||||
|
Hologic Inc.(a) |
51,307 | 4,060,949 | ||||||
|
IDEXX Laboratories Inc.(a) |
17,055 | 11,490,977 | ||||||
|
Insulet Corp.(a) |
13,170 | 3,922,158 | ||||||
|
Novocure Ltd.(a) |
18,379 | 2,466,645 | ||||||
|
ResMed Inc. |
28,988 | 8,421,884 | ||||||
|
STERIS PLC |
19,837 | 4,265,153 | ||||||
|
Teleflex Inc. |
9,293 | 3,675,010 | ||||||
|
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. |
14,746 | 6,659,588 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 93,975,539 | ||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 1.6% | ||||||||
|
AmerisourceBergen Corp. |
30,585 | 3,737,793 | ||||||
|
Cardinal Health Inc. |
58,478 | 3,069,510 | ||||||
|
Centene Corp.(a) |
115,933 | 7,301,460 | ||||||
|
Cigna Corp. |
68,461 | 14,489,771 | ||||||
|
DaVita Inc.(a) |
14,206 | 1,857,719 | ||||||
|
HCA Healthcare Inc. |
54,217 | 13,715,817 | ||||||
|
Humana Inc. |
25,684 | 10,412,807 | ||||||
|
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(a) |
19,458 | 5,903,168 | ||||||
|
Quest Diagnostics Inc. |
26,581 | 4,062,374 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 64,550,419 | ||||||||
| Health Care Technology 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Cerner Corp. |
61,088 | 4,664,069 | ||||||
|
Teladoc Health Inc.(a) |
26,943 | 3,891,108 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,555,177 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.4% | ||||||||
|
Booking Holdings Inc.(a) |
8,168 | 18,783,705 | ||||||
|
Darden Restaurants Inc. |
25,933 | 3,906,806 | ||||||
|
Dominos Pizza Inc. |
7,757 | 4,009,516 | ||||||
|
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.(a) |
55,342 | 6,910,002 | ||||||
|
McDonalds Corp. |
148,630 | 35,293,680 | ||||||
|
Starbucks Corp. |
234,697 | 27,574,550 | ||||||
|
Vail Resorts Inc.(a) |
8,027 | 2,447,031 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 98,925,290 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Garmin Ltd. |
30,564 | 5,331,278 | ||||||
|
Mohawk Industries Inc.(a) |
11,943 | 2,361,848 | ||||||
|
Newell Brands Inc. |
76,327 | 1,939,469 | ||||||
|
NVR Inc.(a) |
718 | 3,719,197 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 13,351,792 | ||||||||
| Household Products 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Clorox Co. (The) |
25,046 | 4,208,980 | ||||||
|
Colgate-Palmolive Co. |
160,717 | 12,527,890 | ||||||
|
Kimberly-Clark Corp. |
67,465 | 9,297,352 | ||||||
|
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) |
488,435 | 69,548,260 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 95,582,482 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 0.8% | ||||||||
|
3M Co. |
115,468 | 22,486,238 | ||||||
|
Roper Technologies Inc. |
20,893 | 10,097,169 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 32,583,407 | ||||||||
| Insurance 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Aflac Inc. |
130,392 | 7,390,619 | ||||||
|
Allstate Corp. (The) |
60,384 | 8,168,747 | ||||||
|
American Financial Group Inc./OH |
14,639 | 2,019,304 | ||||||
|
American International Group Inc. |
172,383 | 9,405,216 | ||||||
|
Aon PLC, Class A |
45,053 | 12,923,904 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
51 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Insurance (continued) | ||||||||
|
Arch Capital Group Ltd.(a) |
80,993 | $ | 3,328,812 | |||||
|
Arthur J Gallagher & Co. |
41,143 | 5,908,958 | ||||||
|
Assurant Inc. |
11,539 | 1,962,899 | ||||||
|
Chubb Ltd. |
89,781 | 16,512,521 | ||||||
|
Erie Indemnity Co., Class A, NVS |
5,063 | 896,607 | ||||||
|
Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (The) |
71,301 | 4,792,853 | ||||||
|
Lincoln National Corp. |
36,439 | 2,501,537 | ||||||
|
Loews Corp. |
45,298 | 2,530,799 | ||||||
|
Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. |
101,318 | 15,927,190 | ||||||
|
Principal Financial Group Inc. |
54,291 | 3,627,182 | ||||||
|
Progressive Corp. (The) |
116,765 | 11,249,140 | ||||||
|
Prudential Financial Inc. |
79,128 | 8,378,073 | ||||||
|
Travelers Companies Inc. (The) |
50,276 | 8,029,580 | ||||||
|
Willis Towers Watson PLC |
25,705 | 5,673,608 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 131,227,549 | ||||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 8.4% | ||||||||
|
Alphabet Inc., Class A(a) |
59,985 | 173,593,591 | ||||||
|
Alphabet Inc., Class C, NVS(a) |
58,103 | 169,035,571 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 342,629,162 | ||||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 0.7% | ||||||||
|
eBay Inc. |
135,625 | 10,407,863 | ||||||
|
MercadoLibre Inc.(a)(c) |
8,965 | 16,741,689 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 27,149,552 | ||||||||
| IT Services 5.7% | ||||||||
|
Accenture PLC, Class A |
126,414 | 42,545,896 | ||||||
|
Automatic Data Processing Inc. |
85,295 | 17,830,067 | ||||||
|
International Business Machines Corp. |
178,152 | 25,001,851 | ||||||
|
Mastercard Inc., Class A |
176,787 | 61,208,963 | ||||||
|
Okta Inc.(a) |
24,192 | 6,377,011 | ||||||
|
Visa Inc., Class A |
338,129 | 77,465,354 | ||||||
|
Western Union Co. (The) |
82,028 | 1,775,086 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 232,204,228 | ||||||||
| Leisure Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Hasbro Inc. |
26,018 | 2,557,830 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 2.1% | ||||||||
|
Agilent Technologies Inc. |
60,781 | 10,665,242 | ||||||
|
Bio-Techne Corp. |
7,756 | 3,871,330 | ||||||
|
Illumina Inc.(a) |
29,061 | 13,285,527 | ||||||
|
Mettler-Toledo International Inc.(a)(c) |
4,695 | 7,290,537 | ||||||
|
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. |
78,530 | 43,580,223 | ||||||
|
Waters Corp.(a) |
12,391 | 5,130,122 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 83,822,981 | ||||||||
| Machinery 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Caterpillar Inc. |
108,703 | 22,922,201 | ||||||
|
Cummins Inc. |
29,454 | 6,950,555 | ||||||
|
Deere & Co. |
59,366 | 22,442,129 | ||||||
|
Dover Corp. |
28,641 | 4,993,845 | ||||||
|
Fortive Corp. |
63,964 | 4,725,021 | ||||||
|
IDEX Corp. |
15,129 | 3,388,896 | ||||||
|
Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
63,154 | 14,706,040 | ||||||
|
PACCAR Inc. |
69,196 | 5,665,076 | ||||||
|
Pentair PLC |
33,126 | 2,556,002 | ||||||
|
Snap-on Inc. |
10,824 | 2,434,859 | ||||||
|
Stanley Black & Decker Inc. |
32,055 | 6,195,270 | ||||||
|
Xylem Inc./NY |
35,957 | 4,901,299 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 101,881,193 | ||||||||
| Media 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Cable One Inc. |
1,079 | 2,265,458 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Media (continued) | ||||||||
|
Discovery Inc., Class A(a)(c) |
32,386 | $ | 934,012 | |||||
|
Discovery Inc., Class C, NVS(a) |
60,377 | 1,665,801 | ||||||
|
Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (The) |
77,983 | 2,903,307 | ||||||
|
Omnicom Group Inc. |
42,833 | 3,136,232 | ||||||
|
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. |
206,643 | 1,295,652 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,200,462 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Newmont Corp. |
159,565 | 9,253,174 | ||||||
|
Steel Dynamics Inc. |
41,911 | 2,828,574 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,081,748 | ||||||||
| Mortgage Real Estate Investment 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Annaly Capital Management Inc. |
279,223 | 2,426,448 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Multi-Utilities 0.4% | ||||||||
|
CenterPoint Energy Inc. |
109,832 | 2,755,685 | ||||||
|
Consolidated Edison Inc. |
68,288 | 5,152,330 | ||||||
|
Sempra Energy |
63,171 | 8,361,313 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,269,328 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Target Corp. |
98,696 | 24,375,938 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Cheniere Energy Inc.(a) |
48,024 | 4,200,179 | ||||||
|
Marathon Petroleum Corp. |
129,802 | 7,693,365 | ||||||
|
ONEOK Inc. |
88,737 | 4,660,467 | ||||||
|
Phillips 66 |
87,103 | 6,192,152 | ||||||
|
Valero Energy Corp. |
81,482 | 5,403,071 | ||||||
|
Williams Companies Inc. (The) |
241,965 | 5,974,116 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 34,123,350 | ||||||||
| Personal Products 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (The), Class A |
45,819 | 15,600,911 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 5.6% | ||||||||
|
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. |
446,656 | 29,863,420 | ||||||
|
Catalent Inc.(a) |
33,894 | 4,421,134 | ||||||
|
Eli Lilly & Co. |
162,439 | 41,956,369 | ||||||
|
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a) |
12,101 | 1,593,823 | ||||||
|
Johnson & Johnson |
525,375 | 90,958,174 | ||||||
|
Merck & Co. Inc. |
504,476 | 38,486,474 | ||||||
|
Zoetis Inc. |
94,763 | 19,384,719 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 226,664,113 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
IHS Markit Ltd. |
75,090 | 9,055,854 | ||||||
|
Robert Half International Inc. |
22,580 | 2,334,772 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,390,626 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 0.2% | ||||||||
|
CBRE Group Inc., Class A(a) |
66,884 | 6,440,929 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Road & Rail 1.5% | ||||||||
|
AMERCO |
1,964 | 1,298,499 | ||||||
|
CSX Corp. |
456,023 | 14,834,428 | ||||||
|
Kansas City Southern |
18,132 | 5,089,108 | ||||||
|
Norfolk Southern Corp. |
50,219 | 12,732,525 | ||||||
|
Union Pacific Corp. |
132,527 | 28,737,155 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 62,691,715 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.7% | ||||||||
|
Applied Materials Inc. |
182,970 | 24,724,736 | ||||||
|
Intel Corp. |
805,604 | 43,550,952 | ||||||
|
Lam Research Corp. |
28,502 | 17,238,580 | ||||||
|
NVIDIA Corp. |
497,172 | 111,291,952 | ||||||
| 52 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2020 |
iShares® ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (continued) | ||||||||
|
Texas Instruments Inc. |
184,248 | $ | 35,174,786 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 231,981,006 | ||||||||
| Software 15.2% | ||||||||
|
Adobe Inc.(a) |
95,422 | 63,331,581 | ||||||
|
ANSYS Inc.(a) |
17,302 | 6,321,459 | ||||||
|
Autodesk Inc.(a) |
43,850 | 13,597,447 | ||||||
|
Cadence Design Systems Inc.(a) |
55,597 | 9,088,998 | ||||||
|
Citrix Systems Inc. |
24,494 | 2,519,698 | ||||||
|
Intuit Inc. |
54,573 | 30,894,321 | ||||||
|
Microsoft Corp. |
1,427,457 | 430,920,719 | ||||||
|
salesforce.com Inc.(a) |
193,557 | 51,344,865 | ||||||
|
VMware Inc., Class A(a)(c) |
16,754 | 2,494,168 | ||||||
|
Workday Inc., Class A(a) |
37,708 | 10,300,317 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 620,813,573 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 3.3% | ||||||||
|
Advance Auto Parts Inc. |
13,098 | 2,656,929 | ||||||
|
Best Buy Co. Inc. |
46,437 | 5,410,375 | ||||||
|
Burlington Stores Inc.(a)(c) |
13,213 | 3,957,161 | ||||||
|
CarMax Inc.(a) |
32,428 | 4,060,310 | ||||||
|
Home Depot Inc. (The) |
212,124 | 69,190,606 | ||||||
|
Lowes Companies Inc. |
141,031 | 28,754,811 | ||||||
|
TJX Companies Inc. (The) |
239,378 | 17,407,568 | ||||||
|
Tractor Supply Co. |
23,210 | 4,508,543 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 135,946,303 | ||||||||
| Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. |
259,078 | 4,005,346 | ||||||
|
HP Inc. |
248,545 | 7,391,728 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,397,074 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Lululemon Athletica Inc.(a) |
24,678 | 9,875,395 | ||||||
|
Nike Inc., Class B |
253,956 | 41,836,711 | ||||||
|
VF Corp. |
66,391 | 5,076,920 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 56,789,026 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Fastenal Co. |
114,510 | $ | 6,395,383 | |||||
|
United Rentals Inc.(a) |
14,390 | 5,074,634 | ||||||
|
WW Grainger Inc. |
8,897 | 3,858,629 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 15,328,646 | ||||||||
| Water Utilities 0.2% | ||||||||
|
American Water Works Co. Inc. |
36,151 | 6,588,520 | ||||||
|
Essential Utilities Inc. |
46,487 | 2,307,150 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,895,670 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.8%
|
|
4,069,574,437 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
||||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.4% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
|
10,686,396 | 10,691,739 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
|
6,176,000 | 6,176,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,867,739 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.4%
|
|
16,867,739 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.2%
|
|
4,086,442,176 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.2)% |
|
(8,479,772 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 4,077,962,404 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (c) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (e) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 1,263,030 | $ | 9,432,549 | (a) | $ | | $ | (2,218 | ) | $ | (1,622 | ) | $ | 10,691,739 | 10,686,396 | $ | 30,415 | (b) | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
4,756,000 | 1,420,000 | (a) | | | | 6,176,000 | 6,176,000 | 1,840 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Inc. |
15,006,268 | 7,535,178 | (3,636,003 | ) | 984,238 | 8,831,613 | 28,721,294 | 30,448 | 420,618 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 982,020 | $ | 8,829,991 | $ | 45,589,033 | $ | 452,873 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
| S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S | 53 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF
|
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
S&P 500 E-Mini Index |
34 | 09/17/21 | $ | 7,685 | $ | 220,374 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts
|
$ | 220,374 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 1,451,825 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (100,992 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts:
Average notional value of contracts long |
$6,253,682 | |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 4,069,574,437 | $ | | $ | | $ | 4,069,574,437 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
16,867,739 | | | 16,867,739 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 4,086,442,176 | $ | | $ | | $ | 4,086,442,176 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 220,374 | $ | | $ | | $ | 220,374 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 54 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Global Impact ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Common Stocks | ||||||||
| Australia 1.3% | ||||||||
|
CSL Ltd. |
27,767 | $ | 6,315,402 | |||||
|
Vicinity Centres |
652,427 | 823,661 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 7,139,063 | ||||||||
| Austria 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Verbund AG |
9,405 | 1,030,251 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Belgium 4.6% | ||||||||
|
Elia Group SA/NV |
13,778 | 1,730,455 | ||||||
|
Etablissements Franz Colruyt NV |
25,075 | 1,403,639 | ||||||
|
Umicore SA |
350,262 | 23,047,940 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 26,182,034 | ||||||||
| Brazil 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Adecoagro SA(a)(b) |
63,827 | 596,782 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Canada 4.7% | ||||||||
|
Ballard Power Systems Inc.(a) |
18,461 | 311,085 | ||||||
|
Northland Power Inc. |
81,590 | 2,699,296 | ||||||
|
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. |
301,366 | 23,270,381 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 26,280,762 | ||||||||
| Chile 2.3% | ||||||||
|
Empresas CMPC SA |
5,969,503 | 13,260,505 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| China 11.7% | ||||||||
|
3SBio Inc.(a)(c) |
240,500 | 267,924 | ||||||
|
Beijing Enterprises Water Group Ltd. |
7,136,000 | 2,943,141 | ||||||
|
BYD Co. Ltd., Class A |
40,089 | 1,726,105 | ||||||
|
BYD Co. Ltd., Class H |
114,500 | 3,849,387 | ||||||
|
China Conch Venture Holdings Ltd. |
538,000 | 2,201,939 | ||||||
|
China Education Group Holdings Ltd. |
105,000 | 198,516 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Environment Group Ltd. |
11,558,000 | 7,990,797 | ||||||
|
China Longyuan Power Group Corp. Ltd., Class H |
1,711,000 | 3,487,271 | ||||||
|
China Medical System Holdings Ltd. |
234,000 | 459,286 | ||||||
|
China Mengniu Dairy Co. Ltd. |
993,000 | 5,972,657 | ||||||
|
China Railway Signal & Communication Corp. Ltd., Class A |
242,250 | 196,305 | ||||||
|
Chindata Group Holdings Ltd., ADR(a) |
45,978 | 546,219 | ||||||
|
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
18,600 | 1,428,995 | ||||||
|
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. |
751,520 | 953,380 | ||||||
|
Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co. Ltd., Class A |
8,800 | 213,045 | ||||||
|
Gotion High-tech Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
16,900 | 140,732 | ||||||
|
Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd.(c) |
32,000 | 87,249 | ||||||
|
Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co. Ltd., Class A |
185,400 | 692,300 | ||||||
|
Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Ltd., ADR(a)(b) |
5,997 | 193,043 | ||||||
|
Li Auto Inc., ADR(a) |
149,946 | 4,627,334 | ||||||
|
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
105,300 | 1,461,146 | ||||||
|
Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Ltd., Class A |
189,100 | 658,651 | ||||||
|
NIO Inc., ADR(a) |
161,855 | 6,362,520 | ||||||
|
Riyue Heavy Industry Co. Ltd., Class A |
15,700 | 76,458 | ||||||
|
Shimao Group Holdings Ltd. |
4,752,500 | 9,820,179 | ||||||
|
Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd., Class A |
24,800 | 604,030 | ||||||
|
Vinda International Holdings Ltd. |
236,000 | 695,598 | ||||||
|
Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd., Class A |
12,900 | 148,873 | ||||||
|
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
475,200 | 1,075,192 | ||||||
|
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Class H |
380,904 | 730,228 | ||||||
|
Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd. |
1,038,000 | 2,512,153 | ||||||
|
XPeng Inc., ADR(a) |
81,247 | 3,452,997 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| China (continued) | ||||||||
|
Yadea Group Holdings Ltd.(c) |
100,000 | $ | 177,933 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 65,951,583 | ||||||||
| Denmark 7.8% | ||||||||
|
Genmab A/S(a) |
1,462 | 692,597 | ||||||
|
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B |
134,633 | 13,478,095 | ||||||
|
Orsted A/S(c) |
24,081 | 3,828,506 | ||||||
|
Rockwool International A/S, Class B |
6,199 | 3,279,493 | ||||||
|
Vestas Wind Systems A/S |
561,327 | 22,664,485 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 43,943,176 | ||||||||
| France 3.7% | ||||||||
|
Covivio |
11,894 | 1,133,581 | ||||||
|
Gecina SA |
3,699 | 575,001 | ||||||
|
Ipsen SA |
10,256 | 1,025,860 | ||||||
|
Klepierre SA |
97,935 | 2,400,977 | ||||||
|
Suez SA |
511,453 | 11,866,603 | ||||||
|
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield(a) |
46,501 | 4,074,870 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 21,076,892 | ||||||||
| Germany 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Deutsche Wohnen SE |
95,928 | 5,953,315 | ||||||
|
Vonovia SE |
95,804 | 6,467,811 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,421,126 | ||||||||
| Hong Kong 6.0% | ||||||||
|
Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd. |
265,000 | 1,198,976 | ||||||
|
MTR Corp. Ltd. |
546,500 | 3,076,557 | ||||||
|
Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. |
1,456,000 | 1,217,764 | ||||||
|
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. |
488,500 | 6,889,791 | ||||||
|
Swire Properties Ltd. |
202,400 | 547,030 | ||||||
|
WH Group Ltd.(b)(c) |
24,161,000 | 20,956,431 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 33,886,549 | ||||||||
| India 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Adani Green Energy Ltd.(a) |
5,470 | 79,877 | ||||||
|
Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd. |
20,702 | 479,578 | ||||||
|
Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.(a) |
20,364 | 306,267 | ||||||
|
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. |
42,529 | 1,583,930 | ||||||
|
Marico Ltd. |
60,572 | 451,455 | ||||||
|
Nestle India Ltd. |
1,741 | 463,624 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,364,731 | ||||||||
| Indonesia 0.0% | ||||||||
|
Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT |
108,500 | 30,807 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Ireland 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Horizon Therapeutics PLC(a) |
15,816 | 1,709,551 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Japan 14.8% | ||||||||
|
Asahi Intecc Co. Ltd. |
4,700 | 142,204 | ||||||
|
Central Japan Railway Co. |
82,000 | 12,002,326 | ||||||
|
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
13,700 | 535,299 | ||||||
|
Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. |
266,900 | 6,339,520 | ||||||
|
East Japan Railway Co. |
354,100 | 23,800,558 | ||||||
|
Eisai Co. Ltd. |
31,300 | 2,581,303 | ||||||
|
GLP J-REIT |
119 | 216,010 | ||||||
|
Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest |
761 | 739,328 | ||||||
|
Japan Real Estate Investment Corp. |
83 | 512,951 | ||||||
|
Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. |
29,400 | 961,990 | ||||||
|
NH Foods Ltd. |
207,300 | 8,043,900 | ||||||
|
Nippon Building Fund Inc. |
99 | 642,899 | ||||||
|
Nippon Prologis REIT Inc. |
170 | 611,329 | ||||||
|
Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. |
281,700 | 4,625,773 | ||||||
|
Nissin Foods Holdings Co. Ltd. |
17,500 | 1,362,351 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
55 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Global Impact ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Japan (continued) | ||||||||
|
Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc. |
443 | $ | 682,971 | |||||
|
Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
23,700 | 569,047 | ||||||
|
Orix JREIT Inc. |
220 | 392,147 | ||||||
|
Shionogi & Co. Ltd. |
24,900 | 1,564,484 | ||||||
|
Sysmex Corp. |
10,600 | 1,204,651 | ||||||
|
Terumo Corp. |
50,300 | 2,099,055 | ||||||
|
TOTO Ltd. |
122,700 | 6,677,849 | ||||||
|
Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd. |
41,000 | 1,699,140 | ||||||
|
Unicharm Corp. |
129,500 | 5,773,482 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 83,780,567 | ||||||||
| Malaysia 0.2% | ||||||||
|
PPB Group Bhd |
93,400 | 416,110 | ||||||
|
QL Resources Bhd |
330,800 | 442,446 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 858,556 | ||||||||
| Mexico 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Gruma SAB de CV, Class B |
135,840 | 1,551,365 | ||||||
|
Kimberly-Clark de Mexico SAB de CV, Class A |
831,200 | 1,467,968 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,019,333 | ||||||||
| Netherlands 0.0% | ||||||||
|
JDE Peets NV |
1,305 | 44,840 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Norway 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Mowi ASA |
115,441 | 3,092,122 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Portugal 0.2% | ||||||||
|
EDP Renovaveis SA |
34,839 | 926,386 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Saudi Arabia 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Almarai Co. JSC |
54,089 | 836,921 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Singapore 0.4% | ||||||||
|
CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust |
436,140 | 666,132 | ||||||
|
City Developments Ltd. |
193,800 | 983,439 | ||||||
|
Mapletree Commercial Trust |
251,600 | 379,029 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,028,600 | ||||||||
| South Korea 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. |
1,232 | 839,715 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Sweden 3.1% | ||||||||
|
Essity AB, Class B |
309,125 | 9,922,210 | ||||||
|
Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B |
414,821 | 7,331,312 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 17,253,522 | ||||||||
| Switzerland 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Geberit AG, Registered |
5,262 | 4,394,325 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Taiwan 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. |
1,152,000 | 1,254,838 | ||||||
|
Uni-President Enterprises Corp. |
3,406,000 | 8,877,035 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,131,873 | ||||||||
| Thailand 0.3% | ||||||||
|
BTS Group Holdings PCL, NVDR |
5,262,900 | 1,534,455 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| United Kingdom 7.2% | ||||||||
|
Berkeley Group Holdings PLC |
77,711 | 5,161,923 | ||||||
|
Johnson Matthey PLC |
536,682 | 21,697,401 | ||||||
|
Land Securities Group PLC |
76,876 | 749,363 | ||||||
|
Pearson PLC |
982,221 | 10,358,112 | ||||||
|
United Utilities Group PLC |
183,177 | 2,663,849 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 40,630,648 | ||||||||
| United States 23.8% | ||||||||
|
ABIOMED Inc.(a)(b) |
2,340 | 851,667 | ||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| 56 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Global Impact ETF
|
| (c) |
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. |
| (d) |
Rounds to less than $1. |
| (e) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (f) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (g) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | 798,117 | $ | 21,624,908 | (a) | $ | | $ | 912 | $ | (1,495 | ) | $ | 22,422,442 | 22,411,237 | $ | 38,318 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
670,000 | 400,000 | (a) | | | | 1,070,000 | 1,070,000 | 218 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 912 | $ | (1,495 | ) | $ | 23,492,442 | $ | 38,536 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI EAFE E-Mini Index |
9 | 09/17/21 | $ | 1,058 | $ | 9,874 | ||||||||||
|
MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
11 | 09/17/21 | 715 | (8,524 | ) | |||||||||||
|
S&P 500 E-Mini Index |
3 | 09/17/21 | 678 | 15,287 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| $ | 16,637 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts
|
$ | 25,161 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts
|
$ | 8,524 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
57 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Global Impact ETF
|
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 173,219 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 14,908 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 1,171,911 | ||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 231,539,362 | $ | 329,406,704 | $ | | $ | 560,946,066 | ||||||||
|
Warrants |
| 0 | (a) | | 0 | (a) | ||||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
23,492,442 | | | 23,492,442 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 255,031,804 | $ | 329,406,704 | $ | | $ | 584,438,508 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(b) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 25,161 | $ | | $ | | $ | 25,161 | ||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
(8,524 | ) | | | (8,524 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 16,637 | $ | | $ | | $ | 16,637 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Rounds to less than $1. |
| (b) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 58 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
59 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 60 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
61 |
Statements of Operations (continued)
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 62 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets
(a) Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
63 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
(a) Commencement of operations.
(b) Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.
See notes to financial statements.
| 64 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets (continued)
(a) Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
65 |
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Year Ended
08/31/19 |
Year Ended
08/31/18 |
Year Ended
08/31/17 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 65.21 | $ | 62.01 | $ | 65.51 | $ | 64.28 | $ | 55.84 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
1.84 | 1.53 | 2.12 | 2.16 | 1.87 | |||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
15.47 | 2.85 | (3.92 | ) | 0.83 | 7.68 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
17.31 | 4.38 | (1.80 | ) | 2.99 | 9.55 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(1.67 | ) | (1.18 | ) | (1.70 | ) | (1.76 | ) | (1.11 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(1.67 | ) | (1.18 | ) | (1.70 | ) | (1.76 | ) | (1.11 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 80.85 | $ | 65.21 | $ | 62.01 | $ | 65.51 | $ | 64.28 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
26.69 | % | 7.12 | % | (2.68 | )% | 4.64 | % | 17.16 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.20 | % | 0.20 | % | 0.20 | % | 0.20 | % | 0.38 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.45 | % | 2.47 | % | 3.39 | % | 3.22 | % | 3.10 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 6,694,669 | $ | 3,025,519 | $ | 917,780 | $ | 360,309 | $ | 122,123 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
25 | % | 30 | % | 26 | % | 24 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 66 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period From | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | Year Ended | Year Ended | Year Ended | 12/01/16 | (a) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/31/21 | 08/31/20 | 08/31/19 | 08/31/18 | to 08/31/17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 79.74 | $ | 64.33 | $ | 63.85 | $ | 54.15 | $ | 47.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
1.18 | 1.22 | 1.17 | 1.09 | 0.71 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain(c) |
23.87 | 15.13 | 0.40 | 9.52 | 6.22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase from investment operations |
25.05 | 16.35 | 1.57 | 10.61 | 6.93 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(1.10 | ) | (0.94 | ) | (1.09 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.57 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net realized gain |
| | | (0.11 | ) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(1.10 | ) | (0.94 | ) | (1.09 | ) | (0.91 | ) | (0.57 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 103.69 | $ | 79.74 | $ | 64.33 | $ | 63.85 | $ | 54.15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
31.71 | % | 25.79 | % | 2.59 | % | 19.79 | % | 14.55 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.15 | % | 0.15 | % | 0.15 | % | 0.15 | % | 0.27 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.30 | % | 1.76 | % | 1.88 | % | 1.83 | % | 1.85 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 22,262,630 | $ | 8,991,145 | $ | 295,905 | $ | 98,974 | $ | 10,830 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
21 | % | 38 | % | 27 | % | 28 | % | 22 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
67 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period From | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | Year Ended | Year Ended | 04/10/18 | (a) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/31/21 | 08/31/20 | 08/31/19 | to 08/31/18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 27.34 | $ | 26.21 | $ | 28.76 | $ | 25.47 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
0.35 | 0.33 | 0.36 | 0.12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c) |
12.95 | 1.10 | (2.58 | ) | 3.23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
13.30 | 1.43 | (2.22 | ) | 3.35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.38 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.33 | ) | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.38 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.33 | ) | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 40.26 | $ | 27.34 | $ | 26.21 | $ | 28.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
48.95 | % | 5.57 | % | (7.69 | )% | 13.16 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.17 | % | 0.17 | % | 0.17 | % | 0.17 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
0.96 | % | 1.32 | % | 1.35 | % | 1.17 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 1,099,038 | $ | 366,339 | $ | 57,664 | $ | 11,506 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
33 | % | 50 | % | 34 | % | 15 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 68 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Period From | ||||||||||||
| Year Ended | 02/05/20 | (a) | ||||||||||
| 08/31/21 | to 08/31/20 | |||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 51.84 | $ | 51.43 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
1.01 | 0.79 | ||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c) |
11.67 | (0.03 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase from investment operations |
12.68 | 0.76 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(1.03 | ) | (0.35 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(1.03 | ) | (0.35 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 63.49 | $ | 51.84 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
24.68 | % | 1.54 | %(f) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.16 | % | 0.16 | %(g) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.66 | % | 3.04 | %(g) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 882,529 | $ | 647,969 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
34 | % | 19 | %(f) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
69 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Period From | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | Year Ended | 05/07/19 | (a) | |||||||||||||||||
| 08/31/21 | 08/31/20 | to 08/31/19 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 60.55 | $ | 50.77 | $ | 49.23 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
0.94 | 0.94 | 0.32 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain(c) |
19.08 | 9.75 | 1.34 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Net increase from investment operations |
20.02 | 10.69 | 1.66 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.92 | ) | (0.91 | ) | (0.12 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.92 | ) | (0.91 | ) | (0.12 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 79.65 | $ | 60.55 | $ | 50.77 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
33.44 | % | 21.45 | % | 3.38 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.10 | % | 0.10 | % | 0.11 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses after fees waived |
0.10 | % | 0.10 | % | 0.10 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.38 | % | 1.77 | % | 2.00 | %(g) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 4,077,962 | $ | 2,564,228 | $ | 1,579,065 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
12 | % | 9 | % | 4 | %(f) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 70 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | Year Ended | Year Ended | Year Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/31/21 | 08/31/20 | 08/31/19 | 08/31/18 | 08/31/17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 81.68 | $ | 57.03 | $ | 58.35 | $ | 55.92 | $ | 49.61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income(a) |
1.12 | 1.19 | 1.02 | 1.32 | 1.05 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b) |
18.09 | 24.32 | (1.29 | ) | 2.65 | 6.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
19.21 | 25.51 | (0.27 | ) | 3.97 | 7.49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Distributions(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.86 | ) | (0.86 | ) | (1.05 | ) | (1.54 | ) | (1.18 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.86 | ) | (0.86 | ) | (1.05 | ) | (1.54 | ) | (1.18 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 100.03 | $ | 81.68 | $ | 57.03 | $ | 58.35 | $ | 55.92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Return(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
23.60 | % | 45.10 | % | (0.40 | )% | 7.16 | % | 15.27 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.49 | % | 0.49 | % | 0.49 | % | 0.49 | % | 0.49 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.19 | % | 1.82 | % | 1.79 | % | 2.26 | % | 2.05 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 565,145 | $ | 175,604 | $ | 54,174 | $ | 37,928 | $ | 25,164 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(e) |
70 | % | 47 | % | 43 | % | 36 | % | 32 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 Funds 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) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
71 |
| 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 |
|||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
Diversified | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
Diversified | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap(a) |
Diversified | |||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
Non-diversified | |||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
Non-diversified | |||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
Diversified | |||
| (a) |
The Funds classification changed from non-diversified to diversified during the reporting period. |
| 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. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain.
Foreign Currency Translation: Each Funds 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.
Foreign Taxes: The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as Other foreign taxes, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of August 31, 2021, if any, are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The Funds file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Funds may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdictions applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statements of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and record cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
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.
| 72 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
| 3. |
INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Investment Valuation Policies: Each Funds investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) each day that the Funds 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. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board). If a securitys market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Funds assets and liabilities:
| |
Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that days published NAV. |
| |
Futures contracts are valued based on that days last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded. |
Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (Systematic Fair Value Price). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.
If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a funds NAV and the prices used by the funds underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the funds performance and the performance of the funds 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 Global Valuation Committees assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments). |
The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
73 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| 4. |
SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS |
Warrants: Warrants entitle a fund to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock and are non-income producing. The purchase price and number of shares are subject to adjustment under certain conditions until the expiration date of the warrants, if any. If the price of the underlying stock does not rise above the strike price before the warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and a fund will lose any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.
Securities Lending: Each Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by each Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, each Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.
As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA), the Funds investment adviser, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in each Funds 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 counterpartys 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 partys 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 |
|
Market Value of
Securities on Loan |
|
|
Cash Collateral
Received |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash Collateral
Received |
|
Net Amount | ||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
||||||||||||||||
|
BNP Paribas SA |
$ | 641,367 | $ | 641,367 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
2,879,835 | 2,879,835 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
42,785 | 42,785 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
7,087,683 | 7,087,683 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 10,651,670 | $ | 10,651,670 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 5,901,802 | $ | 5,901,802 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
BNP Paribas SA |
12,867 | 12,867 | | | ||||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
8,619,016 | 8,619,016 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Jefferies LLC |
59,250 | 59,250 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
342,680 | 342,680 | | | ||||||||||||
|
SG AMERICAS Securities LLC |
409,740 | 409,740 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
28,289,037 | 28,289,037 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 43,634,392 | $ | 43,634,392 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 74 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
iShares ETF and Counterparty |
|
Market Value of
Securities on Loan |
|
|
Cash Collateral
Received |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash Collateral
Received |
|
Net Amount | ||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
$ | 1,217,573 | $ | 1,197,167 | $ | | $ | (20,406 | )(b) | |||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
4,151,441 | 3,973,470 | | (177,971 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
8,543,436 | 8,322,859 | | (220,577 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
945,556 | 911,954 | | (33,602 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
HSBC Bank PLC |
1,611,168 | 1,577,262 | | (33,906 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Jefferies LLC |
427,437 | 412,602 | | (14,835 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
11,145,034 | 10,936,363 | | (208,671 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
National Financial Services LLC |
1,626,520 | 1,533,426 | | (93,094 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Scotia Capital (USA), Inc. |
755,057 | 735,758 | | (19,299 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
State Street Bank & Trust Co. |
5,815,694 | 5,742,185 | | (73,509 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Toronto Dominion Bank |
2,786,007 | 2,765,936 | | (20,071 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
2,302,815 | 2,244,727 | | (58,088 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Virtu Americas LLC |
364,704 | 354,457 | | (10,247 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 41,692,442 | $ | 40,708,166 | $ | | $ | (984,276 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 751,705 | $ | 724,085 | $ | | $ | (27,620 | )(b) | |||||||
|
BofA Securities, Inc. |
11,200 | 11,200 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
296,506 | 296,506 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
46,459 | 46,459 | | | ||||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
53,217 | 53,217 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
232,458 | 232,458 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 1,391,545 | $ | 1,363,925 | $ | | $ | (27,620 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
||||||||||||||||
|
BNP Paribas SA |
$ | 3,264,391 | $ | 3,264,391 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
2,385,147 | 2,385,147 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
910,940 | 898,375 | | (12,565 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
299,490 | 299,490 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Jefferies LLC |
32,603 | 32,603 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Virtu Americas LLC |
3,548,155 | 3,548,155 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 10,440,726 | $ | 10,428,161 | $ | | $ | (12,565 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 1,076,927 | $ | 1,076,927 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
BNP Paribas SA |
181,980 | 181,980 | | | ||||||||||||
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
5,140,941 | 5,140,941 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
509,181 | 509,181 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Nomura Securities International, Inc. |
24,679 | 24,679 | | | ||||||||||||
|
SG AMERICAS Securities LLC |
6,390,060 | 6,390,060 | | | ||||||||||||
|
State Street Bank & Trust Co. |
46,465 | 46,465 | | | ||||||||||||
|
UBS AG |
7,717,389 | 7,717,389 | | | ||||||||||||
|
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. |
172,575 | 172,575 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 21,260,197 | $ | 21,260,197 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Collateral received in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by each Fund is disclosed in the Funds statement of assets and liabilities. |
| (b) |
The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of August 31, 2021. Additional collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by a counterparty. |
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). BlackRocks indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. Each Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by each Fund.
| 5. |
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk) .
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
75 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contracts size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (variation margin). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.
| 6. |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES |
Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of each Funds assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Funds, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).
For its investment advisory services to each Fund, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:
| iShares ETF | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
0.20% | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
0.15 | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
0.17 | |||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
0.16 | |||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
0.10 | |||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
0.49 | |||
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. 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 funds 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 of the iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF and iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (the Group 1 Funds), retains 77% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.
Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, each of the iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF and iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (the Group 2 Funds), 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 a given calendar year exceeds a specified threshold: (1) each Group 1 Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees, and (2) each Group 2 Fund 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.
| 76 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Prior to January 1, 2021, each Group 1 Fund retained 75% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained was not less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees. Each Group 2 Fund retained 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained was not 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 the iShares ETF Complex in a calendar year exceeded a specified threshold: (1) each Group 1 Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, retained for the remainder of that calendar year 80% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained could never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees, and (2) each Group 2 Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, retained for the remainder of that calendar year 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained could 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 August 31, 2021, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:
| iShares ETF |
Fees Paid
to BTC |
|||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 37,234 | ||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
121,121 | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
52,528 | |||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
75,078 | |||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
11,378 | |||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
10,043 | |||
Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.
Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, transactions executed by the Funds pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
|||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 383,609,225 | $ | 412,425,249 | $ | (12,485,072 | ) | |||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
821,712,520 | 934,752,850 | (30,899,461 | ) | ||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
38,802,827 | 32,699,601 | (2,141,729 | ) | ||||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
58,475,314 | 21,698,758 | 1,053,836 | |||||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
165,626,667 | 160,266,509 | (12,068,282 | ) | ||||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
72,090,050 | 80,573,602 | (5,671,414 | ) | ||||||||
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 funds underlying index.
| 7. |
PURCHASES AND SALES |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 1,339,901,836 | $ | 1,180,708,027 | ||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
3,144,428,462 | 3,142,125,336 | ||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
250,909,151 | 230,178,696 | ||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
337,199,820 | 271,295,639 | ||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
388,945,473 | 391,032,985 | ||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
352,589,999 | 259,910,536 | ||||||
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
77 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
For the year ended August 31, 2021, in-kind transactions were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
In-kind
Purchases |
In-kind Sales |
||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 2,598,497,495 | $ | 20,448,993 | ||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
12,701,100,647 | 3,598,424,742 | ||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
684,872,640 | 172,673,005 | ||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
31,603,252 | 20,591,685 | ||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
980,190,261 | 350,767,859 | ||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
316,849,651 | 88,697,227 | ||||||
| 8. |
INCOME TAX INFORMATION |
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trusts other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Funds policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of August 31, 2021, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the 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 August 31, 2021, the following permanent differences attributable to realized gains (losses) from in-kind redemptions were reclassified to the following accounts:
| iShares ETF | Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated
Earnings |
||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 6,934,756 | $ | (6,934,756 | ) | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
1,092,973,536 | (1,092,973,536 | ) | |||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
68,412,234 | (68,412,234 | ) | |||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
5,412,035 | (5,412,035 | ) | |||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
114,094,526 | (114,094,526 | ) | |||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
33,048,717 | (33,048,717 | ) | |||||
The tax character of distributions was as follows:
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 109,833,351 | $ | 35,253,292 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 167,851,349 | $ | 48,261,940 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 6,491,221 | $ | 1,531,147 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Period Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 14,341,619 | $ | 4,354,836 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 41,279,956 | $ | 31,557,896 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 3,512,120 | $ | 1,233,842 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 78 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
As of August 31, 2021, 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 | ||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 32,401,433 | $ | (87,046,672 | ) | $ | 1,139,892,723 | $ | 1,085,247,484 | |||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
49,508,314 | (217,893,373 | ) | 4,490,125,741 | 4,321,740,682 | |||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
1,749,848 | (18,432,907 | ) | 178,848,182 | 162,165,123 | |||||||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
4,657,905 | (6,867,953 | ) | 157,294,201 | 155,084,153 | |||||||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
9,015,477 | (40,837,497 | ) | 1,220,928,072 | 1,189,106,052 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
1,972,116 | (3,685,839 | ) | 53,566,112 | 51,852,389 |
| (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, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains(losses) on certain futures contracts, timing and recognition of partnership income, the characterization of corporate actions and the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies. |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, the Funds utilized the following amounts of their respective capital loss carryforwards:
| iShares ETF | Utilized | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 10,320,707 | ||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
3,568,557 | |||
A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as passive foreign investment companies. Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.
As of August 31, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Tax Cost |
Gross Unrealized
Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized
Depreciation |
Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 5,520,231,898 | $ | 1,209,121,621 | $ | (69,126,665 | ) | $ | 1,139,994,956 | |||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
17,812,623,071 | 4,576,822,034 | (86,696,293 | ) | 4,490,125,741 | |||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
966,521,630 | 200,754,702 | (21,906,520 | ) | 178,848,182 | |||||||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
723,767,677 | 208,975,381 | (47,814,449 | ) | 161,160,932 | |||||||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
2,865,514,104 | 1,237,480,030 | (16,551,958 | ) | 1,220,928,072 | |||||||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
530,805,554 | 61,674,332 | (8,041,378 | ) | 53,632,954 | |||||||||||
| 9. |
LINE OF CREDIT |
The iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF and iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), are parties to a $300 million credit agreement (Credit Agreement) with State Street Bank and Trust Company, which expires on October 15, 2021. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Credit Agreement sets specific sub limits on aggregate borrowings based on two tiers of Participating Funds: $300 million with respect to the funds within Tier 1, including the Funds, and $200 million with respect to Tier 2. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was terminated on August 12, 2021.
Effective August 13, 2021, the iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF and iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), are parties to a $800 million credit agreement (Syndicated Credit Agreement) with a group of lenders, which expires on August 12, 2022. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
79 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
For the year ended August 31, 2021, the maximum amount borrowed, the average daily borrowing and the weighted average interest rate, if any, under the Credit Agreement and Syndicated Credit Agreement were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
Maximum
Amount Borrowed |
Average
Borrowing |
Weighted
Average Interest Rates |
|||||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
$ | 7,701,000 | $ | 331,330 | 1.11 | % | ||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
455,000 | 12,910 | 1.14 | |||||||||
| 10. |
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 Funds prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.
BFA uses a passive or index approach to try to achieve each Funds investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.
The Funds may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.
Market Risk: 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.
An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a funds investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a funds NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.
The price each Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from each Funds 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.
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
| 80 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing brokers customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing brokers customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a funds 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 Funds portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in that country or those countries may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Investment percentages in specific countries are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union, and one or more other countries may withdraw from the European Union and/or abandon the Euro, the common currency of the European Union. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far reaching.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in China or with significant exposure to Chinese issuers or countries. Investments in Chinese securities, including certain Hong Kong-listed securities, involves risks specific to China. China may be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to developed markets. Chinese markets generally continue to experience inefficiency, volatility and pricing anomalies resulting from governmental influence, a lack of publicly available information and/or political and social instability. Internal social unrest or confrontations with other neighboring countries may disrupt economic development in China and result in a greater risk of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation. Incidents involving Chinas or the regions security may cause uncertainty in Chinese markets and may adversely affect the Chinese economy and a funds investments. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of tariffs or other trade barriers, or a downturn in any of the economies of Chinas key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. In addition, measures may be taken to limit the flow of capital and/or sanctions may be imposed, which could prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer fund assets and may also include retaliatory actions, such as seizure of fund assets.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Asia or with significant exposure to Asian issuers or countries. The Asian financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns in several Asian countries regarding monetary policy, government intervention in the markets, rising government debt levels or economic downturns. These events may spread to other countries in Asia and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
| 11. |
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.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
81 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Transactions in capital shares were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
36,700,000 | $ | 2,774,047,093 | 32,200,000 | $ | 1,957,484,272 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(300,000 | ) | (22,212,443 | ) | (600,000 | ) | (38,595,330 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
36,400,000 | $ | 2,751,834,650 | 31,600,000 | $ | 1,918,888,942 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
141,600,000 | $ | 12,751,408,984 | 127,450,000 | $ | 8,513,896,093 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(39,650,000 | ) | (3,618,060,648 | ) | (19,300,000 | ) | (1,323,495,158 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
101,950,000 | $ | 9,133,348,336 | 108,150,000 | $ | 7,190,400,935 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
18,850,000 | $ | 703,868,475 | 11,500,000 | $ | 286,941,456 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(4,950,000 | ) | (175,001,921 | ) | (300,000 | ) | (6,845,039 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
13,900,000 | $ | 528,866,554 | 11,200,000 | $ | 280,096,417 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Period Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
2,150,000 | $ | 128,332,687 | 12,500,000 | $ | 640,273,094 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(750,000 | ) | (46,572,591 | ) | | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
1,400,000 | $ | 81,760,096 | 12,500,000 | $ | 640,273,094 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
13,950,000 | $ | 981,902,059 | 14,250,000 | $ | 755,760,037 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(5,100,000 | ) | (356,812,397 | ) | (3,000,000 | ) | (163,600,189 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
8,850,000 | $ | 625,089,662 | 11,250,000 | $ | 592,159,848 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
4,450,000 | $ | 414,947,808 | 1,550,000 | $ | 107,653,071 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(950,000 | ) | (88,595,157 | ) | (350,000 | ) | (25,849,269 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
3,500,000 | $ | 326,352,651 | 1,200,000 | $ | 81,803,802 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
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 Trusts 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.
| 12. |
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.
| 82 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust and Shareholders of iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF,
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF, iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF,
iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF and iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF
Opinions on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF, iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF, iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF and iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (six of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the Funds) as of August 31, 2021, the related statements of operations and 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 August 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations and the changes in each of their net assets for each of 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 ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF, iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF and iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF: statements of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021 and statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021.
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF: statement of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021 and statements of changes in net assets for the year ended August 31, 2021 and for the period February 5, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.
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 August 31, 2021 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
October 22, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.
|
R E P O R T O F I N D E P E N D E N T R E G I S T E R E D P U B L I C A C C O U N T I N G F I R M |
83 |
Important Tax Information (unaudited)
The following percentage, or maximum percentage allowable by law, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 qualified for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders:
|
iShares ETF
|
Dividends-Received
|
|||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
100.00 | % | ||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
82.75 | % | ||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
0.08 | % | ||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
99.23 | % | ||
|
MSCI Global Impact
|
|
24.43
|
%
|
|
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
|
iShares ETF
|
Qualified Dividend
|
|||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 130,635,731 | ||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
202,850,687 | |||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
6,345,936 | |||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
8,210,541 | |||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
44,863,915 | |||
|
MSCI Global Impact
|
|
4,613,615
|
|
|
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified business income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
|
iShares ETF
|
Qualified Business
|
|||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA |
$ | 1,967,133 | ||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap |
225,232 | |||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders |
358,232 | |||
|
MSCI Global Impact
|
|
33,973
|
|
|
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 August 31, 2021:
|
iShares ETF
|
Foreign Source
|
Foreign
|
||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 139,509,986 | $ | 10,310,403 | ||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders |
16,677,789 | 2,545,742 | ||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact
|
|
5,137,512
|
|
|
332,786
|
|
||
| 84 | 2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (each the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were within range of the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF, iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF, iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (each the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue,
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
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Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (Rule 18f-4). The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.
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 Funds investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
August 31, 2021
|
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI EAFE |
$ | 1.669556 | $ | | $ | | $ | 1.669556 | 100 | % | | % | | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA(a) |
1.084281 | | 0.010875 | 1.095156 | 99 | | 1 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap(a) |
0.356984 | | 0.020509 | 0.377493 | 95 | | 5 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ESG MSCI EM Leaders(a) |
0.989149 | | 0.042509 | 1.031658 | 96 | | 4 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ESG MSCI USA Leaders(a) |
0.913142 | | 0.007654 | 0.920796 | 99 | | 1 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Global Impact(a) |
0.847682 | | 0.009293 | 0.856975 | 99 | | 1 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholders investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Funds net asset value per share. |
Premium/Discount Information
Information on the Funds 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 (the Directive) imposes detailed and prescriptive obligations on fund managers established in the European Union (the EU). These do not currently apply to managers established outside of the EU, such as BFA (the Company). Rather, non-EU managers are only required to comply with certain disclosure, reporting and transparency obligations of the Directive if such managers market a fund to EU investors.
The Company has registered the iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF and iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (each a Fund, collectively the Funds) to be marketed to EU investors in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and Luxembourg.
Report on Remuneration
The Company is required under the Directive to make quantitative disclosures of remuneration. These disclosures are made in line with BlackRocks 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 Funds.
All individuals included in the aggregated figures disclosed are rewarded in line with BlackRocks 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 each Fund is included in the aggregate figures disclosed.
BlackRock has a clear and well defined pay-for-performance philosophy, and compensation programmes which support that philosophy.
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Supplemental Information (unaudited) (continued)
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, a significant percentage of variable remuneration is deferred over time. All employees are subject to a claw-back policy.
Remuneration decisions for employees are made once annually in January following the end of the performance year, based on BlackRocks 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.
Annual incentive awards are paid from a bonus pool which is reviewed throughout the year by BlackRocks 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 organisational structures which are independent of the business units. 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 BlackRocks 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. Therefore, the figures disclosed are a sum of each individuals portion of remuneration attributable to each Fund according to an objective apportionment methodology which acknowledges the multiple-service nature of the Company. Accordingly the figures are not representative of any individuals actual remuneration or their remuneration structure.
The amount of the total remuneration awarded by the Company to its staff which has been attributed to the iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020 is USD 64.83 thousand. This figure is comprised of fixed remuneration of USD 30.19 thousand and variable remuneration of USD 34.64 thousand. There were a total of 490 beneficiaries of the remuneration described above.
The amount of the aggregate remuneration awarded by the Company, which has been attributed to the iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020, to its senior management was USD 10.56 thousand, and to members of its staff whose actions have a material impact on the risk profile of the Fund was USD 0.85 thousand.
The amount of the total remuneration awarded by the Company to its staff which has been attributed to the iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020 is USD 218.5 thousand. This figure is comprised of fixed remuneration of USD 101.75 thousand and variable remuneration of USD 116.75 thousand. There were a total of 490 beneficiaries of the remuneration described above.
The amount of the aggregate remuneration awarded by the Company, which has been attributed to the iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF in respect of the Companys financial year ending 31 December 2020, to its senior management was USD 35.59 thousand, and to members of its staff whose actions have a material impact on the risk profile of the Fund was USD 2.87 thousand.
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Trustee and Officer Information
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 Fund is 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 374 funds as of August 31, 2021. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Charles Park, 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. Park is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated Cecilia H. Herbert 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).
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91 |
Trustee and Officer Information (continued)
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
| John E. Kerrigan (66) | Trustee (since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs (since 2019). | Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011). | |||
| Drew E. Lawton (62) | 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). | |||
| John E. Martinez (60) | 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 (57) | 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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
||
| Armando Senra (50) | President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007); Head of U.S., Canada and Latam iShares, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2019); Head of Latin America Region, BlackRock, Inc. (2006-2019); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (1994-2006). | ||
| Trent Walker (47) | 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. | ||
| Charles Park (54) | Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006). | Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex (since 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of BFA (since 2006). | ||
| Deepa Damre Smith (46) | Secretary (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2013). | ||
| Scott Radell (52) | Executive Vice President (since 2012). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Head of Portfolio Solutions, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
| Alan Mason (60) | Executive Vice President (since 2016). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
| Marybeth Leithead (58) | Executive Vice President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2017); Chief Operating Officer of Americas iShares (since 2017); Portfolio Manager, Municipal Institutional & Wealth Management (2009-2016). | ||
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Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
| |
Go to icsdelivery.com. |
| |
If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor. |
Householding
Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The 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 SECs 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 Companys policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.
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G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N |
93 |
Glossary of Terms Used in this Report
| Portfolio Abbreviations - Equity | ||
| ADR | American Depositary Receipt | |
| CPO | Certificates of Participation (Ordinary) | |
| GDR | Global Depositary Receipt | |
| JSC | Joint Stock Company | |
| NVDR | Non-Voting Depositary Receipt | |
| NVS | Non-Voting Shares | |
| PJSC | Public Joint Stock Company | |
| REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust | |
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Want to know more?
iShares.com | 1-800-474-2737
This report is intended for the 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 MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
iS-AR-817-0821
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August 31, 2021 |
| 2021 Annual Report | ||
iShares Trust
| · |
iShares MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF | EWJE | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF | EWJV | NASDAQ |
Dear Shareholder,
The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The United States, along with most of the world, began the reporting period emerging from a severe recession, prompted by pandemic-related restrictions that disrupted many aspects of daily life. However, easing restrictions and robust government intervention led to a strong rebound, and the economy grew at a significant pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.
Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets rebounded substantially.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.
The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2023 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2022.
Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.
Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and healthcare, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries and Asian fixed income offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.
In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as
market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
| Total Returns as of August 31, 2021 | ||||
| 6-Month | 12-Month | |||
|
U.S. large cap equities
|
19.52% | 31.17% | ||
|
U.S. small cap equities
|
3.81 | 47.08 | ||
|
International equities
|
10.31 | 26.12 | ||
|
Emerging market equities
|
(0.98) | 21.12 | ||
|
3-month Treasury bills
|
0.02 | 0.08 | ||
|
U.S. Treasury securities
|
2.36 | (4.12) | ||
|
U.S. investment grade bonds
|
1.49 | (0.08) | ||
|
Tax-exempt municipal bonds
|
2.50 | 3.44 | ||
|
U.S. high yield bonds
|
3.82 | 10.14 | ||
|
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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Financial Statements |
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iShares Trust
Global Market Overview
Global equity markets advanced significantly during the 12 months ended August 31, 2021 (reporting period). The MSCI ACWI, a broad global equity index that includes both developed and emerging markets, returned 28.64% in U.S. dollar terms for the reporting period. Stocks continued to recover from the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nearing all-time highs by the end of the reporting period. Reopening economies led to a substantial global economic expansion, and the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines bolstered investors optimism. Nonetheless, vaccination rates varied considerably across countries, and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to increased cases and renewed restrictions toward the end of the reporting period. Inflation also rose in many parts of the world amid supply chain constraints and elevated consumer spending.
Equity markets in the U.S. advanced strongly, helped by fiscal and monetary stimulus and an ongoing mass vaccination program. Congress passed two fiscal stimulus bills during the reporting period, providing significant relief in the form of direct payments to individuals, tax credits, aid to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners and renters. Personal incomes rose significantly following the stimulus payments, and consumer spending recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Increased consumer spending and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions helped the U.S. economy continue to grow following a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020, as activity recovered from the pandemic-induced recession in the first half of 2020. The economy grew at a brisk pace for the rest of the reporting period, finally exceeding pre-pandemic output levels in the second quarter of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve Banks (the Fed) action also played a notable role in the recovery. Monetary policy remained accommodative, with short-term interest rates maintained near zero to encourage lending and stimulate economic activity. The Fed further acted to stabilize bond markets by continuing an unlimited, open-ended, bond-buying program for U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Stocks in Europe also posted strong gains, despite a recovery that trailed other major economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) provided monetary stimulus by maintaining ultra-low interest rates and continuing a large bond-buying program. Growth resumed with a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020 as restrictions eased, and Eurozone countries enacted a deal for a collective 750 billion of stimulus spending. However, a new wave of coronavirus cases beginning in October 2020 led to renewed restrictions, weakening the fragile recovery. Consequently, the Eurozone economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, even as much of the world was returning to growth. Although the initial vaccine rollout trailed in many European countries, the pace of vaccinations accelerated late in the reporting period, and economic growth resumed in the second quarter of 2021.
Asia-Pacific regional stocks also posted a solid advance amid a sharp rebound in economic activity. Continued economic growth in China helped the regional economy recover, as many Asia-Pacific countries rely on China as a major trading partner. Japanese and Australian stocks benefited from a sharp rise in exports amid resurgent global trade. Emerging market stocks advanced overall, aided by economic recovery and rising prices for many commodities. However, investor concerns about increased government regulatory activity weighed on Chinese stocks late in the reporting period. Relatively slow vaccination rollouts in parts of Asia also prompted concerns, particularly as the Delta variant spread.
| 4 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of equal weighted Japanese equities, as represented by the MSCI Japan Equal Weighted Index (USD) (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 | Since Inception | 1 Year | Since Inception | |||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
16.83 | % | 9.26 | % | 16.83 | % | 24.71 | % | ||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
16.93 | 9.25 | 16.93 | 24.67 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
17.03 | 9.16 | 17.03 | 24.35 | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 3/5/19. The first day of secondary market trading was 3/7/19.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 9 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
Expenses
Paid During the Period (a) |
Beginning Account Value (03/01/21) |
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
Expenses
Paid During the Period (a) |
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.10 | $ | 0.77 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.40 | $ | 0.77 | 0.15 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 9 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Japanese equal-weighted stocks advanced during the reporting period as the country emerged from recession, though the pace of economic growth trailed many developed peers. Rising exports and government stimulus programs supported Japans recovery, but a surge in COVID-19 cases, a slow vaccine rollout, and renewed restrictions weighed on domestic household spending. Nevertheless, demand for Japanese exports continued to bolster the economy, and manufacturers confidence rose amid the global recovery.
The information technology sector was the largest contributor to the Indexs return. The electronic equipment, instruments, and components industry benefited from rising demand for coronavirus testing, semiconductor, automotive, and consumer electronics equipment. The ongoing adoption of robotics and industrial automation systems further supported earnings growth. Demand for healthcare- and semiconductor-related products and office equipment also drove strong profits for technology hardware, storage, and peripherals manufacturers. Semiconductors and semiconductor equipment stocks advanced as chip demand grew amid a global semiconductor shortage, fueling earnings growth.
Industrials stocks also contributed notably to the Indexs performance as overseas demand for capital goods improved. Rising exports of factory automation and semiconductor chip-making equipment, especially to China, boosted earnings among manufacturers of industrial machinery.
Within the materials sector, chemicals stocks advanced amid strong profits due to higher prices and recovering demand, particularly from automotive and electronics customers. Increased capital investments and robust merger and acquisition activity further supported chemicals stocks.
Consumer discretionary stocks also posted solid gains, particularly the automobiles and components industry, as global sales recovered sharply for cars, motorcycles, and vehicles used for outdoor recreation. Although automobile manufacturers advanced as demand recovered from pandemic lows, a global semiconductor shortage, additional waves of coronavirus infections, and rising material costs weighed on the industry. Auto components suppliers such as tire manufacturers benefited from recovering demand for parts.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investments (a) |
|||
|
Industrials |
23.5 | % | ||
|
Information Technology |
14.1 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
13.8 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
10.0 | |||
|
Financials |
8.5 | |||
|
Health Care |
7.9 | |||
|
Materials |
7.3 | |||
|
Communication Services |
5.9 | |||
|
Real Estate |
5.7 | |||
|
Utilities |
2.3 | |||
|
Energy |
1.0 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
| Security |
Percent of
Total Investments (a) |
|||
|
Keyence Corp. |
0.8 | % | ||
|
Nintendo Co. Ltd. |
0.6 | |||
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Lasertec Corp. |
0.6 | |||
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Tokyo Electron Ltd. |
0.5 | |||
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Kobe Bussan Co. Ltd. |
0.5 | |||
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AGC Inc. |
0.5 | |||
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ZOZO Inc. |
0.5 | |||
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Obic Co. Ltd. |
0.5 | |||
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SCSK Corp. |
0.5 | |||
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Omron Corp. |
0.5 | |||
| 6 |
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| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® MSCI Japan Value ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization Japanese equities with value characteristics and relatively lower valuations, as represented by the MSCI Japan Value Index (USD) (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 | Since Inception | 1 Year | Since Inception | |||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
21.62 | % | 7.98 | % | 21.62 | % | 21.10 | % | ||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
21.77 | 8.07 | 21.77 | 21.35 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
22.01 | 7.99 | 22.01 | 21.05 | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 3/5/19. The first day of secondary market trading was 3/7/19.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 9 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
Expenses
Paid During the Period (a) |
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
Expenses
Paid During the Period (a) |
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,032.40 | $ | 0.77 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.40 | $ | 0.77 | 0.15 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 9 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® MSCI Japan Value ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Japanese value stocks advanced during the reporting period as the country emerged from recession and investors rotated to value stocks amid expectations for a continued global economic recovery. Rising exports and government stimulus programs supported Japans recovery, but a surge in COVID-19 cases, a slow vaccine rollout, and renewed restrictions weighed on domestic household spending. Nevertheless, demand for Japanese exports continued to bolster the economy, and manufacturers confidence rose.
Consumer discretionary stocks were the leading contributors to the Indexs return amid a global revival in consumer spending. Demand for cars recovered sharply in 2021, surging out of the pandemic-induced slowdown. Carmakers stocks advanced despite production interruptions and rising material costs, as the automobiles industrys management strategies lessened the impact of supply-chain backlogs and helped maintain positive sales trends, production levels, and profit margins.
Industrials stocks contributed notably to the Indexs return as overseas demand for capital goods improved. Trading companies and distributors benefited from increased demand for commodities and higher prices as economies reopened. In the machinery industry, rising exports of robots and factory automation equipment boosted profits. Construction machinery and heavy trucks stocks advanced amid improving demand and increasing infrastructure spending.
Financials stocks were significant contributors to the Indexs performance. Diversified banks benefited from increased borrowing, rising profits, and expectations that credit costs will fall as the recovery continues. Investors rotation toward value stocks also supported Japanese banks.
The technology hardware and equipment industry drove contribution from the information technology sector, due to the ongoing adoption of robotics and automated systems. Demand for healthcare-related products, semiconductor materials, and office equipment drove strong profits for technology hardware, storage, and peripherals manufacturers. Electronic components makers also benefited from resurgent demand related to digitalization and renewable energy.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investments (a) |
|||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
20.5 | % | ||
|
Industrials |
17.1 | |||
|
Financials |
17.0 | |||
|
Communication Services |
9.2 | |||
|
Health Care |
7.3 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
7.1 | |||
|
Real Estate |
7.1 | |||
|
Information Technology |
6.8 | |||
|
Materials |
4.8 | |||
|
Utilities |
1.9 | |||
|
Energy |
1.2 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
| Security |
Percent of
Total Investments (a) |
|||
|
Toyota Motor Corp. |
9.1 | % | ||
|
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. |
3.3 | |||
|
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
2.6 | |||
|
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. |
2.5 | |||
|
KDDI Corp. |
2.4 | |||
|
SoftBank Group Corp. |
2.3 | |||
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. |
2.2 | |||
|
Softbank Corp. |
1.9 | |||
|
Hitachi Ltd. |
1.8 | |||
|
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. |
1.7 | |||
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 Funds investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or NAV is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such funds NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the funds 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.
As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled Expenses Paid During the Period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Funds actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
A B O U T F U N D P E R F O R M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R E X P E N S E S |
9 |
|
August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 0.7% | ||||||||
|
SG Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | $ | 27,148 | |||||
|
Yamato Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 25,423 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 52,571 | ||||||||
| Airlines 0.7% | ||||||||
|
ANA Holdings Inc.(a) |
1,200 | 28,446 | ||||||
|
Japan Airlines Co. Ltd.(a) |
1,400 | 29,826 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 58,272 | ||||||||
| Auto Components 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Aisin Corp. |
800 | 30,537 | ||||||
|
Bridgestone Corp. |
600 | 27,620 | ||||||
|
Denso Corp. |
400 | 27,997 | ||||||
|
Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
400 | 24,468 | ||||||
|
Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 24,956 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. |
2,000 | 26,711 | ||||||
|
Toyota Industries Corp. |
400 | 33,772 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 196,061 | ||||||||
| Automobiles 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 30,267 | ||||||
|
Isuzu Motors Ltd. |
2,200 | 27,811 | ||||||
|
Mazda Motor Corp.(a) |
3,200 | 27,778 | ||||||
|
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.(a) |
5,400 | 28,329 | ||||||
|
Subaru Corp. |
1,400 | 25,911 | ||||||
|
Suzuki Motor Corp. |
600 | 25,926 | ||||||
|
Toyota Motor Corp. |
400 | 34,837 | ||||||
|
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 25,442 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 226,301 | ||||||||
| Banks 3.1% | ||||||||
|
Chiba Bank Ltd. (The) |
4,200 | 26,219 | ||||||
|
Concordia Financial Group Ltd. |
7,200 | 27,916 | ||||||
|
Japan Post Bank Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 27,982 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. |
5,400 | 29,297 | ||||||
|
Mizuho Financial Group Inc. |
1,880 | 26,342 | ||||||
|
Resona Holdings Inc. |
7,400 | 28,617 | ||||||
|
Shizuoka Bank Ltd. (The) |
3,400 | 26,634 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. |
800 | 27,613 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. |
800 | 26,131 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 246,751 | ||||||||
| Beverages 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. |
600 | 27,891 | ||||||
|
Ito En Ltd. |
400 | 25,313 | ||||||
|
Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,400 | 25,363 | ||||||
|
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. |
800 | 32,067 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 110,634 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology 0.3% | ||||||||
|
PeptiDream Inc.(a) |
600 | 21,142 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Building Products 1.7% | ||||||||
|
AGC Inc. |
800 | 38,647 | ||||||
|
Daikin Industries Ltd. |
100 | 24,955 | ||||||
|
Lixil Corp. |
1,200 | 34,922 | ||||||
|
TOTO Ltd. |
600 | 32,654 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 131,178 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Daiwa Securities Group Inc. |
5,400 | 30,548 | ||||||
|
Japan Exchange Group Inc. |
1,200 | 28,579 | ||||||
|
Nomura Holdings Inc. |
5,200 | 25,112 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Capital Markets (continued) | ||||||||
|
SBI Holdings Inc. |
1,200 | $ | 29,072 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 113,311 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 5.4% | ||||||||
|
Asahi Kasei Corp. |
2,600 | 26,806 | ||||||
|
JSR Corp. |
1,000 | 34,650 | ||||||
|
Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 25,900 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. |
4,200 | 36,876 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. |
1,400 | 26,380 | ||||||
|
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. |
1,000 | 34,522 | ||||||
|
Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,800 | 22,355 | ||||||
|
Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp. |
1,400 | 33,928 | ||||||
|
Nissan Chemical Corp. |
600 | 33,640 | ||||||
|
Nitto Denko Corp. |
400 | 30,344 | ||||||
|
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. |
200 | 33,034 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. |
6,800 | 34,473 | ||||||
|
Toray Industries Inc. |
4,200 | 28,320 | ||||||
|
Tosoh Corp. |
1,400 | 25,411 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 426,639 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. |
1,400 | 33,263 | ||||||
|
Secom Co. Ltd. |
400 | 30,333 | ||||||
|
Sohgo Security Services Co. Ltd. |
600 | 27,181 | ||||||
|
Toppan Inc. |
1,800 | 30,901 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 121,678 | ||||||||
| Construction & Engineering 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Kajima Corp. |
2,200 | 28,425 | ||||||
|
Obayashi Corp. |
3,200 | 26,331 | ||||||
|
Shimizu Corp. |
3,400 | 24,398 | ||||||
|
Taisei Corp. |
800 | 25,028 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 104,182 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Acom Co. Ltd. |
6,600 | 25,508 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc. |
5,400 | 28,917 | ||||||
|
ORIX Corp. |
1,800 | 33,583 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Century Corp. |
400 | 22,873 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 85,373 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. |
1,000 | 26,643 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electric Utilities 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc. |
2,200 | 26,603 | ||||||
|
Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. (The) |
2,800 | 28,138 | ||||||
|
Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc. |
3,400 | 26,026 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc.(a) |
11,000 | 28,893 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 109,660 | ||||||||
| Electrical Equipment 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. |
800 | 34,609 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. |
1,800 | 24,608 | ||||||
|
Nidec Corp. |
200 | 22,846 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 82,063 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 4.4% | ||||||||
|
Azbil Corp. |
600 | 26,018 | ||||||
|
Hamamatsu Photonics KK |
400 | 23,313 | ||||||
|
Hirose Electric Co. Ltd. |
200 | 33,299 | ||||||
|
Ibiden Co. Ltd. |
600 | 32,284 | ||||||
|
Keyence Corp. |
100 | 60,033 | ||||||
|
Kyocera Corp. |
400 | 24,867 | ||||||
| 10 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (continued) | ||||||||
|
Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
400 | $ | 32,975 | |||||
|
Omron Corp. |
400 | 37,691 | ||||||
|
Shimadzu Corp. |
800 | 35,846 | ||||||
|
TDK Corp. |
200 | 20,962 | ||||||
|
Yokogawa Electric Corp. |
1,200 | 18,772 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 346,060 | ||||||||
| Entertainment 2.7% | ||||||||
|
Capcom Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 27,849 | ||||||
|
Koei Tecmo Holdings Co. Ltd. |
720 | 30,725 | ||||||
|
Konami Holdings Corp. |
400 | 25,321 | ||||||
|
Nexon Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | 21,886 | ||||||
|
Nintendo Co. Ltd. |
100 | 48,084 | ||||||
|
Square Enix Holdings Co. Ltd. |
400 | 23,254 | ||||||
|
Toho Co. Ltd. |
800 | 34,660 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 211,779 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 3.2% | ||||||||
|
Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp. |
10 | 29,534 | ||||||
|
GLP J-REIT |
16 | 29,043 | ||||||
|
Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest. |
32 | 31,089 | ||||||
|
Japan Real Estate Investment Corp. |
4 | 24,721 | ||||||
|
Nippon Building Fund Inc. |
4 | 25,976 | ||||||
|
Nippon Prologis REIT Inc. |
8 | 28,768 | ||||||
|
Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc. |
18 | 27,750 | ||||||
|
Orix JREIT Inc. |
16 | 28,520 | ||||||
|
United Urban Investment Corp. |
20 | 28,251 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 253,652 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 2.8% | ||||||||
|
Aeon Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 26,473 | ||||||
|
Cosmos Pharmaceutical Corp. |
200 | 35,417 | ||||||
|
Kobe Bussan Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 38,900 | ||||||
|
Lawson Inc. |
600 | 28,858 | ||||||
|
Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. |
800 | 34,909 | ||||||
|
Tsuruha Holdings Inc. |
200 | 25,111 | ||||||
|
Welcia Holdings Co. Ltd. |
800 | 28,211 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 217,879 | ||||||||
| Food Products 2.8% | ||||||||
|
Ajinomoto Co. Inc. |
1,200 | 35,372 | ||||||
|
Kikkoman Corp. |
400 | 30,030 | ||||||
|
MEIJI Holdings Co. Ltd. |
400 | 24,601 | ||||||
|
NH Foods Ltd. |
600 | 23,282 | ||||||
|
Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. |
1,600 | 26,274 | ||||||
|
Nissin Foods Holdings Co. Ltd. |
400 | 31,139 | ||||||
|
Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd. |
600 | 24,865 | ||||||
|
Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd. |
400 | 23,065 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 218,628 | ||||||||
| Gas Utilities 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Osaka Gas Co. Ltd. |
1,400 | 26,243 | ||||||
|
Toho Gas Co. Ltd. |
400 | 18,647 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. |
1,400 | 26,912 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 71,802 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 1.9% | ||||||||
|
Asahi Intecc Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 30,256 | ||||||
|
Hoya Corp. |
200 | 32,297 | ||||||
|
Olympus Corp. |
1,400 | 29,417 | ||||||
|
Sysmex Corp. |
200 | 22,729 | ||||||
|
Terumo Corp. |
800 | 33,385 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 148,084 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Medipal Holdings Corp. |
1,400 | $ | 26,763 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Health Care Technology 0.3% | ||||||||
|
M3 Inc. |
400 | 26,827 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.8% | ||||||||
|
McDonalds Holdings Co. Japan Ltd. |
600 | 28,620 | ||||||
|
Oriental Land Co. Ltd. |
200 | 30,259 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 58,879 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 2.7% | ||||||||
|
Casio Computer Co. Ltd. |
1,800 | 27,800 | ||||||
|
Iida Group Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | 30,465 | ||||||
|
Panasonic Corp. |
2,600 | 31,083 | ||||||
|
Rinnai Corp. |
200 | 21,499 | ||||||
|
Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 27,383 | ||||||
|
Sekisui House Ltd. |
1,400 | 27,893 | ||||||
|
Sharp Corp. |
2,000 | 26,382 | ||||||
|
Sony Group Corp. |
200 | 20,679 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 213,184 | ||||||||
| Household Products 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Lion Corp. |
1,400 | 23,822 | ||||||
|
Pigeon Corp. |
800 | 23,173 | ||||||
|
Unicharm Corp. |
800 | 35,666 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 82,661 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Hitachi Ltd. |
600 | 33,160 | ||||||
|
Toshiba Corp. |
800 | 34,700 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 67,860 | ||||||||
| Insurance 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. |
1,400 | 27,702 | ||||||
|
Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,000 | 25,784 | ||||||
|
Japan Post Insurance Co. Ltd. |
1,400 | 25,424 | ||||||
|
MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. |
1,000 | 32,369 | ||||||
|
Sompo Holdings Inc. |
600 | 26,375 | ||||||
|
T&D Holdings Inc. |
2,200 | 26,775 | ||||||
|
Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. |
600 | 29,358 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 193,787 | ||||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Kakaku.com Inc. |
1,000 | 31,115 | ||||||
|
Z Holdings Corp. |
4,800 | 31,210 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 62,325 | ||||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 1.2% | ||||||||
|
Mercari Inc.(a) |
600 | 29,605 | ||||||
|
Rakuten Group Inc. |
2,600 | 27,197 | ||||||
|
ZOZO Inc. |
1,000 | 38,136 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 94,938 | ||||||||
| IT Services 4.0% | ||||||||
|
Fujitsu Ltd. |
200 | 36,817 | ||||||
|
GMO Payment Gateway Inc. |
200 | 26,240 | ||||||
|
Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp. |
400 | 12,359 | ||||||
|
NEC Corp. |
600 | 31,490 | ||||||
|
Nomura Research Institute Ltd. |
1,000 | 37,500 | ||||||
|
NTT Data Corp. |
1,800 | 32,395 | ||||||
|
Obic Co. Ltd. |
200 | 37,974 | ||||||
|
Otsuka Corp. |
600 | 31,060 | ||||||
|
SCSK Corp. |
600 | 37,877 | ||||||
|
TIS Inc. |
1,200 | 33,875 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 317,587 | ||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
11 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Leisure Products 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. |
400 | $ | 27,744 | |||||
|
Shimano Inc. |
100 | 29,346 | ||||||
|
Yamaha Corp. |
400 | 23,584 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 80,674 | ||||||||
| Machinery 7.1% | ||||||||
|
Daifuku Co. Ltd. |
400 | 35,305 | ||||||
|
Fanuc Corp. |
100 | 21,786 | ||||||
|
Harmonic Drive Systems Inc. |
600 | 33,128 | ||||||
|
Hino Motors Ltd. |
3,400 | 29,421 | ||||||
|
Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 28,649 | ||||||
|
Hoshizaki Corp. |
400 | 37,551 | ||||||
|
Komatsu Ltd. |
1,200 | 29,187 | ||||||
|
Kubota Corp. |
1,400 | 28,926 | ||||||
|
Kurita Water Industries Ltd. |
800 | 37,521 | ||||||
|
Makita Corp. |
600 | 34,468 | ||||||
|
Minebea Mitsumi Inc. |
1,200 | 30,850 | ||||||
|
Misumi Group Inc. |
800 | 31,735 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. |
1,000 | 26,419 | ||||||
|
Miura Co. Ltd. |
600 | 26,937 | ||||||
|
Nabtesco Corp. |
600 | 23,727 | ||||||
|
NGK Insulators Ltd. |
1,800 | 29,841 | ||||||
|
NSK Ltd. |
3,000 | 21,048 | ||||||
|
THK Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | 27,783 | ||||||
|
Yaskawa Electric Corp. |
600 | 29,286 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 563,568 | ||||||||
| Marine 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Nippon Yusen KK |
400 | 32,166 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Media 1.1% | ||||||||
|
CyberAgent Inc. |
1,600 | 29,290 | ||||||
|
Dentsu Group Inc. |
800 | 29,738 | ||||||
|
Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc. |
1,800 | 28,383 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 87,411 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Hitachi Metals Ltd.(a) |
1,800 | 34,746 | ||||||
|
JFE Holdings Inc. |
2,200 | 35,684 | ||||||
|
Nippon Steel Corp. |
1,400 | 28,613 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. |
600 | 22,992 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 122,035 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp. |
1,400 | 26,632 | ||||||
|
Ryohin Keikaku Co. Ltd. |
1,400 | 29,977 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 56,609 | ||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.0% | ||||||||
|
ENEOS Holdings Inc. |
6,800 | 26,282 | ||||||
|
Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | 28,741 | ||||||
|
Inpex Corp. |
3,800 | 26,109 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 81,132 | ||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Oji Holdings Corp. |
5,000 | 26,174 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Personal Products 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Kao Corp. |
400 | 24,163 | ||||||
|
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
400 | 31,309 | ||||||
|
Kose Corp. |
200 | 24,137 | ||||||
|
Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. |
1,200 | 26,179 | ||||||
|
Shiseido Co. Ltd. |
400 | 26,512 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 132,300 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 5.0% | ||||||||
|
Astellas Pharma Inc. |
1,800 | $ | 30,330 | |||||
|
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
700 | 27,351 | ||||||
|
Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | 28,503 | ||||||
|
Eisai Co. Ltd. |
400 | 32,988 | ||||||
|
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. |
600 | 24,044 | ||||||
|
Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 32,721 | ||||||
|
Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd. |
400 | 32,468 | ||||||
|
Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | 28,812 | ||||||
|
Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd. |
600 | 25,533 | ||||||
|
Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
2,000 | 29,905 | ||||||
|
Shionogi & Co. Ltd. |
400 | 25,132 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 28,720 | ||||||
|
Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd. |
400 | 23,331 | ||||||
|
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
800 | 26,628 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 396,466 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Nihon M&A Center Inc. |
1,200 | 35,784 | ||||||
|
Persol Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 37,353 | ||||||
|
Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd. |
600 | 35,329 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 108,466 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Daito Trust Construction Co. Ltd. |
200 | 21,965 | ||||||
|
Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 30,494 | ||||||
|
Hulic Co. Ltd. |
2,600 | 30,498 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd. |
1,800 | 28,181 | ||||||
|
Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | 27,538 | ||||||
|
Nomura Real Estate Holdings Inc. |
1,200 | 30,731 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. Ltd. |
800 | 25,828 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 195,235 | ||||||||
| Road & Rail 3.9% | ||||||||
|
Central Japan Railway Co. |
200 | 29,274 | ||||||
|
East Japan Railway Co. |
400 | 26,886 | ||||||
|
Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc. |
1,000 | 29,924 | ||||||
|
Keio Corp. |
400 | 21,524 | ||||||
|
Keisei Electric Railway Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 30,764 | ||||||
|
Kintetsu Group Holdings Co. Ltd.(a) |
800 | 27,325 | ||||||
|
Nippon Express Co. Ltd. |
400 | 27,199 | ||||||
|
Odakyu Electric Railway Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | 27,960 | ||||||
|
Tobu Railway Co. Ltd. |
1,000 | 26,071 | ||||||
|
Tokyu Corp. |
2,200 | 30,251 | ||||||
|
West Japan Railway Co. |
600 | 32,770 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 309,948 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 3.0% | ||||||||
|
Advantest Corp. |
400 | 34,461 | ||||||
|
Disco Corp. |
100 | 29,050 | ||||||
|
Lasertec Corp. |
200 | 43,502 | ||||||
|
Renesas Electronics Corp.(a) |
2,800 | 29,982 | ||||||
|
Rohm Co. Ltd. |
200 | 19,227 | ||||||
|
SUMCO Corp. |
1,600 | 33,684 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Electron Ltd. |
100 | 42,834 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 232,740 | ||||||||
| Software 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Oracle Corp. Japan |
400 | 32,826 | ||||||
|
Trend Micro Inc. |
600 | 32,868 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 65,694 | ||||||||
| Specialty Retail 2.0% | ||||||||
|
ABC-Mart Inc. |
600 | 32,078 | ||||||
|
Hikari Tsushin Inc. |
200 | 34,997 | ||||||
| 12 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors (continued) | ||||||||
|
MonotaRO Co. Ltd. |
1,200 | $ | 26,595 | |||||
|
Sumitomo Corp. |
2,000 | 28,186 | ||||||
|
Toyota Tsusho Corp. |
800 | 35,374 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 214,623 | ||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 1.0% | ||||||||
|
KDDI Corp. |
800 | 24,452 | ||||||
|
Softbank Corp. |
2,200 | 29,442 | ||||||
|
SoftBank Group Corp. |
400 | 22,542 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 76,436 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.7%
|
7,868,926 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.7%
|
7,868,926 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.3% |
25,259 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 7,894,185 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net
Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital Gain
Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares(a) |
$ | | $ | $ | (2 | )(b) | $ | 2 | $ | | $ | | | $ | 21 | (c) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
As of period end, the entity is no longer held. |
| (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. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
TOPIX Index |
1 | 09/09/21 | $ | 18 | $ | 63 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
13 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 63 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 7,738 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 83 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 41,326 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 29,043 | $ | 7,839,883 | $ | | $ | 7,868,926 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 63 | $ | | $ | 63 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 14 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Value ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
| Airlines 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Japan Airlines Co. Ltd.(a) |
1,600 | $ | 34,088 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Auto Components 2.8% |
||||||||
|
Aisin Corp. |
1,600 | 61,074 | ||||||
|
Bridgestone Corp. |
12,800 | 589,231 | ||||||
|
Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
400 | 24,468 | ||||||
|
Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 79,857 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. |
16,000 | 213,689 | ||||||
|
Toyota Industries Corp. |
3,200 | 270,178 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,238,497 | ||||||||
| Automobiles 14.2% | ||||||||
|
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. |
36,800 | 1,113,811 | ||||||
|
Isuzu Motors Ltd. |
12,800 | 161,808 | ||||||
|
Mazda Motor Corp.(a) |
8,300 | 72,051 | ||||||
|
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.(a) |
51,200 | 268,600 | ||||||
|
Subaru Corp. |
14,400 | 266,511 | ||||||
|
Suzuki Motor Corp. |
4,800 | 207,413 | ||||||
|
Toyota Motor Corp. |
46,400 | 4,041,131 | ||||||
|
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. |
6,400 | 162,827 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,294,152 | ||||||||
| Banks 8.9% | ||||||||
|
Chiba Bank Ltd. (The) |
11,200 | 69,918 | ||||||
|
Concordia Financial Group Ltd. |
24,000 | 93,052 | ||||||
|
Japan Post Bank Co. Ltd. |
9,600 | 83,945 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. |
270,400 | 1,467,039 | ||||||
|
Mizuho Financial Group Inc. |
52,850 | 740,525 | ||||||
|
Resona Holdings Inc. |
48,000 | 185,623 | ||||||
|
Shizuoka Bank Ltd. (The) |
9,600 | 75,203 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. |
28,800 | 994,052 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. |
8,000 | 261,306 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,970,663 | ||||||||
| Beverages 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. |
9,600 | 446,252 | ||||||
|
Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. |
17,600 | 318,855 | ||||||
|
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. |
3,200 | 128,267 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 893,374 | ||||||||
| Building Products 0.4% | ||||||||
|
AGC Inc. |
1,600 | 77,294 | ||||||
|
TOTO Ltd. |
1,600 | 87,079 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 164,373 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Daiwa Securities Group Inc. |
32,000 | 181,024 | ||||||
|
Nomura Holdings Inc. |
68,800 | 332,252 | ||||||
|
SBI Holdings Inc. |
4,800 | 116,290 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 629,566 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 3.0% | ||||||||
|
Asahi Kasei Corp. |
27,200 | 280,434 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. |
14,400 | 126,433 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. |
3,200 | 60,296 | ||||||
|
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. |
4,800 | 165,707 | ||||||
|
Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp. |
3,200 | 77,550 | ||||||
|
Nitto Denko Corp. |
3,200 | 242,755 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. |
11,200 | 56,780 | ||||||
|
Toray Industries Inc. |
30,400 | 204,979 | ||||||
|
Tosoh Corp. |
6,400 | 116,163 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,331,097 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. |
4,800 | $ | 114,047 | |||||
|
Secom Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 121,332 | ||||||
|
Toppan Inc. |
6,400 | 109,869 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 345,248 | ||||||||
| Construction & Engineering 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Kajima Corp. |
9,600 | 124,034 | ||||||
|
Obayashi Corp. |
14,400 | 118,489 | ||||||
|
Shimizu Corp. |
12,800 | 91,852 | ||||||
|
Taisei Corp. |
4,800 | 150,171 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 484,546 | ||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc. |
14,400 | 77,112 | ||||||
|
ORIX Corp. |
27,200 | 507,483 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Century Corp. |
600 | 34,309 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 618,904 | ||||||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. |
28,800 | 767,312 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Electric Utilities 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc. |
14,400 | 174,131 | ||||||
|
Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. (The) |
16,000 | 160,788 | ||||||
|
Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc. |
8,000 | 61,238 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc.(a) |
33,600 | 88,254 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 484,411 | ||||||||
| Electrical Equipment 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 138,436 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. |
40,000 | 546,844 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 685,280 | ||||||||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Hirose Electric Co. Ltd. |
400 | 66,598 | ||||||
|
Kyocera Corp. |
7,000 | 435,169 | ||||||
|
Omron Corp. |
1,600 | 150,762 | ||||||
|
Yokogawa Electric Corp. |
4,800 | 75,087 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 727,616 | ||||||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 3.1% | ||||||||
|
Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp. |
32 | 94,510 | ||||||
|
GLP J-REIT |
96 | 174,260 | ||||||
|
Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest |
160 | 155,443 | ||||||
|
Japan Real Estate Investment Corp. |
32 | 197,764 | ||||||
|
Nippon Building Fund Inc. |
32 | 207,806 | ||||||
|
Nippon Prologis REIT Inc. |
48 | 172,610 | ||||||
|
Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc. |
96 | 148,003 | ||||||
|
Orix JREIT Inc. |
64 | 114,080 | ||||||
|
United Urban Investment Corp. |
64 | 90,403 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,354,879 | ||||||||
| Food & Staples Retailing 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Lawson Inc. |
1,600 | 76,954 | ||||||
|
Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. |
16,000 | 698,181 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 775,135 | ||||||||
| Food Products 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Ajinomoto Co. Inc. |
4,800 | 141,486 | ||||||
|
MEIJI Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 196,807 | ||||||
|
NH Foods Ltd. |
1,600 | 62,085 | ||||||
|
Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. |
4,800 | 78,820 | ||||||
|
Nissin Foods Holdings Co. Ltd. |
200 | 15,570 | ||||||
|
Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd. |
1,600 | 66,308 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 561,076 | ||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
15 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Value ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Gas Utilities 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Osaka Gas Co. Ltd. |
8,000 | $ | 149,960 | |||||
|
Toho Gas Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 74,587 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. |
8,000 | 153,782 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 378,329 | ||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Medipal Holdings Corp. |
4,800 | 91,757 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Household Durables 2.6% | ||||||||
|
Casio Computer Co. Ltd. |
4,800 | 74,134 | ||||||
|
Iida Group Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 81,239 | ||||||
|
Panasonic Corp. |
49,600 | 592,971 | ||||||
|
Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. |
8,000 | 136,914 | ||||||
|
Sekisui House Ltd. |
14,400 | 286,894 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,172,152 | ||||||||
| Household Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Pigeon Corp. |
1,600 | 46,345 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Hitachi Ltd. |
14,400 | 795,838 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Insurance 5.2% | ||||||||
|
Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. |
22,400 | 443,235 | ||||||
|
Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd. |
35,200 | 302,534 | ||||||
|
Japan Post Insurance Co. Ltd. |
4,800 | 87,168 | ||||||
|
MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. |
9,600 | 310,741 | ||||||
|
Sompo Holdings Inc. |
6,400 | 281,329 | ||||||
|
T&D Holdings Inc. |
12,800 | 155,784 | ||||||
|
Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. |
14,400 | 704,582 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,285,373 | ||||||||
| Interactive Media & Services 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Z Holdings Corp. |
20,800 | 135,246 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Rakuten Group Inc. |
6,400 | 66,945 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| IT Services 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Fujitsu Ltd. |
4,100 | 754,756 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Leisure Products 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Yamaha Corp. |
1,600 | 94,338 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Machinery 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Hino Motors Ltd. |
6,400 | 55,380 | ||||||
|
Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 91,677 | ||||||
|
Hoshizaki Corp. |
200 | 18,775 | ||||||
|
Kubota Corp. |
14,400 | 297,528 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. |
6,400 | 169,081 | ||||||
|
NGK Insulators Ltd. |
6,400 | 106,103 | ||||||
|
NSK Ltd. |
8,000 | 56,127 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 794,671 | ||||||||
| Marine 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Nippon Yusen KK |
3,200 | 257,328 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Media 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Dentsu Group Inc. |
4,800 | 178,431 | ||||||
|
Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc. |
3,200 | 50,458 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 228,889 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Hitachi Metals Ltd.(a) |
3,200 | 61,770 | ||||||
|
JFE Holdings Inc. |
11,200 | 181,663 | ||||||
|
Nippon Steel Corp. |
19,200 | 392,411 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Metals & Mining (continued) | ||||||||
|
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | $ | 61,314 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 697,158 | ||||||||
| Multiline Retail 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Ryohin Keikaku Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 68,518 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.2% | ||||||||
|
ENEOS Holdings Inc. |
68,800 | 265,906 | ||||||
|
Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. |
4,892 | 117,166 | ||||||
|
Inpex Corp. |
22,400 | 153,908 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 536,980 | ||||||||
| Paper & Forest Products 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Oji Holdings Corp. |
17,600 | 92,133 | ||||||
| Personal Products 0.7% | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Kao Corp. |
4,800 | 289,951 | ||||||
|
Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. |
1,600 | 34,906 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 324,857 | ||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 7.1% | ||||||||
|
Astellas Pharma Inc. |
41,600 | 700,956 | ||||||
|
Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. |
12,800 | 304,031 | ||||||
|
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. |
200 | 8,015 | ||||||
|
Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd. |
8,000 | 340,436 | ||||||
|
Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
8,000 | 119,621 | ||||||
|
Shionogi & Co. Ltd. |
6,400 | 402,116 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd. |
4,800 | 86,160 | ||||||
|
Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd. |
500 | 29,164 | ||||||
|
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
35,200 | 1,171,650 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,162,149 | ||||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 4.0% | ||||||||
|
Daito Trust Construction Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 175,721 | ||||||
|
Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd. |
12,800 | 390,320 | ||||||
|
Hulic Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 37,536 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd. |
25,600 | 400,803 | ||||||
|
Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd. |
20,800 | 477,318 | ||||||
|
Nomura Real Estate Holdings Inc. |
3,200 | 81,950 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. Ltd. |
6,400 | 206,622 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,770,270 | ||||||||
| Road & Rail 3.0% | ||||||||
|
Central Japan Railway Co. |
3,200 | 468,383 | ||||||
|
East Japan Railway Co. |
4,800 | 322,628 | ||||||
|
Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc. |
4,800 | 143,638 | ||||||
|
Keisei Electric Railway Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 49,222 | ||||||
|
Kintetsu Group Holdings Co. Ltd.(a) |
1,600 | 54,650 | ||||||
|
Nippon Express Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 108,795 | ||||||
|
Odakyu Electric Railway Co. Ltd. |
1,600 | 37,279 | ||||||
|
Tokyu Corp. |
4,800 | 66,003 | ||||||
|
West Japan Railway Co. |
1,600 | 87,387 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,337,985 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Rohm Co. Ltd. |
400 | 38,455 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Software 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Trend Micro Inc. |
1,600 | 87,647 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Specialty Retail 0.3% | ||||||||
|
ABC-Mart Inc. |
400 | 21,386 | ||||||
|
USS Co. Ltd. |
3,200 | 52,868 | ||||||
|
Yamada Holdings Co. Ltd. |
16,000 | 68,642 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 142,896 | ||||||||
| 16 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Value ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services 6.6% | ||||||||
|
KDDI Corp. |
35,200 | $ | 1,075,902 | |||||
|
Softbank Corp. |
64,000 | 856,501 | ||||||
|
SoftBank Group Corp. |
17,800 | 1,003,097 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,935,500 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.7%
|
|
44,246,671 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.7%
|
|
44,246,671 | ||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.3% |
|
114,024 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
|
$ | 44,360,695 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares(a) |
$ | | $ | 0 | (b) | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | | $ | 2 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
As of period end, the entity is no longer held. |
| (b) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
TOPIX Index |
6 | 09/09/21 | $ | 107 | $ | 1,433 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 1,433 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
17 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® MSCI Japan Value ETF |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 13,130 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 1,568 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
|
||||
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 163,205 | ||
|
|
||||
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 174,260 | $ | 44,072,411 | $ | | $ | 44,246,671 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 1,433 | $ | | $ | 1,433 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 18 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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
August 31, 2021
|
iShares
MSCI Japan
|
iShares
MSCI Japan
|
|||||||
|
ASSETS |
||||||||
|
Investments in securities, at value: |
||||||||
|
Unaffiliated(a) |
$ | 7,868,926 | $ | 44,246,671 | ||||
|
Cash |
1,944 | 6,412 | ||||||
|
Foreign currency, at value(b) |
9,189 | 62,464 | ||||||
|
Foreign currency collateral pledged: |
||||||||
|
Futures contracts(c) |
924 | 5,536 | ||||||
|
Receivables: |
||||||||
|
Investments sold |
148,064 | | ||||||
|
Variation margin on futures contracts |
68 | 1,453 | ||||||
|
Dividends |
12,666 | 76,498 | ||||||
|
Tax reclaims |
| 5,310 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total assets |
8,041,781 | 44,404,344 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
LIABILITIES |
||||||||
|
Payables: |
||||||||
|
Investments purchased |
146,602 | 38,032 | ||||||
|
Investment advisory fees |
994 | 5,617 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total liabilities |
147,596 | 43,649 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
NET ASSETS |
$ | 7,894,185 | $ | 44,360,695 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF: |
||||||||
|
Paid-in capital |
$ | 7,211,200 | $ | 43,385,648 | ||||
|
Accumulated earnings |
682,985 | 975,047 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
NET ASSETS |
$ | 7,894,185 | $ | 44,360,695 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Shares outstanding |
200,000 | 1,600,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net asset value |
$ | 39.47 | $ | 27.73 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Shares authorized |
Unlimited | Unlimited | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Par value |
None | None | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
(a) Investments, at cost Unaffiliated |
$ | 6,984,047 | $ | 42,618,146 | ||||
|
(b) Foreign currency, at cost |
$ | 9,211 | $ | 62,871 | ||||
|
(c) Foreign currency collateral pledged, at cost |
$ | 929 | $ | 5,559 | ||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
19 |
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 20 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets
| (a) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
21 |
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF | ||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Period From
to 08/31/19 |
||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 34.29 | $ | 32.59 | $ | 33.43 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
0.67 | 0.66 | 0.44 | |||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c) |
5.09 | 1.95 | (0.82 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
5.76 | 2.61 | (0.38 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.58 | ) | (0.91 | ) | (0.46 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.58 | ) | (0.91 | ) | (0.46 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 39.47 | $ | 34.29 | $ | 32.59 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
16.83 | % | 7.98 | % | (1.14 | )%(f) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.15 | % | 0.15 | % | 0.15 | %(g) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net investment income |
1.75 | % | 1.98 | % | 2.68 | %(g) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 7,894 | $ | 6,858 | $ | 6,519 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
25 | % | 17 | % | 6 | %(f) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 22 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF | ||||||||||||
|
Year Ended 08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
Period From
to 08/31/19 |
||||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 23.22 | $ | 23.70 | $ | 24.67 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
0.65 | 0.71 | 0.46 | |||||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c) |
4.36 | (0.26 | ) | (0.97 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
5.01 | 0.45 | (0.51 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.50 | ) | (0.93 | ) | (0.46 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.50 | ) | (0.93 | ) | (0.46 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 27.73 | $ | 23.22 | $ | 23.70 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
21.62 | % | 1.71 | % | (2.10 | )%(f) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.15 | % | 0.15 | % | 0.15 | %(g) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net investment income |
2.39 | % | 2.98 | % | 3.83 | %(g) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 44,361 | $ | 6,965 | $ | 7,111 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
24 | % | 35 | % | 9 | %(f) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
23 |
| 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 |
|
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
Non-diversified | |
|
MSCI Japan Value |
Non-diversified |
| 2. |
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:
Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain.
Foreign Currency Translation: Each Funds 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.
Foreign Taxes: The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as Other foreign taxes, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of August 31, 2021, if any, are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The Funds file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Funds may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdictions applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statements of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and record cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Funds. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Funds and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Funds tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (NAV) per share.
Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
| 24 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
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 Funds investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) each day that the Funds 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. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board). If a securitys market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Funds assets and liabilities:
| |
Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that days published NAV. |
| |
Futures contracts are valued based on that days last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded. |
Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (Systematic Fair Value Price). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.
If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a funds NAV and the prices used by the funds underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the funds performance and the performance of the funds 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 Global Valuation Committees assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments). |
The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
| 4. |
SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS |
Securities Lending: 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
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
25 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, each Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.
As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA), the Funds investment adviser, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in each Funds 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 counterpartys 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 partys net payment obligation for all transactions under the MSLA. The defaulting party remains liable for any deficiency.
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). BlackRocks indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. Each Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by each Fund.
| 5. |
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).
Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contracts size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (variation margin). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.
| 6. |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES |
Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of each Funds assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Funds, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).
For its investment advisory services to each Fund, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee of 0.15%, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund.
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. 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
| 26 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
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 funds 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 a given 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 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 August 31, 2021, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:
| iShares ETF |
Fees Paid
to BTC |
|||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
$ | 5 | ||
Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.
Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, transactions executed by the Funds pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
|||||||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
$ | 3,932,935 | $ | 2,307,004 | $ | (87,458) | ||||||
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 funds underlying index.
| 7. |
PURCHASES AND SALES |
For the year ended August 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
$ | 1,892,564 | $ | 1,884,967 | ||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
9,410,550 | 6,151,578 | ||||||
For the year ended August 31, 2021, in-kind transactions were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
In-kind
Purchases |
In-kind
Sales |
||||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
$ | 34,631,574 | $ | 2,435,687 | ||||
| 8. |
INCOME TAX INFORMATION |
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trusts other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Funds policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of August 31, 2021, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds financial statements.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
27 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
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 August 31, 2021, the following permanent differences attributable to realized gains (losses) from in-kind redemptions were reclassified to the following accounts:
| iShares ETF | Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated
Earnings |
||||||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
$ | 102 | $ | (102) | ||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
372,118 | (372,118) | ||||||
The tax character of distributions was as follows:
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 116,528 | $ | 182,059 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 537,816 | $ | 280,402 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
As of August 31, 2021, 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 | ||||||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
$ | 60,521 | $ | (161,727 | ) | $ | 784,191 | $ | 682,985 | |||||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
334,210 | (424,703 | ) | 1,065,540 | 975,047 |
| (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, timing and recognition of partnership income and the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies. |
A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as passive foreign investment companies. Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.
As of August 31, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Tax Cost |
Gross Unrealized
Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized
Depreciation |
Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
$ | 7,084,801 | $ | 1,080,651 | $ | (296,463 | ) | $ | 784,188 | |||||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
43,182,360 | 2,624,465 | (1,558,721 | ) | 1,065,744 | |||||||||||
| 9. |
PRINCIPAL RISKS |
In the normal course of business, each Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including, among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate or price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Funds and their investments. Each Funds prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.
BFA uses a passive or index approach to try to achieve each Funds investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.
The Funds may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.
Market Risk: An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.
| 28 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a funds investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a funds NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing brokers customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing brokers customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a funds 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 Funds portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.
The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in that country or those countries may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities.
The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Asia or with significant exposure to Asian issuers or countries. The Asian financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns in several Asian countries regarding monetary policy, government intervention in the markets, rising government debt levels or economic downturns. These events may spread to other countries in Asia and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
| 10. |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
Capital shares are issued and redeemed by each Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (Creation Units) at NAV. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of each Fund are not redeemable.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
29 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Transactions in capital shares were as follows:
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Year Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
| $ | | 100,000 | $ | 3,403,244 | ||||||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
| | (100,000 | ) | (3,429,172 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net decrease |
| $ | | | $ | (25,928 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
1,400,000 | $ | 37,929,376 | 100,000 | $ | 2,629,581 | ||||||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(100,000 | ) | (2,471,708 | ) | (100,000 | ) | (2,638,305 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
1,300,000 | $ | 35,457,668 | | $ | (8,724 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
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 Trusts administrator, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in shares sold in the table above.
From time to time, settlement of securities related to in-kind contributions or in-kind redemptions may be delayed. In such cases, securities related to in-kind transactions are reflected as a receivable or a payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
| 11. |
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.
| 30 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust and Shareholders of iShares MSCI Japan Equal
Weighted ETF and iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF
Opinions on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of iShares MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF and iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF (two of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the Funds) as of August 31, 2021, the related statements of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021 and for the period March 5, 2019 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2019 (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 August 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021 and each of the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2021 and for the period March 5, 2019 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
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 August 31, 2021 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
October 22, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.
|
R E P O R T O F I N D E P E N D E N T R E G I S T E R E D P U B L I C A C C O U N T I N G F I R M |
31 |
Important Tax Information (unaudited)
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Dividend
Income |
|||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
$ | 146,169 | ||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
644,476 | |||
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 August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Foreign Source
Income Earned |
Foreign
Taxes Paid |
||||||
|
MSCI Japan Equal Weighted |
$ | 161,814 | $ | 16,154 | ||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
717,124 | 62,800 | ||||||
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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
iShares MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF, iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF (each the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected
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B O A R D R E V I E W A N D A P P R O V A L O F I N V E S T M E N T A D V I S O R Y C O N T R A C T |
33 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (Rule 18f-4). The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.
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 Funds investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
August 31, 2021
|
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MSCI Japan Value |
$ | 0.496246 | $ | | $ | | $ | 0.496246 | 100 | % | | % | | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Premium/Discount Information
Information on the Funds net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads can be found at iShares.com.
|
S U P P L E M E N T A L I N F O R M A T I O N |
35 |
Trustee and Officer Information
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 Fund is 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 374 funds as of August 31, 2021. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Charles Park, 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. Park is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated Cecilia H. Herbert 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).
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Trustee and Officer Information (continued)
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
| John E. Kerrigan (66) |
Trustee
(since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs (since 2019). |
Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011). | |||
| Drew E. Lawton (62) |
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). | |||
| John E. Martinez (60) |
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 (57) |
Trustee
(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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
||
| Armando Senra (50) |
President
(since 2019). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007); Head of U.S., Canada and Latam iShares, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2019); Head of Latin America Region, BlackRock, Inc. (2006-2019); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (1994-2006). | ||
| Trent Walker (47) |
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. | ||
| Charles Park (54) | Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006). | Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex (since 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of BFA (since 2006). | ||
| Deepa Damre Smith (46) |
Secretary
(since 2019). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2013). | ||
| Scott Radell (52) | Executive Vice President (since 2012). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Head of Portfolio Solutions, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
| Alan Mason (60) | Executive Vice President (since 2016). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
| Marybeth Leithead (58) | Executive Vice President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2017); Chief Operating Officer of Americas iShares (since 2017); Portfolio Manager, Municipal Institutional & Wealth Management (2009-2016). | ||
|
T R U S T E E A N D O F F I C E R I N F O R M A T I O N |
37 |
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
| |
Go to icsdelivery.com. |
| |
If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor. |
Householding
Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The 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 SECs 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 Companys policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.
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2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
iS-AR-819-0821
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AUGUST 31, 2021 |
| 2021 Annual Report | ||
iShares Trust
| · |
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF | DMXF | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF | EMXF | NASDAQ |
| · |
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF | USXF | NASDAQ |
Dear Shareholder,
The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The United States, along with most of the world, began the reporting period emerging from a severe recession, prompted by pandemic-related restrictions that disrupted many aspects of daily life. However, easing restrictions and robust government intervention led to a strong rebound, and the economy grew at a significant pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.
Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets rebounded substantially.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.
The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2023 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2022.
Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.
Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and healthcare, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries and Asian fixed income offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.
In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock, Inc.
| Total Returns as of August 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| 6-Month | 12-Month | |||||||
|
U.S. large cap equities
|
19.52 | % | 31.17 | % | ||||
|
U.S. small cap equities
|
3.81 | 47.08 | ||||||
|
International equities
|
10.31 | 26.12 | ||||||
|
Emerging market equities
|
(0.98 | ) | 21.12 | |||||
|
3-month Treasury bills
|
0.02 | 0.08 | ||||||
|
U.S. Treasury securities
|
2.36 | (4.12 | ) | |||||
|
U.S. investment grade bonds
|
1.49 | (0.08 | ) | |||||
|
Tax-exempt municipal bonds
|
2.50 | 3.44 | ||||||
|
U.S. high yield bonds (Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index) |
3.82 | 10.14 | ||||||
| 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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iShares Trust
Global Market Overview
Global equity markets advanced significantly during the 12 months ended August 31, 2021 (reporting period). The MSCI ACWI, a broad global equity index that includes both developed and emerging markets, returned 28.64% in U.S. dollar terms for the reporting period. Stocks continued to recover from the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nearing all-time highs by the end of the reporting period. Reopening economies led to a substantial global economic expansion, and the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines bolstered investors optimism. Nonetheless, vaccination rates varied considerably across countries, and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to increased cases and renewed restrictions toward the end of the reporting period. Inflation also rose in many parts of the world amid supply chain constraints and elevated consumer spending.
Equity markets in the U.S. advanced strongly, helped by fiscal and monetary stimulus and an ongoing mass vaccination program. Congress passed two fiscal stimulus bills during the reporting period, providing significant relief in the form of direct payments to individuals, tax credits, aid to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners and renters. Personal incomes rose significantly following the stimulus payments, and consumer spending recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Increased consumer spending and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions helped the U.S. economy continue to grow following a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020, as activity recovered from the pandemic-induced recession in the first half of 2020. The economy grew at a brisk pace for the rest of the reporting period, finally exceeding pre-pandemic output levels in the second quarter of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve Banks (the Fed) action also played a notable role in the recovery. Monetary policy remained accommodative, with short-term interest rates maintained near zero to encourage lending and stimulate economic activity. The Fed further acted to stabilize bond markets by continuing an unlimited, open-ended, bond-buying program for U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Stocks in Europe also posted strong gains, despite a recovery that trailed other major economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) provided monetary stimulus by maintaining ultra-low interest rates and continuing a large bond-buying program. Growth resumed with a significant rebound in the third quarter of 2020 as restrictions eased, and Eurozone countries enacted a deal for a collective 750 billion of stimulus spending. However, a new wave of coronavirus cases beginning in October 2020 led to renewed restrictions, weakening the fragile recovery. Consequently, the Eurozone economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, even as much of the world was returning to growth. Although the initial vaccine rollout trailed in many European countries, the pace of vaccinations accelerated late in the reporting period, and economic growth resumed in the second quarter of 2021.
Asia-Pacific regional stocks also posted a solid advance amid a sharp rebound in economic activity. Continued economic growth in China helped the regional economy recover, as many Asia-Pacific countries rely on China as a major trading partner. Japanese and Australian stocks benefited from a sharp rise in exports amid resurgent global trade. Emerging market stocks advanced overall, aided by economic recovery and rising prices for many commodities. However, investor concerns about increased government regulatory activity weighed on Chinese stocks late in the reporting period. Relatively slow vaccination rollouts in parts of Asia also prompted concerns, particularly as the Delta variant spread.
| 4 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization developed market companies excluding the U.S. and Canada that have a favorable environmental, social and governance rating while applying extensive screens for company involvement in controversial activities, as represented by the MSCI EAFE Choice ESG Screened 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 |
Since
Inception |
1 Year |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
27.47 | % | 30.81 | % | 27.47 | % | 38.44 | % | ||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
27.90 | 31.06 | 27.90 | 38.75 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
27.71 | 31.17 | 27.71 | 38.69 | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 6/16/20. The first day of secondary market trading was 6/18/20.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 11 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value
|
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,115.50 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.60 | $ | 0.61 | 0.12 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 11 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Investor interest in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes of companies continued to grow during the reporting period as the global economy recovered from the effects of the pandemic. For many investors, the threat to public health from the virus underscored the importance of a reporting system that accounts for the effects of company behavior on global social and environmental well-being. Countries around the world continued to advance measures to address climate issues, including Japan, which announced a large increase in its decarbonization goals. The E.U. made progress on implementing the European Green Deal, which targets continent-wide carbon neutrality by 2050.
In this environment, stocks with positive ESG characteristics and additional screens for controversial activities in developed markets outside of North America posted a significant return for the reporting period. Japanese stocks contributed the most to the Indexs performance, driven by the information technology sector. Makers of factory automation equipment gained, as strong demand and labor shortages accelerated automation trends.
Dutch stocks also advanced, buoyed by the information technology sector. Semiconductor equipment manufacturers posted significant revenue growth as a global semiconductor shortage prompted chipmakers to increase capacity.
U.K. stocks were another source of strength, led by the financials sector. The insurance industry bolstered profits by significantly increasing new business, particularly in Asia. French equities also advanced, as apparel, accessories, and luxury goods companies in the consumer discretionary sector benefited from a surge in pent-up consumer demand for luxury brands. Swiss stocks also contributed solidly to the Indexs return, as the healthcare sector gained.
In terms of relative performance, the Index outperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI EAFE Index. Relative to the broader market, the ESG index methodology removes companies with lower ESG characteristics. Consequently, the Index achieved an ESG quality score of 8.7 out of 10, which places it in the 95th percentile among its peers. The Index held an overweight position in the information technology sector, and an underweight position in consumer staples. Positioning in the healthcare sector contributed the most to the Indexs relative performance.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
Financials |
21.2% | |||
|
Industrials |
17.3 | |||
|
Information Technology |
14.9 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
11.1 | |||
|
Health Care |
10.2 | |||
|
Materials |
7.7 | |||
|
Communication Services |
6.7 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
5.7 | |||
|
Real Estate |
4.6 | |||
|
Utilities |
0.6 | |||
TEN LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION
| Country/Geographic Region |
Percent of
Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
Japan |
27.5% | |||
|
France |
10.5 | |||
|
United Kingdom |
9.8 | |||
|
Germany |
8.6 | |||
|
Netherlands |
8.2 | |||
|
Switzerland |
6.9 | |||
|
Australia |
5.4 | |||
|
Sweden |
4.7 | |||
|
Denmark |
4.0 | |||
|
Hong Kong |
3.7 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 6 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization emerging market companies that have a favorable environmental, social and governance rating while applying extensive screens for company involvement in controversial activities, as represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Choice ESG Screened 5% Issuer Capped Index (the Index). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index.
Performance
| Cumulative Total Returns | ||||||||
|
|
Since Inception |
|||||||
|
Fund NAV |
28.74 | % | ||||||
|
Fund Market |
29.24 | |||||||
|
Index |
29.72 | |||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 10/6/20. The first day of secondary market trading was 10/8/20.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 11 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,047.70 | $ | 0.88 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.30 | $ | 0.87 | 0.17 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 11 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Investor interest in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes of companies continued to grow during the reporting period as the global economy recovered from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. For many investors, the threat to public health from the coronavirus underscored the importance of a reporting system that accounts for the effects of company behavior on global social and environmental well-being. Many countries continued to advance measures to address climate issues, including Taiwan, which pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, partly to prepare its export-driven economy for expected carbon border taxes, such as those recently proposed by the European Commission. Indias 2021 stimulus package advanced green recovery goals, including spending billions on battery and solar development.
In this environment, emerging markets stocks with positive ESG characteristics advanced significantly for the reporting period. Taiwanese stocks contributed the most to the Indexs performance as surging global demand for semiconductors and electronics reinvigorated the local economy and drove robust earnings and guidance in the information technology (IT) sector. Indian software and services companies in the IT sector benefited as businesses increased technology spending on cloud services, cybersecurity measures, and automation processes. In China, stocks of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers led contribution in the consumer discretionary sector, advancing sharply amid surging EV demand. Communication services stocks drove gains in South Korea, buoyed by rapid revenue and profit growth across multiple platforms, from banking services to online advertising and digital content.
In terms of relative performance, the Index significantly outperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. Relative to the broader market, the ESG index methodology removed companies with lower ESG characteristics. Consequently, the Index achieved an ESG quality score of 7.7 out of 10, placing it in the 97th percentile among its peers. The Index held underweight positions in China and South Korea and overweight positions in Taiwan and South Africa. Stock selection and the underweight position in China contributed the majority of the Indexs relative performance, and an overweight and stock selection within Taiwan also proved beneficial to performance.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
Financials |
30.1% | |||
|
Information Technology |
22.6 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
15.1 | |||
|
Communication Services |
9.4 | |||
|
Health Care |
6.3 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
5.6 | |||
|
Materials |
4.6 | |||
|
Industrials |
4.2 | |||
|
Real Estate |
1.6 | |||
|
Utilities |
0.5 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
TEN LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION
| Country/Geographic Region |
Percent of
Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
China |
27.6% | |||
|
Taiwan |
19.3 | |||
|
India |
13.5 | |||
|
South Korea |
9.0 | |||
|
South Africa |
7.0 | |||
|
Brazil |
5.5 | |||
|
Thailand |
2.8 | |||
|
Indonesia |
2.2 | |||
|
Malaysia |
1.9 | |||
|
United Arab Emirates |
1.6 | |||
| 8 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 | iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF |
Investment Objective
The iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization U.S. companies that have a favorable environmental, social and governance rating while applying extensive screens for company involvement in controversial activities, as represented by the MSCI USA Choice ESG Screened 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 |
Since Inception |
1 Year |
Since
Inception |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Fund NAV |
32.53 | % | 40.80 | % | 32.53 | % | 51.34 | % | ||||||||||||
|
Fund Market |
32.37 | 40.86 | 32.37 | 51.42 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Index |
32.28 | 40.80 | 32.28 | 51.06 | ||||||||||||||||
GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT
(SINCE INCEPTION AT NET ASSET VALUE)
The inception date of the Fund was 6/16/20. The first day of secondary market trading was 6/18/20.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See About Fund Performance on page 11 for more information.
Expense Example
| Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Beginning
Account Value (03/01/21) |
|
|
Ending
Account Value (08/31/21) |
|
|
Expenses
Paid During the Period |
(a) |
|
Annualized
Expense Ratio |
|
||||||||||
| $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,194.70 | $ | 0.55 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.70 | $ | 0.51 | 0.10% | ||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Expenses are calculated using the Funds annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (184 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See Shareholder Expenses on page 11 for more information. |
|
F U N D S U M M A R Y |
9 |
| Fund Summary as of August 31, 2021 (continued) | iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF |
Portfolio Management Commentary
Investor interest in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes of companies continued to grow during the reporting period as the global economy recovered from the effects of the pandemic. For many investors, the threat to public health from the virus underscored the importance of a reporting system that accounts for the effects of company behavior on global social and environmental well-being. The stimulus bill passed in December 2020 included significant wind and solar power incentives. The new administration also began to review for possible reversal of a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that would curb investment in ESG products, and the DOL announced that it would suspend enforcement of the rule during the review.
In this environment, many of the stocks of U.S. companies with positive ESG characteristics and additional screens for controversial activities posted strong gains for the reporting period. The information technology sector contributed the most, led by the semiconductors and semiconductor equipment industry. A global microchip shortage and higher demand for advanced graphics cards amid an increase in gaming bolstered earnings in the industry. The software and services industry gained, supported by investments to support remote work. Companies in the industry worked toward implementing carbon-neutrality goals by using renewable energy sources for powering data centers, a key driver of electricity consumption.
U.S. financials stocks contributed meaningfully to the Indexs return, as robust retail stock trading benefited the diversified financials industry. The consumer discretionary sectors contribution was supported by a consumer-powered rebound in the retail industry, while industrials stocks gained due to an increase in demand for construction equipment.
In terms of relative performance, the Index outperformed the broader market, as represented by the MSCI USA Index. Relative to the broader market, the ESG index methodology removes companies with lower ESG characteristics. Consequently, the Index achieved an ESG quality score of 8.2, in the 99th percentile among its peers. The Index held an overweight position in the information technology sector and an underweight position in the communication services sector. Stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector was the largest contributor to the Indexs relative performance.
Portfolio Information
ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
| Sector |
Percent of
Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
Information Technology |
35.8% | |||
|
Health Care |
13.4 | |||
|
Financials |
12.1 | |||
|
Consumer Discretionary |
11.3 | |||
|
Industrials |
9.8 | |||
|
Consumer Staples |
5.7 | |||
|
Real Estate |
5.0 | |||
|
Materials |
4.2 | |||
|
Communication Services |
2.5 | |||
|
Utilities |
0.2 | |||
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
| Security |
Percent of
Total Investments(a) |
|||
|
NVIDIA Corp. |
3.5% | |||
|
Visa Inc., Class A |
2.5 | |||
|
Home Depot Inc. (The) |
2.2 | |||
|
PayPal Holdings Inc. |
2.0 | |||
|
Adobe Inc. |
2.0 | |||
|
Mastercard Inc., Class A |
1.9 | |||
|
salesforce.com Inc. |
1.6 | |||
|
Cisco Systems Inc. |
1.6 | |||
|
Coca-Cola Co. (The) |
1.5 | |||
|
Verizon Communications Inc. |
1.4 | |||
| (a) |
Excludes money market funds. |
| 10 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
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 Funds investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or NAV is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such funds NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the funds 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.
As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled Expenses Paid During the Period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Funds actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
A B O U T F U N D P E R F O R M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R E X P E N S E S |
11 |
|
August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
| Australia 5.4% | ||||||||
|
Afterpay Ltd.(a) |
5,461 | $ | 531,188 | |||||
|
ASX Ltd. |
5,395 | 345,291 | ||||||
|
Aurizon Holdings Ltd. |
52,155 | 143,490 | ||||||
|
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. |
77,105 | 1,560,620 | ||||||
|
BlueScope Steel Ltd. |
12,228 | 223,556 | ||||||
|
Brambles Ltd. |
36,760 | 324,932 | ||||||
|
Cochlear Ltd. |
1,654 | 280,943 | ||||||
|
Computershare Ltd. |
12,127 | 145,725 | ||||||
|
CSL Ltd. |
11,454 | 2,605,129 | ||||||
|
Dexus |
24,749 | 192,597 | ||||||
|
Evolution Mining Ltd. |
44,751 | 127,686 | ||||||
|
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. |
44,207 | 673,947 | ||||||
|
Goodman Group |
41,097 | 694,133 | ||||||
|
GPT Group (The) |
46,838 | 165,819 | ||||||
|
Insurance Australia Group Ltd. |
60,137 | 229,631 | ||||||
|
James Hardie Industries PLC |
11,026 | 424,985 | ||||||
|
Lendlease Corp. Ltd. |
16,590 | 144,152 | ||||||
|
Magellan Financial Group Ltd. |
5,750 | 181,336 | ||||||
|
Medibank Pvt Ltd. |
66,368 | 171,947 | ||||||
|
Mirvac Group |
92,408 | 210,449 | ||||||
|
Newcrest Mining Ltd. |
19,783 | 357,178 | ||||||
|
Northern Star Resources Ltd. |
35,700 | 253,968 | ||||||
|
Orica Ltd. |
9,424 | 90,165 | ||||||
|
QBE Insurance Group Ltd. |
36,616 | 315,091 | ||||||
|
Ramsay Health Care Ltd. |
4,451 | 223,497 | ||||||
|
REA Group Ltd. |
1,305 | 146,053 | ||||||
|
Reece Ltd. |
7,560 | 115,054 | ||||||
|
Scentre Group |
123,764 | 257,413 | ||||||
|
Seek Ltd. |
8,796 | 208,360 | ||||||
|
Sonic Healthcare Ltd. |
11,381 | 360,314 | ||||||
|
Stockland |
58,211 | 196,165 | ||||||
|
Suncorp Group Ltd. |
34,938 | 317,902 | ||||||
|
Sydney Airport(a) |
28,639 | 166,254 | ||||||
|
Transurban Group |
67,975 | 703,559 | ||||||
|
Vicinity Centres |
92,299 | 116,524 | ||||||
|
WiseTech Global Ltd. |
3,437 | 120,814 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 13,325,867 | ||||||||
| Austria 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Erste Group Bank AG |
6,934 | 276,869 | ||||||
|
Raiffeisen Bank International AG |
3,260 | 78,163 | ||||||
|
voestalpine AG |
2,742 | 124,473 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 479,505 | ||||||||
| Belgium 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Ageas SA/NV |
4,981 | 248,915 | ||||||
|
Elia Group SA/NV |
921 | 115,674 | ||||||
|
Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA |
2,531 | 289,967 | ||||||
|
KBC Group NV |
6,301 | 529,536 | ||||||
|
Proximus SADP |
3,150 | 61,760 | ||||||
|
Solvay SA |
1,865 | 244,111 | ||||||
|
Umicore SA |
5,079 | 334,208 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,824,171 | ||||||||
| China 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. |
35,000 | 70,923 | ||||||
|
SITC International Holdings Co. Ltd. |
35,000 | 152,556 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 223,479 | ||||||||
| Denmark 4.0% | ||||||||
|
AP Moller - Maersk A/S, Class A |
72 | 195,115 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Denmark (continued) | ||||||||
|
AP Moller - Maersk A/S, Class B, NVS |
145 | $ | 413,070 | |||||
|
Chr Hansen Holding A/S |
2,626 | 242,328 | ||||||
|
Demant A/S(a) |
2,626 | 148,955 | ||||||
|
DSV Panalpina A/S |
5,226 | 1,331,176 | ||||||
|
Genmab A/S(a) |
1,686 | 798,714 | ||||||
|
GN Store Nord A/S |
3,230 | 243,138 | ||||||
|
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B |
42,917 | 4,296,416 | ||||||
|
Novozymes A/S, Class B |
5,192 | 419,706 | ||||||
|
Pandora A/S |
2,558 | 306,612 | ||||||
|
Rockwool International A/S, Class B |
216 | 114,272 | ||||||
|
Tryg A/S |
8,765 | 217,024 | ||||||
|
Vestas Wind Systems A/S |
25,670 | 1,036,468 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,762,994 | ||||||||
| Finland 1.7% | ||||||||
|
Elisa OYJ |
3,470 | 222,395 | ||||||
|
Kesko OYJ, Class B |
7,037 | 291,188 | ||||||
|
Kone OYJ, Class B |
8,548 | 709,315 | ||||||
|
Nokia OYJ(a) |
137,411 | 825,446 | ||||||
|
Nordea Bank Abp |
80,721 | 948,072 | ||||||
|
Orion OYJ, Class B |
2,461 | 100,384 | ||||||
|
Sampo OYJ, Class A |
12,539 | 647,957 | ||||||
|
Stora Enso OYJ, Class R |
14,778 | 289,934 | ||||||
|
Wartsila OYJ Abp |
12,635 | 179,242 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,213,933 | ||||||||
| France 10.5% | ||||||||
|
Accor SA(a) |
4,516 | 155,732 | ||||||
|
Aeroports de Paris(a) |
1,296 | 152,623 | ||||||
|
Air Liquide SA |
11,830 | 2,120,437 | ||||||
|
Amundi SA(b) |
1,516 | 143,479 | ||||||
|
Arkema SA |
1,619 | 215,173 | ||||||
|
AXA SA |
56,564 | 1,589,080 | ||||||
|
BioMerieux |
1,052 | 128,844 | ||||||
|
BNP Paribas SA |
28,035 | 1,776,013 | ||||||
|
Bouygues SA |
5,680 | 237,843 | ||||||
|
Bureau Veritas SA |
7,108 | 236,236 | ||||||
|
Capgemini SE |
3,996 | 898,250 | ||||||
|
Carrefour SA |
14,981 | 298,243 | ||||||
|
Cie. Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA |
4,212 | 681,906 | ||||||
|
CNP Assurances |
7,188 | 123,166 | ||||||
|
Covivio |
1,336 | 127,330 | ||||||
|
Credit Agricole SA |
20,510 | 295,692 | ||||||
|
Danone SA |
16,284 | 1,189,152 | ||||||
|
Dassault Systemes SE |
16,346 | 933,618 | ||||||
|
Edenred |
6,453 | 366,011 | ||||||
|
Eiffage SA |
2,037 | 211,947 | ||||||
|
EssilorLuxottica SA |
7,081 | 1,391,346 | ||||||
|
Eurazeo SE |
1,086 | 111,719 | ||||||
|
Eurofins Scientific SE |
2,660 | 377,147 | ||||||
|
Gecina SA |
1,055 | 163,997 | ||||||
|
Getlink SE |
10,940 | 176,227 | ||||||
|
Hermes International |
787 | 1,158,313 | ||||||
|
Ipsen SA |
1,193 | 119,330 | ||||||
|
Klepierre SA |
5,018 | 123,021 | ||||||
|
Legrand SA |
6,757 | 775,260 | ||||||
|
LOreal SA |
6,265 | 2,939,157 | ||||||
|
Orpea SA |
1,338 | 168,667 | ||||||
|
Publicis Groupe SA |
5,355 | 351,556 | ||||||
|
Sartorius Stedim Biotech |
706 | 428,238 | ||||||
|
Schneider Electric SE |
13,394 | 2,393,059 | ||||||
| 12 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| France (continued) | ||||||||
|
SCOR SE |
3,859 | $ | 118,432 | |||||
|
SEB SA |
700 | 110,188 | ||||||
|
Societe Generale SA |
20,055 | 631,213 | ||||||
|
Sodexo SA(a) |
2,284 | 189,254 | ||||||
|
Suez SA |
8,581 | 199,094 | ||||||
|
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield(a) |
3,120 | 273,405 | ||||||
|
Valeo |
6,059 | 172,939 | ||||||
|
Vivendi SE |
17,500 | 666,602 | ||||||
|
Wendel SE |
705 | 102,307 | ||||||
|
Worldline SA(a)(b) |
7,602 | 676,905 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 25,698,151 | ||||||||
| Germany 8.2% | ||||||||
|
adidas AG |
5,331 | 1,891,171 | ||||||
|
Allianz SE, Registered |
10,545 | 2,475,563 | ||||||
|
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG |
8,793 | 834,620 | ||||||
|
Bechtle AG |
2,220 | 160,516 | ||||||
|
Beiersdorf AG |
2,505 | 304,017 | ||||||
|
Brenntag SE |
3,818 | 385,306 | ||||||
|
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Bearer |
1,050 | 232,005 | ||||||
|
Commerzbank AG(a) |
28,461 | 178,120 | ||||||
|
Covestro AG(b) |
4,940 | 320,149 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Boerse AG |
4,725 | 814,859 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Post AG, Registered |
24,648 | 1,732,978 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Telekom AG, Registered |
82,779 | 1,760,151 | ||||||
|
Deutsche Wohnen SE |
8,517 | 528,676 | ||||||
|
Evonik Industries AG |
5,636 | 190,294 | ||||||
|
GEA Group AG |
3,535 | 163,168 | ||||||
|
Hannover Rueck SE |
1,544 | 284,137 | ||||||
|
HeidelbergCement AG |
3,577 | 310,221 | ||||||
|
HelloFresh SE(a) |
4,244 | 458,216 | ||||||
|
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA |
2,634 | 237,073 | ||||||
|
Infineon Technologies AG |
35,271 | 1,501,760 | ||||||
|
KION Group AG |
1,645 | 176,026 | ||||||
|
Knorr-Bremse AG |
1,725 | 207,131 | ||||||
|
LANXESS AG |
2,330 | 169,840 | ||||||
|
LEG Immobilien SE |
1,725 | 275,151 | ||||||
|
Merck KGaA |
3,196 | 759,359 | ||||||
|
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG in Muenchen, Registered |
3,539 | 1,032,922 | ||||||
|
Nemetschek SE |
1,334 | 130,744 | ||||||
|
Puma SE |
2,641 | 320,656 | ||||||
|
Rational AG |
108 | 123,597 | ||||||
|
Scout24 AG(b) |
2,226 | 187,147 | ||||||
|
Symrise AG |
3,193 | 454,396 | ||||||
|
Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG |
23,981 | 67,318 | ||||||
|
Vonovia SE |
13,271 | 895,937 | ||||||
|
Zalando SE(a)(b) |
5,905 | 654,716 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20,217,940 | ||||||||
| Hong Kong 3.7% | ||||||||
|
AIA Group Ltd. |
301,000 | 3,594,158 | ||||||
|
BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. |
91,000 | 275,382 | ||||||
|
ESR Cayman Ltd.(a)(b) |
77,000 | 234,572 | ||||||
|
Hang Lung Properties Ltd. |
37,000 | 88,853 | ||||||
|
Hang Seng Bank Ltd. |
17,500 | 312,854 | ||||||
|
HKT Trust & HKT Ltd., Class SS |
105,000 | 143,177 | ||||||
|
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. |
27,900 | 1,762,556 | ||||||
|
Link REIT |
56,000 | 514,886 | ||||||
|
MTR Corp. Ltd. |
38,500 | 216,738 | ||||||
|
New World Development Co. Ltd. |
35,000 | 164,627 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Hong Kong (continued) | ||||||||
|
Sino Land Co. Ltd. |
86,000 | $ | 126,654 | |||||
|
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. |
36,000 | 507,743 | ||||||
|
Swire Properties Ltd. |
28,000 | 75,676 | ||||||
|
Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. |
36,000 | 796,760 | ||||||
|
Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. Ltd. |
37,000 | 183,231 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,997,867 | ||||||||
| Ireland 0.8% | ||||||||
|
CRH PLC |
19,431 | 1,029,375 | ||||||
|
Kerry Group PLC, Class A |
4,032 | 591,290 | ||||||
|
Smurfit Kappa Group PLC |
5,919 | 339,241 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,959,906 | ||||||||
| Israel 0.6% | ||||||||
|
Bank Hapoalim BM |
25,410 | 218,593 | ||||||
|
Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM |
38,259 | 316,066 | ||||||
|
CyberArk Software Ltd.(a) |
1,050 | 176,337 | ||||||
|
Israel Discount Bank Ltd., Class A(a) |
28,636 | 147,913 | ||||||
|
Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd. |
2,838 | 94,413 | ||||||
|
Nice Ltd.(a) |
1,996 | 579,633 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,532,955 | ||||||||
| Italy 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Amplifon SpA |
2,843 | 148,710 | ||||||
|
Assicurazioni Generali SpA |
27,837 | 567,904 | ||||||
|
CNH Industrial NV |
25,344 | 418,957 | ||||||
|
DiaSorin SpA |
705 | 160,845 | ||||||
|
Ferrari NV |
3,159 | 685,252 | ||||||
|
FinecoBank Banca Fineco SpA(a) |
11,753 | 216,514 | ||||||
|
Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA(b) |
7,916 | 94,180 | ||||||
|
Moncler SpA |
5,113 | 327,387 | ||||||
|
Nexi SpA(a)(b) |
11,449 | 238,648 | ||||||
|
Poste Italiane SpA(b) |
13,518 | 183,276 | ||||||
|
Prysmian SpA |
6,371 | 239,868 | ||||||
|
Recordati Industria Chimica e Farmaceutica SpA |
2,462 | 161,559 | ||||||
|
Telecom Italia SpA/Milano |
234,927 | 106,438 | ||||||
|
Terna - Rete Elettrica Nazionale |
42,464 | 335,893 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,885,431 | ||||||||
| Japan 27.4% | ||||||||
|
Advantest Corp. |
4,100 | 353,222 | ||||||
|
Aeon Co. Ltd. |
17,500 | 463,276 | ||||||
|
Ajinomoto Co. Inc. |
10,500 | 309,502 | ||||||
|
ANA Holdings Inc.(a) |
3,600 | 85,337 | ||||||
|
Asahi Kasei Corp. |
32,400 | 334,046 | ||||||
|
Astellas Pharma Inc. |
49,000 | 825,646 | ||||||
|
Azbil Corp. |
3,500 | 151,774 | ||||||
|
Bridgestone Corp. |
14,000 | 644,471 | ||||||
|
Brother Industries Ltd. |
7,000 | 143,651 | ||||||
|
Canon Inc. |
25,200 | 599,562 | ||||||
|
Capcom Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 194,944 | ||||||
|
Casio Computer Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 54,056 | ||||||
|
Central Japan Railway Co. |
3,500 | 512,294 | ||||||
|
Chiba Bank Ltd. (The) |
14,000 | 87,398 | ||||||
|
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
17,500 | 683,776 | ||||||
|
CyberAgent Inc. |
14,000 | 256,285 | ||||||
|
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 166,318 | ||||||
|
Daifuku Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 308,913 | ||||||
|
Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. |
25,300 | 500,618 | ||||||
|
Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. |
42,000 | 997,602 | ||||||
|
Daikin Industries Ltd. |
6,200 | 1,547,189 | ||||||
|
Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd. |
14,000 | 426,912 | ||||||
|
Daiwa Securities Group Inc. |
14,000 | 79,216 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
13 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Japan (continued) | ||||||||
|
Denso Corp. |
10,500 | $ | 734,926 | |||||
|
Eisai Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 577,288 | ||||||
|
Fanuc Corp. |
4,300 | 936,802 | ||||||
|
Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. |
1,300 | 856,281 | ||||||
|
FUJIFILM Holdings Corp. |
10,500 | 864,068 | ||||||
|
Fujitsu Ltd. |
4,400 | 809,982 | ||||||
|
Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc. |
7,000 | 110,377 | ||||||
|
Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc. |
7,000 | 209,472 | ||||||
|
Hino Motors Ltd. |
7,200 | 62,302 | ||||||
|
Hirose Electric Co. Ltd. |
300 | 49,948 | ||||||
|
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. |
2,800 | 112,205 | ||||||
|
Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 100,272 | ||||||
|
Hitachi Metals Ltd.(a) |
7,100 | 137,052 | ||||||
|
Hoshizaki Corp. |
800 | 75,102 | ||||||
|
Hoya Corp. |
9,000 | 1,453,357 | ||||||
|
Hulic Co. Ltd. |
7,200 | 84,457 | ||||||
|
Ibiden Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 188,322 | ||||||
|
Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp. |
3,500 | 108,139 | ||||||
|
Japan Exchange Group Inc. |
14,000 | 333,416 | ||||||
|
Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest |
177 | 171,959 | ||||||
|
Japan Real Estate Investment Corp. |
35 | 216,305 | ||||||
|
JFE Holdings Inc. |
14,000 | 227,078 | ||||||
|
JSR Corp. |
7,000 | 242,551 | ||||||
|
Kajima Corp. |
10,500 | 135,663 | ||||||
|
Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 90,651 | ||||||
|
Kao Corp. |
14,000 | 845,692 | ||||||
|
KDDI Corp. |
42,000 | 1,283,746 | ||||||
|
Keio Corp. |
3,500 | 188,334 | ||||||
|
Keisei Electric Railway Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 107,673 | ||||||
|
Keyence Corp. |
4,800 | 2,881,598 | ||||||
|
Kikkoman Corp. |
3,500 | 262,763 | ||||||
|
Kintetsu Group Holdings Co. Ltd.(a) |
3,500 | 119,547 | ||||||
|
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
4,000 | 313,093 | ||||||
|
Kobe Bussan Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 136,150 | ||||||
|
Komatsu Ltd. |
21,600 | 525,371 | ||||||
|
Kubota Corp. |
25,200 | 520,674 | ||||||
|
Kurita Water Industries Ltd. |
3,500 | 164,155 | ||||||
|
Kyocera Corp. |
10,500 | 652,754 | ||||||
|
Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 229,045 | ||||||
|
Lion Corp. |
7,000 | 119,111 | ||||||
|
Lixil Corp. |
7,000 | 203,712 | ||||||
|
Mazda Motor Corp.(a) |
14,000 | 121,531 | ||||||
|
Medipal Holdings Corp. |
3,600 | 68,818 | ||||||
|
Mercari Inc.(a) |
3,500 | 172,699 | ||||||
|
Minebea Mitsumi Inc. |
10,500 | 269,938 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. |
32,400 | 284,474 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. |
50,300 | 687,656 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd. |
28,900 | 452,469 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. |
7,000 | 131,899 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc. |
17,800 | 95,318 | ||||||
|
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. |
350,000 | 1,891,015 | ||||||
|
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. |
3,500 | 120,828 | ||||||
|
Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd. |
28,700 | 658,607 | ||||||
|
Miura Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 157,132 | ||||||
|
MonotaRO Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 154,806 | ||||||
|
MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. |
10,500 | 339,873 | ||||||
|
Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
14,000 | 1,154,129 | ||||||
|
Nabtesco Corp. |
3,500 | 138,409 | ||||||
|
NEC Corp. |
7,900 | 414,617 | ||||||
|
NGK Insulators Ltd. |
7,000 | 116,050 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Japan (continued) | ||||||||
|
Nidec Corp. |
10,500 | $ | 1,199,401 | |||||
|
Nintendo Co. Ltd. |
2,800 | 1,345,230 | ||||||
|
Nippon Building Fund Inc. |
35 | 227,288 | ||||||
|
Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Ltd. |
17,500 | 217,336 | ||||||
|
Nippon Prologis REIT Inc. |
70 | 251,724 | ||||||
|
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. |
35,900 | 956,476 | ||||||
|
Nippon Yusen KK |
3,500 | 281,452 | ||||||
|
Nissin Foods Holdings Co. Ltd. |
600 | 46,709 | ||||||
|
Nitori Holdings Co. Ltd. |
1,800 | 336,789 | ||||||
|
Nitto Denko Corp. |
3,500 | 265,513 | ||||||
|
Nomura Holdings Inc. |
84,000 | 405,656 | ||||||
|
Nomura Real Estate Holdings Inc. |
3,600 | 92,193 | ||||||
|
Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc. |
105 | 161,878 | ||||||
|
Nomura Research Institute Ltd. |
10,500 | 393,754 | ||||||
|
NSK Ltd. |
14,000 | 98,223 | ||||||
|
NTT Data Corp. |
14,500 | 260,957 | ||||||
|
Obayashi Corp. |
18,000 | 148,111 | ||||||
|
Odakyu Electric Railway Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 163,098 | ||||||
|
Oji Holdings Corp. |
21,600 | 113,072 | ||||||
|
Omron Corp. |
3,500 | 329,791 | ||||||
|
Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
10,500 | 252,109 | ||||||
|
Oriental Land Co. Ltd. |
4,600 | 695,961 | ||||||
|
Orix JREIT Inc. |
70 | 124,775 | ||||||
|
Otsuka Corp. |
3,500 | 181,184 | ||||||
|
Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd. |
10,500 | 446,823 | ||||||
|
Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp. |
14,000 | 266,327 | ||||||
|
Panasonic Corp. |
56,200 | 671,875 | ||||||
|
Persol Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,600 | 84,044 | ||||||
|
Rakuten Group Inc. |
32,100 | 335,773 | ||||||
|
Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd. |
35,000 | 2,060,875 | ||||||
|
Resona Holdings Inc. |
52,700 | 203,798 | ||||||
|
Ricoh Co. Ltd. |
17,500 | 178,158 | ||||||
|
Rohm Co. Ltd. |
4,500 | 432,616 | ||||||
|
Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
10,500 | 157,002 | ||||||
|
Secom Co. Ltd. |
4,100 | 310,914 | ||||||
|
Seiko Epson Corp. |
7,000 | 130,373 | ||||||
|
Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. |
10,500 | 179,699 | ||||||
|
Sekisui House Ltd. |
14,500 | 288,886 | ||||||
|
SG Holdings Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 190,033 | ||||||
|
Sharp Corp. |
7,000 | 92,337 | ||||||
|
Shimadzu Corp. |
7,000 | 313,650 | ||||||
|
Shimizu Corp. |
14,000 | 100,464 | ||||||
|
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. |
8,100 | 1,337,859 | ||||||
|
Shionogi & Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 439,815 | ||||||
|
Shiseido Co. Ltd. |
10,500 | 695,931 | ||||||
|
Shizuoka Bank Ltd. (The) |
10,800 | 84,604 | ||||||
|
Softbank Corp. |
74,200 | 993,006 | ||||||
|
SoftBank Group Corp. |
1,600 | 90,166 | ||||||
|
Sohgo Security Services Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 158,555 | ||||||
|
Sompo Holdings Inc. |
7,000 | 307,704 | ||||||
|
Sony Group Corp. |
31,500 | 3,256,954 | ||||||
|
Square Enix Holdings Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 203,475 | ||||||
|
Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 174,687 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. |
38,500 | 195,180 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd. |
7,100 | 127,446 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 268,247 | ||||||
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. |
32,500 | 1,121,760 | ||||||
|
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. |
3,500 | 140,292 | ||||||
|
Sysmex Corp. |
3,500 | 397,762 | ||||||
|
T&D Holdings Inc. |
14,000 | 170,388 | ||||||
| 14 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Japan (continued) | ||||||||
|
Taisei Corp. |
7,000 | $ | 218,999 | |||||
|
TDK Corp. |
3,500 | 366,840 | ||||||
|
Terumo Corp. |
17,500 | 730,288 | ||||||
|
TIS Inc. |
7,000 | 197,607 | ||||||
|
Tobu Railway Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 91,250 | ||||||
|
Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. |
17,500 | 856,263 | ||||||
|
Tokyo Electron Ltd. |
3,500 | 1,499,202 | ||||||
|
Tokyu Corp. |
14,000 | 192,510 | ||||||
|
Toppan Inc. |
7,000 | 120,169 | ||||||
|
Toray Industries Inc. |
35,000 | 235,995 | ||||||
|
Tosoh Corp. |
7,000 | 127,053 | ||||||
|
TOTO Ltd. |
3,500 | 190,485 | ||||||
|
Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd. |
3,500 | 145,049 | ||||||
|
Unicharm Corp. |
10,500 | 468,120 | ||||||
|
United Urban Investment Corp. |
70 | 98,878 | ||||||
|
USS Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 115,649 | ||||||
|
West Japan Railway Co. |
3,500 | 191,158 | ||||||
|
Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd. |
3,500 | 201,817 | ||||||
|
Yamada Holdings Co. Ltd. |
18,000 | 77,222 | ||||||
|
Yamaha Corp. |
3,500 | 206,472 | ||||||
|
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. |
7,000 | 178,092 | ||||||
|
Yaskawa Electric Corp. |
7,000 | 341,664 | ||||||
|
Yokogawa Electric Corp. |
7,000 | 109,502 | ||||||
|
Z Holdings Corp. |
70,500 | 458,407 | ||||||
|
ZOZO Inc. |
3,500 | 133,476 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 67,305,994 | ||||||||
| Netherlands 8.2% | ||||||||
|
ABN AMRO Bank NV, CVA(a)(b) |
11,796 | 164,339 | ||||||
|
Adyen NV(a)(b) |
560 | 1,808,107 | ||||||
|
Akzo Nobel NV |
4,727 | 582,552 | ||||||
|
Argenx SE(a) |
1,230 | 410,381 | ||||||
|
ASM International NV |
1,210 | 469,471 | ||||||
|
ASML Holding NV |
10,431 | 8,699,322 | ||||||
|
EXOR NV |
2,670 | 222,767 | ||||||
|
ING Groep NV |
97,583 | 1,346,096 | ||||||
|
InPost SA(a) |
5,880 | 114,556 | ||||||
|
JDE Peets NV |
3,115 | 107,031 | ||||||
|
Just Eat Takeaway.com NV(a)(b) |
4,469 | 404,920 | ||||||
|
Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV |
26,000 | 877,174 | ||||||
|
Koninklijke DSM NV |
4,270 | 909,071 | ||||||
|
NN Group NV |
7,009 | 363,576 | ||||||
|
Prosus NV |
26,485 | 2,344,333 | ||||||
|
QIAGEN NV(a) |
5,718 | 316,444 | ||||||
|
Randstad NV |
2,769 | 203,926 | ||||||
|
Wolters Kluwer NV |
6,652 | 764,985 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 20,109,051 | ||||||||
| New Zealand 0.6% | ||||||||
|
a2 Milk Co. Ltd. (The)(a)(c) |
26,740 | 113,835 | ||||||
|
Auckland International Airport Ltd.(a) |
33,291 | 169,136 | ||||||
|
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. |
14,464 | 337,560 | ||||||
|
Mercury NZ Ltd. |
21,180 | 99,297 | ||||||
|
Meridian Energy Ltd. |
31,582 | 116,645 | ||||||
|
Ryman Healthcare Ltd. |
11,200 | 122,310 | ||||||
|
Spark New Zealand Ltd. |
46,977 | 161,306 | ||||||
|
Xero Ltd.(a) |
3,363 | 371,959 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,492,048 | ||||||||
| Norway 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Adevinta ASA(a) |
10,160 | 204,473 | ||||||
|
DNB Bank ASA, New |
22,927 | 483,914 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Norway (continued) | ||||||||
|
Gjensidige Forsikring ASA |
5,085 | $ | 118,869 | |||||
|
Mowi ASA |
10,714 | 286,978 | ||||||
|
Orkla ASA |
17,975 | 160,560 | ||||||
|
Schibsted ASA, Class A |
2,101 | 112,091 | ||||||
|
Schibsted ASA, Class B |
2,209 | 102,799 | ||||||
|
Telenor ASA |
17,370 | 304,304 | ||||||
|
Yara International ASA |
5,007 | 251,466 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,025,454 | ||||||||
| Portugal 0.1% | ||||||||
|
EDP Renovaveis SA |
3,177 | 84,478 | ||||||
|
Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA |
6,724 | 142,512 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 226,990 | ||||||||
| Singapore 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Ascendas REIT |
91,199 | 205,837 | ||||||
|
CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust |
116,744 | 178,307 | ||||||
|
CapitaLand Ltd. |
63,600 | 188,700 | ||||||
|
City Developments Ltd. |
10,900 | 55,312 | ||||||
|
DBS Group Holdings Ltd. |
43,300 | 960,094 | ||||||
|
Mapletree Commercial Trust |
56,200 | 84,664 | ||||||
|
Mapletree Logistics Trust |
78,059 | 117,422 | ||||||
|
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd. |
85,100 | 720,151 | ||||||
|
Singapore Airlines Ltd.(a) |
35,800 | 134,208 | ||||||
|
Singapore Exchange Ltd. |
1,400 | 10,276 | ||||||
|
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. |
217,700 | 374,781 | ||||||
|
United Overseas Bank Ltd. |
32,400 | 613,373 | ||||||
|
UOL Group Ltd. |
14,400 | 74,733 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,717,858 | ||||||||
| Spain 1.8% | ||||||||
|
Aena SME SA(a)(b) |
1,943 | 310,635 | ||||||
|
Amadeus IT Group SA(a) |
12,054 | 736,233 | ||||||
|
CaixaBank SA |
118,887 | 369,316 | ||||||
|
Cellnex Telecom SA(b) |
13,242 | 906,392 | ||||||
|
Ferrovial SA |
12,707 | 367,988 | ||||||
|
Grifols SA |
8,121 | 198,530 | ||||||
|
Industria de Diseno Textil SA |
28,194 | 963,146 | ||||||
|
Red Electrica Corp. SA |
111 | 2,214 | ||||||
|
Telefonica SA |
133,670 | 661,412 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,515,866 | ||||||||
| Sweden 4.7% | ||||||||
|
Assa Abloy AB, Class B |
24,717 | 790,961 | ||||||
|
Atlas Copco AB, Class A |
16,453 | 1,131,099 | ||||||
|
Atlas Copco AB, Class B |
13,195 | 764,136 | ||||||
|
Electrolux AB, Series B |
5,535 | 140,652 | ||||||
|
EQT AB |
5,945 | 303,427 | ||||||
|
Essity AB, Class B |
15,156 | 486,473 | ||||||
|
Fastighets AB Balder, Class B(a) |
2,594 | 185,648 | ||||||
|
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B(a) |
21,009 | 421,874 | ||||||
|
Hexagon AB, Class B |
50,385 | 873,710 | ||||||
|
Husqvarna AB, Class B |
10,719 | 143,993 | ||||||
|
ICA Gruppen AB |
2,243 | 111,585 | ||||||
|
Industrivarden AB, Class A |
1,971 | 72,567 | ||||||
|
Industrivarden AB, Class C |
4,586 | 159,923 | ||||||
|
Investment AB Latour, Class B |
3,675 | 128,045 | ||||||
|
Investor AB, Class B |
45,994 | 1,100,114 | ||||||
|
Kinnevik AB, Class B(a) |
5,954 | 233,284 | ||||||
|
L E Lundbergforetagen AB, Class B |
1,762 | 112,579 | ||||||
|
Nibe Industrier AB, Class B |
36,120 | 503,450 | ||||||
|
Sandvik AB |
27,659 | 705,833 | ||||||
|
Sinch AB(a)(b) |
12,780 | 287,313 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
15 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Sweden (continued) | ||||||||
|
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Class A |
40,223 | $ | 539,469 | |||||
|
SKF AB, Class B |
9,985 | 255,012 | ||||||
|
Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B |
14,708 | 259,941 | ||||||
|
Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A |
37,671 | 423,298 | ||||||
|
Tele2 AB, Class B |
12,917 | 193,925 | ||||||
|
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B |
75,845 | 898,392 | ||||||
|
Telia Co. AB |
66,330 | 285,177 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,511,880 | ||||||||
| Switzerland 6.8% | ||||||||
|
ABB Ltd., Registered |
47,741 | 1,766,161 | ||||||
|
Adecco Group AG, Registered |
4,375 | 243,370 | ||||||
|
Alcon Inc. |
12,504 | 1,029,816 | ||||||
|
Baloise Holding AG, Registered |
1,018 | 162,333 | ||||||
|
Banque Cantonale Vaudoise, Registered |
849 | 71,991 | ||||||
|
Clariant AG, Registered |
5,254 | 110,570 | ||||||
|
Coca-Cola HBC AG, Class DI |
4,875 | 176,450 | ||||||
|
Geberit AG, Registered |
923 | 770,802 | ||||||
|
Givaudan SA, Registered |
226 | 1,133,837 | ||||||
|
Julius Baer Group Ltd. |
5,987 | 408,634 | ||||||
|
Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Registered |
1,376 | 502,884 | ||||||
|
Logitech International SA, Registered |
4,661 | 477,239 | ||||||
|
Lonza Group AG, Registered |
1,902 | 1,608,571 | ||||||
|
Partners Group Holding AG |
566 | 1,003,520 | ||||||
|
SGS SA, Registered |
147 | 461,997 | ||||||
|
Sika AG, Registered |
3,611 | 1,301,066 | ||||||
|
Sonova Holding AG, Registered |
1,412 | 544,140 | ||||||
|
STMicroelectronics NV |
16,981 | 756,448 | ||||||
|
Straumann Holding AG, Registered |
253 | 488,857 | ||||||
|
Swiss Life Holding AG, Registered |
778 | 405,516 | ||||||
|
Swiss Prime Site AG, Registered |
1,716 | 183,622 | ||||||
|
Swiss Re AG |
7,538 | 693,059 | ||||||
|
Swisscom AG, Registered |
600 | 352,162 | ||||||
|
Temenos AG, Registered |
1,653 | 262,267 | ||||||
|
Vifor Pharma AG |
1,159 | 165,025 | ||||||
|
Zurich Insurance Group AG |
4,002 | 1,756,043 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,836,380 | ||||||||
| United Kingdom 9.8% | ||||||||
|
3i Group PLC |
25,845 | 475,318 | ||||||
|
Abrdn PLC |
63,434 | 231,769 | ||||||
|
Admiral Group PLC |
4,690 | 233,028 | ||||||
|
Antofagasta PLC |
10,014 | 200,599 | ||||||
|
Ashtead Group PLC |
11,279 | 881,712 | ||||||
|
Auto Trader Group PLC(b) |
24,467 | 211,581 | ||||||
|
AVEVA Group PLC |
2,915 | 165,867 | ||||||
|
Aviva PLC |
98,105 | 545,279 | ||||||
|
Barratt Developments PLC |
25,143 | 255,745 | ||||||
|
Berkeley Group Holdings PLC |
3,017 | 200,403 | ||||||
|
British Land Co. PLC (The) |
21,316 | 155,730 | ||||||
|
BT Group PLC(a) |
245,637 | 574,202 | ||||||
|
Bunzl PLC |
8,161 | 295,700 | ||||||
|
Burberry Group PLC |
10,429 | 267,042 | ||||||
|
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC |
5,049 | 291,529 | ||||||
|
Compass Group PLC(a) |
44,564 | 920,690 | ||||||
|
Croda International PLC |
3,535 | 444,991 | ||||||
|
Direct Line Insurance Group PLC |
33,742 | 143,346 | ||||||
|
Ferguson PLC |
5,645 | 815,918 | ||||||
|
Halma PLC |
9,439 | 389,791 | ||||||
|
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC |
4,169 | 145,518 | ||||||
|
HSBC Holdings PLC |
488,610 | 2,594,358 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| United Kingdom (continued) | ||||||||
|
Informa PLC(a) |
36,614 | $ | 267,577 | |||||
|
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC(a) |
5,856 | 374,164 | ||||||
|
Intertek Group PLC |
4,033 | 292,420 | ||||||
|
J Sainsbury PLC |
40,181 | 167,941 | ||||||
|
JD Sports Fashion PLC |
12,891 | 179,008 | ||||||
|
Kingfisher PLC |
51,700 | 248,937 | ||||||
|
Land Securities Group PLC |
16,634 | 162,459 | ||||||
|
Legal & General Group PLC |
147,993 | 549,739 | ||||||
|
Lloyds Banking Group PLC |
1,749,756 | 1,047,498 | ||||||
|
London Stock Exchange Group PLC |
8,282 | 907,242 | ||||||
|
M&G PLC |
82,321 | 233,187 | ||||||
|
Mondi PLC |
11,727 | 323,488 | ||||||
|
Next PLC |
3,335 | 362,684 | ||||||
|
Ocado Group PLC(a) |
12,365 | 342,699 | ||||||
|
Pearson PLC |
18,487 | 194,956 | ||||||
|
Persimmon PLC |
7,882 | 318,996 | ||||||
|
Phoenix Group Holdings PLC |
13,197 | 113,077 | ||||||
|
Prudential PLC |
64,886 | 1,351,875 | ||||||
|
RELX PLC |
48,060 | 1,442,337 | ||||||
|
Rentokil Initial PLC |
45,718 | 365,219 | ||||||
|
Sage Group PLC (The) |
26,601 | 271,663 | ||||||
|
Schroders PLC |
3,102 | 161,274 | ||||||
|
Segro PLC |
30,144 | 532,767 | ||||||
|
Severn Trent PLC |
5,961 | 226,481 | ||||||
|
Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC |
1,820 | 403,595 | ||||||
|
St. Jamess Place PLC |
14,741 | 326,436 | ||||||
|
Taylor Wimpey PLC |
89,880 | 226,254 | ||||||
|
United Utilities Group PLC |
17,752 | 258,158 | ||||||
|
Vodafone Group PLC |
676,340 | 1,135,961 | ||||||
|
Whitbread PLC(a) |
5,715 | 252,371 | ||||||
|
Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC |
56,536 | 224,875 | ||||||
|
WPP PLC |
29,053 | 393,925 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 24,099,379 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.2%
|
243,963,099 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
||||||||
| Germany 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Preference Shares, NVS |
1,050 | 87,904 | ||||||
|
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Preference Shares, NVS |
4,411 | 430,968 | ||||||
|
Sartorius AG, Preference Shares, NVS |
677 | 446,016 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 964,888 | ||||||||
| Italy 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Telecom Italia SpA/Milano, Preference Shares, NVS |
344,900 | 166,632 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Preferred Stocks 0.5%
|
1,131,520 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Short-Term Investments | ||||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.0% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
|
27,539 | 27,552 | ||||||
| 16 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Money Market Funds (continued) | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
|
20,000 | $ | 20,000 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 47,552 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.0%
|
47,552 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 99.7%
|
245,142,171 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.3% |
703,513 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 245,845,684 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (d) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (e) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (f) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares |
$ | | $ | 27,626 | (a) | $ | | $ | (74 | ) | $ | | $ | 27,552 | 27,539 | $ | 778 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
| 20,000 | (a) | | | | 20,000 | 20,000 | 4 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (74 | ) | $ | | $ | 47,552 | $ | 782 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
| Description |
Number of Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
TOPIX Index |
15 | 09/09/21 | $ | 268 | $ | 2,600 | ||||||||||
|
Euro STOXX 50 Index |
9 | 09/17/21 | 444 | (862 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,738 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 2,600 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
17 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF
|
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure (continued)
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 862 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 22,231 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 1,065 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 425,615 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 3,545,241 | $ | 240,417,858 | $ | | $ | 243,963,099 | ||||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
| 1,131,520 | | 1,131,520 | ||||||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
47,552 | | | 47,552 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 3,592,793 | $ | 241,549,378 | $ | | $ | 245,142,171 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | | $ | 2,600 | $ | | $ | 2,600 | ||||||||
|
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
| (862 | ) | | (862 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | | $ | 1,738 | $ | | $ | 1,738 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 18 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
||||||||
| Argentina 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Globant SA(a) |
168 | $ | 54,143 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Brazil 3.5% |
||||||||
|
Atacadao SA |
2,196 | 7,708 | ||||||
|
B3 SA - Brasil, Bolsa, Balcao |
27,363 | 74,456 | ||||||
|
Banco Bradesco SA |
6,270 | 24,179 | ||||||
|
Banco do Brasil SA |
3,882 | 22,845 | ||||||
|
Banco Santander Brasil SA |
2,100 | 17,033 | ||||||
|
CCR SA |
5,709 | 13,525 | ||||||
|
Energisa SA |
669 | 5,741 | ||||||
|
Klabin SA(a) |
3,030 | 15,417 | ||||||
|
Localiza Rent a Car SA |
2,700 | 28,959 | ||||||
|
Lojas Renner SA |
3,918 | 28,839 | ||||||
|
Natura & Co. Holding SA(a) |
4,500 | 44,923 | ||||||
|
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA |
2,178 | 33,672 | ||||||
|
Rede DOr Sao Luiz SA(b) |
1,641 | 21,841 | ||||||
|
Rumo SA(a) |
5,649 | 20,451 | ||||||
|
Telefonica Brasil SA |
2,100 | 17,760 | ||||||
|
TIM SA |
3,294 | 7,937 | ||||||
|
TOTVS SA |
3,000 | 22,975 | ||||||
|
Via S/A(a) |
5,940 | 11,936 | ||||||
|
WEG SA |
7,137 | 49,082 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 469,279 | ||||||||
| Chile 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Banco de Credito e Inversiones SA |
207 | 8,967 | ||||||
|
Banco Santander Chile |
276,255 | 14,597 | ||||||
|
Cencosud Shopping SA |
3,789 | 5,386 | ||||||
|
Falabella SA |
3,549 | 14,057 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 43,007 | ||||||||
| China 27.7% | ||||||||
|
360 Security Technology Inc., Class A(a) |
2,700 | 4,978 | ||||||
|
3SBio Inc.(a)(b) |
6,000 | 6,689 | ||||||
|
AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. |
3,000 | 16,631 | ||||||
|
Agora Inc., ADR(a) |
213 | 7,225 | ||||||
|
Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., Class A |
13,200 | 6,053 | ||||||
|
Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., Class H |
126,000 | 42,240 | ||||||
|
Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd.(a) |
18,000 | 29,710 | ||||||
|
A-Living Smart City Services Co. Ltd.(b) |
2,250 | 8,942 | ||||||
|
Bank of Communications Co. Ltd., Class A |
8,400 | 5,752 | ||||||
|
Bank of Communications Co. Ltd., Class H |
39,000 | 22,398 | ||||||
|
Bank of Hangzhou Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,100 | 4,353 | ||||||
|
Bank of Shanghai Co. Ltd., Class A |
4,200 | 4,692 | ||||||
|
Baozun Inc., ADR(a) |
282 | 6,791 | ||||||
|
BBMG Corp., Class A |
4,200 | 1,764 | ||||||
|
BeiGene Ltd., ADR(a) |
198 | 61,043 | ||||||
|
Beijing Enterprises Water Group Ltd. |
18,000 | 7,424 | ||||||
|
Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
320 | 847 | ||||||
|
BYD Co. Ltd., Class A |
600 | 25,834 | ||||||
|
BYD Co. Ltd., Class H |
3,000 | 100,857 | ||||||
|
CanSino Biologics Inc., Class H(a)(b) |
600 | 23,715 | ||||||
|
China Bohai Bank Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
13,500 | 5,485 | ||||||
|
China CITIC Bank Corp. Ltd., Class H |
36,000 | 16,550 | ||||||
|
China Conch Venture Holdings Ltd. |
7,500 | 30,666 | ||||||
|
China Construction Bank Corp., Class A |
1,200 | 1,087 | ||||||
|
China Construction Bank Corp., Class H |
420,000 | 302,634 | ||||||
|
China Education Group Holdings Ltd. |
3,000 | 5,663 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
11,700 | 6,070 | ||||||
|
China Everbright Bank Co. Ltd., Class H |
15,000 | 5,376 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| China (continued) | ||||||||
|
China Everbright Environment Group Ltd. |
24,000 | $ | 16,593 | |||||
|
China Feihe Ltd.(b) |
15,000 | 27,105 | ||||||
|
China Galaxy Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
600 | 957 | ||||||
|
China Galaxy Securities Co. Ltd., Class H |
16,500 | 9,262 | ||||||
|
China International Capital Corp. Ltd., Class H(b) |
7,200 | 16,742 | ||||||
|
China Jushi Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,371 | 3,727 | ||||||
|
China Lesso Group Holdings Ltd. |
6,000 | 12,842 | ||||||
|
China Medical System Holdings Ltd. |
6,000 | 11,777 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
5,700 | 43,241 | ||||||
|
China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., Class H |
16,500 | 136,085 | ||||||
|
China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd., Class A |
6,900 | 4,245 | ||||||
|
China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd., Class H |
33,000 | 13,790 | ||||||
|
China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., Class A |
6,600 | 7,990 | ||||||
|
China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., Class H |
18,000 | 14,043 | ||||||
|
China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services Ltd.(b) |
2,400 | 12,606 | ||||||
|
China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A |
300 | 1,299 | ||||||
|
China Vanke Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,000 | 9,200 | ||||||
|
China Vanke Co. Ltd., Class H |
7,200 | 19,427 | ||||||
|
China Zheshang Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,600 | 1,980 | ||||||
|
CIFI Ever Sunshine Services Group Ltd. |
6,000 | 12,390 | ||||||
|
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
600 | 46,097 | ||||||
|
Country Garden Services Holdings Co. Ltd. |
6,000 | 45,784 | ||||||
|
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. |
36,000 | 45,670 | ||||||
|
Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
12,000 | 13,146 | ||||||
|
Eve Energy Co. Ltd., Class A |
900 | 14,261 | ||||||
|
Everbright Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,244 | 3,062 | ||||||
|
Founder Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,700 | 3,569 | ||||||
|
Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. |
27,000 | 97,854 | ||||||
|
Genscript Biotech Corp.(a) |
6,000 | 28,525 | ||||||
|
Greentown Service Group Co. Ltd. |
6,000 | 6,419 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
12,000 | 12,082 | ||||||
|
Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A |
224 | 1,022 | ||||||
|
Haitong Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,400 | 4,726 | ||||||
|
Haitong Securities Co. Ltd., Class H |
12,000 | 11,087 | ||||||
|
Hangzhou Robam Appliances Co. Ltd., Class A |
300 | 1,659 | ||||||
|
Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
600 | 10,646 | ||||||
|
Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd.(b) |
6,000 | 16,359 | ||||||
|
HengTen Networks Group Ltd.(a) |
12,000 | 5,894 | ||||||
|
Huatai Securities Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
10,200 | 14,631 | ||||||
|
Huaxia Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,300 | 2,863 | ||||||
|
Hundsun Technologies Inc., Class A |
360 | 2,767 | ||||||
|
I-Mab, ADR(a) |
123 | 8,723 | ||||||
|
Industrial Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
5,700 | 16,327 | ||||||
|
Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,500 | 7,915 | ||||||
|
Jinxin Fertility Group Ltd.(b) |
6,000 | 9,535 | ||||||
|
Kingboard Laminates Holdings Ltd. |
4,500 | 8,849 | ||||||
|
Kingdee International Software Group Co. Ltd.(a) |
12,000 | 43,696 | ||||||
|
Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Ltd., ADR(a) |
234 | 7,532 | ||||||
|
Kingsoft Corp. Ltd. |
4,200 | 16,848 | ||||||
|
Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Ltd. |
6,000 | 5,266 | ||||||
|
Lenovo Group Ltd. |
30,000 | 33,091 | ||||||
|
Li Auto Inc., ADR(a) |
2,544 | 78,508 | ||||||
|
Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Class A |
300 | 1,833 | ||||||
|
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,200 | 16,633 | ||||||
|
Meituan, Class B(a)(b) |
17,700 | 565,950 | ||||||
|
Microport Scientific Corp. |
2,700 | 16,748 | ||||||
|
Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Ltd., Class A |
600 | 2,090 | ||||||
|
Ming Yuan Cloud Group Holdings Ltd. |
3,000 | 10,415 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
19 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| China (continued) | ||||||||
|
NetEase Inc., ADR |
1,761 | $ | 171,557 | |||||
|
NIO Inc., ADR(a) |
5,934 | 233,266 | ||||||
|
OneConnect Financial Technology Co. Ltd.(a) |
537 | 2,524 | ||||||
|
Orient Securities Co. Ltd., Class A |
2,800 | 6,490 | ||||||
|
Ovctek China Inc., Class A |
420 | 4,356 | ||||||
|
Pharmaron Beijing Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
900 | 19,968 | ||||||
|
Postal Savings Bank of China Co. Ltd., Class A |
4,500 | 3,580 | ||||||
|
Postal Savings Bank of China Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
33,000 | 23,774 | ||||||
|
Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co. Ltd., Class H |
12,000 | 19,745 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Electric Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
3,300 | 2,500 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
900 | 8,824 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Class H |
3,000 | 19,245 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd., Class H |
4,200 | 8,332 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co. Ltd., Class A |
7,800 | 10,938 | ||||||
|
Shengyi Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
600 | 2,185 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Inovance Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
450 | 4,957 | ||||||
|
Shenzhen Investment Ltd. |
12,000 | 3,562 | ||||||
|
Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd. |
3,600 | 78,034 | ||||||
|
Shimao Services Holdings Ltd.(b) |
3,000 | 6,997 | ||||||
|
Sinotrans Ltd., Class A |
3,600 | 2,770 | ||||||
|
Sunac Services Holdings Ltd.(a)(b) |
3,000 | 7,811 | ||||||
|
Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd., Class A |
600 | 14,614 | ||||||
|
Suning.com Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
3,900 | 3,191 | ||||||
|
Sunny Optical Technology Group Co. Ltd. |
3,000 | 90,785 | ||||||
|
TCL Technology Group Corp., Class A |
3,900 | 4,307 | ||||||
|
Tianfeng Securities Co. Ltd., Class A(a) |
1,800 | 1,208 | ||||||
|
Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Ltd.(a) |
4,800 | 11,190 | ||||||
|
Transfar Zhilian Co. Ltd., Class A |
900 | 1,210 | ||||||
|
TravelSky Technology Ltd., Class H |
3,000 | 5,624 | ||||||
|
Unisplendour Corp. Ltd., Class A |
900 | 3,313 | ||||||
|
Vinda International Holdings Ltd. |
3,000 | 8,842 | ||||||
|
Vipshop Holdings Ltd., ADR(a) |
2,025 | 29,950 | ||||||
|
Wuchan Zhongda Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
1,800 | 1,696 | ||||||
|
Wuhu Sanqi Interactive Entertainment Network Technology Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
900 | 2,377 | ||||||
|
WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd., Class A |
960 | 19,781 | ||||||
|
WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd., Class H(b) |
1,240 | 24,729 | ||||||
|
Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc., New(a)(b) |
15,000 | 232,229 | ||||||
|
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Class H |
3,600 | 6,902 | ||||||
|
Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd. |
24,000 | 58,084 | ||||||
|
XPeng Inc., ADR(a) |
1,668 | 70,890 | ||||||
|
Yadea Group Holdings Ltd.(b) |
6,000 | 10,676 | ||||||
|
Yonyou Network Technology Co. Ltd., Class A |
600 | 3,114 | ||||||
|
Yum China Holdings Inc. |
1,839 | 113,209 | ||||||
|
Yunnan Baiyao Group Co. Ltd., Class A |
400 | 5,497 | ||||||
|
Yutong Bus Co. Ltd., Class A |
600 | 1,143 | ||||||
|
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Class H |
7,800 | 7,431 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,748,259 | ||||||||
|
Colombia 0.2% |
||||||||
|
Bancolombia SA |
1,125 | 9,274 | ||||||
|
Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana SA |
1,362 | 6,938 | ||||||
|
Interconexion Electrica SA ESP |
1,959 | 11,798 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 28,010 | ||||||||
| Cyprus 0.3% | ||||||||
|
TCS Group Holding PLC, GDR |
500 | 44,377 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Czech Republic 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Komercni Banka AS(a) |
414 | 15,919 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Czech Republic (continued) | ||||||||
|
Moneta Money Bank AS(a)(b) |
1,737 | $ | 7,052 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 22,971 | ||||||||
| Egypt 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE(a) |
7,179 | 21,390 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Greece 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Alpha Services and Holdings SA(a) |
8,961 | 12,423 | ||||||
|
Eurobank Ergasias Services and Holdings SA, Class A(a) |
8,415 | 8,019 | ||||||
|
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA |
1,134 | 22,323 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 42,765 | ||||||||
| Hong Kong 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Hutchmed China Ltd., ADR(a) |
304 | 12,269 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Hungary 0.6% | ||||||||
|
OTP Bank Nyrt(a) |
1,044 | 63,049 | ||||||
|
Richter Gedeon Nyrt |
540 | 16,185 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 79,234 | ||||||||
| India 13.5% | ||||||||
|
Adani Green Energy Ltd.(a) |
1,635 | 23,875 | ||||||
|
Asian Paints Ltd. |
1,719 | 75,303 | ||||||
|
Axis Bank Ltd.(a) |
9,724 | 104,385 | ||||||
|
Bajaj Auto Ltd. |
297 | 15,140 | ||||||
|
Bajaj Finance Ltd. |
1,215 | 124,815 | ||||||
|
Bandhan Bank Ltd.(b) |
2,764 | 10,766 | ||||||
|
Bharti Airtel Ltd. |
10,599 | 96,176 | ||||||
|
Biocon Ltd.(a) |
1,845 | 9,057 | ||||||
|
Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Co. Ltd. |
1,506 | 11,429 | ||||||
|
Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd. |
627 | 14,525 | ||||||
|
Dabur India Ltd. |
2,409 | 20,490 | ||||||
|
Eicher Motors Ltd. |
633 | 23,175 | ||||||
|
Havells India Ltd. |
915 | 15,872 | ||||||
|
HCL Technologies Ltd. |
4,989 | 80,659 | ||||||
|
HDFC Life Insurance Co. Ltd.(b) |
3,315 | 32,540 | ||||||
|
Hero MotoCorp Ltd. |
534 | 20,013 | ||||||
|
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. |
3,681 | 137,093 | ||||||
|
ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd.(b) |
879 | 19,172 | ||||||
|
Info Edge India Ltd. |
331 | 27,955 | ||||||
|
Infosys Ltd. |
15,174 | 354,152 | ||||||
|
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. |
2,340 | 56,075 | ||||||
|
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. |
3,681 | 39,886 | ||||||
|
Marico Ltd. |
2,103 | 15,674 | ||||||
|
Nestle India Ltd. |
147 | 39,146 | ||||||
|
Piramal Enterprises Ltd. |
465 | 16,565 | ||||||
|
SBI Cards & Payment Services Ltd.(a) |
697 | 10,889 | ||||||
|
Shriram Transport Finance Co. Ltd. |
855 | 15,789 | ||||||
|
Siemens Ltd. |
252 | 7,831 | ||||||
|
State Bank of India |
7,788 | 45,288 | ||||||
|
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. |
4,173 | 216,021 | ||||||
|
Tech Mahindra Ltd. |
2,589 | 51,226 | ||||||
|
Titan Co. Ltd. |
1,632 | 42,873 | ||||||
|
Trent Ltd. |
804 | 11,069 | ||||||
|
Wipro Ltd. |
5,577 | 48,906 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,833,830 | ||||||||
| Indonesia 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Bank Central Asia Tbk PT |
47,400 | 108,803 | ||||||
|
Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk PT |
82,200 | 35,140 | ||||||
|
Bank Negara Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
35,700 | 13,490 | ||||||
|
Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
235,600 | 64,791 | ||||||
|
Kalbe Farma Tbk PT |
96,900 | 9,133 | ||||||
|
Telkom Indonesia Persero Tbk PT |
212,400 | 50,687 | ||||||
| 20 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Indonesia (continued) | ||||||||
|
Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk PT |
29,700 | $ | 6,513 | |||||
|
Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT |
47,100 | 13,373 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 301,930 | ||||||||
| Kuwait 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Kuwait Finance House KSCP |
21,209 | 58,259 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Malaysia 1.9% | ||||||||
|
AMMB Holdings Bhd |
8,800 | 6,414 | ||||||
|
Axiata Group Bhd |
15,600 | 15,543 | ||||||
|
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd |
27,300 | 32,252 | ||||||
|
DiGi.Com Bhd |
13,500 | 14,268 | ||||||
|
Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd |
600 | 4,028 | ||||||
|
HAP Seng Consolidated Bhd |
2,700 | 5,519 | ||||||
|
IHH Healthcare Bhd |
10,800 | 16,616 | ||||||
|
Kossan Rubber Industries |
5,700 | 4,251 | ||||||
|
Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd |
1,800 | 9,249 | ||||||
|
Malayan Banking Bhd |
16,800 | 33,939 | ||||||
|
Maxis Bhd |
9,600 | 10,831 | ||||||
|
Nestle Malaysia Bhd |
300 | 9,723 | ||||||
|
PPB Group Bhd |
2,100 | 9,356 | ||||||
|
Public Bank Bhd |
63,600 | 63,952 | ||||||
|
RHB Bank Bhd |
6,900 | 9,285 | ||||||
|
Sime Darby Bhd |
9,600 | 5,445 | ||||||
|
Telekom Malaysia Bhd |
5,700 | 8,394 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 259,065 | ||||||||
| Mexico 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Arca Continental SAB de CV |
2,100 | 13,527 | ||||||
|
Coca-Cola Femsa SAB de CV |
2,100 | 12,157 | ||||||
|
Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV, Class B(a) |
750 | 13,460 | ||||||
|
Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O |
12,300 | 81,196 | ||||||
|
Kimberly-Clark de Mexico SAB de CV, Class A |
6,600 | 11,656 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 131,996 | ||||||||
| Pakistan 0.0% | ||||||||
|
Habib Bank Ltd. |
3,348 | 2,520 | ||||||
|
Lucky Cement Ltd.(a) |
354 | 1,767 | ||||||
|
MCB Bank Ltd. |
2,013 | 2,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,287 | ||||||||
| Peru 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Credicorp Ltd.(a) |
150 | 15,995 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Philippines 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Bank of the Philippine Islands |
6,840 | 11,439 | ||||||
|
BDO Unibank Inc. |
8,940 | 19,749 | ||||||
|
Globe Telecom Inc. |
150 | 8,201 | ||||||
|
SM Prime Holdings Inc. |
42,600 | 29,062 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 68,451 | ||||||||
| Poland 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Bank Polska Kasa Opieki SA(a) |
948 | 26,510 | ||||||
|
CD Projekt SA |
183 | 8,127 | ||||||
|
LPP SA |
6 | 21,892 | ||||||
|
Orange Polska SA(a) |
1,368 | 2,957 | ||||||
|
Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA(a) |
4,302 | 47,224 | ||||||
|
Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA(a) |
2,593 | 27,480 | ||||||
|
Santander Bank Polska SA(a) |
162 | 12,784 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 146,974 | ||||||||
| Qatar 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Commercial Bank PSQC (The) |
8,061 | 13,172 | ||||||
|
Ooredoo QPSC |
4,068 | 7,611 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Qatar (continued) | ||||||||
|
Qatar National Bank QPSC |
19,050 | $ | 98,833 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 119,616 | ||||||||
| Russia 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Magnit PJSC, GDR |
1,404 | 21,306 | ||||||
|
Mail.Ru Group Ltd., GDR(a) |
573 | 11,584 | ||||||
|
Moscow Exchange MICEX-RTS PJSC |
6,420 | 16,063 | ||||||
|
Novolipetsk Steel PJSC |
5,760 | 19,421 | ||||||
|
PhosAgro PJSC, GDR |
567 | 11,170 | ||||||
|
Polymetal International PLC |
1,512 | 30,226 | ||||||
|
Polyus PJSC |
150 | 27,065 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 136,835 | ||||||||
| Saudi Arabia 1.4% | ||||||||
|
Almarai Co. JSC |
1,149 | 17,778 | ||||||
|
Bank AlBilad(a) |
1,936 | 22,060 | ||||||
|
Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group Co. |
231 | 11,306 | ||||||
|
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. |
4,104 | 134,552 | ||||||
|
Savola Group (The) |
540 | 5,780 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 191,476 | ||||||||
| South Africa 7.0% | ||||||||
|
Absa Group Ltd.(a) |
3,276 | 35,479 | ||||||
|
Anglo American Platinum Ltd. |
228 | 25,861 | ||||||
|
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd.(a) |
1,515 | 20,453 | ||||||
|
Bid Corp. Ltd.(a) |
1,458 | 32,106 | ||||||
|
Bidvest Group Ltd. (The) |
1,203 | 16,962 | ||||||
|
Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd. |
339 | 44,287 | ||||||
|
Clicks Group Ltd. |
1,140 | 23,744 | ||||||
|
Discovery Ltd.(a) |
1,803 | 15,983 | ||||||
|
FirstRand Ltd. |
21,540 | 91,698 | ||||||
|
Gold Fields Ltd. |
3,882 | 36,869 | ||||||
|
Growthpoint Properties Ltd. |
14,994 | 15,978 | ||||||
|
Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. |
3,465 | 53,086 | ||||||
|
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. |
261 | 11,721 | ||||||
|
Mr. Price Group Ltd. |
1,548 | 23,223 | ||||||
|
MTN Group Ltd.(a) |
7,635 | 70,080 | ||||||
|
MultiChoice Group |
1,623 | 12,838 | ||||||
|
Naspers Ltd., Class N |
957 | 165,120 | ||||||
|
Nedbank Group Ltd.(a) |
1,749 | 22,274 | ||||||
|
NEPI Rockcastle PLC |
1,962 | 14,167 | ||||||
|
Old Mutual Ltd. |
19,743 | 20,876 | ||||||
|
Remgro Ltd. |
2,259 | 18,787 | ||||||
|
Sanlam Ltd. |
8,091 | 35,893 | ||||||
|
Shoprite Holdings Ltd. |
2,265 | 28,667 | ||||||
|
SPAR Group Ltd. (The) |
735 | 10,506 | ||||||
|
Standard Bank Group Ltd. |
5,553 | 56,718 | ||||||
|
Vodacom Group Ltd. |
2,757 | 27,264 | ||||||
|
Woolworths Holdings Ltd.(a) |
4,272 | 18,631 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 949,271 | ||||||||
| South Korea 9.0% | ||||||||
|
Amorepacific Corp. |
141 | 27,617 | ||||||
|
AMOREPACIFIC Group |
144 | 7,164 | ||||||
|
CJ CheilJedang Corp. |
36 | 14,077 | ||||||
|
CJ Corp. |
60 | 5,241 | ||||||
|
Coway Co. Ltd. |
249 | 16,789 | ||||||
|
DB Insurance Co. Ltd. |
219 | 11,073 | ||||||
|
GS Engineering & Construction Corp. |
303 | 11,662 | ||||||
|
Hana Financial Group Inc. |
1,356 | 52,510 | ||||||
|
Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. |
315 | 12,660 | ||||||
|
Hanon Systems |
813 | 11,516 | ||||||
|
HYBE Co. Ltd.(a) |
60 | 14,941 | ||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
21 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
South Korea (continued) |
||||||||
|
Kakao Corp. |
1,338 | $ | 178,530 | |||||
|
LG Corp. |
385 | 31,578 | ||||||
|
LG Display Co. Ltd.(a) |
988 | 17,380 | ||||||
|
LG Electronics Inc. |
477 | 58,257 | ||||||
|
LG Household & Health Care Ltd. |
42 | 52,923 | ||||||
|
LG Innotek Co. Ltd. |
64 | 11,830 | ||||||
|
Mirae Asset Securities Co. Ltd. |
1,365 | 10,350 | ||||||
|
NAVER Corp. |
531 | 201,056 | ||||||
|
NCSoft Corp. |
72 | 40,947 | ||||||
|
Netmarble Corp.(b) |
87 | 9,680 | ||||||
|
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. |
126 | 24,526 | ||||||
|
Samsung Life Insurance Co. Ltd. |
321 | 20,581 | ||||||
|
Samsung SDS Co. Ltd. |
147 | 21,820 | ||||||
|
Samsung Securities Co. Ltd. |
219 | 9,312 | ||||||
|
Shinhan Financial Group Co. Ltd. |
1,932 | 64,362 | ||||||
|
SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.(a) |
117 | 12,637 | ||||||
|
SK Hynix Inc. |
2,385 | 218,372 | ||||||
|
SK Telecom Co. Ltd. |
63 | 16,198 | ||||||
|
Woori Financial Group Inc. |
2,307 | 22,320 | ||||||
|
Yuhan Corp. |
204 | 10,978 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,218,887 | ||||||||
| Taiwan 19.4% | ||||||||
|
Accton Technology Corp. |
3,000 | 30,394 | ||||||
|
Acer Inc. |
12,000 | 10,891 | ||||||
|
Advantech Co. Ltd. |
3,000 | 41,770 | ||||||
|
ASE Technology Holding Co. Ltd. |
15,000 | 69,075 | ||||||
|
Asustek Computer Inc. |
3,000 | 35,021 | ||||||
|
AU Optronics Corp. |
36,000 | 22,698 | ||||||
|
Catcher Technology Co. Ltd. |
3,000 | 18,044 | ||||||
|
Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
36,000 | 77,313 | ||||||
|
Chailease Holding Co. Ltd. |
6,300 | 60,437 | ||||||
|
Chang Hwa Commercial Bank Ltd. |
9,000 | 5,358 | ||||||
|
Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. Ltd. |
6,000 | 8,056 | ||||||
|
China Development Financial Holding Corp. |
57,000 | 29,131 | ||||||
|
China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. |
12,000 | 12,488 | ||||||
|
China Steel Corp. |
51,000 | 70,057 | ||||||
|
Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. |
16,000 | 64,724 | ||||||
|
Compal Electronics Inc. |
18,000 | 14,854 | ||||||
|
CTBC Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
78,000 | 64,649 | ||||||
|
Delta Electronics Inc. |
9,000 | 87,669 | ||||||
|
E.Sun Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
54,116 | 51,875 | ||||||
|
Evergreen Marine Corp. Taiwan Ltd. |
12,000 | 58,578 | ||||||
|
Far Eastern New Century Corp. |
12,000 | 12,992 | ||||||
|
Far EasTone Telecommunications Co. Ltd. |
6,000 | 13,349 | ||||||
|
First Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
45,450 | 37,537 | ||||||
|
Foxconn Technology Co. Ltd. |
3,000 | 7,177 | ||||||
|
Fubon Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
30,000 | 91,891 | ||||||
|
Hiwin Technologies Corp. |
3,000 | 35,290 | ||||||
|
Hua Nan Financial Holdings Co. Ltd. |
36,000 | 27,127 | ||||||
|
Innolux Corp. |
39,000 | 24,157 | ||||||
|
Inventec Corp. |
9,000 | 7,873 | ||||||
|
Lite-On Technology Corp. |
9,000 | 19,845 | ||||||
|
MediaTek Inc. |
6,000 | 194,563 | ||||||
|
Mega Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
48,000 | 56,772 | ||||||
|
Micro-Star International Co. Ltd. |
3,000 | 14,075 | ||||||
|
President Chain Store Corp. |
3,000 | 30,890 | ||||||
|
Quanta Computer Inc. |
12,000 | 33,937 | ||||||
|
Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank Ltd. (The) |
15,000 | 24,345 | ||||||
|
SinoPac Financial Holdings Co. Ltd. |
45,000 | 23,107 | ||||||
|
Taishin Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
42,000 | 29,304 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Taiwan (continued) |
||||||||
|
Taiwan Cooperative Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
42,000 | $ | 33,839 | |||||
|
Taiwan Mobile Co. Ltd. |
6,000 | 21,867 | ||||||
|
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
33,000 | 723,862 | ||||||
|
Unimicron Technology Corp. |
6,000 | 31,799 | ||||||
|
United Microelectronics Corp. |
51,000 | 115,562 | ||||||
|
Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp. |
3,000 | 15,957 | ||||||
|
Win Semiconductors Corp. |
3,000 | 35,603 | ||||||
|
Wistron Corp. |
9,000 | 8,898 | ||||||
|
Yageo Corp. |
3,000 | 51,649 | ||||||
|
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.(a) |
6,000 | 28,903 | ||||||
|
Yuanta Financial Holding Co. Ltd. |
42,000 | 37,835 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,623,087 | ||||||||
| Thailand 2.8% | ||||||||
|
Advanced Info Service PCL, NVDR |
5,100 | 29,738 | ||||||
|
Airports of Thailand PCL, NVDR |
19,200 | 37,935 | ||||||
|
Asset World Corp. PCL, NVDR(a) |
40,200 | 5,400 | ||||||
|
Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PCL, NVDR |
43,200 | 31,337 | ||||||
|
BTS Group Holdings PCL, NVDR |
44,000 | 12,829 | ||||||
|
Bumrungrad Hospital PCL, NVDR |
2,100 | 8,656 | ||||||
|
Central Pattana PCL, NVDR |
9,600 | 15,980 | ||||||
|
Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL, NVDR |
8,700 | 7,288 | ||||||
|
CP ALL PCL, NVDR |
25,800 | 52,014 | ||||||
|
Delta Electronics Thailand PCL, NVDR |
1,200 | 21,729 | ||||||
|
Energy Absolute PCL, NVDR |
6,600 | 13,400 | ||||||
|
Home Product Center PCL, NVDR |
31,200 | 13,824 | ||||||
|
Indorama Ventures PCL, NVDR |
6,600 | 8,946 | ||||||
|
Intouch Holdings PCL, NVDR |
7,500 | 19,889 | ||||||
|
Krungthai Card PCL, NVDR |
3,900 | 8,009 | ||||||
|
Minor International PCL, NVDR(a) |
13,500 | 13,711 | ||||||
|
Siam Cement PCL (The), NVDR |
3,300 | 43,994 | ||||||
|
Siam Commercial Bank PCL (The), NVDR |
3,900 | 12,866 | ||||||
|
Sri Trang Gloves Thailand PCL, NVDR |
600 | 689 | ||||||
|
Thai Union Group PCL, NVDR |
19,200 | 11,854 | ||||||
|
True Corp. PCL, NVDR |
55,800 | 5,747 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 375,835 | ||||||||
| Turkey 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS |
5,499 | 10,874 | ||||||
|
Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS |
9,720 | 11,529 | ||||||
|
Turkiye Is Bankasi AS, Class C |
6,927 | 4,789 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 27,192 | ||||||||
| United Arab Emirates 1.5% | ||||||||
|
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC |
13,137 | 26,860 | ||||||
|
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC |
4,665 | 7,161 | ||||||
|
Emirates NBD Bank PJSC |
11,616 | 43,799 | ||||||
|
Emirates Telecommunications Group Co. PJSC |
7,311 | 46,973 | ||||||
|
First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC |
18,360 | 84,973 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 209,766 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 97.7%
|
13,240,456 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
||||||||
| Brazil 2.0% | ||||||||
|
Banco Bradesco SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
22,440 | 100,465 | ||||||
|
Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
21,600 | 129,246 | ||||||
|
Itausa SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
19,500 | 43,595 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 273,306 | ||||||||
| 22 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Chile 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA, Class B, Preference Shares, NVS |
567 | $ | 29,661 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Colombia 0.2% | ||||||||
|
Bancolombia SA, Preference Shares, NVS |
1,950 | 16,245 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| South Korea 0.0% | ||||||||
|
LG Household & Health Care Ltd., Preference Shares, NVS |
2 | 1,184 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Preferred Stocks 2.4%
|
320,396 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Warrants |
||||||||
| Thailand 0.0% | ||||||||
|
BTS Group Holdings PCL (Expires 07/22/22)(a) |
15,400 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Warrants 0.0%
|
| |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.1%
|
13,560,852 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.1)% |
(10,946 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 13,549,906 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (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. |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the period ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
10/06/20(a) |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares(b) |
$ | | $ | 2 | (c) | $ | | $ | (2 | ) | $ | | $ | | | $ | 4,064 | (d) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares(b) |
| 0 | (c) | | | | | | 11 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | (2 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | 4,075 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund commenced operations on October 06, 2020. |
| (b) |
As of period end, the entity is no longer held. |
| (c) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (d) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | (6,130 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
23 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF
|
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 2,563,638 | $ | 10,676,818 | $ | | $ | 13,240,456 | ||||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
319,212 | 1,184 | | 320,396 | ||||||||||||
|
Warrants |
| | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 2,882,850 | $ | 10,678,002 | $ | | $ | 13,560,852 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| 24 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
|
Common Stocks |
|
|||||||
| Aerospace & Defense 0.2% | ||||||||
|
HEICO Corp. |
1,152 | $ | 146,097 | |||||
|
HEICO Corp., Class A |
1,939 | 221,511 | ||||||
|
Howmet Aerospace Inc. |
10,389 | 329,851 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 697,459 | ||||||||
| Air Freight & Logistics 0.2% | ||||||||
|
CH Robinson Worldwide Inc. |
3,535 | 318,362 | ||||||
|
Expeditors International of Washington Inc. |
4,488 | 559,384 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 877,746 | ||||||||
| Auto Components 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Aptiv PLC(a) |
7,189 | 1,094,094 | ||||||
|
Autoliv Inc. |
2,207 | 195,077 | ||||||
|
BorgWarner Inc. |
6,375 | 272,085 | ||||||
|
Lear Corp. |
1,598 | 255,584 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,816,840 | ||||||||
| Banks 2.5% | ||||||||
|
Citizens Financial Group Inc. |
11,320 | 495,703 | ||||||
|
First Republic Bank/CA |
4,677 | 930,442 | ||||||
|
Huntington Bancshares Inc./OH |
39,237 | 609,351 | ||||||
|
KeyCorp |
25,795 | 524,154 | ||||||
|
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (The) |
11,292 | 2,157,901 | ||||||
|
Regions Financial Corp. |
25,550 | 521,987 | ||||||
|
SVB Financial Group(a) |
1,485 | 830,857 | ||||||
|
Truist Financial Corp. |
35,744 | 2,039,553 | ||||||
|
U.S. Bancorp |
37,615 | 2,158,725 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,268,673 | ||||||||
| Beverages 3.0% | ||||||||
|
Coca-Cola Co. (The) |
108,872 | 6,130,582 | ||||||
|
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. |
18,837 | 671,916 | ||||||
|
PepsiCo Inc. |
36,723 | 5,743,110 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,545,608 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology 2.4% | ||||||||
|
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
3,124 | 629,267 | ||||||
|
Amgen Inc. |
15,270 | 3,443,843 | ||||||
|
Biogen Inc.(a) |
4,001 | 1,355,979 | ||||||
|
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.(a) |
4,857 | 409,008 | ||||||
|
Horizon Therapeutics PLC(a) |
5,676 | 613,519 | ||||||
|
Novavax Inc.(a) |
1,872 | 446,547 | ||||||
|
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
2,783 | 1,874,072 | ||||||
|
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.(a) |
6,880 | 1,377,995 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 10,150,230 | ||||||||
| Building Products 1.1% | ||||||||
|
A O Smith Corp. |
3,574 | 259,901 | ||||||
|
Allegion PLC |
2,392 | 344,424 | ||||||
|
Carrier Global Corp. |
21,943 | 1,263,917 | ||||||
|
Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. |
3,680 | 358,322 | ||||||
|
Lennox International Inc. |
903 | 302,668 | ||||||
|
Masco Corp. |
6,746 | 409,617 | ||||||
|
Owens Corning |
2,777 | 265,342 | ||||||
|
Trane Technologies PLC |
6,357 | 1,261,864 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,466,055 | ||||||||
| Capital Markets 5.4% | ||||||||
|
Ameriprise Financial Inc. |
3,081 | 840,836 | ||||||
|
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The) |
22,144 | 1,222,792 | ||||||
|
Carlyle Group Inc. (The) |
4,240 | 209,371 | ||||||
|
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) |
38,425 | 2,799,261 | ||||||
|
CME Group Inc. |
9,544 | 1,925,216 | ||||||
|
FactSet Research Systems Inc. |
1,007 | 382,882 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Capital Markets (continued) | ||||||||
|
Franklin Resources Inc. |
8,044 | $ | 260,947 | |||||
|
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. |
14,958 | 1,787,930 | ||||||
|
Invesco Ltd. |
9,199 | 232,919 | ||||||
|
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. |
1,010 | 480,679 | ||||||
|
Moodys Corp. |
4,477 | 1,704,707 | ||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
37,091 | 3,873,413 | ||||||
|
Nasdaq Inc. |
3,053 | 597,716 | ||||||
|
Northern Trust Corp. |
5,256 | 622,941 | ||||||
|
Raymond James Financial Inc. |
3,287 | 459,851 | ||||||
|
S&P Global Inc. |
6,403 | 2,841,780 | ||||||
|
State Street Corp. |
9,243 | 858,767 | ||||||
|
T Rowe Price Group Inc. |
6,029 | 1,349,712 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 22,451,720 | ||||||||
| Chemicals 2.8% | ||||||||
|
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. |
5,883 | 1,585,527 | ||||||
|
Albemarle Corp. |
3,102 | 734,368 | ||||||
|
DuPont de Nemours Inc. |
14,143 | 1,046,865 | ||||||
|
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. |
6,616 | 1,002,324 | ||||||
|
Linde PLC |
13,827 | 4,349,836 | ||||||
|
PPG Industries Inc. |
6,302 | 1,005,484 | ||||||
|
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) |
6,758 | 2,052,202 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 11,776,606 | ||||||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies 1.3% | ||||||||
|
Cintas Corp. |
2,512 | 994,174 | ||||||
|
Copart Inc.(a) |
5,660 | 816,851 | ||||||
|
Republic Services Inc. |
5,936 | 736,836 | ||||||
|
Rollins Inc. |
5,887 | 229,122 | ||||||
|
Waste Connections Inc. |
6,956 | 898,785 | ||||||
|
Waste Management Inc. |
11,220 | 1,740,334 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 5,416,102 | ||||||||
| Communications Equipment 2.1% | ||||||||
|
Arista Networks Inc.(a) |
1,522 | 562,425 | ||||||
|
Cisco Systems Inc. |
112,010 | 6,610,830 | ||||||
|
F5 Networks Inc.(a) |
1,584 | 322,455 | ||||||
|
Juniper Networks Inc. |
8,712 | 252,474 | ||||||
|
Motorola Solutions Inc. |
4,511 | 1,101,676 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8,849,860 | ||||||||
| Construction Materials 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Martin Marietta Materials Inc. |
1,659 | 632,494 | ||||||
|
Vulcan Materials Co. |
3,526 | 655,589 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,288,083 | ||||||||
| Consumer Finance 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Ally Financial Inc. |
9,853 | 521,224 | ||||||
|
American Express Co. |
18,148 | 3,011,842 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,533,066 | ||||||||
| Containers & Packaging 0.7% | ||||||||
|
Avery Dennison Corp. |
2,206 | 497,211 | ||||||
|
Ball Corp. |
8,725 | 837,251 | ||||||
|
International Paper Co. |
9,892 | 594,410 | ||||||
|
Packaging Corp. of America |
2,520 | 382,284 | ||||||
|
Sealed Air Corp. |
4,039 | 246,500 | ||||||
|
Westrock Co. |
7,073 | 368,079 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,925,735 | ||||||||
|
Distributors 0.3% |
|
|||||||
|
Genuine Parts Co. |
3,839 | 469,087 | ||||||
|
LKQ Corp.(a) |
7,630 | 402,025 | ||||||
|
Pool Corp. |
1,067 | 527,418 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,398,530 | ||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
25 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Food Products (continued) | ||||||||
|
Kraft Heinz Co. (The) |
17,880 | $ | 643,501 | |||||
|
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. |
3,889 | 253,368 | ||||||
|
McCormick & Co. Inc./MD, NVS |
6,618 | 571,067 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,194,484 | ||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies 4.0% | ||||||||
|
ABIOMED Inc.(a) |
1,203 | 437,844 | ||||||
|
Align Technology Inc.(a) |
1,998 | 1,416,582 | ||||||
|
Baxter International Inc. |
13,366 | 1,018,757 | ||||||
|
Cooper Companies Inc. (The) |
1,307 | 589,078 | ||||||
|
Danaher Corp. |
17,063 | 5,531,142 | ||||||
|
DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. |
5,802 | 357,983 | ||||||
|
Dexcom Inc.(a) |
2,571 | 1,361,139 | ||||||
|
Hologic Inc.(a) |
6,811 | 539,091 | ||||||
|
IDEXX Laboratories Inc.(a) |
2,266 | 1,526,740 | ||||||
|
Insulet Corp.(a) |
1,761 | 524,443 | ||||||
|
Novocure Ltd.(a) |
2,473 | 331,901 | ||||||
|
ResMed Inc. |
3,869 | 1,124,061 | ||||||
|
STERIS PLC |
2,649 | 569,561 | ||||||
|
Teleflex Inc. |
1,243 | 491,557 | ||||||
|
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. |
1,962 | 886,078 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,705,957 | ||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services 1.6% | ||||||||
|
Centene Corp.(a) |
15,488 | 975,434 | ||||||
|
DaVita Inc.(a) |
1,834 | 239,832 | ||||||
|
HCA Healthcare Inc. |
7,165 | 1,812,602 | ||||||
|
Henry Schein Inc.(a) |
3,740 | 282,707 | ||||||
|
Humana Inc. |
3,430 | 1,390,591 | ||||||
|
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(a) |
2,596 | 787,574 | ||||||
|
Molina Healthcare Inc.(a) |
1,552 | 417,131 | ||||||
|
Oak Street Health Inc.(a) |
2,561 | 119,675 | ||||||
|
Quest Diagnostics Inc. |
3,473 | 530,779 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 6,556,325 | ||||||||
| Health Care Technology 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Cerner Corp. |
8,008 | 611,411 | ||||||
|
Teladoc Health Inc.(a) |
3,697 | 533,920 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,145,331 | ||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 3.4% | ||||||||
|
Booking Holdings Inc.(a) |
1,091 | 2,508,940 | ||||||
|
Darden Restaurants Inc. |
3,478 | 523,961 | ||||||
|
Dominos Pizza Inc. |
1,033 | 533,947 | ||||||
|
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.(a) |
7,404 | 924,463 | ||||||
|
McDonalds Corp. |
19,832 | 4,709,307 | ||||||
|
Starbucks Corp. |
31,318 | 3,679,552 | ||||||
|
Vail Resorts Inc.(a) |
1,070 | 326,189 | ||||||
|
Yum! Brands Inc. |
7,918 | 1,037,496 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 14,243,855 | ||||||||
| Household Durables 0.7% | ||||||||
|
DR Horton Inc. |
9,102 | 870,333 | ||||||
|
Garmin Ltd. |
4,087 | 712,895 | ||||||
|
Newell Brands Inc. |
10,173 | 258,496 | ||||||
|
NVR Inc.(a) |
91 | 471,375 | ||||||
|
PulteGroup Inc. |
7,030 | 378,636 | ||||||
|
Whirlpool Corp. |
1,665 | 368,847 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,060,582 | ||||||||
| Household Products 1.0% | ||||||||
|
Church & Dwight Co. Inc. |
6,519 | 545,380 | ||||||
|
Clorox Co. (The) |
3,306 | 555,573 | ||||||
|
Colgate-Palmolive Co. |
21,361 | 1,665,090 | ||||||
| 26 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Household Products (continued) | ||||||||
|
Kimberly-Clark Corp. |
8,969 | $ | 1,236,018 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,002,061 | ||||||||
| Industrial Conglomerates 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Roper Technologies Inc. |
2,798 | 1,352,217 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Insurance 3.3% | ||||||||
|
Aflac Inc. |
17,162 | 972,742 | ||||||
|
Allstate Corp. (The) |
7,956 | 1,076,288 | ||||||
|
Arch Capital Group Ltd.(a) |
10,728 | 440,921 | ||||||
|
Arthur J Gallagher & Co. |
5,482 | 787,325 | ||||||
|
Assurant Inc. |
1,610 | 273,877 | ||||||
|
Chubb Ltd. |
11,952 | 2,198,212 | ||||||
|
Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (The) |
9,494 | 638,187 | ||||||
|
Lincoln National Corp. |
4,807 | 330,000 | ||||||
|
Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. |
13,516 | 2,124,715 | ||||||
|
Principal Financial Group Inc. |
7,230 | 483,036 | ||||||
|
Progressive Corp. (The) |
15,554 | 1,498,472 | ||||||
|
Prudential Financial Inc. |
10,473 | 1,108,881 | ||||||
|
Travelers Companies Inc. (The) |
6,684 | 1,067,502 | ||||||
|
Willis Towers Watson PLC |
3,429 | 756,849 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 13,757,007 | ||||||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 1.0% | ||||||||
|
eBay Inc. |
18,107 | 1,389,531 | ||||||
|
Etsy Inc.(a) |
3,378 | 730,526 | ||||||
|
MercadoLibre Inc.(a) |
1,192 | 2,226,001 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,346,058 | ||||||||
| IT Services 11.4% | ||||||||
|
Akamai Technologies Inc.(a) |
4,333 | 490,712 | ||||||
|
Automatic Data Processing Inc. |
11,309 | 2,364,033 | ||||||
|
Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. |
3,086 | 531,471 | ||||||
|
Cloudflare Inc., Class A(a) |
6,130 | 740,136 | ||||||
|
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A |
14,019 | 1,069,790 | ||||||
|
EPAM Systems Inc.(a) |
1,500 | 949,215 | ||||||
|
Fidelity National Information Services Inc. |
16,483 | 2,106,033 | ||||||
|
Fiserv Inc.(a) |
15,951 | 1,878,868 | ||||||
|
Gartner Inc.(a) |
2,287 | 706,088 | ||||||
|
GoDaddy Inc., Class A(a) |
4,459 | 326,889 | ||||||
|
Jack Henry & Associates Inc. |
1,974 | 348,174 | ||||||
|
Mastercard Inc., Class A |
23,513 | 8,140,906 | ||||||
|
MongoDB Inc.(a) |
1,486 | 582,259 | ||||||
|
Okta Inc.(a) |
3,324 | 876,207 | ||||||
|
Paychex Inc. |
8,620 | 986,732 | ||||||
|
PayPal Holdings Inc.(a) |
29,663 | 8,562,522 | ||||||
|
Snowflake Inc., Class A(a) |
5,116 | 1,557,055 | ||||||
|
Square Inc., Class A(a) |
10,418 | 2,792,753 | ||||||
|
Twilio Inc., Class A(a) |
4,316 | 1,540,639 | ||||||
|
VeriSign Inc.(a) |
2,694 | 582,605 | ||||||
|
Visa Inc., Class A |
44,966 | 10,301,711 | ||||||
|
Western Union Co. (The) |
10,877 | 235,378 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 47,670,176 | ||||||||
| Leisure Products 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Hasbro Inc. |
3,474 | 341,529 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services 2.9% | ||||||||
|
Agilent Technologies Inc. |
8,099 | 1,421,131 | ||||||
|
Avantor Inc.(a) |
13,925 | 549,202 | ||||||
|
Bio-Techne Corp. |
1,034 | 516,111 | ||||||
|
Illumina Inc.(a) |
3,881 | 1,774,238 | ||||||
|
Mettler-Toledo International Inc.(a) |
619 | 961,202 | ||||||
|
PerkinElmer Inc. |
2,980 | 550,704 | ||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services (continued) | ||||||||
|
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. |
10,445 | $ | 5,796,453 | |||||
|
Waters Corp.(a) |
1,639 | 678,579 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 12,247,620 | ||||||||
| Machinery 3.9% | ||||||||
|
Caterpillar Inc. |
14,559 | 3,070,056 | ||||||
|
Cummins Inc. |
3,887 | 917,254 | ||||||
|
Deere & Co. |
7,914 | 2,991,729 | ||||||
|
Dover Corp. |
3,825 | 666,927 | ||||||
|
Fortive Corp. |
8,548 | 631,441 | ||||||
|
IDEX Corp. |
2,018 | 452,032 | ||||||
|
Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
8,396 | 1,955,093 | ||||||
|
Ingersoll Rand Inc.(a) |
10,772 | 571,131 | ||||||
|
Nordson Corp. |
1,389 | 331,415 | ||||||
|
Otis Worldwide Corp. |
10,835 | 999,204 | ||||||
|
PACCAR Inc. |
9,227 | 755,415 | ||||||
|
Parker-Hannifin Corp. |
3,431 | 1,017,875 | ||||||
|
Pentair PLC |
4,417 | 340,816 | ||||||
|
Snap-on Inc. |
1,438 | 323,478 | ||||||
|
Stanley Black & Decker Inc. |
4,293 | 829,708 | ||||||
|
Xylem Inc./NY |
4,786 | 652,380 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 16,505,954 | ||||||||
| Media 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Cable One Inc. |
145 | 304,440 | ||||||
|
Discovery Inc., Class A(a)(b) |
4,484 | 129,319 | ||||||
|
Discovery Inc., Class C, NVS(a) |
8,388 | 231,425 | ||||||
|
Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (The) |
10,457 | 389,314 | ||||||
|
Omnicom Group Inc. |
5,717 | 418,599 | ||||||
|
Sirius XM Holdings Inc.(b) |
27,183 | 170,437 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,643,534 | ||||||||
| Metals & Mining 0.4% | ||||||||
|
Newmont Corp. |
21,295 | 1,234,897 | ||||||
|
Steel Dynamics Inc. |
5,615 | 378,956 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,613,853 | ||||||||
| Mortgage Real Estate Investment 0.1% | ||||||||
|
Annaly Capital Management Inc. |
37,171 | 323,016 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Multiline Retail 1.1% | ||||||||
|
Dollar General Corp. |
6,279 | 1,399,652 | ||||||
|
Target Corp. |
13,150 | 3,247,787 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 4,647,439 | ||||||||
| Personal Products 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (The), Class A |
6,164 | 2,098,780 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pharmaceuticals 2.2% | ||||||||
|
Catalent Inc.(a) |
4,528 | 590,633 | ||||||
|
Elanco Animal Health Inc.(a)(b) |
11,314 | 377,661 | ||||||
|
Eli Lilly & Co. |
21,666 | 5,596,111 | ||||||
|
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a) |
1,613 | 212,448 | ||||||
|
Zoetis Inc. |
12,618 | 2,581,138 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 9,357,991 | ||||||||
| Professional Services 0.8% | ||||||||
|
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. |
3,598 | 294,712 | ||||||
|
Clarivate PLC(a) |
9,377 | 236,207 | ||||||
|
IHS Markit Ltd. |
10,063 | 1,213,598 | ||||||
|
Robert Half International Inc. |
2,998 | 309,993 | ||||||
|
TransUnion |
5,084 | 617,859 | ||||||
|
Verisk Analytics Inc. |
4,094 | 826,005 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,498,374 | ||||||||
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
27 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Real Estate Management & Development 0.2% | ||||||||
|
CBRE Group Inc., Class A(a) |
8,922 | $ | 859,189 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Road & Rail 0.4% | ||||||||
|
AMERCO |
260 | 171,899 | ||||||
|
Kansas City Southern |
2,417 | 678,379 | ||||||
|
Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. |
2,620 | 756,447 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,606,725 | ||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 9.5% | ||||||||
|
Advanced Micro Devices Inc.(a) |
32,295 | 3,575,702 | ||||||
|
Analog Devices Inc. |
14,297 | 2,329,696 | ||||||
|
Applied Materials Inc. |
24,391 | 3,295,956 | ||||||
|
Enphase Energy Inc.(a) |
3,427 | 595,373 | ||||||
|
Lam Research Corp. |
3,790 | 2,292,268 | ||||||
|
Marvell Technology Inc. |
21,776 | 1,332,473 | ||||||
|
Micron Technology Inc.(a) |
29,805 | 2,196,628 | ||||||
|
NVIDIA Corp. |
66,235 | 14,826,705 | ||||||
|
NXP Semiconductors NV |
7,329 | 1,576,688 | ||||||
|
ON Semiconductor Corp.(a) |
11,350 | 503,486 | ||||||
|
Qorvo Inc.(a) |
2,993 | 562,774 | ||||||
|
Skyworks Solutions Inc. |
4,388 | 805,022 | ||||||
|
SolarEdge Technologies Inc.(a) |
1,381 | 400,186 | ||||||
|
Texas Instruments Inc. |
24,547 | 4,686,268 | ||||||
|
Xilinx Inc. |
6,535 | 1,016,781 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 39,996,006 | ||||||||
|
Software 10.1% |
||||||||
|
Adobe Inc.(a) |
12,705 | 8,432,308 | ||||||
|
ANSYS Inc.(a) |
2,317 | 846,539 | ||||||
|
Autodesk Inc.(a) |
5,850 | 1,814,026 | ||||||
|
Bentley Systems Inc., Class B |
4,581 | 295,429 | ||||||
|
Black Knight Inc.(a) |
4,163 | 315,014 | ||||||
|
Cadence Design Systems Inc.(a) |
7,397 | 1,209,262 | ||||||
|
Ceridian HCM Holding Inc.(a) |
3,570 | 401,089 | ||||||
|
Citrix Systems Inc. |
3,300 | 339,471 | ||||||
|
Coupa Software Inc.(a) |
1,937 | 474,197 | ||||||
|
Crowdstrike Holdings Inc., Class A(a) |
5,029 | 1,413,149 | ||||||
|
Datadog Inc., Class A(a) |
4,975 | 685,555 | ||||||
|
DocuSign Inc.(a) |
5,172 | 1,532,153 | ||||||
|
Dropbox Inc., Class A(a) |
8,452 | 268,013 | ||||||
|
Fair Isaac Corp.(a) |
764 | 351,241 | ||||||
|
Fortinet Inc.(a) |
3,690 | 1,162,867 | ||||||
|
Guidewire Software Inc.(a) |
2,115 | 250,543 | ||||||
|
HubSpot Inc.(a) |
1,179 | 806,990 | ||||||
|
Intuit Inc. |
7,263 | 4,111,657 | ||||||
|
NortonLifeLock Inc. |
15,414 | 409,396 | ||||||
|
Paycom Software Inc.(a) |
1,359 | 664,415 | ||||||
|
PTC Inc.(a) |
2,950 | 388,397 | ||||||
|
RingCentral Inc., Class A(a) |
2,038 | 514,106 | ||||||
|
salesforce.com Inc.(a) |
25,822 | 6,849,802 | ||||||
|
ServiceNow Inc.(a) |
5,248 | 3,377,823 | ||||||
|
Splunk Inc.(a) |
4,357 | 666,055 | ||||||
|
Synopsys Inc.(a) |
4,054 | 1,346,901 | ||||||
|
Tyler Technologies Inc.(a) |
1,083 | 526,013 | ||||||
|
VMware Inc., Class A(a)(b) |
2,228 | 331,682 | ||||||
|
Workday Inc., Class A(a) |
5,024 | 1,372,356 | ||||||
|
Zendesk Inc.(a) |
3,153 | 389,711 | ||||||
|
Zscaler Inc.(a) |
2,168 | 603,441 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 42,149,601 | ||||||||
| Security | Shares | Value | ||||||
| Specialty Retail 3.8% | ||||||||
|
Advance Auto Parts Inc. |
1,739 | $ | 352,756 | |||||
|
Best Buy Co. Inc. |
5,989 | 697,778 | ||||||
|
Burlington Stores Inc.(a) |
1,770 | 530,097 | ||||||
|
CarMax Inc.(a) |
4,337 | 543,036 | ||||||
|
Home Depot Inc. (The) |
28,260 | 9,217,847 | ||||||
|
Ross Stores Inc. |
9,478 | 1,122,195 | ||||||
|
TJX Companies Inc. (The) |
32,055 | 2,331,040 | ||||||
|
Tractor Supply Co. |
3,064 | 595,182 | ||||||
|
Ulta Beauty Inc.(a) |
1,382 | 535,263 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 15,925,194 | ||||||||
| Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 0.9% | ||||||||
|
Dell Technologies Inc., Class C(a) |
7,372 | 718,475 | ||||||
|
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. |
34,583 | 534,653 | ||||||
|
HP Inc. |
33,291 | 990,075 | ||||||
|
NetApp Inc. |
5,917 | 526,199 | ||||||
|
Seagate Technology Holdings PLC |
5,475 | 479,555 | ||||||
|
Western Digital Corp.(a) |
8,145 | 514,764 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 3,763,721 | ||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.3% | ||||||||
|
Lululemon Athletica Inc.(a) |
3,291 | 1,316,959 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Trading Companies & Distributors 0.5% | ||||||||
|
Fastenal Co. |
15,265 | 852,550 | ||||||
|
United Rentals Inc.(a) |
1,924 | 678,499 | ||||||
|
WW Grainger Inc. |
1,177 | 510,465 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2,041,514 | ||||||||
| Water Utilities 0.2% | ||||||||
|
American Water Works Co. Inc. |
4,823 | 878,992 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Common Stocks 99.8%
|
418,267,089 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
|
|||||||
| Money Market Funds 0.3% | ||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 0.06%(c)(d)(e) |
602,990 | 603,291 | ||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(c)(d) |
740,000 | 740,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,343,291 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Short-Term Investments 0.3%
|
1,343,291 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities 100.1%
|
419,610,380 | |||||||
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (0.1)% |
(505,012 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 419,105,368 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) |
Non-income producing security. |
| (b) |
All or a portion of this security is on loan. |
| (c) |
Affiliate of the Fund. |
| (d) |
Annualized 7-day yield as of period end. |
| (e) |
All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities. |
| 28 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF
|
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliated Issuer |
Value at
08/31/20 |
Purchases
at Cost |
Proceeds
from Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
Change in
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at
08/31/21 |
Shares
Held at 08/31/21 |
Income |
Capital
Gain
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency
|
$ | 10,183 | $ | 593,314 | (a) | $ | | $ | (206 | ) | $ | | $ | 603,291 | 602,990 | $ | 2,537 | (b) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares |
| 740,000 | (a) | | | | 740,000 | 740,000 | 16 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BlackRock Inc.(c) |
36,840 | 3,413,974 | (4,078,797 | ) | 630,698 | (2,715 | ) | | | 18,426 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 630,492 | $ | (2,715 | ) | $ | 1,343,291 | $ | 20,979 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| (b) |
All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities. |
| (c) |
As of period end, the entity is no longer held. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End
Futures Contracts
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Description |
Number of
Contracts |
Expiration
Date |
Notional
Amount (000) |
Value/
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Long Contracts |
||||||||||||||||
|
S&P 500 E-Mini Index |
3 | 09/17/21 | $ | 678 | $ | 22,743 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
||||
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a) |
$ | 22,743 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (a) |
Net cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current days variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss). |
For the period ended August 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
|
|
||||
|
Equity
Contracts |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 18,262 | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
||||
|
Futures contracts |
$ | 22,743 | ||
|
|
|
|||
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments
|
Futures contracts: |
||||
|
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 177,639 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
|
S C H E D U L E O F I N V E S T M E N T S |
29 |
|
Schedule of Investments (continued) August 31, 2021 |
iShares® ESG Advanced MSCI USA 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 Funds policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Funds financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Funds financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Investments |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 418,267,089 | $ | | $ | | $ | 418,267,089 | ||||||||
|
Money Market Funds |
1,343,291 | | | 1,343,291 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 419,610,380 | $ | | $ | | $ | 419,610,380 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Derivative financial instruments(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
|
Futures Contracts |
$ | 22,743 | $ | | $ | | $ | 22,743 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 30 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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
August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
31 |
Year Ended August 31, 2021
See notes to financial statements.
| 32 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 Changes in Net Assets
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
33 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 34 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF | ||||||||
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
|
|
Period From
06/16/20 to 08/31/20 |
(a)
|
|||
|
|
||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 55.79 | $ | 51.37 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
1.36 | 0.18 | ||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain(c) |
13.91 | 4.24 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net increase from investment operations |
15.27 | 4.42 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.82 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.82 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 70.24 | $ | 55.79 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
27.47 | % | 8.60 | %(f) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.12 | % | 0.12 | %(g) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net investment income |
2.06 | % | 1.64 | %(g) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 245,846 | $ | 11,158 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
28 | % | 6 | %(f) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amount reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
35 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout the period)
| (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 Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 36 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF | ||||||||
|
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
|
|
Period From
06/16/20 to 08/31/20 |
(a)
|
|||
|
|
||||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 29.04 | $ | 25.43 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net investment income(b) |
0.38 | 0.06 | ||||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain(c) |
8.99 | 3.55 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net increase from investment operations |
9.37 | 3.61 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Distributions(d) |
||||||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.30 | ) | | |||||
|
From net realized gain |
(0.01 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total distributions |
(0.31 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 38.10 | $ | 29.04 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total Return(e) |
||||||||
|
Based on net asset value |
32.53 | % | 14.20 | %(f) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
||||||||
|
Total expenses |
0.10 | % | 0.10 | %(g) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net investment income |
1.09 | % | 1.16 | %(g) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Supplemental Data |
||||||||
|
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 419,105 | $ | 5,808 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate(h) |
29 | % | 4 | %(f) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| (a) |
Commencement of operations. |
| (b) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) |
The amount reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Funds 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) |
Annualized. |
| (h) |
Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions. |
See notes to financial statements.
|
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S |
37 |
| 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
|
|
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
Non-diversified | |
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM(a) |
Non-diversified | |
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
Non-diversified | |
| (a) |
The Fund commenced operations on October 6, 2020. |
| 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. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain.
Foreign Currency Translation: Each Funds 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.
Foreign Taxes: The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as Other foreign taxes, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of August 31, 2021, if any, are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The Funds file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Funds may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdictions applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statements of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and record cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
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.
| 38 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
| 3. |
INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Investment Valuation Policies: Each Funds investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) each day that the Funds 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. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board). If a securitys market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Funds assets and liabilities:
| |
Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that days official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price. |
| |
Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that days published NAV. |
| |
Futures contracts are valued based on that days last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded. |
Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (Systematic Fair Value Price). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.
If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a funds NAV and the prices used by the funds underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the funds performance and the performance of the funds 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 Global Valuation Committees assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments). |
The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
39 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| 4. |
SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS |
Warrants: Warrants entitle a fund to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock and are non-income producing. The purchase price and number of shares are subject to adjustment under certain conditions until the expiration date of the warrants, if any. If the price of the underlying stock does not rise above the strike price before the warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and a fund will lose any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.
Securities Lending: Each Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by each Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, each Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.
As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA), the Funds investment adviser, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in each Funds 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 counterpartys 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 partys 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 |
|
Market Value of
Securities on Loan |
|
|
Cash Collateral
Received |
(a) |
|
Non-Cash Collateral
Received |
|
Net Amount | ||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
||||||||||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
$ | 24,461 | $ | 24,461 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
||||||||||||||||
|
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 500,121 | $ | 500,121 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
|
Morgan Stanley |
90,434 | 89,371 | | (1,063 | )(b) | |||||||||||
|
Nomura Securities International, Inc. |
1,856 | 1,856 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 592,411 | $ | 591,348 | $ | | $ | (1,063 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) |
Collateral received in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by each Fund is disclosed in the Funds statement of assets and liabilities. |
| (b) |
The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of August 31, 2021. Additional collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by a counterparty. |
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). BlackRocks indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. Each Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by each Fund.
| 5. |
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk) .
Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment
| 40 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contracts size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (variation margin). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.
6. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of each Funds assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Funds, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).
For its investment advisory services to each Fund, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:
| iShares ETF | Investment Advisory Fee | |||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
0.12 | % | ||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
0.16 | |||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
0.10 | |||
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. 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 funds 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, the iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (the Group 1 Fund), retains 77% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.
Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, each of iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF and iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (the Group 2 Funds), 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 a given calendar year exceeds a specified threshold: (1) the Group 1 Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees, and (2) each Group 2 Fund 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.
Prior to January 1, 2021, the Group 1 Fund retained 75% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained was not less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees. Each Group 2 Fund retained 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained was not 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 the iShares ETF Complex in a calendar year exceeded a specified threshold: (1) the Group 1 Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, retained for the remainder of that calendar year 80% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained could never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
41 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
income plus the collateral investment fees, and (2) each Group 2 Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, retained for the remainder of that calendar year 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained could 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 August 31, 2021, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:
| iShares ETF |
Fees Paid
to BTC |
|||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 207 | ||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
909 | |||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
900 | |||
Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.
Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, transactions executed by the Funds pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales |
Net Realized
Gain (Loss) |
|||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 11,542,509 | $ | 18,058,150 | $ | 829,472 | ||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
18,285,873 | 24,206,181 | (921,658 | ) | ||||||||
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 funds underlying index.
7. PURCHASES AND SALES
For the year ended August 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 48,540,048 | $ | 30,034,197 | ||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
16,593,321 | 6,453,760 | ||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
50,317,181 | 47,470,936 | ||||||
For the year ended August 31, 2021, in-kind transactions were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
In-kind
Purchases |
In-kind Sales |
||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 204,995,149 | $ | 11,527,469 | ||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
2,824,180 | 2,173,662 | ||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
418,604,688 | 57,001,144 | ||||||
8. INCOME TAX INFORMATION
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trusts other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Funds policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of August 31, 2021 and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds financial statements.
| 42 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
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 August 31, 2021, the following permanent differences attributable to realized gains (losses) from in-kind redemptions were reclassified to the following accounts:
| iShares ETF | Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated
Earnings |
||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 2,403,507 | $ | (2,403,507 | ) | |||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
391,303 | (391,303 | ) | |||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
9,173,034 | (9,173,034 | ) | |||||
The tax character of distributions was as follows:
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Period Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 1,761,837 | $ | | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| iShares ETF |
Period Ended
08/31/21 |
|||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 106,031 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| iShares ETF |
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Period Ended
08/31/20 |
||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
||||||||
|
Ordinary income |
$ | 978,561 | $ | | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
As of August 31, 2021, 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 | ||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 861,214 | $ | (129,908 | ) | $ | 20,318,072 | $ | 21,049,378 | |||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
95,259 | (200,147 | ) | 2,497,847 | 2,392,959 | |||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
806,912 | (1,645,353 | ) | 41,180,765 | 40,342,324 |
| (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, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains (losses) on certain futures contracts, timing and recognition of partnership income and the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies. |
A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as passive foreign investment companies. Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.
As of August 31, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| iShares ETF | Tax Cost |
Gross Unrealized
Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized
Depreciation |
Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 224,828,924 | $ | 23,480,867 | $ | (3,164,942 | ) | $ | 20,315,925 | |||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
10,991,086 | 2,824,614 | (254,848 | ) | 2,569,766 | |||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
378,429,615 | 43,925,576 | (2,744,811 | ) | 41,180,765 | |||||||||||
| 9. |
LINE OF CREDIT |
The iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), is a party to a $300 million credit agreement (Credit Agreement) with State Street Bank and Trust Company, which expires on October 15, 2021. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Credit Agreement sets specific sub limits on aggregate borrowings based on two tiers of Participating Funds: $300 million with respect to the funds within Tier 1, including the Fund, and $200 million with respect to Tier 2. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement has the following terms: a
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
43 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was terminated on August 12, 2021.
Effective August 13, 2021, the iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (Participating Funds), is a party to a $800 million credit agreement (Syndicated Credit Agreement) with a group of lenders, which expires on August 12, 2022. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) the one-month LIBOR rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate (not less than zero) plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Funds relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Funds maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, the maximum amount borrowed, the average daily borrowing and the weighted average interest rate, if any, under the Credit Agreement and Syndicated Credit Agreement were as follows:
| iShares ETF |
Maximum
Amount Borrowed |
Average
Borrowing |
Weighted
Average Interest Rates |
|||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
$ | 151,000 | $ | 4,718 | 1.14 | % | ||||||
| 10. |
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 Funds prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.
BFA uses a passive or index approach to try to achieve each Funds investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.
The Funds may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.
Market Risk: 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.
An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a funds investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a funds NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.
| 44 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing brokers customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing brokers customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a funds 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 Funds portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in that country or those countries may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Investment percentages in specific countries are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union, and one or more other countries may withdraw from the European Union and/or abandon the Euro, the common currency of the European Union. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far reaching.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in China or with significant exposure to Chinese issuers or countries. Investments in Chinese securities, including certain Hong Kong-listed securities, involves risks specific to China. China may be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to developed markets. Chinese markets generally continue to experience inefficiency, volatility and pricing anomalies resulting from governmental influence, a lack of publicly available information and/or political and social instability. Internal social unrest or confrontations with other neighboring countries may disrupt economic development in China and result in a greater risk of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation. Incidents involving Chinas or the regions security may cause uncertainty in Chinese markets and may adversely affect the Chinese economy and a funds investments. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of tariffs or other trade barriers, or a downturn in any of the economies of Chinas key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. In addition, measures may be taken to limit the flow of capital and/or sanctions may be imposed, which could prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer fund assets and may also include retaliatory actions, such as seizure of fund assets.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Asia or with significant exposure to Asian issuers or countries. The Asian financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns in several Asian countries regarding monetary policy, government intervention in the markets, rising government debt levels or economic downturns. These events may spread to other countries in Asia and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the funds portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedule of Investments.
LIBORTransition Risk: The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition
|
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S |
45 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
| 11. |
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:
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Period Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
3,500,000 | $ | 224,513,155 | 200,000 | $ | 10,273,686 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(200,000 | ) | (12,394,042 | ) | | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
3,300,000 | $ | 212,119,113 | 200,000 | $ | 10,273,686 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Period Ended
08/31/21 |
||||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
400,000 | $ | 15,095,471 | |||||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(100,000 | ) | (4,329,827 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net increase |
300,000 | $ | 10,765,644 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Year Ended
08/31/21 |
Period Ended
08/31/20 |
|||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares sold |
12,450,000 | $ | 422,115,232 | 200,000 | $ | 5,085,520 | ||||||||||
|
Shares redeemed |
(1,650,000 | ) | (57,610,742 | ) | | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net increase |
10,800,000 | $ | 364,504,490 | 200,000 | $ | 5,085,520 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
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 Trusts 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.
| 12. |
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.
| 46 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust and Shareholders of iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF and iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF
Opinions on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF and iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (three of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the Funds) as of August 31, 2021, the related statements of operations and 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 August 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations and the changes in each of their net assets for each of 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 ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF and iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF: statement of operations for the year ended August 31, 2021 and statements of changes in net assets for the year ended August 31, 2021 and for the period June 16, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020. |
| iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF: statements of operations and changes in net assets for the period October 6, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2021. |
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 August 31, 2021 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
October 22, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.
|
R E P O R T O F I N D E P E N D E N T R E G I S T E R E D P U B L I C A C C O U N T I N G F I R M |
47 |
Important Tax Information (unaudited)
The following percentage, or maximum percentage allowable by law, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 qualified for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders:
| iShares ETF |
Dividends-Received
Deduction |
|||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
91.15 | % | ||
The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Dividend
Income |
|||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 2,283,797 | ||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
139,575 | |||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
1,651,328 | |||
The following amount, or maximum amount allowable by law, is hereby designated as qualified business income for individuals for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Business
Income |
|||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
$ | 7,895 | ||
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 August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Foreign Source
Income Earned |
Foreign
Taxes Paid |
||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 2,613,491 | $ | 208,654 | ||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM |
263,199 | 38,281 | ||||||
The Fund hereby designates the following amount, or maximum amount allowable by law, as qualified short-term capital gains eligible for exemption from U.S. withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021:
| iShares ETF |
Qualified Short-Term
Capital Gain |
|||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA |
$ | 18,060 | ||
| 48 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (each the Fund)
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), including a majority of Board Members who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the Advisory Agreement) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRocks services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Funds service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the 15(c) Committee), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.
Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an at cost service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Funds applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridges 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 Funds Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridges report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.
In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Funds performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds 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 Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on managements representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFAs 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 BFAs compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFAs investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRocks 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
|
B O A R D R E V I E W A N D A P P R O V A L O F I N V E S T M E N T A D V I S O R Y C O N T R A C T |
49 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)
by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFAs estimated profit margin as reflected in the Funds profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).
Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.
Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRocks historical estimated profitability, including BFAs and its affiliates estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Funds investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Boards approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the Other Accounts). The Board acknowledged BFAs 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 managements assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.
The Board also considered the all-inclusive nature of the Funds advisory fee structure, and the Funds expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFAs 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 BlackRocks profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRocks technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Boards conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Funds 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 arms-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.
| 50 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (Rule 18f-4). The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.
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 Funds investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
August 31, 2021
|
Total Cumulative Distributions
for the Fiscal Year |
% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative
Distributions for the Fiscal Year |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iShares ETF |
Net
Investment
|
Net Realized
Capital Gains |
Return of
Capital |
Total Per
Share |
Net
Investment
|
Net Realized
Capital Gains |
Return of
Capital |
Total Per
Share |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE |
$ | 0.823030 | $ | | $ | | $ | 0.823030 | 100 | % | | % | | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI EM(a) |
0.305743 | | 0.047694 | 0.353437 | 87 | | 13 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ESG Advanced MSCI USA(a) |
0.295552 | 0.007686 | 0.004765 | 0.308003 | 96 | 2 | 2 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) |
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholders investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Funds net asset value per share. |
Premium/Discount Information
Information on the Funds net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads can be found at iShares.com.
|
S U P P L E M E N T A L I N F O R M A T I O N |
51 |
Trustee and Officer Information
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 Fund is 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 374 funds as of August 31, 2021. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Charles Park, 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. Park is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated Cecilia H. Herbert 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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
| Robert S. Kapito(a) (64) |
Trustee
(since 2009). |
President, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2006); Vice Chairman of BlackRock, Inc. and Head of BlackRocks 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 Childrens 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) (51) |
Trustee
(since 2019). |
Senior Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Global Head of BlackRocks ETF and Index Investments Business (since 2019); Head of BlackRocks 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. |
| 52 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Trustee and Officer Information (continued)
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||||||
| Name (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||
| John E. Kerrigan (66) |
Trustee (since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs
(since 2019). |
Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002). | Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011). | |||
| Drew E. Lawton (62) |
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). | |||
| John E. Martinez (60) |
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 (57) |
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 (Age) | Position(s) |
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years |
||
| Armando Senra (50) |
President
(since 2019). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007); Head of U.S., Canada and Latam iShares, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2019); Head of Latin America Region, BlackRock, Inc. (2006-2019); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (1994-2006). | ||
| Trent Walker (47) |
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. | ||
| Charles Park (54) | Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006). | Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex (since 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of BFA (since 2006). | ||
| Deepa Damre Smith (46) |
Secretary
(since 2019). |
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2013). | ||
| Scott Radell (52) | Executive Vice President (since 2012). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Head of Portfolio Solutions, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
| Alan Mason (60) | Executive Vice President (since 2016). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009). | ||
| Marybeth Leithead (58) | Executive Vice President (since 2019). | Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2017); Chief Operating Officer of Americas iShares (since 2017); Portfolio Manager, Municipal Institutional & Wealth Management (2009-2016). | ||
|
T R U S T E E A N D O F F I C E R I N F O R M A T I O N |
53 |
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
| |
Go to icsdelivery.com. |
| |
If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor. |
Householding
Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The 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 SECs 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 Companys policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds 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.
| 54 |
2 0 2 1 I S 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 |
Glossary of Terms Used in this Report
Portfolio Abbreviations - Equity
| ADR | American Depositary Receipt | |
| GDR | Global Depositary Receipt | |
| JSC | Joint Stock Company | |
| NVDR | Non-Voting Depositary Receipt | |
| NVS | Non-Voting Shares | |
| PJSC | Public Joint Stock Company | |
| REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust | |
|
G L O S S A R Y O F T E R M S U S E D I N T H I S R E P O R T |
55 |
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 MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
iS-AR-820-0821
|
|
|
(b) Not Applicable
| Item 2 |
Code of Ethics. |
The registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as of the end of the period covered by this report, applicable to the registrants principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. During the period covered by this report, the code of ethics was amended to clarify an inconsistency in to whom persons covered by the code should report suspected violations of the code. The amendment clarifies that such reporting should be made to BlackRocks General Counsel, and retains the alternative option of anonymous reporting following whistleblower policies. Other non-material changes were also made in connection with this amendment. During the period covered by this report, there have been no waivers granted under the code of ethics. The registrant undertakes to provide a copy of the code of ethics to any person upon request, without charge, by calling 1-800-474-2737.
| Item 3 |
Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
The registrants Board of Trustees has determined that the registrant has more than one audit committee financial expert, as that term is defined under Item 3(b) and 3(c), serving on its audit committee. The audit committee financial experts serving on the registrants audit committee are Richard L. Fagnani, John E. Kerrigan, and Madhav V. Rajan, all of whom are independent, as that term is defined under Item 3(a)(2).
| Item 4 |
Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
The principal accountant fees disclosed in items 4(a), 4(b), 4(c), 4(d) and 4(g) are for the thirty-eight series of the registrant for which the fiscal year-end is August 31, 2021 (the Funds), and whose annual financial statements are reported in Item 1.
(a) Audit Fees The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Funds annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were $549,200 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020 and $568,300 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021.
(b) Audit-Related Fees There were no fees billed for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2020 and August 31, 2021 for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Funds financial statements and are not reported under (a) of this Item.
(c) Tax Fees The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the Funds were $139,897 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020 and $368,600 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. These services related to the review of the Funds tax returns and excise tax calculations.
(d) All Other Fees There were no other fees billed in each of the fiscal years ended August 31, 2020 and August 31, 2021 for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in (a) through (c) of this Item.
(e) (1) The registrants audit committee charter, as amended, provides that the audit committee is responsible for the approval, prior to appointment, of the engagement of the principal accountant to annually audit and provide their opinion on the registrants financial statements. The audit committee must also approve, prior to appointment, the engagement of the principal accountant to provide non-audit services to the registrant or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the registrants investment adviser (Adviser Affiliate) that provides ongoing services to the registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.
(2) There were no services described in (b) through (d) above that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) None of the hours expended on the principal accountants engagement to audit the Funds financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 were attributable to work performed by persons other than the principal accountants full-time, permanent employees.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrants principal accountant for services rendered to the Funds, and rendered to the registrants investment adviser, and any Adviser Affiliate that provides ongoing services to the registrant for the last two fiscal years were $139,897 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020 and $368,600 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021.
(h) The registrants audit committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services rendered to the registrants investment adviser and any Adviser Affiliate that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, if any, is compatible with maintaining the principal accountants independence, and has determined that the provision of these services, if any, does not compromise the principal accountants independence.
| Item 5 |
Audit Committee of Listed Registrants |
(a) The registrant is a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act of 1934 and has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act of 1934. The registrants audit committee members are Richard L. Fagnani, John E. Kerrigan, and Madhav V. Rajan.
(b) Not applicable.
| Item 6 |
Investments. |
(a) Schedules of investments are included as part of the reports to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
(b) Not applicable.
| Item 7 |
Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable to the registrant.
| Item 8 |
Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable to the registrant.
| Item 9 |
Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
Not applicable to the registrant.
| Item 10 |
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrants Board of Trustees.
| Item 11 |
Controls and Procedures. |
(a) The President (the registrants Principal Executive Officer) and Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (the registrants Principal Financial Officer) have concluded that the registrants disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act of 1934.
(b) There were no changes in the registrants internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
| Item 12 |
Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable to the registrant.
Item 13 Exhibits.
(a) (1) Code of Ethics is not filed as an exhibit; please refer to Item 2.
(a) (2) Section 302 Certifications are attached.
(a) (3) Not applicable.
(a) (4) Not applicable.
(b) Section 906 Certifications are attached.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
iShares Trust
| By: |
/s/ Armando Senra |
|||
| Armando Senra, President (Principal Executive Officer) |
Date: November 03, 2021
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By: |
/s/ Armando Senra |
|||
| Armando Senra, President (Principal Executive Officer) |
Date:November 03, 2021
| By: |
/s/ Trent Walker |
|||
| Trent Walker, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
Date: November 03, 2021
EX-99.CERT
N-CSR Exhibit for Item 13(a)(2): SECTION 302 CERTIFICATIONS
I, Armando Senra, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of iShares Trust for the following thirty-eight series: iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF, iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF, iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF, iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF, iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI China ETF, iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Denmark ETF, iShares MSCI Finland ETF, iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF, iShares MSCI India ETF, iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF, iShares MSCI Ireland ETF, iShares MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF, iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF, iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF, iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF, iShares MSCI Norway ETF, iShares MSCI Peru ETF, iShares MSCI Philippines ETF, iShares MSCI Poland ETF, iShares MSCI Qatar ETF, iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF, iShares MSCI UAE ETF, iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
| Date: | November 03, 2021 | /s/ Armando Senra |
President (Principal Executive Officer) |
|||||
|
Armando Senra [Signature] |
[Title] |
EX-99.CERT
N-CSR Exhibit for Item 13(a)(2): SECTION 302 CERTIFICATIONS
I, Trent Walker, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of iShares Trust for the following thirty-eight series: iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Canada ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Germany ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF, iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF, iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF, iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF, iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF, iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF, iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI China ETF, iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Denmark ETF, iShares MSCI Finland ETF, iShares MSCI Germany Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF, iShares MSCI India ETF, iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF, iShares MSCI Ireland ETF, iShares MSCI Japan Equal Weighted ETF, iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF, iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF, iShares MSCI New Zealand ETF, iShares MSCI Norway ETF, iShares MSCI Peru ETF, iShares MSCI Philippines ETF, iShares MSCI Poland ETF, iShares MSCI Qatar ETF, iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF, iShares MSCI UAE ETF, iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
| Date: | November 03, 2021 | /s/ Trent Walker |
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
|||||
|
Trent Walker [Signature] |
[Title] |
Ex.99.906 CERT
N-CSR Exhibit for Item 13(b): CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Armando Senra, President (Principal Executive Officer), and Trent Walker, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer), of iShares Trust (the Registrant), each certify, to his knowledge, that:
1. The Registrants periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended August 31, 2021 (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.
| Date: | November 03, 2021 | /s/ Armando Senra |
President (Principal Executive Officer) |
|||||
|
Armando Senra [Signature] |
[Title] | |||||||
| Date: | November 03, 2021 | /s/ Trent Walker |
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
|||||
|
Trent Walker [Signature] |
[Title] |