N-CSR 1 d601118dncsr.htm PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS 16 Prudential Investment Portfolios 16

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:    811-08915
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:    Prudential Investment Portfolios 16
Address of principal executive offices:    655 Broad Street, 6th Floor
     Newark, New Jersey 07102
Name and address of agent for service:    Andrew R. French
     655 Broad Street, 6th Floor
     Newark, New Jersey 07102
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:    800-225-1852
Date of fiscal year end:    10/31/2023
Date of reporting period:    10/31/2023


Item 1 – Reports to Stockholders


 

LOGO

PGIM INCOME BUILDER FUND

 

    

ANNUAL REPORT

OCTOBER 31, 2023

 

 

LOGO

To enroll in e-delivery, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery


Table of Contents

 

Letter from the President

         3  

Your Fund’s Performance

         4  

Growth of a $10,000 Investment

         5  

Strategy and Performance Overview

         8  

Fees and Expenses

         10  

Holdings and Financial Statements

         13  

Approval of Advisory Agreements

           

 

 

 

This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

The views expressed in this report and information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings are for the period covered by this report and are subject to change thereafter.

Mutual funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, a Prudential Financial company and member SIPC. Jennison Associates LLC and PGIM, Inc. (PGIM) are registered investment advisers and Prudential Financial companies. PGIM Quantitative Solutions is the primary business name of PGIM Quantitative Solutions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of PGIM. © 2023 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. Jennison Associates, Jennison, PGIM, and the PGIM logo are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

 

2    Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


Letter from the President

 

LOGO         

Dear Shareholder:

 

We hope you find the annual report for the PGIM Income Builder Fund informative and useful. The report covers performance for the 12-month period that ended October 31, 2023.

 

Although central banks raised interest rates aggressively to tame surging inflation during the period, the global economy and financial markets demonstrated resilience. Employers continued hiring, consumers continued spending, home prices rose, and recession fears receded.

Early in the period, stocks began a rally that eventually ended a bear market and continued to rise globally for much of 2023 as inflation cooled and the Federal Reserve (the Fed) slowed the pace of its rate hikes. However, stocks declined late in the period when the Fed signaled that rates may remain elevated longer than investors had expected. For the entire period, large-cap US stocks and equities in international markets posted gains, while small-cap US stocks declined.

Bond markets benefited during the period as the Fed moderated its rate-hiking cycle, and the higher level of interest rates offered investors an additional cushion from fixed income volatility. US and global investment-grade bonds, along with US high yield corporate bonds and emerging market debt, all posted gains.

Regarding your investments with PGIM, we believe it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio of funds consistent with your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals. Your financial advisor can help you create a diversified investment plan that may include funds covering all the basic asset classes and that reflects your personal investor profile and risk tolerance. However, diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

At PGIM Investments, we provide access to active investment strategies across the global markets in the pursuit of consistent outperformance for investors. PGIM is the world’s 14th-largest investment manager with more than $1.3 trillion in assets under management. Our scale and investment expertise allow us to deliver a diversified suite of actively managed solutions across a broad spectrum of asset classes and investment styles.

Thank you for choosing our family of funds.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Stuart S. Parker, President

PGIM Income Builder Fund

December 15, 2023

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    3


Your Fund’s Performance (unaudited)

Performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the past performance data quoted. An investor may obtain performance data as of the most recent month-end by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852.

 

    Average Annual Total Returns as of 10/31/23
    One Year (%)   Five Years (%)   Ten Years (%)       Since Inception (%)    

Class A

       

(with sales charges)

  -0.83   2.10   2.49  

(without sales charges)

  3.84   3.04   2.96  

Class C

       

(with sales charges)

  2.04   2.29   2.19  

(without sales charges)

  3.02   2.29   2.19  

Class R

       

(without sales charges)

  3.46   2.79   2.71  

Class Z

       

(without sales charges)

  4.07   3.30   3.21  

Class R6

       

(without sales charges)

  4.07   3.30   N/A   3.20 (12/30/2016)

S&P 500 Index

       
  10.14   11.01   11.18  

Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index

       
    0.36   -0.06   0.88  

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of 10/31/23 Since Inception (%)
    

Class R6

 (12/30/2016) 

S&P 500 Index

   11.59

Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index

   0.12

Since Inception returns are provided for any share class with less than 10 fiscal years of returns. Since Inception returns for the Indexes are measured from the closest month-end to the class’s inception date.

 

4    Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


Growth of a $10,000 Investment (unaudited)

 

LOGO

 

The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class Z shares with a similar investment in the S&P 500 Index and the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index by portraying the initial account values at the beginning of the 10-year period for Class Z shares (October 31, 2013) and the account values at the end of the current fiscal year (October 31, 2023) as measured on a quarterly basis. For purposes of the graph, and unless otherwise indicated, it has been assumed that (a) all recurring fees (including management fees) were deducted and (b) all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The line graph provides information for Class Z shares only. As indicated in the tables provided earlier, performance for other share classes will vary due to the differing fees and expenses applicable to each share class (as indicated in the following paragraphs). Without waiver of fees and/or expense reimbursements, if any, the returns would have been lower.

Past performance does not predict future performance. Total returns and the ending account values in the graphs include changes in share price and reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions in a hypothetical investment for the periods shown. The Fund’s total returns do not reflect the deduction of income taxes on an individual’s investment. Taxes may reduce your actual investment returns on income or gains paid by the Fund or any gains you may realize if you sell your shares.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    5


Your Fund’s Performance (continued)

 

The returns in the tables do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or following the redemption of Fund shares. The average annual total returns take into account applicable sales charges, which are described for each share class in the table below.

 

           
      Class A              Class C          Class R    Class Z    Class R6
           
Maximum initial sales charge    4.50% of the public offering price    None    None    None    None
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) (as a percentage of the lower of the original purchase price or the net asset value at redemption)   

1.00% on sales of $1 million or more made within 12 months of purchase

  

1.00% on sales made within 12 months of purchase

   None    None    None
Annual distribution and service (12b-1) fees (shown as a percentage of average daily net assets)    0.30% (0.25% currently)    1.00%    0.75% (0.50% currently)    None    None

Benchmark Definitions

S&P 500 Index*—The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of over 500 stocks of large US public companies. It gives a broad look at how large company stocks in the United States have performed.

*The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by PGIM, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Copyright © 2023 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part are prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information on any of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC’s indices please visit www.spdji.com. S&P® is a registered trademark of S&P Global and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC.

Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index—The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index is unmanaged and represents securities that are taxable and US dollar denominated. It covers the US investment-grade fixed rate bond market, with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities.

Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The returns for the Indexes would be lower if they included the effects of sales charges, operating expenses of a mutual fund, or taxes that may be paid by an investor.

 

6    Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


    

 

Presentation of Fund Holdings as of 10/31/23

 

  Ten Largest Holdings    Asset Class        % of Net Assets    

PGIM Emerging Markets Debt Hard Currency Fund (Class R6)

   Fixed Income    15.6%

PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF

   Affiliated Exchange-Traded Funds    13.3%

PGIM Quant Solutions International Equity Fund (Class R6)

   International Equity    11.2%

PGIM Jennison MLP Fund (Class R6)

   Domestic Equity    10.9%

PGIM Real Estate Income Fund (Class R6)

   Domestic Equity    9.9%

PGIM Core Conservative Bond Fund (Class R6)

   Fixed Income    9.8%

PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF

   Affiliated Exchange-Traded Funds    9.2%

SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF

   Unaffiliated Exchange-Traded Funds    1.6%

Invesco Preferred ETF

   Unaffiliated Exchange-Traded Funds    1.5%

iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

   Unaffiliated Exchange-Traded Funds    1.0%

Holdings reflect only investments and are subject to change.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    7


Strategy and Performance Overview* (unaudited)

 

How did the Fund perform?

The PGIM Income Builder Fund’s Class Z shares returned 4.07% in the 12-month reporting period that ended October 31, 2023, outperforming the 0.36% return of the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index (the Index) and underperforming the 10.14% return of the S&P 500 Index.

What were the market conditions?

 

Following a difficult prior period, risk assets rallied over the current reporting period, led by large-cap US equities.

 

Inflation continued to moderate through the period. Notwithstanding a small uptick in the final quarter, global central banks generally paused their hiking cycles to gauge the full effect of previous rate increases.

 

The US economy posted stronger-than-expected numbers throughout the period, driven by strong consumption and a bottoming of the housing market that is seeing green shoots despite historically high mortgage rates.

 

Despite the downtrend in inflation, economic strength kept the US Federal Reserve wary, with the central bank signaling it was in no hurry to cut interest rates.

 

Longer-term Treasury rates increased over the period, keeping fixed income returns muted. Credit spreads stayed flat for the period, reflecting the strength seen in equity markets.

What worked?

 

The Fund’s strategic exposure to master limited partnerships (MLPs) enhanced returns relative to the Index during the reporting period. This energy midstream asset class benefited from a rise in energy prices in the later part of 2023 and a chronic underinvestment in the sector’s infrastructure over the previous five years.

 

A diversifying position in international developed equities, which exhibited more favorable valuation and yield characteristics than domestic stocks, provided a tailwind.

 

Among the Fund’s managers, the core fixed income manager performed well due to an emphasis on higher exposure to credit, while the international equity manager performed well as a result of a focus on better-valued stocks.

What didn’t work?

 

A tactical shift to maintain higher bond exposure in the Fund for risk-mitigation purposes detracted from performance, as core fixed income was among the worst-performing asset classes for the reporting period.

 

A tactical use of larger cash positions also detracted from returns. Although cash proved to be a better-performing asset then fixed income, it trailed riskier assets as investors adopted an optimistic growth outlook.

 

The Fund’s MLP and core domestic equity managers underperformed their corresponding indexes by the widest margins. These managers invest in

 

8    Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


    

 

  higher-quality assets and thus have lower betas relative to their respective asset classes. (Beta is a measure of the volatility or risk of a security or portfolio compared to the market or index.) During periods of strong performance, such as the current period, it is not surprising to find such a manager’s strong performance lagging the relevant index.

Did the Fund use derivatives?

The Fund did not use any derivative instruments at the aggregate level during the reporting period, although the subadvisors of the underlying funds may use them, as is permitted in managing their respective strategies. The use of derivatives by the underlying fund subadvisors did not have a material effect on the Fund’s performance.

Current outlook

 

Global economic activity remained resilient through the reporting period despite considerable monetary tightening by global central banks over the past 18 months, which prompted speculation earlier in 2023 that a US recession could be imminent.

 

The most likely economic scenario is one of modest US growth at the end of 2023 and into 2024, with a lower risk of recession in the near term.

 

The dominance of a small group of mega-cap stocks moderated during the final quarter of the period following exceptional performance earlier in the period.

 

The final quarter of the period also likely marked the trough in the earnings cycle, as growth expectations for future quarters have turned positive, moving past the negativity seen in the second quarter of 2023.

 

Despite improving growth expectations, PGIM is cognizant that the high valuations of US equities already price in an optimistic scenario, making it difficult to see much further upside. While sector composition often explains much of the difference in valuation between the US and the rest of the world, US stocks are expensive even after accounting for composition effects.

 

Although declining inflation and potential economic weakness support a soft landing scenario, stubbornly high inflation remains a risk, with central banks increasingly likely to keep rates higher for longer than previously expected.

*This strategy and performance overview, which discusses what strategies or holdings (including derivatives, if applicable) affected the Fund’s performance, is compiled based on how the Fund performed relative to the Index and is viewed for performance attribution purposes at the aggregate Fund level, which in most instances will not directly correlate to the amounts disclosed in the Statement of Operations which conform to US generally accepted accounting principles.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    9


Fees and Expenses (unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemptions, as applicable, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses, as applicable. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 held through the six-month period ended October 31, 2023. The example is for illustrative purposes only; you should consult the Prospectus for information on initial and subsequent minimum investment requirements.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the 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.

The Fund’s transfer agent may charge additional fees to holders of certain accounts that are not included in the expenses shown in the table on the following page. These fees apply to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Section 403(b) accounts. As of the close of the six-month period covered by the table, IRA fees included an annual maintenance fee of $15 per account (subject to a maximum annual maintenance fee of $25 for all accounts held by the same shareholder). Section 403(b) accounts are charged an annual $25 fiduciary maintenance fee. Some of the fees may vary in amount, or may be waived, based on your total account balance or the number of PGIM funds, including the Fund, that you own. You should consider the additional fees that were charged to your Fund account over the six-month period when you estimate the total ongoing expenses paid over the period and the impact of these fees on your ending account value, as these additional expenses are not reflected in the information

 

10    Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


    

 

provided in the expense table. Additional fees have the effect of reducing investment returns.

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 sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     
    PGIM Income Builder Fund      

Beginning

    Account Value    

May 1, 2023

 

Ending

Account Value

    October 31, 2023    

 

Annualized

Expense

Ratio Based on

the

    Six-Month Period    

 

Expenses Paid

During the

  Six-Month Period*  

     

Class A

  Actual   $1,000.00   $   972.10   0.96%   $4.77
     
  Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,020.37   0.96%   $4.89
     

Class C

  Actual   $1,000.00   $   968.80   1.71%   $8.49
     
  Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,016.59   1.71%   $8.69
     

Class R

  Actual   $1,000.00   $   970.80   1.21%   $6.01
     
  Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,019.11   1.21%   $6.16
     

Class Z

  Actual   $1,000.00   $   973.50   0.71%   $3.53
     
  Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,021.63   0.71%   $3.62
     

Class R6

  Actual   $1,000.00   $   973.50   0.71%   $3.53
     
    Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,021.63   0.71%   $3.62

*Fund expenses (net of fee waivers or subsidies, if any) for each share class are equal to the annualized expense ratio for each share class (provided in the table), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 184 days in the six-month period ended October 31, 2023, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 (to reflect the six-month period). Expenses presented in the table include the expenses of any underlying portfolios in which the Fund may invest.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    11


Schedule of Investments

as of October 31, 2023

 

  Description    Shares                        Value            

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS    97.8%

     

AFFILIATED EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS    22.5%

     

PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF

     522,500      $ 20,592,038  

PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF

     906,600        29,650,353  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL AFFILIATED EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
(cost $60,794,744)(wa)

        50,242,391  
     

 

 

 

AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS — 58.0%

     

Domestic Equity — 20.8%

     

PGIM Jennison MLP Fund (Class R6)

     3,385,942        24,311,062  

PGIM Real Estate Income Fund (Class R6)

     3,763,416        22,091,250  
     

 

 

 
        46,402,312  
     

 

 

 

Fixed Income — 25.4%

     

PGIM Core Conservative Bond Fund (Class R6)

     2,716,732        21,896,859  

PGIM Emerging Markets Debt Hard Currency (Class R6)

     5,442,875        34,888,831  
     

 

 

 
        56,785,690  
     

 

 

 

International Equity — 11.8%

     

PGIM Quant Solutions Emerging Markets Equity Fund (Class R6)

     130,841        1,331,960  

PGIM Quant Solutions International Equity Fund (Class R6)

     3,899,956        25,076,714  
     

 

 

 
        26,408,674  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS
(cost $138,081,202)(wa)

        129,596,676  
     

 

 

 

COMMON STOCKS    12.9%

     

Aerospace & Defense    0.5%

                 

RTX Corp.

     3,896        317,096  

Safran SA (France)

     5,198        812,029  
     

 

 

 
        1,129,125  

Automobile Components    0.2%

                 

Aptiv PLC*

     4,917        428,762  

Banks    0.3%

                 

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     4,001        556,379  

Truist Financial Corp.

     7,674        217,635  
     

 

 

 
        774,014  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    13


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of October 31, 2023

 

  Description    Shares                        Value            

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

     

Beverages    0.3%

                 

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

     6,448      $ 364,248  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     2,087        340,765  
     

 

 

 
        705,013  

Biotechnology    1.1%

                 

AbbVie, Inc.

     9,288        1,311,280  

Amgen, Inc.

     4,416        1,129,171  
     

 

 

 
        2,440,451  

Chemicals    0.3%

                 

PPG Industries, Inc.

     5,728        703,227  

Commercial Services & Supplies    0.2%

                 

Waste Management, Inc.

     2,043        335,726  

Communications Equipment    0.3%

                 

Cisco Systems, Inc.

     12,585        656,056  

Consumer Finance    0.1%

                 

American Express Co.

     2,170        316,885  

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail    0.6%

                 

Walmart, Inc.

     8,215        1,342,413  

Diversified Telecommunication Services    0.6%

                 

AT&T, Inc.

     43,729        673,428  

BCE, Inc. (Canada)

     16,026        595,045  
     

 

 

 
        1,268,473  

Electric Utilities    0.2%

                 

FirstEnergy Corp.

     4,120        146,672  

PNM Resources, Inc.

     5,905        249,545  
     

 

 

 
        396,217  

Entertainment    0.3%

                 

Electronic Arts, Inc.

     6,255        774,306  

Financial Services    0.1%

                 

Visa, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     839        197,249  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

14


    

 

    

 

  Description    Shares                        Value            

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

     

Food Products    0.3%

                 

General Mills, Inc.

     2,992      $ 195,198  

Kraft Heinz Co. (The)

     17,549        552,092  
     

 

 

 
        747,290  

Ground Transportation    0.3%

                 

Canadian National Railway Co. (Canada)

     3,174        335,746  

Union Pacific Corp.

     1,620        336,328  
     

 

 

 
        672,074  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies    0.5%

                 

Boston Scientific Corp.*

     22,205        1,136,674  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure    0.3%

                 

McDonald’s Corp.

     2,720        713,102  

Household Products    0.2%

                 

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)

     2,440        366,073  

Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers    0.2%

                 

RWE AG (Germany)

     4,301        164,579  

Vistra Corp.

     9,444        309,008  
     

 

 

 
        473,587  

Industrial REITs    0.4%

                 

Prologis, Inc.

     7,944        800,358  

Insurance    0.3%

                 

MetLife, Inc.

     12,366        742,084  

IT Services    0.3%

                 

International Business Machines Corp.

     4,731        684,292  

Life Sciences Tools & Services    0.1%

                 

Danaher Corp.

     1,434        275,357  

Machinery    0.2%

                 

Caterpillar, Inc.

     1,284        290,248  

Timken Co. (The)

     3,113        215,171  
     

 

 

 
        505,419  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    15


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of October 31, 2023

 

  Description    Shares                        Value            

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

     

Metals & Mining    0.3%

                 

Arch Resources, Inc.

     2,924      $ 441,027  

Newmont Corp.

     3,939        147,594  
     

 

 

 
        588,621  

Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)    0.1%

                 

Starwood Property Trust, Inc.

     15,804        280,521  

Multi-Utilities    0.1%

                 

Ameren Corp.

     3,670        277,856  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels    0.8%

                 

BP PLC (United Kingdom), ADR

     5,045        184,546  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

     5,301        561,111  

Phillips 66

     5,421        618,374  

Shell PLC (Netherlands), ADR

     5,509        358,856  
     

 

 

 
        1,722,887  

Pharmaceuticals    1.1%

                 

AstraZeneca PLC (United Kingdom), ADR

     19,807        1,252,397  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     7,946        409,457  

Eli Lilly & Co.

     1,558        863,023  
     

 

 

 
        2,524,877  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment    1.2%

                 

Applied Materials, Inc.

     5,803        768,027  

Broadcom, Inc.

     782        657,951  

Intel Corp.

     12,728        464,572  

Lam Research Corp.

     1,390        817,626  
     

 

 

 
        2,708,176  

Software    0.2%

                 

Microsoft Corp.

     1,175        397,279  

Specialty Retail    0.5%

                 

Foot Locker, Inc.

     12,624        264,978  

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*

     891        829,022  
     

 

 

 
        1,094,000  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

16


    

 

    

 

  Description    Shares                        Value            

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

     

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals    0.4%

                 

Apple, Inc.

     4,551      $ 777,174  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(cost $25,216,251)

        28,955,618  
     

 

 

 

PREFERRED STOCK    0.3%

     

Electric Utilities

                 

NextEra Energy, Inc., CVT, 6.926%, Maturing 09/01/25
(cost $775,661)

     15,911        597,299  
     

 

 

 

UNAFFILIATED EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS    4.1%

     

Invesco Preferred ETF(a)

     313,588        3,223,684  

iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

     57,000        2,310,210  

SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF

     56,000        3,629,920  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL UNAFFILIATED EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
(cost $10,069,373)

        9,163,814  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $234,937,231)

        218,555,798  
     

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS    3.9%

     

AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS

     

PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund

     5,420,471        5,420,471  

PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund
(cost $3,312,545; includes $3,300,024 of cash collateral for securities on loan)(b)

     3,314,263        3,312,606  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $8,733,016)(wa)

        8,733,077  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS    101.7%
(cost $243,670,247)

        227,288,875  

Liabilities in excess of other assets (1.7)%

        (3,811,568
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS 100.0%

      $ 223,477,307  
     

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a list of the abbreviation(s) used in the annual report:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

CVT—Convertible Security

ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund

MLP—Master Limited Partnership

REITs—Real Estate Investment Trust

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    17


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of October 31, 2023

 

SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate

SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts

 

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

All or a portion of security is on loan. The aggregate market value of such securities, including those sold and pending settlement, is $3,214,556; cash collateral of $3,300,024 (included in liabilities) was received with which the Fund purchased highly liquid short-term investments. In the event of significant appreciation in value of securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the Fund may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities and such shortfall is remedied the following business day.

(b)

Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment.

(wa)

Represents investments in Funds affiliated with the Manager.

Fair Value Measurements:

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices generally in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2—quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, foreign currency exchange rates and other observable inputs.

Level 3—unobservable inputs for securities valued in accordance with Board approved fair valuation procedures.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of October 31, 2023 in valuing such portfolio securities:

 

     Level 1            Level 2            Level 3        

Investments in Securities

              

Assets

              

Long-Term Investments

              

Affiliated Exchange-Traded Funds

   $ 50,242,391                 $                 $             

Affiliated Mutual Funds

              

Domestic Equity

     46,402,312                      

Fixed Income

     56,785,690                      

International Equity.

     26,408,674                      

Common Stocks

              

Aerospace & Defense

     317,096          812,029             

Automobile Components

     428,762                      

Banks

     774,014                      

Beverages

     705,013                      

Biotechnology

     2,440,451                      

Chemicals

     703,227                      

Commercial Services & Supplies

     335,726                      

Communications Equipment.

     656,056                      

Consumer Finance

     316,885                      

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail.

     1,342,413                      

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     1,268,473                      

Electric Utilities

     396,217                      

Entertainment.

     774,306                      

Financial Services

     197,249                      

Food Products

     747,290                      

Ground Transportation

     672,074                      

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

18


    

 

    

 

     Level 1            Level 2            Level 3        

Investments in Securities (continued)

              

Assets (continued)

              

Long-Term Investments (continued)

              

Common Stocks (continued)

              

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

   $ 1,136,674                 $                 $             

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     713,102                      

Household Products.

     366,073                      

Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers

     309,008          164,579             

Industrial REITs

     800,358                      

Insurance

     742,084                      

IT Services

     684,292                      

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     275,357                      

Machinery

     505,419                      

Metals & Mining

     588,621                      

Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

     280,521                      

Multi-Utilities

     277,856                      

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     1,722,887                      

Pharmaceuticals

     2,524,877                      

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     2,708,176                      

Software

     397,279                      

Specialty Retail

     1,094,000                      

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     777,174                      

Preferred Stock

              

Electric Utilities

     597,299                      

Unaffiliated Exchange-Traded Funds

     9,163,814                      

Short-Term Investments

              

Affiliated Mutual Funds

     8,733,077                      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total

   $ 226,312,267          $976,608          $—    
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Industry Classification:

The industry classification of investments and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of October 31, 2023 were as follows:

 

Affiliated Mutual Funds (1.5% represents investments purchased with collateral from securities on loan)

    61.9

Affiliated Exchange-Traded Funds

    22.5  

Unaffiliated Exchange-Traded Funds

    4.1  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

    1.2  

Pharmaceuticals

    1.1  

Biotechnology

    1.1  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

    0.8  

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail

    0.6  

Diversified Telecommunication Services

    0.6  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

    0.5  

Aerospace & Defense

     0.5

Specialty Retail

     0.5  

Electric Utilities

     0.5  

Industrial REITs

     0.4  

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     0.4  

Entertainment

     0.3  

Banks

     0.3  

Food Products

     0.3  

Insurance

     0.3  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     0.3  

Beverages

     0.3  

Chemicals

     0.3  
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    19


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of October 31, 2023

 

Industry Classification (continued):

 

IT Services

     0.3

Ground Transportation

     0.3  

Communications Equipment

     0.3  

Metals & Mining

     0.3  

Machinery

     0.2  

Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers

     0.2  

Automobile Components

     0.2  

Software

     0.2  

Household Products

     0.2  

Commercial Services & Supplies

     0.2  

Consumer Finance

     0.1

Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

     0.1  

Multi-Utilities

     0.1  

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     0.1  

Financial Services

     0.1  
  

 

 

 
     101.7  

Liabilities in excess of other assets

     (1.7
  

 

 

 
     100.0
  

 

 

 
 

 

Financial Instruments/Transactions—Summary of Offsetting and Netting Arrangements:

The Fund entered into financial instruments/transactions during the reporting period that are either offset in accordance with current requirements or are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements that permit offsetting. The information about offsetting and related netting arrangements for financial instruments/transactions where the legal right to set-off exists is presented in the summary below.

Offsetting of financial instrument/transaction assets and liabilities:

 

       
Description   Gross Market
Value of
Recognized
Assets/(Liabilities)
  Collateral
Pledged/(Received)(1)
  Net
Amount

Securities on Loan

  $3,214,556   $(3,214,556)   $—

 

(1)

Collateral amount disclosed by the Fund is limited to the market value of financial instruments/transactions.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

20


Statement of Assets and Liabilities

as of October 31, 2023

 

Assets

        

Investments at value, including securities on loan of $3,214,556:

  

Unaffiliated investments (cost $36,061,285)

   $ 38,716,731  

Affiliated investments (cost $207,608,962)

     188,572,144  

Cash

     27  

Foreign currency, at value (cost $4)

     4  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     194,427  

Dividends receivable

     40,289  

Tax reclaim receivable

     33,357  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     3,095  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     227,560,074  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payable to broker for collateral for securities on loan

     3,300,024  

Payable for Fund shares purchased

     533,777  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     131,008  

Distribution fee payable

     53,704  

Dividends payable

     33,501  

Affiliated transfer agent fee payable

     15,926  

Management fee payable

     13,497  

Trustees’ fees payable

     1,330  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     4,082,767  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 223,477,307  
  

 

 

 
          

Net assets were comprised of:

  

Shares of beneficial interest, at par

   $ 26,355  

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     268,074,600  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

     (44,623,648
  

 

 

 

Net assets, October 31, 2023

   $ 223,477,307  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    21


Statement of Assets and Liabilities

as of October 31, 2023

 

Class A

                 

Net asset value and redemption price per share,

($114,552,890 ÷ 13,499,056 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)

   $ 8.49              

Maximum sales charge (4.50% of offering price)

     0.40     
  

 

 

    

Maximum offering price to public

   $ 8.89     
  

 

 

    

Class C

                 

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share,

($32,712,486 ÷ 3,952,411 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)

   $ 8.28     
  

 

 

    

Class R

                 

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share,

($920,206 ÷ 108,630 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)

   $ 8.47     
  

 

 

    

Class Z

                 

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share,

($70,271,628 ÷ 8,208,277 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)

   $ 8.56     
  

 

 

    

Class R6

                 

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share,

($5,020,097 ÷ 586,757 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)

   $ 8.56     
  

 

 

    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

22


Statement of Operations

Year Ended October 31, 2023

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

        

Income

  

Affiliated dividend income

   $ 11,756,192  

Unaffiliated dividend income (net of $9,869 foreign withholding tax)

     1,895,150  

Income from securities lending, net (including affiliated income of $59,562)

     59,623  
  

 

 

 

Total income

     13,710,965  
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Management fee

     1,733,185  

Distribution fee(a)

     791,395  

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses (including affiliated expense of $88,455)(a)

     279,480  

Custodian and accounting fees

     96,203  

Audit fee

     56,180  

Registration fees(a)

     54,854  

Professional fees

     45,205  

Shareholders’ reports

     38,229  

Trustees’ fees

     13,133  

Miscellaneous

     22,705  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     3,130,569  

Less: Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(a)

     (1,989,254

 Distribution fee waiver(a)

     (62,061
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     1,079,254  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

     12,631,711  
  

 

 

 

Realized And Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Investment And Foreign Currency Transactions

        

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions (including affiliated of $(9,321,414))

     (7,517,443

Foreign currency transactions

     (429
  

 

 

 
     (7,517,872
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

  

Investments (including affiliated of $9,128,179)

     5,104,876  

Foreign currencies

     351  
  

 

 

 
     5,105,227  
  

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (2,412,645
  

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ 10,219,066  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)

Class specific expenses and waivers were as follows:

 

    

Class A

   

Class C

   

Class R

   

Class Z

   

Class R6

 

Distribution fee

     358,194       426,115       7,086              

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses

     158,076       43,124       1,513       76,548       219  

Registration fees

     14,398       10,016       7,559       13,471       9,410  

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement

     (969,470     (338,781     (15,377     (617,907     (47,719

Distribution fee waiver

     (59,699           (2,362            

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    23


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    

 

    

Year Ended

October 31,

 
  

 

 

 
     2023     2022  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

                

Operations

    

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 12,631,711     $ 11,300,808  

Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (7,517,872     4,028,774  

Affiliated net capital gain distributions received

           7,918,529  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currencies

     5,105,227       (68,149,014
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     10,219,066       (44,900,903
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions

    

Distributions from distributable earnings

    

Class A

     (5,717,326     (7,395,596

Class C

     (1,807,829     (3,102,363

Class R

     (42,923     (65,167

Class Z

     (3,975,458     (5,774,126

Class R6

     (286,770     (320,814
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (11,830,306     (16,658,066
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Tax return of capital distributions

    

Class A

           (72,944

Class C

           (30,599

Class R

           (643

Class Z

           (56,951

Class R6

           (3,164
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
           (164,301
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fund share transactions (Net of share conversions)

    

Net proceeds from shares sold

     15,965,839       26,736,622  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     11,116,106       15,704,435  

Cost of shares purchased

     (55,455,373     (67,614,103
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions

     (28,373,428     (25,173,046
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     (29,984,668     (86,896,316

Net Assets:

                

Beginning of year

     253,461,975       340,358,291  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 223,477,307     $ 253,461,975  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

24


Financial Highlights

 

   

Class A Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.58       $10.54       $8.99       $9.69       $9.12  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.45       0.37       0.31       0.33       0.36  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions      (0.11     (1.79     1.59       (0.67     0.62  

Total from investment operations

     0.34       (1.42     1.90       (0.34     0.98  

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (0.43     (0.53     (0.32     (0.36     (0.40

Tax return of capital distributions

     -       (0.01     (0.03     -       (0.01

Total dividends and distributions

     (0.43     (0.54     (0.35     (0.36     (0.41

Net asset value, end of year

     $8.49       $8.58       $10.54       $8.99       $9.69  

Total Return(b):

     3.84     (14.00 )%      21.34     (3.44 )%      11.01
                                          
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

            

Net assets, end of year (000)

     $114,553       $117,163       $146,331       $130,648       $156,683  

Average net assets (000)

     $119,398       $131,832       $144,478       $141,977       $153,066  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        

Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     0.39     0.43     0.43     0.80     0.85

Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     1.25     1.24     1.22     1.28     1.28

Net investment income (loss)

     5.10     3.85     3.04     3.61     3.82

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     28     59     53     84     110

 

(a)

Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.

(b)

Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    25


Financial Highlights (continued)

 

   

Class C Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.38       $10.30       $8.79       $9.49       $8.94  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.39       0.29       0.23       0.26       0.28  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions      (0.13     (1.74     1.55       (0.66     0.61  

Total from investment operations

     0.26       (1.45     1.78       (0.40     0.89  

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (0.36     (0.46     (0.24     (0.30     (0.33

Tax return of capital distributions

     -       (0.01     (0.03     -       (0.01

Total dividends and distributions

     (0.36     (0.47     (0.27     (0.30     (0.34

Net asset value, end of year

     $8.28       $8.38       $10.30       $8.79       $9.49  

Total Return(b):

     3.02     (14.60 )%      20.47     (4.22 )%      10.32
                                          
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

            

Net assets, end of year (000)

     $32,712       $48,573       $72,376       $75,284       $100,653  

Average net assets (000)

     $42,612       $61,083       $76,740       $87,849       $103,441  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        

Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     1.14     1.18     1.18     1.55     1.60

Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     1.94     1.92     1.89     1.96     1.96

Net investment income (loss)

     4.51     3.13     2.32     2.88     3.09

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     28     59     53     84     110

 

(a)

Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.

(b)

Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

26


    

 

   

Class R Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.57       $10.52       $8.97       $9.68       $9.10  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.43       0.36       0.28       0.31       0.34  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (0.13     (1.80     1.59       (0.68     0.63  

Total from investment operations

     0.30       (1.44     1.87       (0.37     0.97  

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (0.40     (0.50     (0.29     (0.34     (0.38

Tax return of capital distributions

     -       (0.01     (0.03     -       (0.01

Total dividends and distributions

     (0.40     (0.51     (0.32     (0.34     (0.39

Net asset value, end of year

     $8.47       $8.57       $10.52       $8.97       $9.68  

Total Return(b):

     3.46     (14.15 )%      21.09     (3.79 )%      10.88
                                          
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

            

Net assets, end of year (000)

     $920       $923       $1,465       $1,369       $1,762  

Average net assets (000)

     $945       $1,144       $1,505       $1,532       $1,787  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        

Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     0.64     0.68     0.68     1.05     1.10

Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     2.52     2.68     2.33     2.81     2.48

Net investment income (loss)

     4.85     3.75     2.80     3.37     3.57

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     28     59     53     84     110

 

(a)

Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.

(b)

Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    27


Financial Highlights (continued)

 

   

Class Z Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.65       $10.63       $9.06       $9.76       $9.18  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.48       0.40       0.34       0.36       0.39  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions      (0.12     (1.82     1.61       (0.68     0.63  

Total from investment operations

     0.36       (1.42     1.95       (0.32     1.02  

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (0.45     (0.55     (0.35     (0.38     (0.42

Tax return of capital distributions

     -       (0.01     (0.03     -       (0.02

Total dividends and distributions

     (0.45     (0.56     (0.38     (0.38     (0.44

Net asset value, end of year

     $8.56       $8.65       $10.63       $9.06       $9.76  

Total Return(b):

     4.07     (13.85 )%      21.71     (3.28 )%      11.44
                                          
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

            

Net assets, end of year (000)

     $70,272       $81,362       $114,491       $102,220       $147,834  

Average net assets (000)

     $78,954       $97,972       $111,577       $126,142       $135,434  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        

Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     0.14     0.18     0.18     0.55     0.60

Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     0.92     0.92     0.91     0.97     0.97

Net investment income (loss)

     5.40     4.13     3.29     3.90     4.06

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     28     59     53     84     110

 

(a)

Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.

(b)

Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

28


    

 

   

Class R6 Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.65       $10.62       $9.05       $9.76       $9.18  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.48       0.39       0.34       0.35       0.38  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (0.12     (1.80     1.61       (0.68     0.64  

Total from investment operations

     0.36       (1.41     1.95       (0.33     1.02  

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (0.45     (0.55     (0.35     (0.38     (0.42

Tax return of capital distributions

     -       (0.01     (0.03     -       (0.02

Total dividends and distributions

     (0.45     (0.56     (0.38     (0.38     (0.44

Net asset value, end of year

     $8.56       $8.65       $10.62       $9.05       $9.76  

Total Return(b):

     4.07     (13.76 )%      21.73     (3.28 )%      11.33
                                          
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

            

Net assets, end of year (000)

     $5,020       $5,441       $5,695       $4,552       $4,840  

Average net assets (000)

     $5,690       $5,639       $5,261       $4,769       $4,163  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        

Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     0.14     0.18     0.18     0.54     0.60

Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement

     0.98     1.07     0.99     1.21     1.05

Net investment income (loss)

     5.40     4.05     3.28     3.85     4.04

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     28     59     53     84     110

 

(a)

Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.

(b)

Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Income Builder Fund    29


Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.

Organization

Prudential Investment Portfolios 16 (the “Registered Investment Company” or “RIC”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The RIC is organized as a Delaware Statutory Trust and PGIM Income Builder Fund (the “Fund”) is the sole series of the RIC. The Fund is classified as a diversified fund for purposes of the 1940 Act.

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek income and long-term capital growth.

The Fund gains exposure to the equities and fixed income market segments by investing in varying combinations of other PGIM mutual funds (the “Underlying PGIM Mutual Funds”), PGIM exchange-traded funds (“Underlying PGIM ETFs,” and together with the Underlying PGIM Mutual Funds, the “Underlying PGIM Funds”), unaffiliated exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) (collectively “Underlying Funds”), and direct investments by the Fund’s subadvisers.

 

2.

Accounting Policies

The Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 Financial Services —Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Fund consistently follows such policies in the preparation of its financial statements.

Securities Valuation: The Fund holds securities and other assets and liabilities that are fair valued as of the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. As described in further detail below, the Fund’s investments are valued daily based on a number of factors, including the type of investment and whether market quotations are readily available. The RIC’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has approved the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures for security valuation and designated PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or the “Manager”) as the “Valuation Designee,” as defined by Rule 2a-5(b) under the 1940 Act, to perform the fair value determination relating to all Fund investments. Pursuant to the Board’s oversight, the Valuation Designee has established a Valuation Committee to perform the duties and responsibilities as Valuation Designee under Rule 2a-5. The valuation procedures permit the Fund to utilize independent pricing vendor services, quotations from market makers, and alternative valuation methods when market quotations are either not readily available or not deemed representative of fair value. Fair value is the estimated price that would be received

 

30


to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

For the fiscal reporting year-end, securities and other assets and liabilities were fair valued at the close of the last U.S. business day. Trading in certain foreign securities may occur when the NYSE is closed (including weekends and holidays). Because such foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot purchase or redeem Fund shares.

Various inputs determine how the Fund’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the Schedule of Investments and referred to herein as the “fair value hierarchy” in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820 — Fair Value Measurement.

Common or preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and derivative instruments, if applicable, that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. In the event that no sale or official closing price on a valuation date exists, these securities are generally valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price in the absence of an ask price. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Foreign equities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued using pricing vendor services that provide model prices derived using adjustment factors based on information such as local closing price, relevant general and sector indices, currency fluctuations, depositary receipts, and futures, as applicable. Securities valued using such model prices are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The models generate an evaluated adjustment factor for each security, which is applied to the local closing price to adjust it for post closing market movements up to the time the Fund is valued. Utilizing that evaluated adjustment factor, the vendor provides an evaluated price for each security. If the vendor does not provide an evaluated price, securities are valued in accordance with exchange-traded common and preferred stock valuation policies discussed above.

Investments in open-end funds (other than ETFs) are valued at their net asset values as of the close of the NYSE on the date of valuation. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.

Fixed income securities traded in the OTC market are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such fixed income securities are typically valued using the market approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The Fund utilizes the market approach as the primary method to value

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    31


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

securities when market prices of identical or comparable instruments are available. The third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated bid price are based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, yield curves, yield spreads, credit ratings, deal terms, tranche level attributes, default rates, cash flows, prepayment speeds, broker/dealer quotations and reported trades. Certain Level 3 securities are also valued using the market approach when obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing transaction prices for identical securities that have been used in excess of five business days. During the reporting period, there were no changes to report with respect to the valuation approach and/or valuation techniques discussed above.

Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on policies and procedures approved by the Board. In the event that unobservable inputs are used when determining such valuations, the securities will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Altering one or more unobservable inputs may result in a significant change to a Level 3 security’s fair value measurement.

When determining the fair value of securities, some of the factors influencing the valuation include: the nature of any restrictions on disposition of the securities; assessment of the general liquidity of the securities; the issuer’s financial condition and the markets in which it does business; the cost of the investment; the size of the holding and the capitalization of the issuer; the prices of any recent transactions or bids/offers for such securities or any comparable securities; and any available analyst media or other reports or information deemed reliable by the Valuation Designee regarding the issuer or the markets or industry in which it operates. Using fair value to price securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent closing price and from the price used by other unaffiliated mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.

Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:

(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities — at the exchange rate as of the valuation date;

(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses — at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.

Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not generally isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities held at the end of the period. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign

 

32


exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities sold during the period. Accordingly, holding period unrealized and realized foreign currency gains (losses) are included in the reported net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and net realized gains (losses) on investment transactions on the Statements of Operations. Notwithstanding the above, the Fund does isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates when determining the gain (loss) upon the sale or maturity of foreign currency denominated debt obligations; such amounts are included in net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions.

Additionally, net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains (losses) from the disposition of holdings of foreign currencies, currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest, dividends and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains (losses) arise from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities (other than investments) at period end exchange rates.

Master Netting Arrangements: The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of all or a portion of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received and by the receipt of collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily enforceable. In addition to master netting arrangements, the right to set-off exists when all the conditions are met such that each of the parties owes the other determinable amounts, the reporting party has the right to set-off the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party, the reporting party intends to set-off and the right of set-off is enforceable by law.

Securities Lending: The Fund lends its portfolio securities to banks and broker-dealers. The loans are secured by collateral at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Collateral pledged by each borrower is invested in an affiliated money market fund and is marked to market daily, based on the previous day’s market value, such that the value of the collateral exceeds the value of the loaned securities. In the event of significant appreciation in value of the securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the financial statements may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities. Such shortfall is remedied as described above. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower will return to the Fund securities identical to the loaned securities. The remaining open loans of the securities lending transactions are considered overnight and continuous. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund has the right to repurchase the securities in the open market using the collateral.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    33


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

The Fund recognizes income, net of any rebate and securities lending agent fees, for lending its securities in the form of fees or interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The borrower receives all interest and dividends from the securities loaned and such payments are passed back to the lender in amounts equivalent thereto, which are reflected in interest income or unaffiliated dividend income based on the nature of the payment on the Statement of Operations. The Fund also continues to recognize any unrealized gain (loss) in the market price of the securities loaned and on the change in the value of the collateral invested that may occur during the term of the loan. In addition, realized gain (loss) is recognized on changes in the value of the collateral invested upon liquidation of the collateral. Net earnings from securities lending are disclosed in the Statement of Operations.

Equity and Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (collectively REITs): The Fund invested in REITs, which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Based on current and historical information, a portion of distributions received from REITs during the period is estimated to be dividend income, capital gain or return of capital and recorded accordingly. When material, these estimates are adjusted periodically when the actual source of distributions is disclosed by the REITs.

Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains (losses) from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date, or for certain foreign securities, when the Fund becomes aware of such dividends. Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required, is recorded on the accrual basis. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual expense amounts. Net investment income or loss (other than class specific expenses and waivers, which are allocated as noted below) and unrealized and realized gains (losses) are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of adjusted net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Class specific expenses and waivers, where applicable, are charged to the respective share classes. Such class specific expenses and waivers include distribution fees and distribution fee waivers, shareholder servicing fees, transfer agent’s fees and expenses, registration fees and fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, as applicable.

Taxes: It is the Fund’s policy to continue to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable net investment income and capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, interest and capital gains, if any, are recorded, net of reclaimable amounts, at the time the related income is earned.

 

34


Dividends and Distributions: Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified between total distributable earnings (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate. The chart below sets forth the expected frequency of dividend and capital gains distributions to shareholders. Various factors may impact the frequency of dividend distributions to shareholders, including but not limited to adverse market conditions or portfolio holding-specific events.

 

   
  Expected Distribution Schedule to Shareholders*    Frequency  

Net Investment Income

     Monthly  

Short-Term Capital Gains

     Annually  

Long-Term Capital Gains

     Annually  

 

*

Under certain circumstances, the Fund may make more than one distribution of short-term and/or long-term capital gains during a fiscal year.

Estimates: The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

3.

Agreements

The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a management agreement with the Manager pursuant to which it has responsibility for all investment advisory services, including supervision of the subadviser’s performance of such services, and for rendering administrative services.

The Manager has entered into subadvisory agreements with PGIM Quantitative Solutions LLC (“PGIM Quantitative Solutions LLC”) and Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”) (collectively the “subadviser”) . The Manager pays for the services of subadviser.

Fees payable under the management agreement are computed daily and paid monthly. For the reporting period ended October 31, 2023, the contractual and effective management fee rates were as follows:

 

   
  Contractual Management Rate   

  Effective Management Fee, before any waivers  

and/or expense reimbursements

0.70% up to $1 billion of the Fund’s average daily net assets;

   0.70%

0.65% above $1 billion of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

    

The Manager has contractually agreed, through February 28, 2025, to limit total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. This contractual waiver includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and excludes Fund and any acquired fund interest, brokerage, taxes (such as income and foreign withholding taxes, stamp duty

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    35


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

and deferred tax expenses), extraordinary expenses, and certain other Fund expenses such as dividend and interest expense and broker charges on short sales.

Where applicable, the Manager agrees to waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class. In addition, total annual operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual operating expenses for Class Z shares. Fees and/or expenses waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager for the purpose of preventing the expenses from exceeding a certain expense ratio limit may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver and/or reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for the fiscal year. The expense limitations attributable to each class are as follows:

 

  Class

  

Expense

  Limitations  

A

       0.95 %

C

       1.70

R

       1.20

Z

       0.70

R6

       0.70

The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), which acts as the distributor of the Class A, Class C, Class R, Class Z and Class R6 shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates PIMS for distributing and servicing the Fund’s Class A, Class C and Class R shares, pursuant to the plans of distribution (the “Distribution Plans”), regardless of expenses actually incurred by PIMS.

Pursuant to the Distribution Plans, the Fund compensates PIMS for distribution related activities at an annual rate based on average daily net assets per class. PIMS has contractually agreed through February 29, 2024 to limit such fees on certain classes based on the average daily net assets. The distribution fees are accrued daily and payable monthly.

The Fund’s annual gross and net distribution rates, where applicable, are as follows:

 

  Class        Gross Distribution Fee                 Net Distribution Fee    

A

   0.30%        0.25%

C

   1.00        1.00

R

   0.75        0.50

Z

   N/A        N/A

R6

   N/A        N/A

 

36


For the year ended October 31, 2023, PIMS received front-end sales charges (“FESL”) resulting from sales of certain class shares and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) imposed upon redemptions by certain shareholders. From these fees, PIMS paid such sales charges to broker-dealers, who in turn paid commissions to salespersons and incurred other distribution costs. The sales charges are as follows where applicable:

 

     
  Class    FESL      CDSC  

A

   $ 66,837        $    3  

C

            434  

Jennison, PGIM Investments, PIMS, and PGIM Quantitative Solutions are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).

 

4.

Other Transactions with Affiliates

Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (“PMFS”), an affiliate of PGIM Investments and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential, serves as the Fund’s transfer agent and shareholder servicing agent. Transfer agent’s fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations include certain out-of-pocket expenses paid to non-affiliates, where applicable.

The Fund may invest its overnight sweep cash in the PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund (the “Core Fund”), and its securities lending cash collateral in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund (the “Money Market Fund”). The Core Fund and the Money Market Fund are each a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. PGIM Investments and/or its affiliates are paid fees or reimbursed for providing their services to the Core Fund and the Money Market Fund. In addition to the realized and unrealized gains on investments in the Core Fund and other affiliated mutual funds, earnings from such investments are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income” and “Income from securities lending, net”, respectively.

The Fund may enter into certain securities purchase or sale transactions under Board approved Rule 17a-7 procedures. Rule 17a-7 is an exemptive rule under the 1940 Act, that subject to certain conditions, permits purchase and sale transactions among affiliated investment companies, or between an investment company and a person that is affiliated solely by reason of having a common (or affiliated) investment adviser, common directors/trustees, and/or common officers. For the year ended October 31, 2023, no Rule 17a-7 transactions were entered into by the Fund.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    37


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

5.

Portfolio Securities

The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) for the reporting period ended October 31, 2023, were as follows:

 

   
Cost of Purchases    Proceeds from Sales

$66,796,316

   $89,247,480

A summary of the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of shares of affiliated mutual funds for the year ended October 31, 2023, is presented as follows:

 

                 

Value,

Beginning

of

Year

   

Cost of

Purchases

   

Proceeds

from Sales

   

Change in

Unrealized

Gain

(Loss)

   

Realized

Gain

(Loss)

   

Value,

End

of

Year

   

Shares,

End

of

Year

   

Dividend

Income

   

Capital

Gain

Distributions

 

Long-Term Investments - Affiliated Exchange Traded Funds(wa):

     
 

PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF

                     
  $    19,193,848     $ 1,953,792     $     $ (555,602   $     $ 20,592,038       522,500     $ 745,719     $—
 

PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF

                     
  30,460,853                   (810,500           29,650,353       906,600       2,352,609    
 

PGIM Quant Solutions Strategic Alpha International Equity ETF

                     
  8,738,360             9,557,701       1,485,640       (666,299                 124,552    
                 
  $    58,393,061     $ 1,953,792     $ 9,557,701     $ 119,538     $ (666,299   $ 50,242,391             $ 3,222,880     $—
 

Long-Term Investments - Affiliated Mutual Funds(wa):

     
 

PGIM Core Conservative Bond Fund(1)

                     
  20,401,705       9,165,541       7,250,000       773,405       (1,193,792     21,896,859       2,716,732       665,541    
 

PGIM Emerging Markets Debt Hard Currency(1)

                     
  40,166,697       9,647,337       14,800,000       5,293,553       (5,418,756     34,888,831       5,442,875       3,497,337    
 

PGIM Jennison MLP Fund(1)

                     
  31,015,576       3,177,965       8,535,680 **      (2,505,543     1,158,744       24,311,062       3,385,942       2,542,285 **   
 

PGIM Quant Solutions Emerging Markets Equity Fund(1)

                     
  2,367,375       103,655       1,400,000       481,439       (220,509     1,331,960       130,841       103,655    
 

PGIM Quant Solutions International Equity Fund(1)

                     
  20,686,856       9,957,724       8,450,000       5,665,420       (2,783,286     25,076,714       3,899,956       957,724    
 

PGIM Real Estate Income Fund(1)

                     
  16,671,600       7,770,578       1,450,000 **      (698,628     (202,300     22,091,250       3,763,416       520,579 **   
                 
  $  131,309,809     $ 39,822,800     $ 41,885,680     $ 9,009,646     $ (8,659,899   $ 129,596,676             $ 8,287,121     $—

 

38


                 

Value,

Beginning

of

Year

   

Cost of

Purchases

   

Proceeds

from Sales

   

Change in

Unrealized

Gain

(Loss)

   

Realized

Gain

(Loss)

   

Value,

End

of

Year

   

Shares,

End

of

Year

   

Dividend

Income

   

Capital

Gain

Distributions

 

Short-Term Investments - Affiliated Mutual Funds(wa):

             
 

PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund(1)

     
  $  10,892,255     $ 78,714,387     $ 84,186,171     $     $     $ 5,420,471       5,420,471     $ 246,191     $—
 

PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund(1)(b)

     
  14,503,813       107,778,802       118,973,788       (1,005     4,784       3,312,606       3,314,263       59,562 (2)      —
                 
  $  25,396,068     $ 186,493,189     $ 203,159,959     $ (1,005   $ 4,784     $ 8,733,077       $ 305,753     $—
                 
  $215,098,938     $ 228,269,781     $ 254,603,340     $ 9,128,179     $ (9,321,414   $ 188,572,144             $ 11,815,754     $—

 

**

Amount includes return of capital distribution.

(1)

The Fund did not have any capital gain distributions during the reporting period.

(2)

The amount, or a portion thereof, represents the affiliated securities lending income shown on the Statement of Operations.

(b)

Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment.

(wa)

Represents investments in Funds affiliated with the Manager.

 

6.

Distributions and Tax Information

Distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date.

For the year ended October 31, 2023, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:

 

       
Ordinary
Income
  Long-Term
Capital Gains
  Tax Return
of Capital
  Total Dividends
and Distributions

$11,830,306

  $—   $—   $11,830,306

For the year ended October 31, 2022, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:

 

       
Ordinary
Income
  Long-Term
Capital Gains
  Tax Return
of Capital
  Total Dividends
and Distributions

$16,658,066

  $—   $164,301   $16,822,367

For the year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund had the following amounts of accumulated undistributed earnings on a tax basis:

 

   
Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
  Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
$824,685   $—

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    39


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized depreciation as of October 31, 2023 were as follows:

 

       
Tax Basis   Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
  Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
  Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
$247,123,705   $15,548,118   $(35,382,948)   $(19,834,830)

The differences between GAAP basis and tax basis were primarily attributable to deferred losses on wash sales.

For federal income tax purposes, the Fund had an approximated capital loss carryforward as of October 31, 2023 which can be carried forward for an unlimited period. No capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such losses.

 

   
Capital Loss
Carryforward
  Capital Loss
Carryforward Utilized
$25,579,000   $—

The Manager has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. Since tax authorities can examine previously filed tax returns, the Fund’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for each of the four fiscal years up to the most recent fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 are subject to such review.

 

7.

Capital and Ownership

The Fund offers Class A, Class C, Class R, Class Z and Class R6 shares. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 4.50%. Investors who purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares and sell these shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a CDSC of 1%, although they are not subject to an initial sales charge. The Class A CDSC is waived for certain retirement and/or benefit plans. A special exchange privilege is also available for shareholders who qualified to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. Class C shares are sold with a CDSC of 1% on sales made within 12 months of purchase. Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares on a monthly basis approximately eight years (ten years prior to January 22, 2021) after purchase. Class R, Class Z and Class R6 shares are not subject to any sales or redemption charges and are available exclusively for sale to a limited group of investors.

 

40


Under certain circumstances, an exchange may be made from specified share classes of the Fund to one or more other share classes of the Fund as presented in the table of transactions in shares of beneficial interest, below.

The RIC has authorized an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund at $0.001 par value per share, currently divided into five classes, designated Class A, Class C, Class R, Class Z and Class R6.

As of October 31, 2023, Prudential, through its affiliated entities, including affiliated funds (if applicable), owned shares of the Fund as follows:

 

  Class    Number of Shares      Percentage of Outstanding Shares  

Z

   10,040    0.1%

At the reporting period end, the number of shareholders holding greater than 5% of the Fund are as follows:

 

      Number of Shareholders      Percentage of Outstanding Shares  

Affiliated

          —%

Unaffiliated

   10    79.0

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:

 

     
  Share Class    Shares     Amount  
  Class A               

Year ended October 31, 2023:

                

Shares sold

     546,335     $ 4,847,281  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     627,201       5,529,225  

Shares purchased

     (2,491,000     (22,066,570

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (1,317,464     (11,690,064

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     1,242,697       11,021,187  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (80,416     (712,370

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (155,183   $ (1,381,247

Year ended October 31, 2022:

                

Shares sold

     1,155,799     $ 11,126,807  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     739,689       7,212,099  

Shares purchased

     (2,504,458     (23,787,205

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (608,970     (5,448,299

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     538,296       4,993,589  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (157,526     (1,509,966

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (228,200   $ (1,964,676

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    41


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

     
  Share Class    Shares     Amount  
  Class C               

Year ended October 31, 2023:

                

Shares sold

     187,815     $ 1,637,215  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     202,884       1,744,386  

Shares purchased

     (950,433     (8,207,937

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (559,734     (4,826,336

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (1,285,548     (11,123,272

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (1,845,282   $ (15,949,608

Year ended October 31, 2022:

                

Shares sold

     289,060     $ 2,742,185  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     315,353       3,030,044  

Shares purchased

     (1,237,182     (11,396,892

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (632,769     (5,624,663

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (594,812     (5,400,979

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (1,227,581   $ (11,025,642
  Class R               

Year ended October 31, 2023:

                

Shares sold

     5,689     $ 50,619  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     4,835       42,531  

Shares purchased

     (9,647     (85,252

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     877     $ 7,898  

Year ended October 31, 2022:

                

Shares sold

     9,233     $ 86,392  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     6,671       65,496  

Shares purchased

     (47,378     (452,411

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (31,474   $ (300,523
  Class Z               

Year ended October 31, 2023:

                

Shares sold

     951,947     $ 8,530,726  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     395,108       3,513,194  

Shares purchased

     (2,596,445     (23,213,402

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (1,249,390     (11,169,482

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     130,245       1,164,360  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (74,709     (664,641

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (1,193,854   $ (10,669,763

 

42


     
  Share Class    Shares     Amount  

Year ended October 31, 2022:

                

Shares sold

     1,178,937     $ 11,255,783  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     515,604       5,072,818  

Shares purchased

     (3,228,874     (30,673,721

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (1,534,333     (14,345,120

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     218,833       2,092,595  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (56,682     (531,654

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (1,372,182   $ (12,784,179
  Class R6               

Year ended October 31, 2023:

                

Shares sold

     100,193     $ 899,998  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     32,271       286,770  

Shares purchased

     (210,332     (1,882,212

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (77,868     (695,444

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     35,473       314,736  

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (42,395   $ (380,708
  Year ended October 31, 2022:               

Shares sold

     159,872     $ 1,525,455  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     33,156       323,978  

Shares purchased

     (136,356     (1,303,874

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     56,672       545,559  

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     36,213       356,415  

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     92,885     $ 901,974  

 

8.

Borrowings

The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Participating Funds”), is a party to a Syndicated Credit Agreement (“SCA”) with a group of banks. The purpose of the SCA is to provide an alternative source of temporary funding for capital share redemptions. The table below provides details of the current SCA in effect at the reporting period-end as well as the prior SCA.

 

     
      Current SCA   Prior SCA

Term of Commitment

           9/29/2023 -  9/26/2024            9/30/2022 – 9/28/2023

Total Commitment

   $ 1,200,000,000   $ 1,200,000,000

Annualized Commitment Fee on the Unused Portion of the SCA

   0.15%   0.15%

Annualized Interest Rate on Borrowings

   1.00% plus the higher of (1)
the effective federal funds
rate, (2) the daily SOFR
rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero
percent
  1.00% plus the higher of (1)
the effective federal funds
rate, (2) the daily  SOFR
rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero
percent

Certain affiliated registered investment companies that are parties to the SCA include portfolios that are subject to a predetermined mathematical formula used to manage certain

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    43


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

benefit guarantees offered under variable annuity contracts. The formula may result in large scale asset flows into and out of these portfolios. Consequently, these portfolios may be more likely to utilize the SCA for purposes of funding redemptions. It may be possible for those portfolios to fully exhaust the committed amount of the SCA, thereby requiring the Manager to allocate available funding per a Board-approved methodology designed to treat the Participating Funds in the SCA equitably.

The Fund utilized the SCA during the year ended October 31, 2023. The average daily balance for the 1 day that the Fund had loans outstanding during the period was approximately $122,000, borrowed at a weighted average interest rate of 5.41%. The maximum loan outstanding amount during the period was $122,000. At October 31, 2023, the Fund did not have an outstanding loan amount.

 

9.

Risks of Investing in the Fund

The Fund’s risks include, but are not limited to, some or all of the risks discussed below. For further information on the Fund’s risks, please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.

Affiliated Funds Risk: The Fund’s manager serves as the manager of the Underlying PGIM Funds. It is possible that a conflict of interest among the Fund and the Underlying Funds could impact the manager and the subadvisers. Because the amount of the investment management fees to be retained by the manager and the subadvisers may differ depending upon the Underlying Funds in which the Fund invests, there is a conflict of interest for the manager and the subadvisers in selecting the Underlying Funds. In addition, the manager and the subadvisers may have an incentive to take into account the effect on an Underlying Fund in which the Fund may invest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that Underlying Fund. Although the manager and the subadvisers take steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund. In addition, the subadvisers may invest in Underlying Funds that have a limited or no performance history.

Asset Allocation Risk: Asset allocation risk is the risk that the Fund’s assets may be allocated to an asset class that underperforms other asset classes. For example, the Fund may be overweight in equities when the stock market is falling and the fixed income market is rising. Likewise, the Fund may be overweight in fixed income securities when fixed income markets are falling and the equity markets are rising. Allocations to underperforming or volatile asset classes or other changes in asset allocations could lead to increased volatility in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

44


Asset Class Variation Risk: The Underlying Funds invest principally in the securities constituting their asset class (e.g., domestic or international real estate, utilities, infrastructure, natural resources, MLPs and various types of fixed income investments). However, under normal market conditions, an Underlying Fund may vary the percentage of its assets in these securities (subject to any applicable regulatory requirements). Depending upon the percentage of securities in a particular asset class held by the Underlying Funds at any given time and the percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in the Underlying Funds, the Fund’s actual exposure to the securities in a particular asset class may vary substantially from its allocation to that asset class.

Credit Risk/Counterparty Risk: The ability, or perceived ability, of the issuer or guarantor of a debt security, or the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) to a derivatives contract or other financial contract to meet its financial obligations will affect the value of the security or derivative. Counterparty and credit risk are especially important in the context of privately negotiated instruments. The Fund expects to enter into certain privately negotiated agreements where the counterparty assumes the physical settlement obligations of the Fund under such transactions. Under this type of arrangement, there is a risk that the relevant counterparty or intermediary would, due to insolvency or other reasons, be unable to or fail to assume the physical settlement obligations of the Fund, in which case the Fund could be required to sell portfolio instruments at unfavorable times or prices or could have insufficient assets to satisfy its physical settlement obligations.

Credit ratings are intended to provide a measure of credit risk. However, credit ratings are only the opinions of the credit rating agency issuing the ratings and are not guarantees as to quality. The lower the rating of a debt security held by the Fund, the greater the degree of credit risk that is perceived to exist by the credit rating agency with respect to that security. Increasing the amount of Fund assets allocated to lower-rated securities generally will increase the credit risk to which the Fund is subject. Not all securities in which the Fund invests are rated. The lower the credit quality of a bond, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

Debt Obligations Risk: Debt obligations are subject to credit risk, market risk and interest rate risk. The Fund’s holdings, share price, yield and total return may also fluctuate in response to bond market movements. The value of bonds may decline for issuer-related reasons, including management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services. Certain types of fixed income obligations also may be subject to “call and redemption risk,” which is the risk that the issuer may call a bond held by the Fund for redemption before it matures and the Fund may not be able to reinvest at the same rate of interest and therefore would earn less income.

Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth or the functioning of the securities markets, or otherwise reduce inflation, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Governmental efforts to curb inflation often have negative effects on

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    45


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

the level of economic activity. Relatively reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Emerging Markets Risk: The risks of foreign investments are greater for investments in or exposed to emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation. Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by non-U.S. investors, or that prevent non-U.S. investors from withdrawing their money at will.

The Fund may invest in some emerging markets that subject it to risks such as those associated with illiquidity, custody of assets, different settlement and clearance procedures and asserting legal title under a developing legal and regulatory regime to a greater degree than in developed markets or even in other emerging markets.

Equity and Equity-Related Securities Risk: Equity and equity-related securities may be subject to changes in value, and their values may be more volatile than those of other asset classes. In addition to an individual security losing value, the value of the equity markets or a sector in which the Fund invests could go down. Different parts of a market can react differently to adverse issuer, market, regulatory, political and economic developments.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers (including those denominated in U.S. dollars) may involve more risk than investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign political, economic and legal systems, especially those in developing and emerging market countries, may be less stable and more volatile than in the United States. Foreign legal systems generally have fewer regulatory requirements than the U.S. legal system, particularly those of emerging markets. In general, less information is publicly available with respect to non-U.S. companies than U.S. companies. Non-U.S. companies generally are not subject to the same accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards as are U.S. companies. Additionally, the changing value of foreign currencies and changes in exchange rates could also affect the value of the assets the Fund holds and the Fund’s performance. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the ability of issuers of foreign securities to make payment of principal and interest or dividends to investors located outside the country, due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise. Investments in emerging markets are subject to greater volatility and price declines.

In addition, the Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or

 

46


restrictions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currency, confiscatory taxation and adverse diplomatic developments. Special U.S. tax considerations may apply.

Fund of Funds Risk: The value of an investment in the Fund will be related, to a degree, to the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which it invests. Therefore, the principal risks of investing in the Fund are closely related to the principal risks associated with these Underlying Funds and their investments. Because the Fund’s allocation among different Underlying Funds and direct investments in securities and derivatives will vary, an investment in the Fund may be subject to any and all of these risks at different times and to different degrees. Investing in an Underlying Fund will also expose the Fund to a pro rata portion of the Underlying Fund’s fees and expenses. In addition, one Underlying Fund may buy the same securities that another Underlying Fund sells. Therefore, the Fund would indirectly bear the costs of these trades without accomplishing the investment purpose.

Increase in Expenses Risk: Your actual cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the expenses shown in the expense table in the Fund’s prospectus for a variety of reasons. For example, expense ratios may be higher than those shown if average net assets decrease. Net assets are more likely to decrease and Fund expense ratios are more likely to increase when markets are volatile. Active and frequent trading of Fund securities can increase expenses.

Initial Public Offerings Risk: The volume of IPOs and the levels at which the newly issued stocks trade in the secondary market are affected by the performance of the stock market overall. If IPOs are brought to the market, availability may be limited and if the Fund desires to acquire shares in such an offering, it may not be able to buy any shares at the offering price, or if it is able to buy shares, it may not be able to buy as many shares at the offering price as it would like. The prices of securities involved in IPOs are often subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than more established stocks. Such unpredictability can have a dramatic impact on the Fund’s performance (higher or lower) and any assumptions by investors based on the affected performance may be unwarranted. In addition, as Fund assets grow, the impact of IPO investments on performance will decline, which could reduce total returns.

Interest Rate Risk: The value of your investment may go down when interest rates rise. A rise in rates tends to have a greater impact on the prices of longer term or duration debt securities. Similarly, a rise in interest rates may also have a greater negative impact on the value of equity securities whose issuers expect earnings further out in the future. For example, a fixed income security with a duration of three years is expected to decrease in value by approximately 3% if interest rates increase by 1%. This is referred to as “duration risk.” When interest rates fall, the issuers of debt obligations may prepay principal more quickly than expected, and the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate. This is referred to as “prepayment risk.” When interest rates rise, debt obligations may be repaid more slowly than expected, and the value of the Fund’s holdings

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    47


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

may fall sharply. This is referred to as “extension risk.” The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply or in a manner not anticipated by the subadviser.

Junk Bonds Risk: High-yield, high-risk bonds have predominantly speculative characteristics, including particularly high credit risk. Junk bonds tend to have lower market liquidity than higher-rated securities. The liquidity of particular issuers or industries within a particular investment category may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning. The non-investment grade bond market can experience sudden and sharp price swings and become illiquid due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large sustained sales by major investors, a high profile default or a change in the market’s psychology.

Large Shareholder and Large Scale Redemption Risk: Certain individuals, accounts, funds (including funds affiliated with the Manager) or institutions, including the Manager and its affiliates, may from time to time own or control a substantial amount of the Fund’s shares. There is no requirement that these entities maintain their investment in the Fund. There is a risk that such large shareholders or that the Fund’s shareholders generally may redeem all or a substantial portion of their investments in the Fund in a short period of time, which could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s NAV, liquidity, and brokerage costs. Large redemptions could also result in tax consequences to shareholders and impact the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy. The Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective after one or more large scale redemptions may be impaired and, as a result, the Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalents.

Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Fund may invest in instruments that trade in lower volumes and are more illiquid than other investments. If the Fund is forced to sell these investments to pay redemption proceeds or for other reasons, the Fund may lose money. In addition, when there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the instrument at all. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

Management Risk: Actively managed funds are subject to management risk. The subadviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but the subadviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry or sector or about market movements may be

 

48


incorrect. Additionally, the investments selected for the Fund may underperform the markets in general, the Fund’s benchmark and other funds with similar investment objectives.

Market Capitalization Risk: The Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization. Generally, the stock prices of small- and mid-cap companies are less stable than the prices of large-cap stocks and may present greater risks. Large capitalization companies as a group could fall out of favor with the market, causing the Fund to underperform compared to investments that focus on smaller capitalized companies.

Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risks: Market disruption can be caused by economic, financial or political events and factors, including but not limited to, international wars or conflicts (including Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine), geopolitical developments (including trading and tariff arrangements, sanctions and cybersecurity attacks), instability in regions such as Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, terrorism, natural disasters and public health epidemics (including the outbreak of COVID-19 globally).

The extent and duration of such events and resulting market disruptions cannot be predicted, but could be substantial and could magnify the impact of other risks to the Fund. These and other similar events could adversely affect the U.S. and foreign financial markets and lead to increased market volatility, reduced liquidity in the securities markets, significant negative impacts on issuers and the markets for certain securities and commodities and/or government intervention. They may also cause short- or long-term economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively impacted. Further, due to closures of certain markets and restrictions on trading certain securities, the value of certain securities held by the Fund could be significantly impacted, which could lead to such securities being valued at zero.

Market Risk: Securities markets may be volatile and the market prices of the Fund’s securities may decline. Securities fluctuate in price based on changes in an issuer’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. If the market prices of the securities owned by the Fund fall, the value of your investment in the Fund will decline.

Master Limited Partnerships Risk: The Fund’s investments in certain Underlying Funds will expose the Fund to the risks of MLPs. An MLP is an investment that combines the tax benefits of a limited partnership with the liquidity of publicly-traded securities. The risks of investing in an MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in an MLP than investors in a corporation. Investments held by MLPs may be relatively illiquid, limiting the MLPs’ ability to vary their portfolios promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. MLPs may have limited financial resources, their securities may trade infrequently and in limited volume, and they may be subject to more

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    49


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

abrupt or erratic price movements than securities of larger or more broadly-based companies. Investments by the Fund in certain Underlying Funds that invest in MLPs may also subject the Fund to the risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the MLPs invest, risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP’s general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner’s right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns. Since MLPs generally conduct business in multiple states, through its investment in certain Underlying Funds, the Fund may be subject to income or franchise tax in each of the states in which the partnership does business. The additional cost of preparing and filing the tax returns and paying the related taxes may adversely impact the Fund’s return on its investment in certain Underlying Funds.

Multi-Manager Risk: While the manager monitors the investments of each subadviser and monitors the overall management of the Fund, each subadviser makes investment decisions for the asset classes it manages independently from one another. It is possible that the investment styles used by a subadviser in an asset class will not always be complementary to those used by others, which could adversely affect the performance of the Fund.

Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) Risk: Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, may not be diversified geographically or by property/mortgage asset type, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs may be more volatile and/or more illiquid than other types of equity securities. REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are subject to interest rate risks. REITs may incur significant amounts of leverage. The Fund will indirectly bear a portion of the expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests, in addition to the expenses of the Fund.

REITs must also meet certain requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) to avoid entity level tax and be eligible to pass-through certain tax attributes of their income to shareholders. REITs are consequently subject to the risk of failing to meet these requirements for favorable tax treatment and of failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940. REITs are subject to the risks of changes in the Code affecting their tax status.

 

50


Real Estate Related Securities Risk: Because the Fund invests in real estate securities, including REITs, the Fund is subject to the risks of investing in the real estate industry, such as changes in general and local economic conditions, the supply and demand for real estate and changes in zoning and tax laws. Because the Fund invests in stocks, there is the risk that the price of a particular stock owned by the Fund could go down or pay lower-than-expected or no dividends. In addition to an individual stock losing value, the value of the equity markets or of companies comprising the real estate industry could go down.

Real estate securities are subject to the same risks as direct investments in real estate and mortgages, and their value will depend on the value of the underlying properties or the underlying loans or interests. The underlying loans may be subject to the risks of default or of prepayments that occur earlier or later than expected, and such loans may also include so-called “subprime” mortgages. The value of these securities will rise and fall in response to many factors, including economic conditions, the demand for rental property and interest rates. In particular, the value of these securities may decline when interest rates rise and will also be affected by the real estate market and by the management of the underlying properties.

 

10.

Recent Regulatory Developments

Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information deemed important for retail investors to assess and monitor their fund investments (the “Rule”). Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in the funds’ streamlined shareholder reports but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The Rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the Rule and its impact to the Fund.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    51


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees of Prudential Investment Portfolios 16 and Shareholders of PGIM Income Builder Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of PGIM Income Builder Fund (the “Fund”) as of October 31, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year ended October 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period ended October 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2023 and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period ended October 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended October 31, 2019 and the financial highlights for the period ended October 31, 2019 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated December 19, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s 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 Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian and transfer agent. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

December 19, 2023

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the PGIM Retail Funds complex since 2020.

 

52


Tax Information (unaudited)

For the year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowable but not less than the following percentages of ordinary income dividends paid as: 1) qualified dividend income in accordance with Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code (QDI); and 2) eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction (DRD):

 

     
  Fund        QDI               DRD        
     

PGIM Income Builder Fund

   67.19%   66.41%

In January 2024, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute 1099-DIV as to the federal tax status of the dividends and distributions received by you in calendar year 2023.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund    53


INFORMATION ABOUT BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS (unaudited)

Information about Board Members and Officers of the Fund is set forth below. Board Members who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Board Members.” Board Members who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund are referred to as “Interested Board Members.” The Board Members are responsible for the overall supervision of the operations of the Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Board in turn elects the Officers, who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund.

 

     
Independent Board Members            
     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

   Length of
Board Service
     

Ellen S. Alberding

1958

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 100

   Chief Executive Officer and President, The Joyce Foundation (charitable foundation) (since 2002); formerly Vice Chair, City Colleges of Chicago (community college system) (2011-2015); formerly Trustee, National Park Foundation (charitable foundation for national park system) (2009-2018); formerly Trustee, Economic Club of Chicago (2009-2016); Trustee, Loyola University (since 2018).    None.    Since September 2013
     

Kevin J. Bannon

1952

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 101

   Retired; formerly Managing Director (April 2008-May 2015) and Chief Investment Officer (October 2008-November 2013) of Highmount Capital LLC (registered investment adviser); formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (April 1993-August 2007) of Bank of New York Company; formerly President (May 2003-May 2007) of BNY Hamilton Family of Mutual Funds.    Director of Urstadt Biddle Properties (equity real estate investment trust) (September 2008-August 2023).    Since July 2008

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund


     
Independent Board Members            
     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

   Length of
Board Service
     

Linda W. Bynoe

1952

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 98

   President and Chief Executive Officer (since March 1995) and formerly Chief Operating Officer (December 1989-February 1995) of Telemat Limited LLC (formerly Telemat Ltd) (management consulting); formerly Vice President (January 1985-June 1989) at Morgan Stanley & Co. (broker-dealer).    Trustee of Equity Residential (residential real estate) (since December 2009); Director of Northern Trust Corporation (financial services) (since April 2006); formerly Director of Anixter International, Inc. (communication products distributor) (January 2006-June 2020).    Since March 2005
     

Barry H. Evans

1960

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 101

   Retired; formerly President (2005-2016), Global Chief Operating Officer (2014-2016), Chief Investment Officer - Global Head of Fixed Income (1998-2014), and various portfolio manager roles (1986-2006), Manulife Asset Management (asset management).    Formerly Director, Manulife Trust Company (2011-2018); formerly Director, Manulife Asset Management Limited (2015-2017); formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors of Manulife Asset Management U.S. (2005-2016); formerly Chairman of the Board, Declaration Investment Management and Research (2008-2016).    Since September 2017
     

Keith F. Hartstein

1956

Board Member & Independent Chair

Portfolios Overseen: 101

   Retired; formerly Member (November 2014-September 2022) of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC) (organization of independent mutual fund directors); formerly Executive Committee of the IDC Board of Governors (October 2019-December 2021); formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (2005-2012), Senior Vice President (2004-2005), Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing (1997-2004), and various executive management positions (1990-1997), John Hancock Funds, LLC (asset management); formerly Chairman, Investment Company Institute’s Sales Force Marketing Committee (2003-2008).    None.    Since September 2013

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


     
Independent Board Members            
     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

   Length of
Board Service
     

Laurie Simon Hodrick

1962

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 98

   A. Barton Hepburn Professor Emerita of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (since 2018); Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University (since 2015); Sole Member, ReidCourt LLC (since 2008) (a consulting firm); formerly Visiting Professor of Law, Stanford Law School (2015-2021); formerly A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (1996-2017); formerly Managing Director, Global Head of Alternative Investment Strategies, Deutsche Bank (2006-2008).    Independent Director, Andela (since January 2022) (global talent network); Independent Director, Roku (since December 2020) (communication services); formerly Independent Director, Synnex Corporation (2019-2021) (information technology); formerly Independent Director, Kabbage, Inc. (2018-2020) (financial services); formerly Independent Director, Corporate Capital Trust (2017-2018) (a business development company).    Since September 2017
     

Brian K. Reid

1961

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 101

   Retired; formerly Chief Economist for the Investment Company Institute (ICI) (2005-2017); formerly Senior Economist and Director of Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1998-2004); formerly Senior Economist, Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1996-1998); formerly Staff Economist at the Federal Reserve Board (1989-1996); formerly Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company (2012-2017).    None.    Since March 2018

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund


     
Independent Board Members            
     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

   Length of
Board Service
     

Grace C. Torres

1959

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 101

   Retired; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, Prudential Variable Contract Accounts and The Prudential Series Fund (1998-June 2014); Assistant Treasurer (March 1999-June 2014) and Senior Vice President (September 1999-June 2014) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) and Vice President (June 2005-June 2014) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) of Prudential Annuities Advisory Services, Inc.    Director (since January 2018) of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and OceanFirst Bank; formerly Director (July 2015-January 2018) of Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. and Sun National Bank.    Since November 2014

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


     
Interested Board Members            
     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

   Length of
Board Service
     

Stuart S. Parker

1962

Board Member & President

Portfolios Overseen: 101

   President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Officer in Charge of PGIM Investments LLC (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC) (since January 2012); President and Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; President and PEO (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; President and PEO (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Executive Vice President of Jennison Associates LLC and Head of Retail Distribution of PGIM Investments LLC (June 2005-December 2011); Investment Company Institute - Board of Governors (since May 2012).    None.    Since January 2012
     

Scott E. Benjamin

1973

Board Member & Vice President

Portfolios Overseen: 101

   Executive Vice President (since May 2009) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President (since June 2012) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; Executive Vice President (since September 2009) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing, PGIM Investments (since February 2006); Vice President (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Vice President (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Vice President (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President of Product Development and Product Management, PGIM Investments LLC (2003-2006).    None.    Since March 2010

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund


     
Fund Officers(a)           
     

Name

Year of Birth

Fund Position

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

     

Claudia DiGiacomo

1974

Chief Legal Officer

   Chief Legal Officer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Chief Legal Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Chief Legal Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of PIFM Holdco, LLC (since August 2020); Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since August 2020); formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (2005-2020); formerly Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1999-2004).    Since December 2005
     

Andrew Donohue

1972

Chief Compliance Officer

   Chief Compliance Officer (since May 2023) of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since October 2022); Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer of PGIM Investments LLC (since September 2022); Chief Compliance Officer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; formerly various senior compliance roles within Principal Global Investors, LLC., global asset management for Principal Financial (2011-2022), most recently as Global Chief Compliance Officer (2016-2022).    Since May 2023
     

Andrew R. French

1962

Secretary

   Vice President (since December 2018) of PGIM Investments LLC; Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President and Corporate Counsel (2010-2018) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (2006-2010) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC.    Since October 2006

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


     
Fund Officers(a)           
     

Name

Year of Birth

Fund Position

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

     

Melissa Gonzalez

1980

Assistant Secretary

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2018) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (March 2014-September 2018) of Prudential.    Since March 2020
     

Patrick E. McGuinness

1986

Assistant Secretary

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Director and Corporate Counsel (since February 2017) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.    Since June 2020
     

Debra Rubano

1975

Assistant Secretary

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since November 2020) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc; formerly Director and Senior Counsel of Allianz Global Investors U.S. Holdings LLC (2010-2020) and Assistant Secretary of numerous funds in the Allianz fund complex (2015-2020).    Since December 2020
     

George Hoyt

1965

Assistant Secretary

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel of Prudential (since September 2023); formerly Associate General Counsel of Franklin Templeton and Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of certain funds in the Franklin Templeton complex (2020- 2023) and Managing Director (2016-2020) and Associate General Counsel for Legg Mason, Inc. and its predecessors (2004-2020).    Since December 2023
     

Devan Goolsby

1991

Assistant Secretary

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel of Prudential (since May 2023); formerly Associate at Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP (2021-2023); Compliance Officer at Bloomberg LP (2019-2021); and an Examiner at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (2015-2019).    Since December 2023
     

Kelly A. Coyne

1968

Assistant Secretary

   Director, Investment Operations of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since 2010); Assistant Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.    Since March 2015

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund


     
Fund Officers(a)           
     

Name

Year of Birth

Fund Position

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

     

Christian J. Kelly

1975

Chief Financial Officer

   Vice President, Global Head of Fund Administration of PGIM Investments LLC (since November 2018); Chief Financial Officer (since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Chief Financial Officer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Credit Fund (since September 2022); Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. (since July 2022); formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (January 2019- March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director of Fund Administration of Lord Abbett & Co. LLC (2009-2018), Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Lord Abbett Family of Funds (2017-2018); Director of Accounting, Avenue Capital Group (2008-2009); Senior Manager, Investment Management Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP (1998-2007).    Since January 2019
     

Russ Shupak

1973

Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer

   Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since March 2023); Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; formerly Assistant Treasurer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since October 2019); formerly Director (2013-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration.    Since October 2019
     

Lana Lomuti

1967

Assistant Treasurer

   Vice President (since 2007) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Assistant Treasurer (December 2007-February 2014) of The Greater China Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2005-2007) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration.    Since April 2014
     

Deborah Conway

1969

Assistant Treasurer

   Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Director (2007-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration.    Since October 2019

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


     
Fund Officers(a)           
     

Name

Year of Birth

Fund Position

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

     

Elyse M. McLaughlin

1974

Assistant Treasurer

   Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Advanced Series Trust, the Prudential Series Fund and the Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since March 2023); Assistant Treasurer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since October 2019); formerly Director (2011-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration.    Since October 2019
     

Robert W. McCormack

1973

Assistant Treasurer

   Vice President (since 2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds, ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2016-2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Vice President within Goldman, Sachs & Co. Investment Management Controllers (2008-2016), Assistant Treasurer of Goldman Sachs Family of Funds (2015-2016).    Since March 2023
     

Kelly Florio

1978

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer

   Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Global Compliance Programs and Compliance Risk Management (since December 2021) of Prudential; formerly Head of Fraud Risk Management (October 2019-December 2021) at New York Life Insurance Company; formerly Head of Key Risk Area Operations (November 2018-October 2019), Director of the US Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (2009-2018) and Bank Loss Prevention Associate (2006-2009) at MetLife.    Since June 2022

 

(a)

 Excludes Mr. Parker and Mr. Benjamin, interested Board Members who also serve as President and Vice President, respectively.

Explanatory Notes to Tables:

 

   

Board Members are deemed to be “Interested,” as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of their affiliation with PGIM Investments LLC and/or an affiliate of PGIM Investments LLC.

   

Unless otherwise noted, the address of all Board Members and Officers is c/o PGIM Investments LLC, 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4410.

   

There is no set term of office for Board Members or Officers. The Board Members have adopted a retirement policy, which calls for the retirement of Board Members on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age of 75.

   

Other Directorships Held” includes all directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the 1934 Act (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund


   

“Portfolios Overseen” includes such applicable investment companies managed by PGIM Investments LLC and overseen by the Board Member. The investment companies for which PGIM Investments LLC serves as manager include the PGIM Mutual Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM Credit Income Fund, PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. and the Advanced Series Trust.

   

As used in the Fund Officers table “Prudential” means The Prudential Insurance Company of America.

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


Approval of Advisory Agreements (unaudited)

 

The Fund’s Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of PGIM Income Builder Fund (the “Fund”)1 consists of ten individuals, eight of whom are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Trustees”). The Board is responsible for the oversight of the Fund and its operations, and performs the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Trustees have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chair of the Board is an Independent Trustee. The Board has established five standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Compliance Committee and two Investment Committees. Each committee is chaired by, and composed of, Independent Trustees.

Annual Approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreements

As required under the 1940 Act, the Board determines annually whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement with PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”) and the Fund’s subadvisory agreements with PGIM Quantitative Solutions LLC (“PGIM Quantitative Solutions”) and Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, met on May 25 and June 6-8, 2023 (the “Board Meeting”) and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2024, after concluding that the renewal of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

In advance of the meetings, the Board requested and received materials relating to the agreements, and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its consideration. Among other things, the Board considered comparative fee information from PGIM Investments, PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison. Also, the Board considered comparisons with other mutual funds in relevant Peer Universes and Peer Groups, as is further discussed below.

In approving the agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors it deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadvisers, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders as the Fund’s assets grow. In their deliberations, the Trustees did not identify any single factor which alone was responsible for the Board’s decision to approve the agreements with respect to the Fund. In connection with its deliberations, the Board considered information provided by PGIM Investments throughout the year at regular Board meetings, presentations from portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the Board Meeting.

 

1PGIM Income Builder Fund is a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios 16.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund


Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)

 

The Trustees determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PGIM Investments, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PGIM Investments and each of PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison, which serve as the Fund’s subadvisers pursuant to the terms of subadvisory agreements with PGIM Investments, are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Trustees considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment.

The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Trustees’ reaching their determinations to approve the continuance of the agreements are separately discussed below.

Nature, Quality and Extent of Services

The Board received and considered information regarding the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Fund by PGIM Investments, PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison. The Board noted that PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison are each affiliated with PGIM Investments. The Board considered the services provided by PGIM Investments, including but not limited to the oversight of each subadviser for the Fund, as well as the provision of fund recordkeeping, compliance and other services to the Fund, and PGIM Investments’ role as administrator for the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. With respect to PGIM Investments’ oversight of the subadvisers, the Board noted that PGIM Investments’ Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PGIM Investments, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PGIM Investments’ senior management on the performance and operations of each subadviser. The Board also considered that PGIM Investments pays the salaries of all of the officers and interested Trustees of the Fund who are part of Fund management. The Board also considered the investment subadvisory services provided by PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison, including investment research and security selection, as well as adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with applicable Fund policies and procedures. The Board considered PGIM Investments’ evaluation of the subadvisers, as well as PGIM Investments’ recommendation, based on its review of the subadvisers, to renew the subadvisory agreements.

The Board considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PGIM Investments’ senior management responsible for the oversight of the Fund and each of PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison and also considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of each subadviser’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. The Board was provided with information pertaining to PGIM Investments’ and each of PGIM Quantitative Solutions’ and Jennison’s organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to each of PGIM Investments, PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison. The Board also noted that it

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


 

received favorable compliance reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as to each of PGIM Investments, PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison.

The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadvisory services provided to the Fund by each of PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that the Fund benefits from the services provided by PGIM Investments and each of PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison under the management and subadvisory agreements.

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PGIM Investments

The Board was provided with information on the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in serving as the Fund’s investment manager. The Board discussed with PGIM Investments the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from fund management contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocations and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. However, the Board considered that the cost of services provided by PGIM Investments during the year ended December 31, 2022 exceeded the management fees paid by the Fund, resulting in an operating loss to PGIM Investments. Taking these factors into account, the Board concluded that the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable.

Economies of Scale

The Board received and discussed information concerning economies of scale that PGIM Investments may realize as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. The Board noted that the management fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints, which have the effect of decreasing the fee rate as assets increase. During the course of time, the Board has considered information regarding the launch date of the Fund, the management fees of the Fund compared to those of similarly managed funds and PGIM Investments’ investment in the Fund over time. The Board noted that economies of scale can be shared with the Fund in other ways, including low management fees from inception, additional technological and personnel investments to enhance shareholder services, and maintaining existing expense structures in the face of a rising cost environment. The Board also considered PGIM Investments’ assertion that it continually evaluates the management fee schedule of the Fund and the potential to share economies of scale through breakpoints or fee waivers as asset levels increase.

The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of PGIM Investments’ costs are not specific to individual funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund


Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)

 

Other Benefits to PGIM Investments, PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison

The Board considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PGIM Investments, PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PGIM Investments included transfer agency fees received by the Fund’s transfer agent (which is affiliated with PGIM Investments), and benefits to its reputation as well as other intangible benefits resulting from PGIM Investments’ association with the Fund. The Board concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison included their ability to use soft dollar credits, as well as the potential benefits consistent with those generally resulting from an increase in assets under management, specifically, potential access to additional research resources and benefits to their reputations. The Board concluded that the benefits derived by PGIM Investments, PGIM Quantitative Solutions and Jennison were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.

Performance of the Fund / Fees and Expenses

The Board considered certain additional factors and made related conclusions relating to the historical performance of the Fund for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2022.

The Board also considered the Fund’s actual management fee, as well as the Fund’s net total expense ratio, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. The Board considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PGIM Investments to other funds and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds in a Peer Group. The actual management fee represents the fee rate actually paid by Fund shareholders and includes any fee waivers or reimbursements. The net total expense ratio for the Fund represents the actual expense ratio incurred by Fund shareholders.

The mutual funds included in the Peer Universe, which was used to consider performance, and the Peer Group, which was used to consider fees and expenses, were objectively determined by Broadridge, an independent provider of mutual fund data. In certain circumstances, PGIM Investments also provided supplemental Peer Universe or Peer Group information, for reasons addressed with the Board. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles over various periods, with the first quartile being the best 25% of the mutual funds (for performance, the best performing mutual funds and, for expenses, the lowest cost mutual funds).

The section below summarizes key factors considered by the Board and the Board’s conclusions regarding the Fund’s performance, fees and overall expenses. The table sets forth net performance comparisons (which reflect the impact on performance of fund expenses, or any subsidies, expense caps or waivers that may be applicable) with the Peer Universe, actual management fees with the Peer Group (which reflect the

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


    

    

 

impact of any subsidies or fee waivers), and net total expenses with the Peer Group, each of which were key factors considered by the Board.

 

           
         

Net Performance

   1 Year    3 Years    5 Years    10 Years
         
     2nd Quartile    3rd Quartile    3rd Quartile    3rd Quartile
 

Actual Management Fees: 1st Quartile

 

Net Total Expenses: 2nd Quartile

 

·   

The Board noted that the Fund outperformed its secondary, fixed-income benchmark index (the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index) over all periods.

 

·   

The Board also noted that the Fund outperformed its primary, equity benchmark index (the S&P 500 Index) over the one-year period, and underperformed over the three-, five-, and ten-year periods.

 

·   

The Board and PGIM Investments agreed to retain the existing contractual expense cap, which (exclusive of certain fees and expenses) caps total annual operating expenses at 0.95% for Class A shares, 1.70% for Class C shares, 1.20% for Class R shares, 0.70% for Class Z shares, and 0.70% for Class R6 shares through February 29, 2024.

 

·   

In addition, PGIM Investments will waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class and has agreed that total annual fund operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual fund operating expenses for Class Z shares.

 

·   

The Board concluded that, in light of the above, it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to renew the agreements.

 

·   

The Board concluded that the management fees (including subadvisory fees) and total expenses were reasonable in light of the services provided.

*  *  *

After full consideration of these factors, the Board concluded that the approval of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

PGIM Income Builder Fund


    MAIL     TELEPHONE     WEBSITE
     
       655 Broad Street         (800) 225-1852         pgim.com/investments
       Newark, NJ 07102          

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board of Trustees of the Fund has delegated to the Fund’s subadvisers the responsibility for voting any proxies and maintaining proxy recordkeeping with respect to the Fund. A description of these proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852 or by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the Fund’s website and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website.

 

TRUSTEES

 

Ellen S. Alberding · Kevin J. Bannon · Scott E. Benjamin · Linda W. Bynoe · Barry H. Evans · Keith F. Hartstein · Laurie Simon Hodrick · Stuart S. Parker · Brian K. Reid · Grace C. Torres

 

OFFICERS

 

Stuart S. Parker, President · Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President · Christian J. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer · Claudia DiGiacomo, Chief Legal Officer · Andrew Donohue, Chief Compliance Officer · Russ Shupak, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer · Kelly Florio, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer · Andrew R. French, Secretary · Melissa Gonzalez, Assistant Secretary · Kelly A. Coyne, Assistant Secretary · Patrick E. McGuinness, Assistant Secretary · Debra Rubano, Assistant Secretary · George Hoyt, Assistant Secretary · Devan Goolsby, Assistant Secretary · Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer · Elyse M. McLaughlin, Assistant Treasurer · Deborah Conway, Assistant Treasurer · Robert W. McCormack, Assistant Treasurer

 

MANAGER    PGIM Investments LLC  

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

SUBADVISERS    Jennison Associates LLC  

466 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

     PGIM Quantitative Solutions LLC  

655 Broad Street

16th Floor

Newark, NJ 07102

DISTRIBUTOR   

Prudential Investment

Management Services LLC

 

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

CUSTODIAN    The Bank of New York Mellon  

240 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10286

TRANSFER AGENT   

Prudential Mutual Fund

Services LLC

 

PO Box 534432

Pittsburgh, PA 15253

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP  

300 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10017

FUND COUNSEL    Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP  

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019


An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. An investor may obtain the prospectus and summary prospectus by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852. The prospectus and summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

 

E-DELIVERY

 

To receive your mutual fund documents online, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery and enroll. Instead of receiving printed documents by mail, you will receive notification via email when new materials are available. You can cancel your enrollment or change your email address at any time by visiting the website address above.

 

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH TRUSTEES

 

Shareholders can communicate directly with the Board of Trustees by writing to the Chair of the Board, PGIM Income Builder Fund, PGIM Investments, Attn: Board of Trustees, 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Trustee by writing to that Trustee at the same address. Communications are not screened before being delivered to the addressee.

 

AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT filings are available on the Commission’s website at sec.gov.

 

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s Trustees and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852.

Mutual Funds:

 

     

ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

   MAY LOSE VALUE   

ARE NOT A DEPOSIT OF OR GUARANTEED

BY ANY BANK OR ANY BANK AFFILIATE


LOGO

 

 

 

PGIM INCOME BUILDER FUND

 

  SHARE CLASS

   A    C    R    Z    R6

  NASDAQ

   PCGAX    PCCFX    PCLRX    PDCZX    PCGQX

  CUSIP

   74442X108            74442X306            74442X405            74442X504            74442X769        

MFSP504E


Item 2 – Code of Ethics — See Exhibit (a)

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the “Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies – Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers”) that applies to the registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer; the registrant’s Principal Financial Officer also serves as the Principal Accounting Officer.

The registrant hereby undertakes to provide any person, without charge, upon request, a copy of the code of ethics. To request a copy of the code of ethics, contact the registrant 800-225-1852, and ask for a copy of the Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies - Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers.

Item 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert –

The registrant’s Board has determined that Ms. Grace C. Torres, member of the Board’s Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert,” and that she is “independent,” for purposes of this item.

Item 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services –

(a)   Audit Fees

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), the Registrant’s principal accountant, billed the Registrant $56,180 and $53,000, respectively, for professional services rendered for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.

(b) Audit-Related Fees

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022: none.

(c) Tax Fees

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022: none.

(d) All Other Fees

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022: none.

(e) (1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

THE PGIM MUTUAL FUNDS

AUDIT COMMITTEE POLICY

on

Pre-Approval of Services Provided by the Independent


Accountants

The Audit Committee of each PGIM Mutual Fund is charged with the responsibility to monitor the independence of the Fund’s independent accountants. As part of this responsibility, the Audit Committee must pre-approve the independent accounting firm’s engagement to render audit and/or permissible non-audit services, as required by law. In evaluating a proposed engagement of the independent accountants, the Audit Committee will assess the effect that the engagement might reasonably be expected to have on the accountant’s independence. The Committee’s evaluation will be based on:

 

   

a review of the nature of the professional services expected to be provided,

 

   

a review of the safeguards put into place by the accounting firm to safeguard independence, and

 

   

periodic meetings with the accounting firm.

Policy for Audit and Non-Audit Services Provided to the Funds

On an annual basis, the scope of audits for each Fund, audit fees and expenses, and audit-related and non-audit services (and fees proposed in respect thereof) proposed to be performed by the Fund’s independent accountants will be presented by the Treasurer and the independent accountants to the Audit Committee for review and, as appropriate, approval prior to the initiation of such services.

Such presentation shall be accompanied by confirmation by both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed

non-audit services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants. Such proposed non-audit services shall be described in sufficient detail to enable the Audit Committee to assess the appropriateness of such services and fees, and the compatibility of the provision of such services with the auditor’s independence. The Committee shall receive periodic reports on the progress of the audit and other services which are approved by the Committee or by the Committee Chair pursuant to authority delegated in this Policy.

The categories of services enumerated under “Audit Services”, “Audit-related Services”, and “Tax Services” are intended to provide guidance to the Treasurer and the independent accountants as to those categories of services which the Committee believes are generally consistent with the independence of the independent accountants and which the Committee (or the Committee Chair) would expect upon the presentation of specific proposals to pre-approve. The enumerated categories are not intended as an exclusive list of audit, audit-related or tax services, which the Committee (or the Committee Chair) would consider for pre-approval.

Audit Services

The following categories of audit services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:

 

   

Annual Fund financial statement audits

 

   

Seed audits (related to new product filings, as required)

 

   

SEC and regulatory filings and consents

Audit-related Services

The following categories of audit-related services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:

 

   

Accounting consultations

 

   

Fund merger support services

 

   

Agreed Upon Procedure Reports

 

   

Attestation Reports

 

   

Other Internal Control Reports

Individual audit-related services that fall within one of these categories (except for fund merger support services) and are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process are subject to an authorized pre-approval by the Audit Committee so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $30,000. Any services provided under such pre-approval will be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regular meeting. Should the amount of such services exceed $30,000 any additional fees will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated). Fees related to fund merger support services are subject to a separate authorized


pre-approval by the Audit Committee with fees determined on a per occurrence and merger complexity basis.

Tax Services

The following categories of tax services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:

 

   

Tax compliance services related to the filing or amendment of the following:

 

   

Federal, state and local income tax compliance; and,

 

   

Sales and use tax compliance

 

   

Timely RIC qualification reviews

 

   

Tax distribution analysis and planning

 

   

Tax authority examination services

 

   

Tax appeals support services

 

   

Accounting methods studies

 

   

Fund merger support services

 

   

Tax consulting services and related projects

Individual tax services that fall within one of these categories and are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process are subject to an authorized pre-approval by the Audit Committee so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $30,000. Any services provided under such pre-approval will be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regular meeting. Should the amount of such services exceed $30,000 any additional fees will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated).

Other Non-Audit Services

Certain non-audit services that the independent accountants are legally permitted to render will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee or by one or more Committee members to whom the Committee has delegated this authority and who will report to the full Committee any pre-approval decisions made pursuant to this Policy. Non-audit services presented for pre-approval pursuant to this paragraph will be accompanied by a confirmation from both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants.

Proscribed Services

The Fund’s independent accountants will not render services in the following categories of non-audit services:

 

   

Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund

 

   

Financial information systems design and implementation

 

   

Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports

 

   

Actuarial services

 

   

Internal audit outsourcing services

 

   

Management functions or human resources

 

   

Broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services

 

   

Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit

 

   

Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible.

Pre-approval of Non-Audit Services Provided to Other Entities Within the PGIM Fund Complex

Certain non-audit services provided to PGIM Investments LLC or any of its affiliates that also provide ongoing services to the PGIM Mutual Funds will be subject to pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The only non-audit services provided to these entities that will require pre-approval are those related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds.


Individual projects that are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $30,000. Services presented for pre-approval pursuant to this paragraph will be accompanied by a confirmation from both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants.

Although the Audit Committee will not pre-approve all services provided to PGIM Investments LLC and its affiliates, the Committee will receive an annual report from the Fund’s independent accounting firm showing the aggregate fees for all services provided to PGIM Investments and its affiliates.

(e) (2) Percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X

 

  

    Fiscal Year Ended October 31,    

    2023    

  

    Fiscal Year Ended October 31,    

    2022    

4(b)    Not applicable.    Not applicable.
4(c)    Not applicable.    Not applicable.
4(d)    Not applicable.    Not applicable.

(f) Percentage of hours expended attributable to work performed by other than full time employees of principal accountant if greater than 50%.

The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was 0%.

(g) Non-Audit Fees

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022 was $0 and $0, respectively.

(h) Principal Accountant’s Independence

Not applicable as the Registrant’s principal accountant has not provided non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X.

(i) Not applicable.

(j) Not applicable.

Item 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants – Not applicable.

Item 6 – Schedule of Investments – The schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

Item 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.


Item 8 –  

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.

 

Item 9 –   Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not applicable.

 

Item 10 –   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – There have been no material changes to these procedures.

 

Item 11 –   Controls and Procedures

 

  (a)

It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

  (b)

There has been no significant change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12 – Controls and Procedures - Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.

Item 13 – Exhibits

(a)(1) Code of Ethics – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.CODE-ETH.

(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.CERT.

(a)(2)(1) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 – Not applicable.

(a)(2)(2) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant – Not applicable.

(b) Certifications pursuant to Section  906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.906CERT.


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.

 

Registrant:                Prudential Investment Portfolios 16
By:    /s/ Andrew R. French
   Andrew R. French
   Secretary
Date:    December 19, 2023

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/ Stuart S. Parker
   Stuart S. Parker
   President and Principal Executive Officer
Date:                         December 19, 2023
By:    /s/ Christian J. Kelly
   Christian J. Kelly
   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Date:    December 19, 2023