N-Q 1 mstnq.htm
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number: 811-04316

MIDAS SERIES TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

11 Hanover Square
New York, NY
 
10005
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)


Russell L. Kamerman, Esq.
Midas Series Trust
11 Hanover Square
New York, NY 10005
(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 1-212-785-0900
 
 

 
Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2018


 
Item 1. Schedule of Investments
 
   
MIDAS FUND
 
   
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
 
   
March 31, 2018
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
       
       
Shares
   
Value
Common Stocks (93.92%)
 
   
Major Precious Metals Producers (37.03%)
 
                35,000
 
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
                  1,472,450
                41,000
 
Fresnillo plc
                     729,575
                55,000
 
Goldcorp Inc.
                     760,100
                45,000
 
Newmont Mining Corporation
                  1,758,150
                16,000
 
Randgold Resources Limited  ADR
                  1,331,840
     
                  6,052,115
       
   
Intermediate Precious Metals Producers (30.35%)
 
              225,000
 
Alamos Gold Inc.
                  1,172,250
              200,000
 
B2Gold Corp. (a)
                     546,000
                81,000
 
Detour Gold Corp. (a)
                     819,267
                10,000
 
Franco-Nevada Corp.
                     683,900
              125,000
 
New Gold Inc. (a)
                     322,500
241,000
 
OceanaGold Corporation
                     648,648
                80,000
 
SSR Mining, Inc. (a)
                     768,000
     
                  4,960,565
       
   
Junior Precious Metals Producers (1.03%)
 
                17,500
 
Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.
                     168,858
       
   
Other Natural Resources Companies (25.51%)
 
                34,534
 
Ciner Resources LP
                     934,145
24,643
 
iShares Silver Trust (a)
                     379,749
                  8,000
 
Johnson Matthey PLC
                     341,385
                  8,000
 
Minerals Technologies Inc.
                     535,600
3,519
 
Nucor Corp.
                     214,976
2,694
 
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile S.A.
                     132,410
                  8,320
 
South32 Limited
                     103,501
11,600
 
SPDR Gold Trust (a)
                  1,459,164
                  2,000
 
Spectra Energy Partners, LP
                       67,280
     
                  4,168,210
       
Total common stocks (Cost $19,070,419)
                15,349,748
       
Money Market Fund (4.38%)
 
              716,296
 
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Administration Class shares, 7 day annualized yield 1.35% (Cost $716,296)
                     716,296
       
       
 Total investments (Cost $19,786,715) (98.30%)
                16,066,044
 Other assets in excess of liabilities (1.70%)
                     277,250
       
 Net assets (100.00%)
 $             16,343,294
       
       
       
(a) Non-income producing.
 
       
ADR means "American Depositary Receipt."
 
See notes to Schedule of Portfolio Investments.
 
 
 
1

 
   
MIDAS MAGIC
 
   
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
 
   
March 31, 2018
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
       
Common Stocks (102.19%)
 
Shares
   
Value
   
Apparel and Accessory Stores (1.89%)
 
                15,000
 
Hanesbrands Inc. (a)
 $                 276,300
       
   
Apparel and other Finished Products Made from Fabrics and Similar Materials (1.57%)
 
                  2,200
 
Carter's, Inc. (a)
229,020
       
   
Automotive Dealers and Gasoline Service Stations (2.22%)
 
                     500
 
AutoZone, Inc. (a) (b)
324,345
       
   
Business Services (31.60%)
 
                  1,670
 
Alphabet Inc. Class A (a) (b)
                 1,732,024
                13,550
 
Mastercard Incorporated Class A (a)
                 2,373,418
                  6,500
 
Robert Half International Inc. (a)
                    376,285
                  1,750
 
WPP plc (a)
                    139,213
     
                 4,620,940
       
   
Chemical and Allied Products (13.36%)
 
                     900
 
Biogen Inc. (a) (b)
                    246,438
                11,000
 
Johnson & Johnson (a)
                 1,409,650
                  2,650
 
United Therapeutics Corporation (a) (b)
                    297,754
     
1,953,842
       
   
Communications (2.78%)
 
                     650
 
The Walt Disney Company (a)
                      65,286
                11,000
 
Viacom Inc. Class B (a)
                    341,660
     
                    406,946
       
   
Depository Institutions (5.26%)
 
                  7,000
 
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (a)
                    769,790
       
   
Electronic and Other Electrical Equipment and Components, except Computer Equipment (4.58%)
 
                  6,000
 
Cirrus Logic, Inc. (a) (b)
243,780
                  1,500
 
IPG Photonics Corporation (a) (b)
                    350,070
                  1,750
 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
                      76,580
     
                    670,430
       
   
Fabricated Metal Products, except Machinery and Transportation Equipment (1.26%)
 
                  1,250
 
Snap-on Incorporated (a)
                    184,425
       
   
Food and Kindred Products (0.51%)
 
                  1,000
 
Molson Coors Brewing Company (a)
                      75,330
       
   
Food Stores (1.15%)
 
                  7,000
 
The Kroger Co. (a)
                    167,580
       
   
Home Furniture, Furnishings, and Equipment Stores (1.80%)
 
                  5,000
 
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (a)
                    263,800
       
   
Industrial and Commerical Machinery and Computer Equipment (3.93%)
 
                  2,400
 
Apple Inc. (a)
                    402,672
                  4,000
 
Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)
                    171,560
     
                    574,232
       
   
Insurance Carriers (13.55%)
 
                  8,330
 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Class B (a) (b)
                 1,661,668
                  1,500
 
Prudential Financial, Inc. (a)
                    155,325
                     200
 
White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (a)
                    164,504
     
                 1,981,497
       
   
Miscellaneous Retail (2.34%)
 
                  5,500
 
CVS Health Corporation (a)
342,155
       
   
Real Estate (2.47%)
 
                10,000
 
Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (a) (b)
                    360,600
       
   
Security and Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges, and Services (9.07%)
 
                  1,797
 
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. (a)
                    371,188
                12,000
 
Federated Investors, Inc. (a)
                    400,800
                  6,247
 
GAMCO Investors, Inc. (a)
                    155,113
                  3,700
 
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (a)
                    399,489
     
                 1,326,590
       
   
Transportation by Air (1.46%)
 
                  5,500
 
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
                    212,850
       
   
Transportation Equipment (1.39%)
 
                  3,200
 
Gentherm Incorporated (a) (b)
                    108,640
                  2,500
 
Winnebago Industries, Inc. (a)
                      94,000
     
202,640
       
Total common stocks (Cost $7,983,334)
               14,943,312
       
   
Master Limited Partnerships (1.21%)
 
   
Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services (1.21%)
 
                  3,000
 
EQT Midstream Partners, LP (a) (Cost $198,045)
                    177,090
       
       
Money Market Fund (4.81%)
 
              703,883
 
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Administration Class shares, 7 day annualized yield 1.35% (Cost $703,883)
                    703,883
       
Total investments (Cost $8,885,262) (108.21%)
               15,824,285
Liabilities in excess of other assets (-8.21%)
               (1,200,263)
       
Net assets (100.00%)
 $            14,624,022
       
       
(a) All or a portion of this security has been pledged as collateral pursuant to the Liquidity Agreement. As of March 31, 2018, the value of securities pledged as collateral was $1,774,634.
 
(b) Non-income producing.
 
 
See notes to Schedule of Portfolio Investments
 
 
 
2

 
Notes to Schedule of Portfolio Investments (Unaudited)

Valuation of Investments
Portfolio securities are valued by various methods depending on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. Most equity securities for which the primary market is in the United States are usually valued at the official closing price, last sale price or, if no sale has occurred, at the closing bid price. Most equity securities for which the primary market is outside the United States are usually valued using the official closing price or the last sale price in the principal market in which they are traded. If the last sale price on the local exchange is unavailable, the last evaluated quote or closing bid price normally is used. In the event of an unexpected closing of the primary market or exchange, a security may continue to trade on one or more other markets, and the price as reflected on those other trading venues may be more reflective of the security's value than an earlier price from the primary market or exchange. Accordingly, a Fund may seek to use these additional sources of pricing data or information when prices from the primary market or exchange are unavailable or are earlier and less representative of current market value. Gold and silver bullion are valued at 4:00 p.m. ET, at the mean between the last bid and asked quotations of the Bloomberg Composite (NY) Spot Price for that metal. Certain debt securities may be priced through pricing services that may utilize a matrix pricing system which takes into consideration factors such as yields, prices, maturities, call features, and ratings on comparable securities or according to prices quoted by a securities dealer that offers pricing services. Open end investment companies are valued at their net asset value. Foreign securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. For this reason, the value of any foreign securities owned by a Fund could change on a day when shareholders cannot buy or sell shares of the Fund. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available or reliable and other assets may be valued as determined in good faith by the Investment Manager's Valuation Committee under the direction of or pursuant to procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees, called "fair value pricing." Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuation, fair value pricing values may differ from the values that would have been used had a readily available or reliable market quotation for the securities existed. These differences in valuation could be material. A security's valuation may differ depending on the method used for determining value. The use of fair value pricing by a Fund may cause the net asset value of its shares to differ from the net asset value that would be calculated using market prices. A fair value price is an estimate and there is no assurance that such price will be at or close to the price at which a security is next quoted or next trades.

Value Measurements
Inputs to valuation methods are prioritized by a three level hierarchy as follows:
 
• Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities including securities actively traded on a securities exchange.
 
• Level 2 - observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability which may include quoted prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates, and similar data.
 
• Level 3 - unobservable inputs for the asset or liability including the Fund's own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability.
 
The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets for the security, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for investments categorized in level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy, within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The inputs and methodology used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
3

The following is a description of the valuation techniques applied to a Fund's major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
Equity securities (common and preferred stock) – Most publicly traded equity securities are valued normally at the most recent official closing price, last sale price, evaluated quote, or closing bid price. To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they may be categorized in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Equities on inactive markets or valued by reference to similar instruments may be categorized in level 2.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of March 31, 2018 in valuing each Fund's assets. Refer to each Fund's Schedule of Portfolio Investments for detailed information on specific investments

MIDAS FUND
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets
       
 
Investments, at value
       
   
Common stocks
$      15,349,748
$       -
$        -
$   15,349,748
   
Money market fund
             716,296
-   
          -
          716,296
 
Total investments, at value
$      16,066,044
$       -
$        -
$   16,066,044

MIDAS MAGIC
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets
       
 
Investments, at value
       
   
Common stocks
$     14,943,312
$         -
$        -
$   14,943,312
   
Money market fund
            703,883
           -
          -
          703,883
 
Total investments, at value
$     15,824,285
$         -
$        -
$   15,824,285

There were no securities transferred from level 1 on December 31, 2017 to level 2 on March 31, 2018.

Cost for Federal Income Tax Purposes
The aggregate cost of investments for tax purposes will depend upon each Fund's investment experience during the entirety of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. As of March 31, 2018, for federal income tax purposes, subject to changes, the aggregate cost, gross unrealized appreciation (depreciation), and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments are summarized as follows:

 
Federal Income
Gross Unrealized
Net Unrealized
Tax Cost
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
Appreciation (Depreciation)
Midas Fund
$     19,786,715
$          1,440,371
$       (  5,161,042)
$                        (  3,720,671)
Midas Magic
$       8,885,262
$          7,222,354
$       (     283,331)
$                           6,939,023

Portfolio Concentration
Each Fund operates as a "non-diversified" investment company, which means that the portion of the Fund's assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer is not limited by the Act and the amount of the outstanding voting securities of a particular issuer held by a Fund is not limited. Each Fund, however, currently intends to continue to conduct its operations so as to qualify as a "regulated investment company" for purposes of the IRC, which currently requires that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year, with respect to 50% of a Fund's total assets, the Fund limits to 5% the portion of its total assets invested in the securities of a single issuer. There are no such limitations with respect to the balance of a Fund's portfolio, although no single investment can exceed 25% of a Fund's total assets at the time of purchase. A more concentrated portfolio may cause a Fund's net asset value to be more volatile and thus may subject shareholders to more risk.

Foreign Securities Risk
Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve special risks which include changes in foreign exchange rates and the possibility of future adverse political, tax, and economic developments, which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of foreign issuers and securities traded in foreign markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of U.S. issuers and markets. In addition, in certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments that could affect U.S. investments in the securities of issuers domiciled in those countries.
4

 
Item 2.  Controls and Procedures

(a)  
The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the 1940 Act are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(b)  
There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the registrant's last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3. Exhibits

(a)  
Certifications of the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act.

5

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.
 
Midas Series Trust

By: /s/ Thomas B. Winmill
Thomas B. Winmill, President

Date: May 21, 2018
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act 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/ Thomas B. Winmill
Thomas B. Winmill, President

Date: May 21, 2018
 
By: /s/ Thomas O'Malley
Thomas O'Malley, Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: May 21, 2018
 
Exhibit Index
 
(a)
Certifications of the registrant's principal executive and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act. (EX-99.CERT)