N-CSR 1 fp0083792-2_ncsr.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number 811-09911  

 

Hussman Investment Trust

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

6021 University Boulevard, Suite 490 Ellicott City, Maryland

21043
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

David K. James

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450 Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (513) 587-3400  

 

Date of fiscal year end: June 30  
     
Date of reporting period: June 30, 2023  

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HUSSMAN INVESTMENT TRUST

 

HUSSMAN STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND

 

HUSSMAN STRATEGIC ALLOCATION FUND

 

HUSSMAN STRATEGIC TOTAL RETURN FUND

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

June 30, 2023

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

   

Performance Information

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

1

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

2

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

3

Letter to Shareholders

4

Portfolio Information

16

Schedules of Investments

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

18

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

30

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

43

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

47

Statements of Operations

48

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

50

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

51

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

52

Financial Highlights

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

53

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

54

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

55

Notes to Financial Statements

56

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

76

About Your Funds’ Expenses

78

Board of Trustees and Officers

80

Other Information

82

Federal Tax Information

82

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

83

Discussion of Liquidity Risk Management Program

90

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in
Hussman Strategic Growth Fund versus the S&P 500
® Index(a) (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Returns

For the Periods Ended June 30, 2023

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception(b)

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund(c)(d)

- 8.54%

1.91%

0.66%

- 4.11%

0.64%

 

S&P 500® Index

19.59%

14.60%

12.31%

12.86%

7.00%

 

 

(a)

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund invests primarily in stocks listed on the New York, American, and NASDAQ exchanges and varies its investment exposure to market fluctuations depending on market conditions. The S&P 500® Index is an index of large capitalization stocks. However, the Fund may invest in securities that are not included in the S&P 500® Index and there are no restrictions as to the market capitalization of companies in which the Fund invests. “HSGFX equity investments and cash equivalents only (unhedged)” reflects the performance of the Fund’s stock investments and modest day-to-day cash balances, after fees and expenses, and does not reflect the impact of hedging transactions on the Fund’s overall investment performance. The Fund’s unhedged equity investments do not represent a separately available portfolio, and their performance is presented solely for purposes of comparison and performance attribution. Performance data presented using log scale. Each segment on the vertical axis represents an equivalent percentage change.

(b)

The Fund commenced operations on July 24, 2000.

(c)

Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(d)

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fees and/or absorb Fund expenses until at least November 1, 2023 to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s annual ordinary operating expenses to an amount not exceeding 1.15% annually of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

 

1

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund versus the Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index*(a) (Unaudited) and Benchmark Fixed Allocation Composite(a) (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Returns

For the Periods Ended June 30, 2023

 

1 Year

3 Years

Since
Inception(b)

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund(c)(d)

2.06%

5.75%

5.33%

Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index

11.24%

6.80%

7.79%

Benchmark Fixed Allocation Composite

11.54%

7.54%

8.42%

 

*

Effective February 28, 2023, the Fund changed its primary benchmark to the Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index, a broad-based securities market index. The Fund will also continue to compare its performance to Benchmark Fixed Allocation Composite as a secondary benchmark.

(a)

The Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index is designed to measure cross-asset market performance in the U.S. The index rebalances monthly to 60% equities and 40% fixed income. The equity and fixed income allocation is represented by Bloomberg U.S. Large Cap Index and U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Benchmark Fixed Allocation Composite represents the gross investment performance of a portfolio that is invested in securities included in three separate indices, weighted as follows: 60% S&P 500® Index, 30% Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Unhedged Index and 10% Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Bills Index. The S&P 500 Index is an index of the 500 largest U.S. large capitalization stocks. The Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Unhedged Index measures U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, nominal debt issued by the U.S. Treasury. The Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Bills Index tracks the market for treasury bills with 1 to 2.9999 months to maturity issued by the U.S. government.

(b)

The Fund commenced operations on August 27, 2019.

(c)

Returns do no reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemptions of Fund shares.

(d)

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fees and/or absorb Fund expenses until at least November 1, 2023 to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s annual ordinary operating expenses to an amount not exceeding 1.25% annually of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Absent this arrangement, the expense ratio of the Fund (annualized) for the year ended June 30, 2023 would have been 2.16%.

 

2

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund
versus the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
(a) (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Returns

For the Periods Ended June 30, 2023

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception(b)

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund(c)(d)

- 0.03%

- 0.53%

4.24%

3.15%

4.30%

 

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

- 0.94%

- 3.96%

0.77%

1.52%

3.21%

 

 

(a)

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index covers the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market, with index components for U.S. government, agency and corporate securities. The Fund does not invest solely in securities included in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and may invest in other types of bonds, as well as common stocks, exchange-traded funds and other securities.

(b)

The Fund commenced operations on September 12, 2002.

(c)

Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(d)

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fees and/or absorb Fund expenses until at least November 1, 2023 to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s annual ordinary operating expenses to an amount not exceeding 0.75% annually of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Absent this arrangement, the expense ratio of the Fund for the year ended June 30, 2023 would have been 0.78%.

 

 

3

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders

August 11, 2023

 

Dear Shareholder,

 

“From the perspective of our own investment discipline, the correct lesson of the recent yield-seeking bubble is that, in the face of unprecedented monetary policies, one must be content to gauge the presence or absence of speculative pressures based on valuations and market internals, without assuming that either speculation or risk aversion have any well-defined limit. In contrast, it is dangerous and incorrect to imagine that the lesson of this bubble is to ignore valuations and market internals, and to dismiss overextended conditions even when both valuations and internals are unfavorable, as they are today.”

 

 

John P. Hussman, Ph.D., Hussman Funds 2022 Annual Report

 

On January 3, 2022, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index reached the most extreme level of stock market valuations in history, based on the measures that we find best correlated with actual subsequent S&P 500 total returns. Following an initial loss of -24.49% through October 12, 2022, the S&P 500 narrowed that loss to -4.88% as of June 30, 2023.

 

In my view, the market advance of recent months reflects an effort by investors to grasp at the suds of yesterday’s bubble. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, our most reliable valuation measures averaged 2.6 times the norms that we associate with historically run-of-the-mill 10% long-term returns, ending the period at 2.9 times those norms. For any given set of future cash flows, higher current valuations imply lower future long-term expected returns. Based on present valuation extremes, we expect nominal S&P 500 total returns to average -3.1% annually over the coming 12-year period.

 

Investors often make the mistake of dismissing rich valuations if they do not result in immediate losses. That is not how valuations work. Valuations are informative about long-term returns and the extent of potential losses over the complete market cycle. However, valuations have very little to say about market direction over shorter segments of the market cycle. If rich valuations were sufficient to drive stock prices lower, it would be impossible for stocks to reach valuation extremes like those observed in 1929, 2000, early 2022, and today. The only way valuations got here – the only way valuations could have got here – was for stock prices to continue to advance through every lesser extreme.

 

The main factor that determines whether an overvalued market continues to advance, or instead drops like a rock, is whether investor psychology is inclined toward speculation or risk-aversion. When investors are inclined to speculate, they tend to be indiscriminate about it. Conversely, when investors become risk-averse,

 

4

 

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

they tend to become skittish and selective. For that reason, our most reliable gauge of speculation versus risk-aversion is the uniformity or divergence of market internals – across thousands of individual stocks, industries, sectors, and security types, including debt securities of varying creditworthiness.

 

As I wrote at the 2000 bubble peak, “When the market loses that uniformity, valuations often matter suddenly and with a vengeance. This is a lesson best learned before a crash rather than after one.”

 

The most negative market outcomes tend to emerge when rich valuations are coupled with unfavorable market internals, creating something of a “trap door” for the market, as we observed in 2000-2002 and 2007-2009. In contrast, the strongest market return/risk profiles tend to emerge when a material retreat in valuations is joined by an improvement in the uniformity of market internals.

 

All of the Hussman Funds – Strategic Growth, Strategic Allocation, and Strategic Total Return – outperformed their respective benchmarks, with smaller interim losses, from the January 3, 2022 market peak through June 30, 2023. As stocks have uneasily retreated from the most extreme valuations in U.S. history, market conditions have been persistently characterized by unfavorable market internals on our measures. Our investment outlook has also remained generally defensive during the market rebound of recent months, comprising much of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.

 

Such a “miss” might seem unfortunate until one considers that the entire total return of the S&P 500 since 2000 is contained within periods when our measures of market internals have been favorable, while the most severe losses have emerged when they were not. Once investor psychology becomes risk-averse, as reflected in divergent market internals, extreme valuations often collapse without additional warning. This is a risk that we have seen realized in prior market cycles, and that we take seriously.

 

Our defensive investment stance amid unfavorable internals, extreme valuations, and more recently, strenuously overextended market action, is very much intentional. In my view, it would be misguided to attempt to “catch” a market advance amid conditions that have, on average, been consistent with steep market losses. Historically-informed discipline welcomes research and well-tested adaptations, but it does not welcome abandoning discipline itself.

 

“I recall to those of you who are bridge players the emphasis that bridge experts place on playing a hand right rather than on playing it successfully. Because, as you know, if you play it right you are going to make money and if you play it wrong you lose money - in the long run. There is a beautiful little story about the man who was the weaker bridge player of the husband-and-wife team. It seems he bid a grand slam,

 

 

5

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

and at the end he said very triumphantly to his wife ‘I saw you making faces at me all the time, but you notice I not only bid this grand slam but I made it. What can you say about that?’ And his wife replied very dourly, ‘If you had played it right you would have lost it.’ (Laughter)”

 

 

Benjamin Graham, Current Problems in Security Analysis, Lecture,
New York Institute of Finance, 1947

 

Fund Performance

 

Strategic Growth Fund

 

In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, Strategic Growth Fund lost -8.54%. During the same period, the S&P 500 Index gained 19.59%. Notably, this period reflects conditions during which our most reliable valuation measures ranged between 2.4 and 2.9 times their historical norms. The Fund presently maintains a strongly defensive position reflective of extreme valuations and divergence in our measures of market internals. While an improvement in our measures of internals would encourage a more neutral investment outlook, we presently observe a combination of extremes that has often been resolved by sharp market declines – whether accompanied by recessions, as in 2000-2002 and 2007-2009, or independent of them, as in 1987 and 1998.

 

Amid a combination of extreme valuations and divergent market internals during the 2023 fiscal year, Strategic Growth Fund maintained a generally defensive market stance. The hedging strategy of the Fund contributed to a reduction in overall risk, as the deepest interim loss experienced by the Fund during this period was -11.54%, compared with an interim loss of -16.68% for the S&P 500 Index.

 

The stock selection approach of Strategic Growth Fund has outperformed the S&P 500 Index by an average of 3.13% (313 basis points) annually since the inception of the Fund on July 24, 2000. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, much of the rebound in the S&P 500 was dominated by a handful of large-capitalization “glamour stocks,” particularly those with business activities involving artificial intelligence. The performance of the Fund’s broadly diversified stock selections, excluding the impact of hedging, gained 14.97% versus a gain of 19.59% in the S&P 500 Index. Because the S&P 500 is the primary index that the Fund uses to hedge against market fluctuations, the loss in the Fund during the 2023 fiscal year was partly attributable to this difference in performance. As at other market extremes such as 2000, our stock selection discipline presently avoids large holdings in high-weight components of the S&P 500 that we consider to be overvalued and speculative.

 

6

 

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

From the inception of Strategic Growth Fund on July 24, 2000 through June 30, 2023, the Fund had an average annual total return of 0.64%, compared with an average annual total return of 7.00% for the S&P 500 Index. Given that Strategic Growth Fund outperformed the S&P 500 Index, with smaller periodic losses, from its July 24, 2000 inception through May 20, 2014, the current performance gap is distinctly the result of challenges that we encountered during the speculative bubble of recent years. In recent years, we have adapted our investment discipline in a way that leaves us content to gauge the presence or absence of speculative pressures, without assuming that they have a well-defined limit. We believe that these adaptations have addressed the primary reason behind this period of underperformance.

 

An initial $10,000 investment in the Fund at its inception on July 24, 2000 would have grown to $11,587, compared with $47,152 for the same investment in the S&P 500 Index. The deepest peak-to-trough loss experienced by the Fund since its inception was -60.36%. The deepest loss experienced by the S&P 500 Index since the inception of the Fund was -55.25%.

 

It is notable that from the inception of the Fund on July 24, 2000 through the market low on March 9, 2009, Strategic Growth Fund gained 105.57% (an 8.71% average annual total return) compared with a -45.99% loss in the S&P 500 (a -6.89% average annual loss). The deepest loss experienced by the Fund during this period was -21.45%, compared with a -55.25% loss in the S&P 500. Indeed, the returns of Strategic Growth Fund remained ahead of the returns of the S&P 500 from the Fund’s inception on July 24, 2000 through May 20, 2014. While there is no assurance that the future performance of the Fund, relative to the S&P 500, will be similar to that of the 2000-2009 period, we do believe that we have restored the flexibility of our investment discipline that contributed to the Fund’s previous record of sound total returns and contained losses.

 

Strategic Allocation Fund

 

In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, Strategic Allocation Fund had a total return of 2.06%, compared with a total return of 11.24% in the benchmark Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index. The Fund always holds unhedged positions of at least 5% in both equity and bond market investments. The Fund presently holds an unhedged equity position representing approximately 6% of net assets, hedged equities representing an additional 60% of assets, Treasury bonds and notes representing approximately 13% of assets, and the remaining assets in short-term Treasury obligations and money market investments.

 

 

7

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

From the inception of the Strategic Allocation Fund on August 27, 2019 through June 30, 2023, the Fund had an average annual total return of 5.33%, compared with an average annual total return of 7.79% for the benchmark Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index. An initial $10,000 investment in the Fund at its inception on August 27, 2019 would have grown to $12,210, compared with $13,340 for the same investment in the benchmark Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index. The deepest loss experienced by the Fund since inception was -5.55%. The deepest loss experienced by the benchmark Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index since the inception of the Fund was -21.68%.

 

Strategic Total Return Fund

 

In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, Strategic Total Return Fund had a total return of -0.03%. During the same period, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index had a total return of -0.94%. Strategic Total Return Fund held a defensive outlook toward long-term bonds during this period, with a typical duration close to 2 years (meaning that a 100 basis point move in interest rates would be expected to affect Fund value by about 2% on the basis of bond price fluctuations). The Fund currently holds 78% of net assets in Treasury securities, with 18% of assets in shares of companies in the precious metals, energy, and utilities sectors. The remaining net assets are invested in exchange-traded funds and money market investments. The Fund benefited from holdings in shares of companies engaged in the mining of precious metals, as well as utilities, largely by varying the size of its investment positions in response to periods of strength and weakness in these sectors. The deepest interim loss experienced by the Fund during this period was -7.06%, compared with an interim loss of -9.88% for the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.

 

From the inception of Strategic Total Return Fund on September 12, 2002 through June 30, 2023, the Fund had an average annual total return of 4.30%, compared with an average annual total return of 3.21% for the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. An initial $10,000 investment in the Fund on September 12, 2002 would have grown to $24,010, compared with $19,277 for the same investment in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The deepest loss experienced by the Fund since inception was -13.53%, compared with a maximum loss of -18.41% for the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index during the same period.

 

 

8

 

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

Portfolio Composition

 

As of June 30, 2023, Strategic Growth Fund had net assets of $466,227,918, and held 259 stocks in a wide variety of industries. The largest sector holdings as a percentage of net assets were technology (22.8%), consumer discretionary (18.3%), health care (15.8%), industrials (9.6%), consumer staples (8.6%), materials (8.6%) and energy (7.7%). The smallest sector holdings were in communications (6.0%), financials (4.8%) and utilities (0.6%).

 

Strategic Growth Fund’s holdings of individual stocks as of June 30, 2023 were valued at $479,072,313. Against these stock positions, the Fund also held 625 option combinations (long put option/short call option) on the S&P 500 Index and 1,000 option combinations on the Russell 2000 Index. Each option combination behaves as a short sale on the underlying index, with a notional value of $100 times the index value. On June 30, 2023, the S&P 500 Index closed at 4,450.38, while the Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,888.734. The Fund’s total hedge therefore represented a short position of $467,022,150, thereby hedging 97.5% of the dollar value of the Fund’s long investment positions in individual issues.

 

Although the performance of Strategic Growth Fund’s diversified portfolio cannot be attributed to any narrow group of stocks, the following equity holdings achieved gains in excess of $2 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023: Super Micro Computer, Netflix, Axcelis Technologies, Atkore, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sprouts Farmers Market, Amkor Technology, Amazon.com and Arista Networks. The only equity holding with a loss in excess of $2 million during this same period was United Natural Foods.

 

As of June 30, 2023, Strategic Allocation Fund had net assets of $27,738,812 and held 257 stocks in a wide variety of industries. The largest sector holdings as a percent of net assets were technology (14.2%), consumer discretionary (12.3%), health care (10.3%), industrials (6.1%), materials (5.4%), consumer staples (5.3%) and energy (5.1%). The smallest sector weights were communications (3.8%), financials (3.0%) and utilities (0.4%). Treasury securities with more than one year until maturity represented 10.6% of net assets. The remaining Fund assets were invested in shorter-term Treasury securities and money market funds.

 

Strategic Allocation Fund’s holdings of individual stocks as of June 30, 2023 were valued at $18,287,152. Against these positions, the Fund also held 22 option combinations (long put option/short call option) on the S&P 500 Index and 36 option combinations on the Russell 2000 Index. The notional value of this hedge was $16,590,278, hedging 90.7% of the value of equity investments held by the Fund.

 

 

9

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

In Strategic Allocation Fund, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the Fund recognized individual equity portfolio gains in excess of $100,000 in Super Micro Computer, Netflix and Axcelis Technologies. The Fund did not have any portfolio losses in equity holdings in excess of $100,000 during this same period.

 

As of June 30, 2023, Strategic Total Return Fund had net assets of $215,255,091. Treasury notes, Treasury bills, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), and investments in money market funds represented 78.4% of the Fund’s net assets. Shares of exchange-traded funds accounted for 3.1% of net assets. Precious metals shares accounted for 12.4% of net assets, and shares in utilities and energy-related companies collectively accounted for 6.0% of net assets.

 

In Strategic Total Return Fund, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the only portfolio gain in excess of $1 million was achieved in AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. - ADR. Two holdings had portfolio losses in excess of $1 million during this same period: U.S. Treasury Inflation Note (2.50%, due 1/15/2029) and Newmont.

 

Supplementary information, market commentary, and performance information including quarterly returns of the Funds is available on the Hussman Funds website: www.hussmanfunds.com.

 

Current Outlook

 

“Investors are familiar with the idea of a ‘tradeoff’ between return and risk, which is typically stated as a proposition that investors must accept higher risk if they seek higher expected returns. What investors are typically not taught is that this proposition applies only to ‘efficient’ risks. For example, if a portfolio is poorly diversified, one can typically find another portfolio that can target a higher level of expected return for the same amount of risk, or a lower level of risk for the same expected return. Likewise, in a wildly overvalued market, investors should expect not only poor returns but also higher prospective risk. Put simply, investors are not somehow rewarded for accepting higher levels of what Ben Graham described as ‘unintelligent’ risk.”

 

    John P. Hussman, Ph.D., Return-Free Risk, January 14, 2022

 

Our most reliable measures of equity market valuation are currently more extreme than at any point in history prior to December 2020, with the exception of a few weeks surrounding the 1929 market peak. The following chart shows the ratio of nonfinancial market capitalization to nonfinancial gross value added, including estimated foreign revenues (MarketCap/GVA). In market cycles across history, we find this measure to be strongly correlated with actual subsequent 10-12 year S&P 500 total returns.

 

10

 

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

This is what Wall Street is calling a “new bull market.”

 

Rich valuations do not necessarily imply market losses if investors remain inclined to speculate. Instead, rich valuations tend to unwind as risk-aversion emerges among investors. Despite recent speculation in large-capitalization technology companies with business activities involving artificial intelligence, our broader measures of market internals still lack the uniformity that served to underpin most of the advance since 2009.

 

The present combination of extreme valuations and unfavorable market internals creates what we view as a “trap door” situation for the equity market. While nothing in our discipline requires reliable valuation measures to fall to their historical norms, the distance to those norms, presently about -64%, has generally been a strikingly useful estimate of likely market losses over the completion of any given market cycle. That valuation gap was the basis of our seemingly preposterous estimates of market risk prior to the 2000-2002 and 2007-2009 collapses.

 

Our outlook will change as measurable, observable market conditions change. While fresh improvement in market internals would not change our expectation of negative market returns in the coming 10-12 years, nor remove the risk of steep losses over the completion of the market cycle, it would reduce the immediacy of those risks. For now, we are inclined to view the notion of a new and durable “bull market” with skepticism.

 

 

11

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

Treasury bond yields have increased substantially from their lows in 2020, yet they remain inadequate from a historical perspective. Notably, the entire total return of long-term Treasury bonds, over and above Treasury bill returns, has accrued when bond yields have been greater than the weighted average – weights in parentheses – of Treasury bill yields (0.50), core CPI inflation (0.25), and year-over-year nominal GDP growth (0.25). This regularity has remained true in recent decades.

 

The most notable period when bonds outperformed Treasury bills despite an “inadequate” starting yield was at the height of the Federal Reserve’s zero-interest rate policies between 2019 and 2021. Even this return has been surrendered amid the recent increase in interest rates. A recession coupled with a flight-to-safety event such as a credit crisis could certainly produce adequate returns for Treasury bonds even from low starting yields. Even so, the yield investors see is ultimately the yield they get if they buy a bond and hold it to maturity. While a retreat in core inflation, nominal growth, and short-term interest rates could help to ease the recent upward pressure on Treasury bond yields, investors already rely on those improvements simply to justify existing yields.

 

With respect to gold and precious metals stocks, the strongest return/risk profile for the Philadelphia Gold & Silver Index (XAU) has historically occurred when Treasury bond yields are falling, and the ISM Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is below the level of 50 that distinguishes economic expansion from contraction. Gold stocks can certainly gain during other conditions, but the advances tend to be more selective, and one may be swimming upstream to some extent. In recent months, Treasury bond yields have advanced above 4%, while the PMI has declined below 50. Coupled with a broad range of additional considerations, we remain moderately constructive in this sector. Again, however, we will be most comfortable with an aggressive outlook on precious metals shares at the point that bond yields are declining, particularly in combination with a weak PMI.

 

Adapting to experimental monetary policy

 

In previous market cycles across history, there were “limits” to speculation that could be identified based on various syndromes of “overvalued, overbought, overbullish” conditions. There is a single reason for the “permabear” reputation I acquired in the recent bubble: zero interest rates on safe assets were nearly intolerable for investors to accept, and this discomfort encouraged speculation in stocks beyond previously reliable “limits” – during periods of favorable market internals. The proper response was to abandon our bearish response to these “limits” – during periods of favorable market internals. We made that adaptation to our investment discipline in late-2017.

 

12

 

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

Still, avoiding a bearish outlook when market internals are favorable is not the same as adopting a constructive outlook during those periods. In late-2021 we extended our ability to respond constructively to favorable internals even when valuations are extreme. That was a difficult decision for value-conscious investors like us, but the adaptation includes sufficient position limits and safety nets to align with what Benjamin Graham might describe as “intelligent speculation.” In most periods when market internals are favorable, we expect our outlook to be constructive as well, with a neutral outlook in only a minority of those periods.

 

These adaptations have several consequences:

 

 

They preserve the elements that enabled our discipline to admirably navigate decades of complete market cycles prior to the Fed’s foray into quantitative easing and zero-interest rate policies;

 

 

They lean our discipline toward a constructive outlook during periods of favorable internals, regardless of valuations – though with position limits and safety nets – which will be important should the Federal Reserve resume zero-interest rate policies in the future;

 

 

They restore our strategic flexibility – even in the unlikely scenario that valuations remain permanently elevated and never approach their historical norms again;

 

 

They preserve our ability to defend against collapses in conditions that have historically presented that risk. Once the combination of rich valuations and unfavorable internals opens up a “trap door,” every element of our discipline – including overextended conditions – can suddenly have powerful implications.

 

No forecasts or limits are required

 

By intention, none of the foregoing discussion has focused on recession probabilities, employment, inflation, banking strains, or earnings expectations. The reason is that the consequences of steep overvaluation, unfavorable market internals, and extreme overextension seem to be largely indifferent to these considerations. There is often no identifiable “catalyst” associated with various market peaks, air pockets, and free-falls. Catalysts tend to emerge later, if at all. To some extent, the initial losses are more behavioral than economic – extreme overextension simply tends to become exhausted, followed by concerted attempts by speculators to exit at still-elevated levels.

 

 

13

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

It is important to reiterate that nothing in our discipline relies on valuations to retreat anywhere near their historical norms. I clearly expect that they will, but we emphatically do not rely on that. Our practice is to align our investment outlook with measurable, observable market conditions, particularly valuations and market internals. With one important exception (we no longer believe there are “limits” to speculation) that is the same discipline that allowed us to navigate decades of previous market cycles, including the technology and mortgage bubbles and their subsequent collapses.

 

We continue to believe that the greatest investment risks emerge when rich valuations are joined by divergent market internals, which we presently observe, and that the strongest expected return/risk profiles emerge when material declines in valuations are joined by improvement in the uniformity of market internals. We expect to see this full range of investment opportunities over time, and we are content to respond to observable market conditions as they change – just without the assumption that speculation still obeys well-defined limits. A century of market history, as well as our experience in decades of complete market cycles prior to the recent bubble, encourages us that this discipline is enough. No forecasts or limits are required.

 

I remain grateful, as always, for your trust.

 

Sincerely,

 

John P. Hussman, Ph.D.

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares of the Funds, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted.

 

Periodic updates regarding market conditions and investment strategy, as well as special reports, analysis, and performance data current to the most recent month end, are available at the Hussman Funds website: www.hussmanfunds.com.

 

An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Funds carefully before investing. The Funds’ prospectuses contain this and other important information. To obtain a copy of the Hussman Funds’ prospectuses, please visit our website at www.hussmanfunds.com or call 1-800-487-7626 and a copy will be sent to you free of charge. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest. The Hussman Funds are distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC.

 

Estimates of prospective return and risk for equities, bonds, and other financial markets are forward-looking statements based on the analysis and reasonable beliefs of Hussman Strategic Advisors. They are not a guarantee of future performance, and

 

14

 

 

 


The Hussman Funds

Letter to Shareholders (continued)

 

are not indicative of the prospective returns of any of the Hussman Funds. Actual returns may differ substantially from the estimates provided. Estimates of prospective long-term returns for the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index reflect valuation methods focusing on the relationship between current market prices and earnings, dividends and other fundamentals, adjusted for variability over the economic cycle.

 

This Letter to Shareholders seeks to describe some of the adviser’s current opinions and views of the financial markets. Although the adviser believes it has a reasonable basis for any opinions or views expressed, actual results may differ, sometimes significantly, from those expected or expressed. The securities held by the Funds that are discussed in this Letter to Shareholders were held during the period covered by this Report. They do not comprise the entire investment portfolios of the Funds, may be sold at any time and may no longer be held by the Funds. The opinions of the Funds’ adviser with respect to those securities may change at any time.

 

 

 

15

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Portfolio Information

June 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

Sector Allocation (% of Common Stocks)

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Portfolio Information

June 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

 

Asset Allocation (% of Net Assets)

 

 

16

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Portfolio Information (continued)

June 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

Sector Allocation (% of Common Stocks)

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund
Portfolio Information

June 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

 

Asset Allocation (% of Net Assets)

 

 

 

17

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8%

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Communications — 6.0%

               

Advertising & Marketing — 0.2%

               

Omnicom Group, Inc. (a)

    9,000     $ 856,350  
                 

Cable & Satellite — 0.5%

               

Comcast Corporation - Class A (a)

    25,000       1,038,750  

Sirius XM Holdings, Inc. (a)

    300,000       1,359,000  
              2,397,750  

Entertainment Content — 0.9%

               

AMC Networks, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    80,000       956,000  

Paramount Global - Class B (a)

    120,000       1,909,200  

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (a)(b)

    90,000       1,128,600  
              3,993,800  

Internet Media & Services — 2.5%

               

Alphabet, Inc. - Class C (a)(b)

    45,000       5,443,650  

Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    5,000       1,434,900  

Netflix, Inc. (a)(b)

    7,500       3,303,675  

Shutterstock, Inc. (a)

    30,000       1,460,100  
              11,642,325  

Publishing & Broadcasting — 0.7%

               

Gray Television, Inc. (a)

    180,000       1,418,400  

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (a)

    12,500       2,081,875  
              3,500,275  

Telecommunications — 1.2%

               

Verizon Communications, Inc. (a)

    150,000       5,578,500  
                 

Consumer Discretionary — 18.3%

               

Apparel & Textile Products — 0.8%

               

Carter’s, Inc. (a)

    30,000       2,178,000  

Crocs, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       337,320  

Tapestry, Inc. (a)

    30,000       1,284,000  
              3,799,320  

Automotive — 1.2%

               

BorgWarner, Inc. (a)

    60,000       2,934,600  

Ford Motor Company (a)

    50,000       756,500  

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (a)

    60,000       2,112,600  
              5,803,700  

 

18

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 18.3% (continued)

Consumer Services — 0.6%

               

Graham Holdings Company - Class B (a)

    2,500     $ 1,428,700  

Perdoceo Education Corporation (a)(b)

    90,000       1,104,300  

Stride, Inc. (a)(b)

    12,000       446,760  
              2,979,760  

E-Commerce Discretionary — 1.4%

               

Amazon.com, Inc. (a)(b)

    20,000       2,607,200  

Etsy, Inc. (a)(b)

    45,000       3,807,450  
              6,414,650  

Home & Office Products — 0.5%

               

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (a)

    60,000       2,404,200  
                 

Home Construction — 0.6%

               

Century Communities, Inc. (a)

    24,000       1,838,880  

Forestar Group, Inc. (a)(b)

    35,000       789,250  
              2,628,130  

Leisure Facilities & Services — 2.4%

               

Brinker International, Inc. (a)(b)

    75,000       2,745,000  

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (a)

    15,000       1,397,700  

Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (a)

    3,000       1,010,970  

Starbucks Corporation (a)

    30,000       2,971,800  

Sweetgreen, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    240,000       3,076,800  
              11,202,270  

Leisure Products — 1.8%

               

Brunswick Corporation (a)

    15,000       1,299,600  

LCI Industries (a)

    12,000       1,516,320  

Thor Industries, Inc. (a)

    21,000       2,173,500  

Winnebago Industries, Inc. (a)

    30,000       2,000,700  

YETI Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    30,000       1,165,200  
              8,155,320  

Retail - Discretionary — 8.4%

               

AutoNation, Inc. (a)(b)

    6,000       987,660  

Best Buy Company, Inc. (a)

    25,000       2,048,750  

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation (a)

    125,000       1,145,000  

Buckle, Inc. (The) (a)

    100,000       3,460,000  

Chico’s FAS, Inc. (a)(b)

    120,000       642,000  

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (a)

    35,000       4,626,650  

 

 

19

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 18.3% (continued)

Retail - Discretionary — 8.4% (continued)

               

Duluth Holdings, Inc. - Class B (a)(b)

    149,000     $ 935,720  

Genesco, Inc. (a)(b)

    45,000       1,126,800  

Hibbett, Inc. (a)

    60,000       2,177,400  

Home Depot, Inc. (The) (a)

    6,000       1,863,840  

Kohl’s Corporation (a)

    75,000       1,728,750  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (a)

    9,000       2,031,300  

Macy’s, Inc. (a)

    150,000       2,407,500  

MarineMax, Inc. (a)(b)

    50,000       1,708,000  

Nordstrom, Inc. (a)

    100,000       2,047,000  

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    180,000       2,223,000  

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (a)(b)

    6,000       2,823,570  

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (a)(b)

    60,000       1,987,800  

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (a)

    20,000       2,502,800  

Zumiez, Inc. (a)(b)

    50,000       833,000  
              39,306,540  

Wholesale - Discretionary — 0.6%

               

Educational Development Corporation (b)

    35,000       41,650  

LKQ Corporation (a)

    30,000       1,748,100  

ScanSource, Inc. (a)(b)

    30,000       886,800  
              2,676,550  

Consumer Staples — 8.6%

               

Beverages — 0.1%

               

PepsiCo, Inc. (a)

    3,000       555,660  
                 

Food — 2.8%

               

B&G Foods, Inc. (a)

    120,000       1,670,400  

Campbell Soup Company (a)

    60,000       2,742,600  

General Mills, Inc. (a)

    18,000       1,380,600  

Ingredion, Inc. (a)

    12,000       1,271,400  

Kellogg Company (a)

    75,000       5,055,000  

Kraft Heinz Company (The) (a)

    30,000       1,065,000  
              13,185,000  

Household Products — 0.8%

               

Colgate-Palmolive Company (a)

    24,000       1,848,960  

Energizer Holdings, Inc. (a)

    30,000       1,007,400  

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (a)

    6,000       828,360  
              3,684,720  

 

20

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Consumer Staples — 8.6% (continued)

Retail - Consumer Staples — 3.4%

               

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    30,000     $ 1,890,300  

Ingles Markets, Inc. - Class A (a)

    24,000       1,983,600  

Kroger Company (The) (a)

    45,000       2,115,000  

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (a)

    90,000       1,103,400  

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (a)(b)

    120,000       4,407,600  

Target Corporation (a)

    15,000       1,978,500  

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (a)

    75,000       2,136,750  
              15,615,150  

Wholesale - Consumer Staples — 1.5%

               

Andersons, Inc. (The) (a)

    45,000       2,076,750  

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (a)

    25,000       1,889,000  

United Natural Foods, Inc. (a)(b)

    150,000       2,932,500  
              6,898,250  

Energy — 7.7%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 4.8%

               

APA Corporation (a)

    75,000       2,562,750  

California Resources Corporation (a)

    75,000       3,396,750  

Callon Petroleum Company (a)(b)

    30,000       1,052,100  

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (a)

    18,000       830,520  

Chord Energy Corporation (a)

    6,000       922,800  

Civitas Resources, Inc. (a)

    24,000       1,664,880  

Coterra Energy, Inc. (a)

    75,000       1,897,500  

Exxon Mobil Corporation (a)

    30,000       3,217,500  

Ovintiv, Inc. (a)

    24,000       913,680  

Phillips 66 (a)

    18,000       1,716,840  

Range Resources Corporation (a)

    24,000       705,600  

SM Energy Company (a)

    48,000       1,518,240  

Vital Energy, Inc. (a)(b)

    45,000       2,031,750  
              22,430,910  

Oil & Gas Services & Equipment — 0.3%

               

Nabors Industries Ltd. (a)(b)

    15,000       1,395,450  
                 

Renewable Energy — 2.6%

               

Array Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    150,000       3,390,000  

Canadian Solar, Inc. (a)(b)

    150,000       5,803,500  

JinkoSolar Holding Company Ltd. - ADR (a)(b)

    9,000       399,420  

Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    90,000       2,300,400  
              11,893,320  

 

 

21

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Financials — 4.8%

Asset Management — 0.8%

Federated Hermes, Inc. (a)

    42,000     $ 1,505,700  

Invesco Ltd. (a)

    125,000       2,101,250  

Oscar Health Inc. (a)(b)

    30,000       241,800  
              3,848,750  

Banking — 1.1%

               

Associated Banc-Corp (a)

    30,000       486,900  

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (a)

    39,850       1,039,288  

Customers Bancorp, Inc. (a)(b)

    75,000       2,269,500  

New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (a)

    100,000       1,124,000  
              4,919,688  

Institutional Financial Services — 1.3%

               

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (a)

    15,000       2,070,150  

Evercore, Inc. - Class A (a)

    25,000       3,089,750  

StoneX Group, Inc. (a)(b)

    10,000       830,800  
              5,990,700  

Insurance — 1.6%

               

Aflac, Inc. (a)

    15,000       1,047,000  

Allstate Corporation (The) (a)

    15,000       1,635,600  

Old Republic International Corporation (a)

    75,000       1,887,750  

Unum Group (a)

    60,000       2,862,000  
              7,432,350  

Health Care — 15.8%

               

Biotech & Pharma — 11.0%

               

AbbVie, Inc. (a)

    15,000       2,020,950  

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    60,000       1,437,000  

Alkermes plc (a)(b)

    12,000       375,600  

Amgen, Inc. (a)

    15,000       3,330,300  

Biogen, Inc. (a)(b)

    6,000       1,709,100  

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    90,000       1,209,600  

Corcept Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

    90,000       2,002,500  

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (a)(b)

    9,000       505,260  

Dynavax Technologies Corporation (a)(b)

    120,000       1,550,400  

Exelixis, Inc. (a)(b)

    125,000       2,388,750  

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)

    36,000       2,774,520  

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

    45,000       1,623,150  

Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    30,000       1,055,700  

Incyte Corporation (a)(b)

    37,500       2,334,375  

 

22

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Health Care — 15.8% (continued)

Biotech & Pharma — 11.0% (continued)

Innoviva, Inc. (a)(b)

    200,000     $ 2,546,000  

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    120,000       1,276,800  

Merck & Company, Inc. (a)

    6,000       692,340  

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (a)(b)

    35,000       3,300,500  

Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (a)(b)

    25,000       1,001,750  

Pfizer, Inc. (a)

    100,000       3,668,000  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    7,500       5,389,050  

Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

    12,000       564,240  

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    90,000       2,705,400  

United Therapeutics Corporation (a)(b)

    9,000       1,986,750  

Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    150,000       988,500  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    7,500       2,639,325  
              51,075,860  

Health Care Facilities & Services — 3.2%

               

Cigna Group (The) (a)

    15,000       4,209,000  

CVS Health Corporation (a)

    35,000       2,419,550  

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (a)

    3,000       910,440  

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (a)

    5,000       1,206,650  

Patterson Companies, Inc. (a)

    45,000       1,496,700  

Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (a)

    12,000       1,686,720  

Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B (a)

    20,000       3,155,400  
              15,084,460  

Medical Equipment & Devices — 1.6%

               

Illumina, Inc. (a)(b)

    12,000       2,249,880  

Inogen, Inc. (a)(b)

    15,000       173,250  

QuidelOrtho Corporation (a)(b)

    6,000       497,160  

Shockwave Medical, Inc. (a)(b)

    9,000       2,568,690  

Waters Corporation (a)(b)

    5,000       1,332,700  

Zynex Inc. (a)(b)

    90,000       863,100  
              7,684,780  

Industrials — 9.6%

               

Commercial Support Services — 1.0%

               

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (a)(b)

    6,000       654,720  

ASGN, Inc. (a)(b)

    15,000       1,134,450  

H&R Block, Inc. (a)

    62,500       1,991,875  

Robert Half International, Inc. (a)

    15,000       1,128,300  
              4,909,345  

 

 

23

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Industrials — 9.6% (continued)

Diversified Industrials — 0.6%

3M Company (a)

    30,000     $ 3,002,700  
                 

Electrical Equipment — 2.9%

               

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (a)

    25,000       2,786,250  

Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    15,000       775,200  

Allegion plc (a)

    22,500       2,700,450  

Atkore, Inc. (a)(b)

    20,000       3,118,800  

BWX Technologies, Inc. (a)

    12,000       858,840  

Carrier Global Corporation (a)

    12,000       596,520  

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    9,000       1,507,050  

Sensata Technologies Holding plc (a)

    24,000       1,079,760  

WidePoint Corporation (b)

    92,000       171,120  
              13,593,990  

Industrial Support Services — 0.7%

               

MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. - Class A (a)

    15,000       1,429,200  

WESCO International, Inc. (a)

    9,000       1,611,540  
              3,040,740  

Machinery — 0.7%

               

Symbotic, Inc (a)(b)

    75,000       3,210,750  

Xylem, Inc. (a)

    1,440       162,173  
              3,372,923  

Transportation & Logistics — 3.3%

               

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (a)

    25,000       2,358,750  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (a)

    18,000       2,180,340  

FedEx Corporation (a)

    7,500       1,859,250  

Heartland Express, Inc. (a)

    60,000       984,600  

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. (a)

    50,000       2,778,000  

Landstar System, Inc. (a)

    9,000       1,732,860  

Matson, Inc. (a)

    15,000       1,165,950  

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B (a)

    12,500       2,240,625  
              15,300,375  

Transportation Equipment — 0.4%

               

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (a)

    30,000       1,693,800  

 

24

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Materials — 8.6%

Chemicals — 3.0%

AdvanSix, Inc. (a)

    62,500     $ 2,186,250  

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (a)

    37,500       2,603,250  

Ingevity Corporation (a)(b)

    37,500       2,181,000  

Intrepid Potash, Inc. (a)(b)

    24,000       544,560  

Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (a)

    60,000       523,800  

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. - Class A (a)

    15,000       1,377,450  

Mosaic Company (The) (a)

    75,000       2,625,000  

Westlake Corporation (a)

    15,000       1,792,050  
              13,833,360  

Containers & Packaging — 1.0%

               

Berry Global Group, Inc. (a)

    30,000       1,930,200  

Greif, Inc. - Class A (a)

    30,000       2,066,700  

International Paper Company (a)

    30,000       954,300  
              4,951,200  

Forestry, Paper & Wood Products — 0.3%

               

Boise Cascade Company (a)

    15,000       1,355,250  
                 

Metals & Mining — 3.3%

               

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (a)

    60,000       2,998,800  

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. - ADR (a)

    60,000       1,265,400  

Barrick Gold Corporation (a)

    180,000       3,047,400  

Encore Wire Corporation (a)

    9,000       1,673,370  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. (a)

    24,000       960,000  

Kinross Gold Corporation (a)

    90,000       429,300  

Newmont Corporation (a)

    72,000       3,071,520  

Royal Gold, Inc. (a)

    12,000       1,377,360  

Wheaton Precious Metals Corporation (a)

    18,000       777,960  
              15,601,110  

Steel — 1.0%

               

Nucor Corporation (a)

    15,000       2,459,700  

Worthington Industries, Inc. (a)

    30,000       2,084,100  
              4,543,800  

 

 

25

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Technology — 22.8%

Semiconductors — 7.3%

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. (a)(b)

    45,000     $ 2,031,300  

Amkor Technology, Inc. (a)

    180,000       5,355,000  

Applied Materials, Inc. (a)

    15,000       2,168,100  

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       549,990  

Broadcom, Inc. (a)

    1,200       1,040,916  

Cirrus Logic, Inc. (a)(b)

    30,000       2,430,300  

Diodes, Inc. (a)(b)

    15,000       1,387,350  

Intel Corporation (a)

    40,000       1,337,600  

IPG Photonics Corporation (a)(b)

    10,000       1,358,200  

KLA Corporation (a)

    3,000       1,455,060  

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc. (a)

    18,000       1,070,100  

Microchip Technology, Inc. (a)

    24,000       2,150,160  

Photronics, Inc. (a)(b)

    60,000       1,547,400  

QUALCOMM, Inc. (a)

    40,000       4,761,600  

Semtech Corporation (a)(b)

    60,000       1,527,600  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (a)

    18,000       1,992,420  

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (a)

    60,000       1,764,000  
              33,927,096  

Software — 4.9%

               

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    18,000       1,617,660  

C3.ai, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    54,000       1,967,220  

Calix, Inc. (a)(b)

    18,000       898,380  

Ebix, Inc. (a)

    85,000       2,142,000  

Immersion Corporation (a)(b)

    120,000       849,600  

Microsoft Corporation (a)

    900       306,486  

Nutanix, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    75,000       2,103,750  

Qualys, Inc. (a)(b)

    18,000       2,325,060  

Samsara, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    18,000       498,780  

Schrodinger, Inc. (a)(b)

    30,000       1,497,600  

VMware, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    35,000       5,029,150  

Yext, Inc. (a)(b)

    24,000       271,440  

Ziff Davis, Inc. (a)(b)

    30,000       2,101,800  

Zoom Video Communications, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    15,000       1,018,200  
              22,627,126  

 

26

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 102.8% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Technology — 22.8% (continued)

Technology Hardware — 7.2%

Apple, Inc. (a)

    1,500     $ 290,955  

Arista Networks, Inc. (a)(b)

    24,000       3,889,440  

Arrow Electronics, Inc. (a)(b)

    9,000       1,289,070  

Avnet, Inc. (a)

    45,000       2,270,250  

Cambium Networks Corporation (a)(b)

    30,000       456,600  

Ciena Corporation (a)(b)

    45,000       1,912,050  

Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)

    30,000       1,552,200  

Clearfield, Inc. (a)(b)

    75,000       3,551,250  

F5, Inc. (a)(b)

    12,000       1,755,120  

InterDigital, Inc. (a)

    15,000       1,448,250  

Jabil, Inc. (a)

    15,000       1,618,950  

Juniper Networks, Inc. (a)

    75,000       2,349,750  

Lumentum Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    7,500       425,475  

NetApp, Inc. (a)

    30,000       2,292,000  

Super Micro Computer, Inc. (a)(b)

    15,000       3,738,750  

Turtle Beach Corporation (a)(b)

    125,000       1,456,250  

Ubiquiti, Inc. (a)

    18,000       3,163,500  
              33,459,860  

Technology Services — 3.4%

               

Block, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    12,000       798,840  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A (a)

    70,000       4,569,600  

EPAM Systems, Inc. (a)(b)

    15,000       3,371,250  

FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (a)

    1,500       600,975  

FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       753,240  

Infosys Ltd. - ADR (a)

    150,000       2,410,500  

Maximus, Inc. (a)

    12,000       1,014,120  

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    37,500       2,502,375  
              16,020,900  

Utilities — 0.6%

               

Electric Utilities — 0.6%

               

NRG Energy, Inc. (a)

    75,000       2,804,250  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $490,459,400)

          $ 479,072,313  

 

 

27

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

WARRANTS — 0.0%(c)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Energy — 0.0% (c)

               

Oil & Gas Services & Equipment — 0.0% (c)

               

Nabors Industries Ltd., expires 06/11/2026 (Cost $0)

    8,000     $ 92,000  

 

EXCHANGE-TRADED PUT OPTION CONTRACTS — 1.2%

 

Contracts

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value

 

Russell 2000 Index Option, 08/18/2023 at $1,850

    1,000     $ 188,873,400     $ 2,825,000  

S&P 500® Index Option, 08/18/2023 at $4,400

    625       278,148,750       2,943,750  

Total Put Option Contracts (Cost $10,187,267)

          $ 467,022,150     $ 5,768,750  
                         

Total Investments at Value — 104.0% (Cost $500,646,667)

                  $ 484,933,063  

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 39.0%

 

 

   

 

 

Invesco Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 5.05% (d) (Cost $181,951,410)

    181,951,410     $ 181,951,410  
                 

Total Investments and Money Market Funds at Value — 143.0% (Cost $682,598,077)

          $ 666,884,473  
                 

Written Call Option Contracts — (42.5%)

            (198,321,500 )
                 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.5%)

            (2,335,055 )
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 466,227,918  

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

(a)

All or portion of the security is used as collateral to cover written call options. The total value of the securities held as collateral as of June 30, 2023 was $478,196,593.

(b)

Non-income producing security.

(c)

Percentage rounds to less than 0.1%.

(d)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2023.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

28

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Schedule of Open Written Option Contracts

June 30, 2023

 

EXCHANGE-TRADED WRITTEN CALL OPTION CONTRACTS

 

Contracts

   

Notional
Amount

   

Strike
Price

   

Expiration
Date

   

Value of
Options

 

Call Option Contracts

Russell 2000 Index Option

    1,000     $ 188,873,400     $ 1,200       09/15/2023     $ 69,509,000  

S&P 500® Index Option

    625       278,148,750       2,400       09/15/2023       128,812,500  

Total Written Call Option Contracts (Premiums received $169,434,513)

          $ 467,022,150                     $ 198,321,500  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

29

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9%

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Communications — 3.8%

               

Advertising & Marketing — 0.1%

               

Omnicom Group, Inc.

    300     $ 28,545  
                 

Cable & Satellite — 0.3%

               

Comcast Corporation - Class A (a)

    1,000       41,550  

Sirius XM Holdings, Inc. (a)

    10,000       45,300  
              86,850  

Entertainment Content — 0.5%

               

AMC Networks, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    3,200       38,240  

Paramount Global - Class B (a)

    4,000       63,640  

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       37,620  
              139,500  

Internet Media & Services — 1.6%

               

Alphabet, Inc. - Class C (a)(b)

    1,800       217,746  

Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    200       57,396  

Netflix, Inc. (a)(b)

    300       132,147  

Shutterstock, Inc. (a)

    1,000       48,670  
              455,959  

Publishing & Broadcasting — 0.5%

               

Gray Television, Inc. (a)

    6,000       47,280  

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (a)

    500       83,275  
              130,555  

Telecommunications — 0.8%

               

Verizon Communications, Inc. (a)

    6,000       223,140  
                 

Consumer Discretionary — 12.3%

               

Apparel & Textile Products — 0.5%

               

Carter’s, Inc. (a)

    1,000       72,600  

Crocs, Inc. (a)(b)

    200       22,488  

Tapestry, Inc. (a)

    1,000       42,800  
              137,888  

Automotive — 0.8%

               

BorgWarner, Inc. (a)

    2,700       132,057  

Ford Motor Company (a)

    2,000       30,260  

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (a)

    2,000       70,420  
              232,737  

Consumer Services — 0.4%

               

Graham Holdings Company - Class B (a)

    100       57,148  

 

30

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 12.3% (continued)

               

Consumer Services — 0.4% (continued)

               

Perdoceo Education Corporation (a)(b)

    3,000     $ 36,810  

Stride, Inc. (a)(b)

    400       14,892  
              108,850  

E-Commerce Discretionary — 0.9%

               

Amazon.com, Inc. (a)(b)

    800       104,288  

Etsy, Inc. (b)

    1,800       152,298  
              256,586  

Home & Office Products — 0.4%

               

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (a)

    2,400       96,168  
                 

Home Construction — 0.3%

               

Century Communities, Inc. (a)

    800       61,296  

Forestar Group, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,000       22,550  
              83,846  

Leisure Facilities & Services — 1.6%

               

Brinker International, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,400       124,440  

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (a)

    500       46,590  

Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (a)

    100       33,699  

Starbucks Corporation (a)

    1,300       128,778  

Sweetgreen, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    9,600       123,072  
              456,579  

Leisure Products — 1.4%

               

Brunswick Corporation (a)

    500       43,320  

LCI Industries (a)

    400       50,544  

Thor Industries, Inc. (a)

    1,000       103,500  

Winnebago Industries, Inc. (a)

    2,200       146,718  

YETI Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,200       46,608  
              390,690  

Retail - Discretionary — 5.7%

               

AutoNation, Inc. (a)(b)

    200       32,922  

Best Buy Company, Inc. (a)

    1,000       81,950  

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation (a)

    5,000       45,800  

Buckle, Inc. (The) (a)

    4,000       138,400  

Chico’s FAS, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       16,050  

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (a)

    1,600       211,504  

Duluth Holdings, Inc. - Class B (a)(b)

    5,950       37,366  

 

 

31

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 12.3% (continued)

Retail - Discretionary — 5.7% (continued)

               

Genesco, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,500     $ 37,560  

Hibbett, Inc. (a)

    2,000       72,580  

Home Depot, Inc. (The) (a)

    200       62,128  

Kohl’s Corporation (a)

    2,500       57,625  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    300       67,710  

Macy’s, Inc. (a)

    6,000       96,300  

MarineMax, Inc. (a)(b)

    2,000       68,320  

Nordstrom, Inc. (a)

    4,000       81,880  

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    7,000       86,450  

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (a)(b)

    300       141,179  

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       99,390  

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (a)

    800       100,112  

Zumiez, Inc. (a)(b)

    2,000       33,320  
              1,568,546  

Wholesale - Discretionary — 0.3%

               

LKQ Corporation (a)

    1,000       58,270  

ScanSource, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,000       29,560  
              87,830  

Consumer Staples — 5.3%

               

Beverages — 0.1%

               

PepsiCo, Inc. (a)

    100       18,522  
                 

Food — 1.8%

               

B&G Foods, Inc. (a)

    4,000       55,680  

Campbell Soup Company (a)

    2,400       109,704  

General Mills, Inc. (a)

    800       61,360  

Ingredion, Inc. (a)

    400       42,380  

Kellogg Company (a)

    3,000       202,200  

Kraft Heinz Company (The) (a)

    1,000       35,500  
              506,824  

Household Products — 0.4%

               

Colgate-Palmolive Company (a)

    800       61,632  

Energizer Holdings, Inc. (a)

    1,000       33,580  

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (a)

    200       27,612  
              122,824  

 

32

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Consumer Staples — 5.3% (continued)

Retail - Consumer Staples — 2.0%

               

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,000     $ 63,010  

Ingles Markets, Inc. - Class A (a)

    800       66,120  

Kroger Company (The) (a)

    1,500       70,500  

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (a)

    3,000       36,780  

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (a)(b)

    4,800       176,304  

Target Corporation (a)

    500       65,950  

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (a)

    3,000       85,470  
              564,134  

Wholesale - Consumer Staples — 1.0%

               

Andersons, Inc. (The) (a)

    1,500       69,225  

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (a)

    1,000       75,560  

United Natural Foods, Inc. (a)(b)

    6,000       117,300  
              262,085  

Energy — 5.1%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 3.1%

               

APA Corporation (a)

    3,000       102,510  

California Resources Corporation (a)

    2,500       113,225  

Callon Petroleum Company (a)(b)

    1,000       35,070  

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (a)

    600       27,684  

Chord Energy Corporation

    200       30,760  

Civitas Resources, Inc. (a)

    1,000       69,370  

Coterra Energy, Inc. (a)

    2,500       63,250  

Exxon Mobil Corporation (a)

    1,500       160,875  

Ovintiv, Inc. (a)

    800       30,456  

Phillips 66 (a)

    800       76,304  

Range Resources Corporation (a)

    800       23,520  

SM Energy Company (a)

    1,600       50,608  

Vital Energy, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,500       67,725  
              851,357  

Oil & Gas Services & Equipment — 0.1%

               

Nabors Industries Ltd. (a)(b)

    400       37,212  
                 

Renewable Energy — 1.9%

               

Array Technologies, Inc. (b)

    7,000       158,200  

Canadian Solar, Inc. (a)(b)

    6,500       251,485  

JinkoSolar Holding Company Ltd. - ADR (a)(b)

    300       13,314  

Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    3,600       92,016  
              515,015  

 

 

33

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Financials — 3.0%

Asset Management — 0.5%

Federated Hermes, Inc. (a)

    1,400     $ 50,190  

Invesco Ltd. (a)

    5,000       84,050  

Oscar Health Inc. (b)

    1,000       8,060  
              142,300  

Banking — 0.6%

               

Associated Banc-Corp (a)

    1,000       16,230  

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (a)

    1,594       41,572  

Customers Bancorp, Inc. (a)(b)

    2,500       75,650  

New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (a)

    4,000       44,960  
              178,412  

Institutional Financial Services — 0.9%

               

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (a)

    600       82,806  

Evercore, Inc. - Class A (a)

    1,000       123,590  

StoneX Group, Inc. (a)(b)

    400       33,232  
              239,628  

Insurance — 1.0%

               

Aflac, Inc. (a)

    500       34,900  

Allstate Corporation (The) (a)

    500       54,520  

Old Republic International Corporation (a)

    2,500       62,925  

Unum Group

    2,400       114,480  
              266,825  

Health Care — 10.3%

               

Biotech & Pharma — 7.1%

               

AbbVie, Inc. (a)

    600       80,838  

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    2,000       47,900  

Alkermes plc (a)(b)

    400       12,520  

Amgen, Inc. (a)

    600       133,212  

Biogen, Inc. (a)(b)

    300       85,455  

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       40,320  

Corcept Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,600       80,100  

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (a)(b)

    300       16,842  

Dynavax Technologies Corporation (a)(b)

    4,000       51,680  

Exelixis, Inc. (a)(b)

    5,000       95,550  

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)

    1,600       123,312  

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,500       54,105  

Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,000       35,190  

 

34

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Health Care — 10.3% (continued)

Biotech & Pharma — 7.1% (continued)

               

Incyte Corporation (a)(b)

    1,500     $ 93,375  

Innoviva, Inc. (a)(b)

    8,000       101,840  

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    4,000       42,560  

Merck & Company, Inc. (a)

    200       23,078  

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (b)

    1,400       132,020  

Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,000       40,070  

Pfizer, Inc. (a)

    4,000       146,720  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    300       215,562  

Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

    400       18,808  

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,600       108,216  

United Therapeutics Corporation (b)

    300       66,225  

Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    6,000       39,540  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

    300       105,573  
              1,990,611  

Health Care Facilities & Services — 2.1%

               

Cigna Group (The) (a)

    600       168,360  

CVS Health Corporation (a)

    1,400       96,782  

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (a)

    100       30,348  

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (a)

    200       48,266  

Patterson Companies, Inc. (a)

    1,500       49,890  

Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (a)

    400       56,224  

Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B (a)

    800       126,216  
              576,086  

Medical Equipment & Devices — 1.1%

               

Illumina, Inc. (a)(b)

    500       93,745  

Inogen, Inc. (a)(b)

    500       5,775  

QuidelOrtho Corporation (a)(b)

    200       16,572  

Shockwave Medical, Inc. (a)(b)

    360       102,748  

Waters Corporation (a)(b)

    200       53,308  

Zynex Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       28,770  
              300,918  

Industrials — 6.1%

               

Commercial Support Services — 0.6%

               

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (a)(b)

    200       21,824  

ASGN, Inc. (a)(b)

    500       37,815  

H&R Block, Inc. (a)

    2,500       79,675  

Robert Half International, Inc. (a)

    500       37,610  
              176,924  

 

 

35

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Industrials — 6.1% (continued)

Diversified Industrials — 0.4%

               

3M Company

    1,200     $ 120,108  
                 

Electrical Equipment — 1.9%

               

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (a)

    1,000       111,450  

Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    500       25,840  

Allegion plc (a)

    900       108,018  

Atkore, Inc. (a)(b)

    900       140,346  

BWX Technologies, Inc.

    400       28,628  

Carrier Global Corporation (a)

    400       19,884  

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    300       50,235  

Sensata Technologies Holding plc (a)

    800       35,992  
              520,393  

Industrial Support Services — 0.4%

               

MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. - Class A (a)

    500       47,640  

WESCO International, Inc. (a)

    300       53,718  
              101,358  

Machinery — 0.5%

               

Symbotic, Inc (a)(b)

    3,000       128,430  

Xylem, Inc. (a)

    48       5,406  
              133,836  

Transportation & Logistics — 2.1%

               

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (a)

    1,000       94,350  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (a)

    600       72,678  

FedEx Corporation (a)

    300       74,370  

Heartland Express, Inc. (a)

    2,000       32,820  

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. (a)

    2,000       111,120  

Landstar System, Inc. (a)

    300       57,762  

Matson, Inc. (a)

    500       38,865  

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B (a)

    500       89,625  
              571,590  

Transportation Equipment — 0.2%

               

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (a)

    1,000       56,460  

 

36

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Materials — 5.4%

Chemicals — 1.9%

AdvanSix, Inc. (a)

    2,500     $ 87,450  

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (a)

    1,500       104,130  

Ingevity Corporation (a)(b)

    1,500       87,240  

Intrepid Potash, Inc. (a)(b)

    800       18,152  

Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (a)

    2,000       17,460  

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. - Class A (a)

    500       45,915  

Mosaic Company (The) (a)

    3,000       105,000  

Westlake Corporation (a)

    500       59,735  
              525,082  

Containers & Packaging — 0.6%

               

Berry Global Group, Inc. (a)

    1,000       64,340  

Greif, Inc. - Class A (a)

    1,000       68,890  

International Paper Company (a)

    1,000       31,810  
              165,040  

Forestry, Paper & Wood Products — 0.1%

               

Boise Cascade Company (a)

    500       45,175  
                 

Metals & Mining — 2.2%

               

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (a)

    2,400       119,952  

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. - ADR (a)

    2,400       50,616  

Barrick Gold Corporation (a)

    7,200       121,896  

Encore Wire Corporation (a)

    300       55,779  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. (a)

    800       32,000  

Kinross Gold Corporation (a)

    3,600       17,172  

Newmont Corporation (a)

    2,900       123,714  

Royal Gold, Inc. (a)

    480       55,094  

Wheaton Precious Metals Corporation (a)

    700       30,254  
              606,477  

Steel — 0.6%

               

Nucor Corporation (a)

    600       98,388  

Worthington Industries, Inc.

    1,000       69,470  
              167,858  

Technology — 14.2%

               

Semiconductors — 4.5%

               

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,500       67,710  

Amkor Technology, Inc. (a)

    7,200       214,199  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    500       72,270  

 

 

37

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Technology — 14.2% (continued)

Semiconductors — 4.5% (Continued)

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    100     $ 18,333  

Broadcom, Inc.

    40       34,697  

Cirrus Logic, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,200       97,212  

Diodes, Inc. (a)(b)

    700       64,743  

Intel Corporation (a)

    1,600       53,504  

IPG Photonics Corporation (a)(b)

    400       54,328  

KLA Corporation (a)

    100       48,502  

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.

    600       35,670  

Microchip Technology, Inc. (a)

    800       71,672  

Photronics, Inc. (a)(b)

    2,000       51,580  

QUALCOMM, Inc. (a)

    1,600       190,464  

Semtech Corporation (a)(b)

    2,000       50,920  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (a)

    600       66,414  

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (a)

    2,000       58,800  
              1,251,018  

Software — 3.0%

               

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    600       53,922  

C3.ai, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    2,000       72,860  

Calix, Inc. (a)(b)

    600       29,946  

Ebix, Inc. (a)

    3,400       85,680  

Immersion Corporation (a)(b)

    4,000       28,320  

Microsoft Corporation (a)

    30       10,216  

Nutanix, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    2,500       70,125  

Qualys, Inc. (a)(b)

    700       90,419  

Samsara, Inc. - Class A (b)

    600       16,626  

Schrodinger, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,000       49,920  

VMware, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    1,400       201,166  

Yext, Inc. (b)

    800       9,048  

Ziff Davis, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,000       70,060  

Zoom Video Communications, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    500       33,940  
              822,248  

Technology Hardware — 4.5%

               

Apple, Inc. (a)

    50       9,699  

Arista Networks, Inc. (a)(b)

    900       145,854  

Arrow Electronics, Inc. (a)(b)

    300       42,969  

Avnet, Inc. (a)

    1,500       75,675  

 

38

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 65.9% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Technology — 14.2% (continued)

Technology Hardware — 4.5% (continued)

Cambium Networks Corporation (a)(b)

    1,000     $ 15,220  

Ciena Corporation (a)(b)

    1,500       63,735  

Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)

    1,000       51,740  

Clearfield, Inc. (a)(b)

    3,000       142,050  

F5, Inc. (a)(b)

    400       58,504  

InterDigital, Inc. (a)

    500       48,275  

Jabil, Inc. (a)

    500       53,965  

Juniper Networks, Inc. (a)

    3,000       93,990  

Lumentum Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    300       17,019  

NetApp, Inc. (a)

    1,200       91,680  

Super Micro Computer, Inc. (b)

    600       149,549  

Turtle Beach Corporation (a)(b)

    5,000       58,250  

Ubiquiti, Inc. (a)

    700       123,025  
              1,241,199  

Technology Services — 2.2%

               

Block, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)

    400       26,628  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A (a)

    2,700       176,256  

EPAM Systems, Inc. (a)(b)

    600       134,850  

FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (a)

    50       20,033  

FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)

    100       25,108  

Infosys Ltd. - ADR (a)

    6,000       96,420  

Maximus, Inc. (a)

    400       33,804  

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

    1,500       100,095  
              613,194  

Utilities — 0.4%

               

Electric Utilities — 0.4%

               

NRG Energy, Inc. (a)

    3,000       112,170  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $18,884,706)

          $ 18,287,152  

 

 

39

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS — 30.7%

 

Par Value

   

Value

 

U.S. Treasury Bills (c) — 17.9%

               

5.067%, due 07/25/2023

  $ 2,500,000     $ 2,492,344  

5.290%, due 09/28/2023

    2,500,000       2,468,765  
              4,961,109  

U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Notes — 9.7%

               

0.500%, due 04/15/2024

    601,415       586,644  

0.125%, due 04/15/2026

    1,156,570       1,084,436  

0.125%, due 04/15/2027

    537,220       497,203  

0.125%, due 01/15/2031

    582,585       517,611  
              2,685,894  

U.S. Treasury Notes — 3.1%

               

1.500%, due 01/31/2027

    500,000       452,774  

0.625%, due 08/15/2030

    500,000       398,242  
              851,016  
                 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $8,788,619)

          $ 8,498,019  

 

WARRANTS — 0.0%(d)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Energy — 0.0% (d)

               

Oil & Gas Services & Equipment — 0.0% (d)

               

Nabors Industries Ltd., expires 06/11/2026 (Cost $0)

    240     $ 2,760  

 

EXCHANGE-TRADED PUT OPTION CONTRACTS — 0.1%

 

Contracts

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value

 

Russell 2000 Index Option, 09/15/2023 at $1,600

    36     $ 6,799,442     $ 23,760  

S&P 500® Index Option, 09/15/2023 at $3,600

    22       9,790,836       14,520  

Total Put Option Contracts (Cost $180,200)

          $ 16,590,278     $ 38,280  
                         

Total Investments at Value — 96.7% (Cost $27,853,525)

                  $ 26,826,211  

 

40

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 14.0%

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Invesco Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 5.05% (e) (Cost $3,893,761)

    3,893,761     $ 3,893,761  
                 

Total Investments and Money Market Funds at Value — 110.7% (Cost $31,747,286)

          $ 30,719,972  
                 

Written Call Option Contracts — (10.9%)

            (3,031,460 )
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.2%

            50,300  
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 27,738,812  

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

(a)

All or portion of the security is used as collateral to cover written call options. The total value of the securities held as collateral as of June 30, 2023 was $16,854,763.

(b)

Non-income producing security.

(c)

Rate shown is the annualized yield at time of purchase, not a coupon rate.

(d)

Percentage rounds to less than 0.1%.

(e)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2023.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

41

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Schedule of Open Written Option Contracts

June 30, 2023

 

EXCHANGE-TRADED WRITTEN CALL OPTION CONTRACTS

 

Contracts

   

Notional
Amount

   

Strike
Price

   

Expiration
Date

   

Value of
Options

 

Call Option Contracts

Russell 2000 Index Option

    36     $ 6,799,442     $ 1,600       09/15/2023     $ 1,096,956  

S&P 500® Index Option

    22       9,790,836       3,600       09/15/2023       1,934,504  

Total Written Call Option Contracts (Premiums received $2,168,488)

          $ 16,590,278                     $ 3,031,460  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

42

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund
Schedule of Investments

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 18.4%

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Energy — 3.4%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 3.4%

               

APA Corporation

    15,000     $ 512,550  

California Resources Corporation

    15,000       679,350  

Callon Petroleum Company (a)

    30,000       1,052,100  

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

    18,000       830,520  

Coterra Energy, Inc.

    30,000       759,000  

DT Midstream, Inc.

    500       24,785  

Range Resources Corporation

    24,000       705,600  

SM Energy Company

    40,000       1,265,200  

Vital Energy, Inc. (a)

    30,000       1,354,500  
              7,183,605  

Industrials — 0.5%

               

Electrical Equipment — 0.5%

               

BWX Technologies, Inc.

    15,000       1,073,550  
                 

Materials — 12.4%

               

Construction Materials — 0.5%

               

Knife River Corporation (a)

    8,750       380,625  

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

    35,000       732,900  
              1,113,525  

Metals & Mining — 11.9%

               

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.

    90,000       4,498,200  

Alamos Gold, Inc. - Class A

    30,000       357,600  

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. - ADR

    90,000       1,898,100  

B2Gold Corporation

    750,000       2,677,500  

Barrick Gold Corporation

    270,000       4,571,100  

Coeur Mining, Inc. (a)

    120,000       340,800  

Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. - ADR

    60,000       441,000  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

    36,000       1,440,000  

Kinross Gold Corporation

    135,000       643,950  

Newmont Corporation

    108,000       4,607,280  

Pan American Silver Corporation

    63,000       918,540  

Royal Gold, Inc.

    18,000       2,066,040  

Wheaton Precious Metals Corporation

    27,000       1,166,940  
              25,627,050  

Utilities — 2.1%

               

Electric Utilities — 1.7%

               

AES Corporation (The)

    1,000       20,730  

 

 

43

 

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

COMMON STOCKS — 18.4% (continued)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Utilities — 2.1% (continued)

               

Electric Utilities — 1.7% (continued)

               

ALLETE, Inc.

    1,000     $ 57,970  

Ameren Corporation

    100       8,167  

American Electric Power Company, Inc.

    100       8,420  

Avangrid, Inc.

    1,000       37,680  

Avista Corporation

    1,000       39,270  

Black Hills Corporation

    500       30,130  

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

    1,000       90,400  

Dominion Energy, Inc.

    500       25,895  

DTE Energy Company

    100       11,002  

Duke Energy Corporation

    500       44,870  

Edison International

    500       34,725  

Entergy Corporation

    500       48,685  

Exelon Corporation

    1,000       40,740  

FirstEnergy Corporation

    1,000       38,880  

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

    1,000       36,200  

NorthWestern Corporation

    1,000       56,760  

NRG Energy, Inc.

    75,000       2,804,250  

Otter Tail Corporation

    1,000       78,960  

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation

    1,000       81,460  

Portland General Electric Company

    1,000       46,830  

PPL Corporation

    1,000       26,460  

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

    500       31,305  

Southern Company (The)

    500       35,125  
              3,734,914  

Gas & Water Utilities — 0.4%

               

Global Water Resources, Inc.

    1,000       12,680  

UGI Corporation

    30,000       809,100  
              821,780  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $39,285,322)

          $ 39,554,424  

 

 

44

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS — 3.1%

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust

    20,000     $ 2,444,600  

Invesco CurrencyShares Euro Currency Trust

    25,000       2,520,250  

Invesco CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (a)

    25,000       1,613,500  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $6,723,234)

          $ 6,578,350  

 

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS — 77.7%

 

Par Value

   

Value

 

U.S. Treasury Bills (b) — 2.3%

               

5.067%, due 07/25/2023

  $ 2,500,000     $ 2,492,345  

5.290%, due 09/28/2023

    2,500,000       2,468,765  
              4,961,110  

U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Notes — 36.2%

               

0.500%, due 04/15/2024

    12,028,300       11,732,880  

0.125%, due 04/15/2026

    11,565,700       10,844,354  

0.125%, due 04/15/2027

    21,488,800       19,888,136  

2.500%, due 01/15/2029

    14,127,300       14,549,657  

0.125%, due 01/15/2030

    11,789,000       10,575,820  

0.125%, due 01/15/2031

    11,651,700       10,352,221  
              77,943,068  

U.S. Treasury Notes — 39.2%

               

2.000%, due 05/31/2024

    25,000,000       24,238,374  

1.375%, due 01/31/2025

    15,000,000       14,147,754  

2.125%, due 05/31/2026

    10,000,000       9,352,344  

1.500%, due 08/15/2026

    25,000,000       22,849,610  

1.500%, due 01/31/2027

    5,000,000       4,527,734  

2.250%, due 11/15/2027

    10,000,000       9,208,984  
              84,324,800  
                 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $176,175,828)

          $ 167,228,978  

 

WARRANTS — 0.0% (c)

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Energy — 0.0% (c)

               

Oil & Gas Services & Equipment — 0.0% (c)

               

Nabors Industries Ltd., expires 06/11/2026 (Cost $0)

    8,000     $ 92,000  
                 

Total Investments at Value — 99.2% (Cost $222,184,384)

          $ 213,453,752  

 

 

45

 

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 0.7%

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Invesco Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 5.05% (d) (Cost $1,533,420)

    1,533,420     $ 1,533,420  
                 

Total Investments and Money Market Funds at Value — 99.9% (Cost $223,717,804)

          $ 214,987,172  
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.1%

            267,919  
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 215,255,091  

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

(a)

Non-income producing security.

(b)

Rate shown is the annualized yield at time of purchase, not a coupon rate.

(c)

Percentage rounds to less than 0.1%.

(d)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2023.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

46

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Statements of Assets and Liabilities

June 30, 2023

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

ASSETS

                       

Investments in securities:

                       

At cost

  $ 500,646,667     $ 27,853,525     $ 222,184,384  

At value (Note 1)

  $ 484,933,063     $ 26,826,211     $ 213,453,752  

Investments in money market funds

    181,951,410       3,893,761       1,533,420  

Receivable for capital shares sold

    92,006       226       8,706  

Receivable for investment securities sold

    327,522              

Receivable from Adviser (Note 3)

          9,651        

Dividends and interest receivable

    937,742       30,993       624,877  

Tax reclaims receivable

    8,509              

Other assets

    42,539       49,399       69,198  

Total Assets

    668,292,791       30,810,241       215,689,953  
                         

LIABILITIES

                       

Written call options, at value (Notes 1 and 4) (premiums received $169,434,513, $2,168,488 and $—)

    198,321,500       3,031,460        

Distributions payable

          2,594       116,659  

Payable for capital shares redeemed

    190,621       2,885       169,531  

Payable for investment securities purchased

    3,105,095              

Accrued investment advisory fees (Note 3)

    345,037             94,127  

Payable to administrator (Note 3)

    38,900       6,180       18,900  

Accrued account maintenance and shareholder servicing fees (Note 3)

    30,635       3,115       10,795  

Other accrued expenses

    33,085       25,195       24,850  

Total Liabilities

    202,064,873       3,071,429       434,862  

CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS (NOTE 7)

                 

NET ASSETS

  $ 466,227,918     $ 27,738,812     $ 215,255,091  
                         

Net assets consist of:

                       

Paid-in capital

  $ 1,361,343,662     $ 30,819,175     $ 271,609,074  

Accumulated deficit

    (895,115,744 )     (3,080,363 )     (56,353,983 )

NET ASSETS

  $ 466,227,918     $ 27,738,812     $ 215,255,091  
                         

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

    73,191,226       2,976,500       15,844,067  
                         

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)

  $ 6.37     $ 9.32     $ 13.59  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

47

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Statements of Operations

For the Year Ended June 30, 2023

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

                       

Dividends

  $ 16,012,322     $ 470,436     $ 1,824,650  

Foreign withholding taxes on dividends

    (45,293 )     (1,530 )     (84,297 )

Interest

          146,953       5,515,256  

Total Investment Income

    15,967,029       615,859       7,255,609  
                         

EXPENSES

                       

Investment advisory fees (Note 3)

    4,616,132       179,461       1,167,873  

Administration fees (Note 3)

    355,641       24,000       163,423  

Account maintenance and shareholder services fees (Note 3)

    216,889       14,661       88,893  

Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 3)

    77,190       77,190       77,190  

Fund accounting fees (Note 3)

    80,987       32,384       53,375  

Transfer agent fees (Note 3)

    83,058       18,000       37,587  

Registration and filing fees

    57,858       28,793       49,153  

Legal fees

    28,632       42,812       33,632  

Insurance expense

    46,036       19,033       37,339  

Custodian and bank service fees

    64,912       12,319       15,569  

Postage and supplies

    39,887       11,875       18,419  

Compliance service fees (Note 3)

    38,998       6,118       19,474  

Audit and tax services fees

    19,000       19,000       19,000  

Printing of shareholder reports

    14,721       8,240       10,694  

Other expenses

    22,934       23,221       15,031  

Total Expenses

    5,762,875       517,107       1,806,652  

Previous fee waivers and Fund expenses recovered by the Adviser (Note 3)

    115,917              

Less fee waivers and Fund expenses absorbed by the Adviser (Note 3)

          (217,791 )     (62,625 )

Net Expenses

    5,878,792       299,316       1,744,027  
                         

NET INVESTMENT INCOME

    10,088,237       316,543       5,511,582  
                         

 

48

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Statements of Operations (continued)

For the Year Ended June 30, 2023

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS AND WRITTEN OPTION CONTRACTS

                       

Net realized gains (losses) from:

                       

Investments

  $ (41,105,139 )   $ (1,167,181 )   $ (7,647,733 )

Written option contracts (Note 4)

    (17,435,013 )     844,051        

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

                       

Investments

    56,242,173       2,226,022       994,293  

Written option contracts (Note 4)

    (53,515,266 )     (1,695,308 )      
                         

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS AND WRITTEN OPTION CONTRACTS

    (55,813,245 )     207,584       (6,653,440 )
                         

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ (45,725,008 )   $ 524,127     $ (1,141,858 )

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

49

 

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   

Year Ended
June 30,
2023

   

Year Ended
June 30,
2022

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 10,088,237     $ 3,047,804  

Net realized gains (losses) from:

               

Investments

    (41,105,139 )     57,685,348  

Written option contracts

    (17,435,013 )     43,605,661  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

               

Investments

    56,242,173       (120,952,911 )

Written option contracts

    (53,515,266 )     36,202,414  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (45,725,008 )     19,588,316  
                 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (5,831,678 )     (1,512,449 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    151,356,699       178,518,334  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    5,079,128       1,329,093  

Proceeds from redemption fees collected (Note 1)

    81,726       70,224  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (145,729,897 )     (103,894,552 )

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

    10,787,656       76,023,099  
                 

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

    (40,769,030 )     94,098,966  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    506,996,948       412,897,982  

End of year

  $ 466,227,918     $ 506,996,948  
                 

CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    21,891,908       26,844,521  

Shares reinvested

    717,391       217,884  

Shares redeemed

    (21,393,905 )     (16,061,961 )

Net increase in shares outstanding

    1,215,394       11,000,444  

Shares outstanding at beginning of year

    71,975,832       60,975,388  

Shares outstanding at end of year

    73,191,226       71,975,832  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

50

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   

Year Ended
June 30,
2023

   

Year Ended
June 30,
2022

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 316,543     $ 88,163  

Net realized gains (losses) from:

               

Investments

    (1,167,181 )     765,793  

Written option contracts

    844,051       2,000,277  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

               

Investments

    2,226,022       (4,692,633 )

Written option contracts

    (1,695,308 )     1,147,643  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    524,127       (690,757 )
                 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (4,234,623 )     (707,384 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    12,848,025       6,252,263  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    4,105,135       691,200  

Proceeds from redemption fees collected (Note 1)

    2,551       2,418  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (7,079,434 )     (3,855,951 )

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

    9,876,277       3,089,930  
                 

TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

    6,165,781       1,691,789  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    21,573,031       19,881,242  

End of year

  $ 27,738,812     $ 21,573,031  
                 

CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    1,307,195       557,994  

Shares reinvested

    430,014       63,504  

Shares redeemed

    (735,346 )     (346,550 )

Net increase in shares outstanding

    1,001,863       274,948  

Shares outstanding at beginning of year

    1,974,637       1,699,689  

Shares outstanding at end of year

    2,976,500       1,974,637  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

51

 

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund
Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   

Year Ended
June 30,
2023

   

Year Ended
June 30,
2022

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 5,511,582     $ 4,800,240  

Net realized gains (losses) from investments

    (7,647,733 )     4,890,371  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    994,293       (21,618,297 )

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

    (1,141,858 )     (11,927,686 )
                 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (5,172,237 )     (4,601,477 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    18,315,533       50,992,210  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    4,774,620       4,190,704  

Proceeds from redemption fees collected (Note 1)

    8,496       38,720  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (65,216,881 )     (91,543,939 )

Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

    (42,118,232 )     (36,322,305 )
                 

TOTAL DECREASE IN NET ASSETS

    (48,432,327 )     (52,851,468 )
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    263,687,418       316,538,886  

End of year

  $ 215,255,091     $ 263,687,418  
                 

CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    1,336,689       3,474,448  

Shares reinvested

    353,794       290,274  

Shares redeemed

    (4,808,370 )     (6,250,155 )

Net decrease in shares outstanding

    (3,117,887 )     (2,485,433 )

Shares outstanding at beginning of year

    18,961,954       21,447,387  

Shares outstanding at end of year

    15,844,067       18,961,954  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

52

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund
Financial Highlights

Selected Per Share Data and Ratios for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2023

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2022

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2021

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2020

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2019

 

Net asset value at beginning of year

  $ 7.04     $ 6.77     $ 6.12     $ 5.87     $ 6.46  
                                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                       

Net investment income

    0.13       0.05       0.01       0.06       0.10  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and written option contracts

    (0.72 )     0.25       0.65       0.29       (0.61 )

Total from investment operations

    (0.59 )     0.30       0.66       0.35       (0.51 )
                                         

Less distributions from:

                                       

Net investment income

    (0.08 )     (0.03 )     (0.01 )     (0.10 )     (0.08 )
                                         

Proceeds from redemption fees collected (Note 1)

    0.00 (a)      0.00 (a)      0.00 (a)      0.00 (a)      0.00 (a) 
                                         

Net asset value at end of year

  $ 6.37     $ 7.04     $ 6.77     $ 6.12     $ 5.87  
                                         

Total return (b)

    (8.54 %)     4.43 %     10.80 %     6.17 %     (8.05 %)
                                         

Net assets at end of year (000’s)

  $ 466,228     $ 506,997     $ 412,898     $ 308,774     $ 293,906  
                                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    1.12 %     1.14 %     1.19 %     1.26 %     1.24 %
                                         

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (c)

    1.15 %     1.15 %     1.15 %     1.15 %     1.14 %
                                         

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (c)

    1.97 %     0.74 %     0.09 %     0.87 %     1.66 %
                                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    79 %     113 %     198 %     167 %     124 %

 

(a)

Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.

(b)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(c)

Ratio was determined after advisory fee waivers and/or recovery. (Note 3).

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund
Financial Highlights

Selected Per Share Data and Ratios for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2023

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2022

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2021

   

Period Ended
June 30,
2020
(a)

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

  $ 10.93     $ 11.70     $ 10.32     $ 10.00  
                                 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                               

Net investment income (loss)

    0.12       0.04       (0.02 )     0.03  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and written option contracts

    0.13       (0.42 )     1.98       0.29  

Total from investment operations

    0.25       (0.38 )     1.96       0.32  
                                 

Less distributions from:

                               

Net investment income

    (0.12 )     (0.04 )     (0.01 )     (0.00 )(b)

Net realized gains

    (1.74 )     (0.35 )     (0.57 )      

Total distributions

    (1.86 )     (0.39 )     (0.58 )     (0.00 )(b)
                                 

Proceeds from redemption fees collected (Note 1)

    0.00 (b)      0.00 (b)      0.00 (b)      0.00 (b) 
                                 

Net asset value at end of period

  $ 9.32     $ 10.93     $ 11.70     $ 10.32  
                                 

Total return (c)

    2.06 %     (3.19 %)     19.70 %     3.23 %(d)
                                 

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

  $ 27,739     $ 21,573     $ 19,881     $ 8,093  
                                 

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    2.16 %     2.08 %     2.87 %     4.67 %(e)
                                 

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (f)

    1.25 %     1.25 %     1.25 %     1.25 %(e)
                                 

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

    1.32 %     0.42 %     (0.11 %)     0.34 %(e)
                                 

Portfolio turnover rate

    79 %     98 %     163 %     94 %(d)

 

(a)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (August 27, 2019) through June 30, 2020.

(b)

Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.

(c)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(d)

Not annualized.

(e)

Annualized.

(f)

Ratio was determined after advisory fee waivers and absorption of Fund expenses by the Adviser (Note 3).

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

54

 

 

 

 

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund
Financial Highlights

Selected Per Share Data and Ratios for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2023

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2022

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2021

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2020

   

Year
Ended
June 30,
2019

 

Net asset value at beginning of year

  $ 13.91     $ 14.76     $ 14.50     $ 12.83     $ 11.86  
                                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                       

Net investment income

    0.33       0.26       0.14       0.13       0.19  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.34 )     (0.86 )     0.25       1.66       0.95  

Total from investment operations

    (0.01 )     0.60       0.39       1.79       1.14  
                                         

Less distributions from:

                                       

Net investment income

    (0.31 )     (0.25 )     (0.13 )     (0.12 )     (0.17 )
                                         

Proceeds from redemption fees collected (Note 1)

    0.00 (a)      0.00 (a)      0.00 (a)      0.00 (a)      0.00 (a) 
                                         

Net asset value at end of year

  $ 13.59     $ 13.91     $ 14.76     $ 14.50     $ 12.83  
                                         

Total return (b)

    (0.03 %)     (4.14 %)     2.70 %     14.00 %     9.72 %
                                         

Net assets at end of year (000’s)

  $ 215,255     $ 263,687     $ 316,539     $ 290,129     $ 221,235  
                                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    0.78 %     0.75 %     0.75 %     0.81 %     0.81 %
                                         

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (c)

    0.75 %     0.75 %     0.75 %     0.75 %     0.74 %
                                         

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (c)

    2.36 %     1.73 %     0.93 %     0.87 %     1.36 %
                                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    42 %     22 %     38 %     88 %     61 %

 

(a)

Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.

(b)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(c)

Ratio was determined after advisory fee waivers (Note 3).

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements

June 30, 2023

 

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund (each, a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”) are diversified, separate series of Hussman Investment Trust (the “Trust”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. Each Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund’s investment objective seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation, with added emphasis on protection of capital during unfavorable market conditions.

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund’s investment objective seeks to achieve total return through a combination of income and capital appreciation.

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund’s investment objective seeks to achieve long-term total return from income and capital appreciation.

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Each Fund follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services – Investment Companies.”

 

Regulatory Update – In October 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (“Rule 18f-4”). The Funds were required to comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Rule 18f-4 imposes limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminates the asset segregation framework previously used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treats derivatives as senior securities and requires funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager. The Funds have adopted Rule 18f-4 and are currently adhering to the requirements.

 

Securities, Options and Futures Valuation — The Funds’ portfolio securities are valued at market value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day the NYSE is open. Securities listed on the NYSE or other exchanges, other than options, are valued on the basis of their last sale prices on the exchanges on which they are primarily traded. However, if the last sale price on the NYSE is different than the last

 

56

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

sale price on any other exchange, the NYSE price will be used. If there are no sales on that day, the securities are valued at the last bid price on the NYSE or other primary exchange for that day. Securities quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If there are no sales on that day, the securities are valued at the last bid price as reported by NASDAQ. Securities traded in over-the-counter markets, other than NASDAQ quoted securities, are valued at the last sales price, or if there are no sales on that day, at the mean of the closing bid and ask prices. Securities traded on a foreign stock exchange, if any, are valued at their closing prices on the principal exchange where they are traded; however, on days when the value of securities traded on foreign stock exchanges may be materially affected by events occurring before a Fund’s pricing time, but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which such securities are traded, such securities typically will be valued at their fair value as determined by an independent pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees where such value is believed to reflect the market values of such securities as of the time of computation of a Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). As a result, the prices of foreign securities used to calculate a Fund’s NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for these securities. Values of foreign securities denominated in or expected to settle in a foreign currency are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using prevailing currency exchange rates as of the close of the NYSE, as supplied by an independent pricing service.

 

Pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, options traded on a national securities exchange are valued at prices between the closing bid and ask prices determined by Hussman Strategic Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) to most closely reflect market value as of the time of computation of the NAV. As of June 30, 2023, all options held by Hussman Strategic Growth Fund and Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund have been valued in this manner. Options not traded on a national securities exchange or board of trade, but for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available, are valued at the mean between their closing bid and ask prices. Futures contracts and options thereon, if any, which are traded on commodities exchanges, are valued at their last sale prices as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE or, if not available, at the mean between their bid and ask prices.

 

Fixed income securities traded over-the-counter and not traded or dealt in upon any securities exchange, but for which market quotations are readily available, generally are valued at the mean of their closing bid and ask prices. Fixed income securities may also be valued on the basis of prices provided by an independent

 

 

57

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

pricing service. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost if the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, determines that the amortized cost value of the security represents fair value.

 

Investments in shares of other open-end investment companies, other than shares of exchange-traded funds, are valued at their NAVs per share as reported by such companies.

 

In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are determined by the Adviser, as the valuation designee, to not be reflective of fair market value due to market events or developments, securities and other financial instruments will be valued at fair value as determined by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. Methods used to determine fair value may include, but are not limited to: multiple of earnings, multiple of book value, discount from market of a similar freely traded security, purchase price of the security, subsequent private transactions in the security or related securities, or a combination of these and other factors.

 

GAAP establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the values of the Funds’ investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets to which the Fund has access at the date of measurement.

 

 

Level 2 – quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. Level 2 inputs are those in markets for which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, little public information exists or instances where prices vary substantially over time or among market makers.

 

 

Level 3 – model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are those inputs that reflect the Fund’s own assumptions that market participants would use to price the asset or liability based on the best available information.

 

58

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

Option contracts purchased or written by Hussman Strategic Growth Fund and Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund are classified as Level 2 since they are valued using “other significant observable inputs” at prices between the closing bid and ask prices determined by the Adviser to most closely reflect fair value. U.S. Treasury obligations held by Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund are classified as Level 2 since values are based on prices provided by an independent pricing service that utilizes various “other significant observable inputs,” including bid and ask quotations, prices of similar securities and interest rates, among other factors.

 

The Trust uses an independent pricing service to determine the fair value of portfolio securities traded on a foreign securities exchange, if any, when the value of such securities may be materially affected by events occurring before a Fund’s pricing time, but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which such securities are traded. These intervening events might be: country-specific (e.g., natural disaster, economic or political developments, interest rate change); issuer specific (e.g., earnings report, merger announcement); or U.S. markets-specific (such as a significant movement in the U.S. markets that is deemed likely to affect the value of foreign securities). The pricing service uses an automated system incorporating a model based on multiple parameters, including a security’s local closing price, relevant general and sector indices, currency fluctuations, trading in depositary receipts and futures, if applicable, and/or research valuations by its staff, in determining what it believes is the fair value of the securities. The frequency of use of this procedure depends on market and other events and thus cannot be predicted.

 

Determining the fair value of portfolio securities involves reliance on judgment, and a security’s fair value may differ depending on the method used for determining value. With respect to a portfolio security that has been valued at fair value, there can be no assurance that a Fund could purchase or sell that security at a price equal to the fair value of such security used in calculating the Fund’s NAV. Because of the inherent uncertainty in determining fair value and the various factors considered in making such determinations, there can be significant deviations between the fair value at which a portfolio security is being carried and the price at which it can be sold.

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The inputs used to measure the value of a particular security may fall into more than one level of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement of that security is determined to fall in its entirety is the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

 

59

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

The following is a summary of each Fund’s investments and other financial instruments and the inputs used to value the investments and other financial instruments as of June 30, 2023 by security type:

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

 

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Investments in Securities and Money Market Funds:

                               

Common Stocks

  $ 479,072,313     $     $     $ 479,072,313  

Warrants

    92,000                   92,000  

Exchange-Traded Put Option Contracts

          5,768,750             5,768,750  

Money Market Funds

    181,951,410                   181,951,410  

Total Investments in Securities and Money Market Funds

  $ 661,115,723     $ 5,768,750     $     $ 666,884,473  
                                 

Other Financial Instruments:

                               

Exchange-Traded Written Call Option Contracts

  $     $ (198,321,500 )   $     $ (198,321,500 )

Total Other Financial Instruments

  $     $ (198,321,500 )   $     $ (198,321,500 )

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

 

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Investments in Securities and Money Market Funds:

                               

Common Stocks

  $ 18,287,152     $     $     $ 18,287,152  

U.S. Treasury Obligations

          8,498,019             8,498,019  

Warrants

    2,760                   2,760  

Exchange-Traded Put Option Contracts

          38,280             38,280  

Money Market Funds

    3,893,761                   3,893,761  

Total Investments in Securities and Money Market Funds

  $ 22,183,673     $ 8,536,299     $     $ 30,719,972  
                                 

Other Financial Instruments:

                               

Exchange-Traded Written Call Option Contracts

  $     $ (3,031,460 )   $     $ (3,031,460 )

Total Other Financial Instruments

  $     $ (3,031,460 )   $     $ (3,031,460 )

 

60

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

 

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Investments in Securities and Money Market Funds:

                               

Common Stocks

  $ 39,554,424     $     $     $ 39,554,424  

Exchange-Traded Funds

    6,578,350                   6,578,350  

U.S. Treasury Obligations

          167,228,978             167,228,978  

Warrants

    92,000                   92,000  

Money Market Funds

    1,533,420                   1,533,420  

Total Investments in Securities and Money Market Funds

  $ 47,758,194     $ 167,228,978     $     $ 214,987,172  

 

Each Fund’s Schedule of Investments identifies the specific securities (by type of security and sector and industry type) that comprise that Fund’s holdings within the Level 1 and Level 2 categories shown in the tables above. The Funds did not have any assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of June 30, 2023.

 

Futures Contracts and Option Transactions — Hussman Strategic Growth Fund and Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund may purchase and write call and put options on broad-based stock indices and also may purchase and write call and put option contracts on individual securities. Each of the Funds may use financial futures contracts and related option contracts to hedge against changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund may also purchase foreign currency options to manage its exposures to foreign currencies. Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund may purchase interest rate futures contracts to protect against a decline in the value of its portfolio resulting from rising interest rates.

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund and Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund may each use futures and option contracts on stock indices for the purpose of seeking to reduce the market risk that would otherwise be associated with the securities in which it invests. For example, these Funds may sell a stock index futures contracts to hedge the risk of a general market or market sector decline that might adversely affect prices of the Funds’ portfolio securities. To the extent there is a correlation between a Fund’s portfolio and a particular stock index, the sale of futures contracts on that index could reduce the Fund’s exposure to general market risk.

 

 

61

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

When a Fund writes an index option, an amount equal to the net premium (the premium less the commission) received by the Fund is recorded as a liability on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and is subsequently marked-to-market daily. If an index option written by a Fund expires unexercised on the stipulated expiration date or if a Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain or a loss depending on whether the cost of a closing purchase transaction is less than or exceeds the net premium received when the option was sold and the liability related to such option will be eliminated. If an index option written by a Fund is exercised, the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option. In this event, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss. To secure the obligation of a Fund to settle index options it has written, common stocks owned by the Fund are held in escrow by the Fund’s custodian bank (or by a securities depository acting for the custodian bank) for the benefit of the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”). Escrow is maintained with the OCC on a daily basis until written options expire unexercised or when the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction.

 

When a Fund purchases or sells a stock index futures contract, no price is paid to or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of the futures contract. Instead, the Fund is required to deposit in a segregated account with its custodian an amount of cash or qualifying securities currently ranging from 2% to 11% of the contract amount. This is called “initial margin.” Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” are made or received by the Fund to or from the separate account each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying stock index. The Fund recognizes an unrealized gain or loss equal to the daily variation margin. If general market movements are not as expected, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits from the use of futures contracts and may realize a loss. In addition to the possibility that there may be an imperfect correlation or no correlation at all between the movements in the stock index futures and the portion of the portfolio being hedged, the price of the stock index futures may not correlate perfectly with movements in the stock index due to certain market distortions.

 

Foreign Currency Translation — Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in or expected to settle in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars based on exchange rates on the following basis:

 

 

A.

The values of investment securities and other assets and liabilities are translated as of the close of the NYSE each day.

 

62

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

 

B.

Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expenses are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the respective date of such transactions.

 

 

C.

The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations caused by changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from those caused by changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments.

 

Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from: (1) purchases and sales of foreign currencies; (2) currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions; and (3) the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on a Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Reported net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the U.S. dollar value of assets and liabilities that result from changes in exchange rates.

 

Share Valuation and Redemption Fees — The NAV per share of each Fund is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open for business. NAV per share of a Fund is calculated by dividing the total value of the Fund’s assets, less its liabilities, by the number of its shares outstanding. The offering price and redemption price per share of each Fund is equal to the NAV per share next computed after receipt of an order to purchase or to redeem shares. Prior to April 1, 2023, a redemption fee of 1.5%, payable to the applicable Fund, generally was applied to shares that were redeemed 60 days or less from the date of purchase. During the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, proceeds from redemption fees, recorded in capital, totaled: $81,726 and $70,224, respectively, for Hussman Strategic Growth Fund; $2,551 and $2,418, respectively, for Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund; $8,496 and $38,720, respectively, for Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund. Effective April 1, 2023, the Funds eliminated the redemption fees being charged, regardless of how long shares are held.

 

Investment Income — Interest income is accrued as earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the value of the security received. Discounts and premiums on fixed income securities are amortized using the effective interest method. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been recorded in accordance with the Trust’s understanding of the applicable country’s rules and tax rates.

 

 

63

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually to shareholders of Hussman Strategic Growth Fund and are declared and paid quarterly to shareholders of Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net realized short-term capital gains, if any, may be distributed throughout the year and net realized long-term capital gains, if any, are generally distributed annually. The amount of distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature and are primarily due to timing differences in the recognition of capital gains or losses on options and futures transactions and losses deferred due to wash sales.

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

 

Year Ended

 

Ordinary
Income

   

Long-Term
Capital Gains

   

Total
Distributions*

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

                       

June 30, 2023

  $ 5,831,678     $     $ 5,831,678  

June 30, 2022

  $ 1,512,449     $     $ 1,512,449  

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

                       

June 30, 2023

  $ 2,188,035     $ 2,045,274     $ 4,233,309  

June 30, 2022

  $ 706,103     $     $ 706,103  

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

                       

June 30, 2023

  $ 5,210,037     $     $ 5,210,037  

June 30, 2022

  $ 4,528,047     $     $ 4,528,047  

 

*

Total Distributions may not tie to the amounts listed on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets due to dividends payable amounts.

 

Investment Transactions — Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date for financial reporting purposes. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are determined on a specific identification basis.

 

Common Expenses — Expenses of the Trust not attributable solely to one of the Funds are allocated among the Funds based on the relative net assets of each Fund or based on the nature of the expense and its relative applicability to each Fund.

 

Accounting Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets

 

64

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increase (decrease) in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Federal Income Tax — Each Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify each year as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). By so qualifying, a Fund generally will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent that it distributes its net investment income and any net realized capital gains in accordance with the Code. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made.

 

In order to avoid imposition of a federal excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is each Fund’s intention to declare and pay as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its net investment income (earned during the calendar year) and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ended October 31) plus undistributed amounts from prior years.

 

The tax character of distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) as of June 30, 2023 was as follows:

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

Net unrealized depreciation

  $ (14,047,632 )   $ (1,000,016 )   $ (12,030,756 )

Undistributed ordinary income

    5,956,141       7,161       293,225  

Accumulated capital and other losses

    (887,024,253 )     (2,084,914 )     (44,499,793 )

Other temporary differences

          (2,594 )     (116,659 )

Total accumulated deficit

  $ (895,115,744 )   $ (3,080,363 )   $ (56,353,983 )

 

The following information is based upon the federal income tax cost of investment securities as of June 30, 2023:

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

Cost of investments and money market funds

  $ 482,610,605     $ 28,688,528     $ 227,017,928  

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 42,944,190     $ 1,494,394     $ 2,688,495  

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (56,991,822 )     (2,494,410 )     (14,719,251 )

Net unrealized depreciation

  $ (14,047,632 )   $ (1,000,016 )   $ (12,030,756 )

 

 

65

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

The difference between the federal income tax cost of portfolio investments and the financial statement cost of portfolio investments for each Fund is due to certain timing differences in the recognition of capital gains or losses under income tax regulations and GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are temporary in nature and are primarily due to losses deferred due to wash sales, derivatives and adjustments to basis for publicly traded partnerships, passive foreign investment companies and grantor trusts.

 

As of June 30, 2023, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes:

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

Short-term capital loss carryforwards

  $ 521,778,993     $     $ 39,597,386  

Long-term capital loss carryforwards

    365,245,260       2,084,914       4,902,407  

Total

  $ 887,024,253     $ 2,084,914     $ 44,499,793  

 

These capital loss carryforwards, which do not expire, may be utilized by the Funds in future years to offset their net realized capital gains, if any, prior to distributing such gains to shareholders.

 

For the year ended June 30, 2023, the following reclassifications were made as a result of permanent differences between the financial statement and income tax reporting requirements due to adjustments for nondeductible expenses from publicly traded partnerships:

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

Paid-in capital

  $ (21 )   $     $ (1,069 )

Accumulated earnings (deficit)

  $ 21     $     $ 1,069  

 

Such reclassifications have no effect on each Fund’s total net assets or its NAV per share.

 

Each Fund recognizes the tax benefits or expenses of uncertain tax positions only when the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has reviewed each Fund’s tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years (generally, tax returns that have been filed within the past three years) and all major jurisdictions and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements. Therefore, no tax expense (including interest and penalties) was recorded in the current year and no adjustments were made to prior periods.

 

66

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

Each Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expenses on the Statements of Operations. During the year ended June 30, 2023, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties.

 

2. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

During the year ended June 30, 2023, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, other than short-term investments and U.S. government securities, were as follows:

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

Purchases of investment securities

  $ 417,965,569     $ 14,756,563     $ 39,196,417  

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities

  $ 504,196,621     $ 16,789,673     $ 54,318,310  

 

During the year ended June 30, 2023, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

   

Hussman
Strategic
Growth Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic
Allocation Fund

   

Hussman
Strategic Total
Return Fund

 

Purchases of investment securities

  $     $ 2,210,629     $ 44,592,658  

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities

  $     $ 1,309,645     $ 48,986,531  

 

3. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

Advisory Agreement

 

Under the terms of an Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, Hussman Strategic Growth Fund pays the Adviser a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at annual rates of: 0.90% of the first $2 billion of the Fund’s average daily net assets; 0.85% of the next $3 billion of such assets; and 0.80% of such assets over $5 billion. Under the terms of a separate Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund pays the Adviser a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at annual rates of: 0.75% of the first $2 billion of the Fund’s average daily net assets; 0.70% of the next $3 billion of such assets; and 0.65% of such assets over $5 billion. Under the terms of a separate Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund pays the Adviser a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at annual rates of: 0.50% of the first $1 billion of the Fund’s average daily net assets; 0.45% of the next $1.5 billion of such assets; and 0.40% of such assets over $2.5 billion.

 

 

67

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed that, until November 1, 2023, it will waive its advisory fees and/or absorb operating expenses of each Fund to the extent necessary so that operating expenses of Hussman Strategic Growth Fund, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund (excluding fees and expenses incurred on investments in other investment companies and pooled investment vehicles, brokerage commissions, taxes, interest expense and any extraordinary expenses) do not exceed annually an amount equal to 1.15%, 1.25% and 0.75%, respectively, of such Fund’s average daily net assets. During the year ended June 30, 2023, the Adviser waived advisory fees in the amount of $179,461 and $62,625 with respect to Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund, respectively. Additionally, during the year ended June 30, 2023, the Adviser absorbed operating expenses of $38,330 with respect to Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund. During the year ended June 30, 2023, Hussman Strategic Growth Fund did not waive any advisory fees.

 

Pursuant to the Expense Limitation Agreements governing these arrangements, each Fund is obligated to reimburse the Adviser the amount of advisory fees previously waived and expenses previously absorbed by the Adviser for a period of three years from the date such fees or expenses were waived or absorbed, but only if such reimbursement does not cause the Fund’s operating expenses (after the reimbursement is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (i) the expense limitation in effect at the time such fees and expenses were waived or absorbed; and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the Adviser seeks reimbursement of such fees and expenses. The Expense Limitation Agreements may not be terminated by the Adviser without the approval of the Board of Trustees. During the year ended June 30, 2023, Hussman Strategic Growth Fund recovered $115,917 of past advisory fees waived. As of June 30, 2023, the amount of fee waivers and expense reimbursements available for possible recovery by the Adviser from Hussman Strategic Growth Fund, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund is $126,004, $599,085 and $72,878, respectively. The portions of these amounts that the Adviser may recover expire as of the following dates:

 

   

June 30,
2024

   

June 30,
2025

   

June 30,
2026

   

Total

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

  $ 126,004     $     $     $ 126,004  

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

  $ 209,679     $ 171,615     $ 217,791     $ 599,085  

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

  $     $ 10,253     $ 62,625     $ 72,878  

 

68

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

The Adviser may agree to continue after November 1, 2023 the current arrangement to limit the Funds’ expenses or to implement a similar arrangement, but it is not obligated to do so.

 

Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of the Adviser.

 

Other Service Providers

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”) provides administration, fund accounting and transfer agency services to the Funds. The Funds pay Ultimus fees for these services in accordance with various servicing agreements. In addition, the Funds reimburse Ultimus for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing services to the Funds, including, but not limited to, postage, supplies and costs related to the pricing of the Funds’ portfolio securities. Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of Ultimus, or Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), the principal underwriter of the Funds. The Distributor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ultimus.

 

Effective April 1, 2023, under the terms of a Consulting Agreement with the Trust, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”) provides an Anti-Money Laundering Officer to the Trust, as well as related compliance services. Under the terms of the agreement, NLCS receives fees from the Funds. NLCS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ultimus. Prior to April 1, 2023, Ultimus served as the Anti-Money Laundering Officer and provided compliance services to the Funds.

 

The Funds compensate certain financial intermediaries for providing account maintenance and shareholder services to shareholder accounts held through such intermediaries. During year ended June 30, 2023, Hussman Strategic Growth Fund, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund paid $216,889, $14,661 and $88,893, respectively, to financial intermediaries for such services.

 

Trustee Compensation

 

Trustees and officers affiliated with the Adviser or Ultimus are not compensated by the Funds for their services. Each Trustee who is not an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, of the Trust or an affiliated person of the Adviser or Ultimus (an “Independent Trustee”) receives from the Trust: an annual retainer of $50,000, payable quarterly; a fee of $7,000 for attendance at each regular quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees other than the annual meeting of the Board, for which each Independent Trustee receives an attendance fee of $12,000; a fee of $4,000 for attendance at each special meeting of the Board of Trustees; a fee of $3,000 for attendance at each meeting of any committee of the Board of Trustees that is not

 

 

69

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

held on the same day as a Board of Trustees meeting; and a fee of $1,500 for participation in each informal monthly telephone conference call of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the Independent Trustees are reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. Each Fund pays its proportionate share of the Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses.

 

Principal Holder of Fund Shares

 

As of June 30, 2023, an officer of the Adviser owned of record 40.2% of the outstanding shares of Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund. A shareholder owning of record or beneficially 25% or more of a Fund’s outstanding shares may be considered a controlling person. That shareholder’s vote could have a more significant effect on matters presented at a shareholders’ meeting.

 

4. DERIVATIVES TRANSACTIONS

 

The locations in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities of the derivative positions of Hussman Strategic Growth Fund and Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund are as follows:

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

 

       

Fair Value

   

Average Monthly

 

Type of
Derivative

Risk

Location

 

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability
Derivatives

   

Notional Value
During the
Year Ended
June 30,
2023*

 

Index put options purchased

Equity

Investments in securities at value

  $ 5,768,750     $     $ 528,428,731  

Index call options purchased

Equity

Investments in securities at value

                99,125,958  

Index call options written

Equity

Written call options, at value

          (198,321,500 )     (522,333,321 )

 

*

The average monthly notional value generally represents the Fund’s derivative activity throughout the year.

 

70

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

 

       

Fair Value

   

Average Monthly

 

Type of
Derivative

Risk

Location

 

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability
Derivatives

   

Notional Value
During the
Year Ended
June 30,
2023*

 

Index put options purchased

Equity

Investments in securities at value

  $ 38,280     $     $ 17,184,999  

Index call options written

Equity

Written call options, at value

          (3,031,460 )     (17,152,040 )

 

*

The average monthly notional value generally represents the Fund’s derivative activity throughout the year.

 

Realized and unrealized gains and losses associated with transactions in derivative instruments for Hussman Strategic Growth Fund and Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund during the year ended June 30, 2023 are recorded in the following locations on the Statements of Operations:

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

 

Type of
Derivative

Risk

Location

 

Realized Losses

 

Location

 

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Index put options purchased

Equity

Net realized gains (losses) from investments

  $ (51,257,569 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

  $ (5,903,624 )

Index call options purchased

Equity

Net realized gains (losses) from investments

    (3,562,439 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

     

Index call options written

Equity

Net realized gains (losses) from written option contracts

    (17,435,013 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on written option contracts

    (53,515,266 )

 

 

71

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

 

Type of
Derivative

Risk

Location

 

Realized Gains
(Losses)

 

Location

 

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Index put options purchased

Equity

Net realized gains (losses) from investments

  $ (1,346,008 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

  $ (96,186 )

Index call options written

Equity

Net realized gains (losses) from written option contracts

    844,051  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on written option contracts

    (1,695,308 )

 

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund had no transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended June 30, 2023.

 

In the ordinary course of business, Hussman Strategic Growth Fund and Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund may enter into transactions subject to enforceable netting agreements or other similar arrangements (“netting agreements”). Generally, the right to offset in netting agreements allows each Fund to offset the exposure it has on any transaction with a specific counterparty with any collateral it has received or delivered in connection with other transactions with that counterparty. Generally, the Funds manage their cash collateral and securities collateral on a counterparty basis.

 

72

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

The offsetting of financial liabilities and derivative liabilities as of June 30, 2023 are as follows:

 

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

 

Description

 

Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities

   

Gross
Amounts
Offset on
Statements
of Assets and
Liabilities

   

Net Amounts
of Liabilities
Presented on
Statements
of Assets and
Liabilities

   

Collateral
Pledged*

   

Net Amount

 

Written options at market value

  $ (198,321,500 )   $     $ (198,321,500 )   $ 198,321,500     $  

Total subject to a master netting or similar arrangement

  $ (198,321,500 )   $     $ (198,321,500 )   $ 198,321,500     $  

 

*

Common stocks owned by the Fund are held in escrow by the Fund’s custodian (or by a security depository) to secure the Fund’s obligations to settle outstanding call option contracts it has written (Note 1). Amounts in collateral pledged in the table above are limited to the net amounts presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

 

Description

 

Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities

   

Gross
Amounts
Offset on
Statements
of Assets and
Liabilities

   

Net Amounts
of Liabilities
Presented on
Statements
of Assets and
Liabilities

   

Collateral
Pledged*

   

Net Amount

 

Written options at market value

  $ (3,031,460 )   $     $ (3,031,460 )   $ 3,031,460     $  

Total subject to a master netting or similar arrangement

  $ (3,031,460 )   $     $ (3,031,460 )   $ 3,031,460     $  

 

*

Common stocks owned by the Fund are held in escrow by the Fund’s custodian (or by a security depository) to secure the Fund’s obligations to settle outstanding call option contracts it has written (Note 1). Amounts in collateral pledged in the table above are limited to the net amounts presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

73

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

5. CERTAIN INVESTMENTS AND ASSOCIATED RISKS

 

The securities in which the Funds invest, as well as the risks associated with these securities and with the investment programs of the Funds, are described in each Fund’s Prospectus. Among these risks are those associated with investments in derivative instruments, investments in shares of money market funds, and concentration of investments within a particular business sector.

 

Risks of Derivative Instruments — The purchase and sale of derivative instruments, including options and futures contracts, and other derivative transactions involve risks different from those involved with direct investments in securities and also require different skills from the Adviser in managing each Fund’s portfolio of investments. While utilization of options, futures contracts and similar instruments may be advantageous to the Funds, if the Adviser is not successful in employing such instruments in managing a Fund’s investments or in anticipating general market movements, the Fund’s performance will be worse than if the Fund did not make such investments. It is possible that there will be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of the investments held by the Funds and the options, futures or other derivative instruments used to hedge those investments. It is also possible that a Fund may be unable to close out or liquidate its hedges during unusual periods of illiquidity in the options, futures or other markets. In addition, a Fund will pay commissions and other costs in connection with its transactions in such instruments, which may increase its expenses and reduce its investment performance.

 

Investments in Money Market Funds — In order to maintain sufficient liquidity to implement investment strategies, or for temporary defensive purposes, each Fund may at times invest a significant portion of its assets in shares of money market funds. As of June 30, 2023, Hussman Strategic Growth Fund had 39.0% of the value of its net assets invested in shares of a money market fund registered under the 1940 Act. The annual report, along with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm is included in the money market fund’s N-CSR available at www.sec.gov. An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. While investor losses in money market funds have been rare, they are possible. The Fund, as investors in money market funds, indirectly bear the fees and expenses of those funds, which are in addition to the fees and expenses of the Fund.

 

Sector Risk — If a Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers in industries within a particular business sector, any development generally affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. This

 

74

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2023

 

may increase the risk of loss of an investment in a Fund and increase the volatility of a Fund’s NAV per share. From time to time, circumstances may affect a particular sector and the companies within such sector. For instance, economic or market factors, regulation or deregulation, and technological or other developments, may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector and therefore the value of a Fund’s portfolio could be adversely affected if it has significant holdings of securities of issuers in that sector. As of June 30, 2023, Hussman Strategic Growth Fund had 22.8% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the Technology sector.

 

6. BANK LINE OF CREDIT

 

The Trust has established a $15,000,000 unsecured bank line of credit with its custodian bank which collectively allows the Funds to borrow up to this line. Any borrowings under these arrangements bear interest at the Prime Rate, currently 8.25% as of June 30, 2023. During the year ended June 30, 2023, Hussman Strategic Growth Fund, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund did not borrow under their line of credit.

 

7. CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

 

The Trust’s officers and Trustees are entitled to indemnification from the Funds for certain liabilities to which they may become subject in connection with the performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which may require the Funds to indemnify the other parties to the contracts in the event of certain losses. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve potential claims for indemnification for losses that may or may not be incurred in the future. However, based on experience, the Trust believes the risk of loss to be remote.

 

8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Funds are required to recognize in their financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Funds are required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events.

 

 

75

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm (Unaudited)

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
Hussman Investment Trust

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments and open written options contracts, of Hussman Investment Trust comprising Hussman Strategic Growth Fund, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund, and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund (the “Funds”) as of June 30, 2023, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of June 30, 2023, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

The Funds’ financial highlights for the periods ended June 30, 2020, and prior, were audited by other auditors whose report dated August 20, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial highlights.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

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

 

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

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence

 

76

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm (Unaudited)(continued)

 

regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2023, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

We have served as the Funds’ auditor since 2021.

 

 

COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
August 25, 2023

 

 

77

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
About Your Funds’ Expenses (Unaudited)

 

We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of costs on your investment. As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include redemption fees, if any; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. A mutual fund’s ongoing costs are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio.

 

The examples below are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period (January 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023).

 

The table on the following page illustrates each Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:

 

Actual fund return – This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from each Fund’s actual return, and the fourth column shows the dollar amount of operating expenses that would have been paid by an investor who started the period with $1,000 invested in that Fund. You may use that information, together with the amount of your investment, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

 

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), and then multiply the result by the number given for the applicable Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

Hypothetical 5% return – This section is intended to help you compare each Fund’s ongoing costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that each Fund had an annual return of 5% before expenses during the period shown. In this case, because the return used is not each Fund’s actual return, the results do not illustrate the actual expenses associated with your investment. However, the example is useful in making comparisons because the SEC requires all mutual funds to provide an example of fund expenses based on a 5% annual return. You can assess each Fund’s ongoing costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other mutual funds.

 

Note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only. The expense ratios used in computing annual expenses in the tables are the expense ratios of the Funds during the six-month period ended June 30, 2023, annualized, after fee waivers and expense reimbursements. Actual expenses of the Funds in future periods may differ. The calculations assume no shares

 

78

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
About Your Funds’ Expenses (Unaudited) (continued)

 

were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

More information about each Fund’s expenses, including annual expense ratios, can be found elsewhere in this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to each Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2023

Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2023

Net
Expense
Ratio(a)

Expenses
Paid During
Period(b)

Hussman Strategic Growth Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

$ 1,000.00

$ 899.70

1.16%

$ 5.46

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,019.04

1.16%

$ 5.81

Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

$ 1,000.00

$ 987.20

1.25%

$ 6.16

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,018.60

1.25%

$ 6.26

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,020.30

0.74%

$ 3.71

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,021.12

0.74%

$ 3.71

 

(a)

Annualized, based on each Fund’s most recent one-half year expenses.

(b)

Expenses are equal to each Fund’s annualized net expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, muliplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

 

79

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

 

Overall responsibility for supervision of management of the Funds rests with the Board of Trustees. The Trustees serve during the lifetime of the Trust and until its termination, or until death, resignation, retirement or removal. The Trustees, in turn, elect the officers of the Trust to supervise the day-to-day operations of the Funds. The officers are elected for annual terms. The following are the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust:

 

Trustee

Address

Year of
Birth

Position Held
with the Trust

Length of
Time Served

*John P. Hussman, Ph. D.

6021 University Boulevard, Suite 490
Ellicott City, MD 21043

1962

President and Trustee

Since
June 2000

David C. Anderson

225 Pictoria Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45246

1950

Trustee

Since
June 2000

Jody T. Foster

225 Pictoria Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45246

1969

Trustee

Since
June 2016

William H. Vanover

225 Pictoria Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45246

1947

Trustee

Since
June 2000

Mark J. Seger

225 Pictoria Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45246

1962

Treasurer

Since
June 2000

David K. James

225 Pictoria Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45246

1970

Secretary

Since 2022

Emile R. Molineaux

225 Pictoria Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45246

1962

Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2022

 

*

Dr. Hussman, as an affiliated person of the Adviser, is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

Each Trustee oversees four portfolios of the Trust. The principal occupations during the past five years of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and public directorships (if any) currently held by the Trustees are set forth below:

 

John P. Hussman, Ph.D. is Chairman, President and Treasurer of the Adviser.

 

David C. Anderson is retired. Prior to July 9, 2021, he was Network Administrator for Hephzibah Children’s Association (a child welfare organization).

 

Jody T. Foster is President of Symphony Consulting LLC (a provider of compliance, finance, marketing, operations and human resources services to public and private fund advisers).

 

80

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)

 

William H. Vanover is retired. Prior to June 30, 2018, he was an investment counselor with Planning Alternatives, Ltd. (a registered investment adviser).

 

Mark J. Seger is Vice Chairman of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the Trust’s administrator and transfer agent) and affiliated companies. He was previously Co-CEO of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (1999-2019).

 

David K. James is Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC.

 

Emile R. Molineaux is Senior Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC.

 

Additional information about members of the Board of Trustees and executive officers of the Trust is available in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) of each Fund. To obtain a free copy of the SAI, please call 1-800-487-7626.

 

 

81

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Other Information (Unaudited)

 

A description of the policies and procedures the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge upon request by calling toll-free 1-800-HUSSMAN (1-800-487-7626), or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge upon request by calling toll-free 1-800-HUSSMAN, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Each Fund files a complete listing of portfolio holdings with the SEC as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to each Fund’s Form N-PORT. The filings are available upon request, by calling 1-800-HUSSMAN (1-800-487-7626). You may also obtain copies of these filings on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Funds’ website at www.hussmanfunds.com.

 


Federal Tax Information (Unaudited)

 

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund designated $2,045,274 as a long-term capital gain distribution.

 

In accordance with federal tax requirements, the following provides shareholders with information concerning distributions from ordinary income made by the Funds during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. Certain dividends paid by the Funds may be subject to the maximum tax rate. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, 95.91%, 24.63% and 11.15% of the dividends paid from ordinary income by Hussman Strategic Growth Fund, Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund, respectively, qualified for the dividends received deduction for corporations.

 

As required by federal regulations, the Trust will send to each shareholder complete information regarding dividends and other distributions of the Funds for 2023 on Form 1099-DIV.

 

82

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

(Unaudited)

 

At a meeting held on June 12, 2023, the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Hussman Investment Trust, including the Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”) voting separately, reviewed and unanimously approved the continuance, for an additional annual period, of the Investment Advisory Agreements between the Trust and Hussman Strategic Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) on behalf of each of Hussman Strategic Growth Fund (the “Growth Fund”), Hussman Strategic Allocation Fund (the “Allocation Fund”), and Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund (the “Total Return Fund,” and together with the Growth Fund and the Allocation Fund, the “Funds”).

 

In determining whether to approve continuances of the Investment Advisory Agreements of the Funds (the “Advisory Agreements”), the Independent Trustees requested and received from the Adviser such information as they deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the Advisory Agreements and to assess whether the Advisory Agreements continue to be in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders. In addition to reviewing and considering this information, the Independent Trustees considered information relating to the Funds and the Adviser that was provided to them in connection with meetings of the Board held throughout the year. They reviewed and considered, among other things: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to each of the Funds; (ii) the investment performance of each of the Funds; (iii) comparisons of the advisory fees and expenses of the Funds to the fees and expenses of peer groups of mutual funds; (iv) the Adviser’s costs of providing services to the Funds and the profits realized by the Adviser from its relationship with the Funds; (v) whether economies of scale in the Adviser’s costs of providing services have been realized from growth of the Funds’ assets; and (vi) whether the advisory fees payable by each Fund reflect an appropriate sharing of any such economies with such Fund for the benefit of the Fund and its shareholders. The Independent Trustees also reviewed the background, qualifications, education and experience of the Adviser’s investment professionals and support personnel, and discussed and considered: (i) the quality of shareholder communications, administrative functions and other services provided by the Adviser to the Trust and each of the Funds; (ii) the quality of the Adviser’s compliance program; (iii) the Adviser’s role in coordinating and supervising services provided to the Trust; and (iv) indirect benefits, if any, that the Adviser may derive from its relationship with the Funds. The Independent Trustees were advised and supported in this process by independent legal counsel and, prior to voting, met with and asked questions of representatives of the Adviser, including Dr. John Hussman, and met separately with their counsel.

 

 

83

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

(Unaudited) (continued)

 

The Adviser provided the Independent Trustees with extensive information to assist them in analyzing both the absolute and risk-adjusted returns of the Funds over various periods. In these materials, the returns of each Fund were compared to the returns of relevant indices and to the average returns of one or more selected peer groups of mutual funds.

 

The analyses and comparisons provided by the Adviser showed the alternative nature of the Funds and that each of the Hussman Funds has the objective of achieving long-term returns with managed risk and are not intended to track the market over shorter segments of the market cycle. The information provided to the Independent Trustees showed that the Growth Fund underperformed the S&P 500 as well as the blended benchmark year-to-date through June 10, 2023. The information provided showed that since inception, the Growth Fund’s hedging strategies have generally been successful in reducing the volatility of an investment in the Fund as compared to the volatility of relevant securities indices. The Independent Trustees noted that, although the Growth Fund underperformed the S&P 500 Index from 2009 to date, the Adviser information provided to the Independent Trustees characterized this period as representing a largely uncorrected advance to historic valuation extremes, that the Fund’s outperformance was substantial during periods of market losses occurring over the past year due to the use of hedging strategies and that the Fund’s return/risk characteristics have remained consistent with its investment objective during the period. They reviewed the Growth Fund’s performance over various periods as compared to the performance of mutual funds categorized by Morningstar, Inc. as U.S. Market Neutral and U.S. Long-Short Equity. They recognized that the Growth Fund’s performance during various recent multi-year periods lagged the average performance of these other mutual funds. Information provided to the Board indicated that, over the long term, the Adviser’s stock selection record for the Growth Fund has been generally favorable and that the underperformance of the Fund in recent years is largely attributable to the Fund’s use of hedging techniques and the nature of the Fund’s alternative investment approach, which is not intended to track general stock market movements. In evaluating the Growth Fund’s investment performance, the Independent Trustees recognized that the use of hedging is an integral part of the Fund’s investment program and that, although this has caused the Fund’s significant underperformance since 2009, the Adviser has managed the investment portfolio of the Growth Fund in a manner consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies, and with the Adviser’s investment methodology, as described in the Fund’s prospectus. The Independent Trustees also recognized that the Adviser has adapted and refined the models and analytics it uses in managing the Growth Fund in seeking to address the Fund’s underperformance and noted that the Adviser has from time to

 

84

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

(Unaudited) (continued)

 

time implemented various modifications in its analytics and restrictions in its hedging approach with the goals of improving the investment performance of the Fund over the long term and reducing the risks and costs of its hedging strategy.

 

With respect to the Allocation Fund, the Independent Trustees took note of the fact that the Fund underperformed the Bloomberg U.S. EQ:FI 60:40 Index, noting that effective February 28, 2023, the Allocation Fund changed its primary benchmark to this index but continues to use the Benchmark Fixed Allocation Composite as a secondary benchmark. In their consideration of the Allocation Fund’s performance, the Independent Trustees noted that the Fund has maintained a defensive stance since inception (with a significant portion of the Fund’s stock portfolio hedged against general market fluctuations) and that the Fund has experienced significantly less downside risk than a passive investment approach, although the Fund has not been in existence long enough to evaluate its investment performance over a full market cycle.

 

In reviewing the performance of the Total Return Fund, the Independent Trustees took note of the fact that the Total Return Fund underperformed the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index year-to-date. In addition, the Independent Trustees reviewed comparisons of the performance of the Total Return Fund for various periods to the performance of mutual funds categorized by Morningstar as U.S. Allocation (15% to 30% Equity), U.S. Tactical Allocation and U.S. Multisector Bond. They noted that the performance of the Total Return Fund for the one-year period ended April 30, 2023 has been competitive and that the Fund has performed well over longer periods (3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended April 30, 2023, as well as since inception of the Fund).

 

In evaluating the advisory fees payable by the Funds and the Funds’ expense ratios, the Independent Trustees reviewed comparative expense and advisory fee information for peer groups of mutual funds based on investment style.

 

With respect to advisory fees, the Independent Trustees concluded that the advisory fee of the Growth Fund, computed at the annual rate of 0.90% of average daily net assets (based on the Fund’s then current asset level), compares favorably to the average advisory fees payable by mutual funds categorized by Morningstar as U.S. Long-Short Equity or U.S. Market Neutral. The Independent Trustees also reviewed comparative advisory fee information for the Allocation Fund, computed at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets (based on the Fund’s then current asset level), and noted that the advisory fee of the Fund compares favorably to the average advisory fees of other funds of similar size investing in similar securities. With respect to the Total Return Fund, the Independent Trustees concluded that the advisory fee of the Fund, computed at the annual rate of 0.50% of average daily

 

 

85

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

(Unaudited) (continued)

 

net assets (based on the Fund’s then current asset level), compares favorably to the average of advisory fees of other funds of similar size investing in similar securities. With respect to each of the Funds, the Independent Trustees determined that the fees payable to the Adviser appropriately reflect the nature and scope of services provided by the Adviser (which are broader than the norm) and the value to the Funds of the Adviser’s experience, expertise, and analytic capabilities. They also determined that the advisory fee schedules of the Funds, which include breakpoints in the fee rates applicable to net assets in excess of specified levels, provide the opportunity for each of the Funds and its shareholders to participate in economies of scale in the Adviser’s costs of providing services that may be associated with potential future growth of the Funds’ assets.

 

With respect to the total expenses of the Funds, the Independent Trustees considered the fact that the expense ratios of the Growth Fund and the Total Return Fund, both before and after advisory fee reductions pursuant to the Adviser’s agreement to waive its fees or to absorb expenses of the Funds as necessary to maintain the operating expenses of the Funds (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, taxes, interest expense and any extraordinary expenses) at specified levels, are less than the averages for their respective peer group funds. They noted in this regard that the Growth Fund has one of the lowest expense ratios among mutual funds categorized by Morningstar as U.S. Long-Short Equity or U.S. Market Neutral. With respect to the Total Return Fund, the Independent Trustees noted that the Fund’s expense ratio is less than the average expense ratio of mutual funds categorized by Morningstar as U.S. Tactical Allocation or U.S. Multisector Bond. They also noted that, from time to time since each such Fund’s inception, their expense ratios were reduced through the introduction of advisory fee breakpoints. In addition, the Independent Trustees considered the fact that, since March 2013, the Adviser has contractually been waiving a portion of its fees to reduce the total ordinary operating expenses of the Growth Fund and the Total Return Fund.

 

The Independent Trustees also reviewed comparative information relating to the total expenses of the Allocation Fund. They noted that the expense ratio of the Allocation Fund is average compared to many other mutual funds that have similar investment strategies. However, the Independent Trustees considered the fact that the higher expense ratio is attributable, in part, to the relatively small size of the Fund and took into consideration the expense limitation arrangements under which the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fees or to absorb operating expenses of the Fund, to the extent necessary to limit total annual ordinary operating expenses of the

 

86

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

(Unaudited) (continued)

 

Allocation Fund (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, taxes, interest expense and any extraordinary expenses) to 1.25% of average daily net assets.

 

In evaluating the expense ratios of the Funds, the Independent Trustees recognized that, although under the expense limitation agreements currently in effect the Adviser may be entitled to be reimbursed by a Fund for all or a portion of fees waived and expenses absorbed by the Adviser, any such reimbursement could not result in the expense ratio of a Fund (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, taxes, interest expense and any extraordinary expenses) exceeding the lesser of: (i) the expense limitation in effect for the Fund at the time of the fee waiver or expense absorption by the Adviser; and (ii) the expense limitation (if any) in effect at the time of reimbursement by the Fund. The Independent Trustees were cognizant of the fact that the current expense limitation agreement for each Fund remains in effect only until November 1, 2023 but recognized that the Adviser has historically agreed to continuing such agreements in effect from year to year (either without change or with only relatively minor upward adjustment in the applicable expense limitation). The Independent Trustees concluded that each Fund has benefited and continues to benefit from these expense limitation arrangements, which have enabled each Fund to maintain an expense ratio within the expense ratios of its peer group funds.

 

The Independent Trustees also reviewed recent financial statements of the Adviser, as well as schedules showing the Adviser’s estimated revenues, expenses and profitability with respect to each of the Funds for calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022 and for the first four months of 2023. They noted that the Adviser has waived its fees (and, in some cases, absorbed expenses of a Fund), thereby reducing its profitability, pursuant to expense limitation agreements. In evaluating the Adviser’s profitability, the Independent Trustees considered the broad and unique skill set and talent that is required for the Adviser to pursue and to adhere to the Funds’ well-defined and disciplined investment programs, which has been a primary attraction of the Funds to investors. They determined that, based on the Adviser’s revenues and profitability, the Adviser has sufficient financial resources to enable it to continue to provide all required services to the Funds, without diminution of service quality or scope. The Independent Trustees noted that the Adviser’s profitability with respect to each of the Funds was not excessive when viewed in light of the scope of services provided by the Adviser and the Adviser’s adherence to its stated investment philosophy and the investment programs of the Funds.

 

 

87

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

(Unaudited) (continued)

 

Based on a careful review of the investment performance and risk characteristics of the Funds and consideration of other matters deemed by them to be pertinent (including, but not limited to, the factors and information discussed above), the Independent Trustees concluded that the Adviser has provided all required services to the Funds in a satisfactory manner. They determined that this conclusion is supported by the nature and scope of advisory services required by the Funds, which are broader and more sophisticated than those required by many other mutual funds due to the nature of the Funds’ investment programs and which involve extensive use of risk-management techniques. The Independent Trustees also considered the fact that the Adviser has generally achieved lower volatility of investment returns for the Funds than would have resulted from use of a passive investment approach. They recognized that challenges associated with the Adviser’s hedging approach have reduced the returns of the Growth Fund in the period since 2009 but noted that the Adviser has implemented meaningful changes in its methodologies since 2009 that may operate to reduce the frequency of similar challenges in future market cycles while maintaining the favorable attributes that the Adviser’s hedging strategies exhibited in the years prior to 2009.

 

The Independent Trustees concluded that the Adviser has consistently taken a proactive stance with regard to shareholder protections, service quality and ethical standards. Among other things, they noted that the Adviser: (i) does not derive any material indirect benefits from its relationship with the Funds; (ii) does not derive any economic benefit in connection with transactions in shares of the Funds; and (iii) adheres to a brokerage placement policy that seeks to obtain best execution and low commissions on all of the Funds’ brokerage transactions and does not direct transactions to obtain “soft dollar” services, which has resulted in significant savings to the Funds and their shareholders by reducing transaction costs (which are not reflected in the expense ratios of the Funds) and has operated to increase the Funds’ investment performance after expenses. The Independent Trustees thought it was significant that Dr. John Hussman and other personnel of the Adviser, and their immediate family members and charitable entities, maintain substantial investments in the Funds, which helps to align the interests of the Adviser and its personnel with the interests of shareholders.

 

The Independent Trustees also considered the profitability of the Adviser from its relationship with each Fund and concluded that the Adviser’s profitability was not excessive when viewed in light of the scope of services provided by the Adviser and the Adviser’s adherence to its stated investment philosophy and the investment programs of the Funds. They noted that the Adviser has been willing to share in the economies of scale that have been realized from the growth in the assets of the Funds.

 

88

 

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

(Unaudited) (continued)

 

In addition, they noted that, although the Adviser benefits from its relationship with the Funds to the extent that the growth of the Funds’ assets increase the dollar amount of advisory fees payable to the Adviser, such a result is appropriate and there are no other benefits for which an economic benefit can readily be determined that are realized by the Adviser.

 

After evaluating all pertinent factors and information (including but not limited to the factors and information discussed above), the Board determined that the fees payable by each Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreements are appropriate in view of the nature, scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser, and further determined that continuances of the Advisory Agreements are in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders. Accordingly, the Board voted unanimously to approve the continuance of each of the Advisory Agreements for an additional one-year term. No single factor was considered in isolation or to be determinative to this decision.

 

 

89

 

 

Hussman Investment Trust
Discussion of Liquidity Risk Management Program

(Unaudited)

 

As required by Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, the Trust has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) and has designated persons to be responsible for administering the Program (the “Program Administrators”). In connection with its meeting on June 12, 2023, the Board was presented with and considered a written report from the Program Administrators addressing the operation of the Program and assessing its adequacy and the effectiveness of its implementation. The Program Administrators took into account the liquidity of each Fund in relation to its investment strategies, short-term and long-term cash flow projections, borrowing arrangements and cash positions. Based upon these and other pertinent factors, the Program Administrators determined that each of the Funds primarily holds highly liquid securities, and that there has been no unusual stress or disruption from any redemption activity since the implementation of the Program.

 

The Program Administrators concluded that the Program is reasonably designed and has been effectively implemented. They further concluded that the combination of the diversification of portfolio holdings, the Adviser’s ability to execute trades without significant cost impact, the infrequency of significant daily redemptions, and the record of each Fund’s daily holdings of cash and cash equivalents, mitigate against the risk that a Fund would be unable to meet a shareholder request to redeem shares without significant dilution of the interests of remaining investors in the Fund. Despite the market volatility during the fiscal year, the Funds have not experienced execution or settlement issues with respect to their portfolio trades.

 

90

 

 

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISER
Hussman Strategic Advisors, Inc.
6021 University Boulevard, Suite 490
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043

 

www.hussmanfunds.com
1-800-HUSSMAN (1-800-487-7626)

 

ADMINISTRATOR/TRANSFER AGENT

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

 

CUSTODIAN

U.S. Bank, N.A.
425 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Cohen & Company, Ltd.
342 N. Water Street
Suite 830
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
3000 Two Logan Square
Eighteenth and Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

This Report is authorized for
distribution only if accompanied or preceded
by a current Prospectus of the Funds.

 

Hussman-AR-23

 

 

 

(b)Not applicable

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. Pursuant to Item 13(a)(1), a copy of registrant’s code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. During the period covered by this report, the code of ethics has not been amended, and the registrant has not granted any waivers, including implicit waivers, from the provisions of the code of ethics.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The registrant’s board of trustees has determined that the registrant does not have an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. The audit committee determined that, although none of its members meet the technical definition of an audit committee financial expert, the members have sufficient financial expertise to address any issues that are likely to come before the committee. After evaluation of the accounting environment within which the registrant operates, it was the consensus of the audit committee members that it is not necessary at the present time for the committee to seek to recruit an additional trustee who would qualify as an audit committee financial expert. It was the view of the committee that, if novel issues ever arise, it will hire an expert to assist it as needed.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $48,000 and $60,000 with respect to the registrant’s fiscal years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

(b)Audit-Related Fees. No fees were billed during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item.

 

(c)Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $16,000 and $16,000 with respect to the registrant’s fiscal years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The services comprising these fees include the preparation of the registrant’s federal income tax returns and the preparation of the Funds’ excise tax returns (which includes review of the Funds’ required distributions).

 

(d)All Other Fees. No fees were billed in either of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item.

 

 

 

(e)(1)The audit committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. Pursuant to the pre-approval policies and procedures, the audit committee has pre-approved certain audit, audit-related and tax services and has established, with respect to each fiscal year of the registrant, the following maximum fee levels for services covered under the pre-approval policies and procedures:

 

·Services associated with SEC registration statements filed by the registrant with the SEC or other documents issued by the registrant in connection with securities offerings and assistance in responding to SEC comment letters – $6,000

 

·Consultations with management of the registrant as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential impact of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, PCAOB or other regulatory or standard setting bodies – $6,000

 

·All additional tax services provided to the registrant in the aggregate – $6,000

 

(e)(2)None of the services described in paragraph (b) through (d) of this Item were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f)Less than 50% of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.

 

(g)During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, aggregate non-audit fees of $16,000 and $16,000, respectively, were billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to the registrant. No non-audit fees were billed in either of the last two fiscal years by the registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant.

 

(h)The principal accountant has not provided any non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant.

 

(i)Not applicable

 

(j)Not applicable

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable

 

 

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)Not applicable [schedule filed with Item 1]

 

(b)Not applicable

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

The registrant has not adopted procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of trustees.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a) Based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and are operating effectively to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared, and that the information required in filings on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.

 

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.

 

(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Attached hereto

 

(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)): Attached hereto

 

(1) Not applicable

 

(2) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountants: Not applicable

 

(b) Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)): Attached hereto

 

 

Exhibit 99.CODE ETH Code of Ethics

 

Exhibit 99.CERT Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act

 

Exhibit 99.906CERT Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant)    Hussman Investment Trust  
     
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John P. Hussman  
  John P. Hussman, President  
     
Date September 7, 2023

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John P. Hussman  
John P. Hussman, President  
     
Date September 7, 2023  

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Mark J. Seger
  Mark J. Seger, Treasurer
     
Date September 7, 2023

 

 

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.