N-CSRS 1 d819678dncsrs.htm N-CSRS N-CSRS
Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSRS

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-09253

 

 

Wells Fargo Funds Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

525 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Catherine Kennedy

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

525 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 800-222-8222

Date of fiscal year end: May 31

Registrant is making a filing for 16 of its series:

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund, Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund, Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund, Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund, Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund, Wells Fargo Index Fund, Wells Fargo International Value Fund, Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund, Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund, Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund, Wells Fargo Real Return Fund, Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund, Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund, Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund, Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund, and Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Equity Fund.

Date of reporting period: November 30, 2019

 

 

 


Table of Contents

ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS


Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

Reduce clutter.

Save trees.

Sign up for
electronic delivery
of prospectuses
and shareholder
reports at
wellsfargo.com/
advantagedelivery

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“ Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019 affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

 

1

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp R. Acharya, CFA®, FRM

Petros N. Bocray, CFA®, FRM

Christian L. Chan, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
                   
Class A (WFGBX)   10-14-1998     4.58       4.76       8.18       10.96       6.01       8.82       1.40       1.13  
                   
Class C (WFGWX)   10-1-1998     9.15       5.22       8.01       10.15       5.22       8.01       2.15       1.88  
                   
Administrator Class (NVGBX)   11-11-1994                       11.17       6.25       9.09       1.32       0.95  
                   
Growth Balanced Blended Index3                         13.40       7.12       9.14              
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4                         10.79       3.08       3.59              
                   
MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net)5                         11.20       3.85       4.74              
                   
Russell 3000® Index6                         15.49       10.61       13.41              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk, mortgage and asset-backed securities risk, and smaller-company securities risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20197  
   

Wells Fargo Managed Fixed Income Portfolio

     24.32  
   

Wells Fargo Disciplined U.S. Core Fund Class R6

     11.21  
   

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

     10.02  
   

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

     9.69  
   

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

     9.52  
   

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

     8.75  
   

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

     6.95  
   

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

     3.47  
   

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

     3.01  
   

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

     2.75  
Allocation (%) as of November 30, 2019  
     Effective
allocation8
     Neutral
allocation
 
     

Alternatives

     2        0  
     

Bonds

     39        35  
     

Stocks

     65        65  
     

Effective Cash

     (6)        0  
 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.55% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

2 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolios and funds invest and from any money market funds, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. All other acquired fund fees and expenses from the affiliated master portfolios and funds are included in the expense caps. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

3 

Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The Growth Balanced Blended Index is composed 45% of the Russell 3000® Index, 35% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and 20% of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net). Prior to November 30, 2017, the Growth Balanced Blended Index was composed 35% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 16.25% in the Russell 1000® Growth Index, 16.25% of the Russell 1000® Value Index, 16.25% of the S&P 500 Index, 9.75% of the MSCI EAFE Index (Net), and 6.50% of the Russell 2000® Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar–denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

8 

Effective allocation includes the effect of any tactical futures overlay that may be in place. Effective cash is comprised of the net impact of long and/or short futures contracts held as part of its asset allocation strategy. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account  value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,085.94      $ 5.42        1.04

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.80      $ 5.25        1.04
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,081.90      $ 9.32        1.79

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,016.05      $ 9.02        1.79
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,086.90      $ 4.49        0.86

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.70      $ 4.34        0.86

 

1

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                    Shares      Value  
Exchange-Traded Funds: 3.77%                          

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund

         83,254      $ 5,161,748  

SPDR Gold Shares †

         23,304        3,212,689  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $7,434,180)

            8,374,437  
         

 

 

 

Investment Companies: 95.86%

         
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 82.05%                          

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

            6,689,087  

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

            15,444,912  

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

            21,143,678  

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

            2,491,303  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

            2,897,361  

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

            19,437,827  

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

            21,532,899  

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

            22,266,931  

Wells Fargo Managed Fixed Income Portfolio

            54,042,708  

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

            7,709,070  

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

            2,514,240  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

            6,117,421  
            182,287,437  
         

 

 

 
Affiliated Stock Funds: 13.81%                          

Wells Fargo Disciplined U.S. Core Fund Class R6

         1,323,967        24,917,055  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

         109,891        2,919,802  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund Class R6

         258,443        2,842,873  
            30,679,730  
         

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $178,480,383)

            212,967,167  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield     Maturity
date
     Principal         
Short-Term Investments: 0.42%                          
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.42%                          

U.S. Treasury Bill #(z)

    1.37     12-24-2019      $ 937,000        936,094  
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $936,143)

            936,094  
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $186,850,706)     100.05        222,277,698  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.05        (101,966
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 222,175,732  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

#

All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

(z)

Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
contracts
    Expiration
date
     Notional
cost
    Notional
value
    Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

              

MSCI Singapore Index

     123       12-30-2019      $ 3,338,918     $ 3,312,438     $ 0      $ (26,480

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     23       12-20-2019        3,512,078       3,615,255       103,177        0  

10 Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     78       3-20-2020        10,104,272       10,090,031       0        (14,241

Short

              

Euro FX Futures

     (81)       12-16-2019        (11,248,043     (11,164,838     83,205        0  

Hang Seng Index

     (20)       12-30-2019        (3,464,298     (3,363,864     100,434        0  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ 286,816      $ (40,721
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Fund owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Fund and the issuer having the same investment manager or adviser. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Fund at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning
of period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
   

Shares,

end of
period

    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Dividends
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
   

Value,

end of

period

   

% of

net
assets

 
Investment Companies                                                      

Affiliated Stock Funds

                 

Wells Fargo Disciplined U.S Core Fund Class R6

    1,688,112       11,317       375,462       1,323,967     $ (935   $ 3,977,904     $ 0     $ 24,917,055    

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    123,717       1,457       15,283       109,891       0       305,040       0       2,919,802    

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund Class R6

    279,883       12,032       33,472       258,443       0       85,770       60,265       2,842,873    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ (935   $ 4,368,714     $ 60,265     $ 30,679,730       13.81
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolios were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
   

Net

change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios

    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliates
Master
Portfolios
   

Value,

end of

period

    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

    1.85     1.79   $ 273,892     $ 810,774     $ 0     $ 66,257     $ 3,532     $ 6,689,087    

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    0.27       0.26       424,930       (9,716     214,403       0       5,031       15,444,912    

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

    8.30       8.33       257,471       2,223,807       0       109,472       4,175       21,143,678    

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    0.30       0.29       56,168       163,891       0       1,256       556       2,491,303    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    1.17       1.21       (52,590     103,284       176       51,334       1,035       2,897,361    

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

    9.46       9.55       596,946       1,701,422       0       87,718       7,331       19,437,827    

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

    2.01       1.82       (200,989     2,091,173       0       323,083       3,458       21,532,899    

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

    8.81       8.90       658,482       1,423,396       0       300,464       4,806       22,266,931    

Wells Fargo Managed Fixed Income Portfolio

    9.61       9.72       661,215       626,608       952,748       0       15,081       54,042,708    

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

    4.36       4.29       (22,834     203,037       95,482       14,927       1,588       7,709,070    

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

    0.14       0.14       143,912       151,029       0       8,097       938       2,514,240    

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    4.60       1.14       (140,187     813,623       0       55,917       845       6,117,421    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 2,656,416     $ 10,302,330     $ 1,262,809     $ 1,018,525     $ 48,376     $ 182,287,437       82.05
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolios, at value (cost $150,367,855)

  $ 182,287,437  

Investments in affiliated Underlying Funds, at value (cost $28,112,528)

    30,679,730  

Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value (cost $8,370,323)

    9,310,531  

Receivable for investments sold

    155,606  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    35,745  

Receivable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

    35,112  

Receivable from manager

    6,746  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    25,937  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    222,536,844  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    81,574  

Overdraft due to custodian bank

    126,833  

Administration fees payable

    30,153  

Distribution fee payable

    7,112  

Shareholder report expenses payable

    42,205  

Shareholder servicing fees payable

    47,334  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,318  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    23,583  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    361,112  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 222,175,732  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 184,670,008  

Total distributable earnings

    37,505,724  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 222,175,732  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 73,019,483  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    1,489,292  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $49.03  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A²

    $52.02  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 11,236,454  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    266,663  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $42.14  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 137,919,795  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    3,177,832  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $43.40  

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Interest allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios (net of foreign withholding taxes of $121)

  $ 1,262,809  

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios (net of foreign withholding taxes of $54,579)

    1,018,525  

Dividends from affiliated Underlying Funds

    60,265  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    48,376  

Dividends

    70,215  

Interest

    4,625  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    (523,342

Waivers allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    24,317  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    1,965,790  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    333,033  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    72,993  

Class C

    11,731  

Administrator Class

    91,866  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    86,897  

Class C

    13,965  

Administrator Class

    176,666  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    41,895  

Custody and accounting fees

    5,251  

Professional fees

    16,908  

Registration fees

    38,395  

Shareholder report expenses

    34,189  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    12,276  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    946,688  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (321,922

Administrator Class

    (50,872
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    573,894  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    1,391,896  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains (losses) on

 

Securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    2,656,416  

Affiliated Underlying Funds

    (935

Unaffiliated securities

    63,244  

Futures contracts

    (378,041
 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on investments

    2,340,684  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on

 

Securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    10,302,330  

Affiliated Underlying Funds

    4,368,714  

Unaffiliated securities

    438,992  

Futures contracts

    (147,346
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    14,962,690  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    17,303,374  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 18,695,270  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 1,391,896       $ 3,778,315  

Net realized gains on investments

      2,340,684         2,328,996  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      14,962,690         (4,744,335
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      18,695,270         1,362,976  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

 

     

Class A

      0         (2,868,465

Class C

      0         (821,665

Administrator Class

      0         (8,192,333
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (11,882,463
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    81,624       3,706,428       351,190       16,023,191  

Class C

    13,777       558,097       127,101       5,033,403  

Administrator Class

    71,543       2,994,011       235,971       9,699,484  
 

 

 

 
      7,258,536         30,756,078  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       65,968       2,829,512  

Class C

    0       0       21,059       783,461  

Administrator Class

    0       0       215,612       8,181,819  
 

 

 

 
      0         11,794,792  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (116,902     (5,508,653     (218,329     (9,976,679

Class C

    (40,703     (1,649,495     (262,051     (10,188,823

Administrator Class

    (369,546     (15,674,466     (731,787     (29,822,377
 

 

 

 
      (22,832,614       (49,987,879
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (15,574,078       (7,437,009
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      3,121,192         (17,956,496
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      219,054,540         237,011,036  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 222,175,732       $ 219,054,540  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

12  |  Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months  ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $45.15       $47.12       $43.91       $39.99       $40.80       $37.96  

Net investment income

    0.26       0.72       0.53       0.41       0.46       0.36  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    3.62       (0.60     3.13       3.93       (0.94     2.65  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    3.88       0.12       3.66       4.34       (0.48     3.01  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (1.26     (0.45     (0.42     (0.33     (0.17

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.83     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (2.09     (0.45     (0.42     (0.33     (0.17

Net asset value, end of period

    $49.03       $45.15       $47.12       $43.91       $39.99       $40.80  

Total return2

    8.59     0.53     8.34     10.93     (1.14 )%      7.94

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.32     1.33     1.35     1.34     1.35     1.40

Net expenses3

    1.04     1.07     1.17     1.20     1.20     1.20

Net investment income3

    1.18     1.55     1.27     1.10     1.10     0.97

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    56     149     114     114     79     75

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $73,019       $68,832       $62,473       $65,514       $65,866       $64,223  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include only the net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios and do not include expenses from any other Underlying Funds. Net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios included in the ratios were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.45

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.47

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.51

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.50

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.51

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.51

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in the affiliated Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months  ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $38.95       $40.86       $38.14       $34.82       $35.63       $33.33  

Net investment income

    0.09       0.37 1      0.14       0.13 1      0.12 1      0.08 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    3.10       (0.56     2.74       3.38       (0.79     2.30  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    3.19       (0.19     2.88       3.51       (0.67     2.38  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.89     (0.16     (0.19     (0.14     (0.08

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.83     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (1.72     (0.16     (0.19     (0.14     (0.08

Net asset value, end of period

    $42.14       $38.95       $40.86       $38.14       $34.82       $35.63  

Total return2

    8.19     (0.23 )%      7.55     10.10     (1.88 )%      7.13

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    2.07     2.08     2.10     2.09     2.10     2.15

Net expenses3

    1.79     1.82     1.92     1.95     1.95     1.95

Net investment income3

    0.43     0.93     0.52     0.35     0.36     0.22

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    56     149     114     114     79     75

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $11,236       $11,434       $16,649       $16,463       $16,225       $14,349  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include only the net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios and do not include expenses from any other Underlying Funds. Net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios included in the ratios were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.45

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.48

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.51

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.50

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.50

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.51

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in the affiliated Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

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

 

 

14  |  Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months  ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $39.93       $42.04       $39.22       $35.78       $36.54       $33.98  

Net investment income

    0.39       1.05       0.75       0.50 1      0.49       0.45  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    3.08       (0.90     2.63       3.47       (0.82     2.32  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    3.47       0.15       3.38       3.97       (0.33     2.77  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (1.43     (0.56     (0.53     (0.43     (0.21

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.83     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (2.26     (0.56     (0.53     (0.43     (0.21

Net asset value, end of period

    $43.40       $39.93       $42.04       $39.22       $35.78       $36.54  

Total return2

    8.69     0.70     8.63     11.19     (0.86 )%      8.16

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.24     1.24     1.27     1.26     1.27     1.24

Net expenses3

    0.86     0.89     0.92     0.95     0.95     0.95

Net investment income3

    1.36     1.72     1.51     1.34     1.35     1.22

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    56     149     114     114     79     75

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $137,920       $138,788       $157,889       $162,693       $175,715       $182,373  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include only the net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios and do not include expenses from any other Underlying Funds. Net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios included in the ratios were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.45

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.47

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.51

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.50

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.50

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.51

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in the affiliated Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  15


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a fund-of-funds that invests in various affiliated mutual funds (“Underlying Funds”) employing a multi-asset, multi-style investment approach designed to reduce the price and return volatility of the Fund and to provide more consistent returns. The Fund may also invest directly in securities. The Underlying Funds incur separate expenses in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. Investments in affiliated Underlying Funds may also include investments in one or more separate diversified portfolios (collectively, the “affiliated Master Portfolios”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. Each affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios as partnership investments and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolios are presented in separate financial statements and may be obtained free of charge by contacting Investor Services or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolios are filed with the SEC under Wells Fargo Master Trust. The financial statements for all other Underlying Funds are also publicly available on the SEC website at sec.gov.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily.

Investments in underlying mutual funds are valued at net asset per share as reported by the Underlying Funds as of the close of the regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the exchange is open for trading.

Debt securities are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service (e.g. taking into account various factors, including yields, maturities, or credit ratings) or, if a reliable price is not available, the quoted bid price from an independent broker-dealer.

Equity securities and futures contracts that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Fund’s Valuation Procedures.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Futures contracts

Futures contracts are agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity, financial instrument or currency at a specified price and on a specified date. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts in order to gain exposure to, or protect against, changes in interest rates, security values, and foreign exchange rates and is

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

subject to interest rate risk, equity price risk, and foreign currency risk. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between changes in market values of securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Futures contracts are generally entered into on a regulated futures exchange and cleared through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange. With futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty risk to the Fund since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as the counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default.

Upon entering into a futures contracts, the Fund is required to deposit either cash or securities (initial margin) with the broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are paid to or from the broker each day equal to the daily changes in the contract value. Such payments are recorded as unrealized gains or losses and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (payable) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Should the Fund fail to make requested variation margin payments, the broker can gain access to the initial margin to satisfy the Fund’s payment obligations. When the contracts are closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses, and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Interest income is accrued daily and bond discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized daily. To the extent debt obligations are placed on non-accrual status, any related interest income may be reduced by writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has been determined to be doubtful based on consistently applied procedures and the fair value has decreased. If the issuer subsequently resumes interest payments or when the collectability of interest is reasonably assured, the debt obligation is removed from non-accrual status.

Income dividends and capital gain distributions from investment companies are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Capital gain distributions from investment companies are treated as realized gains.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $187,785,785 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 37,389,594  

Gross unrealized losses

     (2,651,586

Net unrealized gains

   $ 34,738,008  

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had current year deferred post-October capital losses consisting of $1,995,047 in short-term losses and $978,854 in long-term gains which was recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Fund’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Exchange-traded funds

   $ 8,374,437      $ 0      $ 0      $ 8,374,437  

Investment companies

     30,679,730        0        0        30,679,730  

Short-term investments

           

U.S. Treasury securities

     936,094        0        0        936,094  

Investments measured at net asset value*

                                182,287,437  
     39,990,261        0        0        222,277,698  

Futures contracts

     286,816        0        0        286,816  

Total assets

   $ 40,277,077      $ 0      $ 0      $ 222,564,514  

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 40,721      $ 0      $ 0      $ 40,721  

Total liabilities

   $ 40,721      $ 0      $ 0      $ 40,721  

 

*

Investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount presented in the table is intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued at $182,287,437. Each affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

Futures contracts are reported at their cumulative unrealized gains (losses) at measurement date as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. For futures contracts, the current day’s variation margin is reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. All other assets and liabilities are reported at their market value at measurement date.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The investment objective of each affiliated Master Portfolio is as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

   Seeks maximum long-term total return (current income and capital appreciation), consistent with minimizing risk to principal

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

   Seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Index, before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Managed Fixed Income Portfolio

   Seeks consistent fixed-income returns

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

   Seeks returns that exceed the rate of inflation over the long-term

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the subadviser and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive a management fee at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets      Management fee

First $500 million

     0.30%

Next $500 million

     0.28

Next $2 billion

     0.26

Next $2 billion

     0.24

Next $5 billion

     0.23

Over $10 billion

     0.22

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to each affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from each affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.10% and declining to 0.05% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

      Class-level
administration fee
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Administrator Class

     0.13  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolios are included in the expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.13% for Class A shares, 1.88% for Class C shares, and 0.95% for Administrator Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $2,614 from the sale of Class A shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A and Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in multiple affiliated Master Portfolios. Purchases and sales related to these investments have been calculated by aggregating the results of multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of unaffiliated securities in which the Fund invests are actual purchases and sale of those securities. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Purchases at cost

     Sales proceeds
U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
     U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
$728,358,094      $146,311,758      $732,987,728      $157,835,604

6. DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS

During the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Fund entered into futures contracts to gain market exposure to certain asset classes consistent with its asset allocation strategy. The Fund had an average notional amount of $15,749,525 in long futures contracts and $12,822,325 in short futures contracts during the six months ended November 30, 2019.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

A summary of the location of derivative instruments on the financial statements by risk is outlined in the following tables.

The fair value of derivative instruments as of November 30, 2019 by risk type was as follows for the Fund:

 

    

Asset derivatives

    

Liability derivatives

 
     Statement of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value      Statement of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value  

Equity risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts    $ 203,611    Unrealized losses on futures contracts    $ 26,480

Interest rate risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      0    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      14,241

Foreign currency risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      83,205    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      0
          $ 286,816           $ 40,721  

 

*

Amount represents cumulative unrealized gains (losses) as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin as of November 30, 2019 is reported separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended November 30, 2019 was as follows for the Fund:

 

        Amount of realized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
       Change in unrealized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
 

Equity risk

     $ (384,526      $ (42,680

Interest rate risk

       (464,995        (14,241

Foreign currency risk

       471,480          (90,425
       $ (378,041      $ (147,346

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
William R. Ebsworth (Born 1957)   Trustee,
since 2015
  Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman (Born 1953)  

Trustee,
since 2015;

Chair Liaison,
since 2018

  Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr.
(Born 1952)
  Trustee,
since 2009;
Audit Committee Chairman, since 2019
  Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson (Born 1949)   Trustee,
since 2008;
Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018
  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
David F. Larcker
(Born 1950)
  Trustee,
since 2009
  James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A
Olivia S. Mitchell
(Born 1953)
  Trustee,
since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018
  International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   Trustee,
since 1996;
Chairman,
since 2018
  President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson (Born 1959)   Trustee,
since 2018
  Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3 (Born 1959)   Trustee, since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019   Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer
Andrew Owen
(Born 1960)
  President,
since 2017
  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Treasurer,
since 2012
  Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.
Michelle Rhee4
(Born 1966)
  Chief Legal Officer,
since 2019
  Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5 (Born 1969)   Secretary,
since 2019
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker (Born 1967)   Chief Compliance Officer,
since 2016
  Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.
David Berardi
(Born 1975)
  Assistant Treasurer,
since 2009
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.

 

 

 

1

Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund  |  25


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LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408956 01-19

SA278/SAR278 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

Reduce clutter.

Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

1 

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp R. Acharya, CFA®, FRM

Petros N. Bocray, CFA®, FRM

Christian L. Chan, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
                   
Class A (WFMAX)   1-30-2004     3.27       3.61       6.20       9.57       4.85       6.84       1.40       1.15  
                   
Class C (WFBCX)   1-30-2004     7.75       4.06       6.04       8.75       4.06       6.04       2.15       1.90  
                   
Administrator Class (NVMBX)   11-11-1994                       9.84       5.10       7.09       1.32       0.90  
                   
Institutional Class (WFMYX)3   7-31-2018                       9.94       5.13       7.11       1.07       0.80  
                   
Moderate Balanced Blended Index4                         11.56       5.58       6.75              
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index5                         10.79       3.08       3.59              
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Short Treasury 9-12 Months Index6                         3.01       1.24       0.80              
                   
MSCI EAFE Index (Net)7                         12.44       4.26       5.32              
                   
Russell 1000® Growth Index8                         21.01       13.71       15.23              
                   
Russell 1000® Value Index9                         11.33       7.83       11.69              
                   
Russell 2000® Index10                         7.51       8.22       12.38              
                   
S&P 500 Index11                         16.11       10.98       13.44              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

 

Ten largest holdings as of November 30, 201912  
   

Wells Fargo Managed Fixed Income Portfolio

     31.12  
   

Wells Fargo Conservative Income Fund Institutional Class

     14.83  
   

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

     8.89  
   

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

     8.39  
   

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

     7.03  
   

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

     6.74  
   

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

     4.44  
   

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

     3.39  
   

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

     3.01  
   

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

     2.98  
Allocation (%) as of November 30, 2019  
     Effective
allocation13
     Neutral
allocation
 
     

Alternatives

     2        0  
     

Bonds

     64        60  
     

Stocks

     40        40  
     

Effective Cash

     (6)        0  
 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.49% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

2 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolios and funds invest and from any money market funds, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. All other acquired fund fees and expenses from the affiliated master portfolios and funds are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

3 

Historical performance shown for the Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of the Administrator Class shares, and is not adjusted to reflect Institutional Class share expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for Institutional Class shares would be higher.

 

4 

Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The Moderate Balanced Blended Index is composed 45% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 15% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Short Treasury 9-12 Months Index, 10% of the Russell 1000® Growth Index, 10% of the Russell 1000® Value Index, 10% of the S&P 500 Index, 6% of the MSCI EAFE Index (Net), and 4% of the Russell 2000® Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar–denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Short Treasury 9–12 Months Index is an unmanaged index that includes aged U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds with a remaining maturity from 9 up to (but not including) 12 months. It excludes zero-coupon STRIPS. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the United States and Canada. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with higher price/book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

9 

The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with lower price/book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

10 

The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, which represents approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

11 

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

12 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

13 

Effective allocation includes the effect of any tactical futures overlay that may be in place. Effective cash is comprised of the net impact of long and/or short futures contracts held as part of its asset allocation strategy. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    

Beginning

account value

6-1-2019

    

Ending

account value

11-30-2019

    

Expenses

paid during

the period1,2

    

Annualized net

expense ratio1

 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,061.92      $ 5.62        1.09

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.55      $ 5.50        1.09
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,058.08      $ 9.47        1.84

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,015.80      $ 9.27        1.84
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,063.23      $ 4.33        0.84

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.80      $ 4.24        0.84
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,063.59      $ 3.82        0.74

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.30      $ 3.74        0.74

 

1

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                    Shares      Value  
Exchange-Traded Funds: 2.20%                          

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund

         16,725      $ 1,036,950  

SPDR Gold Shares †

         13,480        1,858,353  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $2,739,030)

            2,895,303  
         

 

 

 

Investment Companies: 97.33%

         
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 80.89%                          

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

            4,465,222  

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

            11,716,206  

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

            11,049,825  

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

            9,270,351  

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

            1,362,219  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

            1,076,021  

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

            3,962,959  

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

            3,928,355  

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

            8,886,052  

Wells Fargo Managed Fixed Income Portfolio

            41,009,769  

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

            5,853,300  

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

            1,353,421  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

            2,652,754  
            106,586,454  
         

 

 

 
Affiliated Stock Funds: 16.44%                          

Wells Fargo Conservative Income Fund Institutional Class

         1,953,927        19,539,272  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

         40,634        1,079,640  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund Class R6

         95,456        1,050,020  
            21,668,932  
         

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $113,811,608)

            128,255,386  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield    

Maturity

date

     Principal         
Short-Term Investments: 0.35%                          
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.35%  

U.S. Treasury Bill #(z)

    1.38     12-24-2019      $ 465,000        464,550  
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $464,573)

 

     464,550        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $117,015,211)     99.88        131,615,239  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.12          160,201  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 131,775,440  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

#

All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

 

(z)

Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Futures Contracts

 

Description   

Number of

contracts

    

Expiration

date

     Notional
cost
     Notional
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

                 

MSCI Singapore Index

     48        12-30-2019      $ 1,302,993      $ 1,292,659      $ 0      $ (10,334

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     13        12-20-2019        1,985,087        2,043,405        58,318        0  

10 Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     46        3-20-2020        5,958,930        5,950,532        0        (8,398

Short

                 

Euro FX Futures

     (46)        12-16-2019        (6,387,777      (6,340,525      47,252        0  

Hang Seng Index

     (8)        12-30-2019        (1,385,720      (1,345,546      40,174        0  
              

 

 

    

 

 

 
               $ 145,744      $ (18,732
              

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Fund owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Fund and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Fund at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

   

Shares,

beginning of

period

   

Shares

purchased

   

Shares

sold

   

Shares,

end of

period

    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Dividends
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
   

Value,

end of

period

   

% of

net

assets

 
Investment Companies                                                      

Affiliated Stock Funds

                 

Wells Fargo Conservative Income Fund Institutional Class

    1,900,364       129,074       75,511       1,953,927     $ 57     $ 18,983     $ 231,346     $ 19,539,272    

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    43,068       1,296       3,730       40,634       8,261       117,811       0       1,079,640    

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund Class R6

    97,693       6,883       9,120       95,456       4,300       33,393       21,822       1,050,020    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ 12,618     $ 170,187     $ 253,168     $ 21,668,932       16.44
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolios were as follows:

 

   

% of

ownership,

beginning

of period

   

% of

ownership,
end of

period

   

Net realized

gains

(losses) on

securities

transactions

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolios

   

Net

change in

unrealized

gains

(losses) on

securities

transactions

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolios

   

Interest

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolios

   

Dividends

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolios

   

Affiliated

income

allocated

from

affiliates

Master

Portfolios

   

Value,

end

of period

   

% of

net

assets

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

    1.15     1.20   $ 175,527     $ 514,792     $ 0     $ 44,006     $ 1,865     $ 4,465,222    

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    0.20       0.20       312,991       (24,426     159,913       0       2,621       11,716,206    

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

    3.78       3.85       44,334       1,515,493       0       127,802       714       11,049,825    

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

    3.35       3.65       103,841       918,829       0       48,765       1,407       9,270,351    

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    0.15       0.16       27,872       86,894       0       1,058       794       1,362,219    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    0.41       0.45       (19,551     37,270       34       18,837       299       1,076,021    

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

    1.79       1.95       117,012       333,821       0       18,524       1,743       3,962,959    

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

    0.35       0.33       (37,672     372,332       0       58,938       2,086       3,928,355    

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

    3.26       3.55       250,708       537,382       30       118,292       1,035       8,886,052    

Wells Fargo Managed Fixed Income Portfolio

    6.90       7.37       478,491       405,466       711,515       0       7,563       41,009,769    

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

    3.14       3.25       (19,511     143,387       71,025       12,917       618       5,853,300    

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

    0.07       0.08       73,668       78,332       0       4,614       534       1,353,421    

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    1.87       0.49       (165,724     450,182       0       24,503       509       2,652,754    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 1,341,986     $ 5,369,754     $ 942,517     $ 478,256     $ 21,788     $ 106,586,454       80.89
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolios, at value (cost $92,422,689)

  $ 106,586,454  

Investments in affiliated Underlying Funds, at value (cost $21,388,919)

    21,668,932  

Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value (cost $3,203,603)

    3,359,853  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    237,263  

Receivable for dividends

    36,128  

Receivable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

    8,660  

Receivable from manager

    2,306  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    29,795  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    131,929,391  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    43,343  

Overdraft due to custodian bank

    12,191  

Administration fees payable

    17,170  

Distribution fee payable

    5,438  

Shareholder report expenses payable

    33,639  

Shareholder servicing fees payable

    25,618  

Professional fees payable

    10,761  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,422  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    3,369  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    153,951  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 131,775,440  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 113,168,469  

Total distributable earnings

    18,606,971  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 131,775,440  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 32,092,549  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    1,486,149  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $21.59  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $22.91  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 8,514,444  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    406,621  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $20.94  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 80,981,881  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    3,706,116  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $21.85  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 10,186,566  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    465,110  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $21.90  

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019  (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Interest allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios (net of foreign withholding taxes of $88)

  $ 942,517  

Dividends from affiliated Underlying Funds

    253,168  

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios (net of foreign withholding taxes of $12,687)

    478,256  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    21,788  

Dividends

    14,061  

Interest

    4,652  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    (253,141

Waivers allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    13,480  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    1,474,781  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    193,228  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    32,364  

Class C

    8,961  

Administrator Class

    51,964  

Institutional Class

    6,186  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    38,528  

Class C

    10,667  

Administrator Class

    99,932  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    32,002  

Custody and accounting fees

    4,293  

Professional fees

    15,596  

Registration fees

    38,395  

Shareholder report expenses

    30,276  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    10,650  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    583,665  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (173,238

Administrator Class

    (33,690
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    376,737  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    1,098,044  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains (losses) on

 

Securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    1,341,986  

Affiliated Underlying Funds

    12,618  

Unaffiliated securities

    5,855  

Futures contracts

    (222,251
 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on investments

    1,138,208  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on

 

Securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    5,369,754  

Affiliated Underlying Funds

    170,187  

Unaffiliated securities

    70,395  

Futures contracts

    (91,883
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    5,518,453  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    6,656,661  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 7,754,705  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 1,098,044       $ 2,497,871  

Net realized gains on investments

      1,138,208         1,258,344  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      5,518,453         (394,654
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      7,754,705         3,361,561  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (3,737,616

Class C

      0         (1,254,911

Administrator Class

      0         (10,246,697

Institutional Class

      0         (1,267,462 )1 
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (16,506,686
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    174,612       3,687,256       444,234       9,499,182  

Class C

    37,790       774,568       144,391       2,961,750  

Administrator Class

    138,167       2,947,164       387,699       8,499,230  

Institutional Class

    56,476       1,208,921       503,047 1      11,157,702 1 
 

 

 

 
      8,617,909         32,117,864  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       179,435       3,535,133  

Class C

    0       0       63,450       1,215,365  

Administrator Class

    0       0       512,778       10,216,092  

Institutional Class

    0       0       63,414 1      1,264,356 1 
 

 

 

 
      0         16,230,946  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (169,365     (3,569,044     (550,017     (11,776,841

Class C

    (60,842     (1,248,404     (240,319     (4,860,142

Administrator Class

    (235,386     (5,030,907     (1,991,930     (44,740,421

Institutional Class

    (21,979     (470,258     (135,848 )1      (2,646,480 )1 
 

 

 

 
      (10,318,613       (64,023,884
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (1,700,704       (15,675,074
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      6,054,001         (28,820,199
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      125,721,439         154,541,638  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 131,775,440       $ 125,721,439  
 

 

 

 

 

1 

For the period from July 31 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

12  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $20.35       $22.73       $23.47       $22.51       $23.57       $23.19  

Net investment income

    0.16 1      0.36 1      0.29       0.28       0.28 1      0.32  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.08       0.11       0.97       1.34       (0.23     1.01  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.24       0.47       1.26       1.62       0.05       1.33  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.42     (0.32     (0.29     (0.26     (0.44

Net realized gains

    0.00       (2.43     (1.68     (0.37     (0.85     (0.51
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (2.85     (2.00     (0.66     (1.11     (0.95

Net asset value, end of period

    $21.59       $20.35       $22.73       $23.47       $22.51       $23.57  

Total return2

    6.19     2.68     5.38     7.33     0.34     5.87

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.30     1.31     1.33     1.32     1.32     1.36

Net expenses3

    1.09     1.12     1.13     1.15     1.15     1.15

Net investment income3

    1.57     1.65     1.42     1.25     1.26     1.14

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    62     191     113     114     87     84

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $32,093       $30,132       $31,980       $36,679       $35,993       $20,782  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include only the net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios and do not include expenses from any other Underlying Funds. Net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios included in the ratios were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.37

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.40

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.46

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.47

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.47

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in the affiliated Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $19.80       $22.20       $22.97       $22.05       $23.18       $22.79  

Net investment income

    0.08 1      0.12       0.10       0.11 1      0.11 1      0.09 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.06       0.18       0.95       1.32       (0.23     1.04  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.14       0.30       1.05       1.43       (0.12     1.13  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.27     (0.14     (0.14     (0.16     (0.23

Net realized gains

    0.00       (2.43     (1.68     (0.37     (0.85     (0.51
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (2.70     (1.82     (0.51     (1.01     (0.74

Net asset value, end of period

    $20.94       $19.80       $22.20       $22.97       $22.05       $23.18  

Total return2

    5.81     1.90     4.56     6.56     (0.44 )%      5.06

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    2.05     2.06     2.08     2.07     2.07     2.11

Net expenses3

    1.84     1.87     1.88     1.90     1.90     1.90

Net investment income3

    0.82     0.89     0.66     0.50     0.51     0.40

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    62     191     113     114     87     84

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $8,514       $8,509       $10,260       $12,180       $12,501       $6,042  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include only the net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios and do not include expenses from any other Underlying Funds. Net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios included in the ratios were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.37

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.40

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.46

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.47

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.47

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in the affiliated Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

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

 

 

14  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $20.56       $22.94       $23.68       $22.70       $23.75       $23.38  

Net investment income

    0.19 1      0.41 1      0.38       0.35 1      0.32       0.33 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.10       0.12       0.94       1.35       (0.21     1.07  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.29       0.53       1.32       1.70       0.11       1.40  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.48     (0.38     (0.35     (0.31     (0.52

Net realized gains

    0.00       (2.43     (1.68     (0.37     (0.85     (0.51
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (2.91     (2.06     (0.72     (1.16     (1.03

Net asset value, end of period

    $21.85       $20.56       $22.94       $23.68       $22.70       $23.75  

Total return2

    6.32     2.95     5.59     7.62     0.59     6.13

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.22     1.23     1.25     1.24     1.23     1.20

Net expenses3

    0.84     0.87     0.88     0.90     0.90     0.90

Net investment income3

    1.82     1.88     1.67     1.49     1.48     1.39

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    62     191     113     114     87     84

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $80,982       $78,209       $112,302       $112,835       $156,915       $153,457  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include only the net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios and do not include expenses from any other Underlying Funds. Net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios included in the ratios were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.37

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.41

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.46

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.47

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.47

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in the affiliated Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended
May  31, 20191
 
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $20.60       $23.24  

Net investment income

    0.37       0.37 2 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.93       (0.12
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.30       0.25  

Distributions to shareholders from

   

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.46

Net realized gains

    0.00       (2.43
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (2.89

Net asset value, end of period

    $21.90       $20.60  

Total return3

    6.36     1.72

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

   

Gross expenses4

    0.97     0.98

Net expenses4

    0.74     0.75

Net investment income4

    1.92     2.15

Supplemental data

   

Portfolio turnover rate5

    62     191

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $10,187       $8,871  

 

1 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

2 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Ratios include only the net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios and do not include expenses from any other Underlying Funds. Net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios included in the ratios were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.37

Year ended May 31, 20191

    0.38

 

5 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in the affiliated Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a fund-of-funds that invests in various affiliated mutual funds (“Underlying Funds”) employing a multi-asset, multi-style investment approach designed to reduce the price and return volatility of the Fund and to provide more consistent returns. The Fund may also invest directly in securities. The Underlying Funds incur separate expenses in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. Investments in affiliated Underlying Funds may also include investments in one or more separate diversified portfolios (collectively, the “affiliated Master Portfolios”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. Each affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios as partnership investments and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolios are presented in separate financial statements and may be obtained free of charge by contacting Investor Services or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolios are filed with the SEC under Wells Fargo Master Trust. The financial statements for all other Underlying Funds are also publicly available on the SEC website at sec.gov.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily.

Investments in underlying mutual funds are valued at net asset per share as reported by the Underlying Funds as of the close of the regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the exchange is open for trading.

Debt securities are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service (e.g. taking into account various factors, including yields, maturities, or credit ratings) or, if a reliable price is not available, the quoted bid price from an independent broker-dealer.

Equity securities and futures contracts that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Fund’s Valuation Procedures.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Futures contracts

Futures contracts are agreements between each Fund and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity, financial instrument or currency at a specified price and on a specified date. A Fund may buy and sell futures contracts in order to gain exposure to, or protect against, changes in interest rates, security values, and foreign exchange rates and is subject to

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

interest rate risk, equity price risk, and foreign currency risk. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between changes in market values of securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Futures contracts are generally entered into on a regulated futures exchange and cleared through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange. With futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty risk to the

Fund since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as the counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. The Fund is subject to interest rate risk and equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Futures contracts are agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity, financial instrument or currency at specified price.

Upon entering into a futures contracts, the Fund is required to deposit either cash or securities (initial margin) with the broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are paid to or from the broker each day equal to the daily changes in the contract value. Such payments are recorded as unrealized gains or losses and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (payable) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Should the Fund fail to make requested variation margin payments, the broker can gain access to the initial margin to satisfy the Fund’s payment obligations. When the contracts are closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Interest income is accrued daily and bond discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized daily. To the extent debt obligations are placed on non-accrual status, any related interest income may be reduced by writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has been determined to be doubtful based on consistently applied procedures and the fair value has decreased. If the issuer subsequently resumes interest payments or when the collectability of interest is reasonably assured, the debt obligation is removed from non-accrual status.

Income dividends and capital gain distributions from investment companies are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Capital gain distributions from investment companies are treated as realized gains.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $116,256,687 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 15,716,175  

Gross unrealized losses

     (230,611

Net unrealized gains

   $ 15,485,564  

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had deferred post-October capital losses consisting of $522,478 in short-term losses which were recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Fund’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Exchange-traded funds

   $ 2,895,303      $ 0      $ 0      $ 2,895,303  

Investment companies

     21,668,932        0        0        21,668,932  

Short-term investments

           

U.S. Treasury securities

     464,550        0        0        464,550  

Investments measured at net asset value*

                                106,586,454  
     25,028,785        0        0        131,615,239  

Futures contracts

     145,744        0        0        145,744  

Total assets

   $ 25,174,529      $ 0      $ 0      $ 131,760,983  

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 18,732      $ 0      $ 0      $ 18,732  

Total liabilities

   $ 18,732      $ 0      $ 0      $ 18,732  

 

*

Investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount presented in the table is intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued at $106,586,454. Each affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

Futures contracts are reported at their cumulative unrealized gains (losses) at measurement date as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. For futures contracts the current day’s variation margin is reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. All other assets and liabilities are reported at their market value at measurement date.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  19


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The investment objective of each affiliated Master Portfolio is as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

   Seeks maximum long-term total return (current income and capital appreciation), consistent with minimizing risk to principal

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

   Seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Index (Net), before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Managed Fixed Income Portfolio

   Seeks consistent fixed-income returns

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

   Seeks returns that exceed the rate of inflation over the long-term

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the subadviser and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive a management fee at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee  

First $500 million

     0.30

Next $500 million

     0.28  

Next $2 billion

     0.26  

Next $2 billion

     0.24  

Next $5 billion

     0.23  

Over $10 billion

     0.22  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to each affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.10% and declining to 0.05% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

      Class-level
administration fee
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Administrator Class, Institutional Class

     0.13  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.15% for Class A shares, 1.90% for Class C shares, 0.90% for Administrator Class shares, and 0.80% for Institutional Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to the Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $3,580 from the sale of Class A shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A and Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in multiple affiliated Master Portfolios. Purchases and sales related to these investments have been calculated by aggregating the results of multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of unaffiliated securities in which the Fund invests are actual purchases and sale of those securities. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Purchases at cost

     Sales proceeds

U.S.

government

    

Non-U.S.

government

    

U.S.

government

    

Non-U.S.

government

$38,875,247      $28,303,611      $39,320,670      $35,114,669

6. DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS

During the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Fund entered into futures contracts for to gain market exposure to certain asset classes consistent with its asset allocation strategy. The Fund had an average notional amount of $9,001,220 in long futures contracts and $7,222,395 in short futures contracts during the six months ended November 30, 2019.

A summary of the location of derivative instruments on the financial statements by risk is outlined in the following tables.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The fair value of derivative instruments as of November 30, 2019 by risk type was as follows for the Fund:

 

    

Asset derivatives

    

Liability derivatives

 
     Statement of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value      Statement of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value  

Equity risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts    $ 98,492    Unrealized losses on futures contracts    $ 10,334

Foreign currency risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      47,252    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      0

Interest rate risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      0    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      8,398
          $ 145,744           $ 18,732  

 

*

Amount represents cumulative unrealized gains (losses) as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin as of November 30, 2019 is reported separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the six months ended November 30, 2019 was as follows for the Fund:

 

      

Amount of realized

gains (losses) on
derivatives

      

Change in unrealized

gains (losses) on

derivatives

 

Equity risk

     $ (219,177      $ (34,467

Foreign currency risk

       266,807          (49,018

Interest rate risk

       (269,881        (8,398
       $ (222,251      $ (91,883

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Funds under the agreement.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees    

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Current other

public company or

investment

company

directorships

William R. Ebsworth

(Born 1957)

  Trustee, since 2015   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2015; Chair Liaison, since 2018   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

  Trustee, since 2009; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2019   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation

Judith M. Johnson

(Born 1949)

  Trustee, since 2008; Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

24  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Current other

public company or

investment

company
directorships

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

  Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

  Trustee, since 1996; Chairman, since 2018   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A

James G. Polisson

(Born 1959)

  Trustee, since 2018   Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A

Pamela Wheelock3

(Born 1959)

  Trustee, since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019   Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.    

 

 

Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund  |  25


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers    

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer

Andrew Owen

(Born 1960)

  President, since 2017   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.

Jeremy DePalma1

(Born 1974)

  Treasurer, since 2012   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

Michelle Rhee4

(Born 1966)

  Chief Legal Officer, since 2019   Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.

Catherine Kennedy5

(Born 1969)

  Secretary, since 2019   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.

Michael H. Whitaker

(Born 1967)

  Chief Compliance Officer, since 2016   Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

  Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.

 

1

Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

26  |  Wells Fargo Moderate Balanced Fund


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LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408957 01-19

SA279/SAR279 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

Reduce clutter.

Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

1 

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks maximum long-term total return (current income and capital appreciation), consistent with minimizing risk to principal.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser for the affiliated master portfolio1

Cooke & Bieler, L.P.

Portfolio managers

Andrew B. Armstrong, CFA®

Wesley Lim, CFA®*

Steve Lyons, CFA®

Michael M. Meyer, CFA®

Edward W. O’Connor, CFA®

R. James O’Neil, CFA®

Mehul Trivedi, CFA®

William Weber, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
                   
Class A (CBEAX)   7-26-2004     9.99       7.91       10.64       16.72       9.20       11.29       1.23       1.08  
                   
Class C (CBECX)   7-26-2004     14.85       8.38       10.46       15.85       8.38       10.46       1.98       1.83  
                   
Class R6 (CBEJX)4   10-31-2016                       17.19       9.62       11.68       0.80       0.65  
                   
Administrator Class (CBLLX)   7-26-2004                       16.81       9.34       11.46       1.15       1.00  
                   
Institutional Class (CBLSX)   7-26-2004                       17.09       9.59       11.73       0.90       0.75  
                   
Russell 1000® Value Index5                         11.33       7.83       11.69              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R6, Administrator Class, and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20196  
   

Arrow Electronics Incorporated

     3.30  
   

Synchrony Financial

     3.14  
   

AerCap Holdings NV

     2.97  
   

Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated Class A

     2.94  
   

Colfax Corporation

     2.89  
   

JPMorgan Chase & Company

     2.84  
   

State Street Corporation

     2.82  
   

Carnival Corporation

     2.80  
   

Eaton Corporation plc

     2.59  
   

PNC Financial Services Group Incorporated

     2.53  
Sector distribution as of November 30, 20197
LOGO
 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

*

Mr. Lim became a portfolio manager of the Fund on August 1, 2019.

 

1 

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated master portfolio of the Wells Fargo Master Trust with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. References to the investment activities of the Fund are intended to refer to the investment activities of the affiliated master portfolio in which it invests.

 

2 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

3 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolio invests, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Net expenses from the affiliated master portfolio are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

4 

Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares, and includes the higher expenses application to Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class R6 shares would be higher.

 

5 

The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with lower price/book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the securities of the affiliated master portfolio allocable to the Fund divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

7 

Amounts represent the sector distribution of the affiliated master portfolio which are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the affiliated master portfolio. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account  value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,178.32      $ 5.88        1.08

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.60      $ 5.45        1.08
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,174.05      $ 9.95        1.83

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,015.85      $ 9.22        1.83
         

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,180.70      $ 3.54        0.65

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.75      $ 3.29        0.65
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,178.82      $ 5.45        1.00

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.00      $ 5.05        1.00
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,180.08      $ 4.09        0.75

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.25      $ 3.79        0.75

 

1

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                             Value  
Investment Companies: 99.88%                           
Affiliated Master Portfolio: 99.88%                           

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

           $ 291,078,892  
          

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $211,140,051)

             291,078,892        
          

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $211,140,051)     99.88        291,078,892  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.12          345,237  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 291,424,129  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolio were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
   

Net realized
gains

(losses) on
securities
transactions

allocated

from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio

   

Net

change in

unrealized
gains

(losses) on
securities
transactions

allocated

from

affiliated
Master
Portfolio

    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
   

Value,
end

of period

    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

    77     78   $ 11,482,139     $ 33,234,682     $ 2,818,756     $ 124,029     $ 291,078,892       99.88

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolio, at value (cost $211,140,051)

  $ 291,078,892  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    458,549  

Receivable from manager

    32,772  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    58,041  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    291,628,254  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    119,569  

Administration fees payable

    33,083  

Distribution fee payable

    3,037  

Custodian and accounting fees payable

    14,208  

Shareholder servicing fees payable

    21,588  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,321  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    10,319  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    204,125  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 291,424,129  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 186,509,266  

Total distributable earnings

    104,914,863  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 291,424,129  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 90,092,757  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    5,876,490  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $15.33  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $16.27  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 4,919,250  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    325,660  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $15.11  

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 58,415,188  

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    3,787,550  

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $15.42  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 8,247,678  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    537,084  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $15.36  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 129,749,256  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    8,422,937  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $15.40  

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio (net of foreign withholding taxes of $71,902)

  $ 2,818,756  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    124,029  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (956,646

Waivers allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    49,928  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    2,036,067  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    70,901  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    89,151  

Class C

    5,032  

Class R6

    9,967  

Administrator Class

    5,612  

Institutional Class

    77,238  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    106,132  

Class C

    5,990  

Administrator Class

    10,793  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    17,961  

Custody and accounting fees

    6,812  

Professional fees

    17,450  

Registration fees

    83,021  

Shareholder report expenses

    37,146  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    9,278  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    563,107  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (106,574

Class A

    (56,462

Class C

    (3,157

Class R6

    (9,967

Administrator Class

    (5,712

Institutional Class

    (77,238
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    303,997  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    1,732,070  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    11,482,139  

Net change in unrealized gains on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    33,234,682  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    44,716,821  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 46,448,891  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 1,732,070       $ 3,494,425  

Net realized gains on investments

      11,482,139         22,450,835  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      33,234,682         (20,286,156
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      46,448,891         5,659,104  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

 

Class A

      0         (5,854,644

Class C

      0         (663,292

Class R6

      0         (8,273,383

Administrator Class

      0         (729,387

Institutional Class

      0         (9,537,075
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (25,057,781
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

 

Class A

    199,104       2,837,674       598,330       7,944,833  

Class C

    40,475       585,206       153,872       1,981,780  

Class R6

    213,380       3,066,545       709,584       9,759,366  

Administrator Class

    16,534       238,145       63,073       881,388  

Institutional Class

    1,239,438       17,847,526       2,556,786       34,874,000  
 

 

 

 
      24,575,096         55,441,367  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

 

Class A

    0       0       463,313       5,752,084  

Class C

    0       0       53,533       657,661  

Class R6

    0       0       40,613       506,108  

Administrator Class

    0       0       45,134       561,040  

Institutional Class

    0       0       755,134       9,401,667  
 

 

 

 
      0         16,878,560  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

 

Class A

    (406,783     (5,806,432     (1,139,570     (15,660,154

Class C

    (110,953     (1,547,032     (613,403     (8,120,776

Class R6

    (1,659,314     (23,821,278     (3,440,746     (46,779,401

Administrator Class

    (191,199     (2,677,196     (311,921     (4,389,568

Institutional Class

    (1,137,129     (16,269,688     (4,670,529     (62,677,183
 

 

 

 
      (50,121,626       (137,627,082
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (25,546,530       (65,307,155
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      20,902,361         (84,705,832
 

 

 

 

Net assets

 

Beginning of period

      270,521,768         355,227,600  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 291,424,129       $ 270,521,768  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.01       $13.91       $14.54       $12.55       $13.07       $11.99  

Net investment income

    0.07       0.11       0.09 1      0.08       0.11 1      0.10  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.25       0.02       0.87       2.23       (0.14     1.07  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.32       0.13       0.96       2.31       (0.03     1.17  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.12     (0.06     (0.08     (0.10     (0.09

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.91     (1.53     (0.24     (0.39     0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (1.03     (1.59     (0.32     (0.49     (0.09

Net asset value, end of period

    $15.33       $13.01       $13.91       $14.54       $12.55       $13.07  

Total return2

    17.83     1.33     6.29     18.62     (0.08 )%      9.78

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.27     1.23     1.21     1.24     1.25     1.29

Net expenses3

    1.08     1.08     1.10     1.15     1.15     1.15

Net investment income3

    1.00     0.83     0.58     0.62     0.89     0.73

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    12     47     42     89     29     35

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $90,093       $79,172       $85,707       $83,016       $88,387       $27,085  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.64

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.65

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.66

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.68

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.68

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.68

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 12.87     $ 13.75     $ 14.44     $ 12.48     $ 13.01     $ 11.95  

Net investment income (loss)

    0.02 1      0.01 1      (0.02 )1      (0.02     0.01       (0.00 )2 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.22       0.03       0.86       2.22       (0.14     1.07  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.24       0.04       0.84       2.20       (0.13     1.07  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.01     0.00       0.00       (0.01     (0.01

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.91     (1.53     (0.24     (0.39     0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (0.92     (1.53     (0.24     (0.40     (0.01

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 15.11     $ 12.87     $ 13.75     $ 14.44     $ 12.48     $ 13.01  

Total return3

    17.40     0.61     5.46     17.73     (0.82 )%      8.93

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses4

    2.01     1.97     1.96     1.99     2.00     2.04

Net expenses4

    1.83     1.83     1.85     1.90     1.90     1.90

Net investment income (loss)4

    0.24     0.07     (0.16 )%      (0.13 )%      0.11     (0.02 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate5

    12     47     42     89     29     35

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

  $ 4,919     $ 5,098     $ 11,031     $ 8,043     $ 7,282     $ 7,654  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Amount is more than $(0.005).

 

3 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.64

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.65

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.66

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.68

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.68

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.68

 

5 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

12  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS R6   2019     2018     20171  

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 13.06     $ 13.97     $ 14.59     $ 12.73  

Net investment income

    0.10 2      0.18 2      0.18 2      0.16  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.26       0.00 3      0.85       2.06  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.36       0.18       1.03       2.22  

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.18     (0.12     (0.12

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.91     (1.53     (0.24
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (1.09     (1.65     (0.36

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 15.42     $ 13.06     $ 13.97     $ 14.59  

Total return4

    18.07     1.74     6.76     17.65

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

       

Gross expenses5

    0.83     0.79     0.77     0.81

Net expenses5

    0.65     0.65     0.65     0.70

Net investment income5

    1.41     1.27     1.28     1.04

Supplemental data

       

Portfolio turnover rate6

    12     47     42     89

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

  $ 58,415     $ 68,366     $ 110,665     $ 3,532  

 

 

1 

For the period from October 31, 2016 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017

 

2 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3 

Amount is less than $0.005.

 

4 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

5 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.64

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.65

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.65

Year ended May 31, 20171

    0.68

 

6 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months  ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.03       $13.92       $14.56       $12.54       $13.07       $12.00  

Net investment income

    0.08       0.12 1      0.10 1      0.10 1      0.13 1      0.13  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.25       0.02       0.87       2.24       (0.15     1.06  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.33       0.14       0.97       2.34       (0.02     1.19  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.12     (0.08     (0.08     (0.12     (0.12

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.91     (1.53     (0.24     (0.39     0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (1.03     (1.61     (0.32     (0.51     (0.12

Net asset value, end of period

    $15.36       $13.03       $13.92       $14.56       $12.54       $13.07  

Total return2

    17.88     1.44     6.36     18.82     0.11     9.93

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.18     1.15     1.13     1.16     1.16     1.13

Net expenses3

    1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00     0.98     0.95

Net investment income3

    1.06     0.90     0.69     0.77     1.03     0.92

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    12     47     42     89     29     35

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $8,248       $9,274       $12,742       $11,467       $23,210       $55,705  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.64

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.65

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.66

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.68

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.68

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.68

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

14  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months  ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.05       $13.96       $14.58       $12.58       $13.11       $12.03  

Net investment income

    0.09       0.14       0.13 1      0.14       0.16       0.15  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.26       0.02       0.89       2.22       (0.14     1.08  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.35       0.16       1.02       2.36       0.02       1.23  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.16     (0.11     (0.12     (0.16     (0.15

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.91     (1.53     (0.24     (0.39     0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (1.07     (1.64     (0.36     (0.55     (0.15

Net asset value, end of period

    $15.40       $13.05       $13.96       $14.58       $12.58       $13.11  

Total return2

    18.01     1.64     6.68     19.05     0.33     10.15

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    0.94     0.90     0.88     0.91     0.92     0.86

Net expenses3

    0.75     0.75     0.77     0.80     0.77     0.70

Net investment income3

    1.33     1.17     0.87     0.96     1.25     1.18

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    12     47     42     89     29     35

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $129,749       $108,613       $135,082       $220,257       $133,632       $132,768  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.64

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.65

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.66

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.68

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.68

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.68

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  15


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a separate diversified portfolio (the “affiliated Master Portfolio”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. The affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio as a partnership investment and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio for the six months ended November 30, 2019 are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund owned 78% of Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily. Securities held in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued as discussed in the Notes to Financial Statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio, which are included elsewhere in this report.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $213,303,368 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 77,775,524  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 77,775,524  

 

 

16  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolio was measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The investment objective and the value of the affiliate Master Portfolio was as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective      Value of
affiliated Master
Portfolio
 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

   Seeks maximum long-term total return (current income and capital appreciation), consistent with minimizing risk to principal        $291,078,892  

The affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As long as the Fund continues to invest substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio, the Fund pays Funds Management an investment management fee only for fund-level administrative services at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee  

First $5 billion

     0.05

Next $5 billion

     0.04  

Over $10 billion

     0.03  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to the affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     

Class-level

administration fee

 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Class R6

     0.03  

Administrator Class, Institutional Class

     0.13  

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  17


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.08% for Class A shares, 1.83% for Class C shares, 0.65% for Class R6 shares, 1.00% for Administrator Class shares, and 0.75% for Institutional Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $3,260 from the sale of Class A shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A and Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio. Purchases and sales have been calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage of the affiliated Master Portfolio by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $34,004,938 and $65,639,636, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. Through its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio which may invest a substantial portion of its assets in any sector, the Fund may in turn be more affected by changes in that sector than a fund whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector. As of the end of the period, the Fund invests a concentration of its portfolio in the financials sector.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

 

 

18  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Common Stocks: 94.81%

 

Communication Services: 6.13%

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services: 2.31%  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

          143,200      $ 8,626,368  
          

 

 

 
Entertainment: 1.95%  

Activision Blizzard Incorporated

          133,000        7,292,390  
          

 

 

 
Media: 1.87%  

Omnicom Group Incorporated

          87,900        6,986,292  
          

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary: 8.36%

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 2.81%  

Carnival Corporation

          232,600        10,485,608  
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 1.64%  

Whirlpool Corporation

          42,700        6,110,370  
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 3.91%  

Gildan Activewear Incorporated

          269,350        7,840,779  

HanesBrands Incorporated

          449,597        6,775,427  
             14,616,206  
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 1.99%

 

Tobacco: 1.99%  

Philip Morris International Incorporated

          89,400        7,413,942  
          

 

 

 

Energy: 3.37%

 

Energy Equipment & Services: 1.33%  

Schlumberger Limited

          137,000        4,959,400  
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 2.04%  

Exxon Mobil Corporation

          111,900        7,623,747  
          

 

 

 

Financials: 27.99%

 

Banks: 5.38%  

JPMorgan Chase & Company

          80,500        10,606,680  

PNC Financial Services Group Incorporated

          61,800        9,468,378  
             20,075,058  
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 9.01%  

Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated Class A «

          188,300        10,998,603  

Intercontinental Exchange Incorporated

          55,600        5,235,852  

State Street Corporation

          140,400        10,544,040  

The Charles Schwab Corporation

          139,040        6,882,480  
             33,660,975  
          

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 3.15%  

Synchrony Financial

          314,200        11,754,222  
          

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 2.45%  

Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated Class B †

          41,490        9,140,247  
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 8.00%  

Arch Capital Group Limited †

          179,400        7,529,418  

Chubb Limited

          54,800        8,301,104  

 

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

 

 

20  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Insurance (continued)  

Fidelity National Financial Incorporated

          175,600      $ 8,363,828  

The Progressive Corporation

          78,000        5,697,900  
             29,892,250  
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 12.94%

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 3.64%  

Becton Dickinson & Company

          26,400        6,824,400  

Medtronic plc

          60,800        6,772,512  
             13,596,912  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 5.95%  

HCA Healthcare Incorporated

          47,100        6,530,886  

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings †

          36,700        6,323,043  

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

          33,500        9,375,645  
             22,229,574  
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 3.35%  

Allergan plc

          20,600        3,809,764  

Johnson & Johnson

          63,200        8,689,368  
             12,499,132  
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 18.22%

 

Air Freight & Logistics: 2.36%  

United Parcel Service Incorporated Class B

          73,700        8,824,101  
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 1.25%  

Johnson Controls International plc

          109,100        4,672,753  
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 4.47%  

AMETEK Incorporated

          71,000        7,029,710  

Eaton Corporation plc

          104,500        9,666,250  
             16,695,960  
          

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates: 2.06%  

3M Company

          45,300        7,690,581  
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 5.11%  

Colfax Corporation †

          320,900        10,814,330  

Snap-on Incorporated

          51,400        8,247,644  
             19,061,974  
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 2.97%  

AerCap Holdings NV †

          179,500        11,094,895  
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 9.63%

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 5.45%  

Arrow Electronics Incorporated †

          154,800        12,328,272  

TE Connectivity Limited

          86,700        8,037,957  
             20,366,229  
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 4.18%  

Alliance Data Systems Corporation

 

        24,000        2,565,840  

Amdocs Limited

 

        133,100        9,223,830  

Leidos Holdings Incorporated

 

        42,100        3,824,363  
             15,614,033  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio  |  21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                    Shares      Value  
Materials: 4.13%

 

Chemicals: 1.45%  

Axalta Coating Systems Limited †

 

       190,500      $ 5,423,535  
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 1.19%  

Crown Holdings Incorporated †

 

       58,400        4,432,560  
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 1.49%  

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Company

 

       47,100        5,556,858  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate: 2.05%

 

Real Estate Management & Development: 2.05%  

CBRE Group Incorporated Class A †

 

       134,200        7,652,084  
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $254,656,229)

 

     354,048,256  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 8.17%  
Investment Companies: 8.17%  

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC (l)(r)(u)

    1.77        10,613,739        10,614,800  

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56          19,902,113        19,902,113  

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $30,516,913)

 

     30,516,913        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $285,173,142)     102.98        384,565,169  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (2.98        (11,128,478
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 373,436,691  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

«

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Portfolio as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(r)

The investment is a non-registered investment company purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Portfolio owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Portfolio and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Portfolio at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning of
period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses)
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Income
from
affiliated
securities
    Value,
end of
period
    % of
net
assets
 
Short-Term Investments                                                      

Investment Companies

                 

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC

    0       43,541,956       32,928,217       10,613,739     $ 0     $ 0     $ 19,415 #    $ 10,614,800    

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    11,857,445       61,411,921       53,367,253       19,902,113       0       0       157,316       19,902,113    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ 0       0     $ 176,731     $ 30,516,913       8.17
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

# 

Amount shown represents income before fees and rebates.

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities (including $10,384,664 of securities on loan), at value (cost $254,656,229)

  $ 354,048,256  

Investments in affiliated securities, at value (cost $30,516,913)

    30,516,913  

Receivable for dividends

    1,008,218  

Receivable for securities lending income, net

    114  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    21,041  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    385,594,542  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    10,612,045  

Payable for investments purchased

    1,331,543  

Advisory fee payable

    192,125  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    22,138  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    12,157,851  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 373,436,691  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio  |  23


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $92,753)

  $ 3,633,164  

Income from affiliated securities

    160,131  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    3,793,295  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    1,187,598  

Custody and accounting fees

    6,771  

Professional fees

    22,009  

Shareholder report expenses

    528  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,920  

Other fees and expenses

    4,525  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,233,351  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (64,371
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    1,168,980  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    2,624,315  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on investments

    14,810,230  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    43,163,126  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    57,973,356  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 60,597,671  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
       Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

      

Net investment income

  $ 2,624,315        $ 5,213,964  

Net realized gains on investments

    14,810,230          23,339,628  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    43,163,126          (19,832,017
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    60,597,671          8,721,575  
 

 

 

 

Capital transactions

      

Transactions in investors’ beneficial interests

      

Contributions

    9,596,736          105,704,905  

Withdrawals

    (47,652,792        (145,734,521
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital transactions

    (38,056,056        (40,029,616
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    22,541,615          (31,308,041
 

 

 

 

Net assets

      

Beginning of period

    350,895,076          382,203,117  
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 373,436,691        $ 350,895,076  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio  |  25


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Total return1

    18.10     1.80     6.65     19.17     0.35     10.29

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses

    0.68     0.67     0.67     0.68     0.68     0.68

Net expenses

    0.64     0.65     0.66     0.68     0.68     0.68

Net investment income

    1.44     1.27     1.02     1.09     1.33     1.20

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    12     47     42     89     29     35

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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

 

 

26  |  Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Master Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Portfolio may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Equity securities that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Portfolio’s Valuation Procedures.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment companies that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued normally at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Securities lending

The Portfolio may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. When securities are on loan, the Portfolio receives interest or dividends on those securities. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). Investments in Securities Lending Fund are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund (net of fees and rebates), if any, is included in income from affiliated securities on the Statement of Operations.

In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Portfolio is affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Portfolio fluctuates from time to time. The Portfolio has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Portfolio may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In such an event, the terms of the agreement allows the unaffiliated securities lending agent to use the collateral to purchase replacement securities on behalf of the Portfolio or pay the Portfolio the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio bears the risk of loss with respect to depreciation of its investment of the cash collateral.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Federal and other taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Portfolio is not required to pay federal income taxes on its net investment income and net capital gains as it is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. All

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

dividends, gains and losses of the Portfolio are deemed to have been “passed through” to the interest holders in proportion to their holdings of the Portfolio regardless of whether dividends and gains have been distributed by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio’s income tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal revenue authority. Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $289,117,572 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 105,548,730  

Gross unrealized losses

     (10,101,133

Net unrealized gains

   $ 95,447,597  

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Portfolio’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Communication services

   $ 22,905,050      $ 0      $ 0      $ 22,905,050  

Consumer discretionary

     31,212,184        0        0        31,212,184  

Consumer staples

     7,413,942        0        0        7,413,942  

Energy

     12,583,147        0        0        12,583,147  

Financials

     104,522,752        0        0        104,522,752  

Health care

     48,325,618        0        0        48,325,618  

Industrials

     68,040,264        0        0        68,040,264  

Information technology

     35,980,262        0        0        35,980,262  

Materials

     15,412,953        0        0        15,412,953  

Real estate

     7,652,084        0        0        7,652,084  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     30,516,913        0        0        30,516,913  

Total assets

   $ 384,565,169      $ 0      $ 0      $ 384,565,169  

Additional sector, industry or geographic detail is included in the Portfolio of Investments.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Advisory fee

The Trust has entered into an advisory contract with Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The adviser is responsible for implementing investment policies and guidelines and for supervising the subadviser, who is responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the contract, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual advisory fee at the following annual rate based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Advisory fee  

First $500 million

     0.650

Next $500 million

     0.625  

Next $1 billion

     0.600  

Next $2 billion

     0.575  

Next $4 billion

     0.550  

Next $4 billion

     0.525  

Next $4 billion

     0.500  

Over $16 billion

     0.475  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.65% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Portfolio. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Cooke & Bieler, L.P., which is not an affiliate of Funds Management, is the subadviser to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.38% and declining to 0.30% as the average daily net assets of the Portfolio increase.

Funds Management has voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed advisory fees to reduce the net operating expense ratio of the Portfolio.

Interfund transactions

The Portfolio may purchase or sell portfolio investment securities to certain other Wells Fargo affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $43,626,288 and $84,211,700, respectively.

6. SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent and receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any increases or decreases in the required collateral are exchanged between the Fund and the counterparty on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in the Securities Lending Fund which seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open Rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments and is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Securities Lending Fund is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”), an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo. Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser.

 

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

In the event of counterparty default or the failure of a borrower to return a loaned security, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. As of November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had securities lending transactions with the following counterparties which are subject to offset:

 

Counterparty      Value of
securities on
loan
     Collateral
received1
     Net amount  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     $10,384,664      $(10,384,664)      $ 0  

 

1 

Collateral received within this table is limited to the collateral for the net transaction with the counterparty.

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, along with Wells Fargo Variable Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Trust (excluding the money market funds), are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Portfolio is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Portfolio based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Portfolio under the agreement.

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. As of the end of the period, the Portfolio invests a concentration of its portfolio in the financials sector. A Portfolio that invests a substantial portion of its assets in any sector may be more affected by changes in that sector than would be a portfolio whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Portfolio and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

10. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund and Portfolio file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships

William R. Ebsworth

(Born 1957)

  Trustee, since 2015   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman (Born 1953)   Trustee, since 2015; Chair Liaison, since 2018   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr. (Born 1952)   Trustee, since 2009; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2019   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson (Born 1949)   Trustee, since 2008; Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
David F. Larcker (Born 1950)   Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A
Olivia S. Mitchell (Born 1953)   Trustee, since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   Trustee, since 1996; Chairman, since 2018   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson (Born 1959)   Trustee, since 2018   Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3 (Born 1959)   Trustee, since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019   Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Fund  |  33


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer
Andrew Owen (Born 1960)   President, since 2017   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.
Nancy Wiser1 (Born 1967)   Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.
Michelle Rhee4 (Born 1966)   Chief Legal Officer, since 2019   Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5 (Born 1969)   Secretary, since 2019   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker (Born 1967)   Chief Compliance Officer, since 2016   Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.
David Berardi (Born 1975)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

 

1

Nancy Wiser acts as Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.    

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

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LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408958 01-19

SA280/SAR280 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

Reduce clutter.

Save trees.

Sign up for

electronic delivery

of prospectuses

and shareholder

reports at

wellsfargo.com/

advantagedelivery

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

1 

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term total capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Portfolio managers

Thomas C. Biwer, CFA®

Aldo Ceccarelli, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
                   
Class A (NVDAX)   5-2-1996     6.39       6.83       10.08       12.88       8.11       10.74       1.36       1.25  
                   
Class C (WFDEX)   10-1-1998     11.07       7.31       9.91       12.07       7.31       9.91       2.11       2.00  
                   
Administrator Class (NVDEX)   11-11-1994                       13.18       8.38       11.02       1.28       1.00  
                   
Diversified Equity Blended Index3                         14.73       9.64       12.18              
                   
MSCI EAFE Index (Net)4                         12.44       4.26       5.32              
                   
Russell 1000® Growth Index5                         21.01       13.71       15.23              
                   
Russell 1000® Value Index6                         11.33       7.83       11.69              
                   
Russell 2000® Index7                         7.51       8.22       12.38              
                   
S&P 500 Index8                         16.11       10.98       13.44              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk and smaller-company securities risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Fund holdings (%) as of November 30, 20199  
   

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

    25.15  
   

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio

    25.02  
   

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

    16.68  
   

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

    8.35  
   

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

    7.43  
   

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

    7.34  
   

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    4.98  
   

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

    2.53  
   

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Porfolio

    2.52  
Allocation (%) as of November 30, 2019  
     Effective
allocation10
     Neutral
allocation
 
     

International Stock Fund

     15        15  
     

U.S. Large Cap Stock Fund

     75        75  
     

U.S. Small Cap Stock Funds

     10        10  
 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.50% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

2 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolios and funds invest and from any money market funds, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. All other acquired fund fees and expenses from the affiliated master portfolios and funds are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

3 

Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The Diversified Equity Blended Index is composed 25% of the S&P 500 Index, 25% of the Russell 1000® Growth Index, 25% of the Russell 1000® Value Index, 15% of the MSCI EAFE Index (Net), and 10% of the Russell 2000® Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the United States and Canada. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with higher price/book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with lower price/book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, which represents approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

9 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

10 

Effective allocation includes the effect of any tactical futures overlay that may be in place. Effective cash is comprised of the net impact of long and/or short futures contracts held as part of a dynamic risk management strategy. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account  value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,125.94      $ 6.64        1.25

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.75      $ 6.31        1.25
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,121.95      $ 10.61        2.00

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,015.00      $ 10.08        2.00
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,127.62      $ 5.32        1.00

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.00      $ 5.05        1.00

 

1

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                             Value  
Investment Companies: 100.04%                           
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 100.04%                           

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

           $ 13,308,032  

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

             40,096,770  

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

             4,021,143  

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio

             39,882,903  

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

             11,848,415  

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

             11,707,422  

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

             26,591,638  

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

             4,035,749  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

             7,937,949  

Total Investment Companies (Cost $134,884,152)

             159,430,021        
          

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $134,884,152)     100.04        159,430,021  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.04        (66,037
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 159,363,984  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolios were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)  on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Value,
end of
period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

    3.57     8.35   $ 526,283     $ 1,553,078     $ 128,817     $ 5,671     $ 0     $ 13,308,032    

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

    15.12       25.15       458,266       4,033,449       201,404       6,217       0       40,096,770    

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    0.46       2.52       87,898       243,559       1,946       2,375       0       4,021,143    

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio

    3.16       25.02       3,474,400       1,676,054       376,886       7,351       514       39,882,903    

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

    5.46       7.43       351,662       999,047       52,308       5,277       0       11,848,415    

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

    1.04       7.34       (112,223     1,085,996       172,809       6,301       0       11,707,422    

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

    10.11       16.68       757,179       1,616,984       349,949       3,268       0       26,591,638    

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

    0.21       2.53       222,857       223,620       12,591       1,605       0       4,035,749    

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    5.77       4.98       (499,378     1,340,635       71,381       1,542       0       7,937,949    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 5,266,944     $ 12,772,422     $ 1,368,091     $ 39,607     $ 514     $ 159,430,021       100.04
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolios, at value (cost $134,884,152)

  $ 159,430,021  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    52,422  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    21,257  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    159,503,700  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    46,788  

Management fee payable

    8,577  

Administration fees payable

    21,815  

Distribution fee payable

    961  

Custodian and accounting fees payable

    15,960  

Shareholder servicing fees payable

    33,391  

Professional fees payable

    9,722  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,391  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    111  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    139,716  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 159,363,984  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 126,345,198  

Total distributable earnings

    33,018,786  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 159,363,984  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 64,711,322  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    2,690,263  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $24.05  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $25.52  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 1,531,069  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    73,953  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $20.70  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 93,121,593  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    3,846,259  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $24.21  

 

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios (net of foreign withholding taxes of $29,968)

  $ 1,368,091  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    39,607  

Interest allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    514  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    (414,791

Waivers allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    22,672  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    1,016,093  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    232,372  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    66,565  

Class C

    1,547  

Administrator Class

    58,530  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    79,244  

Class C

    1,842  

Administrator Class

    112,558  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    5,516  

Custody and accounting fees

    4,401  

Professional fees

    16,635  

Registration fees

    37,396  

Shareholder report expenses

    15,423  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    9,220  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    651,872  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (167,082

Administrator Class

    (15,816
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    468,974  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    547,119  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    5,266,944  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    12,772,422  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    18,039,366  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 18,586,485  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 547,119       $ 1,452,338  

Net realized gains on investments

      5,266,944         14,956,526  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      12,772,422         (17,110,620
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      18,586,485         (701,756
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (11,767,492

Class C

      0         (402,680

Administrator Class

      0         (17,449,901
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (29,620,073
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    13,398       303,321       139,473       3,178,936  

Class C

    454       8,902       53,240       885,112  

Administrator Class

    101,400       2,329,359       235,991       5,636,176  
 

 

 

 
      2,641,582         9,700,224  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       570,354       11,702,541  

Class C

    0       0       22,549       399,109  

Administrator Class

    0       0       839,325       17,324,595  
 

 

 

 
      0         29,426,245  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (211,446     (4,826,150     (456,015     (10,838,098

Class C

    (3,753     (72,701     (93,775     (1,785,908

Administrator Class

    (337,941     (7,747,437     (702,090     (16,078,144
 

 

 

 
      (12,646,288       (28,702,150
 

 

 

 

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

      (10,004,706       10,424,319  
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      8,581,779         (19,897,510
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      150,782,205         170,679,715  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 159,363,984       $ 150,782,205  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $21.36       $26.48       $29.37       $27.30       $32.37       $32.78  

Net investment income

    0.06 1      0.18 1      0.16 1      0.13       0.16       0.14  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.63       (0.55     3.93       3.94       (1.55     2.79  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.69       (0.37     4.09       4.07       (1.39     2.93  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.13     (0.17     (0.22     (0.08     (0.15

Net realized gains

    0.00       (4.62     (6.81     (1.78     (3.60     (3.19
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (4.75     (6.98     (2.00     (3.68     (3.34

Net asset value, end of period

    $24.05       $21.36       $26.48       $29.37       $27.30       $32.37  

Total return2

    12.59     (0.57 )%      14.68     15.59     (4.24 )%      9.39

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.39     1.37     1.38     1.40     1.41     1.44

Net expenses3

    1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25

Net investment income3

    0.57     0.75     0.55     0.63     0.60     0.44

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    32     91     70     90     39     38

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $64,711       $61,692       $69,766       $68,678       $67,597       $81,502  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.51

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.50

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.53

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.57

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.59

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.59

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying each affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by each respective affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $18.45       $23.58       $26.86       $25.12       $30.22       $30.88  

Net investment loss

    (0.02 )1      (0.01 )1      (0.05 )1      (0.03 )1      (0.05 )1      (0.12

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.27       (0.50     3.58       3.57       (1.45     2.65  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.25       (0.51     3.53       3.54       (1.50     2.53  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       0.00       (0.00 )2      (0.02     0.00       0.00  

Net realized gains

    0.00       (4.62     (6.81     (1.78     (3.60     (3.19
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (4.62     (6.81     (1.80     (3.60     (3.19

Net asset value, end of period

    $20.70       $18.45       $23.58       $26.86       $25.12       $30.22  

Total return3

    12.20     (1.34 )%      13.89     14.71     (4.96 )%      8.58

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses4

    2.14     2.11     2.13     2.15     2.16     2.19

Net expenses4

    2.00     2.00     2.00     2.00     2.00     2.00

Net investment loss4

    (0.18 )%      (0.04 )%      (0.21 )%      (0.13 )%      (0.17 )%      (0.31 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate5

    32     91     70     90     39     38

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $1,531       $1,425       $2,245       $2,355       $2,846       $4,165  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Amount is less than $0.005.

 

3 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.51

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.50

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.53

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.57

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.59

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.59

 

5 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying each affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by each respective affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $21.47       $26.60       $29.46       $27.38       $32.45       $32.84  

Net investment income

    0.09 1      0.24 1      0.23 1      0.24 1      0.24       0.22 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.65       (0.57     3.95       3.91       (1.55     2.81  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.74       (0.33     4.18       4.15       (1.31     3.03  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.18     (0.23     (0.29     (0.16     (0.23

Net realized gains

    0.00       (4.62     (6.81     (1.78     (3.60     (3.19
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (4.80     (7.04     (2.07     (3.76     (3.42

Net asset value, end of period

    $24.21       $21.47       $26.60       $29.46       $27.38       $32.45  

Total return2

    12.76     (0.35 )%      14.99     15.86     (3.98 )%      9.65

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.31     1.29     1.30     1.32     1.33     1.28

Net expenses3

    1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00

Net investment income3

    0.82     1.00     0.79     0.87     0.85     0.67

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    32     91     70     90     39     38

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $93,122       $87,665       $98,668       $119,893       $140,963       $167,371  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.51

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.50

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.53

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.57

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.59

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.59

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying each affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by each respective affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a fund-of-funds which seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in various diversified portfolios employing a multi-style equity investment approach designed to reduce the price and return volatility of the Fund and to provide more consistent returns. The Fund invests in multiple diversified portfolios (collectively, the “affiliated Master Portfolios”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. Each affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolios as partnership investments and records on a daily basis its share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolios are presented in separate financial statements and may be obtained free of charge by contacting Investor Services or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolios are filed with the SEC under Wells Fargo Master Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses, and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $137,985,312 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 21,444,709  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 21,444,709  

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had current year deferred post-October capital losses consisting of $719,989 in short-term losses which was recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolios were measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The aggregate value of the affiliated Master Portfolios was $159,430,021. The investment objective of each affiliated Master Portfolio is as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective

Wells Fargo C&B Large Cap Value Portfolio

   Seeks maximum long-term total return (current income and capital appreciation), consistent with minimizing risk to principal

Wells Fargo Diversified Large Cap Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the S&P 500 Index, before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo International Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Large Company Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

The affiliated Master Portfolios do not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and do not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive a management fee at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets      Management fee

First $500 million

     0.30%

Next $500 million

     0.28

Next $2 billion

     0.26

Next $2 billion

     0.24

Next $5 billion

     0.23

Over $10 billion

     0.22

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  15


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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to each affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from each affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

      Class-level
administration fee
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Administrator Class

     0.13  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap each Fund’s expenses at 1.25% for Class A shares, 2.00% for Class C shares, and 1.00% for Administrator Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $690 from the sale of Class A shares and $11 and $23 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class A and Class C shares, respectively.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in multiple affiliated Master Portfolios. Purchases and sales related to these investments have been calculated by aggregating the results of multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $49,514,367 and $62,953,457, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

8. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  17


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
William R. Ebsworth
(Born 1957)
  Trustee, since 2015   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman
(Born 1953)
  Trustee, since 2015; Chair Liaison, since 2018   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr.
(Born 1952)
  Trustee, since 2009; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2019   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson
(Born 1949)
  Trustee, since 2008; Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
David F. Larcker
(Born 1950)
  Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A
Olivia S. Mitchell
(Born 1953)
  Trustee, since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny
(Born 1951)
  Trustee, since 1996; Chairman, since 2018   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson
(Born 1959)
  Trustee, since 2018   Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3
(Born 1959)
  Trustee, since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019   Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

20  |  Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer
Andrew Owen
(Born 1960)
  President, since 2017   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.
Nancy Wiser1
(Born 1967)
  Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.
Michelle Rhee4
(Born 1966)
  Chief Legal Officer, since 2019   Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5
(Born 1969)
  Secretary, since 2019   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker
(Born 1967)
  Chief Compliance Officer, since 2016   Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.
David Berardi
(Born 1975)
  Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.
Jeremy DePalma1
(Born 1974)
  Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

 

 

 

1

Nancy Wiser acts as Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.    

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

Wells Fargo Diversified Equity Fund  |  21


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LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408959 01-19

SA281/SAR281 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

Reduce clutter.

Save trees.

Sign up for
electronic delivery
of prospectuses
and shareholder
reports at
wellsfargo.com/

advantagedelivery

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

1 

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser for the affiliated master portfolio1

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Joseph M. Eberhardy, CFA®, CPA

Thomas C. Ognar, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
                   
Class A (WEMAX)   3-31-2008     2.33       9.26       13.83       8.57       10.57       14.51       1.55       1.28  
                   
Class C (WEMCX)   3-31-2008     6.80       9.74       13.66       7.80       9.74       13.66       2.30       2.03  
                   
Class R6 (WEGRX)4   7-31-2018                       9.25       11.10       15.07       1.12       0.85  
                   
Administrator Class (WFGDX)   1-31-2007                       8.63       10.70       14.70       1.47       1.20  
                   
Institutional Class (WEMIX)   3-31-2008                       8.91       11.03       15.04       1.22       0.90  
                   
Russell 2000® Growth Index5                         10.93       9.48       13.68              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R6, Administrator Class, and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20196  
   

ASGN Incorporated

     3.76  
   

Kinsale Capital Group Incorporated

     3.57  
   

MasTec Incorporated

     3.15  
   

Casella Waste Systems Incorporated Class A

     3.09  
   

Rapid7 Incorporated

     2.79  
   

Envestnet Incorporated

     2.77  
   

Amedisys Incorporated

     2.73  
   

Q2 Holdings Incorporated

     2.63  
   

Repligen Corporation

     2.57  
   

Rexnord Corporation

     2.57  

 

Sector distribution as of November 30, 20197

LOGO

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated master portfolio of the Wells Fargo Master Trust with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. References to the investment activities of the Fund are intended to refer to the investment activities of the affiliated master portfolio in which it invests.

 

2 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.20% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

3 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolio invests, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Net expenses from the affiliated master portfolio are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

4 

Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class R6 shares would be higher.

 

5 

The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 2000 companies with higher price/book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the securities of the affiliated master portfolio allocable to the Fund divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

7 

Amounts represent the sector distribution of the affiliated master portfolio which are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the affiliated master portfolio. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,081.42      $ 6.66        1.28

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.60      $ 6.46        1.28
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,077.72      $ 10.54        2.03

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,014.85      $ 10.23        2.03
         

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,084.12      $ 4.43        0.85

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.75      $ 4.29        0.85
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,082.03      $ 6.25        1.20

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.00      $ 6.06        1.20
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,082.94      $ 4.69        0.90

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.50      $ 4.55        0.90

 

1 

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                             Value  
Investment Companies: 99.99%                           
Affiliated Master Portfolio: 99.99%                           

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

           $ 780,959,270  
          

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $516,846,612)

             780,959,270        
          

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $516,846,612)     99.99        780,959,270  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.01          40,071  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 780,999,341  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolio were as follows:

 

   

% of
ownership,

beginning

of period

   

% of
ownership,

end of
period

   

Net realized
gains

(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated

from

affiliated
Master
Portfolio

   

Net

change in
unrealized
gains

(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated

from

affiliated
Master
Portfolio

    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Securities
lending
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
   

Value,

end

of period

    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    91     92   $ 17,189,638     $ 46,614,392     $ 382,801     $ 373,875     $ 93,527     $ 780,959,270       99.99

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolio, at value (cost $516,846,612)

  $ 780,959,270  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    743,783  

Receivable from manager

    39,022  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    61,046  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    781,803,121  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    533,164  

Administration fees payable

    92,369  

Distribution fee payable

    998  

Shareholder report expenses payable

    46,958  

Custodian and accounting fees payable

    50,876  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,298  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    77,117  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    803,780  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 780,999,341  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 490,225,811  

Total distributable earnings

    290,773,530  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 780,999,341  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 149,560,326  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    10,237,449  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $14.61  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $15.50  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 1,603,218  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    128,491  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $12.48  

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 5,194,215  

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    322,473  

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $16.11  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 22,691,484  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    1,496,136  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $15.17  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 601,950,098  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    37,471,140  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $16.06  

 

1

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

  $ 382,801  

Securities lending income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    373,875  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    93,527  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (3,021,521
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    (2,171,318
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    186,976  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    153,729  

Class C

    1,762  

Class R6

    799  

Administrator Class

    14,903  

Institutional Class

    371,518  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    183,010  

Class C

    2,098  

Administrator Class

    28,660  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    6,293  

Custody and accounting fees

    13,976  

Professional fees

    15,745  

Registration fees

    36,868  

Shareholder report expenses

    43,311  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    7,911  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,078,182  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (186,976

Class A

    (16,434

Class C

    (185

Class R6

    (586

Administrator Class

    (2,530

Institutional Class

    (207,365
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    664,106  
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (2,835,424
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    17,189,638  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    46,614,392  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    63,804,030  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 60,968,606  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

    

Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment loss

    $ (2,835,424     $ (6,103,434

Net realized gains on investments

      17,189,638         97,676,529  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      46,614,392         (97,747,120
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      60,968,606         (6,174,025
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (28,101,143

Class C

      0         (901,234

Class R6

      0         (42,849 )1  

Administrator Class

      0         (8,840,125

Institutional Class

      0         (102,793,991
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (140,679,342
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    110,033       1,531,100       862,093       13,135,712  

Class C

    3,788       46,413       77,032       1,001,064  

Class R6

    389,611       5,890,998       14,756 1       297,716 1  

Administrator Class

    77,570       1,135,077       429,821       7,044,106  

Institutional Class

    4,564,402       69,409,076       9,474,160       157,333,266  
 

 

 

 
      78,012,664         178,811,864  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       2,156,211       27,319,193  

Class C

    0       0       82,682       901,234  

Class R6

    0       0       2,781 1       38,603 1  

Administrator Class

    0       0       670,663       8,812,510  

Institutional Class

    0       0       7,302,150       101,353,848  
 

 

 

 
      0         138,425,388  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (671,552     (9,246,144     (1,230,646     (18,738,814

Class C

    (27,327     (323,939     (283,432     (3,327,781

Class R6

    (68,646     (1,044,256     (16,029 )1       (224,477 )1  

Administrator Class

    (261,080     (3,793,890     (2,404,440     (34,455,016

Institutional Class

    (6,078,605     (92,877,560     (10,946,323     (181,113,056
 

 

 

 
      (107,285,789       (237,859,144
 

 

 

 

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

      (29,273,125       79,378,108  
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      31,695,481         (67,475,259
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      749,303,860         816,779,119  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 780,999,341       $ 749,303,860  
 

 

 

 

 

1 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30,  2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.51       $17.04       $14.57       $12.55       $16.70       $14.61  

Net investment loss

    (0.09     (0.16 )1       (0.15     (0.10 )1       (0.13 )1       (0.22

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.19       (0.19     4.57       2.96       (2.28     3.51  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.10       (0.35     4.42       2.86       (2.41     3.29  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (3.18     (1.95     (0.84     (1.74     (1.20

Net asset value, end of period

    $14.61       $13.51       $17.04       $14.57       $12.55       $16.70  

Total return2

    8.14     (0.84 )%      32.91     23.39     (14.94 )%      23.32

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.35     1.35     1.36     1.36     1.35     1.39

Net expenses3

    1.28     1.29     1.35     1.35     1.35     1.37

Net investment loss3

    (1.05 )%      (1.06 )%      (1.01 )%      (0.72 )%      (0.92 )%      (1.20 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    28     71     47     115     68     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $149,560       $145,898       $153,526       $129,724       $127,154       $131,638  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.80

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.80

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30,  2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $11.58       $15.19       $13.28       $11.58       $15.67       $13.88  

Net investment loss

    (0.11 )1       (0.25 )1      (0.25 )1       (0.19 )1       (0.21     (0.33

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.01       (0.18     4.11       2.73       (2.14     3.32  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.90       (0.43     3.86       2.54       (2.35     2.99  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (3.18     (1.95     (0.84     (1.74     (1.20

Net asset value, end of period

    $12.48       $11.58       $15.19       $13.28       $11.58       $15.67  

Total return2

    7.77     (1.55 )%      31.82     22.56     (15.59 )%      22.35

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    2.10     2.10     2.11     2.11     2.10     2.14

Net expenses3

    2.03     2.04     2.10     2.10     2.10     2.12

Net investment loss3

    (1.80 )%      (1.78 )%      (1.76 )%      (1.46 )%      (1.70 )%      (1.95 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    28     71     47     115     68     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $1,603       $1,761       $4,190       $3,328       $3,815       $5,101  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2019

   
0.81

Year ended May 31, 2018

   
0.81

Year ended May 31, 2017

   
0.81

Year ended May 31, 2016

   
0.80

Year ended May 31, 2015

   
0.80

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

12  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 20191
 
CLASS R6

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $14.86       $18.70  

Net investment loss

    (0.05 )2      (0.07 )2 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.30       (0.59
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.25       (0.66

Distributions to shareholders from

   

Net realized gains

    0.00       (3.18

Net asset value, end of period

    $16.11       $14.86  

Total return3

    8.41     (2.35 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

   

Gross expenses4

    0.92     0.92

Net expenses4

    0.85     0.85

Net investment loss4

    (0.37 )%      (0.51 )% 

Supplemental data

   

Portfolio turnover rate5

    28     71

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $5,194       $22  

 

 

 

1

For the period from July, 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

2

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 20191

    0.81

 

5

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $14.02       $17.54       $14.93       $12.82       $17.00       $14.83  

Net investment loss

    (0.07 )1       (0.15 )1       (0.14 )1       (0.07 )1       (0.12 )1       (0.16 )1  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.22       (0.19     4.70       3.02       (2.32     3.53  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.15       (0.34     4.56       2.95       (2.44     3.37  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (3.18     (1.95     (0.84     (1.74     (1.20

Net asset value, end of period

    $15.17       $14.02       $17.54       $14.93       $12.82       $17.00  

Total return2

    8.20     (0.75 )%      33.06     23.60     (14.80 )%      23.45

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.27     1.27     1.28     1.26     1.23     1.21

Net expenses3

    1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20

Net investment loss3

    (0.48 )%      (0.94 )%      (0.86 )%      (0.48 )%      (0.80 )%      (1.03 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    28     71     47     115     68     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $22,691       $23,549       $52,335       $50,865       $99,792       $159,813  

 

 

 

1

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.80

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.80

 

4

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

14  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $14.83       $18.30       $15.46       $13.20       $17.40       $15.11  

Net investment loss

    (0.05     (0.13     (0.09     (0.04 )1       (0.07     (0.12

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.28       (0.16     4.88       3.14       (2.39     3.61  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.23       (0.29     4.79       3.10       (2.46     3.49  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (3.18     (1.95     (0.84     (1.74     (1.20

Net asset value, end of period

    $16.06       $14.83       $18.30       $15.46       $13.20       $17.40  

Total return2

    8.29     (0.42 )%      33.44     24.08     (14.62 )%      23.89

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.02     1.02     1.03     1.03     1.01     0.96

Net expenses3

    0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90

Net investment loss3

    (0.33 )%      (0.67 )%      (0.56 )%      (0.24 )%      (0.50 )%      (0.73 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    28     71     47     115     68     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $601,950       $578,073       $606,729       $534,846       $583,843       $723,946  

 

 

 

1

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.80

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.80

 

4

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  15


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a separate diversified portfolio (the “affiliated Master Portfolio”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. The affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio as a partnership investment and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio for the six months ended November 30, 2019 are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund owned 92% of Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily. Securities held in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued as discussed in the Notes to Financial Statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio, which are included elsewhere in this report.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $515,575,278 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 265,383,992  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 265,383,992  

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had current year deferred post-October capital losses and a qualified late-year ordinary loss which were both recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year in the following amounts:

 

Deferred post-October

capital losses

 

  

Late-year

ordinary losses

deferred

Short-term
$(24,372,603)    $(2,341,222)

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolio was measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The investment objective and the value of the affiliate Master Portfolio was as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective     

Value of

affiliated Master

Portfolio

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation        $780,959,270  

The affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As long as the Fund continues to invest substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio, the Fund pays Funds Management an investment management fee only for fund-level administrative services at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee

First $5 billion

   0.05%

Next $5 billion

   0.04

Over $10 billion

   0.03

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to the affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  17


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level
administration fee
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Class R6

     0.03  

Administrator Class, Institutional Class

     0.13  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the expense cap. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap each Fund’s expenses at 1.28% for Class A shares, 2.03% for Class C shares, 0.85% for Class R6 shares, 1.20% for Administrator Class shares, and 0.90% for Institutional Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $232 from the sale of Class A shares and $7 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Calss C shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio. Purchases and sales have been calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage of the affiliated Master Portfolio by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $211,053,390 and $251,339,542, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

7. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. Through its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio which may invest a substantial portion of its assets in any sector, the Fund may in turn be more affected by changes in that sector than a fund whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector. As of the end of the period, the Fund invests a concentration of its portfolio in the information technology sector.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Common Stocks: 98.98%           

Communication Services: 0.40%

          
Media: 0.40%                           

Nexstar Media Group Incorporated Class A

          31,100      $ 3,349,781  
          

 

 

 
Consumer Discretionary: 13.48%                           
Auto Components: 1.00%                           

Fox Factory Holding Corporation †

          128,200        8,452,226  
          

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 1.39%                           

Chegg Incorporated †

          240,414        9,320,851  

Grand Canyon Education Incorporated †

          29,560        2,518,216  
             11,839,067  
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 4.56%                           

Eldorado Resorts Incorporated Ǡ

          211,000        11,290,610  

Lindblad Expeditions Holding †

          416,500        6,455,750  

Planet Fitness Incorporated Class A †

          100,060        7,396,435  

Wingstop Incorporated

          170,118        13,609,440  
             38,752,235  
          

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 1.05%                           

Yeti Holdings Incorporated Ǡ

          279,218        8,884,717  
          

 

 

 
Multiline Retail: 0.91%                           

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings Incorporated †

          117,660        7,694,964  
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 3.88%                           

America’s Car-Mart Incorporated †

          24,300        2,655,018  

Boot Barn Holdings Incorporated †

          278,100        11,073,942  

Five Below Incorporated †

          45,697        5,653,176  

Lithia Motors Incorporated Class A

          84,380        13,549,740  
             32,931,876  
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 0.69%                           

Deckers Outdoor Corporation †

          35,100        5,903,118  
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 5.08%

          
Beverages: 0.94%                           

Boston Beer Company Incorporated Class A †

          20,800        7,993,856  
          

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 1.49%                           

Grocery Outlet Holding Corporation †

          104,637        3,466,624  

The Chef’s Warehouse Incorporated †

          259,100        9,213,596  
             12,680,220  
          

 

 

 
Food Products: 1.72%                           

Freshpet Incorporated †

          271,712        14,601,803  
          

 

 

 
Personal Products: 0.93%                           

Inter Parfums Incorporated

          112,000        7,894,880  
          

 

 

 

Energy: 0.30%

          
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.30%                           

Cactus Incorporated Class A

          83,899        2,532,911  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

20  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Financials: 7.95%                           

Capital Markets: 1.46%

          

Assetmark Financial Holdings †

          141,259      $ 3,535,713  

Stifel Financial Corporation

          141,400        8,840,328  
             12,376,041  
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 4.85%                           

eHealth Incorporated †

          61,200        5,646,312  

Goosehead Insurance Incorporated Class A †

          58,363        2,364,869  

Kinsale Capital Group Incorporated †

          299,677        30,345,293  

Trupanion Incorporated Ǡ

          84,400        2,876,352  
             41,232,826  
          

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance: 1.64%                           

LendingTree Incorporated †

          38,632        13,927,995  
          

 

 

 
Health Care: 23.74%                           

Biotechnology: 4.31%

          

CareDx Incorporated †

          107,826        2,212,590  

Fate Therapeutics Incorporated †

          227,200        3,548,864  

Halozyme Therapeutics Incorporated †

          258,600        5,014,254  

Invitae Corporation Ǡ

          288,200        5,735,180  

Natera Incorporated †

          164,827        6,014,537  

The Medicines Company †

          100,700        8,478,940  

Vericel Corporation †

          299,500        5,588,670  
             36,593,035  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 6.99%                           

Glaukos Corporation †

          171,039        10,968,731  

iRhythm Technologies Incorporated †

          166,662        12,014,664  

Neuronetics Incorporated †

          139,118        600,990  

Orthopediatrics Corporation †

          149,401        5,877,435  

Shockwave Medical Incorporated †

          159,808        6,258,081  

SI-BONE Incorporated †

          257,997        4,589,767  

Silk Road Medical Incorporated †

          67,233        2,421,733  

Tactile Systems Technology Class I †

          132,473        8,506,091  

Tandem Diabetes Care Incorporated †

          77,900        5,377,437  

Vapotherm Incorporated †

          246,319        2,724,288  
             59,339,217  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 3.07%                           

Amedisys Incorporated †

          142,400        23,205,504  

HealthEquity Incorporated †

          46,012        2,893,695  
             26,099,199  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Technology: 2.91%                           

Health Catalyst Incorporated †

          96,570        3,836,726  

Phreesia Incorporated Ǡ

          200,110        5,627,093  

Teladoc Incorporated Ǡ

          182,579        15,289,165  
             24,752,984  
          

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 5.89%                           

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation Ǡ

          67,311        1,830,186  

Codexis Incorporated †

          1,158,849        18,008,513  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio  |  21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Life Sciences Tools & Services (continued)                           

Neogenomics Incorporated †

          321,654      $ 8,301,890  

Repligen Corporation †

          246,240        21,853,800  
             49,994,389  
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 0.57%                           

MyoKardia Incorporated †

          74,400        4,847,160  
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 18.52%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 3.20%                           

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Incorporated †

          432,800        7,816,368  

Mercury Computer Systems Incorporated †

          264,545        19,377,921  
             27,194,289  
          

 

 

 
Airlines: 1.32%                           

SkyWest Incorporated †

          178,730        11,195,647  
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 3.09%                           

Casella Waste Systems Incorporated Class A †

          561,300        26,218,323  
          

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 3.15%                           

MasTec Incorporated †

          403,600        26,774,824  
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 2.57%                           

Hillenbrand Incorporated

          1        19  

Rexnord Corporation †

          691,710        21,851,119  
             21,851,138  
          

 

 

 
Professional Services: 3.76%                           

ASGN Incorporated †

          476,243        31,913,043  
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.60%                           

Saia Incorporated †

          53,700        5,096,130  
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 0.83%                           

SiteOne Landscape Supply Incorporated †

          79,100        7,020,916  
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 28.13%

          
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 2.19%                           

Novanta Incorporated †

          199,520        18,591,274  
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 3.76%                           

Endava plc Sponsored ADR †

          203,782        9,704,099  

EVO Payments Incorporated Class A †

          248,857        6,985,416  

InterXion Holding NV †

          134,020        11,397,061  

LiveRamp Holdings Incorporated †

          75,900        3,801,831  
             31,888,407  
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 2.93%                           

Diodes Incorporated †

          198,131        9,141,764  

Semtech Corporation †

          205,200        9,943,992  

Silicon Laboratories Incorporated †

          55,100        5,836,743  
             24,922,499  
          

 

 

 
Software: 19.25%                           

Altair Engineering Incorporated Class A †

          52,953        1,756,451  

Anaplan Incorporated †

          42,956        2,316,188  

 

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

 

 

22  |  Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                    Shares      Value  
Software (continued)                          

BlackLine Incorporated †

         147,923      $ 7,961,216  

Envestnet Incorporated †

         330,492        23,534,335  

Everbridge Incorporated †

         91,800        8,072,892  

Five9 Incorporated †

         315,093        21,479,890  

Globant SA †

         71,600        7,661,200  

Mimecast Limited †

         173,200        7,681,420  

New Relic Incorporated †

         84,900        5,774,898  

PROS Holdings Incorporated †

         62,100        3,868,209  

Q2 Holdings Incorporated †

         264,243        22,310,036  

Rapid7 Incorporated †

         422,236        23,674,773  

RealPage Incorporated †

         53,900        2,966,117  

SPS Commerce Incorporated †

         199,596        11,243,243  

Talend SA ADR †

         346,318        13,146,231  
            163,447,099  
         

 

 

 

Materials: 1.38%

         
Chemicals: 1.12%                          

Ingevity Corporation †

         32,600        2,944,106  

PQ Group Holdings Incorporated †

         413,820        6,563,185  
            9,507,291  
         

 

 

 

Metals & Mining: 0.26%

         

Mayville Engineering Company Incorporated †

         239,175        2,236,286  
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $538,746,489)

            840,531,666  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 5.82%                          
Investment Companies: 5.82%                          

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC (l)(r)(u)

    1.77        33,404,641        33,407,982  

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56          16,002,652        16,002,652  

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $49,409,568)

            49,410,634  
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $588,156,057)     104.80        889,942,300  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (4.80        (40,774,749
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 849,167,551  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

«

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Portfolio as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(r)

The investment is a non-registered investment company purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

Abbreviations:

ADR

American depositary receipt

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio  |  23


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Portfolio owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Portfolio and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Portfolio at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

   

Shares,

beginning of

period

   

Shares

purchased

   

Shares

sold

   

Shares,

end of

period

   

Net

realized

gains

(losses)

   

Net

change in

unrealized

gains

(losses)

   

Income

from

affiliated

securities

   

Value,

end of
period

   

% of

net

assets

 
Short-Term Investments                                                      

Investment Companies

                 

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC

    41,141,098       146,826,746       154,563,203       33,404,641     $  1,003     $ 0     $ 451,308 #    $ 33,407,982    

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    10,281,602       145,926,791       140,205,741       16,002,652       0       0       102,159       16,002,652    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ 1,003     $ 0     $ 553,467     $ 49,410,634       5.82
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

#

Amount shown represents income before fees and rebates.

 

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

 

 

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Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities (including $32,653,718 of securities loaned), at value (cost $538,746,489)

  $ 840,531,666  

Investments in affiliated securities, at value (cost $49,409,568)

    49,410,634  

Receivable for investments sold

    364,629  

Receivable for dividends

    88,592  

Receivable for securities lending income, net

    35,260  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    890,430,781  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    33,384,840  

Payable for investments purchased

    7,244,670  

Advisory fee payable

    548,994  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    84,726  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    41,263,230  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 849,167,551  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio  |  25


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends

  $ 417,987  

Securities lending income from affiliates, net

    408,551  

Income from affiliated securities

    102,159  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    928,697  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    3,226,543  

Custody and accounting fees

    19,793  

Professional fees

    23,365  

Shareholder report expenses

    2,250  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,745  

Other fees and expenses

    16,924  
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    3,300,620  
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (2,371,923
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    18,803,474  

Affiliated securities

    1,003  
 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on investments

    18,804,477  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    50,871,091  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    69,675,568  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 67,303,645  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Statement of changes in net assets

 

    

Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

 

Net investment loss

  $ (2,371,923   $ (5,059,099

Net realized gains on investments

    18,804,477       101,592,660  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    50,871,091       (103,571,551
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    67,303,645       (7,037,990
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions

   

Transactions in investors’ beneficial interests

 

Contributions

    39,313,595       113,603,214  

Withdrawals

    (76,940,103     (166,578,053
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital transactions

    (37,626,508     (52,974,839
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    29,677,137       (60,012,829
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets

   

Beginning of period

    819,490,414       879,503,243  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 849,167,551     $ 819,490,414  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Total return1

    8.40     (0.28 )%      33.60     23.97     (14.47 )%      24.02

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses

    0.81     0.81     0.81     0.81     0.80     0.80

Net expenses

    0.81     0.81     0.81     0.81     0.80     0.80

Net investment loss

    (0.58 )%      (0.57 )%      (0.47 )%      (0.15 )%      (0.40 )%      (0.63 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    28     71     47     115     66     56

 

 

 

 

 

1

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized

 

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

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Master Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Portfolio may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Equity securities that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Fund’s Valuation Procedures.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment companies that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued normally at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Securities lending

The Portfolio may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. When securities are on loan, the Portfolio receives interest or dividends on those securities. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). Investments in Securities Lending Fund are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund, if any, is included in securities lending income from affiliates (net of fees and rebates) on the Statement of Operations.

In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Portfolio is affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Portfolio fluctuates from time to time. The Portfolio has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Portfolio may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In such an event, the terms of the agreement allows the unaffiliated securities lending agent to use the collateral to purchase replacement securities on behalf of the Portfolio or pay the Portfolio the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio bears the risk of loss with respect to depreciation of its investment of the cash collateral.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Federal and other taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Portfolio is not required to pay federal income taxes on its net investment income and net capital gains as it is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. All dividends, gains and losses of the Portfolio are deemed to have been “passed through” to the interest holders in proportion to their holdings of the Portfolio regardless of whether dividends and gains have been distributed by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio’s income tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal revenue authority. Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $585,925,490 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 310,713,428  

Gross unrealized losses

     (6,696,618

Net unrealized gains

   $ 304,016,810  

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Portfolio’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Communication services

   $ 3,349,781      $ 0      $ 0      $ 3,349,781  

Consumer discretionary

     114,458,203        0        0        114,458,203  

Consumer staples

     43,170,759        0        0        43,170,759  

Energy

     2,532,911        0        0        2,532,911  

Financials

     67,536,862        0        0        67,536,862  

Health care

     201,625,984        0        0        201,625,984  

Industrials

     157,264,310        0        0        157,264,310  

Information technology

     238,849,279        0        0        238,849,279  

Materials

     11,743,577        0        0        11,743,577  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     49,410,634        0        0        49,410,634  

Total assets

   $ 889,942,300      $ 0      $ 0      $ 889,942,300  

Additional sector, industry or geographic detail is included in the Portfolio of Investments.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Advisory fee

The Trust has entered into an advisory contract with Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The adviser is responsible for implementing investment policies and guidelines and for supervising the subadviser, who is responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the contract, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual advisory fee at the following annual rate based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Advisory fee  

First $500 million

     0.800

Next $500 million

     0.775  

Next $1 billion

     0.750  

Next $1 billion

     0.725  

Next $1 billion

     0.700  

Over $4 billion

     0.680  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.79% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Portfolio. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap is the subadviser to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.55% and declining to 0.40% as the average daily net assets of the Portfolio increase.

Interfund transactions

The Portfolio may purchase or sell portfolio investment securities to certain other Wells Fargo affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $229,486,603 and $273,291,311, respectively.

6. SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent and receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any increases or decreases in the required collateral are exchanged between the Portfolio and the counterparty on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in the Securities Lending Fund which seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open Rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments and is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Securities Lending Fund is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by WellsCap. Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

In the event of counterparty default or the failure of a borrower to return a loaned security, the Portfolio has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. As of November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had securities lending transactions with the following counterparties which are subject to offset:

 

Counterparty      Value of
securities on
loan
       Collateral
received1
       Net amount  

Bank of America Securities Inc.

     $ 8,264,592        $ (8,264,592      $ 0  

Barclays Capital Inc.

       6,525,676          (6,525,676        0  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

       4,937,128          (4,937,128        0  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

       228,373          (228,373        0  

JPMorgan Securities LLC

       8,343,212          (8,343,212        0  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       4,354,737          (4,354,737        0  
1 

Collateral received within this table is limited to the collateral for the net transaction with the counterparty.

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, along with Wells Fargo Variable Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Trust (excluding the money market funds), are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Portfolio is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Portfolio based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Portfolio under the agreement.

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. As of the end of the period, the Portfolio invests a concentration of its portfolio in the information technology sector. A Portfolio that invests a substantial portion of its assets in any sector may be more affected by changes in that sector than would be a Portfolio whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Portfolio and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

10. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund and Portfolio file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  33


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
William R. Ebsworth (Born 1957)   Trustee, since 2015   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman (Born 1953)   Trustee, since 2015; Chair Liaison, since 2018   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr. (Born 1952)   Trustee, since 2009; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2019   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson (Born 1949)   Trustee, since 2008; Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
David F. Larcker (Born 1950)   Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   Trustee, since 1996; Chairman, since 2018   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson (Born 1959)   Trustee, since 2018   Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3 (Born 1959)   Trustee, since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019   Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Fund  |  35


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer
Andrew Owen (Born 1960)   President, since 2017   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.
Nancy Wiser1 (Born 1967)   Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.
Michelle Rhee4 (Born 1966)   Chief Legal Officer, since 2019   Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5 (Born 1969)   Secretary, since 2019   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker (Born 1967)   Chief Compliance Officer, since 2016   Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.
David Berardi (Born 1975)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

 

 

1

Nancy Wiser acts as Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

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LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408960 01-19

SA282/SAR282 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

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The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Index Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

 

1

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3 

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Index Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com, or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks to replicate the total return of S&P 500 Index, before fees and expenses.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser for the affiliated master portfolio1

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

John R. Campbell, CFA®

David Neal, CFA®

Robert M. Wicentowski, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 20192

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios3 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net4  
                   
Class A (WFILX)   11-4-1998     8.96       9.17       12.21       15.61       10.47       12.88       0.64       0.45  
                   
Class C (WFINX)   4-30-1999     13.74       9.64       12.03       14.74       9.64       12.03       1.39       1.20  
                   
Administrator Class (WFIOX)   2-14-1985                       15.84       10.71       13.18       0.41       0.25  
                   
S&P 500 Index5                         16.11       10.98       13.44              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20196  
   

Microsoft Corporation

     4.43  
   

Apple Incorporated

     4.36  
   

Amazon.com Incorporated

     2.87  
   

Facebook Incorporated Class A

     1.86  
   

Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated Class B

     1.66  
   

JPMorgan Chase & Company

     1.62  
   

Alphabet Incorporated Class C

     1.51  
   

Alphabet Incorporated Class A

     1.50  
   

Johnson & Johnson

     1.39  
   

Visa Incorporated Class A

     1.22  
Sector distribution as of November 30, 20197
LOGO
 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated master portfolio of the Wells Fargo Master Trust with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. References to the investment activities of the Fund are intended to refer to the investment activities of the affiliated master portfolio in which it invests.

 

2 

Historical performance shown prior to July 19, 2010, is based on the performance of the Fund’s predecessor, Evergreen Equity Index Fund.

 

3 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

4 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolio invests, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Net expenses from the affiliated master portfolio are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

5 

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the securities of the affiliated master portfolio allocable to the Fund divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

7 

Amounts represent the sector distribution of the affiliated master portfolio which are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the affiliated master portfolio. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    

Beginning

account value

6-1-2019

    

Ending

account value

11-30-2019

    

Expenses

paid during

the period1,2

    

Annualized net

expense ratio1

 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,149.96      $ 2.42        0.45

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.75      $ 2.28        0.45
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,145.74      $ 6.44        1.20

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.00      $ 6.06        1.20
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,151.27      $ 1.34        0.25

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,023.75      $ 1.26        0.25

 

 

1

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                                             Value  
Investment Companies: 101.05%                                         
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 101.05%                                         

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio

                 $ 1,186,997,033  
                

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $188,317,162)

                   1,186,997,033        
                

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $188,317,162)     101.05        1,186,997,033  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (1.05        (12,291,620
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 1,174,705,413  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolio were as follows:

 

   

% of

ownership,

beginning

of period

   

% of

ownership,

end of

period

   

Net realized

gains

(losses) on

securities

transactions

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolio

   

Net

change in

unrealized

gains

(losses) on

securities

transactions

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolio

   

Dividends

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolio

   

Affiliated

income

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolio

   

Interest

allocated

from

affiliated

Master

Portfolio

   

Value,

end

of period

   

% of

net

assets

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio

    97     97   $ 104,460,152     $ 51,297,295     $ 11,371,492     $ 221,097     $ 22,274     $ 1,186,997,033       101.05

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolio, at value (cost $188,317,162)

  $ 1,186,997,033  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    357,635  

Receivable from manager

    155,391  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    148,489  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,187,658,548  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    12,364,758  

Administration fees payable

    180,674  

Distribution fee payable

    12,649  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,325  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    392,729  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    12,953,135  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,174,705,413  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ (152,220,395

Total distributable earnings

    1,326,925,808  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,174,705,413  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 726,787,008  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    12,773,884  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $56.90  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $60.37  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 20,278,750  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    353,835  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $57.31  

Net assets – Administrator Class

    $427,639,655  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    7,394,216  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $57.83  

 

 

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio (net of foreign withholding taxes of $53,967)

  $ 11,371,492  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    221,097  

Interest allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    22,274  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (676,380
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    10,938,483  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    293,499  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    746,212  

Class C

    20,725  

Administrator Class

    288,325  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    888,347  

Class C

    24,673  

Administrator Class

    216,032  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    73,984  

Custody and accounting fees

    37,208  

Professional fees

    16,453  

Registration fees

    49,863  

Shareholder report expenses

    36,413  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    90,574  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    2,792,931  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (293,499

Class A

    (591,578

Class C

    (16,398

Administrator Class

    (300,087
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    1,591,369  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    9,347,114  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    104,460,152  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    51,297,295  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    155,757,447  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 165,104,561  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

    

Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 9,347,114       $ 22,631,565  

Net realized gains on investments

      104,460,152         306,741,725  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      51,297,295         (284,064,839
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      165,104,561         45,308,451  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (163,505,563

Class C

      0         (13,933,913

Administrator Class

      0         (171,862,037
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (349,302,513
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    181,381       9,684,182       1,215,528       63,105,358  

Class C

    23,272       1,272,761       101,602       5,479,223  

Administrator Class

    395,142       21,536,198       1,223,311       69,577,734  
 

 

 

 
      32,493,141         138,162,315  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       3,265,381       156,770,222  

Class C

    0       0       255,848       12,342,496  

Administrator Class

    0       0       2,487,498       121,257,092  
 

 

 

 
      0         290,369,810  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (1,080,689     (58,572,441     (1,902,710     (106,045,189

Class C

    (52,164     (2,819,925     (1,013,120     (51,601,044

Administrator Class

    (2,175,112     (118,090,690     (7,480,787     (408,288,013
 

 

 

 
      (179,483,056       (565,934,246
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (146,989,915       (137,402,121
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      18,114,646         (441,396,184
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      1,156,590,767         1,597,986,950  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,174,705,413       $ 1,156,590,767  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo Index Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30,  2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $49.48       $63.35       $66.85       $62.85       $67.32       $62.14  

Net investment income

    0.41       0.82       0.99 1      1.05       0.81       1.00  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    7.01       0.54       7.99       9.09       (0.17     5.91  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    7.42       1.36       8.98       10.14       0.64       6.91  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.90     (1.02     (1.16     (1.08     (0.96

Net realized gains

    0.00       (14.33     (11.46     (4.98     (4.03     (0.77
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (15.23     (12.48     (6.14     (5.11     (1.73

Net asset value, end of period

    $56.90       $49.48       $63.35       $66.85       $62.85       $67.32  

Total return2

    15.00     3.32     13.87     16.94     1.24     11.21

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    0.67     0.65     0.63     0.62     0.63     0.68

Net expenses3

    0.45     0.45     0.45     0.45     0.48     0.56

Net investment income3

    1.53     1.51     1.49     1.68     1.78     1.50

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    2     4     3     9     4     4

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $726,787       $676,511       $702,866       $684,004       $639,496       $445,088  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.12

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.11

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.11

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30,  2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $50.02       $63.67       $67.11       $62.12       $67.55       $62.37  

Net investment income

    0.21 1      0.46 1      0.50 1      0.66       0.62 1      0.50  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    7.08       0.52       8.00       9.02       (0.45     5.94  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    7.29       0.98       8.50       9.68       0.17       6.44  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.30     (0.48     (0.71     (0.57     (0.49

Net realized gains

    0.00       (14.33     (11.46     (4.98     (4.03     (0.77
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (14.63     (11.94     (5.69     (4.60     (1.26

Net asset value, end of period

    $57.31       $50.02       $63.67       $67.11       $63.12       $67.55  

Total return2

    14.57     2.54     13.02     16.07     0.48     10.38

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.42     1.39     1.38     1.37     1.38     1.43

Net expenses3

    1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.24     1.31

Net investment income3

    0.78     0.77     0.72     0.93     0.99     0.75

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    2     4     3     9     4     4

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $20,279       $19,146       $66,117       $67,691       $79,858       $83,718  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.12

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.11

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.11

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

12  |  Wells Fargo Index Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30,  2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $50.24       $64.04       $67.43       $63.33       $67.80       $62.56  

Net investment income

    0.47 1      1.02 1      1.26       1.41       1.31       1.27  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    7.12       0.48       7.94       8.94       (0.51     5.90  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    7.59       1.50       9.20       10.35       0.80       7.17  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.97     (1.13     (1.27     (1.24     (1.16

Net realized gains

    0.00       (14.33     (11.46     (4.98     (4.03     (0.77
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    0.00       (15.30     (12.59     (6.25     (5.27     (1.93

Net asset value, end of period

    $57.83       $50.24       $64.04       $67.43       $63.33       $67.80  

Total return2

    15.13     3.52     14.10     17.18     1.49     11.56

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    0.43     0.41     0.40     0.39     0.40     0.37

Net expenses3

    0.25     0.25     0.25     0.25     0.25     0.25

Net investment income3

    1.73     1.72     1.70     1.88     1.97     1.81

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    2     4     3     9     4     4

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $427,640       $460,934       $829,004       $1,151,522       $1,502,276       $1,832,814  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Return for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.12

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.11

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.10

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.11

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Index Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a separate diversified portfolio (the “affiliated Master Portfolio”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. The affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio as a partnership investment and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio for the six months ended November 30, 2019 are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund owned 97% of Wells Fargo Index Portfolio.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily. Securities held in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued as discussed in the Notes to Financial Statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio, which are included elsewhere in this report.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $193,907,302 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 993,089,731  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 993,089,731  

 

 

14  |  Wells Fargo Index Fund


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolio was measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The investment objective and the value of the affiliate Master Portfolio was as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective    Value of affiliated
Master Portfolio

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the S&P 500 Index, before fees and expenses    $1,186,997,033

The affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As long as the Fund continues to invest substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio, the Fund pays Funds Management an investment management fee only for fund-level administrative services at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee  

First $5 billion

     0.05

Next $5 billion

     0.04  

Over $10 billion

     0.03  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to the affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

      Class-level
administration fee
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Administrator Class

     0.13  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied

against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Fund  |  15


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 0.45% for Class A shares, 1.20% for Class C shares, and 0.25% for Administrator Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $4,934 from the sale of Class A shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A and Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A and Class C of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. Administrator Class is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.10% of its average daily net assets. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio. Purchases and sales have been calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage of the affiliated Master Portfolio by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $24,920,098 and $164,032,692, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

8. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Common Stocks: 95.88%           

Communication Services: 10.02%

          
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 1.97%                           

AT&T Incorporated †

          329,334      $ 12,310,496  

CenturyLink Incorporated

          44,246        641,125  

Verizon Communications Incorporated †

          186,414        11,229,579  
             24,181,200  
          

 

 

 
Entertainment: 1.86%                           

Activision Blizzard Incorporated

          34,571        1,895,528  

Electronic Arts Incorporated †

          13,283        1,341,716  

Netflix Incorporated †

          19,734        6,209,500  

Take-Two Interactive Software Incorporated †

          5,101        619,006  

The Walt Disney Company

          81,190        12,306,780  

Viacom Incorporated Class B †

          15,954        384,013  
             22,756,543  
          

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services: 4.76%                           

Alphabet Incorporated Class A †

          13,500        17,605,215  

Alphabet Incorporated Class C †

          13,620        17,773,555  

Facebook Incorporated Class A †

          108,428        21,863,422  

TripAdvisor Incorporated

          4,732        134,389  

Twitter Incorporated †

          34,841        1,076,935  
             58,453,516  
          

 

 

 
Media: 1.34%                           

CBS Corporation Class B

          14,749        595,565  

Charter Communications Incorporated Class A †

          7,287        3,424,963  

Comcast Corporation Class A

          204,421        9,025,187  

Discovery Communications Incorporated Class A †«

          7,123        234,632  

Discovery Communications Incorporated Class C †

          15,638        477,272  

DISH Network Corporation Class A †

          11,430        390,563  

Fox Corporation Class A

          15,975        571,266  

Fox Corporation Class B †

          7,318        255,984  

Interpublic Group of Companies Incorporated

          17,453        390,947  

News Corporation Class A †

          17,381        223,867  

News Corporation Class B †

          5,488        72,277  

Omnicom Group Incorporated

          9,804        779,222  
             16,441,745  
          

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.09%                           

T-Mobile US Incorporated †

          14,249        1,119,259  
          

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary: 9.39%

          
Auto Components: 0.12%                           

Aptiv plc

          11,547        1,084,032  

BorgWarner Incorporated

          9,308        391,401  
             1,475,433  
          

 

 

 
Automobiles: 0.32%                           

Ford Motor Company †

          176,633        1,600,295  

General Motors Company †

          56,627        2,038,572  

Harley-Davidson Incorporated

          7,064        256,988  
             3,895,855  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio  |  17


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Distributors: 0.10%                           

Genuine Parts Company †

          6,584      $ 687,172  

LKQ Corporation †

          13,891        490,074  
             1,177,246  
          

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 0.02%                           

H&R Block Incorporated

          9,047        220,566  
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 1.78%                           

Carnival Corporation

          18,047        813,559  

Chipotle Mexican Grill Incorporated †

          1,150        936,008  

Darden Restaurants Incorporated †

          5,535        655,565  

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Incorporated †

          12,929        1,357,545  

Las Vegas Sands Corporation †

          15,266        957,942  

Marriott International Incorporated Class A

          12,321        1,729,376  

McDonald’s Corporation

          34,229        6,656,856  

MGM Resorts International

          23,501        750,857  

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Limited †

          9,717        521,220  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited †

          7,745        929,555  

Starbucks Corporation †

          53,950        4,608,949  

Wynn Resorts Limited

          4,365        527,510  

Yum! Brands Incorporated †

          13,714        1,380,588  
             21,825,530  
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 0.38%                           

D.R. Horton Incorporated

          15,168        839,549  

Garmin Limited †

          6,512        636,157  

Leggett & Platt Incorporated

          5,925        309,996  

Lennar Corporation Class A †

          12,818        764,594  

Mohawk Industries Incorporated †

          2,699        376,160  

Newell Rubbermaid Incorporated

          17,175        330,104  

NVR Incorporated †

          155        587,743  

Pulte Group Incorporated †

          11,618        460,654  

Whirlpool Corporation †

          2,863        409,695  
             4,714,652  
          

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail: 3.20%                           

Amazon.com Incorporated †

          18,728        33,725,382  

Booking Holdings Incorporated †

          1,916        3,648,121  

eBay Incorporated †

          35,536        1,262,239  

Expedia Group Incorporated †

          6,303        640,763  
             39,276,505  
          

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 0.05%                           

Hasbro Incorporated †

          5,676        577,249  
          

 

 

 
Multiline Retail: 0.52%                           

Dollar General Corporation

          11,586        1,823,173  

Dollar Tree Incorporated †

          10,665        975,421  

Kohl’s Corporation †

          7,172        337,156  

Macy’s Incorporated †«

          13,923        213,300  

Nordstrom Incorporated

          4,818        183,903  

Target Corporation †

          23,028        2,878,730  
             6,411,683  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Specialty Retail: 2.22%                           

Advance Auto Parts Incorporated

          3,217      $ 505,326  

AutoZone Incorporated †

          1,106        1,302,780  

Best Buy Company Incorporated

          10,454        843,011  

CarMax Incorporated †

          7,463        725,851  

L Brands Incorporated

          10,464        200,281  

Lowe’s Companies Incorporated †

          34,786        4,080,746  

O’Reilly Automotive Incorporated †

          3,449        1,525,424  

Ross Stores Incorporated †

          16,437        1,909,158  

The Gap Incorporated †

          9,654        160,353  

The Home Depot Incorporated

          49,360        10,884,374  

The TJX Companies Incorporated †

          54,488        3,330,851  

Tiffany & Company †

          4,900        655,620  

Tractor Supply Company

          5,375        507,615  

ULTA Beauty Incorporated †

          2,652        620,197  
             27,251,587  
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 0.68%                           

Capri Holdings Limited †

          6,832        253,740  

HanesBrands Incorporated

          16,295        245,566  

Nike Incorporated Class B

          56,423        5,274,986  

PVH Corporation

          3,342        324,040  

Ralph Lauren Corporation †

          2,336        250,746  

Tapestry Incorporated

          12,929        347,661  

Under Armour Incorporated Class A †

          8,480        160,187  

Under Armour Incorporated Class C †

          8,760        151,548  

VF Corporation

          14,716        1,302,955  
             8,311,429  
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 6.95%

          
Beverages: 1.73%                           

Brown-Forman Corporation Class B

          8,204        556,395  

Constellation Brands Incorporated Class A

          7,538        1,402,520  

Molson Coors Brewing Company Class B

          8,467        427,414  

Monster Beverage Corporation †

          17,436        1,043,022  

PepsiCo Incorporated

          63,017        8,559,599  

The Coca-Cola Company

          173,452        9,262,337  
             21,251,287  
          

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 1.51%                           

Costco Wholesale Corporation

          19,822        5,942,834  

Sysco Corporation

          23,129        1,863,041  

The Kroger Company †

          36,003        984,322  

Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated

          34,193        2,037,903  

Walmart Incorporated †

          64,097        7,633,312  
             18,461,412  
          

 

 

 
Food Products: 1.08%                           

Archer Daniels Midland Company †

          25,103        1,077,672  

Campbell Soup Company

          7,601        353,979  

ConAgra Foods Incorporated

          21,932        633,177  

General Mills Incorporated †

          27,200        1,450,304  

Hormel Foods Corporation †

          12,515        557,293  

Kellogg Company †

          11,207        729,800  

Lamb Weston Holdings Incorporated

          6,566        551,413  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio  |  19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Food Products (continued)                           

McCormick & Company Incorporated †

          5,546      $ 938,661  

Mondelez International Incorporated Class A

          64,999        3,415,047  

The Hershey Company †

          6,714        994,746  

The J.M. Smucker Company

          5,140        540,163  

The Kraft Heinz Company

          28,043        855,312  

Tyson Foods Incorporated Class A

          13,281        1,193,829  
             13,291,396  
          

 

 

 
Household Products: 1.64%  

Church & Dwight Company Incorporated †

          11,137        782,263  

Colgate-Palmolive Company

          38,671        2,622,667  

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

          15,513        2,115,042  

The Clorox Company

          5,667        840,019  

The Procter & Gamble Company

          112,796        13,767,880  
             20,127,871  
          

 

 

 
Personal Products: 0.17%                           

Coty Incorporated Class A

          13,257        152,986  

The Estee Lauder Companies Incorporated Class A

          9,971        1,949,031  
             2,102,017  
          

 

 

 
Tobacco: 0.82%                           

Altria Group Incorporated †

          84,197        4,184,591  

Philip Morris International Incorporated †

          70,123        5,815,300  
             9,999,891  
          

 

 

 

Energy: 4.05%

 

Energy Equipment & Services: 0.38%  

Baker Hughes Incorporated

          29,257        655,942  

Halliburton Company †

          39,479        828,664  

Helmerich & Payne Incorporated

          4,932        194,962  

National Oilwell Varco Incorporated

          17,393        392,212  

Schlumberger Limited

          62,333        2,256,455  

TechnipFMC plc

          18,916        356,377  
             4,684,612  
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 3.67%  

Apache Corporation

          16,945        377,535  

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation †

          18,857        300,581  

Chevron Corporation †

          85,564        10,022,111  

Cimarex Energy Company

          4,573        210,221  

Concho Resources Incorporated †

          9,063        657,611  

ConocoPhillips †

          50,035        2,999,098  

Devon Energy Corporation

          18,218        398,792  

Diamondback Energy Incorporated

          7,349        568,372  

EOG Resources Incorporated †

          26,157        1,854,531  

Exxon Mobil Corporation

          190,700        12,992,391  

Hess Corporation †

          11,665        724,280  

HollyFrontier Corporation †

          6,824        351,777  

Kinder Morgan Incorporated †

          87,748        1,720,738  

Marathon Oil Corporation †

          36,239        422,184  

Marathon Petroleum Corporation

          29,671        1,799,249  

Noble Energy Incorporated †

          21,555        447,482  

Occidental Petroleum Corporation †

          40,315        1,554,950  

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)  

ONEOK Incorporated

          18,613      $ 1,322,454  

Phillips 66

          20,216        2,319,180  

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

          7,533        963,019  

The Williams Companies Incorporated

          54,627        1,241,125  

Valero Energy Corporation

          18,678        1,783,562  
             45,031,243  
          

 

 

 

Financials: 12.59%

 

Banks: 5.46%  

Bank of America Corporation †

          377,581        12,580,999  

BB&T Corporation †

          34,532        1,889,591  

Citigroup Incorporated

          101,818        7,648,568  

Citizens Financial Group Incorporated †

          20,151        775,007  

Comerica Incorporated

          6,732        474,000  

Fifth Third Bancorp

          32,924        993,976  

First Republic Bank

          7,582        833,262  

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

          46,777        696,510  

JPMorgan Chase & Company

          144,114        18,988,461  

KeyCorp †

          45,218        876,777  

M&T Bank Corporation

          6,025        992,559  

People’s United Financial Incorporated †

          19,989        329,819  

PNC Financial Services Group Incorporated †

          20,068        3,074,618  

Regions Financial Corporation

          44,971        748,317  

SunTrust Banks Incorporated †

          20,009        1,417,438  

SVB Financial Group †

          2,323        538,309  

US Bancorp

          64,632        3,879,859  

Wells Fargo & Company (l)

          180,715        9,841,739  

Zions Bancorporation

          7,976        397,045  
             66,976,854  
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 2.66%  

Affiliated Managers Group Incorporated

          2,282        194,814  

Ameriprise Financial Incorporated

          5,898        966,505  

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation

          38,663        1,893,327  

BlackRock Incorporated

          5,295        2,620,548  

CBOE Holdings Incorporated †

          5,034        598,543  

CME Group Incorporated

          16,140        3,272,062  

E*TRADE Financial Corporation

          10,222        452,835  

Franklin Resources Incorporated

          12,712        349,453  

Intercontinental Exchange Incorporated

          25,258        2,378,546  

Invesco Limited

          17,363        304,894  

MarketAxess Holdings Incorporated

          1,702        687,302  

Moody’s Corporation

          7,334        1,662,398  

Morgan Stanley

          56,614        2,801,261  

MSCI Incorporated †

          3,817        989,328  

Northern Trust Corporation †

          9,685        1,038,619  

Raymond James Financial Incorporated

          5,569        500,208  

S&P Global Incorporated

          11,101        2,937,880  

State Street Corporation

          16,793        1,261,154  

T. Rowe Price Group Incorporated

          10,617        1,311,837  

The Charles Schwab Corporation †

          52,435        2,595,533  

The Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated

          14,585        3,228,390  

The NASDAQ OMX Group Incorporated

          5,196        544,541  
             32,589,978  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio  |  21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Consumer Finance: 0.65%  

American Express Company

          30,663      $ 3,683,240  

Capital One Financial Corporation

          21,198        2,120,012  

Discover Financial Services †

          14,343        1,217,290  

Synchrony Financial

          27,510        1,029,149  
             8,049,691  
          

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 1.59%  

Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated Class B †

          88,378        19,469,673  
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 2.23%  

AFLAC Incorporated †

          33,370        1,830,011  

American International Group Incorporated

          39,208        2,064,693  

Aon plc

          10,630        2,164,374  

Arthur J. Gallagher & Company †

          8,386        782,162  

Assurant Incorporated †

          2,755        366,057  

Chubb Limited

          20,541        3,111,551  

Cincinnati Financial Corporation

          6,846        732,864  

Everest Reinsurance Group Limited

          1,836        498,033  

Globe Life Incorporated

          4,524        464,886  

Lincoln National Corporation

          9,023        532,808  

Loews Corporation

          11,721        596,599  

Marsh & McLennan Companies Incorporated

          22,820        2,466,157  

MetLife Incorporated †

          35,876        1,790,571  

Principal Financial Group Incorporated

          11,686        643,899  

Prudential Financial Incorporated

          18,119        1,696,301  

The Allstate Corporation

          14,837        1,652,100  

The Hartford Financial Services Group Incorporated †

          16,297        1,008,132  

The Progressive Corporation †

          26,351        1,924,941  

The Travelers Companies Incorporated

          11,736        1,604,546  

Unum Group

          9,403        289,048  

Willis Towers Watson plc

          5,814        1,142,102  
             27,361,835  
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 13.49%

 

Biotechnology: 1.98%  

AbbVie Incorporated

          66,637        5,846,064  

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          10,106        1,151,478  

Amgen Incorporated

          27,029        6,344,247  

Biogen Idec Incorporated †

          8,313        2,492,321  

Gilead Sciences Incorporated

          57,080        3,838,059  

Incyte Corporation †

          8,045        757,517  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          3,602        1,329,138  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          11,585        2,568,974  
             24,327,798  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 3.39%  

Abbott Laboratories

          79,658        6,806,776  

ABIOMED Incorporated †

          2,045        401,188  

Align Technology Incorporated †

          3,276        908,566  

Baxter International Incorporated

          23,011        1,886,212  

Becton Dickinson & Company †

          12,167        3,145,170  

Boston Scientific Corporation †

          62,783        2,715,365  

Danaher Corporation †

          28,776        4,200,720  

Dentsply Sirona Incorporated

          10,104        571,280  

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation †

          9,373        2,295,823  

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (continued)  

Hologic Incorporated †

          12,048      $ 618,303  

IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated †

          3,880        976,130  

Intuitive Surgical Incorporated †

          5,195        3,080,116  

Medtronic plc †

          60,470        6,735,753  

ResMed Incorporated †

          6,475        968,660  

Stryker Corporation †

          14,462        2,962,685  

Teleflex Incorporated

          2,084        736,361  

The Cooper Companies Incorporated

          2,234        699,443  

Varian Medical Systems Incorporated †

          4,104        548,828  

Zimmer Biomet Holdings Incorporated

          9,254        1,344,421  
             41,601,800  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 2.77%  

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

          6,854        602,535  

Anthem Incorporated

          11,530        3,328,250  

Cardinal Health Incorporated

          13,437        739,438  

Centene Corporation †

          18,642        1,127,282  

Cigna Corporation †

          17,019        3,402,438  

CVS Health Corporation

          58,615        4,411,951  

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated †

          4,092        293,683  

HCA Healthcare Incorporated

          11,987        1,662,117  

Henry Schein Incorporated †

          6,682        460,390  

Humana Incorporated

          6,089        2,077,749  

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings †

          4,403        758,593  

McKesson Corporation

          8,334        1,205,430  

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

          6,070        646,759  

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

          42,713        11,954,087  

Universal Health Services Incorporated Class B

          3,661        510,673  

WellCare Health Plans Incorporated †

          2,268        730,455  
             33,911,830  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Technology: 0.08%  

Cerner Corporation †

          14,350        1,027,317  
          

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 0.98%  

Agilent Technologies Incorporated †

          13,948        1,126,580  

Illumina Incorporated †

          6,625        2,125,035  

IQVIA Holdings Incorporated †

          8,211        1,198,642  

Mettler-Toledo International Incorporated †

          1,109        797,826  

PerkinElmer Incorporated †

          5,006        465,057  

Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated

          18,050        5,666,798  

Waters Corporation †

          3,009        668,209  
             12,048,147  
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 4.29%  

Allergan plc

          14,785        2,734,338  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

          105,669        6,016,793  

Eli Lilly & Company

          38,291        4,493,449  

Johnson & Johnson

          118,950        16,354,436  

Merck & Company Incorporated †

          115,399        10,060,485  

Mylan NV †

          23,251        436,654  

Perrigo Company plc

          6,132        314,142  

Pfizer Incorporated †

          249,290        9,602,651  

Zoetis Incorporated †

          21,524        2,594,072  
             52,607,020  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio  |  23


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  

Industrials: 8.92%

 

Aerospace & Defense: 2.49%  

Arconic Incorporated

          17,459      $ 540,531  

General Dynamics Corporation

          10,545        1,916,448  

Huntington Ingalls Industries Incorporated †

          1,863        468,861  

L3Harris Technologies Incorporated

          10,064        2,023,770  

Lockheed Martin Corporation

          11,201        4,379,927  

Northrop Grumman Corporation

          7,092        2,494,753  

Raytheon Company

          12,552        2,729,056  

Textron Incorporated

          10,372        479,601  

The Boeing Company

          24,094        8,822,741  

TransDigm Group Incorporated †

          2,237        1,268,603  

United Technologies Corporation

          36,559        5,423,162  
             30,547,453  
          

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics: 0.53%  

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Incorporated †

          6,102        468,939  

Expeditors International of Washington Incorporated †

          7,695        575,278  

FedEx Corporation †

          10,817        1,731,261  

United Parcel Service Incorporated Class B

          31,475        3,768,502  
             6,543,980  
          

 

 

 
Airlines: 0.37%  

Alaska Air Group Incorporated †

          5,556        383,420  

American Airlines Group Incorporated

          17,861        513,325  

Delta Air Lines Incorporated

          26,082        1,494,759  

Southwest Airlines Company †

          21,804        1,256,783  

United Continental Holdings Incorporated †

          9,959        924,195  
             4,572,482  
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 0.27%  

A.O. Smith Corporation

          6,236        301,822  

Allegion plc

          4,209        505,206  

Fortune Brands Home & Security Incorporated †

          6,305        398,854  

Johnson Controls International plc †

          35,863        1,536,012  

Masco Corporation

          13,046        607,291  
             3,349,185  
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.39%  

Cintas Corporation †

          3,742        961,919  

Copart Incorporated †

          9,087        808,743  

Republic Services Incorporated

          9,541        845,810  

Rollins Incorporated

          6,347        227,540  

Waste Management Incorporated

          17,591        1,986,200  
             4,830,212  
          

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 0.07%  

Jacobs Engineering Group Incorporated †

          6,107        562,394  

Quanta Services Incorporated †

          6,408        266,829  
             829,223  
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 0.48%  

AMETEK Incorporated

          10,292        1,019,011  

Eaton Corporation plc †

          18,930        1,751,025  

Emerson Electric Company

          27,723        2,047,621  

Rockwell Automation Incorporated †

          5,274        1,032,860  
             5,850,517  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

24  |  Wells Fargo Index Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Industrial Conglomerates: 1.33%  

3M Company

          25,928      $ 4,401,797  

General Electric Company †

          393,338        4,432,919  

Honeywell International Incorporated

          32,429        5,790,198  

Roper Technologies Incorporated †

          4,687        1,689,054  
             16,313,968  
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 1.56%  

Caterpillar Incorporated

          25,356        3,669,774  

Cummins Incorporated

          7,112        1,300,500  

Deere & Company †

          14,192        2,384,966  

Dover Corporation

          6,555        730,751  

Flowserve Corporation †

          5,912        287,914  

Fortive Corporation †

          13,308        960,438  

IDEX Corporation †

          3,419        556,408  

Illinois Tool Works Incorporated †

          13,267        2,312,836  

Ingersoll-Rand plc †

          10,888        1,427,526  

PACCAR Incorporated

          15,611        1,270,267  

Parker-Hannifin Corporation

          5,789        1,150,795  

Pentair plc

          7,574        335,907  

Snap-on Incorporated

          2,488        399,224  

Stanley Black & Decker Incorporated

          6,839        1,078,784  

Wabtec Corporation

          8,208        644,903  

Xylem Incorporated

          8,114        628,916  
             19,139,909  
          

 

 

 
Professional Services: 0.31%  

Equifax Incorporated

          5,448        760,759  

IHS Markit Limited †

          18,078        1,313,367  

Nielsen Holdings plc

          16,031        313,406  

Robert Half International Incorporated

          5,299        308,402  

Verisk Analytics Incorporated

          7,369        1,086,780  
             3,782,714  
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.95%  

CSX Corporation †

          35,975        2,573,652  

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Incorporated †

          3,850        445,137  

Kansas City Southern

          4,534        691,072  

Norfolk Southern Corporation

          11,872        2,297,232  

Union Pacific Corporation

          31,754        5,588,386  
             11,595,479  
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 0.17%  

Fastenal Company †

          25,845        918,014  

United Rentals Incorporated †

          3,478        532,308  

W.W. Grainger Incorporated

          1,992        631,364  
             2,081,686  
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 21.90%

 

Communications Equipment: 0.91%  

Arista Networks Incorporated †

          2,453        478,654  

Cisco Systems Incorporated

          191,340        8,669,615  

F5 Networks Incorporated †

          2,710        394,874  

Juniper Networks Incorporated

          15,586        390,585  

Motorola Solutions Incorporated

          7,462        1,248,393  
             11,182,121  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio  |  25


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.50%  

Amphenol Corporation Class A

          13,406      $ 1,394,224  

CDW Corporation of Delaware

          6,522        880,796  

Corning Incorporated †

          35,194        1,022,034  

FLIR Systems Incorporated

          6,112        327,359  

IPG Photonics Corporation †

          1,607        228,339  

Keysight Technologies Incorporated †

          8,454        904,832  

TE Connectivity Limited

          15,141        1,403,722  
             6,161,306  
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 5.27%  

Accenture plc Class A †

          28,717        5,776,712  

Akamai Technologies Incorporated †

          7,436        647,824  

Alliance Data Systems Corporation

          1,846        197,356  

Automatic Data Processing Incorporated

          19,558        3,340,115  

Broadridge Financial Solutions Incorporated

          5,151        637,230  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation Class A

          24,892        1,595,826  

DXC Technology Company

          11,807        440,755  

Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated †

          27,649        3,819,709  

Fiserv Incorporated †

          25,727        2,990,506  

FleetCor Technologies Incorporated †

          3,902        1,197,602  

Gartner Incorporated †

          4,063        651,949  

Global Payments Incorporated †

          13,523        2,449,015  

International Business Machines Corporation

          39,927        5,368,185  

Jack Henry & Associates Incorporated †

          3,470        527,232  

Leidos Holdings Incorporated

          6,093        553,488  

MasterCard Incorporated Class A †

          40,238        11,758,751  

Paychex Incorporated

          14,415        1,241,420  

PayPal Holdings Incorporated †

          53,034        5,728,202  

VeriSign Incorporated †

          4,695        895,524  

Visa Incorporated Class A

          77,836        14,361,520  

Western Union Company

          19,105        513,542  
             64,692,463  
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 3.93%  

Advanced Micro Devices Incorporated †

          48,927        1,915,492  

Analog Devices Incorporated

          16,650        1,880,618  

Applied Materials Incorporated

          41,635        2,410,667  

Broadcom Incorporated

          17,942        5,673,440  

Intel Corporation

          199,665        11,590,553  

KLA-Tencor Corporation

          7,178        1,176,187  

Lam Research Corporation

          6,514        1,738,131  

Maxim Integrated Products Incorporated

          12,227        692,904  

Microchip Technology Incorporated «

          10,729        1,014,320  

Micron Technology Incorporated †

          49,750        2,363,623  

NVIDIA Corporation †

          27,448        5,949,080  

Qorvo Incorporated †

          5,309        553,251  

QUALCOMM Incorporated

          51,464        4,299,817  

Skyworks Solutions Incorporated †

          7,739        760,744  

Texas Instruments Incorporated

          42,079        5,058,317  

Xilinx Incorporated

          11,385        1,056,300  
             48,133,444  
          

 

 

 
Software: 6.75%  

Adobe Systems Incorporated †

          21,879        6,772,207  

ANSYS Incorporated †

          3,791        965,530  

Autodesk Incorporated †

          9,897        1,790,367  

 

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

 

 

26  |  Wells Fargo Index Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Software (continued)  

Cadence Design Systems Incorporated †

          12,627      $ 887,047  

Citrix Systems Incorporated

          5,546        625,644  

Fortinet Incorporated †

          6,397        672,389  

Intuit Incorporated

          11,722        3,034,709  

Microsoft Corporation †

          344,136        52,095,308  

Nortonlifelock Incoporated

          25,627        638,112  

Oracle Corporation †

          99,230        5,570,772  

Salesforce.com Incorporated †

          39,527        6,438,553  

ServiceNow Incorporated †

          8,449        2,391,405  

Synopsys Incorporated †

          6,774        955,405  
             82,837,448  
          

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 4.54%  

Apple Incorporated

          191,463        51,168,487  

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company †

          58,845        931,516  

HP Incorporated †

          66,791        1,341,163  

NetApp Incorporated †

          10,723        649,707  

Seagate Technology plc

          10,671        636,845  

Western Digital Corporation

          13,341        671,453  

Xerox Holdings Corporation †

          8,577        333,903  
             55,733,074  
          

 

 

 

Materials: 2.55%

          
Chemicals: 1.83%                           

Air Products & Chemicals Incorporated

          9,932        2,347,230  

Albemarle Corporation

          4,777        312,320  

Celanese Corporation Series A

          5,577        700,304  

CF Industries Holdings Incorporated

          9,840        454,706  

Corteva Incorporated

          33,753        878,253  

Dow Incorporated

          33,497        1,787,735  

DuPont de Nemours Incorporated †

          33,600        2,177,616  

Eastman Chemical Company

          6,174        483,856  

Ecolab Incorporated †

          11,283        2,106,198  

FMC Corporation

          5,879        575,907  

International Flavors & Fragrances Incorporated †«

          4,812        679,599  

Linde plc

          24,365        5,024,307  

LyondellBasell Industries NV Class A

          11,635        1,076,703  

PPG Industries Incorporated

          10,650        1,372,146  

The Mosaic Company

          16,000        304,800  

The Sherwin-Williams Company †

          3,701        2,158,164  
             22,439,844  
          

 

 

 
Construction Materials: 0.13%                           

Martin Marietta Materials Incorporated

          2,814        755,278  

Vulcan Materials Company

          5,962        845,829  
             1,601,107  
          

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 0.35%                           

Amcor plc

          73,218        751,217  

Avery Dennison Corporation †

          3,795        494,754  

Ball Corporation

          14,964        988,522  

International Paper Company

          17,706        820,496  

Packaging Corporation of America

          4,267        477,477  

Sealed Air Corporation

          6,965        262,789  

WestRock Company †

          11,599        467,788  
             4,263,043  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio  |  27


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Metals & Mining: 0.24%                           

Freeport-McMoRan Incorporated

          65,393      $ 744,172  

Newmont Goldcorp Corporation

          36,953        1,418,995  

Nucor Corporation †

          13,664        770,103  
             2,933,270  
          

 

 

 

Real Estate: 2.86%

          
Equity REITs: 2.79%                           

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Incorporated

          5,112        830,802  

American Tower Corporation

          19,952        4,270,327  

Apartment Investment & Management Company Class A †

          6,710        360,797  

AvalonBay Communities Incorporated

          6,294        1,349,497  

Boston Properties Incorporated

          6,479        897,601  

Crown Castle International Corporation †

          18,738        2,504,521  

Digital Realty Trust Incorporated

          9,390        1,135,721  

Duke Realty Corporation

          16,291        573,117  

Equinix Incorporated †

          3,823        2,167,068  

Equity Residential Company Limited †

          15,712        1,337,091  

Essex Property Trust Incorporated

          2,962        924,677  

Extra Space Storage Incorporated

          5,792        614,242  

Federal Realty Investment Trust

          3,142        414,964  

Healthpeak Properties Incorpoarated †

          22,135        772,069  

Host Hotels & Resorts Incorporated †

          32,898        575,386  

Iron Mountain Incorporated †

          12,940        415,633  

Kimco Realty Corporation

          19,024        411,299  

Mid-America Apartment Communities Incorporated

          5,140        699,605  

Prologis Incorporated

          28,446        2,604,231  

Public Storage Incorporated †

          6,768        1,425,882  

Realty Income Corporation †

          14,343        1,099,104  

Regency Centers Corporation

          7,552        491,182  

SBA Communications Corporation

          5,098        1,205,524  

Simon Property Group Incorporated

          13,883        2,099,248  

SL Green Realty Corporation †

          3,715        317,001  

The Macerich Company «

          4,966        133,734  

UDR Incorporated

          13,199        634,212  

Ventas Incorporated

          16,793        979,200  

Vornado Realty Trust

          7,138        460,901  

Welltower Incorporated

          18,265        1,544,671  

Weyerhaeuser Company

          33,575        990,798  
             34,240,105  
          

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.07%                           

CBRE Group Incorporated Class A †

          15,159        864,366  
          

 

 

 

Utilities: 3.16%

          
Electric Utilities: 1.93%                           

Alliant Energy Corporation †

          10,705        567,365  

American Electric Power Company Incorporated

          22,256        2,033,086  

Duke Energy Corporation

          32,839        2,895,415  

Edison International †

          16,139        1,115,205  

Entergy Corporation

          8,961        1,042,971  

Evergy Incorporated †

          10,613        671,485  

Eversource Energy †

          14,585        1,205,304  

Exelon Corporation

          43,790        1,944,276  

FirstEnergy Corporation

          24,338        1,160,679  

NextEra Energy Incorporated †

          22,029        5,150,821  

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation

          5,062        442,368  

PPL Corporation

          32,552        1,107,745  

 

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

 

 

28  |  Wells Fargo Index Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                    Shares      Value  
Electric Utilities (continued)                          

The Southern Company †

         47,110      $ 2,920,349  

Xcel Energy Incorporated

         23,634        1,453,255  
            23,710,324  
         

 

 

 
Gas Utilities: 0.05%                          

Atmos Energy Corporation †

         5,327        569,776  
         

 

 

 
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 0.08%                          

AES Corporation †

         29,920        565,787  

NRG Energy Incorporated

         11,402        453,001  
            1,018,788  
         

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities: 1.02%                          

Ameren Corporation

         11,079        823,502  

CenterPoint Energy Incorporated

         22,636        555,940  

CMS Energy Corporation

         12,791        784,088  

Consolidated Edison Incorporated

         14,970        1,300,743  

Dominion Energy Incorporated †

         37,045        3,078,810  

DTE Energy Company

         8,262        1,032,254  

NiSource Incorporated

         16,827        445,074  

Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated

         22,790        1,351,675  

Sempra Energy

         12,374        1,822,319  

WEC Energy Group Incorporated

         14,217        1,260,337  
            12,454,742  
         

 

 

 
Water Utilities: 0.08%                          

American Water Works Company Incorporated

         8,142        985,426  
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $342,671,154)

            1,176,269,125  
         

 

 

 
         

Expiration

date

               
Rights: 0.00%                          
Communication Services: 0.00%                          
Media: 0.00%                          

Dish Network Corporation †

      12-9-2019        636        432  
         

 

 

 

Total Rights (Cost $0)

            432  
         

 

 

 
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 4.05%  
Investment Companies: 3.87%  

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC (l)(r)(u)

    1.77        1,895,834        1,896,023  

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56          45,577,355        45,577,355  
            47,473,378  
         

 

 

 
         

Maturity

date

     Principal         
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.18%                          

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    1.50       12-12-2019      $ 2,268,000        2,267,002  
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $49,740,224)

            49,740,380        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $392,411,378)     99.93        1,226,009,937  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.07          869,999  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 1,226,879,936  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio  |  29


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

«

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Portfolio as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(r)

The investment is a non-registered investment company purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

(z)

Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

#

All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

Abbreviations:

 

REIT

Real estate investment trust

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
contracts
     Expiration
date
     Notional
cost
     Notional
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

                 

S&P 500 Index

     62        12-19-2019      $ 47,990,260      $ 48,727,350      $ 737,090      $ 0  

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Portfolio owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Portfolio and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Portfolio at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning of
period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses)
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Income
from
affiliated
securities
    Value,
end of
period
    % of
net
assets
 
Common Stocks                                                      

Financials

                 

Banks

                 

Wells Fargo & Company

    208,199       0       27,484       180,715     $ 606,169     $ 1,336,681     $ 94,872     $ 9,841,739       0.80
Short-Term Investments                                                      

Investment Companies

                 

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC

    3,129,501       15,238,799       16,472,466       1,895,834       467       (129     18,638 #      1,896,023    

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    24,217,403       128,280,684       106,920,732       45,577,355       0       0       227,067       45,577,355    
                  47,473,378       3.87
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ 606,636     $ 1,336,552     $ 340,577     $ 57,315,117       4.67
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

# 

Amount shown represents income before fees and rebates.

 

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

 

 

30  |  Wells Fargo Index Portfolio


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities (including $1,852,076 securities on loan), at value (cost $340,763,542)

  $ 1,168,694,820  

Investments in affiliated securities, at value (cost $51,647,836)

    57,315,117  

Receivable for dividends

    2,919,539  

Receivable for securities lending income, net

    451  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    185,533  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,229,115,460  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    1,893,653  

Payable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

    159,508  

Advisory fee payable

    98,601  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    83,762  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    2,235,524  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,226,879,936  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Index Portfolio  |  31


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $55,753)

  $ 11,653,506  

Income from affiliated securities

    343,989  

Interest

    2,312  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    11,999,807  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    579,206  

Custody and accounting fees

    58,957  

Professional fees

    30,196  

Shareholder report expenses

    3,542  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,400  

Other fees and expenses

    15,479  
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    698,780  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    11,301,027  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    105,679,076  

Affiliated securities

    606,636  

Futures contracts

    1,630,130  
 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on investments

    107,915,842  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    49,366,453  

Affiliated securities

    1,336,552  

Futures contracts

    2,270,345  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    52,973,350  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    160,889,192  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 172,190,219  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Statement of changes in net assets

 

    

Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)

   

Year ended
May 31, 2019

 

Operations

   

Net investment income

  $ 11,301,027     $ 27,311,287  

Net realized gains on investments

    107,915,842       316,337,562  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    52,973,350       (292,921,380
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    172,190,219       50,727,569  
 

 

 

 

Capital transactions

   

Transactions in investors’ beneficial interests

   

Contributions

    1,539,206       3,884,910  

Withdrawals

    (142,236,021     (513,193,862
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital transactions

    (140,696,815     (509,308,952
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    31,493,404       (458,581,383
 

 

 

 

Net assets

   

Beginning of period

    1,195,386,532       1,653,967,915  
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 1,226,879,936     $ 1,195,386,532  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Total return¹

    15.19     3.67     14.27     17.36     1.62     11.69

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses

    0.12     0.11     0.10     0.10     0.11     0.11

Net expenses

    0.12     0.11     0.10     0.10     0.10     0.11

Net investment income

    1.86     1.86     1.84     2.03     2.12     1.96

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    2     4     3     9     4     4

 

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Master Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Index Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Portfolio may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Equity securities and futures contracts that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Portfolio’s Valuation Procedures.

Debt securities are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service (e.g. taking into account various factors, including yields, maturities, or credit ratings) or, if a reliable price is not available, the quoted bid price from an independent broker-dealer.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment companies that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued normally at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Securities lending

The Portfolio may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. When securities are on loan, the Portfolio receives interest or dividends on those securities. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). Investments in Securities Lending Fund are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund (net of fees and rebates), if any, is included in income from affiliated securities on the Statement of Operations.

In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Portfolio is affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Portfolio fluctuates from time to time. The Portfolio has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Portfolio may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In such an event, the terms of the agreement allows the unaffiliated securities lending agent to use the collateral to purchase replacement securities on behalf of the Portfolio or pay the Portfolio the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio bears the risk of loss with respect to depreciation of its investment of the cash collateral.

Futures contracts

Futures contracts are agreements between the Portfolio and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity, financial instrument or currency at a specified price and on a specified date. The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts in

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

order to gain exposure to, or protect against, changes in security values and is subject to equity price risk. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between changes in market values of securities held by the Portfolio and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Futures contracts are generally entered into on a regulated futures exchange and cleared through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange. With futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty risk to the Portfolio since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as the counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default.

Upon entering into a futures contracts, the Portfolio is required to deposit either cash or securities (initial margin) with the broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are paid to or from the broker each day equal to the daily changes in the contract value. Such payments are recorded as unrealized gains or losses and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (payable) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Should the Portfolio fail to make requested variation margin payments, the broker can gain access to the initial margin to satisfy the Portfolio’s payment obligations. When the contracts are closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Interest income is accrued daily and bond discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized daily. To the extent debt obligations are placed on non-accrual status, any related interest income may be reduced by writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has been determined to be doubtful based on consistently applied procedures and the fair value has decreased. If the issuer subsequently resumes interest payments or when the collectability of interest is reasonably assured, the debt obligation is removed from non-accrual status.

Federal and other taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Portfolio is not required to pay federal income taxes on its net investment income and net capital gains as it is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. All interest, dividends, gains and losses of the Portfolio are deemed to have been “passed through” to the interest holders in proportion to their holdings of the Portfolio regardless of whether interest, dividends and gains have been distributed by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio’s income tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal revenue authority. Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $392,411,378 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 844,007,534  

Gross unrealized losses

     (9,671,885

Net unrealized gains

   $ 834,335,649  

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Portfolio’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

     

Quoted prices

(Level 1)

    

Other significant

observable inputs

(Level 2)

    

Significant

unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Communication services

   $ 122,952,263      $ 0      $ 0      $ 122,952,263  

Consumer discretionary

     115,137,735        0        0        115,137,735  

Consumer staples

     85,233,874        0        0        85,233,874  

Energy

     49,715,855        0        0        49,715,855  

Financials

     154,448,031        0        0        154,448,031  

Health care

     165,523,912        0        0        165,523,912  

Industrials

     109,436,808        0        0        109,436,808  

Information technology

     268,739,856        0        0        268,739,856  

Materials

     31,237,264        0        0        31,237,264  

Real estate

     35,104,471        0        0        35,104,471  

Utilities

     38,739,056        0        0        38,739,056  

Rights

           

Communication services

     0        432        0        432  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     47,473,378        0        0        47,473,378  

U.S. Treasury securities

     2,267,002        0        0        2,267,002  
     1,226,009,505        432        0        1,226,009,937  

Futures contracts

     737,090        0        0        737,090  

Total assets

   $ 1,226,746,595      $ 432      $ 0      $ 1,226,747,027  

Additional sector, industry or geographic detail is included in the Portfolio of Investments.

Futures contracts are reported at their cumulative unrealized gains (losses) at measurement date as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. For futures contracts, the current day’s variation margin is reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. All other assets and liabilities are reported at their market value at measurement date.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Advisory fee

The Trust has entered into an advisory contract with Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The adviser is responsible for implementing investment policies and guidelines and for supervising the subadviser, who is responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the contract, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual advisory fee at the following annual rate based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Advisory fee

First $500 million

   0.100%

Next $500 million

   0.100

Next $2 billion

   0.075

Next $2 billion

   0.075

Over $5 billion

   0.050

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.10% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Portfolio. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“Wells Cap”), an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.02% as the average daily net assets of the Portfolio increase.

Interfund transactions

The Portfolio may purchase or sell portfolio investment securities to certain other Wells Fargo affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $25,757,410 and $169,544,164, respectively.

6. SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent and receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any increases or decreases in the required collateral are exchanged between the Portfolio and the counterparty on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in the Securities Lending Fund which seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open Rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments and is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Securities Lending Fund is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by WellsCap. Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser.

In the event of counterparty default or the failure of a borrower to return a loaned security, the Portfolio has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. As of November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had securities lending transactions with the following counterparties which are subject to offset:

 

Counterparty     

Value of

securities on

loan

       Collateral
received1
       Net
amount
 

JPMorgan Securities LLC

     $ 1,516,306        $ (1,516,306      $ 0  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       335,770          (335,770        0  

 

1 

Collateral received within this table is limited to the collateral for the net transaction with the counterparty.

7. DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS

During the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio entered into futures contracts for to gain market exposure. The Portfolio had an average notional amount of $26,925,688 in long futures contracts during the six months ended November 30, 2019.

The fair value, realized gains or losses and change in unrealized gains or losses, if any, on derivative instruments are reflected in the corresponding financial statement captions.

8. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, along with Wells Fargo Variable Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Trust (excluding the money market funds), are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Portfolio is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to portfolio shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Portfolio based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Portfolio under the agreement.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

9. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Portfolio and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

10. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund and Portfolio file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Current other

public company or

investment

company

directorships

William R. Ebsworth

(Born 1957)

 

Trustee,

since 2015

  Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

 

Trustee,

since 2015;

Chair Liaison,

since 2018

  Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

 

Trustee,

since 2009;

Audit Committee Chairman,

since 2019

  Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation

Judith M. Johnson

(Born 1949)

 

Trustee, since 2008;

Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018

  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Current other

public company or

investment

company

directorships

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

 

Trustee,

since 2009

  James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

 

Trustee, since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair,

since 2018

  International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

 

Trustee, since 1996; Chairman,

since 2018

  President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A

James G. Polisson

(Born 1959)

 

Trustee,

since 2018

  Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A

Pamela Wheelock3

(Born 1959)

 

Trustee,

since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019

  Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer

Andrew Owen

(Born 1960)

 

President,

since 2017

  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.

Nancy Wiser1

(Born 1967)

 

Treasurer,

since 2012

  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.

Michelle Rhee4

(Born 1966)

 

Chief Legal Officer,

since 2019

  Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.

Catherine Kennedy5

(Born 1969)

 

Secretary,

since 2019

  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.

Michael H. Whitaker

(Born 1967)

 

Chief Compliance Officer,

since 2016

  Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

 

Assistant Treasurer,

since 2009

  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.

Jeremy DePalma1

(Born 1974)

 

Assistant Treasurer,

since 2009

  Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

 

 

1

Nancy Wiser acts as Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

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Table of Contents

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408961 01-19

SA283/SAR283 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

Reduce clutter.

Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo International Value Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

 

 

1

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser for the affiliated master portfolio1

LSV Asset Management

Portfolio managers

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D.

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA®

Menno Vermeulen, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
                   
Class A (WFFAX)   10-31-2003     0.74       1.51       3.20       6.88       2.72       3.82       1.33       1.24  
                   
Class C (WFVCX)   4-8-2005     5.11       1.95       3.04       6.11       1.95       3.04       2.08       1.99  
                   
Class R6 (WFRVX)4   7-31-2018                       7.39       3.12       4.25       0.90       0.84  
                   
Administrator Class (WFVDX)   4-8-2005                       7.01       2.79       3.98       1.25       1.14  
                   
Institutional Class (WFVIX)   8-31-2006                       7.26       3.08       4.23       1.00       0.89  
                   
MSCI EAFE Value Index (Net)5                         6.52       2.09       3.70              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R6, Administrator Class, and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Foreign investments are especially volatile and can rise or fall dramatically due to differences in the political and economic conditions of the host country. These risks are generally intensified in emerging markets. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to smaller-company securities risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20196  
   

Roche Holding AG

     2.65  
   

Sanofi SA

     1.83  
   

GlaxoSmithKline plc

     1.80  
   

Total SA

     1.51  
   

Royal Dutch Shell plc Class B

     1.37  
   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation

     1.35  
   

KDDI Corporation

     1.29  
   

Enel SpA

     1.06  
   

BP plc

     1.03  
   

BAE Systems plc

     1.03  

 

Sector distribution as of November 30, 20197
LOGO
 

 

Country allocation as of November 30, 20197
LOGO

    

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated master portfolio of the Wells Fargo Master Trust with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. References to the investment activities of the Fund are intended to refer to the investment activities of the affiliated master portfolio in which it invests.

 

2 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

3 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolio invests, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Net expenses from the affiliated master portfolio are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

4 

Historical performance shown for the Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of the Institutional Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to the Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class R6 shares would be higher.

 

5 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Value Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of value securities within developed equity markets, excluding the United States and Canada. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the securities of the affiliated master portfolio allocable to the Fund divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

7 

Amounts represent the composition of the affiliated master portfolio which are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the affiliated master portfolio. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account  value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,098.15      $ 6.61        1.26

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.70      $ 6.36        1.26
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,094.70      $ 10.53        2.01

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,014.95      $ 10.13        2.01
         

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,101.64      $ 4.47        0.85

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.75      $ 4.29        0.85
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,098.83      $ 6.09        1.16

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.20      $ 5.86        1.16
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,100.07      $ 4.78        0.91

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.45      $ 4.60        0.91

 

 

1

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                             Value  

Investment Companies: 99.90%

          
Affiliated Master Portfolio: 99.90%                           

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

           $ 957,347,332  
          

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $936,585,433)

             957,347,332        
          

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $936,585,433)     99.90        957,347,332  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.10          965,647  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 958,312,979  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolio were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
   

Net realized
gains

(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated

from

affiliated
Master
Portfolio

   

Net

change in
unrealized
gains

(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated

from

affiliated
Master
Portfolio

   

Dividends
allocated

from

affiliated
Master
Portfolio

    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
   

Value,

end

of period

    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

    79     81   $ (8,998,314   $ 86,152,595     $ 13,449,954     $ 471,274     $ 957,347,332       99.90

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolio, at value (cost $936,585,433)

  $ 957,347,332  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    1,848,733  

Receivable from manager

    65,620  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    267,599  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    959,529,284  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    1,093,247  

Administration fees payable

    110,845  

Distribution fee payable

    383  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,363  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    9,467  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    1,216,305  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 958,312,979  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 924,054,149  

Total distributable earnings

    34,258,830  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 958,312,979  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 69,699,943  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    4,683,260  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $14.88  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $15.79  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 608,178  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    42,101  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $14.45  

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 494,157  

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    33,534  

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $14.74  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 3,199,884  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    213,168  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $15.01  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 884,310,817  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    60,014,796  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $14.73  

 

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,541,045)

  $ 13,449,954  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    471,274  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (3,580,110
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    10,341,118  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    225,416  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    75,543  

Class C

    647  

Class R6

    60  

Administrator Class

    2,132  

Institutional Class

    536,524  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    89,933  

Class C

    770  

Administrator Class

    4,100  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    2,306  

Custody and accounting fees

    12,929  

Professional fees

    19,603  

Registration fees

    91,721  

Shareholder report expenses

    101,023  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    12,665  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,185,995  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (225,417

Class A

    (19,212

Class C

    (143

Class R6

    (60

Administrator Class

    (1,158

Institutional Class

    (299,408
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    640,597  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    9,700,521  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized losses on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (8,998,314

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    86,152,595  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    77,154,281  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 86,854,802  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

    

Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

 

 

Net investment income

    $ 9,700,521       $ 29,474,112  

Net realized losses on investments

      (8,998,314       (1,507,425

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      86,152,595         (128,322,670
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      86,854,802         (100,355,983
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (1,313,945

Class C

      0         (14,168

Class R6

      0         (596 )1 

Administrator Class

      0         (77,201

Institutional Class

      0         (20,194,351
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (21,600,261
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

 

Class A

    1,560,685       21,790,698       3,672,486       53,518,580  

Class C

    2,095       29,843       16,692       242,225  

Class R6

    9,508       133,911       24,567 1      344,146 1 

Administrator Class

    6,626       94,990       32,361       477,105  

Institutional Class

    6,583,455       92,073,769       18,526,386       265,263,060  
 

 

 

 
      114,123,211         319,845,116  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

 

Class A

    0       0       100,957       1,313,445  

Class C

    0       0       1,114       14,168  

Administrator Class

    0       0       5,827       76,387  

Institutional Class

    0       0       1,565,162       20,081,032  
 

 

 

 
      0         21,485,032  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

 

Class A

    (1,115,560     (16,078,217     (2,002,351     (28,345,901

Class C

    (11,146     (152,506     (41,168     (575,161

Class R6

    (531     (7,806     (10 )1      (134 )1 

Administrator Class

    (40,541     (573,505     (169,343     (2,557,464

Institutional Class

    (5,304,553     (74,243,213     (14,671,752     (210,525,992
 

 

 

 
      (91,055,247       (242,004,652
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      23,067,964         99,325,496  
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      109,922,766         (22,630,748
 

 

 

 

Net assets

   

Beginning of period

      848,390,213         871,020,961  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 958,312,979       $ 845,390,213  
 

 

 

 

 

 

1 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


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Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.55       $15.68       $14.88       $12.83       $14.85       $15.45  

Net investment income

    0.13 1      0.47 1      0.72 1      0.09 1      0.26       0.26 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.20       (2.27     0.35       2.26       (2.08     (0.53
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.33       (1.80     1.07       2.35       (1.82     (0.27

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.33     (0.27     (0.30     (0.20     (0.33

Net asset value, end of period

    $14.88       $13.55       $15.68       $14.88       $12.83       $14.85  

Total return2

    9.82     (11.42 )%      7.12     18.65     (12.31 )%      (1.55 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.36     1.34     1.34     1.39     1.46     1.50

Net expenses3

    1.26     1.33     1.34     1.35     1.39     1.49

Net investment income3

    1.86     3.22     4.48     0.69     1.98     1.80

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    6     13     15     41     14     18

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $69,700       $57,427       $38,677       $2,571       $4,981       $5,768  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.79

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.80

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.81

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.85

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.91

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.91

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.20       $15.24       $14.60       $12.56       $14.54       $15.16  

Net investment income

    0.07 1      0.36       0.21       0.23       0.17       0.13  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.18       (2.21     0.73       1.97       (2.05     (0.51
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.25       (1.85     0.94       2.20       (1.88     (0.38

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.19     (0.30     (0.16     (0.10     (0.24

Net asset value, end of period

    $14.45       $13.20       $15.24       $14.60       $12.56       $14.54  

Total return2

    9.47     (12.10 )%      6.36     17.69     (12.95 )%      (2.37 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    2.11     2.08     2.10     2.16     2.21     2.25

Net expenses3

    2.01     2.08     2.10     2.10     2.14     2.24

Net investment income3

    1.09     1.92     1.40     1.57     1.25     1.07

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    6     13     15     41     14     18

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $608       $675       $1,135       $832       $783       $920  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.79

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.79

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.82

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.87

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.91

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.91

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

12  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


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Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

CLASS R6  

Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

   

Year ended

May 31, 20191

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.39       $15.44  

Net investment income

    0.16 2      0.51  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.19       (2.19
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.35       (1.68

Distributions to shareholders from

   

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.37

Net asset value, end of period

    $14.74       $13.39  

Total return3

    10.16     (10.85 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

   

Gross expenses4

    0.93     0.92

Net expenses4

    0.85     0.89

Net investment income4

    2.22     7.19

Supplemental data

   

Portfolio turnover rate5

    6     13

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $494       $329  

 

 

 

1 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

2 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.79

Year ended May 31, 20191

    0.79  

 

5 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.66       $15.76       $15.04       $12.91       $14.73       $15.35  

Net investment income

    0.14 1      0.43 1      0.37 1      0.33 1      0.14 1      0.28  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.21       (2.23     0.73       2.05       (1.96     (0.52
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.35       (1.80     1.10       2.38       (1.82     (0.24

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.30     (0.38     (0.25     0.00       (0.38

Net asset value, end of period

    $15.01       $13.66       $15.76       $15.04       $12.91       $14.73  

Total return2

    9.88     (11.33 )%      7.25     18.66     (12.36 )%      (1.35 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.28     1.25     1.27     1.33     1.36     1.34

Net expenses3

    1.16     1.24     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25

Net investment income3

    1.93     2.92     2.30     2.46     0.99     2.12

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    6     13     15     41     14     18

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $3,200       $3,375       $5,961       $5,407       $11,873       $487,582  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.79

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.79

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.82

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.87

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.91

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.91

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

14  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.39       $15.48       $14.80       $12.73       $14.75       $15.38  

Net investment income

    0.15 1      0.48 1      0.41       0.39       0.36       0.29  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1.19       (2.22     0.71       1.99       (2.12     (0.51
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.34       (1.74     1.12       2.38       (1.76     (0.22

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.35     (0.44     (0.31     (0.26     (0.41

Net asset value, end of period

    $14.73       $13.39       $15.48       $14.80       $12.73       $14.75  

Total return2

    10.01     (11.13 )%      7.51     19.04     (11.98 )%      (1.19 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.03     1.01     1.02     1.07     1.13     1.07

Net expenses3

    0.91     0.99     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.05

Net investment income3

    2.17     3.35     2.43     2.95     2.81     2.42

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    6     13     15     41     14     18

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $884,311       $786,584       $825,247       $713,180       $456,239       $3,793  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.79

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.79

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.82

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.86

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.91

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.91

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  15


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo International Value Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a separate diversified portfolio (the “affiliated Master Portfolio”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. The affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio as a partnership investment and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio for the six months ended November 30, 2019 are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund owned 81% of Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily. Securities held in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued as discussed in the Notes to Financial Statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio, which are included elsewhere in this report.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $940,508,976 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 18,761,595  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 18,761,595  

 

 

16  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards which consisted of $873,586 in short-term capital losses and $2,121,084 in long-term capital losses.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolio was measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The investment objective and the value of the affiliate Master Portfolio was as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective   

Value of

affiliated Master
Portfolio

 

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio

   Seek long-term capital appreciation      $957,347,332  

The affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As long as the Fund continues to invest substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio, the Fund pays Funds Management an investment management fee only for fund-level administrative services at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee  

First $5 billion

     0.05

Next $5 billion

     0.04  

Over $10 billion

     0.03  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to the affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

      Class-level
administration fee
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Class R6

     0.03  

Administrator Class, Institutional Class

     0.13  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  17


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses; otherwise, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.24% for Class A shares, 1.99% for Class C shares, 0.84% for Class R6 shares, 1.14% for Administrator Class shares, and 0.89% for Institutional Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Prior to July 1, 2019, the Fund’s expenses were capped at 1.35% for Class A shares, 2.10% for Class C shares, 0.90% for Class R6 shares, 1.25% for Administrator Class shares, and 1.00% for Institutional Class shares.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $326 from the sale of Class A shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A and Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio. Purchases and sales have been calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage of the affiliated Master Portfolio by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $73,405,196 and $54,020,766, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

8. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

18  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Common Stocks : 97.42%                           
Australia: 4.99%                           

AGL Energy Limited (Utilities, Multi-Utilities)

          263,700      $ 3,640,464  

BlueScope Steel Limited (Materials, Metals & Mining)

          266,242        2,620,253  

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (Consumer Staples, Beverages)

          157,200        1,210,036  

CSR Limited (Materials, Construction Materials)

          897,866        2,890,827  

Fortescue Metals Group Limited (Materials, Metals & Mining) †

          927,200        6,102,249  

Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Multiline Retail) †«

          1,228,714        3,573,740  

Lendlease Corporation Limited (Real Estate, Real Estate Management & Development)

          407,700        5,325,086  

Metcash Limited (Consumer Staples, Food & Staples Retailing)

          1,164,200        2,362,395  

Mineral Resources Limited (Materials, Metals & Mining)

          300,500        3,156,600  

Mirvac Group (Real Estate, Equity REITs)

          2,065,070        4,707,261  

Myer Holdings Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Multiline Retail) †

          1,702,400        587,267  

Qantas Airways Limited (Industrials, Airlines) †

          1,446,100        7,140,438  

Rio Tinto Limited (Materials, Metals & Mining)

          134,687        8,827,812  

South32 Limited (Materials, Metals & Mining) †

          1,583,900        2,892,645  

St. Barbara Limited (Materials, Metals & Mining)

          1,176,500        2,084,956  

Super Cheap Auto Group Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Specialty Retail)

          267,600        1,808,237  
             58,930,266  
          

 

 

 
Austria: 0.99%                           

OMV AG (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          89,986        5,129,842  

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (Financials, Banks)

          198,700        4,665,347  

Voestalpine AG (Materials, Metals & Mining)

          69,168        1,832,833  
             11,628,022  
          

 

 

 
Belgium: 0.64%                           

Bpost SA (Industrials, Air Freight & Logistics)

          105,700        1,250,201  

UCB SA (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals)

          77,200        6,256,935  
             7,507,136  
          

 

 

 
Brazil: 1.02%                           

Banco de Brasil SA (Financials, Banks)

          268,900        3,026,451  

Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais SA (Utilities, Water Utilities) †

          282,500        4,540,739  

JBS SA (Consumer Staples, Food Products)

          676,000        4,501,131  
             12,068,321  
          

 

 

 
Canada: 1.11%                           

Loblaw Companies Limited (Consumer Staples, Food & Staples Retailing) †

          80,100        4,294,151  

Magna International Incorporated (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components)

          120,400        6,625,943  

WestJet Airlines Limited (Industrials, Airlines)

          92,900        2,126,846  
             13,046,940  
          

 

 

 
China: 3.17%                           

Agile Property Holdings Limited (Real Estate, Real Estate Management & Development) †

          1,900,000        2,660,126  

China Communications Services Corporation Limited H Shares (Industrials, Construction & Engineering)

          2,836,000        1,909,215  

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation H Shares (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          6,634,000        3,720,301  

China Railway Construction Corporation Limited H Shares (Industrials, Construction & Engineering) †

          3,201,500        3,304,479  

China Resources Cement Holdings Limited (Materials, Construction Materials) †

          4,106,000        4,914,696  

China Telecom Corporation Limited H Shares (Communication Services, Diversified Telecommunication Services)

          10,590,000        4,004,292  

Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited H Shares (Consumer Discretionary, Automobiles) †

          3,154,000        3,029,826  

Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Limited (Materials, Paper & Forest Products) †

          3,216,000        3,274,255  

PICC Property & Casualty Company Limited H Shares (Financials, Insurance) †

          4,298,000        4,974,308  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio  |  19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
China (continued)                           

Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Company Limited H Shares (Health Care, Health Care Providers & Services)

          1,061,600      $ 1,903,996  

Shenzhen International Holdings Limited H Shares (Industrials, Transportation Infrastructure)

          1,777,300        3,755,211  
             37,450,705  
          

 

 

 
Denmark: 0.55%                           

Danske Bank AS (Financials, Banks)

          150,300        2,029,281  

DFDS AS (Industrials, Marine) †

          59,227        2,499,579  

Sydbank AS (Financials, Banks)

          102,782        1,935,465  
             6,464,325  
          

 

 

 
Finland: 0.29%                           

Nordea Bank AB (Financials, Banks)

          203,700        1,442,822  

Outokumpu Oyj (Materials, Metals & Mining) «

          695,100        1,992,004  
             3,434,826  
          

 

 

 
France: 9.73%                           

Air France-KLM SA (Industrials, Airlines) †

          288,100        3,390,136  

Arkema SA (Materials, Chemicals)

          42,992        4,455,488  

Atos Origin SA (Information Technology, IT Services)

          55,000        4,670,970  

AXA SA (Financials, Insurance) †

          338,800        9,218,390  

BNP Paribas SA (Financials, Banks)

          123,579        6,940,040  

Bouygues SA (Industrials, Construction & Engineering) †

          154,400        6,307,971  

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA (Industrials, Building Products)

          152,637        6,180,446  

Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components)

          32,700        3,923,542  

Credit Agricole SA (Financials, Banks)

          219,328        3,000,153  

Engie SA (Utilities, Multi-Utilities)

          328,900        5,203,804  

Natixis SA (Financials, Capital Markets) †

          1,250,400        5,225,579  

Orange SA (Communication Services, Diversified Telecommunication Services) «

          586,700        9,696,388  

Quadient SA (Information Technology, Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals)

          66,600        1,406,692  

Renault SA (Consumer Discretionary, Automobiles)

          55,900        2,676,420  

Sanofi SA (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals)

          238,389        22,197,137  

Societe Generale SA (Financials, Banks) †

          63,400        1,995,033  

Total SA (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          349,900        18,366,159  
             114,854,348  
          

 

 

 
Germany: 7.40%                           

Allianz AG (Financials, Insurance)

          44,428        10,639,447  

Aurubis AG (Materials, Metals & Mining) «

          43,296        2,049,343  

Bayer AG (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals)

          90,600        6,857,844  

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Consumer Discretionary, Automobiles)

          91,500        7,389,715  

Covestro AG (Materials, Chemicals) 144A

          132,837        6,220,290  

Daimler AG (Consumer Discretionary, Automobiles)

          106,990        6,035,535  

Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Industrials, Airlines)

          223,600        4,242,361  

Deutsche Post AG (Industrials, Air Freight & Logistics) †

          252,500        9,414,438  

Metro AG (Consumer Staples, Food & Staples Retailing)

          368,900        5,944,388  

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs Gesellschaft AG (Financials, Insurance) †

          28,119        8,073,780  

Rheinmetall AG (Industrials, Industrial Conglomerates) †

          30,300        3,226,281  

Siemens AG (Industrials, Industrial Conglomerates) †

          34,200        4,413,263  

Siltronic AG (Information Technology, Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)

          43,000        3,560,884  

Volkswagen AG (Consumer Discretionary, Automobiles) †

          48,600        9,271,743  
             87,339,312  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

20  |  Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Hong Kong: 2.83%                           

China Water Affairs Group Limited (Utilities, Water Utilities)

          1,965,000      $ 1,508,604  

CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (Industrials, Industrial Conglomerates) †

          665,000        6,039,894  

Kingboard Laminates Holdings Limited (Information Technology, Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components)

          3,948,000        4,453,238  

Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited (Materials, Paper & Forest Products) †

          3,155,000        2,136,059  

Sinotruk Hong Kong Limited (Industrials, Machinery) «

          3,095,000        5,226,732  

Skyworth Digital Holdings Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Household Durables)

          8,404,000        2,254,465  

WH Group Limited (Consumer Staples, Food Products) 144A†

          4,355,500        4,473,343  

Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components) †

          2,816,000        3,309,471  

Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods)

          1,364,000        4,033,699  
             33,435,505  
          

 

 

 
India: 0.45%                           

REC Limited (Financials, Diversified Financial Services)

          1,086,900        2,089,333  

Tech Mahindra Limited (Information Technology, IT Services)

          307,494        3,263,862  
             5,353,195  
          

 

 

 
Ireland: 0.72%                           

C&C Group plc (Consumer Staples, Beverages)

          240,000        1,210,528  

Grafton Group plc (Industrials, Trading Companies & Distributors)

          248,800        2,696,457  

Smurfit Kappa Group plc (Materials, Containers & Packaging) †

          130,200        4,619,229  
             8,526,214  
          

 

 

 
Israel: 0.34%                           

Bank Hapoalim Limited (Financials, Banks)

          320,800        2,587,068  

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals) †

          136,844        1,422,204  
             4,009,272  
          

 

 

 
Italy: 2.66%                           

A2A SpA (Utilities, Multi-Utilities)

          2,121,107        3,990,487  

Enel SpA (Utilities, Electric Utilities) †

          1,706,600        12,891,552  

Leonardo-Finmeccanica SpA (Industrials, Aerospace & Defense)

          342,737        4,008,516  

Mediobanca SpA (Financials, Banks) «

          371,363        4,153,051  

UnipolSai Assicurazioni SpA (Financials, Insurance) «

          2,160,500        6,291,498  
             31,335,104  
          

 

 

 
Japan: 23.10%                           

Adeka Corporation (Materials, Chemicals) †

          203,500        3,046,363  

Aisin Seiki Company Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components) †

          119,800        4,532,736  

Aozora Bank Limited (Financials, Banks)

          64,900        1,653,639  

Asahi Glass Company Limited (Industrials, Building Products)

          121,800        4,447,002  

Astellas Pharma Incorporated (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals)

          563,700        9,620,817  

Brother Industries Limited (Information Technology, Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals) †

          200,800        3,982,234  

Central Glass Company Limited (Industrials, Building Products) †

          52,400        1,274,802  

Credit Saison Company Limited (Financials, Consumer Finance) «

          329,900        5,457,129  

Denka Company Limited (Materials, Chemicals)

          99,700        2,970,408  

DIC Incorporated (Materials, Chemicals)

          124,900        3,390,175  

Dowa Mining Company Limited (Materials, Metals & Mining) †

          48,300        1,728,153  

Fujikura Limited (Industrials, Electrical Equipment) †

          435,200        1,873,325  

Geo Holdings Corporation (Consumer Discretionary, Specialty Retail)

          133,700        1,592,132  

Hitachi Capital Corporation (Financials, Consumer Finance) †

          98,900        2,454,875  

Hitachi Limited (Information Technology, Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components) †

          165,800        6,515,628  

Idemitsu Kosan Company Limited (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) †

          59,614        1,627,917  

Isuzu Motors Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Automobiles)

          434,600        5,085,956  

Itochu Corporation (Industrials, Trading Companies & Distributors)

          530,100        11,568,989  

Japan Airlines Company Limited (Industrials, Airlines) †

          108,600        3,376,505  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio  |  21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Japan (continued)                           

JFE Holdings Incorporated (Materials, Metals & Mining) †

          263,600      $ 3,360,647  

JTEKT Corporation (Industrials, Machinery)

          322,100        4,003,436  

JXTG Holdings Incorporated (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          754,900        3,357,104  

Kaken Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals)

          24,800        1,334,966  

KDDI Corporation (Communication Services, Wireless Telecommunication Services)

          544,200        15,611,806  

Keihin Corporation (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components)

          180,400        4,242,087  

Komatsu Limited (Industrials, Machinery) †

          236,900        5,557,689  

Maeda Road Construction Company Limited (Industrials, Construction & Engineering)

          125,800        2,957,024  

Makino Milling Machine Company Limited (Industrials, Machinery)

          79,400        3,918,479  

Marubeni Corporation (Industrials, Trading Companies & Distributors)

          1,051,700        7,768,086  

Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Company Limited (Consumer Staples, Food & Staples Retailing)

          150,800        5,760,775  

Mazda Motor Corporation (Consumer Discretionary, Automobiles) †

          283,200        2,510,547  

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Industrials, Electrical Equipment)

          292,500        4,040,520  

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Incorporated (Materials, Chemicals) †

          195,500        3,058,819  

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Incorporated (Financials, Banks) †

          1,433,000        7,570,986  

Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited (Financials, Diversified Financial Services) †

          699,300        4,492,852  

Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated (Materials, Chemicals) †

          177,100        4,245,415  

Mizuho Financial Group Incorporated (Financials, Banks)

          3,425,200        5,296,507  

Morinaga Milk Industry Company Limited (Consumer Staples, Food Products)

          134,500        5,617,483  

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation (Communication Services, Diversified Telecommunication Services) †

          324,200        16,375,922  

NTT DOCOMO Incorporated (Communication Services, Wireless Telecommunication Services)

          98,600        2,706,048  

ORIX Corporation (Financials, Diversified Financial Services)

          469,600        7,692,908  

Resona Holdings Incorporated (Financials, Banks) †

          1,348,600        5,720,026  

Ryobi Limited (Industrials, Machinery) †

          117,400        2,248,861  

Sawai Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals) †

          81,600        4,817,547  

Showa Corporation (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components) †

          53,200        1,107,564  

Sojitz Corporation (Industrials, Trading Companies & Distributors)

          1,855,500        5,833,413  

Sompo Holdings Incorporated NKSJ Holdings Inc(Financials, Insurance)

          85,400        3,368,547  

Sumitomo Corporation (Industrials, Trading Companies & Distributors) †

          378,700        5,707,150  

Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited (Industrials, Machinery)

          140,900        4,030,497  

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Incorporated (Financials, Banks)

          173,200        6,314,155  

Teijin Limited (Materials, Chemicals)

          279,600        5,261,345  

The Keiyo Bank Limited (Financials, Banks) †

          224,300        1,287,337  

The Yokohama Rubber Company Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components) †

          172,900        3,563,238  

Toho Holdings Company Limited (Health Care, Health Care Providers & Services) †

          63,000        1,447,468  

Tokuyama Corporation (Materials, Chemicals) †

          137,800        3,720,172  

Toyo Ink SC Holding Company Limited (Materials, Chemicals)

          75,000        1,847,240  

Toyo Tire & Rubber Company Limited (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components) «

          165,400        2,382,292  

Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Consumer Discretionary, Auto Components) †

          180,900        2,848,572  

UBE Industries Limited (Materials, Chemicals) †

          149,300        3,207,862  

ULVAC Incorporated (Information Technology, Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)

          107,300        4,221,591  

West Japan Railway Company (Industrials, Road & Rail) †

          67,100        5,909,730  
             272,523,498  
          

 

 

 
Malaysia: 0.28%                           

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (Utilities, Electric Utilities)

          1,062,400        3,347,584  
          

 

 

 
Netherlands: 2.62%                           

ABN AMRO Group NV (Financials, Banks) 144A

          161,500        2,756,301  

Aegon NV (Financials, Insurance) †

          566,623        2,554,656  

ASR Nederland NV (Financials, Insurance) †

          83,831        3,115,470  

ING Groep NV (Financials, Banks)

          282,500        3,250,783  

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV (Consumer Staples, Food & Staples Retailing)

          437,386        11,269,506  

Philips Lighting NV (Industrials, Electrical Equipment) 144A†

          161,000        4,801,940  

RHI Magnesita NV (Materials, Construction Materials)

          64,721        3,204,652  
             30,953,308  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

22  |  Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Norway: 1.05%                           

Den Norske Bank ASA (Financials, Banks)

          221,600      $ 3,720,250  

Grieg Seafood ASA (Consumer Staples, Food Products)

          336,787        5,139,026  

Leroy Seafood Group ASA (Consumer Staples, Food Products)

          558,599        3,531,833  
             12,391,109  
          

 

 

 
Poland: 0.12%                           

Asseco Poland SA (Information Technology, Software)

          93,400        1,351,393  
          

 

 

 
Russia: 1.69%                           

Gazprom Neft ADR (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          136,114        4,505,373  

Gazprom Neft ADR (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          886        28,853  

Gazprom PAO ADR (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) †

          781,547        6,208,609  

Lukoil PJSC ADR (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          46,800        4,459,104  

Lukoil PJSC ADR (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          50,101        4,777,631  
             19,979,570  
          

 

 

 
Singapore: 0.59%                           

DBS Group Holdings Limited (Financials, Banks)

          185,700        3,428,579  

United Overseas Bank Limited (Financials, Banks) †

          184,100        3,475,769  
             6,904,348  
          

 

 

 
South Africa: 0.24%                           

Absa Group Limited (Financials, Banks) †

          274,900        2,763,167  
          

 

 

 
South Korea: 2.06%                           

BNK Financial Group Incorporated (Financials, Banks)

          440,300        2,594,495  

E-MART Incorporated (Consumer Staples, Food & Staples Retailing)

          8,500        942,725  

Industrial Bank of Korea (Financials, Banks)

          264,500        2,631,228  

JB Financial Group Company Limited (Financials, Banks)

          25,418        116,206  

KB Financial Group Incorporated (Financials, Banks)

          79,300        3,091,703  

KT&G Corporation (Consumer Staples, Tobacco)

          58,000        4,802,438  

LG Uplus Corporation (Communication Services, Diversified Telecommunication Services)

          351,800        3,991,127  

SK Telecom Company Limited (Communication Services, Wireless Telecommunication Services)

          17,400        3,623,926  

Woori Financial Group Incorporated (Financials, Banks) †

          254,400        2,519,985  
             24,313,833  
          

 

 

 
Spain: 1.65%                           

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA (Financials, Banks) †

          731,000        2,848,755  

Iberdrola SA (Utilities, Electric Utilities)

          323,400        3,181,243  

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (Industrials, Airlines)

          548,044        3,926,670  

Repsol YPF SA (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          604,900        9,523,980  
             19,480,648  
          

 

 

 
Sweden: 2.19%                           

Boliden AB (Materials, Metals & Mining)

          166,200        4,286,748  

Electrolux AB Class B (Consumer Discretionary, Household Durables) †

          162,100        4,165,764  

Sandvik AB (Industrials, Machinery)

          240,700        4,377,232  

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB Class A (Financials, Banks)

          272,700        2,338,482  

Volvo AB Class B (Industrials, Machinery)

          689,107        10,653,568  
             25,821,794  
          

 

 

 
Switzerland: 7.43%                           

Baloise Holding AG (Financials, Insurance)

          39,946        6,944,351  

Credit Suisse Group AG (Financials, Capital Markets) †

          512,300        6,715,370  

Helvetia Holding AG (Financials, Insurance)

          31,465        4,296,047  

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Switzerland (continued)                           

Roche Holding AG (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals) †

          104,400      $ 32,184,130  

Swiss Life Holding AG (Financials, Insurance) †

          19,800        9,819,295  

Swiss Reinsurance AG (Financials, Insurance)

          91,400        9,901,095  

UBS Group AG (Financials, Capital Markets)

          424,002        5,140,189  

Valiant Holding AG (Financials, Banks)

          17,400        1,689,962  

Zurich Insurance Group AG (Financials, Insurance) †

          27,970        10,975,375  
             87,665,814  
          

 

 

 
Taiwan: 0.85%                           

Catcher Technology Company Limited (Information Technology, Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals)

          328,000        2,682,224  

Powertech Technology Incorporated (Information Technology, Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)

          1,283,000        3,957,008  

Tripod Technology Corporation (Information Technology, Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components)

          823,000        3,412,252  
             10,051,484  
          

 

 

 
Thailand: 0.82%                           

Bangchak Corporation PCL (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) †

          391,600        323,984  

Krung Thai Bank PCL ADR (Financials, Banks) †

          5,181,900        2,795,234  

Quality House PCL (Real Estate, Real Estate Management & Development) †

          24,369,400        2,161,330  

Thai Oil PCL (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          744,000        1,698,883  

Thanachart Capital PCL (Financials, Banks)

          1,481,500        2,733,304  
             9,712,735  
          

 

 

 
Turkey: 0.35%                           

Koc Holding AS (Industrials, Industrial Conglomerates)

          1,184,300        4,123,244  
          

 

 

 
United Kingdom: 15.49%                           

3i Group plc (Financials, Capital Markets)

          333,000        4,612,463  

Anglo American plc (Materials, Metals & Mining) †

          267,586        7,013,086  

Aviva plc (Financials, Insurance)

          704,391        3,678,572  

Babcock International Group plc (Industrials, Commercial Services & Supplies)

          514,589        3,929,217  

BAE Systems plc (Industrials, Aerospace & Defense)

          1,687,100        12,511,163  

Barclays plc (Financials, Banks) †

          715,000        1,586,246  

Barratt Developments plc (Consumer Discretionary, Household Durables)

          480,975        4,147,795  

Bellway plc (Consumer Discretionary, Household Durables)

          80,100        3,458,980  

Bovis Homes Group plc (Consumer Discretionary, Household Durables) †

          244,800        3,878,347  

BP plc (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels)

          2,015,036        12,514,230  

British American Tobacco plc (Consumer Staples, Tobacco)

          219,205        8,675,031  

BT Group plc (Communication Services, Diversified Telecommunication Services) †

          1,099,700        2,724,446  

Centrica plc (Utilities, Multi-Utilities) †

          2,517,300        2,611,661  

Crest Nicholson Holdings plc (Consumer Discretionary, Household Durables)

          345,400        1,717,137  

Firstgroup plc (Industrials, Road & Rail) †

          952,400        1,483,013  

GlaxoSmithKline plc (Health Care, Pharmaceuticals) †

          965,207        21,895,215  

Highland Gold Mining Limited (Materials, Metals & Mining)

          1,280,734        3,024,537  

Imperial Tobacco Group plc (Consumer Staples, Tobacco)

          283,391        6,242,390  

Inchcape plc (Consumer Discretionary, Distributors) †

          423,425        3,564,976  

J Sainsbury plc (Consumer Staples, Food & Staples Retailing)

          1,652,805        4,580,817  

Kingfisher plc (Consumer Discretionary, Specialty Retail)

          1,778,890        4,829,039  

Legal & General Group plc (Financials, Insurance) †

          2,314,194        8,407,186  

Lloyds Banking Group plc (Financials, Banks)

          7,370,000        5,828,585  

Marks & Spencer Group plc (Consumer Discretionary, Multiline Retail)

          705,000        1,772,037  

Marston’s plc (Consumer Discretionary, Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure) †

          893,000        1,477,138  

Mitchells & Butlers plc (Consumer Discretionary, Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure) †

          367,200        2,132,299  

Paragon Group of Companies plc (Financials, Thrifts & Mortgage Finance)

          501,100        3,220,920  

 

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

 

 

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Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                    Shares      Value  
United Kingdom (continued)                          

Petrofac Limited (Energy, Energy Equipment & Services) †

         522,047      $ 2,596,003  

Premier Foods plc (Consumer Staples, Food Products) †

         73,926        38,243  

QinetiQ Group plc (Industrials, Aerospace & Defense)

         773,800        3,344,524  

Redrow plc (Consumer Discretionary, Household Durables)

         420,064        3,591,006  

Royal Dutch Shell plc Class B (Energy, Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) †

         587,100        16,624,791  

Royal Mail plc (Industrials, Air Freight & Logistics)

         539,626        1,455,118  

Tate & Lyle plc (Consumer Staples, Food Products)

         497,300        4,704,057  

Tesco plc (Consumer Staples, Food & Staples Retailing)

         1,890,300        5,608,198  

The Berkeley Group Holdings plc (Consumer Discretionary, Household Durables) †

         45,500        2,698,638  

The Restaurant Group plc (Consumer Discretionary, Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure)

         338,594        648,097  
            182,825,201  
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,131,082,214)

 

     1,149,592,221  
         

 

 

 
         
    Dividend yield                      
Preferred Stocks: 0.66%  
Brazil: 0.66%  

Banco do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul SA Class B (Financials, Banks)

    0.61        957,800        4,538,221  

Itaúsa Investimentos Itaú SA (Financials, Banks)

    7.29          1,038,100        3,234,178  

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $7,464,514)

 

     7,772,399  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 2.49%  
Investment Companies: 2.49%  

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC (l)(r)(u)

    1.77          28,638,009        28,640,873  

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56          693,540        693,540  

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $29,334,118)

 

     29,334,413        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $1,167,880,846)     100.57        1,186,699,033  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.57        (6,681,652
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 1,180,017,381  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

«

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

144A

The security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Portfolio as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r)

The investment is a non-registered investment company purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

Abbreviations:

 

ADR

American depositary receipt

 

REIT

Real estate investment trust

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Portfolio owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Portfolio and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Portfolio at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning of
period
    Shares
purchased
   

Shares

sold

   

Shares,

end of
period

    Net
realized
gains
(losses)
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Income
from
affiliated
securities
   

Value,

end of
period

    % of
net
assets
 
Short-Term Investments                                                      

Investment Companies

                 

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC

    64,602,214       149,743,763       185,707,968       28,638,009     $ (44   $ 0       312,581 #    $ 28,640,873    

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    6,351,554       46,892,559       52,550,573       693,540       0       0       67,360       693,540    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ (44   $ 0     $ 379,941     $ 29,334,413       2.49
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

# 

Amount shown represents income before fees and rebates.

 

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

 

 

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Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities (including $27,144,074 of securities on loan), at value (cost $1,138,546,728)

  $ 1,157,364,620  

Investments in affiliated securities, at value (cost $29,334,118)

    29,334,413  

Foreign currency, at value (cost $16,141,264)

    15,858,420  

Receivable for dividends

    6,864,968  

Receivable for securities lending income, net

    20,634  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    13,089  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,209,456,144  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    28,636,631  

Advisory fee payable

    767,196  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    34,936  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    29,438,763  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,180,017,381  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,928,299)

  $ 16,797,096  

Income from affiliated securities

    608,627  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    17,405,723  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    4,308,083  

Custody and accounting fees

    91,406  

Professional fees

    30,250  

Shareholder report expenses

    1,316  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,603  

Other fees and expenses

    27,567  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    4,470,225  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    12,935,498  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized losses on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    (11,762,611

Affiliated securities

    (44
 

 

 

 

Net realized losses on investments

    (11,762,655

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    108,100,904  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    96,338,249  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 109,273,747  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Statement of changes in net assets

 

    

Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

       Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

      

Net investment income

  $ 12,935,498        $ 40,210,852  

Net realized losses on investments

    (11,762,655        (6,397,492

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    108,100,904          (155,017,981
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    109,273,747          (121,204,621
 

 

 

 

Capital transactions

      

Transactions in investors’ beneficial interests

      

Contributions

    52,020,848          527,916,476  

Withdrawals

    (50,017,967        (237,901,170
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from capital transactions

    2,002,881          290,015,306  
 

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

    111,276,628          168,810,685  
 

 

 

 

Net assets

      

Beginning of period

    1,068,740,753          899,930,068  
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 1,180,017,381        $ 1,068,740,753  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Total return1

    10.14     (10.98 )%      7.74     19.16     (11.85 )%      (1.04 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses

    0.80     0.80     0.82     0.87     0.91     0.91

Net expenses

    0.80     0.80     0.82     0.87     0.91     0.91

Net investment income

    2.30     3.53     2.65     3.03     2.50     2.45

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    6     13     15     41     14     18

 

 

 

 

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized

 

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

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Master Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo International Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Portfolio may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Equity securities that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Portfolio’s Valuation Procedures.

The values of securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at rates provided by an independent foreign currency pricing source at a time each business day specified by the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”).

Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore may not fully reflect trading or events that occur after the close of the principal exchange in which the foreign securities are traded, but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. If such trading or events are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, then fair value pricing procedures approved by the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio are applied. These procedures take into account multiple factors including movements in U.S. securities markets after foreign exchanges close. Foreign securities that are fair valued under these procedures are categorized as Level 2 and the application of these procedures may result in transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. Depending on market activity, such fair valuations may be frequent. Such fair value pricing may result in net asset values that are higher or lower than net asset values based on the last reported sales price or latest quoted bid price. On November 30, 2019, such fair value pricing was used in pricing certain foreign securities.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment companies that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued normally at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee. The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Foreign currency translation

The accounting records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at rates provided by an independent foreign currency pricing source at a time each business day specified by the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are converted at the rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually paid or received. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities resulting from changes in exchange rates. The changes in net assets arising from changes in exchange rates of securities and the changes in net assets resulting from changes in market prices of securities are not separately presented. Such changes are included in net realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Securities lending

The Portfolio may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. When securities are on loan, the Portfolio receives interest or dividends on those securities. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). Investments in Securities Lending Fund are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund (net of fees and rebates), if any, is included in income from affiliated securities on the Statement of Operations.

In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Portfolio is affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Portfolio fluctuates from time to time. The Portfolio has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Portfolio may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In such an event, the terms of the agreement allows the unaffiliated securities lending agent to use the collateral to purchase replacement securities on behalf of the Portfolio or pay the Portfolio the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio bears the risk of loss with respect to depreciation of its investment of the cash collateral.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities, which are recorded as soon as the custodian verifies the ex-dividend date. Dividend income from foreign securities is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Federal and other taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Portfolio is not required to pay federal income taxes on its net investment income and net capital gains as it is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. All dividends, gains and losses of the Portfolio are deemed to have been “passed through” to the interest holders in proportion to their holdings of the Portfolio regardless of whether such dividends and gains have been distributed by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio’s income tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal revenue authority. Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,172,894,475 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 151,063,911  

Gross unrealized losses

     (137,259,353

Net unrealized gains

   $ 13,804,558  

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Portfolio’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
    

Other significant
observable Inputs

(Level 2)

    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Australia

   $ 58,930,266      $ 0      $ 0      $ 58,930,266  

Austria

     11,628,022        0        0        11,628,022  

Belgium

     7,507,136        0        0        7,507,136  

Brazil

     12,068,321        0        0        12,068,321  

Canada

     13,046,940        0        0        13,046,940  

China

     37,450,705        0        0        37,450,705  

Denmark

     6,464,325        0        0        6,464,325  

Finland

     3,434,826        0        0        3,434,826  

France

     114,854,348        0        0        114,854,348  

Germany

     87,339,312        0        0        87,339,312  

Hong Kong

     33,435,505        0        0        33,435,505  

India

     5,353,195        0        0        5,353,195  

Ireland

     8,526,214        0        0        8,526,214  

Israel

     0        4,009,272        0        4,009,272  

Italy

     31,335,104        0        0        31,335,104  

Japan

     272,523,498        0        0        272,523,498  

Malaysia

     3,347,584        0        0        3,347,584  

Netherlands

     30,953,308        0        0        30,953,308  

Norway

     12,391,109        0        0        12,391,109  

Poland

     1,351,393        0        0        1,351,393  

Russia

     19,979,570        0        0        19,979,570  

Singapore

     6,904,348        0        0        6,904,348  

South Africa

     2,763,167        0        0        2,763,167  

South Korea

     24,313,833        0        0        24,313,833  

Spain

     19,480,648        0        0        19,480,648  

Sweden

     25,821,794        0        0        25,821,794  

Switzerland

     87,665,814        0        0        87,665,814  

Taiwan

     10,051,484        0        0        10,051,484  

Thailand

     9,712,735        0        0        9,712,735  

Turkey

     4,123,244        0        0        4,123,244  

United Kingdom

     182,825,201        0        0        182,825,201  

Preferred stocks

           

Brazil

     7,772,399        0        0        7,772,399  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     29,334,413        0        0        29,334,413  

Total assets

   $ 1,182,689,761      $ 4,009,272      $ 0      $ 1,186,699,033  

Additional sector, industry or geographic detail is included in the Portfolio of Investments.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Advisory fee

The Trust has entered into an advisory contract with Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The adviser is responsible for implementing investment policies and guidelines and for supervising

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

the subadviser, who is responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the contract, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual advisory fee at the following annual rate based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Advisory fee  

First $500 million

     0.800

Next $500 million

     0.750  

Next $1 billion

     0.700  

Next $2 billion

     0.675  

Over $4 billion

     0.650  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.77% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Portfolio. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. LSV Asset Management, which is not an affiliate of the Funds Management, is the subadviser to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.35% and declining to 0.30% as the average daily net assets of the Portfolio increase.

Interfund transactions

The Portfolio may purchase or sell portfolio investment securities to certain other Wells Fargo affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $90,478,559 and $66,585,492, respectively.

6. SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent and receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any increases or decreases in the required collateral are exchanged between the Portfolio and the counterparty on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in the Securities Lending Fund which seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open Rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments and is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Securities Lending Fund is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”), an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo. Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser.

In the event of counterparty default or the failure of a borrower to return a loaned security, the Portfolio has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund had securities lending transactions with the following counterparties which are subject to offset:

 

Counterparty      Value of
securities on
loan
       Collateral
received1
       Net amount  

Bank of America Securities Inc.

     $ 3,488,643        $ (3,488,643      $ 0  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

       7,030,719          (7,030,719        0  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       3,506,125          (3,506,125        0  

Nomura Securities International Inc.

       9,139,544          (9,139,544        0  

UBS Securities LLC

       3,979,043          (3,979,043        0  

 

1

Collateral received within this table is limited to the collateral for the net transaction with the counterparty.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, along with Wells Fargo Variable Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Trust (excluding the money market funds), are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Portfolio is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Portfolio based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Portfolio under the agreement.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Portfolio and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

TAX INFORMATION

Pursuant to Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code, the following amounts have been designated as foreign taxes paid for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2019. These amounts may be less than the actual foreign taxes paid for financial statement purposes. 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. None of the income was derived from ineligible foreign sources as defined under Section 901(j) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Creditable

foreign taxes

paid

  

Per share

amount

  

Foreign

income as % of

ordinary income

distributions

$ 3,298,941    $0.052119    100%

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund and Portfolio file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships

William R. Ebsworth

(Born 1957)

  Trustee, since 2015   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2015; Chair Liaison, since 2018   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

  Trustee, since 2009; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2019   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation

Judith M. Johnson

(Born 1949)

  Trustee, since 2008; Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

Wells Fargo International Value Fund  |  37


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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

  Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

  Trustee, since 1996; Chairman, since 2018   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A

James G. Polisson

(Born 1959)

  Trustee, since 2018   Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A

Pamela Wheelock3

(Born 1959)

  Trustee, since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019   Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

38  |  Wells Fargo International Value Fund


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Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer

Andrew Owen

(Born 1960)

  President, since 2017   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.

Jeremy DePalma1

(Born 1974)

  Treasurer, since 2012   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

Michelle Rhee4

(Born 1966)

  Chief Legal Officer, since 2019   Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.

Catherine Kennedy5

(Born 1969)

  Secretary, since 2019   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.

Michael H. Whitaker

(Born 1967)

  Chief Compliance Officer, since 2016   Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

  Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.

 

 

 

1

Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

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This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408962 01-19

SA284/SAR284 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo

Small Company Growth Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

Reduce clutter.

Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

 

1

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

The Fund is currently closed to most new investors.1

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser for the affiliated master portfolio2

Peregrine Capital Management, LLC

Portfolio managers

William A. Grierson, CFA®

Daniel J. Hagen, CFA®

Paul E. von Kuster, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios3 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net4  
                   
Class A (WFSAX)   1-30-2004     2.08       7.32       13.43       8.31       8.60       14.10       1.32       1.32  
                   
Class C (WSMCX)   1-30-2004     6.50       7.80       13.26       7.50       7.80       13.26       2.07       2.07  
                   
Class R6 (WSCRX)5   10-31-2014                       8.78       9.08       14.63       0.89       0.89  
                   
Administrator Class (NVSCX)   11-11-1994                       8.44       8.76       14.32       1.24       1.20  
                   
Institutional Class (WSCGX)   3-31-2008                       8.71       9.02       14.60       0.99       0.95  
                   
Russell 2000® Growth Index6                         10.93       9.48       13.68              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R6, Administrator Class, and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20197  
   

Lumentum Holdings Incorporated

     1.72  
   

ICON plc ADR

     1.66  
   

SS&C Technologies Holdings Incorporated

     1.64  
   

Essent Group Limited

     1.55  
   

Syneos Health Incorporated

     1.53  
   

Performance Food Group Company

     1.53  
   

LiveRamp Holdings Incorporated

     1.44  
   

RealPage Incorporated

     1.41  
   

ASGN Incorporated

     1.41  
   

Cornerstone OnDemand Incorporated

     1.40  

 

Sector distribution as of November 30, 20198

 

LOGO

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Please see the Fund’s current Statement of Additional Information for further details.

 

2 

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated master portfolio of the Wells Fargo Master Trust with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. References to the investment activities of the Fund are intended to refer to the investment activities of the affiliated master portfolio in which it invests.

 

3 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

4 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at 1.33% for Class A, 2.08% for Class C, 0.90% for Class R6, 1.20% for Administrator Class, and 0.95% for Institutional Class. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolio invests, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Net expenses from the affiliated master portfolio are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class R6 shares would be higher.

 

6 

The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 2000 companies with higher price/book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the securities of the affiliated master portfolio allocable to the Fund divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

8 

Amounts represent the sector distribution of the affiliated master portfolio which are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the affiliated master portfolio. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account  value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,117.19      $ 6.99        1.32

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.40      $ 6.66        1.32
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,112.98      $ 10.93        2.07

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,014.65      $ 10.43        2.07
         

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,119.66      $ 4.72        0.89

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.55      $ 4.50        0.89
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,117.81      $ 6.35        1.20

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.00      $ 6.06        1.20
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,119.22      $ 5.03        0.95

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.25      $ 4.80        0.95

 

1 

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                             Value  
Investment Companies: 100.00%                           
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 100.00%                           

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

           $ 1,772,459,629  
          

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $1,355,489,454)

             1,772,459,629        
          

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $1,355,489,454)     100.00        1,772,459,629  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.00          (38,561
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 1,772,421,068  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolio were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)  on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

    98     98   $ 102,037,602     $ 101,065,532     $ 5,742,992     $ 736,870     $ 1,772,459,629       100.00

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolio, at value (cost $1,355,489,454)

  $ 1,772,459,629  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    2,018,640  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    30,897  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,774,509,166  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    1,612,163  

Management fee payable

    36,716  

Administration fees payable

    151,917  

Distribution fee payable

    8,161  

Shareholder report expenses payable

    123,002  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,324  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    153,815  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    2,088,098  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,772,421,068  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 1,195,086,177  

Total distributable earnings

    577,334,891  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,772,421,068  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 56,671,944  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    1,035,602  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $54.72  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $58.06  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 13,079,571  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    274,903  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $47.58  

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 562,468,053  

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    9,542,255  

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $58.94  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 81,475,195  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    1,426,408  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $57.12  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 1,058,726,305  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    18,014,965  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $58.77  

 

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio (net of foreign withholding taxes of $51,093)

  $ 5,742,992  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    736,870  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (6,899,044
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    (419,182
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    441,862  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    59,104  

Class C

    14,060  

Class R6

    84,965  

Administrator Class

    52,696  

Institutional Class

    682,672  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    70,362  

Class C

    16,738  

Administrator Class

    101,338  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    50,176  

Custody and accounting fees

    33,009  

Professional fees

    16,453  

Registration fees

    77,172  

Shareholder report expenses

    85,611  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    31,413  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,828,254  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (266

Class R6

    (68

Administrator Class

    (15,904

Institutional Class

    (207,288
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    1,604,728  
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (2,023,910
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    102,037,602  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    101,065,532  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    203,103,134  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 201,079,224  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment loss

    $ (2,023,910     $ (5,505,054

Net realized gains on investments

      102,037,602         211,071,257  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      101,065,532         (317,347,617
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      201,079,224         (111,781,414
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (4,812,269

Class C

      0         (1,472,490

Class R6

      0         (43,353,220

Administrator Class

      0         (7,628,191

Institutional Class

      0         (79,166,580
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (136,432,750
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    82,996       4,238,643       438,493       23,606,902  

Class C

    742       33,483       11,566       528,806  

Class R6

    633,207       34,903,682       3,125,212       184,297,448  

Administrator Class

    78,204       4,175,034       504,790       28,496,503  

Institutional Class

    1,457,872       80,104,293       5,840,084       335,266,742  
 

 

 

 
      123,455,135         572,196,401  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       92,633       4,427,868  

Class C

    0       0       31,746       1,328,867  

Class R6

    0       0       735,766       37,730,057  

Administrator Class

    0       0       152,980       7,624,565  

Institutional Class

    0       0       1,201,482       61,455,772  
 

 

 

 
      0         112,567,129  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (357,679     (18,177,745     (563,233     (31,063,522

Class C

    (52,601     (2,340,753     (113,094     (5,236,576

Class R6

    (1,813,139     (100,295,083     (3,393,805     (197,814,217

Administrator Class

    (371,047     (19,822,877     (882,997     (49,514,482

Institutional Class

    (3,399,389     (189,875,819     (6,511,614     (373,073,185
 

 

 

 
      (330,512,277       (656,701,982
 

 

 

 

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

      (207,057,142       28,061,548  
 

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

      (5,977,918       (220,152,616
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      1,778,398,986         1,998,551,602  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,772,421,068       $ 1,778,398,986  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $48.98       $56.66       $44.26       $37.69       $44.23       $39.44  

Net investment loss

    (0.57     (0.36     (0.35 )1      (0.28 )1      (0.22 )1      (0.37 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    6.31       (3.22     12.75       6.85       (6.05     7.08  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    5.74       (3.58     12.40       6.57       (6.27     6.71  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (4.10     0.00       0.00       (0.27     (1.92

Net asset value, end of period

    $54.72       $48.98       $56.66       $44.26       $37.69       $44.23  

Total return2

    11.72     (6.13 )%      28.02     17.43     (14.20 )%      17.51

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.32     1.31     1.32     1.33     1.34     1.41

Net expenses3

    1.32     1.31     1.32     1.33     1.34     1.40

Net investment loss3

    (0.59 )%      (0.63 )%      (0.71 )%      (0.68 )%      (0.57 )%      (0.90 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    22     54     37     82     49     58

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $56,672       $64,182       $76,065       $76,087       $128,675       $85,588  

 

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

Year ended May 31, 2019

Year ended May 31, 2018

Year ended May 31, 2017

Year ended May 31, 2016

Year ended May 31, 2015

   

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.80

0.81


 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $42.75       $50.38       $39.65       $34.02       $40.25       $36.32  

Net investment loss

    (1.08     (0.66 )1      (0.64 )1      (0.54 )1      (0.46 )1      (0.63 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    5.91       (2.87     11.37       6.17       (5.50     6.48  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (4.83     (3.53     10.73       5.63       (5.96     5.85  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (4.10     0.00       0.00       (0.27     (1.92

Net asset value, end of period

    $47.58       $42.75       $50.38       $39.65       $34.02       $40.25  

Total return2

    11.30     (6.82 )%      27.06     16.55     (14.84 )%      16.62

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    2.07     2.06     2.07     2.08     2.09     2.16

Net expenses3

    2.07     2.06     2.07     2.08     2.09     2.15

Net investment loss3

    (1.34 )%      (1.38 )%      (1.47 )%      (1.43 )%      (1.32 )%      (1.64 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    22     54     37     82     49     58

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $13,080       $13,968       $19,979       $22,410       $26,946       $17,334  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

Year ended May 31, 2019

Year ended May 31, 2018

Year ended May 31, 2017

Year ended May 31, 2016

Year ended May 31, 2015

   

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.80

0.81


 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

12  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS R6   2019     2018     2017     2016     20151  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $52.65       $60.31       $46.91       $39.77       $46.45       $42.98  

Net investment loss

    (0.08     (0.12     (0.14     (0.11     (0.03     (0.09 )2 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    6.37       (3.44     13.54       7.25       (6.38     5.48  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    6.29       (3.56     13.40       7.14       (6.41     5.39  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (4.10     0.00       0.00       (0.27     (1.92

Net asset value, end of period

    $58.94       $52.65       $60.31       $46.91       $39.77       $46.45  

Total return3

    11.97     (5.73 )%      28.59     17.95     (13.83 )%      13.00

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses4

    0.89     0.88     0.89     0.90     0.91     0.91

Net expenses4

    0.89     0.88     0.89     0.90     0.90     0.90

Net investment loss4

    (0.16 )%      (0.20 )%      (0.29 )%      (0.25 )%      (0.09 )%      (0.34 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate5

    22     54     37     82     49     58

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $562,468       $564,516       $618,523       $418,111       $229,391       $644  

 

 

1 

For the period from October 31, 2014 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2015

 

2 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

Year ended May 31, 2019

Year ended May 31, 2018

Year ended May 31, 2017

Year ended May 31, 2016

Year ended May 31, 2015

   

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.80

0.81


 

5 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $51.10       $58.85       $45.91       $39.05       $45.73       $40.64  

Net investment loss

    (0.12 )1      (0.29 )1      (0.30 )1      (0.24 )1      (0.19 )1      (0.30 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    6.14       (3.36     13.24       7.10       (6.22     7.31  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    6.02       (3.65     12.94       6.86       (6.41     7.01  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (4.10     0.00       0.00       (0.27     (1.92

Net asset value, end of period

    $57.12       $51.10       $58.85       $45.91       $39.05       $45.73  

Total return2

    11.78     (6.02 )%      28.19     17.57     (14.04 )%      17.73

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.24     1.23     1.24     1.25     1.25     1.24

Net expenses3

    1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20

Net investment loss3

    (0.47 )%      (0.51 )%      (0.60 )%      (0.55 )%      (0.46 )%      (0.70 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    22     54     37     82     49     58

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $81,475       $87,850       $114,429       $130,311       $130,104       $185,267  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

Year ended May 31, 2019

Year ended May 31, 2018

Year ended May 31, 2017

Year ended May 31, 2016

Year ended May 31, 2015

   

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.80

0.81


 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $52.51       $60.20       $46.85       $39.75       $46.44       $41.14  

Net investment loss

    (0.10     (0.15     (0.19     (0.15     (0.09     (0.20 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    6.36       (3.44     13.54       7.25       (6.33     7.42  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    6.26       (3.59     13.35       7.10       (6.42     7.22  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net realized gains

    0.00       (4.10     0.00       0.00       (0.27     (1.92

Net asset value, end of period

    $58.77       $52.51       $60.20       $46.85       $39.75       $46.44  

Total return2

    11.92     (5.77 )%      28.50     17.86     (13.85 )%      18.03

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    0.99     0.98     0.99     1.00     1.01     0.98

Net expenses3

    0.95     0.95     0.95     0.95     0.95     0.95

Net investment loss3

    (0.22 )%      (0.26 )%      (0.35 )%      (0.31 )%      (0.18 )%      (0.45 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    22     54     37     82     49     58

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $1,058,726       $1,047,883       $1,169,555       $1,014,847       $678,699       $457,542  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

Year ended May 31, 2019

Year ended May 31, 2018

Year ended May 31, 2017

Year ended May 31, 2016

Year ended May 31, 2015

   

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.78

0.80

0.81


 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  15


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a separate diversified portfolio (the “affiliated Master Portfolio”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. The affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio as a partnership investment and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio for the six months ended November 30, 2019 are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund owned 98% of Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily. Securities held in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued as discussed in the Notes to Financial Statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio, which are included elsewhere in this report.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,373,420,056 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 399,039,573  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 399,039,573  

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had current year deferred post-October capital losses consisting of $6,988,693 in short-term losses which was recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year.

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had a qualified late-year ordinary loss of $1,877,655 which was recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolio was measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The investment objective and the value of the affiliate Master Portfolio was as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective     

Value of

affiliated Master
Portfolio

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation        $1,772,459,629  

The affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As long as the Fund continues to invest substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio, the Fund pays Funds Management an investment management fee only for fund-level administrative services at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee  

First $5 billion

     0.05

Next $5 billion

     0.04  

Over $10 billion

     0.03  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to the affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  17


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level
administration fee
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Class R6

     0.03  

Administrator Class, Institutional Class

     0.13  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.33% for Class A shares, 2.08% for Class C shares, 0.90% for Class R6 shares, 1.20% for Administrator Class shares and 0.95% for Institutional Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Prior to October 1, 2019, the Fund’s expenses were capped at 1.35% for Class A shares and 2.10% for Class C shares.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $316 from the sale of Class A shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A and Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio. Purchases and sales have been calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage of the affiliated Master Portfolio by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $380,466,373 and $535,124,024, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

7. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. Through its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio which may invest a substantial portion of its assets in any sector, the Fund may in turn be more affected by changes in that sector than a fund whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector. As of the end of the period, the Fund invests a concentration of its portfolio in the information technology and health care sectors.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Common Stocks: 97.49%  

Communication Services: 0.37%

 

Entertainment: 0.37%  

Lions Gate Entertainment Class B †

          772,482      $ 6,697,419  
          

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary: 10.37%

 

Auto Components: 0.98%  

Fox Factory Holding Corporation †

          266,786        17,589,201  
          

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 1.25%  

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company †

          1,189,380        6,981,661  

Strategic Education Incorporated †

          110,326        15,637,607  
             22,619,268  
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 3.14%  

Eldorado Resorts Incorporated Ǡ

          450,206        24,090,523  

Extended Stay America Incorporated †

          979,598        14,458,866  

International Game Technology «

          1,213,965        18,027,380  
             56,576,769  
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 1.13%  

Skyline Champion Corporation †

          615,582        20,425,011  
          

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 0.75%  

Callaway Golf Company

          649,518        13,496,984  
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 2.37%  

Burlington Stores Incorporated †

          89,142        20,056,950  

Children’s Place Retail Stores Incorporated «

          179,833        12,994,733  

Monro Muffler Brake Incorporated

          131,222        9,631,695  
             42,683,378  
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 0.75%  

G-III Apparel Group Limited †

          457,598        13,544,901  
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 1.51%

 

Food & Staples Retailing: 1.51%  

Performance Food Group Company †

          576,126        27,112,490  
          

 

 

 

Energy: 1.00%

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 1.00%  

GasLog Limited

          746,161        6,984,067  

Parsley Energy Incorporated Class A

          732,539        10,973,434  
             17,957,501  
          

 

 

 

Financials: 11.19%

 

Banks: 1.49%  

SVB Financial Group †

          64,371        14,916,692  

Triumph Bancorp Incorporated †

          331,613        11,891,642  
             26,808,334  
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 4.54%  

Evercore Partners Incorporated Class A

          313,649        24,270,160  

Focus Financial Partners Class A †

          450,432        12,661,644  

 

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

 

 

20  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Capital Markets (continued)  

Stifel Financial Corporation †

          391,984      $ 24,506,840  

VIRTU Financial Incorporated Class A «†

          510,762        8,478,649  

Virtus Investment Partners Incorporated

          101,924        12,006,647  
             81,923,940  
          

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 0.75%  

FirstCash Financial Services Incorporated

          166,360        13,448,542  
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 2.89%  

Argo Group International Holdings Limited

          232,704        15,307,269  

BRP Group Incorporated Class A †

          392,827        6,764,481  

Goosehead Insurance Incorporated Class A «†

          286,905        11,625,391  

Palomar Holdings Incorporated †

          336,795        18,378,903  
             52,076,044  
          

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance: 1.52%  

Essent Group Limited

          502,991        27,488,458  
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 25.06%

 

Biotechnology: 9.25%  

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          281,722        12,759,189  

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          129,184        15,132,614  

bluebird bio Incorporated †

          87,031        7,044,289  

CareDx Incorporated †

          530,680        10,889,554  

Emergent BioSolutions Incorporated †

          224,222        12,300,819  

Flexion Therapeutics Incorporated Ǡ

          581,889        10,316,892  

Galapagos NV Ǡ

          54,187        10,610,356  

Immunomedics Incorporated †

          643,623        12,087,240  

Intercept Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Ǡ

          101,367        10,985,142  

Invitae Corporation Ǡ

          559,898        11,141,970  

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          158,058        10,109,390  

Iovance Biotherapeutics Incorporated †

          453,621        10,356,167  

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          949,277        11,410,310  

Momenta Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          620,289        10,420,855  

Portola Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          387,461        11,062,012  
             166,626,799  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 5.46%  

Atricure Incorporated †

          637,931        18,978,447  

Axogen Incorporated †

          477,099        8,268,126  

Axonics Modulation Technologies Incorporated Ǡ

          431,929        10,534,748  

Cerus Corporation †

          1,664,808        7,225,267  

Glaukos Corporation †

          312,907        20,066,726  

Novocure Limited †

          113,644        10,475,704  

Tactile Systems Technology Class I †

          354,930        22,790,055  
             98,339,073  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 2.47%  

AMN Healthcare Services Incorporated †

          318,005        18,911,757  

HealthEquity Incorporated †

          204,051        12,832,767  

PetIQ Incorporated Ǡ

          555,443        12,775,189  
             44,519,713  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Health Care Technology: 3.76%  

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Incorporated †

          1,028,671      $ 11,089,073  

Evolent Health Incorporated Class A †

          897,571        6,471,487  

Omnicell Incorporated †

          222,637        17,808,734  

Tabula Rasa Healthcare Incorporated Ǡ

          253,859        11,324,650  

Teladoc Incorporated Ǡ

          252,628        21,155,069  
             67,849,013  
          

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 3.47%  

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation Ǡ

          223,420        6,074,790  

ICON plc ADR †

          179,973        29,364,395  

Syneos Health Incorporated †

          494,148        27,133,667  
             62,572,852  
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 0.65%  

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          253,759        11,728,741  
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 17.05%

 

Aerospace & Defense: 1.62%  

AAR Corporation

          321,995        14,389,957  

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Incorporated †

          814,468        14,709,292  
             29,099,249  
          

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics: 0.80%  

Hub Group Incorporated Class A †

          283,171        14,461,543  
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 2.03%  

A.O. Smith Corporation †

          313,098        15,153,943  

Masonite International Corporation †

          197,623        14,189,331  

PGT Incorporated †

          503,350        7,238,173  
             36,581,447  
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 1.09%  

IAA Incorporated †

          286,729        12,997,426  

KAR Auction Services Incorporated †

          318,587        6,728,557  
             19,725,983  
          

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 0.50%  

Dycom Industries Incorporated †

          173,184        9,014,227  
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 0.82%  

Atkore International Incorporated †

          353,934        14,766,126  
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 5.95%  

AGCO Corporation

          198,189        15,484,507  

Chart Industries Incorporated †

          189,460        10,458,192  

Circor International Incorporated †

          324,370        14,389,053  

Gardner Denver Holdings Incorporated †

          415,992        14,089,649  

SPX Corporation †

          501,609        23,966,878  

Wabash National Corporation

          738,626        11,633,360  

Woodward Governor Company

          147,840        17,266,234  
             107,287,873  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Professional Services: 2.54%  

ASGN Incorporated †

          372,409      $ 24,955,127  

ICF International Incorporated

          231,355        20,759,484  
             45,714,611  
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 1.70%  

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Incorporated Ǡ

          348,931        12,906,958  

Schneider National Incorporated Class B

          778,946        17,721,022  
             30,627,980  
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 25.93%

 

Communications Equipment: 2.92%  

Ciena Corporation †

          585,046        22,208,346  

Lumentum Holdings Incorporated †

          413,049        30,425,189  
             52,633,535  
          

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.49%  

Benchmark Electronics Incorporated †

          259,321        8,938,795  
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 5.67%  

Black Knight Incorporated †

          307,928        19,402,543  

Euronet Worldwide Incorporated †

          132,305        20,797,023  

LiveRamp Holdings Incorporated †

          510,327        25,562,279  

Verra Mobility Corporation †

          970,686        14,531,169  

WEX Incorporated †

          108,851        21,893,202  
             102,186,216  
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 3.78%  

Cabot Microelectronics Corporation †

          105,044        14,013,920  

FormFactor Incorporated †

          558,712        12,928,596  

Onto Innovation Incorporated †

          341,166        11,449,531  

Silicon Motion Technology Corporation ADR †

          288,160        12,765,488  

Teradyne Incorporated

          270,488        16,929,844  
             68,087,379  
          

 

 

 
Software: 13.07%  

Benefitfocus Incorporated †

          307,383        7,371,044  

Box Incorporated Class A †

          952,743        17,378,032  

Cerence Incorporated †

          131,706        2,049,345  

Cornerstone OnDemand Incorporated †

          403,116        24,860,164  

CyberArk Software Limited †

          167,410        20,516,096  

Mimecast Limited †

          325,849        14,451,403  

Nuance Communications Incorporated †

          1,053,643        18,891,819  

Pagerduty Incorporated Ǡ

          544,654        14,188,237  

PTC Incorporated †

          312,491        23,936,811  

RealPage Incorporated †

          455,242        25,051,967  

SS&C Technologies Holdings Incorporated †

          483,553        29,037,356  

Talend SA ADR †

          167,078        6,342,281  

Zendesk Incorporated †

          217,309        17,167,411  

Zuora Incorporated Ǡ

          893,791        14,247,029  
             235,488,995  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                    Shares      Value  

Materials: 4.06%

 

Chemicals: 1.71%  

Element Solutions Incorporated †

         1,461,830      $ 17,088,793  

Orion Engineered Carbons SA

 

     748,312        13,604,312  
            30,693,105  
         

 

 

 
Construction Materials: 0.59%  

US Concrete Incorporated †

 

     261,001        10,682,771  
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.72%  

Steel Dynamics Incorporated

 

     383,706        12,942,403  
         

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 1.04%  

Boise Cascade Company †

 

     495,266        18,780,487  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate: 0.95%

 

Equity REITs: 0.95%  

QTS Realty Trust Incorporated Class A †

 

     323,515        17,168,941  
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,285,503,694)

 

     1,756,966,097  
         

 

 

 
         
      Expiration
date
               
Rights: 0.00%

 

Consumer Discretionary: 0.00%

 

Media: 0.00%  

Media General Incorporated †(a)

      12-31-2020        347,897        0  
         

 

 

 

Total Rights (Cost $0)

 

     0  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 11.71%  
Investment Companies: 11.71%  

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC (l)(r)(u)

    1.77        163,147,685        163,164,000  

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56          47,925,862        47,925,862  

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $211,083,898)

 

     211,089,862        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $1,496,587,592)     109.20        1,968,055,959  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (9.20        (165,837,805
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 1,802,218,154  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

«

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(a)

The security is fair valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Portfolio as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(r)

The investment is a non-registered investment company purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

Abbreviations:

 

ADR

American depositary receipt

 

REIT

Real estate investment trust

 

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

 

 

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Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Portfolio owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Portfolio and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Portfolio at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning of
period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses)
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Income
from
affiliated
securities
    Value,
end of
period
    % of
net
assets
 
Short-Term Investments                                                  

Investment Companies

 

               

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC

    117,789,132       421,450,589       376,092,036       163,147,685     $ (158     0     $ 1,469,947 #    $ 163,164,000    

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    77,449,512       303,428,920       332,952,570       47,925,862       0       0       497,135       47,925,862    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ (158     0     $ 1,967,082     $ 211,089,862       11.71
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

# 

Amount shown represents income before fees and rebates.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio  |  25


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities (including $159,206,048 of securities loaned), at value (cost $1,285,503,694)

  $ 1,756,966,097  

Investments in affiliated securities, at value (cost $211,083,898)

    211,089,862  

Receivable for investments sold

    1,835,199  

Receivable for dividends

    1,731,865  

Receivable for securities lending income, net

    43,639  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    36,806  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,971,703,468  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    163,146,999  

Payable for investments purchased

    3,284,138  

Overdraft due to custodian bank

    1,835,199  

Advisory fee payable

    1,172,919  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    46,059  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    169,485,314  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,802,218,154  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $51,931)

  $ 5,838,017  

Income from affiliated securities

    749,038  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    6,587,055  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    6,922,398  

Custody and accounting fees

    41,313  

Professional fees

    24,164  

Shareholder report expenses

    986  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,592  

Other fees and expenses

    12,447  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    7,012,900  
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (425,845
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains (losses) on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    103,719,681  

Affiliated securities

    (158
 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on investments

    103,719,523  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    102,775,577  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    206,495,100  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 206,069,255  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

 

Net investment loss

  $ (425,845   $ (1,806,897

Net realized gains on investments

    103,719,523       201,431,492  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    102,775,577       (312,380,190
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    206,069,255       (112,755,595
 

 

 

 

Capital transactions

   

Transactions in investors’ beneficial interests

   

Contributions

    4,743,930       200,173,324  

Withdrawals

    (215,679,649     (288,826,821
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital transactions

    (210,935,719     (88,653,497
 

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

    (4,866,464     (201,409,092
 

 

 

 

Net assets

   

Beginning of period

    1,807,084,618       2,008,493,710  
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 1,802,218,154     $ 1,807,084,618  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Total return1

    12.03     (5.64 )%      28.74     18.15     (13.86 )%      18.07

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses

    0.78     0.78     0.78     0.79     0.80     0.82

Net expenses

    0.78     0.78     0.78     0.79     0.80     0.82

Net investment loss

    (0.05 )%      (0.09 )%      (0.18 )%      (0.14 )%      (0.03 )%      (0.32 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    22     54     37     82     49     58

 

 

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio  |  29


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Master Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Porfolio may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Equity securities that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Portfolio’s Valuation Procedures.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment companies that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued normally at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Securities lending

The Portfolio may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. When securities are on loan, the Portfolio receives interest or dividends on those securities. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). Investments in Securities Lending Fund are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund (net of fees and rebates), if any, is included in income from affiliated securities on the Statement of Operations.

In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Portfolio is affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Portfolio fluctuates from time to time. The Portfolio has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Portfolio may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In such an event, the terms of the agreement allows the unaffiliated securities lending agent to use the collateral to purchase replacement securities on behalf of the Portfolio or pay the Portfolio the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio bears the risk of loss with respect to depreciation of its investment of the cash collateral.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Federal and other taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Portfolio is not required to pay federal income taxes on its net investment income and net capital gains as it is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. All interest, dividends, gains and losses of the Portfolio are deemed to have been “passed through” to the interest holders in proportion to their holdings of the Portfolio regardless of whether interest, dividends, and gains have been distributed by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio’s income tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal revenue authority. Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,522,484,419 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 557,090,818  

Gross unrealized losses

     (111,519,278

Net unrealized gains

   $ 445,571,540  

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Portfolio’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Communication services

   $ 6,697,419      $ 0      $ 0      $ 6,697,419  

Consumer discretionary

     186,935,512        0        0        186,935,512  

Consumer staples

     27,112,490        0        0        27,112,490  

Energy

     17,957,501        0        0        17,957,501  

Financials

     201,745,318        0        0        201,745,318  

Health care

     451,636,191        0        0        451,636,191  

Industrials

     307,279,039        0        0        307,279,039  

Information technology

     467,334,920        0        0        467,334,920  

Materials

     73,098,766        0        0        73,098,766  

Real estate

     17,168,941        0        0        17,168,941  

Rights

           

Consumer discretionary

     0        0        0        0  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     211,089,862        0        0        211,089,862  

Total assets

   $ 1,968,055,959      $ 0      $ 0      $ 1,968,055,959  

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio  |  31


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Additional sector, industry or geographic detail is included in the Portfolio of Investments.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Advisory fee

The Trust has entered into an advisory contract with Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The adviser is responsible for implementing investment policies and guidelines and for supervising the subadviser, who is responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the contract, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual advisory fee at the following annual rate based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Advisory fee  

First $500 million

     0.800

Next $500 million

     0.775  

Next $1 billion

     0.750  

Next $1 billion

     0.725  

Next $1 billion

     0.700  

Over $4 billion

     0.680  

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.77% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Portfolio. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Peregrine Capital Management, LLC, which is not an affiliate of Funds Management, is the subadviser to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.50% and declining to 0.45% as the average daily net assets of the Portfolio increase.

Interfund transactions

The Portfolio may purchase or sell portfolio investment securities to certain other Wells Fargo affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $386,854,174 and $544,108,433, respectively.

6. SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent and receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any increases or decreases in the required collateral are exchanged between the Portfolio and the counterparty on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in the Securities Lending Fund which seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open Rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments and is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Securities Lending Fund is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”), an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo. Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser.

 

 

32  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

In the event of counterparty default or the failure of a borrower to return a loaned security, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. As of November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had securities lending transactions with the following counterparties which are subject to offset:

 

Counterparty      Value of
securities on
loan
       Collateral
received1
       Net amount  

Bank of America Securities Inc.

     $ 14,189,693        $ (14,189,693      $ 0  

Barclays Capital Inc.

       13,546,607          (13,546,607        0  

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

       1,753,623          (1,753,623        0  

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

       6,489,349          (6,489,349        0  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

       30,320,680          (30,320,680        0  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

       17,760,710          (17,760,710        0  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

       3,794,737          (3,794,737        0  

JPMorgan Securities LLC

       24,682,246          (24,682,246        0  

Jefferies LLC

       1,540,933          (1,540,933        0  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       33,847,843          (33,847,842        0  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

       10,892,034          (10,892,034        0  

SG Americas Securities LLC

       371,864          (371,864        0  

UBS Securities LLC

       15,729          (15,729        0  

 

1 

Collateral received within this table is limited to the collateral for the net transaction with the counterparty.

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, along with Wells Fargo Variable Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Trust (excluding the money market funds), are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Portfolio is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Portfolio based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Portfolio under the agreement.

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. As of the end of the period, the Portfolio invests a concentration of its portfolio in the information technology and health care sectors. A Portfolio that invests a substantial portion of its assets in any sector may be more affected by changes in that sector than would be a Portfolio whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Portfolio and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

10. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Portfolio  |  33


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund and Portfolio file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

34  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
William R. Ebsworth
(Born 1957)
  Trustee, since 2015   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman
(Born 1953)
  Trustee, since 2015; Chair Liaison, since 2018   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr.
(Born 1952)
  Trustee, since 2009; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2019   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson
(Born 1949)
  Trustee, since 2008; Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund  |  35


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
David F. Larcker (Born 1950)   Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A
Olivia S. Mitchell (Born 1953)   Trustee, since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   Trustee, since 1996; Chairman, since 2018   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson (Born 1959)   Trustee, since 2018   Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3 (Born 1959)   Trustee, since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019   Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

36  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer
Andrew Owen (Born 1960)   President, since 2017   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.
Nancy Wiser1 (Born 1967)   Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.
Michelle Rhee4 (Born 1966)   Chief Legal Officer, since 2019   Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5 (Born 1969)   Secretary, since 2019   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker (Born 1967)   Chief Compliance Officer, since 2016   Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.
David Berardi (Born 1975)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

 

1

Nancy Wiser acts as Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

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LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408963 01-19

SA285/SAR285 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo

Small Company Value Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

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The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

 

1

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser for the affiliated master portfolio1

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Jeff Goverman

Garth R. Nisbet, CFA®

Craig Pieringer, CFA®

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
                   
Class A (SCVAX)   1-31-2002     -2.65       5.19       10.47       3.29       6.44       11.13       1.58       1.15  
                   
Class C (SCVFX)   8-30-2002     1.57       5.65       10.29       2.57       5.65       10.29       2.33       1.90  
                   
Class R6 (SCVJX)4   10-31-2016                       3.71       6.86       11.47       1.15       0.75  
                   
Administrator Class (SCVIX)   1-31-2002                       3.39       6.59       11.34       1.50       1.05  
                   
Institutional Class (SCVNX)5   7-30-2010                       3.61       6.81       11.55       1.25       0.85  
                   
Russell 2000® Value Index6                         3.96       6.83       10.99              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R6, Administrator Class, and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20197  
   

Ameris Bancorp

     1.07  
   

Walker & Dunlop Incorporated

     1.05  
   

Customers Bancorp Incorporated

     1.04  
   

Homestreet Incorporated

     1.04  
   

Western Alliance Bancorp

     1.03  
   

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation

     1.03  
   

Midland States Bancorp Incorporated

     1.02  
   

First Interstate BancSystem Class A

     1.01  
   

FB Financial Corporation

     1.00  
   

Hanger Incorporated

     1.00  
Sector distribution as of November 30, 20198
LOGO
 

 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated master portfolio of the Wells Fargo Master Trust with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. References to the investment activities of the Fund are intended to refer to the investment activities of the affiliated master portfolio in which it invests.

 

2 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.13% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

3 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2021, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolio invests, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Net expenses from the affiliated master portfolio are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

4 

Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class R6 shares would be higher.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Administrator Class shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Administrator Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Institutional Class shares would be higher.

 

6 

The Russell 2000® Value Index measures the performance of those Russell 2000 companies with lower price/book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the securities of the affiliated master portfolio allocable to the Fund divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

8 

Amounts represent the sector distribution of the affiliated master portfolio which are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the affiliated master portfolio. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account  value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,120.56      $ 6.10        1.15

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.25      $ 5.81        1.15
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,116.39      $ 10.05        1.90

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,015.50      $ 9.57        1.90
         

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,122.39      $ 3.98        0.75

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.25      $ 3.79        0.75
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,120.97      $ 5.57        1.05

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.75      $ 5.30        1.05
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,122.28      $ 4.51        0.85

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.75      $ 4.29        0.85

 

 

1 

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                                     Value  
Investment Companies: 99.95%              
Affiliated Master Portfolio: 99.95%                                  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

              $ 445,256,065  
             

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $414,976,869)

                445,256,065        
             

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $414,976,869)     99.95        445,256,065  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.05          243,321  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 445,499,386  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolio were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    47     83   $ (1,444,689   $ 24,266,619     $ 1,873,667     $ 49,815     $ 445,256,065       99.95

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolio, at value (cost $414,976,869)

  $ 445,256,065  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    103,582  

Receivable from manager

    39,106  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    848,623  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    446,247,376  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    488,847  

Shareholder servicing fees payable

    132,979  

Administration fees payable

    72,693  

Custodian and accounting fees payable

    40,364  

Distribution fee payable

    4,988  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,656  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    5,463  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    747,990  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

    $445,499,386  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 425,133,089  

Total distributable earnings

    20,366,297  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 445,499,386  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 357,147,416  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    13,158,620  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $27.14  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $28.80  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 7,843,795  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    327,132  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $23.98  

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 9,268,346  

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    331,377  

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $27.97  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 20,858,592  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    750,265  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $27.80  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 50,381,237  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    1,805,956  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $27.90  

 

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,631)

  $ 1,873,667  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    49,815  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (841,357

Waivers allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    88,287  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    1,170,412  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    50,907  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    147,803  

Class C

    3,871  

Class R6

    639  

Administrator Class

    10,755  

Institutional Class

    24,940  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    175,956  

Class C

    4,609  

Administrator Class

    20,683  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    13,819  

Custody and accounting fees

    3,054  

Professional fees

    16,453  

Registration fees

    65,296  

Shareholder report expenses

    23,585  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    6,713  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    579,706  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (77,507

Class A

    (88,497

Class C

    (3,118

Class R6

    (639

Administrator Class

    (26,334

Institutional Class

    (24,940
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    358,671  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    811,741  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized losses on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (1,444,689

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    24,266,619  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    22,821,930  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 23,633,671  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 811,741       $ 528,160  

Net realized losses on investments

      (1,444,689       (4,999,289

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      24,266,619         (10,331,943
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      23,633,671         (14,803,072
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (82,268

Class R6

      0         (4,758

Administrator Class

      0         (80,883

Institutional Class

      0         (367,043
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (534,952
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    130,833       3,395,971       100,769       2,699,778  

Class C

    5,591       129,867       15,848       366,047  

Class R6

    22,143       585,803       25,104       690,295  

Administrator Class

    21,998       573,791       156,576       4,440,193  

Institutional Class

    105,222       2,759,956       927,734       26,194,616  
 

 

 

 
      7,445,388         34,390,929  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       3,218       75,882  

Class R6

    0       0       183       4,430  

Administrator Class

    0       0       3,347       80,761  

Institutional Class

    0       0       15,183       366,819  
 

 

 

 
      0         527,892  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (453,442     (11,827,607     (160,314     (4,366,685

Class C

    (58,375     (1,321,997     (42,700     (986,195

Class R6

    (875,203     (23,099,949     (6,898     (189,905

Administrator Class

    (74,970     (1,968,074     (1,664,950     (46,927,131

Institutional Class

    (418,064     (10,955,141     (1,684,689     (45,679,163
 

 

 

 
      (49,172,768       (98,149,079
 

 

 

 

Net asset value of shares issue in acquisition

       

Class A

    12,989,900       337,017,442       N/A       N/A  

Class C

    328,733       7,545,278       N/A       N/A  

Class R6

    1,155,117       30,863,882       N/A       N/A  

Administrator Class

    242,559       6,444,855       N/A       N/A  

Institutional Class

    786,790       20,969,975       N/A       N/A  
 

 

 

 
      402,841,432         N/A  
 

 

 

 

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

      361,114,052         (63,230,258
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      384,747,723         (78,568,282
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      60,751,663         139,319,945  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 445,499,386       $ 60,751,663  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $24.22       $28.60       $24.01       $20.22       $21.42       $20.08  

Net investment income

    0.10 1      0.09       0.09       0.05       0.08       0.07  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.82       (4.31     4.58       3.75       (1.25     1.27  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.92       (4.22     4.67       3.80       (1.17     1.34  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.16     (0.08     (0.01     (0.03     0.00  

Net asset value, end of period

    $27.14       $24.22       $28.60       $24.01       $20.22       $21.42  

Total return2

    12.06     (14.72 )%      19.48     18.86     (5.48 )%      6.62

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.33     1.49     1.47     1.47     1.48     1.50

Net expenses3

    1.15     1.15     1.33     1.35     1.37     1.40

Net investment income3

    0.73     0.38     0.46     0.20     0.11     0.33

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    35     168     144     110     72     54

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $357,147       $11,902       $15,665       $16,280       $23,151       $26,339  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculation do not include any sale charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.74

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.75

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.84

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $21.48       $25.38       $21.40       $18.15       $19.34       $18.27  

Net investment income (loss)

    0.00 1,2      (0.08 )1      (0.07 )1      (0.11 )1      (0.11 )1      (0.08 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.50       (3.82     4.05       3.36       (1.08     1.15  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    2.50       (3.90     3.98       3.25       (1.19     1.07  

Net asset value, end of period

    $23.98       $21.48       $25.38       $21.40       $18.15       $19.34  

Total return3

    11.64     (15.37 )%      18.60     17.97     (6.20 )%      5.86

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses4

    2.12     2.22     2.21     2.22     2.23     2.26

Net expenses4

    1.90     1.90     2.08     2.10     2.12     2.15

Net investment income (loss)4

    0.00     (0.35 )%      (0.29 )%      (0.54 )%      (0.62 )%      (0.42 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate5

    35     168     144     110     72     54

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $7,844       $1,099       $1,980       $1,962       $2,004       $2,602  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Amount is less than $0.005.

 

3 

Total return calculation do not include any sale charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.74

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.75

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.84

 

5 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS R6   2019     2018     20171  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $24.92       $29.44       $24.69       $21.37  

Net investment income

    0.18       0.21 2      0.29 2      0.08  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.87       (4.45     4.65       3.33  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    3.05       (4.24     4.94       3.41  

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.28     (0.19     (0.09

Net asset value, end of period

    $27.97       $24.92       $29.44       $24.69  

Total return3

    12.24     (14.38 )%      20.03     15.95

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

       

Gross expenses4

    0.92     1.09     1.03     1.02

Net expenses4

    0.75     0.75     0.88     0.90

Net investment income4

    1.40     0.77     1.04     0.58

Supplemental data

       

Portfolio turnover rate5

    35     168     144     110

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $9,268       $731       $322       $29  

 

 

1 

For the period from October 31, 2016 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017.

 

2 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.74

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.75

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 20171

    0.83

 

5 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $24.80       $29.23       $24.53       $20.66       $21.90       $20.49  

Net investment income

    0.11 1      0.14 1      0.20       0.08 1      0.13       0.11  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.89       (4.43     4.63       3.83       (1.30     1.30  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    3.00       (4.29     4.83       3.91       (1.17     1.41  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.14     (0.13     (0.04     (0.07     0.00  

Net asset value, end of period

    $27.80       $24.80       $29.23       $24.53       $20.66       $21.90  

Total return2

    12.10     (14.65 )%      19.71     19.00     (5.36 )%      6.88

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.42     1.35     1.38     1.39     1.39     1.34

Net expenses3

    1.05     1.05     1.19     1.20     1.20     1.20

Net investment income3

    0.84     0.49     0.59     0.36     0.28     0.52

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    35     168     144     110     72     0

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $20,859       $13,905       $60,379       $57,591       $64,023       $71,034  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.74

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.75

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.84

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $24.86       $29.40       $24.68       $20.77       $22.02       $20.57  

Net investment income

    0.15       0.19 1      0.21       0.11       0.08 1      0.14  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    2.89       (4.45     4.69       3.89       (1.22     1.31  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    3.04       (4.26     4.90       4.00       (1.14     1.45  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00       (0.28     (0.18     (0.09     (0.11     0.00  

Net asset value, end of period

    $27.90       $24.86       $29.40       $24.68       $20.77       $22.02  

Total return2

    12.23     (14.46 )%      19.90     13.70     (5.13 )%      7.05

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.16     1.14     1.14     1.14     1.14     1.07

Net expenses3

    0.85     0.85     0.99     1.00     1.00     1.00

Net investment income3

    1.04     0.68     0.78     0.55     0.40     0.75

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    35     168     144     110     72     54

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $50,381       $33,116       $60,973       $52,072       $31,768       $16,850  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.74

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.75

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.84

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.84

Year ended May 31 ,2015

    0.84

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all investable assets in a separate diversified portfolio (the “affiliated Master Portfolio”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. The affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio as a partnership investment and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio for the six months ended November 30, 2019 are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund owned 83% of Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily. Securities held in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued as discussed in the Notes to Financial Statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio, which are included elsewhere in this report.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $411,367,668 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 33,888,397  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 33,888,397  

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had current year deferred post-October capital losses consisting of $3,470,691 in short-term losses and $260,535 in long-term losses which was recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolio was measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The investment objective and the value of the affiliate Master Portfolio was as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio      Investment objective     

Value of

affiliated Master

Portfolio

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

     Seeks long-term capital appreciation      $445,256,065

The affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of each Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As long as the Fund continues to invest substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio, the Fund pays Funds Management an investment management fee only for fund-level administrative services at the following annual rate based on each Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee

First $5 billion

   0.05%

Next $5 billion

   0.04

Over $10 billion

   0.03

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to the affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

      Class-level
administration fee
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21

Class R6

     0.03  

Administrator Class, Institutional Class

     0.13  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2021 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.15% for Class A shares, 1.90% for Class C shares, 0.75% for Class R6 shares, 1.05% for Administrator Class shares and 0.85% for Institutional Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $705 from the sale of Class A shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A and Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio. Purchases and sales have been calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage of the affiliated Master Portfolio by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $87,738,260 and $106,807,072, respectively.

6. ACQUISTION

After the close of business on September 20, 2019, the Fund acquired the net assets of Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund. The purpose of the transaction was to combine two funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund transferred all of its portfolio securities to Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio (a master portfolio in which it invested all of its assets) in exchange for interests in Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio. Immediately thereafter, Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund transferred all of its equity interests in Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio to Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund in exchange for shares of the Fund. Shareholders holding Class A, Class C, Class R6, Administrator Class and Institutional Class shares of Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund received Class A, Class C, Class R6, Administrator Class, and Institutional Class shares, respectively, of the Fund in the reorganization. The acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of all of the shares of Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund for 15,503,099 shares of the Fund valued at $402,841,432 at an exchange ratio of 0.45, 0.28, 0.49, 0.49, and 0.49 for Class A, Class C, Class R6, Administrator Class and Institutional Class shares, respectively. The investment portfolio of Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund with a fair value of $403,196,864, identified cost of $421,835,304 and unrealized losses of $18,638,440 at September 20, 2019 were the principal assets acquired by the Fund. The aggregate net assets of Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

and the Fund immediately prior to the acquisition were $402,841,432 and $58,675,150, respectively. The aggregate net assets of the Fund immediately after the acquisition were $461,516,582. For financial reporting purposes, assets received and shares issued by the Fund were recorded at fair value; however, the cost basis of the investments received from Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund was carried forward to align with ongoing reporting of the Fund’s realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.

Assuming the acquisition had been completed July 1 , 2019, the beginning of the annual reporting period for the Fund, the pro forma results of operations for the six months ended November 30, 2019 would have been as follows (unaudited):

 

Net investment income

   $ 105,937  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

   $ 63,791,180  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 63,897,117  

Because the combined investment portfolios have been managed as a single integrated portfolio since the acquisition was completed, it is not practicable to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings of Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund that have been included in the Fund’s Statement of Operations since September 23, 2019.

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds and certain other funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. Through its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio which may invest a substantial portion of its assets in any sector, the Fund may in turn be more affected by changes in that sector than a fund whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector. As of the end of the period, the Fund invests a concentration of its portfolio in the financials sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

10. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Common Stocks: 99.02%

 

Consumer Discretionary: 12.33%

 

Auto Components: 0.93%  

Dana Incorporated

          294,758      $ 4,996,148  
          

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 1.32%  

Collectors Universe Incorporated

          104,554        2,746,634  

WW International Incorporated †

          99,952        4,326,922  
             7,073,556  
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.80%  

Dine Brands Global Incorporated

          51,653        4,281,001  
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 2.33%  

Cavco Industries Incorporated †

          15,691        3,138,357  

GoPro Incorporated Class A †«

          338,849        1,368,950  

Helen of Troy Limited †

          21,046        3,397,245  

Hooker Furniture Corporation

          193,279        4,601,973  
             12,506,525  
          

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail: 0.65%  

Stamps.com Incorporated †

          39,729        3,466,355  
          

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 1.65%  

Johnson Outdoors Incorporated Class A

          66,181        4,275,293  

Malibu Boats Incorporated Class A †

          116,523        4,607,319  
             8,882,612  
          

 

 

 
Multiline Retail: 0.43%  

Nordstrom Incorporated «

          60,191        2,297,490  
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 2.48%  

American Eagle Outfitters Incorporated

          133,118        1,992,776  

Dick’s Sporting Goods Incorporated

          100,789        4,617,144  

Shoe Carnival Incorporated «

          139,908        4,966,734  

The Michaels Companies Incorporated †«

          211,224        1,727,812  
             13,304,466  
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 1.74%  

Carter’s Incorporated

          48,797        5,041,218  

Charles & Colvard Limited †

          421,201        627,589  

Rocky Brands Incorporated

          132,080        3,682,390  
             9,351,197  
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 1.76%

 

Food & Staples Retailing: 0.74%  

Ingles Markets Incorporated Class A

          89,141        3,961,426  
          

 

 

 
Food Products: 0.49%  

Hostess Brands Incorporated †

          196,892        2,648,197  
          

 

 

 
Household Products: 0.53%  

Central Garden & Pet Company †

          107,347        2,831,814  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  

Energy: 5.15%

 

Energy Equipment & Services: 1.27%  

Helix Energy Solutions Group Incorporated †

          436,847      $ 3,625,830  

Patterson-UTI Energy Incorporated

          230,100        2,057,094  

Tidewater Incorporated †

          74,625        1,141,763  
             6,824,687  
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 3.88%  

Callon Petroleum Company †«

          514,514        1,877,976  

Dorian LPG Limited †

          31,000        444,850  

PBF Energy Incorporated Class A

          96,968        3,035,098  

QEP Resources Incorporated

          635,027        2,076,538  

Southwestern Energy Company †«

          993,627        1,808,401  

Targa Resources Corporation

          119,779        4,375,527  

Teekay Tankers Ltd Class A †

          226,546        4,281,722  

W&T Offshore Incorporated †

          683,503        2,925,393  
             20,825,505  
          

 

 

 

Financials: 25.49%

 

Banks: 14.93%  

Ameris Bancorp

          131,191        5,726,487  

Banc of California Incorporated

          113,583        1,744,635  

Banner Corporation

          93,450        5,105,174  

Customers Bancorp Incorporated †

          239,569        5,601,123  

FB Financial Corporation

          140,011        5,390,424  

First Foundation Incorporated

          192,253        3,151,027  

First Interstate BancSystem Class A

          128,464        5,408,334  

Great Southern Bancorp Incorporated

          79,888        4,875,565  

Heritage Financial Corporation

          182,798        5,041,569  

Independent Bank Corporation

          231,977        5,184,686  

Midland States Bancorp Incorporated

          194,619        5,464,902  

OFG Bancorp

          211,270        4,531,742  

Orrstown Financial Services Incorporated

          60,829        1,333,372  

Popular Incorporated

          37,793        2,090,331  

Triumph Bancorp Incorporated †

          97,028        3,479,424  

Umpqua Holdings Corporation

          312,215        5,110,960  

Univest Financial Corporation

          204,297        5,334,195  

Western Alliance Bancorp

          105,777        5,517,328  
             80,091,278  
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 1.56%  

Blucora Incorporated †

          55,012        1,294,982  

Piper Jaffray Companies Incorporated

          66,409        5,371,160  

Sculptor Capital Management Incorporated

          88,687        1,718,754  
             8,384,896  
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 2.53%  

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company

          123,879        3,681,684  

FBL Financial Group Incorporated

          57,532        3,312,117  

Hallmark Financial Services Incorporated †

          50,549        963,969  

National General Holdings Corporation

          98,544        2,098,002  

State Auto Financial Corporation

          106,908        3,504,444  
             13,560,216  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio  |  21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Mortgage REITs: 3.49%  

Invesco Mortgage Capital Incorporated

          317,996      $ 5,164,255  

MFA Financial Incorporated

          652,384        4,997,261  

New York Mortgage Trust Incorporated

          783,516        4,881,305  

Redwood Trust Incorporated

          228,330        3,694,379  
             18,737,200  
          

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance: 2.98%  

Homestreet Incorporated †

          174,416        5,567,359  

OceanFirst Financial Corporation

          199,958        4,794,993  

Walker & Dunlop Incorporated

          85,889        5,637,754  
             16,000,106  
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 7.61%

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 1.42%  

AngioDynamics Incorporated †

          17,000        261,290  

Fonar Corporation †

          49,998        993,460  

ICU Medical Incorporated †

          11,091        2,079,341  

Lantheus Holdings Incorporated †

          81,747        1,708,512  

Merit Medical Systems Incorporated †

          91,225        2,554,300  
             7,596,903  
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 4.16%  

American Renal Associates Holdings †

          133,640        1,264,234  

AMN Healthcare Services Incorporated †

          58,569        3,483,098  

Brookdale Senior Living Incorporated †

          320,599        2,289,077  

Hanger Incorporated †

          205,631        5,387,532  

LHC Group Incorporated †

          27,697        3,694,780  

Option Care Health Incorporated †

          760,040        2,363,724  

The Ensign Group Incorporated

          88,741        3,854,022  
             22,336,467  
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 2.03%  

Akorn Incorporated †

          471,659        1,721,555  

ANI Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          35,463        2,185,230  

Lannett Company Incorporated †«

          223,435        1,970,697  

Prestige Consumer Healthcare Incorporated †

          132,875        5,018,689  
             10,896,171  
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 21.25%

 

Aerospace & Defense: 0.81%  

Ducommun Incorporated †

          89,252        4,362,638  
          

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics: 0.13%  

Radiant Logistics Incorporated †

          126,500        676,775  
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 1.61%  

CSW Industrials Incorporated

          48,980        3,616,193  

Patrick Industries Incorporated †

          101,501        5,026,330  
             8,642,523  
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 2.58%  

ABM Industries Incorporated

          93,845        3,565,171  

Ennis Incorporated

          178,024        3,674,415  

 

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

 

 

22  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio


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Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Commercial Services & Supplies (continued)  

Healthcare Services Group Incorporated

          86,055      $ 2,164,283  

Stericycle Incorporated †

          70,603        4,435,280  
             13,839,149  
          

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 1.19%  

Comfort Systems Incorporated

          82,699        4,225,919  

MYR Group Incorporated †

          39,761        1,366,188  

Sterling Construction Company Incorporated †

          56,054        816,707  
             6,408,814  
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 1.71%  

Encore Wire Corporation

          85,078        4,963,451  

Generac Holdings Incorporated †

          42,627        4,198,760  
             9,162,211  
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 5.88%  

Columbus McKinnon Corporation

          130,030        5,341,632  

Federal Signal Corporation

          134,855        4,442,124  

Hillenbrand Incorporated

          135,531        4,285,490  

Kadant Incorporated

          42,459        4,135,507  

Miller Industries Incorporated

          115,604        4,236,887  

Mueller Water Products Incorporated Class A

          232,228        2,619,532  

NN Incorporated

          208,634        1,817,202  

Spartan Motors Incorporated

          264,058        4,687,030  
             31,565,404  
          

 

 

 
Marine: 0.89%  

Seaspan Corporation «

          405,198        4,761,077  
          

 

 

 
Professional Services: 2.73%  

Barrett Business Services Incorporated

          35,770        3,160,637  

CBIZ Incorporated †

          138,626        3,723,494  

Kelly Services Incorporated Class A

          149,130        3,267,438  

Korn/Ferry International

          114,838        4,510,837  
             14,662,406  
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.55%  

Arcbest Corporation

          101,522        2,921,803  
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 3.17%  

BMC Stock Holdings Incorporated †

          150,856        4,466,846  

CAI International Incorporated †

          171,658        4,136,958  

DXP Enterprises Incorporated †

          128,560        4,953,417  

Fly Leasing Limited ADR †

          176,233        3,459,454  
             17,016,675  
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 11.94%

 

Communications Equipment: 2.17%  

Comtech Telecommunications Corporation

          124,503        4,704,968  

Inseego Corporation †«

          262,128        1,664,513  

Lumentum Holdings Incorporated †

          71,400        5,259,324  
             11,628,805  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio  |  23


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 3.34%  

Eplus Incorporated †

          24,951      $ 2,085,155  

Insight Enterprises Incorporated †

          81,278        5,331,024  

Methode Electronics Incorporated

          61,153        2,275,503  

Napco Security Technologies Incorporated †

          45,179        1,411,844  

PC Connection Incorporated

          94,858        4,678,397  

Vishay Precision Group †

          62,446        2,148,767  
             17,930,690  
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 1.48%  

Conduent Incorporated †

          275,473        1,864,952  

Hackett Group Incorporated

          121,641        1,864,757  

TTEC Holdings Incorporated

          53,331        2,449,493  

Verra Mobility Corporation †

          119,452        1,788,196  
             7,967,398  
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 3.04%  

Diodes Incorporated †

          110,036        5,077,061  

FormFactor Incorporated †

          201,433        4,661,160  

Ichor Holdings Limited †

          120,542        3,803,100  

Onto Innovation Incorporated †

          82,186        2,758,162  
             16,299,483  
          

 

 

 
Software: 1.42%  

American Software Incorporated Class A

          147,246        2,327,959  

Nuance Communications Incorporated

          296,211        5,311,063  
             7,639,022  
          

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 0.49%  

NCR Corporation †

          79,733        2,617,634  
          

 

 

 

Materials: 5.25%

 

Chemicals: 1.16%  

Hawkins Incorporated

          31,287        1,292,779  

Stepan Company

          50,773        4,919,904  
             6,212,683  
          

 

 

 
Construction Materials: 0.81%  

Eagle Materials Incorporated

          47,181        4,342,067  
          

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 1.12%  

Silgan Holdings Incorporated

          120,555        3,714,300  

UFP Technologies Incorporated †

          49,549        2,296,596  
             6,010,896  
          

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 1.99%  

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation

          50,272        5,508,806  

Schnitzer Steel Industries Incorporated Class A

          241,145        5,196,675  
             10,705,481  
          

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 0.17%  

PH Glatfelter Company

          51,307        915,830  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

24  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                    Shares      Value  

Real Estate: 4.80%

         
Equity REITs: 4.80%                          

Armada Hoffler Properties Incorporated

         233,955      $ 4,225,227  

Global Medical REIT Incorporated

         352,263        4,903,501  

Independence Realty Trust Incorporated

         261,681        3,909,514  

One Liberty Properties Incorporated

         143,616        3,922,153  

Outfront Media Incorporated

         161,216        4,027,176  

PotlatchDeltic Corporation

         109,861        4,771,263  
            25,758,834  
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 3.44%

         
Electric Utilities: 1.63%                          

Hawaiian Electric Industries Incorporated

         61,964        2,705,968  

IDACORP Incorporated

         26,864        2,822,063  

Otter Tail Corporation

         65,802        3,234,826  
            8,762,857  
         

 

 

 
Gas Utilities: 0.89%                          

National Fuel Gas Company

         44,070        1,984,031  

Northwest Natural Holding Company

         40,532        2,787,386  
            4,771,417  
         

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities: 0.61%                          

MDU Resources Group Incorporated

         112,843        3,276,961  
         

 

 

 
Water Utilities: 0.31%                          

Artesian Resources Corporation Class A

         43,989        1,636,391  
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $479,023,240)

            531,350,140  
         

 

 

 
Exchange-Traded Funds: 0.51%                          

iShares Russell 2000 Index ETF

         17,000        2,750,090  
         

 

 

 

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $2,635,194)

            2,750,090  
         

 

 

 
         
          Expiration date                
Warrants: 0.00%                          

Energy: 0.00%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.00%                          

Parker Drilling Company †(a)

      9-16-2024        8,457        0  
         

 

 

 

Total Warrants (Cost $0)

            0  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 4.37%                          

Investment Companies: 4.37%

         

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC (l)(r)(u)

    1.77        21,120,587        21,122,700  

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56          2,339,432        2,339,432  

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $23,461,951)

            23,462,132  
         

 

 

 

 

Total Investments in securities (Cost $505,120,385)     103.90        557,562,362  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (3.90        (20,948,679
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 536,613,683  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio  |  25


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

«

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(a)

The security is fair valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Portfolio as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(r)

The investment is a non-registered investment company purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

Abbreviations:

 

ADR

American depositary receipt

 

REIT

Real estate investment trust

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Portfolio owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Portfolio and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Portfolio at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning of
period
    Shares
purchased
   

Shares

sold

    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses)
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Income
from
affiliated
securities
   

Value,
end of

period

    % of
net
assets
 
Short-Term Investments                                                      

Investment Companies

                 

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC

    2,006,789       65,162,567       46,048,769       21,120,587     $ 385     $ 1     $ 82,433 #    $ 21,122,700    

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    718,186       20,669,479       19,048,233       2,339,432       0       0       9,839       2,339,432    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ 385     $ 1     $ 92,272     $ 23,462,132       4.37
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

# 

Amount shown represents income before fees and rebates

 

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

 

 

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Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities, (including $20,444,801 of security loaned), at value (cost $481,658,434)

  $ 534,100,230  

Investments in affiliated securities, at value (cost $23,461,951)

    23,462,132  

Receivable for investments sold

    1,227,327  

Receivable for dividends

    255,450  

Receivable for securities lending income, net

    23,577  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    17,535  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    559,086,251  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    21,122,097  

Payable for investments purchased

    1,007,802  

Advisory fee payable

    327,230  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    15,439  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    22,472,568  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 536,613,683  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio  |  27


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $2,332)

  $ 2,579,857  

Income from affiliated securities

    65,700  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    2,645,557  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    1,120,727  

Custody and accounting fees

    5,546  

Professional fees

    23,201  

Shareholder report expenses

    1,387  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,643  

Other fees and expenses

    4,696  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,167,200  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (129,714
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    1,037,486  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    1,608,071  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains (losses) on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    (3,847,004

Affiliated securities

    385  
 

 

 

 

Net realized losses on investments

    (3,846,619
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    34,722,839  

Affiliated securities

    1  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    34,722,840  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    30,876,221  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 32,484,292  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
       Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

      

Net investment income

  $ 1,608,071        $ 1,405,371  

Net realized losses on investments

    (3,846,619        (20,261,333

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    34,722,840          (10,952,752
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    32,484,292          (29,808,714
 

 

 

 

Capital transactions

      

Transactions in investors’ beneficial interests

      

Contributions

    427,003,892          110,246,678  

Withdrawals

    (50,504,920        (112,205,990
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions

    376,498,972          (1,959,312
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    408,983,264          (31,768,026
 

 

 

 

Net assets

      

Beginning of period

    127,630,419          159,398,445  
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 536,613,683        $ 127,630,419  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio  |  29


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Total return1

    12.12     (14.51 )%      20.10     19.44     (4.96 )%      7.29

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses

    0.83     0.86     0.85     0.84     0.85     0.84

Net expenses

    0.74     0.75     0.84     0.84     0.85     0.84

Net investment income

    1.15     0.80     0.87     0.72     0.62     0.89

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    35     168     144     110     72     54

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized

 

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

 

 

30  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio


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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Master Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Portfolio may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Equity securities that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Portfolio’s Valuation Procedures.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment companies that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued normally at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Securities lending

The Portfolio may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. When securities are on loan, the Portfolio receives interest or dividends on those securities. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). Investments in Securities Lending Fund are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund (net of fees and rebates), if any, is included in income from affiliated securities on the Statement of Operations.

In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Portfolio will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Portfolio fluctuates from time to time. The Portfolio has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Portfolio may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In such an event, the terms of the agreement allows the unaffiliated securities lending agent to use the collateral to purchase replacement securities on behalf of the Portfolio or pay the Portfolio the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio bears the risk of loss with respect to depreciation of its investment of the cash collateral.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Federal and other taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Portfolio is not required to pay federal income taxes on its net investment income and net capital gains as it is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. All interest, dividends, gains and losses of the Portfolio are deemed to have been “passed through” to the interest holders in proportion to their holdings of the Portfolio regardless of whether such interest, dividends and gains have been distributed by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio’s income tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal revenue authority. Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $509,336,004 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 64,054,873  

Gross unrealized losses

     (15,828,515

Net unrealized gains

   $ 48,226,358  

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Portfolio’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 66,159,350      $ 0      $ 0      $ 66,159,350  

Consumer staples

     9,441,437        0        0        9,441,437  

Energy

     27,650,192        0        0        27,650,192  

Financials

     136,773,696        0        0        136,773,696  

Health care

     40,829,541        0        0        40,829,541  

Industrials

     114,019,475        0        0        114,019,475  

Information technology

     64,083,032        0        0        64,083,032  

Materials

     28,186,957        0        0        28,186,957  

Real estate

     25,758,834        0        0        25,758,834  

Utilities

     18,447,626        0        0        18,447,626  

Exchange-traded funds

     2,750,090        0        0        2,750,090  

Warrants

           

Energy

     0        0        0        0  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     23,462,132        0        0        23,462,132  

Total assets

   $ 557,562,362      $ 0      $ 0      $ 557,562,362  

Additional sector, industry or geographic detail for the Portfolio is included in the Portfolio of investments.

At November 30, 2019, the Portfolio did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Advisory fee

The Trust has entered into an advisory contract with Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The adviser is responsible for implementing investment policies and guidelines and for supervising the subadviser, who is responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the contract, Funds Management is entitled to receive an advisory fee at the following annual rate based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Advisory fee

First $500 million

   0.800%

Next $500 million

   0.775

Next $1 billion

   0.750

Next $1 billion

   0.725

Next $1 billion

   0.700

Over $4 billion

   0.680

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.80% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Portfolio. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”), an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at the following annual rate starting at 0.55% and declining to 0.40% as the average daily net assets of the Portfolio increase.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Funds Management has voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed advisory fees to reduce the net operating expense ratio of the Portfolio.

Interfund transactions

The Portfolio may purchase or sell portfolio investment securities to certain other Wells Fargo affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were $105,740,392 and $128,721,742, respectively.

6. SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent and receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any increases or decreases in the required collateral are exchanged between each Portfolio and the counterparty on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in the Securities Lending Fund which seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open Rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments and is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Securities Lending Fund is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by WellsCap. Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser.

In the event of counterparty default or the failure of a borrower to return a loaned security, the Portfolio has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. As of November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had securities lending transactions with the following counterparties which are subject to offset:

 

Counterparty      Value of
securities on
loan
       Collateral
received1
       Net amount  

Bank of America Securities Inc.

     $ 1,265,378        $ (1,265,378      $ 0  

Barclays Capital Inc.

       2,833,415          (2,833,415        0  

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

       1,323,260          (1,323,260        0  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

       1,989,900          (1,989,900        0  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

       2,271,186          (2,271,186        0  

JPMorgan Securities LLC

       6,446,999          (6,446,999        0  

Jefferies LLC

       159,489          (159,489        0  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       3,792,078          (3,792,078        0  

SG Americas Securities LLC

       303,003          (303,003        0  

UBS Securities LLC

       60,093          (60,093        0  

 

1 

Collateral received within this table is limited to the collateral for the net transaction with the counterparty.

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, along with Wells Fargo Variable Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Trust (excluding the money market funds), are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Portfolio is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Portfolio based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Portfolio under the agreement.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. As of the end of the period, the Portfolio invests a concentration of its portfolio in the financials sector. A Portfolio that invests a substantial portion of its assets in any sector may be more affected by changes in that sector than would be a Portfolio whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Portfolio and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

10. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio  |  35


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund and Portfolio file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
William R. Ebsworth (Born 1957)   Trustee,
since 2015
  Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman
(Born 1953)
  Trustee,
since 2015;
Chair Liaison,
since 2018
  Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr.
(Born 1952)
  Trustee,
since 2009;
Audit Committee Chairman,
since 2019
  Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson
(Born 1949)
  Trustee,
since 2008;
Audit Committee
Chairman, from 2009 to 2018
  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
David F. Larcker
(Born 1950)
  Trustee,
since 2009
  James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A
Olivia S. Mitchell
(Born 1953)
  Trustee,
since 2006;
Nominating and Governance Committee Chair,
since 2018
  International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny
(Born 1951)
  Trustee,
since 1996; Chairman,
since 2018
  President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson
(Born 1959)
  Trustee,
since 2018
  Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3
(Born 1959)
  Trustee, since January 2020;
previously Trustee
from January 2018 to July 2019
  Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

38  |  Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund


Table of Contents

Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer

Andrew Owen

(Born 1960)

  President,
since 2017
  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.

Nancy Wiser1

(Born 1967)

  Treasurer,
since 2012
  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.

Michelle Rhee4

(Born 1966)

  Chief Legal Officer,
since 2019
  Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5 (Born 1969)   Secretary,
since 2019
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker (Born 1967)   Chief Compliance Officer,
since 2016
  Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

  Assistant Treasurer,
since 2009
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer,
since 2009
  Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

 

1

Nancy Wiser acts as Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

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This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408964 01-19

SA286/SAR286 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

Reduce clutter.

Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

1

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser for the affiliated master portfolio1

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Maulik Bhansali, CFA®

Thomas O’Connor CFA®*

Jarad Vasquez

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
                   
Class A (MBFAX)   10-31-2001     5.10       1.67       3.18       10.08       2.61       3.65       0.83       0.78  
                   
Class C (MBFCX)   10-31-2001     8.25       1.85       2.84       9.25       1.85       2.84       1.58       1.53  
                   
Class R (WTRRX)4   7-9-2010                       9.74       2.34       3.35       1.08       1.03  
                   
Class R4 (MBFRX)5   11-30-2012                       10.39       2.90       3.89       0.60       0.52  
                   
Class R6 (WTRIX)6   11-30-2012                       10.56       3.04       4.02       0.45       0.37  
                   
Administrator Class (MNTRX)   6-30-1997                       10.11       2.68       3.70       0.77       0.70  
                   
Institutional Class (MBFIX)   10-31-2001                       10.51       2.99       3.99       0.50       0.42  
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index7                         10.79       3.08       3.59              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 4.50%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R, Class R4, Class R6, Administrator Class, and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). Securities issued by U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk and mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20198  
   

U.S. Treasury Note, 2.75%, 5-31-2023

     2.03  
   

U.S. Treasury Bond, 3.13%, 8-15-2044

     1.96  
   

U.S. Treasury Bond, 3.13%, 2-15-2043

     1.91  
   

GNMA, 3.50%, 12-19-2049

     1.71  
   

U.S. Treasury Note, 1.63%, 2-15-2026

     1.53  
   

U.S. Treasury Note, 2.75%, 5-31-2023

     1.37  
   

FHLMC, 4.00%, 9-1-2049

     1.19  
   

U.S. Treasury Note, 2.75%, 7-31-2023

     1.06  
   

U.S. Treasury Note, 1.13%, 9-30-2021

     1.06  
   

U.S. Treasury Bond, 2.50%, 5-15-2046

     1.03  
Portfolio allocation as of November 30, 20199
LOGO
 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

*

Thomas O’Connor, CFA has announced his intention to retire from Wells Capital Management Incorporated on December 31, 2020. He will continue to serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund through that date.

 

1 

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated master portfolio of the Wells Fargo Master Trust with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. References to the investment activities of the Fund are intended to refer to the investment activities of the affiliated master portfolio in which it invests.

 

2 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

3 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolio invests, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Net expenses from the affiliated master portfolio are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

4 

Historical performance shown for Class R shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Administrator Class shares, adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Class R shares.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for Class R4 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares, adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Class R4 shares.

 

6 

Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class R6 shares would be higher.

 

7 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar–denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the securities of the affiliated master portfolio allocable to the Fund divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

9 

Amounts represent the portfolio allocation of the affiliated master portfolio which are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the affiliated master portfolio. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account  value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,035.34      $ 3.97        0.78

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.10      $ 3.94        0.78
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,031.72      $ 7.77        1.53

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.35      $ 7.72        1.53
         

Class R

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,033.86      $ 5.24        1.03

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,019.85      $ 5.20        1.03
         

Class R4

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,037.30      $ 2.65        0.52

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.40      $ 2.63        0.52
         

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,037.32      $ 1.88        0.37

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,023.15      $ 1.87        0.37
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,035.60      $ 3.56        0.70

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.50      $ 3.54        0.70
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,037.86      $ 2.14        0.42

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.90      $ 2.12        0.42

 

1

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                             Value  
Investment Companies: 100.05%                           
Affiliated Master Portfolio: 100.05%                           

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

           $ 5,578,968,088  
          

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $5,475,404,367)

             5,578,968,088      
          

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $5,475,404,367)     100.05        5,578,968,088  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.05        (2,819,604
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 5,576,148,484  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolio were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
   

Value,

end

of period

    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    95     94   $ 147,921,067     $ (13,414,693   $ 75,926,856     $ 1,248,339     $ 5,578,968,088       100.05

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolio, at value (cost $5,475,404,367)

  $ 5,578,968,088  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    3,704,365  

Receivable from manager

    99,026  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    58,870  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    5,582,830,349  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    3,825,308  

Dividends payable

    1,866,268  

Administration fees payable

    295,379  

Distribution fees payable

    20,594  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,370  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    671,946  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    6,681,865  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 5,576,148,484  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 5,458,559,572  

Total distributable earnings

    117,588,912  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 5,576,148,484  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 303,885,908  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    22,329,190  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $13.61  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $14.25  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 30,658,108  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    2,274,717  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $13.48  

Net assets – Class R

  $ 4,660,953  

Shares outstanding – Class R1

    350,875  

Net asset value per share – Class R

    $13.28  

Net assets – Class R4

  $ 5,180,830  

Share outstanding – Class R41

    390,166  

Net asset value per share – Class R4

    $13.28  

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 2,538,896,251  

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    191,304,968  

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $13.27  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 206,299,610  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    15,528,929  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $13.28  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 2,486,566,824  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    187,421,893  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $13.27  

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/95.50 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Interest allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio (net of foreign withholding taxes of $36,825)

  $ 75,926,856  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    1,248,339  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (9,514,721
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    67,660,474  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    1,345,087  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    241,920  

Class C

    26,290  

Class R

    5,171  

Class R4

    3,492  

Class R6

    376,735  

Administrator Class

    103,586  

Institutional Class

    965,228  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    378,000  

Class C

    41,079  

Class R

    8,079  

Class R4

    4,365  

Administrator Class

    258,964  

Distribution fees

 

Class C

    123,003  

Class R

    8,022  

Custody and accounting fees

    92,068  

Professional fees

    17,661  

Registration fees

    118,631  

Shareholder report expenses

    162,779  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    51,114  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    4,341,897  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (1,333,315

Class R4

    (1,005

Class R6

    (293,558

Administrator Class

    (13,572

Institutional Class

    (279,539
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    2,420,908  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    65,239,566  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    147,921,067  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (13,414,693
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    134,506,374  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 199,745,940  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

    

Six months ended

November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

   

Year ended

May 31, 2019

 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 65,239,566       $ 149,517,912  

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

      147,921,067         (17,410,516

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (13,414,693       182,530,737  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      199,745,940         314,638,133  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      (3,082,784       (7,707,522

Class C

      (212,272       (731,013

Class R

      (57,966       (258,514

Class R4

      (102,010       (310,999

Class R6

      (30,756,664       (65,026,382

Administrator Class

      (2,193,765       (6,822,022

Institutional Class

      (28,910,263       (68,704,939
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (65,315,724       (149,561,391
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    2,206,695       29,873,648       5,814,230       74,731,899  

Class C

    315,251       4,223,957       504,131       6,445,467  

Class R

    48,720       646,080       192,684       2,418,555  

Class R4

    73,065       963,092       232,839       2,916,548  

Class R6

    21,503,746       284,962,799       134,743,486       1,690,762,705  

Administrator Class

    1,733,944       22,928,523       7,054,319       87,991,112  

Institutional Class

    30,021,598       395,644,283       62,642,714       786,483,803  
 

 

 

 
      739,242,382         2,651,750,089  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    196,474       2,666,442       517,112       6,661,968  

Class C

    6,684       89,797       27,587       351,123  

Class R

    844       11,169       2,650       33,322  

Class R4

    7,673       101,551       24,725       310,703  

Class R6

    1,791,592       23,712,279       4,654,160       58,457,025  

Administrator Class

    160,841       2,130,235       528,027       6,640,587  

Institutional Class

    1,908,036       25,250,148       4,468,964       56,130,059  
 

 

 

 
      53,961,621         128,584,787  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (2,840,153     (38,382,925     (8,462,820     (108,862,680

Class C

    (670,751     (8,989,905     (1,664,172     (21,223,278

Class R

    (359,638     (4,734,377     (508,524     (6,425,841

Class R4

    (524,646     (6,955,963     (354,232     (4,433,486

Class R6

    (26,148,288     (344,780,641     (53,758,496     (673,745,873

Administrator Class

    (2,247,920     (29,703,310     (13,129,627     (165,688,347

Institutional Class

    (25,559,152     (336,754,626     (150,751,229     (1,886,370,187
 

 

 

 
      (770,301,747       (2,866,749,692
 

 

 

 

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

      22,902,256         (86,414,816
 

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

      157,332,472         78,661,926  
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      5,418,816,012         5,340,154,086  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 5,576,148,484       $ 5,418,816,012  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.28       $12.86       $13.22       $13.28       $13.16       $12.98  

Net investment income

    0.14       0.32       0.24       0.19 1      0.19 1      0.18  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.33       0.42       (0.36     0.00       0.12       0.19  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.47       0.74       (0.12     0.19       0.31       0.37  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.14     (0.32     (0.24     (0.19     (0.19     (0.19

Net realized gains

    0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.06     0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.14     (0.32     (0.24     (0.25     (0.19     (0.19

Net asset value, end of period

    $13.61       $13.28       $12.86       $13.22       $13.28       $13.16  

Total return2

    3.53     5.87     (0.96 )%      1.48     2.36     2.85

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    0.82     0.83     0.83     0.83     0.83     0.83

Net expenses3

    0.78     0.78     0.78     0.78     0.78     0.78

Net investment income3

    2.04     2.50     1.79     1.40     1.43     1.39

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    306     577     542     614     667     586

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $303,886       $302,246       $320,208       $360,276       $699,273       $506,043  

 

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.35

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $13.15       $12.74       $13.09       $13.15       $13.03       $12.86  

Net investment income

    0.09       0.23       0.14       0.09       0.09       0.09  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.33       0.40       (0.35     0.00       0.12       0.17  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.42       0.63       (0.21     0.09       0.21       0.26  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.09     (0.22     (0.14     (0.09     (0.09     (0.09

Net realized gains

    0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.06     0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.09     (0.22     (0.14     (0.15     (0.09     (0.09

Net asset value, end of period

    $13.48       $13.15       $12.74       $13.09       $13.15       $13.03  

Total return1

    3.17     5.04     (1.65 )%      0.72     1.61     2.02

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses2

    1.57     1.58     1.58     1.58     1.58     1.58

Net expenses2

    1.53     1.53     1.53     1.53     1.53     1.53

Net investment income2

    1.29     1.75     1.04     0.68     0.68     0.65

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate3

    306     577     542     614     667     586

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $30,658       $34,494       $47,843       $59,049       $66,612       $72,798  

 

1 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

2 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.35

 

3 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

12  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS R   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.96       $12.55       $12.90       $12.97       $12.85       $12.67  

Net investment income

    0.12 1      0.28 1      0.20 1      0.15 1      0.15 1      0.15 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.32       0.41       (0.35     (0.01     0.12       0.18  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.44       0.69       (0.15     0.14       0.27       0.33  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.12     (0.28     (0.20     (0.15     (0.15     (0.15

Net realized gains

    0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.06     0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.12     (0.28     (0.20     (0.21     (0.15     (0.15

Net asset value, end of period

    $13.28       $12.96       $12.55       $12.90       $12.97       $12.85  

Total return2

    3.39     5.61     (1.19 )%      1.15     2.13     2.63

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.07     1.07     1.08     1.08     1.08     1.08

Net expenses3

    1.03     1.03     1.03     1.03     1.03     1.03

Net investment income3

    1.79     2.25     1.54     1.18     1.18     1.15

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    306     577     542     614     667     586

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $4,661       $8,565       $12,230       $13,826       $17,985       $16,411  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.35

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS R4   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.95       $12.55       $12.89       $12.95       $12.83       $12.66  

Net investment income

    0.15 1      0.35       0.26 1      0.22       0.22       0.21  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.33       0.40       (0.34     0.00       0.12       0.18  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.48       0.75       (0.08     0.22       0.34       0.39  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.15     (0.35     (0.26     (0.22     (0.22     (0.22

Net realized gains

    0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.06     0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.15     (0.35     (0.26     (0.28     (0.22     (0.22

Net asset value, end of period

    $13.28       $12.95       $12.55       $12.89       $12.95       $12.83  

Total return2

    3.73     6.07     (0.61 )%      1.74     2.65     3.07

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    0.59     0.60     0.60     0.60     0.60     0.59

Net expenses3

    0.52     0.52     0.52     0.52     0.52     0.52

Net investment income3

    2.34     2.76     2.01     1.70     1.69     1.53

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    306     577     542     614     667     586

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $5,181       $10,805       $11,680       $43,205       $41,272       $49,261  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.35

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

14  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS R6   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.95       $12.54       $12.89       $12.95       $12.83       $12.66  

Net investment income

    0.16       0.37       0.28       0.24       0.24       0.23  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.32       0.41       (0.35     0.00       0.12       0.17  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.48       0.78       (0.07     0.24       0.36       0.40  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.16     (0.37     (0.28     (0.24     (0.24     (0.23

Net realized gains

    0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.06     0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.16     (0.37     (0.28     (0.30     (0.24     (0.23

Net asset value, end of period

    $13.27       $12.95       $12.54       $12.89       $12.95       $12.83  

Total return1

    3.73     6.31     (0.54 )%      1.90     2.81     3.23

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses2

    0.44     0.45     0.45     0.45     0.45     0.45

Net expenses2

    0.37     0.37     0.37     0.37     0.37     0.37

Net investment income2

    2.45     2.92     2.24     1.87     1.84     1.76

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate3

    306     577     542     614     667     586

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $2,538,896       $2,513,644       $1,360,847       $797,896       $450,791       $726,165  

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

2 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.35

 

3 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  15


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.96       $12.56       $12.90       $12.97       $12.85       $12.67  

Net investment income

    0.14       0.33 1      0.24 1      0.21       0.19       0.19 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.32       0.40       (0.34     (0.02     0.12       0.18  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.46       0.73       (0.10     0.19       0.31       0.37  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.14     (0.33     (0.24     (0.20     (0.19     (0.19

Net realized gains

    0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.06     0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.14     (0.33     (0.24     (0.26     (0.19     (0.19

Net asset value, end of period

    $13.28       $12.96       $12.56       $12.90       $12.97       $12.85  

Total return2

    3.56     5.87     (0.79 )%      1.48     2.47     2.96

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    0.76     0.76     0.77     0.77     0.77     0.77

Net expenses3

    0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70

Net investment income3

    2.11     2.58     1.86     1.50     1.51     1.47

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    306     577     542     614     667     586

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $206,300       $205,825       $269,057       $373,042       $529,530       $487,981  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.35

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

16  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.94       $12.54       $12.88       $12.95       $12.83       $12.66  

Net investment income

    0.16       0.36       0.28       0.23       0.23       0.22  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.33       0.40       (0.34     (0.01     0.12       0.18  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.49       0.76       (0.06     0.22       0.35       0.40  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.16     (0.36     (0.28     (0.23     (0.23     (0.23

Net realized gains

    0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.06     0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.16     (0.36     (0.28     (0.29     (0.23     (0.23

Net asset value, end of period

    $13.27       $12.94       $12.54       $12.88       $12.95       $12.83  

Total return1

    3.79     6.18     (0.51 )%      1.77     2.76     3.17

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses2

    0.49     0.50     0.50     0.50     0.50     0.50

Net expenses2

    0.42     0.42     0.42     0.42     0.42     0.42

Net investment income2

    2.39     2.86     2.16     1.82     1.79     1.75

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate3

    306     577     542     614     667     586

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $2,486,567       $2,343,238       $3,318,290       $3,166,348       $2,102,073       $1,360,398  

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

2 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.35

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.35

 

3 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investment in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  17


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a separate diversified portfolio (the “affiliated Master Portfolio”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. The affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio as a partnership investment and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio for the six months ended November 30, 2019 are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund owned 94% of Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily. Securities held in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued as discussed in the Notes to Financial Statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio, which are included elsewhere in this report.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income are declared daily and paid monthly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $5,477,388,908 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 101,579,180  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 101,579,180  

 

 

18  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards which consisted of $66,843,700 in short-term capital losses and $63,431,926 in long-term capital losses.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolio was measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The investment objective and the value of the affiliate Master Portfolio was as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective   

Value of affiliated

Master Portfolio

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

   Seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation    $5,578,968,088

The affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As long as the Fund continues to invest substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio, the Fund pays Funds Management an investment management fee only for fund-level administrative services at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee

First $5 billion

   0.05%

Next $5 billion

   0.04

Over $10 billion

   0.03

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to the affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     

Class-level

administration fee

 

Class A, Class C, Class R

     0.16

Class R4, Institutional Class

     0.08  

Class R6

     0.03  

Administrator Class

     0.10  

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund  |  19


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 0.78% for Class A shares, 1.53% for Class C shares, 1.03% for Class R shares, 0.52% for Class R4 shares, 0.37% for Class R6 shares, 0.70% Administrator Class shares, and 0.42% for Institutional Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fees

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C and Class R shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Distribution fees are charged to Class C and Class R shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares and 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class R shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $2,433 from the sale of Class A shares. Funds Distributor did not receive any contingent deferred sales charges from Class A or Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, Class R and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. Class R4 is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.10% of its average daily net assets. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio. Purchases and sales have been calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage of the affiliated Master Portfolio by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Purchases at cost

     Sales proceeds

U.S.

government

    

Non-U.S.

government

    

U.S.

government

    

Non-U.S.

government

$15,951,276,421      $1,946,336,202      $16,050,488,595      $1,746,684,236

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

8. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

20  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Agency Securities: 36.10%  

FHLMC (1 Month LIBOR +0.30%) ±

    2.07     8-15-2040      $ 7,041,945      $ 6,994,069  

FHLMC (1 Month LIBOR +0.35%) ±

    2.12       12-15-2048        2,189,974        2,183,222  

FHLMC

    2.50       6-1-2028        3,240,453        3,278,473  

FHLMC

    2.50       6-1-2028        3,432,013        3,472,305  

FHLMC (1 Month LIBOR +0.35%) ±

    2.85       10-15-2037        6,022,624        5,978,469  

FHLMC

    3.00       5-1-2047        48,889        50,225  

FHLMC

    3.00       10-15-2047        19,158,094        19,626,132  

FHLMC

    3.00       6-15-2048        15,250,658        15,481,402  

FHLMC

    3.00       6-1-2049        4,517,508        4,590,987  

FHLMC

    3.00       12-1-2049        19,212,815        19,512,728  

FHLMC

    3.50       2-1-2048        3,417,495        3,573,317  

FHLMC

    3.50       8-1-2048        3,783,597        3,969,993  

FHLMC

    3.50       4-1-2049        6,862,366        7,220,427  

FHLMC

    3.50       7-1-2049        3,543,235        3,657,573  

FHLMC

    3.50       7-1-2049        7,897,489        8,309,575  

FHLMC

    3.50       8-1-2049        10,526,167        11,075,418  

FHLMC

    3.50       9-1-2049        2,588,735        2,667,116  

FHLMC

    3.50       9-1-2049        1,193,627        1,255,911  

FHLMC

    3.50       9-1-2049        11,605,550        12,211,132  

FHLMC

    3.50       11-1-2049        20,441,090        21,121,123  

FHLMC

    4.00       1-1-2035        216,308        232,513  

FHLMC

    4.00       1-1-2036        326,569        348,030  

FHLMC

    4.00       10-1-2036        2,103,039        2,236,066  

FHLMC

    4.00       3-1-2037        262,301        280,786  

FHLMC

    4.00       3-1-2037        282,412        303,528  

FHLMC

    4.00       3-1-2037        488,514        520,549  

FHLMC

    4.00       4-1-2037        2,098,584        2,236,206  

FHLMC

    4.00       4-1-2037        2,658,125        2,845,348  

FHLMC

    4.00       1-1-2048        1,855,049        1,989,719  

FHLMC

    4.00       3-1-2048        29,899,328        31,915,354  

FHLMC

    4.00       2-1-2049        27,201,921        28,216,708  

FHLMC

    4.00       7-1-2049        14,561,865        15,707,542  

FHLMC

    4.00       7-1-2049        44,531,038        47,505,434  

FHLMC

    4.00       9-1-2049        66,000,168        70,408,669  

FHLMC

    4.50       6-1-2039        252,026        280,113  

FHLMC

    4.50       7-1-2039        274,278        304,923  

FHLMC

    5.00       5-1-2048        10,974,983        12,090,533  

FHLMC

    6.50       4-1-2021        186        187  

FHLMC Series 1590 Class IA (1 Month LIBOR +1.05%) ±

    2.82       10-15-2023        10,528        10,672  

FHLMC Series 1897 Class K

    7.00       9-15-2026        382        420  

FHLMC Series 1935 Class FL (1 Month LIBOR +0.70%) ±

    2.47       2-15-2027        1,294        1,307  

FHLMC Series 2423 Class MC

    7.00       3-15-2032        8,983        10,364  

FHLMC Series 264 Class 30

    3.00       7-15-2042        15,963,561        16,426,383  

FHLMC Series 4426 Class QC

    1.75       7-15-2037        6,858,034        6,771,559  

FHLMC Series 4705 Class A

    4.50       9-15-2042        5,840,167        6,261,999  

FHLMC Series 4763 Class CA

    3.00       9-15-2038        1,737,585        1,791,589  

FHLMC Series 4767 Class KA

    3.00       3-15-2048        8,712,891        8,963,675  

FHLMC Series 4786 Class DP

    4.50       7-15-2042        4,051,292        4,123,464  

FHLMC Series 4796 Class AK

    3.00       5-15-2048        15,495,100        15,736,908  

FHLMC Series 4897 Class F (1 Month LIBOR +0.40%) ±

    2.17       7-15-2049        2,217,024        2,216,321  

FNMA

    1.50       1-25-2043        12,869,281        12,505,855  

FNMA

    1.50       4-25-2043        1,679,629        1,619,468  

FNMA

    1.70       8-25-2033        16,417,376        16,129,789  

FNMA (1 Month LIBOR +0.25%) ±

    1.96       11-25-2048        11,285,323        11,207,201  

FNMA

    2.00       6-25-2038        21,903,220        21,700,015  

FNMA (1 Month LIBOR +0.35%) ±

    2.06       5-25-2049        6,898,614        6,879,617  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Agency Securities (continued)  

FNMA (1 Month LIBOR +0.35%) ±

    2.06 %       7-25-2049      $ 3,072,083      $ 3,059,495  

FNMA (1 Month LIBOR +0.40%) ±

    2.12       12-25-2049        10,172,031        10,138,654  

FNMA (1 Month LIBOR +0.45%) ±

    2.16       10-25-2046        14,098,390        14,088,299  

FNMA (1 Month LIBOR +0.45%) ±

    2.16       8-25-2049        15,938,599        15,897,364  

FNMA (1 Month LIBOR +0.45%) ±

    2.16       10-25-2049        4,381,559        4,373,352  

FNMA (1 Month LIBOR +0.40%) ±

    2.43       4-25-2059        4,126,267        4,122,146  

FNMA

    2.50       8-1-2031        4,784,907        4,832,614  

FNMA %%

    2.50       12-12-2049        60,800,000        60,187,250  

FNMA (12 Month LIBOR +1.58%) ±

    2.62       5-1-2045        4,102,566        4,170,884  

FNMA (12 Month LIBOR +1.59%) ±

    2.66       1-1-2046        19,503,677        19,839,135  

FNMA (12 Month LIBOR +1.58%) ±

    2.74       6-1-2045        5,335,804        5,439,314  

FNMA (12 Month LIBOR +1.60%) ±

    2.96       8-1-2047        3,496,998        3,551,495  

FNMA

    3.00       1-1-2043        7,992,739        8,224,213  

FNMA

    3.00       11-25-2043        4,232,543        4,310,992  

FNMA

    3.00       7-25-2049        7,846,062        8,193,187  

FNMA

    3.00       7-25-2049        6,121,360        6,360,483  

FNMA

    3.00       12-1-2049        54,299,000        55,085,866  

FNMA %%

    3.00       1-14-2050        15,600,000        15,807,419  

FNMA (12 Month LIBOR +1.62%) ±

    3.10       3-1-2047        4,549,504        4,639,049  

FNMA

    3.50       8-1-2048        7,003,776        7,384,415  

FNMA

    3.50       4-1-2049        26,423        27,758  

FNMA

    3.50       5-1-2049        1,862,651        1,924,831  

FNMA

    3.50       6-1-2049        2,306,920        2,391,740  

FNMA

    3.50       6-1-2049        40,318,641        42,422,477  

FNMA

    3.50       7-1-2049        39,413        41,403  

FNMA

    3.50       7-1-2049        181,523        191,096  

FNMA

    3.50       8-1-2049        2,740,707        2,883,730  

FNMA

    3.50       8-1-2049        93,853        98,698  

FNMA

    3.50       11-1-2049        22,217,359        22,956,485  

FNMA %%

    3.50       12-12-2049        44,800,000        45,986,500  

FNMA %%

    3.50       1-14-2050        16,100,000        16,526,856  

FNMA

    4.00       7-1-2033        3,128,307        3,294,723  

FNMA

    4.00       9-1-2033        5,414,568        5,661,664  

FNMA

    4.00       12-1-2036        379,977        404,740  

FNMA

    4.00       10-1-2037        2,682,030        2,848,081  

FNMA

    4.00       9-1-2045        1,313,195        1,434,595  

FNMA

    4.00       10-1-2046        728,404        767,206  

FNMA

    4.00       12-1-2046        938,953        994,668  

FNMA

    4.00       2-1-2047        6,712,896        7,223,435  

FNMA

    4.00       4-1-2047        764,858        835,393  

FNMA

    4.00       4-1-2047        787,189        819,506  

FNMA

    4.00       4-1-2047        949,405        1,012,404  

FNMA

    4.00       4-1-2047        3,570,238        3,820,908  

FNMA

    4.00       5-1-2047        4,242,928        4,540,827  

FNMA

    4.00       7-1-2047        2,916,635        3,094,324  

FNMA

    4.00       9-1-2047        3,540,898        3,749,990  

FNMA

    4.00       10-1-2047        777,924        845,043  

FNMA

    4.00       10-1-2047        754,961        815,586  

FNMA

    4.00       10-1-2047        2,703,527        2,862,481  

FNMA

    4.00       11-1-2047        28,393,552        29,747,601  

FNMA

    4.00       11-1-2047        452,710        479,327  

FNMA

    4.00       11-1-2047        864,316        914,911  

FNMA

    4.00       2-1-2048        4,438,660        4,750,070  

FNMA

    4.00       3-1-2048        20,535,122        22,268,830  

FNMA

    4.00       7-1-2048        29,888,965        31,838,694  

FNMA

    4.00       8-1-2048        42,771,206        44,598,383  

 

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

 

 

22  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Agency Securities (continued)  

FNMA

    4.00 %       9-1-2048      $ 8,633,643      $ 9,210,490  

FNMA

    4.00       10-1-2048        7,311,129        7,799,599  

FNMA

    4.00       11-1-2048        7,367,423        7,859,659  

FNMA

    4.00       1-1-2049        28,834,160        29,912,841  

FNMA

    4.00       3-1-2049        3,349,580        3,550,009  

FNMA

    4.00       4-1-2049        4,496,088        4,769,695  

FNMA

    4.00       4-1-2049        13,731,239        14,705,363  

FNMA

    4.00       5-1-2049        568,257        602,838  

FNMA

    4.00       5-1-2049        456,046        483,381  

FNMA

    4.00       5-1-2049        4,052,904        4,287,196  

FNMA

    4.00       6-1-2049        4,412,542        4,684,668  

FNMA

    4.00       6-1-2049        2,174,525        2,293,870  

FNMA

    4.00       7-1-2049        40,975,204        43,712,245  

FNMA

    4.00       10-1-2049        21,109,270        22,519,402  

FNMA

    4.50       5-1-2034        1,586,671        1,706,502  

FNMA

    4.50       6-1-2041        304,809        330,374  

FNMA

    4.50       3-1-2043        3,371,645        3,654,124  

FNMA

    4.50       3-1-2044        1,064,329        1,152,250  

FNMA

    4.50       10-1-2045        5,437,922        5,887,152  

FNMA

    4.50       2-1-2046        142,680        154,306  

FNMA

    4.50       3-1-2048        2,180,968        2,351,496  

FNMA

    4.50       4-1-2048        4,504,030        4,856,205  

FNMA

    4.50       5-1-2048        2,636,307        2,838,748  

FNMA

    4.50       10-1-2048        2,882,410        3,106,980  

FNMA

    4.50       2-1-2049        12,448,434        13,568,861  

FNMA

    4.50       3-1-2049        4,611,320        4,946,340  

FNMA

    4.50       4-1-2049        3,658,692        3,944,581  

FNMA

    4.50       5-1-2049        1,621,135        1,747,809  

FNMA

    4.50       6-1-2049        8,865,522        9,663,494  

FNMA

    4.50       7-1-2049        8,328,239        9,077,874  

FNMA

    4.50       7-1-2049        13,317,939        14,399,151  

FNMA

    4.50       8-1-2049        7,802,962        8,498,233  

FNMA

    5.00       7-1-2044        626,363        685,419  

FNMA

    5.00       6-1-2048        15,083,788        16,768,439  

FNMA

    5.00       9-1-2048        3,017,465        3,290,441  

FNMA

    5.00       10-1-2048        7,880,132        8,760,280  

FNMA

    5.00       10-1-2048        169,631        186,767  

FNMA

    5.00       1-1-2049        11,326,530        12,358,788  

FNMA

    5.00       2-1-2049        29,466,548        32,757,751  

FNMA

    5.00       6-1-2049        47,317,433        52,055,261  

FNMA

    5.00       8-1-2049        53,994,634        60,025,796  

FNMA

    5.00       8-1-2049        29,859,931        32,877,055  

FNMA

    5.50       12-1-2048        7,719,855        8,531,493  

FNMA

    5.50       6-1-2049        18,472,648        20,773,404  

FNMA

    6.00       4-1-2022        3,504        3,862  

FNMA

    6.00       2-1-2029        3,802        4,203  

FNMA

    6.00       3-1-2033        34,030        39,082  

FNMA

    6.00       11-1-2033        11,855        13,607  

FNMA Series 1999-54 Class LH

    6.50       11-25-2029        7,590        8,410  

FNMA Series 2005-31 Class PB

    5.50       4-25-2035        70,000        78,289  

FNMA Series 2017-13 Class PA

    3.00       8-25-2046        5,280,441        5,454,970  

FNMA Series 2017-M7 Class A2 ±±

    2.96       2-25-2027        2,108,000        2,211,890  

FNMA Series 2018-14 Class KC

    3.00       3-25-2048        5,432,283        5,580,569  

FNMA Series 2018-15 Class AB

    3.00       3-25-2048        1,919,465        1,978,236  

FNMA Series 2018-45 Class GA

    3.00       6-25-2048        13,422,952        13,574,437  

FNMA Series 2018-8 Class KL

    2.50       3-25-2047        6,997,992        7,017,683  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  23


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Agency Securities (continued)  

FNMA Series 2019-60 Class BF (1 Month LIBOR +0.45%) ±

    2.16 %       10-25-2049      $ 5,632,814      $ 5,623,319  

FNMA Series 414 Class A35

    3.50       10-25-2042        14,012,727        14,819,239  

GNMA %%

    3.00       12-19-2049        55,500,000        57,043,594  

GNMA %%

    3.00       1-21-2050        57,300,000        58,847,100  

GNMA

    3.50       1-20-2048        6,207,719        6,517,008  

GNMA

    3.50       3-20-2049        7,744,191        7,892,499  

GNMA %%

    3.50       12-19-2049        98,400,000        101,676,826  

GNMA

    4.00       10-20-2047        1,867,082        1,979,007  

GNMA

    4.00       3-20-2048        2,152,772        2,252,668  

GNMA

    4.00       4-20-2048        3,264,410        3,414,888  

GNMA

    4.00       4-20-2048        2,750,167        2,885,345  

GNMA

    4.00       4-20-2048        1,828,384        1,924,856  

GNMA

    4.00       5-20-2049        3,220,433        3,430,188  

GNMA

    4.00       6-20-2049        9,330,149        9,696,236  

GNMA

    4.00       6-20-2049        10,854,062        11,561,378  

GNMA

    4.00       7-20-2049        7,738,848        8,244,932  

GNMA

    4.00       8-20-2049        25,352,678        26,437,859  

GNMA

    4.50       8-15-2047        1,792,484        1,935,688  

GNMA

    4.50       2-20-2049        11,441,722        12,429,070  

GNMA

    4.50       3-20-2049        6,112,792        6,557,994  

GNMA

    4.50       3-20-2049        1,459,695        1,566,783  

GNMA

    4.50       4-20-2049        3,175,841        3,408,084  

GNMA

    4.50       5-20-2049        3,963,678        4,139,342  

GNMA

    4.50       5-20-2049        2,770,955        2,975,050  

GNMA

    4.50       5-20-2049        2,526,913        2,714,373  

GNMA

    4.50       5-20-2049        1,894,336        2,034,717  

GNMA

    5.00       12-20-2039        208,193        226,877  

GNMA

    5.00       11-20-2045        369,141        405,104  

GNMA

    5.00       3-20-2048        22,896,370        24,448,948  

GNMA

    5.00       6-20-2048        36,956,643        39,271,733  

GNMA

    5.00       8-20-2048        11,689,392        12,404,703  

GNMA

    5.00       12-20-2048        15,517,013        16,378,937  

GNMA

    5.00       1-20-2049        8,804,497        9,724,339  

GNMA

    5.00       2-20-2049        3,545,803        3,826,958  

GNMA

    5.00       3-20-2049        3,032,900        3,269,663  

GNMA

    5.00       5-20-2049        548,290        580,925  

GNMA

    5.00       6-20-2049        3,878,729        4,108,058  

GNMA

    5.00       7-20-2049        6,799,773        7,207,751  

GNMA

    5.00       9-20-2049        2,454,238        2,595,272  

GNMA Series 2012-141 Class WA ±±

    4.53       11-16-2041        1,661,994        1,848,461  

GNMA Series 2017-167 Class BQ

    2.50       8-20-2044        7,976,446        8,042,569  

GNMA Series 2019-132 Class NA

    3.50       9-20-2049        13,329,065        13,771,181  

GNMA Series 2019-20 Class JK

    3.50       2-20-2049        20,361,371        21,200,345  

Total Agency Securities (Cost $2,123,491,967)

 

     2,145,420,736  
         

 

 

 

Asset-Backed Securities: 10.03%

 

Avis Budget Rental Car Funding LLC Series 2017-1A Class A 144A

    3.07       9-20-2023        1,620,000        1,652,053  

Avis Budget Rental Car Funding LLC Series 2019-2A Class A 144A

    3.35       9-22-2025        8,104,000        8,421,511  

Avis Budget Rental Car Funding LLC Serries 2019-3A Class A1 144A

    2.36       3-20-2026        12,005,000        11,957,239  

College Avenue Student Loan Trust Series 2017-A Class A1 (1 Month LIBOR +1.65%) 144A±

    3.36       11-26-2046        3,678,599        3,682,695  

College Avenue Student Loan Trust Series 2018-A Class A2 144A

    4.13       12-26-2047        2,536,644        2,657,420  

College Avenue Student Loan Trust Series 2019- A Class A2 144A

    3.28       12-28-2048        2,467,903        2,467,515  

Discover Card Execution Note Trust Series 2019-A3 Class A

    1.89       10-15-2024        6,283,000        6,286,434  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust Series 2017-1 Class A 144A

    2.62       8-15-2028        5,592,000        5,665,846  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust Series 2017-2 Class A 144A

    2.36       3-15-2029        13,970,000        14,082,999  

 

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

 

 

24  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Agency Securities (continued)  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust Series 2018-1 Class A 144A

    3.19 %       7-15-2031      $ 14,175,000      $ 14,752,129  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust Series 2018-2 Class A 144A

    3.47       1-15-2030        6,304,000        6,567,475  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust Series 2019-1 Class A 144A

    3.52       7-15-2030        6,780,000        7,103,674  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust Series 2019-C Class A4

    1.93       4-15-2025        3,999,000        3,998,843  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2015-3A Class A 144A

    2.67       9-25-2021        5,139,000        5,155,312  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2016-2A Class A2 144A

    2.95       3-25-2022        6,650,000        6,704,768  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2016-4A Class A 144A

    2.65       7-25-2022        518,000        520,510  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2017-1A Class A 144A

    2.96       10-25-2021        4,777,000        4,805,547  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2017-2A Class A 144A

    3.29       10-25-2023        4,967,000        5,088,775  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2018-1A Class A 144A

    3.29       2-25-2024        4,046,000        4,154,207  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2018-2A Class A 144A

    3.65       6-27-2022        5,490,000        5,599,885  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2018-3A Class A 144A

    4.03       7-25-2024        5,685,000        5,985,291  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2019-1A Class A 144A

    3.71       3-25-2023        8,669,000        8,922,871  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2019-2A Class A 144A

    3.42       5-25-2025        8,251,000        8,538,481  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC Series 2019-3A Class A 144A

    2.67       12-26-2025        9,891,000        9,883,751  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2014-1 Class A3 (1 Month LIBOR +0.51%) ±

    2.22       6-25-2031        4,394,661        4,338,966  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2014-AA Class A3 (1 Month LIBOR +1.60%) 144A±

    3.37       10-15-2031        6,169,000        6,258,755  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2014-CTA Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.70%) 144A±

    2.47       9-16-2024        515,401        515,467  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2015-1 Class A2 (1 Month LIBOR +0.60%) ±

    2.31       4-25-2040        13,319,100        13,095,187  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2016-1A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.70%) 144A±

    2.41       2-25-2070        7,184,429        7,110,115  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2016-3A Class A2 (1 Month LIBOR +0.85%) 144A±

    2.56       6-25-2065        1,297,959        1,299,982  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2016-5A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +1.25%) 144A±

    2.96       6-25-2065        7,694,641        7,726,623  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2016-AA Class A2B (1 Month LIBOR +2.15%) 144A±

    3.92       12-15-2045        2,410,819        2,487,367  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2017-2A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.77%) 144A±

    2.48       9-25-2065        4,277,189        4,222,851  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2017-5A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.80%) 144A±

    2.51       7-26-2066        3,718,025        3,671,885  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2018-A Class A2 144A

    3.19       2-18-2042        2,233,000        2,260,454  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2018-BA Class A2A 144A

    3.61       12-15-2059        4,454,000        4,625,929  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2018-CA Class A2 144A

    3.52       6-16-2042        2,507,000        2,565,383  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2018-DA Class A2A 144A

    4.00       12-15-2059        10,280,000        10,692,429  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2018-EA Class A2 144A

    4.00       12-15-2059        6,822,000        7,127,570  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2019 -D Class A2A 144A

    3.01       12-15-2059        10,199,000        10,442,508  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2019-3A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.83%) 144A±

    2.54       7-25-2068        21,904,233        21,806,166  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2019-4A Class A2 (1 Month LIBOR +0.81%) 144A±

    2.90       7-25-2068        10,562,000        10,532,437  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2019-A Class A2A 144A

    3.42       1-15-2043        12,133,000        12,561,544  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2019-BA Class A2A 144A

    3.39       12-15-2059        8,228,000        8,540,370  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2019-CA Class A2 144A

    3.13       2-15-2068        12,682,000        12,873,182  

Navient Student Loan Trust Series 2019-FA Class A2 144A

    2.60       8-15-2068        12,057,000        12,067,532  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2004-4 Class A5 (3 Month LIBOR +0.16%) ±

    2.10       1-25-2037        7,335,762        7,182,347  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2004-5 Class A5 (3 Month LIBOR +0.18%) ±

    2.12       10-27-2036        2,636,775        2,564,262  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2005-1 Class A5 (3 Month LIBOR +0.11%) ±

    2.05       10-25-2033        22,209,215        21,637,341  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2005-2 Class A5 (3 Month LIBOR +0.10%) ±

    2.26       3-23-2037        21,463,355        20,908,972  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  25


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Asset-Backed Securities (continued)  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2005-3 Class A5 (3 Month LIBOR +0.12%) ±

    2.28 %       12-24-2035      $ 16,400,846      $ 16,119,079  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2005-4 Class A4 (3 Month LIBOR +0.18%) ±

    2.34       3-22-2032        3,814,341        3,674,102  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2012-2A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.80%) 144A±

    2.51       12-26-2033        2,735,168        2,725,279  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2012-4A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.70%) 144A±

    2.41       9-27-2038        5,050,377        5,012,010  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2013-1A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.60%) 144A±

    2.31       6-25-2041        3,924,059        3,843,225  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2014-1A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.57%) 144A±

    2.28       9-25-2041        2,058,705        2,028,298  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust Series 2016-1A Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.80%) 144A±

    2.51       9-25-2065        7,148,773        7,157,847  

Santander Revolving Auto Loan Trust Series 2019-A Class A 144A

    2.51       1-26-2032        19,197,000        19,168,101  

SLC Student Loan Trust Series 2005-2 Class A4 (3 Month LIBOR +0.16%) ±

    2.28       12-15-2039        4,742,000        4,484,823  

SLC Student Loan Trust Series 2007-1 Class A5 (3 Month LIBOR +0.09%) ±

    2.00       2-15-2068        4,159,000        3,867,834  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2003-1 Class A5C (3 Month LIBOR +0.75%) 144A±

    2.87       12-15-2032        3,501,373        3,409,819  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2004-10 Class A7A (3 Month LIBOR +0.60%) 144A±

    2.54       10-25-2029        12,249,000        12,184,287  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2005-3 Class A6 (3 Month LIBOR +0.15%) ±

    2.09       4-25-2040        5,328,000        5,068,897  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2007-2 Class A4 (3 Month LIBOR +0.06%) ±

    2.00       7-25-2022        10,295,990        10,020,291  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2008-1 Class A4A (3 Month LIBOR +1.60%) ±

    3.72       12-15-2032        3,716,866        3,776,332  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2010-1 Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.40%) ±

    2.11       3-25-2025        1,688,769        1,631,823  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2012-1 Class A3 (1 Month LIBOR +0.95%) ±

    2.66       9-25-2028        12,033,822        11,854,616  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2012-2 Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.70%) ±

    2.41       1-25-2029        10,438,130        10,199,548  

SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2012-6 Class A3 (1 Month LIBOR +0.75%) ±

    2.46       5-26-2026        2,737,857        2,719,474  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2015-A Class A2B (1 Month LIBOR +1.00%) 144A±

    2.77       6-15-2027        2,915,356        2,921,672  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2015-B Class A2A 144A

    2.98       7-15-2027        526,604        530,498  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2015-C Class A2B (1 Month LIBOR +1.40%) 144A±

    3.17       7-15-2027        1,580,323        1,593,959  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2016-A Class A2A 144A

    2.70       5-15-2031        7,788,613        7,834,036  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2016-A Class A2B (1 Month LIBOR +1.50%) 144A±

    3.27       5-15-2031        10,241,487        10,356,874  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2016-B Class A2A 144A

    2.43       2-17-2032        3,721,855        3,720,502  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2016-B Class A2B (1 Month LIBOR +1.45%) 144A±

    3.22       2-17-2032        10,249,220        10,356,975  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2016-C Class A2B (1 Month LIBOR +1.10%) 144A±

    2.87       9-15-2034        4,009,575        4,028,846  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2017-A Class A2B (1 Month LIBOR +0.90%) 144A±

    2.67       9-15-2034        2,988,544        2,994,458  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2017-B Class A2A 144A

    2.82       10-15-2035        3,626,823        3,656,852  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2017-B Class A2B (1 Month LIBOR +0.75%) 144A±

    2.52       10-15-2035        7,314,002        7,309,835  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2018-C Class A2A 144A

    3.63       11-15-2035        4,055,000        4,227,651  

SMB Private Education Loan Trust Series 2019-A Class A2A 144A

    3.44       7-15-2036        16,387,000        16,842,367  

Structured Asset Securities Corporation Series 1998-2 Class A (1 Month LIBOR +0.52%) ±

    2.23       2-25-2028        3,916        3,906  

World Financial Network Credit Card Master Trust Series 2018-B Class A

    3.46       7-15-2025        2,883,000        2,952,164  

World Financial Network Credit Card Master Trust Series 2019-A Class A

    3.14       12-15-2025        1,651,000        1,687,061  

World Financial Network Credit Card Master Trust Series 2019-C Class A

    2.21       7-15-2026        11,894,000        11,928,984  

Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $590,722,358)

 

     595,663,180  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

26  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Corporate Bonds and Notes: 20.79%

 

Communication Services: 1.94%

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services: 0.91%  

AT&T Incorporated

    3.00 %       2-15-2022      $ 3,116,000      $ 3,178,089  

AT&T Incorporated

    3.00       6-30-2022        1,894,000        1,931,524  

AT&T Incorporated

    3.40       5-15-2025        3,986,000        4,160,082  

AT&T Incorporated

    3.80       2-15-2027        1,589,000        1,689,451  

AT&T Incorporated

    3.90       3-11-2024        1,898,000        2,009,246  

AT&T Incorporated

    4.30       2-15-2030        1,386,000        1,523,645  

AT&T Incorporated

    4.35       3-1-2029        34,000        37,511  

AT&T Incorporated

    4.50       3-9-2048        986,000        1,073,182  

AT&T Incorporated

    4.85       3-1-2039        1,956,000        2,225,699  

AT&T Incorporated

    5.15       2-15-2050        4,385,000        5,224,297  

AT&T Incorporated

    5.25       3-1-2037        1,166,000        1,388,830  

AT&T Incorporated

    5.35       12-15-2043        978,000        1,164,066  

AT&T Incorporated

    5.38       10-15-2041        1,565,000        1,824,799  

AT&T Incorporated

    5.45       3-1-2047        1,410,000        1,722,601  

AT&T Incorporated

    5.70       3-1-2057        1,166,000        1,480,447  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    4.02       12-3-2029        2,152,000        2,403,628  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    4.13       8-15-2046        4,730,000        5,358,780  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    4.27       1-15-2036        872,000        994,511  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    4.33       9-21-2028        3,432,000        3,892,601  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    4.40       11-1-2034        4,247,000        4,929,093  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    4.52       9-15-2048        967,000        1,162,972  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    4.67       3-15-2055        520,000        650,050  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    5.01       4-15-2049        967,000        1,243,227  

Verizon Communications Incorporated

    5.50       3-16-2047        1,885,000        2,560,767  
            53,829,098  
         

 

 

 
Entertainment: 0.18%  

The Walt Disney Company

    1.75       8-30-2024        5,958,000        5,891,585  

The Walt Disney Company

    2.00       9-1-2029        3,970,000        3,862,612  

The Walt Disney Company

    2.75       9-1-2049        901,000        866,656  
            10,620,853  
         

 

 

 
Media: 0.85%  

Charter Communications Operating LLC

    4.46       7-23-2022        1,916,000        2,009,704  

Charter Communications Operating LLC

    4.80       3-1-2050        5,346,000        5,569,914  

Charter Communications Operating LLC

    5.38       5-1-2047        1,696,000        1,887,997  

Comcast Corporation

    2.65       2-1-2030        7,744,000        7,793,407  

Comcast Corporation

    3.45       10-1-2021        4,923,000        5,059,315  

Comcast Corporation

    3.45       2-1-2050        2,592,000        2,657,938  

Comcast Corporation

    3.70       4-15-2024        3,921,000        4,168,576  

Comcast Corporation

    3.95       10-15-2025        3,546,000        3,868,213  

Comcast Corporation

    4.00       3-1-2048        2,975,000        3,325,202  

Comcast Corporation

    4.15       10-15-2028        1,997,000        2,251,388  

Comcast Corporation

    4.60       10-15-2038        4,964,000        5,952,579  

Comcast Corporation

    4.70       10-15-2048        994,000        1,233,512  

Comcast Corporation

    4.95       10-15-2058        1,484,000        1,937,004  

Discovery Incorporated

    5.30       5-15-2049        1,046,000        1,206,881  

Time Warner Cable Incorporated

    6.55       5-1-2037        1,386,000        1,692,750  
            50,614,380  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  27


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Consumer Discretionary: 0.57%

 

Automobiles: 0.06%  

General Motors Company

    5.95 %       4-1-2049      $ 3,228,000      $ 3,522,625  
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.30%  

GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II Incorporated

    4.00       1-15-2030        3,798,000        3,832,543  

GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II Incorporated

    5.30       1-15-2029        2,054,000        2,268,325  

McDonald’s Corporation

    2.63       9-1-2029        6,048,000        6,045,052  

McDonald’s Corporation

    4.45       9-1-2048        2,348,000        2,737,371  

Starbucks Corporation

    3.75       12-1-2047        2,755,000        2,846,857  

Starbucks Corporation

    3.80       8-15-2025        211,000        227,137  
            17,957,285  
         

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 0.21%  

Home Depot Incorporated

    4.50       12-6-2048        1,932,000        2,419,536  

Lowe’s Companies Incorporated

    3.65       4-5-2029        9,333,000        10,003,385  
            12,422,921  
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 1.94%

 

Beverages: 0.80%  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Company

    3.65       2-1-2026        2,950,000        3,163,823  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Company

    4.90       2-1-2046        8,428,000        10,110,564  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Incorporated

    4.60       4-15-2048        799,000        926,521  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Incorporated

    4.70       2-1-2036        2,148,000        2,496,798  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Incorporated

    4.15       1-23-2025        6,162,000        6,706,386  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Incorporated

    4.90       1-23-2031        3,489,000        4,175,200  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Incorporated

    5.55       1-23-2049        2,568,000        3,404,080  

Constellation Brands Incorporated

    3.15       8-1-2029        7,434,000        7,509,532  

Constellation Brands Incorporated

    3.20       2-15-2023        986,000        1,013,148  

Constellation Brands Incorporated

    3.50       5-9-2027        1,410,000        1,477,874  

Constellation Brands Incorporated

    3.60       2-15-2028        3,114,000        3,305,805  

Constellation Brands Incorporated

    3.70       12-6-2026        1,663,000        1,777,809  

Constellation Brands Incorporated

    4.40       11-15-2025        301,000        330,123  

Constellation Brands Incorporated

    5.25       11-15-2048        986,000        1,215,153  
            47,612,816  
         

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 0.54%  

Costco Wholesale Corporation

    3.00       5-18-2027        6,708,000        7,103,170  

Walmart Incorporated

    2.38       9-24-2029        4,785,000        4,809,992  

Walmart Incorporated

    2.95       9-24-2049        3,481,000        3,494,139  

Walmart Incorporated

    3.55       6-26-2025        5,143,000        5,537,214  

Walmart Incorporated

    3.70       6-26-2028        9,206,000        10,177,363  

Walmart Incorporated

    4.05       6-29-2048        1,003,000        1,200,178  
            32,322,056  
         

 

 

 
Food Products: 0.17%  

Hershey Company

    2.05       11-15-2024        4,141,000        4,147,020  

Kraft Heinz Foods Company

    2.80       7-2-2020        793,000        795,671  

Kraft Heinz Foods Company

    3.00       6-1-2026        2,951,000        2,939,889  

Kraft Heinz Foods Company

    4.38       6-1-2046        1,973,000        1,920,526  
            9,803,106  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

28  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Personal Products: 0.13%

 

Estee Lauder Company

    2.38 %       12-1-2029      $ 2,897,000      $ 2,891,872  

Estee Lauder Company

    3.13       12-1-2049        4,629,000        4,670,391  
            7,562,263  
         

 

 

 
Tobacco: 0.30%  

Altria Group Incorporated

    4.80       2-14-2029        4,213,000        4,657,924  

Altria Group Incorporated

    5.95       2-14-2049        1,027,000        1,235,410  

BAT Capital Corporation

    3.22       9-6-2026        2,127,000        2,129,794  

BAT Capital Corporation

    3.22       8-15-2024        3,097,000        3,151,829  

BAT Capital Corporation

    3.46       9-6-2029        2,136,000        2,119,577  

BAT Capital Corporation

    3.56       8-15-2027        2,127,000        2,166,845  

BAT Capital Corporation

    4.54       8-15-2047        621,000        604,643  

Reynolds American Incorporated

    5.85       8-15-2045        1,541,000        1,741,700  
            17,807,722  
         

 

 

 
Energy: 1.70%  
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.09%  

National Oilwell Varco Incorporated

    3.60       12-1-2029        5,372,000        5,240,066  
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 1.61%  

Amerada Finance Corporation

    7.13       3-15-2033        717,000        899,833  

BP Capital Markets America Incorporated

    3.80       9-21-2025        3,937,000        4,246,734  

BP Capital Markets America Incorporated

    3.94       9-21-2028        4,255,000        4,687,601  

Cimarex Energy Company

    4.38       3-15-2029        6,431,000        6,676,443  

Devon Energy Corporation

    5.60       7-15-2041        3,236,000        3,932,107  

Energy Transfer Operating Partners LP

    5.50       6-1-2027        2,486,000        2,747,501  

Energy Transfer Operating Partners LP

    5.88       1-15-2024        3,798,000        4,182,249  

Energy Transfer Operating Partners LP

    6.13       12-15-2045        2,168,000        2,443,932  

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

    3.13       7-31-2029        4,622,000        4,704,890  

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

    4.20       1-31-2050        3,750,000        4,010,749  

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

    4.80       2-1-2049        1,190,000        1,377,842  

Hess Corporation

    3.50       7-15-2024        856,000        876,306  

Hess Corporation

    5.80       4-1-2047        358,000        424,486  

Hess Corporation

    6.00       1-15-2040        2,918,000        3,370,691  

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP

    7.30       8-15-2033        310,000        410,767  

Marathon Oil Corporation

    6.60       10-1-2037        520,000        641,066  

Marathon Petroleum Corporation

    3.63       9-15-2024        5,339,000        5,594,800  

Marathon Petroleum Corporation

    4.50       4-1-2048        1,932,000        2,037,494  

Marathon Petroleum Corporation

    4.75       12-15-2023        1,621,000        1,754,802  

MPLX LP 144A

    3.50       12-1-2022        2,271,000        2,324,389  

MPLX LP 144A

    5.20       12-1-2047        2,819,000        2,934,669  

MPLX LP

    5.50       2-15-2049        2,656,000        2,912,558  

Noble Energy Incorporated

    3.25       10-15-2029        3,252,000        3,220,826  

Noble Energy Incorporated

    4.20       10-15-2049        1,516,000        1,464,275  

Noble Energy Incorporated

    4.95       8-15-2047        3,423,000        3,646,524  

Noble Energy Incorporated

    5.05       11-15-2044        2,837,000        3,017,847  

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

    4.85       3-15-2021        1,781,000        1,835,726  

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

    7.50       5-1-2031        1,029,000        1,342,521  

Plains All American Pipeline LP

    3.55       12-15-2029        6,309,000        6,082,839  

Plains All American Pipeline LP

    4.90       2-15-2045        3,709,000        3,585,731  

Sunoco Logistics Partner LP

    5.30       4-1-2044        3,644,000        3,763,157  

Sunoco Logistics Partner LP

    5.35       5-15-2045        265,000        274,016  

Sunoco Logistics Partner LP

    5.40       10-1-2047        970,000        1,020,922  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  29


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)  

Western Gas Partners LP

    5.50 %       8-15-2048      $ 2,062,000      $ 1,752,677  

Williams Companies Incorporated

    3.90       1-15-2025        1,426,000        1,485,779  
            95,684,749  
         

 

 

 

Financials: 4.21%

 

Banks: 2.68%  

Bank of America Corporation (3 Month LIBOR +0.87%) ±

    2.46       10-22-2025        17,696,000        17,747,462  

Bank of America Corporation (3 Month LIBOR +1.09%) ±

    3.09       10-1-2025        9,667,000        9,960,487  

Bank of America Corporation (3 Month LIBOR +0.81%) ±

    3.37       1-23-2026        4,997,000        5,214,545  

Bank of America Corporation (3 Month LIBOR +1.04%) ±

    3.42       12-20-2028        13,841,000        14,511,540  

Bank of America Corporation (3 Month LIBOR +1.06%) ±

    3.56       4-23-2027        6,211,000        6,552,386  

Bank of America Corporation (3 Month LIBOR +1.31%) ±

    4.27       7-23-2029        10,197,000        11,347,244  

Bank of America Corporation (3 Month LIBOR +1.52%) ±

    4.33       3-15-2050        1,679,000        2,019,705  

BB&T Corporation

    2.50       8-1-2024        11,974,000        12,078,531  

Citibank NA (3 Month LIBOR +0.60%) ±

    2.84       5-20-2022        11,828,000        11,950,017  

Citigroup Incorporated (United States Secured Overnight Financing Rate +0.87%) ±

    2.31       11-4-2022        6,896,000        6,908,567  

Citigroup Incorporated (United States Secured Overnight Financing Rate +1.42%) ±

    2.98       11-5-2030        5,779,000        5,839,971  

Citigroup Incorporated (3 Month LIBOR +1.34%) ±

    3.98       3-20-2030        3,921,000        4,272,031  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (United States Secured Overnight Financing Rate +1.16%) ±

    2.30       10-15-2025        8,942,000        8,919,433  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (United States Secured Overnight Financing Rate +1.51%) ±

    2.74       10-15-2030        12,765,000        12,737,092  

JPMorgan Chase & Company

    2.95       10-1-2026        3,660,000        3,773,272  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (3 Month LIBOR +1.16%) ±

    3.22       3-1-2025        1,149,000        1,188,059  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (3 Month LIBOR +0.73%) ±

    3.56       4-23-2024        1,989,000        2,071,824  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (3 Month LIBOR +1.16%) ±

    3.70       5-6-2030        994,000        1,069,646  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (3 Month LIBOR +0.89%) ±

    3.80       7-23-2024        994,000        1,045,187  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (3 Month LIBOR +1.36%) ±

    3.88       7-24-2038        2,967,000        3,263,381  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (3 Month LIBOR +1.22%) ±

    3.90       1-23-2049        3,660,000        4,138,372  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (3 Month LIBOR +1.12%) ±

    4.01       4-23-2029        2,600,000        2,850,673  

JPMorgan Chase & Company (3 Month LIBOR +1.00%) ±

    4.02       12-5-2024        1,932,000        2,054,662  

KeyCorp

    2.55       10-1-2029        7,581,000        7,417,180  
            158,931,267  
         

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 0.64%  

Morgan Stanley

    2.63       11-17-2021        7,931,000        8,015,361  

Morgan Stanley (3 Month LIBOR +1.46%) ±

    3.97       7-22-2038        964,000        1,062,338  

Morgan Stanley (3 Month LIBOR +1.43%) ±

    4.46       4-22-2039        1,867,000        2,173,402  

PPL Capital Funding Incorporated

    3.10       5-15-2026        4,328,000        4,409,840  

PPL Capital Funding Incorporated

    3.40       6-1-2023        585,000        601,536  

PPL Capital Funding Incorporated

    4.00       9-15-2047        707,000        734,662  

PPL Capital Funding Incorporated

    4.70       6-1-2043        587,000        666,421  

PPL Capital Funding Incorporated

    5.00       3-15-2044        2,718,000        3,193,039  

State Street Corporation (United States Secured Overnight Financing Rate +0.94%) ±

    2.35       11-1-2025        7,523,000        7,543,271  

The Charles Schwab Corporation

    3.25       5-22-2029        8,868,000        9,338,994  
            37,738,864  
         

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 0.37%  

Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation

    2.15       11-8-2024        5,372,000        5,372,721  

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    4.06       11-1-2024        5,942,000        5,970,688  

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    4.75       1-15-2043        9,756,000        8,483,239  

 

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

 

 

30  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Consumer Finance (continued)  

General Motors Financial Company Incorporated

    5.40 %       4-1-2048      $ 1,483,000      $ 1,505,055  

Hyundai Capital America Company 144A

    3.50       11-2-2026        796,000        801,171  
            22,132,874  
         

 

 

 
Insurance: 0.52%  

American International Group Incorporated

    4.20       4-1-2028        3,040,000        3,348,231  

American International Group Incorporated

    4.25       3-15-2029        1,981,000        2,194,791  

American International Group Incorporated

    4.50       7-16-2044        1,671,000        1,913,630  

Liberty Mutual Group Incorporated 144A

    3.95       10-15-2050        439,000        447,536  

Liberty Mutual Group Incorporated 144A

    4.57       2-1-2029        5,526,000        6,224,603  

Lincoln National Corporation

    3.05       1-15-2030        6,611,000        6,650,734  

Nationwide Financial Services Incorporated 144A

    3.90       11-30-2049        4,975,000        5,088,629  

Prudential Financial Incorporated

    3.70       3-13-2051        1,247,000        1,295,719  

Prudential Financial Incorporated

    4.35       2-25-2050        3,415,000        3,953,038  
            31,116,911  
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 3.72%

 

Biotechnology: 0.97%  

AbbVie Incorporated 144A

    2.30       11-21-2022        17,884,000        17,913,487  

AbbVie Incorporated

    2.50       5-14-2020        7,540,000        7,552,555  

AbbVie Incorporated 144A

    2.60       11-21-2024        15,783,000        15,854,417  

AbbVie Incorporated 144A

    2.95       11-21-2026        3,231,000        3,263,015  

AbbVie Incorporated 144A

    3.20       11-21-2029        6,522,000        6,621,503  

AbbVie Incorporated 144A

    4.05       11-21-2039        1,208,000        1,258,990  

AbbVie Incorporated 144A

    4.25       11-21-2049        3,282,000        3,447,202  

Gilead Sciences Incorporated

    3.65       3-1-2026        1,997,000        2,145,945  
            58,057,114  
         

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 0.84%  

Abbott Laboratories

    3.75       11-30-2026        3,595,000        3,941,750  

Abbott Laboratories

    4.90       11-30-2046        5,525,000        7,324,352  

Becton Dickinson & Company

    2.40       6-5-2020        6,602,000        6,613,789  

Becton Dickinson & Company

    3.36       6-6-2024        2,225,000        2,314,436  

Becton Dickinson & Company

    3.70       6-6-2027        2,168,000        2,320,817  

Becton Dickinson & Company

    3.73       12-15-2024        5,257,000        5,564,614  

Becton Dickinson & Company

    4.69       12-15-2044        2,453,000        2,893,328  

Boston Scientific Corporation

    3.75       3-1-2026        3,244,000        3,493,388  

Boston Scientific Corporation

    4.00       3-1-2029        4,345,000        4,838,031  

Boston Scientific Corporation

    4.70       3-1-2049        3,136,000        3,840,844  

Danaher Corporation

    3.35       9-15-2025        4,084,000        4,305,856  

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

    4.30       6-15-2028        2,106,000        2,370,692  
            49,821,897  
         

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 1.05%  

Aetna Incorporated

    3.88       8-15-2047        1,589,000        1,601,103  

Cigna Corporation

    3.75       7-15-2023        5,502,000        5,750,402  

Cigna Corporation

    3.40       9-17-2021        4,459,000        4,556,295  

Cigna Corporation 144A

    3.40       3-1-2027        5,200,000        5,398,181  

Cigna Corporation

    4.38       10-15-2028        2,348,000        2,604,714  

Cigna Corporation

    4.80       8-15-2038        431,000        498,452  

Cigna Corporation

    4.90       12-15-2048        2,531,000        2,996,444  

CVS Health Corporation

    3.00       8-15-2026        2,193,000        2,244,703  

CVS Health Corporation

    2.63       8-15-2024        2,633,000        2,654,045  

CVS Health Corporation

    3.70       3-9-2023        2,013,000        2,094,583  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  31


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Health Care Providers & Services (continued)  

CVS Health Corporation

    4.00 %       12-5-2023      $ 2,951,000      $ 3,119,638  

CVS Health Corporation

    4.10       3-25-2025        4,361,000        4,684,857  

CVS Health Corporation

    4.78       3-25-2038        2,152,000        2,447,859  

CVS Health Corporation

    5.05       3-25-2048        561,000        663,376  

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

    2.38       8-15-2024        5,510,000        5,559,809  

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

    2.88       8-15-2029        5,502,000        5,664,998  

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

    3.50       8-15-2039        3,158,000        3,345,149  

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

    3.70       12-15-2025        2,193,000        2,368,745  

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

    3.70       8-15-2049        1,544,000        1,656,266  

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

    3.88       8-15-2059        2,193,000        2,358,008  
            62,267,627  
         

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 0.86%  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    2.60       5-16-2022        8,583,000        8,727,626  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    2.75       2-15-2023        7,170,000        7,308,155  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    2.88       2-19-2021        1,987,000        2,007,948  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    2.90       7-26-2024        4,679,000        4,824,204  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    3.20       6-15-2026        4,100,000        4,308,187  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    3.40       7-26-2029        5,013,000        5,383,750  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    3.90       2-20-2028        1,068,000        1,169,382  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    4.13       6-15-2039        496,000        572,769  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    4.25       10-26-2049        3,562,000        4,227,768  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 144A

    4.35       11-15-2047        985,000        1,163,313  

Merck & Company Incorporated

    3.40       3-7-2029        3,505,000        3,809,063  

Merck & Company Incorporated

    3.70       2-10-2045        1,409,000        1,583,821  

Merck & Company Incorporated

    4.00       3-7-2049        1,263,000        1,503,280  

Pfizer Incorporated

    2.80       3-11-2022        1,948,000        1,988,754  

Pfizer Incorporated

    3.00       12-15-2026        1,019,000        1,076,847  

Pfizer Incorporated

    4.10       9-15-2038        1,117,000        1,301,520  
            50,956,387  
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 1.82%

 

Aerospace & Defense: 1.24%  

Lockheed Martin Corporation

    4.07       12-15-2042        2,070,000        2,385,942  

Lockheed Martin Corporation

    4.09       9-15-2052        1,647,000        1,936,501  

Northrop Grumman Corporation

    2.55       10-15-2022        6,407,000        6,495,227  

Northrop Grumman Corporation

    2.93       1-15-2025        284,000        291,663  

Northrop Grumman Corporation

    3.25       8-1-2023        5,910,000        6,146,102  

Northrop Grumman Corporation

    3.25       1-15-2028        715,000        745,675  

The Boeing Company

    2.70       2-1-2027        5,486,000        5,578,733  

The Boeing Company

    2.70       5-1-2022        4,296,000        4,368,698  

The Boeing Company

    2.95       2-1-2030        3,629,000        3,739,311  

The Boeing Company

    3.10       5-1-2026        5,494,000        5,719,652  

The Boeing Company

    3.50       3-1-2039        2,111,000        2,205,541  

The Boeing Company

    3.75       2-1-2050        764,000        825,085  

The Boeing Company

    3.90       5-1-2049        2,657,000        2,949,460  

United Technologies Corporation

    2.80       5-4-2024        2,725,000        2,801,991  

United Technologies Corporation

    3.10       6-1-2022        3,701,000        3,799,076  

United Technologies Corporation

    3.65       8-16-2023        10,996,000        11,587,952  

United Technologies Corporation

    3.95       8-16-2025        2,853,000        3,101,797  

United Technologies Corporation

    4.13       11-16-2028        1,744,000        1,963,573  

United Technologies Corporation

    4.45       11-16-2038        2,649,000        3,157,827  

United Technologies Corporation

    4.63       11-16-2048        2,885,000        3,611,605  
            73,411,411  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

32  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Industrial Conglomerates: 0.08%

 

General Electric Company

    2.70 %       10-9-2022      $ 977,000      $ 984,859  

General Electric Company

    3.10       1-9-2023        707,000        721,876  

General Electric Company

    5.88       1-14-2038        2,453,000        3,005,347  
            4,712,082  
         

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.12%  

Caterpillar Incorporated

    2.60       9-19-2029        3,375,000        3,412,194  

Caterpillar Incorporated

    3.25       9-19-2049        3,766,000        3,846,217  
            7,258,411  
         

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.33%  

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC

    3.55       2-15-2050        3,369,000        3,592,719  

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC

    4.90       4-1-2044        1,117,000        1,397,715  

CSX Corporation

    4.30       3-1-2048        262,000        302,699  

CSX Corporation

    2.40       2-15-2030        2,380,000        2,326,548  

CSX Corporation

    3.35       9-15-2049        4,035,000        3,974,919  

CSX Corporation

    4.75       11-15-2048        1,410,000        1,732,179  

Union Pacific Corporation

    2.95       3-1-2022        3,586,000        3,664,079  

Union Pacific Corporation

    3.15       3-1-2024        1,712,000        1,782,139  

Union Pacific Corporation

    4.30       3-1-2049        528,000        613,521  
            19,386,518  
         

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure: 0.05%  

Crowley Conro LLC

    4.18       8-15-2043        2,849,280        3,228,750  
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 1.87%

 

IT Services: 0.40%  

Fiserv Incorporated

    3.20       7-1-2026        3,481,000        3,605,373  

Fiserv Incorporated

    3.50       7-1-2029        3,627,000        3,808,734  

Fiserv Incorporated

    4.20       10-1-2028        341,000        376,601  

Fiserv Incorporated

    4.40       7-1-2049        1,842,000        2,051,032  

Global Payments Incorporated

    3.20       8-15-2029        2,331,000        2,366,660  

Global Payments Incorporated

    4.15       8-15-2049        1,256,000        1,313,113  

IBM Corporation

    3.30       5-15-2026        3,193,000        3,359,827  

IBM Corporation

    4.15       5-15-2039        1,468,000        1,663,038  

IBM Corporation

    4.25       5-15-2049        1,977,000        2,270,423  

Mastercard Incorporated

    2.95       6-1-2029        3,031,000        3,183,353  
            23,998,154  
         

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 0.43%  

Broadcom Incorporated

    3.88       1-15-2027        4,907,000        5,009,215  

Broadcom Incorporated 144A

    4.25       4-15-2026        7,597,000        7,958,212  

Broadcom Incorporated 144A

    4.75       4-15-2029        1,418,000        1,516,354  

Intel Corporation

    2.45       11-15-2029        6,286,000        6,294,383  

Intel Corporation

    3.25       11-15-2049        2,093,000        2,119,172  

Micron Technology Incorporated «

    4.66       2-15-2030        2,722,000        2,889,111  
            25,786,447  
         

 

 

 
Software: 0.42%  

Microsoft Corporation

    3.70       8-8-2046        986,000        1,126,344  

Microsoft Corporation

    4.00       2-12-2055        2,608,000        3,096,410  

Microsoft Corporation

    4.10       2-6-2037        3,252,000        3,843,859  

Microsoft Corporation

    4.25       2-6-2047        2,625,000        3,252,723  

Microsoft Corporation

    4.50       2-6-2057        2,396,000        3,115,361  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  33


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Software (continued)  

Oracle Corporation

    2.63 %       2-15-2023      $ 2,682,000      $ 2,733,540  

Oracle Corporation

    2.95       11-15-2024        1,435,000        1,489,587  

Oracle Corporation

    3.80       11-15-2037        1,467,000        1,612,991  

Oracle Corporation

    4.00       11-15-2047        4,206,000        4,707,321  
            24,978,136  
         

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 0.62%  

Apple Incorporated

    1.80       9-11-2024        5,412,000        5,367,466  

Apple Incorporated

    2.05       9-11-2026        6,496,000        6,421,581  

Apple Incorporated

    2.20       9-11-2029        9,805,000        9,666,353  

Apple Incorporated

    2.95       9-11-2049        4,002,000        3,890,107  

Apple Incorporated

    3.20       5-13-2025        1,198,000        1,263,255  

Apple Incorporated

    3.20       5-11-2027        7,426,000        7,878,410  

Apple Incorporated

    4.25       2-9-2047        1,777,000        2,118,686  
            36,605,858  
         

 

 

 
Materials: 0.43%  
Chemicals: 0.17%  

Dow Chemical Company

    4.25       10-1-2034        1,369,000        1,466,313  

Huntsman International LLC

    4.50       5-1-2029        2,519,000        2,662,491  

Huntsman International LLC

    5.13       11-15-2022        1,638,000        1,747,347  

Mosaic Company

    4.05       11-15-2027        2,282,000        2,378,589  

Mosaic Company

    5.63       11-15-2043        1,427,000        1,649,184  
            9,903,924  
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 0.05%  

Packaging Corporation of America

    3.00       12-15-2029        3,271,000        3,297,423  
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.21%  

Barrick Gold Finance Company LLC

    5.70       5-30-2041        4,043,000        5,087,161  

Barrick North America Finance LLC

    5.75       5-1-2043        946,000        1,222,579  

Newmont Mining Corporation

    3.50       3-15-2022        2,861,000        2,939,512  

Southern Copper Corporation

    3.88       4-23-2025        1,103,000        1,153,987  

Steel Dynamics Incorporated

    4.13       9-15-2025        2,079,000        2,120,580  
            12,523,819  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate: 0.83%

 

Equity REITs: 0.79%  

DDR Corporation

    4.63       7-15-2022        1,728,000        1,802,408  

Equinix Incorporated

    2.63       11-18-2024        5,706,000        5,705,544  

Equinix Incorporated

    2.90       11-18-2026        5,706,000        5,699,153  

Equinix Incorporated

    3.20       11-18-2029        5,249,000        5,261,703  

Mid-America Apartments LP

    3.60       6-1-2027        1,378,000        1,467,481  

Mid-America Apartments LP

    3.75       6-15-2024        4,850,000        5,107,853  

Mid-America Apartments LP

    3.95       3-15-2029        2,037,000        2,236,729  

Mid-America Apartments LP

    4.00       11-15-2025        2,486,000        2,677,358  

Mid-America Apartments LP

    4.30       10-15-2023        2,079,000        2,211,538  

Regency Centers LP

    2.95       9-15-2029        4,410,000        4,436,215  

Store Capital Corporation

    4.50       3-15-2028        7,638,000        8,348,685  

Store Capital Corporation

    4.63       3-15-2029        1,886,000        2,094,791  
            47,049,458  
         

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.04%  

Spirit Realty LP

    3.40       1-15-2030        2,445,000        2,452,944  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

34  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Utilities: 1.76%

 

Electric Utilities: 1.27%  

Alabama Power Company

    3.45 %       10-1-2049      $ 4,964,000      $ 5,123,915  

Consolidated Edison Company of New York

    3.88       6-15-2047        1,810,000        1,986,499  

Consolidated Edison Company of New York

    4.13       5-15-2049        572,000        656,010  

Duke Energy Corporation

    1.80       9-1-2021        4,279,000        4,265,243  

Duke Energy Indiana Incorporated

    3.75       5-15-2046        970,000        1,052,302  

Edison International

    4.13       3-15-2028        1,312,000        1,326,435  

Edison International

    5.75       6-15-2027        2,062,000        2,265,745  

Eversource Energy

    3.15       1-15-2025        994,000        1,028,434  

FirstEnergy Corporation

    3.90       7-15-2027        3,849,000        4,125,358  

FirstEnergy Corporation

    2.85       7-15-2022        994,000        1,009,333  

FirstEnergy Corporation

    4.25       3-15-2023        5,152,000        5,429,285  

FirstEnergy Corporation

    4.85       7-15-2047        1,810,000        2,147,061  

ITC Holdings Corporation

    2.70       11-15-2022        4,084,000        4,132,802  

Jersey Central Power & Light Company 144A

    4.30       1-15-2026        1,777,000        1,938,799  

Metropolitan Edison Company 144A

    4.30       1-15-2029        3,203,000        3,604,643  

Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission LLC 144A

    4.10       5-15-2028        4,047,000        4,457,938  

Mississippi Power Company

    3.95       3-30-2028        4,980,000        5,412,760  

Mississippi Power Company

    4.25       3-15-2042        2,991,000        3,247,081  

NiSource Finance Corporation

    4.80       2-15-2044        2,511,000        2,949,447  

South Carolina Edison Company

    3.70       8-1-2025        2,348,000        2,495,787  

South Carolina Edison Company

    4.13       3-1-2048        3,913,000        4,188,862  

Southern California Edison Company

    4.00       4-1-2047        1,859,000        1,954,363  

Southern California Edison Company

    4.65       10-1-2043        970,000        1,101,080  

Southern California Edison Company

    5.55       1-15-2037        571,000        687,591  

Southern California Edison Company

    5.95       2-1-2038        1,103,000        1,394,183  

Southern California Edison Company

    6.00       1-15-2034        293,000        360,437  

Southern Callifornia Edison Company «

    2.85       8-1-2029        2,062,000        2,077,548  

Virginia Electric & Power Company %%

    3.30       12-1-2049        4,814,000        4,872,787  
            75,291,728  
         

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities: 0.49%  

Black Hills Corporation

    3.05       10-15-2029        5,420,000        5,425,660  

Black Hills Corporation

    3.88       10-15-2049        1,826,000        1,857,907  

CenterPoint Energy Incorporated

    2.50       9-1-2022        406,000        408,609  

Centerpoint Energy Incorporated

    2.50       9-1-2024        4,418,000        4,416,761  

CenterPoint Energy Incorporated

    4.10       9-1-2047        2,928,000        3,135,758  

CenterPoint Energy Incorporated

    4.25       11-1-2028        2,951,000        3,208,014  

Dominion Resources Incorporated

    2.00       8-15-2021        2,853,000        2,847,936  

DTE Energy Company

    2.53       10-1-2024        4,499,000        4,499,547  

Nextera Energy Capital Company

    3.15       4-1-2024        856,000        885,147  

NiSource Incorporated

    2.95       9-1-2029        2,820,000        2,821,059  
            29,506,398  
         

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $1,180,707,686)

            1,235,414,342  
         

 

 

 

Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes: 0.04%

         
Energy: 0.04%                          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.04%                          

EnCana Corporation

    6.63       8-15-2037      CAD  1,834,000        2,175,851  
         

 

 

 

Total Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $2,195,037)

            2,175,851  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  35


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Municipal Obligations: 0.51%          
California: 0.15%                          
GO Revenue: 0.15%                          

California Build America Bonds

    7.60 %       11-1-2040      $ 830,000      $ 1,381,643  

Los Angeles CA Community College District Build America Bonds

    6.75       8-1-2049        4,690,000        7,769,313  
            9,150,956  
         

 

 

 

Illinois: 0.01%

         
GO Revenue: 0.01%                          

Illinois Taxable Pension «

    5.10       6-1-2033        680,000        731,870  
         

 

 

 
Nevada: 0.09%                          
Airport Revenue: 0.09%                          

Clark County NV Airport Authority Build America Bonds Series C

    6.82       7-1-2045        3,365,000        5,444,065  
         

 

 

 
New York: 0.12%                          
Airport Revenue: 0.12%                          

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Consolidated Bonds Series 174

    4.46       10-1-2062        5,505,000        6,862,643  
         

 

 

 
Ohio: 0.04%                          
Education Revenue: 0.04%                          

Ohio State University General Receipts Taxable Bonds Series A

    4.80       6-1-2111        1,957,000        2,593,612  
         

 

 

 
Texas: 0.10%                          
Transportation Revenue: 0.10%                          

North Texas Tollway Authority

    6.72       1-1-2049        3,609,000        5,797,173  
         

 

 

 

Total Municipal Obligations (Cost $22,729,425)

            30,580,319  
         

 

 

 
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities: 5.85%                          

Angel Oak Mortgage Trust Series 2019-2 Class A1 144A±±

    3.63       3-25-2049        3,071,812        3,104,356  

Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2018-C2 Class A5

    4.31       12-15-2051        7,313,000        8,261,924  

Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2019-C5 Class A4

    3.06       11-15-2052        4,209,000        4,367,865  

Benchmark Mortgage Trust Series 2018-B1 Class ASB ±±

    3.60       1-15-2051        1,620,000        1,718,674  

Benchmark Mortgage Trust Series 2019-B13 Class A4

    2.95       8-15-2057        2,740,000        2,821,898  

Benchmark Mortgage Trust Series 2019-B14 Class A5

    3.05       12-15-2061        1,996,000        2,072,446  

Bunker Hill Loan Depositary Trust Series 2019-1 Class A1 144A

    3.61       10-26-2048        2,125,131        2,149,955  

Bunker Hill Loan Depositary Trust Series 2019-2 Class A1 144A

    2.88       7-25-2049        5,861,863        5,880,850  

Bunker Hill Loan Depositary Trust Series 2019-3 Class A1 144A%%

    2.72       11-25-2059        6,854,000        6,850,716  

CD Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2016-CD1 Class A1

    1.44       8-10-2049        846,485        841,211  

CD Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2016-CD1 Class ASB

    2.62       8-10-2049        3,720,000        3,780,151  

CD Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2017-CD4 Class A4 ±±

    3.51       5-10-2050        2,986,000        3,194,587  

CD Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2017-CD4 Class ASB

    3.32       5-10-2050        2,105,000        2,197,334  

CD Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2017-CD6 Class ASB

    3.33       11-13-2050        5,323,000        5,585,241  

CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2016-C3 Class A1

    1.79       1-10-2048        903,040        900,714  

CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2017-C8 Class A1

    1.96       6-15-2050        563,302        562,198  

CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2017-C8 Class ASB

    3.37       6-15-2050        2,014,000        2,098,707  

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2016- P5 Class A1

    1.41       10-10-2049        773,690        770,316  

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2019-GC43 Class A4

    3.04       11-10-2052        5,239,000        5,427,337  

Colt Funding LLC Series 2019-1 Class A1 144A±±

    3.71       3-25-2049        2,862,988        2,882,419  

Colt Funding LLC Series 2019-2 Class A1 144A±±

    3.34       5-25-2049        5,229,894        5,240,495  

Colt Funding LLC Series 2019-4 Class A1 144A±±

    2.58       11-25-2049        6,162,860        6,158,427  

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2013-CR9 Class A4 ±±

    4.37       7-10-2045        5,723,302        6,090,326  

 

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

 

 

36  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued)                          

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2016-C1 Class ASB

    2.97 %       10-10-2049      $ 2,071,000      $ 2,124,407  

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2018-COR3 Class A3

    4.23       5-10-2051        6,454,000        7,216,115  

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2019-GC44
Class A5 %%

    3.10       8-15-2057        3,122,000        3,212,135  

Commercial Real Estate Products & Resources Estate Series 2016-C4 Class ASB

    3.09       5-10-2058        2,871,000        2,953,048  

Credit Suisse Mortgage Trust Series 2016-NSXR Class A4 ±±

    3.79       12-15-2049        8,835,000        9,514,915  

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2015-C2 Class A4

    3.50       6-15-2057        2,953,000        3,107,226  

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2015-C3 Class A4

    3.72       8-15-2048        3,721,000        3,960,385  

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2015-C4 Class A4

    3.81       11-15-2048        4,102,200        4,404,001  

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2016-C5 Class ASB

    3.53       11-15-2048        865,000        901,683  

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2019-C17 Class A5

    3.02       9-15-2052        3,480,000        3,585,026  

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2019-C18 Class A4 %%

    2.97       12-15-2052        2,083,000        2,133,067  

Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2017-C6 Class ASB

    3.12       6-10-2050        1,249,000        1,292,410  

Ford Credit Floorplan Master Trust Series 2019-3 Class A2 (1 Month LIBOR +0.60%) ±

    2.37       9-15-2024        9,410,000        9,435,245  

Ford Credit Floorplan Master Trust Series 2019-4 Class A

    2.44       9-15-2026        4,190,000        4,219,853  

GCAT Series 2019-NQM1 Class A1 144A

    2.99       2-25-2059        2,366,514        2,376,034  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2012-GCJ7 Class AAB

    2.94       5-10-2045        180,568        180,969  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2014-GCJ18 Class A3

    3.80       1-10-2047        1,738,083        1,814,029  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2015-GC28 Class A5

    3.40       2-10-2048        1,355,000        1,424,988  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2015-GC34 Class A4

    3.51       10-10-2048        3,317,000        3,517,932  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2017-GS6 Class A3

    3.43       5-10-2050        4,851,364        5,164,042  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2017-GSJ7 Class A4

    3.43       8-10-2050        5,235,286        5,578,423  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2019-GSA1 Class A4

    3.05       11-10-2052        2,934,000        3,029,314  

Impact Funding LLC Series 2010-1 Class A1 144A

    5.31       1-25-2051        6,446,036        6,783,861  

JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Series 2014-C23 Class A4

    3.67       9-15-2047        2,419,000        2,555,508  

JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Series 2015-C33 Class A4

    3.77       12-15-2048        1,554,714        1,669,264  

JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Series 2017-C5 Class A5

    3.69       3-15-2050        1,683,000        1,816,141  

JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Series 2017-C5 Class ASB

    3.49       3-15-2050        861,000        903,797  

JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Series 2018-C8 Class ASB

    4.15       6-15-2051        2,714,000        2,957,535  

JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Series 2019-COR6 Class A4

    3.06       11-13-2052        4,163,000        4,303,861  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2015-C28 Class A2

    2.77       10-15-2048        808,279        808,275  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2015-C28 Class A3

    2.91       10-15-2048        10,965,000        11,232,312  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2016-JP2 Class A1

    1.32       8-15-2049        1,398,472        1,390,436  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2017-JP5 Class ASB

    3.55       3-15-2050        6,129,000        6,449,077  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2017-JP6 Class ASB

    3.28       7-15-2050        2,343,000        2,446,441  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust Series 2013 -C10 Class A4 ±±

    4.22       7-15-2046        532,000        565,559  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust Series 2015-C125 Class ASB

    3.38       10-15-2048        2,306,000        2,393,422  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust Series 2015-C20 Class A4

    3.25       2-15-2048        800,041        834,792  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust Series 2015-C27 Class A4

    3.75       12-15-2047        754,000        810,123  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust Series 2016-C30 Class ASB

    2.73       9-15-2049        9,888,000        10,071,271  

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2016-UB11 Class A1

    1.45       8-15-2049        1,612,576        1,603,222  

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2016-UB11 Class ASB

    2.61       8-15-2049        2,119,000        2,143,448  

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2019-L3 Class A4

    3.13       11-15-2029        2,498,000        2,599,764  

New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2019-NQM2 Class A1 144A±±

    3.60       4-25-2049        3,127,693        3,165,346  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  37


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued)                          

New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2019-NQM4 Class A1 144A±±

    2.49 %       9-25-2059      $ 4,773,370      $ 4,766,184  

SG Capital Partners Series 2019-3 Class A1 144A±±

    2.70       9-25-2059        6,065,480        6,064,127  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2016-A Class A2 144A

    2.76       12-26-2036        2,521,282        2,536,164  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2016-D Class A1 (1 Month LIBOR +0.95%) 144A±

    2.66       1-25-2039        435,674        437,050  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2016-E Class A1 (1 Month LIBOR +0.85%) 144A±

    2.56       7-25-2039        857,080        858,391  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2017-A Class A1 (1 Month LIBOR +0.70%) 144A±

    2.41       3-26-2040        897,284        898,253  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2017-D Class A2 144A

    2.65       9-25-2040        634,285        636,691  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2017-E Class A1 (1 Month LIBOR +0.50%) 144A±

    2.21       11-26-2040        638,967        638,169  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2017-E Class A2B 144A

    2.72       11-26-2040        9,979,000        10,115,195  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2018-A Class A2B 144A

    2.95       2-25-2042        3,098,000        3,137,771  

SoFi Professional Loan Program LLC Series 2018-B Class A2FX 144A

    3.34       8-25-2047        8,978,000        9,192,594  

Starwood Mortgage Residential Trust Series 2019-INV1 Class A1 144A±±

    2.61       8-25-2049        5,558,954        5,534,926  

Verizon Owner Trust Series 2019-C Class A1A

    1.94       4-22-2024        16,140,000        16,127,041  

Verus Securitization Trust Series 2019 -3 Class A1 144A±±

    2.69       11-25-2059        3,096,000        3,092,961  

Verus Securitization Trust Series 2019-1 Class A1 144A±±

    3.40       12-25-2059        4,535,956        4,580,490  

Verus Securitization Trust Series 2019-1 Class A1 144A±±

    3.84       2-25-2059        2,464,579        2,491,892  

Verus Securitization Trust Series 2019-2 Class A1 144A±±

    2.91       7-25-2059        5,128,541        5,156,905  

Verus Securitization Trust Series 2019-2 Class A1 144A±±

    3.21       5-25-2059        11,065,648        11,145,967  

Verus Securitization Trust Series 2019-3 Class A1 144A

    2.78       7-25-2059        11,448,041        11,482,065  

Verus Securitization Trust Series 2019-4 Class A1 144A

    2.64       11-25-2059        14,531,298        14,534,413  

Visio Trust Series 2019-1 Class A1 144A±±

    3.57       6-25-2054        2,596,221        2,624,094  

Total Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $343,034,428)

 

     347,658,192  
         

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Securities: 24.29%  

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.25       8-15-2046        7,157,000        7,211,516  

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.25       8-15-2049        12,083,000        12,189,198  

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.38       11-15-2049        19,472,000        20,181,663  

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.50       5-15-2046        57,797,000        61,163,224  

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.88       5-15-2049        20,482,000        23,429,488  

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.00       11-15-2044        51,782,000        59,729,323  

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.13       2-15-2043        96,878,000        113,426,730  

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.13       8-15-2044        99,165,000        116,693,188  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.38       4-30-2026        38,836,000        40,381,855  

U.S. Treasury Note ##

    1.13       9-30-2021        63,831,000        63,212,637  

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.25       3-31-2021        6,897,000        6,856,588  

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38       8-31-2020        9,504,000        9,481,725  

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38       10-15-2022        30,306,000        30,098,830  

U.S. Treasury Note %%

    1.50       11-30-2021        9,749,000        9,724,628  

U.S. Treasury Note %%

    1.50       11-30-2024        36,844,000        36,618,043  

U.S. Treasury Note ##

    1.63       11-15-2022        60,697,000        60,715,968  

U.S. Treasury Note ##

    1.63       2-15-2026        91,335,000        90,874,757  

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63       5-15-2026        32,521,000        32,343,151  

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63       9-30-2026        2,815,000        2,796,197  

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63       10-31-2026        9,323,000        9,257,812  

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75       11-15-2029        22,863,000        22,804,056  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13       5-15-2022        9,861,000        9,978,099  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.25       11-15-2024        31,084,000        31,967,951  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.25       11-15-2025        2,294,000        2,364,971  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.38       2-29-2024        4,110,000        4,233,461  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.50       6-30-2020        5,281,000        5,305,961  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.50       1-15-2022        32,183,000        32,756,260  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63       11-15-2020        4,403,000        4,440,838  

 

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

 

 

38  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
U.S. Treasury Securities (continued)  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63 %       6-15-2021      $ 13,667,000      $ 13,859,726  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63       7-15-2021        44,084,000        44,743,538  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63       2-28-2023        32,241,000        33,256,088  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63       1-31-2026        27,096,000        28,545,001  

U.S. Treasury Note ##

    2.75       4-30-2023        116,082,000        120,394,265  

U.S. Treasury Note ##

    2.75       5-31-2023        78,520,000        81,510,508  

U.S. Treasury Note ##

    2.75       7-31-2023        60,810,000        63,221,022  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.75       8-31-2023        56,969,000        59,281,140  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.88       11-15-2021        38,347,000        39,241,264  

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.88       11-30-2025        3,568,000        3,806,053  

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.00       10-31-2025        33,111,000        35,528,362  

Total U.S. Treasury Securities (Cost $1,429,921,509)

 

     1,443,625,085  
         

 

 

 

Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes: 5.38%

 

Communication Services: 0.29%  
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.29%  

Rogers Communications Incorporated

    3.70       11-15-2049        4,385,000        4,490,721  

Telefonica SA

    5.52       3-1-2049        4,071,000        5,050,474  

Vodafone Group plc

    4.25       9-17-2050        7,629,000        7,912,771  
            17,453,966  
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.24%

 

Food Products: 0.24%  

Danone SA 144A

    2.95       11-2-2026        13,958,000        14,382,557  
         

 

 

 

Energy: 1.08%

 

Energy Equipment & Services: 0.07%  

Schlumberger Limited 144A

    2.65       11-20-2022        3,970,000        4,032,776  
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 1.01%  

Ecopetrol SA

    5.88       5-28-2045        1,916,000        2,193,820  

Enbridge Incorporated

    2.90       7-15-2022        4,206,000        4,271,341  

Enbridge Incorporated

    2.50       1-15-2025        10,476,000        10,484,657  

Enbridge Incorporated

    3.13       11-15-2029        6,455,000        6,503,679  

EnCana Corporation

    6.50       2-1-2038        2,030,000        2,381,092  

Equinor ASA

    3.25       11-18-2049        2,887,000        2,965,696  

Petroleos Mexicanos Company

    2.38       4-15-2025        1,995,950        2,016,931  

Petroleos Mexicanos Company

    2.46       12-15-2025        5,242,250        5,178,739  

Petroleos Mexicanos Company

    6.35       2-12-2048        10,326,000        9,702,619  

Petroleos Mexicanos Company

    6.50       3-13-2027        1,235,000        1,288,852  

Petroleos Mexicanos Company

    6.75       9-21-2047        4,217,000        4,145,227  

Total SA

    2.43       1-10-2025        4,488,000        4,544,677  

Total SA

    2.83       1-10-2030        4,589,000        4,721,310  
            60,398,640  
         

 

 

 

Financials: 3.02%

 

Banks: 2.23%  

Banco Santander SA

    2.71       6-27-2024        5,200,000        5,251,761  

Banco Santander SA

    3.31       6-27-2029        3,200,000        3,299,677  

Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel SA 144A

    2.38       11-21-2024        4,946,000        4,933,233  

BNP Paribas SA (3 Month LIBOR +1.11%) 144A±

    2.82       11-19-2025        12,838,000        12,896,247  

BNP Paribas SA 144A

    4.40       8-14-2028        1,424,000        1,582,309  

BPCE SA 144A

    2.70       10-1-2029        7,929,000        7,884,398  

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  39


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Banks (continued)  

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity +2.05%) 144A±

    3.61 %       9-12-2034      $ 4,083,000      $ 4,106,834  

Commonwealth Bank of Australia 144A

    3.74       9-12-2039        1,893,000        1,894,145  

Credit Agricole SA (London) 144A

    2.38       1-22-2025        7,605,000        7,578,934  

Danske Bank A/S (3 Month LIBOR +1.25%) 144A±

    3.00       9-20-2022        10,252,000        10,318,984  

Danske Bank A/S (3 Month LIBOR +1.59%) 144A±

    3.24       12-20-2025        9,709,000        9,786,623  

HSBC Holdings plc (3 Month LIBOR +1.14%) ±

    2.63       11-7-2025        7,456,000        7,428,744  

HSBC Holdings plc (3 Month LIBOR +1.21%) ±

    3.80       3-11-2025        5,492,000        5,739,675  

HSBC Holdings plc (3 Month LIBOR +1.61%) ±

    3.97       5-22-2030        2,730,000        2,918,950  

HSBC Holdings plc (3 Month LIBOR +1.55%) ±

    4.04       3-13-2028        1,828,000        1,944,194  

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Incorporated (3 Month LIBOR +0.84%) ±

    2.72       7-16-2023        5,213,000        5,265,539  

Mizuho Financial Group (3 Month LIBOR +1.13%) ±

    3.15       7-16-2030        3,142,000        3,212,062  

Royal Bank of Canada

    2.25       11-1-2024        8,697,000        8,662,549  

Societe Generale 144A

    2.63       10-16-2024        4,594,000        4,562,968  

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

    2.70       7-16-2024        9,999,000        10,105,339  

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

    3.04       7-16-2029        10,184,000        10,409,920  

Westpac Banking Corporation (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity +2.00%) ±

    4.11       7-24-2034        2,388,000        2,475,389  
            132,258,474  
         

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 0.08%  

MDGH GMTN BV 144A

    2.88       11-7-2029        4,734,000        4,734,511  
         

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 0.09%  

UBS Group AG (3 Month LIBOR +1.47%) 144A±

    3.13       8-13-2030        5,420,000        5,504,662  
         

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 0.62%  

DH Europe Finance II

    2.05       11-15-2022        3,236,000        3,235,374  

DH Europe Finance II

    2.20       11-15-2024        5,543,000        5,530,478  

DH Europe Finance II

    2.60       11-15-2029        2,177,000        2,186,239  

DH Europe Finance II

    3.40       11-15-2049        3,244,000        3,338,031  

GE Capital International Funding Company

    4.42       11-15-2035        8,713,000        9,374,925  

General Electric Capital International Funding Company

    2.34       11-15-2020        1,337,000        1,335,650  

Shell International Finance BV

    2.00       11-7-2024        9,847,000        9,796,028  

Shell International Finance BV

    3.13       11-7-2049        1,973,000        1,962,940  
            36,759,665  
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 0.09%

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 0.09%  

NXP BV 144A

    3.88       6-18-2026        4,964,000        5,208,500  
         

 

 

 

Materials: 0.25%

 

Chemicals: 0.02%  

Yara International ASA 144A

    4.75       6-1-2028        1,223,000        1,338,620  
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.14%  

Barrick Gold Corporation

    3.85       4-1-2022        416,000        429,430  

Minera Mexico SA 144A

    4.50       1-26-2050        1,889,000        1,855,943  

Teck Resources Limited

    6.25       7-15-2041        5,396,000        6,073,961  
            8,359,334  
         

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 0.09%  

Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion SA 144A

    4.20       1-29-2030        2,496,000        2,464,800  

Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion SA 144A

    5.15       1-29-2050        2,859,000        2,784,666  
            5,249,466  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

40  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    

Interest

rate

   

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
Real Estate: 0.05%

 

Equity REITs: 0.05%  

Trust F/1401 144A

    6.39 %       1-15-2050      $ 2,674,000      $ 2,844,468  
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 0.36%

 

Electric Utilities: 0.36%  

Electricite de France SA 144A

    5.60       1-27-2040        1,418,000        1,768,988  

Enel Finance International SA 144A

    2.88       5-25-2022        3,119,000        3,150,995  

Enel Finance International SA 144A

    3.50       4-6-2028        1,826,000        1,866,524  

Enel Finance International SA 144A

    4.63       9-14-2025        6,468,000        7,010,270  

Enel Finance International SA 144A

    4.75       5-25-2047        1,926,000        2,167,768  

Enel Finance International SA 144A

    4.88       6-14-2029        1,939,000        2,195,396  

Enel Finance International SA 144A

    6.00       10-7-2039        2,535,000        3,173,171  
            21,333,112  
         

 

 

 

Total Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $312,537,032)

 

     319,858,751  
         

 

 

 

Yankee Government Bonds: 0.61%

 

Abu Dhabi Government International 144A

    2.13       9-30-2024        3,158,000        3,142,210  

Abu Dhabi Government International 144A

    2.50       9-30-2029        2,874,000        2,856,210  

Abu Dhabi Government International 144A

    3.13       9-30-2049        2,531,000        2,465,700  

Japan Bank for International Cooperation

    1.75       10-17-2024        5,528,000        5,458,054  

Republic of Paraguay 144A

    5.40       3-30-2050        2,940,000        3,289,860  

United Mexican States

    4.50       4-22-2029        13,839,000        15,167,544  

United Mexican States

    4.50       1-31-2050        200,000        211,570  

United Mexican States

    4.60       2-10-2048        3,448,000        3,715,254  

Total Yankee Government Bonds (Cost $34,203,663)

 

     36,306,402  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield            Shares         
Short-Term Investments: 3.64%  
Investment Companies: 3.64%  

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC (l)(r)(u)

    1.77          35,020,555        35,024,057  

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56          181,239,898        181,239,898  

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $216,263,955)

            216,263,955  
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $6,255,807,060)     107.24        6,372,966,813  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (7.24        (430,270,805
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 5,942,696,008  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

±

Variable rate investment. The rate shown is the rate in effect at period end.

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs.

%%

The security is purchased on a when-issued basis.

±±

The coupon of the security is adjusted based on the principal and interest payments received from the underlying pool of mortgages as well as the credit quality and the actual prepayment speed of the underlying mortgages.

144A

The security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933.

«

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

##

All or a portion of this security is segregated for when-issued securities.

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Portfolio as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(r)

The investment is a non-registered investment company purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  41


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Abbreviations:

 

CAD

Canadian dollar

 

FHLMC

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation

 

FNMA

Federal National Mortgage Association

 

GNMA

Government National Mortgage Association

 

GO

General obligation

 

LIBOR

London Interbank Offered Rate

 

REIT

Real estate investment trust

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Portfolio owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Portfolio and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Portfolio at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning of
period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Income
from
affiliated
securities
   

Value,

end of
period

    % of
net
assets
 
Short-Term Investments                                                      

Investment Companies

 

               

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC

    2,778,863       99,900,277       67,658,585       35,020,555     $ (451   $ 0     $ 53,502 #    $ 35,024,057    

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    117,422,859       2,093,806,750       2,029,989,711       181,239,898       0       0       1,319,573       181,239,898    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ (451   $ 0     $ 1,373,075     $ 216,263,955       3.64
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

# 

Amount shown represents income before fees and rebates.

 

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

 

 

42  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities (including $34,313,866 of securities loaned), at value (cost $6,039,543,105)

  $ 6,156,702,858  

Investments in affiliated securities, at value (cost $216,263,955)

    216,263,955  

Cash

    837,936  

Receivable for investments sold

    512,962,426  

Receivable for interest

    27,871,572  

Receivable for securities lending income, net

    2,150  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    198,980  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    6,914,839,877  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    35,019,117  

Payable for investments purchased

    934,673,045  

Cash collateral due to broker

    670,000  

Advisory fee payable

    1,705,608  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    76,099  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    972,143,869  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 5,942,696,008  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  43


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Interest (net of foreign withholding taxes of $39,485)

  $ 81,080,803  

Income from affiliated securities

    1,333,109  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    82,413,912  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    9,971,336  

Custody and accounting fees

    124,228  

Professional fees

    38,988  

Shareholder report expenses

    2,022  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,345  

Other fees and expenses

    11,463  
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    10,159,382  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    72,254,530  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized gains (losses) on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    158,010,347  

Affiliated securities

    (451
 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on investments

    158,009,896  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (13,901,454
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    144,108,442  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 216,362,972  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

44  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
       Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

 

Net investment income

  $ 72,254,530        $ 166,921,454  

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

    158,009,896          (17,686,402

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (13,901,454        194,869,104  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    216,362,972          344,104,156  
 

 

 

 

Capital transactions

      

Transactions in investors’ beneficial interests

      

Contributions

    285,066,588          697,097,878  

Withdrawals

    (384,478,484        (888,699,376
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital transactions

    (99,411,896        (191,601,498
 

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

    116,951,076          152,502,658  
 

 

 

 

Net assets

      

Beginning of period

    5,825,744,932          5,673,242,274  
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 5,942,696,008        $ 5,825,744,932  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio  |  45


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Total return1

    3.76     6.30     (0.53 )%      1.89     2.78     3.22

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses

    0.35     0.35     0.35     0.35     0.36     0.37

Net expenses

    0.35     0.35     0.35     0.35     0.35     0.35

Net investment income

    2.47     2.93     2.23     1.87     1.86     1.82

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    306     577     542     614     667     586

 

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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

 

 

46  |  Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Master Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Portfolio may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Debt securities are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service (e.g. taking into account various factors, including yields, maturities, or credit ratings) or, if a reliable price is not available, the quoted bid price from an independent broker-dealer.

The values of securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at rates provided by an independent foreign currency pricing source at a time each business day specified by the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”).

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment companies that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued normally at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee. The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Foreign currency translation

The accounting records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at rates provided by an independent foreign currency pricing source at a time each business day specified by the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are converted at the rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually paid or received. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities resulting from changes in exchange rates. The changes in net assets arising from changes in exchange rates of securities and the changes in net assets resulting from changes in market prices of securities are not separately presented. Such changes are included in net realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments.

Securities lending

The Portfolio may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. When securities are on loan, the Portfolio receives interest or dividends on those securities. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). Investments in Securities Lending Fund are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund (net of fees and rebates), if any, is included in income from affiliated securities on the Statement of Operations.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Portfolio is affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Portfolio fluctuates from time to time. The Portfolio has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Portfolio may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In such an event, the terms of the agreement allows the unaffiliated securities lending agent to use the collateral to purchase replacement securities on behalf of the Portfolio or pay the Portfolio the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio bears the risk of loss with respect to depreciation of its investment of the cash collateral.

When-issued transactions

The Portfolio may purchase securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis. The Portfolio records a when-issued transaction on the trade date and will segregate assets in an amount at least equal in value to the Portfolio’s commitment to purchase when-issued securities. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis are marked-to-market daily and the Portfolio begins earning interest on the settlement date. Losses may arise due to changes in the market value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Interest income is accrued daily and bond discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized daily. To the extent debt obligations are placed on non-accrual status, any related interest income may be reduced by writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has been determined to be doubtful based on consistently applied procedures and the fair value has decreased. If the issuer subsequently resumes interest payments or when the collectability of interest is reasonably assured, the debt obligation is removed from non-accrual status.

Federal and other taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Portfolio is not required to pay federal income taxes on its net investment income and net capital gains as it is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. All interest, gains and losses of the Portfolio are deemed to have been “passed through” to the interest holders in proportion to their holdings of the Portfolio regardless of whether interest and gains have been distributed by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio’s income tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal revenue authority. Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $6,261,152,235 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 124,152,113  

Gross unrealized losses

     (12,337,535

Net unrealized gains

   $ 111,814,578  

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Portfolio’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Agency securities

   $ 0      $ 2,135,282,082      $ 10,138,654      $ 2,145,420,736  

Asset-backed securities

     0        595,663,180        0        595,663,180  

Corporate bonds and notes

     0        1,235,414,342        0        1,235,414,342  

Foreign corporate bonds and notes

     0        2,175,851        0        2,175,851  

Municipal obligations

     0        30,580,319        0        30,580,319  

Non-agency mortgage-back securities

     0        347,658,192        0        347,658,192  

U.S. Treasury securities

     1,443,625,085        0        0        1,443,625,085  

Yankee corporate bonds and notes

     0        319,858,751        0        319,858,751  

Yankee government bonds

     0        36,306,402        0        36,306,402  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     216,263,955        0        0        216,263,955  

Total assets

   $ 1,659,889,040      $ 4,702,939,119      $ 10,138,654      $ 6,372,966,813  

Additional sector, industry or geographic detail is included in the Portfolio of Investments.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Advisory fee

The Trust has entered into an advisory contract with Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The adviser is responsible for implementing investment policies and guidelines and for supervising the subadviser, who is responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the contract, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual advisory fee at the following annual rate based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Advisory fee

First $500 million

   0.400%

Next $500 million

   0.375

Next $2 billion

   0.350

Next $2 billion

   0.325

Next $5 billion

   0.300

Over $10 billion

   0.290

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.34% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Portfolio. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”), an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.20% and declining to 0.10% as the average daily net assets of the Portfolio increase.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Interfund transactions

The Portfolio may purchase or sell portfolio investment securities to certain other Wells Fargo affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Purchases at cost

     Sales proceeds
U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
     U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
$16,991,240,176      $2,073,230,066      $17,096,920,614      $1,860,561,537

6. SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent and receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any increases or decreases in the required collateral are exchanged between the Portfolio and the counterparty on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in the Securities Lending Fund which seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open Rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments and is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Securities Lending Fund is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by WellsCap. Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser.

In the event of counterparty default or the failure of a borrower to return a loaned security, the Portfolio has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. As of November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had securities lending transactions with the following counterparties which are subject to offset:

 

Counterparty      Value of
securities on
loan
       Collateral
received1
       Net amount  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     $ 1,806,121        $ (1,806,121      $ 0  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     $ 2,645,742        $ (2,645,742      $ 0  

ING Financial Markets LLC

     $ 29,862,003        $ (29,862,003      $ 0  

 

1 

Collateral received within this table is limited to the collateral for the net transaction with the counterparty.

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, along with Wells Fargo Variable Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Trust (excluding the money market funds), are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Portfolio is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Portfolio based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Portfolio under the agreement.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Portfolio and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

In March 2017, FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. ASU 2017-08

shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium and requires the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount and discounts will continue to be accreted to the maturity date of the security. ASU 2017-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. During the current reporting period, management of the Portfolio adopted the change in accounting policy which did not have a material impact to the Portfolio’s financial statements.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund and Portfolio file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
William R. Ebsworth (Born 1957)   Trustee,
since 2015
  Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman (Born 1953)   Trustee,
since 2015;
Chair Liaison,
since 2018
  Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr. (Born 1952)   Trustee,
since 2009;
Audit Committee Chairman,
since 2019
  Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson (Born 1949)   Trustee,
since 2008;
Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018
  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
David F. Larcker (Born 1950)   Trustee,
since 2009
  James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A
Olivia S. Mitchell (Born 1953)   Trustee,
since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair,
since 2018
  International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny
(Born 1951)
  Trustee,
since 1996; Chairman,
since 2018
  President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson (Born 1959)   Trustee,
since 2018
  Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3 (Born 1959)   Trustee,
since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019
  Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer
Andrew Owen (Born 1960)   President,
since 2017
  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.
Nancy Wiser1 (Born 1967)   Treasurer,
since 2012
  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.
Michelle Rhee4 (Born 1966)   Chief Legal Officer,
since 2019
  Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5 (Born 1969)   Secretary,
since 2019
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker (Born 1967)   Chief Compliance Officer,
since 2016
  Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.
David Berardi
(Born 1975)
  Assistant Treasurer,
since 2009
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer,
since 2009
  Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

 

1 

Nancy Wiser acts as Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

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Table of Contents

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408965 01-19

SA287/SAR287 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

 

 

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The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Real Return Fund for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

 

 

 

1

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Fund


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

“Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com, or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks returns that exceed the rate of inflation over the long-term.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser for the affiliated master portfolio1

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp R. Acharya, CFA®, FRM

Petros N. Bocray, CFA®, FRM

Michael Bradshaw, CFA®

Christian L. Chan, CFA®

Jay N. Mueller, CFA®

Garth B. Newport, CFA®

Michael Schueller, CFA®*

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
                   
Class A (IPBAX)   2-28-2003     2.83       1.53       2.33       7.68       2.47       2.80       1.17       0.78  
                   
Class C (IPBCX)   2-28-2003     6.02       1.72       2.07       7.02       1.72       2.07       1.92       1.53  
                   
Class R6 (IPBJX)4   10-31-2016                       8.18       2.83       3.13       0.79       0.40  
                   
Administrator Class (IPBIX)   2-28-2003                       7.95       2.71       3.07       1.11       0.60  
                   
Institutional Class (IPBNX)5   10-31-2016                       8.13       2.80       3.12       0.84       0.45  
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. TIPS Index6                         8.61       2.31       3.09              
                   
CPI7                         2.05       1.72       1.75              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 4.50%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R6, Administrator Class, and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. High-yield securities have a greater risk of default and tend to be more volatile than higher-rated debt securities. Loans are subject to risks similar to those associated with other below investment-grade bond investments, such as credit risk (for example, risk of issuer default), below-investment-grade bond risk (for example, risk of greater volatility in value), and risk that the loan may become illiquid or difficult to price. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Fund


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Foreign investments are especially volatile and can rise or fall dramatically due to differences in the political and economic conditions of the host country. These risks are generally intensified in emerging markets. The Fund is exposed to mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk and small company securities risk. Securities issued by U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20198  
   

TIPS, 0.38%, 7-15-2025

     3.42  
   

TIPS, 0.13%, 1-15-2022

     3.32  
   

TIPS, 0.25%, 1-15-2025

     3.32  
   

TIPS, 0.38%, 7-15-2023

     3.21  
   

TIPS, 0.63%, 1-15-2026

     3.04  
   

TIPS, 0.13%, 1-15-2023

     2.95  
   

TIPS, 0.63%, 7-15-2021

     2.59  
   

TIPS, 0.63%, 1-15-2024

     2.55  
   

TIPS, 0.13%, 7-15-2024

     2.53  
   

TIPS, 2.38%, 1-15-2025

     2.46  
Portfolio allocation as of November 30, 20199
LOGO
 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

*

Mr. Schueller became a portfolio manager of the Fund on January 15, 2020.

 

1 

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated master portfolio of the Wells Fargo Master Trust with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. References to the investment activities of the Fund are intended to refer to the investment activities of the affiliated master portfolio in which it invests.

 

2 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

3 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at the amounts shown. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any) from funds in which the affiliated master portfolio invests, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Net expenses from the affiliated master portfolio are included in the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

4 

Historical performance shown for the Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of the Administrator Class shares, and is not adjusted to reflect Class R6 expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for Class R6 shares would be higher.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for the Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of the Administrator Class shares, and is not adjusted to reflect Institutional Class expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for the Institutional Class shares would be higher.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) Index is an index of inflation-indexed-linked U.S. Treasury securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) measures the changes in the price of a basket of goods and services purchased by urban consumers. The urban consumer population is deemed by many as a better representative measure of the general public because close to 90% of the country’s population lives in highly populated areas. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the securities of the affiliated master portfolio allocable to the Fund divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

9 

Amounts represent the portfolio allocation of the affiliated master portfolio which are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the affiliated master portfolio. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  5


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account  value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,031.78      $ 3.96        0.78

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.10      $ 3.94        0.78
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,028.11      $ 7.76        1.53

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.35      $ 7.72        1.53
         

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,034.44      $ 2.03        0.40

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,023.00      $ 2.02        0.40
         

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,032.61      $ 3.05        0.60

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.00      $ 3.03        0.60
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,033.14      $ 2.29        0.45

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.75      $ 2.28        0.45

 

1

Amounts reflect net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio in which the Fund invests.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

6  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Fund


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                             Value  
Investment Companies: 99.69%

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio: 99.69%  

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

           $ 61,933,397  
          

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $59,484,858)

 

           61,933,397  
          

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $59,484,858)     99.69        61,933,397  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.31          191,660  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 62,125,057  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolio were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning of
period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
   

Net

change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio

    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolio
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

    32     34   $ (202,536   $ 1,466,437     $ 733,991     $ 115,425     $ 6,452     $ 61,933,397       99.69

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  7


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolio, at value (cost $59,484,858)

  $ 61,933,397  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    81,503  

Receivable from manager

    36,623  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    130,354  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    62,181,877  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    32,648  

Administration fees payable

    4,908  

Distribution fee payable

    1,272  

Custodian and accounting fees payable

    6,864  

Shareholder servicing fees payable

    6,762  

Professional fees payable

    2,033  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

    2,333  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    56,820  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 62,125,057  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 60,744,060  

Total distributable earnings

    1,380,997  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 62,125,057  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 16,379,587  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    1,625,830  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $10.07  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $10.54  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 1,983,458  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    200,034  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $9.92  

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 17,401,547  

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    1,709,575  

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $10.18  

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 14,782,479  

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    1,445,844  

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $10.22  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 11,577,986  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    1,137,018  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $10.18  

 

1 

The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/95.50 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

8  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Fund


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Interest allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

  $ 733,991  

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,271)

    115,425  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    6,452  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (135,149

Waivers allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    18,742  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    739,461  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    14,989  

Administration fees

 

Class A

    13,452  

Class C

    1,814  

Class R6

    2,433  

Administrator Class

    6,561  

Institutional Class

    4,612  

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    21,019  

Class C

    2,835  

Administrator Class

    16,403  

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    8,501  

Custody and accounting fees

    2,009  

Professional fees

    17,949  

Registration fees

    99,725  

Shareholder report expenses

    34,569  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,623  

Other fees and expenses

    7,679  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    265,173  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (132,229

Class A

    (34,471

Class C

    (4,649

Class R6

    (2,433

Administrator Class

    (22,964

Institutional Class

    (4,612
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    63,815  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    675,646  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized losses on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    (202,536

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolio

    1,466,437  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1,263,901  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 1,939,547  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  9


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 675,646       $ 1,389,934  

Net realized losses on investments

      (202,536       (830,409

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      1,466,437         806,875  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      1,939,547         1,366,400  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      (224,571       (509,589

Class C

      (21,657       (59,497

Class R6

      (247,886       (321,376

Administrator Class

      (167,898       (396,758

Institutional Class

      (173,478       (349,231
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (835,490       (1,636,451
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    222,699       2,243,905       536,260       5,211,071  

Class C

    38,560       383,380       115,162       1,107,921  

Class R6

    326,513       3,311,933       315,330       3,110,483  

Administrator Class

    433,191       4,442,756       418,320       4,128,845  

Institutional Class

    315,813       3,217,449       733,768       7,248,113  
 

 

 

 
      13,599,423         20,806,433  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    15,841       159,756       36,976       359,276  

Class C

    1,894       18,797       5,600       53,596  

Class R6

    13,396       136,460       13,831       135,701  

Administrator Class

    16,213       165,903       40,010       394,108  

Institutional Class

    16,985       173,101       35,503       348,182  
 

 

 

 
      654,017         1,290,863  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (404,208     (4,055,191     (1,429,739     (13,815,687

Class C

    (102,695     (1,017,713     (219,827     (2,105,292

Class R6

    (67,574     (686,408     (71,175     (700,914

Administrator Class

    (356,025     (3,637,154     (1,441,193     (14,228,082

Institutional Class

    (305,865     (3,117,790     (874,093     (8,536,165
 

 

 

 
      (12,514,256       (39,386,140
 

 

 

 

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

      1,739,184         (17,288,844
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      2,843,241         (17,558,895
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      59,281,816         76,840,711  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 62,125,057       $ 59,281,816  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

10  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Fund


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS A   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.89       $9.87       $9.96       $9.95       $10.07       $10.11  

Net investment income

    0.09       0.15       0.21       0.19 1      0.10 1      0.05 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.22       0.09       (0.09     0.03       (0.01     0.07  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.31       0.24       0.12       0.22       0.09       0.12  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.13     (0.19     (0.21     (0.20     (0.07     (0.08

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.03     0.00       (0.01     (0.14     (0.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.13     (0.22     (0.21     (0.21     (0.21     (0.16

Net asset value, end of period

    $10.07       $9.89       $9.87       $9.96       $9.95       $10.07  

Total return2

    3.18     2.56     1.25     2.23     1.01     1.24

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.42     1.16     1.04     1.11     1.20     1.31

Net expenses3

    0.78     0.77     0.80     0.85     0.85     0.85

Net investment income3

    2.10     1.95     2.15     1.92     0.98     0.47

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    11     39     29     25     29     57

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $16,380       $17,716       $26,133       $29,678       $18,938       $12,977  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.41

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.44

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  11


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS C   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.73       $9.73       $9.82       $9.77       $9.92       $10.00  

Net investment income (loss)

    0.07 1      0.10 1      0.03       0.04       0.03 1      (0.03 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.21       0.07       0.02       0.10       (0.02     0.08  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.28       0.17       0.05       0.14       0.01       0.05  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.09     (0.14     (0.14     (0.08     (0.02     (0.05

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.03     0.00       (0.01     (0.14     (0.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.09     (0.17     (0.14     (0.09     (0.16     (0.13

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.92       $9.73       $9.73       $9.82       $9.77       $9.92  

Total return2

    2.81     1.79     0.53     1.44     0.21     0.46

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    2.17     1.91     1.79     1.86     1.95     2.06

Net expenses3

    1.53     1.52     1.56     1.60     1.60     1.60

Net investment income (loss)3

    1.40     1.08     1.39     1.23     0.30     (0.33 )% 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    11     39     29     25     29     57

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $1,983       $2,553       $3,517       $4,580       $5,654       $7,471  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.44

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

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Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months  ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
CLASS R6   2019     2018     20171  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.99       $9.96       $10.05       $10.17  

Net investment income

    0.12       0.23 2      0.22       0.10  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.22       0.06       (0.06     (0.07
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.34       0.29       0.16       0.03  

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net investment income

    (0.15     (0.23     (0.25     (0.14

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.03     0.00       (0.01
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.15     (0.26     (0.25     (0.15

Net asset value, end of period

    $10.18       $9.99       $9.96       $10.05  

Total return3

    3.44     2.99     1.63     0.36

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

       

Gross expenses4

    1.05     0.82     0.66     0.69

Net expenses4

    0.40     0.39     0.42     0.47

Net investment income4

    2.40     2.34     2.52     1.32

Supplemental data

       

Portfolio turnover rate5

    11     39     29     25

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $17,402       $14,358       $11,750       $7,438  

 

1 

For the period from October 31, 2016 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017

 

2 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.41

Year ended May 31, 20171

    0.44

 

5 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  13


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $10.03       $9.99       $10.06       $10.03       $10.15       $10.17  

Net investment income

    0.09       0.21 1      0.24 1      0.22 1      0.13 1      0.10 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.24       0.06       (0.09     0.02       (0.02     0.06  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.33       0.27       0.15       0.24       0.11       0.16  

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.14     (0.20     (0.22     (0.20     (0.09     (0.10

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.03     0.00       (0.01     (0.14     (0.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.14     (0.23     (0.22     (0.21     (0.23     (0.18

Net asset value, end of period

    $10.22       $10.03       $9.99       $10.06       $10.03       $10.15  

Total return2

    3.26     2.78     1.50     2.46     1.21     1.56

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses3

    1.36     1.10     0.97     1.04     1.13     1.27

Net expenses3

    0.60     0.59     0.60     0.60     0.60     0.60

Net investment income3

    2.28     2.15     2.39     2.20     1.30     0.99

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate4

    11     39     29     25     29     57

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $14,782       $13,562       $23,331       $26,100       $20,607       $10,679  

 

1 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2 

Returns for period of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.41

Year ended May 31, 2017

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2016

    0.44

Year ended May 31, 2015

    0.44

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2019     2018     20171  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.99       $9.97       $10.06       $10.17  

Net investment income

    0.12       0.22       0.24       0.14  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.22       0.05       (0.08     (0.10
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.34       0.27       0.16       0.04  

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net investment income

    (0.15     (0.22     (0.25     (0.14

Net realized gains

    0.00       (0.03     0.00       (0.01
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.15     (0.25     (0.25     (0.15

Net asset value, end of period

    $10.18       $9.99       $9.97       $10.06  

Total return2

    3.31     2.84     1.57     0.41

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

       

Gross expenses3

    1.09     0.84     0.71     0.76

Net expenses3

    0.45     0.44     0.47     0.52

Net investment income3

    2.41     2.20     2.62     2.24

Supplemental data

       

Portfolio turnover rate4

    11     39     29     25

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $11,578       $11,094       $12,110       $5,229  

 

1 

For the period from October 31, 2016 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017

 

2 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Ratios include net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolio which were as follows:

 

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2019

    0.39

Year ended May 31, 2018

    0.41

Year ended May 31, 20171

    0.44

 

4 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the affiliated Master Portfolio’s percentage of the Fund’s total investments in securities at the end of the period by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  15


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Real Return Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure that invests substantially all of its assets in a single master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a separate diversified portfolio (the “affiliated Master Portfolio”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. The affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities and the Fund acquires an indirect interest in those securities. The Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolio as a partnership investment and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio for the six months ended November 30, 2019 are included in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund owned 34% of Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued daily based on the Fund’s proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily. Securities held in the affiliated Master Portfolio are valued as discussed in the Notes to Financial Statements of the affiliated Master Portfolio, which are included elsewhere in this report.

Investment transactions, income and expenses

Investments in the affiliated Master Portfolio are recorded on a trade basis. The Fund records daily its proportionate share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains or losses. The Fund also accrues its own expenses.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid from net investment income monthly and any net realized gains are paid at least annually. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. The tax character of distributions is determined as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distributions made prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be categorized as a tax return of capital at year end.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $59,561,314 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 2,372,083  

Gross unrealized losses

     0  

Net unrealized gains

   $ 2,372,083  

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards which consisted of $229,298 in short-term capital losses and $95,581 in long-term capital losses.

As of May 31, 2019, the Fund had current year deferred post-October capital losses consisting of $426,109 in short-term losses and $148,632 in long-term losses which were recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

At November 30, 2019, the affiliated Master Portfolio was measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The investment objective and the value of the affiliate Master Portfolio was as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective    Value of
affiliated Master
Portfolio
 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

   Seeks returns that exceed the rate of inflation over the long-term      $61,933,397  

The affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations. As long as the Fund continues to invest substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio, the Fund pays Funds Management an investment management fee only for fund-level administrative services at the following annual rate based on the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee

First $5 billion

   0.05%

Next $5 billion

   0.04

Over $10 billion

   0.03

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to the affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from the affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  17


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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

      Class-level
administration fee

Class A, Class C

   0.16%

Class R6

   0.03

Administrator Class

   0.10

Institutional Class

   0.08

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. When each class of the Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Net expenses from the affiliated Master Portfolio are included in the expense caps. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 0.78% for Class A shares, 1.53% for Class C shares, 0.40% for Class R6 shares, 0.60% for Administrator Class shares, and 0.45% for Institutional Class shares. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received $62 from the sale of Class A shares. No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A and Class C shares for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a single affiliated Master Portfolio. Purchases and sales have been calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage of the affiliated Master Portfolio by the affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Purchases at cost

     Sales proceeds
U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
     U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
$1,292,246      $5,533,490      $4,352,906      $4,778,214

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Common Stocks: 13.92%           

Consumer Staples: 3.62%

          
Beverages: 0.90%                           

Molson Coors Brewing Company Class B

          6,762      $ 341,346  

The Coca-Cola Company

          24,028        1,283,095  
             1,624,441  
          

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 0.80%                           

Costco Wholesale Corporation

          1,702        510,277  

Walmart Incorporated

          7,800        928,902  
             1,439,179  
          

 

 

 
Food Products: 0.37%                           

Mondelez International Incorporated Class A

          9,542        501,337  

Tyson Foods Incorporated Class A

          1,809        162,611  
             663,948  
          

 

 

 
Household Products: 1.23%                           

Church & Dwight Company Incorporated

          6,726        472,434  

The Clorox Company

          1,577        233,759  

The Procter & Gamble Company

          12,312        1,502,803  
             2,208,996  
          

 

 

 
Tobacco: 0.32%                           

Philip Morris International Incorporated

          6,967        577,773  
          

 

 

 

Energy: 2.39%

          
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.14%                           

Schlumberger Limited

          7,133        258,215  
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 2.25%                           

BP plc

          26,651        997,280  

Chevron Corporation

          9,865        1,155,487  

Cimarex Energy Company

          6,042        277,751  

EOG Resources Incorporated

          8,279        586,981  

Noble Energy Incorporated

          17,693        367,307  

Phillips 66

          5,773        662,279  
             4,047,085  
          

 

 

 

Financials: 0.11%

          
Mortgage REITs: 0.11%                           

AGNC Investment Corporation

          11,241        194,694  
          

 

 

 

Materials: 3.05%

          
Chemicals: 1.10%                           

Axalta Coating Systems Limited †

          12,168        346,423  

Dow Incorporated

          6,357        339,273  

Ecolab Incorporated

          1,222        228,111  

Linde plc

          3,212        662,347  

The Sherwin-Williams Company

          679        395,945  
             1,972,099  
          

 

 

 
Construction Materials: 0.20%                           

Martin Marietta Materials Incorporated

          1,377        369,587  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

20  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

                     Shares      Value  
Containers & Packaging: 0.16%                           

Crown Holdings Incorporated †

          3,895      $ 295,631  
          

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 1.59%                           

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited «

          3,700        220,520  

Alamos Gold Incorporated Class A

          6,000        34,013  

AngloGold Ashanti Limited ADR

          2,500        47,600  

B2Gold Corporation

          22,000        80,825  

Barrick Gold Corporation

          11,556        194,141  

Detour Gold Corporation †

          7,000        127,742  

Endeavour Mining Corporation †

          3,700        70,334  

Evolution Mining Limited

          21,000        55,539  

Franco-Nevada Corporation

          1,400        137,555  

Gold Fields Limited ADR

          10,000        53,500  

Kinross Gold Corporation †

          25,000        108,221  

Kirkland Lake Gold Limited

          3,100        129,947  

MAG Silver Corporation †

          5,500        58,921  

Newcrest Mining Limited

          6,800        141,481  

Newmont Goldcorp Corporation

          5,840        224,256  

Northern Star Resources Limited

          11,500        74,597  

Pan American Silver Corporation

          2,500        48,125  

Pretium Resources Incorporated †

          1,800        17,549  

Royal Gold Incorporated

          3,994        468,376  

SSR Mining Incorporated †

          3,900        61,074  

Steel Dynamics Incorporated

          8,099        273,179  

Torex Gold Resources Incorporated †

          6,000        90,070  

Wheaton Precious Metals Corporation

          4,900        135,457  
             2,853,022  
          

 

 

 

Real Estate: 4.75%

          
Equity REITs: 4.75%                           

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Incorporated

          2,635        428,240  

American Tower Corporation

          3,919        838,784  

Camden Property Trust

          2,439        272,070  

CoreSite Realty Corporation

          2,287        259,323  

Equinix Incorporated

          1,644        931,901  

Equity Residential

          3,982        338,868  

Four Corners Property Trust Incorporated

          11,599        328,484  

Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated

          11,439        379,660  

Healthcare Trust of America Incorporated Class A

          5,953        180,674  

Host Hotels & Resorts Incorporated

          8,056        140,899  

Hudson Pacific Properties Incorporated

          7,456        266,925  

Invitation Homes Incorporated

          12,292        375,275  

Mid-America Apartment Communities Incorporated

          2,503        340,683  

Prologis Incorporated

          8,131        744,393  

Public Storage Incorporated

          1,623        341,934  

Retail Opportunity Investment Corporation

          19,413        354,093  

SBA Communications Corporation

          2,229        527,092  

Simon Property Group Incorporated

          3,467        524,245  

Sun Communities Incorporated

          3,141        517,354  

VICI Properties Incorporated

          18,047        446,302  
             8,537,199  
          

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $20,879,008)

             25,041,869  
          

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio  |  21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     Interest
rate
    Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  
Corporate Bonds and Notes: 12.80%          

Communication Services: 1.24%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 0.21%                          

CenturyLink Incorporated

    5.63     4-1-2020      $ 260,000      $ 262,623  

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    5.38       1-15-2024        125,000        127,031  
            389,654  
         

 

 

 
Entertainment: 0.35%                          

Netflix Incorporated

    5.38       2-1-2021        600,000        620,520  
         

 

 

 
Media: 0.53%                          

CSC Holdings LLC

    6.75       11-15-2021        125,000        134,531  

Sirius XM Radio Incorporated 144A

    3.88       8-1-2022        650,000        663,000  

TEGNA Incorporated

    5.13       7-15-2020        158,000        158,395  
            955,926  
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.15%                          

Sprint Spectrum Company LLC 144A

    3.36       3-20-2023        87,500        88,266  

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    4.00       4-15-2022        175,000        180,250  
            268,516  
         

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary: 2.26%

         
Auto Components: 0.07%                          

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

    8.00       12-15-2019        120,000        120,072  
         

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.21%                          

LKQ Corporation

    4.75       5-15-2023        370,000        376,013  
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.41%                          

MGM Resorts International

    6.63       12-15-2021        200,000        217,700  

MGM Resorts International

    7.75       3-15-2022        130,000        145,763  

NCL Corporation Limited 144A

    4.75       12-15-2021        373,000        377,663  
            741,126  
         

 

 

 
Household Durables: 0.68%                          

Lennar Corporation

    6.63       5-1-2020        305,000        310,338  

Newell Brands Incorporated

    3.85       4-1-2023        267,000        275,392  

Pulte Group Incorporated

    4.25       3-1-2021        400,000        407,500  

Toll Brothers Finance Corporation

    5.88       2-15-2022        225,000        238,500  
            1,231,730  
         

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 0.89%                          

Gap Incorporated

    5.95       4-12-2021        310,000        321,837  

Group 1 Automotive Incorporated

    5.00       6-1-2022        395,000        399,938  

L Brands Incorporated

    6.63       4-1-2021        365,000        383,250  

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

    3.75       8-15-2020        385,000        386,444  

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

    5.75       10-1-2022        110,000        111,196  
            1,602,665  
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.21%

         
Personal Products: 0.21%                          

Edgewell Personal Care Company

    4.70       5-19-2021        380,000        388,930  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

22  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     Interest
rate
    Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  

Energy: 1.97%

         
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 1.97%                          

Antero Resources Corporation

    5.38     11-1-2021      $ 190,000      $ 175,513  

Archrock Partners LP

    6.00       10-1-2022        240,000        240,600  

Buckeye Partners LP

    4.88       2-1-2021        180,000        182,526  

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP

    6.25       4-1-2023        210,000        210,525  

DCP Midstream Operating LP 144A

    5.35       3-15-2020        445,000        446,669  

NuStar Logistics LP

    4.80       9-1-2020        210,000        211,509  

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    5.63       4-15-2020        405,000        410,672  

Rose Rock Midstream LP

    5.63       11-15-2023        310,000        317,750  

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    6.25       3-15-2022        250,000        268,821  

Southern Star Central Corporation 144A

    5.13       7-15-2022        375,000        378,750  

Tallgrass Energy Partners LP 144A

    4.75       10-1-2023        360,000        347,400  

Targa Resources Partners LP

    4.25       11-15-2023        345,000        348,019  
            3,538,754  
         

 

 

 

Financials: 0.99%

         
Banks: 0.18%                          

CIT Group Incorporated

    5.00       8-15-2022        305,000        324,612  
         

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 0.81%                          

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    3.34       3-18-2021        170,000        170,899  

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    5.60       1-7-2022        160,000        168,176  

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    8.13       1-15-2020        175,000        176,238  

Navient Corporation

    5.00       10-26-2020        400,000        408,000  

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    7.75       10-1-2021        485,000        529,863  
            1,453,176  
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 1.28%

         
Health Care Providers & Services: 1.28%                          

Acadia Healthcare Company Incorporated

    5.13       7-1-2022        312,000        313,560  

Centene Corporation

    4.75       5-15-2022        435,000        443,700  

Centene Corporation 144A %%

    4.75       1-15-2025        130,000        135,054  

HCA Incorporated

    7.50       2-15-2022        150,000        166,125  

HealthSouth Corporation

    5.13       3-15-2023        290,000        296,163  

Magellan Health Incorporated

    4.90       9-22-2024        180,000        181,800  

MEDNAX Incorporated 144A

    5.25       12-1-2023        235,000        240,288  

Molina Healthcare Incorporated

    5.38       11-15-2022        400,000        423,000  

Universal Health Services Incorporated 144A

    4.75       8-1-2022        105,000        106,116  
            2,305,806  
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 1.79%

         
Aerospace & Defense: 0.45%                          

Alcoa Incorporated

    6.15       8-15-2020        350,000        359,065  

Moog Incorporated 144A

    5.25       12-1-2022        445,000        450,563  
            809,628  
         

 

 

 
Airlines: 0.56%                          

American Airlines Group Company 144A

    5.00       6-1-2022        605,000        632,104  

United Continental Holdings Incorporated

    4.25       10-1-2022        360,000        371,250  
            1,003,354  
         

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.20%                          

ADT Corporation

    6.25       10-15-2021        350,000        371,000  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio  |  23


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     Interest
rate
    Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  
Construction & Engineering: 0.09%          

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company

    8.00 %       5-15-2022      $ 155,000      $ 164,506  
         

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates: 0.09%                          

General Electric Company

    5.55       5-4-2020        165,000        167,261  
         

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 0.40%                          

Aircastle Limited

    5.13       3-15-2021        275,000        284,145  

Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC 144A

    6.75       3-15-2022        415,000        430,563  
            714,708  
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 0.72%

         
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.21%                          

Anixter International Incorporated

    5.13       10-1-2021        350,000        366,100  
         

 

 

 
Software: 0.22%                          

Symantec Corporation

    4.20       9-15-2020        395,000        398,863  
         

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 0.29%                          

EMC Corporation

    2.65       6-1-2020        525,000        524,344  
         

 

 

 

Materials: 1.13%

         
Chemicals: 0.17%                          

Chemours Company

    6.63       5-15-2023        305,000        300,425  
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 0.47%                          

Berry Global Incorporated

    5.50       5-15-2022        70,000        70,963  

Owens-Brockway Glass Container Incorporated 144A

    5.00       1-15-2022        350,000        362,250  

Reynolds Group Holdings

    5.75       10-15-2020        416,716        417,216  
            850,429  
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.49%                          

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Incorporated

    3.55       3-1-2022        520,000        522,600  

Steel Dynamics Incorporated

    5.13       10-1-2021        351,000        352,404  
            875,004  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate: 0.62%

         
Equity REITs: 0.29%                          

CoreCivic Incorporated

    4.13       4-1-2020        455,000        455,228  

SBA Communications Corporation

    4.00       10-1-2022        60,000        61,125  

VEREIT Operating Partnership LP

    4.13       6-1-2021        10,000        10,246  
            526,599  
         

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.33%                          

Realogy Group LLC 144A

    5.25       12-1-2021        70,000        70,525  

Washington Prime Group Incorporated

    3.85       4-1-2020        515,000        513,713  
            584,238  
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 0.59%

         
Electric Utilities: 0.20%                          

DPL Incorporated

    7.25       10-15-2021        245,000        254,800  

NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP 144A

    4.25       7-15-2024        100,000        102,732  
            357,532  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

24  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     Interest
rate
    Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 0.39%                          

TerraForm Power Operating LLC 144A

    4.25 %       1-31-2023      $ 500,000      $ 508,543  

The AES Corporation

    4.50       3-15-2023        185,000        189,625  
            698,168  
         

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $22,873,644)

            23,029,659  
         

 

 

 

Loans: 4.12%

         

Communication Services: 1.19%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 0.05%                          

Level 3 Financing Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +2.25%) ±

    3.95       3-1-2027        87,348        87,281  
         

 

 

 
Entertainment: 0.08%                          

Live Nation Entertainment (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.56       10-17-2026        136,842        137,355  
         

 

 

 
Media: 0.82%                          

Charter Communications Operating LLC (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.45       4-30-2025        577,755        580,245  

CSC Holdings LLC (2 Month LIBOR +2.50%) ±

    4.33       4-15-2027        371,618        371,710  

Diamond Sports Group LLC / Diamond Sports Finance Company (1 Month LIBOR +3.25%) ±

    4.96       8-24-2026        350,000        348,796  

Virgin Media Bristol LLC (1 Month LIBOR +2.50%) ±

    4.27       1-31-2028        175,000        175,025  
            1,475,776  
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.24%                          

SBA Senior Finance II LLC (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.46       4-11-2025        432,981        432,890  
         

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary: 0.26%

         
Auto Components: 0.10%                          

Allison Transmission Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.54       3-29-2026        30,776        30,980  

Belron Finance US LLC (3 Month LIBOR +2.25%) ±

    4.14       11-7-2024        157,200        157,593  
            188,573  
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.12%                          

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.45       5-30-2025        217,800        218,678  
         

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 0.04%                          

Sally Beauty Holdings Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +2.25%) ±%%<‡

    3.96       7-5-2024        64,273        63,630  
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.08%

         
Food Products: 0.08%                          

Prestige Brands Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +2.00%) ±

    3.70       1-26-2024        138,654        139,099  
         

 

 

 

Energy: 0.13%

         
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.13%                          

Buckeye Partners LP (1 Month LIBOR +2.75%) ±%%<

    4.53       11-1-2026        230,000        231,725  
         

 

 

 

Financials: 0.38%

         
Consumer Finance: 0.21%                          

TransUnion LLC (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.45       11-16-2026        375,250        375,393  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio  |  25


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     Interest
rate
    Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  
Diversified Financial Services: 0.17%                          

Delos Finance SARL (3 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.85 %       10-6-2023      $ 166,667      $ 167,173  

LPL Holdings Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.45       11-12-2026        140,303        140,594  
            307,767  
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 0.23%

         
Health Care Providers & Services: 0.23%                          

HCA Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.45       3-18-2026        368,948        370,147  

Select Medical Corporation (6 Month LIBOR +2.50%) ±

    4.58       3-6-2025        49,278        49,032  
            419,179  
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 1.03%

         
Airlines: 0.24%                          

United Airlines Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.45       4-1-2024        68,250        68,449  

WestJet Airlines Limited %%<

    0.00       8-7-2026        360,000        361,850  
            430,299  
         

 

 

 
Building Products: 0.18%                          

Advanced Drainage Systems Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +2.25%) ±%%<‡

    4.00       7-31-2026        325,000        326,830  
         

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.38%                          

Advanced Disposal Services Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +2.25%) ±

    3.85       11-10-2023        177,610        177,892  

Aramark Services Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.45       3-28-2024        106,844        107,066  

Aramark Services Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.45       3-11-2025        364,323        364,931  

KAR Auction Services Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +2.25%) ±

    4.00       9-19-2026        39,165        39,361  
            689,250  
         

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.13%                          

Columbus McKinnon Corporation (3 Month LIBOR +2.50%) ±

    4.60       1-31-2024        40,966        41,120  

RBS Global Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.47       8-21-2024        181,250        181,622  
            222,742  
         

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.10%                          

Genesee & Wyoming Incorporated %%<

    0.00       11-6-2026        180,000        181,190  
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 0.46%

         
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.18%                          

CDW LLC (1 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.46       10-13-2026        196,947        198,260  

Dell International LLC (1 Month LIBOR +2.00%) ±

    3.71       9-19-2025        38,952        39,154  

Sensata Technologies BV (2 Month LIBOR +1.75%) ±

    3.59       9-20-2026        87,509        88,038  
            325,452  
         

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 0.17%                          

ON Semiconductor Corporation (1 Month LIBOR +2.00%) ±

    3.70       9-19-2026        315,000        316,150  
         

 

 

 
Software : 0.11%                          

SS&C Technologies Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +2.25%) ±

    3.95       4-16-2025        118,337        118,892  

SS&C Technologies Incorporated (1 Month LIBOR +2.25%) ±

    3.95       4-16-2025        77,032        77,393  
            196,285  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

26  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     Interest
rate
    Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  

Materials: 0.27%

         
Chemicals: 0.27%                          

Ineos US Finance LLC (1 Month LIBOR +2.00%) ±

    3.70 %       3-31-2024      $ 492,292      $ 489,353  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate: 0.09%

         
Equity REITs: 0.09%                          

MGM Growth Properties LLC (1 Month LIBOR +2.00%) ±

    3.70       3-21-2025        161,026        161,361  
         

 

 

 

Total Loans (Cost $7,425,828)

            7,416,258  
         

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Securities: 65.06%  

TIPS

    0.13       4-15-2021        2,085,430        2,070,785  

TIPS

    0.13       1-15-2022        6,029,442        5,992,183  

TIPS

    0.13       7-15-2022        2,958,778        2,953,032  

TIPS

    0.13       1-15-2023        5,350,500        5,316,387  

TIPS

    0.13       7-15-2024        4,574,068        4,570,474  

TIPS

    0.13       7-15-2026        3,636,588        3,632,074  

TIPS

    0.25       1-15-2025        5,978,481        5,991,771  

TIPS

    0.25       7-15-2029        1,736,522        1,750,537  

TIPS

    0.38       7-15-2023        5,753,762        5,799,224  

TIPS

    0.38       7-15-2025        6,084,886        6,162,389  

TIPS

    0.38       1-15-2027        3,162,187        3,200,111  

TIPS

    0.38       7-15-2027        1,532,460        1,558,050  

TIPS

    0.50       1-15-2028        3,325,739        3,404,889  

TIPS

    0.63       7-15-2021        4,636,585        4,666,622  

TIPS

    0.63       4-15-2023        4,083,076        4,122,022  

TIPS

    0.63       1-15-2024        4,522,685        4,592,596  

TIPS

    0.63       1-15-2026        5,343,468        5,480,239  

TIPS

    0.63       2-15-2043        2,049,291        2,108,543  

TIPS

    0.75       7-15-2028        2,265,679        2,378,425  

TIPS

    0.75       2-15-2042        2,766,891        2,921,609  

TIPS

    0.75       2-15-2045        2,409,696        2,543,962  

TIPS

    0.88       1-15-2029        879,584        933,204  

TIPS

    0.88       2-15-2047        1,068,978        1,165,553  

TIPS

    1.00       2-15-2046        2,524,858        2,826,820  

TIPS

    1.00       2-15-2048        1,192,185        1,342,794  

TIPS

    1.00       2-15-2049        709,150        803,517  

TIPS

    1.38       2-15-2044        2,236,431        2,683,645  

TIPS

    1.75       1-15-2028        2,347,024        2,632,781  

TIPS

    2.00       1-15-2026        2,910,690        3,223,464  

TIPS

    2.13       2-15-2040        1,235,447        1,634,848  

TIPS

    2.13       2-15-2041        1,576,959        2,106,601  

TIPS

    2.38       1-15-2025        3,997,881        4,432,744  

TIPS

    2.38       1-15-2027        2,158,074        2,487,302  

TIPS

    2.50       1-15-2029        2,260,251        2,723,444  

TIPS

    3.38       4-15-2032        911,314        1,252,411  

TIPS

    3.63       4-15-2028        1,833,539        2,346,203  

TIPS

    3.88       4-15-2029        2,405,264        3,211,422  

Total U.S. Treasury Securities (Cost $112,760,036)

            117,022,677  
         

 

 

 

Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes: 1.81%

         

Communication Services: 0.46%

         
Media: 0.46%                          

Nielsen Holding and Finance BV 144A

    5.50       10-1-2021        425,000        425,531  

Videotron Limited

    5.00       7-15-2022        375,000        394,219  
            819,750  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio  |  27


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     Interest
rate
    Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  

Consumer Discretionary: 0.20%

         
Automobiles: 0.05%                          

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV

    4.50 %       4-15-2020      $ 100,000      $ 100,625  
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.15%                          

International Game Technology plc 144A

    6.25       2-15-2022        250,000        263,750  
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 0.62%

         
Pharmaceuticals: 0.62%                          

Bausch Health Companies Incorporated 144A

    6.50       3-15-2022        430,000        441,288  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance BV

    2.20       7-21-2021        620,000        599,385  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance BV

    3.65       11-10-2021        70,000        68,569  
            1,109,242  
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 0.10%

         
Communications Equipment: 0.10%                          

Nokia OYJ

    3.38       6-12-2022        180,000        182,016  
         

 

 

 

Materials: 0.43%

         
Chemicals: 0.23%                          

Park Aerospace Holdings Company 144A

    5.25       8-15-2022        400,000        424,840  
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.20%                          

FMG Resources Proprietary Limited 144A

    4.75       5-15-2022        345,000        353,625  
         

 

 

 

Total Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $3,231,336)

            3,253,848  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 2.55%                          
Investment Companies: 2.55%                          

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC (l)(r)(u)

    1.77          101,119        101,129  

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)##

    1.56          4,478,730        4,478,730  

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $4,579,866)

            4,579,859  
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $171,749,718)     100.26        180,344,170  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.26        (470,784
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 179,873,386  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

«

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

144A

The security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933.

%%

The security is purchased on a when-issued basis.

±

Variable rate investment. The rate shown is the rate in effect at period end.

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs.

<

All or a portion of the position represents an unfunded loan commitment. The rate represents current interest rate if the loan is partially funded.

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Portfolio as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(r)

The investment is a non-registered investment company purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

##

All or a portion of this security is segregated for when-issued and/or unfunded loans.

Abbreviations:

ADR

American depositary receipt

LIBOR

London Interbank Offered Rate

TIPS

Treasury inflation-protected securities

REIT

Real estate investment trust

 

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

 

 

28  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
contracts
     Expiration
date
     Notional
cost
     Notional
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

                 

2-Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     14        3-31-2020      $ 3,020,519      $ 3,018,203      $ 0      $ (2,316

Short

                 

U.S. Ultra Bond

     (8)        3-20-2020        (1,501,234      (1,501,750      0        (516

10-Year Ultra Futures

     (3)        3-20-2020        (427,260      (426,656      604        0  

5-Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     (21)        3-31-2020        (2,498,471      (2,498,344      127        0  

10-Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     (10)        3-20-2020        (1,295,463      (1,293,594      1,869        0  
              

 

 

    

 

 

 
               $ 2,600      $ (2,832
              

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Portfolio owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Portfolio and the issuer having the same adviser or investment manager. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Portfolio at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning of
period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses)
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Income
from
affiliated
securities
   

Value,

end of

period

    % of
net
assets
 
Short-Term Investments                                                      

Investment Companies

                 

Securities Lending Cash Investments LLC

    0       2,372,629       2,271,510       101,119     $ (7   $ (7   $ 1,122 #    $ 101,129    

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    2,121,643       21,009,244       18,652,157       4,478,730       0       0       18,955       4,478,730    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ (7   $ (7   $ 20,077     $ 4,579,859       2.55
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

# 

Amount shown represents income before fees and rebates.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio  |  29


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Assets

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities (including $98,753 of securities loaned), at value (cost $167,169,852)

  $ 175,764,311  

Investments in affiliated securities, at value (cost $4,579,866)

    4,579,859  

Cash

    9,852  

Cash segregated for futures contracts

    82,188  

Foreign currency, at value (cost $595)

    590  

Receivable for investments sold

    100,666  

Receivable for dividends and interest

    687,626  

Receivable for securities lending income, net

    121  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    8,604  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    181,233,817  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    101,150  

Payable for investments purchased

    1,208,112  

Payable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

    139  

Advisory fee payable

    51,030  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    1,360,431  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 179,873,386  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

30  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio


Table of Contents

Statement of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Interest

  $ 2,283,124  

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $3,899)

    347,383  

Income from affiliated securities

    19,252  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    2,649,759  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    360,141  

Custody and accounting fees

    7,144  

Professional fees

    23,285  

Shareholder report expenses

    713  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,715  

Other fees and expenses

    4,264  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    407,262  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

 

Fund-level

    (56,471
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    350,791  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    2,298,968  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

Net realized losses on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    (458,147

Affiliated securities

    (7

Futures contracts

    (140,831
 

 

 

 

Net realized losses on investments

    (598,985
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on

 

Unaffiliated securities

    4,486,152  

Affiliated securities

    (7

Futures contracts

    37,945  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    4,524,090  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    3,925,105  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 6,224,073  
 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio  |  31


Table of Contents

Statement of changes in net assets

 

     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

 

Net investment income

  $ 2,298,968     $ 4,635,632  

Net realized losses on investments

    (598,985     (2,945,442

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    4,524,090       3,096,994  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    6,224,073       4,787,184  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions

   

Transactions in investors’ beneficial interests

 

Contributions

    12,259,273       110,886,812  

Withdrawals

    (21,348,251     (78,081,410
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions

    (9,088,978     32,805,402  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    (2,864,905     37,592,586  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets

   

Beginning of period

    182,738,291       145,145,705  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 179,873,386     $ 182,738,291  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

32  |  Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
    Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Total return1

    3.44     2.99     1.67     2.65     1.29     1.50

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses

    0.45     0.45     0.48     0.52     0.56     0.57

Net expenses

    0.39     0.40     0.41     0.44     0.44     0.44

Net investment income

    2.55     2.29     2.40     2.36     1.45     0.89

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    11     39     29     25     29     57

 

 

 

 

 

1 

Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio  |  33


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Master Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Portfolio may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Debt securities are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service (e.g. taking into account various factors, including yields, maturities, or credit ratings) or, if a reliable price is not available, the quoted bid price from an independent broker-dealer.

Equity securities and futures contracts that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Portfolio’s Valuation Procedures.

Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore may not fully reflect trading or events that occur after the close of the principal exchange in which the foreign securities are traded, but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. If such trading or events are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, then fair value pricing procedures approved by the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio are applied. These procedures take into account multiple factors including movements in U.S. securities markets after foreign exchanges close. Foreign securities that are fair valued under these procedures are categorized as Level 2 and the application of these procedures may result in transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. Depending on market activity, such fair valuations may be frequent. Such fair value pricing may result in net asset values that are higher or lower than net asset values based on the last reported sales price or latest quoted bid price. On November 30, 2019, such fair value pricing was not used in pricing foreign securities.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment companies that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued normally at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

Foreign currency translation

The accounting records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at rates provided by an independent foreign currency pricing source at a time each business day specified by the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are converted at the rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually paid or received. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities

 

 

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resulting from changes in exchange rates. The changes in net assets arising from changes in exchange rates of securities and the changes in net assets resulting from changes in market prices of securities are not separately presented. Such changes are included in net realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments.

Participation notes

The Portfolio may invest in participation notes to gain exposure to securities in certain foreign markets. Participation notes are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to offer a return linked to a particular underlying foreign security. Participation notes involve transaction costs, which may be higher than those applicable to the underlying foreign security. The holder of the participation note is entitled to receive from the bank or broker-dealer, an amount equal to the dividend paid by the issuer of the underlying foreign security; however, the holder is not entitled to the same rights (i.e. voting rights) as an owner of the underlying foreign security. Investments in participation notes involve risks beyond those normally associated with a direct investment in an underlying security. The Portfolio has no rights against the issuer of the underlying foreign security and participation notes expose the Portfolio to counterparty risk in the event the counterparty does not perform. There is also no assurance there will be a secondary trading market for the participation note or that the trading price of the participation note will equal the underlying value of the foreign security that it seeks to replicate.

Securities lending

The Portfolio may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. When securities are on loan, the Portfolio receives interest or dividends on those securities. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). Investments in Securities Lending Fund are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund (net of fees and rebates), if any, is included in income from affiliated securities on the Statement of Operations.

In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Portfolio is affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Portfolio fluctuates from time to time. The Portfolio has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Portfolio may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In such an event, the terms of the agreement allows the unaffiliated securities lending agent to use the collateral to purchase replacement securities on behalf of the Portfolio or pay the Portfolio the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio bears the risk of loss with respect to depreciation of its investment of the cash collateral.

When-issued transactions

The Portfolio may purchase securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis. The Portfolio records a when-issued transaction on the trade date and will segregate assets in an amount at least equal in value to the Portfolio’s commitment to purchase when-issued securities. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis are marked-to-market daily and the Portfolio begins earning interest on the settlement date. Losses may arise due to changes in the market value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

Loans

The Portfolio may invest in direct debt instruments which are interests in amounts owed to lenders by corporate or other borrowers. The loans pay interest at rates which are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. Investments in loans may be in the form of participations in loans or assignments of all or a portion of loans from third parties. When the Portfolio purchases participations, it generally has no rights to enforce compliance with the terms of the loan agreement with the borrower. As a result, the Portfolio assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. When the Portfolio purchases assignments from lenders, it acquires direct rights against the borrower on the loan and may enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement. Loans may include fully funded term loans or unfunded loan commitments, which are contractual obligations for future funding.

Futures contracts

Futures contracts are agreements between the Portfolio and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity, financial instrument or currency at a specified price and on a specified date. The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts in order to gain exposure to, or protect against, changes in interest rates and is subject to interest rate risk. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between changes in market values of securities held by the Portfolio and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Futures contracts are generally entered into on a regulated futures exchange and cleared through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange. With futures

 

 

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contracts, there is minimal counterparty risk to the Portfolio since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as the counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default.

Upon entering into a futures contracts, the Portfolio is required to deposit either cash or securities (initial margin) with the broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are paid to or from the broker each day equal to the daily changes in the contract value. Such payments are recorded as unrealized gains or losses and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (payable) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Should the Portfolio fail to make requested variation margin payments, the broker can gain access to the initial margin to satisfy the Portfolio’s payment obligations. When the contracts are closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations.

Inflation-indexed bonds and TIPS

The Portfolio may invest in inflation-indexed bonds, including Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS). Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates may rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. Inflation-indexed bonds, including TIPS, decline in value when real interest rates rise. In certain interest rate environments, such as when real interest rates are rising faster than nominal interest rates, inflation-indexed bonds may experience greater losses than other fixed income securities with similar durations.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Interest income is accrued daily and bond discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized daily. To the extent debt obligations are placed on non-accrual status, any related interest income may be reduced by writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has been determined to be doubtful based on consistently applied procedures and the fair value has decreased. If the issuer subsequently resumes interest payments or when the collectability of interest is reasonably assured, the debt obligation is removed from non-accrual status.

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities, which are recorded as soon as the custodian verifies the ex-dividend date. Dividend income from foreign securities is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Federal and other taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Portfolio is not required to pay federal income taxes on its net investment income and net capital gains as it is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. All interest, dividends, gains and losses of the Portfolio are deemed to have been “passed through” to the interest holders in proportion to their holdings of the Portfolio regardless of whether interest, dividends and gains have been distributed by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio’s income tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal revenue authority. Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes was $172,031,003 and the unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 9,825,138  

Gross unrealized losses

     (1,512,203

Net unrealized gains

   $ 8,312,935  

 

 

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3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Portfolio’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

      Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer staples

   $ 6,514,337      $ 0      $ 0      $ 6,514,337  

Energy

     4,305,300        0        0        4,305,300  

Financials

     194,694        0        0        194,694  

Materials

     5,490,339        0        0        5,490,339  

Real estate

     8,537,199        0        0        8,537,199  

Corporate bonds and notes

     0        23,029,659        0        23,029,659  

Loans

     0        6,984,678        431,580        7,416,258  

U.S. Treasury securities

     117,022,677        0        0        117,022,677  

Yankee corporate bonds and notes

     0        3,253,848        0        3,253,848  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     4,579,859        0        0        4,579,859  
     146,644,405        33,268,185        431,580        180,344,170  

Futures contracts

     2,600        0        0        2,600  

Total assets

   $ 146,647,005      $ 33,268,185      $ 431,580      $ 180,346,770  

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 2,832      $ 0      $ 0      $ 2,832  

Total liabilities

   $ 2,832      $ 0      $ 0      $ 2,832  

Additional sector, industry or geographic detail is included in the Portfolio of Investments.

Futures contracts are reported at their cumulative unrealized gains (losses) at measurement date as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. For futures contracts, the current day’s variation margin is reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. All other assets and liabilities are reported at their market value at measurement date.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had no material transfers into/out of Level 3.

 

 

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4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Advisory fee

The Trust has entered into an advisory contract with Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The adviser is responsible for implementing investment policies and guidelines and for supervising the subadviser, who is responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the contract, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual advisory fee at the following annual rate based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Advisory fee

First $500 million

   0.400%

Next $500 million

   0.375

Next $2 billion

   0.350

Next $2 billion

   0.325

Next $5 billion

   0.300

Over $10 billion

   0.290

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.40% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Portfolio. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”), an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.28% and declining to 0.18% as the average daily net assets of the Portfolio increase.

Funds Management has voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed advisory fees to reduce the net operating expense ratio of the Portfolio.

Interfund transactions

The Portfolio may purchase or sell portfolio investment securities to certain other Wells Fargo affiliates pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices. Pursuant to these procedures, the Portfolio had $252,500 and $0 in interfund purchases and sales, respectively, during the six months ended November 30, 2019.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Purchases at cost

     Sales proceeds
U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
     U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
$3,753,076      $16,070,936      $12,642,161      $13,877,385

As of November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had unfunded term loan commitments of $1,071,956.

6. SECURITIES LENDING TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent and receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any increases or decreases in the required collateral are exchanged between the Portfolio and the counterparty on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in the Securities Lending Fund which seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open Rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments and is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Securities Lending Fund is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by WellsCap. Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser.

 

 

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In the event of counterparty default or the failure of a borrower to return a loaned security, the Portfolio has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. As of November 30, 2019, the Portfolio had securities lending transactions with the following counterparties which are subject to offset:

 

Counterparty    Value of
securities
on loan
   Collateral
received1
   Net
amount
 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

   $98,753    $(98,753)    $ 0  

 

1 

Collateral received within this table is limited to the collateral for the net transaction with the counterparty.

7. DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS

During the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Portfolio entered into futures contracts to speculate on interest rates and to help manage the duration of its portfolio. The Portfolio had an average notional amount of $3,625,832 in long futures contracts and $5,638,650 in short futures contracts during the six months ended November 30, 2019.

The fair value, realized gains or losses and change in unrealized gains or losses, if any, on derivative instruments are reflected in the corresponding financial statement captions.

8. BORROWINGS

The Trust, along with Wells Fargo Variable Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Trust (excluding the money market funds), are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Portfolio is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Portfolio based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Portfolio under the agreement.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Portfolio and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

10. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

In March 2017, FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. ASU 2017-08

shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium and requires the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount and discounts will continue to be accreted to the maturity date of the security. ASU 2017-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. During the current reporting period, management of the Portfolio adopted the change in accounting policy which did not have a material impact to the Portfolio’s financial statements.

 

 

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PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Fund and Portfolio file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service*

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Current other

public company or

investment
company

directorships

William R. Ebsworth (Born 1957)   Trustee,
since 2015
  Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman (Born 1953)   Trustee,
since 2015;
Chair Liaison, since 2018
  Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr. (Born 1952)   Trustee,
since 2009;
Audit Committee Chairman,
since 2019
  Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson (Born 1949)   Trustee,
since 2008;
Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018
  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service*

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Current other

public company or

investment
company

directorships

David F. Larcker (Born 1950)   Trustee,
since 2009
  James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A
Olivia S. Mitchell (Born 1953)   Trustee,
since 2006; Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018
  International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   Trustee,
since 1996; Chairman,
since 2018
  President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson (Born 1959)   Trustee,
since 2018
  Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3 (Born 1959)   Trustee,
since January 2020;
previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019
  Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

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Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
 

Position held and

length of service

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer
Andrew Owen
(Born 1960)
  President,
since 2017
  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.
Nancy Wiser1
(Born 1967)
  Treasurer,
since 2012
  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.
Michelle Rhee4
(Born 1966)
  Chief Legal Officer,
since 2019
  Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5 (Born 1969)   Secretary,
since 2019
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker
(Born 1967)
  Chief Compliance Officer,
since 2016
  Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.
David Berardi
(Born 1975)
  Assistant Treasurer,
since 2009
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer,
since 2009
  Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.

 

1

Nancy Wiser acts as Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

Wells Fargo Real Return Fund  |  43


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408966 01-19

SA288/SAR288 11-19

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

November 30, 2019

 

Multi-Asset Funds

 

 

 

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund

 

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Equity Fund

 

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

 

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

 

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Wells Fargo Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports issued after this date will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by enrolling at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 1-800-222-8222. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Wells Fargo Funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all Wells Fargo Funds that you hold.


Table of Contents

Contents

 

Letter to shareholders   2
Performance highlights  
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund   4
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Equity Fund   6
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund   8
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund   10
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund   12
Fund expenses   14
Portfolio of investments  
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund   16
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Equity Fund   20
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund   24
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund   28
Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund   32
Financial statements  
Statements of assets and liabilities   36
Statements of operations   38
Statements of changes in net assets   40
Financial highlights   46
Notes to financial statements   56
Other information   67

 

 

 

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The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of November 30, 2019, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Asset Management. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Asset Management and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE    MAY LOSE VALUE


 

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  1


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

“Sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July.”

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Funds for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2019. U.S. stock and global bond investors generally saw markets affected by slowing global economic growth, international trade tensions, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

Overall, fixed income had modest gains, while domestic U.S. stocks outperformed foreign equities. For the period, U.S. stocks, based on the S&P 500 Index,1 gained 15.26% and international stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net),2 advanced 8.70%. The MSCI EM Index (Net)3 gained 5.87%. For bond investors, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index4 added 3.81%, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index5 gained 1.97%, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index6 gained 2.39%, and the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index7 returned 4.23%.

Sentiment improved after a volatile start to the year.

After a choppy start to 2019, affected by political uncertainties, slowing European economic growth, and global trade tensions, investors regrouped halfway through the year. Just as the investment horizon appeared to darken, sentiment turned and U.S. equity markets gained during June and July. The gains, primarily driven by geopolitical and monetary policy events, pushed equity markets to new highs. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that if the outlook doesn’t improve, the bank would cut rates or buy more assets to prop up inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% in July.

But after President Trump backed off of tariff threats against Mexico and China, the U.S. reversed course and threatened to impose higher tariffs on China’s exports after talks failed. China responded with tariff threats of its own and devalued the renminbi, roiling global markets. Major U.S. stock market indices tumbled in late July 2019. Bond prices gained as Treasury yields fell to multi-year lows and the yield curve inverted at multiple points along the 30-year arc.

In a microcosm, August 2019 encapsulated many of the unnerving events that plagued investors for months. The U.S.-China trade relationship swung from antagonistic to hopeful and back again with no signs of compromise. Evidence of a continued global economic slowdown mounted. Central banks in China, New Zealand, and Thailand cut interest rates. Industrial and manufacturing data declined in China, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Adding to the uncertain environment, Italy’s prime minister resigned, many

 

 

 

1

The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World-Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3

The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Index is an unmanaged index that provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed-income markets excluding the U.S. dollar-denominated debt market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6 

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of long-term tax-exempt bonds with a minimum credit rating of Baa. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of high-yield securities traded in the U.S. bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index. Copyright 2019. ICE Data Indices, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

2  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

feared a crackdown in Hong Kong as protestors sustained their calls for reform, and Boris Johnson planned to suspend Parliament as Brexit’s deadline neared.

In the U.S., September 2019 saw the Fed join other central banks in cutting interest rates. U.S. manufacturing data disappointed investors. The U.S. House of Representatives began an impeachment investigation of President Trump. Meanwhile, the Brexit impasse showed no signs of resolution. Officials in China said that hitting the country’s economic growth goals for the year would be difficult in the face of tariffs and trade restrictions. So, while the S&P 500 Index finished the third quarter with the best year-to-date returns in more than 20 years, amid signs of equity investors taking money out of the stock market, concerns about future returns remained.

In October 2019, a relaxing of U.S.-China trade tensions and renewed optimism for a U.K. Brexit deal combined with positive macroeconomic data to support financial markets. The initial estimate of U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product growth, announced in late October, was a resilient 1.9% annualized rate while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. However, despite resilience among U.S. consumers, business confidence declined while manufacturing activity contracted. Concerned with a potential economic slowdown, the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter point in late October, its third rate cut in four months. This helped push the S&P 500 Index to an all-time high while emerging market equities rallied and global bonds declined overall, reflecting a broad pickup in risk appetite.

Equity markets continued to rally in November 2019 despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Although U.S.-China trade tensions didn’t abate, neither did the tariff war escalate. Hopes for a trade deal buoyed investor confidence. U.S. business sentiment improved slightly and manufacturing and services activity picked up. Throughout the month, central bank actions were on hold. With that positive backdrop, developed market equities outpaced those in emerging markets, and U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, outperformed non-U.S. stocks overall. The S&P 500 Index ended November on track for its best calendar-year performance since 2013. While consumer confidence and purchasing manager activity rose in the eurozone, China reported weakening manufacturing and consumer data. Bond yields rose marginally, leading to slightly negative returns for global government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of investment uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Andrew Owen

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

 

“ Equity markets continued to rally in November despite ongoing geopolitical risks.”

 

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wfam.com,

or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222.

 

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  3


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks current income with a secondary emphasis on capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp R. Acharya, CFA® , FRM

Christian L. Chan, CFA®

Travis L. Keshemberg, CFA® , CIPM, FRM

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
                   
Class A (WCAFX)3   2-10-2017     2.96       1.72       3.09       9.24       2.94       3.70       1.17       1.13  
                   
Class C (WCCFX)4   9-30-2004     7.21       2.45       3.46       8.21       2.45       3.46       1.92       1.88  
                   
Institutional Class (WCYFX)5   7-31-2018                       9.51       3.00       3.73       0.84       0.80  
                   
WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Blended Index6                         11.75       4.30       5.16              
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index7                         10.79       3.08       3.59              
                   
MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net)8                         11.20       3.85       4.74              
                   
Russell 3000® Index9                         15.49       10.61       13.41              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. The Fund will indirectly be exposed to all of the risks of an investment in the underlying funds and will indirectly bear expenses of the underlying funds. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to alternative investment risk, foreign investment risk, high-yield securities risk, mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk, and smaller-company investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.

 

 

4  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund (continued)

 

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 201910  
   

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

     23.85  
   

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate
ex-Corporate Portfolio

     18.62  
   

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

     13.42  
   

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

     5.62  
   

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

     5.60  
   

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

     4.68  
   

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

     4.47  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

     4.14  
   

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6

     3.98  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

     2.49  
Allocation (%) as of November 30, 2019  
     Neutral
allocation
     Effective
allocation11
 
     

Bonds Funds

     75        80  
     

Stocks Funds

     20        20  
     

Alternative Investment Funds

     5        6  
     

Effective Cash

     0        (6)  
 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.38% of acquired fund fees and expenses. Net expenses from affiliated master portfolios are included in the acquired fund fees and expense amount. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

2 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at 0.75% for Class A, 1.50% for Class C, and 0.42% for Institutional Class. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any), net expenses from affiliated master portfolios, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

3 

Historical performance for Class A shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class C shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class A shares would be higher.

 

4 

Prior to February 13, 2017, historical performance shown for Class C shares reflects the performance of the Fund’s predecessor WealthBuilder Portfolio share class and does not reflect the front-end sales load previously attributable to the predecessor class. The expenses for Class C shares and the predecessor share class are similar.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class A shares adjusted to reflect that Institutional Class shares do not have a sales load but not adjusted to reflect Institutional Class expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for Institutional Class shares would be higher.

 

6 

Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Blended Index is composed 80% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 14% of the Russell 3000® Index, and 6% of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net). You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar–denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

9 

The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

10 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

11 

Effective allocation includes the effect of any tactical futures overlay that may be in place. Effective cash represents the net offset to such future positions. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  5


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Equity Fund

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation with no emphasis on income.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp R. Acharya, CFA®, FRM

Christian L. Chan, CFA®

Travis L. Keshemberg, CFA®, CIPM, FRM

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
                   
Class A (WEAFX)3   2-10-2017     5.12       5.79       8.64       11.54       7.05       9.29       1.10       1.09  
                   
Class C (WEACX)4   10-1-1997     9.64       6.59       9.05       10.64       6.59       9.05       1.85       1.84  
                   
Institutional Class (WEAYX)5   7-31-2018                       11.90       7.15       9.34       0.77       0.76  
                   
WealthBuilder Equity Blended Index6                         14.25       8.60       10.81              
                   
MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net)7                         11.20       3.85       4.74              
                   
Russell 3000® Index8                         15.49       10.61       13.41              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. The Fund will indirectly be exposed to all of the risks of an investment in the underlying funds and will indirectly bear expenses of the underlying funds. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to alternative investment risk, foreign investment risk and smaller-company investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 7.

 

 

6  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Equity Fund (continued)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 20199  
   

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

     23.25  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

     20.53  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

     12.33  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

     4.89  
   

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

     4.52  
   

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

     4.15  
   

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6

     4.14  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

     4.13  
   

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

     3.24  
   

iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF

     2.98  
Allocation (%) as of November 30, 2019  
     Neutral
allocation
     Effective
allocation10
 
     

U.S. Large Cap Stock Funds

     60        60  
     

International Stock Funds

     30        30  
     

U.S. Small Cap Stock Funds

     10        10  
     

Alternative Investment Funds

     0        2  
     

Effective Cash

     0        (2)  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.34% of acquired fund fees and expenses. Net expenses from affiliated master portfolios are included in the acquired fund fees and expense amount. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

2 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at 0.75% for Class A, 1.50% for Class C, and 0.42% for Institutional Class. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any), net expenses from affiliated master portfolios, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

3 

Historical performance for Class A shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class C shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class A shares would be higher.

 

4 

Prior to February 13, 2017, historical performance shown for Class C shares reflects the performance of the Fund’s predecessor WealthBuilder Portfolio share class and does not reflect the front-end sales load previously attributable to the predecessor class. The expenses for Class C shares and the predecessor share class are similar.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class A shares adjusted to reflect that Institutional Class shares do not have a sales load but not adjusted to reflect Institutional Class expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for Institutional Class shares would be higher.

 

6 

Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The WealthBuilder Equity Blended Index is composed 70% of the Russell 3000® Index and 30% of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net). You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

9 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

10 

Effective allocation includes the effect of any tactical futures overlay that may be in place. Effective cash represents the net offset to such future positions. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  7


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks capital appreciation with a secondary emphasis on current income.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp R. Acharya, CFA®, FRM

Christian L. Chan, CFA®

Travis L. Keshemberg, CFA®, CIPM, FRM

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
                   
Class A (WGAFX)3   2-10-2017     4.07       4.88       7.71       10.41       6.13       8.35       1.13       1.11  
                   
Class C (WGCFX)4   9-30-2004     8.73       5.73       8.14       9.73       5.73       8.14       1.88       1.86  
                   
Institutional Class (WGAYX)5   7-31-2018                       10.84       6.20       8.38       0.80       0.78  
                   
WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Blended Index6                         13.83       7.61       9.50              
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index7                         10.79       3.08       3.59              
                   
MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net)8                         11.20       3.85       4.74              
                   
Russell 3000® Index9                         15.49       10.61       13.41              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. The Fund will indirectly be exposed to all of the risks of an investment in the underlying funds and will indirectly bear expenses of the underlying funds. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to alternative investment risk, foreign investment risk, high-yield securities risk, mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk, and smaller-company investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 9.

 

 

8  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund (continued)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 201910      
   

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

    18.70  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

    16.53  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

    9.91  
   

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    4.71  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    3.92  
   

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6

    3.88  
   

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

    3.68  
   

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

    3.63  
   

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    3.36  
   

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6

    3.35  

 

Allocation (%) as of November 30, 2019  
     Neutral
allocation
     Effective
allocation11
 
     

Stock Funds

     80        80  
     

Bond Funds

     15        20  
     

Alternative Investment Funds

     5        6  
     

Effective Cash

     0        (6)  
 

 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.36% of acquired fund fees and expenses. Net expenses from affiliated master portfolios are included in the acquired fund fees and expense amount. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

2 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at 0.75% for Class A, 1.50% for Class C, and 0.42% for Institutional Class. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any), net expenses from affiliated master portfolios, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

3 

Historical performance for Class A shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class C shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class A shares would be higher.

 

4 

Prior to February 13, 2017, historical performance shown for Class C shares reflects the performance of the Fund’s predecessor WealthBuilder Portfolio share class and does not reflect the front-end sales load previously attributable to the predecessor class. The expenses for Class C shares and the predecessor share class are similar.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class A shares adjusted to reflect that Institutional Class shares do not have a sales load but not adjusted to reflect Institutional Class expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for Institutional Class shares would be higher.

 

6 

Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Blended Index is composed 56% of the Russell 3000® Index, 24% of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net), and 20% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar–denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

9 

The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

10 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

11 

Effective allocation includes the effect of any tactical futures overlay that may be in place. Effective cash represents the net offset to such future positions. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  9


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp R. Acharya, CFA®, FRM

Christian L. Chan, CFA®

Travis L. Keshemberg, CFA®, CIPM, FRM

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
                   
Class A (WGBAX)3   2-10-2017     3.75       3.99       6.68       10.08       5.23       7.31       1.13       1.13  
                   
Class C (WGBFX)4   10-1-1997     8.31       4.79       7.09       9.31       4.79       7.09       1.88       1.88  
                   
Institutional Class (WGBIX)5   7-31-2018                       10.49       5.31       7.35       0.80       0.80  
                   
WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Blended Index6                         13.27       6.56       8.11              
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index7                         10.79       3.08       3.59              
                   
MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net)8                         11.20       3.85       4.74              
                   
Russell 3000® Index9                         15.49       10.61       13.41              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. The Fund will indirectly be exposed to all of the risks of an investment in the underlying funds and will indirectly bear expenses of the underlying funds. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to alternative investment risk, foreign investment risk, high-yield securities risk, mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk, and smaller-company investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 11.

 

 

10  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund (continued)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 201910  
   

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

    14.05  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

    12.41  
   

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    10.99  
   

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate
ex-Corporate Portfolio

    8.56  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

    7.46  
   

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    6.23  
   

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6

    3.94  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    2.95  
   

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

    2.73  
   

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    2.61  
Allocation (%) as of November 30, 2019  
     Neutral
allocation
     Effective
allocation11
 
     

Stocks Funds

     60        60  
     

Bonds Funds

     35        40  
     

Alternative Investment Funds

     5        6  
     

Effective Cash

     0        (6)  
 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.38% of acquired fund fees and expenses. Net expenses from affiliated master portfolios are included in the acquired fund fees and expense amount. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

2 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at 0.75% for Class A, 1.50% for Class C, and 0.42% for Institutional Class. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any), net expenses from affiliated master portfolios, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

3 

Historical performance for Class A shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class C shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class A shares would be higher.

 

4 

Prior to February 13, 2017, historical performance shown for Class C shares reflects the performance of the Fund’s predecessor WealthBuilder Portfolio share class and does not reflect the front-end sales load previously attributable to the predecessor class. The expenses for Class C shares and the predecessor share class are similar.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class A shares adjusted to reflect that Institutional Class shares do not have a sales load but not adjusted to reflect Institutional Class expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for Institutional Class shares would be higher.

 

6 

Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Blended Index is composed 42% of the Russell 3000® Index, 40% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and 18% of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net). You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar–denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

9 

The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

10 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

11 

Effective allocation includes the effect of any tactical futures overlay that may be in place. Effective cash represents the net offset to such future positions. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  11


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks a combination of current income and capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp R. Acharya, CFA®, FRM

Christian L. Chan, CFA®

Travis L. Keshemberg, CFA®, CIPM, FRM

Average annual total returns (%) as of November 30, 2019

 

 
        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
 
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
                   
Class A (WMBGX)3   2-10-2017     3.19       2.92       4.83       9.48       4.14       5.45       1.10       1.09  
                   
Class C (WMBFX)4   9-30-2004     7.80       3.72       5.24       8.80       3.72       5.24       1.85       1.84  
                   
Institutional Class (WMBZX)5   7-31-2018                       9.87       4.24       5.50       0.77       0.76  
                   
WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Blended Index6                         12.58       5.46       6.67              
                   
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index7                         10.79       3.08       3.59              
                   
MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net)8                         11.20       3.85       4.74              
                   
Russell 3000® Index9                         15.49       10.61       13.41              

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wfam.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. The Fund will indirectly be exposed to all of the risks of an investment in the underlying funds and will indirectly bear expenses of the underlying funds. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to alternative investment risk, foreign investment risk, high-yield securities risk, mortgage-and asset-backed securities risk, and smaller-company investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

Please see footnotes on page 13.

 

 

12  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund (continued)

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of November 30, 201910  
   

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

     17.46  
   

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

     13.63  
   

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

     9.84  
   

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

     9.35  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

     8.26  
   

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

     4.97  
   

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

     4.10  
   

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

     4.08  
   

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6

     3.96  
   

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

     3.27  
Allocation (%) as of November 30, 2019  
     Neutral
allocation
     Effective
allocation11
 
     

Bond Funds

     55        60  
     

Stock Funds

     40        40  
     

Alternative Investment Funds

     5        6  
     

Effective Cash

     0        (6)  

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

 

1 

Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.34% of acquired fund fees and expenses. Net expenses from affiliated master portfolios are included in the acquired fund fees and expense amount. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

2 

The manager has contractually committed through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the expenses of each class after fee waivers at 0.75% for Class A, 1.50% for Class C, and 0.42% for Institutional Class. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any), net expenses from affiliated master portfolios, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the expense cap. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. The expense ratio paid by an investor is the net expense ratio (the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers) as stated in the prospectuses.

 

3 

Historical performance for Class A shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class C shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns for Class A shares would be higher.

 

4 

Prior to February 13, 2017, historical performance shown for Class C shares reflects the performance of the Fund’s predecessor WealthBuilder Portfolio share class and does not reflect the front-end sales load previously attributable to the predecessor class. The expenses for Class C shares and the predecessor share class are similar.

 

5 

Historical performance shown for Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class A shares adjusted to reflect that Institutional Class shares do not have a sales load but not adjusted to reflect Institutional Class expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for Institutional Class shares would be higher.

 

6 

Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Blended Index is composed 60% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 28% of the Russell 3000® Index, and 12% of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net). You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7 

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment-grade, U.S. dollar–denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

8 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) ex USA Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

9 

The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

10 

The ten largest holdings, excluding cash, cash equivalents and any money market funds, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by the total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

11 

Effective allocation includes the effect of any tactical futures overlay that may be in place. Effective cash represents the net offset to such future positions. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  13


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below 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) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund    Beginning
account value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,045.00      $ 3.83        0.75

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.25      $ 3.79        0.75
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,040.03      $ 7.65        1.50

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.50      $ 7.57        1.50
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,046.81      $ 2.15        0.42

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.90      $ 2.12        0.42
WealthBuilder Equity Fund                            
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,115.01      $ 3.97        0.75

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.25      $ 3.79        0.75
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,111.04      $ 7.92        1.50

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.50      $ 7.57        1.50
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,117.22      $ 2.22        0.42

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.90      $ 2.12        0.42

 

1 

Amounts do not reflect expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios in which the Funds invest.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

14  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund    Beginning
account value
6-1-2019
     Ending
account value
11-30-2019
     Expenses
paid during
the  period1,2
     Annualized net
expense ratio1
 
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,091.62      $ 3.92        0.75

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.25      $ 3.79        0.75
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,089.13      $ 7.83        1.50

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.50      $ 7.57        1.50
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,093.34      $ 2.20        0.42

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.90      $ 2.12        0.42
WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund                            
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,077.32      $ 3.89        0.75

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.25      $ 3.79        0.75
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,073.42      $ 7.78        1.50

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.50      $ 7.57        1.50
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,078.97      $ 2.18        0.42

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.90      $ 2.12        0.42
WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund                            
         

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,059.75      $ 3.86        0.75

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,021.25      $ 3.79        0.75
         

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,056.89      $ 7.71        1.50

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.50      $ 7.57        1.50
         

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,060.83      $ 2.16        0.42

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.90      $ 2.12        0.42

 

 

 

1 

Amounts do not reflect expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios in which the Funds invest.

 

2

Expenses paid is equal to the annualized net expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  15


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER CONSERVATIVE ALLOCATION FUND

 

 

 

                 Shares      Value  
Exchange-Traded Funds: 7.66%                          

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund

         23,582      $ 1,462,084  

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

         120,556        13,605,950  

SPDR Gold Shares †

         25,746        3,549,344  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $18,387,060)

            18,617,378  
         

 

 

 

Investment Companies: 91.75%

         
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 62.56%                          

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

            45,254,800  

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

            57,971,403  

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

            11,385,501  

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

            1,587,229  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

            2,388,081  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

            6,046,474  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

            10,057,689  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

            2,025,617  

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

            3,611,587  

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

            10,860,725  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

            897,351  
            152,086,457  
         

 

 

 
Alternative Investment Funds: 4.97%                          

The Arbitrage Fund Class I

         177,774        2,412,388  

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †(l)

         982,540        9,678,023  
            12,090,411  
         

 

 

 
Bond Funds: 20.54%                          

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6 (l)

         1,277,217        13,653,453  

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class (l)

         1,093,363        3,640,899  

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class (l)

         3,420,660        32,633,096  
            49,927,448  
         

 

 

 
Stock Funds: 3.68%                          

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class

         47,213        891,853  

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

         51,252        2,212,017  

T. Rowe Price International Discovery Fund Institutional Class

         13,574        897,788  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6 (l)

         33,139        880,514  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †(l)

         199,244        2,028,299  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6 (l)

         42,720        2,030,075  
            8,940,546  
         

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $217,095,314)

            223,044,862  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 0.81%          
Investment Companies: 0.42%                          

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56        1,027,753        1,027,753  
         

 

 

 
         

 

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

 

 

16  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER CONSERVATIVE ALLOCATION FUND

 

 

 

    Yield     Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.39%                          

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    1.38 %       12-24-2019      $ 942,000      $ 941,089  
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $1,968,886)

            1,968,842        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $237,451,260)     100.22        243,631,082  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.22        (526,509
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 243,104,573  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

(z)

Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

#

All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
contracts
     Expiration
date
     Notional
cost
     Notional
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

                 

E-Mini Russell 2000 Index

     10        12-20-2019      $ 780,133      $ 811,900      $ 31,767      $ 0  

MSCI EAFE Index

     10        12-20-2019        975,396        988,650        13,254        0  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     8        12-20-2019        416,766        415,200        0        (1,566

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     40        12-20-2019        6,116,602        6,287,400        170,798        0  

MSCI Singapore Index

     45        12-30-2019        1,221,556        1,211,868        0        (9,688

10-Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     85        3-20-2020        11,011,066        10,995,547        0        (15,519

Short

                 

Euro FX Futures

     (90)        12-16-2019        (12,497,813      (12,405,375      92,438        0  

Hang Seng Index

     (7)        12-30-2019        (1,212,504      (1,177,352      35,152        0  
              

 

 

    

 

 

 
               $ 343,409      $ (26,773
              

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  17


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER CONSERVATIVE ALLOCATION FUND

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Fund owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Fund and the issuer having the same investment manager or adviser. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Fund at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
capital gain
distributions
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Dividends
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Investment Companies

             

Alternative Investment Funds

             

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †

    982,540     $ 435     $ 0     $ 15,075     $ 0     $ 9,678,023       3.98
           

 

 

   

Bond Funds

             

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    1,277,217       19,236       0       198,408       206,701       13,653,453    

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class

    1,093,363       (14,612     0       153,026       110,624       3,640,899    

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    3,420,660       15,611       0       453,183       590,390       32,633,096    
              49,927,448       20.54  
           

 

 

   

Stock Funds

             

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    33,139       39,001       0       74,017       0       880,514    

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    199,244       642,753       0       116,169       0       2,028,299    

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    42,720       30,406       0       196,548       0       2,030,075    
              4,938,888       2.03  
           

 

 

   

Short-Term Investments

             

Investment Companies

             

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    1,027,753       0       0       0       10,585       1,027,753       0.42  
           

 

 

   

Affiliated securities no longer held at end of period

      (485,063     79,749       (12,236     2,426      
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ 247,767     $ 79,749     $ 1,194,190     $ 920,726     $ 65,572,112       26.97
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, investment activity in affiliates of the Fund was as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning
of period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
 

Investment Companies

       

Alternative Investment Funds

       

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †

    0       1,061,184       78,644       982,540  

Bond Funds

       

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    0       1,437,655       160,438       1,277,217  

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class

    1,172,624       48,742       128,003       1,093,363  

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    3,643,713       113,013       336,066       3,420,660  

Stock Funds

       

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    40,832       2,570       10,263       33,139  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    0       211,678       12,434       199,244  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Institutional Class †*

    252,589       16,573       269,162       0  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    51,334       3,638       12,252       42,720  

Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund Class R6 †*

    69,476       11,552       81,028       0  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund Class R6 *

    0       34,000 **      34,000       0  

Short-Term Investments

       

Investment Companies

       

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    799,593       11,050,621       10,822,461       1,027,753  

 

Non-income-earning security

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period.

 

**

Amount includes 33,690 shares from Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund which merged into Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund at the close of business on September 20, 2019 and became shares of Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund.

 

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

 

 

18  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER CONSERVATIVE ALLOCATION FUND

 

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolios were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

    4.65     6.90   $ 108,020     $ 387,922     $ 417,007     $ 0     $ 6,572     $ 45,254,800    

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    1.05       0.98       1,609,346       (99,088     822,263       0       13,527       57,971,403    

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

    3.95       3.97       48,035       1,583,662       0       128,504       755       11,385,501    

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    0.21       0.19       39,341       101,636       0       843       1,038       1,587,229    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    1.08       1.00       (47,153     92,893       160       46,303       675       2,388,081    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

    0.99       0.91       (31,165     523,179       187       73,433       1,552       6,046,474    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

    0.98       0.90       373,772       889,658       525       117,339       3,133       10,057,689    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

    0.81       0.76       657       218,057       128       18,758       811       2,025,617    

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

    8.64       6.48       (41,947     110,167       136,207       0       848       3,611,587    

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

    6.29       6.04       (37,211     282,925       138,159       21,483       1,193       10,860,725    

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    0.00       0.17       (1,942     52,757       0       2,802       89       897,351    

Wells Fargo U.S. REIT Portfolio *

    5.84       0.00       9,947       70,585       0       16,153       13       0    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 2,029,700     $ 4,214,353     $ 1,514,636     $ 425,618     $ 30,206     $ 152,086,457       62.56
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period.

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER EQUITY FUND

 

 

 

                 Shares      Value  
Exchange-Traded Funds: 10.37%          

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund

         192,855      $ 11,957,010  

iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF

         37,852        11,963,503  

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

         36,439        2,981,075  

SPDR Gold Shares †

         42,375        5,841,818  

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

         154,956        6,658,459  

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

         51,791        2,178,329  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $38,293,357)

            41,580,194  
         

 

 

 

Investment Companies: 88.46%

         
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 70.21%                          

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

            93,221,838  

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

            13,000,754  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

            19,594,804  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

            49,460,937  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

            82,336,903  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

            16,569,448  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

            7,341,334  
            281,526,018  
         

 

 

 
Stock Funds: 18.25%                          

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class

         385,780        7,287,378  

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

         419,672        18,113,052  

T. Rowe Price International Discovery Fund Institutional Class

         111,072        7,346,298  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6 (l)

         271,613        7,216,769  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †(l)

         1,631,749        16,611,208  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6 (l)

         349,915        16,627,971  
            73,202,676  
         

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $317,441,456)

            354,728,694  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 1.27%          
Investment Companies: 0.51%                          

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56        2,054,503        2,054,503  
         

 

 

 
         
          Maturity
date
     Principal         
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.76%          

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    1.38       12-24-2019      $     3,031,000        3,028,069  
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $5,082,725)

            5,082,572        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $360,817,538)     100.10        401,391,460  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.10        (388,746
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 401,002,714  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

(z)

Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

#

All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

 

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

 

 

20  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER EQUITY FUND

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
contracts
     Expiration
date
     Notional
cost
     Notional
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

                 

E-Mini Russell 2000 Index

     81        12-20-2019      $ 6,326,912      $ 6,576,390      $ 249,478      $ 0  

MSCI EAFE Index

     89        12-20-2019        8,670,838        8,798,985        128,147        0  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     64        12-20-2019        3,334,185        3,321,600        0        (12,585

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     172        12-20-2019        25,982,179        27,035,821        1,053,642        0  

MSCI Singapore Index

     219        12-30-2019        5,944,902        5,897,755        0        (47,147

Short

                 

Euro FX Futures

     (150)        12-16-2019        (20,829,709      (20,675,625      154,084        0  

Hang Seng Index

     (35)        12-30-2019        (6,062,522      (5,886,763      175,759        0  
              

 

 

    

 

 

 
               $ 1,761,110      $ (59,732
              

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER EQUITY FUND

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Fund owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Fund and the issuer having the same investment manager or adviser. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Fund at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
capital gain
distributions
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Dividends
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Investment Companies

             

Stock Funds

             

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

  $ 271,613     $ 317,447     $ 0     $ 573,741     $ 0     $ 7,216,769    

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    1,631,749       703,799       0       1,763,569       0       16,611,208    

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund

    349,915       53,646       0       (1,898,317     0       16,627,971    
              40,455,948       10.09
           

 

 

   

Short-Term Investments

             

Investment Companies

             

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    2,054,503       0       0       0       24,555       2,054,503       0.51  
           

 

 

   

Affiliated securities no longer held at end of period

      (2,472,722     636,134       5,729,409       52,909      
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ (1,397,830   $ 636,134     $ 6,168,402     $ 77,464     $ 42,510,451       10.60
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, investment activity in affiliates of the Fund was as follows:    

 

    Shares,
beginning
of period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
 

Investment Companies

       

Stock Funds

       

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    328,988       66,431       123,806       271,613  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    0       1,774,295       142,546       1,631,749  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Institutional Class †*

    2,032,274       255,579       2,287,853       0  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund

    417,126       93,108       160,319       349,915  

Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund Class R6 *

    566,720       105,923       672,643       0  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund Class R6 *

    0       281,086 **      281,086       0  

Short-Term Investments

       

Investment Companies

       

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    2,277,831       67,146,381       67,369,709       2,054,503  

 

Non-income-earning security

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period.

 

**

Amount includes 280,709 shares from Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund which merged into Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund at the close of business on September 20, 2019 and became shares of Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund.

 

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

 

 

22  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER EQUITY FUND

 

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolios were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

    32.30     32.47   $ 382,218     $ 13,133,345     $ 0     $ 1,050,370     $ 4,889     $ 93,221,838    

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    1.70       1.53       322,759       842,558       0       6,915       8,362       13,000,754    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    8.69       8.19       (387,075     773,050       1,033       378,740       5,806       19,594,804    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

    7.99       7.41       (262,020     4,352,493       1,293       598,972       12,994       49,460,937    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

    7.92       7.36       3,047,236       7,432,443       3,721       956,078       26,337       82,336,903    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

    6.68       6.19       6,350       1,790,003       857       153,049       6,859       16,569,448    

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    0.00       1.37       (16,777     (798,233     0       22,972       623       7,341,334    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 3,092,691     $ 27,525,659     $ 6,904     $ 3,167,096     $ 65,870     $ 281,526,018       70.21
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  23


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER GROWTH ALLOCATION FUND

 

 

 

                 Shares      Value  
Exchange-Traded Funds: 9.37%                          

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund

         110,214      $ 6,833,268  

iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF

         19,094        6,034,850  

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

         21,028        1,720,301  

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

         27,879        3,146,424  

SPDR Gold Shares †

         29,825        4,111,675  

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

         89,226        3,834,041  

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

         29,865        1,256,122  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $25,126,302)

            26,936,681  
         

 

 

 

Investment Companies: 89.71%

         
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 66.08%                          

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

            10,581,872  

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

            13,549,204  

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

            53,748,609  

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

            7,603,992  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

            11,261,312  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

            28,476,404  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

            47,501,895  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

            9,582,939  

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

            849,239  

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

            2,538,805  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

            4,229,852  
            189,924,123  
         

 

 

 
Alternative Investment Funds: 4.86%                          

The Arbitrage Fund Class I

         208,123        2,824,223  

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †(l)

         1,131,008        11,140,427  
            13,964,650  
         

 

 

 
Bond Funds: 4.06%                          

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6 (l)

         296,219        3,166,581  

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class (l)

         256,422        853,886  

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class (l)

         801,291        7,644,313  
            11,664,780  
         

 

 

 
Stock Funds: 14.71%                          

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class

         221,935        4,192,347  

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

         241,414        10,419,422  

T. Rowe Price International Discovery Fund Institutional Class

         64,002        4,233,065  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6 (l)

         156,536        4,159,174  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †(l)

         945,246        9,622,602  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6 (l)

                                  203,159        9,654,125  
            42,280,735  
         

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $237,357,607)

            257,834,288  
         

 

 

 
    Yield                      
         
Short-Term Investments: 1.05%          
Investment Companies: 0.29%                          

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56        852,291        852,291  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

24  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER GROWTH ALLOCATION FUND

 

 

 

    Yield     Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.76%

 

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    1.41     12-24-2019      $     2,178,000      $ 2,175,894  
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $3,028,248)

                3,028,185        
  

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $265,512,157)     100.13        287,799,154  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.13        (376,395
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 287,422,759  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

(z)

Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

#

All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
contracts
     Expiration
date
     Notional
cost
     Notional
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

                 

E-Mini Russell 2000 Index

     46        12-20-2019      $ 3,590,483      $ 3,734,740      $ 144,257      $ 0  

MSCI EAFE Index

     50        12-20-2019        4,868,676        4,943,250        74,574        0  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     36        12-20-2019        1,874,656        1,868,400        0        (6,256

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     103        12-20-2019        15,642,558        16,190,055        547,497        0  

MSCI Singapore Index

     158        12-30-2019        4,289,016        4,255,001        0        (34,015

10-Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     100        3-20-2020        12,954,195        12,935,937        0        (18,258

Short

                 

Euro FX Futures

     (106)        12-16-2019        (14,719,661      (14,610,775      108,886        0  

Hang Sang Index

     (25)        12-30-2019        (4,330,373      (4,204,830      125,543        0  
              

 

 

    

 

 

 
               $ 1,000,757      $ (58,529
              

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  25


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER GROWTH ALLOCATION FUND

 

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Fund owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Fund and the issuer having the same investment manager or adviser. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Fund at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
   

Net

realized
gains
(losses) on
capital gain
distributions
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds

    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Dividends
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Investment Companies

             

Alternative Investment Funds

             

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †

    1,131,008     $ 4,801     $ 0     $ 12,691     $ 0     $ 11,140,427       3.88
           

 

 

   

Bond Funds

             

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    296,219       9,476       0       42,646       47,832       3,166,581    

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class

    256,422       (8,972     0       40,414       25,538       853,886    

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    801,291       4,196       0       98,809       135,691       7,644,313    
              11,664,780       4.06  
           

 

 

   

Stock Funds

             

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    156,536       158,197       0       355,203       0       4,159,174    

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    945,246       8,964       0       557,714       0       9,622,602    

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    203,159       348,108       0       691,840       0       9,654,125    
              23,435,901       8.15  
           

 

 

   

Short-Term Investments

             

Investment Companies

             

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    852,291       0       0       0       10,649       852,291       0.29  
           

 

 

   

Affiliated securities no longer held at end of period

      (1,407,803     361,732       2,035,945       18,789      
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ (883,033   $ 361,732     $ 3,835,262     $ 238,499     $ 47,093,399       16.38
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, investment activity in affiliates of the Fund was as follows:    

 

    Shares,
beginning
of period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
 

Investment Companies

       

Alternative Investment Funds

       

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †

    0       1,374,368       243,360       1,131,008  

Bond Funds

       

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    0       373,150       76,931       296,219  

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class

    267,234       63,353       74,165       256,422  

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    825,704       185,853       210,266       801,291  

Stock Funds

       

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    189,463       22,418       55,345       156,536  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    0       976,194       30,948       945,246  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Institutional Class †*

    1,166,335       181,153       1,347,488       0  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    237,810       30,891       65,542       203,159  

Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund Class R6 †*

    324,257       40,798       365,055       0  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund Class R6 *

    0       157,786 **      157,786       0  

Short-Term Investments

       

Investment Companies

       

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    615,530       34,208,061       33,971,300       852,291  

 

Non-income-earning security

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period.

 

**

Amount includes 157,103 shares from Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund which merged into Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund at the close of business on September 20, 2019 and became shares of Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund.

 

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

 

 

26  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER GROWTH ALLOCATION FUND

 

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolios were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

    1.05     1.61   $ 24,676     $ 93,839     $ 95,987     $ 0     $ 1,525     $ 10,581,872    

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    0.24       0.23       368,432       (14,013     188,537       0       3,108       13,549,204    

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

    18.38       18.72       223,158       7,281,345       0       599,496       3,517       53,748,609    

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    0.97       0.90       185,144       454,575       0       3,931       4,842       7,603,992    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    5.01       4.71       (221,386     393,680       737       215,227       3,123       11,261,312    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

    4.58       4.27       (148,482     2,379,877       868       341,858       7,223       28,476,404    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

    4.52       4.24       1,734,017       4,071,309       2,439       544,054       14,615       47,501,895    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

    3.81       3.58       3,786       984,788       596       87,289       3,779       9,582,939    

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

    1.79       1.52       (9,192     22,476       30,796       0       193       849,239    

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

    1.42       1.41       (8,322     65,214       31,660       4,912       271       2,538,805    

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    0.00       0.79       (8,805     244,694       0       13,099       415       4,229,852    

Wells Fargo U.S. REIT Portfolio*

    6.67       0.00       11,420       79,580       0       18,539       15       0    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 2,154,446     $ 16,057,364     $ 351,620     $ 1,828,405     $ 42,626     $ 189,924,123       66.08
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period.

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  27


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER GROWTH BALANCED FUND

 

 

 

                 Shares      Value  
Exchange-Traded Funds: 8.83%                          

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund

         165,050      $ 10,233,100  

iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF

         21,588        6,823,103  

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

         31,198        2,552,308  

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

         130,713        14,752,269  

SPDR Gold Shares †

         59,630        8,220,592  

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

         132,798        5,706,330  

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

         44,319        1,864,057  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $47,633,471)

            50,151,759  
         

 

 

 

Investment Companies: 90.26%

         
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 64.75%                          

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

            48,642,100  

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

            62,400,421  

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

            79,777,116  

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

            11,144,697  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

            16,743,201  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

            42,386,937  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

            70,499,340  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

            14,188,365  

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

            3,915,925  

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

            11,744,347  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

            6,282,945  
            367,725,394  
         

 

 

 
Alternative Investment Funds: 4.92%                          

The Arbitrage Fund Class I

         413,635        5,613,036  

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †(l)

         2,269,171        22,351,334  
            27,964,370  
         

 

 

 
Bond Funds: 9.55%                          

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6 (l)

         1,387,469        14,832,039  

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class (l)

         1,200,660        3,998,199  

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class (l)

         3,711,398        35,406,741  
            54,236,979  
         

 

 

 
Stock Funds: 11.04%                          

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class

         330,574        6,244,544  

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

         359,361        15,510,020  

T. Rowe Price International Discovery Fund Institutional Class

         95,198        6,296,364  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6 (l)

         232,511        6,177,821  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †(l)

         1,398,438        14,236,101  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6 (l)

         299,801        14,246,544  
            62,711,394  
         

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $481,814,185)

            512,638,137  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                      
Short-Term Investments: 1.09%                          
Investment Companies: 0.42%                          

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56                                 2,367,285        2,367,285  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

28  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER GROWTH BALANCED FUND

 

 

 

    Yield    

Maturity

date

     Principal      Value  
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.67%                          

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    1.37     12-24-2019      $     3,841,000      $ 3,837,285  
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $6,204,786)

            6,204,570  
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $535,652,442)     100.18        568,994,466  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.18        (1,022,449
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 567,972,017  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

(z)

Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

#

All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
contracts
     Expiration
date
     Notional
cost
     Notional
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

                 

E-Mini Russell 2000 Index

     68        12-20-2019      $ 5,307,032      $ 5,520,920      $ 213,888      $ 0  

MSCI EAFE Index

     74        12-20-2019        7,205,556        7,316,010        110,454        0  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     53        12-20-2019        2,761,286        2,750,700        0        (10,586

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     167        12-20-2019        25,374,217        26,249,895        875,678        0  

MSCI Singapore Index

     314        12-30-2019        8,523,742        8,456,142        0        (67,600

10-Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     198        3-20-2020        25,649,265        25,613,156        0        (36,109

Short

                 

Euro FX Futures

     (213)        12-16-2019        (29,578,186      (29,359,387      218,799        0  

Hang Seng Index

     (50)        12-30-2019        (8,660,745      (8,409,660      251,085        0  
              

 

 

    

 

 

 
               $ 1,669,904      $ (114,295
              

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  29


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER GROWTH BALANCED FUND

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Fund owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Fund and the issuer having the same investment manager or adviser. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Fund at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
capital gain
distributions
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Dividends
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Investment Companies

             

Alternative Investment Funds

             

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †

    2,269,171     $ 10,288     $ 0     $ 30,189     $ 0     $ 22,351,334       3.94
           

 

 

   

Bond Funds

             

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    1,387,469       37,531       0       207,078       223,843       14,832,039    

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class

    1,200,660       (22,839     0       172,505       120,063       3,998,199    

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    3,711,398       11,104       0       489,186       639,229       35,406,741    
              54,236,979       9.55  
           

 

 

   

Stock Funds

             

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    232,511       253,799       0       523,701       0       6,177,821    

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    1,398,438       3,076,951       0       825,320       0       14,236,101    

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    299,801       62,144       0       1,519,422       0       14,246,544    
              34,660,466       6.10  
           

 

 

   

Short-Term Investments

             

Investment Companies

             

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    2,367,285       0       0       0       26,126       2,367,285       0.42  
           

 

 

   

Affiliated securities no longer held at end of period

      (4,679,209     546,533       2,606,940       23,772      
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ (1,250,231 )    $ 546,533     $ 6,374,341     $ 1,033,033     $ 113,616,064       20.01 % 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, investment activity in affiliates of the Fund was as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning of
period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
 

Investment Companies

       

Alternative Investment Funds

       

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †

    0       2,610,633       341,462       2,269,171  

Bond Funds

       

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    0       1,657,655       270,186       1,387,469  

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class

    1,280,953       102,137       182,430       1,200,660  

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    3,972,769       282,859       544,230       3,711,398  

Stock Funds

       

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    285,791       21,502       74,782       232,511  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    0       1,463,266       64,828       1,398,438  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Institutional Class †*

    1,795,342       199,962       1,995,304       0  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    363,032       29,779       93,010       299,801  

Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund Class R6 †*

    492,391       48,687       541,078       0  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund Class R6 *

    0       235,752 **      235,752       0  

Short-Term Investments

       

Investment Companies

       

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    2,225,222       39,207,047       39,064,984       2,367,285  

 

Non-income-earning security

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period.

 

**

Amount includes 235,259 shares from Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund which merged into Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund at the close of business on September 20, 2019 and became shares of Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund.

 

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

 

 

30  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER GROWTH BALANCED FUND

 

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolios were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

    5.07     7.42   $ 115,672     $ 439,272     $ 448,185     $ 0     $ 7,089     $ 48,642,100    

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    1.15       1.05       1,736,091       (66,572     885,322       0       14,587       62,400,421    

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

    28.04       27.78       324,242       11,079,286       0       901,302       5,292       79,777,116    

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    1.47       1.31       279,159       692,906       0       5,883       7,272       11,144,697    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    7.55       7.00       (331,485     606,735       955       324,839       4,696       16,743,201    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

    7.02       6.35       (222,170     3,630,635       919       514,611       10,891       42,386,937    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

    6.93       6.30       2,626,512       6,220,485       3,044       823,082       22,013       70,499,340    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

    5.78       5.30       4,202       1,504,662       769       131,292       5,689       14,188,365    

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

    8.90       7.02       (44,659     114,257       146,866       0       924       3,915,925    

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

    6.86       6.53       (39,053     309,259       149,411       23,145       1,284       11,744,347    

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    0.00       1.17       (13,375     366,333       0       19,579       620       6,282,945    

Wells Fargo U.S. REIT Portfolio*

    13.80       0.00       23,206       164,647       0       37,650       31       0    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 4,458,342     $ 25,061,905     $ 1,635,471     $ 2,781,383     $ 80,388     $ 367,725,394       64.75
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period.

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  31


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER MODERATE BALANCED FUND

 

 

 

                 Shares      Value  
Exchange-Traded Funds: 8.26%                          

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund

         78,635      $ 4,875,370  

iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF

         3,852        1,217,463  

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

         14,842        1,214,224  

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

         147,574        16,655,203  

SPDR Gold Shares †

         43,342        5,975,128  

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

         63,335        2,721,505  

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

         21,269        894,574  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $32,493,632)

            33,553,467  
         

 

 

 

Investment Companies: 91.03%

         
Affiliated Master Portfolios: 63.71%                          

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

            55,319,915  

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

            70,864,817  

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

            37,946,314  

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

            5,250,432  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

            8,034,729  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

            20,177,997  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

            33,523,044  

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

            6,736,577  

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

            4,436,062  

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

            13,276,258  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

            2,991,842  
            258,557,987  
         

 

 

 
Alternative Investment Funds: 4.95%                          

The Arbitrage Fund Class I

         296,335        4,021,265  

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †(l)

         1,630,911        16,064,475  
            20,085,740  
         

 

 

 
Bond Funds: 15.01%                          

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6 (l)

         1,547,599        16,543,830  

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class (l)

         1,337,273        4,453,118  

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class (l)

         4,185,734        39,931,903  
            60,928,851  
         

 

 

 
Stock Funds: 7.36%                          

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class

         158,353        2,991,292  

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

         172,146        7,429,833  

T. Rowe Price International Discovery Fund Institutional Class

         45,317        2,997,246  

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6 (l)

         111,557        2,964,064  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †(l)

         662,809        6,747,393  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6 (l)

         141,876        6,741,963  
            29,871,791  
         

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies (Cost $353,395,741)

            369,444,369  
         

 

 

 
         
    Yield                                         
Short-Term Investments: 0.81%          

Investment Companies: 0.27%

         

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)

    1.56        1,111,082        1,111,082  
         

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

32  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER MODERATE BALANCED FUND

 

 

 

    Yield     Maturity
date
     Principal      Value  
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.54%                          

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    1.37     12-24-2019      $     2,170,000      $ 2,167,901  
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $3,279,104)

                3,278,983        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $389,168,477)     100.10        406,276,819  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.10        (416,343
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 405,860,476  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

(l)

The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(u)

The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

(z)

Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

#

All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
contracts
     Expiration
date
     Notional
cost
     Notional
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Long

                 

E-Mini Russell 2000 Index

     32        12-20-2019      $ 2,498,670      $ 2,598,080      $ 99,410      $ 0  

MSCI EAFE Index

     35        12-20-2019        3,408,143        3,460,275        52,132        0  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     25        12-20-2019        1,302,322        1,297,500        0        (4,822

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     94        12-20-2019        14,386,891        14,775,390        388,499        0  

MSCI Singapore Index

     150        12-30-2019        4,071,851        4,039,558        0        (32,293

10-Year U.S. Treasury Notes

     141        3-20-2020        18,265,415        18,239,672        0        (25,743

Short

                 

Euro FX Futures

     (153)        12-16-2019        (21,246,303      (21,089,138      157,165        0  

Hang Sang Index

     (24)        12-30-2019        (4,157,158      (4,036,637      120,521        0  
              

 

 

    

 

 

 
               $ 817,727      $ (62,858
              

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  33


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER MODERATE BALANCED FUND

 

 

 

Investments in Affiliates

An affiliated investment is an investment in which the Fund owns at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the issuer or as a result of other relationships, such as the Fund and the issuer having the same investment manager or adviser. Transactions with issuers that were either affiliated persons of the Fund at the beginning of the period or the end of the period were as follows:

 

    Shares,
end of
period
    Net
realized
gains
(losses)
on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
realized
gains
(losses) on
capital gain
distributions
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Dividends
from
affiliated
Underlying
Funds
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Investment Companies

             

Alternative Investment Funds

             

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †

    1,630,911     $ 2,462     $ 0     $ 25,850     $ 0     $ 16,064,475       3.96
           

 

 

   
             

Bond Funds

             

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    1,547,599       35,279       0       240,935       248,859       16,543,830    

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class

    1,337,273       (21,953     0       192,882       136,395       4,453,118    

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    4,185,734       21,771       0       557,906       728,857       39,931,903    
              60,928,851       15.01  
           

 

 

   
             

Stock Funds

             

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    111,557       127,780       0       248,674       0       2,964,064    

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    662,809       1,701,372       0       388,192       0       6,747,393    

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    141,876       18,400       0       743,800       2,910       6,741,963    
              16,453,420       4.06  
           

 

 

   

Short-Term Investments

             

Investment Companies

             

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    1,111,082       0       0       0       10,730       1,111,082       0.27  
           

 

 

   

Affiliated securities no longer held at end of period

      (2,171,040     269,535       957,020       12,151      
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ (285,929   $ 269,535     $ 3,355,259     $ 1,139,902     $ 94,557,828       23.30
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, investment activity in affiliates of the Fund was as follows:

 

    Shares,
beginning
of period
    Shares
purchased
    Shares
sold
    Shares,
end of
period
 

Investment Companies

       

Alternative Investment Funds

       

Wells Fargo Alternative Risk Premia Fund Class R6 †

    0       1,741,147       110,236       1,630,911  

Bond Funds

       

Wells Fargo Global Investment Grade Credit Fund Class R6

    0       1,736,211       188,612       1,547,599  

Wells Fargo High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class

    1,463,296       58,835       184,858       1,337,273  

Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund Institutional Class

    4,541,647       111,824       467,737       4,185,734  

Stock Funds

       

Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class R6

    137,771       1,963       28,177       111,557  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Class R6 †

    0       686,259       23,450       662,809  

Wells Fargo Endeavor Select Fund Institutional Class †*

    871,727       7,853       879,580       0  

Wells Fargo Large Cap Growth Fund Class R6

    175,467       1,595       35,186       141,876  

Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund Class R6 †*

    237,364       24,483       261,847       0  

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund Class R6 *

    0       115,504 **      115,504       0  

Short-Term Investments

       

Investment Companies

       

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class

    884,814       16,200,211       15,973,943       1,111,082  

 

Non-income-earning security

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period.

 

**

Amount includes 115,504 shares from Wells Fargo Small Cap Value Fund which merged into Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund at the close of business on September 20, 2019 and became shares of Wells Fargo Small Company Value Fund.

 

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

 

 

34  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Portfolio of investments—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WELLS FARGO WEALTHBUILDER MODERATE BALANCED FUND

 

 

 

 

Transactions with the affiliated Master Portfolios were as follows:

 

    % of
ownership,
beginning
of period
    % of
ownership,
end of
period
    Net realized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Net
change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
transactions
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Interest
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Dividends
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Affiliated
income
allocated
from
affiliated
Master
Portfolios
    Value,
end
of period
    % of
net
assets
 

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

    5.80     8.44   $ 132,550     $ 494,513     $ 512,396     $ 0     $ 8,082     $ 55,319,915    

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

    1.31       1.19       1,990,043       (94,449     1,015,300       0       15,054       70,864,817    

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

    13.55       13.22       155,899       5,357,522       0       428,570       2,556       37,946,314    

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

    0.71       0.62       133,069       338,429       0       2,831       3,508       5,250,432    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

    3.66       3.36       (159,985     300,325       300       156,990       2,510       8,034,729    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

    3.40       3.02       (107,133     1,766,447       208       248,585       5,684       20,177,997    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

    3.36       2.99       1,269,806       3,018,863       1,007       397,412       11,398       33,523,044    

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

    2.79       2.52       2,325       725,995       247       63,347       2,930       6,736,577    

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

    10.80       7.95       (51,851     136,147       168,350       0       1,050       4,436,062    

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

    7.84       7.38       (45,108     352,834       170,900       26,459       1,467       13,276,258    

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

    0.00       0.56       (6,820     177,439       0       9,478       299       2,991,842    

Wells Fargo U.S. REIT Portfolio *

    10.09       0.00       16,896       120,605       0       27,368       23       0    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 3,329,691     $ 12,694,670     $ 1,868,708     $ 1,361,040     $ 54,561     $ 258,557,987       63.71
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

*

No longer held at the end of the period

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  35


Table of Contents

Statements of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     WealthBuilder
Conservative
Allocation Fund
       WealthBuilder
Equity Fund
 

Assets

      

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolios, at value (see cost below)

  $ 152,086,457        $ 281,526,018  

Investments in unaffiliated Underlying Funds and securities, at value (see cost below)

    25,972,513          77,354,991  

Investments in affiliated Underlying Funds, at value (see cost below)

    65,572,112          42,510,451  

Cash

    36,324          185,990  

Receivable for investments sold

    34,467          136,745  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    30,550          25,700  

Receivable for dividends

    60,658          12,334  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    66,647          67,810  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    243,859,728          401,820,039  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

      

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    394,370          145,790  

Payable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

    39,870          162,655  

Management fee payable

    41,925          78,753  

Administration fees payable

    43,372          71,017  

Distribution fee payable

    143,224          223,509  

Custodian and accounting fees payable

    40,861          47,438  

Shareholder servicing fees payable

    51,533          84,304  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    0          3,859  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    755,155          817,325  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 243,104,573        $ 401,002,714  
 

 

 

 

Net assets consist of

      

Paid-in capital

  $ 234,293,674        $ 347,594,067  

Total distributable earnings

    8,810,899          53,408,647  
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 243,104,573        $ 401,002,714  
 

 

 

 

Computation of net asset value and offering price per share

      

Net assets – Class A

  $ 17,735,487        $ 46,159,222  

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    1,747,906          2,505,401  

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $10.15          $18.42  

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $10.77          $19.54  

Net assets – Class C

  $ 224,534,211        $ 352,991,846  

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    22,155,582          19,380,643  

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $10.13          $18.21  

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 834,875        $ 1,851,646  

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    82,441          100,167  

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $10.13          $18.49  

Investments in affiliated Master Portfolios, at cost

  $ 148,478,132        $ 256,195,992  
 

 

 

 

Investments in unaffiliated Underlying Funds and securities, at cost

  $ 24,613,095        $ 67,105,262  
 

 

 

 

Investments in affiliated Underlying Funds, at cost

  $ 64,360,033        $ 37,516,284  
 

 

 

 

 

1 

Each Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 

Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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

 

 

36  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Statements of assets and liabilities—November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WealthBuilder
Growth Allocation
Fund
    WealthBuilder
Growth Balanced
Fund
    WealthBuilder
Moderate Balanced
Fund
 
   
$ 189,924,123     $ 367,725,394     $ 258,557,987  
  50,781,632       87,653,008       53,161,004  
  47,093,399       113,616,064       94,557,828  
  100,086       166,089       89,813  
  12,905       101,907       63,961  
  71,464       81,793       80,073  
  14,126       66,275       80,003  
  115,295       13,445       107,836  

 

 

 
  288,113,030       569,423,975       406,698,505  

 

 

 
   
  241,282       573,313       257,644  
  94,672       121,853       75,978  
  53,068       115,143       80,540  
  50,930       100,998       72,355  
  165,969       330,287       236,709  
  19,520       56,154       17,795  
  60,513       120,063       85,848  
  4,317       34,147       11,160  

 

 

 
  690,271       1,451,958       838,029  

 

 

 
$ 287,422,759     $ 567,972,017     $ 405,860,476  

 

 

 
   
$ 256,725,152     $ 517,670,296     $ 377,278,731  
  30,697,607       50,301,721       28,581,745  

 

 

 
$ 287,422,759     $ 567,972,017     $ 405,860,476  

 

 

 
   
$ 24,705,156     $ 46,835,390     $ 32,781,253  
  1,955,617       3,733,923       3,031,832  
  $12.63       $12.54       $10.81  
  $13.40       $13.31       $11.47  
$ 261,834,586     $ 519,787,410     $ 370,722,461  
  20,405,528       40,863,892       33,582,249  
  $12.83       $12.72       $11.04  
$ 883,017     $ 1,349,217     $ 2,356,762  
  69,807       107,303       217,743  
  $12.65       $12.57       $10.82  
$ 175,219,706     $ 346,702,694     $ 248,100,778  

 

 

 
$ 44,899,376     $ 78,402,783     $ 48,618,098  

 

 

 
$ 45,393,075     $ 110,546,965     $ 92,449,601  

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  37


Table of Contents

Statements of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     WealthBuilder
Conservative
Allocation Fund
       WealthBuilder
Equity Fund
 

Investment income

      

Interest allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios*

  $ 1,514,636        $ 6,904  

Dividends from affiliated Underlying Funds

    920,726          77,464  

Dividends from unaffiliated Underlying Funds

    567,592          409,387  

Dividends allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios**

    425,618          3,167,096  

Affiliated income allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    30,206          65,870  

Interest

    7,003          15,335  

Expenses allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    (200,731        (400,364

Waivers allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    12,828          34,049  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    3,277,878          3,375,741  
 

 

 

 

Expenses

      

Management fee

    310,724          506,440  

Administration fees

      

Class A

    18,039          47,036  

Class C

    242,311          376,771  

Institutional Class

    407          992  

Shareholder servicing fees

      

Class A

    21,475          55,996  

Class C

    288,466          448,536  

Distribution fee

      

Class C

    865,105          1,344,597  

Custody and accounting fees

    34,744          27,546  

Professional fees

    16,442          16,999  

Registration fees

    27,546          26,204  

Shareholder report expenses

    15,232          22,323  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    5,594          10,249  

Other fees and expenses

    6,017          6,750  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,852,102          2,890,439  

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

      

Fund-level

    (55,911        (32,376
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    1,796,191          2,858,063  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    1,481,687          517,678  
 

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      

Net realized gains (losses) on

      

Securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    2,029,700          3,092,691  

Unaffiliated Underlying Funds

    386,444          (317,160

Affiliated Underlying Funds

    247,767          (1,397,830

Futures contracts

    (562,999        (647,075

Capital gain distributions from affiliated Underlying Funds

    79,749          636,134  
 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on investments

    2,180,661          1,366,760  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on

      

Securities transactions allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios

    4,214,353          27,525,659  

Unaffiliated Underlying Funds

    1,180,514          5,919,889  

Affiliated Underlying Funds

    1,194,190          6,168,402  

Futures contracts

    (148,865        1,307,530  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    6,440,192          40,921,480  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    8,620,853          42,288,240  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 10,102,540        $ 42,805,918  
 

 

 

 

*  Net of foreign withholding taxes allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios in the amount of

    $277          $0  

**Net of foreign withholding taxes allocated from affiliated Master Portfolios in the amount of

    $14,839          $114,976  

 

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

 

 

38  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Statements of operations—six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

 

WealthBuilder
Growth Allocation
Fund
    WealthBuilder
Growth Balanced
Fund
    WealthBuilder
Moderate Balanced
Fund
 
   
$ 351,620     $ 1,635,471     $ 1,868,708  
  238,499       1,033,033       1,139,902  
  389,200       964,157       834,652  
  1,828,405       2,781,383       1,361,040  
  42,626       80,388       54,561  
  10,921       21,113       12,150  
  (261,726     (504,927     (351,919
  21,857       39,153       25,013  

 

 

 
  2,621,402       6,049,771       4,944,107  

 

 

 
   
  359,453       721,277       521,858  
   
  25,404       49,409       34,832  
  275,704       555,241       401,243  
  515       757       1,415  
   
  30,243       58,820       41,467  
  328,220       661,001       477,671  
   
  984,049       1,982,526       1,432,773  
  29,115       40,779       28,611  
  16,191       16,193       16,442  
  24,119       33,978       25,558  
  21,256       38,131       25,360  
  6,091       6,091       10,000  
  4,725       8,032       8,669  

 

 

 
  2,105,085       4,172,235       3,025,899  
   
  (43,721     (27,672     (31,249

 

 

 
  2,061,364       4,144,563       2,994,650  

 

 

 
  560,038       1,905,208       1,949,457  

 

 

 
   
   
  2,154,446       4,458,342       3,329,691  
  (325,260     (383,170     374,396  
  (883,033     (1,250,231     (285,929
  (1,302,659     (2,150,720     (1,194,464
  361,732       546,533       269,535  

 

 

 
  5,226       1,220,754       2,493,229  

 

 

 
   
  16,057,364       25,061,905       12,694,670  
  3,919,356       6,375,827       3,108,623  
  3,835,262       6,374,341       3,355,259  
  348,337       359,534       (63,469

 

 

 
  24,160,319       38,171,607       19,095,083  

 

 

 
  24,165,545       39,392,361       21,588,312  

 

 

 
$ 24,725,583     $ 41,297,569     $ 23,537,769  

 

 

 
  $73       $311       $351  
  $67,976       $102,692       $49,807  

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  39


Table of Contents

Statements of changes in net assets

 

    WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund  
     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 1,481,687       $ 4,080,869  

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

      2,180,661         (1,566,995

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      6,440,192         5,111,778  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      10,102,540         7,625,652  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      (189,892       (740,750

Class C

      (1,655,684       (13,613,959

Institutional Class

      (7,612       (19,276 )1 
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (1,853,188       (14,373,985
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    259,923       2,608,254       1,700,659       16,886,758  

Class C

    398,245       3,998,296       1,017,500       9,885,420  

Institutional Class

    116,423       1,159,040       164,577 1      1,588,897 1 
 

 

 

 
      7,765,590         28,361,075  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    18,873       189,601       77,627       739,314  

Class C

    163,931       1,644,496       1,428,610       13,593,433  

Institutional Class

    728       7,300       1,871 1      17,747 1 
 

 

 

 
      1,841,397         14,350,494  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (184,767     (1,855,860     (575,232     (5,636,147

Class C

    (2,586,157     (25,937,537     (10,033,613     (99,336,835

Institutional Class

    (78,990     (787,302     (122,168 )1      (1,191,536 )1 
 

 

 

 
      (28,580,699       (106,164,518
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (18,973,712       (63,452,949
 

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

      (10,724,360       (70,201,282
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      253,828,933         324,030,215  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 243,104,573       $ 253,828,933  
 

 

 

 

 

 

1 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

40  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Statements of changes in net assets

 

    WealthBuilder Equity Fund  
     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 517,678       $ 1,652,557  

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

      1,366,760         (712,896

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      40,921,480         (14,986,965
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      42,805,918         (14,047,304
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (6,781,481

Class C

      0         (65,563,410

Institutional Class

      0         (167,781 )1 
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (72,512,672
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    154,336       2,677,578       2,426,481       48,555,252  

Class C

    161,974       2,809,173       945,150       17,736,143  

Institutional Class

    80,911       1,416,006       178,964 1      3,217,616 1 
 

 

 

 
      6,902,757         69,509,011  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       422,258       6,777,270  

Class C

    0       0       4,131,618       65,508,147  

Institutional Class

    0       0       10,174 1      163,731 1 
 

 

 

 
      0         72,449,148  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (227,137     (4,011,871     (464,860     (8,044,037

Class C

    (2,490,516     (43,382,726     (7,536,636     (141,072,542

Institutional Class

    (51,542     (907,947     (118,340 )1      (1,982,012 )1 
 

 

 

 
      (48,302,544       (151,098,591
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (41,399,787       (9,140,432
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      1,406,131         (95,700,408
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      399,596,583         495,296,991  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 401,002,714       $ 399,596,583  
 

 

 

 

 

 

1 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  41


Table of Contents

Statements of changes in net assets

 

    WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund  
    

Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 560,038       $ 1,893,837  

Net realized gains on investments

      5,226         2,081,536  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      24,160,319         (7,510,599
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      24,725,583         (3,535,226
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (3,138,679

Class C

      0         (42,918,189

Institutional Class

      0         (61,181 )1 
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (46,118,049
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    146,318       1,775,744       2,036,222       27,117,968  

Class C

    380,626       4,711,314       847,865       10,888,924  

Institutional Class

    140,131       1,704,840       265,048 1      3,276,689 1 
 

 

 

 
      8,191,898         41,283,581  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       279,666       3,134,820  

Class C

    0       0       3,772,440       42,874,982  

Institutional Class

    0       0       5,132 1      57,371 1 
 

 

 

 
      0         46,067,173  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (215,242     (2,609,520     (436,105     (5,180,494

Class C

    (2,196,978     (27,139,532     (7,662,224     (100,301,573

Institutional Class

    (130,722     (1,586,939     (209,782 )1      (2,567,803 )1 
 

 

 

 
      (31,335,991       (108,049,870
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (23,144,093       (20,699,116
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      1,581,490         (70,352,391
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      285,841,269         356,193,660  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 287,422,759       $ 285,841,269  
 

 

 

 

 

 

1

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

42  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Statements of changes in net assets

 

    WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund  
     Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 1,905,208       $ 5,810,457  

Net realized gains on investments

      1,220,754         2,633,923  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      38,171,607         (6,982,520
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      41,297,569         1,461,860  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      0         (5,344,460

Class C

      0         (69,709,208

Institutional Class

      0         (77,211 )1 
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      0         (75,130,879
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    240,203       2,902,665       4,148,800       54,057,256  

Class C

    364,583       4,494,812       1,419,289       17,942,360  

Institutional Class

    188,387       2,298,348       336,006 1      4,026,264 1 
 

 

 

 
      9,695,825         76,025,880  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    0       0       474,395       5,341,393  

Class C

    0       0       6,102,231       69,643,294  

Institutional Class

    0       0       6,601 1      74,079 1 
 

 

 

 
      0         75,058,766  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (489,581     (5,954,344     (868,338     (10,442,394

Class C

    (5,008,315     (61,763,871     (16,626,587     (212,253,060

Institutional Class

    (172,635     (2,101,968     (251,056 )1      (2,984,069 )1 
 

 

 

 
      (69,820,183       (225,679,523
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (60,124,358       (74,594,877
 

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

      (18,826,789       (148,263,896
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      586,798,806         735,062,702  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 567,972,017       $ 586,798,806  
 

 

 

 

 

 

1 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  43


Table of Contents

Statements of changes in net assets

 

    WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund  
    

Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)

    Year ended
May 31, 2019
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 1,949,457       $ 5,712,499  

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

      2,493,229         (271,218

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      19,095,083         1,545,191  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      23,537,769         6,986,472  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains

       

Class A

      (316,947       (2,146,382

Class C

      (1,963,155       (30,232,848

Institutional Class

      (30,511       (74,178 )1 
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (2,310,613       (32,453,408
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares         Shares    

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    246,071       2,610,445       3,677,957       39,561,183  

Class C

    275,254       2,979,037       1,228,264       13,112,373  

Institutional Class

    233,787       2,491,098       569,268 1      5,892,542 1 
 

 

 

 
      8,080,580         58,566,098  
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    29,822       316,708       214,360       2,144,579  

Class C

    180,780       1,961,476       2,974,197       30,204,676  

Institutional Class

    2,846       30,228       7,289 1      72,276 1 
 

 

 

 
      2,308,412         32,421,531  
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (555,880     (5,897,033     (829,255     (8,576,195

Class C

    (4,328,513     (46,913,079     (17,126,410     (185,476,591

Institutional Class

    (195,063     (2,074,208     (400,384 )1      (4,155,113 )1 
 

 

 

 
      (54,884,320       (198,207,899
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (44,495,328       (107,220,270
 

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

      (23,268,172       (132,687,206
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      429,128,648         561,815,854  
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 405,860,476       $ 429,128,648  
 

 

 

 

 

 

1

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

44  |  Multi-Asset Funds


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Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

     Beginning
net asset
value per
share
    Net
investment
income
    Net realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
on investments
    Distributions
from net
investment
income
    Distributions
from net
realized gains
    Ending
net asset
value per
share
 

WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund

                                               

Class A

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 9.82       0.09       0.35       (0.11     0.00     $ 10.15  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 10.05       0.18       0.18       (0.19     (0.40   $ 9.82  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 10.52       0.20       0.02       (0.19     (0.50   $ 10.05  

Year ended May 31, 20174

  $ 10.34       0.04       0.18       (0.04     0.00     $ 10.52  

Class C5

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 9.81       0.06       0.33       (0.07     0.00     $ 10.13  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 10.06       0.14 6      0.13       (0.12     (0.40   $ 9.81  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 10.51       0.11       0.04       (0.10     (0.50   $ 10.06  

Year ended May 31, 2017

  $ 10.33       0.07       0.38       (0.10     (0.17   $ 10.51  

Year ended May 31, 2016

  $ 10.82       0.07       (0.20     (0.08     (0.28   $ 10.33  

Year ended May 31, 2015

  $ 10.92       0.04       0.15       (0.05     (0.24   $ 10.82  

Institutional Class

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 9.80       0.08       0.38       (0.13     0.00     $ 10.13  

Year ended May 31, 20197

  $ 10.15       0.15       0.12       (0.22     (0.40   $ 9.80  

 

 

 

1 

Including net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios, the expense ratios would be increased by the following amounts:

 

    Six months ended
November 30,  2019

(unaudited)
     Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Class A

    0.15      0.16     0.13     0.11 %4      N/A       N/A  

Class C5

    0.15      0.16     0.13     0.11     0.11     0.11

Institutional Class

    0.15      0.16 %7      N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

4 

For the period from February 10, 2017 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017

 

5 

Effective at the close of business on February 10, 2017, the Fund’s existing share class, WealthBuilder Portfolio shares, was renamed Class C.

 

6 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

7 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

46  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

Ratio to average net assets (annualized)    

Total
return2

   

Portfolio
turnover
rate3

   

Net assets at
end of period
(000s omitted)

 
Net investment
income
    Gross
expenses1
    Net
expenses1
 
                                             
         
  1.87     0.80     0.75     4.50     105   $ 17,735  
  2.15     0.79     0.75     3.84     183   $ 16,242  
  1.81     0.77     0.75     2.05     192   $ 4,532  
  1.34     0.76     0.75     2.14     175   $ 4,468  
         
  1.14     1.54     1.50     4.00     105   $ 224,534  
  1.41     1.54     1.50     2.89     183   $ 237,153  
  1.05     1.52     1.50     1.37     192   $ 319,498  
  0.72     1.50     1.50     4.42     175   $ 425,400  
  0.68     1.51     1.50     (1.11 )%      198   $ 523,832  
  0.34     1.55     1.50     1.75     169   $ 545,059  
         
  2.18     0.47     0.42     4.68     105   $ 835  
  1.61     0.46     0.42     2.95     183   $ 434  

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  47


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

     Beginning
net asset
value per
share
    Net
investment
income (loss)
    Net realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
on investments
    Distributions
from net
investment
income
    Distributions
from net
realized gains
    Ending
net asset
value per
share
 

WealthBuilder Equity Fund

                                               

Class A

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 16.52       0.08       1.82       0.00       0.00     $ 18.42  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 20.55       0.17 4      (0.81     (0.26     (3.13   $ 16.52  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 21.41       0.10       2.59       0.00       (3.55   $ 20.55  

Year ended May 31, 20175

  $ 20.15       (0.02 )4      1.28       0.00       0.00     $ 21.41  

Class C6

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 16.39       0.02       1.80       0.00       0.00     $ 18.21  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 20.33       0.06       (0.82     (0.05     (3.13   $ 16.39  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 21.36       (0.02 )4      2.54       0.00       (3.55   $ 20.33  

Year ended May 31, 2017

  $ 18.25       (0.07     3.19       0.00       (0.01   $ 21.36  

Year ended May 31, 2016

  $ 19.44       (0.08     (1.11     0.00       0.00     $ 18.25  

Year ended May 31, 2015

  $ 18.07       (0.08     1.45       0.00       0.00     $ 19.44  

Institutional Class

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 16.55       0.13       1.81       0.00       0.00     $ 18.49  

Year ended May 31, 20197

  $ 21.08       0.14       (1.26     (0.28     (3.13   $ 16.55  

 

 

1 

Including net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios, the expense ratios would be increased by the following amounts:

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019
(unaudited)
     Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Class A

    0.18      0.18     0.12     0.12 %5      N/A       N/A  

Class C6

    0.18      0.18     0.12     0.12     0.12     0.12

Institutional Class

    0.18      0.18 %7      N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

4 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

5 

For the period from February 10, 2017 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017

 

6 

Effective at the close of business on February 10, 2017, the Fund’s existing share class, WealthBuilder Portfolio shares, was renamed Class C.

 

7 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

Ratio to average net assets (annualized)    

Total
return2

   

Portfolio
turnover
rate3

   

Net assets at
end of period
(000s omitted)

 
Net investment
income (loss)
    Gross
expenses1
    Net
expenses1
 
                                             
         
  0.91     0.77     0.75     11.50     34   $ 46,159  
  0.97     0.76     0.75     (2.35 )%      78   $ 42,588  
  0.75     0.75     0.75     12.61     63   $ 3,993  
  (0.30 )%      0.75     0.75     6.25     30   $ 1,669  
         
  0.17     1.52     1.50     11.10     34   $ 352,992  
  0.32     1.51     1.50     (3.16 )%      78   $ 355,837  
  (0.10 )%      1.50     1.50     11.80     63   $ 491,304  
  (0.37 )%      1.50     1.50     17.07     30   $ 532,454  
  (0.46 )%      1.51     1.50     (6.12 )%      27   $ 423,109  
  (0.44 )%      1.55     1.50     7.58     27   $ 452,296  
         
  1.22     0.44     0.42     11.72     34   $ 1,852  
  0.49     0.43     0.42     (4.54 )%      78   $ 1,172  

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  49


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

     Beginning
net asset
value per
share
    Net
investment
income (loss)
    Net realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
on investments
    Distributions
from net
investment
income
    Distributions
from net
realized gains
    Ending
net asset
value per
share
 

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

                                               

Class A

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 11.57       0.07       1.00       0.00       0.00     $ 12.63  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 13.88       0.14 4      (0.30     (0.23     (1.92   $ 11.57  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 14.60       0.12       1.39       (0.30     (1.93   $ 13.88  

Year ended May 31, 20175

  $ 13.92       0.01 4      0.67       0.00       0.00     $ 14.60  

Class C6

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 11.78       0.02       1.03       0.00       0.00     $ 12.83  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 14.02       0.08       (0.33     (0.07     (1.92   $ 11.78  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 14.58       0.04       1.34       (0.01     (1.93   $ 14.02  

Year ended May 31, 2017

  $ 13.39       (0.01 )4      1.84       0.00       (0.64   $ 14.58  

Year ended May 31, 2016

  $ 14.92       (0.01     (0.71     (0.04     (0.77   $ 13.39  

Year ended May 31, 2015

  $ 14.78       (0.02     0.89       (0.12     (0.61   $ 14.92  

Institutional Class

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 11.57       0.09       0.99       0.00       0.00     $ 12.65  

Year ended May 31, 20197

  $ 14.20       0.18       (0.65     (0.24     (1.92   $ 11.57  

 

 

1 

Including net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios, the expense ratios would be increased by the following amounts:

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
     Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Class A

    0.17      0.17     0.12     0.11 %5      N/A       N/A  

Class C6

    0.17      0.17     0.12     0.11     0.11     0.11

Institutional Class

    0.16      0.17 %7      N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

4 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

5 

For the period from February 10, 2017 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017

 

6 

Effective at the close of business on February 10, 2017, the Fund’s existing share class, WealthBuilder Portfolio shares, was renamed Class C.

 

7 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

50  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

Ratio to average net assets (annualized)    

Total
return2

        
Portfolio
turnover
rate3
   

Net assets at
end of period
(000s omitted)

 
Net investment
income (loss)
    Gross
expenses1
    Net
expenses1
 
                                             
         
  1.07     0.78     0.75     9.16     51   $ 24,705  
  1.20     0.78     0.75     (0.38 )%      97   $ 23,420  
  1.07     0.78     0.75     10.33     93   $ 2,009  
  0.16     0.76     0.75     4.89     58   $ 357  
         
  0.32     1.53     1.50     8.91     51   $ 261,835  
  0.56     1.52     1.50     (1.12 )%      97   $ 261,722  
  0.26     1.51     1.50     9.45     93   $ 354,185  
  (0.06 )%      1.51     1.50     14.05     58   $ 402,997  
  (0.06 )%      1.51     1.50     (4.79 )%      59   $ 429,628  
  (0.20 )%      1.55     1.50     6.14     53   $ 451,139  
         
  1.37     0.45     0.42     9.33     51   $ 883  
  1.84     0.45     0.42     (2.47 )%      97   $ 699  

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  51


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

     Beginning
net asset
value per
share
    Net
investment
income
    Net realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
on investments
    Distributions
from net
investment
income
    Distributions
from net
realized gains
    Ending
net asset
value per
share
 

WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

                                               

Class A

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 11.64       0.08       0.82       0.00       0.00     $ 12.54  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 13.27       0.18 4      (0.14     (0.23     (1.44   $ 11.64  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 14.24       0.19 4      0.89       (0.42     (1.63   $ 13.27  

Year ended May 31, 20175

  $ 13.68       0.01       0.55       0.00       0.00     $ 14.24  

Class C6

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 11.85       0.05       0.82       0.00       0.00     $ 12.72  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 13.40       0.11       (0.14     (0.08     (1.44   $ 11.85  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 14.21       0.09       0.87       (0.14     (1.63   $ 13.40  

Year ended May 31, 2017

  $ 13.29       0.05       1.40       0.00       (0.53   $ 14.21  

Year ended May 31, 2016

  $ 14.52       0.03       (0.53     (0.06     (0.67   $ 13.29  

Year ended May 31, 2015

  $ 14.42       0.01       0.67       (0.10     (0.48   $ 14.52  

Institutional Class

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 11.65       0.11       0.81       0.00       0.00     $ 12.57  

Year ended May 31, 20197

  $ 13.52       0.15       (0.33     (0.25     (1.44   $ 11.65  

 

 

1 

Including net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios, the expense ratios would be increased by the following amounts:

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
     Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Class A

    0.16      0.17     0.12     0.11 %5      N/A       N/A  

Class C6

    0.16      0.17     0.12     0.11     0.11     0.11

Institutional Class

    0.16      0.16 %7      N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

4 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

5 

For the period from February 10, 2017 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017

 

6 

Effective at the close of business on February 10, 2017, the Fund’s existing share class, WealthBuilder Portfolio shares, was renamed Class C.

 

7 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

52  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

Ratio to average net assets (annualized)    

Total
return2

   

Portfolio
turnover
rate3

        
Net assets at
end of period
(000s omitted)
 
Net investment
income
    Gross
expenses1
    Net
expenses1
 
                                             
         
  1.34     0.76     0.75     7.73     68   $ 46,835  
  1.51     0.76     0.75     1.02     126   $ 46,380  
  1.33     0.75     0.75     7.51     129   $ 3,031  
  0.54     0.74     0.74     4.09     102   $ 1,464  
         
  0.60     1.51     1.50     7.34     68   $ 519,787  
  0.84     1.50     1.50     0.31     126   $ 539,352  
  0.56     1.50     1.50     6.65     129   $ 732,031  
  0.30     1.49     1.49     11.14     102   $ 867,751  
  0.26     1.49     1.49     (3.39 )%      100   $ 966,932  
  0.06     1.54     1.50     4.89     89   $ 1,018,411  
         
  1.67     0.43     0.42     7.90     68   $ 1,349  
  1.38     0.43     0.42     (0.62 )%      126   $ 1,067  

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  53


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

     Beginning
net asset
value per
share
    Net
investment
income
    Net realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
on investments
    Distributions
from net
investment
income
    Distributions
from net
realized gains
    Ending
net asset
value per
share
 

WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

                                               

Class A

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 10.30       0.08       0.53       (0.10     0.00     $ 10.81  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 10.90       0.19 4      0.03       (0.18     (0.64   $ 10.30  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 11.83       0.18 4      0.40       (0.50     (1.01   $ 10.90  

Year ended May 31, 20175

  $ 11.56       0.07       0.28       (0.08     0.00     $ 11.83  

Class C6

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 10.50       0.05       0.55       (0.06     0.00     $ 11.04  

Year ended May 31, 2019

  $ 11.10       0.12 4      0.02       (0.10     (0.64   $ 10.50  

Year ended May 31, 2018

  $ 11.83       0.09       0.41       (0.22     (1.01   $ 11.10  

Year ended May 31, 2017

  $ 11.40       0.06       0.80       (0.08     (0.35   $ 11.83  

Year ended May 31, 2016

  $ 12.19       0.05       (0.30     (0.07     (0.47   $ 11.40  

Year ended May 31, 2015

  $ 12.21       0.03       0.39       (0.07     (0.37   $ 12.19  

Institutional Class

           

Six months ended November 30, 2019 (unaudited)

  $ 10.32       0.09       0.54       (0.13     0.00     $ 10.82  

Year ended May 31, 20197

  $ 11.06       0.14       (0.04     (0.20     (0.64   $ 10.32  

 

 

1 

Including net expenses allocated from the affiliated Master Portfolios, the expense ratios would be increased by the following amounts:

 

    Six months ended
November 30, 2019

(unaudited)
     Year ended May 31  
     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Class A

    0.16      0.16     0.13     0.11 %5      N/A       N/A  

Class C6

    0.16      0.17     0.13     0.11     0.11     0.11

Institutional Class

    0.16      0.16 %7      N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  

 

2 

Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

3 

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by multiplying the Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. These purchases and sales amounts are aggregated with the direct purchases and sales in Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities and included in the portfolio turnover calculation.

 

4 

Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

5 

For the period from February 10, 2017 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2017

 

6 

Effective at the close of business on February 10, 2017, the Fund’s existing share class, WealthBuilder Portfolio shares, was renamed Class C.

 

7 

For the period from July 31, 2018 (commencement of class operations) to May 31, 2019

 

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

 

 

54  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

Ratio to average net assets (annualized)    

Total
return2

        
Portfolio
turnover
rate3
   

Net assets at
end of period
(000s omitted)

 
Net investment
income
    Gross
expenses1
    Net
expenses1
 
                                             
         
  1.62     0.76     0.75     5.97     86   $ 32,781  
  1.81     0.76     0.75     2.40     155   $ 34,104  
  1.58     0.75     0.75     4.87     161   $ 2,712  
  1.03     0.74     0.74     3.06     136   $ 800  
         
  0.87     1.51     1.50     5.69     86   $ 370,722  
  1.13     1.51     1.50     1.58     155   $ 393,207  
  0.81     1.50     1.50     4.11     161   $ 559,104  
  0.52     1.49     1.49     7.75     136   $ 707,284  
  0.48     1.49     1.49     (2.02 )%      150   $ 833,218  
  0.21     1.55     1.50     3.44     129   $ 893,175  
         
  1.96     0.44     0.42     6.08     86   $ 2,357  
  1.37     0.43     0.42     1.28     155   $ 1,817  

 

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

 

 

Multi-Asset Funds  |  55


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the following funds: Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund (“WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund”), Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Equity Fund (“WealthBuilder Equity Fund”), Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund (“WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund”), Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund (“WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund”) and Wells Fargo WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund (“WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund”) (each, a “Fund”, collectively, the “Funds”). Each Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

Each Fund is a fund-of-funds that may invest in various affiliated mutual funds, unaffiliated mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”) to pursue its investment objective. Each Fund may also invest directly in securities. The Underlying Funds incur separate expenses in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. Investments in affiliated mutual funds may also include investments in one or more separate diversified portfolios (each, an “affiliated Master Portfolio”, collectively, the “affiliated Master Portfolios”) of Wells Fargo Master Trust, a registered open-end management investment company. Each affiliated Master Portfolio directly acquires portfolio securities, and each Fund investing in an affiliated Master Portfolio acquires an indirect interest in those securities. Each Fund accounts for its investment in the affiliated Master Portfolios as partnership investments and records on a daily basis its share of the affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, expense and realized and unrealized gains and losses. The financial statements for the Underlying Funds are presented in separate financial statements and may be obtained by contacting Investor Services for the affiliated mutual funds or by contacting the servicing agent of the unaffiliated mutual funds. The financial statements of the affiliated Master Portfolios are available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov and are filed with the SEC under Wells Fargo Master Trust. The financial statements for all other Underlying Funds are also publicly available on the SEC website at sec.gov.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of each Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time), although the Funds may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Investments in underlying mutual funds are valued at net asset per share as reported by the Underlying Funds as of the close of the regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the exchange is open for trading. Investments in affiliated Master Portfolios are valued daily based on each Fund’s proportionate share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s net assets, which are also valued daily.

Equity securities and futures contracts that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the principal exchange or market that day, a fair value price will be determined in accordance with the Funds’ Valuation Procedures.

Debt securities are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service (e.g. taking into account various factors, including yields, maturities, or credit ratings) or, if a reliable price is not available, the quoted bid price from an independent broker-dealer.

Investments which are not valued using the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Funds. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee at Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Wells Fargo Asset Management Pricing Committee which may include items for ratification.

 

 

56  |  Multi-Asset Funds


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

Futures contracts

Each Fund is subject to interest rate risk, equity price risk, and foreign currency risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Futures contracts are agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity, financial instrument or currency at specified price and on a specified date. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts in order to gain exposure to, or protect against, changes in interest rates, security values, and foreign exchange rates. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between changes in market values of securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Futures contracts are generally entered into on a regulated futures exchange and cleared through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange. With futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty risk to the Fund since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default.

Upon entering into a futures contracts, the Fund is required to deposit either cash or securities (initial margin) with the broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are paid to or from the broker each day equal to the daily changes in the contract value. Such payments are recorded as unrealized gains or losses and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (payable) in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Should the Fund fail to make requested variation margin payments, the broker can gain access to the initial margin to satisfy the Fund’s payment obligations. When the contracts are closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Income dividends and capital gain distributions from Underlying Funds are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Capital gain distributions from Underlying Funds are treated as realized gains.

Interest income is accrued daily and bond discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized daily. To the extent debt obligations are placed on non-accrual status, any related interest income may be reduced by writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has been determined to be doubtful based on consistently applied procedures and the fair value has decreased. If the issuer subsequently resumes interest payments or when the collectability of interest is reasonably assured, the debt obligation is removed from non-accrual status.

Each Fund records on a daily basis its proportionate share of each affiliated Master Portfolio’s income, in addition to expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses. Income from foreign securities in each affiliated Master Portfolio is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and any net realized gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date for each Fund as follows:

 

      Net investment income      Net realized gains  

WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund

     Monthly        Annually  

WealthBuilder Equity Fund

     Annually        Annually  

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

     Annually        Annually  

WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

     Annually        Annually  

WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

     Quarterly        Annually  

Federal and other taxes

Each Fund is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

Each Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed each Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

As of November 30, 2019, the aggregate cost of all investments for federal income tax purposes and the unrealized gains (losses) were as follows:

 

      Tax cost      Gross
unrealized
gains
    

Gross

unrealized
losses

     Net
unrealized
gains
 

WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund

   $ 236,659,105      $ 10,297,123      $ (3,008,510    $ 7,288,613  

WealthBuilder Equity Fund

     344,203,471        65,127,001        (6,237,634      58,889,367  

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

     257,942,529        152,306,658        (121,507,805      30,798,853  

WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

     523,305,865        53,063,227        (5,819,017      47,244,210  

WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

     383,396,188        201,818,039        (178,182,539      23,635,500  

As of May 31, 2019, WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund had capital loss carryforwards which consisted of $756,938 in short-term capital losses.

At May 31, 2019, current year deferred post-October capital losses and late-year ordinary losses which were recognized on the first day of the current fiscal year were as follows:

 

     Deferred post-October
capital losses
     Late-year
ordinary  losses
deferred
 
      Short-term      Long-term  

WealthBuilder Equity Fund

   $ (7,816,764    $ 5,585,661      $ (1,351,065

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

     (3,958,981      3,407,391        (94,718

WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

     (5,236,106      4,982,014        0  

WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

     (1,776,270      0        0  

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by each Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common fund-level expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of each Fund’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Each Fund’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing each Fund’s assets and liabilities as of November 30, 2019:

 

WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund    Quoted prices
(Level 1)
    

Other significant
observable inputs

(Level 2)

    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Exchange-traded funds

   $ 18,617,378      $ 0      $ 0      $ 18,617,378  

Investment companies

     70,958,405        0        0        70,958,405  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     1,027,753        0        0        1,027,753  

U.S. Treasury securities

     941,089        0        0        941,089  

Investments measured at net asset value*

                                152,086,457  
     91,544,625        0        0        243,631,082  

Futures contracts

     343,409        0        0        343,409  

Total assets

   $ 91,888,034      $ 0      $ 0      $ 243,974,491  

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 26,773      $ 0      $ 0      $ 26,773  

Total liabilities

   $ 26,773      $ 0      $ 0      $ 26,773  

 

*

Investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount presented in the table is intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued at $152,086,457. Each affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

 

WealthBuilder Equity Fund    Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Exchange-traded funds

   $ 41,580,194      $ 0      $ 0      $ 41,580,194  

Investment companies

     73,202,676        0        0        73,202,676  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     2,054,503        0        0        2,054,503  

U.S. Treasury securities

     3,028,069        0        0        3,028,069  

Investments measured at net asset value*

                                281,526,018  
     119,865,442        0        0        401,391,460  

Futures contracts

     1,761,110        0        0        1,761,110  

Total assets

   $ 121,626,552      $ 0      $ 0      $ 403,152,570  

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 59,732      $ 0      $ 0      $ 59,732  

Total liabilities

   $ 59,732      $ 0      $ 0      $ 59,732  

 

*

Investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount presented in the table is intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued at $281,526,018. Each affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

 

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund    Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Exchange-traded funds

   $ 26,936,681      $ 0      $ 0      $ 26,936,681  

Investment companies

     67,910,165        0        0        67,910,165  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     852,291        0        0        852,291  

U.S. Treasury securities

     2,175,894        0        0        2,175,894  

Investments measured at net asset value*

                                189,924,123  
     97,875,031        0        0        287,799,154  

Futures contracts

     1,000,757        0        0        1,000,757  

Total assets

   $ 98,875,788      $ 0      $ 0      $ 288,799,911  

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 58,529      $ 0      $ 0      $ 58,529  

Total liabilities

   $ 58,529      $ 0      $ 0      $ 58,529  

 

*

Investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount presented in the table is intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued at $189,924,123. Each affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

 

WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund    Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Exchange-traded funds

   $ 50,151,759      $ 0      $ 0      $ 50,151,759  

Investment companies

     144,912,743        0        0        144,912,743  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     2,367,285        0        0        2,367,285  

U.S. Treasury securities

     3,837,285        0        0        3,837,285  

Investments measured at net asset value*

                                367,725,394  
     201,269,072        0        0        568,994,466  

Futures contracts

     1,669,904        0        0        1,669,904  

Total assets

   $ 202,938,976      $ 0      $ 0      $ 570,664,370  

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 114,295      $ 0      $ 0      $ 114,295  

Total liabilities

   $ 114,295      $ 0      $ 0      $ 114,295  

 

*

Investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount presented in the table is intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued at $367,725,394. Each affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

 

WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund    Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
    

Significant
unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Exchange-traded funds

   $ 33,553,467      $ 0      $ 0      $ 33,553,467  

Investment companies

     110,886,382        0        0        110,886,382  

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     1,111,082        0        0        1,111,082  

U.S. Treasury securities

     2,167,901        0        0        2,167,901  

Investments measured at net asset value*

                                258,557,987  
     147,718,832        0        0        406,276,819  

Futures contracts

     817,727        0        0        817,727  

Total assets

   $ 148,536,559      $ 0      $ 0      $ 407,094,546  

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 62,858      $ 0      $ 0      $ 62,858  

Total liabilities

   $ 62,858      $ 0      $ 0      $ 62,858  

 

*

Investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount presented in the table is intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s investments in the affiliated Master Portfolios are valued at $258,557,987. Each affiliated Master Portfolio does not have a redemption period notice, can be redeemed daily and does not have any unfunded commitments.

Futures contracts are reported at their cumulative unrealized gains (losses) at measurement date as reported in the tables following each Portfolio of Investments. For futures contracts, the current day’s variation margin is reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. All other assets and liabilities are reported at their market value at measurement date.

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Funds did not have any transfers into/out of Level 3.

The investment objective of each affiliated Master Portfolio is as follows:

 

Affiliated Master Portfolio    Investment objective

Wells Fargo Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate ex-Corporate Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the Bloomberg Barclays US ex-Corporate Index, before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo Core Bond Portfolio

   Seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Disciplined Large Cap Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Emerging Growth Portfolio

   Seeks long-term capital appreciation

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Emerging Markets Index, before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced International Index (Net), before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Large Cap Index, before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the Wells Fargo Factor Enhanced Small Cap Index, before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

   Seeks to replicate the total return of the Wells Fargo U.S. High Yield Bond Index, before fees and expenses

Wells Fargo Real Return Portfolio

   Seeks returns that exceed the rate of inflation over the long-term

Wells Fargo Small Company Value Portfolio

  

Seeks long-term capital appreciation

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of each Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of each Fund, supervising the subadviser and providing fund-level administrative services in connection with each Fund’s operations. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive a management fee at the following annual rate based on each Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Average daily net assets    Management fee

First $1 billion

   0.250%

Next $4 billion

   0.225   

Next $5 billion

   0.190   

Over $10 billion

   0.180   

For the six months ended November 30, 2019, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.25% of each Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Funds. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”), an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to each Fund and is entitled to receive an annual subadvisory fee of 0.15% of each Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management also serves as the adviser to each affiliated Master Portfolio and is entitled to receive a fee from each affiliated Master Portfolio for those services.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to each Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

      Class-level
administration fee

Class A, Class C

   0.21%

Institutional Class

   0.13   

Waivers and/or expense reimbursements

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for each Fund. When each class of a Fund has exceeded its expense cap, Funds Management has waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses from fund-level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. When only certain classes exceed their expense caps, waivers and/or reimbursements are applied against class specific expenses before fund-level expenses. Funds Management has committed through September 30, 2020 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap each Fund’s expenses at 0.75% for Class A shares, 1.50% for Class C shares, and 0.42% for Institutional Class shares. Acquired fund fees and expenses (including net expenses from affiliated Master Portfolios) are excluded from the expense caps. Prior to or after the commitment expiration date, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan for Class C shares of the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter of each Fund, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the six months ended November 30, 2019, Funds Distributor received the following amounts in front-end sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges.

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

 

      Front-end
sales charges
Class  A
     Contingent deferred
sales charges
Class C
 

WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund

   $ 1,271      $ 804  

WealthBuilder Equity Fund

     2,134        1,469  

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

     2,920        724  

WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

     2,183        4,231  

WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

     1,469        1,278  

No contingent deferred sales charges were incurred by Class A shares of each Fund for the six months ended November 30, 2019.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A and Class C of each Fund are charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Funds seek to achieve their investment objectives by investing some of their investable assets in affiliated Master Portfolios. Purchases and sales related to these investments have been calculated by aggregating the results of multiplying each Fund’s ownership percentage in the respective affiliated Master Portfolio by the corresponding affiliated Master Portfolio’s purchases and sales. Purchases and sales in Underlying Funds and unaffiliated securities in which the Funds invest are actual aggregate purchases and sales of those investments.

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the six months ended November 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

       Purchases at cost        Sales proceeds  
        U.S.
government
       Non-U.S.
government
       U.S.
government
       Non-U.S.
government
 

WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund

     $ 180,378,645        $ 82,765,931        $ 178,793,205        $ 105,189,641  

WealthBuilder Equity Fund

       0          132,286,006          0          165,669,628  

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

       42,160,035          100,898,537          41,789,167          121,584,928  

WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

       194,138,376          195,276,571          192,439,359          243,564,946  

WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

       220,496,640          136,379,921          218,558,582          175,587,963  

6. DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS

During the six months ended November 30, 2019, the Funds entered into futures contracts to gain market exposure to certain asset classes consistent with an active asset allocation strategy.

 

       Average notional balance  
        Long
futures
       Short
futures
 

WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund

     $ 19,063,619        $ 14,112,263  

WealthBuilder Equity Fund

       27,514,672          18,088,086  

WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund

       28,815,976          17,986,120  

WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund

       53,657,115          35,685,919  

WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund

       35,125,174          24,506,668  

 

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

A summary of the location of derivative instruments on the financial statements by primary risk exposure is outlined following tables.

The fair value of derivative instruments as of November 30, 2019 was as follows for WealthBuilder Conservative Allocation Fund:

 

    

Asset derivatives

    

Liability derivatives

 
      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value  

Equity risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts    $ 250,971    Unrealized losses on futures contracts    $ 11,254

Foreign currency risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      92,438    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      0

Interest rate risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      0    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      15,519
          $ 343,409           $ 26,773  

 

*

Amount represents cumulative unrealized gains (losses) on futures contracts as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin as of November 30, 2019 is reported separately on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statements of Operations for the six months ended November 30, 2019 was as follows:

 

       Amount of realized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
       Change in unrealized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
 

Equity risk

     $ (569,432      $ (26,368

Interest rate risk

       (529,366        (15,519

Foreign currency risk

       535,799          (106,978
       $ (562,999      $ (148,865

The fair value of derivative instruments as of November 30, 2019 was as follows for WealthBuilder Equity Fund:

 

    

Asset derivatives

    

Liability derivatives

 
      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value  

Equity risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts    $ 1,607,026    Unrealized losses on futures contracts    $ 59,732

Foreign currency risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      154,084    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      0
          $ 1,761,110           $ 59,732  

 

*

Amount represents cumulative unrealized gains (losses) on futures contracts as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin as of November 30, 2019 is reported separately on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statements of Operations for the six months ended November 30, 2019 was as follows:

 

       Amount of realized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
       Change in unrealized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
 

Equity risk

     $ (1,520,228      $ 1,474,918  

Foreign currency risk

       873,153          (167,388
       $ (647,075      $ 1,307,530  

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The fair value of derivative instruments as of November 30, 2019 was as follows for WealthBuilder Growth Allocation Fund:

 

    

Asset derivatives

    

Liability derivatives

 
      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value  

Equity risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts    $ 891,872    Unrealized losses on futures contracts    $ 40,271

Foreign currency risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      108,886    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      0

Interest rate risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      0    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      18,258
          $ 1,000,757           $ 58,529  

 

*

Amount represents cumulative unrealized gains (losses) on futures contracts as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin as of November 30, 2019 is reported separately on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statements of Operations for the six months ended November 30, 2019 was as follows:

 

       Amount of realized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
       Change in unrealized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
 

Equity risk

     $ (1,318,325      $ 486,350  

Interest rate risk

       (603,688        (18,258

Foreign currency risk

       619,354          (119,755
       $ (1,302,659      $ 348,337  

The fair value of derivative instruments as of November 30, 2019 was as follows for WealthBuilder Growth Balanced Fund:

 

    

Asset derivatives

    

Liability derivatives

 
      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value  

Equity risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts    $ 1,451,105    Unrealized losses on futures contracts    $ 78,186

Foreign currency risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      218,799    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      0

Interest rate risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      0    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      36,109
          $ 1,669,904           $ 114,295  

 

*

Amount represents cumulative unrealized gains (losses) on futures contracts as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin as of November 30, 2019 is reported separately on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statements of Operations for the six months ended November 30, 2019 was as follows:

 

       Amount of realized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
       Change in unrealized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
 

Equity risk

     $ (2,187,916      $ 642,721  

Interest rate risk

       (1,219,708        (36,109

Foreign currency risk

       1,256,904          (247,078
       $ (2,150,720      $ 359,534  

 

 

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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

The fair value of derivative instruments as of November 30, 2019 was as follows for WealthBuilder Moderate Balanced Fund:

 

    

Asset derivatives

    

Liability derivatives

 
      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value      Statements of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value  

Equity risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts    $ 660,562    Unrealized losses on futures contracts    $ 37,115

Foreign currency risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      157,165    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      0

Interest rate risk

   Unrealized gains on futures contracts      0    Unrealized losses on futures contracts      25,743
          $ 817,727           $ 62,858  

 

*

Amount represents cumulative unrealized gains (losses) on futures contracts as reported in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin as of November 30, 2019 is reported separately on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statements of Operations for the six months ended November 30, 2019 was as follows:

 

       Amount of realized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
       Change in unrealized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
 

Equity risk

     $ (1,217,448      $ 145,492  

Interest rate risk

       (889,080        (25,743

Foreign currency risk

       912,064          (183,218
       $ (1,194,464      $ (63,469

7. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds), Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $280,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Funds based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund.

For the six month ended November 30, 2019, there were no borrowings by the Funds under the agreement.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Funds and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by modifying or removing certain disclosures and adding certain new disclosures. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Management has adopted the removal and modification of disclosures early, as permitted, and will adopt the additional new disclosures at the effective date.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wfam.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the proxies related to portfolio securities were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website at wfam.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

Each Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or Form N-PORT, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Those forms may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 150 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
William R. Ebsworth
(Born 1957)
  Trustee,
since 2015
  Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Audit Committee Chair and Investment Committee Chair of the Vincent Memorial Hospital Endowment (non-profit organization). Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder.   N/A
Jane A. Freeman
(Born 1953)
  Trustee,
since 2015; Chair Liaison,
since 2018
  Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of The Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization). She is also an inactive Chartered Financial Analyst.   N/A
Isaiah Harris, Jr.
(Born 1952)
  Trustee,
since 2009;
Audit Committee Chairman, since 2019
  Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (private school). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation
Judith M. Johnson
(Born 1949)
  Trustee,
since 2008;
Audit Committee Chairman, from 2009 to 2018
  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   N/A

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Current other
public company or
investment
company
directorships
David F. Larcker
(Born 1950)
  Trustee,
since 2009
  James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   N/A
Olivia S. Mitchell
(Born 1953)
  Trustee,
since 2006;
Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, since 2018
  International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   N/A
Timothy J. Penny
(Born 1951)
  Trustee,
since 1996;
Chairman,
since 2018
  President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   N/A
James G. Polisson
(Born 1959)
  Trustee,
since 2018
  Retired. Chief Marketing Officer, Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd, from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Principal of The Polisson Group, LLC, a management consulting, corporate advisory and principal investing company. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Russell Investments, Global Exchange Traded Funds from 2010 to 2012. Managing Director of Barclays Global Investors from 1998 to 2010 and Global Chief Marketing Officer for iShares and Barclays Global Investors from 2000 to 2010. Trustee of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute, a non-profit organization, from 2013 to 2015. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Fund Trust from 2011 to 2012. Director of Barclays Global Investors Holdings Deutschland GmbH from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Polisson is an attorney and has a retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations.   N/A
Pamela Wheelock3
(Born 1959)
  Trustee,
since January 2020; previously Trustee from January 2018 to July 2019
  Board member of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, Rochester, Minnesota since 2019. Acting Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services, July 2019 through September 2019. Human Services Manager (part-time), Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2019 through December 2019. Chief Operating Officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from 2017 to 2019. Vice President of University Services, University of Minnesota from 2012 to 2016. Prior thereto, on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Finance Committee for the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (Saint Paul Foundation) from 2012 to 2018, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from 2011 to 2012, Chairman of the Board from 2009 to 2012 and Board Director from 2003 to 2015. Vice President, Leadership and Community Engagement, Bush Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota (a private foundation) from 2009 to 2011. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Minnesota Sports and Entertainment from 2004 to 2009 and Senior Vice President from 2002 to 2004. Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation from 2004 to 2008. Commissioner of Finance, State of Minnesota, from 1999 to 2002. Currently Board Chair of the Minnesota Wild Foundation since 2010.   N/A

 

*

Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

 

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Other information (unaudited)

 

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer
Andrew Owen
(Born 1960)
  President,
since 2017
  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo & Company and Head of Affiliated Managers, Wells Fargo Asset Management, since 2014. In addition, Mr. Owen is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2017. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President responsible for marketing, investments and product development for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, from 2009 to 2014.
Jeremy DePalma1
(Born 1974)
  Treasurer,
since 2012
  Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.
Michelle Rhee4
(Born 1966)
 

Chief Legal Officer,

since 2019

  Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, Chief Legal Counsel of Wells Fargo Asset Management and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2018. Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Bank of America Corporation from 2004 to 2018.
Catherine Kennedy5
(Born 1969)
  Secretary,
since 2019
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Senior Counsel of the Wells Fargo Legal Department since 2010. Vice President and Senior Counsel of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 1998 to 2010.
Michael H. Whitaker
(Born 1967)
  Chief Compliance Officer,
since 2016
  Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Asset Management since 2016. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.
David Berardi
(Born 1975)
  Assistant Treasurer,
since 2009
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.

 

 

1 

Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 86 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 64 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2 

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wfam.com.

 

3 

Pamela Wheelock was re-appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2020.

 

4 

Michelle Rhee became Chief Legal Officer effective October 22, 2019.

 

5 

Catherine Kennedy became Secretary effective October 22, 2019.

 

 

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LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, visit the Funds’ website, or call:

Wells Fargo Funds

P.O. Box 219967

Kansas City, MO 64121-9967

Website: wfam.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

LOGO

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Funds’ website at wfam.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).

This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE


 

© 2020 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved.

408967 01-19

SWBP/SAR102 11-19

 

 



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ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS

Not applicable.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS

A Portfolio of Investments for each series of Wells Fargo Funds Trust is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMEENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees that have been implemented since the registrant’s last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of this Item.


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ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) The President and Treasurer have concluded that the Wells Fargo Funds Trust disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) provide reasonable assurances that material information relating to the registrant is made known to them by the appropriate persons, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report.

(b) There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the most recent fiscal half-year of the period covered by this report that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12. DISCLOSURES OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 13. EXHIBITS

(a)(1) Not applicable.

(a)(2) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

(b) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT.


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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.

 

Wells Fargo Funds Trust

By:  
  /s/ Andrew Owen
  Andrew Owen
  President
Date:   January 27, 2020

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 date indicated.

 

Wells Fargo Funds Trust

By:  
  /s/ Andrew Owen
  Andrew Owen
  President
Date:   January 27, 2020
By:  
  /s/ Nancy Wiser
  Nancy Wiser
  Treasurer
Date:   January 27, 2020
By:  
  /s/ Jeremy DePalma
  Jeremy DePalma
  Treasurer
Date:   January 27, 2020