N-CSR 1 d464014dncsr.htm N-CSR N-CSR
Table of Contents

 

 

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 811-07883

 

 

ICON Funds

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

5299 DTC Blvd. Suite 1200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Brian Harding

5299 DTC Blvd. Suite 1200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 303-790-1600

Date of fiscal year end: September 30, 2017

Date of reporting period: September 30, 2017

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LOGO

ICON Bond Fund

ICON Equity Income Fund

ICON Fund

ICON Long/Short Fund

ICON Opportunities Fund

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

You can now sign up for electronic delivery of ICON Fund shareholder reports, including prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports and proxy statements.

When these materials are available, you will receive an email from ICON with instructions on how to view the documents. Statements, transaction confirmations and other documents that are not available online will continue to be sent to you by U.S. mail.

Visit ICON’s website at www.iconfunds.com to learn more and sign up.

You may change or cancel your participation in eDelivery by visiting www.iconfunds.com, or you can request a hard copy of any of the materials free of charge by calling ICON Funds at 1-800-764-0442.

 

 

 

  

1-800-764-0442

 

 

    

 

  

www.iconfunds.com

 

  


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

        

About This Report (Unaudited)

     2  

Management Overview (Unaudited) and Schedules of Investments

  

ICON Bond Fund

     3  

ICON Equity Income Fund

     8  

ICON Fund

     14  

ICON Long/Short Fund

     18  

ICON Opportunities Fund

     22  

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     26  

Financial Statements

     34  

Financial Highlights

     42  

Notes to Financial Statements

     58  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     73  

Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)

     74  

Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (Unaudited)

     76  

Additional Information (Unaudited)

     78  

Privacy Policy

     82  


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    About This Report
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Historical Returns

All total returns mentioned in this Report account for the change in a Fund’s per-share price and the reinvestment of any dividends, capital gain distributions and adjustments for financial statement purposes. If your account is set up to receive Fund distributions in cash rather than to reinvest them, your actual return may differ from these figures. The Funds’ performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. The Adviser may have reimbursed certain fees or expenses of some of the Funds. If not for these reimbursements, performance would have been lower. Fund results shown, unless otherwise indicated, are at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, results would have been lower.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance results represent past performance, and current performance may be higher or lower. Please call 1-800-764-0442 or visit www.iconfunds.com for performance results current to the most recent month-end.

Portfolio Data

This Report reflects ICON’s portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2017, the end of the reporting period. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any sector, industry, security or the Funds.

There are risks associated with mutual fund investing, including the loss of principal. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results.

There are risks associated with selling short, including the risk that the ICON Long/Short Fund may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short price, resulting in a loss. The ICON Long/Short Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited as a loss occurs when the value of a security sold short increases. Call options involve certain risks, such as limited gains and lack of liquidity in the underlying securities, and are not suitable for all investors.

Investing in fixed income securities such as bonds involves interest rate risk. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities generally decreases. The ICON Bond Fund and ICON Equity Income Fund may invest up to 35% and 25% of its assets in high-yield bonds that are below investment grade, respectively. ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund may invest up to 10% of its assets in high-yield bonds that are below investment grade. High-yield bonds involve a greater risk of default and price volatility than U.S. Government and other higher-quality bonds.

An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment.

Investments in foreign securities may entail unique risks, including political, market, and currency risks. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, do not exist in foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. The ICON system relies on the integrity of the financial statements released to the market as part of our analysis.

Investments in other mutual fund companies may entail certain risks. For example, the Fund’s performance depends on the underlying funds in which it invests, and it is subject to the risks of the underlying funds. Additionally, an investment by the Fund or underlying fund in exchange-traded funds generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a mutual fund.

The prospectus and statement of additional information contain this and other information about the Funds and are available by visiting www.iconfunds.com or calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus and statement of additional information carefully.

Financial Intermediary

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may influence the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

    

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Bond Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark?

A.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the ICON Bond Fund (the Fund) Class S shares outperformed its benchmark, the Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index (ex-MBS). The Fund returned 2.82% while the Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index (ex-MBS) returned 1.17%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

Fiscal year 2017 proved to be a rather volatile year for fixed income investors as both rate and spread movements produced large relative return differences in varying segments of the bond market. The majority of rate volatility took place during the fourth quarter of 2016 with investors aggressively selling treasury bonds at the close of the presidential election. This so-called “Trump Trade” took place as investors anticipated future inflationary pressures due to a more pro-growth political platform resulting in the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury moving from 1.60% on September 30, 2016 to 2.45% on December 31, 2106. The ICON Bond Fund held up well during this sell-off due to its shorter overall duration and credit-heavy focus, as corporate credit spread tightening offset a portion of the rate move.

 

  

During the remainder of the fiscal year, rate volatility decreased while the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury traded within an approximate 50 basis point range. However, credit spreads continued to tighten across the board as default risk remained constrained and yield-hungry investors bid up corporate bonds in both the investment grade and high yield space. The ICON Bond Fund was again able to outperform during this move due to strong corporate bond selections and allocations to both closed-end funds and preferred shares that produced strong returns.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

As stated above, the Fund outperformed its benchmark during the fiscal year. The outperformance largely stemmed from the Fund’s positions in corporate credit and the preferred share segment of the market, both of which produced strong relative returns over the course of the fiscal year. From a sector standpoint, corporate bond selections within the Industrials, Financials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors of the market experienced larger spread tightening movement than the broad market. Closed-end fund positions also produced strong returns relative to the benchmark, contributing positively to the Fund’s performance.

 

  

Over the course of the fiscal year, the Fund had an increased allocation to cash due to tight corporate credit spreads and stretched valuations. While this cash balance did help insulate the Fund from the rate move in the 4th quarter of 2016, it also reduced participation in the credit spread tightening move that took place over the course of the fiscal year.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the bond market?

A.

At the end of fiscal year 2017, both investment-grade and high yield corporate bond spreads were trading at levels that we regard as excessively tight and overvalued. With spreads at these levels, we have been focused on more defensive structure oriented positions and are utilizing our bottom up approach to find these issue-specific opportunities. While we don’t anticipate a substantial upward movement in interest rates over the course of the next 12 months, the Fund is positioned in the lower portion of its duration range as we move into fiscal year 2018. Closed-end fund opportunities remain abundant and we have structured this segment of the Fund to benefit from net asset value tightening events. While future bond market volatility might be substantial, we believe our bottom up investment methodology will help the Fund navigate the changing market.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    3


Table of Contents
ICON Bond Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception Date    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Bond Fund - Class S

   5/6/04    2.82%   3.00%   4.70%     4.52%   1.03%     0.85%  

ICON Bond Fund - Class C

   10/21/02    2.05%   2.14%   3.82%     3.99%   2.20%     1.70%  

ICON Bond Fund - Class A

   9/30/10    2.48%   2.74%   N/A   3.30%   1.48%     1.10%  

ICON Bond Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 4.75%)

   9/30/10    -2.35%   1.75%   N/A   2.58%   1.48%     1.10%  

Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index

      0.96%   2.53%   4.56%     4.68%   N/A   N/A

Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index (ex-MBS)

      1.17%   2.71%   4.65%     4.75%   N/A   N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included returns would be lower.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Bond Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 5/6/04 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Bond Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Bond Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON Bond Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

     Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value

Corporate Bonds (74.80%)

   

Consumer Discretionary (5.54%)

   

Dollar Tree, Inc.
5.75%, 03/01/23

  $ 250,000     $   263,650  

Lee Enterprises, Inc.
9.50%, 03/15/22(a)(b)

    1,150,000     1,194,562  

M/I Homes, Inc.
6.75%, 01/15/21

    345,000     360,094  

Mattamy Group Corp.
6.50%, 11/15/20(a)

    500,000     510,000  

Reliance Intermediate Holdings LP
6.50%, 04/01/23(a)

    2,400,000     2,550,000  
   

 

    4,878,306  
   

 

Consumer Staples (6.01%)

   

Darling Ingredients, Inc.
5.38%, 01/15/22

    844,000     875,650  

HRG Group, Inc.
7.88%, 07/15/19

    1,325,000     1,351,500  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co.
4.88%, 02/15/25(a)

    2,871,000     3,068,046  
   

 

    5,295,196  
   

 

Energy (11.40%)

   

Andeavor
5.13%, 04/01/24(b)

    2,500,000     2,639,771  

Concho Resources, Inc.
5.50%, 04/01/23

    600,000     616,980  

Energy Transfer LP / Regency Energy Finance Corp.
5.50%, 04/15/23

    2,850,000     2,932,650  

MPLX LP
5.50%, 02/15/23

    2,500,000     2,572,500  

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.
8.13%, 03/30/18(c)

    1,250,000     1,278,125  
   

 

      10,040,026  
   

 

Financial (19.11%)

   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
2.75%, 03/15/23

    1,000,000     1,014,818  

CBRE Services, Inc.
5.00%, 03/15/23

    2,990,000     3,098,079  

Credit Acceptance Corp.
6.13%, 02/15/21

    1,000,000     1,015,000  

GFI Group, Inc.
8.38%, 07/19/18

    2,000,000     2,095,000  

Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC
8.25%, 12/01/22(a)

    550,000     587,125  

Infinity Property & Casualty Corp.
5.00%, 09/19/22

    640,000     679,581  

International Lease Finance Corp.
5.88%, 08/15/22

    1,500,000     1,679,106  

8.25%, 12/15/20

    1,113,000     1,300,301  

Prudential Financial, Inc.
3M US L + 5.00%, 06/15/38(d)

    3,200,000     3,352,000  

Radian Group, Inc.
5.50%, 06/01/19(b)

    293,000     307,650  
     Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value

Financial (continued)

   

Raymond James Financial, Inc.
5.63%, 04/01/24

  $   1,500,000     $  1,700,042  
   

 

    16,828,702  
   

 

Health Care (4.57%)

   

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.
5.13%, 07/01/22

    940,000     973,276  

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
5.75%, 09/01/23(a)

    1,200,000     1,266,000  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.
5.38%, 11/15/22

    1,000,000     1,030,600  

Universal Health Services, Inc.
4.75%, 08/01/22(a)

    730,000     755,550  
   

 

    4,025,426  
   

 

Industrials (15.77%)

   

AECOM
5.75%, 10/15/22

    1,110,000     1,156,620  

Aircastle, Ltd.
5.00%, 04/01/23

    1,895,000     2,027,650  

Allegion PLC
5.88%, 09/15/23

    4,595,000     4,962,485  

Covanta Holding Corp.
6.38%, 10/01/22

    1,423,000     1,462,132  

EnPro Industries, Inc.
5.88%, 09/15/22

    722,000     753,588  

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
5.25%, 03/15/22

    3,392,000     3,524,175  
   

 

    13,886,650  
   

 

Information Technology (8.15%)

Amkor Technology, Inc.
6.38%, 10/01/22

    1,000,000     1,033,050  

Dell International LLC / EMC Corp.
7.13%, 06/15/24(a)

    852,000     941,230  

Micron Technology, Inc.
7.50%, 09/15/23

    500,000     555,625  

NXP BV / NXP Funding LLC
4.63%, 06/01/23(a)

    3,050,000     3,278,750  

Western Digital Corp.
7.38%, 04/01/23(a)

    1,250,000     1,369,375  
   

 

    7,178,030  
   

 

Materials (2.53%)

   

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty., Ltd.
9.75%, 03/01/22(a)

    1,000,000     1,124,500  

Westlake Chemical Corp.
4.88%, 05/15/23

    1,060,000     1,102,400  
   

 

    2,226,900  
   

 

Telecommunication Services (0.24%)

Level 3 Communications, Inc.
5.75%, 12/01/22

    200,000     206,500  
   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017   

5


Table of Contents
ICON Bond Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

    Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value

 

Utilities (1.48%)

   

DPL, Inc.
6.75%, 10/01/19

  $   1,250,000     $  1,306,250  
   

 

Total Corporate Bonds

(Cost $66,051,446)

    65,871,986  
   

 

Convertible Corporate Bonds (4.30%)

 

 

Telecommunication Services (4.30%)

 

 

Clearwire Communications LLC / Clearwire Finance, Inc.
8.25%, 12/01/40(a)

    3,750,000     3,787,500  
   

 

Total Convertible Corporate Bonds

(Cost $3,867,927)

 

 

  3,787,500  
   

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations (3.40%)

 

 

U.S. Treasury Bond
2.25%, 02/15/27

    1,000,000     993,516  

U.S. Treasury Note
1.88%, 01/31/22

    2,000,000     2,000,312  
   

 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations

(Cost $2,977,911)

    2,993,828  
   

 

Preferred Stocks (6.20%)

   

Diversified REITs (3.01%)

   

Gramercy Property Trust, Series A
7.13%(b)(c)(e)

    99,897     2,650,267  
   

 

Property & Casualty Insurance (1.82%)

 

 

Argo Group U.S., Inc.
6.50%, 09/15/42

    63,290     1,596,807  
   

 

Reinsurance (1.37%)

   

Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd.
7.75%, 12/01/43

    46,154     1,207,850  
   

 

Total Preferred Stocks

(Cost $5,419,346)

    5,454,924  
   

 

Closed-End Mutual Funds (9.23%)

 

 

BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc.

    2,524     34,402  

Blackstone / GSO Senior Floating Rate Term Fund

    39,259     690,173  

Deutsche High Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.

    18,474     279,512  

Deutsche Multi-Market Income Trust

    13,461     120,611  
    Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value

 

Closed-End Mutual Funds (continued)

 

 

Deutsche Strategic Income Trust

    14,600     $   181,916  

Federated Premier Intermediate Municipal Income Fund(c)

    148,723     2,024,120  

First Trust Senior Floating Rate 2022 Target Term Fund

    55,387     536,700  

MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust

    20,215     201,948  

Morgan Stanley Income Securities, Inc.(c)

    137,528     2,516,762  

Nuveen High Income December 2018 Target Term Fund

    113,861     1,143,165  

Nuveen High Income December 2019 Target Term Fund

    28,433     287,742  

Nuveen Preferred and Income 2022 Term Fund

    4,409     112,385  
   

 

Total Closed-End Mutual Funds

(Cost $8,097,448)

    8,129,436  
   

 

Collateral for Securities on Loan (1.29%)

 

 

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio,
7-Day Yield 1.01%

    1,134,685     1,134,685  
   

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $1,134,685)

 

 

  1,134,685  
   

 

Total Investments (99.22%)

(Cost $87,548,763)

    $87,372,359  

Other Assets Less Liabilities (0.78%)

 

  692,470  
   

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

    $88,064,829  
   

 

Investment Abbreviations:

LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust

Libor Rates:

3M US L - 3 Month LIBOR as of September 30, 2017 was 1.33%

 

(a) 

Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional buyers. As of September 30, 2017, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $20,432,638.

(b) 

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Bond Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

(c) 

These securities are considered, by management, to be illiquid. The aggregate value of these securities at September 30, 2017 was $8,469,274, which represent 9.62% of the Fund’s net assets.

(d)

Floating or variable rate security. The reference rate is described above. The Rate in effect as of September 30, 2017 is based on the reference rate plus the displayed spread as of the security’s last reset date.

(e) 

This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest.

 

Credit Diversification (September 30, 2017)

Baa3

   28.32%

Ba1

   9.14%

Baa2

   8.69%

B1

   7.27%

Ba2

   6.64%

Ba3

   5.67%

B3

   5.41%

B2

   3.43%

Aaa

   3.40%

Baa1

   1.93%

Caa1

   1.45%

Aa2

   1.15%
  

 

Total:

           82.50%
  

 

Percentages are based upon U.S. Treasury obligations, corporate and convertible corporate bond investments as a percentage of net assets. Ratings based on Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    7


Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2016 (Unaudited)

 

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The ICON Equity Income Fund (the Fund) Class S shares returned 16.53% for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, lagging its benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which returned 18.61% during the fiscal year. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

As the fiscal year began, our valuation methodology calculated an overall average value-to-price (V/P) ratio for the equity market of 1.09, meaning we believed fair value for the equity market as a whole was approximately 9% higher than where stocks were trading. While we were anticipating positive returns, the market exceeded our expectations. However, stocks with higher dividend yields (e.g. greater than 3%), did not do particularly well over the course of the fiscal year. During fiscal year 2017, S&P 1500 stocks with dividend yields between 0% and 3% returned approximately 21%, while stocks with a dividend yield greater than 3% returned only about 11%. This performance difference is, in part, a reflection of the improvement in treasury yield over the course of the year. For example, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury Note increased throughout the year -- from 1.60% on September 30, 2016 to 2.33% on September 30, 2017. As fixed income yields improved, the demand for high dividend stocks as a yield alternative to fixed income investments decreased. With the Equity Income Fund tilted toward higher dividend yield, the Fund far outpaced the 11% return for stocks with dividend yields exceeding 3%, but lagged the broader market since its exposure to lower dividend yield equities was limited. Furthermore, the Fund had a fixed income position during the fiscal year. As interest rates increased, the value of these fixed income positions decreased, hindering the Fund’s performance.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

The Fund’s stock selection within the Financials sector was the largest detractor to the Fund’s performance relative to the benchmark. The Fund’s Financials holdings returned around 21% while the Financials Sector benchmark enjoyed a 35.2% return during fiscal year 2017. The Fund’s performance in this sector was adversely impacted by its exposure to the property & casualty insurance industry and, specifically, AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (AFSI). On February 27, 2017, AmTrust’s stock price fell over 19% when it reported it had identified “material weaknesses in [its] internal control over financial reporting”. The Fund’s AmTrust position explains much of the Fund’s Financials sector underperformance.

 

  

The Fund faced additional headwinds with its fixed income allocation. During fiscal year 2017, we watched the overall market V/P fall below 1.00. Because this suggested to us the market was overvalued, we increased our fixed income holdings and defensive index put options. As interest rates increased, however, the value of our fixed income positions decreased. Furthermore, as the market moved higher during the year, the defensive put options lost value and negatively impacted the Fund.

 

Q.

What is the outlook for the ICON Equity Income Fund?

A.

As of September 30, 2017, we believe the market has an overall average V/P of 1.00, meaning stocks are generally priced at fair value under our system. Accordingly, we do not anticipate the same strong returns in the equity market in fiscal year 2018 as we saw in fiscal year 2017. We have thus decreased the Fund’s equity exposure, which now comprises approximately 85% of the Fund, with the remaining 15% allocated to fixed income, preferreds and convertible preferreds. We nonetheless still see sector opportunities based on our valuation readings. The Financials sector has a V/P of 1.13, for example, and we have increased the Fund’s Financials holdings. We will continue to monitor the equity market to find the best combination of value and dividend for our investors.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception Date    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Equity Income Fund - Class S

   5/10/04    16.53%   11.57%   5.70%   7.39%   1.44%   1.19%

ICON Equity Income Fund - Class C

   11/8/02    15.34%   10.45%   4.64%   7.45%   2.54%   2.19%

ICON Equity Income Fund - Class A

   5/31/06    16.20%   11.28%   5.42%   6.30%   1.74%   1.44%

ICON Equity Income Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales
charge of 5.75%)

   5/31/06    9.52%   9.97%   4.80%   5.74%   1.74%   1.44%

S&P Composite 1500 Index

      18.61%   14.29%   7.63%   8.96%       N/A       N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included returns would be lower.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Equity Income Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 5/10/04 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Equity Income Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Equity Income Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    9


Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Corporate Bonds (5.38%)

Consumer Discretionary (0.30%)

Lee Enterprises, Inc.
9.50%, 03/15/22(a)

   $ 250,000      $    259,688    
     

 

Consumer Staples (0.32%)

     

HRG Group, Inc.
7.88%, 07/15/19

     278,000      283,560    
     

 

Energy (0.94%)

     

Energy Transfer LP / Regency Energy Finance Corp.
5.50%, 04/15/23

     300,000      308,700    

MPLX LP
5.50%, 02/15/23

     500,000      514,500    
     

 

      823,200    
     

 

Financial (0.60%)

     

Prudential Financial, Inc.
3M US L +
5.00%, 06/15/38(b)

     500,000      523,750    
     

 

Health Care (0.24%)

     

Molina Healthcare, Inc.
5.38%, 11/15/22

     200,000      206,120    
     

 

Industrials (1.51%)

     

AECOM
5.75%, 10/15/22

     200,000      208,400    

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
5.25%, 03/15/22

     1,066,000      1,107,538    
     

 

      1,315,938    
     

 

Information Technology (0.31%)

NXP BV / NXP Funding LLC
4.63%, 06/01/23(a)

     250,000      268,750    
     

 

Materials (0.62%)

     

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty., Ltd.
9.75%, 03/01/22(a)

     250,000      281,125    

Westlake Chemical Corp.
4.88%, 05/15/23

     250,000      260,000    
     

 

      541,125    
     

 

Telecommunication Services (0.24%)

Level 3 Communications, Inc.
5.75%, 12/01/22

     200,000      206,500    
     

 

Utilities (0.30%)

     

DPL, Inc.
6.75%, 10/01/19

     250,000      261,250    
     

 

Total Corporate Bonds

(Cost $4,721,537)

      4,689,881    
     

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Convertible Corporate Bonds (0.40%)

Telecommunication Services (0.40%)

Clearwire Communications LLC / Clearwire Finance, Inc.
8.25%, 12/01/40(a)

   $ 350,000      $    353,500    
     

 

Total Convertible Corporate Bonds

(Cost $359,480)

 

 

   353,500    
     

 

Common Stocks (85.58%)

     

Application Software (0.90%)

     

Open Text Corp.

     24,200      781,418    
     

 

Auto Parts & Equipment (2.24%)

Magna International, Inc.

     36,500      1,948,370    
     

 

Automobile Manufacturers (0.93%)

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Sponsored ADR

     41,500      808,835    
     

 

Building Products (1.63%)

     

Johnson Controls International PLC

     35,300      1,422,237    
     

 

Communications Equipment (1.78%)

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

     18,300      1,553,121    
     

 

Data Processing & Outsourced Services (1.95%)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

     21,000      1,697,220    
     

 

Diversified Banks (4.63%)

     

Bank of America Corp.

     79,200      2,006,928    

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     21,300      2,034,363    
     

 

      4,041,291    
     

 

Diversified Chemicals (1.83%)

     

Eastman Chemical Co.

     17,600      1,592,624    
     

 

Electric Utilities (2.80%)

     

Eversource Energy

     9,900      598,356    

Westar Energy, Inc.

     37,100      1,840,160    
     

 

      2,438,516    
     

 

Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals (1.46%)

Agrium, Inc.

     11,900      1,275,799    
     

 

Gas Utilities (1.33%)

     

National Fuel Gas Co.

     20,500      1,160,505    
     

 

Homebuilding (1.25%)

     

PulteGroup, Inc.

     40,000      1,093,200    
     

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Hotel & Resort REITs (1.23%)

Hospitality Properties Trust, REIT

     37,700      $  1,074,073    
     

 

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines (0.73%)

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

     6,000      632,460    
     

 

Household Appliances (1.40%)

Whirlpool Corp.

     6,600      1,217,304    
     

 

Housewares & Specialties (1.87%)

Tupperware Brands Corp.

     26,300      1,625,866    
     

 

Industrial Conglomerates (1.22%)

General Electric Co.

     43,900      1,061,502    
     

 

Integrated Oil & Gas (2.00%)

TOTAL SA, Sponsored ADR

     32,500      1,739,400    
     

 

Integrated Telecommunication Services (1.55%)

AT&T, Inc.

     34,400      1,347,448    
     

 

Internet Software & Services (1.59%)

LogMeIn, Inc.

     12,600      1,386,630    
     

 

Investment Banking & Brokerage (3.11%)

BGC Partners, Inc., Class A

     66,300      959,361    

Morgan Stanley

     36,400      1,753,388    
     

 

      2,712,749    
     

 

IT Consulting & Other Services (2.88%)

DXC Technology Co.

     10,900      936,092    

Leidos Holdings, Inc.

     26,700      1,581,174    
     

 

      2,517,266    
     

 

Life & Health Insurance (1.55%)

Sun Life Financial, Inc.

     33,900      1,349,898    
     

 

Managed Health Care (1.33%)

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     5,900      1,155,515    
     

 

Multi-Utilities (1.20%)

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

     35,700      1,042,797    
     

 

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (3.49%)

RPC, Inc.(c)

     71,600      1,774,964    

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.

     40,600      1,261,442    
     

 

      3,036,406    
     

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (6.10%)

Diamondback Energy, Inc.(d)

     19,600      1,920,016    

Gulfport Energy Corp.(d)

     129,800      1,861,332    

SRC Energy, Inc.(d)

     158,900      1,536,563    
     

 

      5,317,911    
     

 

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing (0.97%)

Andeavor

     8,200      845,830    
     

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Pharmaceuticals (5.06%)

Eli Lilly & Co.

     15,400      $  1,317,316    

Merck & Co., Inc.

     19,400      1,242,182    

Pfizer, Inc.

     51,700      1,845,690    
     

 

      4,405,188    
     

 

Property & Casualty Insurance (1.17%)

XL Group, Ltd.

     25,800      1,017,810    
     

 

Regional Banks (5.19%)

Fifth Third Bancorp

     58,400      1,634,032    

First Commonwealth Financial Corp.

     83,100      1,174,203    

Valley National Bancorp

     142,800      1,720,740    
     

 

      4,528,975    
     

 

Restaurants (1.22%)

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

     13,500      1,063,530    
     

 

Semiconductor Equipment (1.96%)

Brooks Automation, Inc.

     56,400      1,712,304    
     

 

Semiconductors (5.38%)

Broadcom, Ltd.

     5,100      1,236,954    

Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

     126,200      1,895,524    

Intel Corp.

     41,000      1,561,280    
     

 

      4,693,758    
     

 

Soft Drinks (1.33%)

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

     13,100      1,158,957    
     

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (4.81%)

Apple, Inc.

     11,400      1,756,968    

HP, Inc.

     80,200      1,600,792    

Logitech International SA(c)

     22,800      831,288    
     

 

      4,189,048    
     

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (1.08%)

Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.

     43,600      937,400    
     

 

Tobacco (1.22%)

Philip Morris International, Inc.

     9,600      1,065,696    
     

 

Water Utilities (1.24%)

Consolidated Water Co., Ltd.

     84,496      1,081,549    
     

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.97%)

NTT DOCOMO, Inc., Sponsored ADR(c)

     37,200      847,788    
     

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $69,160,640)

 

 

   74,578,194    
     

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    11


Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

     Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value  

Preferred Stocks (2.14%)

   

Diversified REITs (0.79%)

   

Gramercy Property Trust, Inc., Series A
7.13%(e)(f)

  $ 26,105     $ 692,566      
   

 

 

 

Property & Casualty Insurance (0.94%)

 

 

Argo Group U.S., Inc.
6.50%, 09/15/42

    32,335       815,812      
   

 

 

 

Reinsurance (0.41%)

   

Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd.
7.75%, 12/01/43

    13,529       354,054      
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks

(Cost $1,860,261)

      1,862,432      
   

 

 

 

Convertible Preferred Stocks (0.60%)

 

 

Diversified Banks (0.60%)

   

Wells Fargo & Co., Series L 7.50%(e)

    400       526,000      
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks

(Cost $490,412)

 

 

    526,000      
   

 

 

 

Closed-End Mutual Funds (4.67%)

 

 

Blackstone / GSO Senior Floating Rate Term Fund

    10,000         175,800      

Deutsche High Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.

    15,582         235,755      

Deutsche Multi-Market Income Trust

    67,583         605,544      

Eaton Vance High Income 2021 Target Term Trust

    57,174         580,888      

Federated Premier Intermediate Municipal Income Fund(f)

    37,432         509,449      

Morgan Stanley Income Securities, Inc.(f)

    75,069         1,373,763      

Nuveen High Income December 2018 Target Term Fund

    58,349         585,824      
   

 

 

 

Total Closed-End Mutual Funds

(Cost $3,983,169)

 

 

      4,067,023      
   

 

 

 

Underlying Security/

Expiration Date/

Exercise Price/ Notional Amount

  Contracts     Value  

Put Options
Purchased (0.01%)

   

S&P 500 Index
10/20/17, 2,300, $20,154,880

    80       $ 7,200      
   

 

 

 

Total Put Options Purchased

(Cost $149,416)

      7,200      
   

 

 

 
     Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value  

Collateral for Securities on Loan (3.21%)

 

 

State Street Navigator Securities
Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, 7-Day Yield 1.01%

        2,793,426       2,793,426      
   

 

 

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $2,793,426)

 

 

    2,793,426      
   

 

 

 

Total Investments (101.99%)

(Cost $83,518,341)

    $ 88,877,656      

Liabilities Less Other Assets (-1.99%)

 

    (1,732,103)      
   

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

    $ 87,145,554      
   

 

 

 

Investment Abbreviations:

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust

Libor Rates:

3M US L - 3 Month LIBOR as of September 30, 2017 was 1.33%

 

(a) 

Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional buyers. As of September 30, 2017, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $1,163,063.

(b) 

Floating or variable rate security. The reference rate is described above. The Rate in effect as of September 30, 2017 is based on the reference rate plus the displayed spread as of the security’s last reset date.

(c) 

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

(d) 

Non-income producing security.

(e) 

This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest.

(f) 

These securities are considered, by management, to be illiquid. The aggregate value of these securities at September 30, 2017 was $2,575,777, which represent 2.96% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

12    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Information Technology

     21.56%  

Financial

     19.28%  

Energy

     13.50%  

Consumer Discretionary

     9.94%  

Utilities

     6.87%  

Health Care

     6.63%  

Industrials

     4.36%  

Materials

     3.91%  

Telecommunication Services

     3.16%  

Consumer Staples

     2.87%  

Real Estate

     2.02%  
  

 

 

 
             94.10%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, corporate bonds, and convertible corporate bonds as a percentage of net assets.

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     6.10%  

Semiconductors

     5.69%  

Diversified Banks

     5.23%  

Regional Banks

     5.19%  

Pharmaceuticals

     5.06%  

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     4.81%  

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

     3.49%  

Investment Banking & Brokerage

     3.11%  

IT Consulting & Other Services

     2.88%  

Electric Utilities

     2.80%  

Auto Parts & Equipment

     2.24%  

Life & Health Insurance

     2.15%  

Property & Casualty Insurance

     2.11%  

Integrated Oil & Gas

     2.00%  

Semiconductor Equipment

     1.96%  

Data Processing & Outsourced Services

     1.95%  

Housewares & Specialties

     1.87%  

Diversified Chemicals

     1.83%  

Communications Equipment

     1.78%  

Building Products

     1.63%  

Internet Software & Services

     1.59%  

Managed Health Care

     1.57%  

Integrated Telecommunication Services

     1.55%  

Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals

     1.46%  

Household Appliances

     1.40%  

Gas Utilities

     1.33%  

Soft Drinks

     1.33%  

Aerospace & Defense

     1.27%  

Homebuilding

     1.25%  

Water Utilities

     1.24%  

Hotel & Resort REITs

     1.23%  

Tobacco

     1.22%  

Restaurants

     1.22%  

Industrial Conglomerates

     1.22%  

Multi-Utilities

     1.20%  

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

     1.08%  

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

     9.06%  
  

 

 

 
             94.10%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, corporate bonds, and convertible corporate bonds as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    13


Table of Contents
ICON Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark?

A.

The ICON Fund (the Fund) Class S returned 32.67% for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, while its benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

  What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

A year ago in this Overview, we noted our optimism regarding the continuation of the now 8 12 year old bull market. Expecting the market to advance during fiscal year 2017, the Fund held minimal cash to participate in the potential upside. Sector weights were also a primary factor contributing to the Fund’s outperformance of its benchmark. The largest sector weights were Financials, Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Health Care, Materials and Industrials. With Financials, Information Technology, Industrials, Materials and Health Care ranking as the top five S&P sector performers over the 12-month period, these overweight positions contributed positively to the Fund’s relative performance. The Fund held just a 2.11% weight in Real Estate and did not hold any stocks in four of the 11 S&P sectors, avoiding Energy altogether, which was particularly rewarding.

 

Q.

  How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

The five biggest contributors to Fund performance were Bank of America Corp., SVB Financial Group, Celgene Corp., Fifth Third Bancorp and Skyworks Solutions, Inc. Bank of America Corp., SVB Financial Group and Fifth Third Bancorp are in the Financials sector. Celgene Corp. is in the Health Care sector while Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is in the Information Technology sector.

Only three stocks posted negative returns while held in the Fund and detracted from performance: Ulta Beauty, Inc., Ashland Global Holdings Inc., and Cavium, Inc. Ulta Beauty, Inc. is in the Consumer Discretionary sector. Ashland Global Holdings Inc. is in the Materials sector while Cavium, Inc. is in the Information Technology sector. Ashland Global Holdings Inc. has been sold. The other two securities remain in the portfolio.

 

Q.

  What is your investment outlook for the overall market?

A.

As of September 30, 2017, ICON’s valuation model shows a value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.00 for the overall market. In other words, we believe stock prices, on average, are equal to our estimate of fair value. We are not seeing over-pricing and other indications or behaviors typical of market peaks. In terms of upside potential we do not expect the excess returns available when the broad market is priced at a discount to fair value.

 

    

 

14    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception Date    1 Year    5 Years    10 Years    Since
Inception
   Gross Expense
Ratio*
   Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Fund - Class S

   5/6/04    32.67%    10.64%    2.29%    5.01%    1.12%    1.12%

ICON Fund - Class C

   11/28/00    31.14%    9.42%    1.47%    4.07%    2.41%    2.26%

ICON Fund - Class A

   5/31/06    32.23%    10.24%    1.81%    2.53%    1.67%    1.51%

ICON Fund - Class A (including
maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

   5/31/06    24.65%    8.95%    1.20%    2.00%    1.67%    1.51%

S&P Composite 1500 Index

      18.61%    14.29%    7.63%    8.74%    N/A    N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Since Inception performance results for Class C shares include returns for certain time periods that were restarted as of June 8, 2004.

*        Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included returns would be lower.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the ICON Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 5/6/04 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the ICON Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The ICON Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

    

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    15


Table of Contents
ICON Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Common Stocks (99.58%)

     

Application Software (4.12%)

 

  

Adobe Systems, Inc.(a)

     14,000      $   2,088,520      
     

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment (2.50%)

 

  

Magna International, Inc.

     23,800        1,270,444      
     

 

 

 

Biotechnology (8.45%)

 

  

Celgene Corp.(a)

     20,400        2,974,728      

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

     8,600        1,307,544      
     

 

 

 
        4,282,272      
     

 

 

 

Building Products (3.58%)

 

  

Masco Corp.

     46,600        1,817,866      
     

 

 

 

Construction Materials (5.97%)

 

  

Eagle Materials, Inc.

     7,700        821,590      

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

     10,700        2,206,661      
     

 

 

 
        3,028,251      
     

 

 

 

Data Processing & Outsourced Services (2.12%)

 

Total System Services, Inc.

     16,400        1,074,200      
     

 

 

 

Diversified Banks (9.10%)

 

  

Bank of America Corp.

     182,000        4,611,880      
     

 

 

 

Home Improvement Retail (6.10%)

 

  

Home Depot, Inc.

     18,900        3,091,284      
     

 

 

 

Homebuilding (4.18%)

 

  

PulteGroup, Inc.

     77,500        2,118,075      
     

 

 

 

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines (5.29%)

 

  

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

     11,500        1,363,210      

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

     12,500        1,317,625      
     

 

 

 
        2,680,835      
     

 

 

 

Household Appliances (3.13%)

 

  

Whirlpool Corp.

     8,600        1,586,184      
     

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services (3.49%)

 

  

CoStar Group, Inc.(a)

     2,700        724,275      

Facebook, Inc., Class A(a)

     6,100        1,042,307      
     

 

 

 
        1,766,582      
     

 

 

 

Multi-line Insurance (1.97%)

 

  

American International Group, Inc.

     16,300        1,000,657      
     

 

 

 

Paper Packaging (2.93%)

 

  

Avery Dennison Corp.

     15,100        1,484,934      
     

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals (4.41%)

 

  

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)

     15,300        2,237,625      
     

 

 

 
      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Real Estate Services (2.29%)

 

  

CBRE Group, Inc., Class A(a)

     30,700      $ 1,162,916      
     

 

 

 

Regional Banks (12.34%)

 

  

Fifth Third Bancorp

     92,300        2,582,554      

Signature Bank(a)

     16,600        2,125,464      

SVB Financial Group(a)

     8,300        1,552,847      
     

 

 

 
        6,260,865      
     

 

 

 

Semiconductor Equipment (2.29%)

 

  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     22,300        1,161,607      
     

 

 

 

Semiconductors (14.38%)

 

  

Broadcom, Ltd.

     2,400        582,096      

Cavium, Inc.(a)

     15,500        1,022,070      

Micron Technology,
Inc.(a)

     31,600        1,242,828      

Qorvo, Inc.(a)

     20,300        1,434,804      

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

     29,500        3,006,050      
     

 

 

 
        7,287,848      
     

 

 

 

Specialty Stores (0.94%)

 

  

Ulta Beauty, Inc.(a)

     2,100        474,726      
     

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $ 37,337,901)

        50,487,571      
     

 

 

 

Total Investments (99.58%)

(Cost $ 37,337,901)

      $ 50,487,571      

Other Assets Less Liabilities (0.42%)

 

     215,104      
     

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

      $ 50,702,675      
     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

16    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Information Technology

     26.40%  

Financial

     23.41%  

Consumer Discretionary

     22.14%  

Health Care

     12.86%  

Materials

     8.90%  

Industrials

     3.58%  

Real Estate

     2.29%  
  

 

 

 
             99.58%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Semiconductors

     14.38%  

Regional Banks

     12.34%  

Diversified Banks

     9.10%  

Biotechnology

     8.45%  

Home Improvement Retail

     6.10%  

Construction Materials

     5.97%  

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines

     5.29%  

Pharmaceuticals

     4.41%  

Homebuilding

     4.18%  

Application Software

     4.12%  

Building Products

     3.58%  

Internet Software & Services

     3.49%  

Household Appliances

     3.13%  

Paper Packaging

     2.93%  

Auto Parts & Equipment

     2.50%  

Real Estate Services

     2.29%  

Semiconductor Equipment

     2.29%  

Data Processing & Outsourced Services

     2.12%  

Multi-line Insurance

     1.97%  

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

     0.94%  
  

 

 

 
             99.58%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    17


Table of Contents
ICON Long/Short Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark?

A.

The ICON Long/Short Fund (the Fund) Class S returned 34.39% for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, while its benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

A year ago in this Overview, we noted our optimism regarding the continuation of the now 8 12 year old bull market. Expecting the market to advance during fiscal year 2017, the Fund held minimal cash to participate in the potential upside. There was a significant inflow of cash into the Fund in late March 2017 that was gradually invested over the next four months. Sector weights also contributed to the Fund’s outperformance of its benchmark. The largest sector weights were Financials, Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Health Care, Materials and Industrials. With Financials, Information Technology, Industrials, Materials and Health Care ranking as the top five S&P sector performers over the 12-month period, these overweight positions contributed positively to the Fund’s relative performance. The Fund held just a 0.33% weight in Real Estate and did not own stocks in four of the 11 S&P sectors, avoiding Energy altogether, which was particularly rewarding.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

Because we saw considerable upside market potential during fiscal year 2017, the Fund held no short positions. We believe our long positions served the Fund well this year. The five biggest contributors to Fund performance were Bank of America Corp., SVB Financial Group, Wyndham Worldwide Corp., Skyworks Solutions, Inc. and Celgene Corp. Bank of America Corp. and SVB Financial Group are in the Financials sector. Wyndham Worldwide Corp. is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is in the Information Technology sector and Celgene Corp. is in the Health Care sector.

 

  

Only five stocks posted negative returns while held in the Fund and detracted from performance: Ulta Beauty, Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Universal Health Services, Inc. and Cavium, Inc. Ulta Beauty, Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. are in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while the other three are in Materials, Financials and Information Technology, respectively. Amazon.com Inc. and Ashland Global Holdings Inc. have been sold. The other three remain in the portfolio.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the overall market?

A.

As of September 30, 2017, ICON’s valuation model shows a value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.00 for the overall market. In other words, we believe stock prices, on average, are equal to our estimate of fair value. We are not seeing over-pricing and other indications or behaviors typical of market peaks. In terms of upside potential we do not expect the excess returns available when the broad market is priced at a discount to fair value.

 

 
18    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Long/Short Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception Date    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Long/Short Fund - Class S

   5/6/04    34.39%   11.53%   3.57%   5.62%   1.63%   1.28%

ICON Long/Short Fund - Class C

   10/17/02    32.91%   10.36%   2.49%   6.03%   2.76%   2.33%

ICON Long/Short Fund - Class A

   5/31/06    33.98%   11.20%   3.26%   3.96%   1.95%   1.58%

ICON Long/Short Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

   5/31/06    26.26%   9.89%   2.65%   3.42%   1.95%   1.58%

S&P Composite 1500 Index

      18.61%   14.29%   7.63%   8.74%     N/A     N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included returns would be lower.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Long/Short Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 5/6/04 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Long/Short Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Long/Short Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    19


Table of Contents
ICON Long/Short Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Common Stocks (99.29%)

     

Application Software (2.73%)

 

  

Adobe Systems, Inc.(a)

     4,200      $    626,556    
     

 

Auto Parts & Equipment (1.37%)

 

  

Magna International, Inc.

     5,900      314,942    
     

 

Biotechnology (7.89%)

 

  

Celgene Corp.(a)

     7,300      1,064,486    

Vertex Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.(a)

     4,900      744,996    
     

 

      1,809,482    
     

 

Building Products (3.08%)

 

  

Masco Corp.

     18,100      706,081    
     

 

Construction Materials (6.17%)

 

  

Eagle Materials, Inc.

     6,100      650,870    

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

     3,700      763,051    
     

 

      1,413,921    
     

 

Data Processing & Outsourced Services (7.16%)

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

     8,000      1,129,600    

Total System Services, Inc.

     7,800      510,900    
     

 

      1,640,500    
     

 

Diversified Banks (8.81%)

 

  

Bank of America Corp.

     70,700      1,791,538    

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     2,400      229,224    
     

 

      2,020,762    
     

 

Health Care Facilities (1.21%)

 

  

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B

     2,500      277,350    
     

 

Home Improvement Retail (2.35%)

 

  

Home Depot, Inc.

     3,300      539,748    
     

 

Homebuilding (4.21%)

 

  

PulteGroup, Inc.

     35,300      964,749    
     

 

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines (6.72%)

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

     6,600      782,364    

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

     7,200      758,952    
     

 

      1,541,316    
     

 

Household Appliances (3.06%)

 

  

Whirlpool Corp.

     3,800      700,872    
     

 

Insurance Brokers (2.68%)

 

  

Arthur J Gallagher & Co.

     10,000      615,500    
     

 

Internet Software & Services (1.70%)

 

  

SINA Corp.(a)

     3,400      389,810    
     

 

Multi-line Insurance (1.45%)

 

  

American International Group, Inc.

     5,400      331,506    
     

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Pharmaceuticals (4.14%)

     

Jazz Pharmaceuticals
PLC(a)

     6,500      $    950,625    
     

 

Regional Banks (14.59%)

 

  

Fifth Third Bancorp

     29,400      822,612    

First Commonwealth Financial Corp.

     35,500      501,615    

Signature Bank(a)

     9,200      1,177,968    

SVB Financial Group(a)

     4,500      841,905    
     

 

      3,344,100    
     

 

Semiconductor Equipment (1.70%)

 

  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     7,500      390,675    
     

 

Semiconductors (16.99%)

 

  

Broadcom, Ltd.

     900      218,286    

Cavium, Inc.(a)

     9,500      626,430    

Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

     48,800      732,976    

Micron Technology, Inc.(a)

     18,900      743,337    

Qorvo, Inc.(a)

     6,300      445,284    

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

     11,100      1,131,090    
     

 

      3,897,403    
     

 

Specialty Stores (1.28%)

 

  

Ulta Beauty, Inc.(a)

     1,300      293,878    
     

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $17,195,213)

      22,769,776    
     

 

Total Investments (99.29%)

(Cost $17,195,213)

      $22,769,776    

Other Assets Less Liabilities (0.71%)

 

   163,498    
     

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

      $22,933,274    
     

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

20    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Long/Short Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Information Technology

     30.28%  

Financial

     27.53%  

Consumer Discretionary

     18.99%  

Health Care

     13.24%  

Materials

     6.17%  

Industrials

     3.08%  
  

 

 

 
             99.29%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of  net assets.

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Semiconductors

     16.99%  

Regional Banks

     14.59%  

Diversified Banks

     8.81%  

Biotechnology

     7.89%  

Data Processing & Outsourced Services

     7.16%  

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines

     6.72%  

Construction Materials

     6.17%  

Homebuilding

     4.21%  

Pharmaceuticals

     4.14%  

Building Products

     3.08%  

Household Appliances

     3.06%  

Application Software

     2.73%  

Insurance Brokers

     2.68%  

Home Improvement Retail

     2.35%  

Internet Software & Services

     1.70%  

Semiconductor Equipment

     1.70%  

Multi-line Insurance

     1.45%  

Auto Parts & Equipment

     1.37%  

Specialty Stores

     1.28%  

Health Care Facilities

     1.21%  
  

 

 

 
             99.29%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of  net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    21


Table of Contents
ICON Opportunities Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark?

A.

The ICON Opportunities Fund (the Fund) returned 29.75% for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, while its benchmark, the S&P Small-Cap 600 Total Return Index, returned 21.05%. Total returns for other periods as of September 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

A year ago in this Overview, we noted our optimism regarding the continuation of the now 8 12 year old bull market. Expecting the market to advance during fiscal year 2017, the Fund held minimal cash to participate in the potential upside. Sector weights were also a primary factor contributing to the Fund’s outperformance of its benchmark. The largest sector weights were Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Financials, Health Care, Industrials and Materials. With Financials, Information Technology, Industrials, Materials and Health Care ranking as the top five S&P sector performers over the 12-month period, these overweight positions contributed positively to the Fund’s relative performance. The Fund did not own stocks in five of the 11 S&P sectors: Energy, Consumer Staples, Telecommunication Services, Real Estate or Utilities. Avoiding Energy and Consumer Staples, the two lowest performing S&P sectors (indeed, Energy showed negative returns for fiscal year 2017), was particularly rewarding.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

The five stocks contributing the most to returns were IPG Photonics Corp., Coherent, Inc., Teradyne, Inc., Modine Manufacturing Co. and Nutrisystems, Inc. The first three are in the Information Technology sector while the last two are in Consumer Discretionary.

 

  

Five stocks with negative returns while held in the Fund detracted the most from performance: Finisar Corp, Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc., Impax Laboratories, Inc., Fabrinet and CPI Card Group Inc. Finisar Corp, Fabrinet and CPI Card Group Inc. are in the Information Technology sector while Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc. and Impax Laboratories, Inc. are in Healthcare. Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc. and CPI Card Group Inc. have been sold. As this Annual Report goes to press, the other three remain in the portfolio.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the overall market?

A.

As of September 30, 2017, ICON’s valuation model shows a value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.00 for the overall market. In other words, we believe stock prices, on average, are equal to our estimate of fair value. We are not seeing over-pricing and other indications or behaviors typical of market peaks. In terms of upside potential, we do not expect the excess returns available when the broad market is priced at a discount to fair value.

 

 
22    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Opportunities Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception Date    1 Year   5 Year   Since Inception   Gross Expense Ratio*   Net Expense Ratio*

ICON Opportunities Fund

   9/28/12    29.75%   14.68%   14.67%   1.53%   1.51%

S&P Small Cap Total Return Index

      21.05%   15.60%   15.58%       N/A       N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Opportunities Fund on the inception date of 9/28/12 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. The Opportunities Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    23


Table of Contents
ICON Opportunities Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Common Stocks (99.63%)

Aerospace & Defense (1.85%)

Hexcel Corp.

     6,255      $      359,162    
     

 

Auto Parts & Equipment (8.37%)

Modine Manufacturing
Co.(a)

     53,148      1,023,099    

Tower International, Inc.

     22,000      598,400    
     

 

      1,621,499    
     

 

Automobile Manufacturers (1.77%)

Winnebago Industries, Inc.

     7,648      342,248    
     

 

Biotechnology (2.51%)

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

     3,575      486,736    
     

 

Building Products (8.92%)

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.(a)

     3,900      199,875    

Builders FirstSource,
Inc.(a)

     43,500      782,565    

PGT Innovations, Inc.(a)

     49,900      746,005    
     

 

      1,728,445    
     

 

Communications Equipment (5.75%)

ARRIS International PLC(a)

     5,700      162,393    

CalAmp Corp.(a)

     19,000      441,750    

Finisar Corp.(a)

     23,000      509,910    
     

 

      1,114,053    
     

 

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (4.71%)

Coherent, Inc.(a)

     2,984      701,747    

OSI Systems, Inc.(a)

     2,300      210,151    
     

 

      911,898    
     

 

Electronic Manufacturing Services (7.24%)

Fabrinet(a)

     13,400      496,604    

IPG Photonics Corp.(a)

     4,900      906,794    
     

 

      1,403,398    
     

 

Health Care Equipment (2.46%)

LivaNova PLC(a)

     6,800      476,408    
     

 

Health Care Services (1.98%)

BioTelemetry, Inc.(a)

     11,600      382,800    
     

 

Homebuilding (7.18%)

KB Home

     35,000      844,200    

M/I Homes, Inc.(a)

     20,400      545,292    
     

 

      1,389,492    
     

 

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (3.67%)

Nutrisystem, Inc.

     12,700      709,930    
     

 

Internet Software & Services (2.33%)

j2 Global, Inc.

     6,114      451,702    
     

 

Leisure Products (3.32%)

Brunswick Corp.

     11,500      643,655    
     

 

     

Shares or

Principal

Amount

     Value

Life & Health Insurance (1.25%)

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

     10,400      $      242,736    
     

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.67%)

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.(a)

     3,000      324,060    
     

 

Paper Packaging (1.88%)

Avery Dennison Corp.

     3,700      363,858    
     

 

Pharmaceuticals (3.33%)

Impax Laboratories, Inc.(a)

     16,255      329,977    

Innoviva, Inc.(a)

     22,329      315,286    
     

 

      645,263    
     

 

Property & Casualty Insurance (1.41%)

United Insurance Holdings Corp.

     16,700      272,210    
     

 

Regional Banks (8.33%)

Bank of the Ozarks, Inc.

     6,700      321,935    

First Commonwealth Financial Corp.

     40,000      565,200    

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

     6,800      159,256    

Webster Financial Corp.

     10,800      567,540    
     

 

      1,613,931    
     

 

Semiconductor Equipment (5.81%)

Photronics, Inc.(a)

     30,700      271,695    

Teradyne, Inc.

     22,909      854,277    
     

 

      1,125,972    
     

 

Semiconductors (9.11%)

CEVA, Inc.(a)

     6,800      291,040    

Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

     19,400      291,388    

Inphi Corp.(a)(b)

     5,100      202,419    

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings,
Inc.(a)(b)

     10,594      472,598    

Microsemi Corp.(a)

     9,800      504,504    
     

 

      1,761,949    
     

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (4.78%)

BofI Holding, Inc.(a)(b)

     18,000      512,460    

Essent Group, Ltd.(a)

     10,200      413,100    
     

 

      925,560    
     

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $13,949,171)

 

 

   19,296,965    
     

 

Collateral for Securities on Loan (6.27%)

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, 7-Day Yield 1.01%

     1,213,802      1,213,802    
     

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $1,213,802)

 

 

   1,213,802    
     

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

24    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Opportunities Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Value

Total Investments (105.90%)

(Cost $15,162,973)

   $20,510,767  

Liabilities Less Other Assets (-5.90%)

   (1,141,365)  
  

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

   $19,369,402  
  

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)        

Information Technology

     34.95%  

Consumer Discretionary

     24.31%  

Financial

     15.77%  

Health Care

     11.95%  

Industrials

     10.77%  

Materials

     1.88%  
  

 

 

 
             99.63%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)        

Semiconductors

     9.11%  

Building Products

     8.92%  

Auto Parts & Equipment

     8.37%  

Regional Banks

     8.33%  

Electronic Manufacturing Services

     7.24%  

Homebuilding

     7.18%  

Semiconductor Equipment

     5.81%  

Communications Equipment

     5.75%  

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

     4.78%  

Electronic Equipment & Instruments

     4.71%  

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail

     3.67%  

Pharmaceuticals

     3.33%  

Leisure Products

     3.32%  

Biotechnology

     2.51%  

Health Care Equipment

     2.46%  

Internet Software & Services

     2.33%  

Health Care Services

     1.98%  

Paper Packaging

     1.88%  

Aerospace & Defense

     1.85%  

Automobile Manufacturers

     1.77%  

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     1.67%  

Property & Casualty Insurance

     1.41%  

Life & Health Insurance

     1.25%  
  

 

 

 
             99.63%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    25


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The Risk-Managed Balanced Fund (the Fund) Class S shares returned 10.53% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. The S&P Composite 1500 Index returned 18.61% and the Balanced Blended Benchmark returned 11.30%. The Balanced Blended Benchmark is based on a weighting of 60% S&P 1500 Index and 40% Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index, rebalanced monthly. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors influenced the Fund’s relative performance during the period?

A.

According to our valuation methodology, we began fiscal year 2017 with an overall average value-to-price (V/P) ratio for the domestic market of 1.09, indicating we saw the domestic market priced roughly 9% below our estimate of fair value. Based on this outlook, we positioned the Fund with an approximate 55% equities / 45% fixed income allocation. Additionally, we implemented a hedge strategy by buying out-of-the-money S&P 500 put options in an attempt to reduce the effects of market volatility on the Fund. From the beginning of the fiscal year through the end of December 2016, the equity market produced a return of approximately 4% and the bond market fell by approximately 3%. Much of this movement was tied to the so-called “Trump Trade”, in which economically sensitive segments of the market were bought aggressively at the conclusion of the presidential election – the result of investors anticipating a more pro-growth and infrastructure oriented platform. While the Fund was able to mitigate losses in the bond market and participate in this rally, equity under-allocation and hedging losses resulted in underperformance relative to the benchmark in the last quarter of 2016.

 

  

Entering calendar year 2017, our equity valuation model viewed the overall broad domestic market as trading approximately 4% above our estimate of fair value. With low to negative return expectations, the Fund maintained an underweight position in equities over the course of the 9-month time frame. Furthermore, the Fund’s cash position likewise dragged on performance due to solid market returns in 2017.

 

  

The Fund’s fixed income holdings performed well with the bond market trading in a relatively narrow range. We continued our focus on credit spread risk with a particular focus on shorter duration. Our fixed income volatility remains relatively low and this contributed favorably to the Fund’s risk adjusted returns. Our use of closed-end fund arbitrage continued to be rewarded, as a number of these positions converted to open-end funds or liquidated, capturing the original discount to net asset value at which they had been acquired. This strategy has been a consistent contributor to alpha generation. Given our positioning, we tend to expect underperformance when rates fall aggressively and relative outperformance when rates rise.

 

  

Ultimately, over fiscal year 2017, while the Fund was able to produce positive risk adjusted returns, the Fund’s limited exposure to the equity market coupled with losses from its options positions resulted in underperformance relative to the benchmark.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

Focusing on the equity portion of the Fund, the largest sector relative contributors to performance over fiscal year 2017 were the Industrials, Energy, and Real Estate sectors. Sectors that relatively detracted from Fund performance include the Health Care, Consumer Discretionary, and Financials sectors. Of these three, the Health Care sector produced the largest negative total effect due to the Fund’s combination of both overweight positions and underperforming equity selections.

 

  

Moving to individual stock performance within the Fund, the largest positive contributors to performance were Orbital ATK, Inc., IPG Photonics Corp., SVB Financial Group, Broadcom, Ltd., and Mastercard, Inc. The five largest detractors from performance were Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., McKesson Corp., Hanesbrands, Inc., Allergan PLC, and O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.

 

  

Focusing on the fixed income portion of the Fund, we maintained a lower overall duration relative to the fixed income benchmark which helped over the course of the fiscal year as rates on the US 10-year Treasury increased from 1.60% to 2.33%. Additionally, the Fund produced strong bottom up bond selections and allocations towards both the preferred and closed-end fund segments of the market also helping relative performance.

 

  

The hedge structure of the Fund detracted from relative performance over the course of the fiscal year as an overall lack of volatility led to put option contracts losing value due to time decay. However, we did make an investment decision to reduce the Fund’s option-based hedge profile and utilized an increased cash balance which slightly reduced losses from this segment of the Fund.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook?

A.

At the conclusion of fiscal year 2017, we believe the equity market has an overall average V/P ratio of 1.00, suggesting the market is trading in line with our estimate of fair value. With relatively muted return expectations, the Fund begins the new fiscal year with an underweight exposure to the equity market and increased cash position. Additionally, the Fund has a few out-of-the-money S&P 500 put options to provide additional protection should a volatility event occur. In the fixed income portion of the Fund, we continue to be selective in our individual bond holdings as credit spreads in numerous segments of the bond market are at levels we believe are excessively tight. We continue to see opportunities in the closed-end fund and preferred segments of the market and are continually looking for new ideas in both spaces. As always, we look to value as our primary guide and will adjust our positioning as market conditions dictate.

 

 
26    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

     Inception Date   1 Year     5 Years     10 Years     Since
Inception
    Gross Expense
Ratio*
    Net Expense
Ratio*
 

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund - Class S

  5/6/04     10.53%       6.50%       3.36%       4.43%       1.36%       1.29%  

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund - Class C

  11/21/02     9.44%       5.46%       2.32%       4.44%       2.38%       2.29%  

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund - Class A

  5/31/06     10.29%       6.26%       3.12%       3.87%       1.69%       1.54%  

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

  5/31/06     3.96%       5.01%       2.51%       3.32%       1.69%       1.54%  

S&P Composite 1500 Index

      18.61%       14.29%       7.63%       8.74%       N/A       N/A  

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included returns would be lower.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Risk-Managed Balanced Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 5/6/04 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Risk-Managed Balanced Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Risk-Managed Balanced Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    27


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Corporate Bonds (24.09%)

Consumer Discretionary (2.02%)

Dollar Tree, Inc.
5.75%, 03/01/23

   $     250,000      $    263,650    

Lee Enterprises, Inc.
9.50%, 03/15/22(a)(b)

     200,000      207,750    

Mattamy Group Corp.
6.50%, 11/15/20(a)

     100,000      102,000    

Reliance Intermediate Holdings LP
6.50%, 04/01/23(a)

     200,000      212,500    
     

 

      785,900    
     

 

Consumer Staples (1.09%)

Darling Ingredients, Inc.
5.38%, 01/15/22

     100,000      103,750    

Kraft Heinz Foods Co.
4.88%, 02/15/25(a)

     300,000      320,590    
     

 

      424,340    
     

 

Energy (2.99%)

Andeavor
5.13%, 04/01/24

     250,000      263,977    

Concho Resources, Inc.
5.50%, 04/01/23

     100,000      102,830    

Energy Transfer LP / Regency Energy Finance Corp.
5.50%, 04/15/23

     250,000      257,250    

MPLX LP
5.50%, 02/15/23

     400,000      411,600    

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.
8.13%, 03/30/18(c)

     125,000      127,813    
     

 

      1,163,470    
     

 

Financial (8.55%)

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
2.75%, 03/15/23

     450,000      456,668    

CBRE Services, Inc.
5.00%, 03/15/23

     385,000      398,916    

Citigroup, Inc.
6.88%, 06/01/25

     250,000      303,581    

GFI Group, Inc.
8.38%, 07/19/18

     150,000      157,125    

International Lease Finance Corp.
5.88%, 08/15/22

     300,000      335,821    

Prudential Financial, Inc.
3M US L +
5.00%, 06/15/38(d)

     500,000      523,750    

Raymond James Financial, Inc.
5.63%, 04/01/24

     300,000      340,008    

RBC U.S.A. Holdco Corp.
5.25%, 09/15/20

     378,000      409,807    

SAFG Retirement Services, Inc.
8.13%, 04/28/23

     326,000      402,290    
     

 

      3,327,966    
     

 

Health Care (0.53%)

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
5.75%, 09/01/23(a)

     100,000      105,500    
      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Health Care (continued)

Molina Healthcare, Inc.
5.38%, 11/15/22

   $     100,000      $    103,060    
     

 

      208,560    
     

 

Industrials (4.28%)

AECOM
5.75%, 10/15/22

     250,000      260,500    

Aircastle, Ltd.
5.00%, 04/01/23

     200,000      214,000    

Allegion PLC
5.88%, 09/15/23

     540,000      583,187    

Covanta Holding Corp.
6.38%, 10/01/22

     89,000      91,448    

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
5.25%, 03/15/22

     500,000      519,483    
     

 

      1,668,618    
     

 

Information Technology (2.85%)

Amkor Technology, Inc.
6.38%, 10/01/22

     100,000      103,305    

Corning, Inc.
7.25%, 08/15/36

     150,000      187,590    

Micron Technology, Inc.
7.50%, 09/15/23

     200,000      222,250    

NXP BV / NXP Funding LLC
4.63%, 06/01/23(a)

     300,000      322,500    

Western Digital Corp.
7.38%, 04/01/23(a)

     250,000      273,875    
     

 

      1,109,520    
     

 

Materials (0.72%)

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty., Ltd.
9.75%, 03/01/22(a)

     250,000      281,125    
     

 

Real Estate (0.39%)

Select Income REIT
4.50%, 02/01/25

     150,000      151,514    
     

 

Utilities (0.67%)

DPL, Inc.
6.75%, 10/01/19

     250,000      261,250    
     

 

Total Corporate Bonds

(Cost $9,418,783)

      9,382,263    
     

 

Convertible Corporate Bonds (1.30%)

Telecommunication Services (1.30%)

Clearwire Communications LLC / Clearwire Finance, Inc.
8.25%, 12/01/40(a)

     500,000      505,000    
     

 

Total Convertible Corporate Bonds

(Cost $511,684)

 

 

   505,000    
     

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

28    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

U.S. Treasury Obligations (15.61%)

  

U.S. Treasury Bill
0.15%, 10/05/17(e)

   $     1,151,300      $   1,151,231    

U.S. Treasury Bond
2.25%, 02/15/27

     800,000        794,812    

U.S. Treasury Bond
1.50%, 08/15/26

     1,000,000        935,977    

U.S. Treasury Note
1.88%, 05/31/22

     1,800,000        1,797,891    

U.S. Treasury Note
1.25%, 08/31/19

     400,000        398,250    

U.S. Treasury Note
1.88%, 01/31/22

     1,000,000        1,000,156    
     

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations

(Cost $6,091,624)

 

     6,078,317    
     

 

 

 

Common Stocks (45.26%)

  

Aerospace & Defense (0.69%)

  

Orbital ATK, Inc.

     695      92,546    

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

     620      81,040    

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A

     1,200        93,264    
     

 

 

 
        266,850    
     

 

 

 

Application Software (0.41%)

  

CDK Global, Inc.

     2,500        157,725    
     

 

 

 

Asset Management & Custody Banks (0.28%)

Invesco, Ltd.

     3,100        108,624    
     

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment (0.69%)

  

Magna International, Inc.

     5,000        266,900    
     

 

 

 

Automotive Retail (0.57%)

  

AutoZone, Inc.(f)

     120      71,413    

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.(f)

     700      150,759    
     

 

 

 
        222,172    
     

 

 

 

Biotechnology (1.23%)

     

AbbVie, Inc.

     500      44,430    

Celgene Corp.(f)

     1,500        218,730    

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(f)

     500      68,075    

Shire PLC, ADR

     1,000        153,140    
     

 

 

 
        484,375    
     

 

 

 

Brewers (0.10%)

     

Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B

     500      40,820    
     

 

 

 

Broadcasting (0.18%)

     

CBS Corp., Class B

     1,200        69,600    
     

 

 

 

Building Products (1.20%)

  

Johnson Controls International PLC

     6,800        273,972    
      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Building Products (continued)

  

Masco Corp.

     5,000      $     195,050    
     

 

 

 
        469,022    
     

 

 

 

Cable & Satellite (0.26%)

  

Comcast Corp., Class A

     2,600        100,048    
     

 

 

 

Commercial Printing (0.51%)

  

Deluxe Corp.

     2,700        196,992    
     

 

 

 

Commodity Chemicals (0.25%)

  

LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A

     1,000        99,050    
     

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering (0.77%)

 

  

MasTec, Inc.(f)

     6,500        301,600    
     

 

 

 

Construction Machinery & Heavy Trucks (0.24%)

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

     2,500      93,825    
     

 

 

 

Consumer Finance (1.39%)

  

Discover Financial Services

     8,400        541,632    
     

 

 

 

Data Processing & Outsourced Services (2.34%)

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

     3,300        465,960    

Visa, Inc., Class A

     4,200        442,008    
     

 

 

 
        907,968    
     

 

 

 

Distillers & Vintners (0.26%)

  

Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A

     500      99,725    
     

 

 

 

Diversified Banks (0.46%)

  

Bank of America Corp.

     7,000        177,380    
     

 

 

 

Drug Retail (1.18%)

     

CVS Health Corp.

     4,200        341,544    

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

     1,500        115,830    
     

 

 

 
        457,374    
     

 

 

 

Electric Utilities (0.38%)

     

NextEra Energy, Inc.

     1,000        146,550    
     

 

 

 

Electronic Manufacturing Services (1.47%)

Fabrinet(f)

     6,200        229,772    

IPG Photonics Corp.(f)

     593      109,741    

TE Connectivity, Ltd.

     2,800        232,568    
     

 

 

 
        572,081    
     

 

 

 

Gold (0.56%)

     

Cia de Minas Buenaventura SAA, ADR

     17,000        217,430    
     

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment (0.78%)

  

Boston Scientific Corp.(f)

     4,500        131,265    

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(f)

     500      54,655    

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

     1,000        117,090    
     

 

 

 
        303,010    
     

 

 

 
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    29


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value

Health Care Facilities (0.99%)

HCA Healthcare, Inc.(f)

   2,500    $    198,975    

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B

   1,700    188,598    
     

 

      387,573    
     

 

Home Entertainment Software (0.27%)

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

   700    45,157    

Electronic Arts, Inc.(f)

   500    59,030    
     

 

      104,187    
     

 

Home Improvement Retail (0.45%)

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

   2,200    175,868    
     

 

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines (0.42%)

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

   500    59,270    

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

   1,000    105,410    
     

 

      164,680    
     

 

Household Appliances (0.24%)

Whirlpool Corp.

   500    92,220    
     

 

Housewares & Specialties (0.60%)

Newell Brands, Inc.

   5,500    234,685    
     

 

Industrial Machinery (0.23%)

Snap-on, Inc.

   600    89,406    
     

 

Internet Software & Services (1.96%)

Alphabet, Inc., Class C(f)

   201    192,781    

Facebook, Inc., Class A(f)

   2,300    393,001    

LogMeIn, Inc.

   1,600    176,080    
     

 

      761,862    
     

 

Investment Banking & Brokerage (0.73%)

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

   1,200    284,628    
     

 

IT Consulting & Other Services (0.37%)

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A

   2,000    145,080    
     

 

Leisure Products (0.72%)

Brunswick Corp.

   5,000    279,850    
     

 

Life & Health Insurance (0.47%)

Lincoln National Corp.

   2,500    183,700    
     

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.58%)

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

   1,200    227,040    
     

 

Managed Health Care (0.65%)

Aetna, Inc.

   1,000    159,010    

Cigna Corp.

   500    93,470    
     

 

      252,480    
     

 

Movies & Entertainment (1.46%)

Time Warner, Inc.

   1,500    153,675    

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Class A

   9,000    237,420    
      Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value

Movies & Entertainment (continued)

Walt Disney Co.

   1,800    $177,426    
     

 

      568,521    
     

 

Multi-line Insurance (0.55%)

American International Group, Inc.

   3,500    214,865    
     

 

Multi-Sector Holdings (1.13%)

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B(f)

   2,400    439,968    
     

 

Multi-Utilities (0.97%)

     

CMS Energy Corp.

   3,200    148,224    

Sempra Energy

   2,000    228,260    
     

 

      376,484    
     

 

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (1.22%)

Schlumberger, Ltd.

   2,800    195,328    

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.(b)

   9,000    279,630    
     

 

      474,958    
     

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (2.83%)

Cimarex Energy Co.

   3,100    352,377    

Diamondback Energy, Inc.(f)

   3,500    342,860    

Range Resources Corp.

   2,500    48,925    

SRC Energy, Inc.(f)

   37,000    357,790    
     

 

      1,101,952    
     

 

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing (0.72%)

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

   5,000    280,400    
     

 

Packaged Foods & Meats (0.81%)

Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A

   4,500    317,025    
     

 

Paper Packaging (0.72%)

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.

   20,000    279,000    
     

 

Pharmaceuticals (2.71%)

Allergan PLC

   2,100    430,395    

Eli Lilly & Co.

   1,200    102,648    

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(f)

   2,000    292,500    

Pfizer, Inc.

   2,800    99,960    

Roche Holding AG, Sponsored ADR

   4,000    128,000    
     

 

      1,053,503    
     

 

Property & Casualty Insurance (0.51%)

XL Group, Ltd.

   5,000    197,250    
     

 

Railroads (0.86%)

Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.

   2,000    336,060    
     

 

Real Estate Services (0.29%)

CBRE Group, Inc., Class A(f)

   3,000    113,640    
     

 

Regional Banks (1.52%)

KeyCorp

   9,000    169,380    

Signature Bank(f)

   2,600    332,904    
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

30    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Regional Banks (continued)

SVB Financial Group(f)

     500      $    93,545    
     

 

      595,829    
     

 

Restaurants (0.12%)

McDonald’s Corp.

     300      47,004    
     

 

Semiconductors (2.02%)

Broadcom, Ltd.

     2,000      485,080    

Cavium, Inc.(f)

     3,000      197,820    

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

     1,000      101,900    
     

 

      784,800    
     

 

Soft Drinks (0.21%)

Monster Beverage Corp.(f)

     1,500      82,875    
     

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.67%)

Apple, Inc.

     1,700      262,004    
     

 

Tires & Rubber (0.51%)

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

     6,000      199,500    
     

 

Trading Companies & Distributors (0.26%)

Air Lease Corp.

     2,401      102,331    
     

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.29%)

T-Mobile U.S., Inc.(f)

     1,800      110,988    
     

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $15,255,881)
      17,622,969    
     

 

Preferred Stocks (2.10%)

Diversified Banks (0.33%)

Wells Fargo & Co., Series V 6.00%(g)

     4,952      130,980    
     

 

Diversified REITs (0.69%)

Gramercy Property Trust, Series A 7.13%(c)(g)

     10,081      267,449    
     

 

Property & Casualty Insurance (0.62%)

Argo Group U.S., Inc. 6.50%, 09/15/42

     9,523      240,265    
     

 

Reinsurance (0.46%)

Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd.
7.75%, 12/01/43

     6,794      177,799    
     

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $822,336)
      816,493    
     

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Closed-End Mutual Funds (6.82%)

Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund

     12,021      $    108,189    

Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.

     4,353      60,420    

Blackstone / GSO Senior Floating Rate Term Fund

     7,221      126,945    

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

     1,500      16,740    

Deutsche High Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.

     4,661      70,521    

Deutsche Multi-Market Income Trust

     45,019      403,370    

Eaton Vance High Income 2021 Target Term Trust

     14,057      142,819    

Federated Premier Intermediate Municipal Income Fund(c)

     23,077      314,078    

First Trust Senior Floating Rate 2022 Target Term Fund

     4,073      39,467    

Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc.

     2,872      48,135    

Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc.

     1,584      17,947    

Madison Covered Call & Equity Strategy Fund

     41,590      326,481    

Madison Strategic Sector Premium Fund

     13,858      166,573    

MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust

     5,675      56,693    

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

     300      5,232    

Morgan Stanley Income Securities, Inc.(c)

     27,489      503,049    

Nuveen High Income December 2018 Target Term Fund

     17,721      177,919    

Nuveen High Income December 2019 Target Term Fund

     7,122      72,075    
     

 

Total Closed-End Mutual Funds
(Cost $2,599,304)
      2,656,653    
     

 

Exchange Traded Funds (1.00%)

iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF(b)

     6,500      195,715    

iShares Europe ETF

     4,100      192,167    
     

 

Total Exchange Traded Funds
(Cost $354,053)
      387,882    
     

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    31


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Underlying Security/Expiration
Date/Exercise Price/ Notional Amount
  Contracts     Value

Put Options Purchased
(0.00%)(h)

   

S&P 500 Index
10/20/17, 2,300, $3,779,040

    15     $            1,350    
   

 

Total Put Options Purchased

(Cost $41,526)

    1,350    
   

 

     Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value

Collateral for Securities on Loan (1.40%)

 

 

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio,
7-Day Yield 1.01%

    546,525     546,525    
   

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $546,525)

 

 

  546,525    
   

 

Total Investments (97.58%)

(Cost $35,641,716)

    $37,997,452    

Other Assets Less Liabilities (2.42%)

 

  942,107    
   

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

    $38,939,559    
   

 

Investment Abbreviations:

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust

Libor Rates:

3M US L - 3 Month LIBOR as of September 30, 2017 was 1.33%

 

(a)

Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional buyers. As of September 30, 2017, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $2,330,840.

(b) 

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

(c) 

These securities are considered, by management, to be illiquid. The aggregate value of these securities at September 30, 2017 was $1,212,389, which represent 3.11% of the Fund’s net assets.

(d) 

Floating or variable rate security. The reference rate is described above. The Rate in effect as of September 30, 2017 is based on the reference rate plus the displayed spread as of the security’s last reset date.

(e) 

Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.

(f) 

Non-income producing security.

(g) 

This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest.

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)        

Financials

     17.00%  

Government

     15.61%  

Information Technology

     12.36%  

Industrials

     9.04%  

Consumer Discretionary

     8.24%  

Energy

     7.76%  

Health Care

     7.47%  

Consumer Staples

     3.65%  

Materials

     2.25%  

Utilities

     2.02%  

Telecommunication Services

     1.59%  

Real Estate

     1.37%  
        
         88.36%  
        

Percentages are based upon common stocks, preferred stocks, corporate bonds, convertible corporate bonds, and U.S. Treasury obligations as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

32    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)        

Sovereigns

     15.61

Semiconductors

     3.42

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     3.09

Pharmaceuticals

     2.71

Building Products

     2.70

Regional Banks

     2.57

Data Processing & Outsourced Services

     2.34

Multi-Sector Holdings

     2.30

Aerospace & Defense

     2.02

Investment Banking & Brokerage

     2.01

Internet Software & Services

     1.96

Life & Health Insurance

     1.82

Diversified Banks

     1.57

Electronic Manufacturing Services

     1.47

Movies & Entertainment

     1.46

Construction & Engineering

     1.44

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

     1.40

Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation

     1.39

Consumer Finance

     1.39

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     1.37

Wireless Telecommunications Services

     1.30

Biotechnology

     1.23

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

     1.22

Drug Retail

     1.18

Property & Casualty Insurance

     1.13

Diversified REITs

     1.08

Health Care Equipment

     1.05

Financial Services

     1.03

Real Estate

     1.03

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

     24.07
        
         88.36
        

Percentages are based upon common stocks, preferred stocks, corporate bonds, convertible corporate bonds, and U.S. Treasury obligations as a percentage of net assets.

Credit Diversification (September 30, 2017)        

Aaa

     15.60

Baa3

     7.83

Baa1

     3.17

Baa2

     3.13

Ba1

     2.35

Ba2

     1.63

Ba3

     1.61

B3

     1.30

Aa2

     1.17

A3

     1.05

B1

     1.03

B2

     0.80

Caa1

     0.33
        

Total:

         41.00
        

Percentages are based upon U.S. Treasury obligations, corporate and convertible corporate bond investments as a percentage of net assets. Ratings based on Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    33


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Statements of Assets and Liabilities
   September 30, 2017

 

      ICON Bond Fund      ICON Equity Income
Fund
     ICON Fund  

Assets

        

Investments, at cost

     $ 87,548,763      $ 83,518,341      $ 37,337,901  
  

 

 

 

Investments, at value(a)

     87,372,359          88,877,656        50,487,571  

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,276,458        649,878         

Foreign currency, at value (Cost $–, $10,036 and $–, respectively)

            10,046         

Receivables:

        

Investments sold

     587,966        1,032,355        383,892  

Fund shares sold

     129,865        158,393        32,927  

Expense reimbursements due from Adviser

     36,784        44,497        1,665  

Interest

     1,056,763        71,254         

Dividends

     55,316        446,724        30,775  

Foreign tax reclaims

            7,311         

Other assets

     14,810        18,199        13,102  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     90,530,321        91,316,313          50,949,932  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payables:

        

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     1,134,685        2,793,426         

Loan payable, at value (Cost $–, $– and $108,660)

                   108,660  

Investments purchased

     1,147,085        1,063,824         

Fund shares redeemed

     39,643        115,962        44,721  

Distributions due to shareholders

     25,564        41,830         

Advisory fees

     43,275        52,638        30,793  

Transfer agent fees

     14,353        33,729        14,489  

Fund accounting fees

     12,279        9,591        4,529  

Accrued distribution fees

     3,421        15,535        11,340  

Trustee fees and expenses

     4,821        5,007        2,901  

Administration fees

     3,607        3,510        2,052  

Accrued expenses

     36,759        35,707        27,772  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,465,492        4,170,759        247,257  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - all share classes

     $   88,064,829      $ 87,145,554      $ 50,702,675  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class S

     $ 80,467,130      $ 57,061,609      $ 32,883,093  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class C

     $ 3,739,052      $ 15,877,501      $ 12,663,477  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class A

     $ 3,858,647      $ 14,206,444      $ 5,156,105  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consists of

        

Paid-in capital

     $ 90,387,284      $ 97,130,671      $ 56,455,649  

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

     59,375        212,745        (155,596

Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss)

     (2,205,426      (15,557,187         (18,747,048

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     (176,404      5,359,325        13,149,670  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 88,064,829      $ 87,145,554      $ 50,702,675  
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, no par value)

        

Class S

     8,528,837        3,240,988        1,760,401  

Class C

     394,559        893,915        774,861  

Class A

     410,849        808,873        293,007  

Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share)

        

Class S

     $ 9.43      $ 17.61      $ 18.68  

Class C

     $ 9.48      $ 17.76      $ 16.34  

Class A

     $ 9.39      $ 17.56      $ 17.60  

Class A maximum offering price (100%/ (100%-maximum sales charge)) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent per share

     $ 9.86      $ 18.63      $ 18.67  

(a) Includes securities on loan of

     $ 1,097,497      $ 2,739,447      $  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

34    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Statements of Assets and Liabilities
   September 30, 2017

 

     ICON Long/Short
Fund
     ICON Opportunities
Fund
     ICON Risk-Managed
Balanced Fund
 

 

 

Assets

        

Investments, at cost

    $ 17,195,213         $ 15,162,973         $ 35,641,716     
  

 

 

 

Investments, at value(a)

     22,769,776          20,510,767          37,997,452     

Cash and cash equivalents

     126,322          98,008          1,578,575     

Receivables:

        

Investments sold

     –          –          73,383     

Fund shares sold

     103,612          9,320          53,831     

Expense reimbursements due from Adviser

     13,433          3,407          10,077     

Interest

     –          –          157,215     

Dividends

     18,223          2,814          17,765     

Foreign tax reclaims

     –          –          –     

Other assets

     10,138          8,415          11,252     
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     23,041,504          20,632,731          39,899,550     
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payables:

        

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     –          1,213,802          546,525     

Investments purchased

     –          –          279,633     

Fund shares redeemed

     43,452          2,088          23,091     

Distributions due to shareholders

     –          –          5,124     

Advisory fees

     15,607          11,335          23,663     

Transfer agent fees

     13,706          6,156          19,575     

Fund accounting fees

     2,752          3,169          11,504     

Accrued distribution fees

     5,141          –          14,777     

Trustee fees and expenses

     1,308          1,063          2,213     

Administration fees

     918          755          1,577     

Accrued expenses

     25,346          24,961          32,309     
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     108,230          1,263,329          959,991     
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - all share classes

   $ 22,933,274        $       19,369,402        $ 38,939,559     
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class S

   $ 11,259,337        $ –        $ 15,272,339     
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class C

   $ 4,670,919        $ –        $ 16,583,185     
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class A

   $ 7,003,018        $ –        $ 7,084,035     
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consists of

        

Paid-in capital

   $ 38,341,885        $ 13,970,800        $ 48,402,351     

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

     (109,773)          (103,428)          11,935     

Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss)

           (20,873,401)          154,236                (11,830,463)     

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     5,574,563          5,347,794          2,355,736     
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 22,933,274        $ 19,369,402        $ 38,939,559     
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, no par value)

        1,025,694       

Class S

     448,051          –          970,100     

Class C

     211,025          –          1,149,964     

Class A

     287,862          –          461,274     

Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share)

      $ 18.88       

Class S

   $ 25.13        $ –        $ 15.74     

Class C

   $ 22.13        $ –        $ 14.42     

Class A

   $ 24.33        $ –        $ 15.36     

Class A maximum offering price (100%/ (100%-maximum sales charge)) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent per share

   $ 25.81        $ –        $ 16.30     

(a) Includes securities on loan of

   $ –        $ 1,187,477        $ 538,567     

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    35


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Statements of Operations
   Year Ended September 30, 2017

 

     ICON Bond Fund      ICON Equity Income
Fund
     ICON Fund  

 

 

Investment Income

        

Interest

   $ 2,926,277        $ 228,407        $ 859     

Dividends

     819,644          3,361,398          519,179     

Foreign taxes withheld

     –          (105,329)          (3,553)     

Income from securities lending, net

     4,222          186,251          –     

Other income

     125,557          18,000          –     
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     3,875,700          3,688,727          516,485     
  

 

 

 

Expenses

        

Advisory fees

     494,966          597,129          364,161     

Administration fees

     41,127          39,719          24,213     

Transfer agent fees

     50,154          93,518          52,436     

Distribution fees:

        

Class C

     35,054          134,434          122,410     

Class A

     12,842          36,540          13,194     

Registration fees

     42,614          46,371          41,976     

Audit and tax service expense

     20,189          20,433          17,753     

Fund accounting fees

     41,313          36,068          19,328     

Trustee fees and expenses

     18,122          17,962          10,838     

Insurance expense

     7,237          5,710          3,583     

Custody fees

     9,435          8,073          3,656     

Printing fees

     13,561          16,790          10,784     

Interest expense

     71          12          1,513     

Recoupment of previously reimbursed expenses

     –          11,228          2,452     

Other expenses

     42,584          35,305          25,365     
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before expense reimbursement

     829,269          1,099,292          713,662     

Expense reimbursement by Adviser due to expense limitation agreement

     (162,616)          (92,199)          (16,031)     
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     666,653          1,007,093          697,631     
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

     3,209,047          2,681,634          (181,146)     
  

 

 

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

        

Net realized gain/(loss) on:

        

Investments and foreign currency translations

     (397,218)          4,311,704          1,912,935     

Long-term capital gain distributions from other investment companies

     701,891          880,899          –     
  

 

 

 
     304,673          5,192,603          1,912,935     
  

 

 

 

Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on:

        

Investments and foreign currency

     (1,372,818)          3,717,072          11,527,848     
  

 

 

 
           (1,372,818)          3,717,072          11,527,848     
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

     (1,068,145)          8,909,675          13,440,783     
  

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ 2,140,902        $     11,591,309        $       13,259,637     
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

36    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Statements of Operations
   Year Ended September 30, 2017

 

    ICON Long/Short
Fund
    ICON Opportunities
Fund
    ICON Risk-Managed
Balanced Fund
 

 

 

Investment Income

     

Interest

  $ 1,006       $ 113       $ 528,082     

Dividends

    211,340         111,190         466,866     

Foreign taxes withheld

    (608)         –         (1,660)     

Income from securities lending, net

    68         5,065         5,846     

Other income

    –         –         10,925     
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    211,806         116,368         1,010,059     
 

 

 

 

Expenses

     

Advisory fees

    168,681         129,328         287,763     

Administration fees

    9,898         8,601         19,122     

Transfer agent fees

    45,387         24,133         62,169     

Distribution fees:

     

Class C

    44,619         –         153,277     

Class A

    15,540         –         19,316     

Registration fees

    38,238         17,464         41,033     

Audit and tax service expense

    19,703         17,437         22,288     

Fund accounting fees

    8,915         9,070         28,334     

Trustee fees and expenses

    4,478         3,930         8,383     

Insurance expense

    1,140         1,403         3,834     

Custody fees

    2,847         3,485         7,930     

Printing fees

    5,700         7,818         8,628     

Interest expense

    558         431         488     

Recoupment of previously reimbursed expenses

    590         18,916         344     

Other expenses

    14,385         11,669         24,360     
 

 

 

 

Total expenses before expense reimbursement

    380,679         253,685         687,269     

Expense reimbursement by Adviser due to expense limitation agreement

    (66,063)         (3,673)         (53,919)     
 

 

 

 

Net Expenses

    314,616         250,012         633,350     
 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

    (102,810)         (133,644)         376,709     
 

 

 

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

     

Net realized gain/(loss) on:

     

Investments and foreign currency translations

    558,053         255,312         1,020,863     

Written options

    –         –         26,394     

Long-term capital gain distributions from other investment companies

    –         –         192,193     
 

 

 

 
    558,053         255,312         1,239,450     
 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on:

     

Investments and foreign currency

    5,059,321         4,385,735         1,967,456     
 

 

 

 
    5,059,321         4,385,735         1,967,456     
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

    5,617,374         4,641,047         3,206,906     
 

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

  $ 5,514,564       $ 4,507,403       $ 3,583,615     
 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    37


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

 

    ICON Bond Fund     ICON Equity Income Fund

 

    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016
    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016  

 

Operations

       

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ 3,209,047       $ 3,020,741       $ 2,681,634       $               1,889,298     

Net realized gain/(loss)

    (397,218)         240,106         4,311,704       (994,699)     

Net realized gain/(loss) on long-term capital gain distributions from other investment companies

    701,891         7,949         880,899       987     

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

    (1,372,818)         2,838,297         3,717,072       5,024,516     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    2,140,902         6,107,093         11,591,309       5,920,102     
 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

       

Net investment income

       

Class S

    (2,969,591)         (2,609,859)         (1,775,156)       (1,164,475)     

Class C

    (127,097)         (127,022)         (329,600)       (220,158)     

Class A

    (194,557)         (213,454)         (437,435)       (536,706)     
 

 

 

Net decrease from dividends and distributions

    (3,291,245)         (2,950,335)         (2,542,191)       (1,921,339)     
 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

       

Shares sold

       

Class S

    30,021,531         23,652,490         29,442,641       22,323,535     

Class C

    852,689         2,037,494         6,193,719       4,965,537     

Class A

    1,653,201         3,634,359         3,883,597       5,435,514     

Reinvested dividends and distributions

       

Class S

    2,665,363         2,285,962         1,707,580       1,105,137     

Class C

    106,129         92,020         284,548       167,115     

Class A

    125,313         108,802         372,453       459,085     

Shares repurchased

       

Class S

    (27,853,530)         (25,213,749)         (17,771,448)       (10,457,028)     

Class C

    (1,757,578)         (1,852,274)         (2,642,506)       (2,082,558)     

Class A

    (3,943,785)         (5,687,994)         (8,549,319)       (3,382,907)     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions

    1,869,333         (942,890)         12,921,265       18,533,430     
 

 

 

Total net increase in net assets

    718,990         2,213,868         21,970,383       22,532,193     

Net Assets

       

Beginning of year

    87,345,839         85,131,971         65,175,171       42,642,978     
 

 

 

End of year

   $       88,064,829       $ 87,345,839       $ 87,145,554       $              65,175,171     
 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

   $ 59,375       $ 123,417       $ 212,745       $                     31,918     
 

 

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

       

Shares sold

       

Class S

    3,177,562         2,542,262         1,767,858       1,471,811     

Class C

    90,115         218,630         366,818       323,130     

Class A

    176,894         394,911         232,232       358,450     

Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

       

Class S

    282,927         245,654         100,137       73,747     

Class C

    11,215         9,850         16,505       11,022     

Class A

    13,352         11,757         21,926       30,748     

Shares repurchased

       

Class S

    (2,956,814)         (2,710,665)         (1,052,089)       (706,603)     

Class C

    (185,691)         (197,764)         (157,844)       (138,110)     

Class A

    (420,853)         (619,858)         (522,274)       (224,896)     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

    188,707         (105,223)         773,269       1,199,299     
 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    9,145,538         9,250,761         4,170,507       2,971,208     
 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

    9,334,245         9,145,538         4,943,776       4,170,507     
 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

38    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

 

    ICON Fund     ICON Long/Short Fund

 

    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016
    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016  

 

Operations

       

Net investment income/(loss)

  $ (181,146)       $ 28,353       $ (102,810)       $               (19,017)     

Net realized gain/(loss)

    1,912,935         (1,328,436)         558,053       67,924     

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

    11,527,848         1,797,942         5,059,321       8,849     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    13,259,637         497,859         5,514,564       57,756     
 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

       

Shares sold

       

Class S

    8,371,228         1,519,056         4,418,722       1,759,878     

Class C

    737,337         455,017         231,078       196,083     

Class A

    726,755         356,458         2,993,488       635,346     

Shares repurchased

       

Class S

    (12,871,498)         (6,734,706)         (2,770,776)       (11,978,015)     

Class C

    (2,880,211)         (2,714,880)         (1,023,107)       (2,239,810)     

Class A

    (2,547,491)         (1,906,267)         (3,071,503)       (4,472,867)     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions

    (8,463,880)         (9,025,322)         777,902       (16,099,385)     
 

 

 

Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets

    4,795,757         (8,527,463)         6,292,466       (16,041,629)     

Net Assets

       

Beginning of year

    45,906,918         54,434,381         16,640,808       32,682,437     
 

 

 

End of year

   $       50,702,675       $ 45,906,918       $ 22,933,274       $           16,640,808     
 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

  $ (155,596)       $ –       $ (109,773)       $                 (6,963)     
 

 

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

       

Shares sold

       

Class S

    507,732         108,905         192,376       98,051     

Class C

    48,906         37,939         11,293       11,912     

Class A

    45,694         27,328         138,114       36,303     

Shares repurchased

       

Class S

    (800,369)         (492,502)         (124,649)       (652,902)     

Class C

    (198,758)         (223,446)         (53,192)       (139,906)     

Class A

    (165,063)         (147,621)         (142,928)       (256,603)     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

    (561,858)         (689,397)         21,014       (903,145)     
 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    3,390,127         4,079,524         925,924       1,829,069     
 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

    2,828,269         3,390,127         946,938       925,924     
 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    39


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

 

    ICON Opportunities Fund     ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

 

    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016
    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016  

 

Operations

       

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ (133,644)       $ (27,160)       $ 376,709       $                503,738     

Net realized gain/(loss)

    255,312         143,820         1,047,257       121,100     

Net realized gain/(loss) on long-term capital gain distributions from other investment companies

    –         –         192,193       11,386     

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

    4,385,735         1,036,666         1,967,456       1,179,154     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    4,507,403         1,153,326         3,583,615       1,815,378     
 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

       

Net investment income

    –         –        

Class S

    –         –         (228,027)       (301,369)     

Class C

    –         –         (107,326)       (60,049)     

Class A

    –         –         (98,195)       (92,328)     

Net realized gains

    (221,532)         (10,170)        
 

 

 

Net decrease from dividends and distributions

    (221,532)         (10,170)         (433,548)       (453,746)     
 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

       

Shares sold

    2,342,771         6,108,876        

Class S

    –         –         5,789,710       15,411,061     

Class C

    –         –         4,874,335       7,253,783     

Class A

    –         –         742,396       4,152,730     

Reinvested dividends and distributions

    221,332         10,162        

Class S

    –         –         209,620       259,419     

Class C

    –         –         94,575       46,376     

Class A

    –         –         90,299       79,762     

Shares repurchased

    (3,539,469)         (2,250,264)        

Class S

    –         –         (12,045,261)       (22,982,522)     

Class C

    –         –         (4,806,459)       (5,595,969)     

Class A

    –         –         (3,493,476)       (3,836,027)     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions

    (975,366)         3,868,774         (8,544,261)       (5,211,387)     
 

 

 

Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets

    3,310,505         5,011,930         (5,394,194)       (3,849,755)     

Net Assets

       

Beginning of year

    16,058,897         11,046,967         44,333,753       48,183,508     
 

 

 

End of year

   $       19,369,402       $ 16,058,897       $ 38,939,559       $            44,333,753     
 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

   $ (103,428)       $ (30,697)        $ 11,935       $                   68,236     
 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

40    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

 

    ICON Opportunities Fund     ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

 

    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016
    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016  

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

       

Shares sold

    139,548         426,361        

Class S

    –         –         386,228       1,094,151     

Class C

    –         –         350,409       554,021     

Class A

    –         –         50,434       298,768     

Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

    13,488         753        

Class S

    –         –         13,840       18,182     

Class C

    –         –         6,868       3,547     

Class A

    –         –         6,124       5,727     

Shares repurchased

              (216,490)         (167,271)        

Class S

    –         –         (819,237)       (1,625,982)     

Class C

    –         –         (349,264)       (429,201)     

Class A

    –         –         (239,935)       (277,104)     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

    (63,454)         259,843         (594,533)       (357,891)     
 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    1,089,148         829,305         3,175,871       3,533,762     
 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

    1,025,694         1,089,148         2,581,338       3,175,871     
 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    41


Table of Contents
ICON Bond Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class S   

Year Ended
September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2015

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2014

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 9.55     $ 9.20     $ 9.90     $ 9.89     $ 10.51

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.37         0.34         0.41         0.43 (c)         0.24  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       (0.11)         0.34         (0.44)         0.15         (0.32)  

Total from investment operations

       0.26         0.68         (0.03)         0.58         (0.08)  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.38)         (0.33)         (0.51)         (0.44)         (0.24)  

Distributions from net realized gains

                       (0.13)         (0.13)         (0.30)  

Return of capital

                       (0.03)                  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.38)         (0.33)         (0.67)         (0.57)         (0.54)  

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 9.43     $ 9.55     $ 9.20     $ 9.90     $ 9.89
   

Total Return

       2.82 %       7.54 %       (0.28)       6.01 %       (0.84)

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       80,467     $       76,656     $       73,152     $       87,675     $       88,313

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.91 %       0.93 %       0.91 %       0.86 %       0.89 %

After expense limitation(d)

       0.75 %       0.75 %       0.75 %       0.75 %       0.75 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       3.80 %       3.43 %       4.10 %       4.22 %       2.19 %

After expense limitation(d)

       3.96 %       3.61 %       4.26 %       4.33% (c)        2.33 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       169 %       141 %       153 %       176 %       97 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Investment income per share of Class S reflects a large, non-recurring dividend which amounted to $0.07 per share. Excluding this non-recurring dividend, the ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets would have been 3.59% for Class S.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

42    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Bond Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class C    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 9.58     $ 9.24     $ 9.94     $ 9.93     $ 10.55

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.29         0.26         0.32         0.34 (c)         0.15  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       (0.10)         0.34         (0.43)         0.15         (0.32)  

Total from investment operations

       0.19         0.60         (0.11)         0.49         (0.17)  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.29)         (0.26)         (0.43)         (0.35)         (0.15)  

Distributions from net realized gains

                       (0.13)         (0.13)         (0.30)  

Return of capital

                       (0.03)                  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.29)         (0.26)         (0.59)         (0.48)         (0.45)  

    

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 9.48     $ 9.58     $ 9.24     $ 9.94     $ 9.93
   

Total Return(d)

       2.05 %       6.59 %       (1.10)       5.10 %       (1.66)

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       3,739     $       4,590     $       4,142     $       2,879     $       3,008

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.13 %       2.10 %       2.19 %       2.27 %       2.06 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.60 %       1.60 %       1.60 %       1.60 %       1.60 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.58 %       2.28 %       2.76 %       2.75 %       1.02 %

After expense limitation(e)

       3.11 %       2.78 %       3.35 %       3.42% (c)        1.48 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       169 %       141 %       153 %       176 %       97 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Investment income per share of Class C reflects a large, non-recurring dividend which amounted to $0.06 per share. Excluding this non-recurring dividend, the ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets would have been 2.84% for Class C.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    43


Table of Contents
ICON Bond Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class A    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 9.51     $ 9.17     $ 9.86     $ 9.89     $ 10.51

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.33         0.31         0.36         0.43 (c)         0.21  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       (0.10)         0.34         (0.41)         0.12         (0.32)  

Total from investment operations

       0.23         0.65         (0.05)         0.55         (0.11)  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.35)         (0.31)         (0.48)         (0.45)         (0.21)  

Distributions from net realized gains

                       (0.13)         (0.13)         (0.30)  

Return of capital

                       (0.03)                  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.35)         (0.31)         (0.64)         (0.58)         (0.51)  

    

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 9.39     $ 9.51     $ 9.17     $ 9.86     $ 9.89
   

Total Return(d)

       2.48 %       7.25 %       (0.44) %       5.77 %       (1.08) %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       3,859     $       6,100     $       7,838     $       4,278     $       6,792

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.41 %       1.38 %       1.36 %       1.44 %       1.34 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.00 %       1.00 %       1.00 %       1.00 %       1.00 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       3.13 %       2.98 %       3.50 %       3.84 %       1.71 %

After expense limitation(e)

       3.54 %       3.36 %       3.86 %       4.28% (c)        2.06 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       169 %       141 %       153 %       176 %       97 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Investment income per share of Class A reflects a large, non-recurring dividend which amounted to $0.08 per share. Excluding this non-recurring dividend, the ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets would have been 3.55% for Class A.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

44    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 15.62     $ 14.36     $ 14.87     $ 13.80     $ 12.18

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.61         0.60         0.56         0.52         0.47  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.95         1.27         (0.56)         1.04         1.65  

Total from investment operations

       2.56         1.87         (0.00) (c)         1.56         2.12  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.57)         (0.61)         (0.51)         (0.49)         (0.50)  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.57)         (0.61)         (0.51)         (0.49)         (0.50)  

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 17.61     $ 15.62     $ 14.36     $ 14.87     $ 13.80
   

Total Return

       16.53 %       13.30 %       (0.17)       11.36 %       17.76 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       57,062     $       37,868     $       22,779     $       8,022     $       5,116

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.15 %       1.24 %       1.25 %       1.38 %       1.53 %

After expense limitation(d)

       1.05% (e)        1.20 %       1.20 %       1.20 %       1.21 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       3.50 %       3.91 %       3.52 %       3.36 %       3.28 %

After expense limitation(d)

       3.60 %       3.95 %       3.57 %       3.54 %       3.60 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       206 %       145 %       174 %       148 %       163 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $(0.005).

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(e) 

Effective January 26, 2017, the annual expense limitation rate changed from 1.20% to 0.99%.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    45


Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class C    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 15.76     $ 14.45     $ 14.96     $ 13.88     $ 12.25

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment
income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.45         0.45         0.40         0.36         0.35  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.95         1.28         (0.56)         1.06         1.65  

Total from investment operations

       2.40         1.73         (0.16)         1.42         2.00  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.40)         (0.42)         (0.35)         (0.34)         (0.37)  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.40)         (0.42)         (0.35)         (0.34)         (0.37)  

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 17.76     $ 15.76     $ 14.45     $ 14.96     $ 13.88
   

Total Return(c)

       15.34 %       12.15 %       (1.16)       10.26 %       16.58 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       15,878     $       10,532     $       6,825     $       5,481     $       5,423

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.20 %       2.34 %       2.34 %       2.45 %       2.42 %

After expense limitation(d)

       2.05% (e)        2.20 %       2.20 %       2.20 %       2.21 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.49 %       2.80 %       2.40 %       2.21 %       2.49 %

After expense limitation(d)

       2.64 %       2.94 %       2.54 %       2.46 %       2.70 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       206 %       145 %       174 %       148 %       163 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(e) 

Effective January 26, 2017, the annual expense limitation rate changed from 2.20% to 1.99%.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

46    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Equity Income Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class A    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 15.58     $ 14.29     $ 14.79     $ 13.73     $ 12.12

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.54         0.56         0.50         0.47         0.45  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.96         1.26         (0.53)         1.04         1.63  

Total from investment operations

       2.50         1.82         (0.03)         1.51         2.08  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.52)         (0.53)         (0.47)         (0.45)         (0.47)  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.52)         (0.53)         (0.47)         (0.45)         (0.47)  

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 17.56     $ 15.58     $ 14.29     $ 14.79     $ 13.73
   

Total Return(c)

       16.20 %       12.97 %       (0.38) %       11.07 %       17.49 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       14,206     $       16,775     $       13,039     $       13,847     $       12,798

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.45 %       1.54 %       1.52 %       1.59 %       1.68 %

After expense limitation(d)

       1.31% (e)        1.45 %       1.45 %       1.45 %       1.46 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       3.06 %       3.64 %       3.14 %       3.08 %       3.24 %

After expense limitation(d)

       3.20 %       3.73 %       3.21 %       3.22 %       3.45 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       206 %       145 %       174 %       148 %       163 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(e) 

Effective January 26, 2017, the annual expense limitation rate changed from 1.45% to 1.24%.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    47


Table of Contents
ICON Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 14.08     $ 13.83     $ 14.52     $ 14.00     $ 11.34

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.01)         0.05         (0.02)         0.00 (c)         0.07  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       4.61         0.20         (0.67)         0.52         2.66  

Total from investment operations

       4.60         0.25         (0.69)         0.52         2.73  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                                       (0.07)  

Total dividends and distributions

                                       (0.07)  

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 18.68     $ 14.08     $ 13.83     $ 14.52     $ 14.00
   

Total Return

       32.67 %       1.81 %       (4.75) %       3.71 %       24.27 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       32,883     $       28,897     $       33,695     $       41,577     $       6,986

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.10 %       1.12 %       1.09 %       1.10 %       1.23 %

After expense limitation(d)

       1.10 %       1.12 %       1.09 %       1.10 %       1.23 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.04)       0.39 %       (0.11)       0.02 %       0.59 %

After expense limitation(d)

       (0.04)       0.39 %       (0.11)       0.02 %       0.59 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       15       31 %       54       65 %       33 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $0.005.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

48    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class C    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 12.46     $ 12.38     $ 13.15     $ 12.82     $ 10.42

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/
(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.17)         (0.09)         (0.18)         (0.14)         (0.07)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       4.05         0.17         (0.59)         0.47         2.47  

Total from investment operations

       3.88         0.08         (0.77)         0.33         2.40  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 16.34     $ 12.46     $ 12.38     $ 13.15     $ 12.82
   

 

Total Return(c)

       31.14 %       0.65 %       (5.86) %       2.57 %       23.03 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       12,663     $       11,520     $       13,745     $       17,050     $       18,848

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.31 %       2.41 %       2.27 %       2.26 %       2.32 %

After expense limitation(d)

       2.25 %       2.26 %       2.25 %       2.25 %       2.26 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (1.25) %       (0.90) %       (1.29) %       (1.09) %       (0.64) %

After expense limitation(d)

       (1.19) %       (0.75) %       (1.27) %       (1.08) %       (0.58) %

Portfolio turnover rate

       15       31       54       65       33

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b)

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    49


Table of Contents
ICON Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class A    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 13.31     $ 13.13     $ 13.84     $ 13.39     $ 10.85

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/
(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.07)         0.00 (c)         (0.08)         (0.05)         0.02  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       4.36         0.18         (0.63)         0.50         2.56  

Total from investment operations

       4.29         0.18         (0.71)         0.45         2.58  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                                       (0.04)  

Total dividends and distributions

                                       (0.04)  

    

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 17.60     $ 13.31     $ 13.13     $ 13.84     $ 13.39
   

Total Return(d)

       32.23 %       1.37 %       (5.13)       3.36 %       23.90 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       5,156     $       5,490     $       6,994     $       8,076     $       10,000

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.66 %       1.67 %       1.55 %       1.56 %       1.58 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.50 %       1.51 %       1.50 %       1.50 %       1.51 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.60)       (0.16)       (0.57)       (0.38)       0.12 %

After expense limitation(e)

       (0.44)       0.00% (f)        (0.52)       (0.32)       0.19 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       15       31       54       65       33 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $0.005.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(f) 

Less than 0.005% of average net assets.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

50    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Long/Short Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 18.70     $ 18.39     $ 18.41     $ 17.48     $ 14.56

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.04)         0.04         (0.09)         (0.06)         0.01  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       6.47         0.27         0.07         0.99         2.91  

Total from investment operations

       6.43         0.31         (0.02)         0.93         2.92  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 25.13     $ 18.70     $ 18.39     $ 18.41     $ 17.48
   

 

Total Return

       34.39 %       1.69 %       (0.11)       5.32 %       20.05 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       11,259     $       7,114     $       17,196     $       16,465     $       4,774

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.50 %       1.63 %       1.37 %       1.45 %       1.53 %

After expense limitation(c)

       1.25 %       1.28 %       1.28 %       1.32 %       1.32 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.43)       (0.11)       (0.52)       (0.47)       (0.14)

After expense limitation(c)

       (0.18)       0.24       (0.43)       (0.34)       0.07

Portfolio turnover rate

       24       20       74       65       33

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense or dividends on short positions, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense and dividends on short positions, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    51


Table of Contents
ICON Long/Short Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class C  

Year Ended
September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2015

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2014

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 16.65     $ 16.54     $ 16.74     $ 16.05     $ 13.52

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                   

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

      (0.25)         (0.13)         (0.27)         (0.24)         (0.14)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

      5.73       0.24       0.07       0.93       2.67

Total from investment operations

      5.48       0.11       (0.20)         0.69       2.53

Net asset value, end of period

    $       22.13     $       16.65     $       16.54     $       16.74     $       16.05
                                                   

 

Total Return(c)

      32.91 %       0.67 %       (1.19)       4.30 %       18.71 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                   

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

    $ 4,671     $ 4,211     $ 6,300     $ 6,932     $ 6,108

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      2.75 %       2.76 %       2.53 %       2.57 %       2.62 %

After expense limitation(d)

      2.30 %       2.33 %       2.33 %       2.38 %       2.37 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      (1.69)       (1.21)       (1.68)       (1.58)       (1.21)

After expense limitation(d)

      (1.24)       (0.78)       (1.48)       (1.39)       (0.96)

Portfolio turnover rate

      24 %       20 %       74 %       65 %       33 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense or dividends on short positions, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense and dividends on short positions, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Long/Short Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class A   Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 18.16     $ 17.91     $ 17.99     $ 17.13     $ 14.31

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                   

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

      (0.11)         (0.01)         (0.15)         (0.12)         (0.02)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

      6.28       0.26       0.07       0.98       2.84

Total from investment operations

      6.17       0.25       (0.08)         0.86       2.82

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 24.33     $ 18.16     $ 17.91     $ 17.99     $ 17.13
                                                   

 

Total Return(c)

      33.98 %       1.40 %       (0.44)       5.02 %       19.71 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                   

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

    $       7,003     $       5,316     $       9,186     $       11,160     $       8,813

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      1.93 %       1.95 %       1.73 %       1.81 %       1.91 %

After expense limitation(d)

      1.55 %       1.58 %       1.58 %       1.63 %       1.61 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      (0.87)       (0.40)       (0.89)       (0.82)       (0.45)

After expense limitation(d)

      (0.49)       (0.03)       (0.74)       (0.64)       (0.16)

Portfolio turnover rate

      24       20       74       65       33

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense or dividends on short positions, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense and dividends on short positions, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    53


Table of Contents
ICON Opportunities Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

     Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013(a)

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 14.74     $ 13.32     $ 13.04     $ 13.02     $ 10.00

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                   

Net investment income/(loss)(b)

      (0.13)         (0.03)         (0.09)         (0.12)         (0.01)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

      4.48         1.46         0.58         0.41 (c)        3.03  

Total from investment operations

      4.35       1.43       0.49       0.29       3.02

Less dividends and distributions:

                   

Distributions from net realized gains

      (0.21)         (0.01)         (0.21)         (0.27)        

Total dividends and distributions

      (0.21)         (0.01)         (0.21)         (0.27)        

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 18.88     $ 14.74     $ 13.32     $ 13.04     $ 13.02
                                                   

 

Total Return

      29.75 %       10.76 %       3.75 %       2.19 %       30.20 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                   

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

    $       19,369     $       16,059     $       11,047     $       12,133     $ 442

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      1.47 %       1.53 %       1.58 %       2.44 %             12.47 %

After expense
limitation(d)

      1.45% (e)        1.51 %       1.50 %       1.50 %       1.52 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      (0.80)       (0.27)       (0.72)       (1.81)       (11.02)

After expense
limitation(d)

      (0.78)       (0.25)       (0.65)       (0.87)       (0.07)

Portfolio turnover rate

      26 %       95 %       76 %       46 %       52 %

 

(a) 

Commenced operations on October 1, 2012.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to capital transactions.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(e) 

Effective June 30, 2017, the annual expense limitation rate changed from 1.50% to 1.30%.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class S   Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 14.46     $ 14.02     $ 13.98     $ 13.40     $ 12.32

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                   

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

      0.21       0.19       0.18       0.24       0.24

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

      1.30       0.42       0.01       0.56       1.04

Total from investment operations

      1.51       0.61       0.19       0.80       1.28

Less dividends and distributions:

                   

Dividends from net investment income

      (0.23)         (0.17)         (0.15)         (0.22)         (0.20)  

Total dividends and distributions

      (0.23)         (0.17)         (0.15)         (0.22)         (0.20)  

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 15.74     $ 14.46     $ 14.02     $ 13.98     $ 13.40
                                                   

 

Total Return

      10.53 %       4.39 %       1.35 %       6.02 %       10.51 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                   

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

    $       15,272     $       20,087     $       26,677     $       20,071     $       43,350

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      1.36 %       1.27 %       1.34 %       1.22 %       1.43 %

After expense
limitation(c)

      1.20 %       1.20 %       1.20 %       1.20 %       1.21 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      1.26 %       1.27 %       1.09 %       1.72 %       1.65 %

After expense
limitation(c)

      1.42 %       1.34 %       1.23 %       1.74 %       1.87 %

Portfolio turnover rate

      83 %       109 %       119 %       137 %       98 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    55


Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class C    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 13.27     $ 12.89     $ 12.90     $ 12.39     $ 11.41

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.06       0.04       0.03       0.09       0.09

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.19       0.39       0.01       0.54       0.98

Total from investment operations

       1.25       0.43       0.04       0.63       1.07

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.10)         (0.05)         (0.05)         (0.12)         (0.09)  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.10)         (0.05)         (0.05)         (0.12)         (0.09)  

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 14.42     $ 13.27     $ 12.89     $ 12.90     $ 12.39
                                                    

 

Total Return(c)

       9.44 %       3.35 %       0.31 %       5.06 %       9.45 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       16,583     $       15,151     $       13,061     $       9,469     $       5,667

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.30 %       2.29 %       2.38 %       2.33 %       2.72 %

After expense
limitation(d)

       2.20 %       2.20 %       2.20 %       2.20 %       2.22 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.35 %       0.24 %       0.06 %       0.61 %       0.22 %

After expense
limitation(d)

       0.45 %       0.33 %       0.24 %       0.74 %       0.72 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       83 %       109 %       119 %       137 %       98 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

 

Class A    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 14.11     $ 13.68     $ 13.69     $ 13.12     $ 12.06

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.17       0.15       0.14       0.20       0.18

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.27         0.42         0.00 (c)        0.57         1.05  

Total from investment operations

       1.44       0.57       0.14       0.77       1.23

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.19)         (0.14)         (0.15)         (0.20)         (0.17)  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.19)         (0.14)         (0.15)         (0.20)         (0.17)  

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 15.36     $ 14.11     $ 13.68     $ 13.69     $ 13.12
                                                    

 

Total Return(d)

       10.29 %       4.18 %       1.00 %       5.88 %       10.28 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       7,084     $       9,095     $       8,446     $       7,014     $       7,819

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.64 %       1.60 %       1.70 %       1.65 %       2.12 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.45 %       1.45 %       1.45 %       1.45 %       1.47 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.98 %       0.93 %       0.71 %       1.29 %       0.81 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.17 %       1.08 %       0.96 %       1.49 %       1.46 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       83 %       109 %       119 %       137 %       98 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $0.005.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

The Bond Fund (“Bond Fund”), ICON Equity Income Fund (“Equity Income Fund”), ICON Fund (“ICON Fund”), ICON Long/Short Fund (“Long/Short Fund”), ICON Opportunities Fund (“Opportunities Fund”) and ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund (“Risk-Managed Balanced Fund”) are a series of funds (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds are part of the ICON Funds (the “Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end investment management company. Each Fund, with the exception of the Opportunities Fund, offers three classes of shares: Class S, Class C and Class A. The Opportunities Fund is a single-class fund. All classes have equal rights as to earnings, assets and voting privileges except that each Class may bear different distribution fees, registration costs, legal costs, mailing and printing costs and shareholder servicing costs and each Class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. There are currently eleven other active Funds within the Trust. Those Funds are covered by separate prospectuses and shareholder reports.

Each Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of no par shares. The investment objective of the Bond Fund is to maximize total return. The investment objective of the Equity Income Fund is modest capital appreciation and income. The investment objective of the ICON Fund is long-term capital appreciation with a secondary objective of capital preservation to provide long-term growth. The investment objective of the Opportunities Fund is to provide capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Long/Short Fund is to provide capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Risk-Managed Balanced Fund is modest capital appreciation and income.

The Funds, like all investments in securities, have elements of risk, including risk of loss of principal. There is no assurance that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives and may underperform funds with similar investment objectives. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries involves greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment. Securities of small companies generally involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. Small company securities tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies. Investing in fixed income securities such as bonds involves interest rate risk. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities generally decreases. Additionally, the Bond Fund, Equity Income Fund and Risk-Managed Balanced Fund may invest in medium-and lower-quality debt securities. High-yield bonds, also known as “junk bonds” are speculative investments and involve a greater risk of default and price volatility than U.S. government and other high-quality bonds. Junk bonds are also less liquid (more difficult to sell) than equities and higher credit bonds. Reduced liquidity may adversely affect the market price of, and ability of a Fund to value and sell particular securities at certain times, thereby making it difficult to make specific valuation determinations.

The Bond Fund, Equity Income Fund and Risk-Managed Balanced Fund may invest in mortgage-related securities, which are interests in pools of mortgage loans made to residential home buyers, including mortgage loans made by savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, commercial banks and others. Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to investors by various governmental and government-related organizations. The Bond Fund, Equity Income Fund and Risk-Managed Balanced Fund also may invest in debt securities that are secured with collateral consisting of mortgage related securities (a Collateralized Mortgage Obligations or “CMO”), and in other types of mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. CMOs are debt obligations of a legal entity that are collateralized by whole mortgage loans or private mortgage bonds and divided into classes. CMOs are typically structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including prepayments. CMOs may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage-related or asset-backed securities. Many of the risks of investing in mortgage-related securities secured by commercial mortgage loans reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make lease payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. These securities may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. Other asset-backed securities are created from many types of assets, including auto loans, credit card receivables, home equity loans, and student loans. The ICON Fund and Long/Short Fund also may invest in such securities for temporary defensive purposes.

The Long/Short Fund may engage in short selling; there are risks associated with selling short, including the risk that the Long/Short Fund may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short sale, resulting in a loss. The Long/Short Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited as a loss occurs when the value of a security sold short increases.

The Risk-Managed Balanced Fund invests in call options; selling/writing call options involves certain risks, such as limiting gains and lack of liquidity of the underlying securities, and are not suitable for all investors.

Investments in foreign securities and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar-denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, may not exist in some foreign

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. There are also risks associated with small- and mid-cap investing, including limited product lines, less liquidity and small market share.

The Equity Income Fund has a significant weighting in the Information Technology sector, the ICON Fund has a significant weighting in the Information Technology, Financial and Consumer Discretionary sectors, the Long/Short Fund has a significant weighting in the Information Technology and Financial sectors, the Opportunities Fund has a significant weighting in the Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors which may cause the Funds’ performance to be susceptible to the economic, business and/or other developments that may affect those sectors.

In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into various agreements that provide for general indemnifications. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as any potential exposure involving future claims that may be made against each Fund is unknown. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.

Investment Valuation

The Funds’ securities and other assets, excluding options on securities indexes, are valued at the closing price as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) each day the NYSE is open, except that securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) are normally valued by the Funds at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price provided by NASDAQ each business day. If the NYSE closes unexpectedly and there is active trading on other exchanges, the securities will be valued at the Valuation Time based off of those exchanges. Options on securities indexes are valued at the close of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (normally 4:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

The Funds use pricing services to obtain the fair value of securities in their portfolios. If a pricing service is not able to provide a price, or the pricing service’s valuation is considered inaccurate or does not, in the Funds’ judgment, reflect the fair value of the security, prices may be obtained through market quotations from independent broker/dealers. If market quotations from these sources are not readily available, the Funds’ securities or other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (the “Board”) or pursuant to procedures approved by the Board.

Lacking any sales that day, a security is valued at the current closing bid price (or yield equivalent thereof) or based on quotes obtained from dealers making a market for the security. Exchange traded options are valued at the composite price, using the National Best Bid and Offer quotes (“NBBO”). NBBO consists of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across any of the exchanges on which an option is quoted, thus providing a view across the entire U.S. options marketplace. Debt securities with a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using the evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service. The evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service is based upon a matrix valuation system which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings. Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost or original cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. Currency rates as of the close of the NYSE are used to convert foreign security values into U.S. dollars.

Mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are typically issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also normally valued by pricing service providers that use broker-dealer quotations, reported trades or valuation estimates from their internal pricing models. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche level attributes, current market data, estimated cash flows and market based yield spreads for each tranche, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage-related and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Securities of investment companies that trade on an exchange are valued at the last sales price or official closing price as of the close of the customary trading session on the exchange where the security is principally traded. Investments in shares of funds, including money market funds, that are not traded on an exchange are valued at the end of day net asset value (“NAV”) per share of such fund. Securities in the underlying funds, including restricted securities are valued in accordance with the valuation policy of such fund.

 

    

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

The Funds’ securities traded in countries outside of the Western Hemisphere are fair valued daily by utilizing the quotations of an independent pricing service, unless the Board determines that use of another valuation methodology is appropriate. The purposes of daily fair valuation are to avoid stale prices and to take into account, among other things, any significant events occurring after the close of foreign markets. The pricing service uses statistical analyses and quantitative models to adjust local market prices using factors such as subsequent movements and changes in the prices of indexes, securities and exchange rates in other markets to determine fair value as of the time a Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”). The valuation assigned to fair-value securities for purposes of calculating each Fund’s NAV may differ from the security’s most recent closing market price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their NAVs.

Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Funds’ investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

Level 1

 

 

quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2

 

 

significant observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk).

Level 3

 

 

significant unobservable inputs.

Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds, and unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. For example, non-U.S. equity securities actively traded in foreign markets may be reflected in Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices, because the Funds evaluate and determine whether those closing prices reflect fair value at the close of the NYSE or require adjustment, as described above. The following table summarizes the Funds’ investments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on September 30, 2017:

ICON Bond Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
     Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
     Total  

Corporate Bonds

   $      $ 65,871,986      $      $     65,871,986      

Convertible Corporate Bonds

            3,787,500               3,787,500      

U.S. Treasury Obligations

            2,993,828               2,993,828      

Preferred Stocks

     5,454,924                      5,454,924      

Closed-End Mutual Funds

     8,129,436                      8,129,436      

Collateral for Securities on Loan

            1,134,685               1,134,685      

 

 

Total

   $ 13,584,360      $ 73,787,999      $      $     87,372,359      

 

 

ICON Equity Income Fund

 

           
Investments in Securities at Value*   

Level 1 - Quoted

and Unadjusted
Prices

     Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
     Total  

Corporate Bonds

   $      $ 4,689,881      $      $ 4,689,881      

Convertible Corporate Bonds

            353,500               353,500      

Common Stocks

     74,578,194                      74,578,194      

Preferred Stocks

     1,862,432                      1,862,432      

Convertible Preferred Stocks

     526,000                      526,000      

Closed-End Mutual Funds

     4,067,023                      4,067,023      

Put Options Purchased

     7,200                      7,200      

Collateral for Securities on Loan

            2,793,426               2,793,426      

 

 

Total

   $ 81,040,849      $ 7,836,807      $      $ 88,877,656      

 

 

ICON Fund

 

           
Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
     Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
     Total  

Common Stocks

   $ 50,487,571      $      $      $ 50,487,571      

 

 

Total

   $ 50,487,571      $      $      $ 50,487,571      

 

 

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

ICON Long/Short Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*   

Level 1 - Quoted

and Unadjusted

Prices

    

Level 2 - Other

Significant

Observable Inputs

    

Level 3 - Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

     Total  

Common Stocks

   $ 22,769,776      $      $      $     22,769,776  

Total

   $ 22,769,776      $      $      $ 22,769,776  
                                     

 

ICON Opportunities Fund

 

           
Investments in Securities at Value*   

Level 1 - Quoted

and Unadjusted

Prices

    

Level 2 - Other

Significant

Observable Inputs

    

Level 3 - Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

     Total  

Common Stocks

   $ 19,296,965      $      $      $     19,296,965  

Collateral for Securities on Loan

            1,213,802               1,213,802  

Total

   $ 19,296,965      $ 1,213,802      $      $ 20,510,767  
                                     

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*   

Level 1 - Quoted

and Unadjusted

Prices

    

Level 2 - Other

Significant

Observable Inputs

    

Level 3 - Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

     Total  

Corporate Bonds

   $      $ 9,382,263      $      $ 9,382,263  

Convertible Corporate Bonds

            505,000               505,000  

U.S. Treasury Obligations

            6,078,317               6,078,317  

Common Stocks

     17,622,969                      17,622,969  

Preferred Stocks

     816,493                      816,493  

Closed-End Mutual Funds

     2,656,653                      2,656,653  

Exchange Traded Funds

     387,882                      387,882  

Put Options Purchased

     1,350                      1,350  

Collateral for Securities on Loan

            546,525               546,525  

Total

   $ 21,485,347      $ 16,512,105      $      $     37,997,452  
                                     

 

*

Please refer to the Schedule of Investments and the Sector/Industry Classification and Credit Diversification tables for additional security details.

There were no Level 3 securities held in any of the Funds at September 30, 2017.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, there was no transfer activity between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.

The end of period timing recognition is used for transfers between levels of each Fund’s assets and liabilities.

Fund Share Valuation

Fund shares are sold and redeemed on a daily basis at the NAV. NAV per share is determined daily as of the close of trading on the NYSE on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The NAV is computed by dividing the total value of each Fund’s investments and other assets, less liabilities, by the number of Fund shares outstanding.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Idle cash may be swept into various overnight demand deposits and is classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Funds maintain cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed United States federally insured limits. Amounts swept overnight are available on the next business day.

 

 

    

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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Foreign Currency Translation

The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated daily into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the respective dates of the transactions. Purchases and sales of securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the contractual currency exchange rates established at the time of each trade.

The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities resulting from changes in the exchange rates and changes in market prices of securities held.

Options Transactions

The Funds’ use of derivatives for the year ended September 30, 2017 was limited to purchased and written options.

The Risk-Managed Balance Fund’s primary investment strategy involves the use of options. Each of the other Funds may also purchase and/or write (sell) call and put options on any security in which it may invest. A Fund may use derivatives to hedge risks inherent in its portfolio, to enhance the potential return of its portfolio, to diversify its portfolio, as a substitute for taking a position in an underlying asset, to reduce transaction costs associated with managing a portfolio, or to implement an investment strategy through investments that may be more tax-efficient than a direct equity investment.

Option contracts involve market risk and liquidity risk and can be highly volatile. Should prices of securities or securities indexes move in an unexpected manner, the Funds may not achieve the desired benefits and may realize losses and thus be in a worse position than if such strategies had not been utilized.

When a Fund writes a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium received is included on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current fair value of the option. If an option expires on its stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If a written call option on an individual security is exercised, a gain or loss is realized for the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from the sale are increased by the premium originally received. If a written call option on a securities index is exercised, a gain or loss is realized as determined by the premium originally received, the exercise price and the fair value of the index. If a written put option on an individual security is exercised, the cost of the security acquired is decreased by the premium originally received. As a writer of an option, a Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the individual security or securities index underlying the written option. Additionally, written call options may involve the risk of limiting gains.

Each Fund may also purchase put and call options. When a Fund purchases a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium paid is included on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an investment, and is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current fair value of the option. If an option expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase or sale transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If the Fund exercises a call option on an individual security, the cost of the security acquired is increased by the premium paid for the call. If the Fund exercises a put option on an individual security, a gain or loss is realized from the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from such a sale are decreased by the premium originally paid. If the Fund exercises a put or a call option on a security index, a gain or loss is realized as determined by the premium originally paid, the exercise price and the fair value of the index. Written and purchased options are non-income producing securities.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the Equity Income Fund engaged in purchased put option transactions and the Risk-Managed Balanced Fund engaged in written call and purchased put options transactions. All open option contracts are included on each Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The Risk-Managed Balanced Fund’s written options were collateralized by cash and/or securities held in a segregated account at the Fund’s custodian during the year. The securities pledged as collateral would be included on the Schedule of Investments if they were held at year end. Such collateral is restricted from the Fund’s use. The cash collateral held for the custodian and/or borrowings from the custodian, if any, is included on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

The following is a summary of how these derivatives are treated in the financial statements and their impact on the Funds:

 

ICON Equity Income Fund    Asset Derivatives      Liability Derivatives  
  

 

 

 
Risk Exposure        Statements of Assets and    
Liabilities Location
     Fair Value      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities Location
     Fair Value      

 

 

Equity Contracts (Purchased Options)

     Investments, at value    $ 7,200        N/A        N/A    

 

 

Total

      $ 7,200         $ –      

 

 
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund    Asset Derivatives      Liability Derivatives  
  

 

 

 
Risk Exposure        Statements of Assets and    
Liabilities Location
     Fair Value      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities Location
     Fair Value      

 

 

Equity Contracts (Purchased Options)

     Investments, at value    $ 1,350        N/A        N/A    

 

 

Total

      $ 1,350         $ –      

 

 

 

          Realized
Gain/(Loss) on
     Change in
Unrealized Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
ICON Equity Income Fund         Derivatives      on Derivatives  
          Recognized      Recognized  
Risk Exposure    Statements of Operations Location    in Income      in Income  

 

 

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on Investments and foreign currency translations/Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on Investments and foreign currency

   $ (838,127    $ 58,666      

 

 

Total

      $ (838,127    $ 58,666      

 

 
          Realized
Gain/(Loss) on
     Change in
Unrealized Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund         Derivatives      on Derivatives  
          Recognized      Recognized  
Risk Exposure    Statements of Operations Location    in Income      in Income  

 

 

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on Investments and foreign currency translations/Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on Investments and foreign currency

   $ (659,358)      $ 288,132      

Equity Contracts
(Written Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on written options/Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on written options

     26,394        –      

 

 

Total

      $ (632,964)      $ 288,132      

 

 

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

The average purchased and written option contracts during the year ended September 30, 2017, was as follows:

ICON Equity Income Fund

 

Derivative Type    Unit of Measurement    Average Contracts+    Days Held

Purchased Options

   Contracts    401    338
ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund          
Derivative Type    Unit of Measurement    Average Contracts+    Days Held

Purchased Options

   Contracts    70    365

Written Options

   Contracts    17    140

 

+ 

The average is calculated based on the actual number of days with outstanding derivatives.

The Funds value derivatives at fair value, as described above, and recognize changes in fair value currently in the results of operations. Accordingly, the Funds do not follow hedge accounting, even for derivatives employed as economic hedges.

Short Sales

The Long/Short Fund may engage in short sales (selling securities it does not own) as part of its normal investment activities. The Long/Short Fund enters into short positions in equity securities identified as being overvalued in management’s opinion.

Short sales involve market risk. If a security sold short increases in price, the Long/Short Fund may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short sale price, resulting in a loss. These short sales are collateralized by cash and/or securities held with the Fund’s prime broker and in a segregated account at the Funds’ prime broker. The collateral required is determined daily by reference to the fair value of the short positions. Such collateral for the Fund is restricted from use. The cash collateral that is restricted from use is included on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as “Deposits for short sales.” The securities pledged as collateral that are restricted from use are included on the Schedule of Investments. Dividends received on short sales are treated as an expense on the Statements of Operations. Liabilities for securities sold short are closed out by purchasing the applicable securities for delivery to the Fund’s prime broker. As of and for the year ended September 30, 2017, the Long/Short Fund did not engage in short selling.

Securities Lending

Under procedures adopted by the Board, the Funds may lend securities to certain approved brokers, dealers and other financial institutions to earn additional income. Cash collateral is received in exchange for securities on loan in the amount of at least 102% of the value of U.S. securities loaned or at least 105% of the value of non-U.S. securities loaned, marked to market daily. The Funds retain certain benefits of owning the securities, including receipt of dividends or interest generated by the security, but give up other rights including the right to vote proxies. The Funds retain the ability to recall the loans at any time and could do so in order to vote proxies or to sell the loaned securities. Each loan is collateralized by cash that generally exceeds the value of the securities on loan. The fair value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Funds and any additional required collateral is delivered to each Fund on the next business day.

Generally, in the event of borrower default, the Funds have the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. In the event the Funds are delayed or prevented from exercising their rights to dispose of the collateral, there may be a potential loss to the Funds. Some of these losses may be indemnified by the lending agent.

Effective October 14, 2016, the Funds have elected to invest the cash collateral received from lending in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio which is disclosed on the Schedules of Investments. Prior to October 14, 2016, the Funds used the State Street Navigator Prime Portfolio. The Funds bear the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. The net securities lending income earned by the Funds for the year ended September 30, 2017, is included in the Statements of Operations.

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

The following table indicates the total amount of securities loaned by type, reconciled to gross liability payable upon return of the securities loaned by the Funds as of September 30, 2017:

 

     Remaining contractual maturity of the lending agreement                
     

Overnight &

Continuous

     Up to 30 days      30-90 days     

Greater than

90 days

     Fair Value     

Collateral

Received

    

Excess amount  

due to

counterparty

 

Securities Lending Transactions

                    

ICON Bond Fund

                    

Corporate Securities

   $ 1,057,702      $      $      $ –       $     1,057,702      $     1,057,702      $ 32,408      

Equity Securities

     39,795                      –         39,795        39,795        4,780      

Total

                 1,097,497        1,097,497        37,188      

ICON Equity Income Fund

                    

Equity Securities

     2,739,447                      –         2,739,447        2,739,447        53,979      

ICON Opportunities Fund

                    

Equity Securities

     1,187,477                      –         1,187,477        1,187,477        26,325      

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

                    

Corporate Securities

     207,750                      –         207,750        207,750        5,250      

Equity Securities

     330,817                      –         330,817        330,817        2,708      

Total

                 538,567        538,567        7,958      

Income Taxes, Dividends, and Distributions

The Funds intend to continue to qualify as regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and, accordingly, the Funds will generally not be subject to federal and state income taxes or federal excise taxes to the extent that they intend to make sufficient distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains. As of and during the year ended September 30, 2017, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. The Funds recognize the interest and penalties, if any, related to the unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statements of Operations. During the period, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties.

Dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term gains are, for federal income tax purposes, taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.

Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded by the Funds on the ex-dividend/distribution date. The Bond Fund distributes net investment income, if any, to shareholders monthly. The Equity Income Fund and the Risk-Managed Balanced Fund intend to distribute net investment income, if any, to shareholders quarterly. The other Funds distribute income, if any, annually. The Funds distribute net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually, if not offset by capital loss carryforwards. The Funds may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes and designate earnings and profits, including net realized gains distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares, as part of the dividends paid deduction for income tax purposes. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax periods and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements.

The Funds file U.S. tax returns. While the statute of limitations remains open to examine the Funds’ U.S. tax returns filed for the past three years, no examinations are in progress or anticipated at this time. The Funds are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

Certain foreign countries impose a capital gains tax which is accrued by the Funds based on the unrealized appreciation, if any, on affected securities. Any accrual would reduce a Fund’s NAV. The tax is paid when the gain is realized and is included in capital gains tax in the Statements of Operations.

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Investment Income

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income is accrued as earned. Certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the Funds are informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Discounts and premiums on fixed income securities purchased are accreted or amortized to income over the life of the respective securities based on the effective yield. Paydown gains and losses on mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are recorded as components of interest income on the Statements of Operations.

Investment Transactions

Security transactions are accounted for no later than one business day after the trade date. However, for financial reporting purposes, security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

Withholding Tax

Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Funds to meet their obligations may be affected by economic and political developments in specific country or region.

Other

The Funds hold certain investments which pay dividends to their shareholders based upon available funds from operations. It is possible for these dividends to exceed the underlying investments’ taxable earnings and profits resulting in the excess portion of such dividends being designated as a return of capital. Distributions received from investments in securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments or as a realized gain, respectively.

Allocation of Expenses

Each class of a Fund’s shares bears expenses incurred specifically on its behalf and, in addition, each class bears a portion of general expenses, based upon relative net assets of each class or number of shareholder accounts. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a specific Fund in the Trust are apportioned between all Funds in the Trust based upon relative net assets or number of shareholder accounts. In calculating the net asset value per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses other than class-specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets.

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Below are additional class level expenses for the year ended September 30, 2017 that are included on the Statements of Operations:

 

Fund   Printing Fees     Transfer Agent Fees*     Registration Fees    

 

 

ICON Bond Fund

     

Class S

  $ 11,802     $ 30,253       $ 20,337     

Class C

    736       6,347         11,360     

Class A

    1,023       5,297         10,917     

ICON Equity Income Fund

     

Class S

    11,333       48,248         19,861     

Class C

    2,531       13,511         12,602     

Class A

    2,926       16,361         13,908     

ICON Fund

     

Class S

    7,336       11,182         17,238     

Class C

    2,186       22,363         13,254     

Class A

    1,262       9,514         11,484     

ICON Long/Short Fund

     

Class S

    2,530       13,798         12,064     

Class C

    1,288       10,231         12,442     

Class A

    1,882       14,492         13,732     

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     

Class S

    3,696       25,606         13,525     

Class C

    3,202       16,351         14,633     

Class A

    1,730       9,500         12,875     

 

*

Transfer agent out of pocket fees are a Fund level expense.

3. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

Investment Advisory Fees

ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON Advisers”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and is responsible for managing the Funds’ portfolios of securities. ICON Advisers receives a monthly management fee that is computed daily at an annual rate of 0.60% of average daily net assets of the Bond Fund, 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Equity Income Fund, ICON Fund, Opportunities Fund and Risk-Managed Balanced Fund, and 0.85% of average daily net assets of the Long/Short Fund.

ICON Advisers has contractually agreed to limit the Funds’ expenses (exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, dividends on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary to ensure that the Funds’ expenses do not exceed the following amounts:

 

Fund    Fund      Class S      Class C      Class A         

 

 

ICON Bond Fund

            0.75%        1.60%        1.00%     

ICON Equity Income Fund*

            0.99%        1.99%        1.24%     

ICON Fund

            1.25%        2.25%        1.50%     

ICON Long/Short Fund

            1.25%        2.30%        1.55%     

ICON Opportunities Fund**

     1.30%                          

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

            1.20%        2.20%        1.45%     

 

*

From October 1, 2016 to January 25, 2017, the annual expense limitation rates for the Equity Income Fund’s Class S, Class C and Class A were 1.20%, 2.20% and 1.45%, respectively.

**

From October 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, the annual expense limitation rate for the Opportunities Fund was 1.50%.

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

The Funds’ expense limitations, excluding the Bond Fund Class A, all classes of the Equity Income Fund, all classes of the ICON Fund and the Opportunities Fund, will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2021. The expense limitations for the Bond Fund Class A, all classes of the Equity Income Fund, and all classes of the ICON Fund will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2018. The expense limitation for the Opportunities Fund will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2019. To the extent ICON Advisers reimburses or absorbs fees and expenses, it may seek payment of such amounts for up to three years after the expenses were reimbursed or absorbed. A Fund will make no such payment, however, if the total Fund operating expenses exceed the expense limits in effect at the time these payments are proposed.

As of September 30, 2017, the following amounts were available for recoupment by ICON Advisers based upon their potential expiration dates:

 

Fund   

Expires        

2018        

    

Expires        

2019        

    

Expires        

2020        

 

 

 

ICON Bond Fund

   $           180,067              $           180,193              $           162,616         

ICON Equity Income Fund

     24,336                35,317                92,199         

ICON Fund

     4,518                28,516                16,031         

ICON Long/Short Fund

     50,987                80,331                66,063         

ICON Opportunities Fund

     8,827                3,029                3,673         

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     61,973                44,620                53,919         

Accounting, Custody and Transfer Agent Fees

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as the fund accounting agent for the Trust. For its services, the Trust pays ALPS a fee that is calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the Trust.

State Street is the custodian of the Trust’s investments. For its services, the Trust pays State Street asset-based fees that vary according to the number of positions and transactions, plus out-of-pocket expenses.

ALPS is the Trust’s transfer agent. For these services, the Trust pays an annual fee plus annual base fee per Fund, per account fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

Administrative Services

The Trust has entered into an administrative services agreement with ICON Advisers pursuant to which ICON Advisers oversees the administration of the Trust’s business and affairs. This agreement provides for an annual fee of 0.05% on the Trust’s first $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.045% on the next $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.040% on the next $2 billion of average daily net assets and 0.030% on average daily net assets over $5 billion. For the year ended September 30, 2017, each Fund’s payment for administrative services to ICON Advisers is included on the Statements of Operations. The administrative services agreement provides that ICON Advisers will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with matters to which the administrative services agreement relates, except for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence by ICON Advisers in the performance of its duties.

ICON Advisers has a sub-administration agreement, with ALPS, under which ALPS assists ICON Advisers with the administration and business affairs of the Trust. For its services, ICON Advisers pays ALPS a fee that is calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the Trust.

Distribution Fees

ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI” or “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICON Management and Research and affiliate of ICON Advisers, Inc., serves the Trust as Distributor. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“12b-1 Plan”) under which the Funds are authorized to compensate or reimburse the Distributor for the sale and distribution of shares and for other shareholder services. The Bond Fund Class C shareholders pay an annual distribution fee of 0.85% of average daily net assets and Class A shareholders pay an annual distribution fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets. The shareholders of the other Funds pay an annual distribution fee of 1.00% of average daily net assets for Class C shares and an annual distribution fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets for Class A shares. There is no annual distribution fee for Class S shares. The total amount paid by each Fund under the 12b-1 Plan is shown on the Statements of Operations.

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Class A Shares are subject to an initial sales charge and the public offering price of Class A shares equals net asset value plus the applicable sales charge, which is a maximum of 5.75% (4.75% for Class A shares of the ICON Bond Fund). For the year ended September 30, 2017, IDI collected sales charges on purchases of Class A Shares, the majority of which were paid out as concessions to financial intermediaries, as follows:

 

Fund    Sales Charges Collected          

ICON Bond Fund Class A

     $        2,471                          

ICON Equity Income Fund Class A

     16,766                          

ICON Fund Class A

     2,789                          

ICON Long/Short Fund Class A

     5,790                          

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund Class A

     3,101                          

In addition, IDI receives a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% of the purchase price on redemptions of Class C shares made within one year following the date of purchase. A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge may also apply to certain redemptions of Class A shares made within one year following the purchase of $1 million or more without an initial sales charge. For the year ended September 30, 2017, IDI collected the following contingent deferred sales charges:

 

Fund   

Contingent Deferred Sales        

Charges Collected        

 

ICON Bond Fund Class C

     $        1,606                          

ICON Equity Income Fund Class C

     3,013                          

ICON Fund Class C

     393                          

ICON Long/Short Fund Class C

     1,276                          

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund Class A

     91                          

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund Class C

     2,221                          

Other Related Parties

Certain Officers and Directors of ICON Advisers are also Officers and Trustees of the Funds; however, such Officers and Trustees (with the exception of the Chief Compliance Officer, “CCO”) receive no compensation from the Funds. The Trust pays a portion of the CCO’s salary and the remaining portion, along with other employee related expenses, is paid by ICON Advisers. For the year ended September 30, 2017, the total related amounts paid by the Funds under this arrangement are included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.

The Funds may reimburse ICON Advisers for legal work performed for the Funds by its attorneys outside of the advisory and administration contracts. The Board reviews and approves such reimbursements. For the year ended September 30, 2017, the total related amounts accrued or paid by the Funds under this arrangement was $3,970 and is included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.

During the year ended September 30, 2017, the ICON Equity Income Fund engaged in a cross trade transaction, pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, with an investment portfolio that is sub-advised by ICON Advisers. Generally, cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds or investment portfolios to which the Adviser serves as the investment adviser or sub-adviser. The Board previously adopted procedures that apply to transactions between the Funds and its affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7. At its regularly scheduled meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most current calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements set forth by Rule 17a-7 and the Funds’ procedures. The procedures require that the transactions be a purchase or sale for no consideration other than cash payment against prompt delivery of a security for which market quotations are readily available, and be consistent with the investment policies of each Fund.

Transactions related to cross trades during the year ended September 30, 2017 were as follows:

 

Fund    Transaction    Date    Security    Shares    Execution Price      Realized Gain/(Loss)

ICON Equity Income Fund

   Purchase    February 8, 2017    Pacholder High Yield Fund    17,000.00    $         7.7850      $                –

4. BORROWINGS

 

The Trust has entered into an uncommitted, unsecured, revolving Line of Credit agreement/arrangement with State Street to provide temporary funding for redemption requests. The maximum borrowing limit is $50 million. Interest on domestic borrowings is charged at a rate quoted and determined by State Street. The interest rate as of September 30, 2017 was 2.48%. The Line of Credit agreement/arrangement expires on March 19, 2018.

As of September 30, 2017, the ICON Fund had an outstanding borrowing in the amount of $108,660.

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the average outstanding loan by Fund was as follows:

 

Fund    Maximum Borrowing
(10/01/16 - 9/30/17)
     Average Borrowing
(10/01/16 - 9/30/17)^
     Average Interest Rates
(10/01/16 - 9/30/17)^

ICON Bond Fund*

   $ 1,140,852      $ 1,140,852      2.23%

ICON Equity Income Fund*

     269,881        58,969      2.44%

ICON Fund

     2,002,524        303,689      2.03%

ICON Long/Short Fund*

     498,627        115,486      1.94%

ICON Opportunities Fund*

     211,089        50,566      2.10%

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund*

     2,920,340        363,446      1.81%

 

*

There were no outstanding borrowings under this agreement/arrangement as of September 30, 2017.

^

The average is calculated based on the actual number of days with outstanding borrowings.

5. PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES

 

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities (excluding securities sold short, short-term securities and written options contracts) was as follows:

 

Fund    Purchases of
Securities
     Proceeds from Sales
of Securities
     Purchases of Long
Term U.S.
Government
Obligations
     Proceeds from Sales
of Long Term U.S.
Government
Obligations
 

ICON Bond Fund

   $     130,659,405        $    123,214,725              $ 8,911,094              $ 8,781,758          

ICON Equity Income Fund

     172,576,814        159,536,769                –                –          

ICON Fund

     6,894,333        15,739,375                –                –          

ICON Long/Short Fund

     4,996,871        4,550,401                –                –          

ICON Opportunities Fund

     4,483,498        5,897,540                –                –          

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     25,413,940        38,528,424                4,836,883                2,738,230          

6. FEDERAL INCOME TAX

 

The following information is presented on an income tax basis. Differences between GAAP and federal income tax purposes that are permanent in nature are reclassified within the capital accounts. Temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the NAVs of the Funds. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for items such as deferrals of wash sale losses, foreign currency transactions, expiring capital losses, partnership adjustments, net investment losses, and the treatment of TIPS, trust preferred securities, and paydowns.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”) capital losses generated by a Fund may be carried over indefinitely, but these losses must be used prior to the utilization of any pre-enactment capital losses. Since pre-enactment capital losses may only be carried forward for eight years there may be a greater likelihood that all or a portion of each Fund’s pre-enactment capital losses will expire unused.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the following Funds had capital loss carryforwards:

 

Fund    Expiring in 2018      

ICON Equity Income Fund

   $ 15,697,877      

ICON Fund

     17,897,797      

ICON Long/Short Fund

     19,325,857      

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     11,869,984      

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Future capital loss carryforward utilization in any given year may be limited if there are substantial shareholder redemptions or contributions. During the year ended September 30, 2017, the following Funds utilized capital loss carryforwards:

 

Fund    Amount          

ICON Bond Fund

   $ 67,069          

ICON Equity Income Fund

             3,326,391          

ICON Fund

     584,499          

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     1,106,682          

The following Funds elect to defer to the period ending September 30, 2018, capital losses recognized during the period November 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017:

 

Fund         Capital Losses Deferred          

ICON Bond Fund

   $ 180,901          

ICON Opportunities Fund

     65,537          

The following Funds elect to defer to the period ending September 30, 2018, late year ordinary losses:

 

Fund      Ordinary Losses Deferred      

ICON Fund

   $ 155,596          

ICON Long/Short Fund

     24,615          

ICON Opportunities Fund

     103,428          

The capital losses with no expiration were as follows:

 

Fund                Short-Term                                        Long-Term                     

ICON Bond Fund

   $ 710,170              $ 1,305,310          

ICON Fund

     849,251                –          

ICON Long/Short Fund

     1,547,544                –          

For the Long/Short Fund capital losses of $33,675,749 expired on September 30, 2017.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the following reclassification, which had no impact on results of operations or net assets was recorded to reflect the tax character of the Funds net operating loss:

 

Fund    Paid-in Capital     

Accumulated Net

Investment

Income/(Loss)

    

Accumulated Net    

Realized  

Gain/(Loss) on  

Investments  

 

ICON Bond Fund

   $ 2        $ 18,156        $ (18,158)          

ICON Equity Income Fund

     –          41,384          (41,384)          

ICON Fund

     (25,550)          25,550          –          

ICON Long/Short Fund

     (33,675,749)          –          33,675,749          

ICON Opportunities Fund

     (60,913)          60,913          –          

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     (16)          538          (522)          

For ICON Fund and Opportunities Fund included in the amounts for reclassified were a net operating loss offset to paid in capital of $25,550 and $60,913, respectively.

The tax characteristics of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, were as follows:

 

Fund    Ordinary Income     

Long-Term Capital    

Gains  

 

ICON Bond Fund

   $ 3,291,245        $ –          

ICON Equity Income Fund

     2,542,191          –          

ICON Opportunities Fund

     –          221,532          

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     433,548          –          

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

The tax characteristics of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, were as follows:

 

Fund    Ordinary Income      Long-Term Capital
Gains
 

ICON Bond Fund

   $ 2,950,335      $ –      

ICON Equity Income Fund

     1,921,339        –      

ICON Opportunities Fund

            10,170      

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     453,746        –      

As of September 30, 2017, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Fund    Undistributed
Ordinary Income
   Accumulated Capital
Gains/(Losses)
   Other Cumulative
Effect of Timing
Differences
   Unrealized
Appreciation/(Depreciation)*
   Total Accumulated
Earnings/(Deficit)

ICON Bond Fund

     $ 64,493        $ (2,196,381)        $ (5,118)        $ (185,449)        $     (2,322,455)  

ICON Equity Income Fund

             209,345          (15,697,877)          3,400          5,500,015          (9,985,117)  

ICON Fund

                (18,747,048)                  (155,596)                  13,149,670          (5,752,974)  

ICON Long/Short Fund

                    (20,873,401)          (24,615)          5,489,405              (15,408,611)  

ICON Opportunities Fund

                227,029          (168,965)          5,340,538          5,398,602  

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

       10,980          (11,869,984)          955          2,395,257          (9,462,792)  

 

*

Differences between the book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales and mark-to-market adjustments on passive foreign investment companies and options.

As of September 30, 2017, cost on investments for federal income tax purposes and the amount of net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) were as follows:

 

Fund    Gross Appreciation
(excess of value
over tax cost)
   Gross Depreciation
(excess of tax cost
over value)
   Net
Appreciation/(Depreciation)
of Foreign Currency
   Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
   Cost of Investments
for Income Tax
Purposes

ICON Bond Fund

     $ 412,325        $ (597,774)        $         –        $ (185,449)        $     87,557,808  

ICON Equity Income Fund

       6,622,051          (1,122,047)          11          5,500,015          83,377,652  

ICON Fund

       13,541,880          (392,210)                   13,149,670          37,337,901  

ICON Long/Short Fund

       5,680,462          (191,057)                   5,489,405          17,280,371  

ICON Opportunities Fund

       5,468,384          (127,846)                   5,340,538          15,170,229  

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

       3,102,919          (707,660)          (2)          2,395,257          35,602,193  

7. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

 

In December 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-19, “Technical Corrections and Improvements.” It includes an update to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820 (“Topic 820”), Fair Value Measurement. The update to Topic 820 clarifies the difference between a valuation approach and a valuation technique. It also requires disclosure when there has been a change in either or both a valuation approach and/or a valuation technique. The changes related to Topic 820 are effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU to the financial statements.

8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Donovan J. (Jerry) Paul is the Portfolio Manager of the Bond Fund. Mr. Paul became Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund in March 2014.

Effective with the Fund’s prospectus filing in January 2018, the Bond Fund will change its name to the ICON Flexible Bond Fund. Its principal investment strategies will remain the same.

Donovan J. (Jerry) Paul, Craig T. Callahan and Scott Callahan are the Co-Portfolio Managers of the Risk-Managed Balanced Fund. Mr. Paul became Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund in March 2014, primarily managing the fixed income portion of the Portfolio. Craig T. Callahan and Scott Callahan became Co-Portfolio Managers in November 2017, primarily managing the equity portion of the Portfolio.

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds   

Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm

  

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of

ICON Funds

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of ICON Bond Fund, ICON Equity Income Fund, ICON Fund, ICON Long/Short Fund, ICON Opportunities Fund, and ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund (the “Funds”), each a series of ICON Funds, as of September 30, 2017, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. The Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights for the years ended September 30, 2015 and prior, were audited by other auditors, whose report dated November 18, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2017, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers or counterparties were not received. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of September 30, 2017, the results of their operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in their net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

LOGO

COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.

Cleveland, Ohio

November 22, 2017

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Disclosure of Fund Expenses
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Example

As a shareholder of a Fund you may pay two types of fees: transaction fees and fund-related fees. Certain funds charge transaction fees, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees. Funds also incur various ongoing expenses, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses, which are indirectly paid by shareholders.

This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the various ICON Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. This Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the six-month period (4/01/17 – 9/30/17).

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table for each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. The Example includes, but is not limited to, management fees, 12b-1 fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees. However, the Example does not include client specific fees, such as the $15 fee charged to IRA accounts, or the $15 fee charged for wire redemptions. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line for each Fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table for each Fund 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. 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), redemption fees, or exchange fees that may be charged by other funds. Therefore, this information is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

     Beginning Account
Value
April 1, 2017
    Ending Account
Value
September 30, 2017
    Expense Ratio(a)   Expenses Paid
During period
April 1, 2017 -
September 30, 2017(b)

ICON Bond Fund

       

Class S

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,023.10     0.75%   $ 3.80  

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,021.31     0.75%   $ 3.80  

Class C

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,018.90     1.60%   $ 8.10  

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,017.05     1.60%   $ 8.09  

Class A

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,020.80     1.00%   $ 5.07  

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,020.05     1.00%   $ 5.06  

ICON Equity Income Fund

       

Class S

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,050.60     0.99%   $ 5.09  

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,020.10     0.99%   $ 5.01  

Class C

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,045.10     1.99%   $10.20  

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,015.09     1.99%   $10.05  

Class A

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,048.80     1.24%   $ 6.37  

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,018.85     1.24%   $ 6.28  

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Disclosure of Fund Expenses
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

     Beginning Account
Value
April 1, 2017
  Ending Account
Value
September 30, 2017
  Expense Ratio(a)   Expenses Paid
During period
April 1, 2017 -
September 30, 2017(b)
 

ICON Fund

       

Class S

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,096.90   1.10%     $ 5.78        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,019.55   1.10%     $ 5.57        

Class C

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,090.80   2.25%     $11.79        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,013.79   2.25%     $11.36        

Class A

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,095.20   1.50%     $ 7.88        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,017.55   1.50%     $ 7.59        

ICON Long/Short Fund

       

Class S

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,100.70   1.25%     $ 6.58        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,018.80   1.25%     $ 6.33        

Class C

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,095.00   2.30%     $12.08        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,013.54   2.30%     $11.61        

Class A

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,099.40   1.56%     $ 8.21        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,017.25   1.56%     $ 7.89        

ICON Opportunities Fund

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,125.80   1.40%     $ 7.46        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,018.05   1.40%     $ 7.08        

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

       

Class S

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,040.70   1.20%     $ 6.14        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,019.05   1.20%     $ 6.07        

Class C

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,035.10   2.20%     $11.22        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,014.04   2.20%     $11.11        

Class A

       

Actual

  $  1,000.00   $  1,039.70   1.45%     $ 7.41        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

  $  1,000.00   $  1,017.80   1.45%     $ 7.33        

 

(a) 

The Fund’s expense ratios have been annualized based on the Fund’s most recent fiscal half-year expenses.

(b) 

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year 183/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

Total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included (maximum 5.75%), returns would be lower.

 

 
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ICON Diversified Funds    Board of Trustees and Fund Officers
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

The ICON Funds Board of Trustees (the “Board”) consists of four Trustees who oversee the 17 ICON Funds (the “Funds”). The Board is responsible for general oversight of the Funds’ business and for assuring that the Funds are managed in the best interest of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trustees, and their ages, and principal occupations are set forth below. The address of the Trustees is 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 1200, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Trustees have no official term of office and generally serve until they resign or are not re-elected.

Interested Trustee

Craig T. Callahan, 66. Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (2014 to present and 1998 to 2013) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers, Inc. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of ICO Distributors, Inc. Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

Independent Trustees

Glen F. Bergert, 67. Mr. Bergert has been a Trustee of the Funds since 1999. Mr. Bergert is President of Venture Capital Management LLC (1997 to present), General Partner of SOGNO Partners LP, a venture capital company (2001 to 2015), General Partner of Bergert Properties, LLP, a real estate holding company (1997 to present), General Partner of Pyramid Real Estate Partnership, a real estate development company (1998 to present), General Partner of Chamois Partners, LP, a venture capital company (2004 to present) and was previously a General Partner with KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP (1979 to 1997). Mr. Bergert is also a Director of Delta Dental of California (2013 to present and 2006 to 2012), Delta Dental of Pennsylvania (2010 to present and 1998 to 2009), Delta Reinsurance Corporation (2015 to present; 2011 to 2014 and 2000 to 2009) and Dentegra Group, Inc. (2017 to present; 2010 to 2014).

John C. Pomeroy, Jr., 70. Mr. Pomeroy has been a Trustee of the Funds since 2002. Mr. Pomeroy is Chief Investment Officer and Director of Investments, Pennsylvania State University (2001 to present) and was Portfolio Manager and Product Manager, Trinity Investment Management Corporation (1989 to 2001).

R. Michael Sentel, 69. Mr. Sentel has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Mr. Sentel is a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education (1996 to present) and was engaged in private practice of securities and corporate law (1981 to 2017). Mr. Sentel began his legal career with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement and served as a Branch Chief (1980 to 1981). Later he served as the Section Chief for the Professional Liability Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. with responsibility for the Rocky Mountain Region (1991 to 1994).

Mark Manassee, 52. Mr. Manassee has been a Trustee of the Funds since 2017. Mr. Manassee is a Senior Advisor to McKinsey’s Wealth and Asset Management Practice. Mr. Manassee was Principal and President of Market Metrics, LLC, a subsidiary of FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (1998 to 2016). Mr. Manassee was also a Director of Matrix-Data, Ltd (UK) (2013 to 2016) and Rhetorik, Ltd (UK) (2013 to 2016).

The Officers of the Funds are:

Craig T. Callahan, 66. Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (2014 to present and 1998 to 2013) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers, Inc. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of ICO Distributors, Inc. Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

Donald Salcito, 64. Mr. Salcito serves as Vice President and Secretary of the Funds (2006 to present). Mr. Salcito is also Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2005 to present) of ICON Advisers, Inc.; Director of IM&R (2005 to present); Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel of ICON Distributors, Inc. (2005 to 2017). Previously, he was a Partner in various national law firms, practicing in the securities law area (1980 to 2005).

Brian D. Harding, 38. Mr. Harding serves as Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Harding is also Chief Financial Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2013 to present) and Director and IM&R (2013 to present). Previously he was Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the Funds (2008 to 2013), Chief Compliance Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2011 to 2013), and Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2001 to 2008).

Jack M. Quillin, 45. Mr. Quillin serves as Assistant Treasurer of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Quillin is also a Compliance and Fund Accounting Associate of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2016 to present). Previously, he was a compliance analyst at Marsico Capital Management, LLC (2011 to 2015), an assistant vice president in the municipal derivatives finance department at Merrill Lynch (2004 to 2008), and a senior accountant in the Regulatory Reporting group at Wells Fargo & Company (1998 to 2003).

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Board of Trustees and Fund Officers
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Christopher R. Ambruso, 37. Mr. Ambruso serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer (2017 to present) of the Funds. Mr. Ambruso is also Chief Compliance Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2017 to present). Previously he served as Assistant Secretary (2016 to 2017 and 2008 to 2012) of the Funds and Associate Counsel (2013 to 2017); Associate Attorney (2008 to 2013); and Staff Attorney (2007 to 2008) of ICON Advisers, Inc.

Stephen E. Abrams, 54. Mr. Abrams serves as Assistant Secretary of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Abrams is also Associate General Counsel of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2005 to present); Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2017 to present) and Chief Compliance Officer (2007 to present) of ICON Distributors, Inc. Previously, he worked as an Associate Attorney before becoming a Partner at a national law firm, practicing general litigation and securities law (1994 to 2005).

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Renewal of Investment Advisory Agreement

On August 25, 2017, the Board of Trustees, including all of the Trustees that are not “interested persons” of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”), approved continuation of the Advisory Agreements (as defined below) with the Adviser for each Fund for an additional one-year term commencing October 1, 2017.

In determining to renew the investment advisory agreements between ICON Funds (the “Trust”) and ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON” or the “Adviser”) the Trustees requested, were provided with and reviewed data with respect to the Adviser, its personnel, and the services provided and to be provided to each Fund by the Adviser under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated October 9, 1996, as amended (related to the Sector Funds, the International Funds and ICON Fund) and under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated July 9, 2002 and effective October 1, 2002, as amended (related to the U.S. Diversified Funds — Bond, Risk-Managed Balanced, Equity Income, Opportunities and Long/Short Funds) (collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”).

The Trustees agreed that consideration of the Advisory Agreements should also include consideration of other agreements between the Adviser and the Trust that impact provisions of the Advisory Agreements, including expense limitation agreements as amended effective January and July, 2016. The Trustees were provided with and reviewed data with respect to the Adviser, its personnel, and the services provided and to be provided to each Fund by the Adviser under the Trust’s Advisory Agreements, Administrative Services Agreement and Expense Limitation Agreement and the Distribution Agreement with ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI”). The data included information concerning advisory, distribution and administrative services provided to the Funds by ICON and its related companies; information concerning other businesses of those companies; and comparative data obtained from Broadridge Financial Solutions (“Broadridge”) related to Fund performance and Fund expenses (the “Broadridge Report”).

The Board convened a meeting with Broadridge on August 11, 2017 to discuss the Broadridge Report and the information contained within the Broadridge Report. At that meeting, Broadridge representatives discussed the findings of the Broadridge Report with the Independent Trustees. Management personnel participated in the Broadridge meeting to discuss the data with the Board. The Trustees were represented at that meeting by independent legal counsel. At the meeting, Broadridge discussed its methodology and peer selection. Broadridge addressed the difficulty of determining peer selection of some sector Funds that had no statistical group of peers from which to present reliable data, expenses and fees. In addition, Broadridge discussed the difficulty of presenting information on three Funds whose expenses were reduced after the annual report, and performance relative to the respective Funds’ peers. Broadridge also discussed the Funds’ size and how an individual fund’s size would affect economies of scale generally and operating expenses in particular. Broadridge presented no information on how expenses were affected by a fund complex size.

Also included in the 15(c) discussion was a briefing on factors affecting the ICON investment model; expenses and expense ratios of each Fund and other ICON managed products; relative performance of each Fund; status of expense reimbursements to the Funds by the Adviser; sales and marketing initiatives; specific business factors affecting the Adviser; the work load on ICON as adviser and administrator to the Funds; current profitability of ICON; staffing levels and staff morale.

The Independent Trustees were represented by independent legal counsel in the entire 15(c) process. In August, after participating in the meeting with Broadridge and management, the Independent Trustees met separately as a group in private sessions with their independent legal counsel to review and discuss a variety of qualitative and quantitative information, including information they had received throughout the year as part of their regular oversight of the Funds. Based on these discussions, independent legal counsel and/or the Lead Independent Trustee also contacted management to request additional information from Broadridge. The Board received materials from independent legal counsel discussing the legal standards applicable to their consideration of the ICON-Trust agreements.

In considering the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board reviewed information relating to ICON’s operations and personnel. Among other things, the Adviser provided biographical information on its professional staff and descriptions of its organizational and management structure. In the course of their deliberations the Board evaluated, among other things, information relating to the investment philosophy, strategies and techniques used in managing each Fund, the qualifications and experience of ICON’s investment personnel, ICON’s compliance programs, ICON’s brokerage practices, including the extent to which the Adviser obtains research through “soft dollar” arrangements with the Funds’ brokerage, compliance reports on the foregoing, and the financial and non-financial resources available to provide services required under the Advisory Agreement.

Management and the Trustees discussed the Broadridge Report and management personnel showed performance for each Fund and discussed the factors affecting performance.

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

During the discussion on performance, Management personnel noted the importance of advisory fees in total. The novelty and uniqueness of ICON’s management style (specifically, the fact that it is market-cap agnostic, its willingness to actively manage for performance based on active share without adhering strictly to benchmark holdings, the fact that it is a value manager that considers forward looking earnings) must be evaluated when comparing management fees.

In connection with reviewing data bearing upon the nature, quality, and extent of services furnished by ICON to each Fund, the Board assessed data concerning ICON’s staffing, systems and facilities. The Board also assessed ICON’s non-Trust business to see if there are any initiatives that would dilute service to the Trust. The Board concluded:

 

  A.

That the breadth and the quality of investment advisory and other services being provided to each Fund are satisfactory;

 

  B.

That ICON has made significant expenditures in the past year and in prior years to ensure that the Trust has the right product mix for the market and the Adviser has the sophisticated systems and highly trained personnel necessary for it to be able to continue to provide quality service to the Funds’ shareholders;

 

  C.

That the Board is satisfied with the research, portfolio management, and trading services, among others, being provided by ICON to the Trust, and has determined that ICON is charging fair and reasonable fees.

 

  D.

The risks assumed by ICON in providing investment advisory services to each Fund including the capital commitments which have been made in the past and which continue to be made by ICON to ensure the continuation of the highest quality of service to the Trust is made with the recognition that the Trust’s advisory relationship with ICON can be terminated at any time and must be renewed on an annual basis.

In considering the reasonableness of the fees paid to the Adviser for managing each Fund, the Board reviewed, among other things, data concerning other funds from the Broadridge Report, financial statements of the Adviser and an analysis of the profitability of the Adviser, and its affiliates, and their relationship with each Fund over various time periods. Such analysis identified all revenues and other benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates from managing each Fund, the costs associated with providing such services and the resulting profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates and a comparison of similar data from reports filed by publicly traded firms.

The Board assessed actual (net) fees for advisory services and Fund expense ratios under the contractual relationship (the Advisory agreements, the Administration Agreement and the Expense Limitation Agreements) with the Adviser as opposed to the fees specified in the applicable Advisory Agreement and expense ratios without application of the expense limitations and the low cost of the Administration Agreement. The Board concluded that the focus should be on actual expense ratios after application of the Expense Limitation Agreements.

The Board considered the current and anticipated asset levels of each Fund and the contractual commitments of the Adviser to waive fees and pay expenses of the Funds from time to time to limit the total expenses of the Funds. The Board also considered the Adviser’s contractual commitment regarding administration and the fact it would continue to lose money on administration. In this regard the Board discussed asset levels in each Fund covered by the Advisory Agreements. ICON’s ability to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements was assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. Fund expenses and expense ratios were also assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the resources necessary to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements; that profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Funds, and services provided to the Funds, is not excessive; and that the Adviser is not realizing benefits from economies of scale that would warrant adjustments to the fees for any Fund at this time. The Board of Trustees concluded that, in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and the levels of profitability associated with providing these services, the fees charged by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreements to each Fund are reasonable.

In connection with assessing data bearing on the fairness of fee arrangements, the Board considered the Broadridge Report, information they had received throughout the year as part of their regular oversight of the Funds (including Morningstar data on peer groupings), and information from independent broker/dealers evaluating fees for platform sales. It was noted that Broadridge was selected at the May 2017 Board meeting to prepare its reports, an extensive analysis of the expense data of other comparable funds; and that Trustee input was solicited and provided in the process. Among other information discussed, it was noted that:

 

  A.

Upon review of the advisory fee structures of each Fund (taking into consideration management fees and breakpoint fees), the level of investment advisory fees paid by each Fund is within competitive ranges for the size of each Fund and Fund mandate;

 

  B.

The expense ratio of each Fund is generally reasonable and understandable in light of the existing Fund Trust structure and Fund performance;

 

  C.

ICON has contractually agreed to impose expense limitations on all Funds at a cost to ICON and is considering new expense limitations;

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  D.

The advisory and other fees payable by the Funds to ICON are essentially fees which would be similar to those which would have resulted solely from “arm’s-length” bargaining.

 

  E.

The fees paid to ICON for managing other institutional accounts (such as individual or sub-advised portfolios) are lower, but there are good reasons such accounts are less costly for ICON to manage, including, but not limited to, the level of work needed to service the institutional portfolios and the size and stability of such institutional accounts.

 

  F.

The extent to which economies of scale could be realized as a Fund grows in assets and whether the Fund’s fees reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of Fund shareholders.

 

  G.

The costs borne by ICON in providing advisory services to each Fund and the profitability of ICON in light of the estimated profitability analysis which had been provided by ICON.

The Board also considered the fees charged by the Adviser to other advisory clients, including institutional and sub-advised clients as outlined in its Registration Application on Form ADV in connection with assessing data bearing on the fairness of fee arrangements.

The Board concluded the Adviser is providing the Funds with professional management at a price that would have been arrived at in an arm’s length negotiation.

In connection with assessing the direct and indirect benefits to ICON from serving as the Funds’ adviser, the Board discussed services provided under the Distribution Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement which are in addition to services under the Advisory Agreements. It was noted that ICON benefits from serving directly or through affiliates as the principal underwriter and administrative agent for the Funds. The services provided by ICON and its affiliates to the Funds are reasonably satisfactory, and the profits derived from providing the services are competitive and reasonable. It was further noted that ICON receives research assistance from the use of soft dollars generated from Fund portfolio transactions. The Trustees noted that such research assists ICON in providing quality investment advisory services to the Funds as well as other accounts to which it provides advisory services.

Based on all these considerations and other data as discussed above, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that: 1) the continuation of the Advisory Agreements was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders, 2) the services to be performed under the Advisory Agreements were required for the operation of the Funds, 3) the advisory services were satisfactory to the Funds in the past, and 4) the fees for the advisory services and other benefits from the relationship with the Trust received by ICON, and its affiliates, were within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s length in light of all the circumstances.

Supplemental Tax Information

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code the following Funds designate the amounts listed below as long-term capital gain dividends:

 

ICON Bond Fund

     $0  

ICON Equity Income Fund

     $0  

ICON Fund

     $0  

ICON Long/Short Fund

     $0  

ICON Opportunities Fund

     $221,532  

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     $0  

The following Funds designate the percentages listed below of the income dividends distributed in 2016 as qualified dividend income (QDI) as defined in Section 1(h)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code:

 

ICON Bond Fund

     00.42

ICON Equity Income Fund

     67.68

ICON Fund

     0.00

ICON Long/Short Fund

     0.00

ICON Opportunities Fund

     0.00

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     54.74

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

The following Funds designate the percentages listed below of the income dividends distributed in 2016 as qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction (DRD) as defined in Section 854(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code:

 

ICON Bond Fund

     0.52

ICON Equity Income Fund

     65.77

ICON Fund

     0.00

ICON Long/Short Fund

     0.00

ICON Opportunities Fund

     0.00

ICON Risk-Managed Balanced Fund

     50.47

Portfolio Holdings

Information related to the 10 largest portfolio holdings of each Fund is made available at www.iconfunds.com within approximately 10 business days after month-end. Additionally, a complete list of each Fund’s holdings is made available approximately 30 days after month-end. Each ICON Fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on Form N-Q. The ICON Funds’ Forms N-Q are available at www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

Proxy Voting

A summarized description of the policies and procedures the ICON Funds use to vote proxies is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442.

Information about how the ICON Funds voted proxies related to each Fund’s portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

For More Information

This report is for the general information of the Funds’ shareholders and is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. You may obtain a copy of the prospectus, which contains information about the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and share classes of each ICON Fund, by visiting www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

ICON Distributors, Inc., Distributor.

 

    

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Diversified Funds    Privacy Policy
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  FACTS

 

WHAT DOES ICON DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

  Why?

  Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

  What?

  The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:
 

•      Social Security number and account balances

 

•      income and transaction history

 

•      checking account information and wire transfer instructions

    When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

  How?

  All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons ICON chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

  Reasons we can share your personal information

       Does ICON share?    Can you limit this sharing?
   

For our everyday business purposes — such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

       Yes    No
   

For our marketing purposes — to offer our products and services to you

       No    We don’t share
   

For joint marketing with other financial companies

       No    We don’t share
   

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your transactions and experiences

       No    We don’t share
   

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness

       No    We don’t share
   

For nonaffiliates to market to you

       No    We don’t share

 

  Questions?

   Call 1-800-764-0442 for the ICON Funds and 1-800-828-4881 for ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

 

    

 

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ICON Diversified Funds    Privacy Policy
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  Who We Are
 
  Who is providing this notice?   ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc. (collectively “ICON”)
  What We Do
 

  How does ICON protect my

  personal information?

  To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
 
  Contracts with our service providers require them to restrict access to your non-public personal information, and to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards against unintended disclosure.
   

  How does ICON collect my

  personal information?

  We collect your personal information, for example, when you
 
 

•      open an account or enter into an investment advisory contract

 

•      provide account information or give us your contact information

 

•      make a wire transfer

 
  We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.
   
  Why can’t I limit all sharing?   Federal law gives you the right to limit only
 
 

•      sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness

 

•      affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

•      sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 
    State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.
  Definitions
 
  Affiliates   Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
 
   

•      Our affiliates include financial companies such as ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc.

 
  Nonaffiliates   Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
 
   

•      Nonaffiliates we share with can include financial companies such as custodians, transfer agents, registered representatives, financial advisers and nonfinancial companies such as fulfillment, proxy voting, and class action service providers

 
  Joint marketing   A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.
 
   

•      ICON doesn’t jointly market

 

    

 

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Table of Contents

 

LOGO

 

For more information about the ICON Funds, contact us:

 

By Telephone

  

1-800-764-0442

By E-Mail

  

info@iconadvisers.com

By Mail

  

ICON Funds | P.O. Box 1920 | Denver, CO 80201

In Person

  

ICON Funds | 5299 DTC Boulevard, 12th Floor

  

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

On the Internet

  

www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents

LOGO

        ICON Emerging Markets Fund

        ICON International Equity Fund


Table of Contents

LOGO

You can now sign up for electronic delivery of ICON Fund shareholder reports, including prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports and proxy statements.

When these materials are available, you will receive an email from ICON with instructions on how to view the documents. Statements, transaction confirmations and other documents that are not available online will continue to be sent to you by U.S. mail.

Visit ICON’s website at www.iconfunds.com to learn more and sign up.

You may change or cancel your participation in eDelivery by visiting www.iconfunds.com, or you can request a hard copy of any of the materials free of charge by calling ICON Funds at 1-800-764-0442.

 

 

  

1-800-764-0442

 

 

    

 

  

www.iconfunds.com

 

  


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

        

About This Report (Unaudited)

     2  

Management Overview (Unaudited) and Schedules of Investments

  

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

     3  

ICON International Equity Fund

     10  

Financial Statements

     18  

Financial Highlights

     21  

Notes to Financial Statements

     26  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     35  

Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)

     36  

Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (Unaudited)

     37  

Additional Information (Unaudited)

     39  

Privacy Policy

     43  


Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    About This Report
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Historical Returns

All total returns mentioned in this Report account for the change in a Fund’s per-share price and the reinvestment of any dividends, capital gain distributions and adjustments for financial statement purposes. If your account is set up to receive Fund distributions in cash rather than to reinvest them, your actual return may differ from these figures. The Funds’ performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. The Adviser may have reimbursed certain fees or expenses of some of the Funds. If not for these reimbursements, performance would have been lower. Fund results shown, unless otherwise indicated, are at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, results would have been lower.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance results represent past performance, and current performance may be higher or lower. Please call 1-800-764-0442 or visit www.iconfunds.com for performance results current to the most recent month-end.

Portfolio Data

This Report reflects ICON’s portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2017, the end of the reporting period. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any sector, industry, security or the Funds.

There are risks associated with mutual fund investing, including the loss of principal. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results.

An investment in a region fund may involve greater risk and volatility than a diversified fund. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment.

Investments in foreign securities may entail unique risks, including political, market, and currency risks. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, do not exist in foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. The ICON system relies on the integrity of the financial statements released to the market as part of our analysis.

The prospectus and statement of additional information contain this and other information about the Funds and are available by visiting www.iconfunds.com or calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus and statement of additional information carefully.

Financial Intermediary

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may influence the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

 
2    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Emerging Markets Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark?

A.

The ICON Emerging Markets Fund (the Fund) Class S returned 11.34% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, while its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, returned 22.91%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

Earnings optimism coupled with a continuation of tightening credit spreads drove emerging markets’ performance during fiscal year 2017. In the context of total return, Poland and Hungary led gains for the year, followed closely by both China and Brazil. Global growth appears to be accelerating in a uniform fashion for the first time in several years, which contributed to positive risk sentiment. In addition, monetary policy remains accommodative globally due to benign inflation indicators, meaning it remains relatively easy for businesses to borrow money. This, in turn, has led to a supportive backdrop for emerging markets. In Asia, China’s economic growth remained relatively stable and rose slightly over the year as currency fluctuations in the Yuan/U.S. Dollar failed to have any meaningful effect on the economy. In Latin America, Brazil experienced economic growth after emerging from a devastating two-year recession. Strength in the Information Technology sector was a global theme throughout the year and was particularly influential in the Asia–Pacific region.

At the beginning of our fiscal year (Oct 2016), our valuation model showed the emerging market universe had an 8% upside to fair value. However, these readings quickly headed lower and reached fair value in the next two months as interest rates rose following the U.S. election. In response to this low value environment, the Fund reduced exposure in markets we believed were over-priced, and also held cash for defensive reasons. Despite the higher interest rates, investors sought out higher yielding emerging markets debt, sparking an uninterrupted buying frenzy over the year that brought credit spreads to decade tight levels. Equity prices moved higher after bottoming in December, and the Fund’s defensive cash position ultimately detracted from performance over the course of the year. Sector positioning was tilted towards cyclical areas of the market, yet Information Technology was investors’ clear favorite as it posted returns that nearly doubled the benchmark. The Fund had exposure to this sector throughout the year, but gradually rotated away to other areas that looked more attractive in our valuation model. Regionally, our valuations pointed us away from the Western Hemisphere and toward countries in the Asia-Pacific area. Performance across all regions was fairly consistent. Going forward, we believe our disciplined focus on value, which at times may seem contrarian to the investor, will benefit the Fund.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

While all geographic regions saw gains over the period, there were clear differences among countries throughout the year. The Western Hemisphere’s performance was largely driven by Brazil. Brazil had a value-to-price ratio (V/P) of 1.02 at the start of the year, suggesting we believed fair value in Brazilian equities was 2% higher than where they were trading. Nonetheless, seeing more value in other regions and countries, we maintained an underweight position in Brazil. The Asia-Pacific region was largely driven by China, which had a V/P of 1.05 at the start of the year.

From a country perspective, South Korea was the primary detractor to relative performance due to the Fund’s stock selection in the Utilities and Financials sectors. Indonesia was another underperforming area. While Indonesia’s Financials sector performed well, the Fund’s allocation to infrastructure areas, specifically the engineering and construction industry, detracted from relative returns. In addition, Brazil ended the year at record highs as the country’s political rhetoric was evidently overshadowed by the belief that Brazil would continue to experience growth. India and Taiwan both contributed positively to performance at the allocation and selection levels, with the Financials sector being the primary contributor.

At the sector and industry level, the Fund’s primary contributors relative to the benchmark were in the Financials and consumer-related sectors. Specifically, an overweight position in the home furnishings and specialty stores industries drove the majority of the Consumer Discretionary outperformance, while stock selection in diversified banks contributed positively in Financials. Conversely, an overweight position in Industrials, specifically in the engineering and construction industry, coupled with an underweight in internet software and services in Information Technology, both detracted from performance. In addition, the Fund’s overweight position in gold mining companies dragged on performance. Given the low valuation readings in the early part of the year, the Fund’s cash allocation for defensive positioning was also a relative detractor to the benchmark.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for emerging markets?

A.

At the end of fiscal year 2017, emerging markets as a whole had an overall average value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.07, implying that, on average, our estimate of fair value for stocks is about 7% higher than where they are now trading. We currently favor Financials, Energy and Materials from a sector perspective and more specifically the industries of diversified banks, construction materials and paper and products. Conversely, Consumer Staples, Health Care and Real Estate look less attractive and represent underweight positions relative to the benchmark. While corporate earnings and growth look strong, we will continue to monitor the credit environment for signs of risk aversion, as we currently find ourselves at exceptionally tight spread levels. While interest rates remain low, thanks in great part to loose monetary policy and extraordinary central bank intervention, we are now at a stage where policy moves are starting to decouple across the globe with some

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    3


Table of Contents
ICON Emerging Markets Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

countries removing stimulus and raising interest rates. As always, we will continue to monitor the capital markets and their effect on our investment system.

Regionally, according to our system, Europe in general, and Turkey and Hungary in particular, represent the best bargains in emerging markets space. The Asia-Pacific region looks favorable as well, with South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines showing good value. Within the Western Hemisphere, Mexico looks attractive. The Fund’s country underweights include Brazil, India, and South Africa as these show less upside within our valuation system. Based on our disciplined, systematic and non-emotional approach to investing, we will continue deploying capital toward areas that we deem to have the most opportunity, based on what our investment system dictates.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON Emerging Markets Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception Date        1 Year           5 Years           10 Years      

Since

    Inception    

 

    Gross Expense    

Ratio*

  

    Net Expense    

Ratio*

ICON Emerging Markets Fund – Class S

   2/25/97    11.34%   5.62%   0.33%   3.35%   1.85%      1.55%  

ICON Emerging Markets Fund – Class A

   5/31/06    11.06%   5.41%   0.10%   3.02%   2.16%      1.80%  

ICON Emerging Markets Fund – Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

   5/31/06    4.64%   4.18%   -0.49%   2.48%   2.16%      1.80%  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

      22.91%   4.36%   1.65%   6.49%   N/A    N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Fund’s name and investment strategy changed effective May 5, 2014. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the current strategy had been in effect. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Emerging Markets Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 2/25/97 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. The Fund’s name and investment strategy changed effective May 5, 2014. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the current strategy had been in effect. Performance for the Emerging Markets Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Emerging Markets Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and tax return of capital, but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    5


Table of Contents
ICON Emerging Markets Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Common Stocks (96.97%)

     

Airlines (2.01%)

     

Cebu Air, Inc.

     602,000      $  1,300,001    
     

 

Alternative Carriers (0.99%)

     

Link Net Tbk PT

     1,659,000      637,414    
     

 

Aluminum (0.21%)

     

China Hongqiao Group,
Ltd.(a)(b)

     270,000      138,256    
     

 

Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods (0.44%)

Shenzhou International Group Holdings, Ltd.

     36,000      282,326    
     

 

Biotechnology (0.42%)

     

Shire PLC

     5,300      269,949    
     

 

Building Products (0.83%)

     

China Lesso Group Holdings, Ltd.

     788,000      538,843    
     

 

Cable & Satellite (1.28%)

     

Megacable Holdings SAB de CV

     126,575      527,222    

Sky PLC

     25,000      306,697    
     

 

      833,919    
     

 

Coal & Consumable Fuels (3.41%)

 

  

Indo Tambangraya Megah Tbk PT

     770,000      1,158,421    

Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam Persero Tbk PT

     1,350,000      1,047,965    
     

 

      2,206,386    
     

 

Commodity Chemicals (1.18%)

 

  

Mexichem SAB de CV

     170,246      448,847    

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd

     184,000      317,840    
     

 

      766,687    
     

 

Construction & Engineering (3.85%)

 

  

China Communications Construction Co., Ltd., Class H

     280,000      351,182    

China State Construction International Holdings, Ltd.

     240,000      350,870    

Pembangunan Perumahan Persero Tbk PT

     2,177,573      374,013    

Waskita Karya Persero Tbk PT

     5,246,000      692,289    

Wijaya Karya Persero Tbk PT

     5,431,809      722,998    
     

 

      2,491,352    
     

 

Construction Materials (8.02%)

 

  

China Resources Cement Holdings, Ltd.

     1,906,000      1,175,072    

Cimsa Cimento Sanayi VE Ticaret AS

     142,000      565,174    

Siam Cement PCL

     16,500      247,609    

Tipco Asphalt PCL

     1,292,000      934,516    

Waskita Beton Precast Tbk PT

     21,000,000      561,605    

West China Cement, Ltd.(a)

     9,000,000      1,468,521    
      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Construction Materials (continued)

 

  

Wijaya Karya Beton Tbk PT

     6,000,000      $       238,473    
     

 

        5,190,970    
     

 

Consumer Finance (1.38%)

     

Gentera SAB de CV

     552,000      894,234    
     

 

Department Stores (0.00%)(c)

 

  

Grupo Sanborns SAB de CV

     945      1,105    
     

 

Distillers & Vintners (1.11%)

 

  

Thai Beverage PCL

     1,084,000      720,011    
     

 

Diversified Banks (17.49%)

 

  

Agricultural Bank of China, Ltd., Class H

     2,374,000      1,068,658    

Bank Negara Indonesia Persero Tbk PT

     1,850,000      1,017,271    

Bank of China, Ltd., Class H

     2,356,000      1,170,280    

Bank Pan Indonesia Tbk PT(a)

     16,827,400      1,425,208    

China Construction Bank Corp., Class H

     1,120,000      935,706    

Credicorp, Ltd.

     2,200      451,044    

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O

     55,000      378,657    

Industrial Bank of Korea

     52,000      655,531    

Kasikornbank PCL

     44,760      278,360    

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.

     580,000      988,672    

Moneta Money Bank AS

     77,600      273,224    

Sberbank of Russia PJSC, Sponsored ADR

     70,000      998,166    

Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.

     28,000      1,237,552    

Yes Bank, Ltd.

     81,500      437,492    
     

 

      11,315,821    
     

 

Electric Utilities (1.05%)

     

Korea Electric Power Corp.

     20,000      679,506    
     

 

Electronic Components (1.92%)

 

  

Kingboard Chemical Holdings, Ltd.

     60,000      319,547    

Tongda Group Holdings, Ltd.

     3,440,000      927,467    
     

 

      1,247,014    
     

 

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (1.43%)

China Railway Signal & Communication Corp., Ltd., Class H

     797,000      599,216    

SFA Engineering Corp.

     9,000      325,944    
     

 

      925,160    
     

 

Electronic Manufacturing Services (1.01%)

Fabrinet(a)

     17,700      655,962    
     

 

Environmental & Facilities Services (1.10%)

China Everbright International, Ltd.

     566,000      713,236    
     

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Emerging Markets Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value

Financial Exchanges & Data (0.34%)

  

Bolsa Mexicana de Valores SAB de CV

   130,000    $   216,952    
     

 

Gold (3.26%)

     

Cia de Minas Buenaventura SAA, ADR

   60,000    767,400    

Randgold Resources, Ltd.

   7,800    762,347    

Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., Class H

   1,680,000    577,949    
     

 

      2,107,696    
     

 

Highways & Railtracks (1.26%)

     

Shenzhen Expressway Co., Ltd., Class H

   840,000    816,811    
     

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders (2.21%)

Aboitiz Power Corp.

   642,000    541,535    

Electricity Generating PCL

   94,000    662,369    

First Gen Corp.

   600,000    223,606    
     

 

      1,427,510    
     

 

Industrial Machinery (1.42%)

     

China Conch Venture Holdings, Ltd.

   470,000    916,333    
     

 

Integrated Oil & Gas (3.23%)

     

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class H

   652,000    491,400    

LUKOIL PJSC, Sponsored ADR

   14,500    769,012    

MOL Hungarian Oil & Gas PLC

   57,600    655,059    

Rosneft Oil Co. PJSC, GDR

   31,500    175,281    
     

 

      2,090,752    
     

 

Integrated Telecommunication Services (2.47%)

KT Corp., Sponsored ADR

   64,000    887,680    

Telekomunikasi Indonesia Persero Tbk PT

   2,049,000    712,600    
     

 

      1,600,280    
     

 

Internet Software & Services (1.22%)

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., Sponsored ADR(a)

   2,400    414,504    

Tencent Holdings, Ltd.

   8,545    373,593    
     

 

      788,097    
     

 

IT Consulting & Other Services (2.75%)

  

HCL Technologies, Ltd.

   68,000    911,279    

Infosys, Ltd.

   63,000    869,822    
     

 

      1,781,101    
     

 

Multi-Utilities (0.48%)

     

Avista Corp.

   6,000    310,620    
     

 

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (0.80%)

  

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.(d)

   16,600    515,762    
     

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (2.98%)

  

CNOOC, Ltd.

   600,000    776,731    

Diamondback Energy, Inc.(a)

   8,575    840,007    

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (continued)

Gulfport Energy Corp.(a)

   21,800    $     312,612    
     

 

      1,929,350    
     

 

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing (2.68%)

  

Petron Corp.

   3,750,000    773,630    

SK Innovation Co., Ltd.

   5,500    958,618    
     

 

      1,732,248    
     

 

Paper Packaging (2.08%)

     

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

   43,000    1,348,307    
     

 

Paper Products (2.76%)

     

Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing, Ltd.

   1,387,000    1,784,632    
     

 

Pharmaceuticals (0.95%)

     

Indivior PLC(a)

   73,000    332,508    

Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

   5,000    284,269    
     

 

      616,777    
     

 

Regional Banks (5.86%)

     

Bank Tabungan Negara Persero Tbk PT

   3,000,000    702,615    

Banregio Grupo Financiero SAB de CV

   223,800    1,332,845    

DGB Financial Group, Inc.

   127,000    1,165,639    

Grupo Financiero Interacciones SA de CV, Class O

   98,666    588,962    
     

 

      3,790,061    
     

 

Renewable Electricity (1.37%)

     

China Everbright Greentech,
Ltd.(a)

   1,004,792    849,866    

Energy Development Corp.

   375,361    41,567    
     

 

      891,433    
     

 

Semiconductors (1.12%)

     

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

   101,000    723,409    
     

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.52%)

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

   150    337,534    
     

 

Tobacco (1.57%)

     

KT&G Corp.

   11,000    1,015,088    
     

 

Water Utilities (1.82%)

     

Guangdong Investment, Ltd.

   460,000    656,840    

TTW PCL

   1,599,400    517,947    
     

 

      1,174,787    
     

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services (4.69%)

  

China Mobile, Ltd.

   123,000    1,248,691    

Indosat Tbk PT

   67,250    31,206    

SK Telecom Co., Ltd., Sponsored ADR

   42,500    1,045,075    
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    7


Table of Contents

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

   Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

     Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Wireless Telecommunication Services (continued)

 

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS

    200,000      $ 711,304    
    

 

 

 
       3,036,276    
    

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $60,948,547)

       62,759,968    
    

 

 

 

Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.54%)

    

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, 7-Day Yield 1.01%

    346,438        346,438    
    

 

 

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $346,438)

       346,438    
    

 

 

 

Total Investments (97.51%)

(Cost $61,294,985)

     $ 63,106,406    

Other Assets Less Liabilities (2.49%)

       1,613,212    
    

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

     $ 64,719,618    
    

 

 

 

 

(a)  Non-income producing security.
(b)  Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. As of September 30, 2017, these securities had an aggregate market value of $138,256 or 0.21% of total net assets.
(c)  Less than 0.005%.
(d)  All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

GDR - Global Depositary Receipt

Country Composition (September 30, 2017)  

China

     16.88

Indonesia

     14.42

South Korea

     12.82

Hong Kong

     12.40

Mexico

     6.78

Thailand

     6.19

Philippines

     5.99

India

     3.43

United States

     3.06

Russia

     3.00

Ireland

     2.50

Turkey

     1.97

Peru

     1.89

Jersey

     1.18

Taiwan

     1.12

Hungary

     1.01

United Kingdom

     0.98

Malaysia

     0.49

Japan

     0.44

Czech Republic

     0.42
        
         96.97
        

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Emerging Markets Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

 

Financial

     25.07%  

Materials

     17.51%  

Energy

     13.10%  

Industrials

     10.47%  

Information Technology

     9.97%  

Telecommunication Services

     8.15%  

Utilities

     6.93%  

Consumer Staples

     2.68%  

Consumer Discretionary

     1.72%  

Health Care

     1.37%  
  

 

 

 
             96.97%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)  

Diversified Banks

     17.49%  

Construction Materials

     8.02%  

Regional Banks

     5.86%  

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     4.69%  

Construction & Engineering

     3.85%  

Coal & Consumable Fuels

     3.41%  

Gold

     3.26%  

Integrated Oil & Gas

     3.23%  

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     2.98%  

Paper Products

     2.76%  

IT Consulting & Other Services

     2.75%  

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

     2.68%  

Integrated Telecommunication Services

     2.47%  

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

     2.21%  

Paper Packaging

     2.08%  

Airlines

     2.01%  

Electronic Components

     1.92%  

Water Utilities

     1.82%  

Tobacco

     1.57%  

Electronic Equipment & Instruments

     1.43%  

Industrial Machinery

     1.42%  

Consumer Finance

     1.38%  

Renewable Electricity

     1.37%  

Cable & Satellite

     1.28%  

Highways & Railtracks

     1.26%  

Internet Software & Services

     1.22%  

Commodity Chemicals

     1.18%  

Semiconductors

     1.12%  

Distillers & Vintners

     1.11%  

Environmental & Facilities Services

     1.10%  

Electric Utilities

     1.05%  

Electronic Manufacturing Services

     1.01%  

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

     5.98%  
  

 

 

 
             96.97%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    9


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark?

A.

The ICON International Equity Fund (the Fund) Class S returned 10.30% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, while the MSCI All Country World Index ex-United States (ACWI ex-U.S.) returned 20.15%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

We finished fiscal year 2017 with global stock market gains. Volatility contracted and monetary policy remained accommodative, which encouraged investors to commit capital to the equity markets. In Asia, China’s economic growth remained relatively stable and rose slightly over the year as currency fluctuations in the Yuan/U.S. Dollar failed to have any meaningful effect on the economy. Japan emerged from its prior deflationary environment and experienced modest growth. Markets in Europe were mixed. The Eurozone region saw an increase in economic activity, while Britain had a modest contraction on the heels of last year’s decision to leave the European Union. In Latin America, Brazil experienced economic growth following a deep, two-year recession. As the period closed, and as detailed elsewhere in this overview, we still see upside in the global markets, with some regions showing great bargains and others appearing less attractive according to our system.

 

  

At the beginning of the fiscal year, our valuation model signaled a 22% upside to fair value for global markets and pointed the Fund towards positioning in both cyclical and defensive sectors of the market. As fiscal year 2017 began, the Fund’s largest weighted sectors were Information Technology and Health Care. From a regional perspective, the Fund held an overweight position in Asia-Pacific and ultimately increased exposure to European equities throughout the year. In addition, the Fund held an overweight position in emerging market equities, though the Fund’s exposure to this space was gradually lower by the end of fiscal year 2017, as we saw better opportunities in the developed markets. Despite the ongoing issues looming over the world economy, our discipline and focus on value guided our decisions, which we believe will benefit the Fund going forward.

 

  

As a multi-cap manager, we are not restricted by market capitalization. However, our valuation readings led us to a higher concentration in small- and mid-cap companies during the period and an underweight position in large-cap stocks relative to the benchmark. Overall, large-cap stocks outperformed their small- and mid-cap peers by a wide margin, which detracted from the Fund’s relative performance.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

The Fund’s primary contributors to benchmark relative performance came from the Consumer Staples and Industrials sectors. Specifically, underweight positions in the packaged foods & meats and tobacco industries within the Consumer Staples sector and overweight positions in the airlines and building products industries within the Industrials Sector contributed to performance relative to the benchmark. Further, an overweight position in the electronic equipment and instruments industry within the top performing Information Technology sector proved beneficial.

 

  

Conversely, the Materials sector was a detractor, as the gold and diversified metals & mining industries hindered the Fund’s relative returns versus the benchmark. Our industry selection within the Information Technology sector was another source of relative underperformance, with our holdings in communications equipment and electronic components industries detracting from the Fund’s returns. Additionally, the Fund rotated away from the Information Technology sector too early, missing out on the sector’s leadership which continued through the end of the period. When our system saw value decline in segments of the market, we went to cash. This defensive move proved problematic, however, when equities ultimately remained resilient.

 

  

While all geographic regions saw gains over the period, there were areas of differentiation among certain countries throughout the year. European equities had the highest returns, though the Eurozone countries outperformed the United Kingdom by a wide margin. Within the Asia-Pacific region, countries with larger concentrations in the Information Technology sector, including China and South Korea, stood out. The leadership in these sectors resulted in emerging market countries outperforming their developed peers for the period. The Fund’s overweight allocations to South Africa and underweight in Brazil, where we struggled to find value opportunities, led to underperformance over the year.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the international equity market?

A.

International equities, on average, still remain below our estimate of their intrinsic value. At the end of the period, international markets as a whole had an overall average value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.15, implying that, on average, our estimate of fair value for stocks is about 15% higher than where they are currently trading. Investors have become less risk averse as equity prices have risen steadily over the years. Corporate earnings continue to rise, major economies are generally growing, and volatility remains low despite ongoing geopolitical concerns. While interest rates remain low, thanks in great part to loose monetary policy and extraordinary central bank intervention, we are now at a stage where policy moves are starting to decouple across the globe, with some countries removing stimulus and raising interest rates. As always, we will continue to monitor the capital markets and their effect on our investment system.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  

According to our valuation system, Europe represents the best opportunity from a regional perspective, with the Western Hemisphere showing the least upside. Within Europe, we find attractive opportunities in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in particular. As of the end of the fiscal year 2017, we estimate that, on average, fair value for European equities is 21% higher than where prices are currently trading. Within the Western Hemisphere, Mexico looks attractive to our system, with South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand currently showing the most value in the Asia-Pacific region. Dramatic improvements in sentiment and our system’s valuations have led to our overweight emerging markets position versus developed, Western Hemisphere markets.

 

  

From a sector perspective, we are still tilted towards the Financials, Materials, and Industrials sectors. Our system sees little upside in the defensive Health Care and Consumer Staples sectors, which are underweight in the Fund relative to the benchmark.

 

  

At ICON we continue to seek out industries that our system identifies as trading at a discount to fair value. Guided by our disciplined, systematic and non-emotional approach to investing, we see numerous opportunities in these ever-changing markets. We believe it is nearly impossible to accurately time market bottoms and we believe rallies do not offer invitations. Therefore, given our current valuations, we remain almost fully invested. As market conditions dictate, we will adjust accordingly.

 

    

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    11


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception Date        1 Year           5 Years           10 Years      

Since

    Inception    

 

    Gross Expense    

Ratio*

  

    Net Expense    

Ratio*

ICON International Equity Fund – Class S

   2/18/97        10.30 %       3.68 %       -2.42 %       5.04 %       1.45%          1.45%  

ICON International Equity Fund – Class C

   2/19/04        9.19 %       2.56 %       -3.52 %       2.55 %       3.13%          2.55%  

ICON International Equity Fund – Class A

   5/31/06        10.03 %       3.34 %       -2.80 %       0.40 %       2.43%          1.80%  

ICON International Equity Fund – Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

   5/31/06        3.69 %       2.13 %       -3.37 %       -0.13 %         2.43%          1.80%  

MSCI ACWI ex-U.S.

          20.15 %       7.45 %       1.74 %       5.83 %       N/A        N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Fund’s name and investment strategy changed effective January 29, 2004. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the current strategy had been in effect. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included returns would be lower.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the International Equity Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 2/18/97 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. The Fund’s name and investment strategy changed effective January 29, 2004. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the current strategy had been in effect. Performance for the International Equity Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The International Equity Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and tax return of capital, but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 

 
12    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Common Stocks (98.54%)

     

Aerospace & Defense (1.18%)

     

Airbus SE(a)

     6,200      $      589,921      
     

 

 

 

Airlines (1.00%)

     

Cebu Air, Inc.

     230,000        496,678      
     

 

 

 

Alternative Carriers (0.62%)

     

Link Net Tbk PT

     800,000        307,373      
     

 

 

 

Aluminum (0.19%)

     

China Hongqiao Group, Ltd.(a)(b)

     183,000        93,707      
     

 

 

 

Application Software (0.80%)

 

  

Open Text Corp.

     12,300        396,873      
     

 

 

 

Biotechnology (1.96%)

     

Shire PLC

     19,200        977,929      
     

 

 

 

Building Products (3.75%)

     

China Lesso Group Holdings, Ltd.

     370,000        253,010      

Cie de Saint-Gobain

     12,800        762,625      

Sanwa Holdings Corp.

     22,000        252,654      

Tyman PLC

     139,054        600,922      
     

 

 

 
        1,869,211      
     

 

 

 

Cable & Satellite (3.48%)

 

Megacable Holdings SAB de CV

     71,351        297,198      

NOS SGPS SA

     37,000        229,307      

Quebecor, Inc., Class B

     25,600        962,039      

Sky PLC

     20,000        245,358      
     

 

 

 
        1,733,902      
     

 

 

 

Casinos & Gaming (0.94%)

 

Ladbrokes Coral Group PLC

     287,000        469,572      
     

 

 

 

Coal & Consumable Fuels (1.10%)

 

  

Indo Tambangraya Megah Tbk PT

     203,000        305,402      

Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam Persero Tbk PT

     316,000        245,302      
     

 

 

 
        550,704      
     

 

 

 

Commodity Chemicals (1.72%)

 

Mexichem SAB de CV

     82,654        217,914      

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd

     77,000        133,009      

Zeon Corp.

     39,000        505,968      
     

 

 

 
        856,891      
     

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering (4.38%)

 

China Communications Construction Co., Ltd., Class H

     290,000        363,725      

China State Construction International Holdings, Ltd.

     230,000        336,251      

Obayashi Corp.

     24,000        287,867      

Pembangunan Perumahan Persero Tbk PT

     1,318,427        226,449      

Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd

     49,000        309,375      

 

     Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Construction & Engineering (continued)

 

  

Waskita Karya Persero Tbk PT

    2,420,000      $      319,356      

Wijaya Karya Persero Tbk PT

    2,582,391        343,728      
    

 

 

 
       2,186,751      
    

 

 

 

Construction Materials (3.74%)

 

China Resources Cement Holdings, Ltd.

    776,000        478,413      

Cimsa Cimento Sanayi VE Ticaret AS

    55,000        218,905      

Tipco Asphalt PCL

    490,000        354,422      

Waskita Beton Precast Tbk PT

    11,700,000        312,894      

West China Cement,
Ltd.(a)

    2,580,000        420,976      

Wijaya Karya Beton Tbk PT

    2,000,000        79,491      
    

 

 

 
       1,865,101      
    

 

 

 

Department Stores (0.00%)(c)

 

Grupo Sanborns SAB de CV

    630        737      
    

 

 

 

Distillers & Vintners (0.48%)

    

Thai Beverage PCL

    360,000        239,118      
    

 

 

 

Diversified Banks (11.21%)

    

ABN AMRO Group NV

    7,200        215,599      

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

    16,000        143,047      

Banco Santander SA

    51,000        356,738      

Bank Negara Indonesia Persero Tbk PT

    520,000        285,936      

Bank of China, Ltd., Class H

    1,060,000        526,526      

BNP Paribas SA

    3,100        250,095      

Credicorp, Ltd.

    1,100        225,522      

DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.

    6,500        100,061      

DNB ASA

    7,700        155,464      

HSBC Holdings PLC

    35,000        346,004      

KB Financial Group, Inc.

    4,700        231,236      

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.

    233,000        397,173      

Moneta Money Bank AS

    110,000        387,302      

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.

    12,000        98,955      

Sberbank of Russia PJSC, Sponsored ADR

    47,000             670,197      

Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.

    3,200        141,435      

Societe Generale SA

    4,400        257,846      

Swedbank AB, Class A

    13,500        373,836      

UniCredit SpA(a)

    11,600        247,541      

Yes Bank, Ltd.

    35,000        187,880      
    

 

 

 
       5,598,393      
    

 

 

 

Electric Utilities (3.50%)

 

CK Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.

    54,000        465,538      

Emera, Inc.

    6,000        227,257      

Enel SpA

    92,000        554,237      

Iberdrola SA

    64,000        497,641      
    

 

 

 
       1,744,673      
    

 

 

 
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    13


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (1.80%)

China Railway Signal & Communication Corp., Ltd., Class H

   660,000    $     496,214    

SFA Engineering Corp.

   11,200    405,619    
     

 

      901,833    
     

 

Electronic Manufacturing Services (0.85%)

Fabrinet(a)

   11,400    422,484    
     

 

Environmental & Facilities Services (0.98%)

China Everbright International, Ltd.

   390,000    491,452    
     

 

Gold (3.72%)

     

Barrick Gold Corp.

   11,600    186,678    

Cia de Minas Buenaventura SAA, ADR

   19,200    245,568    

Randgold Resources, Ltd.

   7,500    733,026    

SEMAFO, Inc.(a)

   131,000    346,464    

Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., Class H

   1,020,000    350,897    
     

 

      1,862,633    
     

 

Health Care Technology (0.47%)

M3, Inc.

   8,200    233,793    
     

 

Highways & Railtracks (1.21%)

     

Shenzhen Expressway Co., Ltd., Class H

   620,000    602,884    
     

 

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines (1.15%)

Melia Hotels International SA

   13,000    188,033    

TUI AG

   22,500    382,498    
     

 

      570,531    
     

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders (2.41%)

Aboitiz Power Corp.

   290,000    244,619    

Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.

   19,300    484,832    

Electricity Generating PCL

   52,000    366,417    

First Gen Corp.

   300,000    111,803    
     

 

      1,207,671    
     

 

Industrial Conglomerates (1.11%)

DCC PLC

   2,000    194,203    

Seibu Holdings, Inc.

   21,000    358,701    
     

 

      552,904    
     

 

Industrial Machinery (1.05%)

China Conch Venture Holdings, Ltd.

   270,000    526,404    
     

 

Integrated Oil & Gas (1.76%)

     

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class H

   244,000    183,898    

LUKOIL PJSC, Sponsored ADR

   6,700    355,336    

MOL Hungarian Oil & Gas PLC

   21,600    245,647    
      Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value  

Integrated Oil & Gas (continued)

 

Rosneft Oil Co. PJSC, GDR

   16,700    $      92,927      
     

 

 

 
        877,808      
     

 

 

 

Integrated Telecommunication Services (1.73%)

 

KT Corp., Sponsored ADR

   14,000      194,180      

Orange SA

   15,000      245,609      

Telecom Italia SpA(a)

       450,000      422,117      
     

 

 

 
        861,906      
     

 

 

 

Investment Banking & Brokerage (0.45%)

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

   40,000      224,440      
     

 

 

 

IT Consulting & Other Services (1.00%)

  

HCL Technologies, Ltd.

   19,300      258,643      

Infosys, Ltd.

   17,300      238,856      
     

 

 

 
        497,499      
     

 

 

 

Life & Health Insurance (1.93%)

 

AIA Group, Ltd.

   57,000      421,988      

Legal & General Group PLC

   99,000      345,063      

Prudential PLC

   8,200      196,230      
     

 

 

 
        963,281      
     

 

 

 

Metal & Glass Containers (1.97%)

 

RPC Group PLC

   74,000      982,698      
     

 

 

 

Multi-line Insurance (1.73%)

     

Allianz SE

   1,200      269,504      

Assicurazioni Generali SpA

   9,300      173,457      

Aviva PLC

   28,000      193,254      

AXA SA

   7,400      223,718      
     

 

 

 
        859,933      
     

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities (2.63%)

 

Avista Corp.

   4,600      238,142      

Engie SA

   34,900      592,652      

RWE AG(a)

   6,000      136,500      

Veolia Environnement SA

   15,000      346,620      
     

 

 

 
        1,313,914      
     

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (2.42%)

 

Enerflex, Ltd.

   29,300      432,074      

John Wood Group PLC

   18,000      164,410      

SBM Offshore NV

   15,000      271,996      

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.(d)

   11,000      341,770      
     

 

 

 
        1,210,250      
     

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (5.88%)

 

CNOOC, Ltd.

       504,000      652,454      

Diamondback Energy,
Inc.(a)

   6,376      624,593      

Encana Corp.

   16,000      188,371      

Gulfport Energy Corp.(a)

   21,574      309,371      

Newfield Exploration Co.(a)

   14,200      421,314      

Parsley Energy, Inc.,
Class A(a)

   9,230      243,118      

Seven Generations Energy, Ltd., Class A(a)

   31,200      493,599      
     

 

 

 
        2,932,820      
     

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing (2.82%)

 

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.

   9,300      262,835      

JXTG Holdings, Inc.

   60,500      311,951      
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

14    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing (continued)

Petron Corp.

         2,000,000      $    412,603    

SK Innovation Co., Ltd.

     2,400      418,306    
     

 

      1,405,695    
     

 

Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation (0.91%)

 

  

Pembina Pipeline Corp.

     13,000      456,133    
     

 

Paper Packaging (2.06%)

     

Rengo Co., Ltd.

     34,000      202,381    

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

     26,300      824,662    
     

 

      1,027,043    
     

 

Paper Products (0.62%)

     

Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing, Ltd.

     240,000      308,804    
     

 

Pharmaceuticals (2.77%)

     

Indivior PLC(a)

     56,000      255,075    

Ipsen SA

     2,200      292,718    

Roche Holding AG

     1,500      383,430    

Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

     4,200      238,786    

Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

     3,800      207,734    
     

 

      1,377,743    
     

 

Regional Banks (2.24%)

     

Banregio Grupo Financiero SAB de CV

     66,000      393,064    

DGB Financial Group, Inc.

     38,000      348,774    

Grupo Financiero Interacciones SA de CV, Class O

     62,955      375,794    
     

 

      1,117,632    
     

 

Renewable Electricity (1.01%)

     

China Everbright Greentech, Ltd.(a)

     595,009      503,266    
     

 

Specialty Chemicals (0.99%)

     

Covestro AG

     3,200      275,362    

Koninklijke DSM NV

     2,700      221,039    
     

 

      496,401    
     

 

Specialty Stores (0.38%)

     

Beauty Community PCL

     400,000      192,103    
     

 

Steel (2.29%)

     

ArcelorMittal(a)

     36,000      928,667    

Bekaert SA

     4,500      216,037    
     

 

      1,144,704    
     

 

Tobacco (1.73%)

     

British American Tobacco PLC

     6,100      381,883    

KT&G Corp.

     5,200      479,860    
     

 

      861,743    
     

 

Trading Companies & Distributors (1.57%)

Mitsubishi Corp.

     16,800      390,866    

Sojitz Corp.

     142,000      392,919    
     

 

      783,785    
     

 

Water Utilities (0.64%)

     

Pennon Group PLC

     30,000      320,318    
     

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Wireless Telecommunication Services (2.21%)

 

China Mobile, Ltd.

     39,000        $    395,926      

Indosat Tbk PT

     67,250        31,206      

SK Telecom Co., Ltd., Sponsored ADR

     13,200        324,588      

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS

         100,000        355,652      
     

 

 

 
        1,107,372      
     

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $48,272,246)

        49,177,414      
     

 

 

 

Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.69%)

 

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, 7-Day Yield 1.01%

     343,750        343,750      
     

 

 

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $343,750)

        343,750      
     

 

 

 

Total Investments (99.23%)

(Cost $48,615,996)

        $49,521,164      

Other Assets Less Liabilities (0.77%)

        383,261      
     

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

        $49,904,425      
     

 

 

 

 

(a)

Non-income producing security.

(b)

Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. As of September 30, 2017, these securities had an aggregate market value of $93,707 or 0.19% of total net assets.

 
(c)

Less than 0.005%.

(d)

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

GDR - Global Depositary Receipt

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017   

15


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Country Composition (September 30, 2017)

 

Japan

     9.36%  

China

     8.95%  

Canada

     7.40%  

France

     7.14%  

Hong Kong

     6.81%  

South Korea

     5.09%  

Great Britain

     5.01%  

Indonesia

     4.92%  

United States

     4.36%  

Ireland

     4.00%  

United Kingdom

     4.00%  

Philippines

     3.34%  

Thailand

     3.15%  

Italy

     2.81%  

Mexico

     2.58%  

Spain

     2.38%  

Russia

     2.24%  

Germany

     2.13%  

Luxembourg

     1.86%  

Jersey

     1.47%  

Netherlands

     1.41%  

India

     1.38%  

Turkey

     1.15%  

Peru

     0.94%  

Czech Republic

     0.78%  

Switzerland

     0.77%  

Sweden

     0.75%  

Hungary

     0.49%  

Portugal

     0.46%  

Belgium

     0.43%  

Singapore

     0.40%  

Norway

     0.31%  

Malaysia

     0.27%  
  

 

 

 
             98.54%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

 

Financial

     17.56%  

Materials

     17.30%  

Industrials

     16.23%  

Energy

     14.89%  

Utilities

     10.19%  

Consumer Discretionary

     5.95%  

Health Care

     5.20%  

Telecommunication Services

     4.56%  

Information Technology

     4.45%  

Consumer Staples

     2.21%  
  

 

 

 
             98.54%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

16    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)

 

Diversified Banks

     11.21%  

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     5.88%  

Construction & Engineering

     4.38%  

Building Products

     3.75%  

Construction Materials

     3.74%  

Gold

     3.72%  

Electric Utilities

     3.50%  

Cable & Satellite

     3.48%  

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

     2.82%  

Pharmaceuticals

     2.77%  

Multi-Utilities

     2.63%  

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

     2.42%  

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

     2.41%  

Steel

     2.29%  

Regional Banks

     2.24%  

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     2.21%  

Paper Packaging

     2.06%  

Metal & Glass Containers

     1.97%  

Biotechnology

     1.96%  

Life & Health Insurance

     1.93%  

Electronic Equipment & Instruments

     1.80%  

Integrated Oil & Gas

     1.76%  

Multi-line Insurance

     1.73%  

Tobacco

     1.73%  

Integrated Telecommunication Services

     1.73%  

Commodity Chemicals

     1.72%  

Trading Companies & Distributors

     1.57%  

Highways & Railtracks

     1.21%  

Aerospace & Defense

     1.18%  

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines

     1.15%  

Industrial Conglomerates

     1.11%  

Coal & Consumable Fuels

     1.10%  

Industrial Machinery

     1.05%  

Renewable Electricity

     1.01%  

Airlines

     1.00%  

IT Consulting & Other Services

     1.00%  

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

     9.32%  
  

 

 

 
             98.54%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    17


Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Statements of Assets and Liabilities
   September 30, 2017

 

      ICON Emerging
Markets Fund
    

ICON International

Equity Fund

 

Assets

     

Investments, at cost

     $ 61,294,985      $ 48,615,996  
  

 

 

 

Investments, at value(a)

     63,106,406        49,521,164  

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,088,026        380,649  

Foreign currency, at value (Cost $308,818 and $1,900, respectively)

     309,986        1,206  

Receivables:

     

Investments sold

     783,023        568,186  

Fund shares sold

     204,703        9,361  

Expense reimbursements due from Adviser

     27,222        14,327  

Dividends

     55,278        80,066  

Foreign tax reclaims

     246        54,504  

Other assets

     14,238        13,739  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     65,589,128        50,643,202  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Payables:

     

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     346,438        343,750  

Investments purchased

     339,980        258,747  

Capital gains tax

            1,574  

Fund shares redeemed

     7,049        1,923  

Advisory fees

     53,353        40,705  

Transfer agent fees

     44,445        11,356  

Fund accounting fees

     19,118        26,997  

Accrued distribution fees

     2,653        2,501  

Trustee fees and expenses

     3,664        2,842  

Administration fees

     2,666        2,035  

Accrued expenses

     50,144        46,347  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     869,510        738,777  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - all share classes

   $ 64,719,618      $ 49,904,425  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class S

   $ 51,832,598      $ 45,144,360  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class C

   $      $ 2,484,375  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class A

   $ 12,887,020      $ 2,275,690  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consists of

     

Paid-in capital

   $ 62,807,146      $ 84,069,809  

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

     100,506        (102,068)  

Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss)

            (34,967,250)  

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     1,811,966        903,934  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 64,719,618      $ 49,904,425  
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, no par value)

     

Class S

     3,259,669        3,428,233  

Class C

            213,402  

Class A

     817,166        175,929  

Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share)

     

Class S

   $ 15.90      $ 13.17  

Class C

   $      $ 11.64  

Class A

   $ 15.77      $ 12.94  

Class A maximum offering price (100%/ (100%-maximum sales charge)) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent per share

   $ 16.73      $ 13.72  

(a) Includes securities on loan of

   $ 344,442      $ 341,770  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

18    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Statements of Operations
   Year Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

   ICON Emerging
Markets Fund
     ICON International  
Equity Fund
 

Investment Income

     

Interest

   $ 2,825      $ 2,373      

Dividends

     1,236,072        985,157      

Foreign taxes withheld

     (143,401)        (91,247)      

Income from securities lending, net

     755        27,453      
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     1,096,251        923,736      
  

 

 

 

Expenses

     

Advisory fees

     538,176        493,187      

Administration fees

     26,837        24,581      

Transfer agent fees

     123,179        42,512      

Distribution fees:

     

Class C(a)

     2,500        26,016      

Class A

     23,553        5,909      

Registration fees

     40,586        39,842      

Audit and tax service expense

     25,545        25,545      

Fund accounting fees

     55,803        72,940      

Trustee fees and expenses

     12,174        10,830      

Insurance expense

     5,210        4,308      

Custody fees

     46,145        33,183      

Printing fees

     16,555        9,101      

Other expenses

     54,424        57,408      
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before expense reimbursement

     970,687        845,362      

Expense reimbursement by Adviser due to expense limitation agreement

     (110,029)        (49,267)      
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     860,658        796,095      
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

     235,593        127,641      
  

 

 

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

     

Net realized gain/(loss) on:

     

Investments and foreign currency translations

     4,126,115        2,569,275      

Capital gains tax

     (56,584)        (68,449)      
  

 

 

 
     4,069,531        2,500,826      
  

 

 

 

Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on:

     

Investments and foreign currency

     794,783        1,848,050      

Capital gains tax

            (1,574)      
  

 

 

 
     794,783        1,846,476      
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

     4,864,314        4,347,302      
  

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ 5,099,907      $ 4,474,943      
  

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Emerging Markets Fund Class C shares merged into Class A shares on January 10, 2017. The information presented is for expenses incurred before the merger.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    19


Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

     ICON Emerging Markets Fund     ICON International Equity Fund  
     Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016
    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016  
 

Operations

       

Net investment income/(loss)

  $ 235,593     $ (20,622)     $ 127,641     $ 264,296      

Net realized gain/(loss)

    4,069,531       2,067,753       2,500,826       (2,700,624)      

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

    794,783       2,013,423       1,846,476       5,285,537      
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    5,099,907       4,060,554       4,474,943       2,849,209      
 

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

       

Shares sold

       

Class S

    26,312,322       35,539,610       4,368,367       3,354,948      

Class C(a)

    43,641       823,176       123,670       81,425      

Class A(a)

    9,477,499       12,243,987       168,244       175,210      

Shares repurchased

       

Class S

    (24,352,508)       (9,328,014)       (13,299,835)       (23,174,814)      

Class C(a)

    (995,637)       (459,358)       (784,395)       (552,431)      

Class A(a)

    (6,735,963)       (4,458,977)       (921,210)       (1,184,134)      
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions

    3,749,354       34,360,424       (10,345,159)       (21,299,796)      
 

 

 

 

Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets

    8,849,261       38,420,978       (5,870,216)       (18,450,587)      

Net Assets

       

Beginning of year

    55,870,357       17,449,379       55,774,641       74,225,228      
 

 

 

 

End of year

  $ 64,719,618     $ 55,870,357     $ 49,904,425     $ 55,774,641      
 

 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

  $ 100,506     $ (121,597)     $ (102,068)     $ (227,984)      
 

 

 

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

       

Shares sold

       

Class S

    1,779,885       2,656,595       350,531       291,975      

Class C(a)

    3,312       64,476       11,284       7,727      

Class A(a)

    652,238       918,881       13,905       15,507      

Shares repurchased

       

Class S

    (1,727,057)       (694,300)       (1,110,895)       (2,012,460)      

Class C(a)

    (78,688)       (37,993)       (73,749)       (53,203)      

Class A(a)

    (474,151)       (335,946)       (78,612)       (106,353)      
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

    155,539       2,571,713       (887,536)       (1,856,807)      
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    3,921,296       1,349,583       4,705,100       6,561,907      
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

    4,076,835       3,921,296       3,817,564       4,705,100      
 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Emerging Markets Fund Class C shares merged into Class A shares on January 10, 2017. The information presented includes the activity for Class C prior to the merger as well as Class C shares redeemed, 67,738 shares, and Class A shares issued, 63,928 shares, in connection with the merger of $853,918.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

20    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Emerging Markets Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

Class S   

Year Ended

September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2015

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2014

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 14.28     $ 12.95     $ 13.72     $ 13.51     $ 12.21

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.07       (0.00) (c)         (0.03)       (0.03)       0.06

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.55       1.33       (0.74)       0.27       1.33

Total from investment operations

       1.62       1.33       (0.77)       0.24       1.39

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                         (0.03)       (0.09)

Total dividends and distributions

                         (0.03)       (0.09)

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 15.90     $ 14.28     $ 12.95     $ 13.72     $ 13.51
   

Total Return

       11.34 %       10.27 %       (5.61) %       1.78 %       11.44 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       51,833     $       45,786     $       16,123     $       8,942     $       29,053

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.72 %       1.85 %       2.44 %       2.11 %       1.64 %

After expense limitation

       1.55 %(d)       1.55 %(d)       1.55 %(d)       1.88 %(e)       1.64 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.29 %       (0.32) %       (1.08) %       (0.42) %       0.46 %

After expense limitation

       0.46 %(d)       (0.02) %(d)       (0.19) %(d)       (0.19) %(e)       0.46 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       169 %       156 %       76 %       92 %       60 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $(0.005).

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(e) 

Effective May 5, 2014, Class S’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, were contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3 of the 2014 Annual Report. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    21


Table of Contents
ICON Emerging Markets Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

Class A(a)   

Year Ended

September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2015

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2014

 

Year Ended

September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 14.20     $ 12.91     $ 13.71     $ 13.51     $ 12.17

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       0.06       (0.01)       (0.07)       (0.04)       0.04

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.51       1.30       (0.73)       0.27       1.33

Total from investment operations

       1.57       1.29       (0.80)       0.23       1.37

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                         (0.03)       (0.03)

Total dividends and distributions

                         (0.03)       (0.03)

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 15.77     $ 14.20     $       12.91     $       13.71     $       13.51
   

Total Return(d)

       11.06 %       9.99 %       (5.84) %       1.68 %       11.29 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       12,887     $       9,072     $       725     $ 305     $ 789

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.12 %       2.16 %       4.75 %       4.32 %       2.97 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.80 %       1.80 %       1.80 %       1.95 %       1.81 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.08       (0.43)       (3.44)       (2.65)       (0.82)

After expense limitation(e)

       0.40       (0.07)       (0.49)       (0.28)       0.34

Portfolio turnover rate

       169       156       76       92       60

 

(a) 

Class C shares were merged into Class A on January 10, 2017. The amounts presented represent the results of the Class A shares for the periods prior to the merger and the results of the combined share class for the period subsequent to the merger.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

22    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

Class S   

Year Ended

September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2015

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2014

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 11.94     $ 11.37     $ 11.75     $ 11.81     $ 11.05

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.04       0.05       0.00 (c)         0.06       0.07

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.19       0.52       (0.37)       (0.12)       0.74

Total from investment operations

       1.23       0.57       (0.37)       (0.06)       0.81

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                   (0.01)             (0.00) (d)  

Distributions from net realized gains

                               (0.05)

Total dividends and distributions

                   (0.01)             (0.05)

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 13.17     $ 11.94     $ 11.37     $ 11.75     $ 11.81
   

Total Return

       10.30 %       5.01 %       (3.15) %       (0.51) %       7.33 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       45,144     $       50,005     $       67,201     $       80,356     $       42,105

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.57 %       1.45 %       1.41 %       1.41 %       1.45 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.55 %       1.45 %       1.41 %       1.41 %       1.45 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.31 %       0.45 %       0.00% (f)        0.44 %       0.65 %

After expense limitation(e)

       0.33 %       0.45 %       0.00% (f)        0.44 %       0.65 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       209 %       198 %       204 %       193 %       138 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $0.005.

(d) 

Amount less than $(0.005).

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(f) 

Less than 0.005% of average net assets.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    23


Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

Class C   

Year Ended

September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended

September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended

September 30,
2015

  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 10.66     $ 10.27     $ 10.72     $ 10.89     $ 10.26

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.07)       (0.09)       (0.12)       (0.08)       (0.04)

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.05       0.48       (0.33)       (0.09)       0.67

Total from investment operations

       0.98       0.39       (0.45)       (0.17)       0.63

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 11.64     $ 10.66     $ 10.27     $ 10.72     $ 10.89
   

Total Return(c)

       9.19 %       3.80 %       (4.20) %       (1.56) %       6.14 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       2,484     $       2,941     $       3,299     $       4,597     $       5,657

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       3.35 %       3.13 %       2.96 %       2.82 %       2.77 %

After expense limitation(d)

       2.55 %       2.55 %       2.55 %       2.56 %       2.56 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (1.48)       (1.40)       (1.56)       (0.99)       (0.63)

After expense limitation(d)

       (0.68)       (0.82)       (1.15)       (0.73)       (0.42)

Portfolio turnover rate

       209       198       204       193       138

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON International Equity Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Presented

 

Class A  

Year Ended

September 30,
2017

 

Year Ended

September 30,
2016

 

Year Ended

September 30,
2015

 

Year Ended

September 30,
2014

 

Year Ended

September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 11.76     $ 11.24     $ 11.65     $ 11.75     $ 10.99

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                   

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

      0.01       0.05       (0.04)       0.00 (c)         0.04

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

      1.17       0.47       (0.37)       (0.10)       0.73

Total from investment operations

      1.18       0.52       (0.41)       (0.10)       0.77

Less dividends and distributions:

                   

Dividends from net investment income

                              (0.00) (d) 

Distributions from net realized gains

                              (0.01)

Total dividends and distributions

                              (0.01)

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 12.94     $ 11.76     $ 11.24     $ 11.65     $ 11.75
   

Total Return(e)

      10.03 %       4.63 %       (3.52)       (0.85)       7.03 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                   

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

    $       2,276     $       2,829     $       3,725       $       4,089     $       5,043

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      2.67 %       2.43 %       2.25       2.12 %       2.19 %

After expense limitation(f)

      1.80 %       1.80 %       1.80       1.81 %       1.81 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                   

Before expense limitation

      (0.80)       (0.19)       (0.77)       (0.27)       (0.06) %

After expense limitation(f)

      0.07       0.44       (0.32)       0.04       0.32

Portfolio turnover rate

      209       198       204       193       138

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $0.005.

(d) 

Amount less than $(0.005).

(e) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(f) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

The ICON Emerging Markets Fund (“Emerging Markets Fund”) and ICON International Equity Fund (“International Equity Fund”) are series funds (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds are part of the ICON Funds (the “Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end investment management company. Each Fund offers two classes of shares: Class S and Class A. The International Equity Fund also offers a Class C share. On January 10, 2017, the Class C shares of the Emerging Markets Fund merged into the Class A shares of the Emerging Markets Fund. The Class C shares of the Emerging Markets Fund were closed. The merger activity is shown in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. All classes have equal rights as to earnings, assets and voting privileges except that each Class may bear different distribution fees, registration costs, legal costs, mailing and printing costs and shareholder servicing costs and each Class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. There are currently fifteen other active Funds within the Trust. Those Funds are covered by separate prospectuses and shareholder reports.

Each Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of no par shares. The Funds primarily invest in foreign securities; the Emerging Markets Fund primarily invests in securities of issuers whose principal activities are in emerging markets, or are economically tied to an emerging market country. The International Equity Fund primarily invests in foreign equity securities. Foreign equity securities refer to securities of issuers, wherever organized, whose securities are listed or traded principally on a recognized stock exchange or over-the-counter market outside the United States. The investment objective of each Fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

The Funds, like all investments in securities, have elements of risk, including risk of loss of principal. There is no assurance that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives and may underperform funds with similar investment objectives. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries involves greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment. Investments in foreign securities and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar-denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, may not exist in some foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. Securities of emerging or developing market companies may be less liquid and more volatile than securities in countries with more mature markets. There are also risks associated with small-and mid-cap investing, including limited product lines, less liquidity, and small market share.

In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into various agreements that provide for general indemnifications. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as any potential exposure involving future claims that may be made against each Fund is unknown. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.

Investment Valuation

The Funds’ securities and other assets, excluding options on securities indexes, are valued at the closing price as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) each day the NYSE is open, except that securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) are normally valued by the Funds at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price provided by NASDAQ each business day. If the NYSE closes unexpectedly and there is active trading on other exchanges, the securities will be valued at the Valuation Time based off of those exchanges. Options on securities indexes are valued at the close of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (normally 4:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

The Funds use pricing services to obtain the fair value of securities in their portfolios. If a pricing service is not able to provide a price, or the pricing service’s valuation is considered inaccurate or does not, in the Funds’ judgment, reflect the fair value of the security, prices may be obtained through market quotations from independent broker/dealers. If market quotations from these sources are not readily available, the Funds’ securities or other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (the “Board”) or pursuant to procedures approved by the Board.

 

 
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ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Lacking any sales that day, a security is valued at the current closing bid price (or yield equivalent thereof) or based on quotes obtained from dealers making a market for the security. Exchange traded options are valued at the composite price, using the National Best Bid and Offer quotes (“NBBO”). NBBO consists of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across any of the exchanges on which an option is quoted, thus providing a view across the entire U.S. options marketplace. Debt securities with a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using the evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service. The evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service is based upon a matrix valuation system which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings. Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost or original cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. Currency rates as of the close of the NYSE are used to convert foreign security values into U.S. dollars.

Securities of investment companies that trade on an exchange are valued at the last sales price or official closing price as of the close of the customary trading session on the exchange where the security is principally traded. Investments in shares of funds, including money market funds, that are not traded on an exchange are valued at the end of day net asset value (“NAV”) per share of such fund. Securities in the underlying funds, including restricted securities are valued in accordance with the valuation policy of such fund.

The Funds’ securities traded in countries outside of the Western Hemisphere are fair valued daily by utilizing the quotations of an independent pricing service, unless the Board determines that use of another valuation methodology is appropriate. The purposes of daily fair valuation are to avoid stale prices and to take into account, among other things, any significant events occurring after the close of foreign markets. The pricing service uses statistical analyses and quantitative models to adjust local market prices using factors such as subsequent movements and changes in the prices of indexes, securities and exchange rates in other markets to determine fair value as of the time a Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”). The valuation assigned to fair-value securities for purposes of calculating a Fund’s NAV may differ from the security’s most recent closing market price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their NAVs.

Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Funds’ investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

  Level 1 – 

quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

  Level 2 – 

significant observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk).

  Level 3 – 

significant unobservable inputs.

Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds, and unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. For example, non-U.S. equity securities actively traded in foreign markets may be reflected in Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices, because the Funds evaluate and determine whether those closing prices reflect fair value at the close of the NYSE or require adjustment, as described above. The following table summarizes the Funds’ investments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on September 30, 2017:

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
     Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
     Total    

Common Stocks

           

Cable & Satellite

   $ 527,222      $ 306,697      $      $ 833,919      

Commodity Chemicals

     448,847        317,840               766,687      

Diversified Banks

     1,102,925        10,212,896               11,315,821      

Gold

     767,400        1,340,296               2,107,696      

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

     1,203,904        223,606               1,427,510      

Integrated Telecommunication Services

     887,680        712,600               1,600,280      

Internet Software & Services

     414,504        373,593               788,097      

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     1,152,619        776,731               1,929,350      

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

     773,630        958,618               1,732,248      

Regional Banks

     1,921,807        1,868,254               3,790,061      

Water Utilities

     517,947        656,840               1,174,787      

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     1,076,281        1,959,995               3,036,276      

Other

     4,532,050        27,725,186               32,257,236      

Collateral for Securities on Loan

            346,438               346,438      

Total

   $ 15,326,816      $ 47,779,590      $      $     63,106,406      
   

 

 
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ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

ICON International Equity Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
     Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
     Total    

Common Stocks

           

Building Products

   $ 600,922      $ 1,268,289      $      $ 1,869,211      

Cable & Satellite

     1,259,237        474,665               1,733,902      

Commodity Chemicals

     217,914        638,977               856,891      

Diversified Banks

     612,824        4,985,569               5,598,393      

Electric Utilities

     227,257        1,517,416               1,744,673      

Gold

     778,710        1,083,923               1,862,633      

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

     611,036        596,635               1,207,671      

Integrated Telecommunication Services

     194,180        667,726               861,906      

Multi-Utilities

     238,142        1,075,772               1,313,914      

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

     773,844        436,406               1,210,250      

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     2,280,366        652,454               2,932,820      

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

     412,603        993,092               1,405,695      

Regional Banks

     768,858        348,774               1,117,632      

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     355,794        751,578               1,107,372      

Other

     2,549,850        21,804,601               24,354,451      

Collateral for Securities on Loan

            343,750               343,750      

Total

   $ 11,881,537      $ 37,639,627      $      $     49,521,164      
   

 

*

Please refer to the Schedule of Investments and the Sector/Industry Classification and Country Composition tables for additional security details.

There were no Level 3 securities held in any of the Funds at September 30, 2017.

For the Emerging Markets Fund and International Equity Fund, there was no transfer activity between Level 1 and Level 2 for the year ended September 30, 2017.

The end of period timing recognition is used for the transfers between levels of each Fund’s assets and liabilities.

Fund Share Valuation

Fund shares are sold and redeemed on a daily basis at NAV. NAV per share is determined daily as of the close of trading on the NYSE on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The NAV is computed by dividing the total value of the Fund’s investments and other assets, less liabilities, by the number of Fund shares outstanding.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Idle cash may be swept into various overnight demand deposits and is classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Funds maintain cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed United States federally insured limits. Amounts swept overnight are available on the next business day.

Foreign Currency Translation

The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated daily into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the respective dates of the transactions. Purchases and sales of securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the contractual currency exchange rates established at the time of each trade.

The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities resulting from changes in the exchange rates and changes in market prices of securities held.

 

 
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ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

The Funds may enter into short-term forward foreign currency contracts. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between contracting parties to exchange an amount of currency at some future time at an agreed upon rate. The Funds may use forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure with respect to transactional hedging, positional hedging, cross hedging and proxy hedging.

These contracts involve market risk and do not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities or prevent losses if the prices of those securities decline. The Funds could be exposed to risk if the value of the currency changes unfavorably. Additionally, the Funds could be exposed to counterparty risk if the counterparties are unable to meet the terms of the contracts.

These contracts are marked-to-market daily. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent disposition of foreign currencies, and the difference between the amount recorded at the time of the transaction and the U.S. dollar amount actually received. Any realized gain or loss incurred by the Funds due to foreign currency translation is included on the Statements of Operations. At September 30, 2017 and for the year then ended, the Emerging Markets Fund and International Equity Fund had no outstanding forward foreign currency contracts.

Securities Lending

Under procedures adopted by the Board, the Funds may lend securities to certain approved brokers, dealers and other financial institutions to earn additional income. Cash collateral is received in exchange for securities on loan in the amount of at least 102% of the value of U.S. securities loaned or at least 105% of the value of non-U.S. securities loaned, marked to market daily. The Funds retain certain benefits of owning the securities, including receipt of dividends or interest generated by the security, but give up other rights including the right to vote proxies. The Funds retain the ability to recall the loans at any time and could do so in order to vote proxies or to sell the loaned securities. Each loan is collateralized by cash that generally exceeds the value of the securities on loan. The fair value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Funds and any additional required collateral is delivered to each Fund on the next business day.

Generally, in the event of borrower default, the Funds have the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. In the event the Funds are delayed or prevented from exercising their rights to dispose of the collateral, there may be a potential loss to the Funds. Some of these losses may be indemnified by the lending agent.

Effective October 14, 2016, the Funds have elected to invest the cash collateral received from lending in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio which is disclosed on the Schedules of Investments. Prior to October 14, 2016, the Funds used the State Street Navigator Prime Portfolio. The Funds bear the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. The net securities lending income earned by the Funds for the year ended September 30, 2017, is included in the Statements of Operations.

The following table indicates the total amount of securities loaned by type, reconciled to gross liability payable upon return of the securities loaned by the Fund as of September 30, 2017:

 

     Remaining contractual maturity of the lending agreement                
      Overnight &
Continuous
     Up to 30 days      30-90 days      Greater than
90 days
     Fair Value      Collateral
Received
     Excess amount
due to
counterparty
 

Securities Lending Transactions

                    

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

                    

Equity Securities

   $ 344,442      $      $      $      $ 344,442      $ 344,442      $ 1,996  

ICON International Equity Fund

                    

Equity Securities

     341,770                             341,770        341,770        1,980  

Income Taxes, Dividends, and Distributions

The Funds intend to continue to qualify as regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and, accordingly, the Funds will generally not be subject to federal and state income taxes or federal excise taxes to the extent that they intend to make sufficient distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains. As of and during the year ended September 30, 2017, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. The Funds recognize the interest and penalties, if any, related to the unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statements of Operations. During the period, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties.

Dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term gains are, for federal income tax purposes, taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded by the Funds on the ex-dividend/distribution date. The Funds distribute income and net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually, if not offset by capital loss carryforward. The Funds may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes and designate earnings and profits, including net realized gains distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares, as part of the dividends paid deduction for income tax purposes. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements.

The Funds file U.S. tax returns. While the statute of limitations remains open to examine the Funds’ U.S. tax returns filed for the past three years, no examinations are in progress or anticipated at this time. The Funds are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

Certain foreign countries impose a capital gains tax which is accrued by the Funds based on the unrealized appreciation, if any, on affected securities. Any accrual would reduce a Fund’s NAV. The tax is paid when the gain is realized and is included in capital gains tax in the Statements of Operations.

Investment Income

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income is accrued as earned. Certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the Funds are informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Discounts and premiums on fixed income securities purchased are accreted or amortized to income over the life of the respective securities based on effective yield.

Investment Transactions

Security transactions are accounted for no later than one business day after the trade date. However, for financial reporting purposes, security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

Withholding Tax

Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Funds to meet their obligations may be affected by economic and political developments in specific country or region.

Other

The Funds hold certain investments which pay dividends to their shareholders based upon available funds from operations. It is possible for these dividends to exceed the underlying investments’ taxable earnings and profits resulting in the excess portion of such dividends being designated as a return of capital. Distributions received from investments in securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments or as a realized gain, respectively.

Allocation of Expenses

Each class of a Fund’s shares bears expenses incurred specifically on its behalf and, in addition, each class bears a portion of general expenses, based upon relative net assets of each class or number of shareholder accounts. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a specific Fund in the Trust are apportioned between all Funds in the Trust based upon relative net assets or number of shareholder accounts. In calculating the net asset value per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses other than class-specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets.

 

 
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ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Below are additional class level expenses for the year ended September 30, 2017 that are included on the Statements of Operations:

 

Fund    Printing Fees      Transfer Agent Fees*      Registration Fees    

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

        

Class S

   $ 13,764      $ 79,914      $ 20,945          

Class C(a)

     105        957        2,863          

Class A

     2,686        19,682        16,778          

ICON International Equity Fund

        

Class S

     7,838        14,752        17,257          

Class C

     511        10,400        11,804          

Class A

     752        10,722        10,781          

 

*

Transfer agent out of pocket fees are a Fund level expense.

(a) 

Emerging Markets Fund Class C shares merged into Class A shares on January 10, 2017. The information presented is for expenses incurred before the merger.

3. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

Investment Advisory Fees

ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON Advisers”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and is responsible for managing the Funds’ portfolios of securities. ICON Advisers receives a monthly management fee that is computed daily at an annual rate of 1.00% of each Fund’s average daily net assets.

ICON Advisers has contractually agreed to limit the Funds’ operating expenses (exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary to ensure that the Funds’ expenses do not exceed the following amounts:

 

Fund    Class S   Class C   Class A     

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

   1.55%     1.80%       

ICON International Equity Fund

   1.55%   2.55%   1.80%  

The Funds’ expense limitations will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2021 for the Emerging Markets Fund Class A and all classes of the International Equity Fund. The expense limitation for the Emerging Markets Fund Class S will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2018. To the extent ICON Advisers reimburses or absorbs fees and expenses, it may seek payment of such amounts for up to three years after the expenses were reimbursed or absorbed. A Fund will make no such payment, however, if the total Fund operating expenses exceed the expense limits in effect at the time these payments are proposed.

As of September 30, 2017, the following amounts were available for recoupment by ICON Advisers based upon their potential expiration dates:

 

Fund   

Expires

2018

    

Expires

2019

    

Expires

2020

        

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

   $         112,887      $         106,751      $         106,329 (a)   

ICON International Equity Fund

     34,662        38,568        49,267    

 

(a) 

Emerging Markets Fund Class C shares merged into Class A shares on January 10, 2017. The Class C amount is not available for recoupment.

Accounting, Custody and Transfer Agent Fees

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as the fund accounting agent for the Trust. For its services, the Trust pays ALPS a fee that is calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the Trust.

State Street is the custodian of the Trust’s investments. For its services, the Trust pays State Street asset-based fees that vary according to the number of positions and transactions, plus out-of-pocket expenses.

ALPS is the Trust’s transfer agent. For these services, the Trust pays an annual fee plus annual base fee per Fund, per account fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

 
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ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Administrative Services

The Trust has entered into an administrative services agreement with ICON Advisers pursuant to which ICON Advisers oversees the administration of the Trust’s business and affairs. This agreement provides for an annual fee of 0.05% on the Trust’s first $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.045% on the next $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.040% on the next $2 billion of average daily net assets and 0.030% on average daily net assets over $5 billion. For the year ended September 30, 2017, each Fund’s payment for administrative services to ICON Advisers is included on the Statements of Operations. The administrative services agreement provides that ICON Advisers will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with matters to which the administrative services agreement relates, except for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence by ICON Advisers in the performance of its duties.

ICON Advisers has a sub-administration agreement, with ALPS, under which ALPS assists ICON Advisers with the administration and business affairs of the Trust. For its services, ICON Advisers pays ALPS a fee that is calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the Trust.

Distribution Fees

ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI” or “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICON Management and Research and affiliate of ICON Advisers, Inc., serves the Trust as Distributor. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“12b-1 Plan”) under which the Funds are authorized to compensate or reimburse the Distributor for the sale and distribution of shares and for other shareholder services. The shareholders of the Funds pay an annual distribution fee of 1.00% of average daily net assets for Class C shares and an annual distribution fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets for Class A shares. There is no annual distribution fee for Class S shares. The total amount paid by each Fund under the 12b-1 Plan is shown on the Statements of Operations.

Class A Shares are subject to an initial sales charge and the public offering price of Class A shares equals net asset value plus the applicable sales charge, which is a maximum of 5.75%. For the year ended September 30, 2017, IDI collected sales charges on purchases of Class A Shares, the majority of which were paid out as concessions to financial intermediaries, as follows:

 

Fund    Sales Charges Collected      

ICON Emerging Markets Fund Class A

     $                 4,128            

ICON International Equity Fund Class A

       623     

In addition, IDI receives a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% of the purchase price on redemptions of Class C shares made within one year following the date of purchase. A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge may also apply to certain redemptions of Class A shares made within one year following the purchase of $1 million or more without an initial sales charge. For the year ended September 30, 2017, IDI collected the following contingent deferred sales charges:

 

Fund    Contingent Deferred Sales
Charges Collected
     

ICON Emerging Markets Fund Class C

     $                 382            

ICON International Equity Fund Class C

       39     

Other Related Parties

Certain Officers and Directors of ICON Advisers are also Officers and Trustees of the Funds; however, such Officers and Trustees (with the exception of the Chief Compliance Officer, “CCO”) receive no compensation from the Funds. The Trust pays a portion of the CCO’s salary and the remaining portion, along with other employee related expenses, is paid by ICON Advisers. For the year ended September 30, 2017, the total related amounts paid by the Funds under this arrangement are included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.

The Funds may reimburse ICON Advisers for legal work performed for the Funds by its attorneys outside of the advisory and administration contracts. The Board of Trustees reviews and approves such reimbursements. For the year ended September 30, 2017, the total related amounts accrued or paid by the Funds under this arrangement was $1,418 and is included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.

The Funds did not engage in cross trades with each other, during the year ended September 30, 2017, pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. Generally, cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which the Adviser serves as the investment adviser. The Board previously adopted procedures that apply to transactions between the Funds and its affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7. At its regularly scheduled meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most current calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements set forth by Rule 17a-7 and the Funds’ procedures. The procedures require that the transactions be a purchase or sale for no consideration other than cash

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

payment against prompt delivery of a security for which market quotations are readily available, and be consistent with the investment policies of each Fund.

4. BORROWINGS

 

The Trust has entered into an uncommitted, unsecured, revolving Line of Credit agreement/arrangement with State Street to provide temporary funding for redemption requests. The maximum borrowing limit is $50 million. Interest on domestic borrowings is charged at a rate quoted and determined by State Street. The interest rate as of September 30, 2017 was 2.48%. The Line of Credit agreement/arrangement expires on March 19, 2018.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, there were no outstanding borrowings under this agreement/arrangement for these funds.

5. PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES

 

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding short-term securities) was as follows:

 

Fund    Purchases of
Securities
     Proceeds from Sales  
of Securities
 

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

   $ 91,530,153      $ 83,222,171      

ICON International Equity Fund

     94,184,742        99,543,213      

6. FEDERAL INCOME TAX

 

The following information is presented on an income tax basis. Differences between GAAP and federal income tax purposes that are permanent in nature are reclassified within the capital accounts. Temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the NAVs of the Funds. These differences are due to differing treatments for items such as passive foreign investment companies, foreign currency transactions, foreign capital gain tax treatment, expiring capital loss carryforwards and net investment losses.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”) capital losses generated by a Fund may be carried over indefinitely, but these losses must be used prior to the utilization of any pre-enactment capital losses. Since pre-enactment capital losses may only be carried forward for eight years there may be a greater likelihood that all or a portion of each Fund’s pre-enactment capital losses will expire unused.

For the year ended September 30, 2017 the following Funds had capital loss carryforwards:

 

Fund    Expiring in 2018    

ICON International Equity Fund

   $ 27,012,993      

For Emerging Markets Fund and the International Equity Fund, the capital loss carryovers used during the year ended September 30, 2017 were $4,083,021 and $1,685,270, respectively.

For International Equity Fund, the short-term and long-term capital losses with no expiration were $4,016,565 and $3,533,938, respectively.

For Emerging Markets Fund and the International Equity Fund, the capital losses expired on September 30, 2017 were $1,428,310 and $53,195,839, respectively.

The International Equity Fund elects to defer to the period ending September 30, 2018, capital losses recognized during the period November 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 in the amount of $403,754.

The International Equity Fund elects to defer to the period ending September 30, 2018, late year ordinary losses in the amount of $102,068.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the following reclassification, which had no impact on results of operations or net assets was recorded to reflect the tax character of the Funds net operating loss:

 

Fund    Paid-in Capital     Accumulated Net
Investment
Income/(Loss)
    Accumulated Net  
Realized
Gain/(Loss) on
Investments
 

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

   $ (1,428,310   $ (13,490   $ 1,441,800      

ICON International Equity Fund

     (53,367,818     (1,725     53,369,543      

For International Equity Fund, included in the amounts reclassified was a net operating loss offset to paid in capital of $171,981.

The Funds did not pay distributions to shareholders during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016.

As of September 30, 2017, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Fund    Undistributed
Ordinary Income
     Accumulated Capital
Gains/(Losses)
     Other Cumulative
Effect of Timing
Differences
     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Total Accumulated  
Earnings/(Deficit)
 

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

   $ 100,506      $      $      $ 1,811,966      $ 1,912,472      

ICON International Equity Fund

            (34,967,250)        (102,068)        903,934        (34,165,384)      

As of September 30, 2017, cost on investments for federal income tax purposes and the amount of net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) were as follows:

 

Fund    Gross Appreciation
(excess of value over
tax cost)
     Gross Depreciation
(excess of tax cost
over value)
    Net Appreciation/
(Depreciation) of
Foreign Currency
     Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
     Cost of Investments  
for Income Tax
Purposes
 

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

   $ 4,903,467      $ (3,092,046   $ 545      $ 1,811,966      $ 61,294,985      

ICON International Equity Fund

     3,021,005        (2,117,411     340        903,934        48,617,570      

7. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

 

In December 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-19, “Technical Corrections and Improvements.” It includes an update to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820 (“Topic 820”), Fair Value Measurement. The update to Topic 820 clarifies the difference between a valuation approach and a valuation technique. It also requires disclosure when there has been a change in either or both a valuation approach and/or a valuation technique. The changes related to Topic 820 are effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU to the financial statements.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds   

Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm

  

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of

ICON Funds

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of the ICON Emerging Markets Fund and ICON International Fund (the “Funds”), each a series of ICON Funds, as of September 30, 2017, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. The Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights for the years ended September 30, 2015 and prior, were audited by other auditors, whose report dated November 18, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2017, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers or counterparties were not received. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of September 30, 2017, the results of their operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in their net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

LOGO

COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.

Cleveland, Ohio

November 22, 2017

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Disclosure of Fund Expenses
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Example

As a shareholder of a Fund you may pay two types of fees: transaction fees and fund-related fees. Certain funds charge transaction fees, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees. Funds also incur various ongoing expenses, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses, which are indirectly paid by shareholders.

This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the various ICON Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. This Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the six-month period (4/01/17 – 9/30/17).

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table for each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. The Example includes, but is not limited to, management fees, 12b-1 fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees. However, the Example does not include client specific fees, such as the $15 fee charged to IRA accounts, or the $15 fee charged for wire redemptions. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line for each Fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table for each Fund 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. 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), redemption fees, or exchange fees that may be charged by other funds. Therefore, this information is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

      Beginning Account
Value
April 1, 2017
     Ending Account
Value
September 30, 2017
     Expense Ratio(a)   

Expenses Paid

During period
April 1, 2017 -
September 30, 2017(b)

 

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

           

Class S

           

Actual

     $  1,000.00        $  1,053.70      1.55%      $ 7.98        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $  1,000.00        $  1,017.30      1.55%      $ 7.84        

Class A

           

Actual

     $  1,000.00        $  1,052.70      1.80%      $ 9.26        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $  1,000.00        $  1,016.04      1.80%      $ 9.10        

ICON International Equity Fund

           

Class S

           

Actual

     $  1,000.00        $  1,059.50      1.55%      $ 8.00        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $  1,000.00        $  1,017.30      1.55%      $ 7.84        

Class C

           

Actual

     $  1,000.00        $  1,053.40      2.55%      $13.13        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $  1,000.00        $  1,012.28      2.55%      $12.86        

Class A

           

Actual

     $  1,000.00        $  1,058.10      1.80%      $ 9.29        

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $  1,000.00        $  1,016.04      1.80%      $ 9.10        

 

(a) 

The Fund’s expense ratios have been annualized based on the Fund’s most recent fiscal half-year expenses.

(b) 

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year 183/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

Total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included (maximum 5.75%), returns would be lower.

 

 
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ICON International Funds    Board of Trustees and Fund Officers
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

The ICON Funds Board of Trustees (the “Board”) consists of four Trustees who oversee the 17 ICON Funds (the “Funds”). The Board is responsible for general oversight of the Funds’ business and for assuring that the Funds are managed in the best interest of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trustees, and their ages, and principal occupations are set forth below. The address of the Trustees is 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 1200, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Trustees have no official term of office and generally serve until they resign or are not re-elected.

Interested Trustee

Craig T. Callahan, 66. Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (2014 to present and 1998 to 2013) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers, Inc. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of ICO Distributors, Inc. Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

Independent Trustees

Glen F. Bergert, 67. Mr. Bergert has been a Trustee of the Funds since 1999. Mr. Bergert is President of Venture Capital Management LLC (1997 to present), General Partner of SOGNO Partners LP, a venture capital company (2001 to 2015), General Partner of Bergert Properties, LLP, a real estate holding company (1997 to present), General Partner of Pyramid Real Estate Partnership, a real estate development company (1998 to present), General Partner of Chamois Partners, LP, a venture capital company (2004 to present) and was previously a General Partner with KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP (1979 to 1997). Mr. Bergert is also a Director of Delta Dental of California (2013 to present and 2006 to 2012), Delta Dental of Pennsylvania (2010 to present and 1998 to 2009), Delta Reinsurance Corporation (2015 to present; 2011 to 2014 and 2000 to 2009) and Dentegra Group, Inc. (2017 to present; 2010 to 2014).

John C. Pomeroy, Jr., 70. Mr. Pomeroy has been a Trustee of the Funds since 2002. Mr. Pomeroy is Chief Investment Officer and Director of Investments, Pennsylvania State University (2001 to present) and was Portfolio Manager and Product Manager, Trinity Investment Management Corporation (1989 to 2001).

R. Michael Sentel, 69. Mr. Sentel has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Mr. Sentel is a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education (1996 to present) and was engaged in private practice of securities and corporate law (1981 to 2017). Mr. Sentel began his legal career with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement and served as a Branch Chief (1980 to 1981). Later he served as the Section Chief for the Professional Liability Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. with responsibility for the Rocky Mountain Region (1991 to 1994).

Mark Manassee, 52. Mr. Manassee has been a Trustee of the Funds since 2017. Mr. Manassee is a Senior Advisor to McKinsey’s Wealth and Asset Management Practice. Mr. Manassee was Principal and President of Market Metrics, LLC, a subsidiary of FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (1998 to 2016). Mr. Manassee was also a Director of Matrix-Data, Ltd (UK) (2013 to 2016) and Rhetorik, Ltd (UK) (2013 to 2016).

The Officers of the Funds are:

Craig T. Callahan, 66. Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (2014 to present and 1998 to 2013) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers, Inc. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of ICO Distributors, Inc. Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

Donald Salcito, 64. Mr. Salcito serves as Vice President and Secretary of the Funds (2006 to present). Mr. Salcito is also Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2005 to present) of ICON Advisers, Inc.; Director of IM&R (2005 to present); Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel of ICON Distributors, Inc. (2005 to 2017). Previously, he was a Partner in various national law firms, practicing in the securities law area (1980 to 2005).

Brian D. Harding, 38. Mr. Harding serves as Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Harding is also Chief Financial Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2013 to present) and Director and IM&R (2013 to present). Previously he was Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the Funds (2008 to 2013), Chief Compliance Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2011 to 2013), and Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2001 to 2008).

Jack M. Quillin, 45. Mr. Quillin serves as Assistant Treasurer of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Quillin is also a Compliance and Fund Accounting Associate of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2016 to present). Previously, he was a compliance analyst at Marsico Capital Management, LLC (2011 to 2015), an assistant vice president in the municipal derivatives finance department at Merrill Lynch (2004 to 2008), and a senior accountant in the Regulatory Reporting group at Wells Fargo & Company (1998 to 2003).

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Board of Trustees and Fund Officers
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Christopher R. Ambruso, 37. Mr. Ambruso serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer (2017 to present) of the Funds. Mr. Ambruso is also Chief Compliance Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2017 to present). Previously he served as Assistant Secretary (2016 to 2017 and 2008 to 2012) of the Funds and Associate Counsel (2013 to 2017); Associate Attorney (2008 to 2013); and Staff Attorney (2007 to 2008) of ICON Advisers, Inc.

Stephen E. Abrams, 54. Mr. Abrams serves as Assistant Secretary of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Abrams is also Associate General Counsel of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2005 to present); Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2017 to present) and Chief Compliance Officer (2007 to present) of ICON Distributors, Inc. Previously, he worked as an Associate Attorney before becoming a Partner at a national law firm, practicing general litigation and securities law (1994 to 2005).

 

 
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ICON International Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Renewal of Investment Advisory Agreement

On August 25, 2017, the Board of Trustees, including all of the Trustees that are not “interested persons” of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”), approved continuation of the Advisory Agreements (as defined below) with the Adviser for each Fund for an additional one-year term commencing October 1, 2017.

In determining to renew the investment advisory agreements between ICON Funds (the “Trust”) and ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON” or the “Adviser”) the Trustees requested, were provided with and reviewed data with respect to the Adviser, its personnel, and the services provided and to be provided to each Fund by the Adviser under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated October 9, 1996, as amended (related to the Sector Funds, the International Funds and ICON Fund) and under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated July 9, 2002 and effective October 1, 2002, as amended (related to the U.S. Diversified Funds — Bond, Risk-Managed Balanced, Equity Income, Opportunities and Long/Short Funds) (collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”).

The Trustees agreed that consideration of the Advisory Agreements should also include consideration of other agreements between the Adviser and the Trust that impact provisions of the Advisory Agreements, including expense limitation agreements as amended effective January and July, 2016. The Trustees were provided with and reviewed data with respect to the Adviser, its personnel, and the services provided and to be provided to each Fund by the Adviser under the Trust’s Advisory Agreements, Administrative Services Agreement and Expense Limitation Agreement and the Distribution Agreement with ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI”). The data included information concerning advisory, distribution and administrative services provided to the Funds by ICON and its related companies; information concerning other businesses of those companies; and comparative data obtained from Broadridge Financial Solutions (“Broadridge”) related to Fund performance and Fund expenses (the “Broadridge Report”).

The Board convened a meeting with Broadridge on August 11, 2017 to discuss the Broadridge Report and the information contained within the Broadridge Report. At that meeting, Broadridge representatives discussed the findings of the Broadridge Report with the Independent Trustees. Management personnel participated in the Broadridge meeting to discuss the data with the Board. The Trustees were represented at that meeting by independent legal counsel. At the meeting, Broadridge discussed its methodology and peer selection. Broadridge addressed the difficulty of determining peer selection of some sector Funds that had no statistical group of peers from which to present reliable data, expenses and fees. In addition, Broadridge discussed the difficulty of presenting information on three Funds whose expenses were reduced after the annual report, and performance relative to the respective Funds’ peers. Broadridge also discussed the Funds’ size and how an individual fund’s size would affect economies of scale generally and operating expenses in particular. Broadridge presented no information on how expenses were affected by a fund complex size.

Also included in the 15(c) discussion was a briefing on factors affecting the ICON investment model; expenses and expense ratios of each Fund and other ICON managed products; relative performance of each Fund; status of expense reimbursements to the Funds by the Adviser; sales and marketing initiatives; specific business factors affecting the Adviser; the work load on ICON as adviser and administrator to the Funds; current profitability of ICON; staffing levels and staff morale.

The Independent Trustees were represented by independent legal counsel in the entire 15(c) process. In August, after participating in the meeting with Broadridge and management, the Independent Trustees met separately as a group in private sessions with their independent legal counsel to review and discuss a variety of qualitative and quantitative information, including information they had received throughout the year as part of their regular oversight of the Funds. Based on these discussions, independent legal counsel and/or the Lead Independent Trustee also contacted management to request additional information from Broadridge. The Board received materials from independent legal counsel discussing the legal standards applicable to their consideration of the ICON-Trust agreements.

In considering the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board reviewed information relating to ICON’s operations and personnel. Among other things, the Adviser provided biographical information on its professional staff and descriptions of its organizational and management structure. In the course of their deliberations the Board evaluated, among other things, information relating to the investment philosophy, strategies and techniques used in managing each Fund, the qualifications and experience of ICON’s investment personnel, ICON’s compliance programs, ICON’s brokerage practices, including the extent to which the Adviser obtains research through “soft dollar” arrangements with the Funds’ brokerage, compliance reports on the foregoing, and the financial and non-financial resources available to provide services required under the Advisory Agreement.

Management and the Trustees discussed the Broadridge Report and management personnel showed performance for each Fund and discussed the factors affecting performance.

During the discussion on performance, Management personnel noted the importance of advisory fees in total. The novelty and uniqueness of ICON’s management style (specifically, the fact that it is market-cap agnostic, its willingness to actively manage for performance based on active share without adhering strictly to benchmark holdings, the fact that it is a value manager that considers forward looking earnings) must be evaluated when comparing management fees.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

In connection with reviewing data bearing upon the nature, quality, and extent of services furnished by ICON to each Fund, the Board assessed data concerning ICON’s staffing, systems and facilities. The Board also assessed ICON’s non-Trust business to see if there are any initiatives that would dilute service to the Trust. The Board concluded:

 

  A.

That the breadth and the quality of investment advisory and other services being provided to each Fund are satisfactory;

 

  B.

That ICON has made significant expenditures in the past year and in prior years to ensure that the Trust has the right product mix for the market and the Adviser has the sophisticated systems and highly trained personnel necessary for it to be able to continue to provide quality service to the Funds’ shareholders;

 

  C.

That the Board is satisfied with the research, portfolio management, and trading services, among others, being provided by ICON to the Trust, and has determined that ICON is charging fair and reasonable fees.

 

  D.

The risks assumed by ICON in providing investment advisory services to each Fund including the capital commitments which have been made in the past and which continue to be made by ICON to ensure the continuation of the highest quality of service to the Trust is made with the recognition that the Trust’s advisory relationship with ICON can be terminated at any time and must be renewed on an annual basis.

In considering the reasonableness of the fees paid to the Adviser for managing each Fund, the Board reviewed, among other things, data concerning other funds from the Broadridge Report, financial statements of the Adviser and an analysis of the profitability of the Adviser, and its affiliates, and their relationship with each Fund over various time periods. Such analysis identified all revenues and other benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates from managing each Fund, the costs associated with providing such services and the resulting profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates and a comparison of similar data from reports filed by publicly traded firms.

The Board assessed actual (net) fees for advisory services and Fund expense ratios under the contractual relationship (the Advisory agreements, the Administration Agreement and the Expense Limitation Agreements) with the Adviser as opposed to the fees specified in the applicable Advisory Agreement and expense ratios without application of the expense limitations and the low cost of the Administration Agreement. The Board concluded that the focus should be on actual expense ratios after application of the Expense Limitation Agreements.

The Board considered the current and anticipated asset levels of each Fund and the contractual commitments of the Adviser to waive fees and pay expenses of the Funds from time to time to limit the total expenses of the Funds. The Board also considered the Adviser’s contractual commitment regarding administration and the fact it would continue to lose money on administration. In this regard the Board discussed asset levels in each Fund covered by the Advisory Agreements. ICON’s ability to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements was assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. Fund expenses and expense ratios were also assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the resources necessary to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements; that profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Funds, and services provided to the Funds, is not excessive; and that the Adviser is not realizing benefits from economies of scale that would warrant adjustments to the fees for any Fund at this time. The Board of Trustees concluded that, in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and the levels of profitability associated with providing these services, the fees charged by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreements to each Fund are reasonable.

In connection with assessing data bearing on the fairness of fee arrangements, the Board considered the Broadridge Report, information they had received throughout the year as part of their regular oversight of the Funds (including Morningstar data on peer groupings), and information from independent broker/dealers evaluating fees for platform sales. It was noted that Broadridge was selected at the May 2017 Board meeting to prepare its reports, an extensive analysis of the expense data of other comparable funds; and that Trustee input was solicited and provided in the process. Among other information discussed, it was noted that:

 

  A.

Upon review of the advisory fee structures of each Fund (taking into consideration management fees and breakpoint fees), the level of investment advisory fees paid by each Fund is within competitive ranges for the size of each Fund and Fund mandate;

 

  B.

The expense ratio of each Fund is generally reasonable and understandable in light of the existing Fund Trust structure and Fund performance;

 

  C.

ICON has contractually agreed to impose expense limitations on all Funds at a cost to ICON and is considering new expense limitations;

 

  D.

The advisory and other fees payable by the Funds to ICON are essentially fees which would be similar to those which would have resulted solely from “arm’s-length” bargaining.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  E.

The fees paid to ICON for managing other institutional accounts (such as individual or sub-advised portfolios) are lower, but there are good reasons such accounts are less costly for ICON to manage, including, but not limited to, the level of work needed to service the institutional portfolios and the size and stability of such institutional accounts.

 

  F.

The extent to which economies of scale could be realized as a Fund grows in assets and whether the Fund’s fees reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of Fund shareholders.

 

  G.

The costs borne by ICON in providing advisory services to each Fund and the profitability of ICON in light of the estimated profitability analysis which had been provided by ICON.

The Board also considered the fees charged by the Adviser to other advisory clients, including institutional and sub-advised clients as outlined in its Registration Application on Form ADV in connection with assessing data bearing on the fairness of fee arrangements.

The Board concluded the Adviser is providing the Funds with professional management at a price that would have been arrived at in an arm’s length negotiation.

In connection with assessing the direct and indirect benefits to ICON from serving as the Funds’ adviser, the Board discussed services provided under the Distribution Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement which are in addition to services under the Advisory Agreements. It was noted that ICON benefits from serving directly or through affiliates as the principal underwriter and administrative agent for the Funds. The services provided by ICON and its affiliates to the Funds are reasonably satisfactory, and the profits derived from providing the services are competitive and reasonable. It was further noted that ICON receives research assistance from the use of soft dollars generated from Fund portfolio transactions. The Trustees noted that such research assists ICON in providing quality investment advisory services to the Funds as well as other accounts to which it provides advisory services.

Based on all these considerations and other data as discussed above, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that: 1) the continuation of the Advisory Agreements was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders, 2) the services to be performed under the Advisory Agreements were required for the operation of the Funds, 3) the advisory services were satisfactory to the Funds in the past, and 4) the fees for the advisory services and other benefits from the relationship with the Trust received by ICON, and its affiliates, were within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s length in light of all the circumstances.

Supplemental Tax Information

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code the following Funds designate the amounts listed below as long-term capital gain dividends:

 

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

   $ 0  

ICON International Equity Fund

   $ 0  

The following Funds designate the percentages listed below of the income dividends distributed in 2016 as qualified dividend income (QDI) as defined in Section 1(h)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code:

 

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

     0.00

ICON International Equity Fund

     0.00

The following Funds designate the percentages listed below of the income dividends distributed in 2016 as qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction (DRD) as defined in Section 854(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code:

 

ICON Emerging Markets Fund

     0.00

ICON International Equity Fund

     0.00

Pursuant to §853 of the Internal Revenue Code, the ICON Emerging Markets Fund designates the following amounts as foreign taxes paid for the current fiscal year. Foreign taxes paid for purposes of §853 may be less than actual foreign taxes paid for financial statement purposes.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    41


Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Creditable Foreign Taxes Paid

$184,101

Portion of Ordinary Income Distribution derived from Foreign Sourced Income*

99.77%

 

*

The Fund has not derived any income from ineligible foreign sources as defined under §901(j) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Foreign taxes paid or withheld should be included in taxable income with an offsetting deduction from gross income or as a credit for taxes paid to foreign governments.

Above figures may differ from those cited elsewhere in this report due to differences in the calculation of income and gains under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (book) purposes and Internal Revenue Service (tax) purposes.

Portfolio Holdings

Information related to the 10 largest portfolio holdings of each Fund is made available at www.iconfunds.com within approximately 10 business days after month-end. Additionally, a complete list of each Fund’s holdings is made available approximately 30 days after month-end. Each ICON Fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on Form N-Q. The ICON Funds’ Forms N-Q are available at www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

Proxy Voting

A summarized description of the policies and procedures the ICON Funds use to vote proxies is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442.

Information about how the ICON Funds voted proxies related to each Fund’s portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

For More Information

This report is for the general information of the Funds’ shareholders and is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. You may obtain a copy of the prospectus, which contains information about the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and share classes of each ICON Fund, by visiting www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

ICON Distributors, Inc., Distributor.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Privacy Policy
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

  FACTS

 

WHAT DOES ICON DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

  Why?

  Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

  What?

  The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:
 

•      Social Security number and account balances

 

•      income and transaction history

 

•      checking account information and wire transfer instructions

    When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

  How?

  All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons ICON chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

  Reasons we can share your personal information

        Does ICON share?    Can you limit this sharing?
 

For our everyday business purposes — such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

        Yes    No
 

For our marketing purposes — to offer our products and services to you

        No    We don’t share
 

For joint marketing with other financial companies

        No    We don’t share
 

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your transactions and experiences

        No    We don’t share
 

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness

        No    We don’t share
 

For nonaffiliates to market to you

        No    We don’t share

 

  Questions?

   Call 1-800-764-0442 for the ICON Funds and 1-800-828-4881 for ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    43


Table of Contents
ICON International Funds    Privacy Policy
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  Who We Are
 
  Who is providing this notice?   ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc. (collectively “ICON”)
  What We Do
 

  How does ICON protect my

  personal information?

  To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
 
  Contracts with our service providers require them to restrict access to your non-public personal information, and to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards against unintended disclosure.
   

  How does ICON collect my

  personal information?

  We collect your personal information, for example, when you
 
 

•      open an account or enter into an investment advisory contract

 

•      provide account information or give us your contact information

 

•      make a wire transfer

 
  We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.
   
  Why can’t I limit all sharing?   Federal law gives you the right to limit only
 
 

•      sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness

 

•      affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

•      sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 
    State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.
  Definitions
 
  Affiliates   Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
 
   

•      Our affiliates include financial companies such as ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc.

 
  Nonaffiliates   Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
 
   

•      Nonaffiliates we share with can include financial companies such as custodians, transfer agents, registered representatives, financial advisers and nonfinancial companies such as fulfillment, proxy voting, and class action service providers

 
  Joint marketing   A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.
 
   

•      ICON doesn’t jointly market

 

 
44    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents

LOGO

For more information about the ICON Funds, contact us:

 

By Telephone

  

1-800-764-0442

By E-Mail

  

info@iconadvisers.com

By Mail

  

ICON Funds | P.O. Box 1920 | Denver, CO 80201

In Person

  

ICON Funds | 5299 DTC Boulevard, 12th Floor

  

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

On the Internet

  

www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents

LOGO

        ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

        ICON Consumer Staples Fund

        ICON Energy Fund

        ICON Financial Fund

        ICON Healthcare Fund

        ICON Industrials Fund

        ICON Information Technology Fund

        ICON Natural Resources Fund

        ICON Utilities Fund


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

You can now sign up for electronic delivery of ICON Fund shareholder reports, including prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports and proxy statements.

 

When these materials are available, you will receive an email from ICON with instructions on how to view the documents. Statements, transaction confirmations and other documents that are not available online will continue to be sent to you by U.S. mail.

 

Visit ICON’s website at www.iconfunds.com to learn more and sign up.

 

You may change or cancel your participation in eDelivery by visiting www.iconfunds.com, or you can request a hard copy of any of the materials free of charge by calling ICON Funds at 1-800-764-0442.

 

 

  

1-800-764-0442

 

 

    

 

  

www.iconfunds.com

 

  

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

About This Report (Unaudited)

     2  

Management Overview (Unaudited) and Schedules of Investments

  

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

     3  

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

     7  

ICON Energy Fund

     11  

ICON Financial Fund

     14  

ICON Healthcare Fund

     18  

ICON Industrials Fund

     21  

ICON Information Technology Fund

     24  

ICON Natural Resources Fund

     28  

ICON Utilities Fund

     32  

Financial Statements

     36  

Financial Highlights

     48  

Notes to Financial Statements

     68  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     82  

Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)

     83  

Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (Unaudited)

     86  

Additional Information (Unaudited)

     88  

Privacy Policy

     93  


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    About This Report
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Historical Returns

All total returns mentioned in this Report account for the change in a Fund’s per-share price and the reinvestment of any dividends, capital gain distributions and adjustments for financial statement purposes. If your account is set up to receive Fund distributions in cash rather than to reinvest them, your actual return may differ from these figures. The Funds’ performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. The Adviser may have reimbursed certain fees or expenses of some of the Funds. If not for these reimbursements, performance would have been lower. Fund results shown, unless otherwise indicated, are at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, results would have been lower.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance results represent past performance, and current performance may be higher or lower. Please call 1-800-764-0442 or visit www.iconfunds.com for performance results current to the most recent month-end.

Portfolio Data

This Report reflects ICON’s portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2017, the end of the reporting period. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any sector, industry, security or the Funds.

There are risks associated with mutual fund investing, including the loss of principal. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results.

An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment. Investments in foreign securities may entail unique risks, including political, market, and currency risks. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, do not exist in foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. The ICON system relies on the integrity of the financial statements released to the market as part of our analysis.

The prospectus and statement of additional information contain this and other information about the Funds and are available by visiting www.iconfunds.com or calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus and statement of additional information carefully.

Financial Intermediary

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may influence the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund Perform relative to its benchmark?

A.

The ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund Class S (the Fund) returned 8.93% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, while the benchmark S&P Composite 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index rose 14.62%. The broad market S&P Composite 1500 Index returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors influenced the Fund’s relative performance during the period?

A.

The broad equity market began the past fiscal year with losses, as investors became increasingly concerned with matters surrounding the United States presidential election in November and the implied influences it may have had on capital markets. These worries quickly abated, however, as equities began a nearly uninterrupted rally after Election Day, ending the fiscal year at all-time highs on many market indexes. As equity prices rose, our methodology saw value deteriorate in the Consumer Discretionary sector for much of the year, suggesting the sector as a whole was overpriced. In response, the Fund held a cash position for defensive purposes, which ultimately detracted from relative returns during the strong market move throughout the year.

 

  

Other factors that influenced the Fund’s relative performance included competitive pressures from online retailers, changing trends in media consumption, and a strong housing market. As internet retail continued to grow and take market share away from traditional bricks-and-mortar sources, investors’ preferences for internet retail shifted in concert. Our valuation system ultimately favored more of the traditional bricks-and-mortar companies, which in turn, detracted from the Fund’s relative returns. The evolution of media consumption towards internet streaming providers continued for the year, ultimately aiding Netflix, Inc. While this company saw strong gains and an increase in its benchmark weight, our valuation system favored other companies which did not perform as well. On the positive side, aided by a resilient US economy, the housing market experienced a robust year. The Fund held an overweight position to the homebuilding industry throughout the year, which helped offset the impact of the Fund’s underperforming holdings.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s Composition affect performance?

A.

Homebuilding was the greatest contributor to the Fund’s relative performance on an industry level during fiscal year 2017. Rising home values buoyed earnings in this industry, and names such as Installed Building Products, Inc. and LGI Homes, Inc. contributed to the Fund’s performance. The apparel retail industry was another positive Fund contributor. This industry suffered losses over the year, though the Fund was able to outperform the benchmark in this industry because of strong stock selection, including significant positions in TJX Cos., Inc. and Foot Locker, Inc. The movies & entertainment industry was another positive contributor, as Walt Disney Co. and Time Warner, Inc. contributed positively to the Fund’s performance.

 

  

The housewares & specialties industry was the Fund’s largest detractor to relative performance, as Newell Brands, Inc. suffered losses over the period. The automotive retail industry also adversely impacted the Fund, as O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. and AutoZone, Inc. failed to perform as anticipated. Finally, the Fund’s lack of exposure to Amazon.com Inc., which posted large returns, ultimately contributed negatively to the performance of the Fund relative to the benchmark. The Fund held a cash position throughout the year for defensive reasons as our system suggested the Consumer Discretionary sector was generally overvalued. Our defensive positioning proved detrimental to Fund performance, however, because equities within the sector showed resilience during this bull market.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Consumer Discretionary sector?

A.

At the close of the fiscal year, our model indicates the Consumer Discretionary sector has a value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.00. In other words, we believe stocks in the Consumer Discretionary sector are trading at fair value and offer no upside on the broad sector level. Drilling down to the industry level, however, we currently see bargains in the tires & rubber and homebuilding industries. Still, over the course of the last 12-months, economic growth accelerated, unemployment fell to 10 year lows, and inflation remained subdued by historical standards. These factors could remain tailwinds for the US consumer and should benefit companies and industries in this sector of the economy. As always, we look to value as our primary guide and will adjust our positioning as market conditions dictate.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    3


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception
Date
   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund - Class S

       7/9/97        8.93 %       9.68 %       7.48 %       5.94 %       1.42 %       1.42 %

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund - Class A

       9/30/10        8.32 %       9.18 %       N/A       12.50 %       2.13 %       1.99 %

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund - Class A (including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

       9/30/10        2.06 %       7.90 %       N/A       11.56 %       2.13 %       1.99 %

S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index

            14.62 %       15.50 %       10.98 %       8.92 %       N/A       N/A

S&P Composite 1500 Index

            18.61 %       14.29 %       7.63 %       7.52 %       N/A       N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The performance of the S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index includes the reinvestment of the dividends and capital gain distributions beginning on January 1, 2002. Additional information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 7/9/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Common Stocks (93.26%)

Apparel Retail (2.15%)

TJX Cos., Inc.

     7,600      $    560,348    
     

 

Auto Parts & Equipment (6.79%)

Horizon Global Corp.(a)(b)

     36,800      649,152    

Modine Manufacturing Co.(a)

     58,200      1,120,350    
     

 

      1,769,502    
     

 

Automotive Retail (7.59%)

AutoZone, Inc.(a)

     500      297,555    

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.(a)

     7,800      1,679,886    
     

 

      1,977,441    
     

 

Broadcasting (9.05%)

CBS Corp., Class B

     16,000      928,000    

Gray Television, Inc.(a)

     18,500      290,450    

Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.(a)

     16,000      191,200    

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.,
Class A 15,200

      946,960    
     

 

      2,356,610    
     

 

Cable & Satellite (7.23%)

Comcast Corp., Class A

     48,900      1,881,672    
     

 

Casinos & Gaming (0.95%)

MGM Resorts International

     7,600      247,684    
     

 

Home Improvement Retail (2.27%)

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

     7,400      591,556    
     

 

Homebuilding (13.15%)

Century Communities, Inc.(a)

     22,500      555,750    

Installed Building Products, Inc.(a)

     15,700      1,017,360    

M/I Homes, Inc.(a)

     19,800      529,254    

PulteGroup, Inc.

     21,000      573,930    

TopBuild Corp.(a)

     11,500      749,455    
     

 

      3,425,749    
     

 

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines (5.01%)

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

     4,300      274,770    

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.(a)

     9,600      518,880    

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

     4,300      509,722    
     

 

      1,303,372    
     

 

Household Appliances (2.27%)

Whirlpool Corp.

     3,200      590,208    
     

 

Housewares & Specialties (7.61%)

Lifetime Brands, Inc.

     6,500      118,950    

Newell Brands, Inc.

     43,600      1,860,412    
     

 

      1,979,362    
     

 

Hypermarkets & Super Centers (0.95%)

Costco Wholesale Corp.

     1,500      246,435    
     

 

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (2.11%)

Priceline Group, Inc.(a)

     300      549,246    
     

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Movies & Entertainment (13.05%)

Time Warner, Inc.

     7,600      $    778,620    

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Class A

     29,000      765,020    

Viacom, Inc., Class B

     11,300      314,592    

Walt Disney Co.

     15,600      1,537,692    
     

 

      3,395,924    
     

 

Specialized Consumer Services (0.79%)

Liberty Tax, Inc.

     14,295      205,848    
     

 

Specialty Stores (5.38%)

Ulta Beauty, Inc.(a)

     6,200      1,401,572    
     

 

Tires & Rubber (6.91%)

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.(b)

     21,400      800,360    

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

     30,100      1,000,825    
     

 

      1,801,185    
     

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $24,216,610)

 

 

   24,283,714    
     

 

Collateral for Securities on Loan (2.27%)

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio,
7-Day Yield 1.01%

     592,080      592,080    
     

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $592,080)

 

 

   592,080    
     

 

Total Investments (95.53%)

(Cost $24,808,690)

 

 

   $24,875,794    

Other Assets Less Liabilities (4.47%)

 

   1,164,062    
     

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

 

   $26,039,856    
     

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b)  All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)        

Consumer Discretionary

     92.31

Consumer Staples

     0.95
        
         93.26
        

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    5


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)  

Homebuilding

     13.15

Movies & Entertainment

     13.05

Broadcasting

     9.05

Housewares & Specialties

     7.61

Automotive Retail

     7.59

Cable & Satellite

     7.23

Tires & Rubber

     6.91

Auto Parts & Equipment

     6.79

Specialty Stores

     5.38

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines

     5.01

Home Improvement Retail

     2.27

Household Appliances

     2.27

Apparel Retail

     2.15

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail

     2.11

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

     2.69
        
         93.26
        

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Staples Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The ICON Consumer Staples Fund (the Fund) Class S returned 6.15% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, while its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Consumer Staples Index, returned 4.36%, and the S&P Composite 1500 Index returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

After outperforming the market over the last two years, the Consumer Staples sector underperformed the overall U.S. equity market by a wide margin. As we warned last year, rising interest rates were a risk to this sector’s leadership and that appears to have taken place for this year. Consumer Staples stocks were previously sought out as “bond proxies” in a search for higher dividend yields in the low interest rate environment, oftentimes bidding stocks up to levels deemed expensive by our valuations throughout the year. In response to these low value conditions, the Fund held a cash position for defensive purposes, which detracted from relative performance as the sector experienced gains alongside the broad equity market.

 

  

Food prices experienced a deflationary environment for the year, which acted as a headwind on a number of industries within this sector. Already under pressure from shifting consumer preferences towards fresher product offerings, the packaged foods & meats industry suffered broad losses throughout the year. Nonetheless, our valuation system ultimately identified this industry as a bargain. The Fund maintained an overweight packaged foods & meats industry position, with our positions contributing to positive relative performance. In addition to food price deflation, the evolution of online retail impacted the Consumer Staples sector for the fiscal year, weakening select areas of the food & staples retailing industry group. While the Fund had exposure to the food & staples retailing industry, the Fund’s underweight position in this industry proved beneficial to relative performance. Finally, other areas of the sector, often referred to as “sin stocks”, including the distillers & vintners and tobacco industries, proved resilient to shifting consumer tastes and pricing pressures. The Fund’s holdings in these industries also contributed positively to relative returns for the year.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

Packaged foods & meats was the greatest contributor to the Fund’s performance on an industry level during fiscal year 2017. The Fund was able to outperform the benchmark in this industry with overweight positions in strong performing Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. and Tyson Foods, Inc. The distillers & vintners industry was another positive contributor as Constellation Brands, Inc. was a standout performer that contributed positively to the Fund.

 

  

Newell Brands, Inc., a housewares & specialties company, was the Fund’s largest detractor, as the company experienced losses in the final quarter of the fiscal year. Additionally, the brewers industry detracted from relative performance as Molson Coors Brewing Co. suffered losses. Finally, because our system suggested the Consumer Staples sector was generally overvalued, we held a cash position during the year for defensive purposes. This cash position dragged against the Fund’s returns as the sector experienced gains for the year.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Consumer Staples sector?

A.

At the close of the fiscal year, our model indicates the Consumer Staples sector has an overall value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.04. In other words, we believe the fair value for stocks in the Consumer Staples sector as a whole is approximately 4% higher than where the securities are now trading. We currently see bargains in the tobacco, soft drinks, and packaged foods & meats industries. Over the course of the last 12-months, economic growth accelerated, unemployment fell to 10 year lows, and inflation remained subdued by historical standards. These factors could remain tailwinds for the U.S. consumer and should benefit companies and industries in this sector of the economy. As always, we look to value as our primary guide and will adjust our positioning as market conditions dictate.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    7


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Staples Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception
Date
   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
   Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Consumer Staples Fund - Class S

   5/9/97     6.15%   10.36%   6.96%       8.58%   1.74%      1.51%  

ICON Consumer Staples Fund - Class A

   9/30/10     5.91%   10.10%   N/A   11.36%   1.97%      1.76%  

ICON Consumer Staples Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

   9/30/10    -0.23%     8.82%   N/A   10.43%   1.97%      1.76%  

S&P 1500 Consumer Staples Index

        4.36%   11.71%   9.93%       8.17%   N/A    N/A

S&P Composite 1500 Index

      18.61%   14.29%   7.63%       7.98%   N/A    N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The performance of the S&P 1500 Consumer Staples Index includes the reinvestment of the dividends and capital gain distributions beginning on January 1, 2002. Additional information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 5/9/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
8    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Staples Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Common Stocks (98.31%)

     

Agricultural Products (2.26%)

     

Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.

     13,700      $    622,802    
     

 

Distillers & Vintners (4.42%)

     

Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A

     6,100          1,216,645    
     

 

Drug Retail (11.35%)

     

CVS Health Corp.

     17,900      1,455,628    

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

     21,600      1,667,952    
     

 

      3,123,580    
     

 

Food Distributors (7.11%)

     

Sysco Corp.

     23,100      1,246,245    

U.S. Foods Holding Corp.(a)

     26,700      712,890    
     

 

      1,959,135    
     

 

Household Products (11.89%)

     

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

     7,500      546,375    

Energizer Holdings, Inc.

     6,300      290,115    

Orchids Paper Products
Co.(b)

     10,103      142,250    

Procter & Gamble Co.

     14,200      1,291,916    

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.(b)

     9,500      1,006,240    
     

 

      3,276,896    
     

 

Housewares & Specialties (4.29%)

 

  

Newell Brands, Inc.

     27,700      1,181,959    
     

 

Hypermarkets & Super Centers (4.06%)

 

  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

     6,800      1,117,172    
     

 

Packaged Foods & Meats (32.57%)

 

  

Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc.(a)(b)

     65,500      1,856,925    

Campbell Soup Co.

     5,800      271,556    

Conagra Foods, Inc.

     8,900      300,286    

J.M. Smucker Co.

     2,600      272,818    

Kellogg Co.

     4,500      280,665    

Kraft Heinz Co.

     3,300      255,915    

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.

     16,700      783,063    

McCormick & Co., Inc.

     5,600      574,784    

Mondelez International, Inc., Class A

     33,400      1,358,044    

Omega Protein Corp.

     17,000      283,050    

Pinnacle Foods, Inc.

     12,000      686,040    

TreeHouse Foods, Inc.(a)(b)

     4,000      270,920    

Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A

     25,200      1,775,340    
     

 

      8,969,406    
     

 

Personal Products (2.25%)

     

elf Beauty, Inc.(a)(b)

     27,500      620,125    
     

 

Soft Drinks (15.66%)

     

Coca-Cola Co.

     39,000      1,755,390    

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

     2,700      238,869    

Monster Beverage Corp.(a)

     4,900      270,725    

PepsiCo, Inc.

     18,400      2,050,312    
     

 

      4,315,296    
     

 

     Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value

Tobacco (2.45%)

   

British American Tobacco PLC,
Sponsored ADR

    10,800     $    674,460    
   

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $27,177,578)

    27,077,476    
   

 

Collateral for Securities on Loan (7.30%)

 

 

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money
Market Portfolio,
7-Day Yield 1.01%

    2,009,724     2,009,724    
   

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $2,009,724)

 

 

  2,009,724    
   

 

Total Investments (105.61%)

(Cost $29,187,302)

 

 

  $29,087,200    

Liabilities Less Other Assets (-5.61%)

 

  (1,544,633)    
   

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

    $27,542,567    
   

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)        

Consumer Staples

     94.02%  

Consumer Discretionary

     4.29%  
  

 

 

 
             98.31%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    9


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Staples Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)  

Packaged Foods & Meats

     32.57%  

Soft Drinks

     15.66%  

Household Products

     11.89%  

Drug Retail

     11.35%  

Food Distributors

     7.11%  

Distillers & Vintners

     4.42%  

Housewares & Specialties

     4.29%  

Hypermarkets & Super Centers

     4.06%  

Tobacco

     2.45%  

Agricultural Products

     2.26%  

Personal Products

     2.25%  
  

 

 

 
             98.31%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

    

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Energy Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, the ICON Energy Fund (the Fund) Class S returned -0.44%, slightly outperforming its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Energy Index, which returned -0.91%. The Fund also lagged the broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

The Energy sector’s underperformance relative to the broad market reflected the uncertainty and volatility in oil prices during fiscal year 2017. From mid-November through the end of February one-month oil futures contracts measured by West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, gained around 25.7% before falling close to 22% by the last half of June. Still, and again as measured by the WTI one-month futures contract, oil prices gained 7% during the fiscal year. Natural gas experienced the same volatility as oil over the course of the year, but prices (as again measured by one-month futures contracts) rose 3.5%. Between September 30, 2016 and July 31, 2017, US oil production increased 8%. The threat of oversupply combined with continued volatility has made many investors leery of Energy.

 

  

Guided by our methodology, we were underweight certain industries within the Energy sector, including the oil & gas drilling and oil & gas equipment & services industries, which contributed positively to Fund performance Over the course of the fiscal year, overall average value-to-price (V/P) ratio for the Energy sector fell below 1.00 and we turned elsewhere for opportunities. We found value in the Utilities sector, which, with a V/P of 1.08 in early 2017, had the highest V/P of the sectors we track. The Fund’s Utilities holdings in the first quarter of 2017 allowed the Fund to perform well during this volatile timeframe. The volatility in oil, natural gas and other Energy-related commodities led to attractive valuations in the oil & gas exploration and production industry during the last quarter of the fiscal year. In response to these valuations, we sold the Utilities stocks which had served the Fund well during the first part of the year and increased our exposure to the oil & gas exploration and production industry. This increased exposure to oil & gas exploration and production helped the Fund outperform its sector-specific benchmark, although it detracted from performance relative to the broad benchmark.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

The Fund’s performance was buoyed by its underweight position in the oil & gas equipment & services industry, which returned –6.3% during the fiscal year. Although this industry comprised 15.4% of the Fund’s benchmark, the Fund on average held only 13.4% over the course of the 12-month period. Guided by our value methodology, the Fund found opportunities even within the oil & gas equipment & services industry. RPC, Inc., for example, was the single largest positive contributor to Fund performance, gaining over 48% during the fiscal year. The Fund’s Utilities sector holdings also contributed to its being able to outperform the benchmark. Over the course of the fiscal year, the Fund’s holding in the Utilities sector returned about 11.8%. National Fuel Gas Co., a gas utilities company, was one of the top contributors in this sector.

 

  

The oil & gas exploration & production industry was the largest detractor to Fund performance relative to the benchmark at the industry level. Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. was the single largest detractor to the Fund’s relative performance in this industry, as the stock dropped 57.8% over the course of the fiscal year.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Energy sector?

A.

At the end of the fiscal year, the overall V/P ratio for the Energy sector was 0.92, while the V/P ratio for the overall market was 1.00. Still, we see opportunities at the industry level in spite of the sector’s low V/P. Oil & gas exploration & production, for example, has a V/P above 1.00 and improving forward-looking earnings per share. We continue to look for stabilization in forward-looking earnings (and otherwise) within the Energy sector and will reposition the Fund as our valuation methodology dictates.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    11


Table of Contents
ICON Energy Fund    Management Overview
  

September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

     Inception
Date
  1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Energy Fund - Class S

  11/5/97   -0.44%   -2.43%   -1.19%   8.01%   1.44%   1.44%

ICON Energy Fund - Class C

  9/30/10   -1.46%   -3.45%   N/A   -0.24%   2.49%   2.49%

ICON Energy Fund - Class A

  9/30/10   -0.76%   -2.71%   N/A   0.53%   1.73%   1.73%

ICON Energy Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

  9/30/10   -6.48%   -3.86%   N/A   -0.32%   1.73%   1.73%

S&P 1500 Energy Index

    -0.91%   0.34%   0.71%   7.04%   N/A   N/A

S&P Composite 1500 Index

    18.61%   14.29%   7.63%   7.36%   N/A   N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included returns would be lower.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 11/5/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
12    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Energy Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

   Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Common Stocks (97.85%)

     

Construction & Engineering (1.91%)

MasTec, Inc.(a)

     98,600      $    4,575,040    
     

 

Integrated Oil & Gas (19.96%)

     

Chevron Corp.

     139,100      16,344,250    

Exxon Mobil Corp.

     291,800      23,921,764    

Suncor Energy, Inc.

     214,300      7,506,929    
     

 

      47,772,943    
     

 

Multi-Utilities (1.36%)

     

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

     111,200      3,248,152    
     

 

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (12.29%)

 

  

RPC, Inc.(b)

     461,900      11,450,501    

Schlumberger, Ltd.

     143,950      10,041,952    

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.

     254,800      7,916,636    
     

 

      29,409,089    
     

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (51.99%)

Antero Resources Corp.(a)

     155,800      3,100,420    

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.

     325,600      8,709,800    

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.(a)(b)

     419,100      7,179,183    

Chesapeake Energy
Corp.(a)(b)

     1,302,850      5,602,255    

Cimarex Energy Co.

     93,900      10,673,613    

Continental Resources,
Inc.(a)

     62,350      2,407,333    

Diamondback Energy,
Inc.(a)

     145,250      14,228,690    

EOG Resources, Inc.

     24,700      2,389,478    

EQT Corp.

     71,800      4,684,232    

Gulfport Energy Corp.(a)

     628,400      9,011,256    

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.(a)(b)

     483,150      6,247,130    

Matador Resources Co.(a)

     255,100      6,925,965    

Newfield Exploration Co.(a)

     327,400      9,713,958    

Parsley Energy, Inc.,
Class A(a)

     183,400      4,830,756    

Range Resources Corp.

     147,000      2,876,790    

Ring Energy, Inc.(a)

     490,800      7,111,692    

Southwestern Energy
Co.(a)

     1,031,100      6,300,021    

SRC Energy, Inc.(a)

     1,288,350      12,458,345    
     

 

      124,450,917    
     

 

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing (5.57%)

 

  

Andeavor

     63,900      6,591,285    

HollyFrontier Corp.

     187,900      6,758,763    
     

 

      13,350,048    
     

 

Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation (4.77%)

Magellan Midstream Partners LP

     74,000      5,258,440    

Teekay LNG Partners LP

     345,508      6,150,042    
      11,408,482    
     

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $227,633,718)
      234,214,671    
     

 

 

   Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value

Collateral for Securities on Loan (7.65%)

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, 7-Day Yield 1.01%

     18,303,527      $  18,303,527    
     

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $18,303,527)

      18,303,527    
     

 

Total Investments (105.50%)
(Cost $245,937,245)
      $252,518,198    
Liabilities Less Other
Assets (-5.50%)
      (13,165,827)    
     

 

Net Assets (100.00%)       $239,352,371    
     

 

 

(a)

Non-income producing security.

(b)

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

 

Energy

     94.58%  

Industrials

     1.91%  

Utilities

     1.36%  
  

 

 

 
             97.85%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     51.99%  

Integrated Oil & Gas

     19.96%  

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

     12.29%  

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

     5.57%  

Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation

     4.77%  

Construction & Engineering

     1.91%  

Multi-Utilities

     1.36%  
  

 

 

 
             97.85%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    13


Table of Contents
ICON Financial Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The ICON Financial Fund (the Fund) Class S returned 30.96% for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, lagging its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Financials Index, which returned 35.21%. The Fund outperformed its broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

In the wake of the presidential election, markets surged as many investors anticipated an administration that would be aggressively pro-growth and infrastructure-oriented. The Financials sector was a beneficiary of this “Trump trade” and investors welcomed an environment they believed would see a rise in interest rates and a reduction in banking and other financial regulations. While the regulatory environment remains uncertain, the 10 year U.S. Treasury Note, which is particularly influential in loan rates commercial banks charge their customers, went from 1.86% the day before the election to over 2.50% a month later, before declining to 2.33% by fiscal year end. . Rising interest rates and the potential for a more finance- and banking-friendly regulatory environment contributed to gains in the diversified banks industry, which was the second best performing industry in the Financials sector over the fiscal year. We held within the limits permitted by law, but were unable to capitalize on the considerable value we saw in the diversified banks industry because we could not legally increase the Fund’s exposure. Favorable valuations also led us to holdings in the consumer finance industry, which likewise contributed positively to Fund performance. Insurance companies continue to face challenges with claims filed in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in August. We were overweight the property & casualty insurance and multi-line insurance industries and the Fund was negatively impacted by as a result of the storms.

 

    

The leadership in the Financials sector made sense to us given its value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.35 at the start of the fiscal year – the highest V/P (suggesting the highest potential upside) among all the sectors we track.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

The Fund benefitted from its holdings in the financial exchanges & data industry. Over the course of the fiscal year, MSCI, Inc., a provider of financial indices and portfolio analysis tools, returned around 46% within the Fund. Additional gains came from the Fund’s holdings in the life & health insurance industry.

 

    

The biggest detractor to Fund performance relative to the benchmark was the Fund’s exposure to the property & casualty insurance industry. The Fund’s positions in this industry fell over 8% during the course of the fiscal year while the S&P 1500 Property & Casualty Insurance Industry Index gained almost 1%. Much of this underperformance can be explained by the Fund’s holding AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (AFSI), which fell over 19% on February 22, 2017, on the announcement that it had identified “material weaknesses in [its] internal control over financial reporting.” AFSI’s stock price fell again when the company delayed reporting its earnings less than a month later. The Fund’s cash position, though small, likewise had a negative impact.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Financials sector?

A.

As of September 30, 2017, the Financials sector has a V/P ratio of 1.13, suggesting considerable upside potential, while ICON’s overall market V/P stands at 1.00. We see several bargains at the industry level. By way of example, we are overweight the thrifts & diversified banks industry, which has a V/P of 1.41 at fiscal year end. As always, and guided by value, we will continue to look for opportunities in the Financials sector.

 

 
14    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Financial Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

      Inception
Date
   1 Year    5 Years    10 Years    Since
Inception
   Gross Expense
Ratio*
   Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Financial Fund - Class S

   7/1/97    30.96%    11.54%    -1.08%    4.53%    1.56%    1.56%

ICON Financial Fund - Class A

   9/30/10    30.68%    11.21%    N/A    9.23%    2.28%    1.91%

ICON Financial Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

   9/30/10    23.05%    9.87%    N/A    8.29%    2.28%    1.91%

S&P 1500 Financials Index

      35.21%    17.47%    2.10%    5.56%    N/A    N/A

S&P Composite 1500 Index

      18.61%    14.29%    7.63%    7.61%    N/A    N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 7/1/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    15


Table of Contents
ICON Financial Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Common Stocks (98.63%)

     

Asset Management & Custody Banks (6.26%)

 

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

     5,600      $ 831,656      

Financial Engines, Inc.

     23,800        827,050      

State Street Corp.

     9,600        917,184      
     

 

 

 
        2,575,890      
     

 

 

 

Consumer Finance (7.58%)

 

Ally Financial, Inc.

     34,100        827,266      

American Express Co.

     12,400        1,121,704      

Discover Financial Services

     18,200        1,173,536      
     

 

 

 
        3,122,506      
     

 

 

 

Diversified Banks (36.64%)

 

Bank of America Corp.

     156,200        3,958,108      

Citigroup, Inc.

     46,300        3,367,862      

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     43,300        4,135,583      

U.S. Bancorp

     27,600        1,479,084      

Wells Fargo & Co.

     39,000        2,150,850      
     

 

 

 
        15,091,487      
     

 

 

 

Financial Exchanges & Data (1.96%)

 

MSCI, Inc.

     6,900        806,610      
     

 

 

 

Investment Banking & Brokerage (7.47%)

 

BGC Partners, Inc.,
Class A

     36,200        523,814      

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     5,600        1,328,264      

Morgan Stanley

     25,500        1,228,335      
     

 

 

 
        3,080,413      
     

 

 

 

Life & Health Insurance (4.56%)

 

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

     29,000        676,860      

Prudential Financial, Inc.

     5,100        542,232      

Sun Life Financial, Inc.

     16,500        657,030      
     

 

 

 
        1,876,122      
     

 

 

 

Multi-line Insurance (3.49%)

 

American International Group, Inc.

     23,400        1,436,526      
     

 

 

 

Other Diversified Financial Services (2.24%)

 

Voya Financial, Inc.

     23,100        921,459      
     

 

 

 

Property & Casualty Insurance (5.20%)

 

  

Stewart Information Services Corp.

     10,900        411,584      

United Insurance Holdings Corp.

     57,400        935,620      

XL Group, Ltd.

     20,200        796,890      
     

 

 

 
        2,144,094      
     

 

 

 

Regional Banks (16.75%)

 

Bank of the Ozarks, Inc.

     17,500        840,875      

Comerica, Inc.

     13,300        1,014,258      

Fifth Third Bancorp

     32,600        912,148      

First Commonwealth Financial Corp.

     56,800        802,584      

First Horizon National
Corp.

     24,000        459,600      

First Midwest Bancorp,
Inc.

     46,200        1,082,004      

KeyCorp

     57,100        1,074,622      
      Shares or
Principal
Amount
     Value  

Regional Banks (continued)

 

  

Webster Financial Corp.

     13,600      $ 714,680      
     

 

 

 
        6,900,771      
     

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (6.48%)

 

BofI Holding, Inc.(a)(b)

     17,500        498,225      

Essent Group, Ltd.(a)

     26,800        1,085,400      

HomeStreet, Inc.(a)

     20,000        540,000      

Radian Group, Inc.

     29,300        547,617      
     

 

 

 
        2,671,242      
     

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $33,648,452)

        40,627,120      
     

 

 

 

Collateral for Securities on Loan (1.24%)

 

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, 7-Day Yield 1.01%

     511,875        511,875      
     

 

 

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $511,875)

 

 

     511,875      
     

 

 

 

Total Investments (99.87%)

(Cost $34,160,327)

      $ 41,138,995      

Other Assets Less Liabilities (0.13%)

 

     52,178      
     

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

      $ 41,191,173      
     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b)

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)        
Financial              98.63%  
  

 

 

 
             98.63%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

16    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Financial Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)  

Diversified Banks

     36.64%  

Regional Banks

     16.75%  

Consumer Finance

     7.58%  

Investment Banking & Brokerage

     7.47%  

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

     6.48%  

Asset Management & Custody Banks

     6.26%  

Property & Casualty Insurance

     5.20%  

Life & Health Insurance

     4.56%  

Multi-line Insurance

     3.49%  

Other Diversified Financial Services

     2.24%  

Financial Exchanges & Data

     1.96%  
  

 

 

 
             98.63%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

    

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    17


Table of Contents
ICON Healthcare Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The ICON Healthcare Fund Class S (the Fund) returned 11.94% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, under-performing its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Health Care Index, which returned 15.94%, and under-performing its broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

The broad equity market began the past fiscal year with losses, as investors became increasingly concerned with matters surrounding the United States presidential election in November and the implied influences it may have had on capital markets. These worries quickly abated, however, as equities began a nearly uninterrupted rally after Election Day, ending the fiscal year at all-time highs on many market indexes. The Health Care sector showed modest upside to our estimation of fair value for most of the year, oscillating between periods of overvaluation and undervaluation according to the ICON methodology. During these periods of low valuation readings, the Fund held a cash position for defensive purposes, which detracted from relative returns as the Health Care sector moved higher.

The Health Care sector dealt with a number of its own unique challenges, although most are not new and have been points of concern with investors for many years. The pharmaceuticals industry faced increased scrutiny from the incoming presidential administration, citing issues related to drug pricing. Our valuation system favored this industry, particularly those smaller companies focusing on specialty or generic drugs. Those companies ultimately saw losses throughout the year as concerns about future earnings growth and balance sheet health weighed on these shares, ultimately detracting from relative performance.

Generic pricing pressures also affected the health care distributor industry, as a deflationary environment weighed on earnings and investor sentiment. This industry was the worst performing group in the Health Care sector for this year, and provided positive relative performance as The Fund was able to avoid these losses by maintaining an underweight position.

The sector has also dealt with implications of the potential repeal or replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Despite multiple failed attempts by Congress to pass new legislation, the possibility for broad change looms over the sector. While the public health insurance exchanges have floundered, companies in the managed health care industry have been the ultimate near-term beneficiaries. Managed health care was the sector’s highest performing industry. We saw better value in the pharmaceuticals industry, however, which ultimately led to the Fund’s holding an underweight position in managed health care for much of the year, detracting from relative performance.

 

Q.

What were the Fund’s greatest contributors/detractors?

A.

Health care services was the greatest contributor to the Fund’s performance relative to the benchmark during the fiscal year, as performance was buoyed by individual stock selection within the industry. BioTelemetry, Inc. was the primary contributor, posting high returns while the industry as a whole suffered losses. Additionally, the health care equipment industry was a positive contributor to the Fund’s relative performance, with companies like Cutera, Inc. and Boston Scientific Corp. providing gains to this industry’s returns.

The pharmaceutical industry was the Fund’s largest detractor to relative performance. Specifically, stock selection associated with the specialty and generic pharmaceutical companies within the industry had a negative effect on performance as Mallinckrodt PLC, Endo International PLC, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., and Mylan NV detracted from relative returns. Additionally, and as previously noted, the managed health care industry was a detractor from relative performance as the Fund was underweight this strong performing industry in favor of opportunities in the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industries for the year.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Health Care sector?

A.

After positive returns for most of the past fiscal year, the Health Care sector has an overall average value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.02 according to our methodology. In other words, and generally speaking, we believe stocks in the Health Care sector are worth approximately 2% more than where they are currently trading. We currently see modest value across much of the sector, most notably in the pharmaceuticals and managed health care industries. Overall, innovation, strategic execution, and mergers and acquisitions activity continue to shape this sector’s ever-changing landscape. As always, we look to value as our primary guide and will adjust our positioning as market conditions dictate.

 

 
18    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Healthcare Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

     Inception
Date
    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Healthcare Fund - Class S

    2/24/97     11.94%   16.20%     9.01%   10.53%   1.44%   1.44%

ICON Healthcare Fund - Class A

    9/30/10     11.58%   15.79%   N/A   16.34%   1.79%   1.75%

ICON Healthcare Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

    9/30/10     5.13%   14.43%   N/A   15.36%   1.79%   1.75%

S&P 1500 Health Care Index

    15.94%   17.57%   11.19%     9.69%   N/A   N/A

S&P Composite 1500 Index

    18.61%   14.29%     7.63%     8.00%   N/A   N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 2/24/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    19


Table of Contents
ICON Healthcare Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

  Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value  

Common Stocks (96.23%)

   

Biotechnology (30.96%)

   

AbbVie, Inc.

    41,600     $ 3,696,576      

Alexion Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.(a)

    34,000       4,769,860      

Biogen, Inc.(a)

    5,700       1,784,784      

Celgene Corp.(a)

    28,800       4,199,616      

Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.(a)

    41,500       1,678,675      

Exelixis, Inc.(a)

    32,000       775,360      

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

    3,000     1,341,360      

Shire PLC, ADR

    31,100       4,762,654      

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

    26,253       3,991,506      
   

 

 

 
      27,000,391    
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment (14.42%)

 

Abbott Laboratories

    46,300       2,470,568      

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

    4,500       881,775      

Boston Scientific Corp.(a)

    92,200       2,689,474      

Cutera, Inc.(a)

    52,310       2,163,019      

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)

    13,100       1,431,961      

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.

    5,800       429,200      

Medtronic PLC

    10,946       851,270      

NuVasive, Inc.(a)

    6,500       360,490      

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

    11,200       1,311,408      
   

 

 

 
      12,589,165    
   

 

 

 

Health Care Facilities (4.10%)

   

HCA Healthcare, Inc.(a)

    22,600       1,798,734      

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B

    16,000     1,775,040    
   

 

 

 
      3,573,774    
   

 

 

 

Health Care Services (9.10%)

   

BioTelemetry, Inc.(a)

    134,997       4,454,901      

Envision Healthcare Corp.(a)

    20,000       899,000      

Premier, Inc., Class A(a)

    79,132       2,577,329      
   

 

 

 
      7,931,230    
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services (7.05%)

 

INC Research Holdings, Inc., Class A(a)

    1,600       83,680      

PRA Health Sciences, Inc.(a)

    40,500       3,084,885      

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    15,700       2,970,440      
   

 

 

 
      6,139,005    
   

 

 

 

Managed Health Care (12.17%)

 

Aetna, Inc.

    6,056       962,965      

Anthem, Inc.

    6,900       1,310,172      

Cigna Corp.

    6,300       1,177,722      

Humana, Inc.

    5,400       1,315,602      

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    29,900       5,855,915      
   

 

 

 
      10,622,376    
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals (18.43%)

   

Allergan PLC

    18,400       3,771,080      

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    14,000       892,360      

Eli Lilly & Co.

    21,200       1,813,448      

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)

    23,300       3,407,625      

Merck & Co., Inc.

    83,000       5,314,490      

 

  Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value  

Pharmaceuticals (continued)

   

Mylan NV(a)

    28,000     $ 878,360      
   

 

 

 
      16,077,363      
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $78,276,022)

      83,933,304      
   

 

 

 

Total Investments (96.23%)

(Cost $78,276,022)

    $ 83,933,304      
   

 

 

 

Other Assets Less Liabilities (3.77%)

    3,289,117      
   

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

    $ 87,222,421      
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Health Care

             96.23%  
  

 

 

 
     96.23%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Biotechnology

     30.96%  

Pharmaceuticals

     18.43%  

Health Care Equipment

     14.42%  

Managed Health Care

     12.17%  

Health Care Services

       9.10%  

Life Sciences Tools & Services

       7.05%  

Health Care Facilities

       4.10%  
  

 

 

 
             96.23%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

20    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Industrials Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The ICON Industrials Fund (the Fund) Class S shares returned 22.10% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, while its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Industrials Index, returned 22.98%, and the S&P Composite 1500 Index returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

From a valuation standpoint, we began the period with a value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.02 for the Industrials sector. Under our system, this V/P indicates the sector is trading relatively close to fair value. In spite of these muted return expectations, the sector produced strong gains over the course of the fiscal year as investors anticipated an increase in infrastructure-based projects and a general economic rebound. The first quarter of the fiscal year began with a strong broad market move driven largely by gains that took place at the conclusion of the presidential election. The Industrials sector was one of the largest beneficiaries of this rally, with industries tied to employment growth, manufacturing gains, and construction leading the way. The remainder of the fiscal year saw continued sector gains with relatively similar industry leadership and one noticeable addition: the aerospace & defense industry. The aerospace & defense industry was the second strongest performing industry within the Industrials sector, producing returns in excess of 40%. Companies in this industry tend to derive revenues from ties to commercial airliners and through governmental contracts for both aircraft and defense uses.

Overall, the Fund’s holdings performed well relative to the benchmark during the fiscal year largely because of strong stock selections. Due to low valuation readings, however, the Fund held a larger than normal cash position, which detracted from relative returns during the strong market move.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

Industry-level returns within the Industrials sector varied significantly, from approximately +129% (security & alarm services) to approximately -24% (marine), demonstrating the large role that industry rotation can play in sector investing. Additionally, sector returns were relatively broad-based, with 15 of 22 industries producing double digit gains.

Relative to the benchmark, positive industry contributors to the Fund’s performance include aerospace & defense, diversified support services, trading companies & distributors, human resources & employment services, and industrial conglomerates. All of these industries produced positive total effect due to overweight industry positions or outperforming holdings.

Relative to the benchmark, industries that detracted most from the Fund’s performance include trucking, research & consulting services, electrical components & equipment, industrial machinery, and office services & supplies. Either overweight positions or underperforming holdings in these industries resulted in relative underperformance during the fiscal year.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Industrials sector?

A.

At the end of fiscal year 2017, the Industrials sector had a V/P ratio of 1.00, an indication that our system sees the Industrials sector as trading right in line with fair value. While broad sector valuations indicate muted return expectations, individual industries (specifically railroads, service based industries, and industrial machinery) continue to show opportunity under our system. Additionally, as our valuation metric takes into account forward looking earnings expectations, the “fair value” of each industry within the sector could be an upward moving target if we see continued growth and economic expansion. As always, we look for industries that our system identifies as trading at a discount to fair value. Guided by our disciplined, systematic and non-emotional approach to investing, we remain vigilant for prospective investments, ready to reallocate and adapt as our investment system dictates.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    21


Table of Contents
ICON Industrials Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

 

   Inception
Date
   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Industrials Fund - Class S

       5/9/97        22.10 %       13.07 %       4.39 %       5.91 %       1.73 %   1.50%

ICON Industrials Fund - Class A

       9/30/10        21.83 %       12.83 %       N/A       10.58 %       2.96 %   1.75%

ICON Industrials Fund - Class A (including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

       9/30/10        14.83 %       11.51 %       N/A       9.64 %       2.96 %   1.75%

S&P 1500 Industrials Index

            22.98 %       16.44 %       7.87 %       8.54 %       N/A   N/A

S&P Composite 1500 Index

            18.61 %       14.29 %       7.63 %       7.98 %       N/A   N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment  (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 5/9/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
22    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Industrials Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

 

   Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value  

Common Stocks (95.88%)

  

Aerospace & Defense (7.68%)

  

Hexcel Corp.

   5,000    $     287,100      

Orbital ATK, Inc.

   1,890      251,673      

Raytheon Co.

   1,100      205,238      

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

   775      101,300      

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A

   3,500      272,020    

TransDigm Group, Inc.

   1,000      255,650      
     

 

 

 
        1,372,981      
     

 

 

 

Airlines (3.03%)

     

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

   7,100      541,517      
     

 

 

 

Building Products (27.93%)

  

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.(a)

   5,000      256,250      

Builders FirstSource,
Inc.(a)

   33,100      595,469      

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.

   16,500      1,109,295    

Johnson Controls International PLC

   38,000      1,531,020    

Masco Corp.

   26,500      1,033,765      

Quanex Building Products Corp.

   20,500      470,475      
     

 

 

 
        4,996,274      
     

 

 

 

Commercial Printing (7.44%)

  

Deluxe Corp.

   16,700      1,218,432      

InnerWorkings, Inc.(a)

   10,000      112,500      
     

 

 

 
        1,330,932      
     

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering (10.16%)

  

Comfort Systems U.S.A., Inc.

   14,500      517,650      

Dycom Industries, Inc.(a)

   6,500      558,220      

MasTec, Inc.(a)

   16,000      742,400      
     

 

 

 
        1,818,270      
     

 

 

 

Construction Machinery & Heavy Trucks (3.15%)

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

   15,000      562,950      
     

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment (0.96%)

Acuity Brands, Inc.

   1,000      171,280      
     

 

 

 

Human Resource & Employment Services (1.65%)

Korn/Ferry International

   3,000      118,290      

ManpowerGroup, Inc.

   1,500      176,730      
     

 

 

 
        295,020      
     

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates (13.19%)

  

Carlisle Cos., Inc.

   7,000      702,030      

General Electric Co.

   61,000      1,474,980      

Honeywell International, Inc.

   1,300      184,262      
     

 

 

 
        2,361,272      
     

 

 

 

Industrial Machinery (7.03%)

  

Middleby Corp.(a)

   4,000      512,680      

Snap-on, Inc.

   5,000      745,050      
     

 

 

 
        1,257,730      
     

 

 

 

 

   Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value  

Office Services & Supplies (2.32%)

  

HNI Corp.

   10,000    $ 414,700      
     

 

 

 

Railroads (6.54%)

     

Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.

   4,700      789,741      

Kansas City Southern

   3,500      380,380      
     

 

 

 
        1,170,121      
     

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors (4.80%)

  

Air Lease Corp.

   12,000      511,440      

United Rentals, Inc.(a)

   2,500      346,850      
     

 

 

 
        858,290      
     

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $15,614,496)

     17,151,337      
     

 

 

 

Total Investments (95.88%)

(Cost $15,614,496)

   $ 17,151,337      

Other Assets Less Liabilities (4.12%)

     736,195      
     

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

   $ 17,887,532      
     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Industrials

               95.88%  
  

 

 

 
     95.88%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Building Products

     27.93%  

Industrial Conglomerates

     13.19%  

Construction & Engineering

     10.16%  

Aerospace & Defense

     7.68%  

Commercial Printing

     7.44%  

Industrial Machinery

     7.03%  

Railroads

     6.54%  

Trading Companies & Distributors

     4.80%  

Construction Machinery & Heavy Trucks

     3.15%  

Airlines

     3.03%  

Office Services & Supplies

     2.32%  

Human Resource & Employment Services

     1.65%  

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

     0.96%  
  

 

 

 
               95.88%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    23


Table of Contents
ICON Information Technology Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The ICON Information Technology Fund (the Fund), Class S shares, returned 29.46% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, while its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Information Technology Index, returned 28.63%, and the S&P Composite 1500 Index gained 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

As fiscal year 2017 began, the Information Technology sector had a value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.09 under the ICON system, meaning we believed the sector’s fair value was approximately 9% higher than where prices were generally trading. As illustrated above, the sector outperformed even our upside expectations. One of the primary drivers for the sector’s achievements was the performance of the “FANG Stocks” – an acronym representing the stock of Facebook, Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Netflix Inc. and Alphabet Inc. (Google). Since the end of 2016, these stocks are up 48.5%, 28.2%, 46.5% and 24.3% respectively, while the S&P 1500 Technology Index returned 26.4% in the same period. While technically only Facebook, Inc. and Alphabet Inc. are actually classified by GICS in the Information Technology sector, technology obviously impacts each of the FANG entities. FANG stocks dominated market headlines during the last half of the fiscal year, drawing attention to the Information Technology sector and driving its performance. The Fund had exposure to FANG stocks through its holdings in both Alphabet Inc. and Facebook, Inc. The sector likewise benefitted from growth in the semiconductors industry and that product’s use in cell phones, automobiles and appliances. Similarly, the related semiconductor equipment industry performed well, with the S&P 1500 Semiconductor Equipment Index gaining over 70% during the fiscal year. The Fund had significant exposure to both of these industries.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

As previously indicated, both the semiconductors and related semiconductor equipment industries had a strong year. The Fund was overweight both of these industries, holding a position exceeding 8% in the semiconductor equipment industry, compared to a 2% weighting in the S&P 1500 Information Technology Index. Stock selection in the internet software & services and the IT consulting & other services industries likewise contributed to the Fund’s outperformance relative to its benchmark. The Fund had exposure to American depositary receipts in Chinese companies within the internet software & services industry, specifically Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and SINA Corp. Both companies returned more than 70% while held within the Fund during the fiscal year. Additional gains came from the Fund’s exposure to Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. in the IT consulting & other services industry. The stock was up over 52% during the 12-month period.

The Fund’s gains were offset in part by the Fund’s cash position and poor performance from the Fund’s holding in the electronic equipment & instruments industry. Fitbit, Inc. missed earnings and revised revenue estimates downward for the last quarter of 2017. The day after the above announcement, the stock fell over 30%, becoming one of the largest detractors from the Fund’s performance.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Information Technology sector?

A.

At the end of fiscal year 2017, the Information Technology sector had a V/P of 1.07. Specific industries that are demonstrating value under our system include both the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries. Accordingly, the Fund is overweight those two industries relative to the benchmark. Guided by value, we will continue to look for opportunities in the Information Technology sector.

 

 
24    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Information Technology Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

     Inception
Date
  1 Year   5 Years   10 Years  

Since

Inception

  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Information Technology Fund - Class S

      2/19/97       29.46 %       16.75 %       7.81 %       9.69 %       1.49 %       1.49 %

ICON Information Technology Fund - Class A

      9/30/10       29.08 %       16.29 %       N/A       15.93 %       2.17 %       1.75 %

ICON Information Technology Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

      9/30/10       21.72 %       14.92 %       N/A       14.95 %       2.17 %       1.75 %

S&P 1500 Information Technology Index

          28.63 %       17.46 %       10.83 %       8.80 %       N/A       N/A

NASDAQ Composite Index

          22.29 %       15.83 %       9.17 %       7.86 %       N/A       N/A

S&P Composite 1500 Index

          18.61 %       14.29 %       7.63 %       7.98 %       N/A       N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

 

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 2/19/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

    

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    25


Table of Contents
ICON Information Technology Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

     Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value

Common Stocks (97.95%)

   

Application Software (4.74%)

   

CDK Global, Inc.

    31,800     $  2,006,262    

SAP SE, Sponsored ADR

    13,700     1,502,205    
   

 

    3,508,467    
   

 

Communications Equipment (2.12%)

 

 

F5 Networks, Inc.(a)

    6,600     795,696    

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    9,200     780,804    
   

 

    1,576,500    
   

 

Data Processing & Outsourced
Services (17.37%)

 

 

Alliance Data Systems Corp.

    3,500     775,425    

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

    14,200     1,147,644    

Cardtronics PLC, Class A(a)

    48,600     1,118,286    

Euronet Worldwide, Inc.(a)

    19,300     1,829,447    

ExlService Holdings, Inc.(a)

    17,800     1,038,096    

Genpact, Ltd.

    43,000     1,236,250    

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

    12,200     1,722,640    

MAXIMUS, Inc.

    22,500     1,451,250    

Visa, Inc., Class A

    24,180     2,544,703    
   

 

    12,863,741    
   

 

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (2.16%)

 

 

Coherent, Inc.(a)

    6,800     1,599,156    
   

 

Electronic Manufacturing Services (6.06%)

 

 

Fabrinet(a)

    36,800     1,363,808    

IPG Photonics Corp.(a)

    5,535     1,024,307    

Methode Electronics, Inc.

    49,700     2,104,795    
   

 

    4,492,910    
   

 

Home Entertainment Software (0.96%)

 

 

Electronic Arts, Inc.(a)

    6,000     708,360    
   

 

Internet Software & Services (9.86%)

 

 

Facebook, Inc., Class A(a)

    26,600     4,545,142    

LogMeIn, Inc.

    15,500     1,705,775    

SINA Corp.(a)

    9,200     1,054,780    
   

 

    7,305,697    
   

 

IT Consulting & Other Services (4.89%)

 

 

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A

    26,300     1,907,802    

DXC Technology Co.

    19,900     1,709,012    
   

 

    3,616,814    
   

 

Semiconductor Equipment (17.90%)

 

 

Advanced Energy Industries,
Inc.(a)

    19,900     1,607,124    

Applied Materials, Inc.

    43,300     2,255,497    

Brooks Automation, Inc.

    74,600     2,264,856    

MKS Instruments, Inc.

    19,600     1,851,220    

Photronics, Inc.(a)

    158,500     1,402,725    

Teradyne, Inc.

    49,500     1,845,855    

Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.(a)

    66,500     2,036,230    
   

 

    13,263,507    
   

 

Semiconductors (17.54%)

 

 

Broadcom, Ltd.

    5,600     1,358,224    

Cavium, Inc.(a)

    21,100     1,391,334    
     Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value

Semiconductors (continued)

   

Cirrus Logic, Inc.(a)

    19,100     $  1,018,412    

Marvell Technology Group, Ltd.

    75,300     1,347,870    

Micron Technology, Inc.(a)

    40,000     1,573,200    

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

    8,400     895,020    

ON Semiconductor Corp.(a)

    113,700     2,100,039    

Qorvo, Inc.(a)

    10,000     706,800    

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

    9,900     1,008,810    

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Sponsored ADR

    42,800     1,607,140    
   

 

    13,006,849    
   

 

Systems Software (1.81%)

 

 

VMware, Inc., Class A(a)

    12,300     1,343,037    
   

 

Technology Distributors (3.44%)

 

 

PCM, Inc.(a)

    97,300     1,362,200    

Tech Data Corp.(a)

    13,300     1,181,705    
   

 

    2,543,905    
   

 

Technology Hardware, Storage &
Peripherals (9.10%)

 

 

Apple, Inc.

    28,100     4,330,772    

HP, Inc.

    36,200     722,552    

NCR Corp.(a)

    20,000     750,400    

Super Micro Computer, Inc.(a)

    42,200     932,620    
   

 

    6,736,344    
   

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $61,074,561)

    72,565,287    
   

 

Total Investments (97.95%)

(Cost $61,074,561)

    $72,565,287    

Other Assets Less
Liabilities (2.05%)

    1,519,103    
   

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

    $74,084,390    
   

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

    

Information Technology

           97.95%
  

 

   97.95%
  

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

26    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Information Technology Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Industry Composition  (September 30, 2017)

Semiconductor Equipment

   17.90%

Semiconductors

   17.54%

Data Processing & Outsourced Services

   17.37%

Internet Software & Services

   9.86%

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

   9.10%

Electronic Manufacturing Services

   6.06%

IT Consulting & Other Services

   4.89%

Application Software

   4.74%

Technology Distributors

   3.44%

Electronic Equipment & Instruments

   2.16%

Communications Equipment

   2.12%

Systems Software

   1.81%

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

           0.96%
  

 

   97.95%
  

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

    

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    27


Table of Contents
ICON Natural Resources Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The ICON Natural Resources Fund (the Fund) returned 20.13% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, while the S&P Composite 1500 Index rose by 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

The natural resources segment of the market produced strong returns over fiscal year 2017, as many commodities and economically sensitive industries rebounded from relatively low levels. However, these returns came with substantial volatility, especially in sectors and industries tied to the price of oil. The fiscal year began with an aggressive upward move in response to the conclusion of the presidential election. This so-called “Trump Trade” was heavily focused on the most economically sensitive segments of the market with investors anticipating a more pro-growth and infrastructure oriented platform. The ICON Natural Resources Fund was able to perform well in this environment, gaining 8.60% in the 4th quarter of 2016.

Both the 1st and 2nd quarter of 2017 proved to be a tougher environment for natural resources investors, specifically for oil and energy-related equities. From December 30, 2016 through June 21, 2017, crude oil fell from $53.72 a barrel to $42.53 a barrel, as excess supply and declining global demand weighed heavily on the commodity. Over the same time period, the S&P 1500 Energy Index fell by approximately 15%, as the profitability (and, in some cases, even the viability) of oil-related companies came into question. The ICON Natural Resources Fund was able to insulate investors from this downturn because our valuation numbers warranted our continued caution in the Energy sector leading up to this sell-off.

The final quarter of fiscal year 2017 produced another round of strong returns for the space including a strong rebound in the price of oil and energy-related equities. From a positioning standpoint, our valuation methodology led us to a number of attractive investment opportunities within the Energy sector in general and the oil & gas exploration & production industry in particular. Based on these valuations, the ICON Natural Resources Fund established a strong position in the exploration & production industry and was able to fully participate in this final move of fiscal year 2017.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

Positive industry contributors to the Fund’s performance during fiscal year 2017 included diversified chemicals, construction materials, gold, specialty chemicals, and commodity chemicals.

Negative industry detractors from the Fund’s performance during fiscal year 2017 included oil & gas equipment & services, oil & gas storage & transportation, silver, and copper.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Natural Resources space?

A.

At the close of the fiscal year, both the broad market and the natural resources segment of the market were trading relatively close to fair value based on our valuation methodology. However, there has been a recent increase in future growth expectations, specifically within the Energy sector, which could result in higher return expectations going forward. We continue to look for industries that our system identifies as trading at a discount to fair value. Guided by our disciplined, systematic and non-emotional approach to investing, we remain vigilant for prospective investments, ready to reallocate and adapt as our investment system dictates.

 

 
28    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Natural Resources Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

     Inception
Date
   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

 

ICON Natural Resources Fund - Class S

   5/5/97    20.13%     8.98%   3.27%   5.08%   1.62%   1.53%

ICON Natural Resources Fund - Class C

   9/30/10    18.97%     7.84%   N/A   6.98%   3.05%   2.54%

ICON Natural Resources Fund - Class A

   9/30/10    19.81%     8.65%   N/A   7.77%   2.05%   1.78%

ICON Natural Resources Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

   9/30/10    12.89%     7.37%   N/A   6.87%   2.05%   1.78%

S&P Composite 1500 Index

      18.61%   14.29%   7.63%   7.95%   N/A   N/A

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included returns would be lower.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 5/5/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s name changed effective January 22, 2016 and the investment strategy changed effective August 18, 2016. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the current strategy had been in effect. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    29


Table of Contents
ICON Natural Resources Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

    Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value  

 

 

Common Stocks (93.35%)

   

Building Products (3.42%)

   

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.

    14,500     $ 974,835      

Masco Corp.

    25,000       975,250      

Tarkett SA

    15,000       675,738      
   

 

 

 
      2,625,823      
   

 

 

 

Commodity Chemicals (4.10%)

 

 

Cabot Corp.

    7,000       390,600      

Koppers Holdings, Inc.(a)

    20,000       923,000      

LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A

    4,000       396,200      

Methanex Corp.

    9,939       499,932      

Olin Corp.

    27,339       936,361      
   

 

 

 
      3,146,093      
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering (4.50%)

 

Comfort Systems U.S.A., Inc.

    31,940       1,140,258      

MasTec, Inc.(a)

    50,000       2,320,000      
   

 

 

 
      3,460,258      
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials (5.40%)

 

 

Buzzi Unicem SpA

    60,000       1,621,400      

Eagle Materials, Inc.

    8,000       853,600      

Vulcan Materials Co.

    14,000       1,674,400      
   

 

 

 
      4,149,400      
   

 

 

 

Diversified Chemicals (10.38%)

 

 

BASF SE

    23,000       2,450,336      

DowDuPont, Inc.

    28,745       1,990,016      

Eastman Chemical Co.

    30,000       2,714,700      

Huntsman Corp.

    30,000       822,600      
   

 

 

 
      7,977,652      
   

 

 

 

Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals (0.77%)

 

Agrium, Inc.

    5,500       589,655      
   

 

 

 

Gold (9.71%)

   

Cia de Minas Buenaventura SAA, ADR

    235,000       3,005,650      

Randgold Resources, Ltd.

    22,728       2,221,362      

Royal Gold, Inc.

    26,000       2,237,040      
   

 

 

 
      7,464,052      
   

 

 

 

Integrated Oil & Gas (3.54%)

 

 

BP PLC

    140,000       896,840      

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A, Sponsored ADR

    30,000       1,817,400      
   

 

 

 
      2,714,240      
   

 

 

 

Metal & Glass Containers (3.82%)

 

Ball Corp.

    35,000       1,445,500      

Crown Holdings, Inc.(a)

    25,000       1,493,000      
   

 

 

 
      2,938,500      
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (6.14%)

 

Schlumberger, Ltd.

    32,000       2,232,320      

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.

    80,000       2,485,600      
   

 

 

 
      4,717,920      
   

 

 

 
    Shares or
Principal
Amount
    Value  

 

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (20.83%)

 

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.

    65,000     $ 1,738,750      

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.(a)

    80,000       1,370,400      

Cimarex Energy Co.

    22,000       2,500,740      

Diamondback Energy,
Inc.(a)

    34,300       3,360,028      

Gulfport Energy Corp.(a)

    120,000       1,720,800      

Newfield Exploration Co.(a)

    25,000       741,750      

Parsley Energy, Inc., Class A

    30,000       790,200      

Range Resources Corp.

    45,000       880,650      

SRC Energy, Inc.(a)

    300,000       2,901,000      
   

 

 

 
      16,004,318      
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing (1.34%)

 

Andeavor

    10,000       1,031,500      
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation (0.76%)

 

Enbridge, Inc.

    14,000       584,796      
   

 

 

 

Paper Packaging (6.72%)

   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.

    370,000       5,161,500      
   

 

 

 

Silver (2.61%)

   

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

    105,000       2,004,450      
   

 

 

 

Specialty Chemicals (8.73%)

 

Celanese Corp., Class A

    17,000       1,772,590      

PolyOne Corp.

    60,000       2,401,800      

WR Grace & Co.

    35,000       2,525,250      
   

 

 

 
      6,699,640      
   

 

 

 

Steel (0.58%)

   

Nucor Corp.

    8,000       448,320      
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $64,268,400)

      71,718,117      
   

 

 

 

Total Investments (93.35%)

(Cost $64,268,400)

    $ 71,718,117      

Other Assets Less Liabilities (6.65%)

 

    5,111,407      
   

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

 

  $ 76,829,524      
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

30   

www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Natural Resources Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Country Composition (September 30, 2017)  

 

 

United States

     72.04%  

Canada

     4.79%  

Peru

     3.91%  

Germany

     3.19%  

Jersey

     2.89%  

Netherlands

     2.37%  

Italy

     2.11%  

United Kingdom

     1.17%  

France

     0.88%  
  

 

 

 
             93.35%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)  

 

 

Materials

     52.82%  

Energy

     32.61%  

Industrials

     7.92%  
  

 

 

 
             93.35%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)  

 

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     20.83%  

Diversified Chemicals

     10.38%  

Gold

     9.71%  

Specialty Chemicals

     8.73%  

Paper Packaging

     6.72%  

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

     6.14%  

Construction Materials

     5.40%  

Construction & Engineering

     4.50%  

Commodity Chemicals

     4.10%  

Metal & Glass Containers

     3.82%  

Integrated Oil & Gas

     3.54%  

Building Products

     3.42%  

Silver

     2.61%  

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

     1.34%  

Other Industries (each less than 1%)

     2.11%  
  

 

 

 
             93.35%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

    

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    31


Table of Contents
ICON Utilities Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Q.

How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks?

A.

The ICON Utilities Fund (the Fund) Class S returned 9.88% for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, lagging its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Utilities Index, which returned 12.50%. The broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, returned 18.61%. Total returns for other periods and additional Class shares as of September 30, 2017, appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.

 

Q.

What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance?

A.

According to our valuation methodology, at the end of fiscal year 2016, the Utilities sector had a value-to-price (V/P) ratio of 1.14 (suggesting upside potential, with stock prices below our estimate of their fair value) while the average V/P ratio for the overall equity market stood at 1.09. Although we began the year believing the Utilities sector offered better upside potential than the broader market, the sector lagged the market considerably by the end of the fiscal year. Changes in fixed income yields explain some of this underperformance. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury Note, for example, increased from 1.60% on September 30, 2016 to 2.33% on September 30, 2017. The relative improvement in treasury yields reduced the demand for Utilities stocks as a yield alternative to fixed income investments. Higher dividend yielding stocks generally underperformed lower dividend paying stocks across both the broader equity market and in the Utilities sector. For example, our valuations favored high-dividend yield producing stocks in the independent power producers & energy traders industry. These high-dividend holdings underperformed the industry and adversely impacted the Fund’s performance. Over the course of the fiscal year, we saw value in the oil & gas exploration and production industry, and increased the Fund’s exposure to this industry. While our oil & gas exploration and production positions helped the Fund in the last quarter of the fiscal year, we held these securities too early, ignoring other opportunities that might have contributed to better relative performance. Additionally, the broader stock market returns were dominated by high growth stocks. With moderately lower growth rates than the equity market in general, the Utilities sector lagged during the fiscal year.

 

Q.

How did the Fund’s composition affect performance?

A.

The Fund benefited by strong stock selection in both the multi-utilities and the electric utilities industries. The stocks selected to represent the multi-utilities industry returned 15% over the course of the fiscal year, outperforming its industry benchmark, which returned 11%. The Fund’s electric utilities industry holdings returned in excess of 17% while the benchmark returned just over 12%. Avangrid, Inc. an energy services and delivery company that is part of the electric utilities industry, was up over 28% for the Fund over the fiscal year.

 

  

The Fund had exposure to stocks outside of the Utilities sector as well. The Fund’s holdings in the oil & gas exploration & production industry detracted from Fund performance. For example, Gulfport Energy Corp., a company focused primarily on natural gas exploration, was the largest detractor, losing over 30% of its value during the fiscal year. The stock section within the independent power producers & energy traders industry had a negative impact on the Fund as well. The Fund’s holdings in this industry realized a net loss of about 8.5%, while the industry posted positive returns for the benchmark. Finally, the Fund faced additional headwinds in its exposure to the Telecommunication Services sector.

 

Q.

What is your investment outlook for the Utilities sector?

A.

As of September 30, 2017, we believe the Utilities sector has a V/P ratio of 1.07. Given these V/P readings we generally have a positive outlook for the sector and remain optimistic for the year ahead. However, because the Utilities sector is seen by some investors as a fixed income alternative in a low interest rate environment, the sector may again lag the broader benchmark if an interest rate increase makes the sector less attractive in the short term. As always, we look to value as our primary guide and will adjust our positioning as market conditions dictate.

 

 
32    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Utilities Fund    Management Overview
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return (as of September 30, 2017)

 

     Inception
Date
  1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since
Inception
  Gross Expense
Ratio*
  Net Expense
Ratio*

ICON Utilities Fund - Class S

  7/9/97       9.88%       11.56%       5.63%       8.54%       1.59%       1.50%

ICON Utilities Fund - Class A

  9/30/10       9.63%       11.26%       N/A         10.95%       1.79%       1.75%

ICON Utilities Fund - Class A
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

  9/30/10       3.33%       9.95%       N/A         10.00%       1.79%       1.75%

S&P 1500 Utilities Index

        12.50%       12.37%       7.78%       8.56%       N/A         N/A  

S&P Composite 1500 Index

        18.61%       14.29%       7.63%       7.52%       N/A         N/A  

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future.

 

*

Please see the most recent prospectus for details.

Value of a $10,000 Investment (through September 30, 2017)

 

 

LOGO

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 7/9/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    33


Table of Contents
ICON Utilities Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

      Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value  

Common Stocks (98.87%)

     

Construction & Engineering (1.55%)

 

MasTec, Inc.(a)

   14,700    $ 682,080      
     

 

 

 

Electric Utilities (38.24%)

 

Avangrid, Inc.

   53,200      2,522,744      

Edison International

   37,000      2,855,290      

Eversource Energy

   44,000      2,659,360      

OGE Energy Corp.

   38,700      1,394,361      

Otter Tail Corp.

   46,700      2,024,445      

PG&E Corp.

   31,100      2,117,599      

Pinnacle West Capital Corp.

   15,600      1,319,136      

Westar Energy, Inc.

   39,800      1,974,080      
     

 

 

 
        16,867,015      
     

 

 

 

Gas Utilities (5.49%)

 

National Fuel Gas Co.

   42,800      2,422,908      
     

 

 

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders (2.82%)

 

AES Corp.

   112,900      1,244,158      
     

 

 

 

Integrated Oil & Gas (2.05%)

 

TOTAL SA, Sponsored ADR

   16,900      904,488      
     

 

 

 

Integrated Telecommunication Services (2.47%)

 

AT&T, Inc.

   27,800      1,088,926      
     

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities (30.97%)

     

Ameren Corp.

   38,800      2,244,192      

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

   86,200      2,517,902      

CMS Energy Corp.

   46,776      2,166,664      

DTE Energy Co.

   25,200      2,705,472      

NiSource, Inc.

   85,700      2,193,063      

SCANA Corp.

   16,200      785,538      

Sempra Energy

   9,200      1,049,996      
     

 

 

 
        13,662,827      
     

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (1.15%)

 

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.(b)

   16,300      506,441      
     

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (8.25%)

 

Diamondback Energy, Inc.(a)

   9,600      940,416      

EOG Resources, Inc.

   7,500      725,550      

Gulfport Energy Corp.(a)

   56,500      810,210      

Range Resources Corp.

   22,700      444,239      

SRC Energy, Inc.(a)

   74,000      715,580      
     

 

 

 
        3,635,995      
     

 

 

 

Water Utilities (2.84%)

 

Consolidated Water Co., Ltd.

   97,846      1,252,429      
     

 

 

 
      Shares or
Principal
Amount
   Value  

Wireless Telecommunication Services (3.04%)

 

NTT DOCOMO, Inc., Sponsored ADR(b)

   58,900    $ 1,342,331      
     

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $42,014,860)

        43,609,598      
     

 

 

 

Collateral for Securities on Loan (4.26%)

 

State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, 7-Day Yield 1.01%

   1,878,800      1,878,800      
     

 

 

 

Total Collateral for Securities on Loan

(Cost $1,878,800)

     1,878,800      
     

 

 

 

Total Investments (103.13%)

(Cost $43,893,660)

   $ 45,488,398      

Liabilities Less Other Assets (-3.13%)

     (1,378,623)      
     

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.00%)

   $ 44,109,775      
     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2017.

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

Sector Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Utilities

             80.36%  

Energy

     11.45%  

Telecommunication Services

     5.51%  

Industrials

     1.55%  
  

 

 

 
     98.87%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

34    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Utilities Fund    Schedule of Investments
   September 30, 2017

 

Industry Composition (September 30, 2017)

        

Electric Utilities

     38.24%  

Multi-Utilities

     30.97%  

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

     8.25%  

Gas Utilities

     5.49%  

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     3.04%  

Water Utilities

     2.84%  

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

     2.82%  

Integrated Telecommunication Services

     2.47%  

Integrated Oil & Gas

     2.05%  

Construction & Engineering

     1.55%  

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

     1.15%  
  

 

 

 
             98.87%  
  

 

 

 

Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.

    

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    35


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Assets and Liabilities
   September 30, 2017

 

     ICON Consumer
Discretionary Fund
    ICON Consumer
Staples Fund
    ICON Energy Fund    

Assets

     

Investments, at cost

  $ 24,808,690     $ 29,187,302     $ 245,937,245      
 

 

 

 

Investments, at value(a)

    24,875,794       29,087,200       252,518,198      

Cash and cash equivalents

    2,328,104       1,083,153       2,533,230      

Receivables:

     

Investments sold

    15,036       278,795       7,821,116      

Fund shares sold

    8,181       10,990       69,122      

Expense reimbursements due from Adviser

          12,087       –      

Dividends

    14,270       27,251       87,917      

Foreign tax reclaims

                –      

Other assets

    7,269       8,105       57,838      
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    27,248,654       30,507,581       263,087,421      
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Payables:

     

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

    592,080       2,009,724       18,303,527      

Expense recoupment due to Adviser

    529             –      

Investments purchased

    542,597       834,249       4,668,413      

Fund shares redeemed

    8,878       35,449       243,813      

Advisory fees

    21,123       22,744       187,738      

Transfer agent fees

    12,871       31,262       218,906      

Fund accounting fees

    3,144       3,503       16,961      

Accrued distribution fees

    296       720       7,703      

Trustee fees and expenses

    1,572       1,733       13,788      

Administration fees

    1,056       1,137       9,387      

Accrued expenses

    24,652       24,493       64,814      
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    1,208,798       2,965,014       23,735,050      
 

 

 

 

Net Assets - all share classes

  $ 26,039,856     $ 27,542,567     $ 239,352,371      
 

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class S

  $ 24,566,073     $ 24,069,075     $ 222,706,577      
 

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class C

  $     $     $ 7,333,346      
 

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class A

  $ 1,473,783     $ 3,473,492     $ 9,312,448      
 

 

 

 

Net Assets Consists of

     

Paid-in capital

  $ 25,025,812     $ 26,859,989     $ 403,293,623      

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

          9,783       2,001,726      

Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss)

    946,940       772,897       (172,523,931)      

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

    67,104       (100,102)       6,580,953      
 

 

 

 

Net Assets

  $ 26,039,856     $ 27,542,567     $ 239,352,371      
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, no par value)

     

Class S

    1,758,866       3,238,234       17,777,486      

Class C

                615,451      

Class A

    110,315       469,513       748,389      

Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share)

     

Class S

  $ 13.97     $ 7.43     $ 12.53      

Class C

  $     $     $ 11.92      

Class A

  $ 13.36     $ 7.40     $ 12.44      

Class A maximum offering price (100%/ (100%-maximum sales charge)) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent per share

  $ 14.17     $ 7.85     $ 13.20      

(a) Includes securities on loan of

  $ 573,784     $ 1,965,934     $ 17,817,440      

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

36    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Assets and Liabilities
   September 30, 2017

 

      ICON Financial Fund      ICON Healthcare
Fund
     ICON Industrials  
Fund
 

Assets

        

Investments, at cost

   $ 34,160,327      $ 78,276,022      $ 15,614,496      
  

 

 

 

Investments, at value(a)

     41,138,995        83,933,304        17,151,337      

Cash and cash equivalents

     783,432        5,505,026        733,443      

Foreign currency, at value (Cost $4,889, $– and $–, respectively)

     4,890               –      

Receivables:

        

Investments sold

     426,600        499,517        –      

Fund shares sold

     12,832        14,109        33,925      

Expense reimbursements due from Adviser

     767               11,481      

Dividends

     33,979        53,874        28,756      

Foreign tax reclaims

            3,493        –      

Other assets

     8,230        13,309        7,259      
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     42,409,725        90,022,632        17,966,201      
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payables:

        

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     511,875               –      

Expense recoupment due to Adviser

            804        –      

Investments purchased

     620,309        2,624,197        –      

Fund shares redeemed

     3,642        5,012        20,794      

Advisory fees

     32,743        72,666        14,551      

Transfer agent fees

     14,296        46,341        14,549      

Fund accounting fees

     4,831        7,777        3,029      

Accrued distribution fees

     431        830        503      

Trustee fees and expenses

     2,422        5,173        1,115      

Administration fees

     1,637        3,633        727      

Accrued expenses

     26,366        33,778        23,401      
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,218,552        2,800,211        78,669      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - all share classes

   $ 41,191,173      $ 87,222,421      $ 17,887,532      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class S

   $ 39,071,715      $ 83,233,841      $ 15,482,021      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class A

   $ 2,119,458      $ 3,988,580      $ 2,405,511      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consists of

        

Paid-in capital

   $ 78,347,128      $ 79,488,622      $ 30,892,860      

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

     74,836               (36,399)      

Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss)

     (44,209,459)        2,076,517        (14,505,764)      

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     6,978,668        5,657,282        1,536,835      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 41,191,173      $ 87,222,421      $ 17,887,532      
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, no par value)

        

Class S

     3,925,663        4,903,781        1,033,873      

Class A

     212,256        244,890        162,677      

Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share)

        

Class S

   $ 9.95      $ 16.97      $ 14.97      

Class A

   $ 9.99      $ 16.29      $ 14.79      

Class A maximum offering price (100%/ (100%-maximum sales charge)) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent per share

   $ 10.59      $ 17.28      $ 15.69      

(a) Includes securities on loan of

   $ 498,225      $      $ –      

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    37


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Assets and Liabilities
   September 30, 2017

 

      ICON Information
Technology Fund
     ICON Natural
Resources Fund
     ICON Utilities Fund    

Assets

        

Investments, at cost

   $ 61,074,561      $ 64,268,400      $ 43,893,660      
  

 

 

 

Investments, at value(a)

     72,565,287        71,718,117        45,488,398      

Cash and cash equivalents

     362,435        5,473,107        –      

Receivables:

        

Investments sold

     1,249,797        946,561        447,843      

Fund shares sold

     25,190        63,102        52,276      

Expense reimbursements due from Adviser

     1,362        4,280        29,823      

Dividends

     14,771        92,520        358,091      

Foreign tax reclaims

            2,472        3,047      

Other assets

     12,908        15,760        9,358      
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     74,231,750        78,315,919        46,388,836      
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payables:

        

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

                   1,878,800      

Payable for distribution

                   29,598      

Loan payable, at value (Cost $–, $– and $177,025)

                   177,025      

Investments purchased

            1,275,411        –      

Fund shares redeemed

     16,597        34,811        85,349      

Advisory fees

     59,476        60,981        37,664      

Transfer agent fees

     27,088        65,691        29,275      

Fund accounting fees

     6,496        7,387        4,617      

Accrued distribution fees

     563        2,544        1,766      

Trustee fees and expenses

     4,019        4,156        2,760      

Administration fees

     2,973        3,049        1,884      

Accrued expenses

     30,148        32,365        30,323      
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     147,360        1,486,395        2,279,061      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - all share classes

   $ 74,084,390      $ 76,829,524      $ 44,109,775      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class S

   $ 71,248,763      $ 69,444,464      $ 35,816,467      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class C

   $      $ 1,756,062      $ –      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets - Class A

   $ 2,835,627      $ 5,628,998      $ 8,293,308      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consists of

        

Paid-in capital

   $ 49,270,237      $ 68,368,418      $ 40,200,199      

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

     (165,161)               225,952      

Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss)

     13,488,588        1,011,297        2,089,223      

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     11,490,726        7,449,809        1,594,401      
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 74,084,390      $ 76,829,524      $ 44,109,775      
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, no par value)

        

Class S

     3,721,863        4,531,552        3,855,392      

Class C

            119,850        –      

Class A

     152,894        370,991        907,320      

Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share)

        

Class S

   $ 19.14      $ 15.32      $ 9.29      

Class C

   $      $ 14.65      $ –      

Class A

   $ 18.55      $ 15.17      $ 9.14      

Class A maximum offering price (100%/ (100%-maximum sales charge)) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent per share

   $ 19.68      $ 16.10      $ 9.70      

(a) Includes securities on loan of

   $      $      $ 1,848,772      

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

38    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Operations
   Year Ended September 30, 2017

 

      ICON Consumer
Discretionary Fund
     ICON Consumer
Staples Fund
     ICON Energy Fund    

Investment Income

        

Interest

   $ 3,839      $ 2,452      $ 4,064      

Dividends

     338,941        538,718        5,655,643      

Foreign taxes withheld

            (71)        (149,135)      

Income from securities lending, net

     9,840        3,517        203,745      
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     352,620        544,616        5,714,317      
  

 

 

 

Expenses

        

Advisory fees

     341,859        315,279        3,065,309      

Administration fees

     17,037        15,707        152,791      

Transfer agent fees

     46,705        96,588        607,523      

Distribution fees:

        

Class C

                   87,589      

Class A

     4,558        13,024        30,202      

Registration fees

     25,899        33,318        57,352      

Audit and tax service expense

     17,657        17,657        21,753      

Fund accounting fees

     14,295        13,554        113,045      

Trustee fees and expenses

     7,272        6,925        66,160      

Insurance expense

     3,073        3,631        27,738      

Custody fees

     4,266        4,056        13,243      

Printing fees

     9,315        9,619        59,635      

Interest expense

     81        1,417        10,079      

Recoupment of previously reimbursed expenses

     919        2,240        –      

Other expenses

     19,091        17,277        133,694      
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before expense reimbursement

     512,027        550,292        4,446,113      

Expense reimbursement by Adviser due to expense limitation agreement

     (4,198)        (63,487)        –      
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     507,829        486,805        4,446,113      
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

     (155,209)        57,811        1,268,204      
  

 

 

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

        

Net realized gain/(loss) on:

        

Investments and foreign currency translations

     1,102,738        1,494,029        (10,044,040)      
  

 

 

 
     1,102,738        1,494,029        (10,044,040)      
  

 

 

 

Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on:

        

Investments and foreign currency

     2,370,464        (51,630)        4,187,058      
  

 

 

 
     2,370,464        (51,630)        4,187,058      
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

     3,473,202        1,442,399        (5,856,982)      
  

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ 3,317,993      $ 1,500,210      $ (4,588,778)      
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    39


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Operations
   Year Ended September 30, 2017

 

     ICON Financial Fund     ICON Healthcare
Fund
    ICON Industrials  
Fund
 

Investment Income

     

Interest

  $ 977     $ 4,434     $ 996      

Dividends

    739,878       920,022       269,538      

Foreign taxes withheld

    (1,249)       (14,600)       (319)      

Income from securities lending, net

    18,658       4,460       196      
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    758,264       914,316       270,411      
 

 

 

 

Expenses

     

Advisory fees

    450,871       845,318       225,977      

Administration fees

    22,478       42,156       11,274      

Transfer agent fees

    50,871       140,197       54,836      

Distribution fees:

     

Class A

    5,715       11,083       6,804      

Registration fees

    27,130       32,180       27,421      

Audit and tax service expense

    17,657       17,657       17,657      

Fund accounting fees

    19,195       33,582       10,585      

Trustee fees and expenses

    9,918       18,896       5,023      

Insurance expense

    3,897       5,904       1,984      

Custody fees

    4,398       9,889       3,679      

Printing fees

    10,357       16,998       9,357      

Interest expense

    572       268       1,744      

Recoupment of previously reimbursed expenses

    315       1,108       2,165      

Other expenses

    23,587       39,089       13,429      
 

 

 

 

Total expenses before expense reimbursement

    646,961       1,214,325       391,935      

Expense reimbursement by Adviser due to expense limitation agreement

    (6,790)       (4,986)       (44,703)      
 

 

 

 

Net Expenses

    640,171       1,209,339       347,232      
 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

    118,093       (295,023)       (76,821)      
 

 

 

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

     

Net realized gain/(loss) on:

     

Investments and foreign currency translations

    4,547,025       2,483,501       3,708,253      
 

 

 

 
    4,547,025       2,483,501       3,708,253      
 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on:

     

Investments and foreign currency

    8,265,316       7,387,024       196,291      
 

 

 

 
    8,265,316       7,387,024       196,291      
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

    12,812,341       9,870,525       3,904,544      
 

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

  $ 12,930,434     $ 9,575,502       $ 3,827,723      
 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

40    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Operations
   Year Ended September 30, 2017

 

    

ICON Information

Technology Fund

   

ICON Natural

Resources Fund

    ICON Utilities Fund    

Investment Income

     

Interest

  $ 1,403     $ 5,730     $ 479      

Dividends

    492,593       1,191,943       2,185,204      

Foreign taxes withheld

    (11,571)       (35,085)       (42,285)      

Income from securities lending, net

    6,271       12,948       10,724      
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    488,696       1,175,536       2,154,122      
 

 

 

 

Expenses

     

Advisory fees

    583,558       745,353       494,628      

Administration fees

    29,109       37,167       24,653      

Transfer agent fees

    87,288       166,737       105,898      

Distribution fees:

     

    Class C

          16,480       –      

    Class A

    6,560       13,003       24,549      

Registration fees

    30,973       41,322       40,503      

Audit and tax service expense

    17,657       17,753       17,657      

Fund accounting fees

    23,887       31,190       20,107      

Trustee fees and expenses

    13,418       16,395       10,644      

Insurance expense

    4,290       5,756       5,391      

Custody fees

    5,660       5,316       5,136      

Printing fees

    13,265       24,604       15,383      

Interest expense

    710       12       1,822      

Recoupment of previously reimbursed expenses

    245       17,124       1,233      

Other expenses

    27,350       36,055       24,126      
 

 

 

 

Total expenses before expense reimbursement

    843,970       1,174,267       791,730      

Expense reimbursement by Adviser due to expense limitation agreement

    (6,814)       (26,508)       (57,017)      
 

 

 

 

Net Expenses

    837,156       1,147,759       734,713      
 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

    (348,460)       27,777       1,419,409      
 

 

 

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

     

Net realized gain/(loss) on:

     

    Investments and foreign currency translations

    14,152,932       6,414,936       2,393,910      
 

 

 

 
    14,152,932       6,414,936       2,393,910      
 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on:

     

    Investments and foreign currency

    1,556,770       7,243,434       556,216      
 

 

 

 
    1,556,770       7,243,434       556,216      
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

    15,709,702       13,658,370       2,950,126      
 

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

  $ 15,361,242     $ 13,686,147     $ 4,369,535      
 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    41


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

     ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund     ICON Consumer Staples Fund  
    

Year Ended

September 30,
2017

    Year Ended
September 30,
2016
    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
   

Year Ended
September 30,    

2016

 

Operations

       

Net investment income/(loss)

  $ (155,209   $ (115,723   $ 57,811     $ 35,430      

Net realized gain/(loss)

    1,102,738       2,371,232       1,494,029       3,041,135      

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

    2,370,464       (204,909     (51,630     (1,151,918)      
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    3,317,993       2,050,600       1,500,210       1,924,647      
 

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

       

Net investment income

       

    Class S

                (73,624     (2,775)      

    Class A

                (7,526     (282)      

Net realized gains

       

    Class S

    (2,138,950     (4,142,603     (3,218,507     (1,689,533)      

    Class A

    (116,512     (324,745     (543,760     (1,018,358)      
 

 

 

 

Net decrease from dividends and distributions

    (2,255,462     (4,467,348     (3,843,417     (2,710,948)      
 

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

       

Shares sold

       

    Class S

    9,497,500       3,598,562       11,907,619       31,781,091      

    Class A

    246,883       978,272       2,671,835       9,210,875      

Reinvested dividends and distributions

       

    Class S

    2,120,009       4,104,730       3,170,250       1,604,272      

    Class A

    100,528       289,861       405,750       808,132      

Shares repurchased

       

    Class S

    (25,345,622     (13,145,470     (20,882,818     (9,693,926)      

    Class A

    (1,272,734     (1,690,501     (7,594,959     (4,969,477)      
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions

    (14,653,436     (5,864,546     (10,322,323     28,740,967      
 

 

 

 

Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets

    (13,590,905     (8,281,294     (12,665,530     27,954,666      

Net Assets

       

Beginning of year

    39,630,761       47,912,055       40,208,097       12,253,431      
 

 

 

 

End of year

  $ 26,039,856     $ 39,630,761     $ 27,542,567     $ 40,208,097      
 

 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

  $     $     $ 9,783     $ 33,122      
 

 

 

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

       

Shares sold

       

    Class S

    681,550       251,318       1,568,687       3,991,017      

    Class A

    18,527       70,735       359,812       1,184,079      

Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

       

    Class S

    155,218       307,240       450,960       212,768      

    Class A

    7,662       22,418       57,882       107,322      

Shares repurchased

       

    Class S

    (1,827,935     (955,082     (2,764,087     (1,161,279)      

    Class A

    (97,189     (128,008     (1,004,810     (626,714)      
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

    (1,062,167     (431,379     (1,331,556     3,707,193      
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    2,931,348       3,362,727       5,039,303       1,332,110      
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

    1,869,181       2,931,348       3,707,747       5,039,303      
 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

42    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

      ICON Energy Fund     ICON Financial Fund  
      Year Ended
September 30,
2017
     Year Ended
September 30,
2016
    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
    Year Ended
September 30,
2016
 

Operations

         

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ 1,268,204      $ 6,869,776     $ 118,093     $ 487,539      

Net realized gain/(loss)

     (10,044,040)        (57,720,482)       4,547,025       (4,872,140)      

Net realized gain/(loss) on long-term capital gain distributions from other investment companies

                        3,543      

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     4,187,058        100,616,370       8,265,316       2,869,562      
  

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     (4,588,778)        49,765,664       12,930,434       (1,511,496)      
  

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

         

Net investment income

         

    Class S

     (1,879,265)        (3,080,658)       (509,224)       –      

    Class C

     (30,917)        (46,988)             –      

    Class A

     (67,792)        (87,124)       (21,428     –      
  

 

 

 

Net decrease from dividends and distributions

     (1,977,974)        (3,214,770)       (530,652)       –      
  

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

         

Shares sold

         

    Class S

     46,169,160        109,808,067       8,827,182       11,122,679      

    Class C

     443,280        1,926,758             –      

    Class A

     1,527,261        4,574,292       1,061,317       1,691,237      

Reinvested dividends and distributions

         

    Class S

     1,809,660        2,963,225       500,838       –      

    Class C

     26,876        40,797             –      

    Class A

     51,520        66,909       18,938       –      

Shares repurchased

         

    Class S

     (146,633,212)        (149,229,594)       (25,448,695)       (15,374,878)      

    Class C

     (3,069,723)        (2,980,604)             –      

    Class A

     (6,674,244)        (6,498,389)       (2,063,563)       (1,112,225)      
  

 

 

 

Net decrease from fund share transactions

     (106,349,422)        (39,328,539)       (17,103,983)       (3,673,187)      
  

 

 

 

Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets

     (112,916,174)        7,222,355       (4,704,201)       (5,184,683)      

Net Assets

         

Beginning of year

     352,268,545        345,046,190       45,895,374       51,080,057      
  

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 239,352,371      $ 352,268,545     $ 41,191,173     $ 45,895,374      
  

 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

   $ 2,001,726      $ (33,682   $ 74,836     $ 487,449      
  

 

 

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

         

Shares sold

         

    Class S

     3,633,098        9,937,173       997,694       1,386,325      

    Class C

     35,320        173,976             –      

    Class A

     120,649        405,435       116,684       225,786      

Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

         

    Class S

     137,774        278,237       54,796       –      

    Class C

     2,223        3,961             –      

    Class A

     3,966        6,295       2,061       –      

Shares repurchased

         

    Class S

     (11,866,130)        (13,027,347)       (2,780,941)       (2,072,996)      

    Class C

     (256,061)        (270,035)             –      

    Class A

     (538,667)        (561,929)       (236,075)       (148,818)      
  

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (8,727,828)        (3,054,234)       (1,845,781)       (609,703)      
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

     27,869,154        30,923,388       5,983,700       6,593,403      
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

     19,141,326        27,869,154       4,137,919       5,983,700      
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    43


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

    ICON Healthcare Fund     ICON Industrials Fund  

 

 
    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016
    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
     Year Ended
September 30, 2016
 

 

 

Operations

        

Net investment income/(loss)

  $ (295,023)          $ (256,229)          $ (76,821)           $ (24,274)       

Net realized gain/(loss)

    2,483,501            1,360,141            3,708,253             1,229,396       

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

    7,387,024            6,368,752            196,291             210,733       
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    9,575,502            7,472,664            3,827,723             1,415,855       
 

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

        

Net realized gains

        

Class S

    (1,138,922)            (18,074,605)            –             –       

Class A

    (76,949)            (2,959,679)            –             –       
 

 

 

 

Net decrease from dividends and distributions

    (1,215,871)            (21,034,284)            –             –       
 

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

        

Shares sold

        

Class S

    22,175,488            8,840,606            15,170,976             13,580,388       

Class A

    1,114,090            1,044,829            3,385,400             865,729       

Reinvested dividends and distributions

        

Class S

    1,092,964            17,161,570            –             –       

Class A

    69,063            2,747,924            –             –       

Shares repurchased

        

Class S

    (24,240,347)            (33,976,571)            (27,048,093)             (5,225,967)       

Class A

    (2,487,427)            (11,543,997)            (2,403,341)             (528,190)       
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions

    (2,276,169)            (15,725,639)            (10,895,058)             8,691,960       
 

 

 

 

Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets

    6,083,462            (29,287,259)            (7,067,335)             10,107,815       

Net Assets

        

Beginning of year

    81,138,959            110,426,218            24,954,867             14,847,052       
 

 

 

 

End of year

  $ 87,222,421          $ 81,138,959          $ 17,887,532           $ 24,954,867       
 

 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

  $ –          $ (63,244)          $ (36,399)           $ (22,535)       
 

 

 

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

        

Shares sold

        

Class S

    1,440,106            571,957            1,120,214             1,102,557       

Class A

    74,903            67,963            250,786             72,878       

Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

        

Class S

    73,403            1,165,868            –             –       

Class A

    4,823            193,108            –             –       

Shares repurchased

        

Class S

    (1,557,432)            (2,124,163)            (2,039,881)             (451,383)       

Class A

    (166,432)            (811,470)            (170,333)             (45,537)       
 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

    (130,629)            (936,737)            (839,214)             678,515       
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    5,279,300            6,216,037            2,035,764             1,357,249       
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

    5,148,671            5,279,300            1,196,550             2,035,764       
 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

44    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

     ICON Information Technology Fund      ICON Natural Resources Fund  

 

 
     Year Ended
September 30, 2017
     Year Ended
September 30, 2016
     Year Ended
September 30, 2017
     Year Ended
September 30, 2016 (a)
 

 

 

Operations

           

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ (348,460)           $ (219,517)           $ 27,777           $ 524,612       

Net realized gain/(loss)

     14,152,932             9,737,627             6,414,936             (4,590,557)       

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     1,556,770             (1,066,435)             7,243,434             15,224,010       
  

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     15,361,242             8,451,675             13,686,147             11,158,065       
  

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

           

Net investment income

           

Class S

     –             –             (388,278)             (322,749)       

Class C

     –             –             (5,892)             –       

Class A

     –             –             (22,709)             (2,353)       

Net realized gains

           

Class S

     (8,893,473)             –             –             (4,489,113)       

Class C

     –             –             –             (52,186)       

Class A

     (461,260)             –             –             (201,365)       
  

 

 

 

Net decrease from dividends and distributions

     (9,354,733)             –             (416,879)             (5,067,766)       
  

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

           

Shares sold

           

Class S

     28,195,461             18,296,541             23,396,295             16,580,790       

Class C

     –             –             537,226             828,203       

Class A

     801,128             1,908,013             3,523,369             4,545,786       

Reinvested dividends and distributions

           

Class S

     8,699,541             –             378,212             4,690,853       

Class C

     –             –             5,266             43,566       

Class A

     403,556             –             19,756             183,313       

Shares repurchased

           

Class S

     (20,398,791)             (22,597,870)             (32,337,540)             (21,368,193)       

Class C

     –             –             (496,670)             (401,215)       

Class A

     (1,206,856)             (2,987,018)             (3,138,040)             (3,837,341)       
  

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions

     16,494,039             (5,380,334)             (8,112,126)             1,265,762       
  

 

 

 

Total net increase in net assets

     22,500,548             3,071,341             5,157,142             7,356,061       

Net Assets

           

Beginning of year

     51,583,842             48,512,501             71,672,382             64,316,321       
  

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 74,084,390           $ 51,583,842           $ 76,829,524           $ 71,672,382       
  

 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

   $ (165,161)           $ –           $ –           $ 400,690       
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    45


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

    ICON Information Technology Fund     ICON Natural Resources Fund

 

    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016
    Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    Year Ended
September 30, 2016 (a)

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

       

Shares sold

       

Class S

    1,640,887         1,105,056         1,669,498       1,391,294     

Class C

    –         –         39,885       72,656     

Class A

    48,922         119,658         251,811       384,690     

Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

       

Class S

    574,606         –         27,073       422,219     

Class C

    –         –         391     4,038     

Class A

    27,453         –         1,425       16,604     

Shares repurchased

       

Class S

              (1,219,807)         (1,410,912)         (2,294,834)       (1,776,770)     

Class C

    –         –         (36,440)       (33,139)     

Class A

    (73,420)         (186,123)         (231,822)       (313,793)     
 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

    998,641         (372,321)         (573,013)       167,799     
 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    2,876,116         3,248,437         5,595,406       5,427,607     
 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

    3,874,757         2,876,116         5,022,393       5,595,406     
 

 

 

 

(a) 

Prior to January 22, 2016, the ICON Natural Resources Fund was known as the ICON Materials Fund.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

46    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

 

 

     ICON Utilities Fund  

    

    

   Year Ended
September 30, 2017
    

Year Ended

September 30, 2016

 

Operations

     

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ 1,419,409      $ 1,459,825      

Net realized gain/(loss)

     2,393,910        4,283,561      

Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     556,216        1,873,338      
  

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     4,369,535        7,616,724      
  

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

     

Net investment income

     

Class S

     (1,153,157)        (1,106,247)      

Class A

     (256,453)        (318,477)      

Net realized gains

     

Class S

     (3,388,000)        –      

Class A

     (880,434)        –      
  

 

 

 

Net decrease from dividends and distributions

     (5,678,044)        (1,424,724)      
  

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions

     

Shares sold

     

Class S

     17,370,144        50,937,665      

Class A

     2,115,878        12,140,072      

Reinvested dividends and distributions

     

Class S

     4,286,520        1,060,746      

Class A

     729,618        221,423      

Shares repurchased

     

Class S

     (28,830,643)        (31,789,944)      

Class A

     (9,984,766)        (3,816,717)      
  

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions

     (14,313,249)        28,753,245      
  

 

 

 

Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets

     (15,621,758)        34,945,245      

Net Assets

     

Beginning of year

     59,731,533        24,786,288      
  

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 44,109,775      $ 59,731,533      
  

 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss)

   $ 225,952      $ 22,990      
  

 

 

 

Transactions in Fund Shares

     

Shares sold

     

Class S

     1,896,662        5,504,446      

Class A

     234,414        1,380,355      

Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

     

Class S

     482,202        114,167      

Class A

     83,540        23,829      

Shares repurchased

     

Class S

     (3,147,439)        (3,372,689)      

Class A

     (1,107,673)        (424,156)      
  

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     (1,558,294)        3,225,952      
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

     6,321,006        3,095,054      
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding, end of year

     4,762,712        6,321,006      
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    47


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 13.55     $ 14.27     $ 15.55     $ 14.50     $ 11.82

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.06)         (0.03)         (0.07)         (0.07)         (0.03)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.25         0.65         1.03         1.12         2.73  

Total from investment operations

       1.19         0.62         0.96         1.05         2.70  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                                       (0.02)  

Distributions from net realized gains

       (0.77)         (1.34)         (2.24)                  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.77)         (1.34)         (2.24)                 (0.02)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 13.97     $ 13.55     $ 14.27     $ 15.55     $ 14.50
   

Total Return

       8.93 %       4.49 %       5.80 %       7.24 %       22.91 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $     24,566     $     37,263     $     44,913     $     55,476     $     39,883

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.46 %       1.42 %       1.43 %       1.46 %       1.38 %

After expense limitation(c)

       1.46 %       1.42 %       1.43 %       1.46 %       1.38 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.43) %       (0.22) %       (0.44) %       (0.47) %       (0.21) %

After expense limitation(c)

       (0.43) %       (0.22) %       (0.44) %       (0.47) %       (0.21) %

Portfolio turnover rate

       152 %       158 %       201 %       202 %       87 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

48    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A(a)    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 13.06     $ 13.88     $ 15.24     $ 14.25     $ 11.65

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       (0.13)         (0.10)         (0.14)         (0.12)         (0.09)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.20         0.62         1.02         1.11         2.69  

Total from investment operations

       1.07         0.52         0.88         0.99         2.60  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Distributions from net realized gains

       (0.77)         (1.34)         (2.24)                  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.77)         (1.34)         (2.24)                  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 13.36     $ 13.06     $ 13.88     $ 15.24     $ 14.25
   

Total Return(d)

       8.32 %       3.86 %       5.34 %       6.95 %       22.42 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       1,474     $       2,368     $       2,999     $       2,492     $       4,699

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.22 %       2.13 %       1.91 %       1.76 %       1.78 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.99 %       1.99 %       1.91 %       1.76 %       1.78 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (1.20) %       (0.92) %       (0.97) %       (0.80) %       (0.66) %

After expense limitation(e)

       (0.97) %       (0.78) %       (0.97) %       (0.80) %       (0.66) %

Portfolio turnover rate

       152 %       158 %       201 %       202 %       87 %

 

(a) 

Class C shares were merged into Class A on September 25, 2015. The amounts presented represent the results of the Class A shares for the periods prior to the merger and the results of the combined share class for the period subsequent to the merger.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c)

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d)

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e)

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    49


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Staples Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $   7.98     $   9.20     $   11.55     $   11.18     $   10.20

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.02         0.02         0.04         0.11         0.21  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       0.41         0.96         0.98         1.31         0.98  

Total from investment operations

       0.43         0.98         1.02         1.42         1.19  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.02)         (0.00) (c)        (0.22)         (0.03)         (0.21)  

Distributions from net realized gains

       (0.96)         (2.20)         (3.15)         (1.02)          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.98)         (2.20)         (3.37)         (1.05)         (0.21)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $   7.43     $   7.98     $   9.20     $   11.55     $   11.18
   

Total Return

       6.15 %       12.09 %       8.66 %       13.32 %       11.75 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       24,069     $       31,799     $       8,651     $       25,731     $       33,813

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.70 %       1.74 %       1.87 %       1.45 %       1.51 %

After expense limitation(d)

       1.50 %       1.51 %       1.51 %       1.45 %       1.51 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.04 %       0.00% (e)        (0.01) %       0.94 %       1.92 %

After expense limitation(d)

       0.24 %       0.23 %       0.35 %       0.94 %       1.92 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       118 %       125 %       16 %       52 %       91 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $(0.005).

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(e) 

Less than 0.005% of average net assets.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

50    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Consumer Staples Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A(a)    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 7.96     $ 9.19     $ 11.58     $ 11.23     $     10.24

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       (0.01)         (0.00) (d)        0.02         0.07         0.14  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       0.42         0.97         0.97         1.32         1.03  

Total from investment operations

       0.41         0.97         0.99         1.39         1.17  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.01)         (0.00) (d)        (0.23)         (0.02)         (0.18)  

Distributions from net realized gains

       (0.96)         (2.20)         (3.15)         (1.02)          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.97)         (2.20)         (3.38)         (1.04)         (0.18)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 7.40     $ 7.96     $   9.19     $ 11.58     $     11.23
   

Total Return(e)

       5.91 %       11.93 %       8.32 %       12.99 %       11.52 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       3,473     $       8,409     $       3,602     $       2,740     $       2,744

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.97 %       1.97 %       2.12 %       2.04 %       1.84 %

After expense limitation(f)

       1.75 %       1.76 %       1.76 %       1.75 %       1.75 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.30) %       (0.23) %       (0.15) %       0.35 %       1.20 %

After expense limitation(f)

       (0.08) %       (0.02) %       0.21 %       0.64 %       1.29 %

Portfolio turnover rate

         118 %       125 %       16 %       52 %       91 %

 

(a)

Class C shares were merged into Class A on September 25, 2015. The amounts presented represent the results of the Class A shares for the periods prior to the merger and the results of the combined share class for the period subsequent to the merger.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d) 

Amount less than $(0.005).

(e) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(f) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    51


Table of Contents
ICON Energy Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 12.66     $ 11.17     $ 22.30     $ 22.59     $ 19.18

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.06         0.24         0.11         0.11         0.18  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       (0.11)         1.36         (7.42)         0.33         3.51  

Total from investment operations

       (0.05)         1.60         (7.31)         0.44         3.69  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.08)         (0.11)         (0.09)         (0.06)         (0.28)  

Distributions from net realized gains

                       (3.73)         (0.67)          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.08)         (0.11)         (3.82)         (0.73)         (0.28)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 12.53     $ 12.66     $ 11.17     $ 22.30     $ 22.59
   

Total Return

       (0.44) %       14.55 %       (36.37) %       1.92 %       19.55 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $     222,707     $     327,497     $     320,486     $     615,541     $     659,581

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.41 %       1.44 %       1.42 %       1.28 %       1.29 %

After expense limitation(c)

       1.41 %       1.44 %       1.42 %       1.28 %       1.29 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.46 %       2.04 %       0.74 %       0.46 %       0.85 %

After expense limitation(c)

       0.46 %       2.04 %       0.74 %       0.46 %       0.85 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       74 %       99 %       154 %       97 %       88 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

52    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Energy Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class C    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $     12.14     $     10.77     $     21.74     $     22.21     $     18.87

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.07)         0.11         (0.04)         (0.15)         (0.05)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       (0.11)         1.31         (7.20)         0.35         3.48  

Total from investment operations

       (0.18)         1.42         (7.24)         0.20         3.43  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.04)         (0.05)                         (0.09)  

Distributions from net realized gains

                       (3.73)         (0.67)          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.04)         (0.05)         (3.73)         (0.67)         (0.09)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $     11.92     $     12.14     $     10.77     $     21.74     $     22.21
   

Total Return(c)

       (1.46) %       13.31 %       (36.99) %       0.83 %       18.30 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       7,333     $       10,124     $       9,972     $       17,170     $       14,691

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.47 %       2.49 %       2.43 %       2.38 %       2.35 %

After expense limitation(d)

       2.47 %       2.49 %       2.43 %       2.38 %       2.35 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.61) %       0.99 %       (0.26) %       (0.65) %       (0.25) %

After expense limitation(d)

       (0.61) %       0.99 %       (0.26) %       (0.65) %       (0.25) %

Portfolio turnover rate

       74 %       99 %       154 %       97 %       88 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    53


Table of Contents
ICON Energy Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A   

Year Ended
September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2015

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2014

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $     12.60     $     11.11     $     22.20     $     22.50     $     19.12

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.02       0.21       0.07       0.04       0.11

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       (0.11)         1.35         (7.39)         0.35         3.51  

Total from investment operations

       (0.09)         1.56         (7.32)         0.39         3.62  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.07)       (0.07)       (0.04)       (0.02)       (0.24)

Distributions from net realized gains

                       (3.73)         (0.67)          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.07)         (0.07)         (3.77)         (0.69)         (0.24)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $     12.44     $     12.60     $     11.11     $     22.20     $     22.50
   

Total Return(c)

       (0.76) %       14.19 %       (36.55) %       1.67 %       19.21 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       9,312     $       14,648     $       14,588     $       26,695     $       26,170

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.72 %       1.73 %       1.66 %       1.55 %       1.61 %

After expense limitation(d)

       1.72 %       1.73 %       1.66 %       1.55 %       1.61 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.15 %       1.77 %       0.50 %       0.19 %       0.51 %

After expense limitation(d)

       0.15 %       1.77 %       0.50 %       0.19 %       0.51 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       74 %       99 %       154 %       97 %       88 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b)

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c)

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

54    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Financial Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $     7.67     $     7.74     $     7.83     $     7.47     $     6.04

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.03       0.08       0.04       0.00 (c)        0.04

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       2.34       (0.15)       (0.08)       0.54       1.44

Total from investment operations

       2.37       (0.07)       (0.04)       0.54       1.48

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.09)             (0.05)       (0.18)       (0.05)

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.09)             (0.05)       (0.18)       (0.05)

Net asset value, end of period

     $     9.95     $     7.67     $     7.74     $     7.83     $     7.47
                                                    

Total Return

       30.96 %       (0.90) %       (0.55) %       7.27 %       24.68 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       39,072     $       43,354     $       49,106     $       32,286     $       11,853

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.40 %       1.40 %       1.49 %       1.64 %       1.47 %

After expense limitation(d)

       1.40 %       1.40 %       1.49 %       1.50 %       1.47 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.28 %       1.00 %       0.52 %       (0.20) %       0.65 %

After expense limitation(d)

       0.28 %       1.00 %       0.52 %       (0.06) %       0.65 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       68 %       49 %       51 %       79 %       95 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

Amount less than $0.005.

(d) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    55


Table of Contents
ICON Financial Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A(a)    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 7.71       $ 7.82       $ 7.89       $ 7.37       $ 5.99  

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       (0.01)         0.05         0.02         (0.02)         0.06  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       2.37         (0.16)         (0.07)         0.54         1.38  

Total from investment operations

       2.36         (0.11)         (0.05)         0.52         1.44  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.08)                 (0.02)                 (0.06)  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.08)                 (0.02)                 (0.06)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 9.99       $ 7.71       $ 7.82       $ 7.89       $ 7.37  
   

Total Return(d)

       30.68 %       (1.41) %       (0.69) %       7.20 %       24.20 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       2,119     $       2,542     $       1,974     $       541     $       936

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.05 %       2.12 %       2.19 %       2.35 %       1.88 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.76 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.37) %       0.26 %       (0.15) %       (0.86) %       0.82 %

After expense limitation(e)

       (0.07) %       0.63 %       0.29 %       (0.26) %       0.94 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       68 %       49 %       51 %       79 %       95 %

 

(a)

Class C shares were merged into Class A on September 25, 2015. The amounts presented represent the results of the Class A shares for the periods prior to the merger and the results of the combined share class for the period subsequent to the merger.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d)

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

56    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Healthcare Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S   

Year Ended

September 30,
2017

  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 15.40     $ 17.83     $ 22.42     $ 22.17     $ 17.56

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.05)         (0.04)         (0.09)         (0.11)         0.03  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.86         1.54         1.02         6.18         4.75  

Total from investment operations

       1.81         1.50         0.93         6.07         4.78  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                               (0.03)         (0.17)  

Distributions from net realized gains

       (0.24)         (3.93)         (5.52)         (5.79)          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.24)         (3.93)         (5.52)         (5.82)         (0.17)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 16.97     $ 15.40     $ 17.83     $ 22.42     $ 22.17
   

Total Return

       11.94 %       9.44 %       2.55 %       32.27 %       27.48 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       83,234     $       76,218     $       95,109     $       148,261     $       92,171

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.41 %       1.44 %       1.36 %       1.36 %       1.39 %

After expense limitation(c)

       1.41 %       1.44 %       1.36 %       1.36 %       1.39 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.33) %       (0.26) %       (0.45) %       (0.53) %       0.13 %

After expense limitation(c)

       (0.33) %       (0.26) %       (0.45) %       (0.53) %       0.13 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       174 %       107 %       141 %       188 %       112 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    57


Table of Contents
ICON Healthcare Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A(a)   

Year Ended
September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2015

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2014

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 14.84     $ 17.37     $ 22.01     $ 21.92     $ 17.42

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       (0.10)         (0.09)         (0.14)         (0.14)         (0.03)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       1.79         1.49         1.02         6.03         4.69  

Total from investment operations

       1.69         1.40         0.88         5.89         4.66  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                               (0.01)         (0.16)  

Distributions from net realized gains

       (0.24)         (3.93)         (5.52)         (5.79)          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.24)         (3.93)         (5.52)         (5.80)         (0.16)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 16.29     $ 14.84     $ 17.37     $ 22.01     $ 21.92
   

Total Return(d)

       11.58 %       9.03 %       2.33 %       31.72 %       26.95 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       3,989     $       4,921     $       15,317     $       10,878     $       3,748

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.86 %       1.79 %       1.62 %       1.62 %       1.69 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.62 %       1.62 %       1.69 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.78) %       (0.63) %       (0.69) %       (0.66) %       (0.15) %

After expense limitation(e)

       (0.67) %       (0.59) %       (0.69) %       (0.66) %       (0.15) %

Portfolio turnover rate

       174 %       107 %       141 %       188 %       112 %

 

(a) 

Class C shares were merged into Class A on September 25, 2015. The amounts presented represent the results of the Class A shares for the periods prior to the merger and the results of the combined share class for the period subsequent to the merger.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

58    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Industrials Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 12.26     $ 10.94     $ 11.67     $ 10.56     $ 8.26

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.04)         (0.02)         0.01         0.01         0.06  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       2.75         1.34         (0.73)         1.16         2.35  

Total from investment operations

       2.71         1.32         (0.72)         1.17         2.41  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                       (0.01)         (0.06)         (0.11)  

Total dividends and distributions

                       (0.01)         (0.06)         (0.11)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 14.97     $ 12.26     $ 10.94     $ 11.67     $ 10.56
   

Total Return

       22.10 %       12.07 %       (6.15) %       11.14 %       29.52 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $     15,482     $     23,957     $     14,251     $     35,883     $     34,409

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.69 %       1.73 %       1.53 %       1.41 %       1.46 %

After expense limitation(c)

       1.51 %       1.50 %       1.50 %       1.41 %       1.46 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.50) %       (0.37) %       0.07 %       0.07 %       0.60 %

After expense limitation(c)

       (0.32) %       (0.14) %       0.10 %       0.07 %       0.60 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       75 %       87 %       23 %       30 %       46 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    59


Table of Contents
ICON Industrials Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A(a)    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 12.14     $     10.86     $     11.58     $     10.45     $ 8.10

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       (0.07)         (0.04)         (0.02)         (0.03)         0.00 (d) 

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       2.72         1.32         (0.70)         1.16         2.36  

Total from investment operations

       2.65         1.28         (0.72)         1.13         2.36  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

                                       (0.01)  

Total dividends and distributions

                                       (0.01)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 14.79     $ 12.14     $ 10.86     $ 11.58     $ 10.45
   

Total Return(e)

       21.83 %       11.79 %       (6.22) %       10.81 %       29.20 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $     2,406     $     998     $     596     $     298     $     4,322

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.05 %       2.96 %       2.67 %       2.02 %       2.09 %

After expense limitation(f)

       1.76 %       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.79) %       (1.59) %       (1.11) %       (0.56) %       (0.32) %

After expense limitation(f)

       (0.50) %       (0.38) %       (0.19) %       (0.29) %       0.02 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       75 %       87 %       23 %       30 %       46 %

 

(a) 

Class C shares were merged into Class A on September 25, 2015. The amounts presented represent the results of the Class A shares for the periods prior to the merger and the results of the combined share class for the period subsequent to the merger.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d) 

Amount less than $0.005.

(e) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(f) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

60    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Information Technology Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 17.96     $ 14.95     $ 13.55     $ 11.44     $ 10.72

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       (0.10)         (0.07)         (0.09)         (0.07)         (0.02)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       4.53         3.08         1.49         2.18         0.74  

Total from investment operations

       4.43         3.01         1.40         2.11         0.72  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Distributions from net realized gains

       (3.25)                                  

Total dividends and distributions

       (3.25)                                  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 19.14     $ 17.96     $ 14.95     $ 13.55     $ 11.44
   

Total Return

       29.46 %       20.13 %       10.33 %       18.44 %       6.72 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $     71,249     $     48,953     $ 45,343     $ 50,363     $ 73,851

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.42 %       1.49 %       1.44 %       1.40 %       1.38 %

After expense limitation(c)

       1.42 %       1.49 %       1.44 %       1.40 %       1.38 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.58) %       (0.46) %       (0.62) %       (0.56) %       (0.22) %

After expense limitation(c)

       (0.58) %       (0.46) %       (0.62) %       (0.56) %       (0.22) %

Portfolio turnover rate

       116 %       94 %       43 %       48 %       52 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    61


Table of Contents
ICON Information Technology Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A(a)    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 17.55     $ 14.65     $ 13.32     $ 11.30     $ 10.65

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       (0.15)       (0.11)       (0.14)       (0.11)       (0.05)

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       4.40       3.01       1.47       2.13       0.70

Total from investment operations

       4.25       2.90       1.33       2.02       0.65

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Distributions from net realized gains

       (3.25)                        

Total dividends and distributions

       (3.25)                        

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 18.55     $ 17.55     $ 14.65     $ 13.32     $ 11.30
   

Total Return(d)

           29.08 %           19.80 %             9.99 %             17.88 %           6.10 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $ 2,836     $ 2,631     $ 3,170     $ 455     $ 2,330

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.01 %       2.17 %       1.90 %       1.94 %       2.23 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (1.16) %       (1.12) %       (1.07) %       (1.10) %       (0.94) %

After expense limitation(e)

       (0.90) %       (0.70) %       (0.92) %       (0.91) %       (0.45) %

Portfolio turnover rate

       116 %       94 %       43 %       48 %       52 %

 

(a) 

Class C shares were merged into Class A on September 25, 2015. The amounts presented represent the results of the Class A shares for the periods prior to the merger and the results of the combined share class for the period subsequent to the merger.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e)

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

62    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Natural Resources Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016 (a)
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 12.82     $ 11.86     $ 15.09     $ 13.43     $ 11.12

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       0.01       0.10       0.04       0.04       0.09

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       2.56       1.80       (3.23)       1.68       2.40

Total from investment operations

       2.57       1.90       (3.19)       1.72       2.49

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.07)       (0.06)       (0.04)       (0.06)       (0.18)

Distributions from net realized gains

             (0.88)                  

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.07)       (0.94)       (0.04)       (0.06)       (0.18)

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 15.32     $ 12.82     $ 11.86     $ 15.09     $ 13.43
   

Total Return

       20.13 %       17.24 %       (21.22) %       12.85 %       22.73 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       69,444     $       65,787     $       60,404     $       93,610     $       65,782

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.52 %       1.59 %       1.42 %       1.36 %       1.45 %

After expense limitation(d)

       1.50 %       1.50 %       1.42 %       1.36 %       1.45 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       0.06 %       0.70 %       0.27 %       0.26 %       0.72 %

After expense limitation(d)

       0.08 %       0.79 %       0.27 %       0.26 %       0.72 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       68 %       81 %       48 %       33 %       56 %

 

(a) 

Prior to January 22, 2016, the ICON Natural Resources Fund was known as the ICON Materials Fund.

(b)

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c)

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d)

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    63


Table of Contents
ICON Natural Resources Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class C    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016 (a)
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 12.36     $ 11.51     $ 14.77     $ 13.24     $ 10.94

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       (0.13)         (0.03)         (0.11)         (0.12)         (0.04)  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       2.47         1.76         (3.15)         1.65         2.38  

Total from investment operations

       2.34         1.73         (3.26)         1.53         2.34  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.05)                                 (0.04)  

Distributions from net realized gains

               (0.88)                          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.05)         (0.88)                         (0.04)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 14.65     $ 12.36     $ 11.51     $       14.77     $       13.24
   

Total Return(d)

       18.97 %       16.11 %       (22.07) %       11.56 %       21.43 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       1,756     $       1,435     $           834     $ 675     $ 218

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.85 %       3.01 %       2.94 %       4.17 %       4.12 %

After expense limitation(e)

       2.50 %       2.51 %       2.50 %       2.50 %       2.50 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (1.27) %       (0.73) %       (1.22) %       (2.51) %       (1.95) %

After expense limitation(e)

       (0.92) %       (0.23) %       (0.78) %       (0.84) %       (0.33) %

Portfolio turnover rate

       68 %       81 %       48 %       33 %       56 %

 

(a)

Prior to January 22, 2016, the ICON Natural Resources Fund was known as the ICON Materials Fund.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

64    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Natural Resources Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016 (a)
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 12.73     $ 11.75     $ 14.96     $ 13.36     $ 11.07

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       (0.03)         0.06         (0.01)         (0.01)         0.05  

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       2.54         1.81         (3.20)         1.67         2.38  

Total from investment operations

       2.51         1.87         (3.21)         1.66         2.43  

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.07)         (0.01)                 (0.06)         (0.14)  

Distributions from net realized gains

               (0.88)                          

Total dividends and distributions

       (0.07)         (0.89)                 (0.06)         (0.14)  

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 15.17     $ 12.73     $ 11.75     $ 14.96     $ 13.36
   

Total Return(d)

       19.81 %       17.05 %       (21.46) %       12.47 %       22.24 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $       5,629     $       4,451     $       3,078     $       8,229     $       1,883

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.91 %       2.02 %       1.76 %       1.72 %       2.02 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.72 %       1.75 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       (0.35) %       0.24 %       (0.06) %       (0.07) %       0.17 %

After expense limitation(e)

       (0.19) %       0.51 %       (0.05) %       (0.07) %       0.44 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       68 %       81 %       48 %       33 %       56 %

 

(a) 

Prior to January 22, 2016, the ICON Natural Resources Fund was known as the ICON Materials Fund.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    65


Table of Contents
ICON Utilities Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class S   

Year Ended
September 30,

2017

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2016

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2015

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2014

 

Year Ended
September 30,

2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 9.49     $ 8.03     $ 7.90     $ 7.22     $ 6.81

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(a)(b)

       0.27       0.30       0.28       0.22       0.20

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       0.59       1.43       0.11       0.69       0.43

Total from investment operations

       0.86       1.73       0.39       0.91       0.63

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.27)       (0.27)       (0.26)       (0.23)       (0.22)

Distributions from net realized gains

       (0.79)                        

Total dividends and distributions

       (1.06)       (0.27)       (0.26)       (0.23)       (0.22)

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 9.29     $ 9.49     $ 8.03     $ 7.90     $ 7.22
   

Total Return

       9.88 %       21.74 %       4.93 %       12.69 %       9.25 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $      35,816     $      43,864     $      19,107     $      17,920     $      29,117

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.54 %       1.59 %       1.70 %       1.52 %       1.62 %

After expense limitation(c)

       1.44% (d)       1.50 %       1.50 %       1.50 %       1.51 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.83 %       3.15 %       3.12 %       2.84 %       2.71 %

After expense limitation(c)

       2.93 %       3.24 %       3.32 %       2.86 %       2.81 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       160 %       168 %       243 %       107 %       121 %

 

(a) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(b) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(d) 

Effective July 1, 2017, the annual expense limitation rate changed from 1.50% to 1.22%.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

66    www.iconfunds.com


Table of Contents
ICON Utilities Fund    Financial Highlights
   For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Class A(a)    Year Ended
September 30,
2017
  Year Ended
September 30,
2016
  Year Ended
September 30,
2015
  Year Ended
September 30,
2014
  Year Ended
September 30,
2013

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 9.35     $ 7.92     $ 7.81     $ 7.14     $ 6.73

Income/(loss) from investment operations:

                    

Net investment income/(loss)(b)(c)

       0.24       0.28       0.26       0.21       0.18

Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

       0.59       1.40       0.11       0.68       0.42

Total from investment operations

       0.83       1.68       0.37       0.89       0.60

Less dividends and distributions:

                    

Dividends from net investment income

       (0.25)       (0.25)       (0.26)       (0.22)       (0.19)

Distributions from net realized gains

       (0.79)                        

Total dividends and distributions

       (1.04)       (0.25)       (0.26)       (0.22)       (0.19)

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 9.14     $ 9.35     $ 7.92     $ 7.81     $ 7.14
   

Total Return(d)

       9.63 %       21.29 %       4.63 %       12.44 %       8.96 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                    

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

     $      8,293     $    15,868     $      5,679     $      2,517     $      2,402

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       1.84 %       1.79 %       1.89 %       1.81 %       1.74 %

After expense limitation(e)

       1.69% (f)       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.75 %       1.74 %

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

                    

Before expense limitation

       2.48 %       3.10 %       3.04 %       2.69 %       2.55 %

After expense limitation(e)

       2.63 %       3.14 %       3.18 %       2.75 %       2.55 %

Portfolio turnover rate

       160 %       168 %       243 %       107 %       121 %

 

(a) 

Class C shares were merged into Class A on September 25, 2015. The amounts presented represent the results of the Class A shares for the periods prior to the merger and the results of the combined share class for the period subsequent to the merger.

(b) 

Calculated using the average shares method.

(c) 

The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(d) 

The total return calculation excludes any sales charges.

(e) 

The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense, when applicable.

(f) 

Effective July 1, 2017, the annual expense limitation rate changed from 1.75% to 1.47%.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

 

The ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund (“Consumer Discretionary Fund”), ICON Consumer Staples Fund (“Consumer Staples Fund”), ICON Energy Fund (“Energy Fund”), ICON Financial Fund (“Financial Fund”), ICON Healthcare Fund (“Healthcare Fund”), ICON Industrials Fund (“Industrials Fund”), ICON Information Technology Fund (“Information Technology Fund”), ICON Natural Resources Fund (formerly ICON Materials Fund) (“Natural Resources Fund”) and ICON Utilities Fund (“Utilities Fund”) are series funds (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds are part of the ICON Funds (the “Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end non-diversified investment management company. Each Fund offers two classes of shares: Class S and Class A. The Energy Fund and the Natural Resources Fund also offer a Class C share. All classes have equal rights as to earnings, assets, and voting privileges except that each Class may bear different distribution fees, registration costs, legal costs, mailing and printing costs and shareholder servicing costs and each Class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. There are currently eight other active Funds within the Trust. Those Funds are covered by separate prospectuses and shareholder reports.

Each Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of no par shares. The Funds invest primarily in securities of companies whose principal business activities fall within specific sectors and industries. The investment objective of each Fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

The Funds, like all investments in securities, have elements of risk, including risk of loss of principal. There is no assurance that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives and may underperform funds with similar investment objectives. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries involves greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment. Investments in foreign securities and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar-denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of lower government supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, may not exist in some foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. There are also risks associated with small-and mid-cap investing, including limited product lines, less liquidity and small market share.

The Consumer Staples Fund has a significant weighting in the Packaged Foods & Meats industry, the Energy Fund has a significant weighting in the Oil & Gas Exploration & Production industry, the Financial Fund has a significant weighting in the Diversified Banks industry, the Healthcare Fund has a significant weighting in the Biotechnology industry, the Industrials Fund has a significant weighting in the Building Products industry, the Natural Resources Fund has a significant weighting in the Oil & Gas Exploration & Production industry and the Utilities Fund has a significant weighting in the Electric Utilities industry and the Multi-Utilities industry which may cause the Funds’ performance to be susceptible to the economic, business and/or other developments that may affect those industries.

In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into various agreements that provide for general indemnifications. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as any potential exposure involving future claims that may be made against each Fund is unknown. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.

Investment Valuation

The Funds’ securities and other assets, excluding options on securities indexes, are valued at the closing price as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) each day the NYSE is open, except that securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) are normally valued by the Funds at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price provided by NASDAQ each business day. If the NYSE closes unexpectedly and there is active trading on other exchanges, the securities will be valued at the Valuation Time based off of those exchanges. Options on securities indexes are valued at the close of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (normally 4:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

The Funds use pricing services to obtain the fair value of securities in their portfolios. If a pricing service is not able to provide a price, or the pricing service’s valuation is considered inaccurate or does not, in the Funds’ judgment, reflect the fair value of the security, prices may be obtained

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

through market quotations from independent broker/dealers. If market quotations from these sources are not readily available, the Funds’ securities or other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (the “Board”) or pursuant to procedures approved by the Board.

Lacking any sales that day, a security is valued at the current closing bid price (or yield equivalent thereof) or based on quotes obtained from dealers making a market for the security. Exchange traded options are valued at the composite price, using the National Best Bid and Offer quotes (“NBBO”). NBBO consists of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across any of the exchanges on which an option is quoted, thus providing a view across the entire U.S. options marketplace. Debt securities with a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using the evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service. The evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service is based upon a matrix valuation system which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings. Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost or original cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. Currency rates as of the close of the NYSE are used to convert foreign security values into U.S. dollars.

Securities of investment companies that trade on an exchange are valued at the last sales price or official closing price as of the close of the customary trading session on the exchange where the security is principally traded. Investments in shares of funds, including money market funds, that are not traded on an exchange are valued at the end of day net asset value (“NAV”) per share of such fund. Securities in the underlying funds, including restricted securities are valued in accordance with the valuation policy of such fund.

The Funds’ securities traded in countries outside of the Western Hemisphere are fair valued daily by utilizing the quotations of an independent pricing service, unless the Board determines that use of another valuation methodology is appropriate. The purposes of daily fair valuation are to avoid stale prices and to take into account, among other things, any significant events occurring after the close of foreign markets. The pricing service uses statistical analyses and quantitative models to adjust local market prices using factors such as subsequent movements and changes in the prices of indexes, securities and exchange rates in other markets to determine fair value as of the time a Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”). The valuation assigned to fair-value securities for purposes of calculating a Fund’s NAV may differ from the security’s most recent closing market price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their NAVs.

Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Funds’ investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

Level 1 —

  

quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2 —

  

significant observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk).

Level 3 —

  

significant unobservable inputs.

Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds, and unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. For example, non-U.S. equity securities actively traded in foreign markets may be reflected in Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices, because the Funds evaluate and determine whether those closing prices reflect fair value at the close of the NYSE or require adjustment, as described above. The following table summarizes the Funds’ investments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on September 30, 2017:

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
     Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
     Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

   $ 24,283,714      $      $          –      $ 24,283,714      

Collateral for Securities on Loan

            592,080               592,080      

 

 

Total

   $         24,283,714      $ 592,080      $      $         24,875,794      

 

 
ICON Consumer Staples Fund            
Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
     Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
     Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

   $ 27,077,476      $      $      $ 27,077,476      

Collateral for Securities on Loan

            2,009,724               2,009,724      

 

 

Total

   $ 27,077,476      $         2,009,724      $      $ 29,087,200      

 

 

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

ICON Energy Fund        
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
    Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
    Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

  $ 234,214,671   $  –   $         –     $ 234,214,671    

Collateral for Securities on Loan

        18,303,527         18,303,527    

 

 

Total

  $         234,214,671   $         18,303,527   $     $         252,518,198    

 

 
ICON Financial Fund        
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
    Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
    Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

  $ 40,627,120   $  –   $   $ 40,627,120    

Collateral for Securities on Loan

        511,875         511,875    

 

 

Total

  $ 40,627,120   $ 511,875   $     $ 41,138,995    

 

 
ICON Healthcare Fund        
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
    Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
    Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

  $ 83,933,304   $  –   $   $ 83,933,304    

 

 

Total

  $ 83,933,304   $  –   $   $ 83,933,304    

 

 
ICON Industrials Fund        
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
    Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
    Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

  $ 17,151,337   $  –   $   $ 17,151,337    

 

 

Total

  $ 17,151,337   $  –   $   $ 17,151,337    

 

 
ICON Information Technology Fund      
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
    Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
    Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

  $ 72,565,287   $  –   $   $ 72,565,287    

 

 

Total

  $ 72,565,287   $  –   $   $ 72,565,287    

 

 
ICON Natural Resources Fund      
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
    Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
    Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

       

Building Products

  $ 1,950,085   $ 675,738   $   $ 2,625,823    

Construction Materials

    2,528,000     1,621,400         4,149,400    

Diversified Chemicals

    5,527,316     2,450,336         7,977,652    

Gold

    5,242,690     2,221,362         7,464,052    

Integrated Oil & Gas

    1,817,400     896,840         2,714,240    

Other

    46,786,950             46,786,950    

 

 

Total

  $ 63,852,441   $ 7,865,676   $   $ 71,718,117    

 

 
ICON Utilities Fund        
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1 - Quoted
and Unadjusted
Prices
    Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable Inputs
    Level 3 - Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

  $ 43,609,598   $  –   $     $ 43,609,598    

Collateral for Securities on Loan

        1,878,800         1,878,800    

 

 

Total

  $ 43,609,598   $ 1,878,800   $   $ 45,488,398    

 

 

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

*

Please refer to the Schedule of Investments and the Sector/Industry Classification tables for additional security details.

There were no Level 3 securities held in any of the Funds at September 30, 2017.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, there was no transfer activity between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.

The end of period timing recognition is used for the transfers between levels of each Fund’s assets and liabilities.

Fund Share Valuation

Fund shares are sold and redeemed on a daily basis at NAV. NAV per share is determined daily as of the close of trading on the NYSE on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The NAV is computed by dividing the total value of the Fund’s investments and other assets, less liabilities, by the number of Fund shares outstanding.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Idle cash may be swept into various overnight demand deposits and is classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Funds maintain cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed United States federally insured limits. Amounts swept overnight are available on the next business day.

Foreign Currency Translation

The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated daily into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the respective dates of the transactions. Purchases and sales of securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the contractual currency exchange rates established at the time of each trade.

The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities resulting from changes in the exchange rates and changes in market prices of securities held.

Options Transactions

The Funds’ use of derivatives for the year ended September 30, 2017 was limited to purchased options.

The Funds may purchase and/or write (sell) call and put options on any security in which it may invest. The Funds utilize options to hedge against changes in market conditions or to provide market exposure while trying to reduce transaction costs.

Option contracts involve market risk and liquidity risk and can be highly volatile. Should prices of securities or securities indexes move in an unexpected manner, the Funds may not achieve the desired benefits and may realize losses and thus be in a worse position than if such strategies had not been utilized.

When a Fund writes a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium received is included on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current fair value of the option. If an option expires on its stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If a written call option on an individual security is exercised, a gain or loss is realized for the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from the sale are increased by the premium originally received. If a written call option on a securities index is exercised, a gain or loss is realized as determined by the premium originally received, the exercise price and the fair value of the index. If a written put option on an individual security is exercised, the cost of the security acquired is decreased by the premium originally received. As a writer of an option, a Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the individual security or securities index underlying the written option. Additionally, written call options may involve the risk of limiting gains.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Each Fund may also purchase put and call options. When a Fund purchases a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium paid is included on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an investment, and is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current fair value of the option. If an option expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase or sale transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If the Fund exercises a call option on an individual security, the cost of the security acquired is increased by the premium paid for the call. If the Fund exercises a put option on an individual security, a gain or loss is realized from the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from such a sale are decreased by the premium originally paid. If the Fund exercises a put or a call option on a security index, a gain or loss is realized as determined by the premium originally paid, the exercise price and the fair value of the index. Written and purchased options are non-income producing securities.

As of September 30, 2017, no Funds engaged in purchased option transactions.

The following is a summary of how these derivatives are treated in the financial statements and their impact on the Funds:

 

ICON Energy Fund

 

Risk Exposure

  Statements of Operations Location   

Realized

Gain/(Loss) on

Derivatives

Recognized

in Income

   

Change in    
Unrealized Appreciation/    

(Depreciation)    

on Derivatives    

Recognized    

in Income    

 

 

 

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

 

Net realized gain/(loss) on Investments and foreign currency translations/ Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on Investments and foreign currency

   $                    (1,003,925)     $                                      –      

 

 

Total

     $ (1,003,925   $ –      

 

 

ICON Financial Fund

 

Risk Exposure

  Statements of Operations Location   

Realized

Gain/(Loss) on

Derivatives

Recognized

in Income

   

Change in    
Unrealized Appreciation/    

(Depreciation)    

on Derivatives    

Recognized    

in Income    

 

 

 

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

 

Net realized gain/(loss) on Investments and foreign currency translations/ Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on Investments and foreign currency

   $ (197,893)     $ –      

 

 

Total

     $ (197,893   $ –      

 

 

ICON Utilities Fund

 

Risk Exposure

  Statements of Operations Location   

Realized

Gain/(Loss) on

Derivatives

Recognized

in Income

   

Change in    
Unrealized Appreciation/    

(Depreciation)    

on Derivatives    

Recognized    

in Income    

 

 

 

Equity Contracts (Purchased Options)

 

Net realized gain/(loss) on Investments and foreign currency translations/ Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on Investments and foreign currency

   $ 175,954     $ (80,609)      

 

 

Total

     $ 175,954     $ (80,609)      

 

 

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

The average purchased option contracts during the year ended September 30, 2017, was as follows:

 

ICON Energy Fund

     
Derivative Type       Unit of Measurement             Average Contracts+             Days Held      

Purchased Options

    Contracts       6,242       144  

ICON Financial Fund

     
Derivative Type   Unit of Measurement     Average Contracts+     Days Held  

Purchased Options

    Contracts       2,797       92  

ICON Utilities Fund

     
Derivative Type   Unit of Measurement     Average Contracts+     Days Held  

Purchased Options

    Contracts       609       79  

 

+

The average is calculated based on the actual number of days with outstanding derivatives.

The Funds value derivatives at fair value, as described above, and recognize changes in fair value currently in the results of operations. Accordingly the Funds do not follow hedge accounting, even for derivatives employed as economic hedges.

Securities Lending

Under procedures adopted by the Board, the Funds may lend securities to certain approved brokers, dealers and other financial institutions to earn additional income. Cash collateral is received in exchange for securities on loan in the amount of at least 102% of the value of U.S. securities loaned or at least 105% of the value of non-U.S. securities loaned, marked to market daily. The Funds retain certain benefits of owning the securities, including receipt of dividends or interest generated by the security, but give up other rights including the right to vote proxies. The Funds retain the ability to recall the loans at any time and could do so in order to vote proxies or to sell the loaned securities. Each loan is collateralized by cash that generally exceeds the value of the securities on loan. The fair value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Funds and any additional required collateral is delivered to each Fund on the next business day.

Generally, in the event of borrower default, the Funds have the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. In the event the Funds are delayed or prevented from exercising their rights to dispose of the collateral, there may be a potential loss to the Funds. Some of these losses may be indemnified by the lending agent.

Effective October 14, 2016, the Funds have elected to invest the cash collateral received from lending in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio which is disclosed on the Schedules of Investments. Prior to October 14, 2016, the Funds used the State Street Navigator Prime Portfolio. The Funds bear the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. The net securities lending income earned by the Funds for the year ended September 30, 2017, is included in the Statements of Operations.

The following table indicates the total amount of securities loaned by type, reconciled to gross liability payable upon return of the securities loaned by the Funds as of September 30, 2017:

 

    Remaining contractual maturity of the lending agreement              
     Overnight &
Continuous
    Up to 30 days     30-90 days     Greater than
90 days
    Fair Value     Collateral
Received
   

Excess amount

due to
counterparty

 

Securities Lending Transactions

             

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

             

Equity Securities

  $ 573,784     $               –     $               –     $               –     $ 573,784     $ 573,784     $ 18,296  

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

             

Equity Securities

    1,965,934                         1,965,934       1,965,934       43,790  

ICON Energy Fund

             

Equity Securities

      17,817,440                           17,817,440         17,817,440           486,087  

ICON Financial Fund

             

Equity Securities

    498,225                         498,225       498,225       13,650  

ICON Utilities Fund

             

Equity Securities

    1,848,772                         1,848,772       1,848,772       30,028  

 

 
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   September 30, 2017

 

Income Taxes, Dividends, and Distributions

The Funds intend to continue to qualify as regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and, accordingly, the Funds will generally not be subject to federal and state income taxes or federal excise taxes to the extent that they intend to make sufficient distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains. As of and during the year ended September 30, 2017, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. The Funds recognize the interest and penalties, if any, related to the unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statements of Operations. During the period, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties.

Dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term gains are, for federal income tax purposes, taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.

Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded by the Funds on the ex-dividend/distribution date. The Funds distribute income and net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually, if not offset by capital loss carryforward. The Funds may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes and designate earnings and profits, including net realized gains distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares, as part of the dividends paid deduction for income tax purposes. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax periods and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements.

The Funds file U.S. tax returns. While the statute of limitations remains open to examine the Funds’ U.S. tax returns filed for the past three years, no examinations are in progress or anticipated at this time. The Funds are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

Certain foreign countries impose a capital gains tax which is accrued by the Funds based on the unrealized appreciation, if any, on affected securities. Any accrual would reduce a Fund’s NAV. The tax is paid when the gain is realized and is included in capital gains tax in the Statements of Operations.

Investment Income

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income is accrued as earned. Certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the Funds are informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Discounts and premiums on fixed income securities purchased are accreted or amortized to income over the life of the respective securities based on the effective yield.

Investment Transactions

Security transactions are accounted for no later than one business day after the trade date. However, for financial reporting purposes, security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

Withholding Tax

Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Funds to meet their obligations may be affected by economic and political developments in specific country or region.

Other

The Funds hold certain investments which pay dividends to their shareholders based upon available funds from operations. It is possible for these dividends to exceed the underlying investments’ taxable earnings and profits resulting in the excess portion of such dividends being designated as a return of capital. Distributions received from investments in securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments or as a realized gain, respectively.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Allocation of Expenses

Each class of a Fund’s shares bears expenses incurred specifically on its behalf and, in addition, each class bears a portion of general expenses, based upon relative net assets of each class or number of shareholder accounts. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a specific Fund in the Trust are apportioned between all Funds in the Trust based upon relative net assets or number of shareholder accounts. In calculating the net asset value per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses other than class-specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets.

Below are additional class level expenses for the year ended September 30, 2017 that are included on the Statements of Operations:

 

Fund    Printing Fees      Transfer Agent Fees*      Registration Fees  

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

        

Class S

   $ 8,859      $ 36,553      $ 18,464  

Class A

     456        4,070        7,435  

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

        

Class S

     8,564        79,269        21,542  

Class A

     1,055        9,479        11,776  

ICON Energy Fund

        

Class S

     55,466        480,072        37,439  

Class C

     1,763        11,935        9,476  

Class A

     2,406        18,414        10,437  

ICON Financial Fund

        

Class S

     9,744        39,769        19,382  

Class A

     613        4,009        7,748  

ICON Healthcare Fund

        

Class S

     16,114        105,929        23,894  

Class A

     884        6,610        8,286  

ICON Industrials Fund

        

Class S

     8,657        44,890        18,575  

Class A

     700        3,690        8,846  

ICON Information Technology Fund

        

Class S

     12,638        68,273        22,220  

Class A

     627        4,208        8,753  

ICON Natural Resources Fund

        

Class S

     22,391        134,365        24,548  

Class C

     431        2,046        7,781  

Class A

     1,782        11,541        8,993  

ICON Utilities Fund

        

Class S

     10,714        71,656        28,489  

Class A

     4,669        14,345        12,014  

 

*

Transfer agent out of pocket fees are a Fund level expense.

3. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

Investment Advisory Fees

ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON Advisers”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and is responsible for managing the Funds’ portfolios of securities. ICON Advisers receives a monthly management fee that is computed daily at an annual rate of 1.00% on the first $500 million of average daily net assets, 0.95% on the next $250 million, 0.925% on the next $750 million, 0.90% on the next $3.5 billion, and 0.875% on average daily net assets over $5 billion.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

ICON Advisers has contractually agreed to limit its Funds’ expenses (exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, dividends on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary to ensure that the Funds’ operating expenses do not exceed the following amounts:

 

Fund    Class S   Class C       Class A        

 

 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

   1.74%   –             1.99  

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

   1.50%   –             1.75  

ICON Energy Fund

   1.50%   2.50%     1.75  

ICON Financial Fund

   1.50%   –             1.75  

ICON Healthcare Fund

   1.50%   –             1.75  

ICON Industrials Fund

   1.50%   –             1.75  

ICON Information Technology Fund

   1.50%   –             1.75  

ICON Natural Resources Fund

   1.50%   2.50%     1.75  

ICON Utilities Fund*

   1.22%   –             1.47  

 

*

From October 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, the annual expense limitation rates for the Utilities Fund’s Class S and Class A were 1.50% and 1.75%, respectively.

The Funds’ expense limitations, excluding the Utilities Fund Class S and Class A, will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2018. The expense limitations for the Utilities Fund Class S and Class A will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2019. To the extent ICON Advisers reimburses or absorbs fees and expenses, it may seek payment of such amounts for up to three years after the expenses were reimbursed or absorbed. A Fund will make no such payment, however, if the total Fund operating expenses exceed the expense limits in effect at the time these payments are proposed.

As of September 30, 2017, the following amounts were available for recoupment by ICON Advisers based upon their potential expiration dates:

 

Fund    Expires        
2018        
     Expires        
2019        
     Expires      
2020        
 

 

 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

   $                                 –      $                 3,370      $                 4,198     

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

     36,127        51,650        63,487     

ICON Financial Fund

     3,369        8,903        6,790     

ICON Healthcare Fund

            1,898        4,986     

ICON Industrials Fund

     5,501        44,625        44,703     

ICON Information Technology Fund

     1,387        8,637        6,814     

ICON Natural Resources Fund

     3,552        56,774        26,508     

ICON Utilities Fund

     30,003        31,946        57,017     

Accounting, Custody and Transfer Agent Fees

ALPS Fund Services (“ALPS”) serves as the fund accounting agent for the Trust. For its services, the Trust pays ALPS a fee that is calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the Trust.

State Street is the custodian of the Trust’s investments. For its services, the Trust pays State Street asset-based fees that vary according to the number of positions and transactions, plus out-of-pocket expenses.

ALPS is the Trust’s transfer agent. For these services, the Trust pays an annual fee plus annual base fee per Fund, per account fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

Administrative Services

The Trust has entered into an administrative services agreement with ICON Advisers pursuant to which ICON Advisers oversees the administration of the Trust’s business and affairs. This agreement provides for an annual fee of 0.05% on the Trust’s first $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.045% on the next $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.040% on the next $2 billion of average daily net assets and 0.030% on average daily net assets over $5 billion. For the year ended September 30, 2017, each Fund’s payment for administrative services to ICON Advisers is included on the Statements of Operations. The administrative services agreement provides that ICON Advisers will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with matters to which the administrative services agreement relates, except for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence by ICON Advisers in the performance of its duties.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

ICON Advisers has a sub-administration agreement, with ALPS, under which ALPS assists ICON Advisers with the administration and business affairs of the Trust. For its services, ICON Advisers pays ALPS a fee that is calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the Trust.

Distribution Fees

ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI” or “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICON Management and Research and affiliate of ICON Advisers, Inc., serves the Trust as Distributor. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“12b-1 Plan”) under which the Funds are authorized to compensate or reimburse the Distributor for the sale and distribution of shares and for other shareholder services. The shareholders of the Funds pay an annual distribution fee of 1.00% of average daily net assets for Class C shares and an annual distribution fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets for Class A shares. There is no annual distribution fee for Class S shares. The total amount paid by each Fund under the 12b-1 Plan is shown on the Statements of Operations.

Class A Shares are subject to an initial sales charge and the public offering price of Class A shares equals net asset value plus the applicable sales charge, which is a maximum of 5.75%. For the year ended September 30, 2017, IDI collected sales charges on purchases of Class A Shares, the majority of which were paid out as concessions to financial intermediaries, as follows:

 

Fund    Sales Charges Collected          

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund Class A

     $        391                          

ICON Consumer Staples Fund Class A

     5,664                          

ICON Energy Fund Class A

     3,685                          

ICON Financial Fund Class A

     2,030                          

ICON Healthcare Fund Class A

     3,450                          

ICON Industrials Fund Class A

     4,257                          

ICON Information Technology Fund Class A

     4,398                          

ICON Natural Resources Fund Class A

     6,766                          

ICON Utilities Fund Class A

     5,839                          

In addition, IDI receives a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% of the purchase price on redemptions of Class C shares made within one year following the date of purchase. A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge may also apply to certain redemptions of Class A shares made within one year following the purchase of $1 million or more without an initial sales charge. For the year ended September 30, 2017, IDI collected the following contingent deferred sales charges:

 

Fund    Contingent Deferred         
Sales Charges Collected         
 

ICON Energy Fund Class C

     $        652                          

ICON Natural Resources Fund Class C

     115                          

Other Related Parties

Certain Officers and Directors of ICON Advisers are also Officers and Trustees of the Funds; however, such Officers and Trustees (with the exception of the Chief Compliance Officer, “CCO”) receive no compensation from the Funds. The Trust pays a portion of the CCO’s salary and the remaining portion, along with other employee related expenses, is paid by ICON Advisers. For the year ended September 30, 2017, the total related amounts paid by the Funds under this arrangement are included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.

The Funds may reimburse ICON Advisers for legal work performed for the Funds by its attorneys outside of the advisory and administration contracts. The Board reviews and approves such reimbursements. For the year ended September 30, 2017, the total related amounts accrued or paid by the Funds under this arrangement was $9,212 and is included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.

The Funds did not engage in cross trades with each other, during the year ended September 30, 2017, pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. Generally, cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which the Adviser serves as the investment adviser. The Board previously adopted procedures that apply to transactions between the Funds and its affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7. At its regularly scheduled meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most current calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements set forth by Rule 17a-7 and the Funds’ procedures. The procedures require that the transactions be a purchase or sale for no consideration other than cash payment against prompt delivery of a security for which market quotations are readily available, and be consistent with the investment policies of each Fund.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

4. BORROWINGS

 

The Trust has entered into an uncommitted, unsecured, revolving Line of Credit agreement/arrangement with State Street to provide temporary funding for redemption requests. The maximum borrowing limit is $50 million. Interest on domestic borrowings is charged at a rate quoted and determined by State Street. The interest rate as of September 30, 2017 was 2.48%. The Line of Credit agreement/arrangement expires on March 19, 2018.

As of September 30, 2017, the Utilities Fund had an outstanding borrowing in the amount of $177,025.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the average outstanding loan by Fund was as follows:

 

Fund    Maximum Borrowing
(10/01/16 - 9/30/17)
    Average Borrowing
(10/01/16 - 9/30/17)^
    Average Interest Rates    
(10/01/16 - 9/30/17)^

ICON Consumer Discreationay Fund*

   $ 455,349     $ 325,587     2.24%

ICON Consumer Staples Fund*

     4,675,799       1,963,828     2.08%

ICON Energy Fund*

     15,318,795       4,365,834     2.33%

ICON Financial Fund*

     2,898,338       394,785     1.94%

ICON Healthcare Fund*

     346,532       132,009     2.23%

ICON Industrials Fund*

     6,824,961       1,040,547     2.18%

ICON Information Technology Fund*

     1,615,940       723,295     1.91%

ICON Natural Resources Fund*

     179,119       179,119     2.02%

ICON Utilities Fund

     5,108,504       405,080     2.15%

 

*

There were no outstanding borrowings under this agreement/arrangement as of September 30, 2017.

^

The average is calculated based on the actual number of days with outstanding borrowings.

5. PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES

 

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) was as follows:

 

Fund    Purchases of
Securities
   Proceeds from Sales
of Securities

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

     $ 42,417,838      $ 59,420,421

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

       33,189,275        44,454,041

ICON Energy Fund

       219,872,043        325,639,984

ICON Financial Fund

       29,515,388        47,834,313

ICON Healthcare Fund

       137,907,027        142,684,099

ICON Industrials Fund

       15,285,700        25,144,360

ICON Information Technology Fund

       71,704,044        65,977,436

ICON Natural Resources Fund

       45,223,244        53,342,541

ICON Utilities Fund

       78,540,587        95,849,096

6. FEDERAL INCOME TAX

 

The following information is presented on an income tax basis. Differences between GAAP and federal income tax purposes that are permanent in nature are reclassified within the capital accounts. Temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the NAVs of the Funds. These differences are due to differing treatments for items such as deferrals of wash sale losses, foreign currency transactions, equalization, excise tax paid, expiring capital losses, distribution adjustments, partnership adjustments, and net investment losses.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”) capital losses generated by a Fund may be carried over indefinitely, but these losses must be used prior to the utilization of any pre-enactment capital losses. Since pre-enactment capital losses may only be carried forward for eight years there may be a greater likelihood that all or a portion of each Fund’s pre-enactment capital losses will expire unused.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the following Funds had capital loss carryforwards:

 

Fund    Expiring in 2018      

ICON Financial Fund

   $ 43,715,782      

ICON Industrials Fund

     14,505,764      

Future capital loss carryforward utilization in any given year may be limited if there are substantial shareholder redemptions or contributions. During the year ended September 30, 2017, the following Funds utilized capital loss carryforwards:

 

Fund    Amount  

ICON Industrials Fund

   $           3,708,253      

For Energy Fund, the short-term and long-term capital losses with no expiration were $86,007,958 and $65,788,384, respectively. For Financial Fund, the short-term capital losses with no expiration were $493,677, capital losses of $42,575,056 expired on September 30, 2017.

The Energy Fund elects to defer to the period ending September 30, 2018, capital losses recognized during the period November 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 in the amount of $18,358,462.

The Industrials Fund elects to defer to the period ending September 30, 2018, late year ordinary losses in the amount of $36,399.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, the following reclassifications, which had no impact on results of operations or net assets was recorded to reflect the tax character of the Funds net operating loss:

 

Fund    Paid-in Capital      Accumulated Net
Investment
Income/(Loss)
     Accumulated Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss) on
Investments
 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

   $ 581      $ 155,209      $ (155,790)      

ICON Energy Fund

     1,540,881        2,745,178        (4,286,059)      

ICON Financial Fund

     (42,575,056)        (54)        42,575,110      

ICON Healthcare Fund

            358,267        (358,267)      

ICON Industrials Fund

     (62,957)        62,957        –      

ICON Information Technology Fund

            183,299        (183,299)      

ICON Natural Resources Fund

            (11,588)        11,588      

ICON Utilities Fund

     (158)        193,163        (193,005)      

For Industrials Fund included in the amounts reclassified was a net operating loss offset to paid in capital of $62,957.

The tax characteristics of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, were as follows:

 

Fund    Ordinary Income      Long-Term Capital
Gains
 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

   $ 585,099      $ 1,670,363      

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

     2,065,125        1,778,292      

ICON Energy Fund

     1,977,974        –      

ICON Financial Fund

     530,652        –      

ICON Healthcare Fund

            1,215,871      

ICON Information Technology Fund

     629,475        8,725,258      

ICON Natural Resources Fund

     416,879        –      

ICON Utilities Fund

     4,557,628        1,120,416      

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

The tax characteristics of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, were as follows:

 

Fund    Ordinary Income      Long-Term Capital    
Gains
 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

   $ 1,967,808      $ 2,499,540      

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

     528,316        2,182,632      

ICON Energy Fund

     3,214,770        –      

ICON Healthcare Fund

     16,435,757        4,598,527      

ICON Natural Resources Fund

     325,103        4,742,663      

ICON Utilities Fund

     1,424,724        –      

As of September 30, 2017, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Fund   Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
    Accumulated
Capital
Gains/
(Losses)
    Other Cumulative
Effect of Timing
Differences
   

Unrealized
Appreciation/

(Depreciation)*

    Total Accumulated
Earnings/(Deficit)
 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

  $ 946,940     $     $     $ 67,104     $ 1,014,044      

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

    500,273       282,407             (100,102)       682,578      

ICON Energy Fund

    3,396,071       (170,154,804)       (1,959,875)       4,777,356       (163,941,252)      

ICON Financial Fund

    74,836       (44,209,459)             6,978,668       (37,155,955)      

ICON Healthcare Fund

    833,111       1,243,406             5,657,282       7,733,799      

ICON Industrials Fund

          (14,505,764)       (36,399)       1,536,835       (13,005,328)      

ICON Information Technology Fund

    3,404,832       10,355,627             11,053,694       24,814,153      

ICON Natural Resources Fund

    1,011,297                   7,449,809       8,461,106      

ICON Utilities Fund

    1,121,252       1,205,110             1,583,214       3,909,576      

 

*

Differences between the book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to tax treatment of partnerships and passive foreign investment companies, and tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

As of September 30, 2017, cost on investments for federal income tax purposes and the amount of net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) were as follows:

 

Fund   Gross Appreciation
(excess of value over
tax cost)
    Gross Depreciation
(excess of tax cost
over value)
    Net Appreciation/
(Depreciation) of
Foreign Currency
    Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
    Cost of Investments
for Income Tax
Purposes
 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

  $ 1,589,227     $ (1,522,123   $     $ 67,104     $ 24,808,690      

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

    1,114,661       (1,214,763           (100,102     29,187,302      

ICON Energy Fund

    27,545,279       (22,767,923           4,777,356       247,740,842      

ICON Financial Fund

    7,074,547       (95,879           6,978,668       34,160,327      

ICON Healthcare Fund

    8,288,381       (2,631,099           5,657,282       78,276,022      

ICON Industrials Fund

    2,187,806       (650,964     (7     1,536,835       15,614,495      

ICON Information Technology Fund

    12,643,816       (1,590,123     1       11,053,694       61,511,594      

ICON Natural Resources Fund

    9,766,871       (2,317,154     92       7,449,809       64,268,400      

ICON Utilities Fund

    3,028,877       (1,445,326     (337     1,583,214       43,904,847      

7. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

 

In December 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-19, “Technical Corrections and Improvements.” It includes an update to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820 (“Topic 820”), Fair Value Measurement. The update to Topic 820 clarifies the difference between a valuation approach and a valuation technique. It also requires disclosure when there has been a change in either or both a valuation approach and/or a valuation technique. The changes related to Topic 820 are effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU to the financial statements.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Notes to Financial Statements
   September 30, 2017

 

8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Rob Young is the Portfolio Manager of the Industrials Fund. Mr. Young became the Portfolio Manager of the Fund in November 2017.

Rob Young is the Portfolio Manager of the Natural Resources Fund. Mr. Young became the Portfolio Manager of the Fund in November 2017.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
  

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of ICON Funds

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund, ICON Consumer Staples Fund, ICON Energy Fund, ICON Financial Fund, ICON Healthcare Fund, ICON Industrials Fund, ICON Information Technology Fund, ICON Natural Resources Fund, and ICON Utilities Fund (the “Funds”), each a series of ICON Funds, as of September 30, 2017, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. The Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights for the years ended September 30, 2015 and prior, were audited by other auditors, whose report dated November 18, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2017, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers or counterparties were not received. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of September 30, 2017, the results of their operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in their net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

LOGO

COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.

Cleveland, Ohio

November 22, 2017

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Disclosure of Fund Expenses
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Example

As a shareholder of a Fund you may pay two types of fees: transaction fees and fund-related fees. Certain funds charge transaction fees, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees. Funds also incur various ongoing expenses, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses, which are indirectly paid by shareholders.

This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the various ICON Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. This Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the six-month period (4/01/17 – 9/30/17).

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table for each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. The Example includes, but is not limited to, management fees, 12b-1 fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees. However, the Example does not include client specific fees, such as the $15 fee charged to IRA accounts, or the $15 fee charged for wire redemptions. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line for each Fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table for each Fund 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. 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), redemption fees, or exchange fees that may be charged by other funds. Therefore, this information is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

    

Beginning Account
Value

April 1, 2017

    Ending Account
Value
September 30, 2017
    Expense Ratio(a)  

Expenses Paid
During period

April 1, 2017 -
September 30, 2017(b)

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

       

Class S

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,008.70     1.51%   $  7.60      

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,017.50     1.51%   $  7.64      

Class A

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,006.00     1.99%   $ 10.01      

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,015.09     1.99%   $ 10.05      

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

       

Class S

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,009.50     1.50%   $ 7.56      

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,017.55     1.50%   $ 7.59      

Class A

       

Actual

    $  1,000.00       $  1,008.20     1.75%   $ 8.81      

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

    $  1,000.00       $  1,016.29     1.75%   $ 8.85      

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Disclosure of Fund Expenses
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

     

Beginning Account
Value

April 1, 2017

   Ending Account
Value
September 30, 2017
   Expense Ratio(a)   Expenses Paid
During period
April 1, 2017 -
September 30, 2017(b)

ICON Energy Fund

                  

Class S

                  

Actual

     $   1,000.00      $ 970.20        1.41 %     $ 6.96

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $   1,018.00        1.41 %     $ 7.13

Class C

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 964.80        2.49 %     $ 12.26

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,012.58        2.49 %     $ 12.56

Class A

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 968.50        1.70 %     $ 8.39

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,016.55        1.70 %     $ 8.59

ICON Financial Fund

                  

Class S

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,075.70        1.44 %     $ 7.49

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.85        1.44 %     $ 7.28

Class A

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,075.30        1.75 %     $ 9.10

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,016.29        1.75 %     $ 8.85

ICON Healthcare Fund

                  

Class S

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,074.70        1.41 %     $ 7.33

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.00        1.41 %     $ 7.13

Class A

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,073.10        1.75 %     $ 9.09

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,016.29        1.75 %     $ 8.85

ICON Industrials Fund

                  

Class S

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,045.40        1.50 %     $ 7.69

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.55        1.50 %     $ 7.59

Class A

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,045.20        1.75 %     $ 8.97

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,016.29        1.75 %     $ 8.85

ICON Information Technology Fund

                  

Class S

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,144.10        1.38 %     $ 7.42

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.15        1.38 %     $ 6.98

Class A

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,142.90        1.75 %     $ 9.40

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,016.29        1.75 %     $ 8.85

ICON Natural Resources Fund

                  

Class S

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,062.40        1.50 %     $ 7.76

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.55        1.50 %     $ 7.59

Class C

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,057.80        2.50 %     $ 12.90

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,012.53        2.50 %     $ 12.61

Class A

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,061.60        1.75 %     $ 9.04

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,016.29        1.75 %     $ 8.85

 

    

 

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ICON Sector Funds    Disclosure of Fund Expenses
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

     

Beginning Account
Value

April 1, 2017

   Ending Account
Value
September 30, 2017
   Expense Ratio(a)   Expenses Paid
During period
April 1, 2017 -
September 30, 2017(b)

ICON Utilities Fund

                  

Class S

                  

Actual

     $   1,000.00      $   1,029.80        1.37 %     $ 6.97

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.20        1.37 %     $ 6.93

Class A

                  

Actual

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,027.80        1.62 %     $ 8.24

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,016.95        1.62 %     $ 8.19

 

(a) 

The Fund’s expense ratios have been annualized based on the Fund’s most recent fiscal half-year expenses.

(b) 

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year 183/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

Total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included (maximum 5.75%), returns would be lower.

 

    

 

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ICON Sector Funds    Board of Trustees and Fund Officers
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

The ICON Funds Board of Trustees (the “Board”) consists of four Trustees who oversee the 17 ICON Funds (the “Funds”). The Board is responsible for general oversight of the Funds’ business and for assuring that the Funds are managed in the best interest of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trustees, and their ages, and principal occupations are set forth below. The address of the Trustees is 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 1200, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Trustees have no official term of office and generally serve until they resign or are not re-elected.

Interested Trustee

Craig T. Callahan, 66. Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (2014 to present and 1998 to 2013) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers, Inc. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of ICO Distributors, Inc. Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

Independent Trustees

Glen F. Bergert, 67. Mr. Bergert has been a Trustee of the Funds since 1999. Mr. Bergert is President of Venture Capital Management LLC (1997 to present), General Partner of SOGNO Partners LP, a venture capital company (2001 to 2015), General Partner of Bergert Properties, LLP, a real estate holding company (1997 to present), General Partner of Pyramid Real Estate Partnership, a real estate development company (1998 to present), General Partner of Chamois Partners, LP, a venture capital company (2004 to present) and was previously a General Partner with KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP (1979 to 1997). Mr. Bergert is also a Director of Delta Dental of California (2013 to present and 2006 to 2012), Delta Dental of Pennsylvania (2010 to present and 1998 to 2009), Delta Reinsurance Corporation (2015 to present; 2011 to 2014 and 2000 to 2009) and Dentegra Group, Inc. (2017 to present; 2010 to 2014).

John C. Pomeroy, Jr., 70. Mr. Pomeroy has been a Trustee of the Funds since 2002. Mr. Pomeroy is Chief Investment Officer and Director of Investments, Pennsylvania State University (2001 to present) and was Portfolio Manager and Product Manager, Trinity Investment Management Corporation (1989 to 2001).

R. Michael Sentel, 69. Mr. Sentel has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Mr. Sentel is a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education (1996 to present) and was engaged in private practice of securities and corporate law (1981 to 2017). Mr. Sentel began his legal career with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement and served as a Branch Chief (1980 to 1981). Later he served as the Section Chief for the Professional Liability Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. with responsibility for the Rocky Mountain Region (1991 to 1994).

Mark Manassee, 52. Mr. Manassee has been a Trustee of the Funds since 2017. Mr. Manassee is a Senior Advisor to McKinsey’s Wealth and Asset Management Practice. Mr. Manassee was Principal and President of Market Metrics, LLC, a subsidiary of FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (1998 to 2016). Mr. Manassee was also a Director of Matrix-Data, Ltd (UK) (2013 to 2016) and Rhetorik, Ltd (UK) (2013 to 2016).

The Officers of the Funds are:

Craig T. Callahan, 66. Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (2014 to present and 1998 to 2013) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers, Inc. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of ICO Distributors, Inc. Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

Donald Salcito, 64. Mr. Salcito serves as Vice President and Secretary of the Funds (2006 to present). Mr. Salcito is also Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2005 to present) of ICON Advisers, Inc.; Director of IM&R (2005 to present); Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel of ICON Distributors, Inc. (2005 to 2017). Previously, he was a Partner in various national law firms, practicing in the securities law area (1980 to 2005).

Brian D. Harding, 38. Mr. Harding serves as Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Harding is also Chief Financial Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2013 to present) and Director and IM&R (2013 to present). Previously he was Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the Funds (2008 to 2013), Chief Compliance Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2011 to 2013), and Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2001 to 2008).

Jack M. Quillin, 45. Mr. Quillin serves as Assistant Treasurer of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Quillin is also a Compliance and Fund Accounting Associate of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2016 to present). Previously, he was a compliance analyst at Marsico Capital Management, LLC (2011 to 2015), an assistant vice president in the municipal derivatives finance department at Merrill Lynch (2004 to 2008), and a senior accountant in the Regulatory Reporting group at Wells Fargo & Company (1998 to 2003).

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Board of Trustees and Fund Officers
   September 30, 2017

 

Christopher R. Ambruso, 37. Mr. Ambruso serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer (2017 to present) of the Funds. Mr. Ambruso is also Chief Compliance Officer of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2017 to present). Previously he served as Assistant Secretary (2016 to 2017 and 2008 to 2012) of the Funds and Associate Counsel (2013 to 2017); Associate Attorney (2008 to 2013); and Staff Attorney (2007 to 2008) of ICON Advisers, Inc.

Stephen E. Abrams, 54. Mr. Abrams serves as Assistant Secretary of the Funds (2017 to present). Mr. Abrams is also Associate General Counsel of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2005 to present); Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2017 to present) and Chief Compliance Officer (2007 to present) of ICON Distributors, Inc. Previously, he worked as an Associate Attorney before becoming a Partner at a national law firm, practicing general litigation and securities law (1994 to 2005).

 

 
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Table of Contents
ICON Sector Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Renewal of Investment Advisory Agreement

On August 25, 2017, the Board of Trustees, including all of the Trustees that are not “interested persons” of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”), approved continuation of the Advisory Agreements (as defined below) with the Adviser for each Fund for an additional one-year term commencing October 1, 2017.

In determining to renew the investment advisory agreements between ICON Funds (the “Trust”) and ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON” or the “Adviser”) the Trustees requested, were provided with and reviewed data with respect to the Adviser, its personnel, and the services provided and to be provided to each Fund by the Adviser under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated October 9, 1996, as amended (related to the Sector Funds, the International Funds and ICON Fund) and under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated July 9, 2002 and effective October 1, 2002, as amended (related to the U.S. Diversified Funds — Bond, Risk-Managed Balanced, Equity Income, Opportunities and Long/Short Funds) (collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”).

The Trustees agreed that consideration of the Advisory Agreements should also include consideration of other agreements between the Adviser and the Trust that impact provisions of the Advisory Agreements, including expense limitation agreements as amended effective January and July, 2016. The Trustees were provided with and reviewed data with respect to the Adviser, its personnel, and the services provided and to be provided to each Fund by the Adviser under the Trust’s Advisory Agreements, Administrative Services Agreement and Expense Limitation Agreement and the Distribution Agreement with ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI”). The data included information concerning advisory, distribution and administrative services provided to the Funds by ICON and its related companies; information concerning other businesses of those companies; and comparative data obtained from Broadridge Financial Solutions (“Broadridge”) related to Fund performance and Fund expenses (the “Broadridge Report”).

The Board convened a meeting with Broadridge on August 11, 2017 to discuss the Broadridge Report and the information contained within the Broadridge Report. At that meeting, Broadridge representatives discussed the findings of the Broadridge Report with the Independent Trustees. Management personnel participated in the Broadridge meeting to discuss the data with the Board. The Trustees were represented at that meeting by independent legal counsel. At the meeting, Broadridge discussed its methodology and peer selection. Broadridge addressed the difficulty of determining peer selection of some sector Funds that had no statistical group of peers from which to present reliable data, expenses and fees. In addition, Broadridge discussed the difficulty of presenting information on three Funds whose expenses were reduced after the annual report, and performance relative to the respective Funds’ peers. Broadridge also discussed the Funds’ size and how an individual fund’s size would affect economies of scale generally and operating expenses in particular. Broadridge presented no information on how expenses were affected by a fund complex size.

Also included in the 15(c) discussion was a briefing on factors affecting the ICON investment model; expenses and expense ratios of each Fund and other ICON managed products; relative performance of each Fund; status of expense reimbursements to the Funds by the Adviser; sales and marketing initiatives; specific business factors affecting the Adviser; the work load on ICON as adviser and administrator to the Funds; current profitability of ICON; staffing levels and staff morale.

The Independent Trustees were represented by independent legal counsel in the entire 15(c) process. In August, after participating in the meeting with Broadridge and management, the Independent Trustees met separately as a group in private sessions with their independent legal counsel to review and discuss a variety of qualitative and quantitative information, including information they had received throughout the year as part of their regular oversight of the Funds. Based on these discussions, independent legal counsel and/or the Lead Independent Trustee also contacted management to request additional information from Broadridge. The Board received materials from independent legal counsel discussing the legal standards applicable to their consideration of the ICON-Trust agreements.

In considering the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board reviewed information relating to ICON’s operations and personnel. Among other things, the Adviser provided biographical information on its professional staff and descriptions of its organizational and management structure. In the course of their deliberations the Board evaluated, among other things, information relating to the investment philosophy, strategies and techniques used in managing each Fund, the qualifications and experience of ICON’s investment personnel, ICON’s compliance programs, ICON’s brokerage practices, including the extent to which the Adviser obtains research through “soft dollar” arrangements with the Funds’ brokerage, compliance reports on the foregoing, and the financial and non-financial resources available to provide services required under the Advisory Agreement.

Management and the Trustees discussed the Broadridge Report and management personnel showed performance for each Fund and discussed the factors affecting performance.

During the discussion on performance, Management personnel noted the importance of advisory fees in total. The novelty and uniqueness of ICON’s management style (specifically, the fact that it is market-cap agnostic, its willingness to actively manage for performance based on active share without adhering strictly to benchmark holdings, the fact that it is a value manager that considers forward looking earnings) must be evaluated when comparing management fees.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

In connection with reviewing data bearing upon the nature, quality, and extent of services furnished by ICON to each Fund, the Board assessed data concerning ICON’s staffing, systems and facilities. The Board also assessed ICON’s non-Trust business to see if there are any initiatives that would dilute service to the Trust. The Board concluded:

 

  A.

That the breadth and the quality of investment advisory and other services being provided to each Fund are satisfactory;

 

  B.

That ICON has made significant expenditures in the past year and in prior years to ensure that the Trust has the right product mix for the market and the Adviser has the sophisticated systems and highly trained personnel necessary for it to be able to continue to provide quality service to the Funds’ shareholders;

 

  C.

That the Board is satisfied with the research, portfolio management, and trading services, among others, being provided by ICON to the Trust, and has determined that ICON is charging fair and reasonable fees.

 

  D.

The risks assumed by ICON in providing investment advisory services to each Fund including the capital commitments which have been made in the past and which continue to be made by ICON to ensure the continuation of the highest quality of service to the Trust is made with the recognition that the Trust’s advisory relationship with ICON can be terminated at any time and must be renewed on an annual basis.

In considering the reasonableness of the fees paid to the Adviser for managing each Fund, the Board reviewed, among other things, data concerning other funds from the Broadridge Report, financial statements of the Adviser and an analysis of the profitability of the Adviser, and its affiliates, and their relationship with each Fund over various time periods. Such analysis identified all revenues and other benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates from managing each Fund, the costs associated with providing such services and the resulting profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates and a comparison of similar data from reports filed by publicly traded firms.

The Board assessed actual (net) fees for advisory services and Fund expense ratios under the contractual relationship (the Advisory agreements, the Administration Agreement and the Expense Limitation Agreements) with the Adviser as opposed to the fees specified in the applicable Advisory Agreement and expense ratios without application of the expense limitations and the low cost of the Administration Agreement. The Board concluded that the focus should be on actual expense ratios after application of the Expense Limitation Agreements.

The Board considered the current and anticipated asset levels of each Fund and the contractual commitments of the Adviser to waive fees and pay expenses of the Funds from time to time to limit the total expenses of the Funds. The Board also considered the Adviser’s contractual commitment regarding administration and the fact it would continue to lose money on administration. In this regard the Board discussed asset levels in each Fund covered by the Advisory Agreements. ICON’s ability to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements was assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. Fund expenses and expense ratios were also assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the resources necessary to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements; that profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Funds, and services provided to the Funds, is not excessive; and that the Adviser is not realizing benefits from economies of scale that would warrant adjustments to the fees for any Fund at this time. The Board of Trustees concluded that, in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and the levels of profitability associated with providing these services, the fees charged by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreements to each Fund are reasonable.

In connection with assessing data bearing on the fairness of fee arrangements, the Board considered the Broadridge Report, information they had received throughout the year as part of their regular oversight of the Funds (including Morningstar data on peer groupings), and information from independent broker/dealers evaluating fees for platform sales. It was noted that Broadridge was selected at the May 2017 Board meeting to prepare its reports, an extensive analysis of the expense data of other comparable funds; and that Trustee input was solicited and provided in the process. Among other information discussed, it was noted that:

 

  A.

Upon review of the advisory fee structures of each Fund (taking into consideration management fees and breakpoint fees), the level of investment advisory fees paid by each Fund is within competitive ranges for the size of each Fund and Fund mandate;

 

  B.

The expense ratio of each Fund is generally reasonable and understandable in light of the existing Fund Trust structure and Fund performance;

 

  C.

ICON has contractually agreed to impose expense limitations on all Funds at a cost to ICON and is considering new expense limitations;

 

  D.

The advisory and other fees payable by the Funds to ICON are essentially fees which would be similar to those which would have resulted solely from “arm’s-length” bargaining.

 

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  E.

The fees paid to ICON for managing other institutional accounts (such as individual or sub-advised portfolios) are lower, but there are good reasons such accounts are less costly for ICON to manage, including, but not limited to, the level of work needed to service the institutional portfolios and the size and stability of such institutional accounts.

 

  F.

The extent to which economies of scale could be realized as a Fund grows in assets and whether the Fund’s fees reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of Fund shareholders.

 

  G.

The costs borne by ICON in providing advisory services to each Fund and the profitability of ICON in light of the estimated profitability analysis which had been provided by ICON.

The Board also considered the fees charged by the Adviser to other advisory clients, including institutional and sub-advised clients as outlined in its Registration Application on Form ADV in connection with assessing data bearing on the fairness of fee arrangements.

The Board concluded the Adviser is providing the Funds with professional management at a price that would have been arrived at in an arm’s length negotiation.

In connection with assessing the direct and indirect benefits to ICON from serving as the Funds’ adviser, the Board discussed services provided under the Distribution Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement which are in addition to services under the Advisory Agreements. It was noted that ICON benefits from serving directly or through affiliates as the principal underwriter and administrative agent for the Funds. The services provided by ICON and its affiliates to the Funds are reasonably satisfactory, and the profits derived from providing the services are competitive and reasonable. It was further noted that ICON receives research assistance from the use of soft dollars generated from Fund portfolio transactions. The Trustees noted that such research assists ICON in providing quality investment advisory services to the Funds as well as other accounts to which it provides advisory services.

Based on all these considerations and other data as discussed above, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that: 1) the continuation of the Advisory Agreements was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders, 2) the services to be performed under the Advisory Agreements were required for the operation of the Funds, 3) the advisory services were satisfactory to the Funds in the past, and 4) the fees for the advisory services and other benefits from the relationship with the Trust received by ICON, and its affiliates, were within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s length in light of all the circumstances.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

Supplemental Tax Information

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code the following Funds designate the amounts listed below as long-term capital gain dividends:

 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

   $ 1,670,363  

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

   $ 1,778,292  

ICON Energy Fund

     $0  

ICON Financial Fund

     $0  

ICON Healthcare Fund

   $ 1,215,871  

ICON Industrials Fund

     $0  

ICON Information Technology Fund

   $ 8,725,258  

ICON Natural Resources Fund

     $0  

ICON Utilities Fund

   $ 1,120,416  

The following Funds designate the percentages listed below of the income dividends distributed in 2016 as qualified dividend income (QDI) as defined in Section 1(h)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code:

 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

     72.05

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

     22.87

ICON Energy Fund

     100.00

ICON Financial Fund

     77.04

ICON Healthcare Fund

     0.00

ICON Industrials Fund

     0.00

ICON Information Technology Fund

     0.00

ICON Natural Resources Fund

     98.25

ICON Utilities Fund

     39.24

The following Funds designate the percentages listed below of the income dividends distributed in 2016 as qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction (DRD) as defined in Section 854(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code:

 

ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund

     73.01

ICON Consumer Staples Fund

     23.70

ICON Energy Fund

     100.00

ICON Financial Fund

     77.04

ICON Healthcare Fund

     0.00

ICON Industrials Fund

     0.00

ICON Information Technology Fund

     0.00

ICON Natural Resources Fund

     98.25

ICON Utilities Fund

     38.60

Portfolio Holdings

Information related to the 10 largest portfolio holdings of each Fund is made available at www.iconfunds.com within approximately 10 business days after month-end. Additionally, a complete list of each Fund’s holdings is made available approximately 30 days after month-end. Each ICON Fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on Form N-Q. The ICON Funds’ Forms N-Q are available at www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

Proxy Voting

A summarized description of the policies and procedures the ICON Funds use to vote proxies is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442.

Information about how the ICON Funds voted proxies related to each Fund’s portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

 

 
Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    91


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ICON Sector Funds    Additional Information
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

For More Information

This report is for the general information of the Funds’ shareholders and is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. You may obtain a copy of the prospectus, which contains information about the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and share classes of each ICON Fund, by visiting www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

ICON Distributors, Inc., Distributor.

 

 
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ICON Sector Funds    Privacy Policy
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  FACTS

  

WHAT DOES ICON DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

  Why?

  

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

 

  What?

   The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:
  

•      Social Security number and account balances

  

•      income and transaction history

  

•      checking account information and wire transfer instructions

    

When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

 

  How?

  

All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons ICON chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

 

  Reasons we can share your personal information

       Does ICON share?    Can you limit this sharing?
   

For our everyday business purposes — such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

 

      

Yes

 

  

No

 

   

For our marketing purposes — to offer our products and services to you

 

      

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

   

For joint marketing with other financial companies

 

      

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

   

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your transactions and experiences

 

      

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

   

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness

 

      

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

   

For nonaffiliates to market to you

 

      

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

 

  Questions?

   Call 1-800-764-0442 for the ICON Funds and 1-800-828-4881 for ICON Advisers, Inc. and ICON Distributors, Inc.

 

    

 

Annual Report  |  September 30, 2017    93


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ICON Sector Funds    Privacy Policy
   September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

  Who We Are
 

  Who is providing this notice?

 

 

ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc. (collectively “ICON”)

 

  What We Do
 

  How does ICON protect my

  personal information?

  To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
 
 

Contracts with our service providers require them to restrict access to your non-public personal information, and to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards against unintended disclosure.

 

   

  How does ICON collect my

  personal information?

  We collect your personal information, for example, when you
 

•      open an account or enter into an investment advisory contract

 

•      provide account information or give us your contact information

 

•      make a wire transfer

 
 

We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

 

   
  Why can’t I limit all sharing?   Federal law gives you the right to limit only
 
 

•      sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness

 

•      affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

•      sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 
   

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

 

  Definitions
 
  Affiliates   Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
 
   

•      Our affiliates include financial companies such as ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc.

 

 
  Nonaffiliates   Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
 
   

•      Nonaffiliates we share with can include financial companies such as custodians, transfer agents, registered representatives, financial advisers and nonfinancial companies such as fulfillment, proxy voting, and class action service providers

 

 
  Joint marketing   A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.
 
   

•      ICON doesn’t jointly market 

 

 

    

 

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INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK


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LOGO

 

By Telephone

  

1-800-764-0442

By E-Mail

  

info@iconadvisers.com

By Mail

  

ICON Funds | P.O. Box 1920 | Denver, CO 80201

In Person

  

ICON Funds | 5299 DTC Boulevard, 12th Floor

  

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

On the Internet

  

www.iconfunds.com


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Item 2. Code of Ethics.

(a) The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. This code of ethics is included as an Exhibit.

(b) Not used.

(c) There were no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description.

(d) The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions.

(e) Not applicable.

(f) See the attached Exhibit.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

3(a)(1) The Registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.


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3(a)(2) The audit committee financial experts are Glen F. Bergert and R. Michael Sentel, who are “independent” for purposes of this Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

3(a)(3) Not applicable.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

  (a) Audit Fees

In each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, the aggregate Audit Fees billed (or to be billed) by Cohen & Company, LTD. (“Cohen”) for professional services rendered for the audits of the financial statements, or services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements as well as reimbursable expenses are listed below. All of the below fees were paid by the Registrant.

 

2017      2016  
  $216,000      $ 216,000  

 

  (b) Audit-Related Fees

In each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, the aggregate Audit-Related Fees billed (or to be billed) by Cohen for services rendered for assurance and related services to each fund that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the fund’s financial statements, but not reported as Audit Fees, are shown in the table below.

 

2017      2016  
$ 0      $ 0  

 

  (c) Tax Fees

In each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 the aggregate Tax Fees billed (or to be billed) by Cohen for professional services rendered for tax return preparation, tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning are shown in the table below. All of the below fees were paid by the Registrant.

 

2017      2016  
  $81,000      $ 81,000  

 

  (d) All Other Fees

In each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 the aggregate Other Fees billed (or to be billed) by Cohen for all other non-audit services rendered are shown in the table below. All of the below fees were paid by the Registrant.

 

2017      2016  
$ 0      $ 0  

(e)(1) The audit committee of the Registrant’s Board of Trustees is required to pre-approve all services to be provided by the independent accountants to the Registrant or the Registrant’s investment adviser and to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides on-going services to the Registrant to determine whether the services performed by the independent accountants impair their independence from the Registrant. The audit committee has delegated authority to the Chairman of the audit committee, subject to review and ratification by the full audit committee.

(e)(2) 100% of the fees were approved by the Registrant’s audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) if Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the percentage of hours spent on the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements that were attributed to work performed by persons who are not full-time, permanent employees of Cohen was less than 50%.


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(g) See Item 4(d) above.

(h) There were no non-audit fees provided by Cohen in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017 or September 30, 2016 to the investment adviser or to any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides on-going services to the Registrant.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments.

(a) The schedule of investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers is included in Item 1.

(b) Not applicable.

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.

Not applicable.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that these disclosure controls and procedures are adequately designed and are operating effectively to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 13. Exhibits.

(a)(1) The code of ethics is attached.

(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) are attached.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(b) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) are furnished herewith.


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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)   

ICON Funds

 

By (Signature and Title)*   

/s/ Craig T. Callahan

   Craig T. Callahan, President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date   

December 1, 2017

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 (Signature and Title)*   

/s/ Craig T. Callahan

   Craig T. Callahan, President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date   

December 1, 2017

 

By (Signature and Title)*   

/s/ Brian D. Harding

   Brian D. Harding, Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

Date   

December 1, 2017

 

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.