N-CSR 1 acgf7312020n-csr.htm N-CSR Document

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 number811-21861
AMERICAN CENTURY GROWTH FUNDS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
4500 MAIN STREET, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI64111
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
CHARLES A. ETHERINGTON
4500 MAIN STREET, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64111
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:816-531-5575
Date of fiscal year end:07-31
Date of reporting period:07-31-2020













ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.





        


image411.jpg
Annual Report
July 31, 2020
Focused Dynamic Growth Fund
Investor Class (ACFOX)
I Class (ACFSX)
A Class (ACFDX)
R Class (ACFCX)
R6 Class (ACFNX)
G Class (ACFGX)



















Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the fund’s shareholder reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the fund or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund or your financial intermediary electronically by calling or sending an email request to your appropriate contacts as listed on the back cover of this report.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform the fund or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by calling or sending an email request to your appropriate contacts as listed on the back cover of this report. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held with the fund complex/your financial intermediary.







Table of Contents
President’s Letter
Performance
Portfolio Commentary
Fund Characteristics
Shareholder Fee Example
Schedule of Investments
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Statement of Operations
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Notes to Financial Statements
Financial Highlights
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Management
Approval of Management Agreement
Liquidity Risk Management Program
Additional Information
















Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.



President’s Letter
image22311.jpg Jonathan Thomas

Dear Investor:

Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended July 31, 2020. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.

Pandemic Altered Economic, Market Courses

Broad market sentiment was generally upbeat through mid-February 2020. Dovish central banks, modest inflation, improving economic and corporate earnings data, and U.S.-China trade-policy progress helped boost global growth outlooks. Against this backdrop, key U.S. stock benchmarks rose to new highs, and global risk assets largely remained in favor.

Beginning in late February, unprecedented turmoil quickly quashed the optimistic tone. COVID-19 rapidly spread worldwide, halting most U.S. and global economic activity and triggering a worldwide recession. Stocks and other riskier assets sold off sharply as investors fled to U.S. Treasuries and other perceived safe haven investments. Central banks and federal governments stepped in quickly and aggressively to stabilize global markets. These extraordinary efforts helped launch a broad rebound among risk assets beginning in April, despite weak economic and corporate earnings data. Declining coronavirus infection and death rates in many regions and the reopening of economies also helped fuel the recovery.

Overall, global stocks delivered mixed results for the 12-month period. In general, U.S. stocks overcame the effects of the early 2020 sell-off to deliver a solid return. U.S. stocks generally fared better than non-U.S. stocks, and the growth style significantly outperformed value stocks. U.S. and global bonds rallied, too, as yields declined sharply for the reporting period.

A Slow Return to Normal

The return to pre-pandemic life will take time and patience, but we are confident we will get there. We remain hopeful medical researchers will uncover effective COVID-19 treatments and potentially develop a vaccine. In the meantime, investors likely will face periods of outbreak-related disruptions, economic and political uncertainty, and heightened market volatility. While these influences can be unsettling, they tend to be temporary.

We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. We have a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet these current challenges.

Sincerely,
image22411.jpg
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Performance
 
Total Returns as of July 31, 2020
  Average Annual Returns 
 Ticker Symbol1 year5 years10 yearsSince
Inception
Inception Date
Investor ClassACFOX48.72%21.47%18.17%5/31/06
Russell 1000 Growth Index29.84%16.82%17.28%
I ClassACFSX48.98%21.71%18.40%5/31/06
A ClassACFDX5/31/06
No sales charge48.29%21.17%17.87%
With sales charge39.74%19.75%17.18%
R ClassACFCX47.96%20.86%17.58%5/31/06
R6 ClassACFNX49.24%31.53%12/1/16
G ClassACFGX49.98%41.22%4/1/19
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available.
Fund returns would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived. Prior to June 15, 2020, the A Class was referred to as the Advisor Class and did not have a front-end sales charge. Performance prior to that date has been adjusted to reflect this charge. Extraordinary performance is attributable in part to unusually favorable market conditions and may not be repeated or consistently achieved in the future.

Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.


















Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
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Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years
$10,000 investment made July 31, 2010
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure.
 chart-73e155055f134e38b6811.jpg
Value on July 31, 2020
Investor Class — $53,161
Russell 1000 Growth Index — $49,285
Ending value of Investor Class would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived.
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
Investor ClassI ClassA ClassR ClassR6 ClassG Class
1.02%0.82%1.27%1.52%0.67%0.67%
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.

















Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
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Portfolio Commentary
 
Portfolio Managers: Keith Lee, Michael Li, Henry He and Prabha Ram

Performance Summary

Focused Dynamic Growth returned 48.72%* for the 12 months ended July 31, 2020, outperforming the 29.84% return of its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and investors should not assume the portfolio will perform as well going forward as it has in the past.

U.S. stocks delivered strong returns during the reporting period, which was marked by extreme volatility. Stocks initially rose to all-time highs in February, before the COVID-19 pandemic and measures to combat it led to the first recession and bear market in stocks since the 2008-09 financial crisis. Massive monetary and fiscal stimulus helped support the economy and markets, with stocks moving back toward record highs by period-end. Within the Russell 1000 Growth Index, the information technology sector contributed the most by far to total return, helped by the acceleration in digital transformation caused by COVID-19. Energy and industrials were the only two sectors in the index to decline.

The fund’s investment strategy features a concentrated portfolio of comparatively early and rapid-growth stage companies we believe have the potential to sustain above-average growth rates. The portfolio’s outperformance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index was led by stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector, followed by information technology. The energy sector was the only detractor from relative results.

Consumer Discretionary Stocks Led Contributors, Followed by Information Technology

Within the consumer discretionary sector, electric car company Tesla outperformed on positive fundamental reports and was the leading individual contributor to relative performance. The company reported better-than-expected production numbers, successfully launched the Model Y and announced plans to ramp up production of a commercial semitruck. The company benefits from owning showrooms rather than traditional dealerships, operating a global battery-charging infrastructure and predominantly using over-the-air software updates, which helps profitability.

The information technology sector aided performance, led by stock selection in the software industry. Cloud-based electronic signature company DocuSign outperformed, as e-signatures and digital document management have increasingly become mainstream. The stock is benefiting from a secular trend toward spending on productivity-enhancement tools. RingCentral was another top contributor. It helps companies move their communications into the cloud, providing features like voice, video, data and call forwarding. The company was a beneficiary of work-from-home mandates during the pandemic, and we think it will continue to show long-term growth as communication becomes increasingly cloud-based.

Other Contributors

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals was another major contributor to relative returns. The biotechnology company is engaged in the discovery and development of medicines for the treatment of serious diseases, and it maintains one of the world’s most comprehensive genetic databases. Regeneron is on the front line in the battle to find a treatment for COVID-19, currently running late-stage




*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Fund returns would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
5


trials. It is using the same technology that allowed it to develop an effective treatment for the Ebola virus. Other notable contributors were Netherlands-based Argenx, an innovative biotechnology company, and China-based interactive media and services company Tencent Holdings.

Elsewhere, The Boston Beer Co. was a significant contributor to relative performance. The company reported better-than-expected earnings, helped by strong growth in its Truly hard seltzer brand, and raised its 2020 growth outlook. We like Boston Beer for its potential to improve margins over time and for its ongoing innovation, which has driven the long-term growth of the business.

Energy Holdings Detracted From Performance

Our overweight allocation to energy detracted from relative performance. In the energy equipment and services industry, Cactus was a significant detractor. Cactus designs and manufactures wellheads for the U.S. market, differentiated from a safety and efficiency perspective. The company was caught up in the broad sell-off as energy stocks fell sharply due to reduced global demand and plunging oil prices. The energy sector represents a very small weight (0.08%) in our benchmark.

Other Detractors

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies detracted on concerns that the slowing economy would reduce railroad volumes, which in turn would curtail demand for its locomotives and services.

Constellation Brands, which owns beer brands such as Modelo and Corona, reported a loss from its investment in cannabis company Canopy Growth and guided forward earnings lower as a result. The company is taking market share and has significant margin expansion opportunities, so we continued to hold our position.

Not owning the consumer electronics giant Apple weighed on relative performance. Growth in Apple’s services and wearable devices businesses has taken the pressure off iPhone sales as the driver of earnings. We had no exposure to the company because we seek to own early stage, high-growth companies, as opposed to later-stage, more mature companies.

We did not own Microsoft, which also detracted from relative returns as the software giant’s stock was buoyed by the breadth of its businesses, its transition to a subscription model and strength in its cloud division. Like Apple, Microsoft’s stage of maturity is inconsistent with the early stage growth companies we seek.

Outlook

The fund typically holds stakes in a relatively small number of companies in the early and rapid phases of growth. We seek companies that we believe are positioned for sustained, above-average growth over time driven by innovation. The fund’s sector allocations are primarily the result of this investment process emphasizing growth and individual security selection. At the end of the reporting period, the consumer discretionary and financials sectors represented the largest overweight allocations versus the benchmark. The portfolio held no stocks in the real estate, materials or utilities sectors.
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Fund Characteristics
JULY 31, 2020
Top Ten Holdings% of net assets
Amazon.com, Inc.8.7%
Tesla, Inc.5.0%
Alphabet, Inc., Class C4.6%
Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A4.3%
Cognex Corp.4.3%
DocuSign, Inc.4.2%
salesforce.com, Inc.4.2%
Square, Inc., Class A3.9%
Slack Technologies, Inc., Class A3.9%
Okta, Inc.3.9%
Top Five Industries% of net assets
IT Services14.7%
Software14.4%
Interactive Media and Services9.1%
Internet and Direct Marketing Retail8.7%
Biotechnology8.0%
  
Types of Investments in Portfolio% of net assets
Common Stocks99.3%
Temporary Cash Investments1.7%
Other Assets and Liabilities(1.0)%

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Shareholder Fee Example

Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from February 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.

Actual Expenses

The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25.00 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25.00 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

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 Beginning
Account Value
2/1/20
Ending
Account Value
7/31/20
Expenses Paid
During Period
(1)
2/1/20 - 7/31/20
 
Annualized
Expense Ratio
(1)
Actual
Investor Class$1,000$1,338.80$4.940.85%
I Class$1,000$1,340.20$3.780.65%
A Class$1,000$1,337.10$6.391.10%
R Class$1,000$1,335.40$7.841.35%
R6 Class$1,000$1,341.40$2.910.50%
G Class$1,000$1,344.40$0.00
0.00%(2)
Hypothetical
Investor Class$1,000$1,020.64$4.270.85%
I Class$1,000$1,021.63$3.270.65%
A Class$1,000$1,019.39$5.521.10%
R Class$1,000$1,018.15$6.771.35%
R6 Class$1,000$1,022.38$2.510.50%
G Class$1,000$1,024.86$0.00
0.00%(2)
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 366, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
(2)Other expenses, which include directors' fees and expenses, did not exceed 0.005%.

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Schedule of Investments

JULY 31, 2020
SharesValue
COMMON STOCKS — 99.3%
Automobiles — 5.0%
Tesla, Inc.(1)
48,176 $68,928,295 
Beverages — 6.6%
Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A(1)
74,266 60,188,137 
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A174,321 31,064,002 
91,252,139 
Biotechnology — 8.0%
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1)
186,617 27,201,294 
Argenx SE, ADR(1)
113,941 26,221,242 
Biogen, Inc.(1)
51,044 14,021,276 
Blueprint Medicines Corp.(1)
263,256 19,265,074 
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1)
141,280 8,132,077 
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1)
26,425 16,702,450 
111,543,413 
Capital Markets — 5.0%
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.344,393 33,330,355 
S&P Global, Inc.100,765 35,292,941 
68,623,296 
Diversified Consumer Services — 3.5%
Chegg, Inc.(1)
593,010 48,016,020 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 4.3%
Cognex Corp.895,744 59,898,401 
Energy Equipment and Services — 1.1%
Cactus, Inc., Class A658,108 14,886,403 
Entertainment — 2.2%
Netflix, Inc.(1)
61,460 30,046,565 
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 4.9%
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(1)
77,952 53,431,419 
Silk Road Medical, Inc.(1)
308,626 14,338,764 
67,770,183 
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 2.5%
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.(1)
30,105 34,776,092 
Interactive Media and Services — 9.1%
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(1)
42,956 63,702,030 
Facebook, Inc., Class A(1)
180,231 45,719,198 
Tencent Holdings Ltd.250,100 17,120,504 
126,541,732 
Internet and Direct Marketing Retail — 8.7%
Amazon.com, Inc.(1)
38,214 120,935,081 
IT Services — 14.7%
MasterCard, Inc., Class A155,640 48,019,609 
Okta, Inc.(1)
242,059 53,490,198 
Square, Inc., Class A(1)
420,070 54,546,089 
Visa, Inc., Class A253,795 48,322,568 
204,378,464 
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SharesValue
Machinery — 3.7%
FANUC Corp.109,300 $18,366,611 
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.535,197 33,283,901 
51,650,512 
Professional Services — 1.7%
Verisk Analytics, Inc.124,008 23,401,550 
Software — 14.4%
DocuSign, Inc.(1)
269,816 58,504,203 
RingCentral, Inc., Class A(1)
102,362 29,712,618 
salesforce.com, Inc.(1)
298,401 58,143,435 
Slack Technologies, Inc., Class A(1)
1,819,230 53,758,246 
200,118,502 
Specialty Retail — 1.8%
Ross Stores, Inc.274,022 24,571,553 
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 2.1%
NIKE, Inc., Class B295,173 28,811,836 
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $1,049,750,833)
1,376,150,037 
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 1.7%
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 1.50% - 2.125%, 9/15/22 - 12/31/22, valued at $9,503,018), in a joint trading account at 0.04%, dated 7/31/20, due 8/3/20 (Delivery value $9,318,393)9,318,362 
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.25%, 7/31/25, valued at $15,211,339), at 0.05%, dated 7/31/20, due 8/3/20 (Delivery value $14,913,062)14,913,000 
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class115,370 115,370 
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS
(Cost $24,346,732)
24,346,732 
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 101.0%
(Cost $1,074,097,565)
1,400,496,769 
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — (1.0)%(14,392,889)
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0%$1,386,103,880 

NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
ADR-American Depositary Receipt
(1)Non-income producing.


See Notes to Financial Statements.

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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
JULY 31, 2020
Assets
Investment securities, at value (cost of $1,074,097,565)$1,400,496,769 
Receivable for capital shares sold5,554,784 
Dividends and interest receivable45,048 
Securities lending receivable107 
1,406,096,708 
Liabilities
Payable for investments purchased16,064,151 
Payable for capital shares redeemed3,356,965 
Accrued management fees568,060 
Distribution and service fees payable3,652 
19,992,828 
Net Assets$1,386,103,880 
Net Assets Consist of:
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus)$1,052,195,806 
Distributable earnings333,908,074 
$1,386,103,880 

 Net AssetsShares OutstandingNet Asset Value Per Share
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value$642,986,900 14,607,433 $44.02
I Class, $0.01 Par Value$290,522,709 6,537,295 $44.44
A Class, $0.01 Par Value$7,430,164 171,230 $43.39*
R Class, $0.01 Par Value$6,398,840 149,639 $42.76
R6 Class, $0.01 Par Value$437,928 9,685 $45.22
G Class, $0.01 Par Value$438,327,339 9,628,922 $45.52
*Maximum offering price $46.04 (net asset value divided by 0.9425).

 
See Notes to Financial Statements.
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Statement of Operations
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 2020
Investment Income (Loss)
Income: 
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $4,336)$1,161,747 
Interest43,177 
Securities lending, net107 
1,205,031 
Expenses:
Management fees4,571,712 
Distribution and service fees:
A Class6,980 
R Class15,163 
Directors' fees and expenses15,081 
Other expenses2,888 
4,611,824 
Fees waived(1)
(1,701,471)
2,910,353 
Net investment income (loss)(1,705,322)
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investment transactions12,137,988 
Foreign currency translation transactions(7,423)
12,130,565 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments294,385,480 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)306,516,045 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations$304,810,723 

(1)Amount consists of $468,318, $119,734, $4,747, $5,155, $7,831 and $1,095,686 for Investor Class,
I Class, A Class, R Class, R6 Class and G Class, respectively.
 

See Notes to Financial Statements.
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Statement of Changes in Net Assets
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2020 AND JULY 31, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Net AssetsJuly 31, 2020July 31, 2019
Operations
Net investment income (loss)$(1,705,322)$(730,214)
Net realized gain (loss)12,130,565 (2,979,260)
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)294,385,480 22,499,276 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations304,810,723 18,789,802 
Capital Share Transactions
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5)877,383,422 100,387,758 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets1,182,194,145 119,177,560 
Net Assets
Beginning of period203,909,735 84,732,175 
End of period$1,386,103,880 $203,909,735 
 
 
 See Notes to Financial Statements.
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Notes to Financial Statements
 
JULY 31, 2020

1. Organization

American Century Growth Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Focused Dynamic Growth Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class (formerly Advisor Class), R Class, R6 Class and G Class. Sale of the G Class commenced on April 1, 2019.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.

Investment Valuations The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported net asset value per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment’s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s net asset value per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
15


Security Transactions Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Securities lending income is net of fees and rebates earned by the lending agent for its services.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The fund may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders Distributions from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually. The fund may elect to treat a portion of its payment to a redeeming shareholder, which represents the pro rata share of undistributed net investment income and net realized gains, as a distribution for federal income tax purposes (tax equalization).

16


Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
Securities Lending Securities are lent to qualified financial institutions and brokers. State Street Bank & Trust Co. serves as securities lending agent to the fund pursuant to a Securities Lending Agreement. The lending of securities exposes the fund to risks such as: the borrowers may fail to return the loaned securities, the borrowers may not be able to provide additional collateral, the fund may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or delays in access to collateral, or the fund may experience losses related to the investment collateral. To minimize certain risks, loan counterparties pledge collateral in the form of cash and/or securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the fund in the case of default of any securities borrowed. Cash collateral received is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, a money market mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act. The loans may also be secured by U.S. government securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted accordingly. By lending securities, the fund seeks to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest and fees. Such income is reflected separately within the Statement of Operations. The value of loaned securities and related collateral outstanding at period end, if any, are shown on a gross basis within the Schedule of Investments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties

Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC. Various funds issued by American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc. own, in aggregate, 24% of the shares of the fund.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class's daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund’s assets, which do not vary by class. The rate of the fee is determined by applying a fee rate calculation formula. This formula takes into account the fund’s assets as well as certain assets, if any, of other clients of the investment advisor outside the American Century Investments family of funds (such as subadvised funds and separate accounts) that use very similar investment teams and strategies (strategy assets). During the period ended July 31, 2020, the investment advisor agreed to waive 0.17% of the fund's management fee. The investment advisor expects this waiver to continue until July 31, 2021 and cannot terminate it prior to such date without the approval of the Board of Directors. The investment advisor agreed to waive the G Class's management fee in its entirety. The investment advisor expects this waiver to remain in effect permanently and cannot terminate it without the approval of the Board of Directors.

The management fee schedule range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended July 31, 2020, are as follows:
Effective Annual Management Fee
Management Fee Schedule Range
Before Waiver
After Waiver
Investor Class
0.80% to 1.02%1.02%0.85%
I Class
0.60% to 0.82%0.82%0.65%
A Class
0.80% to 1.02%1.02%0.85%
R Class
0.80% to 1.02%1.02%0.85%
R6 Class
0.45% to 0.67%0.67%0.50%
G Class
0.45% to 0.67%0.67%0.00%
17


Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended July 31, 2020 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.

Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.

Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $1,190,736 and $198,931, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $(284,333) in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.

4. Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments and in kind transactions, for the period ended July 31, 2020 were $818,705,475 and $144,563,222, respectively.

On July 22 ,2020, the fund incurred a purchase in kind of equity securities valued at $193,145,571. A purchase in kind occurs when a fund receives securities into its portfolio in lieu of cash as payment from a purchasing shareholder.


18


5. Capital Share Transactions

The corporation is authorized to issue 3,000,000,000 shares. Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
 Year ended
July 31, 2020
Year ended
July 31, 2019(1)
 SharesAmountSharesAmount
Investor Class
Sold14,491,326 $502,281,091 5,123,376 $137,064,810 
Redeemed(5,291,616)(176,930,452)(2,842,818)(73,947,484)
9,199,710 325,350,639 2,280,558 63,117,326 
I Class
Sold6,905,991 257,265,553 1,568,113 42,544,450 
Redeemed(1,450,746)(47,352,111)(509,108)(14,008,490)
5,455,245 209,913,442 1,059,005 28,535,960 
A Class
Sold203,985 7,071,939 47,521 1,302,625 
Redeemed(73,837)(2,502,834)(30,801)(815,442)
130,148 4,569,105 16,720 487,183 
R Class
Sold112,773 3,927,466 63,481 1,665,956 
Redeemed(38,993)(1,210,594)(11,189)(288,145)
73,780 2,716,872 52,292 1,377,811 
R6 Class
Sold26,475 824,231 321,016 8,315,317 
Redeemed(283,191)(9,804,538)(56,125)(1,534,208)
(256,716)(8,980,307)264,891 6,781,109 
G Class
Sold12,453,141 446,064,638 3,008 91,221 
Redeemed(2,827,134)(102,250,967)(93)(2,852)
9,626,007 343,813,671 2,915 88,369 
Net increase (decrease)24,228,174 $877,383,422 3,676,381 $100,387,758 

(1)April 1, 2019 (commencement of sale) through July 31, 2019 for the G Class.

6. Fair Value Measurements

The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.

Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.

Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.

Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).

19


The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
Level 1Level 2Level 3
Assets
Investment Securities
Common Stocks$1,340,662,922 $35,487,115  
Temporary Cash Investments115,37024,231,362  
$1,340,778,292 $59,718,477  

7. Risk Factors

The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.

8. Federal Tax Information

The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements. There were no distributions paid by the fund during the years ended July 31, 2020 and July 31, 2019.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:

Federal tax cost of investments$1,075,543,606 
Gross tax appreciation of investments$327,754,116 
Gross tax depreciation of investments(2,800,953)
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments$324,953,163 
Undistributed ordinary income 
Accumulated long-term gains$10,297,003 
Late-year ordinary loss deferral$(1,342,092)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
Loss deferrals represent certain qualified losses that the fund has elected to treat as having been incurred in the following fiscal year for federal income tax purposes.
20


Financial Highlights
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended July 31 (except as noted)
Per-Share DataRatios and Supplemental Data
  Income From Investment Operations:Ratio to Average Net Assets of:  
 Net
Asset Value, Beginning
of Period
Net
Investment
Income (Loss)(1)
Net
Realized and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
Total From
Investment
Operations
Distributions From Net
Investment
Income
Net Asset Value, End of Period
Total
Return(2)
Operating
Expenses
Operating Expenses (before expense waiver)Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver)Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in thousands)
Investor Class
2020$29.60(0.21)14.6314.42$44.0248.72%0.85%1.02%(0.62)%(0.79)%27%$642,987 
2019$26.49(0.14)3.253.11$29.6011.74%0.89%1.02%(0.52)%(0.65)%23%$160,079 
2018$20.08(0.16)6.576.41$26.4931.92%1.02%1.10%(0.68)%(0.76)%29%$82,826 
2017$16.99(0.12)3.403.28(0.19)$20.0819.52%1.02%1.10%(0.65)%(0.73)%21%$20,975 
2016$17.040.18(0.02)0.16(0.21)$16.991.03%1.10%1.11%1.11%1.10%250%$9,147 
I Class
2020$29.83(0.16)14.7714.61$44.4448.98%0.65%0.82%(0.42)%(0.59)%27%$290,523 
2019$26.64(0.09)3.283.19$29.8311.97%0.69%0.82%(0.32)%(0.45)%23%$32,275 
2018$20.16(0.12)6.606.48$26.6432.14%0.82%0.90%(0.48)%(0.56)%29%$614 
2017$17.05(0.09)3.423.33(0.22)$20.1619.80%0.82%0.90%(0.45)%(0.53)%21%$134 
2016$17.100.20(0.01)0.19(0.24)$17.051.23%0.90%0.91%1.31%1.30%250%$33 
A Class(3)
2020$29.26(0.30)14.4314.13$43.3948.29%1.10%1.27%(0.87)%(1.04)%27%$7,430 
2019$26.24(0.21)3.233.02$29.2611.51%1.14%1.27%(0.77)%(0.90)%23%$1,202 
2018$19.95(0.21)6.506.29$26.2431.53%1.27%1.35%(0.93)%(1.01)%29%$639 
2017$16.88(0.16)3.383.22(0.15)$19.9519.22%1.27%1.35%(0.90)%(0.98)%21%$363 
2016$16.920.13
(4)
0.13(0.17)$16.880.85%1.35%1.36%0.86%0.85%250%$449 



For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended July 31 (except as noted)
Per-Share DataRatios and Supplemental Data
  Income From Investment Operations:Ratio to Average Net Assets of:  
 Net
Asset Value, Beginning
of Period
Net
Investment
Income (Loss)(1)
Net
Realized and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
Total From
Investment
Operations
Distributions From Net
Investment
Income
Net Asset Value, End of Period
Total
Return(2)
Operating
Expenses
Operating Expenses (before expense waiver)Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver)Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in thousands)
R Class
2020$28.90(0.36)14.2213.86$42.7647.96%1.35%1.52%(1.12)%(1.29)%27%$6,399 
2019$25.99(0.27)3.182.91$28.9011.20%1.39%1.52%(1.02)%(1.15)%23%$2,192 
2018$19.81(0.28)6.466.18$25.9931.20%1.52%1.60%(1.18)%(1.26)%29%$613 
2017$16.76(0.18)3.333.15(0.10)$19.8118.94%1.52%1.60%(1.15)%(1.23)%21%$98 
2016$16.810.09(0.01)0.08(0.13)$16.760.54%1.60%1.61%0.61%0.60%250%$374 
R6 Class
2020$30.30(0.07)14.9914.92$45.2249.24%0.50%0.67%(0.27)%(0.44)%27%$438 
2019$27.02(0.05)3.333.28$30.3012.14%0.54%0.67%(0.17)%(0.30)%23%$8,072 
2018$20.41(0.07)6.686.61$27.0232.39%0.67%0.75%(0.33)%(0.41)%29%$41 
2017(5)
$16.58(0.04)3.893.85(0.02)$20.4123.25%
0.67%(6)
0.75%(6)
(0.34)%(6)
(0.42)%(6)
21%(7)
$31 
G Class
2020$30.350.0815.0915.17$45.5249.98%
0.00%(8)
0.67%0.23%(0.44)%27%$438,327 
2019(9)
$28.720.021.611.63$30.355.68%
0.00%(6)(8)
0.67%(6)
0.16%(6)
(0.51)%(6)
23%(10)
$88 



Notes to Financial Highlights
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)Prior to June 15, 2020, the A Class was referred to as the Advisor Class.
(4)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
(5)December 1, 2016 (commencement of sale) through July 31, 2017.
(6)Annualized.
(7)Portfolio turnover is calculated at the fund level. Percentage indicated was calculated for the year ended July 31, 2017.
(8)Ratio was less than 0.005%.
(9)April 1, 2019 (commencement of sale) through July 31, 2019.
(10)Portfolio turnover is calculated at the fund level. Percentage indicated was calculated for the year ended July 31, 2019.


See Notes to Financial Statements.



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of American Century Growth Funds, Inc.:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Focused Dynamic Growth Fund, the fund comprising the American Century Growth Funds, Inc. (the “Fund”), including the schedule of investments, as of July 31, 2020, the related statement 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 financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of July 31, 2020, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

We conducted our audits 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 and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. 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 and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of July 31, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Kansas City, Missouri
September 16, 2020

We have served as the auditor of one or more American Century investment companies since 1997.
24


Management

The Board of Directors

The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for seven (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Stephen E. Yates, 8) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name
(Year of Birth)
Position(s) Held with FundsLength of Time ServedPrincipal Occupation(s) During Past 5 YearsNumber of American Century Portfolios Overseen by DirectorOther Directorships Held During Past 5 Years
Independent Directors
Thomas W. Bunn (1953)DirectorSince 2017Retired63SquareTwo Financial; Barings (formerly Babson Capital Funds Trust) (2013 to 2016)
Chris H. Cheesman
(1962)
DirectorSince 2019
Retired. Senior Vice President & Chief Audit Executive, AllianceBernstein (1999 to 2018)
63None
Barry Fink
(1955)
DirectorSince 2012 (independent since 2016)Retired63None
Rajesh K. Gupta
(1960)
DirectorSince 2019
Partner Emeritus, SeaCrest Investment Management and SeaCrest Wealth Management (2019 to Present); Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, SeaCrest Investment Management (2006 to 2019); Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, SeaCrest Wealth Management (2008 to 2019)
63None

25


Name
(Year of Birth)
Position(s) Held with FundsLength of Time ServedPrincipal Occupation(s) During Past 5 YearsNumber of American Century Portfolios Overseen by DirectorOther Directorships Held During Past 5 Years
Independent Directors
Lynn Jenkins
(1963)
DirectorSince 2019
Consultant, LJ Strategies (2019 to present); United States Representative, U.S. House of Representatives (2009 to 2018)63MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Jan M. Lewis
(1957)
DirectorSince 2011Retired63None
John R. Whitten
(1946)
DirectorSince 2008Retired63Onto Innovation Inc. (2019 to 2020); Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (2006 to 2019)
Stephen E. Yates
(1948)
Director and Chairman of the BoardSince 2012 (Chairman since 2018)Retired82None
Interested Director
Jonathan S. Thomas
(1963)
DirectorSince 2007President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Executive Vice President, ACIM; Director, ACC, ACIM and other ACC subsidiaries122None
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.

26


Officers

The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name
(Year of Birth)
Offices with the FundsPrincipal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years
Patrick Bannigan
(1965)
President since 2019Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries
R. Wes Campbell
(1974)
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018Vice President, ACS, (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
Amy D. Shelton
(1964)
Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS
Charles A. Etherington
(1957)
General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS
C. Jean Wade
(1964)
Vice President since 2012Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017)
Robert J. Leach
(1966)
Vice President since 2006 Vice President, ACS (2000 to present)
David H. Reinmiller
(1963)
Vice President since 2000Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS
Ward D. Stauffer
(1960)
Secretary since 2005Attorney, ACC (2003 to present)



27


Approval of Management Agreement

At a meeting held on June 24, 2020, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s directors (the “Directors”), including a majority of the independent Directors, each year.

Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Directors requested and reviewed extensive data and information compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor. This review was in addition to the oversight and evaluation undertaken by the Board and its committees on a continual basis and the information received was supplemental to the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider throughout the year.

In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor included, but was not limited to, the following:

the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund;
the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund's performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and the Fund's service providers;
the Advisor’s strategic plans;
the Advisor’s business continuity plans and specifically its response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
financial data showing the cost of services provided to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
possible economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund and other accounts;
services provided and charges to the Advisor's other investment management clients;
acquired fund fees and expenses;
payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
possible collateral benefits to the Advisor from the management of the Fund.

The Board held two meetings to consider the renewal. The independent Directors also met in private session three times to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The independent Directors held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement, requesting supplemental information, and reviewing information provided by the Advisor in response thereto. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.

Factors Considered

The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or
28


controlling, and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including without limitation the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including without limitation the following:

constructing and designing the Fund
portfolio research and security selection
initial capitalization/funding
securities trading
Fund administration
custody of Fund assets
daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
regulatory and portfolio compliance
financial reporting
marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)

The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.

Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to monitor trading activities, and in particular to seek the best execution of fund trades, and to evaluate the use of and payment for research. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Fund Performance Review Committee, provides oversight of the investment performance process. It regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was above its benchmark for the three-, five-, and ten-year periods and below its benchmark for the one-year period reviewed by the Board. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.

Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio
29


valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.

COVID-19 Response. During 2020, much of the world experienced unprecedented change and challenges from the impacts of the rapidly evolving, worldwide spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Board evaluated the Advisor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on service to the Fund. The Board found that Fund shareholders have continued to receive the Advisor’s investment management and other services without disruption, and Advisor personnel have demonstrated great resiliency in providing those services. The Board, directly and through its Audit Committee, continues to monitor the impact of the pandemic and the response of each of the Fund’s service providers.

Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund (pre- and post-distribution), its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.

Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.

Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders additional content and services. The Board also noted that economies of scale are shared with the Fund and its shareholders through management fee breakpoints that serve to reduce the effective management fee as the assets of the Fund grow.

Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under the unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, distribution charges, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratios of its peers. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was above the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer expense universe
30


and was within the range of its peer expense group. The Board and the Advisor agreed to a temporary reduction of the Fund's annual unified management fee of 0.17% (e.g., the Investor Class unified fee will be reduced from 1.02% to 0.85%) for at least one year, beginning August 1, 2020. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.

Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.

Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided in response thereto. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided for the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.

Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. They concluded that the Advisor’s primary business is managing mutual funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. To the extent there are potential collateral benefits, the board has been advised and has taken this into consideration in its review of the management contract with the Fund. The Board noted that additional assets from other clients may offer the Advisor some benefit from increased leverage with service providers and counterparties. Additionally, the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions, which the Board concluded is likely to benefit other clients of the Advisor, as well as Fund shareholders. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board concluded that appropriate allocation methodologies had been employed to assign resources and the cost of those resources to these other clients and, where expressly provided, these other client assets may be included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.

Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.

Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, determined that the management fee is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and that the investment management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor should be renewed.
31


Liquidity Risk Management Program

The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.

Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.

The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.

32


Additional Information
 
Retirement Account Information
 
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules.  Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution.  If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.

 
Proxy Voting Policies
 
A description of the policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. It is also available on American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.


Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
 
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. The fund also makes its complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the most recent quarter of its fiscal year available on its website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.


33


Other Tax Information

The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

The fund hereby designates $299,375, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020.

The fund utilized earnings and profits of $299,375 distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares as part of the dividends paid deduction (tax equalization).
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Notes

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Notes

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image411.jpg
Contact Usamericancentury.com
Automated Information Line1-800-345-8765
Investor Services Representative1-800-345-2021
or 816-531-5575
Investors Using Advisors1-800-378-9878
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans1-800-345-3533
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies1-800-345-6488
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf711
American Century Growth Funds, Inc.
Investment Advisor:
American Century Investment Management, Inc.
Kansas City, Missouri
This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.
©2020 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
CL-ANN-93182 2009



ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

(a) The registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions.

(b) No response required.

(c) None.

(d) None.

(e) Not applicable.

(f) The registrant’s Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers was filed as Exhibit 12 (a)(1) to American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc.’s Annual Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, File No. 811-21591, on September 29, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

(a)(1) The registrant’s board has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.

(a)(2) John R. Whitten, Thomas Bunn, Chris H. Cheesman and Lynn M. Jenkins are the registrant’s designated audit committee financial experts. They are “independent” as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(b) No response required.

(c) No response required.

(d) No response required.


ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.


(a) Audit Fees.

The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were as follows:

FY 2019: $40,460
FY 2020: $18,860

(b) Audit-Related Fees.





The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years 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 were as follows:

For services rendered to the registrant:

FY 2019: $0
FY 2020: $0

Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):

FY 2019: $0
FY 2020: $0

(c) Tax Fees.

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were as follows:

For services rendered to the registrant:

FY 2019: $0
FY 2020: $0

Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):

FY 2019: $0
FY 2020: $0
(d) All Other Fees.

The aggregate fees billed in each 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 were as follows:

For services rendered to the registrant:

FY 2019: $0
FY 2020: $0

Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):

FY 2019: $0
FY 2020: $0

(e)(1) In accordance with paragraph (c)(7)(i)(A) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, before the accountant is engaged by the registrant to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement is approved by the registrant’s audit committee. Pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, the registrant’s audit committee also pre-approves its accountant’s engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser, its parent company, and any entity controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.




(e)(2) All services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item were pre-approved before the engagement by the registrant’s audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(A) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. Consequently, none of such services were required to be approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C).

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

(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and 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 for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant were as follows:

FY 2019: $119,500
FY 2020: $0

(h) The registrant’s investment adviser and accountant have notified the registrant’s audit committee of all non-audit services that were rendered by the registrant’s accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser, its parent company, and any entity controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides services to the registrant, which services were not required to be pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. The notification provided to the registrant’s audit committee included sufficient details regarding such services to allow the registrant’s audit committee to consider the continuing independence of its principal accountant.


ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable.


ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS.

(a) The schedule of investments is included as part of the report to stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

(b) Not applicable.

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.


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.

During the reporting period, there were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board.


ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

(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.

(a)(1) Registrant’s Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 of Form N-CSR, was filed as Exhibit 12(a)(1) to American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc.’s Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, File No. 811-21591, on September 29, 2005.

(a)(2) Separate certifications by the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are filed and attached hereto as EX-99.CERT.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(a)(4) Not applicable.

(b) A certification by the registrant’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, is furnished and attached hereto as EX-99.906CERT.








SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
Registrant:American Century Growth Funds, Inc. 
   
   
By:/s/ Patrick Bannigan 
 Name:Patrick Bannigan 
 Title:President 
   
Date:September 22, 2020 
   

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
By:/s/ Patrick Bannigan 
 Name:Patrick Bannigan 
 Title:President 
  (principal executive officer) 
    
    
Date:September 22, 2020
 
 
By:/s/ R. Wes Campbell 
 Name:R. Wes Campbell 
 Title:Treasurer and 
  Chief Financial Officer 
  (principal financial officer) 
    
Date:September 22, 2020