N-CSRS 1 d361377dncsrs.htm PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC. 15 Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number:    811-02896
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:    Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15
Address of principal executive offices:    655 Broad Street, 17th Floor
   Newark, New Jersey 07102
Name and address of agent for service:    Deborah A. Docs
   655 Broad Street, 17th Floor
   Newark, New Jersey 07102
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:    800-225-1852
Date of fiscal year end:    8/31/2017
Date of reporting period:    2/28/2017


Item 1 – Reports to Stockholders


LOGO

 

PRUDENTIAL SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD INCOME FUND

 

 

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

FEBRUARY 28, 2017

 

LOGO

 

To enroll in e-delivery, go to pgiminvestments.com/edelivery


Objective: To provide a high level of current income

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

The accompanying financial statements as of February 28, 2017, were not audited and, accordingly, no auditor’s opinion is expressed on them.

 

Mutual funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC. PGIM Fixed Income is a unit of PGIM, Inc. (PGIM), a registered investment adviser. PIMS and PGIM are Prudential Financial companies. © 2017 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. The Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

 

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Letter from the President

 

LOGO

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

We hope you find the semiannual report for the Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund informative and useful. The report covers performance for the six-month period ended February 28, 2017. We are proud to announce that Prudential Investments will be known as PGIM® Investments, effective April 3, 2017. Why PGIM? This new name was chosen to further align with the global investment management businesses of Prudential Financial, which rebranded from Prudential Investment Management in January 2016. This new name allows for one brand and reflects our ability and commitment to delivering investment solutions to clients around the globe. Please keep in mind that only the Fund adviser’s name is changing: the name of your Fund and the management and operation will not change.

 

Since market conditions change over time, we believe it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio of funds consistent with your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals.

 

Your financial advisor can help you create a diversified investment plan that may include funds covering all the basic asset classes and that reflects your personal investor profile and risk tolerance. However, diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

 

At PGIM Investments, we consider it a great privilege and responsibility to help investors participate in opportunities across global markets while meeting their toughest investment challenges. We’re part of PGIM, the 9th-largest global investment manager with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. This investment expertise allows us to deliver actively managed funds and strategies to meet the needs of investors around the globe.

 

Thank you for choosing our family of funds.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

 

Stuart S. Parker, President

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund

April 14, 2017

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     3  


Your Fund’s Performance (unaudited)

 

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

 

Cumulative Total Returns (Without Sales Charges) as of 2/28/17
   Six Months (%)    One Year (%)    Since Inception (%)
Class A    2.16    8.91    17.66 (10/26/12)
Class C    1.89    8.10    13.87 (10/26/12)
Class Q    2.44    9.39    10.29 (10/27/14)
Class Z    2.40    9.31    19.10 (10/26/12)
Bloomberg Barclays US High Yield Ba/B
Rated 1–5 Yr 1% Capped Index
   3.73    15.08   
Lipper High Yield Funds Average    4.71    17.54   

 

Average Annual Total Returns (With Sales Charges) as of 2/28/17
   One Year (%)    Since Inception (%)
Class A    5.37    3.03 (10/26/12)
Class C    7.10    3.04 (10/26/12)
Class Q    9.39    4.27 (10/27/14)
Class Z    9.31    4.11 (10/26/12)
Bloomberg Barclays US High Yield Ba/B
Rated 1–5 Yr 1% Capped Index
   15.08   
Lipper High Yield Funds Average    17.54   

 

Source: PGIM Investments LLC and Lipper Inc.

Inception returns are provided for any share class with less than 10 calendar years of returns.

 

 

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

 

     Class A   Class C   Class Q   Class Z
Maximum initial sales charge   3.25% of the public offering price   None   None   None
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or net asset value at redemption)   1% on sales of $1 million or more made within 12 months of purchase   1% on sales made within 12 months of purchase   None   None
Annual distribution and service (12b-1) fees (shown as a percentage of average daily net assets)   .25%   1%   None   None

 

Benchmark Definitions

 

Bloomberg Barclays US High Yield Ba/B Rated 1–5 Year 1% Capped Index—The Bloomberg Barclays US High Yield Ba/B Rated 1–5 Year 1% Capped Index (Capped Index) represents the performance of US short duration, higher-rated high yield bonds. The cumulative total returns for the Capped Index measured from the month-end closest to the inception date through 2/28/17 are 22.30% for Class A, C, and Z shares and 8.78% for Class Q shares. The average annual total returns for the Capped Index measured from the month-end closest to the inception date through 2/28/17 are 4.76% for Class A, C, and Z shares and 3.67% for Class Q shares.

 

Lipper High Yield Funds Average—The Lipper High Yield Funds Average (Lipper Average) is based on the average return of all funds in the Lipper High Yield Funds category for the periods noted. Funds in the Lipper Average aim at high (relative) current yield from fixed income securities, have no quality or maturity restrictions, and tend to invest in lower-grade debt issues. The cumulative total returns for the Lipper Average measured from the month-end closest to the inception date through 2/28/17 are 23.44% for Class A, C, and Z shares and 8.91% for Class Q shares. The average annual total returns for the Lipper Average measured from the month-end closest to the inception date through 2/28/17 are 4.96% for Class A, C, and Z shares and 3.71% for Class Q shares.

 

Investors cannot invest directly in an index or average. The returns for the Capped Index would be lower if they included the effects of sales charges, operating expenses of a mutual fund, or taxes. Returns for the Lipper Average reflect the deduction of operating expenses, but not sales charges or taxes. The Since Inception returns for the Capped Index and the Lipper Average are measured from the closest month-end to the inception date for the indicated share class.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     5  


Your Fund’s Performance (continued)

 

 

Credit Quality expressed as a percentage of total investments as of 2/28/17 (%)  
BBB     8.7  
BB     45.2  
B     40.4  
CCC     6.0  
Not Rated     0.1  
Cash/Cash Equivalents     -0.2  
Total Investments     100.0  

 

Source: PGIM Fixed Income

Credit ratings reflect the highest rating assigned by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) such as Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (Moody’s), Standard & Poor’s (S&P), or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch). Credit ratings reflect the common nomenclature used by both S&P and Fitch. Where applicable, ratings are converted to the comparable S&P/Fitch rating tier nomenclature. These rating agencies are independent and are widely used. The Not Rated category consists of securities that have not been rated by a NRSRO. Credit ratings are subject to change. Values may not sum to 100.0% due to rounding.

 

Distributions and Yields as of 2/28/17
  Total Distributions
Paid for

Six Months ($)

   SEC 30-Day
Subsidized

Yield* (%)

   SEC 30-Day
Unsubsidized

Yield** (%)

Class A   0.26    3.42    3.42
Class C   0.23    2.79    2.79
Class Q   0.28    3.88    3.88
Class Z   0.28    3.79    3.79

 

*SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the fund’s net expenses (net of any expense waivers or reimbursements).

**SEC 30-Day Unsubsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the Fund’s gross expenses.

 

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Fees and Expenses (unaudited)

 

 

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

 

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 held through the six-month period ended February 28, 2017. The example is for illustrative purposes only; you should consult the Prospectus for information on initial and subsequent minimum investment requirements.

 

Actual Expenses

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

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

 

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

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     7  


Fees and Expenses (continued)

 

Fund account over the six-month period when you estimate the total ongoing expenses paid over the period and the impact of these fees on your ending account value, as these additional expenses are not reflected in the information provided in the expense table. Additional fees have the effect of reducing investment returns.

 

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

 

Prudential
Short Duration High
Yield Income Fund
  Beginning  Account
Value
September 1, 2016
    Ending  Account
Value
February 28, 2017
    Annualized
Expense Ratio
Based on the
Six-Month Period
    Expenses  Paid
During the
Six-Month Period*
 
Class A   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.60       1.06   $ 5.31  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.54       1.06   $ 5.31  
Class C   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.90       1.81   $ 9.06  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,015.82       1.81   $ 9.05  
Class Q   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,024.40       0.73   $ 3.66  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.17       0.73   $ 3.66  
Class Z   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,024.00       0.81   $ 4.06  
    Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.78       0.81   $ 4.06  

 

* Fund expenses (net of fee waivers or subsidies, if any) for each share class are equal to the annualized expense ratio for each share class (provided in the table), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 181 days in the six-month period ended February 28, 2017, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund’s fiscal year ending August 31, 2017 (to reflect the six-month period). Expenses presented in the table include the expenses of any underlying portfolios in which the Fund may invest.

 

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The Fund’s annualized expense ratios for the six-month period ended February 28, 2017, are as follows:

 

Class   Gross Operating  Expenses (%)   Net Operating  Expenses (%)
A   1.06   1.06
C   1.81   1.81
Q   0.73   0.73
Z   0.81   0.81

 

Net operating expenses shown above reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. Additional information on Fund expenses and any fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements can be found in the “Financial Highlights” tables in this report and in the Notes to the Financial Statements in this report.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     9  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS    98.6%

       

BANK LOANS(a)    6.1%

       

Building Materials    0.2%

                               

Materis CHRYSO SA (France), Private Placement

    4.250     08/13/21     EUR 3,000     $ 3,164,793  

Chemicals    0.3%

                               

MacDermid, Inc.

    4.500       06/07/20       5,568       5,632,033  

MacDermid, Inc.

    5.000       06/07/23       1,994       2,014,957  
       

 

 

 
          7,646,990  

Commercial Services    0.8%

                               

Laureate Education, Inc.

    5.000       06/18/18       17,331       17,417,768  

Food    0.1%

                               

Agrokor DD SPV2 (Croatia)

    9.500       06/04/18     EUR 4,437       1,163,432  

Jacobs Douwe Egberts BV (Netherlands)

    3.000       07/01/22     EUR 252       270,908  
       

 

 

 
          1,434,340  

Gaming    0.2%

                               

Golden Nugget, Inc.

    4.500       11/21/19       1,375       1,390,708  

Golden Nugget, Inc.

    4.552       11/21/19       3,209       3,244,984  
       

 

 

 
          4,635,692  

Healthcare-Services    0.1%

                               

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.

    4.180       12/31/18       3,142       3,131,665  

Home Builders    0.1%

                               

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.(b)

    6.750       03/11/18       2,750       2,722,500  

Media    0.4%

                               

LSC Communications, Inc.(b)

    7.000       09/30/22       9,800       9,824,788  

Packaging & Containers    0.3%

                               

Coveris Holdings SA (Luxembourg)

    4.509       05/08/19       7,647       7,694,720  

Retail    0.2%

                               

Rite Aid Corp.

    4.875       06/21/21       4,800       4,809,000  

Software    1.2%

                               

BMC Software Finance, Inc.

    5.000       09/10/20       21,059       21,165,951  

Infor US, Inc.

    3.750       02/01/22       6,771       6,773,213  
       

 

 

 
          27,939,164  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     11  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

BANK LOANS (Continued)

       

Technology    2.2%

                               

Dell International LLC

    2.998     12/31/18       15,250     $ 15,263,771  

First Data Corp.

    3.997       03/24/21       5,698       5,744,222  

Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.

    5.025       12/01/23       6,625       6,699,531  

Symantec Corp.

    2.530       08/01/21       24,000       23,700,000  
       

 

 

 
          51,407,524  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL BANK LOANS
(cost $144,559,130)

          141,828,944  
       

 

 

 

CORPORATE BONDS    92.5%

       

Aerospace/Defense    0.1%

                               

Arconic, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.720       02/23/19       1,800       1,909,361  

Airlines    0.3%

                               

United Airlines, Pass-Through Trust, Pass-Through Certificates,
Series 2007-071A, Class A

    6.636       01/02/24       6,472       6,924,646  

Apparel    0.2%

                               

Levi Strauss & Co., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.875       05/01/22       4,000       4,160,000  

Auto Manufacturer    0.1%

                               

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC
(United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    4.250       11/15/19       1,625       1,663,188  

Auto Parts & Equipment    0.8%

                               

American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    5.125       02/15/19       1,282       1,294,820  

Gtd. Notes

    7.750       11/15/19       8,740       9,690,475  

IHO Verwaltungs GmbH (Germany),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A

    4.125       09/15/21       6,725       6,794,267  
       

 

 

 
          17,779,562  

Beverages    0.4%

                               

Cott Beverages, Inc. (Canada), Gtd. Notes

    6.750       01/01/20       8,625       8,916,094  

Biotechnology    0.2%

                               

Concordia International Corp. (Canada),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    9.000       04/01/22       5,038       4,433,440  

Building Materials    0.8%

                               

Cemex Finance LLC (Mexico), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.375       10/12/22       5,000       5,431,250  

Griffon Corp., Gtd. Notes

    5.250       03/01/22       850       856,375  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Building Materials (cont’d.)

                               

Standard Industries, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    5.125     02/15/21       1,475     $ 1,537,687  

Summit Materials LLC/Summit Materials Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    8.500       04/15/22       3,550       3,976,000  

USG Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.250 (a)      01/15/18       7,000       7,350,000  
       

 

 

 
          19,151,312  

Cable & Satellite    0.3%

                               

United Group BV (Netherlands), First Lien, 144A

    7.875       11/15/20     EUR 7,000       7,740,246  

Chemicals    2.7%

                               

Ashland LLC, Gtd. Notes

    4.750 (a)      08/15/22       5,875       6,095,313  

CF Industries, Inc., Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.125       05/01/20       10,629       11,652,041  

Chemours Co. (The), Gtd. Notes

    6.625       05/15/23       8,370       8,882,662  

Chemtura Corp., Gtd. Notes

    5.750       07/15/21       8,206       8,513,725  

Hexion, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.375       02/01/22       8,190       8,435,700  

Platform Specialty Products Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.375       05/01/21       1,950       2,191,313  

Unifrax I LLC/Unifrax Holding Co.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(d)

    7.500       02/15/19       6,583       6,566,542  

W.R. Grace & Co., Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.125       10/01/21       7,090       7,462,225  

Westlake Chemical Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.625       02/15/21       3,000       3,119,859  
       

 

 

 
          62,919,380  

Coal    0.3%

                               

CONSOL Energy, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.875       04/15/22       5,274       5,142,150  

Peabody Securities Finance Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.000       03/31/22       1,775       1,810,500  
       

 

 

 
          6,952,650  

Commercial Services    1.5%

                               

Laureate Education, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    10.000       09/01/19       23,935       25,041,994  

NES Rentals Holdings, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    7.875       05/01/18       2,290       2,307,175  

Service Corp. International, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.625       10/01/18       5,620       6,069,600  
       

 

 

 
          33,418,769  

Computers    1.8%

                               

Diamond 1 Finance Corp./Diamond 2 Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.875       06/15/21       14,720       15,575,806  

EMC Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    2.650       06/01/20       9,210       8,980,643  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     13  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Computers (cont’d.)

                               

NCR Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.875     12/15/21       5,545     $ 5,808,388  

Gtd. Notes

    6.375       12/15/23       5,500       5,878,125  

Western Digital Corp., First Lien, 144A

    7.375       04/01/23       5,560       6,102,100  
       

 

 

 
          42,345,062  

Distribution/Wholesale

                               

Rexel SA (France), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.250       06/15/20       578       594,825  

Diversified Financial Services    1.2%

                               

Ally Financial, Inc., Sub. Notes

    8.000       12/31/18       2,550       2,800,206  

FBM Finance, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.250       08/15/21       2,500       2,675,500  

KCG Holdings, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.875       03/15/20       1,750       1,745,625  

Navient Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.625       07/26/21       2,505       2,611,463  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN

    8.000       03/25/20       150       162,731  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN

    8.450       06/15/18       7,350       7,855,312  

OneMain Financial Holdings, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)(d)

    6.750       12/15/19       9,075       9,500,436  
       

 

 

 
          27,351,273  

Electric    4.1%

                               

AES Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    7.375       07/01/21       2,772       3,125,430  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.000       06/01/20       182       209,755  

ContourGlobal Power Holdings SA,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    5.125       06/15/21     EUR 1,550       1,738,296  

DPL, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.750       10/01/19       14,673       15,259,920  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    7.250       10/15/21       3,350       3,567,750  

Dynegy, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    6.750       11/01/19       13,850       14,265,500  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.375       11/01/22       23,975       23,555,437  

GenOn Energy, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes (original cost $3,571,875; purchased 09/29/15)(d)(e)

    7.875       06/15/17       3,750       2,943,750  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes (original cost $7,534,191; purchased 05/18/15 - 03/23/16)(c)(d)(e)

    9.500       10/15/18       7,953       6,024,397  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes (original cost $2,310,231; purchased 12/08/15 - 02/03/16)(c)(d)(e)

    9.875       10/15/20       3,463       2,545,305  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Electric (cont’d.)

                               

Melton Renewable Energy PLC (United Kingdom),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, RegS

    6.750     02/01/20     GBP 1,860     $ 2,378,372  

Mirant Mid-Atlantic Trust, Pass-Through Certificates, Series B (original cost $3,351,988; purchased
03/13/13 - 02/26/16)(d)(e)

    9.125       06/30/17       3,449       3,155,831  

NRG Energy, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    7.625       01/15/18       12,500       13,031,250  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.875       05/15/21       1,839       1,907,963  

NRG REMA LLC, Pass-Through Certificates, Series B(d)

    9.237       07/02/17       112       93,755  
       

 

 

 
          93,802,711  

Electronics    0.1%

                               

Jabil Circuit, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.250       03/15/18       2,300       2,447,062  

Entertainment    5.6%

                               

CCM Merger, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(d)

    9.125       05/01/19       6,607       6,813,460  

Cedar Fair LP/Canada’s Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp., Gtd. Notes

    5.250       03/15/21       7,815       8,039,681  

Churchill Downs, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.375       12/15/21       16,063       16,725,599  

GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    4.375       04/15/21       3,700       3,852,625  

Gtd. Notes

    4.875       11/01/20       5,548       5,825,400  

Greektown Holdings LLC/Greektown Mothership Corp.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.875       03/15/19       12,886       13,514,193  

International Game Technology PLC,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.250       02/15/22       6,775       7,317,000  

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.875       03/15/21       15,087       15,577,327  

Gtd. Notes

    8.875       06/15/20       4,717       4,923,369  

Jacobs Entertainment, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.875       02/01/24       1,475       1,515,563  

NAI Entertainment Holdings/NAI Entertainment Holdings Finance Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    5.000       08/01/18       8,567       8,641,961  

National CineMedia LLC, Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    6.000       04/15/22       1,275       1,318,031  

Scientific Games Corp., Gtd. Notes

    8.125       09/15/18       19,735       19,784,337  

Scientific Games International, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    6.625       05/15/21       7,675       7,214,500  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    10.000       12/01/22       4,350       4,616,438  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.000       01/01/22       3,975       4,228,406  
       

 

 

 
          129,907,890  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     15  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Environmental Control    0.4%

                               

Clean Harbors, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.125     06/01/21       9,161     $ 9,367,122  

Food    2.4%

                               

Hearthside Group Holdings LLC/Hearthside Finance Co.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.500       05/01/22       1,625       1,629,063  

Iceland Bondco PLC (United Kingdom),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.607 (a)      07/15/20     GBP 2,254       2,794,076  

JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Finance, Inc. (Brazil),
Gtd. Notes, 144A(d)

    7.250       06/01/21       12,300       12,669,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(d)

    7.250       06/01/21       9,025       9,295,750  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(d)

    8.250       02/01/20       11,200       11,480,000  

Shearer’s Foods LLC/Chip Finance Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.000       11/01/19       10,155       10,650,056  

SUPERVALU, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    6.750       06/01/21       6,475       6,458,812  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    7.750       11/15/22       1,075       1,061,563  
       

 

 

 
          56,038,320  

Food Service

                               

Aramark Services, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.750       03/15/20       275       279,393  

Forest Products & Paper    0.7%

                               

Mercer International, Inc. (Canada),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.000       12/01/19       6,480       6,706,800  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.750       12/01/22       7,443       7,982,617  

Neenah Paper, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.250       05/15/21       2,350       2,397,000  
       

 

 

 
          17,086,417  

Gas    0.1%

                               

NGL Energy Partners LP/NGL Energy Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.500       11/01/23       3,125       3,289,063  

Hand/Machine Tools    0.1%

                               

Apex Tool Group LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A(d)

    7.000       02/01/21       3,450       3,312,000  

Healthcare-Products    0.3%

                               

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA, Gtd. Notes

    4.750       04/15/23       2,500       2,225,000  

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA/Mallinckrodt CB LLC,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    4.875       04/15/20       5,375       5,388,437  
       

 

 

 
          7,613,437  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Healthcare-Services    7.7%

                               

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.125     07/01/22       650     $ 654,875  

Centene Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.625       02/15/21       4,625       4,867,812  

Cerba HealthCare SAS (France),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, RegS(d)

    7.000       02/01/20     EUR 3,300       3,574,403  

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.125       07/15/20       16,050       15,087,000  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    8.000       11/15/19       18,452       18,036,830  

HCA Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.250       02/15/21       4,451       4,846,026  

HCA, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    8.000       10/01/18       9,358       10,200,220  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    4.250       10/15/19       4,600       4,784,000  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    6.500       02/15/20       3,000       3,293,370  

Kindred Healthcare, Inc., Gtd. Notes(c)

    8.000       01/15/20       22,649       22,875,490  

LifePoint Health, Inc., Gtd. Notes(c)

    5.500       12/01/21       11,700       12,175,312  

Molina Healthcare, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.375 (a)      11/15/22       4,964       5,137,740  

Select Medical Corp., Gtd. Notes(c)

    6.375       06/01/21       7,600       7,647,500  

Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    8.875       04/15/21       5,900       6,313,000  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.500       01/01/22       350       378,875  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    4.750       06/01/20       5,850       5,967,000  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    6.000       10/01/20       2,000       2,120,000  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes(c)

    6.250       11/01/18       2,750       2,911,563  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    5.000 (a)      03/01/19       3,700       3,702,516  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.750       02/01/20       12,170       12,382,975  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    8.000       08/01/20       19,900       20,347,750  

Universal Health Services, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.750       08/01/22       5,000       5,150,000  

Voyage Care Bondco PLC (United Kingdom),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, RegS

    6.500       08/01/18     GBP 4,000       5,013,029  
       

 

 

 
          177,467,286  

Home Builders    7.0%

                               

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    5.750       06/15/19       6,385       6,636,569  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.500       09/15/21       3,600       3,744,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    8.750       03/15/22       10,040       10,892,195  

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.500       12/15/20       6,423       6,611,836  

CalAtlantic Group, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    6.250       12/15/21       1,382       1,516,745  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    6.625       05/01/20       2,600       2,866,500  

Gtd. Notes

    8.375       05/15/18       15,066       16,101,787  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     17  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Home Builders (cont’d.)

                               

KB Home,
Gtd. Notes

    4.750     05/15/19       15,574     $ 15,943,882  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.000       12/15/21       4,770       5,223,150  

Gtd. Notes

    8.000       03/15/20       500       556,250  

Lennar Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    4.125       01/15/22       4,000       4,050,000  

Gtd. Notes

    4.500       06/15/19       4,200       4,336,500  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    4.500       11/15/19       8,125       8,399,219  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    4.750       04/01/21       2,600       2,707,250  

Gtd. Notes

    6.950       06/01/18       125       131,875  

M/I Homes, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    6.750       01/15/21       4,850       5,092,500  

Mattamy Group Corp. (Canada),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    6.875       12/15/23       2,350       2,455,750  

Meritage Homes Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    4.500       03/01/18       10,224       10,402,920  

Gtd. Notes

    7.000       04/01/22       2,295       2,576,138  

PulteGroup, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    4.250       03/01/21       6,975       7,138,913  

Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc./Monarch Communities, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.250       04/15/21       12,678       12,994,950  

TRI Pointe Group, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    4.875       07/01/21       8,395       8,667,838  

WCI Communities, Inc./Lennar Corp., Gtd. Notes

    6.875       08/15/21       15,750       16,557,187  

William Lyon Homes, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.750       04/15/19       6,977       7,064,213  
       

 

 

 
          162,668,167  

Iron/Steel    1.4%

                               

ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    6.125       06/01/18       18,760       19,627,650  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    10.600 (a)      06/01/19       5,840       6,847,400  

BlueScope Steel Finance Ltd./BlueScope Steel Finance USA LLC (Australia), Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.500       05/15/21       5,410       5,761,650  
       

 

 

 
          32,236,700  

Leisure Time    0.5%

                               

NCL Corp. Ltd., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.750       12/15/21       5,653       5,766,060  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.250       03/15/18       2,000       2,105,000  

Viking Cruises Ltd., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    8.500       10/15/22       4,450       4,650,250  
       

 

 

 
          12,521,310  

Lodging    4.2%

                               

Boyd Gaming Corp., Gtd. Notes

    6.875       05/15/23       1,200       1,296,000  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Lodging (cont’d.)

                               

Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties LLC/Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    8.000 %(a)      10/01/20       15,275     $ 15,981,469  

Golden Nugget, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.500       12/01/21       7,296       7,788,480  

Jack Ohio Finance LLC/Jack Ohio Finance 1 Corp.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.250       11/15/22       3,175       3,413,125  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.750       11/15/21       3,675       3,812,813  

MGM Resorts International,
Gtd. Notes

    6.625       12/15/21       3,600       4,018,500  

Gtd. Notes

    6.750       10/01/20       2,500       2,755,500  

Gtd. Notes

    8.625       02/01/19       22,741       25,128,805  

Station Casinos LLC, Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.500       03/01/21       11,950       12,457,875  

Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Prop Mezz LP/Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Finance Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    6.375       06/01/21       11,579       11,694,790  

Wynn Macau Ltd. (Macau),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.250       10/15/21       7,825       8,001,062  
       

 

 

 
          96,348,419  

Machinery-Diversified    1.3%

                               

Cleaver-Brooks, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    8.750       12/15/19       5,175       5,401,406  

CNH Industrial Capital LLC, Gtd. Notes(c)

    4.875       04/01/21       3,925       4,113,008  

Zebra Technologies Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    7.250       10/15/22       19,054       20,618,333  
       

 

 

 
          30,132,747  

Media    11.2%

                               

Cablevision Systems Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.750       04/15/18       8,370       8,788,500  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.625       09/15/17       27,042       27,887,062  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    5.250       03/15/21       4,170       4,284,675  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    5.250       09/30/22       16,725       17,394,000  

Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC/Cequel Capital Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.125       12/15/21       14,277       14,531,416  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.125       12/15/21       4,197       4,240,313  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.375       09/15/20       32,759       33,762,244  

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.,
Series A, Gtd. Notes

    6.500       11/15/22       7,315       7,388,150  

Series A, Gtd. Notes

    7.625       03/15/20       525       515,813  

Series B, Gtd. Notes(c)

    6.500       11/15/22       1,497       1,550,323  

Series B, Gtd. Notes

    7.625       03/15/20       2,450       2,468,375  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     19  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Media (cont’d.)

                               

Cogeco Communications, Inc. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.875     05/01/20       1,340     $ 1,376,850  

CSC Holdings LLC,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.625       07/15/18       632       672,290  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.875       02/15/18       1,750       1,833,125  

DISH DBS Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    4.250       04/01/18       1,550       1,579,063  

Gtd. Notes

    5.125       05/01/20       23,625       24,629,062  

Gtd. Notes

    7.875       09/01/19       1,512       1,685,880  

Mediacom Broadband LLC/Mediacom Broadband Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.500       04/15/21       17,535       17,973,375  

Midcontinent Communications/Midcontinent Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.250       08/01/21       12,850       13,351,150  

Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.125       02/15/22       3,950       4,132,688  

SFR Group SA (France), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.000       05/15/22       11,505       11,932,871  

Sinclair Television Group, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.375       04/01/21       11,214       11,550,420  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    6.125       10/01/22       4,820       5,042,925  

TEGNA, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.875       09/15/21       6,973       7,112,460  

Univision Communications, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)(d)

    6.750       09/15/22       30,918       32,463,900  

Videotron Ltd. (Canada), Gtd. Notes

    5.000       07/15/22       1,335       1,405,088  
       

 

 

 
          259,552,018  

Metal Fabricate & Hardware    0.1%

                               

Grinding Media, Inc./MC Grinding Media Canada, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375       12/15/23       1,900       2,033,000  

Mining    7.4%

                               

Alamos Gold, Inc. (Canada), Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.750       04/01/20       500       521,250  

Eldorado Gold Corp. (Canada), Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.125       12/15/20       3,560       3,657,900  

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.750       02/15/20       1,300       1,332,500  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.250       10/15/19       9,485       9,781,406  

FMG Resources August 2006 Pty Ltd. (Australia),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    9.750       03/01/22       13,285       15,369,151  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    2.150       03/01/17       716       716,000  

Gtd. Notes

    2.300       11/14/17       41,340       41,236,650  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.500       11/15/20       10,250       10,531,875  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.625       05/01/21       4,197       4,280,940  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

     

Mining (cont’d.)

                               

International Wire Group, Inc.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    10.750     08/01/21       4,375     $ 4,243,750  

Kinross Gold Corp. (Canada), Gtd. Notes

    5.125       09/01/21       4,685       4,930,963  

Lundin Mining Corp. (Canada),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.500       11/01/20       19,165       20,362,812  

New Gold, Inc. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.250       11/15/22       3,570       3,614,625  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.000       04/15/20       5,150       5,240,125  

Teck Resources Ltd. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes

    3.000       03/01/19       5,508       5,641,294  

Gtd. Notes(c)

    4.500       01/15/21       10,676       11,069,678  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    8.000       06/01/21       26,370       29,369,587  
       

 

 

 
          171,900,506  

Miscellaneous Manufacturing    0.7%

                               

Bombardier, Inc. (Canada),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.750       04/15/19       775       795,344  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.750       12/01/21       13,950       15,449,625  
       

 

 

 
          16,244,969  

Oil & Gas    2.0%

                               

Antero Resources Corp., Gtd. Notes(c)

    5.375       11/01/21       2,275       2,326,188  

Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.000       08/15/21       6,375       6,630,000  

Extraction Oil & Gas Holdings LLC/Extraction Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.875       07/15/21       7,993       8,512,545  

Noble Holding International Ltd. (United Kingdom),
Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.750       01/15/24       3,025       2,941,812  

Range Resources Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.875       07/01/22       2,825       2,888,563  

RSP Permian, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    6.625       10/01/22       5,650       5,974,875  

Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.500       08/01/20       1,600       1,612,000  

Gtd. Notes

    6.250       04/15/21       9,000       9,135,000  

Western Refining, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    6.250       04/01/21       2,147       2,219,461  

WPX Energy, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.500       08/01/20       2,850       3,070,875  
       

 

 

 
          45,311,319  

Oil & Gas Services     0.2%

                               

SESI LLC, Gtd. Notes

    6.375       05/01/19       4,950       4,968,562  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     21  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

     

Packaging & Containers    3.9%

                               

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc. (Ireland),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.000     06/30/21       2,000     $ 2,075,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.250       01/31/19       1,400       1,422,134  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.750       01/31/21       5,250       5,443,200  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.250       09/15/22       7,550       7,663,250  

Ball Corp., Gtd. Notes

    3.500       12/15/20     EUR 1,450       1,699,575  

Coveris Holdings SA (Luxembourg),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.875       11/01/19       13,600       13,430,000  

Greif, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.750       08/01/19       19,211       21,372,238  

Owens-Illinois, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    7.800       05/15/18       4,829       5,118,740  

PaperWorks Industries, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.500       08/15/19       7,200       5,958,000  

Plastipak Holdings, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    6.500       10/01/21       8,977       9,380,965  

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC
(New Zealand), Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    5.750       10/15/20       8,135       8,379,050  

Sealed Air Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.500       12/01/20       2,365       2,660,625  

Verallia Packaging SASU (France),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.125       08/01/22     EUR 5,500       6,182,132  
       

 

 

 
          90,784,909  

Pharmaceuticals    1.6%

                               

Endo Finance LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.750       01/15/22       710       658,525  

Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.250 (a)      01/15/22       3,425       3,315,828  

Nature’s Bounty Co. (The),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)(d)

    7.625       05/15/21       9,625       10,166,406  

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.375       03/15/20       8,350       7,483,688  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.750       08/15/18       466       459,010  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.500       07/15/21       17,075       15,687,656  
       

 

 

 
          37,771,113  

Pipelines    1.1%

                               

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    5.625       04/15/20       10,000       10,550,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    6.000       01/15/19       3,100       3,255,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    6.850       07/15/18       2,400       2,526,000  

Tesoro Logistics LP/Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    6.125       10/15/21       8,975       9,367,656  
       

 

 

 
          25,698,656  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Real Estate    0.6%

                               

Crescent Communities LLC/Crescent Venture, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.875     10/15/21       5,150     $ 5,388,187  

Grainger PLC (United Kingdom),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, RegS

    5.000       12/16/20     GBP 3,150       4,314,949  

Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co-Issuer Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.250       12/01/21       2,900       3,016,000  
       

 

 

 
          12,719,136  

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)    1.8%

 

       

CyrusOne LP/CyrusOne Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes

    6.375       11/15/22       4,190       4,421,581  

DuPont Fabros Technology LP, Gtd. Notes

    5.875       09/15/21       15,690       16,356,825  

Equinix, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    4.875       04/01/20       5,296       5,428,400  

MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    6.375       02/15/22       2,650       2,739,438  

RHP Hotel Properties LP/RHP Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes

    5.000       04/15/21       4,532       4,633,970  

Sabra Health Care LP/Sabra Capital Corp., Gtd. Notes

    5.500       02/01/21       7,425       7,703,437  
       

 

 

 
          41,283,651  

Retail    4.5%

                               

1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc. (Canada),
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.000       04/01/22       7,735       8,066,058  

Claire’s Stores, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.000       03/15/19       8,630       3,948,225  

Dollar Tree, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.250       03/01/20       1,175       1,208,488  

Ferrellgas Partners LP/Ferrellgas Partners
Finance Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.625       06/15/20       2,700       2,659,500  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.625       06/15/20       4,850       4,777,250  

Hot Topic, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    9.250       06/15/21       3,783       3,839,745  

L Brands, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    6.625       04/01/21       2,500       2,750,000  

Gtd. Notes

    8.500       06/15/19       2,195       2,450,169  

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The), Gtd. Notes

    7.000       07/01/22       5,375       5,079,375  

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. LLC,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    8.000       10/15/21       8,915       5,594,162  

PetSmart, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.125       03/15/23       4,525       4,440,156  

PF Chang’s China Bistro, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    10.250       06/30/20       3,400       3,383,000  

Rite Aid Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    9.250       03/15/20       7,528       7,772,660  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.125       04/01/23       16,532       17,518,134  

Ruby Tuesday, Inc., Gtd. Notes(c)

    7.625       05/15/20       5,100       4,947,000  

Sally Holdings LLC/Sally Capital, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(c)

    5.750       06/01/22       10,345       10,655,350  

THOM Europe SAS (France),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375       07/15/19     EUR 6,000       6,642,442  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     23  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Retail (cont’d.)

                               

Tops Holding LLC/Tops Markets II Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    8.000     06/15/22       1,750     $ 1,435,000  

Yum! Brands, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    3.875       11/01/20       5,700       5,856,750  
       

 

 

 
          103,023,464  

Semiconductors    0.8%

                               

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC (Netherlands),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.125       06/01/21       10,145       10,531,524  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    3.875       09/01/22       7,225       7,396,594  
       

 

 

 
          17,928,118  

Software    1.7%

                               

BMC Software, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.250       06/01/18       3,635       3,744,050  

Change Healthcare Holdings, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.000       02/15/21       14,745       15,703,425  

Infor US, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(d)

    5.750       08/15/20       11,809       12,251,838  

Nuance Communications, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.375       08/15/20       8,015       8,171,132  
       

 

 

 
          39,870,445  

Telecommunications    7.9%

                               

Anixter, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.625       05/01/19       6,776       7,148,680  

CenturyLink, Inc.,
Series S, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.450       06/15/21       8,800       9,377,544  

Series V, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.625       04/01/20       2,600       2,747,888  

CommScope, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.000       06/15/21       8,035       8,276,050  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.375       06/15/20       3,605       3,699,631  

eircom Finance DAC (Ireland),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.500       05/31/22     EUR 2,350       2,606,595  

Frontier Communications Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

    6.250       09/15/21       6,340       6,054,700  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.125       10/01/18       1,150       1,230,500  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    9.250       07/01/21       5,195       5,467,738  

Interoute Finco PLC (Luxembourg),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375       10/15/20     EUR 2,500       2,834,426  

Level 3 Financing, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.375       08/15/22       1,520       1,575,860  

Gtd. Notes

    6.125       01/15/21       14,258       14,774,852  

Sprint Communications, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(d)

    7.000       03/01/20       7,325       8,002,562  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(d)

    9.000       11/15/18       14,310       15,651,562  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(d)

    8.375       08/15/17       9,192       9,444,780  

Sprint Spectrum Co. LLC/Sprint Spectrum Co. II LLC/Sprint Spectrum Co. III LLC, First Lien, 144A

    3.360       03/20/23       10,225       10,263,344  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Telecommunications (cont’d.)

                               

T-Mobile USA, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    6.250     04/01/21       9,565     $ 9,872,604  

Gtd. Notes

    6.464       04/28/19       7,781       7,839,980  

Gtd. Notes

    6.542       04/28/20       2,475       2,543,063  

Gtd. Notes

    6.731       04/28/22       10,570       10,992,800  

TBG Global Pte Ltd. (Indonesia),
Gtd. Notes, RegS

    4.625       04/03/18       400       404,000  

Telecom Italia Capital SA (Italy), Gtd. Notes

    6.999       06/04/18       1,470       1,552,688  

Vimpel Communications Via VIP Finance Ireland Ltd. OJSC (Russia),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.125       04/30/18       1,000       1,072,540  

West Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.750       07/15/21       6,457       6,618,425  

Wind Acquisition Finance SA (Italy),
Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375       04/23/21       18,265       19,018,431  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    3.673 (a)      07/15/20     EUR 2,000       2,126,217  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.500       04/30/20       10,225       10,609,460  
       

 

 

 
          181,806,920  

Textiles    0.3%

                               

Springs Industries, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    6.250       06/01/21       6,875       7,098,437  

Transportation    0.1%

                               

XPO Logistics, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.500       06/15/22       1,735       1,821,750  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
(cost $2,129,316,597)

          2,140,594,825  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $2,273,875,727)

          2,282,423,769  
       

 

 

 
               

Shares

       

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS    13.3%

       

AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS

       

Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund(f)

        28,003,784       28,003,784  

Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund
(cost $280,159,385; includes $279,985,623 of cash collateral for securities on loan)(f)(g)

        280,143,163       280,227,206  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $308,163,169)(Note 3)

          308,230,990  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS    111.9%
(cost $2,582,038,896)(Note 5)

          2,590,654,759  

Liabilities in excess of other assets(h)    (11.9)%

          (275,129,018
       

 

 

 

NET ASSETS    100.0%

        $ 2,315,525,741  
       

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     25  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

 

The following abbreviations are used in the semiannual report:

144A—Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be resold subject to that rule except to qualified institutional buyers. Unless otherwise noted, 144A securities are deemed to be liquid.

RegS—Regulation S. Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S and may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

MTN—Medium Term Note

OTC—Over-the-counter

PIK—Payment-in-Kind

REITs—Real Estate Investment Trusts

EUR—Euro

GBP—British Pound

# Principal amount shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
(a) Variable rate instrument. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at February 28, 2017.
(b) Indicates a Level 3 security. The aggregate value of Level 3 securities is $12,547,288 and 0.5% of net assets.
(c) All or a portion of security is on loan. The aggregate market value of such securities, including those sold and pending settlement, is $273,512,411; cash collateral of $279,985,623 (included in liabilities) was received with which the Fund purchased highly liquid short-term investments.
(d) Indicates a security that has been deemed illiquid; the aggregate value of $239,613,452 is approximately 10.3% of net assets.
(e) Indicates a restricted security; the aggregate original cost of the restricted securities are $16,768,285. The aggregate value of $14,669,283, is approximately 0.6% of net assets.
(f) PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and the Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund.
(g) Represents security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment.
(h) Includes net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the following derivative contracts held at reporting period end:

 

Futures contracts outstanding at February 28, 2017:

 

Number of
Contracts
    Type   Expiration
Date
    Value at
Trade Date
    Value at
February 28,
2017
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
  Long Positions:        
  312     2 Year U.S. Treasury Notes     Jun. 2017     $ 67,508,162     $ 67,518,750     $ 10,588  
  24     5 Year U.S. Treasury Notes     Jun. 2017       2,822,597       2,824,875       2,278  
  1,272     10 Year U.S. Treasury Notes     Jun. 2017       158,176,220       158,463,375       287,155  
  2     20 Year U.S. Treasury Bonds     Jun. 2017       302,284       303,312       1,028  
  1     30 Year U.S. Ultra Treasury Bonds     Jun. 2017       161,782       161,781       (1
         

 

 

 
      301,048  
         

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26  


Futures contracts outstanding at February 28, 2017 (continued):

 

Number of
Contracts
    Type   Expiration
Date
    Value at
Trade Date
    Value at
February 28,
2017
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
  Short Positions:        
  50     5 Year Euro-Bobl     Mar. 2017     $ 7,019,097     $ 7,136,652     $ (117,555
  2     10 Year Euro-Bund     Mar. 2017       342,561       351,827       (9,266
  41     Euro-Schatz. DUA Index     Mar. 2017       4,871,262       4,892,566       (21,304
         

 

 

 
      (148,125
         

 

 

 
    $ 152,923  
         

 

 

 

 

Cash of $1,980,000 has been segregated with JPMorgan Chase to cover requirements for open futures contracts as of February 28, 2017.

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding at February 28, 2017:

 

Purchase Contracts

  Counterparty   Notional
Amount
(000)
    Value at
Settlement
Date
    Current
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts:

 

British Pound,

 

Expiring 03/02/17

  Goldman Sachs & Co.   GBP  11,838     $ 14,844,602     $ 14,689,271     $ (155,331

Euro,

 

Expiring 03/02/17

  Goldman Sachs & Co.   EUR  39,905       42,215,232       42,275,113       59,881  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 57,059,834     $ 56,964,384     $ (95,450
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sale Contracts

  Counterparty   Notional
Amount
(000)
    Value at
Settlement
Date
    Current
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts:

 

British Pound,

         

Expiring 03/02/17

  Goldman Sachs & Co.   GBP  11,838     $ 14,898,405     $ 14,689,271     $ 209,134  

Expiring 04/04/17

  Goldman Sachs & Co.   GBP  11,838       14,857,979       14,703,168       154,811  

Euro,

         

Expiring 03/02/17

  Goldman Sachs & Co.   EUR  39,905       42,666,232       42,275,113       391,119  

Expiring 04/04/17

  Goldman Sachs & Co.   EUR  39,905       42,287,460       42,347,502       (60,042
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 114,710,076     $ 114,015,054       695,022  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ 599,572  
         

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     27  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

 

Fair Value Measurements:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of February 28, 2017 in valuing such portfolio securities:

 

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Investments in Securities

     

Bank Loans

  $     $ 129,281,656     $ 12,547,288  

Corporate Bonds

          2,140,594,825        

Affiliated Mutual Funds

    308,230,990              

Other Financial Instruments*

     

Futures Contracts

    152,923              

OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

          599,572        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 308,383,913     $ 2,270,476,053     $ 12,547,288  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in the Portfolio of Investments, such as futures, forwards and centrally cleared swap contracts, which are recorded at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument, and OTC swap contracts which are recorded at fair value.

 

During the period, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 to report.

 

Industry Classification:

 

The industry classification of investments and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of February 28, 2017 were as follows:

 

Affiliated Mutual Funds (including 12.1% of collateral for securities on loan)

    13.3

Media

    11.6  

Telecommunications

    7.9  

Healthcare-Services

    7.8  

Mining

    7.4  

Home Builders

    7.1  

Entertainment

    5.6  

Retail

    4.7

Packaging & Containers

    4.2  

Lodging

    4.2  

Electric

    4.1  

Chemicals

    3.0  

Software

    2.9  

Food

    2.5  

Commercial Services

    2.3  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28  


Industry (cont’d.)

     

Technology

    2.2

Oil & Gas

    2.0  

Computers

    1.8  

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

    1.8  

Pharmaceuticals

    1.6  

Iron/Steel

    1.4  

Machinery-Diversified

    1.3  

Diversified Financial Services

    1.2  

Pipelines

    1.1  

Building Materials

    1.0  

Semiconductors

    0.8  

Auto Parts & Equipment

    0.8  

Forest Products & Paper

    0.7  

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

    0.7  

Real Estate

    0.6  

Leisure Time

    0.5  

Environmental Control

    0.4  

Beverages

    0.4  

Cable & Satellite

    0.3  
       

Healthcare-Products

    0.3

Textiles

    0.3  

Coal

    0.3  

Airlines

    0.3  

Oil & Gas Services

    0.2  

Gaming

    0.2  

Biotechnology

    0.2  

Apparel

    0.2  

Hand/Machine Tools

    0.1  

Gas

    0.1  

Electronics

    0.1  

Metal Fabricate & Hardware

    0.1  

Aerospace/Defense

    0.1  

Transportation

    0.1  

Auto Manufacturers

    0.1  
 

 

 

 
    111.9  

Liabilities in excess of other assets

    (11.9
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 

 

Effects of Derivative Instruments on the Financial Statements and Primary Underlying Risk Exposure:

 

The Fund invested in derivative instruments during the reporting period. The primary types of risk associated with these derivative instruments are foreign exchange contracts risk and interest rate contracts risk. The effect of such derivative instruments on the Fund’s financial position and financial performance as reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations is presented in the summary below.

 

Fair values of derivative instruments as of February 28, 2017 as presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Derivatives not accounted
for as hedging instruments,
carried at fair value

  

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
  

Balance Sheet
Location

   Fair
Value
   

Balance Sheet
Location

   Fair
Value
 
Foreign exchange contracts    Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts    $ 814,945     Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts    $ 215,373  
Interest rate contracts    Due from/to broker—variation margin futures      301,049   Due from/to broker—variation margin futures      148,126
     

 

 

      

 

 

 
      $ 1,115,994        $ 363,499  
     

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the schedule of open futures and centrally cleared swap contracts. Only unsettled variation margin receivable (payable) is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     29  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

 

The effects of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the six months ended February 28, 2017 are as follows:

 

Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Derivatives not accounted
for as hedging instruments,
carried at fair value

  Forward
Currency
Contracts(1)
    Futures     Total  

Foreign exchange contracts

  $ 2,472,714     $     $ 2,472,714  

Interest rate contracts

          (3,508,342     (3,508,342
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 2,472,714     $ (3,508,342   $ (1,035,628
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Derivatives not accounted
for as hedging instruments,
carried at fair value

  Forward
Currency
Contracts(2)
    Futures     Total  

Foreign exchange contracts

  $ 1,177,287     $     $ 1,177,287  

Interest rate contracts

          368,474       368,474  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 1,177,287     $ 368,474     $ 1,545,761  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Included in net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions in the Statement of Operations.
(2) Included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currencies in the Statement of Operations.

 

For the six months ended February 28, 2017, the Fund’s average volume of derivative activities are as follows:

 

Futures
Contracts—
Long
Positions(1)

  Futures
Contracts—

Short
Positions(1)
  Forward
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts—

Purchased(2)
  Forward
Foreign
Currency

Exchange
Contracts—

Sold(2)
$150,485,697   $8,704,248   $60,796,518   $121,556,837

 

(1) Value at Trade Date.
(2) Value at Settlement Date.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

30  


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

 

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

 

Offsetting of financial transaction assets and liabilities:

 

Description

  Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets(3)
    Collateral
Received(4)
    Net
Amount
 

Securities on Loan

  $ 273,512,411     $ (273,512,411   $  
 

 

 

     

 

Offsetting of OTC derivative assets and liabilities:

 

Counterparty

  Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets(1)
    Gross
Amounts
Available
for Offset
    Collateral
Received(4)
    Net
Amount
 

Goldman Sachs & Co.

  $ 814,945     $ (215,373   $ (540,950   $ 58,622  
 

 

 

       

Counterparty

  Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities(2)
    Gross
Amounts
Available
for Offset
    Collateral
Pledged(4)
    Net
Amount
 

Goldman Sachs & Co.

  $ (215,373   $ 215,373     $     $  
 

 

 

       

 

(1) Includes unrealized appreciation on swaps and forwards, premiums paid on swap agreements and market value of purchased options.
(2) Includes unrealized depreciation on swaps and forwards, premiums received on swap agreements and market value of written options.
(3) Amount represents market value.
(4) Collateral amount disclosed by the Fund is limited to the market value of financial instruments/transactions and the Fund’s OTC derivative exposure by counterparty.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     31  


Statement of Assets & Liabilities (unaudited)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Assets

        

Investments at value, including securities on loan of $273,512,411:

  

Unaffiliated investments (cost $2,273,875,727)

   $ 2,282,423,769  

Affiliated investments (cost $308,163,169)

     308,230,990  

Cash

     77,985  

Foreign currency, at value (cost $1,039,395)

     1,034,567  

Dividends and interest receivable

     39,407,871  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     9,935,493  

Deposit with broker—futures

     1,980,000  

Receivable for investments sold

     6,135,045  

Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     814,945  

Prepaid expenses

     11,115  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     2,650,051,780  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payable to broker for collateral for securities on loan

     279,985,623  

Payable for investments purchased

     42,072,075  

Payable for Fund shares reacquired

     8,532,683  

Dividends payable

     1,597,209  

Management fee payable

     1,225,088  

Accrued expenses

     415,156  

Distribution fee payable

     381,139  

Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     215,373  

Due to broker—variation margin futures

     64,191  

Affiliated transfer agent fee payable

     37,502  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     334,526,039  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,315,525,741  
  

 

 

 
          

Net assets were comprised of:

  

Common stock, at par

   $ 2,546,095  

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     2,424,621,375  
  

 

 

 
     2,427,167,470  

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     (11,103,959

Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (109,899,019

Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currencies

     9,361,249  
  

 

 

 

Net assets, February 28, 2017

   $ 2,315,525,741  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

32  


Class A

        

Net asset value and redemption price per share
($391,088,904 ÷ 43,009,577 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 9.09  

Maximum sales charge (3.25% of offering price)

     0.31  
  

 

 

 

Maximum offering price to public

   $ 9.40  
  

 

 

 

Class C

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($381,183,977 ÷ 41,925,208 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 9.09  
  

 

 

 

Class Q

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($48,431,491 ÷ 5,322,910 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 9.10  
  

 

 

 

Class Z

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($1,494,821,369 ÷ 164,351,793 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 9.10  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     33  


Statement of Operations (unaudited)

Six Months Ended February 28, 2017

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

 

Income

 

Interest income (net of foreign withholding taxes of $14,895)

   $ 62,565,213  

Income from securities lending, net (including affiliated income of $169,880)

     488,373  

Affiliated dividend income

     156,914  
  

 

 

 

Total income

     63,210,500  
  

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

     7,808,068  

Distribution fee—Class A

     684,950  

Distribution fee—Class C

     1,873,262  

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses (including affiliated expense of $95,900)

     882,000  

Registration fees

     132,000  

Custodian and accounting fees

     112,000  

Shareholders’ reports

     70,000  

Directors’ fees

     21,000  

Audit fee

     17,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     15,000  

Insurance expenses

     13,000  

Loan interest expense

     270  

Miscellaneous

     11,924  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     11,640,474  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

     51,570,026  
  

 

 

 

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

 

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investment transactions (including affiliated of $2,348)

     (3,287,754

Futures transactions

     (3,508,342

Foreign currency transactions

     2,243,597  
  

 

 

 
     (4,552,499
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments (including affiliated of $67,821)

     1,933,685  

Futures

     368,474  

Foreign currencies

     1,136,186  
  

 

 

 
     3,438,345  
  

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (1,114,154
  

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ 50,455,872  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

34  


Statement of Changes in Net Assets (unaudited)

 

     Six Months
Ended
February 28, 2017
     Year
Ended
August 31, 2016
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

Operations

 

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 51,570,026      $ 73,444,006  

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

     (4,552,499      (18,212,892

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

     3,438,345        45,198,927  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     50,455,872        100,430,041  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends from net investment income (Note 1)

 

Class A

     (16,068,219      (25,539,567

Class C

     (9,569,180      (16,083,770

Class Q

     (1,166,035      (1,880,885

Class Z

     (39,173,902      (50,943,610
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     (65,977,336      (94,447,832
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fund share transactions (Net of share conversions) (Note 6)

 

Net proceeds from shares sold

     609,510,198        1,414,160,621  

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

     54,517,156        77,629,635  

Cost of shares reacquired

     (492,946,816      (664,329,641
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

     171,080,538        827,460,615  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     155,559,074        833,442,824  

Net Assets:

 

Beginning of period

     2,159,966,667        1,326,523,843  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of period(a)

   $ 2,315,525,741      $ 2,159,966,667  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(a) Includes undistributed net investment income of:

   $      $ 3,303,351  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     35  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 (the “Company”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Company consists of two investment portfolios: Prudential High Yield Fund and Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund (the “Fund”). These financial statements relate to Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of current income.

 

Note 1. Accounting Policies

 

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

 

Securities Valuation: The Fund holds securities and other assets that are fair valued at the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) has adopted Valuation Procedures for security valuation under which fair valuation responsibilities have been delegated to PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or “the Manager) (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC). Under the current Valuation Procedures, the established Valuation Committee is responsible for supervising the valuation of portfolio securities and other assets. The Valuation Procedures permit the Fund to utilize independent pricing vendor services, quotations from market makers, and alternative valuation methods when market quotations are either not readily available or not deemed representative of fair value. A record of the Valuation Committee’s actions is subject to the Board’s review, approval, and ratification at its next regularly scheduled quarterly meeting.

 

Various inputs determine how the Fund’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the table following the Portfolio of Investments.

 

Derivative instruments such as futures or options that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

36  


Investments in open-end, non-exchange-traded mutual funds are valued at their net asset values as of the close of the NYSE on the date of valuation. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.

 

Fixed income securities traded in the OTC market are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such fixed income securities are typically valued using the market approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The portfolios utilize the market approach as the primary method to value securities when market prices of identical or comparable instruments are available. The third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated bid price is based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, yield curves, yield spreads, credit ratings, deal terms, tranche level attributes, default rates, cash flows, prepayment speeds, broker/dealer quotations and reported trades. Certain Level 3 securities are also valued using the market approach when obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing recent transaction prices for identical or comparable securities.

 

Bank loans are generally valued at prices provided by approved independent pricing vendors. The pricing vendors utilize broker/dealer quotations and provide prices based on the average of such quotations. Bank loans valued using such vendor prices are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

OTC derivative instruments are generally valued using pricing vendor services, which derive the valuation based on inputs such as underlying asset prices, indices, spreads, interest rates, and exchange rates. These instruments are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are generally valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, as the daily settlement price is not public.

 

Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on pricing methodologies approved by the Board. In the event that unobservable inputs are used when determining such valuations, the securities will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

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

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     37  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

security’s most recent closing price and from the price used by other mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities: Subject to guidelines adopted by the Board, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including those which are restricted as to disposition under securities law (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities are valued pursuant to the valuation procedures noted above. Illiquid securities are those that, because of the absence of a readily available market or due to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, cannot be sold within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the investment. Therefore, the Fund may find it difficult to sell illiquid securities at the time considered most advantageous by its Subadviser and may incur expenses that would not be incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. Certain securities that would otherwise be considered illiquid because of legal restrictions on resale to the general public may be traded among qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These Rule 144A securities, as well as commercial paper that is sold in private placements under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, may be deemed liquid by the Fund’s Subadviser under the guidelines adopted by the Directors of the Fund. However, the liquidity of the Fund’s investments in Rule 144A securities could be impaired if trading does not develop or declines.

 

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

 

(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities—at the current rates of exchange;

 

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

 

Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not generally isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities held at the end of the period. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities sold during the period. Accordingly, holding period realized foreign currency gains (losses) are included in the reported net realized gains (losses) on investment transactions. Notwithstanding the above, the Fund does isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates when determining the gain (loss) upon the sale or maturity of foreign currency denominated debt obligations; such amounts are included in net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions.

 

38  


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

 

Cross Currency Exchange Contracts: A cross currency contract is a forward contract where a specified amount of one foreign currency will be exchanged for a specified amount of another foreign currency.

 

Concentration of Risk: The ability of debt securities issuers (other than those issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government) held by the Fund to meet its obligations may be affected by the economic or political developments in a specific industry, region or country. Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of domestic origin as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of political or economic instability or the level of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets.

 

Financial Futures Contracts: A financial futures contract is an agreement to purchase (long) or sell (short) an agreed amount of securities at a set price for delivery on a future date. Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying security. Such variation margin is recorded for financial statement purposes on a daily basis as unrealized gain (loss). When the contract expires or is closed, the gain (loss) is realized and is presented on the Statement of Operations as net realized gain (loss) on futures transactions.

 

The Fund invested in financial futures contracts in order to hedge its existing portfolio

securities, or securities the Fund intends to purchase, against fluctuations in value caused

by changes in prevailing interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates. Should interest

rates move unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the

financial futures contracts and may realize a loss. The use of futures transactions involves

the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price of futures contracts, interest

rates and the underlying hedged assets. Financial futures contracts involve elements of risk

in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. With

exchange-traded futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund

since the exchanges’ clearinghouse acts as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures and

guarantees the futures contracts against default.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     39  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Forward Currency Contracts: A forward currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate between two parties. The Fund enters into forward currency contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings or specific receivables and payables denominated in a foreign currency and to gain exposure to certain currencies. The contracts are valued daily at current exchange rates and any unrealized gain (loss) is included in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on foreign currencies. Gain (loss) is realized on the settlement date of the contract equal to the difference between the settlement value of the original and negotiated forward contracts. This gain (loss), if any, is included in net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions. Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. Forward currency contracts involve risks from currency exchange rate and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty at the end of the contract’s life.

 

Swap Agreements: The Fund may enter into credit default, interest rate, total return and other forms of swap agreements. A swap agreement is an agreement to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. Swap agreements are negotiated in the OTC market and may be executed either directly with counterparty (“OTC-traded”) or through a central clearing facility, such as a registered commodities exchange. Swap agreements are valued daily at current market value and any change in value is included in the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments. Centrally cleared swaps pay or receive an amount, known as “variation margin”, based on daily changes in the valuation of a swap contract. Payments received or paid by the Fund are recorded as realized gains (losses) upon termination or maturity of the swap. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Swap agreements outstanding at period end, if any, are listed on the Portfolio of Investments.

 

Credit Default Swaps: Credit default swaps (“CDS’’) involve one party (the protection buyer) making a stream of payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for the right to receive a specified payment in the event of a default or as a result of a default (collectively a “credit event”) for the referenced entity (typically corporate issues or sovereign issues of an emerging country) on its obligation; or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index.

 

The Fund is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund entered into CDS contracts to provide a measure of protection against

 

40  


defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be short the credit as the value of the contract rises the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk for purchased credit default swaps is the inability of the counterparty to honor the contract up to the notional value due to a credit event.

 

As a seller of protection on credit default swap agreements, the Fund generally receives an agreed upon payment from the buyer of protection throughout the term of the swap, provided no credit event occurs. As the seller, the Fund effectively increases its investment risk because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund may be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

 

The maximum amount of the payment that the Fund, as a seller of protection, could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be equal to the notional amount of the underlying security or index contract as a result of a credit event. This potential amount will be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements which the Fund entered into the same referenced entity or index. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.

 

Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate or sovereign issues of an emerging country as of period end are disclosed in the footnotes to the Portfolio of Investments, if applicable. These spreads serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood of default risk for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. For credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk. Wider credit spreads and increased market value in absolute terms, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement.

 

Master Netting Arrangements: The Fund is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received; and by the receipt of collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     41  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

enforceable. In addition to master netting arrangements, the right to set-off exists when all the conditions are met such that each of the parties owes the other determinable amounts, the reporting party has the right to set-off the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party, the reporting party intends to set-off, and the right of set-off is enforceable by law. During the reporting period, there was no intention to settle on a net basis and all amounts are presented on a gross basis on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

The Company, on behalf of the Fund, is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the Fund is held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian and with respect to those amounts which can be sold or re-pledged, are presented in the Portfolio of Investments. Collateral pledged by the Fund is segregated by the Fund’s custodian and identified in the Portfolio of Investments. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the Fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the Fund’s net position with each counterparty. Termination events applicable to the Fund may occur upon a decline in the Fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the Fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the Fund’s future derivative activity.

 

In addition to each instrument’s primary underlying risk exposure (e.g. interest rate, credit, equity or foreign exchange, etc.), swap agreements involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk. Such risks involve the possibility that no liquid market for these agreements will exist, the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree on the contractual terms of the agreement, and changes in net interest rates will be unfavorable. In connection with these agreements, securities in the portfolio may be identified or received as collateral from the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide or receive assets of value and to serve as recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency of either party. Such OTC derivative agreements include conditions which, when materialized, give the counterparty the right to cause an early termination of the transactions under those

 

42  


agreements. Any election by the counterparty for early termination of the contract(s) may impact the amounts reported on financial statements.

 

As of February 28, 2017, the Fund has not met conditions under such agreements, which give the counterparty the right to call for an early termination.

 

Forward currency contracts, written options, short sales, swaps and financial futures contracts involve elements of both market and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks may be mitigated by engaging in master netting arrangements.

 

Delayed-Delivery Transactions: The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed-delivery purchases are outstanding, the Fund will set aside and maintain an amount of liquid assets sufficient to meet the purchase price in a segregated account until the settlement date. When purchasing a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its net asset value. The Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed-delivery transaction subsequent to establishment, and may sell when-issued securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain (loss). When selling a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the Fund forfeits its eligibility to realize future gains (losses) with respect to the security.

 

Payment-in-Kind Securities: The Fund may invest in the open market or receive pursuant to debt restructuring, securities that pay-in-kind (PIK) the interest due on such debt instruments. The PIK interest, computed at the contractual rate specified, is added to the existing principal balance of the debt when issued bonds have same terms as the bond or recorded as a separate bond when terms are different from the existing debt, and is recorded as interest income.

 

Securities Lending: The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to banks and broker-dealers. The loans are secured by collateral at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Collateral pledged by each borrower is invested in an affiliated money market fund and is marked to market daily, based on the previous day’s market value, such that the value of the collateral exceeds the value of the loaned securities. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower will return to the Fund securities identical to the loaned securities. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund has the right to repurchase the securities in the open market using the collateral. The Fund recognizes income, net of any rebate and securities lending agent fees, for lending its securities in the form of fees or interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The borrower receives all interest and dividends from the securities loaned and such payments are passed back to the lender in amounts equivalent thereto. The Fund also continues to recognize any unrealized gain

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     43  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

(loss) in the market price of the securities loaned and on the change in the value of the collateral invested that may occur during the term of the loan. In addition, realized gain (loss) is recognized on changes in the value of the collateral invested upon liquidation of the collateral. Net earnings from securities lending are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “income from securities lending, net”.

 

Loan Participations: The Fund may invest in loan participations, another type of restricted security. When the Fund purchases a loan participation, the Fund typically enters into a contractual relationship with the lender or third party selling such participations (“Selling Participant”), but not the borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower, the Selling Participant and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower. The Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the senior loan in which it has purchased the loan participation.

 

Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains (losses) from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date. Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required, is recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual.

 

Net investment income or loss (other than distribution fees, which are charged directly to the respective class and transfer agency fees specific to Class Q shares which are charged to that share class) and unrealized and realized gains (losses) are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of adjusted net assets of each class at the beginning of the day.

 

Dividends and Distributions: The Fund expects to declare dividends each business day and pay monthly from net investment income and pay distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified amongst undistributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gain (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate.

 

44  


Taxes: It is the Fund’s policy to continue to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable net investment income and capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

 

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

 

Note 2. Agreements

 

The Company, on behalf of the Fund, has a management agreement with PGIM Investments. Pursuant to this agreement, PGIM Investments has responsibility for all investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser’s performance of such services. PGIM Investments has entered into a subadvisory agreement with PGIM, Inc., which provides subadvisory services to the Funds through its PGIM Fixed Income unit. The subadvisory agreement provides that PGIM, Inc. will furnish investment advisory services in connection with the management of the Fund. In connection therewith, PGIM, Inc. is obligated to keep certain books and records of the Fund. PGIM Investments pays for the services of PGIM, Inc., the cost of compensation of officers of the Fund, occupancy and certain clerical and bookkeeping costs of the Fund. The Fund bears all other costs and expenses.

 

The management fee paid to PGIM Investments is accrued daily and payable monthly at an annual rate of .70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to $2 billion and .675% of the average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion. The effective management fee rate was .70% for the six months ended February 28, 2017.

 

Effective March 1, 2017, PGIM Investments has contractually agreed through December 31, 2018 to limit the net annual operating expenses (exclusive of distribution and service (12b-1) fees, taxes (such as income and foreign withholdings taxes, stamp duty and deferred tax expenses), interest, underlying funds, brokerage, extraordinary and certain other expenses such as dividend, broker charges and interest expense on short sales) of each class of shares of the Fund to .75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. In addition, effective March 1, 2017, PGIM Investments has contractually agreed through December 31, 2018 to limit net annual operating expenses (exclusive of distribution and service (12b-1) fees, transfer agency expenses (including sub-transfer agency and networking fees), taxes (such as income and foreign withholdings taxes, stamp duty and deferred tax expenses), interest, underlying funds, brokerage, extraordinary and certain other expenses such as dividend, broker charges and interest expense on short sales) of each class of shares of the Fund to .70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Expenses waived/reimbursed by the Manager in accordance with this agreement may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver/reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for that fiscal year.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     45  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

The Company, on behalf of the Fund, has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), which acts as the distributor of the Class A, Class C, Class Q and Class Z shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates PIMS for distributing and servicing the Fund’s Class A and Class C shares, pursuant to plans of distribution (the “Distribution Plans”), regardless of expenses actually incurred by PIMS. The distribution fees are accrued daily and payable monthly. No distribution or service fees are paid to PIMS as distributor of the Class Q and Class Z shares of the Fund.

 

Pursuant to the Distribution Plans, the Fund compensates PIMS for distribution related activities at an annual rate of up to .25% and 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A and C shares, respectively.

 

PIMS has advised the Fund that it has received $473,267 in front-end sales charges resulting from sales of Class A shares, during the six months ended February 28, 2017. From these fees, PIMS paid such sales charges to affiliated broker-dealers, which in turn paid commissions to salespersons and incurred other distribution costs.

 

PIMS has advised the Fund that for the six months ended February 28, 2017 it received $18,012 and $33,548 in contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon certain redemptions by Class A and Class C shareholders, respectively.

 

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

 

Note 3. Other Transactions with Affiliates

 

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

 

The Fund may enter into certain securities purchase or sale transactions under Board approved Rule 17a-7 procedures. Rule 17a-7 is an exemptive rule under the 1940 Act, that permits purchase and sale transactions among affiliated investment companies, or between an investment company and a person that is affiliated solely by reason of having a common (or affiliated) investment adviser, common directors and/or common officers. Such transactions are subject to ratification by the Board.

 

The Fund may invest its overnight sweep cash in the Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund (the “Core Fund”), and its securities lending cash collateral in the Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund, (the “Money Market Fund”), each a series of Prudential Investments Portfolios 2, registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM

 

46  


Investments. For the period ended February 28, 2017, PGIM, Inc. was compensated $85,652 for managing the Fund’s securities lending cash collateral through its subadvisory services to the Money Market Fund. Earnings from the Core Fund and Money Market Fund are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income” and “Income from securities lending, net”, respectively.

 

Note 4. Portfolio Securities

 

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Treasury securities), for the six months ended February 28, 2017, were $895,646,304 and $699,430,626, respectively.

 

Note 5. Tax Information

 

The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized depreciation as of February 28, 2017 were as follows:

 

Tax Basis

   $ 2,604,838,972  
  

 

 

 

Appreciation

     31,324,266  

Depreciation

     (45,508,479
  

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Depreciation

   $ (14,184,213
  

 

 

 

 

The book basis may differ from tax basis due to certain tax-related adjustments.

 

For federal income tax purposes, the Fund had a capital loss carryforward as of August 31, 2016 of approximately $50,183,000 which can be carried forward for an unlimited period. No capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such losses.

 

The Fund elected to treat post-October capital losses of approximately $29,008,000 as having been incurred in the following fiscal year (August 31, 2017).

 

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. The Fund’s federal, state and local income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

 

Note 6. Capital

 

The Fund offers Class A, Class C, Class Q and Class Z shares. Class A shares are sold with a front-end sales charge of up to 3.25%. Investors who purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares and redeem those shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1%, but are not subject to an initial sales charge. The Class A CDSC is waived for purchases by certain retirement or benefit plans.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     47  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Class C shares sold within 12 months of purchase are subject to a CDSC of 1%. A special exchange privilege is also available for shareholders who qualified to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. Class Q and Class Z shares are not subject to any sales or redemption charges and are available only to a limited group of investors.

 

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

 

The Company is authorized to issue 6 billion shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, which has been classified and designated for the Fund into five classes, designated Class A, Class C, Class Q, Class Z and Class T common stock. Of the authorized shares of common stock of the Fund, 125 million shares are designated for Class A common stock, 100 million shares are designated for Class C common stock, 150 million shares are designated for Class Q common stock, 675 million shares are designated for Class Z common stock, and 75 million shares are designated for Class T common stock. The Fund currently does not have any Class T shares outstanding.

 

At reporting period end, nine shareholders of record held 72% of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

 

Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:

 

Class A

     Shares      Amount  

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       11,357,771      $ 103,244,183  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       1,459,663        13,233,714  

Shares reacquired

       (11,071,586      (100,254,943
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       1,745,848        16,222,954  

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       316,772        2,880,598  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (20,299,685      (184,128,144
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (18,237,065    $ (165,024,592
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       37,147,008      $ 334,829,196  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       2,274,525        20,549,889  

Shares reacquired

       (16,603,982      (149,859,044
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       22,817,551        205,520,041  

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       615,124        5,533,122  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (1,950,292      (17,728,467
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       21,482,383      $ 193,324,696  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

48  


Class C

     Shares      Amount  

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       5,711,504      $ 51,889,246  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       893,206        8,096,622  

Shares reacquired

       (4,436,462      (40,232,214
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       2,168,248        19,753,654  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (960,542      (8,715,113
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       1,207,706      $ 11,038,541  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       17,414,804      $ 157,253,158  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       1,461,123        13,191,485  

Shares reacquired

       (8,553,477      (77,080,574
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       10,322,450        93,364,069  

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       4,154        37,642  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (766,930      (6,939,741
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       9,559,674      $ 86,461,970  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class Q

               

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       4,217,136      $ 38,116,900  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       81,548        739,452  

Shares reacquired

       (1,732,513      (15,746,965
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       2,566,171      $ 23,109,387  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       5,587,522      $ 50,273,926  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       169,552        1,531,871  

Shares reacquired*

       (4,811,269      (43,427,416
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       945,805      $ 8,378,381  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class Z

               

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       45,797,848      $ 416,259,869  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       3,577,399        32,447,368  

Shares reacquired

       (37,142,172      (336,712,694
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       12,233,075        111,994,543  

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       21,215,978        192,271,338  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (254,111      (2,308,679
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       33,194,942      $ 301,957,202  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       96,806,697      $ 871,804,341  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       4,685,662        42,356,390  

Shares reacquired

       (43,679,284      (393,962,607
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       57,813,075        520,198,124  

Shares issued upon conversion from other shares class(es)

       2,685,462        24,376,877  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (586,370      (5,279,433
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       59,912,167      $ 539,295,568  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Includes affiliated redemptions of 1,115 shares with a value of $10,143 for Class Q shares.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     49  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Note 7. Borrowings

 

The Company, on behalf of the Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Funds”), is a party to a Syndicated Credit Agreement (“SCA”) with a group of banks. The purpose of the SCA is to provide an alternative source of temporary funding for capital share redemptions. The SCA provides for a commitment of $900 million for the period October 6, 2016 through October 5, 2017. The Funds pay an annualized commitment fee of .15% of the unused portion of the SCA. Prior to October 6, 2016, the Funds had a prior SCA that provided a commitment of $900 million in which the Funds paid an annualized commitment fee of .11% of the unused portion of the prior SCA. For the SCA and the prior SCA, the Fund’s portion of the commitment fee for the unused amount, allocated based upon a method approved by the Board, is accrued daily and paid quarterly. The interest on borrowings under each SCA is paid monthly and at a per annum interest rate based upon a contractual spread plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the 1-month LIBOR rate or (3) zero percent.

 

The Fund utilized the SCA during the six months ended February 28, 2017. The average daily balance for the 5 days that the Fund had loans outstanding during the period was $1,019,600, borrowed at an average weighted interest rate of 1.91%. The maximum loan balance outstanding during the period was $3,590,000. At February 28, 2017, the Fund did not have an outstanding loan balance.

 

Note 8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Reporting Updates

 

In December 2016, the FASB released an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) that makes technical changes to various sections of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), including Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. The changes to Topic 820 are intended to clarify the difference between a valuation approach and a valuation technique. The changes to ASC 820-10-50-2 require a reporting entity to disclose, for Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements, a change in either or both a valuation approach and a valuation technique and the reason(s) for the change. The changes to Topic 820 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of the ASU and its impact on the financial statements and disclosures has not yet been determined.

 

On October 13, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new rules and forms and amended existing rules and forms which are intended to modernize and enhance the reporting and disclosure of information by registered investment companies and to improve the quality of information that funds provide to investors, including modifications to Regulation S-X which would require standardized, enhanced disclosure about derivatives in investment company financial statements. The new rules

 

50  


also enhance disclosure regarding fund liquidity and redemption practices. Also under the new rules, the SEC will permit open-end funds, with the exception of money market funds, to offer swing pricing, subject to board approval and review. The compliance dates of the modifications to Regulation S-X are August 1, 2017 and other amendments and rules are generally June 1, 2018 and December 1, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impacts to the financial statement disclosures, if any.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     51  


Financial Highlights (unaudited)

 

Class A Shares  
     Six Months
Ended
February 28,
          Year Ended August 31,          

October 26,

2012(a)
through
August 31,

 
     2017            2016     2015     2014            2013  
Per Share Operating Performance(b):                                                        
Net Asset Value, Beginning Of Period     $9.16               $9.21       $9.73       $9.79               $10.00  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                        
Net investment income (loss)     .21               .42       .44       .45               .34  
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions
    (.02             .08       (.37     .09               (.09
Total from investment operations     .19               .50       .07       .54               .25  
Less Dividends:                                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.26             (.55     (.59     (.60             (.46
Net asset value, end of period     $9.09               $9.16       $9.21       $9.73               $9.79  
Total Return(c):     2.16%               5.68%       .72%       5.55%               2.50%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $391,089               $560,800       $366,345       $413,957               $173,606  
Average net assets (000)     $552,504               $425,721       $381,350       $354,627               $55,859  
Ratios to average net assets(d):                                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or
expense reimbursement(e)
    1.06% (f)              1.08%       1.11%       1.09%               1.15% (f) 
Expenses before waivers and/or
expense reimbursement(e)
    1.06% (f)              1.08%       1.14%       1.14%               1.25% (f) 
Net investment income (loss)     4.57% (f)              4.67%       4.70%       4.63%               4.16% (f) 
Portfolio turnover rate     32% (g)              58%       56%       60%               30% (g) 

 

(a) Commencement of operations.
(b) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(d) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(e) The distributor of the Fund had contractually agreed to limit its distribution and service (12b-1) fees to .25% of the average daily net assets through March 8, 2015. Effective March 9, 2015, the contractual distribution and service (12b-1) fees were reduced from .30% to .25% of the average daily net assets.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

52  


Class C Shares  
     Six Months
Ended
February 28,
          Year Ended August 31,           October 26,
2012(a)
through
August 31,
 
     2017            2016     2015     2014            2013  
Per Share Operating Performance(b):                                                        
Net Asset Value, Beginning Of Period     $9.15               $9.21       $9.73       $9.79               $10.00  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                        
Net investment income (loss)     .17               .36       .37       .38               .28  
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions
    - (e)              .06       (.37     .08               (.10
Total from investment operations     .17               .42       -       .46               .18  
Less Dividends:                                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.23             (.48     (.52     (.52             (.39
Net asset value, end of period     $9.09               $9.15       $9.21       $9.73               $9.79  
Total Return(c):     1.89%               4.78%       (.02)%       4.77%               1.83%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $381,184               $372,754       $286,999       $304,897               $75,539  
Average net assets (000)     $377,759               $304,363       $298,555       $194,085               $25,240  
Ratios to average net assets(d):                                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or
expense reimbursement
    1.81% (f)              1.83%       1.86%       1.83%               1.90% (f) 
Expenses before waivers and/or
expense reimbursement
    1.81% (f)              1.83%       1.86%       1.83%               1.95% (f) 
Net investment income (loss)     3.83% (f)              3.94%       3.95%       3.86%               3.38% (f) 
Portfolio turnover rate     32% (g)              58%       56%       60%               30% (g) 

 

(a) Commencement of operations.
(b) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(d) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(e) Less than $.005 per share.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     53  


Financial Highlights (unaudited) (continued)

 

Class Q Shares  
     Six Months
Ended
February 28,
2017
           Year Ended
August 31,
2016
           October 27,
2014(a)
through
August 31,
2015
 
Per Share Operating Performance(b):                                        
Net Asset Value, Beginning Of Period     $9.16               $9.22               $9.59  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                        
Net investment income (loss)     .22               .45               .39  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions     - (e)              .07               (.24
Total from investment operations     .22               .52               .15  
Less Dividends:                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.28             (.58             (.52
Net asset value, end of period     $9.10               $9.16               $9.22  
Total Return(c):     2.44%               5.92%               1.65%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $48,431               $25,252               $16,690  
Average net assets (000)     $38,152               $29,782               $15,387  
Ratios to average net assets(d):                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .73% (f)              .74%               .77% (f) 
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .73% (f)              .74%               .77% (f) 
Net investment income (loss)     4.94% (f)              4.99%               4.77% (f) 
Portfolio turnover rate     32% (g)              58%               56% (g) 

 

(a) Commencement of operations.
(b) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(d) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(e) Less than $.005 per share.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

54  


Class Z Shares  
     Six Months
Ended
February 28,
          Year Ended August 31,           October 26,
2012(a)
through
August 31,
 
     2017            2016     2015     2014            2013  
Per Share Operating Performance(b):                                                        
Net Asset Value, Beginning Of Period     $9.16               $9.21       $9.73       $9.79               $10.00  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                        
Net investment income (loss)     .22               .44       .47       .48               .36  
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions
    - (e)              .08       (.38     .08               (.09
Total from investment operations     .22               .52       .09       .56               .27  
Less Dividends:                                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.28             (.57     (.61     (.62             (.48
Net asset value, end of period     $9.10               $9.16       $9.21       $9.73               $9.79  
Total Return(c):     2.40%               5.94%       .98%       5.82%               2.74%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $1,494,821               $1,201,161       $656,491       $792,560               $181,587  
Average net assets (000)     $1,290,186               $818,901       $675,793       $507,805               $69,695  
Ratios to average net assets(d):                                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or
expense reimbursement
    .81% (f)              .83%       .86%       .84%               .90% (f) 
Expenses before waivers and/or
expense reimbursement
    .81% (f)              .83%       .86%       .84%               1.04% (f) 
Net investment income (loss)     4.84% (f)              4.90%       4.96%       4.89%               4.29% (f) 
Portfolio turnover rate     32% (g)              58%       56%       60%               30% (g) 

 

(a) Commencement of operations.
(b) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(d) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(e) Less than $.005 per share.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund     55  


  MAIL     TELEPHONE     WEBSITE

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

 

(800) 225-1852

 

www.pgiminvestments.com

 

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

 

DIRECTORS
Ellen S. Alberding Kevin J. Bannon Scott E. Benjamin Linda W. Bynoe Keith F. Hartstein Michael S. Hyland Stuart S. Parker Richard A. Redeker  Stephen G. Stoneburn Grace C. Torres

 

OFFICERS
Stuart S. Parker, President Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President M. Sadiq Peshimam, Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Raymond A. O’Hara, Chief Legal Officer Deborah A. Docs, Secretary Chad A. Earnst, Chief Compliance Officer Theresa C. Thompson, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer Charles H. Smith, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer Jonathan D. Shain, Assistant Secretary Claudia DiGiacomo, Assistant Secretary Andrew R. French, Assistant Secretary Peter Parrella, Assistant Treasurer Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer Linda McMullin, Assistant Treasurer Kelly A. Coyne, Assistant Treasurer

 

MANAGER   PGIM Investments LLC   655 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102

 

INVESTMENT SUBADVISER   PGIM Fixed Income   655 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102

 

DISTRIBUTOR   Prudential Investment
Management Services LLC
  655 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102

 

CUSTODIAN   The Bank of New York Mellon   225 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10286

 

TRANSFER AGENT   Prudential Mutual Fund
Services LLC
  PO Box 9658
Providence, RI 02940

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
  KPMG LLP   345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154

 

FUND COUNSEL   Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP   787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019

 


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

 

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

 

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS
Shareholders can communicate directly with the Board of Directors by writing to the Chair of the Board, Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund, PGIM Investments, Attn: Board of Directors, 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Director by writing to the same address. Communications are not screened before being delivered to the addressee.

 

AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO SCHEDULE
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation and location of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Fund’s schedule of portfolio holdings is also available on the Fund’s website as of the end of each month no sooner than 15 days after the end of the month.

 

Mutual Funds:

ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY   MAY LOSE VALUE   ARE NOT A DEPOSIT OF OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK OR ANY BANK AFFILIATE


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PRUDENTIAL SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD INCOME FUND

 

SHARE CLASS   A   B   C   Z
NASDAQ   HYSAX   HYSCX   HYSQX   HYSZX
CUSIP   74442J109   74442J208   74442J406   74442J307

 

MF216E2    


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PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD FUND

 

 

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

FEBRUARY 28, 2017

 

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To enroll in e-delivery, go to pgiminvestments.com/edelivery


Objective: Current income, and capital appreciation as a secondary objective

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

The accompanying financial statements as of February 28, 2017, were not audited and, accordingly, no auditor’s opinion is expressed on them.

 

Mutual funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC. PGIM Fixed Income is a unit of PGIM, Inc. (PGIM), a registered investment adviser. PIMS and PGIM are Prudential Financial companies. © 2017 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. The Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

 

2   Visit our website at pgiminvestments.com


Letter from the President

 

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Dear Shareholder:

 

We hope you find the semiannual report for the Prudential High Yield Fund informative and useful. The report covers performance for the six-month period ended February 28, 2017. We are proud to announce that Prudential Investments will be known as PGIM® Investments, effective April 3, 2017. Why PGIM? This new name was chosen to further align with the global investment management businesses of Prudential Financial, which rebranded from Prudential Investment Management in January 2016. This new name allows for one brand and reflects our ability and commitment to delivering investment solutions to clients around the globe. Please keep in mind that only the Fund adviser’s name is changing: the name of your Fund and the management and operation will not change.

 

Since market conditions change over time, we believe it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio of funds consistent with your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals.

 

Your financial advisor can help you create a diversified investment plan that may include funds covering all the basic asset classes and that reflects your personal investor profile and risk tolerance. However, diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

 

At PGIM Investments, we consider it a great privilege and responsibility to help investors participate in opportunities across global markets while meeting their toughest investment challenges. We’re part of PGIM, the 9th-largest global investment manager with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. This investment expertise allows us to deliver actively managed funds and strategies to meet the needs of investors around the globe.

 

Thank you for choosing our family of funds.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

 

Stuart S. Parker, President

Prudential High Yield Fund

April 14, 2017

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     3  


Your Fund’s Performance (unaudited)

 

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

 

Cumulative Total Returns (Without Sales Charges) as of 2/28/17  
    Six Months (%)       One Year (%)       Five Years (%)       Ten Years (%)       Since Inception (%)  
Class A    
5.36
 
    20.00       37.18         98.52        
Class B    
5.11
 
    19.20       33.86         89.00        
Class C    
4.98
 
    18.91       32.21         86.24        
Class Q     5.37       20.20       39.47       N/A            47.60 (10/31/11)  
Class R     5.05       19.49       35.51         93.47        
Class Z     5.51       20.32       39.05       104.13        
Bloomberg Barclays US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index  

 

5.42

 

    21.98       38.90       106.31        
Lipper High Yield Funds Average     4.71       17.54       31.71         78.93        
         
Average Annual Total Returns (With Sales Charges) as of 2/28/17  
      One Year (%)       Five Years (%)       Ten Years (%)       Since Inception (%)  
Class A       14.60       5.55         6.61        
Class B       14.20       5.85         6.57        
Class C       17.91       5.74         6.42        
Class Q       20.20       6.88       N/A              7.57 (10/31/11)  
Class R       19.49       6.27         6.82        
Class Z       20.32       6.82         7.40        
Bloomberg Barclays US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index       21.98       6.79         7.51        
Lipper High Yield Funds Average             17.54       5.64         5.95        

 

Source: PGIM Investments LLC and Lipper Inc.

Inception returns are provided for any share class with less than 10 calendar years of returns.

 

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

 

     Class A   Class B*   Class C   Class Q   Class R   Class Z
Maximum initial sales charge   4.50% of the public offering price   None   None   None   None   None
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or net asset value at redemption)   1% on sales of $1 million or more made within 12 months of purchase   5% (Yr. 1) 4% (Yr. 2) 3% (Yr. 3) 2% (Yr. 4) 1% (Yr. 5) 1% (Yr. 6) 0% (Yr. 7)   1% on sales made within 12 months of purchase   None   None   None
Annual distribution and service (12b-1) fees (shown as a percentage of average daily net assets)   .25%   .75%   1%   None   .75%
(.50%
currently)
  None

 

*Class B shares are closed to all purchase activity and no additional Class B shares may be purchased or acquired except by exchange from Class B shares of another Fund or through dividend or capital gains reinvestment.

 

Benchmark Definitions

 

Bloomberg Barclays US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index—The Bloomberg Barclays US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index (the Index) is an unmanaged index which covers the universe of US dollar-denominated, non-convertible, fixed rate, non-investment-grade debt. Issuers are capped at 1% of the Index. Index holdings must have at least one year to final maturity, at least $150 million par amount outstanding, and be publicly issued with a rating of Ba1 or lower. The cumulative total return for the Index measured from the month-end closest to the inception date through 2/28/17 is 47.15% for Class Q shares. The average annual total return for the Index measured from the month-end closest to the inception date through 2/28/17 is 7.51% for Class Q shares.

 

Lipper High Yield Funds Average—The Lipper High Yield Funds Average (Lipper Average) is based on the average return of all funds in the Lipper High Yield Funds category for the periods noted. Funds in the Lipper Average aim at high (relative) current yield from fixed income securities, have no quality or maturity restrictions, and tend to invest in lower-grade debt issues. The cumulative total return for the Lipper Average measured from the month-end closest to the inception date through 2/28/17 is 39.02% for Class Q shares. The average annual total return for the Lipper Average measured from the month-end closest to the inception date through 2/28/17 is 6.34% for Class Q shares.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     5  


Your Fund’s Performance (continued)

 

 

Investors cannot invest directly in an index or average. The returns for the Index would be lower if they included the effects of sales charges, operating expenses of a mutual fund, or taxes. Returns for the Lipper Average reflect the deduction of operating expenses, but not sales charges or taxes. The Since Inception returns for the Index and the Lipper Average are measured from the closest month-end to the inception date for the indicated share class.

 

Credit Quality  expressed as a percentage of total investments as of 2/28/17 (%)  
BBB     4.5  
BB     33.4  
B     43.8  
CCC     12.5  
CC     0.3  
D     0.1  
Not Rated     0.3  
Cash/Cash Equivalents     5.2  
Total Investments     100.0  

 

Source: PGIM Fixed Income

Credit ratings reflect the highest rating assigned by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) such as Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (Moody’s), Standard & Poor’s (S&P), or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch). Credit ratings reflect the common nomenclature used by both S&P and Fitch. Where applicable, ratings are converted to the comparable S&P/Fitch rating tier nomenclature. These rating agencies are independent and are widely used. The Not Rated category consists of securities that have not been rated by a NRSRO. Credit ratings are subject to change. Values may not sum to 100.0% due to rounding.

 

Distributions and Yields as of 2/28/17
  Total Distributions
Paid for Six Months ($)
   SEC 30-Day
Subsidized Yield* (%)
   SEC 30-Day
Unsubsidized Yield** (%)
Class A   0.17    5.08    5.08
Class B   0.15    4.83    4.83
Class C   0.15    4.58    4.58
Class Q   0.18    5.72    5.72
Class R   0.16    5.08    4.83
Class Z   0.18    5.56    5.56

 

*SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the fund’s net expenses (net of any expense waivers or reimbursements).

**SEC 30-Day Unsubsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the Fund’s gross expenses.

 

 

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Fees and Expenses (unaudited)

 

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

 

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 held through the six-month period ended February 28, 2017. The example is for illustrative purposes only; you should consult the Prospectus for information on initial and subsequent minimum investment requirements.

 

Actual Expenses

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

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

 

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

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     7  


Fees and Expenses (continued)

 

Fund account over the six-month period when you estimate the total ongoing expenses paid over the period and the impact of these fees on your ending account value, as these additional expenses are not reflected in the information provided in the expense table. Additional fees have the effect of reducing investment returns.

 

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

 

Prudential High
Yield Fund
  Beginning  Account
Value
September 1, 2016
    Ending  Account
Value
February 28, 2017
    Annualized
Expense Ratio
Based on the
Six-Month Period
    Expenses  Paid
During the
Six-Month Period*
 
Class A   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,053.60       0.78   $ 3.97  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.93       0.78   $ 3.91  
Class B   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,051.10       1.28   $ 6.51  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.45       1.28   $ 6.41  
Class C   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,049.80       1.53   $ 7.78  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,017.21       1.53   $ 7.65  
Class Q   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,053.70       0.42   $ 2.14  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.71       0.42   $ 2.11  
Class R   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,050.50       1.03   $ 5.24  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.69       1.03   $ 5.16  
Class Z   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,055.10       0.53   $ 2.70  
    Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.17       0.53   $ 2.66  

 

*Fund expenses (net of fee waivers or subsidies, if any) for each share class are equal to the annualized expense ratio for each share class (provided in the table), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 181 days in the six-month period ended February 28, 2017, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund's fiscal year ending August 31, 2017 (to reflect the six-month period). Expenses presented in the table include the expenses of any underlying portfolios in which the Fund may invest.

 

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The Fund’s annualized expense ratios for the six-month period ended February 28, 2017, are as follows:

 

Class   Gross Operating  Expenses (%)   Net Operating  Expenses (%)
A   0.78   0.78
B   1.28   1.28
C   1.53   1.53
Q   0.42   0.42
R   1.28   1.03
Z   0.53   0.53

 

Net operating expenses shown above reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. Additional information on Fund expenses and any fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements can be found in the “Financial Highlights” tables in this report and in the Notes to the Financial Statements in this report.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     9  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited)

as of February 28, 2017

 

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS    92.7%

 

BANK LOANS(a)    1.2%

 

Building Materials & Construction

 

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.^

    6.750     03/11/18       1,473     $ 1,458,482  

Capital Goods    0.1%

 

Neff Rental LLC

    7.250       06/09/21       4,541       4,537,655  

Chemicals    0.1%

 

Solenis International LP

    7.750       07/31/22       7,500       7,402,500  

Electric    0.1%

 

Lightstone Generation LLC

    6.500       01/30/24       383       386,626  

Lightstone Generation LLC

    6.539       01/30/24       4,017       4,059,574  
       

 

 

 
          4,446,200  

Energy - Other

 

American Energy-Marcellus LLC

    8.534       08/04/21       3,825       522,751  

Gaming    0.1%

 

CCM Merger, Inc.^

    4.031       08/06/21       4,489       4,534,015  

Golden Nugget, Inc.

    4.500       11/21/19       763       771,234  

Golden Nugget, Inc.

    4.552       11/21/19       1,780       1,799,546  
       

 

 

 
          7,104,795  

Retailers    0.1%

 

Rite Aid Corp.

    4.875       06/21/21       3,150       3,155,906  

Technology    0.7%

 

Ancestry.com, Inc.

    9.250       10/18/24       8,580       8,780,197  

Evergreen Skills Lux Sarl (Luxembourg)

    9.250       04/28/22       29,905       20,933,500  

Kronos, Inc.

    9.250       11/01/24       11,500       11,855,787  
       

 

 

 
          41,569,484  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL BANK LOANS
(cost $76,229,664)

 

    70,197,773  
       

 

 

 

CORPORATE BONDS    90.7%

       

Advertising    0.3%

 

Acosta, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.750       10/01/22       20,450       17,996,000  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     11  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Aerospace & Defense    0.6%

 

Arconic, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.125     10/01/24       7,765     $ 8,040,657  

Orbital ATK, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.250       10/01/21       3,050       3,149,125  

StandardAero Aviation Holdings, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    10.000       07/15/23       7,000       7,455,000  

TransDigm, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.000       07/15/22       1,325       1,360,749  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.500       07/15/24       4,830       4,962,825  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.375       06/15/26       8,050       8,130,500  
       

 

 

 
          33,098,856  

Agriculture    0.1%

 

Vector Group Ltd., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.125       02/01/25       7,625       7,853,750  

Auto Manufacturers    0.1%

 

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (United Kingdom), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.250       04/15/23       5,875       6,087,969  

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC (United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.625       02/01/23       650       680,875  
       

 

 

 
          6,768,844  

Auto Parts & Equipment    1.3%

 

Adient Global Holdings Ltd., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    4.875       08/15/26       9,750       9,676,875  

Allison Transmission, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.000       10/01/24       7,425       7,554,937  

American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.250       03/15/21       3,925       4,037,844  

Gtd. Notes

    7.750       11/15/19       700       776,125  

Cooper-Standard Automotive, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.625       11/15/26       6,125       6,201,562  

Dana, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.375       09/15/21       675       700,313  

IHO Verwaltungs GmbH (Germany),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A

    4.500       09/15/23       6,100       6,069,500  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A(b)

    4.750       09/15/26       4,300       4,246,250  

Meritor, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.250       02/15/24       2,375       2,452,187  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.750       06/15/21       6,555       6,817,200  

Schaeffler Finance BV (Germany),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    4.750       05/15/23       7,200       7,409,088  

TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
(United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.750       07/15/23       7,425       7,981,875  

Titan International, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

    6.875       10/01/20       4,350       4,469,625  

ZF North America Capital, Inc. (Germany),
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    4.500       04/29/22       4,025       4,180,969  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.750       04/29/25       4,700       4,841,000  
       

 

 

 
          77,415,350  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Banks    0.3%

 

Bank of America Corp., Series M, Jr. Sub. Notes

    8.125 (a)%      12/29/49       1,300     $ 1,361,750  

Citigroup, Inc.,
Series N, Jr. Sub. Notes

    5.800 (a)      12/31/49       2,815       2,920,562  

Series P, Jr. Sub. Notes

    5.950 (a)      12/31/49       5,250       5,473,125  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Series Q, Jr. Sub. Notes

    5.150 (a)      12/31/49       1,025       1,027,768  

Morgan Stanley, Series H, Jr. Sub. Notes

    5.450 (a)      12/31/49       2,525       2,590,125  

Standard Chartered PLC (United Kingdom),
Jr. Sub. Notes, 144A

    7.500 (a)      12/31/49       4,100       4,220,540  
       

 

 

 
          17,593,870  

Beverages    0.1%

 

Cott Beverages, Inc. (Canada), Gtd. Notes

    6.750       01/01/20       5,275       5,453,031  

Biotechnology    0.2%

 

Concordia International Corp. (Canada),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    9.000       04/01/22       10,975       9,658,000  

Building Materials    1.9%

 

BMC East LLC, Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.500       10/01/24       12,216       12,582,480  

Builders FirstSource, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    10.750       08/15/23       9,750       11,310,000  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.625       09/01/24       4,125       4,243,594  

Cemex Finance LLC (Mexico),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.375       10/12/22       3,400       3,693,250  

Cemex SAB de CV (Mexico),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.700       01/11/25       150       154,313  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.750       04/16/26       4,850       5,432,000  

Griffon Corp., Gtd. Notes

    5.250       03/01/22       20,000       20,150,000  

James Hardie International Finance Ltd. (Ireland),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.875       02/15/23       10,650       11,049,375  

Standard Industries, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.375       11/15/24       6,245       6,419,235  

Summit Materials LLC/Summit Materials Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    8.500       04/15/22       5,025       5,628,000  

Gtd. Notes

    6.125       07/15/23       9,265       9,635,600  

US Concrete, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    6.375       06/01/24       18,673       19,746,697  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.375       06/01/24       250       264,375  

USG Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.500       03/01/25       271       287,938  
       

 

 

 
          110,596,857  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     13  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Chemicals    4.2%

 

A. Schulman, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.875     06/01/23       23,883     $ 25,196,565  

Alpha 3 BV/Alpha US Bidco, Inc.
(United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.250       02/01/25       4,925       4,925,000  

Ashland LLC, Gtd. Notes

    6.875       05/15/43       10,631       11,375,170  

Blue Cube Spinco, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    9.750       10/15/23       8,255       9,844,087  

Gtd. Notes

    10.000       10/15/25       2,965       3,602,475  

Chemours Co. (The),
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.625       05/15/23       13,120       13,923,600  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.000       05/15/25       9,960       10,819,050  

Chemtura Corp., Gtd. Notes

    5.750       07/15/21       16,060       16,662,250  

CVR Partners LP/CVR Nitrogen Finance Corp.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    9.250       06/15/23       7,027       7,518,890  

Eco Services Operations LLC/Eco Finance Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    8.500       11/01/22       10,307       10,886,769  

GCP Applied Technologies, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    9.500       02/01/23       4,300       4,879,640  

Hexion, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

    6.625       04/15/20       15,065       14,010,450  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

    10.000       04/15/20       470       473,525  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.375       02/01/22       7,465       7,688,950  

Hexion, Inc./Hexion Nova Scotia Finance ULC,
Sec’d. Notes(b)

    9.000       11/15/20       21,905       17,469,237  

Platform Specialty Products Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.500       02/01/22       10,085       10,538,825  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    10.375       05/01/21       9,162       10,295,797  

PQ Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    6.750       11/15/22       3,525       3,815,813  

TPC Group, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    8.750       12/15/20       33,550       31,537,000  

Tronox Finance LLC,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.375       08/15/20       5,587       5,684,773  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.500       03/15/22       15,510       16,207,950  

Unifrax I LLC/Unifrax Holding Co.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.500       02/15/19       10,034       10,008,915  
       

 

 

 
          247,364,731  

Coal    0.6%

 

CONSOL Energy, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.875       04/15/22       33,600       32,760,000  

Peabody Securities Finance Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.375       03/31/25       5,300       5,406,000  
       

 

 

 
          38,166,000  

Commercial Services    3.1%

 

Ahern Rentals, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.375       05/15/23       12,892       11,989,560  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Commercial Services (cont’d.)

 

AMN Healthcare, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.125     10/01/24       4,430     $ 4,507,525  

Ashtead Capital, Inc. (United Kingdom),
Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.500       07/15/22       12,800       13,387,581  

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.500       04/01/23       2,000       2,000,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.125       06/01/22       6,900       6,770,625  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.375       04/01/24       425       431,906  

Hertz Corp. (The),
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       10/15/20       1,275       1,243,125  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.750       04/15/19       687       687,000  

Laureate Education, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    9.250       09/01/19       69,198       72,398,407  

NES Rentals Holdings, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.875       05/01/18       15,525       15,641,437  

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.000       04/01/24       3,350       3,241,125  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.500       11/15/23       2,650       2,663,250  

Service Corp. International, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.375       05/15/24       7,420       7,860,748  

United Rentals North America, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.500       07/15/25       3,250       3,428,750  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.500       05/15/27       9,825       10,041,740  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.750       11/15/24       4,775       5,071,050  

Gtd. Notes

    5.875       09/15/26       14,800       15,577,000  

Gtd. Notes

    6.125       06/15/23       2,700       2,838,375  

Gtd. Notes

    7.625       04/15/22       6,056       6,322,888  
       

 

 

 
          186,102,092  

Computers    1.2%

 

Diamond 1 Finance Corp./Diamond 2 Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.875       06/15/21       4,000       4,232,556  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.125       06/15/24       8,945       9,883,474  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.450       06/15/23       6,450       6,970,386  

Western Digital Corp., Gtd. Notes

    10.500       04/01/24       41,585       48,654,450  
       

 

 

 
          69,740,866  

Distribution/Wholesale    1.0%

 

American Tire Distributors, Inc.,
Sr. Sub. Notes, 144A(b)

    10.250       03/01/22       10,000       9,925,000  

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.375       10/01/23       6,175       6,676,719  

Global Partners LP/GLP Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    6.250       07/15/22       6,645       6,512,100  

Gtd. Notes

    7.000       06/15/23       16,170       16,089,150  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     15  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Distribution/Wholesale (cont’d)

 

H&E Equipment Services, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.000     09/01/22       13,055     $ 13,740,387  

HD Supply, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.250       12/15/21       3,975       4,193,625  
       

 

 

 
          57,136,981  

Diversified Financial Services    1.8%

 

Alliance Data Systems Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.375       08/01/22       11,885       11,825,575  

Ally Financial, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    3.750       11/18/19       4,050       4,136,062  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    4.250       04/15/21       4,500       4,640,625  

CIT Group, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.000       08/15/22       11,550       12,243,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.500       02/15/19       275       289,781  

Dana Financing Luxembourg Sarl,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.500       06/01/26       3,050       3,240,625  

FBM Finance, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.250       08/15/21       5,500       5,886,100  

Hexion 2 US Finance Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    13.750       02/01/22       14,465       14,031,050  

KCG Holdings, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.875       03/15/20       8,475       8,453,812  

Navient Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.000       10/26/20       1,500       1,507,050  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.875       10/25/24       1,450       1,359,375  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.625       07/26/21       3,350       3,492,375  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    7.250       09/25/23       6,275       6,431,875  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN(b)

    6.125       03/25/24       3,785       3,624,138  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN(b)

    7.250       01/25/22       1,248       1,301,040  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN

    8.000       03/25/20       7,300       7,919,555  

NFP Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.000       07/15/21       2,400       2,537,520  

OneMain Financial Holdings LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.750       12/15/19       1,850       1,936,728  

Springleaf Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes

    6.000       06/01/20       8,225       8,348,375  

Transworld Systems, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    9.500       08/15/21       8,800       6,556,000  
       

 

 

 
          109,760,661  

Electric    4.6%

 

AES Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    4.875       05/15/23       900       893,700  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.500       04/15/25       1,675       1,695,938  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    7.375       07/01/21       14,198       16,008,245  

Calpine Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.375       01/15/23       11,125       11,236,250  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.500       02/01/24       21,900       21,681,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.750       01/15/25       14,875       14,726,250  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Electric (cont’d)

 

DPL, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.750     10/01/19       4,275     $ 4,446,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    7.250       10/15/21       15,314       16,309,410  

Dynegy, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       06/01/23       9,475       8,574,875  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.750       11/01/19       6,925       7,132,750  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.375       11/01/22       34,025       33,429,562  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.625       11/01/24       30,385       28,865,750  

Gtd. Notes

    8.034       02/02/24       2,000       1,880,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.000       01/15/25       10,175       9,666,250  

GenOn Energy, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes (original cost $16,222,718; purchased 07/07/15-05/16/16)(b)(c)(d)

    7.875       06/15/17       18,062       14,178,670  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes (original cost $3,931,250; purchased 04/25/13-07/01/14)(c)(d)

    9.500       10/15/18       3,375       2,556,563  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes (original cost $25,369,846; purchased 03/03/14-10/24/16)(b)(c)(d)

    9.875       10/15/20       27,897       20,504,295  

Mirant Corp., Bonds, 144A^(c)

    7.400 (e)      07/15/49       2,675       2,675  

Mirant Mid-Atlantic,
Series B, Pass-Through Certificates (original cost $1,138,184; purchased 06/19/09-08/31/15)(c)(d)

    9.125       06/30/17       1,122       1,026,450  

Series C, Pass-Through Certificates (original cost $5,120,952; purchased 07/14/15-04/01/16)(c)(d)

    10.060       12/30/28       5,383       4,804,307  

NRG Energy, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.250       07/15/22       5,645       5,743,787  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.250       05/01/24       6,663       6,663,000  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.625       03/15/23       4,711       4,769,887  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.250       05/15/26       14,225       14,633,969  

Gtd. Notes

    7.875       05/15/21       901       934,788  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.625       01/15/27       4,055       3,984,037  

NRG REMA LLC,
Series B, Pass-Through Certificates(c)

    9.237       07/02/17       238       199,793  

Series C, Pass-Through Certificates(c)

    9.681       07/02/26       11,755       7,993,400  

Red Oak Power LLC, Series B, Sr. Sec’d. Notes (original cost $224,500; purchased 05/27/15)(c)(d)

    9.200       11/30/29       200       206,000  

Stoneway Capital Corp. (Argentina),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.000       03/01/27       10,085       10,185,850  
       

 

 

 
          274,933,451  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     17  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Electrical Components & Equipment    0.1%

 

Belden, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.500     09/01/22       3,800     $ 3,918,750  

General Cable Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.750 (a)      10/01/22       5,487       5,377,260  
       

 

 

 
          9,296,010  

Engineering & Construction    0.2%

 

AECOM, Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       10/15/24       10,025       10,952,313  

Entertainment    4.2%

 

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.750       06/15/25       9,275       9,611,219  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.875       11/15/26       10,175       10,407,193  

Carmike Cinemas, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.000       06/15/23       6,650       7,082,250  

CCM Merger, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    9.125       05/01/19       10,020       10,333,112  

Cinemark USA, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    4.875       06/01/23       15,014       15,389,350  

Gtd. Notes

    5.125       12/15/22       9,425       9,707,750  

Eldorado Resorts, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.000       08/01/23       16,435       17,462,187  

GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    4.375       04/15/21       965       1,004,806  

Gtd. Notes

    4.875       11/01/20       475       498,750  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.375       11/01/23       5,677       6,082,906  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.375       04/15/26       5,600       5,859,000  

Greektown Holdings LLC/Greektown Mothership Corp., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.875       03/15/19       3,351       3,514,361  

International Game Technology PLC,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.500       02/15/25       11,756       12,843,430  

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.875       03/15/21       2,292       2,366,490  

Gtd. Notes

    8.875       06/15/20       4,675       4,879,531  

Jacobs Entertainment, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.875       02/01/24       3,575       3,673,313  

Mood Media Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    9.250       10/15/20       3,825       2,620,125  

NAI Entertainment Holdings/NAI Entertainment Holdings Finance Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.000       08/01/18       2,400       2,421,000  

National CineMedia LLC,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    6.000       04/15/22       4,725       4,884,469  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.750       08/15/26       5,550       5,661,000  

Penn National Gaming, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.625       01/15/27       5,025       5,043,844  

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.625       05/01/24       19,225       19,561,437  

Regal Entertainment Group,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.750       03/15/22       2,050       2,144,813  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.750       02/01/25       3,170       3,265,100  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Entertainment (cont’d)

 

Scientific Games Corp., Gtd. Notes

    8.125     09/15/18       2,540     $ 2,546,350  

Scientific Games International, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.625       05/15/21       24,065       22,621,100  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    10.000       12/01/22       43,164       45,807,795  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.000       01/01/22       9,925       10,557,719  
       

 

 

 
          247,850,400  

Environmental Control    0.4%

 

Advanced Disposal Services, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.625       11/15/24       10,925       11,170,813  

Clean Harbors, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.125       06/01/21       5,200       5,317,000  

Gtd. Notes

    5.250       08/01/20       4,900       5,005,350  
       

 

 

 
          21,493,163  

Food    2.8%

 

Albertsons Cos LLC/Safeway, Inc./New Albertson’s, Inc./Albertson’s LLC, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.750       03/15/25       12,225       12,247,922  

Darling Ingredients, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.375       01/15/22       5,194       5,395,268  

Hearthside Group Holdings LLC/Hearthside Finance Co., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.500       05/01/22       13,600       13,634,000  

Ingles Markets, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.750       06/15/23       16,475       17,010,437  

JBS USA LLC/JBS USA Finance, Inc. (Brazil),
Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.750       06/15/25       26,065       26,912,112  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.875       07/15/24       14,563       15,218,335  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.250       06/01/21       4,175       4,300,250  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.250       06/01/21       11,475       11,819,250  

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.875       11/01/26       650       660,075  

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.750       03/15/25       4,925       5,060,438  

Post Holdings, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.000       08/15/26       5,650       5,462,816  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.000       12/15/22       9,325       9,837,875  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.750       12/01/21       3,375       3,623,063  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.750       03/15/24       5,414       6,009,540  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.000       07/15/25       5,575       6,285,812  

SUPERVALU, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.750       06/01/21       9,310       9,286,725  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    7.750       11/15/22       11,375       11,232,812  
       

 

 

 
          163,996,730  

Food Service    0.1%

 

AdvancePierre Foods Holdings, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.500       12/15/24       4,500       4,578,750  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     19  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Forest Products & Paper    0.1%

 

Mercer International, Inc. (Canada),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.500     02/01/24       3,175     $ 3,238,500  

Smurfit Kappa Acquisitions Unltd. Co. (Ireland),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.875       09/15/18       4,900       5,054,840  
       

 

 

 
          8,293,340  

Gas    0.4%

 

AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Finance Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.625       05/20/24       6,050       6,261,750  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.875       08/20/26       9,700       10,015,250  

NGL Energy Partners LP/NGL Energy Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.500       11/01/23       7,150       7,525,375  
       

 

 

 
          23,802,375  

Hand/Machine Tools    0.1%

 

Apex Tool Group LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.000       02/01/21       7,870       7,555,200  

Healthcare-Products    1.0%

 

Greatbatch Ltd., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    9.125       11/01/23       18,145       19,415,150  

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    4.750       04/15/23       13,945       12,411,050  

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA/Mallinckrodt CB LLC,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.500       04/15/25       2,425       2,255,250  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.625       10/15/23       5,516       5,295,360  

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc./Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics SA,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.625       05/15/22       19,650       17,537,625  
       

 

 

 
          56,914,435  

Healthcare-Services    6.0%

 

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.125       07/01/22       4,651       4,685,883  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.625       02/15/23       14,913       15,323,107  

Gtd. Notes

    6.125       03/15/21       2,870       2,941,750  

Gtd. Notes

    6.500       03/01/24       6,899       7,330,187  

Centene Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    4.750       05/15/22       10,175       10,543,844  

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.875       02/01/22       38,330       33,634,575  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.125       07/15/20       26,600       25,004,000  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    8.000       11/15/19       4,277       4,180,768  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Healthcare-Services (cont’d.)

 

HCA, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.375     02/01/25       34,675     $ 36,278,719  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       05/01/23       4,700       5,111,250  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       02/15/26       5,295       5,678,887  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.500       02/15/22       1,750       2,019,063  

Gtd. Notes

    7.500       12/15/23       10,400       11,726,000  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    5.250       06/15/26       3,000       3,168,750  

HealthSouth Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.125       03/15/23       1,525       1,525,000  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.750       11/01/24       9,125       9,307,500  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.750       09/15/25       6,625       6,707,812  

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.375       04/15/22       3,550       3,279,313  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    8.000       01/15/20       17,950       18,129,500  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    8.750       01/15/23       12,476       12,117,315  

LifePoint Health, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.500       12/01/21       1,200       1,248,750  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       12/01/23       3,675       3,776,063  

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.125       06/01/24       5,450       5,872,375  

Select Medical Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.375       06/01/21       23,150       23,294,687  

Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.875       04/15/21       7,800       8,346,000  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.500       01/01/22       850       920,125  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

    4.375       10/01/21       5,575       5,616,813  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    4.750       06/01/20       3,425       3,493,500  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

    6.000       10/01/20       800       848,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.750       02/01/20       16,575       16,865,062  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.750       06/15/23       26,324       26,093,665  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    8.000       08/01/20       10,050       10,276,125  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    8.125       04/01/22       24,815       25,993,712  

Universal Health Services, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    4.750       08/01/22       7,100       7,313,000  
       

 

 

 
          358,651,100  

Home Builders    3.7%

 

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.750       06/15/19       7,225       7,509,665  

Gtd. Notes

    7.250 (a)      02/01/23       8,561       8,753,622  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.500       09/15/21       12,350       12,844,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    8.750       03/15/22       12,026       13,046,767  

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.375       05/15/25       5,100       5,227,500  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.500       12/15/20       400       411,760  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     21  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Home Builders (cont’d)

 

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield Residential US Corp. (Canada), Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.125     07/01/22       6,623     $ 6,821,690  

CalAtlantic Group, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.250       06/01/26       7,800       7,809,750  

Gtd. Notes

    5.375       10/01/22       3,675       3,858,750  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       11/15/24       1,752       1,879,020  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.250       12/15/21       5,975       6,557,562  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    8.375       01/15/21       2,700       3,155,625  

KB Home,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.000       12/15/21       3,662       4,009,890  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.500       09/15/22       1,575       1,724,625  

Gtd. Notes

    7.625       05/15/23       11,575       12,529,937  

Lennar Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    4.750       05/30/25       9,898       10,021,725  

Gtd. Notes

    4.875       12/15/23       4,575       4,723,688  

M/I Homes, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    6.750       01/15/21       5,550       5,827,500  

Mattamy Group Corp. (Canada),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.875       12/15/23       8,725       9,117,625  

Meritage Homes Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.000       06/01/25       3,575       3,718,000  

PulteGroup, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.000       01/15/27       7,900       7,892,100  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.500       03/01/26       12,560       13,031,000  

Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.125       04/01/25       5,805       5,906,587  

Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc./Monarch
Communities, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.250       04/15/21       1,000       1,025,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.625       03/01/24       10,273       10,581,190  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.875       04/15/23       11,954       12,581,585  

Toll Brothers Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes

    4.000       12/31/18       350       359,188  

WCI Communities, Inc./Lennar Corp., Gtd. Notes

    6.875       08/15/21       9,375       9,855,469  

William Lyon Homes, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    7.000       08/15/22       12,444       12,941,760  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.875       01/31/25       13,775       13,792,219  
       

 

 

 
          217,514,799  

Home Furnishings    0.1%

 

Tempur Sealy International, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.500       06/15/26       5,975       5,870,438  

Household Products/Wares    0.1%

 

ACCO Brands Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.250       12/15/24       6,925       7,011,563  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Housewares    0.1%

 

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), Gtd. Notes

    6.000     10/15/23       2,825     $ 3,010,377  

Iron/Steel    0.8%

 

AK Steel Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    7.500       07/15/23       9,300       10,160,250  

ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    10.600       06/01/19       14,010       16,426,725  

Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.750       03/01/25       4,650       4,561,650  

Signode Industrial Group US, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    6.375       05/01/22       13,650       14,025,375  
       

 

 

 
          45,174,000  

Leisure Time    0.6%

 

Carlson Travel, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.750       12/15/23       3,250       3,404,375  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.250       03/15/18       2,300       2,420,750  

Silversea Cruise Finance Ltd. (Bahamas),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.250       02/01/25       8,100       8,444,250  

Viking Cruises Ltd.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.250       05/15/25       11,000       10,587,500  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    8.500       10/15/22       9,124       9,534,580  
       

 

 

 
          34,391,455  

Lodging    2.1%

 

Boyd Gaming Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.375       04/01/26       8,775       9,487,969  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.875       05/15/23       20,954       22,630,320  

Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties LLC/Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    8.000 (a)      10/01/20       5,050       5,283,562  

Golden Nugget, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.500       12/01/21       22,090       23,581,075  

Interval Acquisition Corp., Gtd. Notes

    5.625       04/15/23       6,000       6,195,000  

Jack Ohio Finance LLC/Jack Ohio Finance 1 Corp.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.250       11/15/22       8,125       8,734,375  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.750       11/15/21       8,250       8,559,375  

MGM Resorts International,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.250       03/31/20       3,500       3,683,750  

Gtd. Notes

    6.000       03/15/23       3,000       3,270,000  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.625       12/15/21       8,511       9,500,404  

Gtd. Notes

    6.750       10/01/20       1,050       1,157,310  

Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Prop Mezz LP/Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Finance Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    6.375       06/01/21       20,692       20,898,920  
       

 

 

 
          122,982,060  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     23  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Machinery-Construction & Mining    0.2%

 

BlueLine Rental Finance Corp.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    7.000     02/01/19       2,250     $ 2,295,000  

Vander Intermediate Holding II Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A

    9.750       02/01/19       8,973       9,017,689  
       

 

 

 
          11,312,689  

Machinery-Diversified    0.5%

 

ATS Automation Tooling Systems, Inc. (Canada),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.500       06/15/23       4,400       4,598,000  

Case New Holland Industrial, Inc.
(United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes

    7.875       12/01/17       4,335       4,508,400  

Cleaver-Brooks, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    8.750       12/15/19       3,525       3,679,219  

Cloud Crane LLC, Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    10.125       08/01/24       11,195       12,286,512  

CNH Industrial Capital LLC, Gtd. Notes(b)

    3.625       04/15/18       3,027       3,079,973  

Manitowoc Foodservice, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    9.500       02/15/24       2,925       3,382,031  
       

 

 

 
          31,534,135  

Media    8.7%

 

Altice Financing SA (Luxembourg),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.500       05/15/26       8,925       9,583,219  

Altice US Finance I Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.375       07/15/23       9,495       9,898,537  

Belo Corp., Gtd. Notes

    7.750       06/01/27       2,795       3,039,563  

Block Communications, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.875       02/15/25       6,065       6,414,344  

Cablevision Systems Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.750       04/15/18       7,455       7,827,750  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.625       09/15/17       16,975       17,505,469  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.125       02/15/23       4,729       4,924,071  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.250       09/30/22       1,120       1,164,800  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.125       05/01/23       2,650       2,749,375  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.375       05/01/25       3,150       3,299,625  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.500       05/01/26       8,375       8,887,969  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.750       02/15/26       10,073       10,778,110  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.875       04/01/24       2,950       3,163,875  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.875       05/01/27       26,282       28,229,496  

Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC/
Cequel Capital Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.750       07/15/25       44,397       49,169,677  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.125       12/15/21       15,090       15,245,729  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.125       12/15/21       25,197       25,646,011  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.375       09/15/20       17,440       17,974,100  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Media (cont’d)

 

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.,
Series A, Gtd. Notes

    6.500     11/15/22       8,929     $ 9,018,290  

Series A, Gtd. Notes

    7.625       03/15/20       6,750       6,631,875  

Series B, Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.500       11/15/22       3,074       3,183,496  

Series B, Gtd. Notes

    7.625       03/15/20       7,440       7,495,800  

DISH DBS Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       07/15/22       3,075       3,297,938  

Gtd. Notes

    7.750       07/01/26       40,715       47,636,550  

Gray Television, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.875       07/15/26       16,808       17,044,489  

Liberty Interactive LLC, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.250       02/01/30       2,000       2,140,000  

Mediacom Broadband LLC/Mediacom Broadband Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.500       04/15/21       7,094       7,271,350  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.375       04/01/23       4,870       5,113,500  

Midcontinent Communications/Midcontinent Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.875       08/15/23       11,345       12,224,237  

Nexstar Broadcast, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.625       08/01/24       6,075       6,211,688  

Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.000       04/15/22       2,925       3,012,750  

Quebecor Media, Inc. (Canada), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.750       01/15/23       14,766       15,744,247  

SFR Group SA (France),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.250       05/15/24       4,300       4,364,457  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375       05/01/26       60,215       62,397,794  

Sinclair Television Group, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.375       04/01/21       5,050       5,201,500  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.125       10/01/22       1,990       2,082,038  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.125       02/15/27       4,550       4,379,375  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.625       08/01/24       4,295       4,418,481  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.875       03/15/26       2,275       2,334,719  

TEGNA, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.500       09/15/24       2,250       2,306,250  

Time, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.750       04/15/22       9,173       9,459,656  

Tribune Media Co., Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.875       07/15/22       11,710       11,958,837  

Unitymedia GmbH (Germany), Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.125       01/15/25       3,875       4,097,813  

Univision Communications, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    5.125       02/15/25       8,922       8,799,322  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.750       09/15/22       4,907       5,152,350  

UPCB Finance IV Ltd. (Netherlands),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.375       01/15/25       7,025       7,183,062  

Ziggo Bond Finance BV (Netherlands),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.000       01/15/27       10,711       10,751,166  
       

 

 

 
          516,414,750  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     25  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Metal Fabricate & Hardware    0.6%

 

Grinding Media, Inc./MC Grinding Media Canada, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375     12/15/23       4,425     $ 4,734,750  

Novelis Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.875       09/30/26       8,400       8,641,500  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.250       08/15/24       3,250       3,445,000  

Zekelman Industries, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    9.875       06/15/23       15,830       17,887,900  
       

 

 

 
          34,709,150  

Mining    4.0%

 

Alamos Gold, Inc. (Canada), Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.750       04/01/20       1,400       1,459,500  

Alcoa Nederland Holding BV,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.750       09/30/24       4,500       4,893,750  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.000       09/30/26       4,350       4,774,125  

Eldorado Gold Corp. (Canada), Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.125       12/15/20       9,285       9,540,337  

Ferroglobe PLC/Globe Specialty Metals, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    9.375       03/01/22       2,225       2,330,688  

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.000       02/15/21       2,581       2,672,948  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.250       05/15/22       3,850       3,979,938  

FMG Resources August 2006 Pty Ltd. (Australia),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    9.750       03/01/22       14,425       16,687,994  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    3.550       03/01/22       12,630       11,730,112  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    3.875       03/15/23       18,485       17,006,200  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    4.550       11/14/24       10,175       9,513,625  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.500       11/15/20       3,472       3,567,480  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.625       05/01/21       8,167       8,330,340  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.750       02/01/22       6,525       6,786,000  

International Wire Group, Inc.,
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    10.750       08/01/21       10,345       10,034,650  

Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    11.000       05/15/22       7,997       8,916,655  

Kinross Gold Corp. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.950       03/15/24       7,588       8,024,310  

Gtd. Notes

    6.875       09/01/41       2,950       2,986,875  

Lundin Mining Corp. (Canada),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.500       11/01/20       7,150       7,596,875  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.875       11/01/22       9,575       10,484,625  

New Gold, Inc. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.250       11/15/22       24,920       25,231,500  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.000       04/15/20       5,445       5,540,288  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Mining (cont’d)

 

Teck Resources Ltd. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes

    3.000     03/01/19       7,621     $ 7,805,428  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    4.750       01/15/22       35,597       36,976,384  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.000       08/15/40       1,950       1,954,875  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.250       07/15/41       11,040       11,454,000  
       

 

 

 
          240,279,502  

Miscellaneous Manufacturing    0.9%

 

Bombardier, Inc. (Canada),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.750       03/15/22       1,413       1,407,701  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.000       10/15/22       2,550       2,553,187  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.125       01/15/23       1,832       1,832,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.500       03/15/25       5,575       5,798,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.750       12/01/21       28,600       31,674,500  

EnPro Industries, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.875       09/15/22       4,575       4,717,969  

Gates Global LLC/Gates Global Co.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    6.000       07/15/22       6,550       6,599,125  
       

 

 

 
          54,582,482  

Office/Business Equipment    0.2%

 

CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.000       09/01/25       2,900       2,941,702  

Gtd. Notes

    5.500       12/01/24       10,085       10,589,250  
       

 

 

 
          13,530,952  

Oil & Gas    5.3%

 

Alta Mesa Holdings LP/Alta Mesa Finance Sevices Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.875       12/15/24       5,125       5,419,688  

Antero Resources Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.375       11/01/21       5,150       5,265,875  

Gtd. Notes

    5.625       06/01/23       6,425       6,505,313  

California Resources Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.000       11/15/24       1,609       1,230,885  

Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.000       12/15/22       12,337       10,548,135  

Concho Resources, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.500       04/01/23       7,325       7,581,375  

Diamondback Energy, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.375       05/31/25       6,975       7,219,125  

Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.000       08/15/21       11,420       11,876,800  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.125       09/15/23       9,821       10,668,061  

Halcon Resources Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.750       02/15/25       23,725       23,487,750  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     27  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Oil & Gas (cont’d)

 

Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    5.750     10/01/25       10,400     $ 10,322,000  

MEG Energy Corp. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.375       01/30/23       8,075       7,166,563  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.500       03/15/21       20,875       21,344,687  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.000       03/31/24       2,000       1,800,000  

Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.500       01/15/25       12,850       12,560,875  

Murphy Oil Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.875       08/15/24       2,550       2,729,775  

Newfield Exploration Co.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.375       01/01/26       9,625       10,034,062  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.750       01/30/22       1,906       2,034,655  

Noble Holding International Ltd.
(United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.750       01/15/24       7,150       6,953,375  

Parker Drilling Co., Gtd. Notes

    7.500       08/01/20       500       487,500  

Precision Drilling Corp. (Canada),
Gtd. Notes

    6.500       12/15/21       1,730       1,777,575  

Gtd. Notes

    6.625       11/15/20       1,196       1,222,725  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.750       12/15/23       5,650       6,116,125  

QEP Resources, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.250       05/01/23       445       438,325  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.375       10/01/22       2,300       2,311,500  

Range Resources Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    4.875       05/15/25       4,700       4,447,375  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.000       08/15/22       3,182       3,102,450  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.000       03/15/23       1,450       1,404,688  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.875       07/01/22       21,518       22,002,155  

Rice Energy, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    6.250       05/01/22       4,625       4,726,195  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.250       05/01/23       8,487       8,975,002  

RSP Permian, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.250       01/15/25       9,962       10,211,050  

Seventy Seven Energy, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes^(c)

    6.500 (e)      07/15/22       1,800       18  

Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.500       08/01/20       4,025       4,055,188  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.250       04/15/21       3,000       3,045,000  

Gtd. Notes

    6.375       04/01/23       12,425       12,549,250  

Tesoro Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.750       12/15/23       6,700       6,934,500  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.125       12/15/26       11,350       12,002,625  

Tullow Oil PLC (United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.000       11/01/20       7,150       6,738,875  

Western Refining Logistics LP/WNRL Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.500       02/15/23       8,324       9,031,540  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Oil & Gas (cont’d)

 

Western Refining, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    6.250     04/01/21       7,750     $ 8,011,562  

Whiting Petroleum Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.250       04/01/23       775       776,938  

WPX Energy, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.000       01/15/22       9,858       10,067,482  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.500       08/01/20       3,375       3,636,563  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    8.250       08/01/23       4,925       5,516,000  
       

 

 

 
          314,337,205  

Oil & Gas Services

 

SESI LLC,
Gtd. Notes

    6.375       05/01/19       1,148       1,152,305  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.125       12/15/21       435       446,963  
       

 

 

 
          1,599,268  

Packaging & Containers    2.1%

 

ARD Finance SA (Luxembourg),
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A

    7.125       09/15/23       9,625       10,046,094  

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc. (Ireland),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.000       06/30/21       1,725       1,789,688  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.000       02/15/25       8,625       8,862,187  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.250       01/31/19       2,825       2,869,663  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.750       01/31/21       2,543       2,636,582  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.750       05/15/24     EUR     1,000       1,171,962  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.250       05/15/24       23,450       25,560,500  

Coveris Holdings SA (Luxembourg),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.875       11/01/19       16,620       16,412,250  

Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.875       08/15/23       2,209       2,371,914  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.375       08/15/25       1,275       1,384,172  

PaperWorks Industries, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.500       08/15/19       9,005       7,451,638  

Plastipak Holdings, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.500       10/01/21       15,929       16,645,805  

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC (New Zealand), Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.000       07/15/24       13,660       14,693,037  

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC, Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    5.750       10/15/20       725       746,750  

Sealed Air Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    4.875       12/01/22       3,225       3,333,844  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.125       12/01/24       4,000       4,180,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.250       04/01/23       3,025       3,176,250  
       

 

 

 
          123,332,336  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     29  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Pharmaceuticals    3.0%

 

Endo Finance LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.750     01/15/22       5,825     $ 5,402,687  

Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.375       01/15/23       11,425       10,111,125  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.250       01/15/22       3,625       3,509,453  

Endo Ltd./Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.000       07/15/23       15,580       14,333,600  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.000       02/01/25       19,975       17,852,656  

Grifols Worldwide Operations Ltd. (Spain),
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.250       04/01/22       4,450       4,616,875  

Horizon Pharma, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.625       05/01/23       10,625       10,292,969  

Horizon Pharma, Inc./Horizon Pharma USA, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.750       11/01/24       5,350       5,590,750  

Nature’s Bounty Co. (The),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    7.625       05/15/21       19,575       20,676,094  

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.375       03/15/20       5,000       4,481,250  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.500       03/01/23       9,400       7,578,750  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.625       12/01/21       1,750       1,474,375  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.875       05/15/23       3,750       3,051,563  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.125       04/15/25       11,140       8,870,225  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.000       10/01/20       3,500       3,255,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.500       07/15/21       34,250       31,467,187  

Vizient, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.375       03/01/24       23,050       26,392,250  
       

 

 

 
          178,956,809  

Pipelines    1.3%

 

Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.375       09/15/24       3,725       3,780,875  

Energy Transfer Equity LP, Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    7.500       10/15/20       3,650       4,101,687  

Genesis Energy LP/Genesis Energy Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.000       05/15/23       9,400       9,517,500  

Gtd. Notes

    6.750       08/01/22       5,575       5,811,937  

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    5.625       04/15/20       6,775       7,147,625  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.000       01/15/19       4,300       4,515,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.875       04/15/40       2,732       2,909,580  

Rose Rock Midstream LP/Rose Rock Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.625       11/15/23       925       901,875  

Tallgrass Energy Partners LP/Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.500       09/15/24       8,650       8,736,500  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

30  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Pipelines (cont’d)

 

Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.750     03/15/24       4,900     $ 5,353,250  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.125       02/01/25       4,350       4,524,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.375       02/01/27       4,375       4,560,937  

Tesoro Logistics LP/Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.875       10/01/20       2,650       2,731,488  

Gtd. Notes

    6.125       10/15/21       3,050       3,183,438  

Gtd. Notes

    6.250       10/15/22       2,475       2,648,250  

Gtd. Notes

    6.375       05/01/24       4,050       4,402,674  
       

 

 

 
          74,826,616  

Real Estate    0.7%

 

CBRE Services, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.000       03/15/23       7,575       7,848,276  

Crescent Communities LLC/Crescent Venture, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.875       10/15/21       15,150       15,850,687  

Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    8.250       12/01/22       8,750       9,537,500  

Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co-Issuer Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    4.875       06/01/23       9,425       9,283,625  
       

 

 

 
          42,520,088  

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)    1.1%

 

CyrusOne LP/CyrusOne Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes

    6.375       11/15/22       6,500       6,859,255  

FelCor Lodging LP,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.000       06/01/25       4,400       4,675,000  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    5.625       03/01/23       1,475       1,544,886  

MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP/MGP Finance Co-Issuer, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.500       09/01/26       9,100       8,849,750  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.625       05/01/24       6,825       7,217,437  

MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.250       08/01/26       5,450       5,504,500  

Gtd. Notes

    5.500       05/01/24       3,500       3,596,250  

Gtd. Notes

    6.375       03/01/24       4,250       4,536,875  

RHP Hotel Properties LP/RHP Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.000       04/15/21       3,550       3,629,875  

Gtd. Notes

    5.000       04/15/23       5,157       5,266,586  

Sabra Health Care LP/Sabra Capital Corp.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.375       06/01/23       5,225       5,225,000  

Gtd. Notes

    5.500       02/01/21       1,600       1,660,000  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     31  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (cont’d)

 

Senior Housing Properties Trust, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.750     12/15/21       5,475     $ 6,111,912  
       

 

 

 
          64,677,326  

Retail    4.6%

 

1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc. (Canada), Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.000       04/01/22       6,375       6,647,850  

Brinker International, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.000       10/01/24       5,650       5,551,125  

Caleres, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    6.250       08/15/23       6,429       6,734,377  

CEC Entertainment, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    8.000       02/15/22       10,350       10,893,375  

Claire’s Stores, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.125       03/15/20       3,675       1,548,094  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    9.000       03/15/19       8,225       3,762,938  

CST Brands, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.000       05/01/23       2,150       2,230,625  

Dollar Tree, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.750       03/01/23       7,805       8,283,056  

Ferrellgas LP/Ferrellgas Finance Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.750       06/15/23       3,775       3,661,750  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.500       05/01/21       4,275       4,178,813  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.750       01/15/22       6,064       5,882,080  

Ferrellgas Partners LP/Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    8.625       06/15/20       5,955       5,865,675  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.625       06/15/20       11,925       11,746,125  

Hot Topic, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    9.250       06/15/21       13,025       13,220,375  

KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.250       06/01/26       6,775       7,003,656  

L Brands, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.750       07/01/36       13,700       13,170,221  

Gtd. Notes

    6.875       11/01/35       6,325       6,079,906  

Landry’s, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    6.750       10/15/24       19,175       19,942,000  

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The), Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.000       07/01/22       16,777       15,854,265  

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd., LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.000       10/15/21       42,358       26,579,645  

PetSmart, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.125       03/15/23       31,537       30,945,681  

PF Chang’s China Bistro, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    10.250       06/30/20       11,640       11,581,800  

Rite Aid Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.125       04/01/23       22,375       23,709,669  

Ruby Tuesday, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.625       05/15/20       11,475       11,130,750  

Sally Holdings LLC/Sally Capital, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.625       12/01/25       5,682       5,781,435  

Suburban Propane Partners LP/Suburban Energy Finance Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    5.500       06/01/24       5,725       5,782,250  

Tops Holding LLC/Tops Markets II Corp.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(c)

    8.000       06/15/22       9,728       7,976,960  
       

 

 

 
          275,744,496  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

32  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Semiconductors    1.3%

 

Micron Technology, Inc.,
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.500     09/15/23       7,000     $ 7,805,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    5.500       02/01/25       7,610       7,857,325  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.250       08/01/23       11,900       12,004,125  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.250       01/15/24       5,000       5,062,500  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.625       01/15/26       13,625       13,999,687  

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC (Netherlands),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.625       06/15/22       6,125       6,507,813  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.750       02/15/21       3,635       3,741,778  

Sensata Technologies BV,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.875       10/15/23       6,075       6,204,094  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.000       10/01/25       2,000       2,030,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.625       11/01/24       3,560       3,755,800  

Sensata Technologies UK Financing Co. PLC,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.250       02/15/26       6,195       6,675,112  
       

 

 

 
          75,643,234  

Software    5.3%

 

BMC Software Finance, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.125       07/15/21       66,455       67,451,825  

BMC Software, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    7.250       06/01/18       9,500       9,785,000  

Boxer Parent Co., Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A(b)

    9.000       10/15/19       25,795       25,891,731  

Change Healthcare Holdings LLC/Change Healthcare Finance, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    5.750       03/01/25       10,025       10,353,920  

Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.250       10/15/24       3,855       3,999,563  

First Data Corp.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    7.000       12/01/23       68,110       73,218,250  

Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.750       01/15/24       11,170       11,574,913  

Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc./Greeneden Lux 3 Sarl, Gtd. Notes, 144A

    10.000       11/30/24       10,825       11,772,188  

Infor Software Parent LLC/Infor Software Parent, Inc., Gtd. Notes, PIK, 144A(b)(c)

    7.125       05/01/21       32,219       33,105,022  

Infor US, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)(c)

    6.500       05/15/22       17,363       18,057,520  

Informatica LLC, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.125       07/15/23       18,300       17,677,800  

Nuance Communications, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.375       08/15/20       4,194       4,275,699  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.000       07/01/24       12,775       13,206,156  

Rackspace Hosting, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    8.625       11/15/24       8,825       9,299,344  

RP Crown Parent LLC, Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375       10/15/24       4,825       5,066,250  
       

 

 

 
          314,735,181  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     33  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Telecommunications    5.6%

 

Aegis Merger Sub., Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.250     02/15/23       5,225     $ 5,799,750  

Anixter, Inc., Gtd. Notes

    5.500       03/01/23       1,975       2,068,813  

Avaya, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)(c)

    10.500 (e)      03/01/21       14,305       3,933,875  

CenturyLink, Inc., Series G, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.875       01/15/28       4,700       4,553,125  

CommScope Technologies Finance LLC,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.000       06/15/25       15,684       16,781,880  

CommScope, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.500       06/15/24       3,925       4,111,438  

Digicel Group Ltd. (Jamaica),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.125       04/01/22       780       632,011  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

    8.250       09/30/20       10,100       8,925,875  

Digicel Ltd. (Jamaica), Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.750       03/01/23       9,820       9,034,400  

Frontier Communications Corp.,
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    6.250       09/15/21       1,475       1,408,625  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    6.875       01/15/25       2,100       1,769,250  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    8.750       04/15/22       3,400       3,400,000  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

    9.250       07/01/21       850       894,625  

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

    11.000       09/15/25       27,455       27,592,275  

GTT Escrow Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    7.875       12/31/24       8,130       8,516,175  

Inmarsat Finance PLC (United Kingdom),
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    4.875       05/15/22       5,610       5,610,000  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.500       10/01/24       6,143       6,342,647  

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (Luxembourg),
Gtd. Notes(b)

    5.500       08/01/23       17,000       13,982,500  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.250       10/15/20       4,600       4,255,000  

Intelsat Luxembourg SA (Luxembourg),
Gtd. Notes(b)

    7.750       06/01/21       11,510       6,474,375  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    8.125       06/01/23       13,375       7,222,500  

Level 3 Financing, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.125       05/01/23       5,500       5,610,000  

Gtd. Notes

    5.375       05/01/25       4,425       4,568,813  

Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.250       03/15/26       7,702       7,769,392  

Sprint Capital Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.875       11/15/28       21,145       22,545,856  

Gtd. Notes

    6.900       05/01/19       5,660       6,029,711  

Gtd. Notes

    8.750       03/15/32       5,200       6,240,000  

Sprint Communications, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    7.000       03/01/20       1,313       1,434,453  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(c)

    9.000       11/15/18       2,265       2,477,344  

Sprint Corp.,
Gtd. Notes(b)(c)

    7.125       06/15/24       11,990       12,945,483  

Gtd. Notes(b)(c)

    7.625       02/15/25       30,638       34,161,370  

Gtd. Notes(b)(c)

    7.875       09/15/23       3,890       4,327,625  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

34  


Description   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

 

Telecommunications (cont’d)

 

T-Mobile USA, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.375     03/01/25       7,375     $ 7,927,977  

Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.500       01/15/26       12,800       14,064,000  

Gtd. Notes

    6.633       04/28/21       5,900       6,137,180  

Telecom Italia SpA (Italy),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.303       05/30/24       7,400       7,529,500  

West Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

    5.375       07/15/22       7,775       7,467,887  

Wind Acquisition Finance SA (Italy),
Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375       04/23/21       24,550       25,562,687  

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    6.500       04/30/20       3,300       3,424,080  

Windstream Services LLC, Gtd. Notes(b)

    6.375       08/01/23       6,725       6,119,750  
       

 

 

 
          329,652,247  

Textiles    0.4%

 

Springs Industries, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes

    6.250       06/01/21       24,861       25,668,982  

Transportation    0.6%

 

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes

    5.000       03/01/21       3,625       2,347,187  

Gtd. Notes

    5.875       04/01/20       5,750       3,823,750  

Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc./Navios Maritime Finance II US, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    7.375       01/15/22       6,100       4,605,500  

XPO Logistics, Inc.,
Gtd. Notes, 144A

    6.125       09/01/23       9,850       10,342,500  

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

    6.500       06/15/22       14,685       15,419,250  
       

 

 

 
          36,538,187  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
(cost $5,226,349,188)

          5,379,573,483  
       

 

 

 

NON-CORPORATE FOREIGN AGENCIES    0.6%

       

Citgo Holding, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

    10.750       02/15/20       9,600       10,416,000  

NOVA Chemicals Corp. (Canada),
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

    5.000       05/01/25       4,100       4,151,250  

Petrobras Global Finance BV (Brazil),
Gtd. Notes

    6.125       01/17/22       1,265       1,299,787  

Gtd. Notes

    7.375       01/17/27       4,705       4,921,430  

Gtd. Notes

    8.375       05/23/21       7,000       7,807,100  

Gtd. Notes

    8.750       05/23/26       8,000       9,076,000  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL NON-CORPORATE FOREIGN AGENCIES
(cost $36,018,595)

          37,671,567  
       

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     35  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

 

Description    Shares      Value (Note 1)  

COMMON STOCKS

 

Consumer

 

WKI Holding Co., Inc.^(c)

     6,031      $ 189,916  

Energy Equipment & Services

 

Seventy Seven Energy, Inc.

     2,860        140,140  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

 

Pacific Exploration & Production Corp. (Colombia)(b)

     27,914        1,134,887  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(cost $2,539,422)

 

     1,464,943  
     

 

 

 

PREFERRED STOCKS    0.2%

 

Banks    0.1%

 

Citigroup Capital XIII, (Capital security, fixed to floating
preferred), 7.409%(a)(b)

     153,000        4,031,550  

Building Materials & Construction

 

New Millennium Homes LLC*^(c)

     2,000        90,000  

Cable

 

Adelphia Communications Corp. (Class A Stock)*^(c)(e)

     20,000        20  

Capital Markets

 

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), Series K, (fixed to floating
preferred), 6.375%(a)(b)(c)

     87,000        2,489,940  

Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers    0.1%

 

Dynegy, Inc., Series A, (fixed to floating preferred), 5.375%(b)(c)

     162,812        4,871,335  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS
(cost $14,748,960)

 

     11,482,845  
     

 

 

 
    

Units

 

WARRANTS*

 

Chemicals

 

Hercules, Inc., expiring 03/31/29(c)

     230         

Energy Equipment & Services

 

Seventy Seven Energy, Inc., expiring 08/01/21

     15,529        382,013  

Media & Entertainment

 

MediaNews Group, Inc., expiring 03/19/17^(c)

     6,854        69  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL WARRANTS
(cost $69,881)

 

     382,082  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $5,355,955,710)

 

     5,500,772,693  
     

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

36  


Description    Shares      Value (Note 1)  

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS    30.9%

 

AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS

 

Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Short-Term Bond Fund(f)

     48,809      $ 452,946  

Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund(f)

     328,612,944        328,612,944  

Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund
(cost $1,501,038,715; includes $1,500,178,530 of cash collateral for securities on loan)(f)(g)

     1,500,918,038        1,501,368,313  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $1,830,125,286)(Note 3)

 

     1,830,434,203  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS    123.6%
(cost $7,186,080,996)(Note 5)

        7,331,206,896  

Liabilities in excess of other assets(h)    (23.6)%

        (1,401,301,760
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS    100.0%

      $ 5,929,905,136  
     

 

 

 

 

The following abbreviations are used in the semiannual report:

144A—Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be resold subject to that rule except to qualified institutional buyers. Unless otherwise noted, 144A securities are deemed to be liquid.

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

MTN—Medium Term Note

OTC—Over-the-counter

PIK—Payment-in-Kind

# Principal amount is shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
* Non-income producing security.
^ Indicates a Level 3 security. The aggregate value of Level 3 securities is $6,275,195 and 0.1% of net assets.
(a) Variable rate instrument. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at February 28, 2017.
(b) All or a portion of security is on loan. The aggregate market value of such securities, including those sold and pending settlement, is $1,469,100,165; cash collateral of $1,500,178,530 (included in liabilities) was received with which the Fund purchased highly liquid short-term investments.
(c) Indicates a security or securities that have been deemed illiquid; the aggregate value of $569,854,885 is approximately 9.6% of net assets.
(d) Indicates a restricted security; the aggregate original cost of such securities is $52,007,450. The aggregate value of $43,276,285 is approximately 0.7% of net assets.
(e) Represents issuer in default on interest payments. Non-income producing security.
(f) PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Short-Term Bond Fund, Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund.
(g) Represents security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment.
(h) Includes net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the following derivative contracts held at reporting period end:

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     37  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

 

Futures contracts outstanding at February 28, 2017:

 

Number of
Contracts
    Type   Expiration
Date
    Value at
Trade Date
    Value at
February 28,
2017
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
 

Long Positions:

     
  768     2 Year U.S. Treasury Notes     Jun. 2017     $ 166,158,637     $ 166,200,000     $ 41,363  
  1,003     10 Year U.S. Treasury Notes     Jun. 2017       124,799,707       124,951,859       152,152  
  374     20 Year U.S. Treasury Bonds     Jun. 2017       56,183,582       56,719,437       535,855  
  165     30 Year U.S. Ultra Treasury Bonds     Jun. 2017       26,316,189       26,693,906       377,717  
         

 

 

 
    $ 1,107,087  
         

 

 

 

 

Cash of $4,020,000 has been segregated with Citigroup to cover requirements for open future contracts at February 28, 2017.

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding at February 28, 2017:

 

Purchase Contracts

  Counterparty   Notional
Amount
(000)
    Value at
Settlement
Date
    Current
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Euro,  

Expiring 03/02/17

  Morgan Stanley     EUR       1,033     $ 1,093,133     $ 1,094,162     $ 1,029  
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Sale Contracts

  Counterparty   Notional
Amount
(000)
    Value at
Settlement
Date
    Current
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Euro,

 

Expiring 03/02/17

  Morgan Stanley     EUR       1,033     $ 1,105,316     $ 1,094,162     $ 11,154  

Expiring 04/04/17

  Morgan Stanley     EUR       1,033       1,094,950       1,096,035       (1,085
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
        $ 2,200,266     $ 2,190,197       10,069  
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
            $ 11,098  
           

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

38  


The following is a summary of the inputs used as of February 28, 2017 in valuing such portfolio securities:

 

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Investments in Securities

 

Bank Loans

  $     $ 64,205,276     $ 5,992,497  

Corporate Bonds

          5,379,570,790       2,693  

Non-Corporate Foreign Agencies

          37,671,567        

Common Stocks

    1,275,027             189,916  

Preferred Stocks

    11,392,825             90,020  

Warrants

    382,013             69  

Affiliated Mutual Funds

    1,830,434,203              

Other Financial Instruments*

 

Futures Contracts

    1,107,087              

OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

          11,098        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 1,844,591,155     $ 5,481,458,731     $ 6,275,195  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in the Portfolio of Investments, such as futures, forwards and centrally cleared swap contracts, which are recorded at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument, and OTC swap contracts which are recorded at fair value.

 

During the period, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 to report.

 

Industry Classification:

 

The industry classification of investments and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of February 28, 2017 were as follows:

 

Affiliated Mutual Funds (including 25.3% of collateral for securities on loan)

    30.9

Media

    8.7  

Healthcare-Services

    6.0  

Telecommunications

    5.6  

Software

    5.3  

Oil & Gas

    5.3  

Electric

    4.7  

Retail

    4.6  

Chemicals

    4.3  

Entertainment

    4.2  

Mining

    4.0  

Home Builders

    3.7  

Commercial Services

    3.1  

Pharmaceuticals

    3.0  

Food

    2.8  

Packaging & Containers

    2.1  

Lodging

    2.1

Building Materials

    1.9  

Diversified Financial Services

    1.8  

Auto Parts & Equipment

    1.3  

Semiconductors

    1.3  

Pipelines

    1.3  

Computers

    1.2  

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

    1.1  

Distribution/Wholesale

    1.0  

Healthcare-Products

    1.0  

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

    0.9  

Iron/Steel

    0.8  

Real Estate

    0.7  

Technology

    0.7  

Coal

    0.6  

Non-Corporate Foreign Agencies

    0.6  

Transportation

    0.6  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     39  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Metal Fabricate & Hardware

    0.6

Leisure Time

    0.6  

Aerospace & Defense

    0.6  

Machinery-Diversified

    0.5  

Textiles

    0.4  

Gas

    0.4  

Banks

    0.4  

Environmental Control

    0.4  

Advertising

    0.3  

Office/Business Equipment

    0.2  

Machinery-Construction & Mining

    0.2  

Engineering & Construction

    0.2  

Biotechnology

    0.2  

Electrical Components & Equipment

    0.1  

Forest Products & Paper

    0.1  

Agriculture

    0.1  

Hand/Machine Tools

    0.1

Gaming

    0.1  

Household Products/Wares

    0.1  

Auto Manufacturers

    0.1  

Home Furnishings

    0.1  

Beverages

    0.1  

Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers

    0.1  

Food Service

    0.1  

Capital Goods

    0.1  

Retailers

    0.1  

Housewares

    0.1  
 

 

 

 
    123.6  

Liabilities in excess of other assets

    (23.6
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 

 

Effects of Derivative Instruments on the Financial Statements and Primary Underlying Risk Exposure:

 

The Fund invested in derivative instruments during the reporting period. The primary type of risks associated with these derivative instruments are credit contracts risk, equity contracts risk, foreign exchange contracts risk and interest rate contracts risk. The effect of such derivative instruments on the Fund’s financial position and financial performance as reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations is presented in the summary below.

 

Fair values of derivative instruments as of February 28, 2017 as presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Derivatives not accounted

for as hedging instruments,

carried at fair value

  

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
  

Balance

Sheet Location

   Fair
Value
   

Balance

Sheet Location

   Fair
Value
 
Equity contracts    Unaffiliated Investments    $ 382,082        $  
Foreign exchange contracts    Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts      12,183     Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts      1,085  
Interest rate contracts    Due to/from broker—variation margin futures      1,107,087         
     

 

 

      

 

 

 
      $ 1,501,352        $ 1,085  
     

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the schedule of open futures contracts. Only unsettled variation margin receivable (payable) is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

40  


The effects of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the six months ended February 28, 2017 are as follows:

 

Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Derivatives not accounted

for as hedging instruments,

carried at fair value

  Warrants(1)     Futures     Forward
Currency
Exchange
Contracts(2)
    Swaps     Total  

Credit contracts

  $     $     $     $ (4,578,442   $ (4,578,442

Equity contracts

    (2                       (2

Foreign exchange contracts

                40,027             40,027  

Interest rate contracts

          (3,687,033                 (3,687,033
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ (2   $ (3,687,033   $ 40,027     $ (4,578,442   $ (8,225,450
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Included in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions in the Statement of Operations.
(2) Included in net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions in the Statement of Operations.

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Derivatives not accounted

for as hedging instruments,

carried at fair value

  Warrants(1)     Futures     Forward
Currency
Exchange
Contracts(2)
    Total  

Equity contracts

  $ 320,422     $     $     $ 320,422  

Foreign exchange contracts

                27,234       27,234  

Interest rate contracts

          1,267,872             1,267,872  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 320,422     $ 1,267,872     $ 27,234     $ 1,615,528  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations.
(2) Included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currencies in the Statement of Operations.

 

For the six months ended February 28, 2017, the Portfolio’s average volume of derivative activities are as follows:

 

Futures

Contracts—

Long

Positions(1)

    Futures
Contracts—
Short

Positions(1)
    Forward
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts—
Purchased(2)
    Forward
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts—
Sold(2)
    Credit
Default
Swap
Agreements—
Buy
Protection(3)
 
$ 294,979,736     $ 55,237,814     $ 1,117,477     $ 2,243,510     $ 33,333,333  

 

(1) Value at Trade Date.
(2) Value at Settlement Date.
(3) Notional Amount in USD.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     41  


Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

as of February 28, 2017

 

 

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

 

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

 

Offsetting of financial transaction assets and liabilities:

 

Description

  Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets(3)
    Collateral
Received(4)
    Net
Amount

Securities on Loan

  $ 1,469,100,165     $ (1,469,100,165   $  —
 

 

 

     

 

Offsetting of OTC derivative assets and liabilities:

 

Counterparty

  Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets(1)
    Gross
Amounts
Available
for Offset
    Collateral
Received(4)
  Net
Amount
 

Morgan Stanley

  $ 12,183     $ (1,085   $  —   $ 11,098  
 

 

 

       

Counterparty

  Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities(2)
    Gross
Amounts
Available
for Offset
    Collateral
Pledged(4)
  Net
Amount
 

Morgan Stanley

  $ (1,085   $ 1,085     $  —     $  —  
 

 

 

       

 

(1) Includes unrealized appreciation on swaps and forwards, premiums paid on swap agreements and market value of purchased options.
(2) Includes unrealized depreciation on swaps and forwards, premiums received on swap agreements and market value of written options.
(3) Amount represents market value.
(4) Collateral amount disclosed by the Fund is limited to the market value of financial instruments/transactions and the Fund’s OTC derivative exposure by counterparty.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

42  


This Page Intentionally Left Blank


Statement of Assets & Liabilities (unaudited)

as of February 28, 2017

 

Assets

 

Investments at value, including securities on loan of $1,469,100,165:

  

Unaffiliated investments (cost $5,355,955,710)

   $ 5,500,772,693  

Affiliated investments (cost $1,830,125,286)

     1,830,434,203  

Cash

     63,712  

Foreign currency, at value (cost $35,789)

     35,556  

Deposit with broker for futures

     4,020,000  

Dividends and interest receivable

     98,983,979  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     26,139,528  

Receivable for investments sold

     14,489,906  

Due from broker—variation margin futures

     93,885  

Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     12,183  

Prepaid expenses

     24,277  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     7,475,069,922  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payable to broker for collateral for securities on loan

     1,500,178,530  

Payable for investments purchased

     19,542,293  

Payable for Fund shares reacquired

     18,688,483  

Dividends payable

     2,914,820  

Management fee payable

     1,749,300  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     1,312,214  

Distribution fee payable

     585,800  

Affiliated transfer agent fee payable

     184,076  

Deferred directors’ fees

     8,185  

Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     1,085  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,545,164,786  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 5,929,905,136  
  

 

 

 
          

Net assets were comprised of:

  

Common stock, at par

   $ 10,644,109  

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     5,901,735,682  
  

 

 

 
     5,912,379,791  

Undistributed net investment income

     4,173,302  

Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (132,892,224

Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currencies

     146,244,267  
  

 

 

 

Net assets, February 28, 2017

   $ 5,929,905,136  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

44  


Class A

        

Net asset value and redemption price per share
($1,338,381,807 ÷ 240,463,217 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 5.57  

Maximum sales charge (4.50% of offering price)

     0.26  
  

 

 

 

Maximum offering price to public

   $ 5.83  
  

 

 

 

Class B

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($177,469,303 ÷ 31,925,705 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 5.56  
  

 

 

 

Class C

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($264,560,484 ÷ 47,596,569 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 5.56  
  

 

 

 

Class Q

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($1,504,289,702 ÷ 270,192,538 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 5.57  
  

 

 

 

Class R

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($61,974,679 ÷ 11,138,211 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 5.56  
  

 

 

 

Class Z

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($2,583,229,161 ÷ 463,094,628 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 5.58  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     45  


Statement of Operations (unaudited)

Six Months Ended February 28, 2017

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

 

Income

  

Interest income

   $ 177,731,195  

Income from securities lending, net (including affiliated income of $775,620)

     1,681,313  

Affiliated dividend income

     788,719  

Unaffiliated dividend income

     648,181  
  

 

 

 

Total income

     180,849,408  
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Management fee

     10,448,865  

Distribution fee—Class A

     1,648,408  

Distribution fee—Class B

     666,055  

Distribution fee—Class C

     1,268,992  

Distribution fee—Class R

     219,094  

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses (including affiliated expense of $457,200)

     2,652,000  

Custodian and accounting fees

     244,000  

Registration fees

     206,000  

Shareholders’ reports

     129,000  

Directors’ fees

     41,000  

Insurance expenses

     29,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     21,000  

Audit fee

     19,000  

Miscellaneous

     13,411  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     17,605,825  

Less: Distribution fee waiver—Class R

     (73,033
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     17,532,792  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

     163,316,616  
  

 

 

 

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

        

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions (including affiliated of $(276))

     11,175,522  

Futures transactions

     (3,687,033

Swap agreement transactions

     (4,578,442

Foreign currency transactions

     39,236  
  

 

 

 
     2,949,283  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

  

Investments (including affiliated of $328,634)

     118,271,077  

Futures

     1,267,872  

Foreign currencies

     26,872  
  

 

 

 
     119,565,821  
  

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     122,515,104  
  

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ 285,831,720  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

46  


Statement of Changes in Net Assets (unaudited)

     Six Months
Ended
February 28, 2017
     Year
Ended
August 31, 2016
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

                 

Operations

     

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 163,316,616      $ 229,527,207  

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

     2,949,283        (31,419,690

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

     119,565,821        146,770,981  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     285,831,720        344,878,498  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends from net investment income (Note 1)

     

Class A

     (40,688,014      (75,405,006

Class B

     (5,042,367      (11,275,345

Class C

     (6,885,567      (12,620,814

Class Q

     (19,597,269      (12,161,646

Class R

     (1,732,685      (3,128,553

Class Z

     (92,090,355      (122,673,401
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     (166,036,257      (237,264,765
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fund share transactions (Net of share conversions) (Note 6)

     

Net proceeds from shares sold

     1,663,671,283        2,159,239,037  

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

     146,988,943        208,297,523  

Cost of shares reacquired

     (787,979,358      (978,102,009
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

     1,022,680,868        1,389,434,551  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     1,142,476,331        1,497,048,284  

Net Assets:

                 

Beginning of period

     4,787,428,805        3,290,380,521  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of period(a)

   $ 5,929,905,136      $ 4,787,428,805  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(a) Includes undistributed net investment income of:

   $ 4,173,302      $ 6,892,943  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     47  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 (the “Company”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (“1940 Act”) as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Company consists of two investment portfolios: Prudential High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) and Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund. These financial statements relate to Prudential High Yield Fund.

 

The Fund’s investment objective is to maximize current income. As a secondary investment objective, the Fund seeks capital appreciation but only when consistent with the Fund’s primary objective of current income.

 

Note 1. Accounting Policies

 

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

 

Securities Valuation: The Fund holds securities and other assets that are fair valued at the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) has adopted Valuation Procedures for security valuation under which fair valuation responsibilities have been delegated to PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or “Manager”) (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC). Under the current Valuation Procedures, the established Valuation Committee is responsible for supervising the valuation of portfolio securities and other assets. The Valuation Procedures permit the Fund to utilize independent pricing vendor services, quotations from market makers, and alternative valuation methods when market quotations are either not readily available or not deemed representative of fair value. A record of the Valuation Committee’s actions is subject to the Board’s review, approval, and ratification at its next regularly scheduled quarterly meeting.

 

Various inputs determine how the Fund’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the table following the Portfolio of Investments.

 

Derivative instruments such as futures or options that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale

 

48  


price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

In the event that no sale or official closing price on valuation date exists, these securities are generally valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price in the absence of an ask price. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Investments in open-end, non-exchange-traded mutual funds are valued at their net asset values as of the close of the NYSE on the date of valuation. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.

 

Fixed income securities traded in the OTC market are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such fixed income securities are typically valued using the market approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The portfolios utilize the market approach as the primary method to value securities when market prices of identical or comparable instruments are available. The third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated bid price are based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, yield curves, yield spreads, credit ratings, deal terms, tranche level attributes, default rates, cash flows, prepayment speeds, broker/dealer quotations and reported trades. Certain Level 3 securities are also valued using the market approach when obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing recent transaction prices for identical or comparable securities.

 

Bank loans are generally valued at prices provided by approved independent pricing vendors. The pricing vendors utilize broker/dealer quotations and provide prices based on the average of such quotations. Bank loans valued using such vendor prices are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

OTC derivative instruments are generally valued using pricing vendor services, which derive the valuation based on inputs such as underlying asset prices, indices, spreads, interest rates, and exchange rates. These instruments are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are generally valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, as the daily settlement price is not public.

 

Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on pricing methodologies approved by the Board. In the event that unobservable inputs are used when determining such valuations, the securities will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     49  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

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

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities: Subject to guidelines adopted by the Board, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including those which are restricted as to disposition under securities law (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities are valued pursuant to the valuation procedures noted above. Illiquid securities are those that, because of the absence of a readily available market or due to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, cannot be sold within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the investment. Therefore, the Fund may find it difficult to sell illiquid securities at the time considered most advantageous by its Subadviser and may incur expenses that would not be incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. Certain securities that would otherwise be considered illiquid because of legal restrictions on resale to the general public may be traded among qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These Rule 144A securities, as well as commercial paper that is sold in private placements under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, may be deemed liquid by the Fund’s Subadviser under the guidelines adopted by the Directors of the Fund. However, the liquidity of the Fund’s investments in Rule 144A securities could be impaired if trading does not develop or declines.

 

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

 

(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities-at the current rates of exchange.

 

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

 

Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not generally isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from

 

50  


the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities held at the end of the period. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities sold during the period. Accordingly, holding period realized foreign currency gains (losses) are included in the reported net realized gains (losses) on investment transactions. Notwithstanding the above, the Fund does isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates when determining the gain (loss) upon the sale or maturity of foreign currency denominated debt obligations; such amounts are included in net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions.

 

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

 

Forward Currency Contracts: A forward currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate between two parties. The Fund enters into forward currency contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings or specific receivables and payables denominated in a foreign currency. The contracts are valued daily at current exchange rates and any unrealized gain (loss) is included in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on foreign currencies. Gain (loss) is realized on the settlement date of the contract equal to the difference between the settlement value of the original and negotiated forward contracts. This gain (loss), if any, is included in net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions. Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. Forward currency contracts involve risks from currency exchange rate and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty at the end of the contract’s life.

 

Concentration of Risk: The ability of debt securities issuers (other than those issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government) held by the Fund to meet its obligations may be affected by the economic or political developments in a specific industry, region or country. Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of domestic origin as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of political or economic instability or the level of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     51  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Financial Futures Contracts: A financial futures contract is an agreement to purchase (long) or sell (short) an agreed amount of securities at a set price for delivery on a future date. Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying security. Such variation margin is recorded for financial statement purposes on a daily basis as unrealized gain (loss). When the contract expires or is closed, the gain (loss) is realized and is presented on the Statement of Operations as net realized gain (loss) on futures transactions.

 

The Fund invested in financial futures contracts in order to hedge its existing portfolio securities, or securities the Fund intends to purchase, against fluctuations in value caused by changes in prevailing interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates. Should interest rates move unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the financial futures contracts and may realize a loss. The use of futures transactions involves the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price of futures contracts, interest rates and the underlying hedged assets. With exchange-traded futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since the exchanges’ clearinghouse acts as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures and guarantees the futures contracts against default.

 

Swap Agreements: The Fund may enter into credit default, interest rate, total return and other forms of swap agreements. A swap agreement is an agreement to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. Swap agreements are negotiated in the OTC market and may be executed either directly with counterparty (“OTC-traded”) or through a central clearing facility, such as a registered commodities exchange. Swap agreements are valued daily at current market value and any change in value is included in the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments. Centrally cleared swaps pay or receive an amount, known as “variation margin”, based on daily changes in the valuation of a swap contract. Payments received or paid by the Fund are recorded as realized gains (losses) upon termination or maturity of the swap. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Swap agreements outstanding at period end, if any, are listed on the Portfolio of Investments.

 

Credit Default Swaps: Credit default swaps (“CDS’’) involve one party (the protection buyer) making a stream of payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for the right to receive a specified payment in the event of a default or as a result of a default (collectively a “credit event”) for the referenced entity (typically corporate issues or sovereign issues of an emerging country) on its obligation; or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index.

 

52  


The Fund is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund entered into CDS contracts to provide a measure of protection against defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be short the credit as the value of the contract rises the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk for purchased credit default swaps is the inability of the counterparty to honor the contract up to the notional value due to a credit event.

 

As a seller of protection on credit default swap agreements, the Fund generally receives an agreed upon payment from the buyer of protection throughout the term of the swap, provided no credit event occurs. As the seller, the Fund effectively increases its investment risk because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund may be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

 

The maximum amount of the payment that the Fund, as a seller of protection, could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be equal to the notional amount of the underlying security or index contract as a result of a credit event. This potential amount will be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements which the Fund entered into for the same referenced entity or index. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.

 

Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate or sovereign issues of an emerging country as of period end are disclosed in the footnotes to the Portfolio of Investments, if applicable. These spreads serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood of default risk for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. For credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk. Wider credit spreads and increased market value in absolute terms, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement.

 

Master Netting Arrangements: The Fund is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received; and by the receipt of

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     53  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily enforceable. In addition to master netting arrangements, the right to set-off exists when all the conditions are met such that each of the parties owes the other determinable amounts, the reporting party has the right to set-off the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party, the reporting party intends to set-off and the right of set-off is enforceable by law. During the reporting period, there was no intention to settle on a net basis and all amounts are presented on a gross basis on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

The Company, on behalf of the Fund, is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the Fund is held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian and with respect to those amounts which can be sold or re-pledged, are presented in the Portfolio of Investments. Collateral pledged by the Fund is segregated by the Fund’s custodian and identified in the Portfolio of Investments. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the Fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the Fund’s net position with each counterparty. Termination events applicable to the Fund may occur upon a decline in the Fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the Fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the Fund’s future derivative activity.

 

In addition to each instrument’s primary underlying risk exposure (e.g. interest rate, credit, equity or foreign exchange, etc.), swap agreements involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk. Such risks involve the possibility that no liquid market for these agreements will exist, the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree on the contractual terms of the agreement, and changes in net interest rates will be unfavorable. In connection with these agreements, securities in the portfolio may be identified or received as collateral from the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide or receive assets of value and to serve as recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency of either party.

 

54  


Such OTC derivative agreements include conditions which, when materialized, give the counterparty the right to cause an early termination of the transactions under those agreements. Any election by the counterparty for early termination of the contract(s) may impact the amounts reported on financial statements.

 

As of February 28, 2017, the Fund has not met conditions under such agreements which give the counterparty the right to call for an early termination.

 

Forward currency contracts, financial futures contracts and swaps involve elements of both market and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks may be mitigated by engaging in master netting arrangements.

 

Warrants and Rights: The Fund may hold warrants and rights acquired either through a direct purchase, included as part of private placement, or pursuant to corporate actions. Warrants and rights entitle the holder to buy a proportionate amount of common stock, or such other security that the issuer may specify, at a specific price and time through the expiration dates. Such warrants and rights are held as long positions by the Fund until exercised, sold or expired. Warrants and rights are valued at fair value in accordance with the Board of Directors’ approved fair valuation procedures.

 

Loan Participations: The Fund may invest in loan participations, another type of restricted security. When the Fund purchases a loan participation, the Fund typically enters into a contractual relationship with the lender or third party selling such participations (“Selling Participant”), but not the borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower, the Selling Participant and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower. The Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the senior loan in which it has purchased the loan participation.

 

Delayed-Delivery Transactions: The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed-delivery purchases are outstanding, the Fund will set aside and maintain an amount of liquid assets sufficient to meet the purchase price in a segregated account until the settlement date. When purchasing a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its net asset value. The Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed-delivery transaction subsequent to establishment, and may sell when-issued securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain (loss). When selling a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the Fund forfeits its eligibility to realize future gains (losses) with respect to the security.

 

Payment in Kind Securities: The Fund may invest in the open market or receive pursuant to debt restructuring, securities that pay in kind (PIK) the interest due on such debt instruments. The PIK interest, computed at the contractual rate specified, is added to the

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     55  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

existing principal balance of the debt when issued bonds have same terms as the bond or recorded as a separate bond when terms are different from the existing debt, and is recorded as interest income.

 

Securities Lending: The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to banks and broker-dealers. The loans are secured by collateral at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Collateral pledged by each borrower is invested in an affiliated money market fund and is marked to market daily, based on the previous day’s market value, such that the value of the collateral exceeds the value of the loaned securities. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower will return to the Fund securities identical to the loaned securities. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund has the right to repurchase the securities in the open market using the collateral. The Fund recognizes income, net of any rebate and securities lending agent fees, for lending its securities in the form of fees or interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The borrower receives all interest and dividends from the securities loaned and such payments are passed back to the lender in amounts equivalent thereto. The Fund also continues to recognize any unrealized gain (loss) in the market price of the securities loaned and on the change in the value of the collateral invested that may occur during the term of the loan. In addition, realized gain (loss) is recognized on changes in the value of the collateral invested upon liquidation of the collateral. Net earnings from securities lending are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Income from securities lending, net”.

 

Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains (losses) from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date. Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required, is recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management, that may differ from actual.

 

Net investment income or loss (other than distribution fees, which are charged directly to the respective class and transfer agency fees specific to Class Q shares which are charged to that share class) and unrealized and realized gains (losses) are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of adjusted net assets of each class at the beginning of the day.

 

Dividends and Distributions: The Fund expects to declare dividends each business day and pay monthly from net investment income; and pay distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may

 

56  


differ from generally accepted accounting principles, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified amongst undistributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gain (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate.

 

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

 

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

 

Note 2. Agreements

 

The Company, on behalf of the Fund, has a management agreement with PGIM Investments. Pursuant to this agreement, PGIM Investments has responsibility for all investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser’s performance of such services. PGIM Investments has entered into a subadvisory agreement with PGIM, Inc., which provides subadvisory services to the Funds through its PGIM Fixed Income unit. The subadvisory agreement provides that PGIM, Inc. will furnish investment advisory services in connection with the management of the Fund. In connection therewith, PGIM, Inc. is obligated to keep certain books and records of the Fund. PGIM Investments pays for the services of PGIM, Inc., the cost of compensation of officers of the Fund, occupancy and certain clerical and bookkeeping costs of the Fund. The Fund bears all other costs and expenses.

 

The management fee paid to PGIM Investments is accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of .50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to $250 million, .475% of the next $500 million, .45% of the next $750 million, .425% of the next $500 million, .40% of the next $500 million, .375% of the next $500 million and .35% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $3 billion. The effective management fee rate was .40% for the six months ended February 28, 2017.

 

The Company, on behalf of the Fund, has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), which acts as the distributor of the Class A, Class B, Class C, Class Q, Class R and Class Z shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates PIMS for distributing and servicing the Fund’s Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares, pursuant to plans of distribution (the “Distribution Plans”), regardless of expenses actually incurred by PIMS. The distribution fees are accrued daily and payable monthly. No distribution or service fees are paid to PIMS as distributor of the Class Q and Class Z shares of the Fund. Pursuant to the Distribution Plans, the Fund compensates PIMS for distribution related activities at an annual rate of up to .25%, .75%, 1% and .75% of the average daily net assets of the Class A, B, C and R shares, respectively. PIMS has contractually agreed through December 31, 2017 to limit such expenses to .50% of the average daily net assets of the Class R shares.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     57  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

PIMS has advised the Fund that it has received $1,358,256 in front-end sales charges resulting from sales of Class A shares, during the six months ended February 28, 2017. From these fees, PIMS paid such sales charges to affiliated broker-dealers, which in turn paid commissions to salespersons and incurred other distribution costs.

 

PIMS has advised the Fund that for the six months ended February 28, 2017 it received $62,823 and $19,800 in contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon certain redemptions by Class B and Class C shareholders, respectively.

 

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

 

Note 3. Other Transactions with Affiliates

 

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

 

The Fund may enter into certain securities purchase or sale transactions under Board approved Rule 17a-7 procedures. Rule 17a-7 is an exemptive rule under the 1940 Act, that permits purchase and sale transactions among affiliated investment companies, or between an investment company and a person that is affiliated solely by reason of having a common (or affiliated) investment adviser, common directors, and/or common officers. Such transactions are subject to ratification by the Board.

 

The Fund may invest its overnight sweep cash in the Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund (the “Core Fund”) and its securities lending cash collateral in the Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund, (the “Money Market Fund”), each a series of Prudential Investments Portfolios 2, registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. The Fund also invests in the Prudential Core Short-Term Bond Fund, pursuant to an exemptive order received from the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”), a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 (together with Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund, the “Core Funds”), registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. For the period ended February 28, 2017, PGIM, Inc. was compensated $395,963 for managing the Fund’s securities lending cash collateral through its subadvisory services to the Money Market Fund. Earnings from the Core Funds and the Money Market Fund are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income” and “Income from securities lending, net”, respectively.

 

58  


Note 4. Portfolio Securities

 

The aggregate cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Treasury securities) for the six months ended February 28, 2017, were $1,712,879,376 and $943,873,751, respectively.

 

Note 5. Tax Information

 

The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized appreciation as of February 28, 2017 were as follows:

 

Tax Basis

   $ 7,198,521,784  
  

 

 

 

Appreciation

     230,905,355  

Depreciation

     (98,220,243
  

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

   $ 132,685,112  
  

 

 

 

 

The book basis may differ from tax basis due to certain tax-related adjustments.

 

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), the Fund is permitted to carryforward capital losses realized on or after September 1, 2011 (“post-enactment losses”) for an unlimited period. Post-enactment losses are required to be utilized before the utilization of losses incurred prior to the effective date of the Act. As a result of this ordering rule, capital loss carryforwards related to taxable years ending before August 31, 2012 (“pre-enactment losses”) may have an increased likelihood to expire unused. No capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such losses. As of August 31, 2016, the pre and post-enactment losses were approximately:

 

Post-Enactment Losses:

   $ 74,760,000
  

 

 

 

Pre-Enactment Losses:

  

Expiring 2018

   $ 49,857,000
  

 

 

 

 

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. The Fund’s federal, state and local income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

 

Note 6. Capital

 

The Fund offers Class A, Class B, Class C, Class Q, Class R and Class Z shares. Class A shares are sold with a front-end sales charge of up to 4.50%. Investors who purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares and redeem those shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1%, but are not

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     59  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

subject to an initial sales charge. The Class A CDSC is waived for purchases by certain retirement or benefit plans. Class B shares are sold with a CDSC which declines from 5% to zero depending on the period of time the shares are held. Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares on a quarterly basis approximately seven years after purchase. Class B shares are closed to new purchases. Class C shares are sold with a CDSC of 1% during the first 12 months. Class Q, Class R and Class Z shares are not subject to any sales or redemption charges and are available only to a limited group of investors.

 

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

 

The Company is authorized to issue 6 billion shares of common stock, $01 par value per share, which have been classified and designated for the Fund into seven classes, designated Class A, Class B, Class C, Class Q, Class R, Class Z and Class T common stock. Of the authorized shares of common stock of the Fund, 665 million are designated for Class A common stock, 50 million are designated for Class B common stock, 200 million are designated for Class C common stock, 1 billion are designated for Class Q common stock, 150 million are designated for Class R common stock, 2.6 billion are designated for Class Z common stock and 750 million are designated for Class T common stock. The Fund currently does not have any Class T shares outstanding.

 

At reporting period end, 5 shareholders of record held 47% of the Fund’s outstanding shares on behalf of multiple beneficial owners.

 

Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:

 

Class A

     Shares      Amount  

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       36,307,291      $ 198,011,905  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       6,211,905        33,937,972  

Shares reacquired

       (27,411,456      (149,138,483
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       15,107,740        82,811,394  

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       1,818,925        9,877,057  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (15,400,070      (84,960,057
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       1,526,595      $ 7,728,394  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       56,268,426      $ 293,394,788

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       12,093,016        62,948,624

Shares reacquired

       (55,399,875      (287,064,270 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       12,961,567        69,279,142

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       1,779,444        9,278,767

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (2,241,792      (11,774,975 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       12,499,219      $ 66,782,934
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

60  


Class B

     Shares      Amount  

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       130,474      $ 711,306  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       764,644        4,170,598  

Shares reacquired

       (2,025,508      (11,026,245
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (1,130,390      (6,144,341

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (1,476,229      (8,018,951
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (2,606,619    $ (14,163,292
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       488,276      $ 2,506,254

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       1,781,912        9,254,370

Shares reacquired

       (6,223,869      (32,141,255 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (3,953,681      (20,380,631 )

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (1,610,858      (8,404,551 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (5,564,539    $ (28,785,182 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class C

               

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       6,512,079      $ 35,483,197  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       1,077,317        5,877,169  

Shares reacquired

       (4,693,053      (25,546,687
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       2,896,343        15,813,679  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (1,243,436      (6,773,465
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       1,652,907      $ 9,040,214  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       13,626,241      $ 70,885,406

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       2,043,839        10,628,774

Shares reacquired

       (13,155,122      (67,789,742 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       2,514,958        13,724,438

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (598,077      (3,141,716 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       1,916,881      $ 10,582,722  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class Q

               

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       38,311,875      $ 210,206,439  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       3,396,244        18,684,047  

Shares reacquired

       (11,158,221      (61,109,160
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       30,549,898        167,781,326  

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       179,607,387        987,840,628  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (30,429      (167,360
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       210,126,856      $ 1,155,454,594  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       51,581,818      $ 264,441,391

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       2,246,447        11,745,056

Shares reacquired

       (4,615,331      (23,834,099 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       49,212,934        252,352,348

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       4,958        26,228
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       49,217,892      $ 252,378,576
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     61  


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Class R

     Shares      Amount  

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       1,968,438      $ 10,727,279  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       316,806        1,730,507  

Shares reacquired

       (1,702,159      (9,260,040
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       583,085      $ 3,197,746  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       3,171,239      $ 16,472,414

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       600,526        3,125,205

Shares reacquired

       (2,831,632      (14,694,374 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       940,133      $ 4,903,245
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class Z

               

Six months ended February 28, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       221,252,911      $ 1,208,531,157  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       15,095,194        82,588,650  

Shares reacquired

       (97,507,831      (531,898,743
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       138,840,274        759,221,064  

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       16,595,375        91,549,933  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (179,559,147      (989,347,785
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (24,123,498    $ (138,576,788
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       289,691,300      $ 1,511,538,784

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       21,142,763        110,595,494

Shares reacquired

       (106,351,890      (552,578,269 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       204,482,173        1,069,556,009

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       2,825,728        14,876,731

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (166,016      (860,484 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       207,141,885      $ 1,083,572,256
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note 7. Borrowings

 

The Company, on behalf of the Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Funds”), is a party to a Syndicated Credit Agreement (“SCA”) with a group of banks. The purpose of the SCA is to provide an alternative source of temporary funding for capital share redemptions. The SCA provides for a commitment of $900 million for the period October 6, 2016 through October 5, 2017. The Funds pay an annualized commitment fee of .15% of the unused portion of the SCA. Prior to October 6, 2016, the Funds had a prior SCA that provided a commitment of $900 million in which the Funds paid an annualized commitment fee of .11% of the unused portion of the prior SCA. For the SCA and the prior SCA, the Fund’s portion of the commitment fee for the unused amount, allocated based upon a method approved by the Board, is accrued daily and paid

 

62  


quarterly. The interest on borrowings under each SCA is paid monthly and at a per annum interest rate based upon a contractual spread plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the 1-month LIBOR rate or (3) zero percent.

 

The Fund did not utilize the SCA during the six months ended February 28, 2017.

 

Note 8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Reporting Updates

 

In December 2016, the FASB released an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) that makes technical changes to various sections of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), including Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. The changes to Topic 820 are intended to clarify the difference between a valuation approach and a valuation technique. The changes to ASC 820-10-50-2 require a reporting entity to disclose, for Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements, a change in either or both a valuation approach and a valuation technique and the reason(s) for the change. The changes to Topic 820 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of the ASU and its impact on the financial statements and disclosures has not yet been determined.

 

On October 13, 2016, the SEC adopted new rules and forms and amended existing rules and forms which are intended to modernize and enhance the reporting and disclosure of information by registered investment companies and to improve the quality of information that funds provide to investors, including modifications to Regulation S-X which would require standardized, enhanced disclosure about derivatives in investment company financial statements. The new rules also enhance disclosure regarding fund liquidity and redemption practices. Also under the new rules, the SEC will permit open-end funds, with the exception of money market funds, to offer swing pricing, subject to board approval and review. The compliance dates of the modifications to Regulation S-X are August 1, 2017 and other amendments and rules are generally June 1, 2018 and December 1, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impacts to the financial statement disclosures, if any.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     63  


Financial Highlights (unaudited)

 

Class A Shares  
    

Six Months

Ended

February 28,

          Year Ended August 31,  
     2017            2016     2015     2014     2013     2012  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                                  
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period     $5.45               $5.38       $5.80       $5.60       $5.59       $5.34  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                  
Net investment income (loss)     .16               .32       .33       .33       .34       .37  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions     .13               .08       (.41     .22       .04       .27  
Total from investment operations     .29               .40       (.08     .55       .38       .64  
Less Dividends:                                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.17             (.33     (.34     (.35     (.37     (.39
Net asset value, end of period     $5.57               $5.45       $5.38       $5.80       $5.60       $5.59  
Total Return(b):     5.36%               7.96%       (1.39)%       10.11%       6.85%       12.55%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $1,338,382               $1,302,432       $1,218,179       $1,347,911       $1,327,678       $1,339,113  
Average net assets (000)     $1,329,657               $1,180,916       $1,290,432       $1,355,610       $1,385,567       $1,187,666
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement(d)     .78% (e)              .82%       .83%       .82%       .83%       .87%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement(d)     .78% (e)              .82%       .85%       .87%       .88%       .92%  
Net investment income (loss)     6.08% (e)              6.18%       5.88%       5.78%       6.04%       6.75%  
Portfolio turnover rate     19% (f)              28%       48%       51%       55%       48%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(d) The distributor of the Fund had contractually agreed to limit its distribution and service (12b-1) fees to 25% of the average daily net assets through March 8, 2015. Effective March 9, 2015, the contractual distribution and service (12b-1) fees were reduced from .30% to .25% of the average daily net assets and the .05% contractual 12b-1 fee waiver was terminated.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

64  


Class B Shares  
    

Six Months

Ended

February 28,

           Year Ended August 31,  
     2017       2016     2015     2014     2013     2012  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                                  
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period     $5.44               $5.37       $5.80       $5.60       $5.59       $5.34  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                  
Net investment income (loss)     .15               .29       .30       .30       .32       .34  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions     .12               .09       (.42     .23       .03       .28  
Total from investment operations     .27               .38       (.12     .53       .35       .62  
Less Dividends:                                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.15             (.31     (.31     (.33     (.34     (.37
Net asset value, end of period     $5.56               $5.44       $5.37       $5.80       $5.60       $5.59  
Total Return(b):     5.11%               7.43%       (2.06)%       9.57%       6.33%       12.00%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $177,469               $188,011       $215,462       $259,756       $213,714       $163,309  
Average net assets (000)     $179,086               $191,578       $235,221       $239,412       $194,916       $131,650  
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.28% (d)              1.32%       1.33%       1.32%       1.33%       1.37%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.28% (d)              1.32%       1.33%       1.32%       1.33%       1.37%  
Net investment income (loss)     5.57% (d)              5.67%       5.38%       5.27%       5.53%       6.25%  
Portfolio turnover rate     19% (e)              28%       48%       51%       55%       48%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     65  


Financial Highlights (unaudited) (continued)

 

Class C Shares  
    

Six Months

Ended

February 28,

          Year Ended August 31,  
     2017            2016     2015     2014     2013     2012  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                                  
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period     $5.44               $5.37       $5.80       $5.59       $5.58       $5.33  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                  
Net investment income (loss)     .14               .28       .29       .29       .30       .32  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions     .13               .08       (.42     .23       .04       .28  
Total from investment operations     .27               .36       (.13     .52       .34       .60  
Less Dividends:                                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.15             (.29     (.30     (.31     (.33     (.35
Net asset value, end of period     $5.56               $5.44       $5.37       $5.80       $5.59       $5.58  
Total Return(b):     4.98%               7.16%       (2.31)%       9.49%       6.07%       11.74%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $264,560               $250,106       $236,533       $270,142       $247,992       $229,715  
Average net assets (000)     $255,904               $224,095       $254,515       $258,825       $260,306       $172,185  
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.53% (d)              1.57%       1.58%       1.57%       1.58%       1.62%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.53% (d)              1.57%       1.58%       1.57%       1.58%       1.62%  
Net investment income (loss)     5.33% (d)              5.42%       5.13%       5.03%       5.29%       5.98%  
Portfolio turnover rate     19% (e)              28%       48%       51%       55%       48%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

66  


Class Q Shares  
    

Six Months
Ended
February 28,

                 Year Ended August 31,         

October 31,

2011(a)

through

August 31,

 
     2017                   2016     2015     2014     2013       2012  
Per Share Operating Performance(b):                                                              
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period     $5.46                       $5.39       $5.81       $5.61       $5.61           $5.41  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                              
Net investment income (loss)     .17                       .34       .35       .35       .37           .35  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions     .12                       .08       (.41     .23       .02           .19  
Total from investment operations     .29                       .42       (.06     .58       .39           .54  
Less Dividends:                                                                    
Dividends from net investment income     (.18                     (.35     (.36     (.38     (.39         (.34
Net asset value, end of period     $5.57                       $5.46       $5.39       $5.81       $5.61           $5.61  
Total Return(c):     5.37%                       8.36%       (1.01)%       10.50%       7.04%           10.41%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:                                                    
Net assets, end of period (000)     $1,504,290                       $327,725       $58,416       $14,336       $7,901           $63,914  
Average net assets (000)     $601,196                       $178,565       $44,388       $10,563       $52,463           $48,841  
Ratios to average net assets(d):                                                                    
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .42% (e)                      .45%       .46%       .46%       .47%           .50% (e) 
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .42% (e)                      .45%       .46%       .46%       .47%           .50% (e) 
Net investment income (loss)     6.45% (e)                      6.61%       6.27%       6.12%       6.40%           6.97% (e) 
Portfolio turnover rate     19% (f)                      28%       48%       51%       55%           48% (f) 

 

(a) Commencement of offering.
(b) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(d) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     67  


Financial Highlights (unaudited) (continued)

 

Class R Shares                                                 
    

Six Months
Ended
February 28,

          Year Ended August 31,  
     2017            2016     2015     2014     2013     2012  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                                  
Net Asset Value, Beginning Of Period     $5.45               $5.38       $5.80       $5.60       $5.59       $5.34  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                  
Net investment income (loss)     .16               .31       .31       .32       .33       .35  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions     .11               .08       (.40     .22       .04       .28  
Total from investment operations     .27               .39       (.09     .54       .37       .63  
Less Dividends:                                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.16             (.32     (.33     (.34     (.36     (.38
Net asset value, end of period     $5.56               $5.45       $5.38       $5.80       $5.60       $5.59  
Total Return(b):     5.05%               7.70%       (1.63)%       9.84%       6.59%       12.26%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:                                          
Net assets, end of period (000)     $61,975               $57,520       $51,716       $57,502       $50,732       $36,886  
Average net assets (000)     $58,911               $50,921       $54,089       $55,379       $47,639       $27,717  
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.03% (d)              1.07%       1.08%       1.07%       1.08%       1.12%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.28% (d)              1.32%       1.33%       1.32%       1.33%       1.37%  
Net investment income (loss)     5.83% (d)              5.93%       5.63%       5.53%       5.78%       6.47%  
Portfolio turnover rate     19% (e)              28%       48%       51%       55%       48%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

68  


Class Z Shares  
    

Six Months
Ended
February 28,

          Year Ended August 31,  
     2017            2016     2015     2014     2013     2012  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                                  
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period     $5.46               $5.39       $5.82       $5.62       $5.61       $5.35  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                  
Net investment income (loss)     .17               .34       .34       .35       .36       .38  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions     .13               .08       (.41     .22       .04       .29  
Total from investment operations     .30               .42       (.07     .57       .40       .67  
Less Dividends:                                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.18             (.35     (.36     (.37     (.39     (.41
Net asset value, end of period     $5.58               $5.46       $5.39       $5.82       $5.62       $5.61  
Total Return(b):     5.51%               8.26%       (1.29)%       10.38%       7.13%       13.07%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $2,583,229               $2,661,635       $1,510,074       $1,336,453       $1,010,477       $725,367  
Average net assets (000)     $2,881,161               $1,842,948       $1,394,662       $1,254,191       $911,701       $479,766  
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .53% (d)              .57%       .58%       .57%       .58%       .62%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .53% (d)              .57%       .58%       .57%       .58%       .62%  
Net investment income (loss)     6.34% (d)              6.44%       6.13%       6.02%       6.29%       6.97%  
Portfolio turnover rate     19% (e)              28%       48%       51%       55%       48%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential High Yield Fund     69  


   MAIL      TELEPHONE      WEBSITE

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

 

(800) 225-1852

 

www.pgiminvestments.com

 

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

 

DIRECTORS
Ellen S. Alberding Kevin J. Bannon Scott E. Benjamin Linda W. Bynoe Keith F. Hartstein Michael S. Hyland Stuart S. Parker Richard A. Redeker Stephen G. Stoneburn  Grace C. Torres

 

OFFICERS
Stuart S. Parker, President Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President M. Sadiq Peshimam, Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Raymond A. O’Hara, Chief Legal Officer Deborah A. Docs, Secretary Chad A. Earnst, Chief Compliance Officer  Theresa C. Thompson, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer Charles H. Smith, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer  Jonathan D. Shain, Assistant Secretary Claudia DiGiacomo, Assistant Secretary  Andrew R. French, Assistant Secretary Peter Parrella, Assistant Treasurer Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer Linda McMullin, Assistant Treasurer Kelly A. Coyne, Assistant Treasurer

 

MANAGER   PGIM Investments LLC  

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

 

INVESTMENT SUBADVISER   PGIM Fixed Income  

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

 

DISTRIBUTOR  

Prudential Investment

Management Services LLC

 

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

 

CUSTODIAN   The Bank of New York Mellon  

225 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10286

 

TRANSFER AGENT  

Prudential Mutual Fund

Services LLC

 

PO Box 9658

Providence, RI 02940

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM   KPMG LLP  

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

 

FUND COUNSEL   Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP  

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

 


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

 

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

 

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS
Shareholders can communicate directly with the Board of Directors by writing to the Chair of the Board, Prudential High Yield Fund, PGIM Investments, Attn: Board of Directors, 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Director by writing to the same address. Communications are not screened before being delivered to the addressee.

 

AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO SCHEDULE
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation and location of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Fund’s schedule of portfolio holdings is also available on the Fund’s website as of the end of each month no sooner than 15 days after the end of the month.

 

Mutual Funds:

ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY   MAY LOSE VALUE   ARE NOT A DEPOSIT OF OR GUARANTEED
BY ANY BANK OR ANY BANK AFFILIATE


LOGO

 

 

 

PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD FUND

 

SHARE CLASS   A   B   C   Q   R   Z
NASDAQ   PBHAX   PBHYX   PRHCX   PHYQX   JDYRX   PHYZX
CUSIP   74440Y108   74440Y207   74440Y306   74440Y884   74440Y603   74440Y801

 

MF110E2    


Item 2 – Code of Ethics – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

Item 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

Item 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

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

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

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

Item 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.

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

Item 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – Not applicable.

Item 11 – Controls and Procedures

 

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

 

  (b) There has been no significant change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12 – Exhibits

 

  (a) (1)   Code of Ethics – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

 

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

 

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

 

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


SIGNATURES

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

 

Registrant:

  

Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15

By:

  

/s/ Deborah A. Docs

  

Deborah A. Docs

  

Secretary

Date:

  

April 21, 2017

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

 

By:

  

/s/ Stuart S. Parker

  

Stuart S. Parker

  

President and Principal Executive Officer

Date:

  

April 21, 2017

By:

  

/s/ M. Sadiq Peshimam

  

M. Sadiq Peshimam

  

Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Date:

  

April 21, 2017