| 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: | (811-04345) |
| Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: | Putnam Tax Free Income Trust |
| Address of principal executive offices: | 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 |
| Name and address of agent for service: | Robert T. Burns, Vice President 100 Federal Street Boston, Massachusetts 02110 |
| Copy to: | Bryan Chegwidden, Esq. Ropes & Gray LLP 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 |
| Registrant's telephone number, including area code: | (617) 292-1000 |
| Date of fiscal year end: | July 31, 2021 |
| Date of reporting period: | August 1, 2020 — January 31, 2021 |
Item 1. Report to Stockholders: |
| The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940: | |||
Putnam
Strategic Intermediate
Municipal Fund
Semiannual report
1 | 31 | 21
Message from the Trustees
March 10, 2021
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
The continuing hardships of the global Covid-19 pandemic remain a concern for the economy, but we have optimism for the year ahead. Infection rates have declined in early 2021. In the United States, fiscal stimulus enacted in December is reaching people and President Biden is urging Congress to provide even more support. Worldwide, more than 140 million vaccinations are just the beginning of a massive effort to counter the pandemic.
While many challenges remain, the economy is rebounding, the stock market has reached new highs, and interest rates remain low. Conditions appear to be in place for rising employment rates and increasing business activity later in the year. Businesses and policy makers need to steer a careful course, but we believe it is reasonable to anticipate improvement.
Putnam continues to employ active strategies that seek superior investment performance for you and your fellow shareholders. Putnam’s portfolio managers and analysts take a research-intensive approach that includes risk management strategies designed to serve you through changing conditions.
As always, thank you for investing with Putnam.
Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. Share price, principal value, and return will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance of class A shares assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes. Fund returns in the bar chart do not reflect a sales charge of 4.00%; had they, returns would have been lower. See page 3 and pages 9–12 for additional performance information. For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower. To obtain the most recent month-end performance, visit putnam.com.
Before August 28, 2020 the fund was managed with a materially different investment strategy and may have achieved materially different performance results under its current investment strategy from that shown for periods before this date.
* The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond - Bloomberg Barclays 3-15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Linked Benchmark represents performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index from inception date of the fund, September 9, 1985, through August 27, 2020 and performance of the Bloomberg Barclays 3-15 Year Municipal Bond Index from August 28, 2020, and thereafter.
Source: Bloomberg Index Services Limited.
† Source: Lipper, a Refinitiv company.
‡ Performance for class A shares before their inception (9/20/93) is derived from the historical performance of class B shares. The fund’s primary benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays 3-15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index, was introduced on 1/31/90, which post-dates the inception of the fund.
** Returns for the six-month period are not annualized, but cumulative.
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This comparison shows your fund’s performance in the context of broad market indexes for the six months ended 1/31/21. See page 2 and pages 9–12 for additional fund performance information. Index descriptions can be found on pages 15–16.
*Source: Bloomberg Index Services Limited.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 3 |
Garrett, how did municipal bonds perform during the six-month period ended January 31, 2021?
Against a backdrop of stabilizing U.S. fundamentals and positive supply/demand technicals, intermediate-term municipal bonds notched steady gains. The Bloomberg Barclays 3-15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index [the primary benchmark] rose 1.69%, outperforming U.S. Treasurys and the broader U.S. fixed-income markets.
The Federal Reserve’s September 2020 announcement that it expected to hold short-term interest rates near zero until the end of 2023 also fueled interest. With yields on certificates of deposits and U.S. Treasurys near zero, investors sought out other alternatives. Although municipal bond yields were lower as well, their after-tax income advantage remained compelling. In other cases, investors perceived tax-free bonds as an attractive alternative to the volatile equity market. We also believe the prospect for higher taxes for both corporations as well as higher-income individuals played a role in creating demand for municipal bonds. These factors contributed to a strong demand environment that helped push bond prices
| 4 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 1/31/21. Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Summary information may differ from the information in the portfolio schedule notes included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the timing of matured security transactions, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.
Credit qualities are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 1/31/21. A bond rated BBB or higher (SP-3 or higher, for short-term debt) is considered investment grade. This chart reflects the highest security rating provided by one or more of Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch. Ratings may vary over time.
Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, and short-term securities in the portfolio. The fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 5 |
higher. The supply of new municipal bonds issued after the November U.S. elections fell below last year’s totals, amplifying the strong technical backdrop.
While the arc of performance was positive for the period, there were downward shifts in risk sentiment, particularly in October 2020. This was due to uncertainties around the U.S. presidential election, delays in further stimulus, and spikes in Covid-19 cases. Sentiment rebounded in November, with election results that were less extreme than feared and the announcement by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna regarding the high efficacy of their vaccines. However, in the final weeks of 2020, a resurgence in cases of Covid-19 and renewed measures to contain the spread threatened the pace of economic improvement. Just before the end of 2020, Congress passed a $900 billion stimulus bill. However, aid to state and local governments did not make it into the relief bill. Then-President-elect Biden stated that he would pursue additional state and local funding in 2021.
In its final policy meeting of 2020, the Fed remained committed to its massive bond-buying program. It also revised its outlook for economic growth up to 4.2% and its outlook for the unemployment rate down to 5% for 2021. This helped to rally municipal bond sentiment in January 2021, as did the U.S. Senate runoff election in Georgia and its implications for the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. As the period came to a close, investors were in an upbeat mood, with the Biden administration’s plans to work with Congress to boost the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and add further fiscal stimulus to foster economic growth.
Intermediate-term municipal bonds underperformed long-term municipal bonds and substantially outperformed their short-term cohorts for the period. Lower-rated municipal bonds outperformed higher-rated municipal bonds.
How did the fund perform during the reporting period?
For the six months ended January 31, 2021, the fund outperformed the municipal benchmark and the average return of its Lipper peer group, Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds.
What strategies or holdings influenced the fund’s performance during the period?
With regard to credit positioning, we focused on lower-rated investment-grade bonds and select high-yield bonds. We believe the lower tiers of the investment-grade market and parts of the high-yield universe represent some of the best income and return opportunities. However, we’re exercising caution given the ongoing economic uncertainty. From a sector-or industry-positioning perspective, we favored long-term care, private higher education, and hospitals as well as other revenue sectors relative to the fund’s Lipper peer group.
Duration positioning, a measure of the fund’s interest-rate sensitivity, was generally neutral relative to the level of its Lipper peer group at period-end. The fund’s yield-curve positioning was defined by an overweight in bonds with maturities of 5 to 20 years. As part of this strategy, the fund held an underweight exposure to both short and long maturity holdings compared with the Lipper peer group.
The fund held an overweight exposure to revenue bonds versus general obligation bonds. As part of our strategy for state debt, we held an overweight exposure to Illinois relative to the Lipper peer group. We believe Illinois’ financial flexibility and credit fundamentals were not completely reflected by market spreads.
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The fund remained underweight in its exposure to Puerto Rico municipal debt compared with its Lipper peer group. We remain cautious on Puerto Rico due to its seemingly fragile economy, weak demographic trends, poor-quality infrastructure, volatile political environment, and history of fiscal mismanagement. We continue to monitor the Commonwealth’s ongoing restructuring efforts for potential opportunities.
What is your outlook as 2021 begins?
We expect the Fed to hold short-term interest rates near zero while maintaining a bias toward more easing through non-traditional channels. With the November 2020 elections behind us, we believe that prospects for further fiscal stimulus with aid for state and local governments have increased.
Municipal bonds demonstrated resilience in 2020, faring better than many analysts anticipated. Credit spreads, while still wider than the pre-pandemic levels, significantly narrowed from the extreme levels that occurred during the historic sell-off in March 2020. While we are seeing credit fundamentals in some sectors that are weaker than they were pre-Covid-19, we still believe that defaults will stay within long-term ranges. We believe the strength of the economic recovery and the pace of normalization will shape the performance of the municipal market in the months ahead.
In our view, the municipal bond market is poised for continued recovery, with the greatest opportunities in the lower parts of the investment-grade universe as well as the high-yield sectors. At a time when interest rates on the highest-rated municipal bonds have fallen to near-historic lows and credit spreads are above long-term averages, we believe that the fund’s focus on credit within an intermediate strategy represents an attractive opportunity for investors. As always, we will continue to balance the pursuit of tax-free income with prudent risk management as we search for the most attractive opportunities in the tax-exempt bond market.
This chart shows how the fund’s top weightings have changed over the past six months. Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets. Current period summary information may differ from the information in the portfolio schedule notes included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the timing of matured security transactions, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.
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Thank you, Garrett, for your time and insights today.
The views expressed in this report are exclusively those of Putnam Management and are subject to change. They are not meant as investment advice.
Please note that the holdings discussed in this report may not have been held by the fund for the entire period. Portfolio composition is subject to review in accordance with the fund’s investment strategy and may vary in the future. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk. Statements in the Q&A concerning the fund’s performance or portfolio composition relative to those of the fund’s Lipper peer group may reference information produced by Lipper Inc. or through a third party.
Of special interest
Effective August 28, 2020, the fund was renamed Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund. In connection with that name change, the fund’s investment goal is now to seek as high a level of current income exempt from federal income tax as Putnam Management believes is consistent with preservation of capital. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus.
| 8 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Your fund’s performance
This section shows your fund’s performance, price, and distribution information for periods ended January 31, 2021, the end of the first half of its current fiscal year. In accordance with regulatory requirements for mutual funds, we also include performance information as of the most recent calendar quarter-end and expense information taken from the fund’s current prospectus. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Before August 28, 2020 the fund was managed with a materially different investment strategy and may have achieved materially different performance results under its current investment strategy from that shown for periods before this date. Data represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance information does not reflect any deduction for taxes a shareholder may owe on fund distributions or on the redemption of fund shares. For the most recent month-end performance, please visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com or call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581. Class R6 and Y shares are not available to all investors. See the Terms and definitions section in this report for definitions of the share classes offered by your fund.
Fund performance Total return for periods ended 1/31/21
| Annual | |||||||||
| average | Annual | Annual | Annual | ||||||
| (life of fund) | 10 years | average | 5 years | average | 3 years | average | 1 year | 6 months | |
| Class A (9/20/93) | |||||||||
| Before sales charge | 5.67% | 59.19% | 4.76% | 19.72% | 3.67% | 15.67% | 4.97% | 3.43% | 2.87% |
| After sales charge | 5.55 | 52.82 | 4.33 | 14.93 | 2.82 | 11.04 | 3.55 | –0.70 | –1.24 |
| Class B (9/9/85) | |||||||||
| Before CDSC | 5.67 | 51.43 | 4.24 | 16.04 | 3.02 | 13.59 | 4.34 | 2.74 | 2.56 |
| After CDSC | 5.67 | 51.43 | 4.24 | 14.07 | 2.67 | 10.59 | 3.41 | –2.20 | –2.41 |
| Class C (7/26/99) | |||||||||
| Before CDSC | 5.59 | 47.37 | 3.95 | 15.24 | 2.88 | 13.08 | 4.18 | 2.66 | 2.48 |
| After CDSC | 5.59 | 47.37 | 3.95 | 15.24 | 2.88 | 13.08 | 4.18 | 1.67 | 1.49 |
| Class R6 (5/22/18) | |||||||||
| Net asset value | 5.57 | 62.98 | 5.01 | 21.18 | 3.92 | 16.53 | 5.23 | 3.69 | 3.00 |
| Class Y (1/2/08) | |||||||||
| Net asset value | 5.57 | 62.99 | 5.01 | 21.19 | 3.92 | 16.54 | 5.23 | 3.68 | 3.00 |
Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. After-sales-charge returns for class A shares reflect the deduction of the maximum 4.00% sales charge levied at the time of purchase. Class B share returns after contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) reflect the applicable CDSC, which is 5% in the first year, declining over time to 1% in the sixth year, and is eliminated thereafter. Class C share returns after CDSC reflect a 1% CDSC for the first year that is eliminated thereafter. Class R6 and Y shares have no initial sales charge or CDSC. Performance for class A, C, and Y shares before their inception is derived from the historical performance of class B shares, adjusted for the applicable sales charge (or CDSC) and the higher operating expenses for such shares, except for class Y shares, for which 12b-1 fees are not applicable. Performance for class R6 shares prior to their inception is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.
For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower.
Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.
Class C share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after 10 years.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 9 |
Comparative index returns For periods ended 1/31/21
| Annual | |||||||||
| average | Annual | Annual | Annual | ||||||
| (life of fund) | 10 years | average | 5 years | average | 3 years | average | 1 year | 6 months | |
| Bloomberg Barclays | |||||||||
| 3–15 Year Blend | |||||||||
| Municipal Bond | — | 51.15% | 4.22% | 18.39% | 3.43% | 15.69% | 4.98% | 3.86% | 1.69% |
| Index* | |||||||||
| Bloomberg Barclays | |||||||||
| Municipal Bond — | |||||||||
| Bloomberg Barclays | |||||||||
| 3–15 Year Blend | 6.34% | 58.71 | 4.73 | 19.98 | 3.71 | 16.22 | 5.14 | 3.59 | 1.60 |
| Municipal Bond | |||||||||
| Linked Benchmark† | |||||||||
| Lipper Intermediate | |||||||||
| Municipal Debt Funds | 5.42 | 44.63 | 3.73 | 15.53 | 2.92 | 13.61 | 4.34 | 3.37 | 2.37 |
| category average‡ |
Index and Lipper results should be compared with fund performance before sales charge, before CDSC, or at net asset value.
* The fund’s primary benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays 3-15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index, was introduced on 1/31/90, which post-dates the inception of the fund.
† The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond - Bloomberg Barclays 3-15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Linked Benchmark represents performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index from inception date of the fund, September 9, 1985, through August 27, 2020 and performance of the Bloomberg Barclays 3-15 Year Municipal Bond Index from August 28, 2020, and thereafter.
Source: Bloomberg Index Services Limited.
‡ Over the 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, and life-of-fund periods ended 1/31/21, there were 215, 209, 182, 160, 120, and 9 funds, respectively, in this Lipper category.
| 10 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Fund price and distribution information For the six month period ended 1/31/21
| Distributions | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class R6 | Class Y | |
| Number | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Income1 | $0.143608 | $0.098059 | $0.087311 | $0.163774 | $0.162873 | |
| Capital gains2 | ||||||
| Long-term gains | 0.279500 | 0.279500 | 0.279500 | 0.279500 | 0.279500 | |
| Short-term gains | 0.099700 | 0.099700 | 0.099700 | 0.099700 | 0.099700 | |
| Total | $0.522808 | $0.477259 | $0.466511 | $0.542974 | $0.542073 | |
| Before | After | Net | Net | Net | Net | |
| sales | sales | asset | asset | asset | asset | |
| Share value | charge | charge | value | value | value | value |
| 7/31/20 | $15.33 | $15.97 | $15.35 | $15.38 | $15.35 | $15.35 |
| 1/31/21 | 15.24 | 15.88 | 15.26 | 15.29 | 15.26 | 15.26 |
| Before | After | Net | Net | Net | Net | |
| Current rate | sales | sales | asset | asset | asset | asset |
| (end of period) | charge | charge | value | value | value | value |
| Current dividend rate3 | 1.46% | 1.40% | 0.86% | 0.71% | 1.72% | 1.71% |
| Taxable equivalent4 | 2.47 | 2.36 | 1.45 | 1.20 | 2.91 | 2.89 |
| Current 30-day | ||||||
| SEC yield5 | N/A | 0.47 | –0.10 | –0.24 | 0.75 | 0.74 |
| Taxable equivalent4 | N/A | 0.79 | N/A | N/A | 1.27 | 1.25 |
The classification of distributions, if any, is an estimate. Before-sales-charge share value and current dividend rate for class A shares, if applicable, do not take into account any sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge share value, current dividend rate, and current 30-day SEC yield, if applicable, are calculated assuming that the maximum sales charge (4.00% for class A shares) was levied at the time of purchase. Final distribution information will appear on your year-end tax forms.
1 For some investors, investment income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.
2 Capital gains, if any, are taxable for federal and, in most cases, state purposes.
3 Most recent distribution, including any return of capital and excluding capital gains, annualized and divided by share price before or after sales charge at period-end.
4 Assumes maximum 40.80% federal tax rate for 2021. Results for investors subject to lower tax rates would not be as advantageous.
5 Based only on investment income and calculated using the maximum offering price for each share class, in accordance with SEC guidelines.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 11 |
Fund performance as of most recent calendar quarter Total return for periods ended 12/31/20
| Annual | |||||||||
| average | Annual | Annual | Annual | ||||||
| (life of fund) | 10 years | average | 5 years | average | 3 years | average | 1 year | 6 months | |
| Class A (9/20/93) | |||||||||
| Before sales charge | 5.66% | 55.60% | 4.52% | 19.64% | 3.65% | 13.30% | 4.25% | 4.25% | 4.01% |
| After sales charge | 5.53 | 49.37 | 4.09 | 14.86 | 2.81 | 8.77 | 2.84 | 0.08 | –0.15 |
| Class B (9/9/85) | |||||||||
| Before CDSC | 5.66 | 48.12 | 4.01 | 16.04 | 3.02 | 11.20 | 3.60 | 3.61 | 3.69 |
| After CDSC | 5.66 | 48.12 | 4.01 | 14.07 | 2.67 | 8.22 | 2.67 | –1.37 | –1.31 |
| Class C (7/26/99) | |||||||||
| Before CDSC | 5.57 | 44.15 | 3.72 | 15.17 | 2.86 | 10.77 | 3.47 | 3.52 | 3.61 |
| After CDSC | 5.57 | 44.15 | 3.72 | 15.17 | 2.86 | 10.77 | 3.47 | 2.53 | 2.61 |
| Class R6 (5/22/18) | |||||||||
| Net asset value | 5.55 | 59.41 | 4.77 | 21.09 | 3.90 | 14.15 | 4.51 | 4.57 | 4.14 |
| Class Y (1/2/08) | |||||||||
| Net asset value | 5.55 | 59.43 | 4.77 | 21.10 | 3.90 | 14.16 | 4.51 | 4.56 | 4.21 |
See the discussion following the fund performance table on page 9 for information about the calculation of fund performance.
As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees, distribution fees (12b-1 fees), and other expenses. Using the following information, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You may also pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial representative.
Expense ratios
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class R6 | Class Y | |
| Total annual operating expenses for the fiscal | |||||
| year ended 7/31/20* | 0.84%‡ | 1.44% | 1.59% | 0.58% | 0.59% |
| Annualized expense ratio for the six-month | |||||
| period ended 1/31/21† | 0.91% | 1.51% | 1.66% | 0.65% | 0.66% |
Fiscal year expense information in this table is taken from the most recent prospectus, is subject to change, and may differ from that shown for the annualized expense ratio and in the financial highlights of this report.
Expenses are shown as a percentage of average net assets.
* Restated to reflect current fees.
† Includes one-time annualized proxy costs of 0.06%.
‡ Distribution and service fees have been restated to reflect current fees.
| 12 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Expenses per $1,000
The following table shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in each class of the fund from 8/1/20 to 1/31/21. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class R6 | Class Y | |
| Expenses paid per $1,000*† | $4.65 | $7.71 | $8.47 | $3.33 | $3.38 |
| Ending value (after expenses) | $1,028.70 | $1,025.60 | $1,024.80 | $1,030.00 | $1,030.00 |
* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 1/31/21. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.
† Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.
Estimate the expenses you paid
To estimate the ongoing expenses you paid for the six months ended 1/31/21, use the following calculation method. To find the value of your investment on 8/1/20, call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581.
Compare expenses using the SEC’s method
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the following table shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total costs) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class R6 | Class Y | |
| Expenses paid per $1,000*† | $4.63 | $7.68 | $8.44 | $3.31 | $3.36 |
| Ending value (after expenses) | $1,020.62 | $1,017.59 | $1,016.84 | $1,021.93 | $1,021.88 |
* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 1/31/21. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.
† Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the six-month period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the six-month period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 13 |
Consider these risks before investing
Capital gains, if any, are taxable for federal and, in most cases, state purposes. Income from federally tax-exempt funds may be subject to state and local taxes. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling if interest rates rise) and credit risk (the risk of an issuer defaulting on interest or principal payments). Interest-rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Unlike bonds, funds that invest in bonds have fees and expenses. The fund may invest significantly in particular segments of the tax-exempt debt market, making it more vulnerable to fluctuations in the values of the securities it holds than a fund that invests more broadly. Interest the fund receives might be taxable. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political, or financial market conditions; investor sentiment and market perceptions; government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Our investment techniques, analyses, and judgments may not produce the outcome we intend. The investments we select for the fund may not perform as well as other securities that we do not select for the fund. We, or the fund’s other service providers, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could negatively impact the fund. You can lose money by investing in the fund.
| 14 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Terms and definitions
Important terms
Total return shows how the value of the fund’s shares changed over time, assuming you held the shares through the entire period and reinvested all distributions in the fund.
Before sales charge, or net asset value, is the price, or value, of one share of a mutual fund, without a sales charge. Before-sales-charge figures fluctuate with market conditions, and are calculated by dividing the net assets of each class of shares by the number of outstanding shares in the class.
After sales charge is the price of a mutual fund share plus the maximum sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge performance figures shown here assume the 4.00% maximum sales charge for class A shares.
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is generally a charge applied at the time of the redemption of class B or C shares and assumes redemption at the end of the period. Your fund’s class B CDSC declines over time from a 5% maximum during the first year to 1% during the sixth year. After the sixth year, the CDSC no longer applies. The CDSC for class C shares is 1% for one year after purchase.
Share classes
Class A shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge and no CDSC (except on certain redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge).
Class B shares are closed to new investments and are only available by exchange from another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. They are not subject to an initial sales charge and may be subject to a CDSC.
Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge and are subject to a CDSC only if the shares are redeemed during the first year.
Class R6 shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and institutional clients, and clients in other approved programs
Class Y shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to corporate and institutional clients and clients in other approved programs.
Fixed-income terms
Current rate is the annual rate of return earned from dividends or interest of an investment. Current rate is expressed as a percentage of the price of a security, fund share, or principal investment.
Yield curve is a graph that plots the yields of bonds with equal credit quality against their differing maturity dates, ranging from shortest to longest. It is used as a benchmark for other debt, such as mortgage or bank lending rates.
Comparative indexes
Bloomberg Barclays 3–15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index comprised of investment-grade municipal securities ranging from 2 and 17 years in maturity.
Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index of long-term fixed-rate investment-grade tax-exempt bonds.
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed-income securities.
ICE BofA (Intercontinental Exchange Bank of America) U.S. 3-Month Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that seeks to measure the performance of U.S. Treasury bills available in the marketplace.
S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stock performance.
Indexes assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not account for fees. Securities and performance of a
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 15 |
fund and an index will differ. You cannot invest directly in an index.
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Other information for shareholders
Important notice regarding delivery of shareholder documents
In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, Putnam sends a single copy of annual and semiannual shareholder reports, prospectuses, and proxy statements to Putnam shareholders who share the same address, unless a shareholder requests otherwise. If you prefer to receive your own copy of these documents, please call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581, and Putnam will begin sending individual copies within 30 days.
Proxy voting
Putnam is committed to managing our mutual funds in the best interests of our shareholders. The Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures, as well as information regarding how your fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2020, are available in the Individual Investors section of putnam.com and on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s website, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain the Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures at no charge by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.
Fund portfolio holdings
The fund will file a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT within 60 days of the end of such fiscal quarter. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Prior to its use of Form N-PORT, the fund filed its complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q, which is available online at www.sec.gov.
Trustee and employee fund ownership
Putnam employees and members of the Board of Trustees place their faith, confidence, and, most importantly, investment dollars in Putnam mutual funds. As of January 31, 2021, Putnam employees had approximately $541,000,000 and the Trustees had approximately $76,000,000 invested in Putnam mutual funds. These amounts include investments by the Trustees’ and employees’ immediate family members as well as investments through retirement and deferred compensation plans.
| 16 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Financial statements
These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes, constitute the fund’s financial statements.
The fund’s portfolio lists all the fund’s investments and their values as of the last day of the reporting period. Holdings are organized by asset type and industry sector, country, or state to show areas of concentration and diversification.
Statement of assets and liabilities shows how the fund’s net assets and share price are determined. All investment and non-investment assets are added together. Any unpaid expenses and other liabilities are subtracted from this total. The result is divided by the number of shares to determine the net asset value per share, which is calculated separately for each class of shares. (For funds with preferred shares, the amount subtracted from total assets includes the liquidation preference of preferred shares.)
Statement of operations shows the fund’s net investment gain or loss. This is done by first adding up all the fund’s earnings — from dividends and interest income — and subtracting its operating expenses to determine net investment income (or loss). Then, any net gain or loss the fund realized on the sales of its holdings — as well as any unrealized gains or losses over the period — is added to or subtracted from the net investment result to determine the fund’s net gain or loss for the fiscal period.
Statement of changes in net assets shows how the fund’s net assets were affected by the fund’s net investment gain or loss, by distributions to shareholders, and by changes in the number of the fund’s shares. It lists distributions and their sources (net investment income or realized capital gains) over the current reporting period and the most recent fiscal year-end. The distributions listed here may not match the sources listed in the Statement of operations because the distributions are determined on a tax basis and may be paid in a different period from the one in which they were earned. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. Actual results may vary. Any non-taxable return of capital cannot be determined until final tax calculations are completed after the end of the fund’s fiscal year.
Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund’s investment results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment income ratios, and portfolio turnover in one summary table, reflecting the five most recent reporting periods. In a semiannual report, the highlights table also includes the current reporting period.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 17 |
The fund’s portfolio 1/31/21 (Unaudited)
Key to holding’s abbreviations
| ABAG Association Of Bay Area Governments | U.S. Govt. Coll. U.S. Government Collateralized |
| AGM Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation | VRDN Variable Rate Demand Notes, which are floating- |
| AMBAC AMBAC Indemnity Corporation | rate securities with long-term maturities that carry |
| FHLMC Coll. Federal Home Loan Mortgage | coupons that reset and are payable upon demand |
| Corporation Collateralized | either daily, weekly or monthly. The rate shown is the |
| G.O. Bonds General Obligation Bonds | current interest rate at the close of the reporting |
| NATL National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation | period. Rates are set by remarketing agents and may |
| PSFG Permanent School Fund Guaranteed | take into consideration market supply and demand, |
| Q-SBLF Qualified School Board Loan Fund | credit quality and the current SIFMA Municipal Swap |
| Index rate, which was 0.04% as of the close of the | |
| reporting period. |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| Alabama (0.5%) | |||
| Jefferson, Cnty. Rev. Bonds, (Refunding warrants) | |||
| 5.00%, 9/15/34 | AA | $1,075,000 | $1,314,865 |
| 5.00%, 9/15/33 | AA | 125,000 | 153,205 |
| 1,468,070 | |||
| Alaska (1.3%) | |||
| AK State Indl. Dev. & Export Auth. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Tanana Chiefs Conference), Ser. A | |||
| 4.00%, 10/1/39 | A+/F | 2,445,000 | 2,851,506 |
| 4.00%, 10/1/38 | A+/F | 555,000 | 648,690 |
| 3,500,196 | |||
| Arizona (3.4%) | |||
| AZ State Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Equitable | |||
| School Revolving Fund), Ser. A | |||
| 5.00%, 11/1/38 | A | 1,110,000 | 1,383,726 |
| 5.00%, 11/1/36 | A | 1,235,000 | 1,547,196 |
| 5.00%, 11/1/34 | A | 1,000,000 | 1,260,890 |
| Glendale, Indl. Dev. Auth. Sr. Living Fac. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Royal Oaks Life Care Cmnty.) | |||
| 4.00%, 5/15/31 | BBB–/F | 1,000,000 | 1,071,700 |
| 4.00%, 5/15/29 | BBB–/F | 1,000,000 | 1,077,680 |
| Salt River Project Agricultural Impt. & Pwr. Dist. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, 5.00%, 1/1/27 ### | Aa1 | 1,200,000 | 1,487,064 |
| Salt Verde, Fin. Corp. Gas Rev. Bonds, | |||
| 5.50%, 12/1/29 | A3 | 1,000,000 | 1,341,650 |
| 9,169,906 | |||
| California (10.8%) | |||
| ABAG Fin. Auth. for Nonprofit Corps. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Episcopal Sr. Cmntys.), 6.125%, 7/1/41 | A–/F | 500,000 | 507,975 |
| CA Pub. Fin. Auth. VRDN, (Sharp Hlth. Care Oblig. | |||
| Group), Ser. C, 0.01%, 8/1/52 | VMIG 1 | 7,590,000 | 7,590,000 |
| CA State G.O. Bonds, Ser. B1, 0.01%, 5/1/34 | VMIG 1 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| CA State Enterprise Dev. Auth. Student Hsg. | |||
| Rev. Bonds, (Provident Group-SDSU Properties, | |||
| LLC), Ser. A | |||
| 5.00%, 8/1/30 | Baa3 | 100,000 | 128,728 |
| 5.00%, 8/1/28 | Baa3 | 150,000 | 187,580 |
| 18 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| California cont. | |||
| CA State Infrastructure & Econ. Dev. Bank | |||
| Mandatory Put Bonds (6/1/26), (Museum | |||
| Associates), 0.74%, 12/1/50 | A3 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,420 |
| CA State Infrastructure & Econ. Dev. Bank 144A | |||
| Mandatory Put Bonds (7/1/21), (DesertXpress | |||
| Enterprises, LLC), 0.45%, 1/1/50 | VMIG 1 | 5,000,000 | 5,001,450 |
| CA State Muni. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (HumanGood | |||
| Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 4.00%, 10/1/32 | A–/F | 1,000,000 | 1,134,080 |
| CA State Tobacco Securitization Agcy. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Merced Cnty. Tobacco Funding Corp.) | |||
| 5.00%, 6/1/31 | A– | 335,000 | 460,739 |
| 5.00%, 6/1/28 | A | 100,000 | 130,967 |
| CA State, Pub. Wks. Board Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, | |||
| 5.00%, 2/1/30 ### | Aa3 | 1,000,000 | 1,306,980 |
| Chula Vista, Muni. Fin. Auth. Special Tax Bonds, | |||
| 5.50%, 9/1/30 | AA– | 775,000 | 869,302 |
| Port of Oakland Rev. Bonds | |||
| 5.00%, 11/1/29 ### | A2 | 1,125,000 | 1,480,264 |
| 5.00%, 5/1/29 ### | A2 | 1,000,000 | 1,307,390 |
| 5.00%, 5/1/28 ### | A2 | 750,000 | 961,110 |
| 1.081%, 5/1/24 | A1 | 750,000 | 761,790 |
| Sierra View, Local Hlth. Care Dist. Rev. Bonds | |||
| 5.00%, 7/1/30 | A/F | 620,000 | 786,718 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/27 | A/F | 625,000 | 763,469 |
| 4.00%, 7/1/26 | A/F | 300,000 | 344,514 |
| 4.00%, 7/1/25 | A/F | 290,000 | 327,248 |
| 4.00%, 7/1/24 | A/F | 235,000 | 259,395 |
| 4.00%, 7/1/23 | A/F | 260,000 | 279,932 |
| 4.00%, 7/1/22 | A/F | 230,000 | 240,226 |
| 4.00%, 7/1/21 | A2 | 225,000 | 228,101 |
| Yucaipa Special Tax Bonds, (Cmnty. Fac. Dist. No. | |||
| 98-1 Chapman Heights), 5.375%, 9/1/30 | A | 375,000 | 384,780 |
| 29,443,158 | |||
| Colorado (1.7%) | |||
| CO State Hlth. Fac. Auth. Hosp. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (CommonSpirit Health Oblig. Group) | |||
| Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/37 T | Baa1 | 150,000 | 173,869 |
| Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/38 T | Baa1 | 225,000 | 260,372 |
| Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/39 T | Baa1 | 225,000 | 259,881 |
| Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/44 T | Baa1 | 750,000 | 863,833 |
| Ser. A-2, 4.00%, 8/1/49 T | Baa1 | 1,500,000 | 1,710,655 |
| Vauxmont, Metro. Dist. G.O. Bonds, AGM | |||
| 5.00%, 12/1/34 | AA | 285,000 | 365,507 |
| 5.00%, 12/1/32 | AA | 250,000 | 322,743 |
| 5.00%, 12/15/30 | AA | 125,000 | 145,965 |
| 5.00%, 12/15/29 | AA | 125,000 | 146,316 |
| 5.00%, 12/15/27 | AA | 125,000 | 147,440 |
| 5.00%, 12/15/25 | AA | 125,000 | 148,610 |
| 5.00%, 12/1/25 | AA | 175,000 | 209,396 |
| 4,754,587 |
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 19 |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| Connecticut (1.4%) | |||
| CT State Hlth. & Edl. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Masonicare Issue), Ser. F | |||
| 5.00%, 7/1/34 | BBB+/F | $1,250,000 | $1,409,301 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/33 | BBB+/F | 250,000 | 282,810 |
| CT State Hsg. Fin. Auth. Mtge. Program Rev. Bonds | |||
| Ser. B-1, 4.10%, 11/15/39 T | Aaa | 565,000 | 607,399 |
| Ser. B-1, 4.15%, 11/15/44 T | Aaa | 1,355,000 | 1,454,692 |
| 3,754,202 | |||
| District of Columbia (2.3%) | |||
| DC Rev. Bonds | |||
| (KIPP DC), Ser. A, 5.00%, 7/1/48 | BBB+ | 1,250,000 | 1,471,763 |
| (Latin American Montessori Bilingual Pub. Charter | |||
| School Oblig. Group), 4.00%, 6/1/30 | BB+ | 1,000,000 | 1,124,900 |
| Metro. Washington, Arpt. Auth. Dulles Toll Rd. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, (Dulles Metrorail), 5.00%, 10/1/53 | A– | 2,000,000 | 2,080,840 |
| Metro. Washington DC, Arpt. Auth. Dulles Toll Rd. | |||
| Rev. Bonds, (Dulles Metrorail & Cap. Impt. Proj.) | |||
| 4.00%, 10/1/53 T | A– | 660,000 | 747,049 |
| Ser. B, 4.00%, 10/1/44 T | A– | 665,000 | 750,714 |
| 6,175,266 | |||
| Florida (5.6%) | |||
| Double Branch Cmnty. Dev. Dist. Special Assmt. | |||
| Bonds, Ser. A-1, 4.25%, 5/1/34 | A | 360,000 | 380,434 |
| FL State Board of Administration Fin. Corp. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, Ser. A, 1.258%, 7/1/25 | AA | 4,000,000 | 4,115,600 |
| Halifax Hosp. Med. Ctr. Rev. Bonds, 5.00%, 6/1/36 | A– | 1,375,000 | 1,601,600 |
| Lakeland, Hosp. Syst. Rev. Bonds, (Lakeland Regl. | |||
| Hlth.), 5.00%, 11/15/45 | A2 | 2,000,000 | 2,265,240 |
| Orange Cnty., Hlth. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Presbyterian Retirement Cmntys.), 5.00%, 8/1/34 | A–/F | 1,000,000 | 1,104,670 |
| Orlando Cmnty. Redev. Agcy. Tax Alloc. Bonds, | |||
| (Republic Drive/Universal), 5.00%, 4/1/23 | A+/F | 1,630,000 | 1,703,839 |
| Palm Beach Cnty., Hlth. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Acts | |||
| Retirement-Life Cmnty., Inc.), 5.00%, 11/15/32 | A–/F | 2,000,000 | 2,384,080 |
| Southeast Overtown Park West Cmnty. Redev. Agcy. | |||
| 144A Tax Alloc. Bonds, Ser. A-1, 5.00%, 3/1/30 | BBB+ | 240,000 | 266,952 |
| Village, 144A Special Assmt., (Village Cmnty. Dev. | |||
| Dist. No. 13), 1.875%, 5/1/25 | BB–/P | 700,000 | 711,319 |
| Volusia Cnty., Edl. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Embry- | |||
| Riddle Aeronautical University, Inc.), Ser. A, | |||
| 4.00%, 10/15/38 | A3 | 750,000 | 871,155 |
| 15,404,889 | |||
| Georgia (2.4%) | |||
| Burke Cnty., Dev. Auth. Poll. Control Mandatory | |||
| Put Bonds (2/3/25), (Oglethorpe Pwr. Corp.), | |||
| 1.50%, 1/1/40 | Baa1 | 1,600,000 | 1,648,224 |
| Cobb Cnty., Kennestone Hosp. Auth. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (WellStar Hlth. Syst. Oblig. Group), 4.00%, 4/1/32 | A2 | 225,000 | 274,631 |
| Gainesville & Hall Cnty., Dev. Auth. Edl. Fac. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, (Riverside Military Academy), 5.00%, 3/1/37 | BB/F | 200,000 | 199,950 |
| 20 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| Georgia cont. | |||
| Main Street Natural Gas, Inc. Gas Supply Mandatory | |||
| Put Bonds (9/1/23), Ser. B, 0.846%, 4/1/48 | Aa2 | $2,200,000 | $2,204,620 |
| Muni. Election Auth. of GA Rev. Bonds, (Plant Vogtle | |||
| Units 3 & 4), Ser. A | |||
| 5.50%, 7/1/60 | A | 1,500,000 | 1,747,950 |
| 5.00%, 1/1/56 | A2 | 500,000 | 604,605 |
| 6,679,980 | |||
| Guam (0.1%) | |||
| Territory of GU, Pwr. Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, AGM, | |||
| 5.00%, 10/1/30 | AA | 200,000 | 214,490 |
| 214,490 | |||
| Hawaii (0.1%) | |||
| HI State Dept. Budget & Fin. Rev. Bonds, (Kahala | |||
| Nui), 5.25%, 11/15/37 | A/F | 250,000 | 266,880 |
| 266,880 | |||
| Illinois (12.3%) | |||
| Chicago, G.O. Bonds | |||
| Ser. A, 6.00%, 1/1/38 | BBB+ | 1,600,000 | 1,949,280 |
| Ser. B-2, 5.50%, 1/1/37 | BBB+ | 1,000,000 | 1,129,900 |
| Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/30 | BBB+ | 1,300,000 | 1,644,877 |
| Chicago, Motor Fuel Tax Rev. Bonds, AGM, | |||
| 5.00%, 1/1/31 | AA | 500,000 | 546,835 |
| Chicago, Waste Wtr. Transmission Rev. Bonds | |||
| 5.00%, 1/1/44 | A | 500,000 | 550,475 |
| Ser. C, 5.00%, 1/1/39 | A | 750,000 | 862,320 |
| (2nd Lien), 5.00%, 1/1/39 | A | 565,000 | 624,941 |
| Ser. C, 5.00%, 1/1/34 | A | 400,000 | 463,236 |
| Ser. C, 5.00%, 1/1/33 | A | 405,000 | 469,707 |
| Chicago, Wtr. Wks Rev. Bonds, 5.00%, 11/1/39 | A | 675,000 | 761,528 |
| IL State G.O. Bonds | |||
| 5.00%, 11/1/41 | Baa3 | 600,000 | 682,260 |
| 5.00%, 1/1/41 | Baa3 | 340,000 | 380,916 |
| 5.00%, 11/1/34 | Baa3 | 1,650,000 | 1,904,826 |
| Ser. C, 5.00%, 11/1/29 | Baa3 | 1,225,000 | 1,453,561 |
| Ser. D, 5.00%, 11/1/28 | Baa3 | 2,080,000 | 2,483,936 |
| Ser. D, 5.00%, 11/1/27 | Baa3 | 920,000 | 1,105,334 |
| IL State Fin. Auth. | |||
| Mandatory Put Bonds (11/15/26), (OSF Hlth. Care | |||
| Syst. Oblig. Group), Ser. B-2, 5.00%, 5/15/50 | A | 1,000,000 | 1,219,910 |
| Mandatory Put Bonds (9/1/22), (Field Museum | |||
| of Natural History), 0.598%, 11/1/34 | A2 | 2,445,000 | 2,434,291 |
| IL State Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Art Institute | |||
| of Chicago (The)), 5.00%, 3/1/30 | Aa3 | 1,500,000 | 1,797,240 |
| IL State Fin. Auth. Academic Fac. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Ser. A, | |||
| 5.00%, 10/1/38 | A1 | 700,000 | 845,278 |
| IL State Fin. Auth. Student Hsg. & Academic Fac. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, (U. of IL Chicago), 5.00%, 2/15/50 | Baa3 | 500,000 | 546,835 |
| Metro. Pier & Exposition Auth. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (McCormick Place Expansion), Ser. B, | |||
| 5.00%, 12/15/33 | BBB | 300,000 | 357,789 |
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 21 |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| Illinois cont. | |||
| Metro. Pier & Exposition Auth. Dedicated State | |||
| Tax Rev. Bonds, (McCormick), Ser. A, NATL, | |||
| zero %, 12/15/22 | Baa2 | $5,500,000 | $5,395,830 |
| Metro. Wtr. Reclamation Dist. of Greater Chicago | |||
| G.O. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/31 | AA | 1,000,000 | 1,243,110 |
| Sales Tax Securitization Corp. Rev. Bonds, Ser. C, | |||
| 5.50%, 1/1/36 | AA– | 2,000,000 | 2,577,780 |
| 33,431,995 | |||
| Indiana (0.4%) | |||
| IN State Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (BHI Sr. Living), | |||
| 5.75%, 11/15/41 | BBB/F | 1,000,000 | 1,025,340 |
| 1,025,340 | |||
| Kansas (0.5%) | |||
| KS State Dev. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Lifespace | |||
| Cmnty’s. Inc.), Ser. S, 5.00%, 5/15/30 | BBB/F | 1,455,000 | 1,458,681 |
| 1,458,681 | |||
| Kentucky (4.3%) | |||
| KY Pub. Trans. Infrastructure Auth. Rev. Bonds, (1st | |||
| Tier Downtown Crossing), Ser. A, 6.00%, 7/1/53 | Baa3 | 500,000 | 554,650 |
| KY State Econ. Dev. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Louisville | |||
| Arena Auth., Inc.), Ser. A, AGM, 4.00%, 12/1/41 | AA | 1,000,000 | 1,120,060 |
| KY State Pub. Energy Auth. Gas Supply | |||
| Mandatory Put Bonds (6/1/25), Ser. C-1, | |||
| 4.00%, 12/1/49 | A1 | 3,150,000 | 3,598,592 |
| Mandatory Put Bonds (1/1/25), Ser. B, | |||
| 4.00%, 1/1/49 | A1 | 2,800,000 | 3,152,576 |
| Louisville & Jefferson Cnty., Metro. Govt. Hlth. | |||
| Syst. Rev. Bonds, (Norton Healthcare, Inc.), Ser. A, | |||
| 5.00%, 10/1/30 | A | 2,750,000 | 3,339,628 |
| 11,765,506 | |||
| Louisiana (0.8%) | |||
| St. John The Baptist Parish Mandatory Put Bonds | |||
| (7/1/26), (Marathon Oil Corp.), Ser. A-3, 2.20%, 6/1/37 | Baa3 | 2,000,000 | 2,079,940 |
| 2,079,940 | |||
| Maryland (0.6%) | |||
| Gaithersburg, Econ. Dev. Rev. Bonds, (Asbury, Oblig. | |||
| Group), Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/36 | BBB/F | 300,000 | 332,832 |
| MD State Hlth. & Higher Ed. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Stevenson U.) | |||
| 5.00%, 6/1/33 | BBB– | 425,000 | 547,434 |
| 5.00%, 6/1/31 | BBB– | 350,000 | 454,447 |
| 4.00%, 6/1/34 | BBB– | 250,000 | 291,938 |
| 1,626,651 | |||
| Michigan (6.4%) | |||
| Detroit, G.O. Bonds, 5.50%, 4/1/34 | Ba3 | 660,000 | 827,224 |
| Detroit, Downtown Dev. Auth. Tax Alloc. Bonds, | |||
| Ser. A, AGM, 5.00%, 7/1/43 | AA | 3,000,000 | 3,415,320 |
| Kentwood, Economic Dev. Rev. Bonds, (Holland | |||
| Home Oblig. Group), 5.00%, 11/15/37 | BBB–/F | 1,000,000 | 1,116,160 |
| MI State Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds | |||
| Ser. H-1, 5.00%, 10/1/39 (Prerefunded 10/1/24) | AA– | 525,000 | 604,070 |
| (Pub. Ltg. Auth.), Ser. B, 5.00%, 7/1/39 | BB+ | 2,000,000 | 2,176,140 |
| 22 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| Michigan cont. | |||
| MI State Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds | |||
| (Detroit Wtr. & Swr.), Ser. C-6, 5.00%, 7/1/33 | AA– | $140,000 | $160,094 |
| (Detroit), Ser. C-3, 5.00%, 4/1/28 | Aa2 | 700,000 | 870,233 |
| (Tobacco Settlement), Ser. A, Class 1, | |||
| 4.00%, 6/1/34 | A– | 750,000 | 921,435 |
| (Trinity Health Corp. Oblig. Group), Ser. A, | |||
| 4.00%, 12/1/49 T | AA– | 1,325,000 | 1,565,721 |
| MI State Strategic Fund Ltd. Oblig. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Detroit Edison Co.), AMBAC, 7.00%, 5/1/21 | Aa3 | 4,000,000 | 4,066,880 |
| Pontiac City, G.O. Bonds, (Pontiac School Dist.), | |||
| Q-SBLF, 4.00%, 5/1/34 | Aa1 | 1,370,000 | 1,678,579 |
| 17,401,856 | |||
| Mississippi (0.7%) | |||
| MS State Bus. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (System Energy | |||
| Resources, Inc.), 2.50%, 4/1/22 | BBB+ | 2,000,000 | 2,006,160 |
| 2,006,160 | |||
| Missouri (0.9%) | |||
| Kansas City, Indl. Dev. Auth. Arpt. Special Oblig. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, 4.00%, 3/1/34 | A2 | 2,155,000 | 2,556,433 |
| 2,556,433 | |||
| Nebraska (1.4%) | |||
| Central Plains, Energy Mandatory Put Bonds | |||
| (1/1/24), (No. 4), 5.00%, 3/1/50 | A2 | 2,500,000 | 2,812,375 |
| Central Plains, Energy Rev. Bonds, (NE Gas No. 3), | |||
| 5.00%, 9/1/32 (Prerefunded 9/1/22) | A2 | 1,000,000 | 1,068,120 |
| 3,880,495 | |||
| New Hampshire (1.4%) | |||
| National Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Caritas Acquisitions | |||
| VII, LLC), Ser. A, 3.75%, 8/15/30 | BBB/P | 1,050,000 | 1,070,171 |
| NH State Hlth. & Ed. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds | |||
| (Catholic Med. Ctr.), 5.00%, 7/1/44 | BBB+ | 500,000 | 574,995 |
| (Southern NH Med. Ctr.), 5.00%, 10/1/37 | A– | 2,000,000 | 2,329,860 |
| 3,975,026 | |||
| New Jersey (3.7%) | |||
| NJ State Econ. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds | |||
| Ser. AAA, 5.00%, 6/15/36 | Baa1 | 350,000 | 416,983 |
| Ser. B, 5.00%, 11/1/26 | Baa1 | 3,000,000 | 3,695,010 |
| 4.00%, 6/15/37 | Baa1 | 400,000 | 471,448 |
| 4.00%, 6/15/36 | Baa1 | 400,000 | 473,120 |
| 4.00%, 6/15/35 | Baa1 | 350,000 | 415,555 |
| 4.00%, 6/15/34 | Baa1 | 350,000 | 416,808 |
| NJ State Hlth. Care Fac. Fin. Auth. VRDN, (AHS Hosp. | |||
| Corp.), Ser. B, 0.04%, 7/1/36 | VMIG 1 | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 |
| NJ State Trans. Trust Fund Auth. Rev. Bonds | |||
| Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/15/39 | Baa1 | 275,000 | 344,143 |
| Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/15/34 | Baa1 | 680,000 | 844,791 |
| (Federal Hwy. Reimbursement Notes), | |||
| 5.00%, 6/15/28 | A+ | 750,000 | 902,048 |
| Ser. AA, 4.00%, 6/15/35 | Baa1 | 500,000 | 596,310 |
| 10,076,216 |
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 23 |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| New Mexico (0.4%) | |||
| Sante Fe, Retirement Fac. Rev. Bonds, (El Castillo | |||
| Retirement Res.), 5.00%, 5/15/42 | BB+/F | $980,000 | $999,639 |
| 999,639 | |||
| New York (5.7%) | |||
| Albany, Cap. Resource Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Empire | |||
| Commons Student Hsg., Inc.) | |||
| 5.00%, 5/1/26 | A | 400,000 | 468,396 |
| Ser. A, 5.00%, 5/1/25 | A | 645,000 | 738,112 |
| 5.00%, 5/1/24 | A | 575,000 | 640,671 |
| 5.00%, 5/1/23 | A | 795,000 | 859,737 |
| Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corp. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| Ser. A, FHLMC Coll., U.S. Govt. Coll., 5.75%, 2/15/47 | |||
| (Prerefunded 2/15/21) | Aa3 | 15,000 | 15,031 |
| Metro. Trans. Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser. C-1, | |||
| 4.00%, 11/15/35 | A3 | 1,300,000 | 1,456,702 |
| Metro. Trans. Auth. Dedicated Tax Mandatory Put | |||
| Bonds (6/1/22), Ser. A-2A, 0.49%, 11/1/26 | AA | 1,820,000 | 1,818,417 |
| NY City, Indl. Dev. Agcy. Rev. Bonds, (Yankee | |||
| Stadium, LLC), AGM | |||
| 5.00%, 3/1/28 | AA | 500,000 | 639,065 |
| 4.00%, 3/1/32 | AA | 1,000,000 | 1,240,680 |
| NY City, Transitional Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Future | |||
| Tax Secd. Rev.), 4.00%, 11/1/38 | AAA | 1,500,000 | 1,815,810 |
| NY State Trans. Special Fac. Dev. Corp. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (JFK Intl. Arpt. Term. 4, LLC) | |||
| 5.00%, 12/1/29 | Baa1 | 500,000 | 643,390 |
| 5.00%, 12/1/28 | Baa1 | 500,000 | 633,170 |
| Saratoga Cnty., Cap. Resource Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Skidmore College), Ser. 21A | |||
| 5.00%, 7/1/31 ### | A1 | 700,000 | 901,250 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/30 ### | A1 | 510,000 | 661,312 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/29 ### | A1 | 460,000 | 587,944 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/28 ### | A1 | 490,000 | 616,925 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/27 ### | A1 | 450,000 | 555,525 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/26 ### | A1 | 675,000 | 814,543 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/25 ### | A1 | 425,000 | 498,291 |
| 15,604,971 | |||
| North Carolina (1.4%) | |||
| NC State Tpk. Auth. Rev. Bonds | |||
| (Monroe Expressway Syst.), 5.00%, 7/1/33 ### | Aa1 | 500,000 | 689,590 |
| (Monroe Expressway Syst.), 5.00%, 7/1/32 ### | Aa1 | 1,000,000 | 1,386,780 |
| 5.00%, 2/1/24 | BBB | 1,500,000 | 1,706,775 |
| 3,783,145 | |||
| Ohio (3.2%) | |||
| Cuyahoga Cnty., Econ. Dev. Rev. Bonds | |||
| 5.00%, 1/1/38 | A | 1,380,000 | 1,635,438 |
| 5.00%, 1/1/36 | A | 425,000 | 506,621 |
| Franklin Cnty., Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Friendship Village of Dublin Oblig. Group), | |||
| 5.00%, 11/15/34 | BBB+/F | 700,000 | 778,351 |
| 24 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| Ohio cont. | |||
| Lucas Cnty., Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Sunset | |||
| Retirement Cmntys.), 5.50%, 8/15/30 | A–/F | $650,000 | $663,442 |
| OH State Higher Edl. Fac. Comm. Rev. Bonds, (John | |||
| Carroll U.) | |||
| 5.00%, 10/1/30 | A3 | 455,000 | 587,983 |
| 5.00%, 10/1/29 | A3 | 810,000 | 1,029,802 |
| 5.00%, 10/1/28 | A3 | 370,000 | 462,796 |
| 5.00%, 10/1/27 | A3 | 350,000 | 430,234 |
| 5.00%, 10/1/26 | A3 | 350,000 | 421,691 |
| 5.00%, 10/1/25 | A3 | 220,000 | 258,524 |
| OH State Hosp. Rev. Bonds, (Premier Hlth. Partners | |||
| Oblig. Group) | |||
| 5.00%, 11/15/27 | Baa1 | 240,000 | 292,956 |
| 5.00%, 11/15/26 | Baa1 | 285,000 | 342,390 |
| 5.00%, 11/15/24 | Baa1 | 135,000 | 154,269 |
| Scioto Cnty., Hosp. Rev. Bonds, (Southern OH Med. | |||
| Ctr.), 5.00%, 2/15/33 | A3 | 500,000 | 579,360 |
| Warren Cnty., Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Otterbein | |||
| Homes Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 5.75%, 7/1/33 | A | 500,000 | 545,600 |
| 8,689,457 | |||
| Oregon (0.1%) | |||
| Keizer, Special Assmt. Bonds, (Keizer Station), Ser. A, | |||
| 5.20%, 6/1/31 | Aa3 | 255,000 | 255,977 |
| 255,977 | |||
| Pennsylvania (5.7%) | |||
| Dallas, Area Muni. Auth. U. Rev. Bonds, (Misericordia | |||
| U.), 5.00%, 5/1/29 | Baa3 | 300,000 | 325,194 |
| Geisinger, Auth. Hlth. Syst. Mandatory Put Bonds | |||
| (2/15/27), (Geisinger Hlth. Syst.), 5.00%, 4/1/43 | AA– | 750,000 | 934,590 |
| Lackawanna Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Scranton U.), 4.00%, 11/1/40 | A– | 500,000 | 557,635 |
| PA Rev. Bonds, (City of Philadelphia, Wtr. | |||
| & Wastewater) | |||
| 4.00%, 1/1/32 | Baa2 | 540,000 | 652,126 |
| 4.00%, 1/1/31 | Baa2 | 165,000 | 198,130 |
| 4.00%, 1/1/30 | Baa2 | 115,000 | 136,825 |
| 4.00%, 1/1/29 | Baa2 | 725,000 | 858,842 |
| PA State Tpk. Comm. Rev. Bonds | |||
| Ser. B-1, 5.00%, 6/1/42 | A3 | 675,000 | 811,998 |
| Ser. 2nd, 5.00%, 12/1/35 | A3 | 1,000,000 | 1,238,470 |
| Ser. A, 4.00%, 12/1/45 | A | 500,000 | 589,205 |
| Pittsburgh Wtr. & Swr. Auth. Mandatory Put Bonds | |||
| (12/1/23), Ser. C, AGM, 0.69%, 9/1/40 | AA | 1,875,000 | 1,879,838 |
| Scranton, School Dist. G.O. Bonds, Ser. 14-R, | |||
| 0.948%, 4/1/31 | A2 | 5,970,000 | 6,001,402 |
| Westmoreland Cnty. Indl. Dev. Auth. Hlth. Syst. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, (Excela Hlth. Oblig. Group), Ser. A | |||
| 5.00%, 7/1/28 | Baa1 | 275,000 | 338,924 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/27 | Baa1 | 375,000 | 454,238 |
| 4.00%, 7/1/26 | Baa1 | 300,000 | 340,632 |
| 4.00%, 7/1/24 | Baa1 | 200,000 | 218,290 |
| 15,536,339 |
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 25 |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| Rhode Island (0.8%) | |||
| RI Hlth. & Edl. Bldg. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Lifespan | |||
| Oblig. Group-Hosp. Fin.) | |||
| 5.00%, 5/15/33 | BBB+ | $365,000 | $417,863 |
| 5.00%, 5/15/26 | BBB+ | 580,000 | 687,352 |
| Tobacco Settlement Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B, | |||
| 5.00%, 6/1/50 | BBB–/P | 1,000,000 | 1,099,260 |
| 2,204,475 | |||
| South Carolina (5.0%) | |||
| Myrtle Beach, Tax Allocation Bonds, (Myrtle Beach | |||
| Air Force Base Redev.), 5.00%, 10/1/28 | A2 | 575,000 | 701,673 |
| SC State Pub. Svcs. Auth. Rev. Bonds | |||
| Ser. A, 5.50%, 12/1/54 | A2 | 1,000,000 | 1,148,310 |
| Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/55 | A2 | 545,000 | 635,296 |
| (Santee Cooper), Ser. B, 5.00%, 12/1/38 | A2 | 595,000 | 666,305 |
| (Oblig.), Ser. B, 5.00%, 12/1/37 | A2 | 500,000 | 617,490 |
| Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/36 | A2 | 1,500,000 | 1,826,250 |
| SC Trans. Infrastructure Bank Mandatory Put Bonds | |||
| (10/1/21), Ser. 03B, 0.546%, 10/1/31 | Aa3 | 7,980,000 | 7,986,863 |
| 13,582,187 | |||
| Tennessee (0.4%) | |||
| Chattanooga, Hlth. Edl. & Hsg. Fac. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (CommonSpirit Health Oblig. Group) | |||
| Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/37 T | Baa1 | 150,000 | 176,120 |
| Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/38 T | Baa1 | 150,000 | 175,825 |
| Ser. A-2, 5.00%, 8/1/44 T | Baa1 | 150,000 | 181,682 |
| Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/44 T | Baa1 | 275,000 | 318,664 |
| Ser. A-2, 5.00%, 8/1/49 T | Baa1 | 250,000 | 302,487 |
| 1,154,778 | |||
| Texas (3.7%) | |||
| Arlington, Higher Ed. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Uplift | |||
| Ed.), Ser. A, PSFG, 4.00%, 12/1/32 | AAA | 375,000 | 444,255 |
| Austin-Bergstrom Landhost Enterprises, | |||
| Inc. Rev. Bonds | |||
| 5.00%, 10/1/36 | A3 | 600,000 | 658,152 |
| 5.00%, 10/1/33 | A3 | 400,000 | 442,116 |
| Clifton, Higher Ed. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (IDEA Pub. | |||
| Schools), Ser. B, 5.00%, 8/15/27 | A– | 350,000 | 420,770 |
| Harris Cnty., Cultural Ed. Fac. Fin. Corp. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, (YMCA of the Greater Houston Area), Ser. A, | |||
| 5.00%, 6/1/38 | Baa2 | 500,000 | 517,075 |
| New Hope, Cultural Ed. Fac. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds | |||
| (CHF-Collegiate Hsg. Stephenville III, LLC), 5.00%, | |||
| 4/1/47 (Prerefunded 4/1/25) | AAA/P | 365,000 | 431,937 |
| (TX Woman’s U. CHF-Collegiate Hsg. Dining), | |||
| Ser. B-1, AGM, 5.00%, 7/1/38 | AA | 860,000 | 1,017,397 |
| (Tarleton State U. Collegiate Student Hsg.), Ser. A, | |||
| 5.00%, 4/1/35 (Prerefunded 4/1/25) | AAA/P | 800,000 | 946,712 |
| (Collegiate Hsg.-Tarleton St.), 5.00%, 4/1/29 | |||
| (Prerefunded 4/1/24) | AAA/P | 1,225,000 | 1,380,489 |
| SA Energy Acquisition Pub. Fac. Corp. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Gas Supply), 5.50%, 8/1/25 | A2 | 1,000,000 | 1,212,180 |
| 26 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
| MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (96.8%)* cont. | Rating** | Principal amount | Value |
| Texas cont. | |||
| Tarrant Cnty., Cultural Ed. Fac. Fin. Corp. Retirement | |||
| Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Buckner Retirement Svcs., Inc.), | |||
| 5.00%, 11/15/37 | A/F | $1,250,000 | $1,467,100 |
| TX State Muni. Gas Acquisition & Supply Corp. III Rev. | |||
| Bonds, 5.00%, 12/15/28 (Prerefunded 2/25/21) | A3 | 1,000,000 | 1,098,730 |
| 10,036,913 | |||
| Utah (1.0%) | |||
| Murray City, Hosp. VRDN, (IHC Hlth. Svcs., Inc.), | |||
| Ser. A, 0.01%, 5/15/37 | VMIG 1 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| UT State Charter School Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (UT Charter Academies, Inc.), 5.00%, 10/15/30 | AA | 575,000 | 701,690 |
| 2,701,690 | |||
| Virginia (0.9%) | |||
| Fairfax Cnty., Econ. Dev. Auth. Res. Care Fac. Rev. | |||
| Bonds, (Goodwin House, Inc.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 10/1/42 | BBB+/F | 350,000 | 389,977 |
| VA State Small Bus. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (National | |||
| Sr. Campuses, Inc. Oblig. Group) | |||
| 5.00%, 1/1/29 | A/F | 590,000 | 746,267 |
| 5.00%, 1/1/28 | A/F | 700,000 | 883,701 |
| 5.00%, 1/1/27 | A/F | 320,000 | 394,301 |
| 2,414,246 | |||
| Washington (4.0%) | |||
| King Cnty., Public Hosp. Dist. No. 1 G.O. Bonds, | |||
| (Valley Med. Ctr.), 5.00%, 12/1/37 | A2 | 1,500,000 | 1,844,265 |
| WA State Hlth. Care Fac. Auth. | |||
| Mandatory Put Bonds (7/1/22), (Fred Hutchinson | |||
| Cancer Research Ctr.), Ser. B, 1.182%, 1/1/42 | A+ | 1,100,000 | 1,105,665 |
| Mandatory Put Bonds (7/3/23), (Fred Hutchinson | |||
| Cancer Research Ctr.), 1.09%, 1/1/42 | A+ | 8,000,000 | 8,074,240 |
| 11,024,170 | |||
| Wisconsin (1.5%) | |||
| Pub. Fin. Auth. Student Hsg. Fac. Rev. Bonds, | |||
| (Beyond Boone, LLC-Appalachian State U.), | |||
| Ser. A, AGM | |||
| 5.00%, 7/1/54 | AA | 1,475,000 | 1,767,271 |
| 5.00%, 7/1/44 | AA | 1,000,000 | 1,210,520 |
| WI State Hlth. & Edl. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Three | |||
| Pillars Sr. Living), 5.00%, 8/15/33 | A/F | 1,000,000 | 1,072,182 |
| 4,049,973 | |||
| Total municipal bonds and notes (cost $249,558,075) | $264,153,883 | ||
| Principal amount/ | |||
| SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (8.3%)* | shares | Value | |
| Putnam Short Term Investment Fund Class P 0.13% L | Shares | 22,301,934 | $22,301,934 |
| State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, | |||
| Premier Class 0.03% P | Shares | 110,000 | 110,000 |
| U.S. Treasury Bills 0.074%, 2/16/21 ∆ | $300,000 | 299,994 | |
| Total short-term investments (cost $22,711,925) | $22,711,928 | ||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |||
| Total investments (cost $272,270,000) | $286,865,811 | ||
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 27 |
Notes to the fund’s portfolio
Unless noted otherwise, the notes to the fund’s portfolio are for the close of the fund’s reporting period, which ran from August 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.
* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $272,863,161.
** The Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch ratings indicated are believed to be the most recent ratings available at the close of the reporting period for the securities listed. Ratings are generally ascribed to securities at the time of issuance. While the agencies may from time to time revise such ratings, they undertake no obligation to do so, and the ratings do not necessarily represent what the agencies would ascribe to these securities at the close of the reporting period. Securities rated by Fitch are indicated by “/F.” Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by “/P.” The Putnam rating categories are comparable to the Standard & Poor’s classifications. If a security is insured, it will usually be rated by the ratings organizations based on the financial strength of the insurer. For further details regarding security ratings, please see the Statement of Additional Information.
∆ This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the custodian for collateral on certain derivative contracts at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $212,000 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 8).
L Affiliated company (Note 5). The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.
P This security was pledged, or purchased with cash that was pledged, to the fund for collateral on certain derivative contracts. The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.
T Underlying security in a tender option bond transaction. This security has been segregated as collateral for financing transactions.
### When-issued security.
At the close of the reporting period, the fund maintained liquid assets totaling $29,336,088 to cover certain derivative contracts, tender option bonds and the settlement of certain securities.
Unless otherwise noted, the rates quoted in Short-term investments security descriptions represent the weighted average yield to maturity.
Debt obligations are considered secured unless otherwise indicated.
144A after the name of an issuer represents securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.
On Mandatory Put Bonds, the rates shown are the current interest rates at the close of the reporting period and the dates shown represent the next mandatory put dates. Rates are set by remarketing agents and may take into consideration market supply and demand, credit quality and the current SIFMA Municipal Swap Index, 1 Month US LIBOR or 3 Month US LIBOR rates, which were 0.04%, 0.12% and 0.20%, respectively, as of the close of the reporting period.
The dates shown parenthetically on prerefunded bonds represent the next prerefunding dates.
The dates shown on debt obligations are the original maturity dates.
The fund had the following sector concentrations greater than 10% at the close of the reporting period (as a percentage of net assets):
| Health care | 25.8% | |
| Education | 10.4 |
| 28 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
| OTC TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/21 (Unaudited) | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Termina- | Payments | Total return | Unrealized | ||
| Swap counterparty/ | received | tion | received (paid) | received by | appreciation/ | |
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | by fund | or paid by fund | (depreciation) |
| Bank of America N.A. | ||||||
| $8,000,000 | $18,736 | $— | 3/11/21 | — | 0.33% minus | $18,736 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 5 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| Citibank, N.A. | ||||||
| 5,000,000 | 99,110 | — | 3/4/21 | — | 1.56% minus | (99,110) |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 30 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 5,000,000 | 306,150 | — | 3/1/21 | — | 1.76% minus | (306,150) |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 30 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 1,275,000 | 2,045 | — | 3/17/21 | — | 0.81% minus | 2,045 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 10 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 10,000,000 | 79,380 | — | 3/4/21 | — | 0.86% minus | 79,380 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 10 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 10,000,000 | 220,400 | — | 3/3/21 | — | 1.00% minus | 220,400 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 10 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 10,000,000 | 262,450 | — | 3/1/21 | — | 1.04% minus | 262,450 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 10 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | ||||||
| 500,000 | 5,365 | — | 4/14/21 | — | 0.93% minus | (5,365) |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 10 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 29 |
| OTC TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/21 (Unaudited) cont. | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Termina- | Payments | Total return | Unrealized | ||
| Swap counterparty/ | received | tion | received (paid) | received by | appreciation/ | |
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | by fund | or paid by fund | (depreciation) |
| Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC cont. | ||||||
| $1,000,000 | $10,730 | $— | 4/14/21 | — | 0.93% minus | $(10,730) |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 10 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 1,110,000 | 11,228 | — | 4/20/21 | — | 0.93% minus | (11,228) |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 10 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 5,000,000 | 314,115 | — | 3/3/21 | — | 1.77% minus | (314,114) |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 30 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 10,000,000 | 31,210 | — | 4/7/21 | — | 0.37% minus | 31,210 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 5 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 2,220,000 | 8,953 | — | 4/20/21 | — | 0.40% minus | 8,953 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 5 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 2,000,000 | 8,608 | — | 4/14/21 | — | 0.40% minus | 8,608 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 5 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 1,000,000 | 4,304 | — | 4/14/21 | — | 0.40% minus | 4,304 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 5 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| 740,000 | 14,108 | — | 4/20/21 | — | 1.60% minus | 14,108 |
| Municipal Market | ||||||
| Data Index AAA | ||||||
| municipal yields | ||||||
| 30 Year rate — At | ||||||
| maturity | ||||||
| Upfront premium received | — | Unrealized appreciation | 650,194 | |||
| Upfront premium (paid) | — | Unrealized (depreciation) | (746,697) | |||
| Total | $— | Total | $(96,503) | |||
| 30 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the fund’s investments. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.
Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s net assets as of the close of the reporting period:
| Valuation inputs | |||||
| Investments in securities: | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||
| Municipal bonds and notes | $— | $264,153,883 | $— | ||
| Short-term investments | 110,000 | 22,601,928 | — | ||
| Totals by level | $110,000 | $286,755,811 | $— | ||
| Valuation inputs | |||||
| Other financial instruments: | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||
| Total return swap contracts | $— | $(96,503) | $— | ||
| Totals by level | $— | $(96,503) | $— | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 31 |
Statement of assets and liabilities 1/31/21 (Unaudited)
| ASSETS | |
| Investment in securities, at value (Notes 1 and 8): | |
| Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $249,968,066) | $264,563,877 |
| Affiliated issuers (identified cost $22,301,934) (Notes 1 and 5) | 22,301,934 |
| Interest and other receivables | 1,807,178 |
| Receivable for shares of the fund sold | 257,144 |
| Receivable for investments sold | 2,427,915 |
| Receivable for sales of delayed delivery securities (Note 1) | 2,808,916 |
| Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1) | 650,194 |
| Prepaid assets | 41,660 |
| Total assets | 294,858,818 |
| LIABILITIES | |
| Payable for purchases of delayed delivery securities (Note 1) | 15,540,139 |
| Payable for shares of the fund repurchased | 121,094 |
| Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2) | 102,130 |
| Payable for custodian fees (Note 2) | 8,181 |
| Payable for investor servicing fees (Note 2) | 27,392 |
| Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2) | 119,048 |
| Payable for administrative services (Note 2) | 3,026 |
| Payable for distribution fees (Note 2) | 56,641 |
| Distributions payable to shareholders | 45,255 |
| Payable for floating rate notes issued (Note 1) | 5,041,732 |
| Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1) | 746,697 |
| Collateral on certain derivative contracts, at value (Notes 1 and 8) | 110,000 |
| Other accrued expenses | 74,322 |
| Total liabilities | 21,995,657 |
| Net assets | $272,863,161 |
| REPRESENTED BY | |
| Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4) | $256,834,514 |
| Total distributable earnings (Note 1) | 16,028,647 |
| Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding | $272,863,161 |
(Continued on next page)
| 32 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Statement of assets and liabilities cont.
| COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE | |
| Net asset value and redemption price per class A share | |
| ($206,097,845 divided by 13,521,415 shares) | $15.24 |
| Offering price per class A share (100/96.00 of $15.24)* | $15.88 |
| Net asset value and offering price per class B share ($469,028 divided by 30,732 shares)** | $15.26 |
| Net asset value and offering price per class C share ($14,848,090 divided by 970,985 shares)** | $15.29 |
| Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R6 share | |
| ($663,264 divided by 43,467 shares) | $15.26 |
| Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class Y share | |
| ($50,784,934 divided by 3,328,430 shares) | $15.26 |
*On single retail sales of less than $100,000. On sales of $100,000 or more the offering price is reduced.
**Redemption price per share is equal to net asset value less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 33 |
Statement of operations Six months ended 1/31/21 (Unaudited)
| INVESTMENT INCOME | |
| Interest (including interest income of $21,510 from investments in affiliated issuers) (Note 5) | $3,532,852 |
| Total investment income | 3,532,852 |
| EXPENSES | |
| Compensation of Manager (Note 2) | 583,173 |
| Investor servicing fees (Note 2) | 83,105 |
| Custodian fees (Note 2) | 8,566 |
| Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2) | 6,145 |
| Distribution fees (Note 2) | 342,724 |
| Administrative services (Note 2) | 4,488 |
| Interest and fees expense (Note 2) | 24,786 |
| Other | 198,720 |
| Total expenses | 1,251,707 |
| Expense reduction (Note 2) | (30,862) |
| Net expenses | 1,220,845 |
| Net investment income | 2,312,007 |
| REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) | |
| Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
| Securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3) | 7,945,956 |
| Futures contracts (Note 1) | 36,049 |
| Swap contracts (Note 1) | 239,898 |
| Total net realized gain | 8,221,903 |
| Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
| Securities from unaffiliated issuers | (2,629,392) |
| Swap contracts | (226,194) |
| Total change in net unrealized depreciation | (2,855,586) |
| Net gain on investments | 5,366,317 |
| Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | $7,678,324 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 34 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Statement of changes in net assets
| DECREASE IN NET ASSETS | Six months ended 1/31/21* | Year ended 7/31/20 |
| Operations | ||
| Net investment income | $2,312,007 | $6,923,015 |
| Net realized gain on investments | 8,221,903 | 2,293,677 |
| Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | ||
| of investments | (2,855,586) | 2,057,701 |
| Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | 7,678,324 | 11,274,393 |
| Distributions to shareholders (Note 1): | ||
| From ordinary income | ||
| Taxable net investment income | ||
| Class A | (226,240) | (60,577) |
| Class B | (490) | (245) |
| Class C | (15,969) | (4,710) |
| Class R6 | (655) | (109) |
| Class Y | (53,384) | (12,157) |
| From tax-exempt net investment income | ||
| Class A | (1,762,735) | (5,439,930) |
| Class B | (3,058) | (15,266) |
| Class C | (69,925) | (288,435) |
| Class M | — | (8,164) |
| Class R6 | (5,503) | (10,336) |
| Class Y | (438,366) | (1,173,966) |
| Net realized short-term gain on investments | ||
| Class A | (1,342,626) | (1,664,142) |
| Class B | (2,910) | (6,744) |
| Class C | (94,769) | (129,412) |
| Class R6 | (3,889) | (2,985) |
| Class Y | (316,807) | (333,613) |
| From net realized long-term gain on investments | ||
| Class A | (3,763,931) | (3,337,313) |
| Class B | (8,159) | (13,524) |
| Class C | (265,676) | (259,487) |
| Class R6 | (10,902) | (5,984) |
| Class Y | (888,139) | (670,112) |
| Decrease from capital share transactions (Note 4) | (5,479,615) | (29,185,992) |
| Total decrease in net assets | (7,075,424) | (31,348,810) |
| NET ASSETS | ||
| Beginning of period | 279,938,585 | 311,287,395 |
| End of period | $272,863,161 | $279,938,585 |
*Unaudited.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 35 |
Financial highlights (For a common share outstanding throughout the period)
| INVESTMENT OPERATIONS | LESS DISTRIBUTIONS | RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA | |||||||||||
| Ratio of net | |||||||||||||
| Net asset | Net realized | Ratio | investment | ||||||||||
| value, | and unrealized | Total from | From | Net asset | Total return | Net assets, | of expenses | income (loss) | Portfolio | ||||
| beginning | Net investment | gain (loss) | investment | From net | net realized gain | Total | value, end | at net asset | end of period | to average | to average | turnover | |
| Period ended | of period | income (loss) | on investments | operations | investment income | on investments | distributions | of period | value (%)a | (in thousands) | net assets (%)b | net assets (%) | (%) |
| Class A | |||||||||||||
| January 31, 2021** | $15.33 | .13 | .30 | .43 | (.14) | (.38) | (.52) | $15.24 | 2.87* | $206,098 | .46d,f * | .85* | 50* |
| July 31, 2020 | 15.38 | .36 | .27 | .63 | (.36) | (.32) | (.68) | 15.33 | 4.23 | 218,232 | .87d,e | 2.36 | 42 |
| July 31, 2019 | 14.93 | .41 | .61 | 1.02 | (.41) | (.16) | (.57) | 15.38 | 7.03 | 242,379 | .81 | 2.74 | 38 |
| July 31, 2018 | 15.16 | .44 | (.23) | .21 | (.44) | — | (.44) | 14.93 | 1.43 | 256,172 | .79 | 2.91 | 32 |
| July 31, 2017 | 15.71 | .48 | (.56) | (.08) | (.47) | — | (.47) | 15.16 | (.43) | 310,029 | .79 | 3.14 | 31 |
| July 31, 2016 | 15.28 | .53 | .43 | .96 | (.53) | — | (.53) | 15.71 | 6.39 | 358,847 | .80c | 3.41c | 11 |
| Class B | |||||||||||||
| January 31, 2021** | $15.35 | .08 | .31 | .39 | (.10) | (.38) | (.48) | $15.26 | 2.56* | $469 | .76d,f * | .56* | 50* |
| July 31, 2020 | 15.40 | .26 | .28 | .54 | (.27) | (.32) | (.59) | 15.35 | 3.58 | 741 | 1.49d,e | 1.75 | 42 |
| July 31, 2019 | 14.95 | .32 | .61 | .93 | (.32) | (.16) | (.48) | 15.40 | 6.36 | 1,025 | 1.43 | 2.13 | 38 |
| July 31, 2018 | 15.17 | .35 | (.22) | .13 | (.35) | — | (.35) | 14.95 | .85 | 1,345 | 1.41 | 2.29 | 32 |
| July 31, 2017 | 15.73 | .38 | (.56) | (.18) | (.38) | — | (.38) | 15.17 | (1.11) | 2,099 | 1.41 | 2.52 | 31 |
| July 31, 2016 | 15.30 | .43 | .43 | .86 | (.43) | — | (.43) | 15.73 | 5.73 | 2,874 | 1.42c | 2.79c | 11 |
| Class C | |||||||||||||
| January 31, 2021** | $15.38 | .07 | .31 | .38 | (.09) | (.38) | (.47) | $15.29 | 2.48* | $14,848 | .84d,f * | .47* | 50* |
| July 31, 2020 | 15.43 | .24 | .27 | .51 | (.24) | (.32) | (.56) | 15.38 | 3.42 | 15,888 | 1.64d,e | 1.59 | 42 |
| July 31, 2019 | 14.97 | .30 | .62 | .92 | (.30) | (.16) | (.46) | 15.43 | 6.26 | 19,827 | 1.58 | 1.98 | 38 |
| July 31, 2018 | 15.20 | .33 | (.23) | .10 | (.33) | — | (.33) | 14.97 | .64 | 23,682 | 1.56 | 2.14 | 32 |
| July 31, 2017 | 15.76 | .36 | (.56) | (.20) | (.36) | — | (.36) | 15.20 | (1.25) | 30,961 | 1.56 | 2.37 | 31 |
| July 31, 2016 | 15.33 | .41 | .43 | .84 | (.41) | — | (.41) | 15.76 | 5.56 | 33,064 | 1.57c | 2.63c | 11 |
| Class R6 | |||||||||||||
| January 31, 2021** | $15.35 | .15 | .30 | .45 | (.16) | (.38) | (.54) | $15.26 | 3.00* | $663 | .33d,f * | .97* | 50* |
| July 31, 2020 | 15.40 | .39 | .28 | .67 | (.40) | (.32) | (.72) | 15.35 | 4.47 | 410 | .63d,e | 2.60 | 42 |
| July 31, 2019 | 14.94 | .45 | .62 | 1.07 | (.45) | (.16) | (.61) | 15.40 | 7.35 | 306 | .57 | 2.97 | 38 |
| July 31, 2018 † | 14.87 | .09 | .07 | .16 | (.09) | — | (.09) | 14.94 | 1.08* | 10 | .11* | .60* | 32 |
| Class Y | |||||||||||||
| January 31, 2021** | $15.35 | .15 | .30 | .45 | (.16) | (.38) | (.54) | $15.26 | 3.00* | $50,785 | .33d,f * | .97* | 50* |
| July 31, 2020 | 15.40 | .39 | .28 | .67 | (.40) | (.32) | (.72) | 15.35 | 4.47 | 44,668 | .64d,e | 2.59 | 42 |
| July 31, 2019 | 14.94 | .44 | .62 | 1.06 | (.44) | (.16) | (.60) | 15.40 | 7.34 | 46,574 | .58 | 2.98 | 38 |
| July 31, 2018 | 15.17 | .48 | (.23) | .25 | (.48) | — | (.48) | 14.94 | 1.66 | 52,804 | .56 | 3.14 | 32 |
| July 31, 2017 | 15.73 | .51 | (.56) | (.05) | (.51) | — | (.51) | 15.17 | (.26) | 47,696 | .56 | 3.36 | 31 |
| July 31, 2016 | 15.30 | .56 | .43 | .99 | (.56) | — | (.56) | 15.73 | 6.63 | 52,668 | .57c | 3.61c | 11 |
See notes to financial highlights at the end of this section.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 36 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund | Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 37 |
Financial highlights cont.
Before August 28, 2020, the fund was managed with a materially different investment strategy and may have achieved materially different performance results under its current strategy from that shown for periods before this date.
* Not annualized.
** Unaudited.
† For the period May 22, 2018 (commencement of operations) to July 31, 2018.
a Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
b Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements, if any (Note 2). Also excludes acquired fund fees and expenses, if any.
c Reflects a voluntary waiver of certain fund expenses in effect during the period. As a result of such waiver, the expenses of each class reflect a reduction of less than 0.01% as a percentage of average net assets (Note 2).
d Includes interest and fee expense associated with borrowings which amounted to (for each class):
| Percentage of average net assets | |
| January 31, 2021 | 0.01% |
| July 31, 2020 | 0.02 |
e Includes one-time proxy costs of 0.05%.
f Includes one-time proxy costs of 0.03%.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 38 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Notes to financial statements 1/31/21 (Unaudited)
Within the following Notes to financial statements, references to “State Street” represent State Street Bank and Trust Company, references to “the SEC” represent the Securities and Exchange Commission, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “OTC”, if any, represent over-the-counter. Unless otherwise noted, the “reporting period” represents the period from August 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021.
Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund (prior to August 28, 2020 the fund was known as Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund) (the fund) is a diversified series of Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company. The goal of the fund is to seek as high a level of current income exempt from federal income tax as Putnam Management believes is consistent with preservation of capital. The fund invests mainly in bonds that pay interest that is exempt from federal income tax (but that may be subject to federal alternative minimum tax (AMT)). The fund normally maintains an average dollar-weighted maturity between three and ten years. The fund may invest broadly in municipal bonds of any duration (a measure of the sensitivity of a bond’s price to interest rate changes), maturity and credit quality although the bonds the fund invests in are mainly investment-grade in quality. The fund may also invest in investments that are below-investment-grade (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”), which may be considered speculative. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in tax-exempt investments. Investments paying interest subject to the federal AMT for individuals are considered tax-exempt investments for purposes of this policy. This investment policy cannot be changed without the approval of the fund’s shareholders. The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities the income on which is subject to federal income tax and may invest without limit in investments the income on which is subject to the AMT. The fund may consider, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments.
Prior to August 28, 2020 the goal of the fund was to seek high current income exempt from federal income tax. The fund invested mainly in bonds that paid interest that was exempt from federal income tax, were investment-grade in quality, and had intermediate- to long-term maturities (i.e., three years or longer). The fund did not intend to invest in securities the interest on which was subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Under normal circumstances, the fund invested at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in tax-exempt investments. Tax-exempt investments are issued by or for states, territories or possessions of the United States or by their political subdivisions, agencies, authorities or other government entities, and the income from these investments is exempt from federal income tax. This investment policy was changed with the approval of the fund’s shareholders. Putnam Management considered, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments.
The fund offers class A, class B, class C, class R6 and class Y shares. Purchases of class B shares are closed to new and existing investors except by exchange from class B shares of another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 4.00%. Class A shares generally are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, and class R6 and class Y shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Class B shares, which convert to class A shares after approximately eight years, are not subject to a front-end sales charge and are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if those shares are redeemed within six years of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a one-year 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge and generally convert to class A shares after approximately ten years. Effective March 1, 2021, class C shares will generally convert to class A shares after approximately eight years. The expenses for class A, class B and class C shares may differ based on the distribution fee of each class, which is identified in Note 2. Class R6 and class Y shares, which are sold at net asset value, are generally subject to the same expenses as class A, class B and class C shares, but do not bear a distribution fee, and in the case of class R6 shares, bear a lower investor servicing fee, which is identified in Note 2. Class R6 and class Y shares are not available to all investors.
In the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that may include agreements to indemnify another party under given circumstances. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be, but have not yet been, made against the fund. However, the fund’s management team expects the risk of material loss to be remote.
The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, distributor, shareholder servicing agent and custodian, who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 39 |
contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.
Under the fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, any claims asserted against or on behalf of the Putnam Funds, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Note 1: Significant accounting policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events after the Statement of assets and liabilities date through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements.
Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses of the fund are borne pro-rata based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of the fund, except that each class bears expenses unique to that class (including the distribution fees applicable to such classes). Each class votes as a class only with respect to its own distribution plan or other matters on which a class vote is required by law or determined by the Trustees. If the fund were liquidated, shares of each class would receive their pro-rata share of the net assets of the fund. In addition, the Trustees declare separate dividends on each class of shares.
Security valuation Portfolio securities and other investments are valued using policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Trustees have formed a Pricing Committee to oversee the implementation of these procedures and have delegated responsibility for valuing the fund’s assets in accordance with these procedures to Putnam Management. Putnam Management has established an internal Valuation Committee that is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the pricing policies of the fund and reporting to the Pricing Committee.
Tax-exempt bonds and notes are generally valued on the basis of valuations provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees. Such services use information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining value. These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2.
Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for certain debt obligations (including short-term investments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less) and other investments; such investments are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees or dealers selected by Putnam Management. Such services or dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities (which consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings). These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2.
Investments in open-end investment companies (excluding exchange-traded funds), if any, which can be classified as Level 1 or Level 2 securities, are valued based on their net asset value. The net asset value of such investment companies equals the total value of their assets less their liabilities and divided by the number of their outstanding shares.
To the extent a pricing service or dealer is unable to value a security or provides a valuation that Putnam Management does not believe accurately reflects the security’s fair value, the security will be valued at fair value by Putnam Management in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Trustees. Certain investments, including certain restricted and illiquid securities and derivatives, are also valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. These valuations consider such factors as significant market or specific security events such as interest rate or credit quality changes, various relationships with other securities, discount rates, U.S. Treasury, U.S. swap and credit yields, index levels, convexity exposures, recovery rates, sales and other multiples and resale restrictions. These securities are classified as Level 2 or as Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs.
To assess the continuing appropriateness of fair valuations, the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms the reasonableness of such valuations on a regular basis after considering all relevant information that is reasonably available. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition
| 40 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security in a current sale and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.
Security transactions and related investment income Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (the date the order to buy or sell is executed). Gains or losses on securities sold are determined on the identified cost basis.
Interest income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, if any, and including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, is recognized on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from foreign securities, if any, are recognized as soon as the fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Dividends representing a return of capital or capital gains, if any, are reflected as a reduction of cost and/or as a realized gain.
Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may be settled at a future date beyond customary settlement time; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the securities. Losses may arise due to changes in the fair value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
Futures contracts The fund uses futures contracts for hedging treasury term structure risk, and for yield curve positioning.
The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of futures contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments, if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. With futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.
Futures contracts are valued at the quoted daily settlement prices established by the exchange on which they trade. The fund and the broker agree to exchange an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the futures contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.”
Futures contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
Total return swap contracts The fund entered into OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts, which are arrangements to exchange a market-linked return for a periodic payment, both based on a notional principal amount, for hedging sector exposure, and for gaining exposure to specific sectors.
To the extent that the total return of the security, index or other financial measure underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market maker. Any change is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on OTC total return swaps. Daily fluctuations in the value of centrally cleared total return swaps are settled through a central clearing agent and are recorded in variation margin on the Statement of assets and liabilities and recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments received or made are recorded as realized gains or losses. Certain OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts may include extended effective dates. Payments related to these swap contracts are accrued based on the terms of the contract. The fund could be exposed to credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index, the possibility that there is no liquid market for these agreements or that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk or central clearing risk is the fair value of the contract. This risk may be mitigated for OTC total return swap contracts by having a master netting arrangement between the fund and the counterparty and for centrally cleared total return swap contracts through the daily exchange of variation margin. There is minimal counterparty risk with respect to centrally cleared total return swap contracts due to the clearinghouse guarantee fund and other resources that are available in the event of a clearing member default. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.
OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts outstanding, including their respective notional amounts at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 41 |
Master agreements The fund is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements (Master Agreements) with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral pledged to the fund is held in a segregated account by the fund’s custodian and, with respect to those amounts which can be sold or repledged, is presented in the fund’s portfolio.
Collateral pledged by the fund is segregated by the fund’s custodian and identified in the fund’s portfolio. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the fund’s net position with each counterparty.
Termination events applicable to the fund may occur upon a decline in the fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the fund’s future derivative activity.
At the close of the reporting period, the fund had a net liability position of $274,254 on open derivative contracts subject to the Master Agreements. Collateral pledged by the fund at period end for these agreements totaled $212,000 and may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.
Tender option bond transactions The fund may participate in transactions whereby a fixed-rate bond is transferred to a tender option bond trust (TOB trust) sponsored by a broker. The TOB trust funds the purchase of the fixed rate bonds by issuing floating-rate bonds to third parties and allowing the fund to retain the residual interest in the TOB trust’s assets and cash flows, which are in the form of inverse floating rate bonds. The inverse floating rate bonds held by the fund give the fund the right to (1) cause the holders of the floating rate bonds to tender their notes at par, and (2) to have the fixed-rate bond held by the TOB trust transferred to the fund, causing the TOB trust to collapse. The fund accounts for the transfer of the fixed-rate bond to the TOB trust as a secured borrowing by including the fixed-rate bond in the fund’s portfolio and including the floating rate bond as a liability in the Statement of assets and liabilities. At the close of the reporting period, the fund’s investments with a value of $9,548,965 were held by the TOB trust and served as collateral for $5,041,732 in floating-rate bonds outstanding. For the reporting period ended, the fund incurred interest expense of $3,524 for these investments based on an average interest rate of 0.14%.
Interfund lending The fund, along with other Putnam funds, may participate in an interfund lending program pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC. This program allows the fund to borrow from other Putnam funds that permit such transactions. Interfund lending transactions are subject to each fund’s investment policies and borrowing and lending limits. Interest earned or paid on the interfund lending transaction will be based on the average of certain current market rates. During the reporting period, the fund did not utilize the program.
Lines of credit The fund participates, along with other Putnam funds, in a $317.5 million unsecured committed line of credit and a $235.5 million unsecured uncommitted line of credit, both provided by State Street. Borrowings may be made for temporary or emergency purposes, including the funding of shareholder redemption requests and trade settlements. Interest is charged to the fund based on the fund’s borrowing at a rate equal to 1.25% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate (overnight LIBOR prior to October 16, 2020) for the committed line of credit and 1.30% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate (1.30% prior to October 16, 2020) for the uncommitted line of credit. A closing fee equal to 0.04% of the committed line of credit and 0.04% of the uncommitted line of credit has been paid by the participating funds. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.21% per annum on any unutilized portion of the committed line of credit is allocated to the participating funds based on their relative net assets and paid quarterly. During the reporting period, the fund had no borrowings against these arrangements.
Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its income within the prescribed time period and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), applicable to regulated investment companies. It is also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.
| 42 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
The fund is subject to the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The fund did not have a liability to record for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. No provision has been made for federal taxes on income, capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax on income and capital gains. Each of the fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.
Tax cost of investments includes adjustments to net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) which may not necessarily be final tax cost basis adjustments, but closely approximate the tax basis unrealized gains and losses that may be realized and distributed to shareholders. The aggregate identified cost on a tax basis is $272,932,546, resulting in gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of $19,798,910 and $5,962,148, respectively, or net unrealized appreciation of $13,836,762.
Distributions to shareholders Income dividends are recorded daily by the fund and are paid monthly. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. Actual results may vary. Any non-taxable return of capital cannot be determined until final tax calculations are completed after the end of the fund’s fiscal year. Reclassifications are made to the fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations.
Expenses of the Trust Expenses directly charged or attributable to any fund will be paid from the assets of that fund. Generally, expenses of the Trust will be allocated among and charged to the assets of each fund on a basis that the Trustees deem fair and equitable, which may be based on the relative assets of each fund or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to each fund.
Note 2: Management fee, administrative services and other transactions
The fund pays Putnam Management a management fee (based on the fund’s average net assets and computed and paid monthly) at annual rates that may vary based on the average of the aggregate net assets of all open-end mutual funds sponsored by Putnam Management (excluding net assets of funds that are invested in, or that are invested in by, other Putnam funds to the extent necessary to avoid “double counting” of those assets). Such annual rates may vary as follows:
| 0.590% | of the first $5 billion, | 0.390% | of the next $50 billion, | |
| 0.540% | of the next $5 billion, | 0.370% | of the next $50 billion, | |
| 0.490% | of the next $10 billion, | 0.360% | of the next $100 billion and | |
| 0.440% | of the next $10 billion, | 0.355% | of any excess thereafter. |
For the reporting period, the management fee represented an effective rate (excluding the impact from any expense waivers in effect) of 0.214% of the fund’s average net assets.
Putnam Management has contractually agreed, through November 30, 2021, to waive fees and/or reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, investment management contract and distribution plans, on a fiscal year-to-date basis to an annual rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets over such fiscal year-to-date period. During the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were not reduced as a result of this limit.
Putnam Investments Limited (PIL), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Putnam Management from time to time. PIL did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management were to engage the services of PIL, Putnam Management would pay a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at an annual rate of 0.40% of the average net assets of the portion of the fund managed by PIL.
The fund reimburses Putnam Management an allocated amount for the compensation and related expenses of certain officers of the fund and their staff who provide administrative services to the fund. The aggregate amount of all such reimbursements is determined annually by the Trustees.
Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by State Street. Custody fees are based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 43 |
Putnam Investor Services, Inc., an affiliate of Putnam Management, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. received fees for investor servicing for class A, class B, class C and class Y shares that included (1) a per account fee for each direct and underlying non-defined contribution account (retail account) of the fund; (2) a specified rate of the fund’s assets attributable to defined contribution plan accounts; and (3) a specified rate based on the average net assets in retail accounts. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. has agreed that the aggregate investor servicing fees for each fund’s retail and defined contribution accounts for these share classes will not exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the fund’s average assets attributable to such accounts.
Class R6 shares paid a monthly fee based on the average net assets of class R6 shares at an annual rate of 0.05%.
During the reporting period, the expenses for each class of shares related to investor servicing fees were as follows:
| Class A | $64,250 | Class R6 | 143 | |
| Class B | 169 | Class Y | 13,931 | |
| Class C | 4,612 | Total | $83,105 |
The fund has entered into expense offset arrangements with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. and State Street whereby Putnam Investor Services, Inc.’s and State Street’s fees are reduced by credits allowed on cash balances. For the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $30,862 under the expense offset arrangements.
Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $185, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees.
The fund has adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the Deferral Plan) which allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees fees payable on or after July 1, 1995. The deferred fees remain invested in certain Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the Deferral Plan.
The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the Pension Plan) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average annual attendance and retainer fees for the three years ended December 31, 2005. The retirement benefit is payable during a Trustee’s lifetime, beginning the year following retirement, for the number of years of service through December 31, 2006. Pension expense for the fund is included in Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of operations. Accrued pension liability is included in Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees have terminated the Pension Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected after 2003.
The fund has adopted distribution plans (the Plans) with respect to the following share classes pursuant to Rule 12b–1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The purpose of the Plans is to compensate Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC, for services provided and expenses incurred in distributing shares of the fund. The Plans provide payments by the fund to Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership at an annual rate of up to the following amounts (Maximum %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. The Trustees have approved payment by the fund at the following annual rate (Approved %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. During the reporting period, the class-specific expenses related to distribution fees were as follows:
| Maximum % | Approved % | Amount | |
| Class A | 0.35% | 0.25% | $264,438 |
| Class B | 1.00% | 0.85% | 2,356 |
| Class C | 1.00% | 1.00% | 75,930 |
| Total | $342,724 |
For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received net commissions of $3,195 from the sale of class A shares and received $210 and $4 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of class B and class C shares, respectively.
| 44 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
A deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of class A shares. For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received no monies on class A redemptions.
Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities
During the reporting period, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:
| Cost of purchases | Proceeds from sales | |
| Investments in securities (Long-term) | $126,808,411 | $148,661,118 |
| U.S. government securities (Long-term) | — | — |
| Total | $126,808,411 | $148,661,118 |
The fund may purchase or sell investments from or to other Putnam funds in the ordinary course of business, which can reduce the fund’s transaction costs, at prices determined in accordance with SEC requirements and policies approved by the Trustees. During the reporting period, purchases or sales of long-term securities from or to other Putnam funds, if any, did not represent more than 5% of the fund’s total cost of purchases and/or total proceeds from sales.
Note 4: Capital shares
At the close of the reporting period, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized. Transactions, including, if applicable, direct exchanges pursuant to share conversions, in capital shares were as follows:
| SIX MONTHS ENDED 1/31/21 | YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 | |||
| Class A | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 455,950 | $6,981,546 | 1,415,098 | $21,536,207 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 408,308 | 6,183,592 | 594,655 | 9,036,787 |
| 864,258 | 13,165,138 | 2,009,753 | 30,572,994 | |
| Shares repurchased | (1,576,150) | (24,099,630) | (3,534,814) | (53,492,227) |
| Net decrease | (711,892) | $(10,934,492) | (1,525,061) | $(22,919,233) |
| SIX MONTHS ENDED 1/31/21 | YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 | |||
| Class B | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 1,497 | $22,655 | 947 | $13,867 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 757 | 11,477 | 2,062 | 31,387 |
| 2,254 | 34,132 | 3,009 | 45,254 | |
| Shares repurchased | (19,788) | (303,013) | (21,266) | (324,706) |
| Net decrease | (17,534) | $(268,881) | (18,257) | $(279,452) |
| SIX MONTHS ENDED 1/31/21 | YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 | |||
| Class C | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 15,159 | $232,260 | 54,714 | $841,363 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 27,884 | 423,341 | 39,891 | 607,972 |
| 43,043 | 655,601 | 94,605 | 1,449,335 | |
| Shares repurchased | (105,021) | (1,613,924) | (346,642) | (5,255,836) |
| Net decrease | (61,978) | $(958,323) | (252,037) | $(3,806,501) |
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 45 |
| YEAR ENDED 7/31/20* | ||||
| Class M | Shares | Amount | ||
| Shares sold | 388 | $6,039 | ||
| Shares issued in connection with reinvestment of distributions | 406 | 6,319 | ||
| 794 | 12,358 | |||
| Shares repurchased | (77,027) | (1,193,859) | ||
| Net decrease | (76,233) | $(1,181,501) | ||
| SIX MONTHS ENDED 1/31/21 | YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 | |||
| Class R6 | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 18,037 | $277,280 | 14,623 | $223,982 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 1,378 | 20,896 | 1,279 | 19,414 |
| 19,415 | 298,176 | 15,902 | 243,396 | |
| Shares repurchased | (2,637) | (40,338) | (9,106) | (139,161) |
| Net increase | 16,778 | $257,838 | 6,796 | $104,235 |
| SIX MONTHS ENDED 1/31/21 | YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 | |||
| Class Y | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 741,608 | $11,397,483 | 1,488,045 | $22,917,634 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 96,463 | 1,462,728 | 119,516 | 1,818,212 |
| 838,071 | 12,860,211 | 1,607,561 | 24,735,846 | |
| Shares repurchased | (420,065) | (6,435,968) | (1,722,263) | (25,839,386) |
| Net increase (decrease) | 418,006 | $6,424,243 | (114,702) | $(1,103,540) |
* Effective November 25, 2019, the fund converted all of its class M shares to class A shares and class M shares were no longer able to be purchased.
At the close of the reporting period, Putnam Investments, LLC owned 765 class R6 shares of the fund (1.76% of class R6 shares outstanding), valued at $11,674.
| 46 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Note 5: Affiliated transactions
Transactions during the reporting period with any company which is under common ownership or control were as follows:
| Shares | |||||
| outstanding | |||||
| and fair | |||||
| Fair value as | Purchase | Sale | Investment | value as | |
| Name of affiliate | of 7/31/20 | cost | proceeds | income | of 1/31/21 |
| Short-term investments | |||||
| Putnam Short Term | |||||
| Investment Fund* | 12,630,751 | 140,184,193 | 130,513,010 | 21,510 | 22,301,934 |
| Total Short-term | |||||
| investments | $12,630,751 | $140,184,193 | $130,513,010 | $21,510 | $22,301,934 |
* Management fees charged to Putnam Short Term Investment Fund have been waived by Putnam Management. There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.
Note 6: Market, credit and other risks
In the normal course of business, the fund trades financial instruments and enters into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the contracting party to the transaction to perform (credit risk). The fund may be exposed to additional credit risk that an institution or other entity with which the fund has unsettled or open transactions will default.
On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. LIBOR has historically been a common benchmark interest rate index used to make adjustments to variable-rate loans. It is used throughout global banking and financial industries to determine interest rates for a variety of financial instruments and borrowing arrangements. The transition process might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest rates. It could also lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based investments. While some LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, not all may have such provisions and there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur prior to the end of 2021.
Beginning in January 2020, global financial markets have experienced, and may continue to experience, significant volatility resulting from the spread of a virus known as Covid–19. The outbreak of Covid–19 has resulted in travel and border restrictions, quarantines, supply chain disruptions, lower consumer demand, and general market uncertainty. The effects of Covid–19 have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the global economy, the economies of certain nations, and individual issuers, all of which may negatively impact the fund’s performance.
Note 7: Summary of derivative activity
The volume of activity for the reporting period for any derivative type that was held during the period is listed below and was based on an average of the holdings at the end of each fiscal quarter:
| Futures contracts (number of contracts) | 7 |
| OTC total return swap contracts (notional) | $54,000,000 |
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 47 |
The following is a summary of the fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period:
| Fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period | ||||
| ASSET DERIVATIVES | LIABILITY DERIVATIVES | |||
| Derivatives not | ||||
| accounted for as | Statement of | Statement of | ||
| hedging instruments | assets and | assets and | ||
| under ASC 815 | liabilities location | Fair value | liabilities location | Fair value |
| Interest rate contracts | Receivables | $650,194 | Payables | $746,697 |
| Total | $650,194 | $746,697 | ||
The following is a summary of realized and change in unrealized gains or losses of derivative instruments in the Statement of operations for the reporting period (Note 1):
| Amount of realized gain or (loss) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) on investments | |||
| Derivatives not accounted for as hedging | |||
| instruments under ASC 815 | Futures | Swaps | Total |
| Interest rate contracts | $36,049 | $239,898 | $275,947 |
| Total | $36,049 | $239,898 | $275,947 |
| Change in unrealized appreciation or (depreciation) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) | ||
| on investments | ||
| Derivatives not accounted for as | ||
| hedging instruments under ASC 815 | Swaps | Total |
| Interest rate contracts | $(226,194) | $(226,194) |
| Total | $(226,194) | $(226,194) |
| 48 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Note 8: Offsetting of financial and derivative assets and liabilities
The following table summarizes any derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, at the end of the reporting period, that are subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement. For securities lending transactions or borrowing transactions associated with securities sold short, if any, see Note 1. For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to the master netting agreements in the Statement of assets and liabilities.
| Bank of America N.A. |
Citibank, N.A. | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
Total | |
| Assets: | ||||
| OTC Total return swap contracts*# | $18,736 | $564,275 | $67,183 | $650,194 |
| Total Assets | $18,736 | $564,275 | $67,183 | $650,194 |
| Liabilities: | ||||
| OTC Total return swap contracts*# | — | 405,260 | 341,437 | 746,697 |
| Total Liabilities | $— | $405,260 | $341,437 | $746,697 |
| Total Financial and Derivative | $18,736 | $159,015 | $(274,254) | $(96,503) |
| Net Assets | ||||
| Total collateral received | $— | $110,000 | $(212,000) | |
| (pledged)†## | ||||
| Net amount | $18,736 | $49,015 | $(62,254) | |
| Controlled collateral received | ||||
| (including TBA commitments)** | $— | $110,000 | $— | $110,000 |
| Uncontrolled collateral received | $— | $— | $— | $— |
| Collateral (pledged) (including TBA | ||||
| commitments)** | $— | $— | $(212,000) | $(212,000) |
* Excludes premiums, if any. Included in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on OTC swap contracts on the Statement of assets and liabilities.
**Included with Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities.
† Additional collateral may be required from certain brokers based on individual agreements.
# Covered by master netting agreement (Note 1).
## Any over-collateralization of total financial and derivative net assets is not shown. Collateral may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.
Note 9: New accounting pronouncements
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) — Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in ASU 2020-04 provide optional temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021. ASU 2020-04 is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this provision.
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 49 |
Shareholder meeting results (Unaudited)
August 19, 2020 special meeting
Approving changes to your fund’s fundamental investment policies regarding investments in tax-exempt investments subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.
| Votes for | Votes against | Abstentions |
| 8,325,813 | 640,680 | 610,458 |
All tabulations are rounded to the nearest whole number.
| 50 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Putnam family of funds
The following is a list of Putnam’s open-end mutual funds offered to the public. Investors should carefully consider the investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund before investing. For a prospectus, or a summary prospectus if available, containing this and other information for any Putnam fund or product, contact your financial advisor or call Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
| Blend | Income |
| Emerging Markets Equity Fund | Convertible Securities Fund |
| Focused Equity Fund | Diversified Income Trust |
| Global Equity Fund | Floating Rate Income Fund |
| International Capital Opportunities Fund | Global Income Trust |
| International Equity Fund | Government Money Market Fund* |
| Multi-Cap Core Fund | High Yield Fund |
| Research Fund | Income Fund |
| Money Market Fund† | |
| Global Sector | Mortgage Opportunities Fund |
| Global Health Care Fund | Mortgage Securities Fund |
| Global Technology Fund | Short Duration Bond Fund |
| Ultra Short Duration Income Fund | |
| Growth | |
| Growth Opportunities Fund | Tax-free Income |
| Small Cap Growth Fund | Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund |
| Sustainable Future Fund | Short-Term Municipal Income Fund |
| Sustainable Leaders Fund | Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
| Tax Exempt Income Fund | |
| Value | Tax-Free High Yield Fund |
| Equity Income Fund | |
| International Value Fund | State tax-free income funds‡: |
| Small Cap Value Fund | California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, |
| New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. | |
| Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 51 |
| Absolute Return | Asset Allocation (cont.) |
| Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund |
| Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund |
| Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund | |
| Putnam PanAgora** | Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund |
| Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy | Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund |
| Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund | Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund |
| Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund | Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund |
| Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund | |
| Asset Allocation | Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund |
| Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund | |
| George Putnam Balanced Fund | RetirementReady® Maturity Fund |
| RetirementReady® 2060 Fund | |
| Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund | RetirementReady® 2055 Fund |
| Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund | RetirementReady® 2050 Fund |
| Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund | RetirementReady® 2045 Fund |
| RetirementReady® 2040 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2035 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2030 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2025 Fund |
* You could lose money by investing in the fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time.
† You could lose money by investing in the fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The fund may impose a fee upon sale of your shares or may temporarily suspend your ability to sell shares if the fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums because of market conditions or other factors. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time.
‡ Not available in all states.
** Sub-advised by PanAgora Asset Management.
Check your account balances and the most recent month-end performance in the Individual Investors section at putnam.com.
| 52 Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund |
Fund information
Founded over 80 years ago, Putnam Investments was built around the concept that a balance between risk and reward is the hallmark of a well-rounded financial program. We manage funds across income, value, blend, sustainable, growth, asset allocation, absolute return, and global sector categories.
| Investment Manager | Trustees | Michael J. Higgins |
| Putnam Investment | Kenneth R. Leibler, Chair | Vice President, Treasurer, |
| Management, LLC | Liaquat Ahamed | and Clerk |
| 100 Federal Street | Ravi Akhoury | |
| Boston, MA 02110 | Barbara M. Baumann | Jonathan S. Horwitz |
| Katinka Domotorffy | Executive Vice President, | |
| Investment Sub-Advisor | Catharine Bond Hill | Principal Executive Officer, |
| Putnam Investments Limited | Paul L. Joskow | and Compliance Liaison |
| 16 St James’s Street | George Putnam, III | |
| London, England SW1A 1ER | Robert L. Reynolds | Richard T. Kircher |
| Manoj P. Singh | Vice President and BSA | |
| Marketing Services | Mona K. Sutphen | Compliance Officer |
| Putnam Retail Management | ||
| 100 Federal Street | Officers | Susan G. Malloy |
| Boston, MA 02110 | Robert L. Reynolds | Vice President and |
| President | Assistant Treasurer | |
| Custodian | ||
| State Street Bank | Robert T. Burns | Denere P. Poulack |
| and Trust Company | Vice President and | Assistant Vice President, Assistant |
| Chief Legal Officer | Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer | |
| Legal Counsel | ||
| Ropes & Gray LLP | James F. Clark | Janet C. Smith |
| Vice President, Chief Compliance | Vice President, | |
| Officer, and Chief Risk Officer | Principal Financial Officer, | |
| Principal Accounting Officer, | ||
| Nancy E. Florek | and Assistant Treasurer | |
| Vice President, Director of | ||
| Proxy Voting and Corporate | Mark C. Trenchard | |
| Governance, Assistant Clerk, | Vice President | |
| and Assistant Treasurer |
This report is for the information of shareholders of Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund. It may also be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus, the most recent copy of Putnam’s Quarterly Performance Summary, and Putnam’s Quarterly Ranking Summary. For more recent performance, please visit putnam.com. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund, which are described in its prospectus. For this and other information or to request a prospectus or summary prospectus, call 1-800-225-1581 toll free. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the fund’s Trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling 1-800-225-1581.
| Item 2. Code of Ethics: |
| Not Applicable |
| Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert: |
| Not Applicable |
| Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services: |
| Not Applicable |
| Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants |
| Not Applicable |
| Item 6. Schedule of Investments: |
| The registrant's schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the report to shareholders in Item 1 above. |
| Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End Management Investment Companies: |
| Not applicable |
| Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies |
| Not Applicable |
| Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers: |
| Not applicable |
| Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders: |
| Not Applicable |
| Item 11. Controls and Procedures: |
| (a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 180 days of the filing date of this report, that the design and operation of such procedures are generally effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms. |
| (b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting: Not applicable |
| Item 12. Disclosures of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Investment Companies: |
| Not applicable |
| Item 13. Exhibits: |
| (a)(1) Not applicable |
| (b) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith. |
| 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. |
| Putnam Tax Free Income Trust |
| By (Signature and Title): |
| /s/ Janet C. Smith Janet C. Smith Principal Accounting Officer |
| Date: March 30, 2021 |
| 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 (Signature and Title): |
| /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz Jonathan S. Horwitz Principal Executive Officer |
| Date: March 30, 2021 |
| By (Signature and Title): |
| /s/ Janet C. Smith Janet C. Smith Principal Financial Officer |
| Date: March 30, 2021 |