0001752724-24-124723.txt : 20240529 0001752724-24-124723.hdr.sgml : 20240529 20240529095145 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001752724-24-124723 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: NPORT-P PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20240331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20240529 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20240529 PERIOD START: 20241231 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SPROTT FOCUS TRUST INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000825202 ORGANIZATION NAME: IRS NUMBER: 592876580 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: NPORT-P SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-05379 FILM NUMBER: 24994636 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 320 POST ROAD, SUITE 230 CITY: DARIEN STATE: CT ZIP: 06820 BUSINESS PHONE: (203) 656-2400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 320 POST ROAD, SUITE 230 CITY: DARIEN STATE: CT ZIP: 06820 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ROYCE FOCUS TRUST INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19990525 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ROYCE GLOBAL TRUST INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19961203 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ALL SEASONS GLOBAL FUND INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950803 NPORT-P 1 primary_doc.xml NPORT-P false 0000825202 XXXXXXXX SPROTT FOCUS TRUST INC. 811-05379 0000825202 549300ZO564XGNG81814 C/O SPROTT ASSET MANAGEMENT INC 320 POST ROAD, SUITE 230 DARIEN CA 06820 203-656-2401 SPROTT FOCUS TRUST INC. 549300ZO564XGNG81814 2024-12-31 2024-03-31 N 269611174.45 1174122.71 268437051.74 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 25024.46000000 UST Pason Systems Inc 984500DC6T2FLR969F65 Pason Systems Inc 702925108 1080000.00000000 NS 12469971.58000000 4.645398799893 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc 549300T1FUI6JF63XU51 Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc 04316A108 280000.00000000 NS USD 12815600.00000000 4.774154654482 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N State Street Global Advisors 5493008BJIBKQ5KTIF74 State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio 857509301 156916.30000000 NS USD 156916.30000000 0.058455529511 Long STIV RF US N N/A N N Cirrus Logic Inc 549300NKSJEM5ZZSSV18 Cirrus Logic Inc 172755100 30000.00000000 NS USD 2776800.00000000 1.034432460795 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd YGE0EUBRF7IJOB3QRX76 Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd 008474108 160000.00000000 NS USD 9544000.00000000 3.555395925464 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N Buckle Inc/The 5299007IU0461T3GDL34 Buckle Inc/The 118440106 265000.00000000 NS USD 10671550.00000000 3.975438536084 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Nucor Corp 549300GGJCRSI2TIEJ46 Nucor Corp 670346105 65000.00000000 NS USD 12863500.00000000 4.791998688936 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Westlake Corp GOXNEVUM0LL78B1OS344 Westlake Corp 960413102 70000.00000000 NS USD 10696000.00000000 3.984546816718 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N Fixed Income Clearing Corp. 549300H47WTHXPU08X20 FIXED INC CLEARING CORP.REPO 000000000 14152828.71000000 PA USD 14152828.71000000 5.272308207179 Long RA CORP US N 2 Repurchase N 1.60000000 2024-04-01 15602000.00000000 USD 14435957.04000000 USD UST N N N Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc 549300MOI1T78144X610 Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc 489398107 850000.00000000 NS USD 7293000.00000000 2.716838064167 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Centamin PLC 213800PDI9G7OUKLPV84 Centamin PLC 000000000 3200000.00000000 NS 4559894.69000000 1.698683047084 Long EC CORP JE N 1 N N N Gemfields Group Ltd 21380017GAVXTCYS5R31 Gemfields Group Ltd 000000000 11999945.00000000 NS 1837372.78000000 0.684470630298 Long EC CORP GG N 1 N N Marcus & Millichap Inc 549300B2HE8ULXNB1N48 Marcus & Millichap Inc 566324109 175000.00000000 NS USD 5979750.00000000 2.227617223941 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N Barrick Gold Corp 0O4KBQCJZX82UKGCBV73 Barrick Gold Corp 067901108 200000.00000000 NS USD 3328000.00000000 1.239769241402 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N Helmerich & Payne Inc 254900NAOGHJ88RZ4C73 Helmerich & Payne Inc 423452101 300000.00000000 NS USD 12618000.00000000 4.700543355773 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Exxon Mobil Corp J3WHBG0MTS7O8ZVMDC91 Exxon Mobil Corp 30231G102 105000.00000000 NS USD 12205200.00000000 4.546764286407 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Steel Dynamics Inc 549300HGGKEL4FYTTQ83 Steel Dynamics Inc 858119100 87500.00000000 NS USD 12970125.00000000 4.831719360620 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N AerSale Corp N/A AerSale Corp 00810F106 370000.00000000 NS USD 2656600.00000000 0.989654737593 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N Berkshire Hathaway Inc 5493000C01ZX7D35SD85 Berkshire Hathaway Inc 084670702 20000.00000000 NS USD 8410400.00000000 3.133099527611 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Vishay Intertechnology Inc 5493009O8F3QQJTCQR75 Vishay Intertechnology Inc 928298108 420000.00000000 NS USD 9525600.00000000 3.548541432062 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N Seabridge Gold Inc 9845003FEO1A66376A92 Seabridge Gold Inc 811916105 360000.00000000 NS USD 5443200.00000000 2.027737961178 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N Major Drilling Group International Inc 549300O1MNHCX2FUBC21 Major Drilling Group International Inc 560909103 1500000.00000000 NS 9966409.51000000 3.712754794987 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N FRP Holdings Inc N/A FRP Holdings Inc 30292L107 135000.00000000 NS USD 8289000.00000000 3.087874772230 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Perenti Ltd 25490044GUNE4S2E6K11 Perenti Ltd 000000000 3500000.00000000 NS 2235159.65000000 0.832656906157 Long EC CORP AU N 1 N N N Cal-Maine Foods Inc 549300NHE5WMIEIEMF53 Cal-Maine Foods Inc 128030202 170000.00000000 NS USD 10004500.00000000 3.726944523921 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Federated Hermes Inc R05X5UQ874RGFF7HHD84 Federated Hermes Inc 314211103 300000.00000000 NS USD 10836000.00000000 4.036700570864 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd 549300TJZTXZMPQ6K004 Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd 68827L101 320000.00000000 NS USD 5254400.00000000 1.957404898444 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N CF Industries Holdings Inc 529900CG8YAQFZ2JMV97 CF Industries Holdings Inc 125269100 45000.00000000 NS USD 3744450.00000000 1.394908033644 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Clarkson PLC 2138007G6BGTEHI3OT22 Clarkson PLC 000000000 160000.00000000 NS 8097952.92000000 3.016704611941 Long EC CORP GB N 1 N N N Pan American Silver Corp 549300MKTF5851TYIB83 Pan American Silver Corp 697900108 240000.00000000 NS USD 3619200.00000000 1.348249050025 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N Ashmore Group PLC 549300U3L59WB4YI2X12 Ashmore Group PLC 000000000 1700000.00000000 NS 4199046.07000000 1.564257259861 Long EC CORP GB N 1 N N N Thor Industries Inc 254900XZO1228PDSG060 Thor Industries Inc 885160101 60000.00000000 NS USD 7040400.00000000 2.622737790615 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N Smart Sand Inc 549300JISW1T66DVOK23 Smart Sand Inc 83191H107 750000.00000000 NS USD 1432500.00000000 0.533644662953 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Radius Recycling Inc 549300F62TK8VRDSM285 Radius Recycling Inc 806882106 320000.00000000 NS USD 6761600.00000000 2.518877314503 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Reliance Inc 549300E287ZOFT3C5Z56 Reliance Inc 759509102 35000.00000000 NS USD 11696300.00000000 4.357185390088 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Societe BIC SA 969500UR00DF63I0VH67 Societe BIC SA 000000000 40000.00000000 NS 2856794.54000000 1.064232572024 Long EC CORP FR N 1 N N N 2024-04-30 SPROTT FOCUS TRUST INC. Thomas Ulrich Thomas Ulrich President XXXX NPORT-EX 2 NPORT_6626_31578802_0324.htm

 

Sprott Focus Trust March 31, 2024 (unaudited)

 

Schedule of Investments 

 

Security Description  Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS (94.99%)
Consumer Discretionary (6.60%)    
Automobiles (2.62%)
Thor Industries, Inc.(a)   60,000   $7,040,400 
Specialty Retail (3.98%)
Buckle, Inc. (The)   265,000    10,671,550 
Total Consumer Discretionary (Cost $8,753,426)        17,711,950 
           
Consumer Staples (3.73%)          
Food Products (3.73%)
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.   170,000    10,004,500 
Total Consumer Staples (Cost $5,895,925)        10,004,500 
           
Energy (14.43%)          
Energy Equipment & Services (9.88%)
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.   300,000    12,618,000 
Pason Systems, Inc.(a)   1,080,000    12,469,971 
Smart Sand, Inc.(b)   750,000    1,432,500 
         26,520,471 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.55%)
Exxon Mobil Corp.   105,000    12,205,200 
Total Energy (Cost $26,120,031)        38,725,671 
           
Financials (13.60%)          
Capital Markets (10.47%)
Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc.(a)   280,000    12,815,600 
Ashmore Group plc   1,800,000    4,446,049 
Federated Hermes, Inc.   300,000    10,836,000 
         28,097,649 
Financial Services (3.13%)
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.(b)   20,000    8,410,400 
Total Financials (Cost $25,887,581)        36,508,049 
           
Industrials (5.07%)          
Aerospace & Defense (0.99%)
AerSale Corp.(a),(b)   370,000    2,656,600 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.06%)
Societe BIC SA   40,000    2,856,794 
Marine Transportation (3.02%)
Clarkson plc   160,000    8,097,953 
Total Industrials (Cost $11,480,118)        13,611,347 
           
Information Technology (4.58%)          
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (3.55%)
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.(a)   420,000    9,525,600 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (1.03%)
Cirrus Logic, Inc.(b)   30,000    2,776,800 
Total Information Technology (Cost $10,116,267)        12,302,400 
           
Materials (38.94%)          
Chemicals (5.38%)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.   45,000    3,744,450 
Westlake Corp.(a)   70,000   10,696,000 
         14,440,450 

 

 

 

 

Sprott Focus Trust March 31, 2024 (unaudited)

 

 

Security Description  Shares   Value 
Metals & Mining (33.56%)
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.   160,000   $9,544,000 
Barrick Gold Corp.   200,000    3,328,000 
Centamin plc   3,200,000    4,559,895 
Gemfields Group Ltd.(a)   11,999,945    1,837,373 
Major Drilling Group International, Inc.(b)   1,500,000    9,966,409 
Nucor Corp.   65,000    12,863,500 
Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.   320,000    5,254,400 
Pan American Silver Corp.   240,000    3,619,200 
Perenti Ltd.   3,500,000    2,235,160 
Radius Recycling, Inc.   320,000    6,761,600 
Reliance, Inc.   35,000    11,696,300 
Seabridge Gold, Inc.(b)   360,000    5,443,200 
Steel Dynamics, Inc.   87,500    12,970,125 
         90,079,162 
Total Materials (Cost $72,907,546)        104,519,612 
           
Real Estate (8.04%)          
Real Estate Management & Development (8.04%)
FRP Holdings, Inc.(b)   135,000    8,289,000 
Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.   850,000    7,293,000 
Marcus & Millichap, Inc.(a)   175,000    5,979,750 
         21,561,750 
Total Real Estate (Cost $20,702,807)        21,561,750 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $181,863,701)        254,945,279 
Repurchase Agreement (5.27%)          
Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, 1.60% dated 03/28/24, due 04/01/24, maturity value $14,155,345 (collateralized by obligations of various U.S. Treasury Note, 0.50% due 02/28/26, valued at $14,435,957)        14,152,829 
Total Repurchase Agreements (Cost $14,152,829)        14,152,829 
           
Securities Lending Collateral (0.06%)          
State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio(c)   156,916    156,916 
Total Securities Lending Collateral (Cost $156,916)        156,916 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 100.32% (Cost $196,173,446)        269,255,024 
           
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS – (-0.32%)        (867,379)
NET ASSETS - 100.00%       $268,387,645 

   

(a)Security (or a portion of the security) is on loan. As of March 31, 2024, the market value of securities loaned was $38,101,444. The loaned securities were secured with cash collateral of $156,916 and non-cash collateral with a value of $38,762,758. The non-cash collateral received consists of equity securities, and is held for the benefit of the Fund at the Fund’s custodian. The Fund cannot repledge or resell this collateral. Collateral is calculated based on prior day’s prices.
(b)Non-Income producing.
(c)Represents an investment of securities purchased from cash collateral received from lending of portfolio securities.

                 

 

 

 

Sprott Focus Trust
March 31, 2024 (unaudited) 

 

 

Portfolio Valuation and Methodologies: 

Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. All exchange traded securities are valued using the last trade or closing sale price from the primary publicly recognized exchange. If no current closing sale price is available, the mean of the closing bid and ask price is used. If no current day price quotation is available, the previous business day’s closing sale price is used. Investments in open-end mutual funds such as money market funds are valued at the closing NAV. Repurchase agreements are valued at contract amount plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. The Fund values its non-U.S. dollar denominated securities in U.S. dollars daily at the prevailing foreign currency exchange rates as quoted by a major bank. If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of the Fund’s investment, or in the event that it is determined that valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued in accordance with the Adviser’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value (“Fair Value Policies and Procedures”). U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) has approved the designation of the Adviser of the Fund as the valuation designee for the Fund. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with the Fair Value Policies and Procedures as reflecting fair value. The Adviser has formed a committee (the “Valuation Committee”) to develop pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy: 

The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for fair valued investments, the Valuation Committee seeks to determine the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Valuation Committee deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments, as noted above. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels below:

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, foreign securities that may be fair valued and repurchase agreements). 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs.

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

The following is a summary of the Fund’s investments as of March 31, 2024 based on the inputs used to value them. For a detailed breakout of common stocks by sector classification, please refer to the Schedule of Investments.

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $254,945,279   $—     $—     $254,945,279 
Repurchase Agreements   —      14,152,829    —      14,152,829 
Securities Lending Collateral   156,916    —      —      156,916 
Total  $255,102,195   $14,152,829   $—     $269,255,024 

 

There were no transfers between levels for investments held at the end of the period.

 

 

 

  

Sprott Focus Trust

March 31, 2024 (unaudited) 

 

 

Common Stock: 

The Fund invests a significant amount of assets in common stock. The value of common stock held by the Fund will fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of common stock held by the Fund participate or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests.


Repurchase Agreements:
 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that the Fund’s investment adviser has determined are creditworthy. The Fund restricts repurchase agreements to maturities of no more than seven days. Securities pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements, which are held until maturity of the repurchase agreements, are marked-to-market daily and maintained at a value at least equal to the principal amount of the repurchase agreement (including accrued interest). Repurchase agreements could involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the counter-party, including possible delays or restrictions upon the ability of the Fund to dispose of its underlying securities. The maturity associated with these securities is considered continuous.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities:  

The Fund, using State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) as its lending agent, may loan securities to qualified brokers and dealers in exchange for negotiated lenders’ fees. The Fund receives cash collateral, which may be invested by the lending agent in short-term instruments. Collateral for securities on loan is at least equal to 102% (for loans of U.S. securities) or 105% (for loans of non-U.S. securities) of the market value of the loaned securities at the inception of each loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. As March 31, 2024, the cash collateral received by the Fund was invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, which is a 1940 Act registered money market fund. To the extent that advisory or other fees paid by the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio are for the same or similar services as fees paid by the Fund, there will be a layering of fees, which would increase expenses and decrease returns. Information regarding the value of the securities loaned and the value of the collateral at period end is included in the Schedule of Investments. The Fund could experience a delay in recovering its securities, a possible loss of income or value and record realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. These loans involve the risk of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event that the collateral decreases below the value of the securities loaned and the risks of the loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities experience financial difficulties.

 

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, the Fund retains 80% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment expenses). Securities lending income is generally equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral (and excludes collateral investment fees), and any fees or other payments to and from borrowers of securities. State Street bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending.

 

As of March 31, 2024, the Fund had outstanding loans of securities to certain approved brokers for which the Fund received collateral:

 

Market Value of Loaned Securities 

 

Market Value of  

Cash Collateral 

 

Market Value of Non-Cash Collateral 

 

Total
Collateral
 

$38,101,444  $156,916  $38,762,758  $38,919,674


 

All securities on loan are classified as Common Stock in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments as of March 31, 2024, with a contractual maturity of overnight and continuous.

 

Other information regarding the Fund is available in the Fund’s most recent Report to Stockholders. This information is available through Sprott Asset Management’s website (www.sprottfocustrust.com) and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov).