Unassociated Document

[logo - American Funds®]

The right choice for the long term®

Fundamental Investors

[close-up photo of water running over rocks in a stream]

A consistent approach amid changing markets

Annual report for the year ended December 31, 2009

Fundamental InvestorsSM seeks long-term growth of capital and income primarily through investments in common stocks.

This fund is one of the 30 American Funds. American Funds is one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families. For nearly 80 years, Capital Research and Management Company,SM the American Funds adviser, has invested with a long-term focus based on thorough research and attention to risk.

Fund results shown in this report, unless otherwise indicated, are for Class A shares at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, the results would have been lower. Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. The fund’s investment adviser waived a portion of its management fees from September 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008. Fund results shown reflect the waiver, without which they would have been lower. See the Financial Highlights table on pages 26 and 27 for details.

The fund’s 30-day yield for Class A shares as of January 31, 2010, calculated in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission formula, was 1.38%. The fund’s distribution rate for Class A shares as of that date was 1.44%. Both reflect the 5.75% maximum sales charge. The SEC yield reflects the rate at which the fund is earning income on its current portfolio of securities while the distribution rate reflects the fund’s past dividends paid to shareholders. Accordingly, the fund’s SEC yield and distribution rate may differ.

Results for other share classes can be found on page 29.

Equity investments are subject to market fluctuations. Investing outside the United States involves additional risks, such as currency fluctuations, periods of illiquidity and price volatility, as more fully described in the prospectus. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in developing countries. See the prospectus and the Risk Factors section of this report for more information on these and other risks associated with investing in the fund.

Fellow shareholders:

[close-up photo of water running over rocks in a stream]

During its recently concluded fiscal year, Fundamental Investors overcame the extremely difficult economic and market conditions that marked the beginning of the period to post a sizable gain. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2009, the fund rose 33.4% for shareholders who reinvested quarterly dividends totaling 48 cents a share.

The fund’s results topped the 26.5% gain of its primary benchmark, the unmanaged Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index, a broad measure of U.S. stocks. In addition, the fund’s results surpassed those of its peer group as measured by the Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index, which advanced 29.1%.

Fundamental Investors also registered a larger increase than the MSCI World Index, a measure of stocks in 23 developed nations, which climbed 30.8%. While this is not one of the fund’s key benchmark indexes, because Fundamental Investors is able to invest up to 30% of its assets outside the United States and Canada, we think it provides context on the broader global market environment.

As most fund shareholders invest for long-term objectives, we encourage you to take a long-term perspective on evaluating fund results. As you can see in the table below, Fundamental Investors has posted higher returns than its key benchmarks for all the time periods shown.

[Begin Sidebar]

Results at a glance
For periods ended December 31, 2009, with all distributions reinvested

	Total returns			Average annual returns
	1 year			5 years			10 years			Lifetime1

Fundamental Investors		33.4	%		4.0	%		3.6	%		12.5	%
(Class A shares)

Standard & Poor’s		26.5			0.4			–0.9			11.2
500 Composite Index2

Lipper Growth and		29.1			0.8			1.2			10.6
Income Funds Index3

MSCI World Index2		30.8			2.6			0.2			10.4

1 Since Capital Research and Management Company began managing the fund on August 1, 1978.
2 The indexes are unmanaged and their results do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions or expenses.
3 The Lipper index does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

[End Sidebar]

In this report

	Special feature

6	A consistent approach amid changing markets

	How research, a value orientation and a long-term perspective help the fund navigate diverse
	investment climates.

	Contents

1	Letter to shareholders

4	Results of a $10,000 investment in Fundamental Investors

12	Summary investment portfolio

16	Financial statements

35	Board of directors and other officers

Maintaining the dividend

We were pleased to be able to hold the line on the fund’s dividend amid a very challenging climate in which many historically high yielding areas of the market, included but not limited to financial companies, markedly reduced or eliminated their payouts.

Surging returns follow slow start

The 12 months ended December 31, 2009 began in the throes of a deeply uncertain financial and market environment in which a full-scale global economic collapse seemed a real possibility. Investors faced a rising tide of bad news as trade fell, industrial production and consumer spending flagged, GDP contracted and unemployment rose.

In March however, investors returned to the market, lured by low valuations and an increasing belief that the coordinated global efforts of central bankers and governments had warded off financial calamity. They ignited a run-up that saw the S&P 500 rise a total of more than 30% during the second and third quarters. A combination of low interest rates and slightly improving economic indicators helped sustain the rally through the end of the year.

The U.S. dollar weakened against all major currencies except the Japanese yen. This helped boost returns for most of the fund’s investments in companies headquartered beyond our shores. As of year-end, 23% of fund assets were invested in companies located abroad, a figure virtually unchanged from the end of 2008.

China takes up the slack

Fund results were bolstered by rising stock prices in several areas that have been meaningful contributors in recent years. Specifically, energy, metals and mining, and chemical companies notched very strong returns.

Many of these companies had suffered mightily in 2008, when the global economic slowdown caused significant demand contraction. But in the throes of the downturn, many countries in the developing world, principally China, drew on sizable reserves and initiated projects to stimulate economies. The resulting increase in demand for energy and materials helped offset sagging consumption in the developed world, and stock prices rallied.

Among energy companies, Suncor, the fund’s largest holding, gained 86.4%, while Tenaris (103.3%), Petrobras (94.7%), Diamond Offshore Drilling (67.0%) and Occidental Petroleum (35.6%) also surged.

Mining companies Rio Tinto (146.3%), Xstrata (87.0%) and BHP Billiton (78.2%) were major contributors. The steep run-up in many metals and mining holdings presented an opportunity to trim some positions and realize the profits, which we did.

Among chemical stocks, DuPont gained 33.1%, but the highest returns came from companies more tightly focused on agriculture. These included fertilizer producers Mosaic (72.6%) and Potash (48.2%), and seed manufacturer Syngenta (45.4%).

Widespread portfolio strength

Beyond these areas, broad market strength translated into widespread portfolio strength, as over 80% of the companies held for the full 12 months notched price gains.

The fund’s 10 largest positions, which reflect the diversity of the broader portfolio, all finished in positive territory. In addition to Suncor, Microsoft (56.8%), Cisco Systems (46.9%), Medtronic (40.0%), Oracle (38.4%), JPMorgan Chase (32.2%), Coca-Cola (25.9%) and Merck (20.2%) all turned in sizable increases. Roche (11.1%) recorded a more modest gain while McDonald’s (0.4%) finished with only a slight uptick.

Among larger holdings that detracted from results were Citigroup (–50.7%), Eli Lilly (–11.3%) and General Electric (–6.6%).

[Begin Sidebar]

Fundamental Investors’ total return year by year (ending December 31)

	Capital return			Income return			Total return

2000		3.1	%		1.2	%		4.3	%
2001		–10.9			1.3			–9.6
2002		–19.1			1.8			–17.3
2003		30.2			1.8			32.0
2004		11.9			2.0			13.9
2005		9.9			1.8			11.7
2006		17.6			1.6			19.2
2007		11.2			2.4			13.6
2008		–41.1			1.4			–39.7
2009		31.5			1.9			33.4

10-year average annual total return								3.6	%
10-year cumulative total return								42.5
Lifetime cumulative total return (since 8/1/78)								3,922.3

Total return measures both capital results (changes in net asset value) and income return (from dividends).
All returns assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions.

[End Sidebar]

Despite strong results, uncertainty

To some degree, the robust results of the past year do not speak to the level of turbulence and uncertainty that remains in the market. Our hope, of course, is for a sustained recovery, and we are keeping a close eye on economic indicators such as consumer spending and capital investment which help us gauge its strength.

We believe the fund’s portfolio is well positioned to benefit should the global economy mount a comeback. Yet we do not build a one-dimensional portfolio designed to thrive only in certain market conditions. Instead, as we discuss in the feature article that begins on page 6, we conduct thorough research in order to identify companies that we believe can do well over extended periods of time amid a variety of market environments.

We thank you for your commitment to long-term investing.

Sincerely,

/s/ James F. Rothenberg

James F. Rothenberg

Vice Chairman

/s/ Dina N. Perry

Dina N. Perry

President

February 8, 2010

Results of a $10,000 investment in Fundamental Investors

How a $10,000 investment has grown

The chart and the table below it illustrate how a $10,000 investment in the fund grew between August 1, 1978 — when Capital Research and Management Company became Fundamental Investors’ investment adviser — and December 31, 2009. The chart also shows how Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index and the Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index fared over this same period, and what happened to inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index).

Average annual total returns based on a $1,000 investment (for periods ended December 31, 2009)*

	1 year			5 years			10 years

Class A shares		25.71	%		2.77	%		2.99	%

*Assumes reinvestment of all distributions and payment of the maximum 5.75% sales charge.

The total annual fund operating expense ratio was 0.69% for Class A shares as of December 31, 2009.

Fund results shown are for Class A shares and reflect deduction of the maximum sales charge of 5.75% on the $10,000 investment.1 Thus, the net amount invested was $9,425.2 Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.

[begin mountain chart]

				Fundamental Investors with dividends reinvested1,3		Fundamental Investors not including dividends1,6				S&P 500 with dividends reinvested4				Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index with dividends reinvested5				Consumer Price Index (inflation)7

		Initial Investment	7/31/1978	$	9,425	$	9,425			$	10,000			$	10,000			$	10,000
1978	8	High	11-Sep-78		10,000		9,919	High	12-Sep-78		10,670	High	31-Aug-78		10,369	Low	31-Jul-78		10,000
		Low	14-Nov-78		8,667		8,596	Low	14-Nov-78		9,306	Low	31-Oct-78		9,237	High	29-Dec-78		10,304
		Close	29-Dec-78		9,155		8,947	Close	29-Dec-78		9,762	Close	29-Dec-78		9,684	Close	29-Dec-78		10,304
1979		Low	27-Feb-79		9,086		8,880	Low	27-Feb-79		9,807	Low	28-Feb-79		9,822	Low	31-Jan-79		10,396
		High	5-Oct-79		10,823		10,310	High	5-Oct-79		11,769	High	31-Dec-79		11,995	High	31-Dec-79		11,674
		Close	31-Dec-79		10,556		9,892	Close	31-Dec-79		11,579	Close	31-Dec-79		11,995	Close	31-Dec-79		11,674
1980		Low	21-Apr-80		9,625		8,907	Low	27-Mar-80		10,627	Low	31-Mar-80		11,317	Low	31-Jan-80		11,842
		High	20-Nov-80		13,131		11,876	High	28-Nov-80		15,813	High	30-Nov-80		15,695	High	31-Dec-80		13,135
		Close	31-Dec-80		12,807		11,390	Close	31-Dec-80		15,336	Close	31-Dec-80		15,386	Close	31-Dec-80		13,135
1981		High	27-Apr-81		13,986		12,308	High	6-Jan-81		15,603	High	31-May-81		15,965	Low	31-Jan-81		13,242
		Low	25-Sep-81		11,906		10,243	Low	25-Sep-81		13,172	Low	30-Sep-81		14,172	High	31-Dec-81		14,307
		Close	31-Dec-81		12,654		10,688	Close	31-Dec-81		14,581	Close	31-Dec-81		15,172	Close	31-Dec-81		14,307
1982		Low	22-Jan-82		10,593		8,947	Low	12-Aug-82		12,625	Low	31-Jul-82		14,274	Low	31-Jan-82		14,353
		High	7-Dec-82		17,346		13,833	High	9-Nov-82		17,877	High	31-Dec-82		18,839	High	31-Oct-82		14,947
		Close	31-Dec-82		16,957		13,522	Close	31-Dec-82		17,723	Close	31-Dec-82		18,839	Close	31-Dec-82		14,855
1983		Low	3-Jan-83		16,636		13,266	Low	3-Jan-83		17,433	Low	31-Jan-83		19,378	Low	31-Jan-83		14,886
		High	10-Oct-83		21,599		16,721	High	10-Oct-83		22,491	High	30-Nov-83		23,277	High	30-Dec-83		15,419
		Close	30-Dec-83		21,389		16,424	Close	30-Dec-83		21,721	Close	30-Dec-83		23,127	Close	30-Dec-83		15,419
1984		High	9-Jan-84		22,004		16,896	Low	24-Jul-84		19,933	Low	31-May-84		21,038	Low	31-Jan-84		15,510
		Low	24-Jul-84		18,549		13,980	High	6-Nov-84		23,337	High	31-Dec-84		24,119	High	31-Oct-84		16,027
		Close	31-Dec-84		22,621		16,759	Close	31-Dec-84		23,083	Close	31-Dec-84		24,119	Close	31-Dec-84		16,027
1985		Low	1-May-85		22,882		16,819	Low	4-Jan-85		22,592	Low	31-Jan-85		25,851	Low	31-Jan-85		16,058
		High	16-Dec-85		29,736		21,355	High	16-Dec-85		30,417	High	31-Dec-85		31,006	High	31-Dec-85		16,636
		Close	31-Dec-85		29,448		21,148	Close	31-Dec-85		30,407	Close	31-Dec-85		31,006	Close	31-Dec-85		16,636
1986		Low	14-Feb-86		31,766		22,665	Low	22-Jan-86		29,286	Low	31-Jan-86		31,537	Low	30-Apr-86		16,530
		High	4-Sep-86		36,571		25,757	High	2-Dec-86		37,737	High	31-Aug-86		37,352	High	31-Dec-86		16,819
		Close	31-Dec-86		35,941		25,151	Close	31-Dec-86		36,082	Close	31-Dec-86		36,472	Close	31-Dec-86		16,819
1987		High	25-Aug-87		50,132		34,478	High	25-Aug-87		51,060	High	31-Aug-87		47,533	Low	31-Jan-87		16,925
		Low	4-Dec-87		33,691		23,002	Low	4-Dec-87		34,314	Low	30-Nov-87		35,112	High	30-Nov-87		17,565
		Close	31-Dec-87		37,295		25,463	Close	31-Dec-87		37,977	Close	31-Dec-87		37,434	Close	31-Dec-87		17,565
1988		Low	20-Jan-88		36,464		24,895	Low	20-Jan-88		37,293	Low	31-Jan-88		39,236	Low	31-Jan-88		17,610
		High	5-Jul-88		43,076		28,988	High	21-Oct-88		44,800	High	30-Dec-88		44,304	High	30-Dec-88		18,341
		Close	30-Dec-88		43,246		28,561	Close	30-Dec-88		44,267	Close	30-Dec-88		44,304	Close	30-Dec-88		18,341
1989		Low	3-Jan-89		43,068		28,443	Low	3-Jan-89		43,883	Low	28-Feb-89		46,392	Low	31-Jan-89		18,432
		High	9-Oct-89		58,786		38,138	High	9-Oct-89		58,837	High	31-Aug-89		55,358	High	29-Dec-89		19,193
		Close	29-Dec-89		55,597		35,438	Close	29-Dec-89		58,269	Close	29-Dec-89		54,819	Close	29-Dec-89		19,193
1990		High	4-Jun-90		60,265		37,947	High	16-Jul-90		61,897	High	31-May-90		55,785	Low	31-Jan-90		19,391
		Low	11-Oct-90		46,988		29,390	Low	11-Oct-90		50,026	Low	31-Oct-90		47,212	High	30-Nov-90		20,365
		Close	31-Dec-90		52,130		32,180	Close	31-Dec-90		56,457	Close	31-Dec-90		51,534	Close	31-Dec-90		20,365
1991		Low	9-Jan-91		50,201		30,989	Low	9-Jan-91		53,255	Low	31-Jan-91		54,196	Low	31-Jan-91		20,487
		High	31-Dec-91		67,947		40,940	High	31-Dec-91		73,620	High	31-Dec-91		65,836	High	31-Dec-91		20,989
		Close	31-Dec-91		67,947		40,940	Close	31-Dec-91		73,620	Close	31-Dec-91		65,836	Close	31-Dec-91		20,989
1992		Low	8-Apr-92		66,472		39,828	Low	8-Apr-92		70,130	Low	31-Jan-92		65,763	Low	31-Jan-92		21,020
		High	12-Nov-92		72,487		42,938	High	18-Dec-92		80,063	High	31-Dec-92		72,177	High	30-Nov-92		21,613
		Close	31-Dec-92		74,871		44,059	Close	31-Dec-92		79,222	Close	31-Dec-92		72,177	Close	31-Dec-92		21,598
1993		Low	8-Jan-93		74,615		43,908	Low	8-Jan-93		78,011	Low	31-Jan-93		73,298	Low	31-Jan-93		21,705
		High	2-Nov-93		88,379		51,169	High	28-Dec-93		87,854	High	31-Dec-93		82,730	High	30-Nov-93		22,192
		Close	31-Dec-93		88,466		50,884	Close	31-Dec-93		87,189	Close	31-Dec-93		82,730	Close	31-Dec-93		22,192
1994		High	2-Feb-94		91,634		52,706	High	2-Feb-94		90,223	Low	20-Apr-94		79,545	Low	31-Jan-94		22,253
		Low	8-Dec-94		86,773		48,708	Low	4-Apr-94		82,600	High	31-Aug-94		85,813	High	30-Nov-94		22,785
		Close	30-Dec-94		89,641		50,319	Close	30-Dec-94		88,336	Close	30-Dec-94		82,387	Close	30-Dec-94		22,785
1995		Low	3-Jan-95		89,539		50,261	Low	3-Jan-95		88,305	Low	3-Jan-95		82,387	Low	31-Jan-95		22,877
		High	29-Nov-95		119,498		66,056	High	13-Dec-95		122,408	High	6-Dec-95		108,087	High	31-Oct-95		23,394
		Close	29-Dec-95		120,306		66,210	Close	29-Dec-95		121,491	Close	29-Dec-95		108,042	Close	29-Dec-95		23,364
1996		Low	10-Jan-96		117,715		64,784	Low	10-Jan-96		118,049	Low	10-Jan-96		105,553	Low	31-Jan-96		23,501
		High	26-Nov-96		145,602		79,119	High	25-Nov-96		152,084	High	27-Dec-96		131,831	High	30-Nov-96		24,140
		Close	31-Dec-96		144,352		78,143	Close	31-Dec-96		149,367	Close	31-Dec-96		130,379	Close	31-Dec-96		24,140
1997		Low	11-Apr-97		144,443		77,891	Low	2-Jan-97		148,615	Low	2-Jan-97		129,511	Low	31-Jan-97		24,216
		High	7-Oct-97		189,427		101,423	High	5-Dec-97		201,641	High	8-Oct-97		167,437	High	31-Oct-97		24,597
		Close	31-Dec-97		182,855		97,513	Close	31-Dec-97		199,183	Close	31-Dec-97		165,420	Close	31-Dec-97		24,551
1998		High	17-Jul-98		212,584		112,606	Low	9-Jan-98		190,410	High	17-Jul-98		190,194	Low	31-Jan-98		24,597
		Low	8-Oct-98		173,534		91,600	High	29-Dec-98		258,425	Low	8-Oct-98		152,689	High	31-Oct-98		24,962
		Close	31-Dec-98		213,421		112,292	Close	31-Dec-98		256,100	Close	31-Dec-98		187,884	Close	31-Dec-98		24,947
1999		Low	14-Jan-99		211,060		111,050	Low	14-Jan-99		252,550	Low	17-Feb-99		183,318	Low	31-Jan-99		25,008
		High	10-Dec-99		258,554		134,742	High	31-Dec-99		309,980	High	16-Jul-99		214,455	High	30-Nov-99		25,616
		Close	31-Dec-99		265,882		138,151	Close	31-Dec-99		309,980	Close	31-Dec-99		210,168	Close	31-Dec-99		25,616
2000		High	1-Sep-00		293,957		151,363	High	24-Mar-00		322,882	Low	25-Feb-00		191,317	Low	31-Jan-00		25,693
		Low	21-Dec-00		266,380		136,743	Low	20-Dec-00		269,684	High	1-Sep-00		221,351	High	30-Nov-00		26,499
		Close	29-Dec-00		277,235		142,315	Close	29-Dec-00		281,766	Close	29-Dec-00		210,997	Close	29-Dec-00		26,484
2001		High	1-Feb-01		287,822		147,750	High	30-Jan-01		293,173	High	21-May-01		216,930	Low	31-Jan-01		26,651
		Low	21-Sep-01		211,970		107,718	Low	21-Sep-01		207,919	Low	21-Sep-01		166,373	High	30-Sep-01		27,139
		Close	31-Dec-01		250,761		126,959	Close	31-Dec-01		248,303	Close	31-Dec-01		195,336	Close	31-Dec-01		26,895
2002		High	19-Mar-02		260,698		131,491	High	4-Jan-02		253,587	High	19-Mar-02		201,690	Low	31-Jan-02		26,956
		Low	9-Oct-02		182,355		91,253	Low	9-Oct-02		169,983	Low	9-Oct-02		140,313	High	31-Oct-02		27,595
		Close	31-Dec-02		207,271		102,816	Close	31-Dec-02		193,447	Close	31-Dec-02		160,381	Close	31-Dec-02		27,534
2003		Low	12-Mar-03		186,058		91,854	Low	11-Mar-03		176,642	Low	11-Mar-03		145,989	Low	31-Jan-03		27,656
		High	31-Dec-03		273,523		133,434	High	31-Dec-03		248,903	High	31-Dec-03		204,175	High	30-Sep-03		28,189
		Close	31-Dec-03		273,523		133,434	Close	31-Dec-03		248,903	Close	31-Dec-03		204,175	Close	31-Dec-03		28,052
2004		Low	17-May-04		264,555		128,624	Low	12-Aug-04		240,252	Low	12-Aug-04		199,152	Low	31-Jan-04		28,189
		High	30-Dec-04		311,756		149,252	High	30-Dec-04		275,924	High	30-Dec-04		228,446	High	30-Nov-04		29,072
		Close	31-Dec-04		311,563		149,159	Close	31-Dec-04		275,970	Close	31-Dec-04		228,113	Close	31-Dec-04		28,965
2005		Low	28-Apr-05		297,315		141,898	Low	20-Apr-05		260,187	Low	20-Apr-05		218,372	Low	31-Jan-05		29,026
		High	14-Dec-05		352,458		167,197	High	14-Dec-05		294,796	High	14-Dec-05		246,907	High	31-Oct-05		30,320
		Close	30-Dec-05		347,960		163,728	Close	30-Dec-05		289,511	Close	30-Dec-05		243,681	Close	30-Dec-05		29,954
2006		Low	13-Jun-06		354,244		165,717	Low	13-Jun-06		286,100	Low	13-Jun-06		242,646	Low	31-Jan-06		30,183
		High	14-Dec-06		416,828		194,392	High	15-Dec-06		336,807	High	15-Dec-06		283,196	High	31-Aug-06		31,035
		Close	29-Dec-06		414,904		192,480	Close	29-Dec-06		335,199	Close	29-Dec-06		281,615	Close	29-Dec-06		30,715
2007		Low	5-Mar-07		406,016		187,812	Low	5-Mar-07		325,873	Low	5-Mar-07		275,075	Low	31-Jan-07		30,809
		High	31-Oct-07		490,222		225,499	High	9-Oct-07		374,990	High	13-Jul-07		312,492	High	30-Nov-07		31,990
		Close	31-Dec-07		471,134		213,905	Close	31-Dec-07		353,601	Close	31-Dec-07		293,656	Close	31-Dec-07		31,969
2008		Low	20-Nov-08		236,224		106,274	Low	20-Nov-08		184,490	Low	20-Nov-08		151,582	Low	31-Dec-08		31,998
		High	19-May-08		477,753		216,251	High	2-Jan-08		348,496	High	3-Jan-08		289,857	High	31-Jul-08		33,480
		Close	31-Dec-08		284,112		126,717	Close	31-Dec-08		222,801	Close	31-Dec-08		183,429	Close	31-Dec-08		31,998
2009		Low	9-Mar-09		228,825		101,506	Low	9-Mar-09		167,859	Low	9-Mar-09		139,956	Low	31-Jan-09		32,137
		High	28-Dec-09		382,823		167,756	High	28-Dec-09		284,556	High	28-Dec-09		238,932	High	30-Nov-09		32,927
		Close	31-Dec-09		378,888		166,031	Close	31-Dec-09		281,781	Close	31-Dec-09		236,804	Close	31-Dec-09		32,869

[end mountain chart]

Year ended
December 31		1978	8	1979	1980	1981		1982		1983	1984		1985
Capital value
Dividends in cash	$	216		405	553	580		634		594	556		582
Value at year-end1	$	8,947		9,892	11,390	10,688		13,522		16,424	16,759		21,148
Total value
Dividends reinvested	$	217		421	603	665		768		755	734		795
Value at year-end1	$	9,155		10,556	12,807	12,654		16,957		21,389	22,621		29,448
Total return		(8.4	)%	15.3	21.3	(1.2	)	34.0		26.1	5.8		30.2


Year ended
December 31		1986		1987	1988	1989		1990		1991	1992		1993
Capital value
Dividends in cash		636		717	895	1,225		1,058		904	988		1,084
Value at year-end1		25,151		25,463	28,561	35,438		32,180		40,940	44,059		50,884
Total value
Dividends reinvested		894		1,034	1,328	1,877		1,679		1,478	1,655		1,858
Value at year-end1		35,941		37,295	43,246	55,597		52,130		67,947	74,871		88,466
Total return		22.0		3.8	16.0	28.6		(6.2	)	30.3	10.2		18.2


Year ended
December 31		1994		1995	1996	1997		1998		1999	2000		2001
Capital value
Dividends in cash		1,238		1,160	1,196	1,351		1,428		1,578	1,716		1,844
Value at year-end1		50,319		66,210	78,143	97,513		112,292		138,151	142,315		126,959
Total value
Dividends reinvested		2,171		2,082	2,187	2,511		2,691		3,013	3,319		3,611
Value at year-end1		89,641		120,306	144,352	182,855		213,421		265,882	277,235		250,761
Total return		1.3		34.2	20.0	26.7		16.7		24.6	4.3		(9.6	)


Year ended
December 31		2002		2003	2004	2005		2006		2007	2008		2009
Capital value
Dividends in cash		2,289		1,850	2,590	2,729		2,590		4,572	2,938		2,435
Value at year-end1		102,816		133,434	149,159	163,728		192,480		213,905	126,717		166,031	6
Total value
Dividends reinvested		4,553		3,755	5,345	5,735		5,534		9,917	6,506		5,500
Value at year-end1		207,271		273,523	311,563	347,960		414,904		471,134	284,112		378,888	3
Total return		(17.3	)	32.0	13.9	11.7		19.2		13.6	(39.7	)	33.4

Average annual total return 12.3%1

¹As outlined in the prospectus, the sales charge is reduced for accounts of $25,000 or more and is eliminated for purchases of $1 million of more. There is no sales charge on dividends or capital gain distributions that are reinvested in additional shares.

²The maximum initial sales charge was 8.50% prior to July 1, 1988.

³Includes reinvested dividends of $85,192 and reinvested capital gain distributions of $170,881.

4Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index is unmanaged, and includes reinvested distributions but does not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions or expenses.

5Results of the Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index reflect fund expenses but do not reflect any applicable front-end sales charges. If any applicable front-end sales charges were included, results of the index would be lower.

6Includes reinvested capital gain distributions of $91,556 but does not reflect dividends of $45,132 taken in cash.

7Computed from data supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

8For the period August 1, 1978 (when Capital Research and Management Company became investment adviser), through December 31, 1978.

The results shown are before taxes on fund distributions and sale of fund shares.

[photo of a stream - a forest in the background]

A consistent approach amid changing markets

In 2008, the S&P 500 Composite Index, a key barometer of U.S. stocks, was down 37%. In 2009, it leapt 26%. While the contrast is stark, it doesn’t fully speak to the highly volatile conditions that characterized the two-year stretch. Precipitous market drops were followed by a swift run-up; economic indicators swung wildly, valuations were elusive and uncertainty always seemed close at hand.

These conditions were extreme, but for the men and women who manage your fund, investing amid dynamic market environments is the norm. And given the fund’s growth and income objectives, it’s also a key challenge — one that necessitates charting a prudent course when stocks are skyrocketing and balancing caution with opportunism when markets are in retreat.

Such shifting conditions might seem to call for an ever-changing mix of strategies and tactics, but we have always believed that navigating varied market and economic environments actually requires a consistent approach. In the following pages, we take a closer look at some of the key principles we apply as we seek to meet Fundamental Investors’ objectives and the long-term investing goals of its shareholders.

Relying on research

“We faced extremely challenging economic and market conditions these last two years. But amid the volatility of 2008 and early 2009, as well as during the recent recovery, we have stayed true to our process and approach,” emphasizes Dina Perry, Fundamental Investors’ president and one of its portfolio counselors. “At the center of that process in any environment is fundamental research aimed at identifying companies we believe will reward investors over time.”

“If you were to look at how I allocated my time during the downturn of 2008 and early 2009, it wouldn’t have looked much different from how I have spent it during more bullish periods,” explains portfolio counselor Brady Enright. “I continued to make sure I was meeting with companies and working to understand them better. During that period I was particularly interested in whether a company’s management was strengthening its business or taking measures that might jeopardize its long-term value. In steadier markets, my research would be emphasizing other things. But research is the common denominator in all conditions.”

“We benefit from a vast global research organization,” says portfolio counselor Mike Kerr. “We have people on the ground all over the world. They are visiting companies, meeting with senior managers and gathering data. This is shared daily through the investment notes, conference calls and one-on-one conversations that are the lifeblood of our investment process.”

This kind of timely firsthand information proved highly important during the latest downturn, when many of the traditional methods used to value companies became elusive and unreliable.

“During relatively stable periods, investors have metrics like price-to-earnings ratios that help in evaluating both existing and potential investments,” explains Brady. “But when markets are in free-fall and the economy contracts very quickly, revenues and profits can evaporate, which makes it difficult to have faith in those metrics. An in-depth understanding of companies and, in many cases, longstanding relationships with their senior managers, helps us tune out the short-term market noise and allows us to make judgments on the real value of the investments we’ve made and those we’re considering.”

Providing the insight needed to act

Market downturns are perilous, but they also present opportunity for well-prepared investors.

“During difficult periods, it’s particularly beneficial to have done your homework up front so that you can take advantage of market dips,” explains media analyst Mark Casey. “And because of our significant research resources, we’re able to maintain detailed coverage on lots of companies and can act quickly when opportunities arise. This is important as, generally speaking, attractive companies aren’t undervalued for long periods of time.”

Software and computer hardware analyst Paul Benjamin continues, “In downturns, we may be transacting more frequently, but it’s not panic selling. Rather, it’s opportunistic selling: We’ll trim holdings in companies we like in order to invest in companies we love that may have come into attractive valuation ranges. We view it as an opportunity to upgrade the portfolio.”

[photo of water flowing over moss-covered rocks]

Staying focused on value

Research also plays a key role during rising market environments. “During the dot-com bubble, our research led us to conclude that certain areas of the market such as technology, media and telecom were significantly overvalued,” notes Dina. “Rather than getting caught up in that frenzy and investing in companies with very high valuations but little-to-no earnings, we focused on the merits of the underlying companies. Sticking to our value criteria meant we steered clear of many of the firms that suffered worst when the bubble burst.”

“In any environment, we continually ask ourselves, ‘Based on our research, is the stock price attractive given my level of conviction in the company?’” says energy analyst Frank Hu. “The reality is that even great companies are not always great investments. If we believe they are fully valued, their investment upside may be limited. So whether we’re choosing to make an initial investment or hold our ground, the price has to be right.”

“Importantly, being able to ground our decisions in research helps take some of the emotion out of the process. That’s critical because it’s easy, for example, to get attached to an investment that has done very well,” admits Mark. “Regularly revisiting the premise that sparked our investment helps us to determine whether we think a given holding remains attractive or if it might be time to trim or sell the position to invest in a higher conviction idea.”

A long-term approach

Of course the benefits of research can be mitigated during a broad market collapse like the one we recently experienced, when solid companies suffered alongside more troubled ones. But the fund’s long-term orientation helps investment professionals stay focused on the big picture.

“We believe buying and holding solid companies is the best formula for delivering on the fund’s growth and income objectives,” says Mark. “That’s why we seek out those firms we believe can weather some of the economic and market challenges that invariably arise.”

[Begin Sidebar]

An in-depth understanding of companies and, in many cases, longstanding relationships with their senior managers helps investment professionals tune out the short-term market noise and allows them to make judgments on the real value of the investments they’ve made and those they’re considering.

[End Sidebar]

Indeed, portfolio counselors and analysts describe a kind of symbiosis between the fund’s emphasis on research and its long-term orientation.

“When you know you’re expected to take a longer term view and, importantly, you are evaluated based on your results over the longer term, it reinforces your commitment to getting to know a company inside and out,” says Mike. “And if you’ve selected companies that present real value, chances are you’re going to hold them longer.”

“In addition, a long-term approach lessens the need to time the market, which is extremely difficult to do,” notes Brady. “Take this past year as an example. If I only planned on holding an investment for a short time, whether I invested last January versus whether I invested last March would have made a huge difference. But that difference is less pronounced if I intend to remain invested for three or four years.”

Nonetheless, the fund’s portfolio counselors recognize that a three-to-four-year time horizon means fund holdings will likely be exposed to the different phases of an economic cycle — the multi-year expansion-recession-recovery pattern that economies typically follow. Historically, certain types of companies do better during different phases of the cycle. For example, oil and gas companies would be expected to do well during the recovery and expansion phases when energy use is robust. Conversely, consumer staples companies, which sell products people need regardless of economic conditions, might hold up well during the recession phase.

[Begin Sidebar]

The best teacher

Fundamental Investors’ five portfolio counselors average over 31 years of investment experience. As they pursue the fund’s growth-and-income objectives and seek to manage the risks inherent in investing, they draw on insights gained over a wide variety of market conditions.

Portfolio counselor	Years of investment experience		Years with American Funds

Jim Drasdo		38		33
Brady Enright		18		13
Mike Kerr		27		25
Ron Morrow		42		13
Dina Perry		32		18

[End Sidebar]

“We know that certain types of companies generally do better at different points in the cycle, and this influences when we invest in them as well as when we choose to sell them,” says Dina. “That being said, both market and economic cycles can be unpredictable so we try to seek out companies we believe can weather a variety of market conditions to produce a strong total return.”

A firm like Suncor Energy, for many years one of the fund’s largest holdings, helps illustrate the fund’s investment process. “As the economy fell into recession in 2008, energy stocks including Suncor declined sharply as the global economy contracted and oil prices plunged,” explains Frank. “Rather than selling when prices were low, we looked to our research which suggested that, in light of the long-term global supply and demand trends for oil, the market was pricing the company’s stock far below its value. As a result, we maintained our investment in Suncor.”

“During volatile periods, it’s hard not to think short term. But the culture of our investment organization continually reinforces the need to look out several years and see the big picture,” continues Frank. “During the past couple of years it’s a principle that was continually emphasized by my more experienced colleagues. It kept me focused on the next four years rather than the next four months.”

Flexible when necessary

“It’s important to note that we don’t hold for the long-term simply on principle. Rather, an investment professional will remain invested only if he or she believes that a given holding still provides opportunity to help meet the fund’s objectives,” explains Brady.

For example, sometimes an investment rises very quickly and reaches a price range that it had been expected to achieve only over a longer period of time. In those cases, investment professionals are often content to trim or sell the holding. The same holds true on the downside — sometimes portfolio counselors and analysts obtain new information that undermines their belief in the long-term value of an investment, and they sell before they had expected to.

Income: A consistent objective

As a growth-and-income fund, Fundamental Investors is committed to providing shareholders with regular quarterly income. To do so, the fund invests mostly in dividend-paying companies and does so whether or not dividends happen to be in fashion.

“The ability to pay a dividend may be a sign that a company has real earnings and also can serve as an indicator of its health and strength,” explains portfolio counselor Ron Morrow. “Moreover, an ongoing commitment to pay dividends can help ensure that company managers remain good stewards of cash.”

A portfolio filled with these types of companies not only offers the potential for added stability, it provides real return regardless of market conditions. This has historically made a significant contribution to an investor’s total return.

Interestingly, the fund’s unwavering focus on income played a significant role in helping it largely steer clear of the high-flying stocks that characterized the dot-com bubble, as most of those companies paid no dividends.

“Emphasizing dividends has been a key part of our approach to investing in all market conditions,” notes Dina. “Together with our long-term perspective, value orientation and focus on research, it has been instrumental in helping many Fundamental Investors’ shareholders reach their investing objectives.” n

[photo of moss-covered rocks in a stream]

Measuring results over meaningful periods of time

Funds with a history of weathering diverse economic and market conditions can help investors reach their long-term goals. Looking at results for 10-year periods, which generally encompass a variety of investment environments, is one way to evaluate a fund’s historical ability to meet those needs.

The table to the right shows annualized results for 22 different 10-year periods. As you can see, Fundamental Investors outpaced the unmanaged Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index in 17 of the 22 time frames shown. And in every period, the fund outpaced the Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index, a measure of its category peers.

It’s also interesting to note that, unlike the benchmarks, the fund delivered a positive average annual return during every period shown.

Fund results shown are for Class A shares at net asset value with all distributions reinvested. If a sales charge had been deducted, the results would have been lower. Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.

		Average annual total returns for
	10-year periods ended December 31
		Fundamental Investors			S&P 500			Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index

1988			16.8	%		16.3	%		16.4	%
1989			18.1			17.5			16.4
1990			15.1			13.9			12.8
1991			18.3			17.6			15.8
1992			16.0			16.2			14.4
1993			15.3			14.9			13.6
1994			14.8			14.4			13.1
1995			15.1			14.9			13.3
1996			14.9			15.3			13.6
1997			17.2			18.0			16.0
1998			17.3			19.2			15.5
1999			16.9			18.2			14.4
2000			18.2			17.4			15.1
2001			13.9			12.9			11.5
2002			10.7			9.3			8.3
2003			11.9			11.1			9.5
2004			13.3			12.1			10.7
2005			11.2			9.1			8.5
2006			11.1			8.4			8.0
2007			9.9			5.9			5.9
2008			2.9			–1.4			–0.2
2009			3.6			–0.9			1.2

[Begin Sidebar]

During volatile periods, it’s hard not to think short term. But the culture of the fund’s investment organization continually reinforces the need to look out several years and see the bigger picture.

[End Sidebar]

Summary investment portfolio, December 31, 2009

The following summary investment portfolio is designed to streamline the report and help investors better focus on a fund’s principal holdings. See the inside back cover for details on how to obtain a complete schedule of portfolio holdings.

[begin pie chart]

Industry sector diversification	(percent of net assets)

Information technology		16.99	%
Energy		12.65
Health Care		12.13
Industrials		10.99
Financials		9.57
Other industries		32.99
Convertible securities		0.03
Bonds & notes		0.01
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities		4.64

[end pie chart]

Country diversification (percent of net assets)
United States	72.3	%
Euro zone *	8.0
Canada	4.9
United Kingdom	3.1
Switzerland	3.1
Other countries	3.9
Bonds, short-term securities & other assets less liabilities	4.7

*Countries using the euro as a common currency; those represented in the fund's portfolio are France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain

							Percent
				Value			of net
Common stocks - 95.32%	Shares				(000	)	assets

Information technology - 16.99%
Microsoft Corp.		38,795,000		$	1,182,860			2.62	%
Oracle Corp.		40,523,879			994,456			2.20
Cisco Systems, Inc. (1)		25,643,500			613,905			1.36
Google Inc., Class A (1)		920,000			570,382			1.27
Yahoo! Inc. (1)		30,660,000			514,475			1.14
Apple Inc. (1)		2,420,000			510,281			1.13
Corning Inc.		24,270,000			468,654			1.04
Intuit Inc. (1)		10,875,000			333,971			.74
SAP AG (ADR)		6,500,000			304,265			.68
Other securities					2,170,111			4.81
					7,663,360			16.99

Energy - 12.65%
Suncor Energy Inc.		40,433,040			1,437,387			3.18
Occidental Petroleum Corp.		6,204,244			504,715			1.12
CONSOL Energy Inc. (2)		6,700,000			333,660			.74
ConocoPhillips		5,470,000			279,353			.62
TOTAL SA (3)		4,210,000			269,586			.60
Tenaris SA (ADR)		6,200,000			264,430			.59
FMC Technologies, Inc. (1)		4,500,000			260,280			.58
Other securities					2,357,846			5.22
					5,707,257			12.65

Health care - 12.13%
Merck & Co., Inc.		36,151,059			1,320,960			2.93
Roche Holding AG (3)		3,820,000			649,122			1.44
Medtronic, Inc.		13,625,000			599,227			1.33
Eli Lilly and Co.		13,685,000			488,691			1.08
Baxter International Inc.		6,940,000			407,239			.90
Pfizer Inc		15,940,000			289,949			.64
Other securities					1,719,292			3.81
					5,474,480			12.13

Industrials - 10.99%
Lockheed Martin Corp.		5,398,200			406,754			.90
Union Pacific Corp.		6,100,000			389,790			.87
Schneider Electric SA (3)		3,157,277			365,509			.81
Deere & Co.		5,600,000			302,904			.67
Boeing Co.		5,500,000			297,715			.66
First Solar, Inc. (1)		2,110,000			285,694			.63
Other securities					2,909,600			6.45
					4,957,966			10.99

Financials - 9.57%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.		16,255,000			677,346			1.50
Wells Fargo & Co.		19,513,000			526,656			1.17
U.S. Bancorp		21,952,000			494,140			1.09
Bank of America Corp.		28,000,000			421,680			.93
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class A (1)		2,945			292,144			.65
ACE Ltd.		5,700,000			287,280			.64
Aon Corp.		6,700,000			256,878			.57
Other securities					1,363,800			3.02
					4,319,924			9.57

Materials - 9.03%
Rio Tinto PLC (3)		10,662,500			575,417			1.27
Syngenta AG (3)		2,025,400			566,922			1.26
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc.		2,684,100			291,225			.65
Other securities					2,639,682			5.85
					4,073,246			9.03

Consumer discretionary - 7.79%
McDonald's Corp.		11,556,400			721,582			1.60
Home Depot, Inc.		12,600,000			364,518			.81
Starbucks Corp. (1)		14,000,000			322,840			.72
Walt Disney Co.		8,000,000			258,000			.57
Other securities					1,845,711			4.09
					3,512,651			7.79

Consumer staples - 6.12%
Coca-Cola Co.		11,460,000			653,220			1.45
Philip Morris International Inc.		8,224,800			396,353			.88
Altria Group, Inc.		14,175,100			278,257			.61
Other securities					1,433,644			3.18
					2,761,474			6.12

Utilities - 4.44%
Exelon Corp.		7,760,900			379,275			.84
GDF Suez (3)		6,029,861			261,407			.58
Other securities					1,364,583			3.02
					2,005,265			4.44

Telecommunication services - 2.91%
Verizon Communications Inc.		16,800,000			556,584			1.23
Telefónica, SA (3)		9,500,000			264,586			.59
Other securities					490,144			1.09
					1,311,314			2.91

Miscellaneous - 2.70%
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition					1,219,520			2.70


Total common stocks (cost: $37,957,243,000)					43,006,457			95.32



							Percent
				Value			of net
Convertible securities - 0.03%					(000	)	assets

Miscellaneous - 0.03%
Other convertible securities in initial period of acquisition					13,875			.03


Total convertible securities (cost: $12,500,000)					13,875			.03



							Percent
				Value			of net
Bonds & notes - 0.01%					(000	)	assets

Mortgage-backed obligations - 0.01%
Other securities					6,360			.01


Total bonds & notes (cost: $6,440,000)					6,360			.01



	Principal						Percent
	amount			Value			of net
Short-term securities - 4.59%		(000	)		(000	)	assets


Freddie Mac 0.08%-1.00% due 1/20-9/14/2010	$	754,000			753,730			1.67
Coca-Cola Co. 0.18%-0.21% due 1/6-3/18/2010 (2)		102,850			102,841			.23
Variable Funding Capital Company LLC 0.16%-0.21% due 1/5-1/14/2010 (2)		77,000			76,991			.17
Enterprise Funding Co. LLC 0.20% due 3/17/2010 (2)		35,019			35,003
Bank of America Corp. 0.23% due 3/23/2010		30,000			29,986			.15
Park Avenue Receivables Co., LLC 0.15% due 1/4/2010 (2)		35,000			34,999
Jupiter Securitization Co., LLC 0.15%-0.21% due 1/12-1/15/2010 (2)		24,500			24,497			.13
Medtronic Inc. 0.14% due 1/5/2010 (2)		26,300			26,300			.06
Other securities					984,630			2.18


Total short-term securities (cost: $2,068,739,000)					2,068,977			4.59


Total investment securities (cost: $40,044,922,000)					45,095,669			99.95
Other assets less liabilities					22,220			.05

Net assets				$	45,117,889			100.00	%

"Miscellaneous" securities include holdings in their initial period of acquisition that have not previously been publicly disclosed.
"Other securities" includes all issues that are not disclosed separately in the summary investment portfolio.

Investments in affiliates
A company is considered to be an affiliate of the fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 if the fund's holdings in that company represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares. The value of the fund's holdings in affiliated companies is included in "Other securities" under the respective industry sectors in the summary investment portfolio. Further details on these holdings and related transactions during the year ended December 31, 2009, appear below.

									Dividend			Value of affiliates
	Beginning						Ending		income			at 12/31/09
	shares		Additions		Reductions		shares			(000	)		(000	)
Strayer Education, Inc.		-		743,100		-		743,100	$	1,369		$	157,901
Grafton Group PLC, units (3)		14,650,000		312,000		-		14,962,000		1,492			62,041
Corporate Executive Board Co.		2,304,200		-		-		2,304,200		1,705			52,582
FMC Technologies, Inc. (1) (4) (5)		6,200,000		322,400		2,022,400		4,500,000		-			-
									$	4,566		$	272,524

The following footnotes apply to either the individual securities noted or one or more of the securities aggregated and listed as a single line item.

(1) Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
(2) Purchased in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. May be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of all such securities, including those in "Other securities," was $982,869,000, which represented 2.18% of the net assets of the fund.
(3) Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of directors. The total value of all such securities, including those in "Miscellaneous" and "Other securities," was $6,744,614,000, which represented 14.95% of the net assets of the fund. This entire amount relates to certain securities trading outside the U.S. whose values were adjusted as a result of significant market movements following the close of local trading.
(4) This security was an unaffiliated issuer in its initial period of acquisition at 12/31/2008; it was not publicly disclosed.
(5) Unaffiliated issuer at 12/31/2009.


Key to abbreviation
ADR = American Depositary Receipts

See Notes to Financial Statements

Financial statements

Statement of assets and liabilities
at December 31, 2009	(dollars in thousands)

Assets:
Investment securities, at value:
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $39,576,506)	$	44,823,145
Affiliated issuers (cost: $468,416)		272,524	$	45,095,669
Cash				53
Receivables for:
Sales of investments		1,206
Sales of fund's shares		93,673
Dividends and interest		65,285		160,164
				45,255,886
Liabilities:
Payables for:
Purchases of investments		9,801
Repurchases of fund's shares		94,633
Investment advisory services		9,688
Services provided by affiliates		17,325
Directors' deferred compensation		2,477
Other		4,073		137,997
Net assets at December 31, 2009			$	45,117,889

Net assets consist of:
Capital paid in on shares of capital stock			$	44,948,255
Undistributed net investment income				148,902
Accumulated net realized loss				(5,030,779	)
Net unrealized appreciation				5,051,511
Net assets at December 31, 2009			$	45,117,889

	(dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)
Total authorized capital stock - 2,500,000 shares, $1.00 par value (1,379,017 total shares outstanding)
	Net assets		Shares outstanding		Net asset value per share*
Class A	$	30,953,609		945,682	$	32.73
Class B		897,167		27,483		32.64
Class C		1,925,132		59,027		32.61
Class F-1		3,867,745		118,222		32.72
Class F-2		640,678		19,574		32.73
Class 529-A		723,224		22,113		32.71
Class 529-B		70,590		2,159		32.69
Class 529-C		215,199		6,583		32.69
Class 529-E		32,228		986		32.69
Class 529-F-1		27,393		838		32.69
Class R-1		97,904		3,001		32.62
Class R-2		549,800		16,861		32.61
Class R-3		1,707,176		52,252		32.67
Class R-4		1,544,555		47,260		32.68
Class R-5		1,269,294		38,764		32.74
Class R-6		596,195		18,212		32.74

(*) Maximum offering price and redemption price per share were equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Classes A and 529-A, for which the maximum offering prices per share were $34.73 and $34.71, respectively.

See Notes to Financial Statements

Statement of operations
for the year ended December 31, 2009				(dollars in thousands)

Investment income:
Income:
Dividends (net of non-U.S. taxes of $28,985; also includes $4,566 from affiliates)	$	837,362
Interest		25,254		$	862,616

Fees and expenses*:
Investment advisory services		97,096
Distribution services		109,627
Transfer agent services		43,931
Administrative services		17,773
Reports to shareholders		2,527
Registration statement and prospectus		8,033
Directors' compensation		1,067
Auditing and legal		122
Custodian		1,228
State and local taxes		2
Other		2,333			283,739
Net investment income					578,877

Net realized loss and unrealized appreciation on investments and currency:
Net realized (loss) gain on:
Investments (including $25,862 net gain from affiliates)		(1,996,639	)
Currency transactions		2,385			(1,994,254	)
Net unrealized appreciation on:
Investments		12,486,938
Currency translations		1,037			12,487,975
Net realized loss and unrealized appreciation on investments and currency					10,493,721
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations				$	11,072,598

(*) Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the Notes to Financial Statements.

See Notes to Financial Statements



Statements of changes in net assets				(dollars in thousands)

	Year ended December 31
		2009			2008
Operations:
Net investment income	$	578,877		$	745,138
Net realized loss on investments and currency transactions		(1,994,254	)		(3,028,217	)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and currency translations		12,487,975			(19,833,779	)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations		11,072,598			(22,116,858	)

Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income		(631,972	)		(721,047	)
Distributions from net realized gain on investments		-			(316,888	)
Total dividends and distributions paid to shareholders		(631,972	)		(1,037,935	)


Net capital share transactions		587,441			6,867,554

Total increase (decrease) in net assets		11,028,067			(16,287,239	)

Net assets:
Beginning of year		34,089,822			50,377,061
End of year (including undistributed net investment income: $148,902 and $199,930, respectively)	$	45,117,889		$	34,089,822

See Notes to Financial Statements

Notes to financial statements

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

Organization – Fundamental Investors, Inc. (the "fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management investment company. The fund seeks long-term growth of capital and income primarily through investments in common stocks.

On November 24, 2009, shareholders approved a proposal to reorganize the fund from a Maryland corporation to a Delaware statutory trust. The reorganization may be completed in 2010 or early 2011; however, the fund reserves the right to delay the implementation. Shareholders also approved amendments to the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement and amendments to and elimination of certain fundamental investment policies of the fund.

The fund has 16 share classes consisting of five retail share classes, five 529 college savings plan share classes and six retirement plan share classes. The 529 college savings plan share classes (529-A, 529-B, 529-C, 529-E and 529-F-1) can be used to save for college education. The six retirement plan share classes (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-6) are generally offered only through eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans. The fund’s share classes are described below:

Share class	Initial sales charge	Contingent deferred sales charge upon redemption	Conversion feature
Classes A and 529-A	Up to 5.75%	None (except 1% for certain redemptions within one year of purchase without an initial sales charge)	None
Classes B and 529-B*	None	Declines from 5% to 0% for redemptions within six years of purchase	Classes B and 529-B convert to Classes A and 529-A, respectively, after eight years
Class C	None	1% for redemptions within one year of purchase	Class C converts to Class F-1 after 10 years
Class 529-C	None	1% for redemptions within one year of purchase	None
Class 529-E	None	None	None
Classes F-1, F-2 and 529-F-1	None	None	None
Classes R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-6	None	None	None

*Effective April 21, 2009, Class B and 529-B shares of the fund are not available for purchase.

On May 1, 2009, the fund made an additional retirement plan share class (Class R-6) available for sale pursuant to an amendment to its registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Refer to the fund’s retirement plan prospectus for more details.

Holders of all share classes have equal pro rata rights to assets, dividends and liquidation proceeds. Each share class has identical voting rights, except for the exclusive right to vote on matters affecting only its class. Share classes have different fees and expenses ("class-specific fees and expenses"), primarily due to different arrangements for distribution, administrative and shareholder services. Differences in class-specific fees and expenses will result in differences in net investment income and, therefore, the payment of different per-share dividends by each class.

Significant accounting policies – The financial statements have been prepared to comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies followed by the fund:

Net asset value – The fund generally determines its net asset value as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time each day the New York Stock Exchange is open.

Security valuation – Equity securities are valued at the official closing price of, or the last reported sale price on, the exchange or market on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any sales, at the last available bid price. Prices for each security are taken from the principal exchange or market in which the security trades. Fixed-income securities, including short-term securities purchased with more than 60 days left to maturity, are valued at prices obtained from one or more independent pricing vendors when such prices are available. However, where the investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so, such securities will be valued in good faith at the mean quoted bid and asked prices that are reasonably and timely available (or bid prices, if asked prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type. Vendors base bond prices on, among other things, valuation matrices that incorporate dealer-supplied valuations, proprietary pricing models and evaluations of the yield curve as of approximately 3:00 p.m. New York time. Securities with both fixed-income and equity characteristics, or equity securities traded principally among fixed-income dealers, are valued in the manner described above for either equity or fixed-income securities, depending on which method is deemed most appropriate by the investment adviser. Short-term securities purchased within 60 days to maturity are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. The value of short-term securities originally purchased with maturities greater than 60 days is determined based on an amortized value to par when they reach 60 days or less remaining to maturity.

Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under guidelines adopted by authority of the fund's board of directors. Market quotations may be considered unreliable if events occur that materially affect the value of securities (particularly securities outside the U.S.) between the close of trading in those securities and the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Various factors may be reviewed in order to make a good faith determination of a security’s fair value. These factors include, but are not limited to, the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; significant events occurring after the close of trading in the security; and changes in overall market conditions. Fair valuations and valuations of investments that are not actively trading involve judgment and may differ materially from valuations that would have been used had greater market activity occurred.

Security transactions and related investment income – Security transactions are recorded by the fund as of the date the trades are executed with brokers. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Market discounts, premiums and original issue discounts on fixed-income securities are amortized daily over the expected life of the security.

Class allocations – Income, fees and expenses (other than class-specific fees and expenses) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net assets. Class-specific fees and expenses, such as distribution, administrative and shareholder services, are charged directly to the respective share class.

Dividends and distributions to shareholders – Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Currency translation – Assets and liabilities, including investment securities, denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the valuation date. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates on the dates of such transactions. On the accompanying financial statements, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investment securities are included with the net realized gain or loss and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments. The realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation resulting from all other transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are disclosed separately.

2. Risk factors

Investing in the fund may involve certain risks including, but not limited to, those described below.

The prices of, and the income generated by, the common stocks and other securities held by the fund may decline in response to certain events taking place around the world, including those directly involving the issuers whose securities are owned by the fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; governmental or governmental agency responses to economic conditions; and currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

Investments in securities issued by entities based outside the U.S. may be subject to the risks described above to a greater extent. These investments may also be affected by currency fluctuations and controls; different accounting, auditing, financial reporting, disclosure, regulatory and legal standards and practices; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; different securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in developing countries. Investments in securities issued by entities domiciled in the U.S. may also be subject to many of these risks.

3. Taxation and distributions

Federal income taxation – The fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to mutual funds and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains each year. The fund is not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

As of and during the period ended December 31, 2009, the fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the statement of operations. During the period, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

The fund is not subject to examination by U.S. federal tax authorities for tax years before 2006, by state tax authorities for tax years before 2005 and by tax authorities outside the U.S. for tax years before 2005.

Non-U.S. taxation – Dividend income is recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. Gains realized by the fund on the sale of securities in certain countries are subject to non-U.S. taxes. The fund records a liability based on unrealized gains to provide for potential non-U.S. taxes payable upon the sale of these securities.

Distributions – Distributions paid to shareholders are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to different treatment for items such as currency gains and losses; short-term capital gains and losses; capital losses related to sales of certain securities within 30 days of purchase; cost of investments sold; paydowns on fixed-income securities; net capital losses; and income on certain investments. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the fund reclassified $2,568,000 from accumulated net realized loss to undistributed net investment income and $501,000 from undistributed net investment income to capital paid in on shares of capital stock to align financial reporting with tax reporting.

As of December 31, 2009, the tax basis components of distributable earnings, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investment securities were as follows:

	(dollars in thousands)
Undistributed ordinary income				$	198,508
Post-October currency loss deferrals (realized during the period November 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009)*					(1,425	)
Capital loss carryforwards†:
Expiring 2016	$	(1,885,675	)
Expiring 2017		(3,190,744	)		(5,076,419	)
Gross unrealized appreciation on investment securities					8,389,073
Gross unrealized depreciation on investment securities					(3,338,390	)
Net unrealized appreciation on investment securities					5,050,683
Cost of investment securities					40,044,986

*These deferrals are considered incurred in the subsequent year. †The capital loss carryforwards will be used to offset any capital gains realized by the fund in future years through the expiration dates. The fund will not make distributions from capital gains while capital loss carryforwards remain.

The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders was as follows (dollars in thousands):

	Year ended December 31, 2009						Year ended December 31, 2008
Share class	Ordinary income		Long-term capital gains		Total distributions paid		Ordinary income		Long-term capital gains		Total distributions paid

Class A	$	458,892	$	-	$	458,892	$	557,598	$	241,668	$	799,266
Class B		8,510		-		8,510		11,804		10,319		22,123
Class C		15,323		-		15,323		16,584		13,050		29,634
Class F-1		55,986		-		55,986		60,738		21,382		82,120
Class F-2*		6,438		-		6,438		779		-		779
Class 529-A		9,809		-		9,809		9,941		4,136		14,077
Class 529-B		527		-		527		570		506		1,076
Class 529-C		1,504		-		1,504		1,515		1,251		2,766
Class 529-E		353		-		353		360		187		547
Class 529-F-1		442		-		442		424		134		558
Class R-1		765		-		765		628		389		1,017
Class R-2		3,950		-		3,950		3,842		3,036		6,878
Class R-3		19,065		-		19,065		16,994		7,755		24,749
Class R-4		21,195		-		21,195		17,908		6,485		24,393
Class R-5		23,009		-		23,009		21,362		6,590		27,952
Class R-6†		6,204		-		6,204		-		-		-
Total	$	631,972	$	-	$	631,972	$	721,047	$	316,888	$	1,037,935

*Class F-2 was offered beginning August 1, 2008.
†Class R-6 was offered beginning May 1, 2009.

4. Fees and transactions with related parties

Capital Research and Management Company ("CRMC"), the fund’s investment adviser, is the parent company of American Funds Distributors,® Inc. ("AFD"), the principal underwriter of the fund’s shares, and American Funds Service Company® ("AFS"), the fund’s transfer agent.

Investment advisory services - The Investment Advisory and Service Agreement with CRMC provides for monthly fees accrued daily. These fees are based on a declining series of annual rates beginning with 0.390% on the first $1 billion of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.232% on such assets in excess of $55 billion. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the investment advisory services fee was $97,096,000, which was equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.258% of average daily net assets.

Class-specific fees and expenses – Expenses that are specific to individual share classes are accrued directly to the respective share class. The principal class-specific fees and expenses are described below:

Distribution services – The fund has adopted plans of distribution for all share classes, except Classes F-2, R-5 and R-6. Under the plans, the board of directors approves certain categories of expenses that are used to finance activities primarily intended to sell fund shares and service existing accounts. The plans provide for payments, based on an annualized percentage of average daily net assets, ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% as noted on the following page. In some cases, the board of directors has limited the amounts that may be paid to less than the maximum allowed by the plans. All share classes with a plan may use up to 0.25% of average daily net assets to pay service fees, or to compensate AFD for paying service fees, to firms that have entered into agreements with AFD to provide certain shareholder services. The remaining amounts available to be paid under each plan are paid to dealers to compensate them for their sales activities.

For Classes A and 529-A, the board of directors has also approved the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limit of 0.25% is not exceeded. As of December 31, 2009, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Classes A or 529-A.

Share class	Currently approved limits	Plan limits
Class A	0.25%	0.25%
Class 529-A	0.25	0.50
Classes B and 529-B	1.00	1.00
Classes C, 529-C and R-1	1.00	1.00
Class R-2	0.75	1.00
Classes 529-E and R-3	0.50	0.75
Classes F-1, 529-F-1 and R-4	0.25	0.50

Transfer agent services – The fund has a transfer agent agreement with AFS for Classes A and B. Under this agreement, these share classes compensate AFS for transfer agent services including shareholder recordkeeping, communications and transaction processing. AFS is also compensated for certain transfer agent services provided to all other share classes from the administrative services fees paid to CRMC as described below.

Administrative services – The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC to provide transfer agent and other related shareholder services for all share classes other than Classes A and B. Each relevant share class pays CRMC annual fees up to 0.15% (0.10% for Class R-5 and 0.05% for Class R-6) based on its respective average daily net assets. Each relevant share class also pays AFS additional amounts for certain transfer agent services. CRMC and AFS may use these fees to compensate third parties for performing these services. Each 529 share class is subject to an additional administrative services fee payable to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the maintenance of the 529 college savings plan. The quarterly fee is based on a declining series of annual rates beginning with 0.10% on the first $30 billion of the net assets invested in Class 529 shares of the American Funds and decreasing to 0.06% on such assets between $120 billion and $150 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 shares of the American Funds for the last month of the prior calendar quarter. Although these amounts are included with administrative services fees on the accompanying financial statements, the Commonwealth of Virginia is not considered a related party.

Expenses under the agreements described above for the year ended December 31, 2009, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Share class	Distribution services	Transfer agent services	Administrative services
Share class	Distribution services	Transfer agent services	CRMC administrative services	Transfer agent services	Commonwealth of Virginia administrative services
Class A	$59,885	$42,535	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable
Class B	8,642	1,396	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable
Class C	16,027	Included in administrative services	$2,407	$433	Not applicable
Class F-1	7,661		4,121	272	Not applicable
Class F-2	Not applicable		440	21	Not applicable
Class 529-A	1,119		680	107	$ 574
Class 529-B	601		72	23	60
Class 529-C	1,712		204	56	172
Class 529-E	127		30	5	25
Class 529-F-1	-		28	5	24
Class R-1	807		106	46	Not applicable
Class R-2	3,319		651	1,449	Not applicable
Class R-3	6,653		1,948	726	Not applicable
Class R-4	3,074		1,795	45	Not applicable
Class R-5	Not applicable		1,077	20	Not applicable
Class R-6*	Not applicable		151	- †	Not applicable
Total	$109,627	$43,931	$13,710	$3,208	$855

*Class R-6 was offered beginning May 1, 2009.

†Amount less than one thousand.

Directors’ deferred compensation – Since the adoption of the deferred compensation plan in 1993, directors who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer the cash payment of part or all of their compensation. These deferred amounts, which remain as liabilities of the fund, are treated as if invested in shares of the fund or other American Funds. These amounts represent general, unsecured liabilities of the fund and vary according to the total returns of the selected funds. Directors’ compensation of $1,067,000, shown on the accompanying financial statements, includes $545,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net increase of $522,000 in the value of the deferred amounts.

Affiliated officers and directors– Officers and certain directors of the fund are or may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFS and AFD. No affiliated officers or directors received any compensation directly from the fund.

5. Disclosure of fair value measurements

The fund classifies its assets and liabilities into three levels based on the method used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 values are based on significant observable market inputs, such as quoted prices for similar securities and quoted prices in inactive markets. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs that reflect the fund’s determination of assumptions that market participants might reasonably use in valuing the securities. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. For example, U.S. government securities are generally high-quality and liquid; however, they are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market. The following table presents the fund’s valuation levels as of December 31, 2009 (dollars in thousands):

Investment securities:	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Common stocks:
Information technology	$	7,580,389	$	82,971	*	$	-	$	7,663,360
Energy		5,187,929		519,328	*		-		5,707,257
Health care		4,486,319		988,161	*		-		5,474,480
Industrials		4,205,339		752,627	*		-		4,957,966
Financials		3,833,435		486,489	*		-		4,319,924
Materials		2,394,148		1,679,098	*		-		4,073,246
Consumer discretionary		3,237,331		275,320	*		-		3,512,651
Consumer staples		2,198,432		563,042	*		-		2,761,474
Utilities		1,414,557		590,708	*		-		2,005,265
Telecommunication services		756,998		554,316	*		-		1,311,314
Miscellaneous		966,966		252,554	*		-		1,219,520
Convertible securities		-		13,875			-		13,875
Bonds & notes		-		6,360			-		6,360
Short-term securities		-		2,068,977			-		2,068,977
Total	$	36,261,843	$	8,833,826		$	-	$	45,095,669

(*) Includes certain securities trading outside the U.S. whose values were adjusted as a result of significant market movements following the close of local trading; therefore, $6,744,614,000 of investment securities were classified as Level 2 instead of Level 1.

6. Capital share transactions

Capital share transactions in the fund were as follows (dollars and shares in thousands):

Share class	Sales(1)				Reinvestments of dividends and distributions				Repurchases(1)						Net (decrease) increase
	Amount		Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount			Shares			Amount			Shares
Year ended December 31, 2009
Class A	$	4,133,420		152,140	$	437,083		16,132	$	(5,318,512	)		(200,947	)	$	(748,009	)		(32,675	)
Class B		76,831		2,969		8,202		311		(341,345	)		(12,885	)		(256,312	)		(9,605	)
Class C		336,939		12,332		14,652		550		(336,935	)		(12,840	)		14,656			42
Class F-1		1,304,172		47,008		49,006		1,806		(1,278,430	)		(47,975	)		74,748			839
Class F-2		541,618		19,496		5,112		175		(107,195	)		(3,766	)		439,535			15,905
Class 529-A		125,979		4,562		9,805		361		(60,203	)		(2,232	)		75,581			2,691
Class 529-B		5,218		203		527		20		(6,215	)		(230	)		(470	)		(7	)
Class 529-C		41,294		1,498		1,503		56		(23,111	)		(855	)		19,686			699
Class 529-E		6,233		226		352		13		(2,902	)		(106	)		3,683			133
Class 529-F-1		8,008		288		442		16		(7,887	)		(265	)		563			39
Class R-1		43,940		1,610		761		28		(31,016	)		(1,070	)		13,685			568
Class R-2		170,514		6,366		3,946		146		(117,622	)		(4,361	)		56,838			2,151
Class R-3		594,024		21,683		19,055		701		(345,362	)		(12,572	)		267,717			9,812
Class R-4		564,135		20,763		21,187		777		(337,037	)		(12,025	)		248,285			9,515
Class R-5		617,507		22,851		22,633		842		(755,761	)		(28,025	)		(115,621	)		(4,332	)
Class R-6(2)		519,256		19,015		6,203		208		(32,583	)		(1,011	)		492,876			18,212
Total net increase
(decrease)	$	9,089,088		333,010	$	600,469		22,142	$	(9,102,116	)		(341,165	)	$	587,441			13,987

Year ended December 31, 2008
Class A	$	7,911,594		231,401	$	763,364		22,342	$	(6,050,793	)		(191,212	)	$	2,624,165			62,531
Class B		276,235		7,940		21,439		636		(363,229	)		(10,840	)		(65,555	)		(2,264	)
Class C		785,133		22,623		28,519		865		(416,578	)		(13,019	)		397,074			10,469
Class F-1		2,763,196		78,243		72,793		2,178		(1,213,116	)		(39,270	)		1,622,873			41,151
Class F-2(3)		116,845		4,125		650		25		(12,665	)		(481	)		104,830			3,669
Class 529-A		190,435		5,390		14,075		417		(50,723	)		(1,537	)		153,787			4,270
Class 529-B		14,144		400		1,076		33		(5,318	)		(159	)		9,902			274
Class 529-C		62,565		1,765		2,766		84		(19,014	)		(572	)		46,317			1,277
Class 529-E		7,990		228		547		16		(2,522	)		(75	)		6,015			169
Class 529-F-1		14,406		390		558		17		(2,864	)		(88	)		12,100			319
Class R-1		55,324		1,583		1,012		32		(18,085	)		(537	)		38,251			1,078
Class R-2		240,522		6,876		6,875		210		(120,579	)		(3,509	)		126,818			3,577
Class R-3		835,509		23,703		24,701		750		(317,096	)		(9,313	)		543,114			15,140
Class R-4		850,916		23,655		24,370		735		(258,547	)		(7,396	)		616,739			16,994
Class R-5		800,099		24,178		27,167		814		(196,142	)		(5,773	)		631,124			19,219
Total net increase
(decrease)	$	14,924,913		432,500	$	989,912		29,154	$	(9,047,271	)		(283,781	)	$	6,867,554			177,873


(1) Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund.
(2)Class R-6 was offered beginning May 1, 2009.
(3)Class F-2 was offered beginning August 1, 2008.

7. Investment transactions

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $13,164,241,000 and $10,654,786,000, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2009.

8. Subsequent events

As of February 8, 2010, the date the financial statements were available to be issued, no subsequent events or transactions had occurred that would have materially impacted the financial statements as presented.

Financial highlights(1)

			Income (loss) from investment operations(2)								Dividends and distributions
	Net asset value, beginning of period		Net investment income (3)		Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)			Total from investment operations			Dividends (from net investment income)			Distributions (from capital gains)			Total dividends and distributions			Net asset value, end of period		Total return(4) (5)			Net assets, end of period (in millions)		Ratio of expenses to average net assets before reimbursements/ waivers			Ratio of expenses to average net assets after reimbursements/ waivers(5)			Ratio of net income to average net assets(3) (5)
Class A:
Year ended 12/31/2009	$	24.98	$	.44	$	7.79		$	8.23		$	(.48	)	$	-		$	(.48	)	$	32.73		33.36	%	$	30,954		.69	%		.69	%		1.60	%
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.45		.60		(17.23	)		(16.63	)		(.58	)		(.26	)		(.84	)		24.98		(39.70	)		24,443		.63			.61			1.70
Year ended 12/31/2007		40.05		1.03		4.39			5.42			(.95	)		(2.07	)		(3.02	)		42.45		13.55			38,877		.60			.57			2.40
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.40		.62		6.16			6.78			(.56	)		(1.57	)		(2.13	)		40.05		19.24			32,187		.61			.58			1.60
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.25		.58		3.16			3.74			(.59	)		-			(.59	)		35.40		11.68			24,390		.62			.60			1.75
Class B:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.92		.23		7.76			7.99			(.27	)		-			(.27	)		32.64		32.30			897		1.46			1.46			.85
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.35		.34		(17.20	)		(16.86	)		(.31	)		(.26	)		(.57	)		24.92		(40.14	)		924		1.39			1.37			.94
Year ended 12/31/2007		39.96		.70		4.38			5.08			(.62	)		(2.07	)		(2.69	)		42.35		12.70			1,667		1.36			1.33			1.63
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.33		.32		6.14			6.46			(.26	)		(1.57	)		(1.83	)		39.96		18.33			1,417		1.38			1.35			.83
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.19		.33		3.15			3.48			(.34	)		-			(.34	)		35.33		10.84			1,090		1.39			1.36			.99
Class C:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.90		.22		7.75			7.97			(.26	)		-			(.26	)		32.61		32.26			1,925		1.48			1.48			.81
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.31		.32		(17.17	)		(16.85	)		(.30	)		(.26	)		(.56	)		24.90		(40.16	)		1,468		1.43			1.41			.90
Year ended 12/31/2007		39.92		.70		4.36			5.06			(.60	)		(2.07	)		(2.67	)		42.31		12.65			2,053		1.41			1.38			1.62
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.30		.30		6.13			6.43			(.24	)		(1.57	)		(1.81	)		39.92		18.23			1,380		1.43			1.41			.77
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.17		.30		3.15			3.45			(.32	)		-			(.32	)		35.30		10.76			776		1.45			1.43			.91
Class F-1:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.97		.45		7.79			8.24			(.49	)		-			(.49	)		32.72		33.40			3,868		.67			.67			1.61
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.43		.60		(17.22	)		(16.62	)		(.58	)		(.26	)		(.84	)		24.97		(39.69	)		2,932		.62			.60			1.72
Year ended 12/31/2007		40.03		1.06		4.36			5.42			(.95	)		(2.07	)		(3.02	)		42.43		13.55			3,235		.61			.58			2.45
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.39		.62		6.15			6.77			(.56	)		(1.57	)		(2.13	)		40.03		19.21			1,815		.61			.58			1.58
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.24		.57		3.16			3.73			(.58	)		-			(.58	)		35.39		11.64			662		.66			.63			1.71
Class F-2:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.98		.49		7.81			8.30			(.55	)		-			(.55	)		32.73		33.72			641		.43			.43			1.69
Period from 8/1/2008 to 12/31/2008		37.09		.23		(11.97	)		(11.74	)		(.37	)		-			(.37	)		24.98		(31.78	)		92		.17			.16			.88
Class 529-A:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.97		.43		7.78			8.21			(.47	)		-			(.47	)		32.71		33.30			723		.73			.73			1.55
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.42		.58		(17.21	)		(16.63	)		(.56	)		(.26	)		(.82	)		24.97		(39.71	)		485		.68			.65			1.66
Year ended 12/31/2007		40.02		1.03		4.36			5.39			(.92	)		(2.07	)		(2.99	)		42.42		13.49			643		.66			.64			2.37
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.38		.60		6.15			6.75			(.54	)		(1.57	)		(2.11	)		40.02		19.16			414		.66			.63			1.55
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.24		.55		3.15			3.70			(.56	)		-			(.56	)		35.38		11.60			231		.70			.67			1.66
Class 529-B:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.96		.20		7.77			7.97			(.24	)		-			(.24	)		32.69		32.16			71		1.55			1.55			.74
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.41		.30		(17.22	)		(16.92	)		(.27	)		(.26	)		(.53	)		24.96		(40.20	)		54		1.50			1.47			.84
Year ended 12/31/2007		40.01		.66		4.38			5.04			(.57	)		(2.07	)		(2.64	)		42.41		12.57			80		1.48			1.46			1.53
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.37		.27		6.16			6.43			(.22	)		(1.57	)		(1.79	)		40.01		18.18			60		1.50			1.47			.71
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.23		.27		3.16			3.43			(.29	)		-			(.29	)		35.37		10.66			40		1.54			1.52			.82
Class 529-C:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.95		.20		7.78			7.98			(.24	)		-			(.24	)		32.69		32.22			215		1.55			1.55			.74
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.40		.30		(17.22	)		(16.92	)		(.27	)		(.26	)		(.53	)		24.95		(40.21	)		147		1.49			1.47			.85
Year ended 12/31/2007		40.00		.67		4.37			5.04			(.57	)		(2.07	)		(2.64	)		42.40		12.58			195		1.48			1.45			1.56
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.37		.28		6.14			6.42			(.22	)		(1.57	)		(1.79	)		40.00		18.16			126		1.49			1.47			.71
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.23		.27		3.16			3.43			(.29	)		-			(.29	)		35.37		10.68			71		1.53			1.51			.83
Class 529-E:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.95		.34		7.78			8.12			(.38	)		-			(.38	)		32.69		32.89			32		1.04			1.04			1.24
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.40		.48		(17.21	)		(16.73	)		(.46	)		(.26	)		(.72	)		24.95		(39.90	)		21		.98			.96			1.36
Year ended 12/31/2007		40.00		.88		4.38			5.26			(.79	)		(2.07	)		(2.86	)		42.40		13.14			29		.97			.95			2.05
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.36		.48		6.15			6.63			(.42	)		(1.57	)		(1.99	)		40.00		18.80			20		.97			.95			1.23
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.23		.44		3.15			3.59			(.46	)		-			(.46	)		35.36		11.24			12		1.02			.99			1.34

Class 529-F-1:
Year ended 12/31/2009	$	24.95	$	.48	$	7.78		$	8.26		$	(.52	)	$	-		$	(.52	)	$	32.69		33.56	%	$	27		.54	%		.54	%		1.74	%
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.39		.64		(17.19	)		(16.55	)		(.63	)		(.26	)		(.89	)		24.95		(39.59	)		20		.48			.46			1.84
Year ended 12/31/2007		40.00		1.13		4.33			5.46			(1.00	)		(2.07	)		(3.07	)		42.39		13.69			20		.47			.45			2.62
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.36		.67		6.15			6.82			(.61	)		(1.57	)		(2.18	)		40.00		19.40			11		.47			.45			1.73
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.22		.59		3.15			3.74			(.60	)		-			(.60	)		35.36		11.68			5		.58			.56			1.76
Class R-1:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.90		.22		7.76			7.98			(.26	)		-			(.26	)		32.62		32.30			98		1.47			1.47			.80
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.31		.32		(17.18	)		(16.86	)		(.29	)		(.26	)		(.55	)		24.90		(40.16	)		61		1.43			1.41			.91
Year ended 12/31/2007		39.93		.72		4.33			5.05			(.60	)		(2.07	)		(2.67	)		42.31		12.62			57		1.44			1.42			1.67
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.31		.29		6.13			6.42			(.23	)		(1.57	)		(1.80	)		39.93		18.19			23		1.47			1.43			.74
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.18		.29		3.16			3.45			(.32	)		-			(.32	)		35.31		10.74			11		1.50			1.46			.88
Class R-2:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.89		.21		7.76			7.97			(.25	)		-			(.25	)		32.61		32.22			550		1.52			1.52			.77
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.30		.30		(17.17	)		(16.87	)		(.28	)		(.26	)		(.54	)		24.89		(40.19	)		366		1.49			1.47			.85
Year ended 12/31/2007		39.92		.70		4.34			5.04			(.59	)		(2.07	)		(2.66	)		42.30		12.61			471		1.46			1.40			1.62
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.29		.30		6.14			6.44			(.24	)		(1.57	)		(1.81	)		39.92		18.26			291		1.54			1.41			.77
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.17		.30		3.14			3.44			(.32	)		-			(.32	)		35.29		10.73			155		1.64			1.43			.91
Class R-3:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.94		.36		7.77			8.13			(.40	)		-			(.40	)		32.67		32.93			1,707		.99			.99			1.29
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.38		.48		(17.20	)		(16.72	)		(.46	)		(.26	)		(.72	)		24.94		(39.89	)		1,058		.98			.95			1.37
Year ended 12/31/2007		39.98		.92		4.34			5.26			(.79	)		(2.07	)		(2.86	)		42.38		13.17			1,157		.97			.94			2.12
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.35		.47		6.14			6.61			(.41	)		(1.57	)		(1.98	)		39.98		18.75			525		.99			.96			1.21
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.21		.45		3.16			3.61			(.47	)		-			(.47	)		35.35		11.26			220		1.01			.98			1.35
Class R-4:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.95		.44		7.77			8.21			(.48	)		-			(.48	)		32.68		33.31			1,545		.69			.69			1.58
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.39		.58		(17.19	)		(16.61	)		(.57	)		(.26	)		(.83	)		24.95		(39.70	)		942		.67			.65			1.68
Year ended 12/31/2007		39.99		1.05		4.34			5.39			(.92	)		(2.07	)		(2.99	)		42.39		13.51			879		.66			.64			2.42
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.36		.59		6.14			6.73			(.53	)		(1.57	)		(2.10	)		39.99		19.12			438		.67			.65			1.52
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.22		.55		3.16			3.71			(.57	)		-			(.57	)		35.36		11.61			205		.69			.66			1.66
Class R-5:
Year ended 12/31/2009		24.99		.52		7.79			8.31			(.56	)		-			(.56	)		32.74		33.75			1,269		.39			.39			1.92
Year ended 12/31/2008		42.46		.69		(17.23	)		(16.54	)		(.67	)		(.26	)		(.93	)		24.99		(39.53	)		1,077		.37			.35			1.98
Year ended 12/31/2007		40.06		1.18		4.34			5.52			(1.05	)		(2.07	)		(3.12	)		42.46		13.81			1,014		.37			.34			2.73
Year ended 12/31/2006		35.41		.71		6.16			6.87			(.65	)		(1.57	)		(2.22	)		40.06		19.50			481		.38			.35			1.83
Year ended 12/31/2005		32.26		.65		3.17			3.82			(.67	)		-			(.67	)		35.41		11.94			265		.39			.36			1.96
Class R-6:
Period from 5/1/2009 to 12/31/2009		25.63		.37		7.17			7.54			(.43	)		-			(.43	)		32.74		29.60			596		.35	(6)		.35	(6)		1.87	(6)

	Year ended December 31
	2009			2008			2007			2006			2005
Portfolio turnover rate for all classes of shares		30	%		29	%		27	%		21	%		24	%

(1)Based on operations for the periods shown (unless otherwise noted) and, accordingly, may not be representative of a full year.

(2)Based on average shares outstanding.

(3)For the year ended December 31, 2007, this column reflects the impact of a corporate action event that resulted in a one-time increase to net investment income. If the corporate action had not occurred, the Class A net investment income per share and ratio of net income to average net assets would have been lower by $0.39 and 0.90%, respectively. The impact to the other share classes would have been similar.

(4)Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

(5)This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain reimbursements/waivers from CRMC. During some of the periods shown, CRMC reduced fees for investment advisory services. In addition, during some of the periods shown, CRMC paid a portion of the fund's transfer agent fees for certain retirement plan share classes.

(6)Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Fundamental Investors, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the summary investment portfolio, of Fundamental Investors, Inc. (the “Fund”), as of December 31, 2009, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2009, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Fundamental Investors, Inc. as of December 31, 2009, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Costa Mesa, California

February 8, 2010

Other share class results

Classes B, C, F and 529

Fund results shown are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2009:

	1 year			5 years			Life of class

Class B shares1 — first sold 3/15/00
Reflecting applicable contingent deferred sales charge
(CDSC), maximum of 5%, payable only if shares
are sold within six years of purchase		27.30	%		2.84	%		3.04	%
Not reflecting CDSC		32.30			3.20			3.04

Class C shares — first sold 3/15/01
Reflecting CDSC, maximum of 1%, payable only
if shares are sold within one year of purchase		31.26			3.14			3.59
Not reflecting CDSC		32.26			3.14			3.59

Class F-1 shares2 — first sold 3/15/01
Not reflecting annual asset-based fee charged
by sponsoring firm		33.40			3.99			4.43

Class F-2 shares2 — first sold 8/1/08
Not reflecting annual asset-based fee charged
by sponsoring firm		33.72			—			–6.28

Class 529-A shares3 — first sold 2/15/02
Reflecting 5.75% maximum sales charge		25.65			2.71			4.89
Not reflecting maximum sales charge		33.30			3.94			5.68

Class 529-B shares1,3 — first sold 2/19/02
Reflecting applicable CDSC, maximum of 5%, payable
only if shares are sold within six years of purchase		27.16			2.72			5.02
Not reflecting CDSC		32.16			3.07			5.02

Class 529-C shares3 — first sold 2/15/02
Reflecting CDSC, maximum of 1%, payable only
if shares are sold within one year of purchase		31.22			3.08			4.80
Not reflecting CDSC		32.22			3.08			4.80

Class 529-E shares2,3 — first sold 3/7/02		32.89			3.61			4.63

Class 529-F-1 shares2,3 — first sold 9/23/02
Not reflecting annual asset-based fee charged
by sponsoring firm		33.56			4.11			9.51

1These shares are not available for purchase.

2These shares are sold without any initial or contingent deferred sales charge.

3Results shown do not reflect the $10 account setup fee and an annual $10 account maintenance fee.

For information regarding the differences among the various share classes, refer to the fund’s prospectus.

Expense example

unaudited

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as initial sales charges on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions (loads), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund so you can compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (July 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009).

Actual expenses:

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

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes:

The second line of each share class in the table on the next page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio for the share class and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of the share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5.00% hypothetical example with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Notes:

There are some account fees that are charged to certain types of accounts, such as individual retirement accounts and 529 college savings plan accounts (generally, a $10 fee is charged to set up the account and an additional $10 fee is charged to the account annually), that would increase the amount of expenses paid on your account. In addition, retirement plan participants may be subject to certain fees charged by the plan sponsor, and Class F-1, F-2 and 529-F-1 shareholders may be subject to fees charged by financial intermediaries, typically ranging from 0.75% to 1.50% of assets annually depending on services offered. You can estimate the impact of these fees by adding the amount of the fees to the total estimated expenses you paid on your account during the period as calculated above. In addition, your ending account value would be lower by the amount of these fees.

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 of 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.

	Beginning account value 7/1/2009		Ending account value 12/31/2009		Expenses paid during period*		Annualized expense ratio

Class A -- actual return	$	1,000.00	$	1,221.22	$	3.75		.67	%
Class A -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,021.83		3.41		.67
Class B -- actual return		1,000.00		1,216.46		8.04		1.44
Class B -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,017.95		7.32		1.44
Class C -- actual return		1,000.00		1,216.42		8.27		1.48
Class C -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,017.74		7.53		1.48
Class F-1 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,221.83		3.75		.67
Class F-1 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,021.83		3.41		.67
Class F-2 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,223.12		2.41		.43
Class F-2 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,023.04		2.19		.43
Class 529-A -- actual return		1,000.00		1,221.16		4.03		.72
Class 529-A -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,021.58		3.67		.72
Class 529-B -- actual return		1,000.00		1,215.81		8.60		1.54
Class 529-B -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,017.44		7.83		1.54
Class 529-C -- actual return		1,000.00		1,216.30		8.60		1.54
Class 529-C -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,017.44		7.83		1.54
Class 529-E -- actual return		1,000.00		1,219.37		5.76		1.03
Class 529-E -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,020.01		5.24		1.03
Class 529-F-1 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,222.41		2.97		.53
Class 529-F-1 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,022.53		2.70		.53
Class R-1 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,216.76		8.21		1.47
Class R-1 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,017.80		7.48		1.47
Class R-2 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,216.32		8.32		1.49
Class R-2 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,017.69		7.58		1.49
Class R-3 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,219.31		5.59		1.00
Class R-3 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,020.16		5.09		1.00
Class R-4 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,221.48		3.92		.70
Class R-4 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,021.68		3.57		.70
Class R-5 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,222.87		2.19		.39
Class R-5 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,023.24		1.99		.39
Class R-6 -- actual return		1,000.00		1,223.59		1.96		.35
Class R-6 -- assumed 5% return		1,000.00		1,023.44		1.79		.35

*The “expenses paid during period” are equal to the “annualized expense ratio,” multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, and divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

Tax information

unaudited

We are required to advise you within 60 days of the fund’s fiscal year-end regarding the federal tax status of certain distributions received by shareholders during such fiscal year. The fund hereby designates the following amounts for the fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2009:

Qualified dividend income		100	%
Corporate dividends received deduction	$	631,968,000
U.S. government income that may be exempt from state taxation	$	2,908,000

Individual shareholders should refer to their Form 1099 or other tax information, which was mailed in January 2010, to determine the calendar year amounts to be included on their 2009 tax returns. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers.

Approval of Investment Advisory and Service Agreement

The fund’s board has approved the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement (the “agreement”) with Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) for an additional one-year term through August 31, 2010. The board approved the agreement following the recommendation of the fund’s Contracts Committee (the “committee”), which is composed of all of the fund’s independent board members. The board and the committee determined that the fund’s advisory fee structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided and that approving the agreement was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

In reaching this decision, the board and the committee took into account information furnished to them throughout the year, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with their review of the agreement, and were advised by their independent counsel. They considered the factors discussed below, among others, but did not identify any single issue or particular piece of information that, in isolation, was the controlling factor.

1. Nature, extent and quality of services

The board and the committee considered the depth and quality of CRMC’s investment management process, including its global research capabilities; the experience, capability and integrity of its senior management and other personnel; the low turnover rates of its key personnel; the overall financial strength and stability of its organization; and the ongoing evolution of CRMC’s organizational structure designed to maintain and strengthen these qualities. The board and the committee considered, among other things, the impact of current market conditions on the fund and CRMC. The board and the committee also considered the nature, extent and quality of administrative, compliance and shareholder services provided by CRMC to the fund under the agreement and other agreements as well as the benefits to fund shareholders from investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds. The board and the committee concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by CRMC have benefited and should continue to benefit the fund and its shareholders.

2. Investment results

The board and the committee considered the investment results of the fund in light of its objective of providing long-term growth of capital and income. They compared the fund’s total returns with those of other relevant funds (including the other funds that are the basis of the Lipper index for the category in which the fund is included) and market data such as relevant market indices, in each case as available at the time of the related meetings. In addition to the information reviewed by the board and the committee, this report, including the letter to shareholders and related disclosures, contains certain information about the fund’s investment results. The board and the committee concluded that although the fund’s net asset value per share had declined during the one-year period ended December 31, 2008, its long-term results have been satisfactory and that CRMC’s record in managing the fund indicated that its continued management should benefit the fund and its shareholders.

3. Advisory fees and total expenses

The board and the committee compared the advisory fees and total expense levels of the fund to those of other relevant funds. They observed that the fund’s advisory fees and expenses remain significantly below those of most other relevant funds. The board and the committee also noted the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure that reduce the level of fees charged by CRMC to the fund as fund assets increase. In addition, they reviewed information regarding the advisory fees paid by institutional clients of an affiliate of CRMC with investment mandates similar to those of the fund. They noted that, although the fees paid by those clients generally were lower than those paid by the fund, the differences appropriately reflected the significant investment, operational and regulatory differences between advising mutual funds and institutional clients. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s cost structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that the shareholders receive reasonable value in return for the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

4. Ancillary benefits

The board and the committee considered a variety of other benefits received by CRMC and its affiliates as a result of CRMC’s relationship with the fund and the other American Funds, including fees for administrative services provided to certain share classes; fees paid to CRMC’s affiliated transfer agent; sales charges and distribution fees received and retained by the fund’s principal underwriter, an affiliate of CRMC; and possible ancillary benefits to CRMC’s institutional management affiliates. The board and the committee reviewed CRMC’s portfolio trading practices, noting that while CRMC receives the benefit of research provided by broker-dealers executing portfolio transactions on behalf of the fund, it does not obtain third-party research or other services in return for allocating brokerage to such broker-dealers. The board and the committee took these ancillary benefits into account in evaluating the reasonableness of the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

5. Adviser financial information

The board and the committee reviewed information regarding CRMC’s costs of providing services to the American Funds, including personnel, systems and resources of investment, compliance, trading, accounting and other administrative operations. They considered CRMC’s costs and willingness to invest in technology, infrastructure and staff to maintain and expand services and capabilities, respond to industry and regulatory developments, and attract and retain qualified personnel. They noted information previously received regarding the compensation structure for CRMC’s investment professionals. The board and the committee also compared CRMC’s profitability to the reported results of several large, publicly held investment management companies. The board and the committee noted the competitiveness and cyclicality of both the mutual fund industry and the capital markets, and the importance in that environment of CRMC’s long-term profitability for maintaining its independence, company culture and management continuity. They further considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure and the termination of CRMC’s 10% advisory fee waiver effective December 31, 2008. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s advisory fee structure reflected a reasonable sharing of benefits between CRMC and the fund’s shareholders.

Results of meeting of shareholders held November 24, 2009

Shares outstanding (all classes)
on record date (August 28, 2009):	1,380,208,908
Total shares voting on November 24, 2009:	883,462,712	64.0% (of shares outstanding)

Election of board members

Director*	Votes for		Percent of shares voting for			Votes withheld		Percent of shares withheld

Ronald P. Badie		850,844,903		96.3	%		32,617,809		3.7	%
Joseph C. Berenato		850,852,674		96.3			32,610,038		3.7
Louise H. Bryson		850,934,706		96.3			32,528,006		3.7
Robert J. Denison		850,867,885		96.3			32,594,827		3.7
Mary Anne Dolan		850,872,317		96.3			32,590,395		3.7
Robert A. Fox		850,743,412		96.3			32,719,300		3.7
John G. Freund		850,790,833		96.3			32,671,879		3.7
Leonade D. Jones		850,813,104		96.3			32,649,608		3.7
William H. Kling		850,601,094		96.3			32,861,618		3.7
John G. McDonald		850,665,315		96.3			32,797,397		3.7
Dina N. Perry		850,905,418		96.3			32,557,294		3.7
James F. Rothenberg		850,907,296		96.3			32,555,416		3.7
Christopher E. Stone		850,886,977		96.3			32,575,735		3.7

	Votes for			Percent of outstanding shares voting for			Votes against		Percent of outstanding shares voting against			Votes abstaining			Percent of outstanding shares abstaining

To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization		702,463,282			50.9	%		17,899,751		1.3	%		163,099,679	†		11.8	%

	Votes for			Percent of outstanding shares voting for			Votes against		Percent of outstanding shares voting against			Votes abstaining			Percent of outstanding shares abstaining

To update the fund’s fundamental investment policies regarding:
Borrowing		694,625,218			78.6	%		25,911,668		3.0	%		162,925,826	†		18.4	%
Issuance of senior securities		695,160,917			78.7			24,747,085		2.8			163,554,710	†		18.5
Underwriting	695,551,788				78.7			24,232,421		2.7			163,678,503	†		18.6
Investments in real estate or commodities	693,397,638				78.5			26,973,967		3.0			163,091,107	†		18.5
Lending	692,774,991				78.4			27,433,837		3.1			163,253,884	†		18.5
Industry concentration	695,579,897				78.7			24,350,285		2.8			163,532,530	†		18.5
Elimination of certain polices	692,571,825				78.4			26,227,569		3.0			164,663,318	†		18.6

To approve a policy allowing CRMC to appoint subsidiary advisers for the fund’s day-to-day investment management without additional shareholder approval		688,230,988			77.9			26,587,579		3.0			168,644,145	†		19.1

To approve amendments to the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement with CRMC		690,800,021			78.2			23,102,979		2.6			169,559,712	†		19.2

To approve a form of Subsidiary Agreement and appointment of one or more subsidiary advisers for the fund		688,868,241			78.0			25,179,244		2.8			169,415,227	†		19.2

To consider a shareholder proposal regarding genocide-free investing		81,858,292			11.0			618,308,319		83.4			41,293,579			5.6
(broker non-votes =
		142,002,522	)

*Gail L. Neale and Henry E. Riggs did not stand for election at the Meeting of Shareholders because they plan to retire in December 2010.

†Includes broker non-votes.

Board of directors and other officers

“Independent” directors

	Year first
	elected a
	director of
Name and age	the fund1	Principal occupation(s) during past five years

Ronald P. Badie, 67	2008	Retired; former Vice Chairman, Deutsche Bank
		Alex. Brown

Joseph C. Berenato, 63	2003	Chairman and CEO, Ducommun Incorporated
Chairman of the Board		(aerospace components manufacturer)
(Independent and
Non-Executive)

Louise H. Bryson, 65	2008	Chair of the Board of Trustees, J. Paul Getty Trust;
		former President, Distribution, Lifetime Entertainment
		Network; former Executive Vice President and
		General Manager, Lifetime Movie Network

Robert J. Denison, 68	2005	Chair, First Security Management (private investment)

Mary Anne Dolan,4 62	2010	Founder and President, MAD Ink (communications
		company); former Editor-in-Chief, The Los Angeles
		Herald Examiner

Robert A. Fox, 72	1998	Managing General Partner, Fox Investments LP;
		corporate director; retired President and CEO, Foster
		Farms (poultry producer)

John G. Freund,4 56	2010	Founder and Managing Director, Skyline Ventures
		(venture capital investor in health care companies)

Leonade D. Jones, 62	1998	Co-founder, VentureThink LLC (developed and
		managed e-commerce businesses) and Versura Inc.
		(education loan exchange); former Treasurer, The
		Washington Post Company

William H. Kling,4 67	2010	President and CEO, American Public Media Group

John G. McDonald, 72	1998	Stanford Investors Professor, Graduate School of
		Business, Stanford University

Gail L. Neale, 75	1985	President, The Lovejoy Consulting Group, Inc.
		(a pro bono consulting group advising nonprofit
		organizations)

Henry E. Riggs, 75	1989	President Emeritus, Keck Graduate Institute of
		Applied Life Sciences

Christopher E. Stone,4 53	2010	Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Professor of the
		Practice of Criminal Justice, John F. Kennedy School
		of Government, Harvard University


“Independent” directors

	Number of
	portfolios
	in fund
	complex2
	overseen by
Name and age	director	Other directorships3 held by director

Ronald P. Badie, 67	4	Amphenol Corporation; Merisel, Inc.; Nautilus, Inc.; Obagi Medical Products, Inc.

Joseph C. Berenato, 63	6	None
Chairman of the Board
(Independent and
Non-Executive)

Louise H. Bryson, 65	6	None

Robert J. Denison, 68	7	None

Mary Anne Dolan,4 62	9	None

Robert A. Fox, 72	9	None

John G. Freund,4 56	3	Hansen Medical, Inc.; Mako Surgical Corporation;
		MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; XenoPort, Inc.

Leonade D. Jones, 62	9	None

William H. Kling,4 67	9	None

John G. McDonald, 72	12	iStar Financial, Inc.; Plum Creek Timber Co.;
		Scholastic Corporation; Varian, Inc.

Gail L. Neale, 75	5	None

Henry E. Riggs, 75	5	None

Christopher E. Stone,4 53	6	None

Patricia K. Woolf retired from the board in December 2009. The directors thank Dr. Woolf for her dedication and long service to the fund.

The fund’s statement of additional information includes additional information about fund directors and is available without charge upon request by calling American Funds Service Company at 800/421-0180. The address for all directors and officers of the fund is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Secretary.

See page 36 for footnotes.

“Interested” directors5

	Year first
	elected a
	director or	Principal occupation(s) during past five years and
Name, age and	officer of	positions held with affiliated entities or the
position with fund	the fund1	principal underwriter of the fund

James F. Rothenberg, 63	1998	Chairman of the Board, Capital Research and
Vice Chairman of the Board		Management Company; Director and Non-Executive Chair, American Funds Distributors, Inc.;6 Director and Non-Executive Chair, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.6

Dina N. Perry, 64	1994	Senior Vice President — Capital World Investors,
President		Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Research and Management Company


“Interested” directors5

	Number of
	portfolios
	in fund
	complex2
Name, age and	overseen by
position with fund	director	Other directorships3 held by director

James F. Rothenberg, 63	2	None
Vice Chairman of the Board


Dina N. Perry, 64	1	None
President

Other officers7

	Year first
	elected	Principal occupation(s) during past five years
Name, age and	an officer	and positions held with affiliated entities or the
position with fund	of the fund1	principal underwriter of the fund

Paul G. Haaga, Jr., 61
Executive Vice President	1994	Vice Chairman of the Board, Capital Research and
		Management Company; Senior Vice President —
		Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management
		Company
Michael T. Kerr, 50
Senior Vice President	1995	Senior Vice President — Capital World Investors,
		Capital Research and Management Company;
		Director, Capital Research and Management
		Company
Martin Romo,7 42
Senior Vice President	1999	Senior Vice President — Capital World Investors,
		Capital Research Company;6 Director and
		Co-President, Capital Research Company;6
		Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.6

Mark L. Casey,7 39	2008	Senior Vice President — Capital World Investors,
Vice President		Capital Research Company;6 Director,
		Capital Research Company6

Ronald B. Morrow, 64	2004	Senior Vice President — Capital World Investors,
Vice President		Capital Research and Management Company

Donald H. Rolfe, 37	2007	Associate Counsel — Fund Business Management
Vice President		Group, Capital Research and Management Company

Patrick F. Quan, 51	1989–1998	Vice President — Fund Business Management
Secretary	2000	Group, Capital Research and Management Company

Jeffrey P. Regal, 38	2006	Vice President — Fund Business Management
Treasurer		Group, Capital Research and Management Company

Gregory F. Niland, 38	2009	Vice President — Fund Business Management
Assistant Treasurer		Group, Capital Research and Management Company

1Directors and officers of the fund serve until their resignation, removal or retirement.

2Capital Research and Management Company manages the American Funds, consisting of 30 funds. Capital Research and Management Company also manages American Funds Insurance Series,® which is composed of 16 funds and serves as the underlying investment vehicle for certain variable insurance contracts; American Funds Target Date Retirement Series,® Inc., which is composed of 10 funds and is available through tax-deferred retirement plans and IRAs; and Endowments, which is available to certain nonprofit organizations.

3This includes all directorships (other than those in the American Funds or other funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company) that are held by each director as a director of a public company or a registered investment company.

4Mary Anne Dolan, John G. Freund, William H. Kling and Christopher E. Stone were newly elected to the board by the fund’s shareholders effective January 1, 2010.

5“Interested persons” within the meaning of the 1940 Act, as amended, on the basis of their affiliation with the fund’s investment adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, or affiliated entities (including the fund’s principal underwriter).

6Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company.

7 All of the officers listed, except Martin Romo and Mark L. Casey, are officers and/or directors/trustees of one or more of the other funds for which Capital Research and Management Company serves as investment adviser.

Office of the fund

One Market

Steuart Tower, Suite 1800

Mailing address: P.O. Box 7650

San Francisco, CA 94120-7650

Investment adviser

Capital Research and Management Company

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618

Transfer agent for shareholder accounts

American Funds Service Company

(Write to the address near you.)

P.O. Box 6007

Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007

P.O. Box 2280

Norfolk, VA 23501-2280

Custodian of assets

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 1200

San Francisco, CA 94111-5994

Independent registered public accounting firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

695 Town Center Drive

Suite 1200

Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7188

Principal underwriter

American Funds Distributors, Inc.

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the American Funds. This and other important information is contained in the fund’s summary prospectus and prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at 800/421-0180 or visit the American Funds website at americanfunds.com.

“American Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Principles” — which describes how we vote proxies relating to portfolio securities — is available on the American Funds website or upon request by calling AFS. The fund files its proxy voting record with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the 12 months ended June 30 by August 31. The proxy voting record is available free of charge on the SEC website at sec.gov and on the American Funds website.

A complete December 31, 2009, portfolio of Fundamental Investors’ investments is available free of charge by calling AFS or visiting the SEC website (where it is part of Form N-CSR).

Fundamental Investors files a complete list of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website. You may also review or, for a fee, copy this filing at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Additional information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at 800/SEC-0330. Additionally, the list of portfolio holdings is available by calling AFS.

This report is for the information of shareholders of Fundamental Investors, but it also may be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current summary prospectus or prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after March 31, 2010, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.

[logo - American Funds®]

The right choice for the long term®

What makes American Funds different?

For nearly 80 years, we have followed a consistent philosophy to benefit our investors. Our 30 carefully conceived, broadly diversified funds, in addition to the target date retirement series, offer opportunities that have attracted over 50 million shareholder accounts.

Our unique combination of strengths includes these five factors:

•A long-term, value-oriented approach

We seek to buy securities at reasonable prices relative to their prospects and hold them for the long term.

•An extensive global research effort

Our investment professionals travel the world to find the best investment opportunities and gain a comprehensive understanding of companies and markets.

•The multiple portfolio counselor system

Our unique approach to portfolio management, developed 50 years ago, blends teamwork with individual accountability and has provided American Funds with a sustainable method of achieving fund objectives.

•Experienced investment professionals

American Funds portfolio counselors have an average of 25 years of investment experience, providing a depth of knowledge and broad perspective that few organizations have.

•A commitment to low management fees

The American Funds provide exceptional value for shareholders, with management fees that are among the lowest in the mutual fund industry.

American Funds span a range of investment objectives

•Growth funds

Emphasis on long-term growth through stocks

AMCAP Fund®

EuroPacific Growth Fund®

The Growth Fund of America®

The New Economy Fund®

New Perspective Fund®

New World Fund®

SMALLCAP World Fund®

•Growth-and-income funds

Emphasis on long-term growth and dividends through stocks

American Mutual Fund®

Capital World Growth and Income FundSM

>Fundamental InvestorsSM

International Growth and Income FundSM

The Investment Company of America®

Washington Mutual Investors FundSM

•Equity-income funds

Emphasis on above-average income and growth through stocks and/or bonds

Capital Income Builder®

The Income Fund of America®

•Balanced fund

Emphasis on long-term growth and current income through stocks and bonds

American Balanced Fund®

•Bond funds

Emphasis on current income through bonds

American High-Income TrustSM

The Bond Fund of AmericaSM

Capital World Bond Fund®

Intermediate Bond Fund of America®

Short-Term Bond Fund of AmericaSM

U.S. Government Securities FundSM

•Tax-exempt bond funds

Emphasis on tax-exempt current income through municipal bonds

American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond FundSM

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund®

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of AmericaSM

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America®

State-specific tax-exempt funds

The Tax-Exempt Fund of California®

The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland®

The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia®

•Money market fund

American Funds Money Market FundSM

•American Funds Target Date Retirement Series®

The Capital Group Companies

American Funds Capital Research and Management Capital International Capital Guardian Capital Bank and Trust

Lit. No. MFGEAR-910-0210P

Litho in USA KBDA/RRD/8056-S20668

Printed on paper containing 10% post-consumer waste

Printed with inks containing soy and/or vegetable oil

ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics

Registrant:
	a) Audit Fees:
		2008	$76,000
		2009	$80,000

	b) Audit-Related Fees:
		2008	$16,000
		2009	$10,000
		The audit-related fees consist of assurance and related services relating to the examination of the Registrant’s investment adviser conducted in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards Number 70 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

	c) Tax Fees:
		2008	$10,000
		2009	$8,000
		The tax fees consist of professional services relating to the preparation of the Registrant’s tax returns including returns relating to the Registrant’s investments in non-U.S. jurisdictions.

	d) All Other Fees:
		2008	None
		2009	None

Adviser and affiliates (includes only fees for non-audit services billed to the adviser and affiliates for engagements that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant and were subject to the pre-approval policies described below):
	a) Audit Fees:
		Not Applicable

	b) Audit-Related Fees:
		2008	$1,070,000
		2009	$1,029,000
		The audit-related fees consist of assurance and related services relating to the examination of the Registrant’s transfer agent, principal underwriter and investment adviser conducted in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards Number 70 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

	c) Tax Fees:
		2008	$8,000
		2009	None
		The tax fees consist of consulting services relating to the Registrant’s investments.

	d) All Other Fees:
		2008	None
		2009	$2,000
		The other fees consist of subscription services related to an accounting research tool.

(a)	The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940), that such controls and procedures are adequate and reasonably designed to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (c) of such rule.

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

(a)(1)	The Code of Ethics that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 is attached as an exhibit hereto.

(a)(2)	The certifications required by Rule 30a-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as exhibits hereto.

	FUNDAMENTAL INVESTORS, INC.

	By /s/ Paul G. Haaga, Jr.
	Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Executive Vice President and Principal Executive Officer

	Date: February 26, 2010

The Fund has adopted the following standards in accordance with the requirements of Form N-CSR adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for the purpose of deterring wrongdoing and promoting: 1) honest and ethical conduct, including handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; 2) full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a fund files with or submits to the Commission and in other public communications made by the fund; 3) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; 4) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and 5) accountability for adherence to the Code. These provisions shall apply to the principal executive officer or chief executive officer and treasurer (“Covered Officers”) of the Fund.

(1)	It is the responsibility of Covered Officers to foster, by their words and actions, a corporate culture that encourages honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical resolution of, and appropriate disclosure of conflicts of interest. Covered Officers should work to assure a working environment that is characterized by respect for law and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.

(2)	Each Covered Officer must act in an honest and ethical manner while conducting the affairs of the Fund, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships. Duties of Covered Officers include:

	•	Acting with integrity;
	•	Adhering to a high standard of business ethics;
	•	Not using personal influence or personal relationships to improperly influence investment decisions or financial reporting whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Fund;

(3)	Each Covered Officer should act to promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Fund files with or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by the Fund.

	•	Covered Officers should familiarize themselves with disclosure requirements applicable to the Fund and disclosure controls and procedures in place to meet these requirements.

	•	Covered Officers must not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent facts about the Fund to others, including the Fund’s auditors, independent directors, governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations.

(4)	Any existing or potential violations of this Code should be reported to The Capital Group Companies’ Personal Investing Committee. The Personal Investing Committee is authorized to investigate any such violations and report their findings to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Fund. The Chairman of the Audit Committee may report violations of the Code to the Fund’s Board or other appropriate entity including the Audit Committee, if he or she believes such a reporting is appropriate. The Personal Investing Committee may also determine the appropriate sanction for any violations of this Code, including removal from office, provided that removal from office shall only be carried out with the approval of the Fund’s Board.

(5)	Application of this Code is the responsibility of the Personal Investing Committee, which shall report periodically to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Fund.

(6)	Material amendments to these provisions must be ratified by a majority vote of the Fund’s Board. As required by applicable rules, substantive amendments to the Code must be filed or appropriately disclosed.

Common stocks — 95.32%	Shares			Value (000)

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 16.99%
Microsoft Corp.		38,795,000		$	1,182,860
Oracle Corp.		40,523,879			994,456
Cisco Systems, Inc.1		25,643,500			613,905
Google Inc., Class A1		920,000			570,382
Yahoo! Inc.1		30,660,000			514,475
Apple Inc.1		2,420,000			510,281
Corning Inc.		24,270,000			468,654
Intuit Inc.1		10,875,000			333,971
SAP AG (ADR)		6,500,000			304,265
EMC Corp.1		14,000,000			244,580
QUALCOMM Inc.		5,125,000			237,083
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.		8,285,499			194,212
Intel Corp.		8,000,000			163,200
Visa Inc., Class A		1,850,000			161,801
Xilinx, Inc.		6,300,000			157,878
Lender Processing Services, Inc.		3,807,500			154,813
Microchip Technology Inc.		5,300,000			154,018
Hewlett-Packard Co.		2,600,000			133,926
Red Hat, Inc.1		3,000,000			92,700
Applied Materials, Inc.		6,500,000			90,610
Comverse Technology, Inc.1		7,684,470			72,618
Tyco Electronics Ltd.		2,615,000			64,198
Paychex, Inc.		2,043,500			62,613
Linear Technology Corp.		1,860,000			56,804
ASML Holding NV2		1,374,568			46,719
KLA-Tencor Corp.		1,274,500			46,086
HTC Corp.2		1,880,940			21,430
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.2		300,000			14,822
					7,663,360

ENERGY — 12.65%
Suncor Energy Inc.		40,433,040			1,437,387
Occidental Petroleum Corp.		6,204,244			504,715
CONSOL Energy Inc.3		6,700,000			333,660
ConocoPhillips		5,470,000			279,353
TOTAL SA2		4,210,000			269,586
Tenaris SA (ADR)		6,200,000			264,430
FMC Technologies, Inc.1		4,500,000			260,280
Chevron Corp.		3,117,763			240,036
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A (ADR)		3,500,000			210,385
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B (ADR)		450,000			26,158
Murphy Oil Corp.		4,343,636			235,425
Baker Hughes Inc.		5,220,000			211,305
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.		2,050,000			201,761
Petróleo Brasileiro SA – Petrobras, ordinary nominative (ADR)		3,210,000			153,053
Hess Corp.		2,500,000			151,250
Acergy SA2		9,520,000			150,096
Imperial Oil Ltd.		3,608,739			140,185
Smith International, Inc.		4,810,000			130,688
OAO TMK (GDR)1,2		5,685,000			99,646
Halliburton Co.		3,040,000			91,474
Schlumberger Ltd.		1,200,000			78,108
Devon Energy Corp.		1,000,000			73,500
Quicksilver Resources Inc.1		2,592,200			38,909
Canadian Oil Sands Trust		1,249,700			35,711
Exxon Mobil Corp.		500,000			34,095
Arch Coal, Inc.		1,286,600			28,627
Cameco Corp.		846,300			27,434
					5,707,257

HEALTH CARE — 12.13%
Merck & Co., Inc.		36,151,059			1,320,960
Roche Holding AG2		3,820,000			649,122
Medtronic, Inc.		13,625,000			599,227
Eli Lilly and Co.		13,685,000			488,691
Baxter International Inc.		6,940,000			407,239
Pfizer Inc		15,940,000			289,949
Shire Ltd. (ADR)		3,500,000			205,450
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.1		649,895			197,126
Hologic, Inc.1		12,730,000			184,585
Novartis AG2		3,200,000			174,150
Johnson & Johnson		2,300,000			148,143
Amgen Inc.1		2,058,000			116,421
Abbott Laboratories		1,800,000			97,182
Stryker Corp.		1,800,000			90,666
Hospira, Inc.1		1,700,000			86,700
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B2		1,329,000			85,022
Bayer AG2		1,000,000			79,867
Aetna Inc.		2,310,000			73,227
St. Jude Medical, Inc.1		1,900,000			69,882
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.1		926,000			59,181
Boston Scientific Corp.1		4,445,000			40,005
C. R. Bard, Inc.		150,000			11,685
					5,474,480

INDUSTRIALS — 10.99%
Lockheed Martin Corp.		5,398,200			406,754
Union Pacific Corp.		6,100,000			389,790
Schneider Electric SA2		3,157,277			365,509
Deere & Co.		5,600,000			302,904
Boeing Co.		5,500,000			297,715
First Solar, Inc.1		2,110,000			285,694
Emerson Electric Co.		6,000,000			255,600
Tyco International Ltd.		7,040,000			251,187
Parker Hannifin Corp.		4,500,000			242,460
United Technologies Corp.		3,250,000			225,582
Northrop Grumman Corp.		3,966,243			221,515
Waste Management, Inc.		5,700,000			192,717
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B		3,250,000			186,452
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. EADS NV2		8,000,000			159,688
Precision Castparts Corp.		1,200,000			132,420
Joy Global Inc.		2,238,638			115,491
Fastenal Co.		2,500,500			104,121
General Electric Co.		6,650,000			100,615
Honeywell International Inc.		2,300,000			90,160
Raytheon Co.		1,732,732			89,270
Republic Services, Inc.		3,051,600			86,391
MTU Aero Engines Holding AG2		1,475,220			80,890
General Dynamics Corp.		1,145,800			78,109
KBR, Inc.		3,950,000			75,050
Grafton Group PLC, units2,4		14,962,000			62,041
Corporate Executive Board Co.4		2,304,200			52,582
Vestas Wind Systems A/S1,2		787,000			48,148
Vallourec SA2		200,000			36,351
Iron Mountain Inc.1		1,000,000			22,760
					4,957,966

FINANCIALS — 9.57%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.		16,255,000			677,346
Wells Fargo & Co.		19,513,000			526,656
U.S. Bancorp		21,952,000			494,140
Bank of America Corp.		28,000,000			421,680
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class A1		2,945			292,144
ACE Ltd.		5,700,000			287,280
Aon Corp.		6,700,000			256,878
SunTrust Banks, Inc.		9,250,000			187,682
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.		8,060,000			177,965
AMP Ltd.2		25,571,383			154,000
Crédit Agricole SA2		8,000,000			139,367
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Class H2		133,400,000			109,488
New York Community Bancorp, Inc.		7,500,000			108,825
Citigroup Inc.		30,000,000			99,300
Cincinnati Financial Corp.		3,000,000			78,720
Travelers Companies, Inc.		1,500,000			74,790
American Express Co.		1,100,000			44,572
Irish Life & Permanent PLC1,2		8,435,059			39,795
People’s United Financial, Inc.		2,000,000			33,400
Bank of Ireland1,2		15,863,513			29,586
Bank of New York Mellon Corp.		1,000,000			27,970
CapitalSource Inc.		6,725,954			26,702
Marshall & Ilsley Corp.		3,189,998			17,385
Allied Irish Banks, PLC1,2		8,200,000			14,253
					4,319,924

MATERIALS — 9.03%
Rio Tinto PLC2		10,662,500			575,417
Syngenta AG2		2,025,400			566,922
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc.		2,684,100			291,225
Monsanto Co.		2,850,000			232,987
Dow Chemical Co.		8,376,600			231,445
CRH PLC2		8,219,550			222,485
Vale SA, ordinary nominative (ADR)		7,000,000			203,210
Weyerhaeuser Co.		3,583,000			154,571
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.		4,565,300			153,714
Mosaic Co.		2,500,000			149,325
Praxair, Inc.		1,725,000			138,535
PPG Industries, Inc.		2,166,649			126,836
Xstrata PLC1,2		7,000,000			123,456
Newmont Mining Corp.		2,500,000			118,275
BHP Billiton Ltd.2		2,860,000			109,514
MeadWestvaco Corp.		3,750,000			107,362
Ecolab Inc.		2,200,000			98,076
Sigma-Aldrich Corp.		1,925,000			97,270
Alcoa Inc.		6,000,000			96,720
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.		2,000,000			92,180
Grupo México, SAB de CV, Series B		30,000,000			68,854
Norsk Hydro ASA1,2		6,500,000			54,025
Vulcan Materials Co.		637,233			33,563
Buzzi Unicem SpA, nonconvertible shares2		2,640,000			27,279
					4,073,246

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 7.79%
McDonald’s Corp.		11,556,400			721,582
Home Depot, Inc.		12,600,000			364,518
Starbucks Corp.1		14,000,000			322,840
Walt Disney Co.		8,000,000			258,000
Time Warner Inc.		8,500,000			247,690
Comcast Corp., Class A		12,330,000			207,884
Johnson Controls, Inc.		7,500,000			204,300
Strayer Education, Inc.4		743,100			157,901
Industria de Diseño Textil, SA2		2,500,000			154,796
Virgin Media Inc.1		8,000,000			134,640
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.		5,630,000			131,686
Shaw Communications Inc., Class B, nonvoting		6,000,000			123,420
Macy’s, Inc.		6,500,000			108,940
Marriott International, Inc., Class A		3,352,545			91,357
Nikon Corp.2		3,977,000			78,483
News Corp., Class A		3,650,000			49,968
Penn National Gaming, Inc.1		1,763,000			47,918
Toyota Motor Corp.2		1,000,000			42,041
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.1		379,832			33,486
Weight Watchers International, Inc.		1,070,000			31,201
					3,512,651

CONSUMER STAPLES — 6.12%
Coca-Cola Co.		11,460,000			653,220
Philip Morris International Inc.		8,224,800			396,353
Altria Group, Inc.		14,175,100			278,257
Pernod Ricard SA2		2,473,500			212,158
PepsiCo, Inc.		3,100,000			188,480
Avon Products, Inc.		5,600,000			176,400
Procter & Gamble Co.		2,555,000			154,910
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.		2,400,000			128,280
Unilever NV, depository receipts2		3,500,000			113,965
British American Tobacco PLC2		3,150,000			102,321
Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd.2		9,390,556			96,762
Colgate-Palmolive Co.		1,100,000			90,365
CVS/Caremark Corp.		2,500,000			80,525
Kraft Foods Inc., Class A		1,900,000			51,642
C&C Group PLC2		8,773,609			37,836
					2,761,474

UTILITIES — 4.44%
Exelon Corp.		7,760,900			379,275
GDF Suez2		6,029,861			261,407
Questar Corp.		5,000,000			207,850
Edison International		5,250,000			182,595
E.ON AG2		4,000,000			166,868
PPL Corp.		4,500,000			145,395
American Water Works Co., Inc.		5,000,000			112,050
Duke Energy Corp.		6,500,000			111,865
Electricité de France SA2		1,761,147			104,721
PG&E Corp.		2,000,000			89,300
NV Energy, Inc.		7,000,000			86,660
SUEZ Environnement Co.2		2,500,000			57,712
FPL Group, Inc.		1,050,000			55,461
Xcel Energy Inc.		1,500,000			31,830
Entergy Corp.		150,000			12,276
					2,005,265

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 2.91%
Verizon Communications Inc.		16,800,000			556,584
Telefónica, SA2		9,500,000			264,586
AT&T Inc.		7,150,000			200,414
SOFTBANK CORP.2		4,700,000			109,917
Vodafone Group PLC2		44,500,000			103,183
China Telecom Corp. Ltd., Class H2		185,180,000			76,630
					1,311,314

MISCELLANEOUS — 2.70%
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition					1,219,520


Total common stocks (cost: $37,957,243,000)					43,006,457



Convertible securities — 0.03%

MISCELLANEOUS — 0.03%
Other convertible securities in initial period of acquisition					13,875


Total convertible securities (cost: $12,500,000)					13,875



	Principal amount
Bonds & notes — 0.01%		(000	)

MORTGAGE-BACKED OBLIGATIONS5 — 0.01%
ChaseFlex Trust, Series 2007-2, Class A-1, 0.511% 20376	$	10,392			6,360


Total bonds & notes (cost: $6,440,000)					6,360



	Principal amount			Value
Short-term securities — 4.59%		(000	)		(000	)

Freddie Mac 0.08%–1.00% due 1/20–9/14/2010	$	754,000		$	753,730
Fannie Mae 0.07%–0.25% due 1/25–8/16/2010		251,330			251,104
U.S. Treasury Bills 0.161%–0.28% due 2/4–8/26/2010		145,450			145,399
Coca-Cola Co. 0.18%–0.21% due 1/6–3/18/20103		102,850			102,841
Straight-A Funding LLC 0.18% due 2/9–3/8/20103		100,000			99,976
Federal Home Loan Bank 0.06%–0.10% due 1/8–3/29/2010		96,900			96,893
Private Export Funding Corp. 0.15%–0.22% due 2/3–3/3/20103		96,600			96,578
General Electric Capital Corp. 0.17%–0.20% due 1/11–1/20/2010		67,700			67,691
General Electric Capital Services, Inc. 0.18% due 2/22/2010		25,000			24,992
Variable Funding Capital Company LLC 0.16%–0.21% due 1/5–1/14/2010 3		77,000			76,991
Enterprise Funding Co. LLC 0.20% due 3/17/20103		35,019			35,003
Bank of America Corp. 0.23% due 3/23/2010		30,000			29,986
Park Avenue Receivables Co., LLC 0.15% due 1/4/20103		35,000			34,999
Jupiter Securitization Co., LLC 0.15%–0.21% due 1/12–1/15/20103		24,500			24,497
Procter & Gamble International Funding S.C.A. 0.21%–0.22% due 1/14–2/11/20103		50,500			50,492
Federal Farm Credit Banks 0.37% due 5/10/2010		50,000			49,973
NetJets Inc. 0.12% due 3/1/20103		41,550			41,537
Abbott Laboratories 0.11% due 2/1/20103		35,000			34,997
Medtronic Inc. 0.14% due 1/5/20103		26,300			26,300
Walt Disney Co. 0.11% due 1/20/20103		25,000			24,998


Total short-term securities (cost: $2,068,739,000)					2,068,977

Total investment securities (cost: $40,044,922,000)					45,095,669
Other assets less liabilities					22,220

Net assets				$	45,117,889

1.	I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Fundamental Investors, Inc.;

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

	a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

	b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

	c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

	d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

	a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

	b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

1)	The Registrant's periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended December 31, 2009 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2)	The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Principal Executive Officer	Principal Financial Officer

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTORS, INC.	FUNDAMENTAL INVESTORS, INC.


/s/ Paul G. Haaga, Jr.	/s/ Jeffrey P. Regal
Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Executive Vice President	Jeffrey P. Regal, Treasurer

Date: February 26, 2010	Date: February 26, 2010