N-CSRS 1 fi_ncsrs.htm N-CSRS

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

Certified Shareholder Report of

Registered Management Investment Companies

 

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-00032

 

American Funds Fundamental Investors

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (949) 975-5000

 

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

 

Date of reporting period: June 30, 2020

 

Hong T. Le

American Funds Fundamental Investors

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 
 

  

ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders

 

 

 

Fundamental Investors®

 

Semi-annual report
for the six months ended
June 30, 2020

 

 

Flexibility can help
uncover value in any
market environment

 

Beginning January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we intend to no longer mail paper copies of the fund’s shareholder reports, unless specifically requested from American Funds or your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Capital Group website (capitalgroup.com); you will be notified by mail and provided with a website link to access the report each time a report is posted. If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. If you prefer to receive shareholder reports and other communications electronically, you may update your mailing preferences with your financial intermediary, or enroll in e-delivery at capitalgroup.com (for accounts held directly with the fund).

 

You may elect to receive paper copies of all future reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you may contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with the fund, you may inform American Funds that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by contacting us at (800) 421-4225. Your election to receive paper reports will apply to all funds held with American Funds or through your financial intermediary.

 

Fundamental Investors seeks long-term growth of capital and income.

 

This fund is one of more than 40 offered by Capital Group, home of American Funds, one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families. For nearly 90 years, Capital Group 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. Prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. For current information and month-end results, visit capitalgroup.com.

 

Here are the average annual total returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for periods ended June 30, 2020:

 

Class A shares   1 year   5 years   10 years
             
Reflecting 5.75% maximum sales charge   –1.48%   8.11%   11.95%

 

For other share class results, visit capitalgroup.com and americanfundsretirement.com.

 

The total annual fund operating expense ratio was 0.62% for Class A shares as of the prospectus dated March 1, 2020. The expense ratio is restated to reflect current fees.

 

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. When applicable, investment results reflect fee waivers, without which results would have been lower. Visit capitalgroup.com for more information.

 

The fund’s 30-day yield for Class A shares as of July 31, 2020, calculated in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) formula, was 1.16%. The fund’s 12-month distribution rate for Class A shares as of that date was 1.41%. 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.

 

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

 

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

 

Fellow investors:

 

Shown in the table below is Fundamental Investors’ semi-annual result for the period ended June 30, 2020. Also shown is the result of its primary benchmark.

 

For additional information about the fund, its investment results, holdings and portfolio managers, visit capitalgroup.com/individual/investments/fund/ancfx. You can also access information about Capital Group’s American Funds and read our insights about the markets, retirement, saving for college, investing fundamentals and more at capitalgroup.com.

 

Results at a glance

 

For periods ended June 30, 2020, with all distributions reinvested

 

    Cumulative
total returns
  Average annual total returns
    6 months   1 year   5 years   10 years   Lifetime
(since 8/1/78)1
                     
Fundamental Investors (Class A shares)     –5.70 %     4.55 %     9.40 %     12.61 %     12.14 %
Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index2,3     –3.08       7.51       10.73       13.99       11.55  
   
1 The date Capital Research and Management Company began managing the fund.
2 Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices.
3 The market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
   
Fundamental Investors 1
 
Summary investment portfolio June 30, 2020 unaudited
   
Industry sector diversification Percent of net assets

 

 

Country diversification by domicile   Percent of
net assets
United States     76.91 %
Eurozone*     4.65  
United Kingdom     4.00  
Canada     2.52  
Taiwan     .98  
South Korea     .81  
Switzerland     .76  
Japan     .66  
India     .50  
Other countries     2.10  
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities     6.11  
* Countries using the euro as a common currency; those represented in the fund’s portfolio are Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands.

 

Common stocks 93.65%   Shares     Value
(000)
 
Information technology 22.21%                
Microsoft Corp.     26,245,668     $ 5,341,256  
Broadcom Inc.     10,490,860       3,311,020  
ASML Holding NV1     3,986,767       1,461,463  
ASML Holding NV (New York registered) (ADR)     788,679       290,257  
Intel Corp.     18,787,606       1,124,062  
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.1     77,246,000       817,420  
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (ADR)     2,547,515       144,623  
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.2     14,367,238       755,860  
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.1     12,708,781       563,369  
Texas Instruments Inc.     3,770,000       478,677  
Visa Inc., Class A     2,415,190       466,542  
NortonLifeLock Inc.     23,164,083       459,344  
Mastercard Inc., Class A     1,525,000       450,943  
Applied Materials, Inc.     7,264,015       439,110  
Other securities             5,772,574  
              21,876,520  
   
2 Fundamental Investors
 
    Shares     Value
(000)
 
Health care 14.52%                
UnitedHealth Group Inc.     7,524,977     $ 2,219,492  
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2     2,223,049       1,386,405  
Centene Corp.2     13,030,582       828,094  
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.     2,114,288       766,091  
Pfizer Inc.     23,355,786       763,734  
Cigna Corp.     3,706,265       695,481  
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.2     2,251,696       653,690  
Gilead Sciences, Inc.     6,073,500       467,295  
Boston Scientific Corp.2     13,037,700       457,754  
Other securities             6,070,194  
              14,308,230  
                 
Communication services 10.96%                
Facebook, Inc., Class A2     12,994,316       2,950,619  
Alphabet Inc., Class C2     1,002,051       1,416,510  
Alphabet Inc., Class A2     276,568       392,187  
Netflix, Inc.2     3,724,733       1,694,903  
Comcast Corp., Class A     36,736,328       1,431,982  
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A2     1,959,268       999,305  
Activision Blizzard, Inc.     8,197,863       622,218  
Other securities             1,290,697  
              10,798,421  
                 
Financials 10.28%                
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class B2     5,047,200       900,976  
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class A2     1,042       278,526  
JPMorgan Chase & Co.     10,088,879       948,960  
The Blackstone Group Inc., Class A     11,578,023       656,011  
Truist Financial Corp.     14,215,750       533,801  
CME Group Inc., Class A     3,122,189       507,481  
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.     4,748,376       434,951  
Other securities             5,870,475  
              10,131,181  
                 
Consumer staples 8.42%                
British American Tobacco PLC1     41,308,162       1,587,118  
British American Tobacco PLC (ADR)     1,679,000       65,179  
Altria Group, Inc.     37,671,157       1,478,593  
Philip Morris International Inc.     19,228,463       1,347,146  
Conagra Brands, Inc.     17,596,760       618,878  
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.     16,692,000       474,053  
Other securities             2,720,099  
              8,291,066  
                 
Consumer discretionary 8.22%                
Amazon.com, Inc.2     1,305,715       3,602,233  
Prosus NV1,2     5,876,000       545,353  
Other securities             3,948,199  
              8,095,785  
   
Fundamental Investors 3
 
Common stocks (continued)   Shares     Value
(000)
 
Industrials 7.78%                
TransDigm Group Inc.     2,114,330     $ 934,640  
CSX Corp.     9,999,394       697,358  
Parker-Hannifin Corp.     2,954,700       541,508  
Honeywell International Inc.     3,657,678       528,864  
Boeing Company     2,710,475       496,830  
Deere & Company     2,968,619       466,518  
Other securities             3,993,634  
              7,659,352  
                 
Materials 4.82%                
Barrick Gold Corp.     16,064,782       432,785  
Other securities             4,315,957  
              4,748,742  
                 
Energy 2.55%                
Chevron Corp.     4,916,108       438,664  
Other securities             2,074,551  
              2,513,215  
                 
Utilities 2.13%                
Enel SpA1     65,013,957       560,107  
Other securities             1,539,228  
              2,099,335  
                 
Real estate 1.76%                
Other securities             1,732,701  
                 
Total common stocks (cost: $61,780,716,000)             92,254,548  
                 
Preferred securities 0.08%                
Information technology 0.08%                
Other securities             82,010  
                 
Total preferred securities (cost: $67,922,000)             82,010  
                 
Rights & warrants 0.00%                
Communication services 0.00%                
Other securities             203  
                 
Total rights & warrants (cost: $3,047,000)             203  
                 
Convertible stocks 0.16%                
Information technology 0.16%                
Broadcom Inc., Series A, cumulative convertible preferred shares, 8.00% 2022     141,873       158,096  
                 
Total convertible stocks (cost: $142,408,000)             158,096  
   
4 Fundamental Investors
 
Short-term securities 5.96%   Shares     Value
(000)
 
Money market investments 5.96%                
Capital Group Central Cash Fund 0.18%3     58,645,451     $ 5,865,132  
                 
Total short-term securities (cost: $5,864,862,000)             5,865,132  
Total investment securities 99.85% (cost: $67,858,955,000)             98,359,989  
Other assets less liabilities 0.15%             149,769  
                 
Net assets 100.00%           $ 98,509,758  

 

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

 

“Other securities” includes all issues that are not disclosed separately in the summary investment portfolio. “Other securities” also includes a security (with a value of $45,673,000, which represented .05% of the net assets of the fund) which was acquired in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 and may be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

 

Investments in affiliates

 

A company is an affiliate of the fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 if the fund’s holdings represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of that company. 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 six months ended June 30, 2020, appear below.

 

    Beginning
shares
    Additions     Reductions     Ending
shares
 
Common stocks 0.40%                                
Health care 0.21%                                
Allakos Inc.2     1,244,901       1,577,599             2,822,500  
Industrials 0.19%                                
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.     2,187,002       265,600             2,452,602  
                                 
    Net
realized
gain
(000)
    Net
unrealized
depreciation
(000)
    Dividend
income
(000)
    Value of
affiliates at
6/30/2020
(000)
 
Common stocks 0.40%                                
Health care 0.21%                                
Allakos Inc.2   $     $ (20,045 )   $     $ 202,825  
Industrials 0.19%                                
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.           (33,167 )     898       191,205  
Total common stocks                             394,030  
Total 0.40%   $     $ (53,212 )   $ 898     $ 394,030  
   
Fundamental Investors 5
 
1 Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of all such securities, including those in “Other securities,” was $12,623,200,000, which represented 12.81% 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.
2 Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
3 Rate represents the seven-day yield at 6/30/2020.

 

Key to abbreviation

ADR = American Depositary Receipts

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

6 Fundamental Investors
 

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities unaudited  
at June 30, 2020 (dollars in thousands)  

 

Assets:                
Investment securities, at value:                
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $67,447,367)   $ 97,965,959          
Affiliated issuers (cost: $411,588)     394,030     $ 98,359,989  
Cash             10,419  
Cash denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars (cost: $334)             329  
Receivables for:                
Sales of investments     169,181          
Sales of fund’s shares     48,929          
Dividends     114,215       332,325  
              98,703,062  
Liabilities:                
Payables for:                
Purchases of investments     69,907          
Repurchases of fund’s shares     77,920          
Investment advisory services     19,559          
Services provided by related parties     18,680          
Trustees’ deferred compensation     3,586          
Other     3,652       193,304  
Net assets at June 30, 2020           $ 98,509,758  
                 
 
Net assets consist of:                
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest           $ 67,494,482  
Total distributable earnings             31,015,276  
Net assets at June 30, 2020           $ 98,509,758  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

Fundamental Investors 7
 

(dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (1,719,614 total shares outstanding)

 

    Net assets     Shares
outstanding
    Net asset value
per share
 
Class A   $ 51,380,242       896,534     $ 57.31  
Class C     1,755,713       30,798       57.01  
Class T     10       *     57.29  
Class F-1     2,238,125       39,077       57.28  
Class F-2     9,623,087       168,011       57.28  
Class F-3     6,958,627       121,495       57.28  
Class 529-A     2,588,486       45,246       57.21  
Class 529-C     298,150       5,209       57.24  
Class 529-E     84,438       1,477       57.16  
Class 529-T     13       *     57.29  
Class 529-F-1     187,030       3,274       57.13  
Class R-1     114,368       2,006       57.00  
Class R-2     643,046       11,291       56.95  
Class R-2E     85,596       1,502       56.99  
Class R-3     1,681,891       29,426       57.16  
Class R-4     1,674,893       29,298       57.17  
Class R-5E     353,532       6,182       57.18  
Class R-5     1,161,607       20,256       57.35  
Class R-6     17,680,904       308,532       57.31  

 

* Amount less than one thousand.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8 Fundamental Investors
 
Statement of operations unaudited  
for the six months ended June 30, 2020 (dollars in thousands)  

 

Investment income:                
Income:                
Dividends (net of non-U.S. taxes of $18,376; also includes $898 from affiliates)   $ 1,131,857          
Interest     364     $ 1,132,221  
Fees and expenses*:                
Investment advisory services     117,524          
Distribution services     88,476          
Transfer agent services     35,276          
Administrative services     14,582          
Reports to shareholders     1,629          
Registration statement and prospectus     1,387          
Trustees’ compensation     187          
Auditing and legal     153          
Custodian     1,457          
Other     1,070       261,741  
Net investment income             870,480  
                 
Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation:                
Net realized gain (loss) on:                
Investments in unaffiliated issuers     92,409          
Currency transactions     (10,088 )     82,321  
Net unrealized depreciation on:                
Investments:                
Unaffiliated issuers     (7,225,685 )        
Affiliated issuers     (53,212 )        
Currency translations     (856 )     (7,279,753 )
Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation             (7,197,432 )
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations           $ (6,326,952 )

 

* Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the notes to financial statements.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

Fundamental Investors 9
 

Statements of changes in net assets

(dollars in thousands)

 

    Six months ended
June 30,
2020*
    Year ended
December 31,
2019
 
Operations:                
Net investment income   $ 870,480     $ 1,714,614  
Net realized gain     82,321       6,292,213  
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation     (7,279,753 )     16,154,786  
Net (decrease) increase in net assets resulting from operations     (6,326,952 )     24,161,613  
                 
Distributions paid to shareholders     (1,943,191 )     (7,671,101 )
                 
Net capital share transactions     (1,737,504 )     3,796,000  
                 
Total (decrease) increase in net assets     (10,007,647 )     20,286,512  
                 
Net assets:                
Beginning of period     108,517,405       88,230,893  
End of period   $ 98,509,758     $ 108,517,405  

 

* Unaudited.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

10 Fundamental Investors
 
Notes to financial statements unaudited

 

1. Organization

 

American Funds Fundamental Investors (the “trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management investment company and has initially issued one series of shares, Fundamental Investors (the “fund”). The fund seeks long-term growth of capital and income.

 

The fund has 19 share classes consisting of six retail share classes (Classes A, C, T, F-1, F-2 and F-3), five 529 college savings plan share classes (Classes 529-A, 529-C, 529-E, 529-T and 529-F-1) and eight retirement plan share classes (Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6). The 529 college savings plan share classes can be used to save for college education. The retirement plan share classes are generally offered only through eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans. The fund’s share classes are described further in the following table:

 

Share class   Initial sales
charge
  Contingent deferred sales
charge upon redemption
  Conversion feature
Classes A and 529-A   Up to 5.75%1   None (except 1% for certain redemptions within 18 months of purchase without an initial sales charge)   None
Class C   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class C converts to Class F-1 after 10 years2
Class 529-C   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class 529-C converts to Class 529-A after 10 years3
Class 529-E   None   None   None
Classes T and 529-T4   Up to 2.50%   None   None
Classes F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1   None   None   None
Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6   None   None   None
1 Up to 3.50% for Class 529-A shares purchased on or after June 30, 2020.
2 Effective June 30, 2020, Class C converts to Class A after 8 years.
3 Effective June 30, 2020, Class 529-C converts to Class 529-A after 5 years.
4 Class T and 529-T shares are not available for purchase.

 

Holders of all share classes have equal pro rata rights to the assets, dividends and liquidation proceeds of the fund. 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, transfer agent and administrative 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 share class.

 

Fundamental Investors 11
 

2. Significant accounting policies

 

The fund is an investment company that applies the accounting and reporting guidance issued in Topic 946 by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board. The fund’s financial statements have been prepared to comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles require the fund’s investment adviser to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events, if any, have been evaluated through the date of issuance in the preparation of the financial statements. The fund follows the significant accounting policies described in this section, as well as the valuation policies described in the next section on valuation.

 

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. In the event a security is purchased with a delayed payment date, the fund will segregate liquid assets sufficient to meet its payment obligations. 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), realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net assets. Class-specific fees and expenses, such as distribution, transfer agent and administrative services, are charged directly to the respective share class.

 

Distributions paid to shareholders — Income dividends and capital gain distributions 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 supplied by one or more pricing vendors 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. 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 in the fund’s statement of operations. 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.

 

3. Valuation

 

Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), the fund’s investment adviser, values the fund’s investments at fair value as defined by U.S. GAAP. The net asset value of each share class of the fund is generally determined as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time each day the New York Stock Exchange is open.

 

12 Fundamental Investors
 

Methods and inputs — The fund’s investment adviser uses the following methods and inputs to establish the fair value of the fund’s assets and liabilities. Use of particular methods and inputs may vary over time based on availability and relevance as market and economic conditions evolve.

 

Equity securities are generally 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 on which the security trades.

 

Fixed-income securities, including short-term securities, are generally valued at prices obtained from one or more pricing vendors. Vendors value such securities based on one or more of the inputs described in the following table. The table provides examples of inputs that are commonly relevant for valuing particular classes of fixed-income securities in which the fund is authorized to invest. However, these classifications are not exclusive, and any of the inputs may be used to value any other class of fixed-income security.

 

Fixed-income class   Examples of standard inputs
All   Benchmark yields, transactions, bids, offers, quotations from dealers and trading systems, new issues, spreads and other relationships observed in the markets among comparable securities; and proprietary pricing models such as yield measures calculated using factors such as cash flows, financial or collateral performance and other reference data (collectively referred to as “standard inputs”)
Corporate bonds & notes; convertible securities   Standard inputs and underlying equity of the issuer
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies   Standard inputs and interest rate volatilities
Mortgage-backed; asset-backed obligations   Standard inputs and cash flows, prepayment information, default rates, delinquency and loss assumptions, collateral characteristics, credit enhancements and specific deal information

 

When the fund’s investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so (such as when vendor prices are unavailable or deemed to be not representative), fixed-income securities will be valued in good faith at the mean quoted bid and ask prices that are reasonably and timely available (or bid prices, if ask prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type.

 

Securities with both fixed-income and equity characteristics, or equity securities traded principally among fixed-income dealers, are generally valued in the manner described for either equity or fixed-income securities, depending on which method is deemed most appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser. The Capital Group Central Cash Fund (“CCF”), a fund within the Capital Group Central Fund Series (“Central Funds”), is valued

 

Fundamental Investors 13
 

based upon a floating net asset value, which fluctuates with changes in the value of CCF’s portfolio securities. The underlying securities are valued based on the policies and procedures in CCF’s statement of additional information.

 

Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the fund’s investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under fair valuation guidelines adopted by authority of the fund’s board of trustees as further described. The investment adviser follows fair valuation guidelines, consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and guidance, to consider relevant principles and factors when making fair value determinations. The investment adviser considers relevant indications of value that are reasonably and timely available to it in determining the fair value to be assigned to a particular security, such as 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. In addition, the closing prices of equity securities that trade in markets outside U.S. time zones may be adjusted to reflect significant events that occur after the close of local trading but before the net asset value of each share class of the fund is determined. 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.

 

Processes and structure — The fund’s board of trustees has delegated authority to the fund’s investment adviser to make fair value determinations, subject to board oversight. The investment adviser has established a Joint Fair Valuation Committee (the “Fair Valuation Committee”) to administer, implement and oversee the fair valuation process, and to make fair value decisions. The Fair Valuation Committee regularly reviews its own fair value decisions, as well as decisions made under its standing instructions to the investment adviser’s valuation teams. The Fair Valuation Committee reviews changes in fair value measurements from period to period and may, as deemed appropriate, update the fair valuation guidelines to better reflect the results of back testing and address new or evolving issues. The Fair Valuation Committee reports any changes to the fair valuation guidelines to the board of trustees. The fund’s board and audit committee also regularly review reports that describe fair value determinations and methods.

 

The fund’s investment adviser has also established a Fixed-Income Pricing Review Group to administer and oversee the fixed-income valuation process, including the use of fixed-income pricing vendors. This group regularly reviews pricing vendor information and market data. Pricing decisions, processes and controls over security valuation are also subject to additional internal reviews, including an annual control self-evaluation program facilitated by the investment adviser’s compliance group.

 

14 Fundamental Investors
 

Classifications — The fund’s investment adviser classifies the fund’s assets and liabilities into three levels based on the inputs 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. Certain securities trading outside the U.S. may transfer between Level 1 and Level 2 due to valuation adjustments resulting from significant market movements following the close of local trading. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs that reflect the investment adviser’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 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 June 30, 2020 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

    Investment securities  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:                                
Common stocks:                                
Information technology   $ 18,546,440     $ 3,330,080     $     $ 21,876,520  
Health care     13,144,730       1,163,500             14,308,230  
Communication services     10,732,927       65,494             10,798,421  
Financials     8,727,960       1,403,221             10,131,181  
Consumer staples     6,149,175       2,141,891             8,291,066  
Consumer discretionary     6,770,832       1,324,953             8,095,785  
Industrials     6,396,860       1,262,492             7,659,352  
Materials     4,007,934       740,808             4,748,742  
Energy     2,190,794       322,421             2,513,215  
Utilities     1,313,005       786,330             2,099,335  
Real estate     1,732,701                   1,732,701  
Preferred securities           82,010             82,010  
Rights & warrants     203                   203  
Convertible stocks     158,096                   158,096  
Short-term securities     5,865,132                   5,865,132  
Total   $ 85,736,789     $ 12,623,200     $     $ 98,359,989  

 

4. Risk factors

 

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

 

Market conditions — The prices of, and the income generated by, the common stocks and other securities held by the fund may decline — sometimes rapidly or unpredictably — due to various factors, including events or conditions affecting the general economy or particular industries; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; governmental, governmental agency or central bank responses to economic conditions; and currency exchange rate, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

 

Fundamental Investors 15
 

Economies and financial markets throughout the world are highly interconnected. Economic, financial or political events, trading and tariff arrangements, wars, terrorism, cybersecurity events, natural disasters, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious disease) and other circumstances in one country or region could have impacts on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not the fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries affected, the value and liquidity of the fund’s investments may be negatively affected by developments in other countries and regions.

 

Issuer risks — The prices of, and the income generated by, securities held by the fund may decline in response to various factors directly related to the issuers of such securities, including reduced demand for an issuer’s goods or services, poor management performance, major litigation related to the issuer, changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or its competitive environment and strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions or dispositions and the market response to any such initiatives.

 

Investing in growth-oriented stocks — Growth-oriented common stocks and other equity-type securities (such as preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks and convertible bonds) may involve larger price swings and greater potential for loss than other types of investments.

 

Investing in income-oriented stocks — The value of the fund’s securities and income provided by the fund may be reduced by changes in the dividend policies of, and the capital resources available for dividend payments at, the companies in which the fund invests.

 

Investing outside the U.S. — Securities of issuers domiciled outside the U.S., or with significant operations or revenues outside the U.S., may lose value because of adverse political, social, economic or market developments (including social instability, regional conflicts, terrorism and war) in the countries or regions in which the issuers operate or generate revenue. These securities may also lose value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar and/or currencies of other countries. Issuers of these securities may be more susceptible to actions of foreign governments, such as nationalization, currency blockage or the imposition of price controls or punitive taxes, each of which could adversely impact the value of these securities. Securities markets in certain countries may be more volatile and/or less liquid than those in the U.S. Investments outside the U.S. may also be subject to different accounting practices and different regulatory, legal and reporting standards and practices, and may be more difficult to value, than those in the U.S. In addition, the value of investments outside the U.S. may be reduced by foreign taxes, including foreign withholding taxes on interest and dividends. Further, there may be increased risks of delayed settlement of securities purchased or sold by the fund. The risks of investing outside the U.S. may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets.

 

16 Fundamental Investors
 

Management — The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund’s investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses, including models, tools and data, employed by the investment adviser in this process may be flawed or incorrect and may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

 

5. 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 June 30, 2020, 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 significant interest or penalties.

 

The fund’s tax returns are not subject to examination by federal, state and, if applicable, non-U.S. tax authorities after the expiration of each jurisdiction’s statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the date of filing but can be extended in certain jurisdictions.

 

Non-U.S. taxation — Dividend and interest income are recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. The fund may file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. As a result of rulings from European courts, the fund filed for additional reclaims related to prior years. These reclaims are recorded when the amount is known and there are no significant uncertainties on collectability. Gains realized by the fund on the sale of securities in certain countries, if any, may be subject to non-U.S. taxes. If applicable, the fund records an estimated deferred tax 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 and cost of investments sold. 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.

 

Fundamental Investors 17
 

The components of distributable earnings on a tax basis are reported as of the fund’s most recent year-end. As of December 31, 2019, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Undistributed ordinary income   $ 372,636  
Undistributed long-term capital gains     1,323,726  
Post-October capital loss deferral*     (82,242 )

 

* This deferral is considered incurred in the subsequent year.

 

As of June 30, 2020, the tax basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investments were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Gross unrealized appreciation on investments   $ 34,100,045  
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments     (3,829,217 )
Net unrealized appreciation on investments     30,270,828  
Cost of investments     68,089,161  

 

Distributions paid were characterized for tax purposes as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

    Six months ended June 30, 2020     Year ended December 31, 2019  
                Total                 Total  
    Ordinary     Long-term     distributions     Ordinary     Long-term     distributions  
Share class   income     capital gains     paid     income     capital gains     paid  
Class A   $ 302,636     $ 690,446     $ 993,082     $ 825,499     $ 3,156,847     $ 3,982,346  
Class C     4,126       23,616       27,742       15,859       116,925       132,784  
Class T                     1       1  
Class F-1     13,425       30,455       43,880       39,438       155,470       194,908  
Class F-2     67,958       129,288       197,246       177,322       602,873       780,195  
Class F-3     52,256       93,395       145,651       127,770       418,682       546,452  
Class 529-A     14,672       34,881       49,553       39,232       156,084       195,316  
Class 529-C     641       3,945       4,586       2,490       19,773       22,263  
Class 529-E     395       1,140       1,535       1,123       5,221       6,344  
Class 529-T                     1       1  
Class 529-F-1     1,286       2,506       3,792       3,057       10,659       13,716  
Class R-1     233       1,557       1,790       1,002       7,612       8,614  
Class R-2     1,368       8,709       10,077       5,514       41,384       46,898  
Class R-2E     313       1,167       1,480       910       5,056       5,966  
Class R-3     7,311       22,756       30,067       23,675       112,751       136,426  
Class R-4     9,926       22,602       32,528       29,564       111,644       141,208  
Class R-5E     2,404       4,744       7,148       5,800       20,720       26,520  
Class R-5     8,583       15,677       24,260       24,473       76,552       101,025  
Class R-6     131,816       236,958       368,774       313,476       1,016,642       1,330,118  
Total   $ 619,349     $ 1,323,842     $ 1,943,191     $ 1,636,204     $ 6,034,897     $ 7,671,101  

 

Amount less than one thousand.

 

18 Fundamental Investors
 

6. Fees and transactions with related parties

 

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. CRMC, AFD and AFS are considered related parties to the fund.

 

Investment advisory services — The fund has an investment advisory and service agreement with CRMC that provides for monthly fees accrued daily. These fees are based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.390% on the first $1 billion of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.229% on such assets in excess of $89 billion. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the investment advisory services fee was $117,524,000, which was equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.242% 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 further described below:

 

Distribution services — The fund has plans of distribution for all share classes, except Class F-2, F-3, R-5E, R-5 and R-6 shares. Under the plans, the board of trustees 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 in this section. In some cases, the board of trustees 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.

 

  Share class   Currently approved limits   Plan limits
  Class A     0.25 %     0.25 %
  Class 529-A     0.25       0.50  
  Classes C, 529-C and R-1     1.00       1.00  
  Class R-2     0.75       1.00  
  Class R-2E     0.60       0.85  
  Classes 529-E and R-3     0.50       0.75  
  Classes T, F-1, 529-T, 529-F-1 and R-4     0.25       0.50  

 

For Class A and 529-A shares, distribution-related expenses include the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These share classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limits are not exceeded. As of June 30, 2020, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class A or 529-A shares.

 

Fundamental Investors 19
 

Transfer agent services — The fund has a shareholder services agreement with AFS under which the fund compensates AFS for providing transfer agent services to each of the fund’s share classes. These services include recordkeeping, shareholder communications and transaction processing. In addition, the fund reimburses AFS for amounts paid to third parties for performing transfer agent services on behalf of fund shareholders.

 

Administrative services — The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC under which the fund compensates CRMC for providing administrative services to all share classes. Administrative services are provided by CRMC and its affiliates to help assist third parties providing non-distribution services to fund shareholders. These services include providing in-depth information on the fund and market developments that impact fund investments. Administrative services also include, but are not limited to, coordinating, monitoring and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. The agreement provides the fund the ability to charge an administrative services fee at the annual rate of 0.05% of the daily net assets attributable to each share class of the fund. Currently the fund pays CRMC an administrative services fee at the annual rate of 0.03% of daily net assets attributable to each share class of the fund for CRMC’s provision of administrative services.

 

529 plan services — Each 529 share class is subject to service fees to compensate the Virginia College Savings Plan (“Virginia529”) for its oversight and administration of the CollegeAmerica 529 college savings plan. The fee is based on the combined net assets invested in Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds. Class ABLE shares are offered on other American Funds by Virginia529 through ABLEAmerica®, a tax-advantaged savings program for individuals with disabilities. The quarterly fee is based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.09% on the first $20 billion of the combined net assets invested in the American Funds and decreasing to 0.03% on such assets in excess of $100 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds for the last month of the prior calendar quarter. The fee is included in other expenses in the fund’s statement of operations. Virginia529 is not considered a related party to the fund.

 

20 Fundamental Investors
 

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, class-specific expenses under the agreements were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

      Distribution     Transfer agent     Administrative     529 plan  
  Share class   services     services     services     services  
  Class A   $ 62,386     $ 22,065     $ 7,588       Not applicable  
  Class C     8,818       773       268       Not applicable  
  Class T           *     *     Not applicable  
  Class F-1     3,028       1,528       365       Not applicable  
  Class F-2     Not applicable       5,334       1,438       Not applicable  
  Class F-3     Not applicable       262       1,024       Not applicable  
  Class 529-A     2,968       1,003       380       $787  
  Class 529-C     1,472       121       45       94  
  Class 529-E     205       16       13       26  
  Class 529-T           *     *     *
  Class 529-F-1           71       27       56  
  Class R-1     579       65       17       Not applicable  
  Class R-2     2,390       1,145       96       Not applicable  
  Class R-2E     249       87       12       Not applicable  
  Class R-3     4,255       1,325       255       Not applicable  
  Class R-4     2,126       880       255       Not applicable  
  Class R-5E     Not applicable       266       52       Not applicable  
  Class R-5     Not applicable       301       175       Not applicable  
  Class R-6     Not applicable       34       2,572       Not applicable  
  Total class-specific expenses   $ 88,476     $ 35,276     $ 14,582     $ 963  

 

* Amount less than one thousand.

 

Trustees’ deferred compensation — Trustees 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. Trustees’ compensation of $187,000 in the fund’s statement of operations reflects $286,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net decrease of $99,000 in the value of the deferred amounts.

 

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

 

Investment in CCF — The fund holds shares of CCF, an institutional prime money market fund managed by CRMC. CCF invests in high-quality, short-term money market instruments. CCF is used as the primary investment vehicle for the fund’s short-term investments. CCF shares are only available for purchase by CRMC, its affiliates, and other funds managed by CRMC or its affiliates, and are not available to the public. CRMC does not receive an investment advisory services fee from CCF.

 

Fundamental Investors 21
 

Security transactions with related funds — The fund purchased securities from, and sold securities to, other funds managed by CRMC (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC) under procedures adopted by the fund’s board of trustees. The funds involved in such transactions are considered related by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common trustees and/or common officers. Each transaction was executed at the current market price of the security and no brokerage commissions or fees were paid in accordance with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, the fund engaged in such purchase and sale transactions with related funds in the amounts of $1,323,582,000 and $946,131,000, respectively, which generated $191,407,000 of net realized losses from such sales.

 

Interfund lending — Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund, along with other CRMC-managed funds (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC), may participate in an interfund lending program. The program provides an alternate credit facility that permits the funds to lend or borrow cash for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. The fund did not lend or borrow cash through the interfund lending program at any time during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

7. Capital share transactions

 

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

 

                Reinvestments of                 Net (decrease)
    Sales*     distributions     Repurchases*     increase
Share class   Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares  
                                                 
Six months ended June 30, 2020                                          
                                                                 
Class A   $ 2,077,713       37,738     $ 976,564       17,833     $ (4,008,003 )     (73,460 )   $ (953,726 )     (17,889 )
Class C     122,071       2,240       27,573       492       (297,018 )     (5,357 )     (147,374 )     (2,625 )
Class T                                                
Class F-1     160,300       2,845       43,182       792       (516,596 )     (9,262 )     (313,114 )     (5,625 )
Class F-2     1,275,611       23,018       190,907       3,514       (1,801,784 )     (33,053 )     (335,266 )     (6,521 )
Class F-3     801,240       14,434       144,769       2,669       (988,163 )     (18,103 )     (42,154 )     (1,000 )
Class 529-A     128,425       2,271       49,540       905       (187,323 )     (3,320 )     (9,358 )     (144 )
Class 529-C     14,517       258       4,584       81       (45,212 )     (786 )     (26,111 )     (447 )
Class 529-E     3,819       68       1,535       28       (7,539 )     (134 )     (2,185 )     (38 )
Class 529-T                                        
Class 529-F-1     18,633       332       3,791       70       (16,409 )     (291 )     6,015       111  
Class R-1     8,256       156       1,799       32       (18,698 )     (332 )     (8,643 )     (144 )
Class R-2     67,810       1,222       10,074       180       (113,535 )     (2,032 )     (35,651 )     (630 )
Class R-2E     11,631       211       1,480       27       (11,375 )     (206 )     1,736       32  
Class R-3     131,775       2,372       30,029       544       (316,584 )     (5,604 )     (154,780 )     (2,688 )
Class R-4     126,631       2,290       32,516       596       (303,712 )     (5,431 )     (144,565 )     (2,545 )
Class R-5E     43,402       758       7,148       131       (46,346 )     (834 )     4,204       55  
Class R-5     68,351       1,226       24,250       446       (183,370 )     (3,227 )     (90,769 )     (1,555 )
Class R-6     1,663,274       31,214       367,758       6,775       (1,516,795 )     (26,999 )     514,237       10,990  
Total net increase (decrease)   $ 6,723,459       122,653     $ 1,917,499       35,115     $ (10,378,462 )     (188,431 )   $ (1,737,504 )     (30,663 )

 

22 Fundamental Investors
 
                Reinvestments of                 Net increase
    Sales*     distributions     Repurchases*     (decrease)
Share class   Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares  
                                                 
Year ended December 31, 2019                                          
                                           
Class A   $ 2,989,256       50,851     $ 3,915,068       64,266     $ (5,948,240 )     (100,408 )   $ 956,084       14,709  
Class C     205,991       3,531       131,826       2,172       (624,128 )     (10,667 )     (286,311 )     (4,964 )
Class T                                                
Class F-1     364,116       6,223       191,924       3,152       (570,891 )     (9,677 )     (14,851 )     (302 )
Class F-2     2,259,826       38,491       754,040       12,387       (2,477,893 )     (41,907 )     535,973       8,971  
Class F-3     1,805,542       30,611       542,040       8,902       (1,261,328 )     (21,244 )     1,086,254       18,269  
Class 529-A     255,240       4,327       195,208       3,209       (370,282 )     (6,279 )     80,166       1,257  
Class 529-C     34,820       593       22,254       365       (107,220 )     (1,823 )     (50,146 )     (865 )
Class 529-E     6,718       114       6,342       104       (16,137 )     (275 )     (3,077 )     (57 )
Class 529-T                 1                       1      
Class 529-F-1     38,637       656       13,710       225       (33,622 )     (571 )     18,725       310  
Class R-1     13,897       238       8,563       141       (40,618 )     (690 )     (18,158 )     (311 )
Class R-2     114,821       1,969       46,854       772       (202,342 )     (3,471 )     (40,667 )     (730 )
Class R-2E     25,495       440       5,966       98       (18,579 )     (317 )     12,882       221  
Class R-3     239,674       4,103       136,267       2,242       (604,921 )     (10,292 )     (228,980 )     (3,947 )
Class R-4     225,579       3,859       141,194       2,326       (609,728 )     (10,367 )     (242,955 )     (4,182 )
Class R-5E     109,387       1,859       26,518       437       (62,175 )     (1,051 )     73,730       1,245  
Class R-5     108,641       1,847       100,982       1,660       (416,578 )     (7,035 )     (206,955 )     (3,528 )
Class R-6     2,308,441       39,703       1,330,072       21,838       (1,514,228 )     (25,391 )     2,124,285       36,150  
Total net increase (decrease)   $ 11,106,081       189,415     $ 7,568,829       124,296     $ (14,878,910 )     (251,465 )   $ 3,796,000       62,246  

 

* Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund.
Amount less than one thousand.

 

8. Investment transactions

 

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $24,061,340,000 and $30,047,326,000, respectively, during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Fundamental Investors 23
 

Financial highlights

 

          (Loss) income from investment operations1  
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses) gains
on securities
(both realized
and unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
 
Class A:                                
6/30/20204,5   $ 62.02     $ .48     $ (4.07 )   $ (3.59 )
12/31/2019     52.29       .98       13.30       14.28  
12/31/2018     62.21       1.01       (5.19 )     (4.18 )
12/31/2017     54.44       .93       11.65       12.58  
12/31/2016     50.71       .87       5.43       6.30  
12/31/2015     52.06       .77       .97       1.74  
Class C:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.66       .27       (4.01 )     (3.74 )
12/31/2019     52.00       .52       13.23       13.75  
12/31/2018     61.88       .50       (5.15 )     (4.65 )
12/31/2017     54.18       .45       11.58       12.03  
12/31/2016     50.48       .45       5.40       5.85  
12/31/2015     51.83       .35       .97       1.32  
Class T:                                
6/30/20204,5     62.02       .56       (4.10 )     (3.54 )
12/31/2019     52.28       1.12       13.32       14.44  
12/31/2018     62.20       1.14       (5.19 )     (4.05 )
12/31/20174,10     57.85       .81       8.30       9.11  
Class F-1:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.98       .47       (4.07 )     (3.60 )
12/31/2019     52.26       .94       13.29       14.23  
12/31/2018     62.17       .96       (5.18 )     (4.22 )
12/31/2017     54.41       .88       11.65       12.53  
12/31/2016     50.69       .83       5.42       6.25  
12/31/2015     52.03       .74       .97       1.71  
Class F-2:                                
6/30/20204,5     62.00       .55       (4.09 )     (3.54 )
12/31/2019     52.27       1.10       13.30       14.40  
12/31/2018     62.19       1.13       (5.19 )     (4.06 )
12/31/2017     54.43       1.00       11.68       12.68  
12/31/2016     50.70       .99       5.41       6.40  
12/31/2015     52.04       .88       .97       1.85  
Class F-3:                                
6/30/20204,5     62.00       .58       (4.09 )     (3.51 )
12/31/2019     52.27       1.17       13.29       14.46  
12/31/2018     62.19       1.19       (5.19 )     (4.00 )
12/31/20174,11     56.55       1.11       9.52       10.63  

 

24 Fundamental Investors
 
Dividends and distributions                                
Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
    Distributions
(from capital
gains)
    Total
dividends
and
distributions
    Net asset
value, end
of period
    Total
return2
    Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses
to average
net assets3
    Ratio of net
income
to average
net assets
 
                                                             
$ (.34 )   $ (.78 )   $ (1.12 )   $ 57.31       (5.70 )%6   $ 51,380       .62 %7     1.72 %7
  (.94 )     (3.61 )     (4.55 )     62.02       27.61       56,715       .61       1.65  
  (.99 )     (4.75 )     (5.74 )     52.29       (6.60 )     47,045       .59       1.61  
  (.91 )     (3.90 )     (4.81 )     62.21       23.37       53,885       .60       1.55  
  (.87 )     (1.70 )     (2.57 )     54.44       12.54       47,308       .61       1.68  
  (.77 )     (2.32 )     (3.09 )     50.71       3.38       44,596       .60       1.47  
                                                             
  (.13 )     (.78 )     (.91 )     57.01       (6.05 )6      1,756       1.36 7      .98 7 
  (.48 )     (3.61 )     (4.09 )     61.66       26.66       2,061       1.37       .89  
  (.48 )     (4.75 )     (5.23 )     52.00       (7.35 )     1,996       1.39       .81  
  (.43 )     (3.90 )     (4.33 )     61.88       22.37       2,535       1.40       .75  
  (.45 )     (1.70 )     (2.15 )     54.18       11.64       2,426       1.41       .87  
  (.35 )     (2.32 )     (2.67 )     50.48       2.56       2,435       1.40       .67  
                                                             
  (.41 )     (.78 )     (1.19 )     57.29       (5.59 )6,8      9      .36 7,8      1.97 7,8 
  (1.09 )     (3.61 )     (4.70 )     62.02       27.95 8      9      .37 8      1.90 8 
  (1.12 )     (4.75 )     (5.87 )     52.28       (6.41 )8      9      .38 8      1.82 8 
  (.86 )     (3.90 )     (4.76 )     62.20       15.96 6,8      9      .39 7,8      1.80 7,8 
                                                             
  (.32 )     (.78 )     (1.10 )     57.28       (5.73 )6      2,238       .66 7      1.68 7 
  (.90 )     (3.61 )     (4.51 )     61.98       27.53       2,771       .66       1.60  
  (.94 )     (4.75 )     (5.69 )     52.26       (6.67 )     2,352       .67       1.52  
  (.87 )     (3.90 )     (4.77 )     62.17       23.27       2,970       .67       1.47  
  (.83 )     (1.70 )     (2.53 )     54.41       12.45       2,688       .68       1.61  
  (.73 )     (2.32 )     (3.05 )     50.69       3.33       4,819       .67       1.40  
                                                             
  (.40 )     (.78 )     (1.18 )     57.28       (5.60 )6      9,623       .39 7      1.94 7 
  (1.06 )     (3.61 )     (4.67 )     62.00       27.87       10,821       .40       1.86  
  (1.11 )     (4.75 )     (5.86 )     52.27       (6.43 )     8,654       .41       1.80  
  (1.02 )     (3.90 )     (4.92 )     62.19       23.57       7,688       .42       1.68  
  (.97 )     (1.70 )     (2.67 )     54.43       12.77       8,424       .41       1.88  
  (.87 )     (2.32 )     (3.19 )     50.70       3.61       4,389       .41       1.67  
                                                             
  (.43 )     (.78 )     (1.21 )     57.28       (5.56 )6      6,959       .29 7      2.04 7 
  (1.12 )     (3.61 )     (4.73 )     62.00       28.01       7,595       .30       1.97  
  (1.17 )     (4.75 )     (5.92 )     52.27       (6.34 )     5,448       .31       1.89  
  (1.09 )     (3.90 )     (4.99 )     62.19       19.08 6      5,541       .31 7      1.96 7 

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

Fundamental Investors 25
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

          (Loss) income from investment operations1  
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses) gains
on securities
(both realized
and unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
 
Class 529-A:                                
6/30/20204,5   $ 61.92     $ .47     $ (4.07 )   $ (3.60 )
12/31/2019     52.21       .94       13.28       14.22  
12/31/2018     62.12       .96       (5.18 )     (4.22 )
12/31/2017     54.37       .88       11.64       12.52  
12/31/2016     50.65       .83       5.42       6.25  
12/31/2015     52.00       .72       .97       1.69  
Class 529-C:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.90       .26       (4.03 )     (3.77 )
12/31/2019     52.19       .50       13.27       13.77  
12/31/2018     62.08       .48       (5.18 )     (4.70 )
12/31/2017     54.31       .41       11.62       12.03  
12/31/2016     50.60       .42       5.41       5.83  
12/31/2015     51.95       .31       .97       1.28  
Class 529-E:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.85       .41       (4.05 )     (3.64 )
12/31/2019     52.16       .81       13.26       14.07  
12/31/2018     62.06       .81       (5.17 )     (4.36 )
12/31/2017     54.33       .74       11.62       12.36  
12/31/2016     50.61       .71       5.41       6.12  
12/31/2015     51.96       .59       .97       1.56  
Class 529-T:                                
6/30/20204,5     62.02       .54       (4.09 )     (3.55 )
12/31/2019     52.28       1.09       13.31       14.40  
12/31/2018     62.20       1.10       (5.18 )     (4.08 )
12/31/20174,10     57.85       .78       8.30       9.08  
Class 529-F-1:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.85       .53       (4.07 )     (3.54 )
12/31/2019     52.15       1.08       13.27       14.35  
12/31/2018     62.07       1.10       (5.19 )     (4.09 )
12/31/2017     54.34       1.01       11.62       12.63  
12/31/2016     50.62       .94       5.42       6.36  
12/31/2015     51.97       .83       .97       1.80  
Class R-1:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.65       .26       (4.01 )     (3.75 )
12/31/2019     52.00       .50       13.23       13.73  
12/31/2018     61.88       .49       (5.16 )     (4.67 )
12/31/2017     54.18       .44       11.59       12.03  
12/31/2016     50.49       .45       5.39       5.84  
12/31/2015     51.83       .35       .97       1.32  

 

26 Fundamental Investors
 
Dividends and distributions                                
Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
    Distributions
(from capital
gains)
    Total
dividends
and
distributions
    Net asset
value, end
of period
    Total
return2
    Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses
to average
net assets3
    Ratio of net
income
to average
net assets
 
                                                             
$ (.33 )   $ (.78 )   $ (1.11 )   $ 57.21       (5.73 )%6    $ 2,588       .66 %7      1.67 %7 
  (.90 )     (3.61 )     (4.51 )     61.92       27.53       2,810       .67       1.60  
  (.94 )     (4.75 )     (5.69 )     52.21       (6.68 )     2,304       .67       1.53  
  (.87 )     (3.90 )     (4.77 )     62.12       23.28       2,533       .67       1.47  
  (.83 )     (1.70 )     (2.53 )     54.37       12.44       1,995       .69       1.60  
  (.72 )     (2.32 )     (3.04 )     50.65       3.28       1,795       .70       1.37  
                                                             
  (.11 )     (.78 )     (.89 )     57.24       (6.07 )6      298       1.40 7      .93 7 
  (.45 )     (3.61 )     (4.06 )     61.90       26.59       350       1.41       .84  
  (.44 )     (4.75 )     (5.19 )     52.19       (7.39 )     340       1.43       .76  
  (.36 )     (3.90 )     (4.26 )     62.08       22.32       430       1.45       .69  
  (.42 )     (1.70 )     (2.12 )     54.31       11.57       479       1.47       .82  
  (.31 )     (2.32 )     (2.63 )     50.60       2.48       451       1.48       .59  
                                                             
  (.27 )     (.78 )     (1.05 )     57.16       (5.82 )6      84       .87 7      1.46 7 
  (.77 )     (3.61 )     (4.38 )     61.85       27.24       94       .89       1.37  
  (.79 )     (4.75 )     (5.54 )     52.16       (6.88 )     82       .90       1.29  
  (.73 )     (3.90 )     (4.63 )     62.06       22.97       93       .91       1.24  
  (.70 )     (1.70 )     (2.40 )     54.33       12.20       80       .93       1.36  
  (.59 )     (2.32 )     (2.91 )     50.61       3.04       73       .94       1.13  
                                                             
  (.40 )     (.78 )     (1.18 )     57.29       (5.61 )6,8      9      .41 7,8      1.92 7,8 
  (1.05 )     (3.61 )     (4.66 )     62.02       27.86 8      9      .42 8      1.85 8 
  (1.09 )     (4.75 )     (5.84 )     52.28       (6.46 )8      9      .44 8      1.76 8 
  (.83 )     (3.90 )     (4.73 )     62.20       15.90 6,8      9      .45 7,8      1.75 7,8 
                                                             
  (.40 )     (.78 )     (1.18 )     57.13       (5.63 )6      187       .42 7      1.90 7 
  (1.04 )     (3.61 )     (4.65 )     61.85       27.84       196       .43       1.83  
  (1.08 )     (4.75 )     (5.83 )     52.15       (6.48 )     149       .44       1.76  
  (1.00 )     (3.90 )     (4.90 )     62.07       23.53       137       .45       1.69  
  (.94 )     (1.70 )     (2.64 )     54.34       12.71       98       .48       1.82  
  (.83 )     (2.32 )     (3.15 )     50.62       3.51       83       .48       1.59  
                                                             
  (.12 )     (.78 )     (.90 )     57.00       (6.07 )6      114       1.39 7      .94 7 
  (.47 )     (3.61 )     (4.08 )     61.65       26.60       132       1.40       .86  
  (.46 )     (4.75 )     (5.21 )     52.00       (7.38 )     128       1.41       .78  
  (.43 )     (3.90 )     (4.33 )     61.88       22.37       160       1.41       .74  
  (.45 )     (1.70 )     (2.15 )     54.18       11.65       145       1.41       .88  
  (.34 )     (2.32 )     (2.66 )     50.49       2.55       151       1.40       .66  

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

Fundamental Investors 27
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

          (Loss) income from investment operations1  
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses) gains
on securities
(both realized
and unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
 
Class R-2:                                
6/30/20204,5   $ 61.61     $ .26     $ (4.02 )   $ (3.76 )
12/31/2019     51.97       .51       13.22       13.73  
12/31/2018     61.86       .49       (5.15 )     (4.66 )
12/31/2017     54.16       .44       11.59       12.03  
12/31/2016     50.47       .46       5.39       5.85  
12/31/2015     51.82       .37       .97       1.34  
Class R-2E:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.67       .35       (4.04 )     (3.69 )
12/31/2019     52.02       .69       13.23       13.92  
12/31/2018     61.92       .69       (5.16 )     (4.47 )
12/31/2017     54.24       .64       11.58       12.22  
12/31/2016     50.56       .66       5.38       6.04  
12/31/2015     52.03       .69       .90       1.59  
Class R-3:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.84       .39       (4.04 )     (3.65 )
12/31/2019     52.15       .77       13.27       14.04  
12/31/2018     62.05       .78       (5.18 )     (4.40 )
12/31/2017     54.31       .71       11.63       12.34  
12/31/2016     50.60       .69       5.41       6.10  
12/31/2015     51.94       .59       .97       1.56  
Class R-4:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.87       .48       (4.07 )     (3.59 )
12/31/2019     52.17       .95       13.28       14.23  
12/31/2018     62.07       .96       (5.17 )     (4.21 )
12/31/2017     54.33       .89       11.63       12.52  
12/31/2016     50.62       .85       5.40       6.25  
12/31/2015     51.96       .75       .97       1.72  
Class R-5E:                                
6/30/20204,5     61.90       .53       (4.08 )     (3.55 )
12/31/2019     52.19       1.09       13.28       14.37  
12/31/2018     62.12       1.14       (5.22 )     (4.08 )
12/31/2017     54.38       1.02       11.64       12.66  
12/31/2016     50.69       1.03       5.30       6.33  
12/31/20154,12     53.80       .11       (1.16 )     (1.05 )
Class R-5:                                
6/30/20204,5     62.08       .56       (4.09 )     (3.53 )
12/31/2019     52.33       1.13       13.33       14.46  
12/31/2018     62.25       1.16       (5.19 )     (4.03 )
12/31/2017     54.47       1.07       11.67       12.74  
12/31/2016     50.74       1.00       5.43       6.43  
12/31/2015     52.08       .90       .98       1.88  

 

28 Fundamental Investors
 
Dividends and distributions                                
Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
    Distributions
(from capital
gains)
    Total
dividends
and
distributions
    Net asset
value, end
of period
    Total
return2
    Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses
to average
net assets3
    Ratio of net
income
to average
net assets
 
                                                             
$ (.12 )   $ (.78 )   $ (.90 )   $ 56.95       (6.08 )%6    $ 643       1.39 %7      .94 %7 
  (.48 )     (3.61 )     (4.09 )     61.61       26.62       734       1.40       .87  
  (.48 )     (4.75 )     (5.23 )     51.97       (7.37 )     658       1.41       .79  
  (.43 )     (3.90 )     (4.33 )     61.86       22.39       797       1.40       .74  
  (.46 )     (1.70 )     (2.16 )     54.16       11.65       744       1.39       .89  
  (.37 )     (2.32 )     (2.69 )     50.47       2.61       734       1.35       .72  
                                                             
  (.21 )     (.78 )     (.99 )     56.99       (5.94 )6      86       1.09 7      1.23 7 
  (.66 )     (3.61 )     (4.27 )     61.67       26.99       91       1.09       1.17  
  (.68 )     (4.75 )     (5.43 )     52.02       (7.08 )     65       1.11       1.10  
  (.64 )     (3.90 )     (4.54 )     61.92       22.74       56       1.10       1.06  
  (.66 )     (1.70 )     (2.36 )     54.24       12.04       20       1.10       1.26  
  (.74 )     (2.32 )     (3.06 )     50.56       3.09       1       1.13       1.37  
                                                             
  (.25 )     (.78 )     (1.03 )     57.16       (5.85 )6      1,682       .94 7      1.39 7 
  (.74 )     (3.61 )     (4.35 )     61.84       27.17       1,986       .94       1.31  
  (.75 )     (4.75 )     (5.50 )     52.15       (6.95 )     1,880       .96       1.24  
  (.70 )     (3.90 )     (4.60 )     62.05       22.93       2,360       .95       1.19  
  (.69 )     (1.70 )     (2.39 )     54.31       12.15       2,181       .96       1.33  
  (.58 )     (2.32 )     (2.90 )     50.60       3.03       2,237       .95       1.12  
                                                             
  (.33 )     (.78 )     (1.11 )     57.17       (5.70 )6      1,675       .64 7      1.70 7 
  (.92 )     (3.61 )     (4.53 )     61.87       27.57       1,970       .64       1.62  
  (.94 )     (4.75 )     (5.69 )     52.17       (6.65 )     1,879       .65       1.54  
  (.88 )     (3.90 )     (4.78 )     62.07       23.30       2,523       .65       1.49  
  (.84 )     (1.70 )     (2.54 )     54.33       12.47       2,318       .66       1.63  
  (.74 )     (2.32 )     (3.06 )     50.62       3.36       2,289       .65       1.42  
                                                             
  (.39 )     (.78 )     (1.17 )     57.18       (5.62 )6      354       .43 7      1.90 7 
  (1.05 )     (3.61 )     (4.66 )     61.90       27.85       379       .43       1.84  
  (1.10 )     (4.75 )     (5.85 )     52.19       (6.45 )     255       .45       1.86  
  (1.02 )     (3.90 )     (4.92 )     62.12       23.54       16       .44       1.70  
  (.94 )     (1.70 )     (2.64 )     54.38       12.62       10       .57       1.99  
  (.35 )     (1.71 )     (2.06 )     50.69       (1.95 )6      9      .05 6      .21 6 
                                                             
  (.42 )     (.78 )     (1.20 )     57.35       (5.57 )6      1,162       .33 7      2.00 7 
  (1.10 )     (3.61 )     (4.71 )     62.08       27.95       1,354       .34       1.91  
  (1.14 )     (4.75 )     (5.89 )     52.33       (6.37 )     1,326       .35       1.84  
  (1.06 )     (3.90 )     (4.96 )     62.25       23.68       2,041       .35       1.79  
  (1.00 )     (1.70 )     (2.70 )     54.47       12.81       1,800       .35       1.93  
  (.90 )     (2.32 )     (3.22 )     50.74       3.66       1,914       .35       1.72  

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

Fundamental Investors 29
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

          (Loss) income from investment operations1  
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses) gains
on securities
(both realized
and unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
 
Class R-6:                                
6/30/20204,5   $ 62.04     $ .57     $ (4.08 )   $ (3.51 )
12/31/2019     52.30       1.17       13.31       14.48  
12/31/2018     62.22       1.19       (5.19 )     (4.00 )
12/31/2017     54.45       1.10       11.66       12.76  
12/31/2016     50.72       1.04       5.42       6.46  
12/31/2015     52.06       .93       .97       1.90  

 

    Six months
ended
June 30,
  Year ended December 31,
    20204,5,6   2019   2018   2017   2016   2015
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes13     26%       40%       34%       29%       24%       27%  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

30 Fundamental Investors
 
Dividends and distributions                    
Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
  Distributions
(from capital
gains)
  Total
dividends
and
distributions
  Net asset
value, end
of period
  Total
return2
  Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
  Ratio of
expenses
to average
net assets3
  Ratio of net
income
to average
net assets
                                                             
$ (.44 )   $ (.78 )   $ (1.22 )   $ 57.31       (5.55 )%6    $ 17,681       .28 %7      2.04 %7 
  (1.13 )     (3.61 )     (4.74 )     62.04       28.01       18,458       .29       1.98  
  (1.17 )     (4.75 )     (5.92 )     52.30       (6.33 )     13,670       .30       1.90  
  (1.09 )     (3.90 )     (4.99 )     62.22       23.72       12,701       .30       1.84  
  (1.03 )     (1.70 )     (2.73 )     54.45       12.88       8,948       .31       1.99  
  (.92 )     (2.32 )     (3.24 )     50.72       3.71       6,590       .31       1.77  

 

1 Based on average shares outstanding.
2 Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.
3 Ratios do not include expenses of any Central Funds. The fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of any Central Funds.
4 Based on operations for a period that is less than a full year.
5 Unaudited.
6 Not annualized.
7 Annualized.
8 All or a significant portion of assets in this class consisted of seed capital invested by CRMC and/or its affiliates. Fees for distribution services are not charged or accrued on these seed capital assets. If such fees were paid by the fund on seed capital assets, fund expenses would have been higher and net income and total return would have been lower.
9 Amount less than $1 million.
10 Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017.
11 Class F-3 shares began investment operations on January 27, 2017.
12 Class R-5E shares began investment operations on November 20, 2015.
13 Rates do not include the fund’s portfolio activity with respect to any Central Funds.

 

Fundamental Investors 31
 
Expense example unaudited

 

As a fund shareholder, 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 six-month period (January 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020).

 

Actual expenses:

The first line of each share class in the table on the following 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 titled “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 following 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:

Retirement plan participants may be subject to certain fees charged by the plan sponsor, and Class F-1, F-2, F-3 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 on the following page 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.

 

32 Fundamental Investors
 
    Beginning     Ending              
    account value     account value     Expenses paid     Annualized  
    1/1/2020     6/30/2020     during period*     expense ratio  
Class A – actual return   $ 1,000.00     $ 943.04     $ 3.00       .62 %
Class A – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.78       3.12       .62  
Class C – actual return     1,000.00       939.52       6.56       1.36  
Class C – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,018.10       6.82       1.36  
Class T – actual return     1,000.00       944.08       1.74       .36  
Class T – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,023.07       1.81       .36  
Class F-1 – actual return     1,000.00       942.66       3.19       .66  
Class F-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.58       3.32       .66  
Class F-2 – actual return     1,000.00       944.03       1.89       .39  
Class F-2 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.92       1.96       .39  
Class F-3 – actual return     1,000.00       944.44       1.40       .29  
Class F-3 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,023.42       1.46       .29  
Class 529-A – actual return     1,000.00       942.71       3.19       .66  
Class 529-A – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.58       3.32       .66  
Class 529-C – actual return     1,000.00       939.31       6.75       1.40  
Class 529-C – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,017.90       7.02       1.40  
Class 529-E – actual return     1,000.00       941.83       4.20       .87  
Class 529-E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,020.54       4.37       .87  
Class 529-T – actual return     1,000.00       943.85       1.98       .41  
Class 529-T – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.82       2.06       .41  
Class 529-F-1 – actual return     1,000.00       943.73       2.03       .42  
Class 529-F-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.77       2.11       .42  
Class R-1 – actual return     1,000.00       939.30       6.70       1.39  
Class R-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,017.95       6.97       1.39  
Class R-2 – actual return     1,000.00       939.22       6.70       1.39  
Class R-2 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,017.95       6.97       1.39  
Class R-2E – actual return     1,000.00       940.62       5.26       1.09  
Class R-2E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,019.44       5.47       1.09  
Class R-3 – actual return     1,000.00       941.54       4.54       .94  
Class R-3 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,020.19       4.72       .94  
Class R-4 – actual return     1,000.00       942.96       3.09       .64  
Class R-4 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.68       3.22       .64  
Class R-5E – actual return     1,000.00       943.76       2.08       .43  
Class R-5E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.73       2.16       .43  
Class R-5 – actual return     1,000.00       944.27       1.60       .33  
Class R-5 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,023.22       1.66       .33  
Class R-6 – actual return     1,000.00       944.53       1.35       .28  
Class R-6 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,023.47       1.41       .28  

 

* 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 366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

Fundamental Investors 33
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

34 Fundamental Investors
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

Fundamental Investors 35
 

Office of the fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618-4518

 

Investment adviser

Capital Research and Management Company
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

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

Dechert LLP
One Bush Street, Suite 1600
San Francisco, CA 94104-4446

 

Independent registered public accounting firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP
695 Town Center Drive
Suite 1000
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7188

 

Principal underwriter

American Funds Distributors, Inc.
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

36 Fundamental Investors
 

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary 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) 421-4225 or visit the Capital Group website at capitalgroup.com.

 

“American Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Principles” — which describes how we vote proxies relating to portfolio securities — is available on our 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 our website.

 

A complete June 30, 2020, 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 NPORT-P. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website. 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 prospectus or summary prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after September 30, 2020, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.

 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index (“Index”) is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Capital Group. Copyright © 2020 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.

 

American Funds Distributors, Inc., member FINRA.

 

The Capital Advantage®

 

Since 1931, Capital Group, home of American Funds, has helped investors pursue long-term investment success. Our consistent approach — in combination with The Capital SystemSM — has resulted in superior outcomes.

 

  Aligned with investor success
  We base our decisions on a long-term perspective, which we believe aligns our goals with the interests of our clients. Our portfolio managers average 28 years of investment industry experience, including 22 years at our company, reflecting a career commitment to our long-term approach.1
   
  The Capital System
  The Capital System combines individual accountability with teamwork. Funds using The Capital System are divided into portions that are managed independently by investment professionals with diverse backgrounds, ages and investment approaches. An extensive global research effort is the backbone of our system.
   
  American Funds’ superior outcomes
  Equity funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 92% of 10-year periods and 99% of 20-year periods.2 Fixed income funds have helped investors achieve diversification through attention to correlation between bonds and equities.3 Fund management fees have been among the lowest in the industry.4
   
  1 Investment industry experience as of December 31, 2019.
  2 Based on Class F-2 share results for rolling periods through December 31, 2019. Periods covered are the shorter of the fund’s lifetime or since the comparable Lipper index inception date (except Capital Income Builder and SMALLCAP World Fund, for which the Lipper average was used). Expenses differ for each share class, so results will vary.
  3 Based on Class F-2 share results as of December 31, 2019. Fifteen of the 17 fixed income American Funds that have been in existence for the three-year period showed a three-year correlation below 0.2. Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index was used as an equity market proxy. Correlation based on monthly total returns. Correlation is a statistical measure of how two securities move in relation to each other. A correlation ranges from –1 to 1. A positive correlation close to 1 implies that as one security moves, either up or down, the other security will move in “lockstep,” in the same direction. A negative correlation close to –1 indicates that the securities have moved in the opposite direction.
  4 On average, our management fees were in the lowest quintile 65% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2019, versus comparable Lipper categories, excluding funds of funds.

 

Class F-2 shares were first offered on August 1, 2008. Class F-2 share results prior to the date of first sale are hypothetical based on the results of the original share class of the fund without a sales charge, adjusted for typical estimated expenses. Results for certain funds with an inception date after August 1, 2008, also include hypothetical returns because those funds’ Class F-2 shares sold after the funds’ date of first offering. Please see capitalgroup.com for more information on specific expense adjustments and the actual dates of first sale.

 

All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.

 

 

 

ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

ITEM 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

ITEM 6 – Schedule of Investments

 

 

 

 

Fundamental Investors®

Investment portfolio

June 30, 2020

 

 

unaudited

 

 

Common stocks 93.65%
Information technology 22.21%
Shares Value
(000)
Microsoft Corp. 26,245,668 $5,341,256
Broadcom Inc. 10,490,860 3,311,020
ASML Holding NV1 3,986,767 1,461,463
ASML Holding NV (New York registered) (ADR) 788,679 290,257
Intel Corp. 18,787,606 1,124,062
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.1 77,246,000 817,420
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (ADR) 2,547,515 144,623
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.2 14,367,238 755,860
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.1 12,708,781 563,369
Texas Instruments Inc. 3,770,000 478,677
Visa Inc., Class A 2,415,190 466,542
NortonLifeLock Inc. 23,164,083 459,344
Mastercard Inc., Class A 1,525,000 450,943
Applied Materials, Inc. 7,264,015 439,110
Apple Inc. 1,126,283 410,868
Autodesk, Inc.2 1,649,819 394,620
ServiceNow, Inc.2 904,826 366,509
KLA Corp. 1,743,300 339,037
QUALCOMM Inc. 3,560,000 324,708
HubSpot, Inc.2 1,435,784 322,118
Arista Networks, Inc.2 1,467,000 308,114
RingCentral, Inc., Class A2 1,062,822 302,915
TE Connectivity Ltd. 3,500,000 285,425
Square, Inc., Class A2 2,074,738 217,723
PayPal Holdings, Inc.2 1,199,771 209,036
Motorola Solutions, Inc. 1,450,000 203,189
Adobe Inc.2 434,453 189,122
International Business Machines Corp. 1,400,000 169,078
SK hynix, Inc.1 2,168,900 155,155
Dell Technologies Inc., Class C2 2,750,000 151,085
NetApp, Inc. 2,859,941 126,896
Dassault Systemes SA1 652,000 112,368
EPAM Systems, Inc.2 444,932 112,127
Smartsheet Inc., Class A2 2,112,998 107,594
Ceridian HCM Holding Inc.2 1,276,000 101,149
Shopify Inc., Class A, subordinate voting shares2 92,000 87,326
ON Semiconductor Corp.2 4,317,068 85,564
Keyence Corp.1 200,000 83,504
LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.2 1,652,942 70,200
Cree, Inc.2 1,178,799 69,773
Edenred SA1 1,584,452 69,220
Lam Research Corp. 213,663 69,111
SAP SE1 485,511 67,581
VeriSign, Inc.2 309,500 64,014
Global Payments Inc. 376,988 63,945
SYNNEX Corp. 515,000 61,682

 

Fundamental Investors — Page 1 of 8

 


 

 

unaudited

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Information technology (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
MongoDB, Inc., Class A2 161,972 $36,661
Micron Technology, Inc.2 682,400 35,157
    21,876,520
Health care 14.52%    
UnitedHealth Group Inc. 7,524,977 2,219,492
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2 2,223,049 1,386,405
Centene Corp.2 13,030,582 828,094
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 2,114,288 766,091
Pfizer Inc. 23,355,786 763,734
Cigna Corp. 3,706,265 695,481
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.2 2,251,696 653,690
Gilead Sciences, Inc. 6,073,500 467,295
Boston Scientific Corp.2 13,037,700 457,754
AstraZeneca PLC1 4,026,984 419,800
Illumina, Inc.2 1,085,000 401,830
Humana Inc. 1,005,912 390,042
Molina Healthcare, Inc.2 2,180,689 388,119
Seattle Genetics, Inc.2 2,219,070 377,064
Daiichi Sankyo Company, Ltd.1 4,493,600 366,977
Eli Lilly and Company 1,976,729 324,539
Anthem, Inc. 1,218,490 320,439
CVS Health Corp. 4,284,322 278,352
GlaxoSmithKline PLC1 11,780,529 238,696
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (ADR) 400,000 16,316
Abbott Laboratories 2,603,084 238,000
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 4,000,000 235,200
ResMed Inc. 1,135,000 217,920
Allakos Inc.2,3 2,822,500 202,825
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.2 2,257,370 176,572
Merck & Co., Inc. 1,857,909 143,672
Danaher Corp. 728,928 128,896
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.2 1,788,090 123,575
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.2 1,009,208 123,123
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR)2 9,010,500 111,099
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC (ADR)2 824,875 101,229
DexCom, Inc.2 235,000 95,269
Roche Holding AG, nonvoting, non-registered shares1 228,860 79,239
Bluebird Bio, Inc.2 1,285,570 78,471
Incyte Corp.2 672,772 69,948
10X Genomics, Inc., Class A2 765,000 68,322
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B1 908,468 58,788
Notre Dame Intermédica Participações SA 4,645,000 58,091
AmerisourceBergen Corp. 566,700 57,106
Cortexyme, Inc.2 1,081,672 50,081
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. 352,100 42,027
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.2 176,266 21,741
Teladoc Health, Inc.2 95,000 18,130
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.2 158,000 15,629
Bausch Health Companies Inc.2 750,000 13,718
Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.2 294,324 12,603
Sage Therapeutics, Inc.2 162,252 6,746
    14,308,230

 

Fundamental Investors — Page 2 of 8

 


 

 

unaudited

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Communication services 10.96%
Shares Value
(000)
Facebook, Inc., Class A2 12,994,316 $2,950,619
Alphabet Inc., Class C2 1,002,051 1,416,510
Alphabet Inc., Class A2 276,568 392,187
Netflix, Inc.2 3,724,733 1,694,903
Comcast Corp., Class A 36,736,328 1,431,982
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A2 1,959,268 999,305
Activision Blizzard, Inc. 8,197,863 622,218
Walt Disney Company 3,200,000 356,832
Sea Ltd., Class A (ADR)2 1,863,000 199,788
T-Mobile US, Inc.2 1,610,331 167,716
Verizon Communications Inc. 2,500,000 137,825
JOYY Inc., Class A (ADR)2 1,365,000 120,871
Snap Inc., Class A2 4,041,418 94,933
HUYA, Inc. (ADR)2 4,363,000 81,457
SoftBank Group Corp.1 1,299,800 65,494
Pinterest, Inc., Class A2 1,967,400 43,617
GCI Liberty, Inc., Class A2 311,641 22,164
    10,798,421
Financials 10.28%    
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class B2 5,047,200 900,976
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class A2 1,042 278,526
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 10,088,879 948,960
The Blackstone Group Inc., Class A 11,578,023 656,011
Truist Financial Corp. 14,215,750 533,801
CME Group Inc., Class A 3,122,189 507,481
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 4,748,376 434,951
Apollo Global Management, Inc., Class A 7,559,611 377,376
BlackRock, Inc. 686,597 373,571
Aon PLC, Class A 1,921,102 370,004
KKR & Co. Inc. 11,415,800 352,520
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 1,769,663 349,721
Citigroup Inc. 6,475,700 330,908
Legal & General Group PLC1 109,763,993 299,741
Chubb Ltd. 1,925,281 243,779
HDFC Bank Ltd.1 15,876,000 226,306
Capital One Financial Corp. 3,455,000 216,248
Sberbank of Russia PJSC (ADR)1,2 18,608,000 211,403
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. 1,950,000 209,371
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 1,668,300 162,643
First Republic Bank 1,525,696 161,709
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.1 8,583,320 154,894
Arch Capital Group Ltd.2 5,399,946 154,708
Moody’s Corp. 554,926 152,455
Synchrony Financial 6,725,000 149,026
S&P Global Inc. 444,800 146,553
Barclays PLC1 103,429,346 146,329
Willis Towers Watson PLC 711,300 140,091
Discover Financial Services 2,500,000 125,225
Wells Fargo & Company 4,667,110 119,478
AIA Group Ltd.1 11,643,400 108,366
Zurich Insurance Group AG1 246,500 86,809
Travelers Companies, Inc. 610,700 69,650
Ares Management Corp., Class A 1,721,922 68,360
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd.1 1,492,100 63,591

 

Fundamental Investors — Page 3 of 8

 


 

 

unaudited

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Financials (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd., Class H1 5,875,000 $58,674
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. 450,000 47,345
Bank of Ireland Group PLC1,2 23,127,285 47,108
Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Class A 1,275,000 41,948
Toronto-Dominion Bank (CAD denominated) 800,000 35,704
Progressive Corp. 341,700 27,374
Bank of Nova Scotia (CAD denominated) 600,000 24,829
Bank of America Corp. 701,400 16,658
    10,131,181
Consumer staples 8.42%    
British American Tobacco PLC1 41,308,162 1,587,118
British American Tobacco PLC (ADR) 1,679,000 65,179
Altria Group, Inc. 37,671,157 1,478,593
Philip Morris International Inc. 19,228,463 1,347,146
Conagra Brands, Inc. 17,596,760 618,878
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. 16,692,000 474,053
Nestlé SA1 3,284,374 362,842
Colgate-Palmolive Company 4,624,000 338,754
Mondelez International, Inc. 6,365,000 325,442
Walmart Inc. 2,370,000 283,879
Costco Wholesale Corp. 747,666 226,700
Procter & Gamble Company 1,800,000 215,226
Estée Lauder Companies Inc., Class A 790,000 149,057
Archer Daniels Midland Company 3,700,000 147,630
Unilever PLC1 1,800,000 97,052
Unilever PLC (ADR) 700,000 38,416
Kellogg Co. 1,800,000 118,908
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (ADR) 3,691,045 68,266
ITC Ltd.1,2 24,783,011 64,093
Sysco Corp. 1,144,800 62,575
Kraft Heinz Company 1,766,900 56,346
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. 649,876 50,235
General Mills, Inc. 686,800 42,341
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A 237,500 41,551
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV1 624,625 30,786
    8,291,066
Consumer discretionary 8.22%    
Amazon.com, Inc.2 1,305,715 3,602,233
Prosus NV1,2 5,876,000 545,353
Dollar General Corp. 2,157,200 410,968
Domino’s Pizza, Inc. 1,084,937 400,819
Target Corp. 2,760,000 331,007
Restaurant Brands International Inc. 6,044,900 330,233
Home Depot, Inc. 1,117,000 279,820
NIKE, Inc., Class B 2,629,157 257,789
LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton SE1 574,200 251,499
Booking Holdings Inc.2 157,051 250,079
Flutter Entertainment PLC (GBP denominated)1 1,244,756 163,227
Flutter Entertainment PLC (EUR denominated)1 645,482 84,728
Burlington Stores, Inc.2 1,235,000 243,208
Marriott International, Inc., Class A 1,820,957 156,111
Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.1 21,085,000 143,164
Evolution Gaming Group AB1 2,300,000 136,982

 

Fundamental Investors — Page 4 of 8

 


 

 

unaudited

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Consumer discretionary (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
Wynn Resorts, Ltd. 1,752,996 $130,581
TJX Companies, Inc. 1,800,000 91,008
Aramark 3,346,000 75,519
Five Below, Inc.2 605,000 64,680
Las Vegas Sands Corp. 1,126,838 51,316
Darden Restaurants, Inc. 651,200 49,341
Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A2 800,000 46,120
    8,095,785
Industrials 7.78%    
TransDigm Group Inc. 2,114,330 934,640
CSX Corp. 9,999,394 697,358
Parker-Hannifin Corp. 2,954,700 541,508
Honeywell International Inc. 3,657,678 528,864
Boeing Company 2,710,475 496,830
Deere & Company 2,968,619 466,518
Union Pacific Corp. 2,529,919 427,733
Northrop Grumman Corp. 1,275,207 392,050
Airbus SE, non-registered shares1,2 4,910,975 349,459
Safran SA1,2 3,080,468 308,146
Raytheon Technologies Corp. 4,316,391 265,976
Emerson Electric Co. 3,950,000 245,018
Norfolk Southern Corp. 1,356,403 238,144
Lockheed Martin Corp. 581,904 212,348
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.3 2,452,602 191,205
Experian PLC1 4,209,197 146,813
PACCAR Inc. 1,860,000 139,221
Nidec Corp.1 2,000,000 133,534
Waste Connections, Inc. 1,210,757 113,557
Caterpillar Inc. 887,239 112,236
FedEx Corp. 759,355 106,477
Waste Management, Inc. 899,500 95,266
Grafton Group PLC, units1 11,326,372 92,524
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. 474,100 80,440
MTU Aero Engines AG1,2 357,932 61,860
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. 836,943 48,183
IMCD NV1,2 500,000 46,940
Lifco AB, Class B1 725,000 45,847
Illinois Tool Works Inc. 200,000 34,970
ABB Ltd1 1,480,397 33,276
United Rentals, Inc.2 190,000 28,318
DSV Panalpina A/S1 194,999 23,789
ASSA ABLOY AB, Class B1 1,000,000 20,304
    7,659,352
Materials 4.82%    
Barrick Gold Corp. 16,064,782 432,785
Franco-Nevada Corp. (CAD denominated) 2,721,871 380,232
Franco-Nevada Corp. 183,000 25,554
Linde PLC 1,794,658 380,665
Dow Inc. 9,004,094 367,007
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. 5,659,000 249,279
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (CAD denominated) 1,383,834 60,864
LyondellBasell Industries NV 4,600,514 302,346
Royal Gold, Inc. 2,283,565 283,893

 

Fundamental Investors — Page 5 of 8

 


 

 

unaudited

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Materials (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
Corteva, Inc. 7,700,000 $206,283
Eastman Chemical Company 2,768,926 192,828
Rio Tinto PLC1 3,400,000 191,318
LafargeHolcim Ltd.1 4,291,273 187,692
Grupo México, SAB de CV, Series B 75,111,463 174,605
Westlake Chemical Corp. 3,066,409 164,513
Sherwin-Williams Company 275,000 158,909
DuPont de Nemours Inc. 2,832,804 150,507
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. 18,414,374 146,761
Koninklijke DSM NV1 974,814 134,742
Vale SA, ordinary nominative (ADR) 6,481,600 66,825
Vale SA, ordinary nominative 5,919,000 60,865
Norsk Hydro ASA1,2 34,980,669 96,758
Packaging Corp. of America 957,516 95,560
BHP Group PLC1 4,000,000 82,118
PPG Industries, Inc. 660,900 70,095
Asian Paints Ltd.1 2,142,500 48,180
CCL Industries Inc., Class B, nonvoting shares 1,162,000 37,558
    4,748,742
Energy 2.55%    
Chevron Corp. 4,916,108 438,664
BP PLC1 74,000,000 281,231
BP PLC (ADR) 1,000,000 23,320
Enbridge Inc. (CAD denominated) 8,413,213 255,817
Baker Hughes Co., Class A 15,918,418 244,985
Suncor Energy Inc. 10,491,740 176,897
Valero Energy Corp. 2,735,000 160,873
Hess Corp. 3,000,000 155,430
EOG Resources, Inc. 3,045,746 154,298
Occidental Petroleum Corp. 5,620,000 102,846
Murphy Oil Corp. 6,780,607 93,572
Keyera Corp. 5,721,978 87,119
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. 3,886,000 66,762
TC Energy Corp. (CAD denominated) 867,200 37,049
TC Energy Corp. 650,000 27,859
ConocoPhillips 1,399,433 58,804
Pioneer Natural Resources Company 499,905 48,841
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B1 2,721,999 41,190
Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (CAD denominated) 1,842,600 31,963
Equitrans Midstream Corp. 3,092,082 25,695
    2,513,215
Utilities 2.13%    
Enel SpA1 65,013,957 560,107
DTE Energy Company 2,882,698 309,890
Xcel Energy Inc. 4,400,600 275,037
AES Corp. 18,688,598 270,798
Ørsted AS1 1,961,534 226,223
Sempra Energy 1,427,747 167,375
American Electric Power Company, Inc. 1,100,000 87,604
Exelon Corp. 2,167,933 78,674
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.4 2,446,304 45,673
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 1,423,800 26,582
CMS Energy Corp. 628,500 36,717

 

Fundamental Investors — Page 6 of 8

 


 

 

unaudited

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Utilities (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP 317,100 $13,050
Brookfield Infrastructure Corp., Class A, subordinate voting shares 35,233 1,605
    2,099,335
Real estate 1.76%    
Crown Castle International Corp. REIT 2,553,549 427,337
Simon Property Group, Inc. REIT 5,451,146 372,749
Equinix, Inc. REIT 470,211 330,229
American Tower Corp. REIT 795,000 205,539
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. REIT 3,450,000 119,370
Public Storage REIT 461,200 88,500
AGNC Investment Corp. REIT 6,846,600 88,321
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. REIT 583,027 82,854
Brookfield Property Partners LP 1,800,000 17,802
    1,732,701
Total common stocks (cost: $61,780,716,000)   92,254,548
Preferred securities 0.08%
Information technology 0.08%
   
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., nonvoting preferred shares1 2,100,000 82,010
Total preferred securities (cost: $67,922,000)   82,010
Rights & warrants 0.00%
Communication services 0.00%
   
T-Mobile US, Inc., rights, expire 20202 1,209,800 203
Total rights & warrants (cost: $3,047,000)   203
Convertible stocks 0.16%
Information technology 0.16%
   
Broadcom Inc., Series A, cumulative convertible preferred shares,
8.00% 2022
141,873 158,096
Total convertible stocks (cost: $142,408,000)   158,096
Short-term securities 5.96%
Money market investments 5.96%
   
Capital Group Central Cash Fund 0.18%5 58,645,451 5,865,132
Total short-term securities (cost: $5,864,862,000)   5,865,132
Total investment securities 99.85% (cost: $67,858,955,000)   98,359,989
Other assets less liabilities 0.15%   149,769
Net assets 100.00%   $98,509,758

 

Fundamental Investors — Page 7 of 8

 


 

 

unaudited

 

 

1 Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of all such securities was $12,623,200,000, which represented 12.81% 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.
2 Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
3 Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
4 Acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144A of 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 was $45,673,000, which represented .05% of the net assets of the fund.
5 Rate represents the seven-day yield at 6/30/2020.

 

Key to abbreviations
ADR = American Depositary Receipts
CAD = Canadian dollars
EUR = Euros
GBP = British pounds

Additional financial disclosures are included in the fund’s current shareholder report and should be read in conjunction with this report.

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary 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) 421-4225 or visit the Capital Group website at capitalgroup.com.

All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.

American Funds Distributors, Inc., member FINRA.

© 2020 Capital Group. All rights reserved.

 

 

MFGEFP2-010-0820O-S78091 Fundamental Investors — Page 8 of 8

 

 

ITEM 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of trustees since the Registrant last submitted a proxy statement to its shareholders. The procedures are as follows. The Registrant has a nominating and governance committee comprised solely of persons who are not considered ‘‘interested persons’’ of the Registrant within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The committee periodically reviews such issues as the board’s composition, responsibilities, committees, compensation and other relevant issues, and recommends any appropriate changes to the full board of trustees. While the committee normally is able to identify from its own resources an ample number of qualified candidates, it will consider shareholder suggestions of persons to be considered as nominees to fill future vacancies on the board. Such suggestions must be sent in writing to the nominating and governance committee of the Registrant, c/o the Registrant’s Secretary, and must be accompanied by complete biographical and occupational data on the prospective nominee, along with a written consent of the prospective nominee for consideration of his or her name by the nominating and governance committee.

 

ITEM 11 – Controls and Procedures

 

(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 semi-annual period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

ITEM 12 – Exhibits

 

(a)(1) Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.
   
(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.

 

 
 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  AMERICAN FUNDS FUNDAMENTAL INVESTORS
   
  By __/s/ Paul F. Roye____________________
 

Paul F. Roye, Executive Vice President and

Principal Executive Officer

   
  Date: August 31, 2020

 

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

 

 

 

By __/s/ Paul F. Roye_________________

Paul F. Roye, Executive Vice President and

Principal Executive Officer

 
Date: August 31, 2020

 

 

 

By ___/s/ Hong T. Le    __________

Hong T. Le, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

 
Date: August 31, 2020