N-CSR 1 ar53123hwf.htm DWS HEALTH AND WELLNESS FUND

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

Investment Company Act file number: 811-02021

 

Deutsche DWS Securities Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

875 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022-6225

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 454-4500

 

Diane Kenneally

100 Summer Street

Boston, MA 02110

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Date of fiscal year end: 5/31
   
Date of reporting period: 5/31/2023

 

ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS
   
  (a)

May 31, 2023
Annual Report
to Shareholders
DWS Health and Wellness Fund


Contents
This report must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. To obtain a summary prospectus, if available, or prospectus for any of our funds, refer to the Account Management Resources information provided in the back of this booklet. We advise you to consider the Fund’s objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The summary prospectus and prospectus contain this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
Stocks may decline in value. Any fund that concentrates in a particular segment of the market will generally be more volatile than a fund that invests more broadly. The Fund may lend securities to approved institutions. Please read the prospectus for details.
War, terrorism, sanctions, economic uncertainty, trade disputes, public health crises, natural disasters, climate change and related geopolitical events have led and, in the future, may lead to significant disruptions in U.S. and world economies and markets, which may lead to increased market volatility and may have significant adverse effects on the Fund and its investments.
The brand DWS represents DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA and any of its subsidiaries such as DWS Distributors, Inc. which offers investment products or DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. and RREEF America L.L.C. which offer advisory services.
NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE
NOT A DEPOSIT NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Letter to Shareholders
Dear Shareholder:
This past year can be described as one where there were major structural disruptions and challenges impacting financial markets: record high inflation; end of ultra-loose monetary policy; impact of slower growth in China; ongoing political attacks on global trade; demographic change profoundly affecting more and more countries; and finally, the Ukraine conflict, the future course of which continues to be highly unpredictable.
It is therefore apparent that there will be no lack of challenges for investors in 2023. With looming recession concerns in the U.S. and Europe, we believe the prospects for equity returns will be challenging in 2023. Further, aggressive tightening by the Federal Reserve and international monetary authorities has increased pressure on banks and their ability to lend, and also negatively impacted the performance of fixed income securities. Inflation continues to remain above monetary authority targets, however there is early evidence that rate hikes by the Federal Reserve are beginning to take effect and cool the pace of rising prices.
Consequently, we believe that it is important for investors to diversify their investments given the level of volatility in markets. Balanced portfolios can help mitigate the negative impact of unexpected economic, geopolitical, and market events. While investment objectives are unique to each investor, we do believe there may be benefits to owning corporate and government bonds given their potential for yield as well as holding equities for their ability to counter the negative effects of persistent inflation.
In our view, these factors of market volatility, unpredictable economic events, and complex geo-political forces strongly underscore the value add of active portfolio management. The partnership between our portfolio managers and our CIO Office which synthesizes the views of more than 900 DWS economists, analysts and investment professionals around the world makes an important difference in making strategic and tactical decisions for the DWS Funds. Thank you for your trust. For ongoing updates to our market and economic outlook, please visit the “Insights”  section of dws.com.
Best regards,
Hepsen Uzcan
President, DWS Funds
Assumptions, estimates and opinions contained in this document constitute our judgment as of the date of the document and are subject to change without notice. Any projections are based on a number of assumptions as to market conditions and there can be no guarantee that any projected results will be achieved. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
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3

Portfolio Management Review(Unaudited)
Market Overview and Fund Performance
All performance information below is historical and does not guarantee future results. Returns shown are for Class A shares, unadjusted for sales charges. Investment return and principal fluctuate, so your shares may be worth more or less when redeemed. Current performance may differ from performance data shown. Please visit dws.com for the most recent month-end performance of all share classes. Fund performance includes reinvestment of all distributions. Unadjusted returns do not reflect sales charges and would have been lower if they had. Please refer to pages 8through 10for more complete performance information.
Over the Fund’s most recent fiscal year ended May 31, 2023, health care stocks underperformed the broader equity market as moderating inflation led investors to anticipate a slowdown in Federal Reserve interest rate hikes and rotate into growth-oriented sectors such as large cap technology stocks. Within health care, growth subsectors biotechnology and health equipment & supplies outperformed the defensive pharmaceuticals subsector.
For its most recent fiscal year ended May 31, 2023, the Fund posted a 0.99% total return, compared to the 2.92% return of the Fund’s benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, and the –0.25% return of the Fund’s secondary benchmark, the MSCI World Health Care Index. Relative to the MSCI World Health Care Index, the Fund is overweight biotechnology and health care equipment and supplies and underweight pharmaceuticals.
Positive Contributors to Fund Performance
The largest contributor to relative performance was the Fund’s holding in Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc.* Shares of the biotechnology company, which markets Oxbryta®, a first-in-class drug that targets the underlying cause of sickle-cell disease, appreciated significantly as Pfizer acquired the company at a substantial premium to its market value. Another major
Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of companies in the health care and wellness sectors. In choosing stocks, portfolio management uses a combination of three analytical disciplines: bottom-up research, growth orientation analysis and top-down analysis.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

contributor to performance was Eli Lilly & Co., a diversified biopharmaceuticals company, whose outperformance was driven by positive clinical trial updates for its diabetes drug tirzepatide in the treatment of obesity and its drug in development for Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, two of the Fund’s holdings in health care equipment and supplies, Penumbra, Inc. and Boston Scientific Corp., were also meaningful contributors, as the companies benefited from a resumption in medical procedures following a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic. Penumbra, Inc. focuses on innovative therapies for the removal of blood clots, while Boston Scientific Corp is a leader in several market segments including cardiology, cardiac rhythm management, neuromodulation, and endoscopy.
” We believe that the long-term prospects for health care stocks are promising, based on positive global demographic trends and the continuing emergence of innovative technologies.” 
Negative Contributors to Fund Performance
The largest detractor from relative performance was the Fund’s overweight in Axonics, Inc. Shares of the company, a developer and marketer of incontinence therapies for the treatment of urinary and bowel dysfunction, underperformed due to concerns about the total addressable market and potential new competition. Other detractors from Fund performance included overweight positions in Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., a global insulin delivery and diabetes technology company, and Amedisys, Inc.,* a leading home health care company. Tandem shares declined as new patient growth slowed in the face of new competitive insulin pump offerings. Staffing shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted Amedisys’ financial performance, while potential cuts to home health reimbursement rates also weighed on sentiment around the stock. Finally, our position in Arvinas, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on cancer therapeutics, also detracted from performance, as its shares declined following disappointing clinical data updates for its products in development.
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Outlook
In the near term, health care stock performance will be determined by the macro environment; if current economic conditions persist, we believe health care stocks will likely continue to underperform. However, if signs of economic weakness emerge, with the potential for a recession, the defensive characteristics of most health care stocks may make them attractive to investors. We continue to believe that the long-term prospects for health care stocks are promising, based on positive global demographic trends and the continuing emergence of innovative technologies.
*
Not held at May 31, 2023.
Portfolio Management Team
Leefin Lai, CFA, CPA, Senior Portfolio Manager Equity
Lead Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Began managing the Fund in 2001.
Joined DWS in 2001.
Previously served as an analyst for Salomon Smith Barney and PaineWebber and as Vice President/Analyst for Citigroup Global Asset Management and Scudder Kemper Investments.
Investment industry experience began in 1993.
BS and MBA, University of Illinois.
Peter Barsa, Senior Portfolio Manager Equity
Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Began managing the Fund in 2014.
Joined DWS in 1999.
Portfolio Manager for DWS Global Small Cap, US Small Cap Growth and US Small Mid Cap Growth: New York.
Previously served as equity research analyst covering consumer discretionary and consumer staples and as global small cap equity research generalist.
BS in Finance, Villanova University.
Michael A. Sesser, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager Equity
Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Began managing the Fund in 2014.
Joined DWS in 2009.
Portfolio Manager and Equity Research Analyst: New York.
Previously, Business Intelligence Analyst, Corporate Executive Board (now owned by Gartner) from 2005–2007; Research Associate, Compass Lexecon (now owned by FTI Consulting) from 2003–2005.
BA in Ethics, Politics & Economics, Yale University; MBA (with distinction), Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Effective April 25, 2023, the portfolio manager is as follows:
Peter Barsa, Senior Portfolio Manager Equity
Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Began managing the Fund in 2014.
Joined DWS in 1999.
Portfolio Manager for DWS Global Small Cap, US Small Cap Growth and US Small Mid Cap Growth: New York.
Previously served as equity research analyst covering consumer discretionary and consumer staples and as global small cap equity research generalist.
BS in Finance, Villanova University.
The views expressed reflect those of the portfolio management team only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. The management team’s views are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions and should not be construed as a recommendation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.
Terms to Know
S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks. The index is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.
The MSCI World Health Care Index is an unmanaged equity index designed to capture the large and mid-capitalization segments across 23 developed markets countries. All securities in the index are classified in the Health Care sector as per the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®).
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7

Performance SummaryMay 31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Class A
1-Year
5-Year
10-Year
Average Annual Total Returnsas of 5/31/23
Unadjusted for Sales Charge
0.99%
8.01%
10.08%
Adjusted for the Maximum Sales Charge
(max 5.75% load)
–4.82%
6.74%
9.43%
S&P 500® Index
2.92%
11.01%
11.99%
MSCI World Health Care Index
–0.25%
9.64%
9.86%
Class C
1-Year
5-Year
10-Year
Average Annual Total Returnsas of 5/31/23
Unadjusted for Sales Charge
0.24%
7.20%
9.26%
Adjusted for the Maximum Sales Charge
(max 1.00% CDSC)
0.24%
7.20%
9.26%
S&P 500® Index
2.92%
11.01%
11.99%
MSCI World Health Care Index
–0.25%
9.64%
9.86%
Class S
1-Year
5-Year
10-Year
Average Annual Total Returnsas of 5/31/23
No Sales Charges
1.23%
8.29%
10.36%
S&P 500® Index
2.92%
11.01%
11.99%
MSCI World Health Care Index
–0.25%
9.64%
9.86%
Institutional Class
1-Year
5-Year
10-Year
Average Annual Total Returnsas of 5/31/23
No Sales Charges
1.21%
8.29%
10.36%
S&P 500® Index
2.92%
11.01%
11.99%
MSCI World Health Care Index
–0.25%
9.64%
9.86%
Performance in the Average Annual Total Returns table above and the Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment line graph that follows is historical and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal fluctuate, so your shares may be worth more or less when redeemed. Current performance may differ from performance data shown. Please visit dws.com for the Fund’s most recent month-end performance. Fund performance includes reinvestment of all distributions. Unadjusted returns do not reflect sales charges and would have been lower if they had.
The gross expense ratios of the Fund, as stated in the fee table of the prospectus dated October 1, 2022 are 1.32%, 2.10%, 1.04% and 1.05% for Class A, Class C, Class S and Institutional Class shares, respectively, and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Financial Highlights tables in this report.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Index returns do not reflect any fees or expenses and it is not possible to invest directly into an index.
Performance figures do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
Generally accepted accounting principles require adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Fund at period end for financial reporting purposes only, and as such, the total return based on the unadjusted net asset value per share may differ from the total return reported in the financial highlights.
Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment
(Adjusted for Maximum Sales Charge)
 Yearly periods ended May 31

The Fund’s growth of an assumed $10,000 investment is adjusted for the maximum sales charge of 5.75%. This results in a net initial investment of $9,425.
The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.
Performance of other share classes will vary based on the sales charges and the fee structure of those classes.
S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks. The index
is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes
in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.
 
The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Health Care Index is an
unmanaged equity index designed to capture the large and mid-capitalization segments
across 23 developed markets countries. All securities in the index are classified in the
Health Care sector as per the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®).
The Advisor believes the additional index (MSCI World Health Care Index) reasonably
represents the Fund’s overall investment process.
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Class A
Class C
Class S
Institutional
Class
Net Asset Value
5/31/23
$34.83
$22.38
$38.62
$40.92
5/31/22
$35.05
$22.84
$38.81
$41.08
Distribution Information as of 5/31/23
Income Dividends, Twelve Months
$.05
$
$.16
$.17
Capital Gain Distributions
$.5416
$.5416
$.5416
$.5416
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Portfolio Summary(Unaudited)
Asset Allocation(As a % of Investment Portfolio)
5/31/23
5/31/22
Common Stocks
96%
96%
Cash Equivalents
4%
4%
 
100%
100%
Sector Diversification(As a % of Investment Portfolio
excluding Cash Equivalents)
5/31/23
5/31/22
Medical Supply & Specialty
38%
28%
Pharmaceuticals
 
 
Major Pharmaceuticals
29%
32%
Specialty Pharmaceuticals
2%
2%
Health Care Services
17%
26%
Biotechnology
14%
12%
 
100%
100%
Ten Largest Equity Holdings at May 31, 2023(42.3% of Net Assets)
 1UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
9.6%
Operator of organized health systems
 
 2Eli Lilly & Co.
6.5%
Producer of pharmaceuticals
 
 3Merck & Co., Inc.
4.5%
Provider of health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic
therapies and animal health products
 
 4Johnson & Johnson
3.9%
Provider of health care products
 
 5Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
3.7%
Manufacturer of measurement instruments that monitor, collect and analyze
information for various industries
 
 6Boston Scientific Corp.
3.1%
Developer and producer of medical devices
 
 7AbbVie, Inc.
2.8%
Developer of pharmaceutical products
 
 8Abbott Laboratories
2.8%
Developer of health care products
 
 9Danaher Corp.
2.7%
Manufacturer of professional instrumentation, medical technologies, industrial
technologies and tools and components
 
10AstraZeneca PLC
2.7%
Manufacturer of pharmaceutical products
 
Portfolio holdings and characteristics are subject to change.
For more complete details about the Fund’s investment portfolio, see page 12. A quarterly Fact Sheet is available on dws.com or upon request. Please see the Account Management Resources section on page 51for contact information.
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11

Investment Portfolioas of May 31, 2023
 
Shares
Value ($)
Common Stocks 95.8%
Health Care 95.8%
Biotechnology 13.6%
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*
 
6,501
1,202,750
Amgen, Inc.
 
21,593
4,764,495
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*
 
3,500
300,475
Argenx SE (ADR)*
 
3,423
1,330,520
Arvinas, Inc.*
 
17,133
374,013
Beam Therapeutics, Inc.*
 
3,700
118,030
Bicycle Therapeutics PLC (ADR)*
 
8,370
200,713
Biogen, Inc.*
 
12,150
3,601,382
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*
 
16,142
1,403,385
Blueprint Medicines Corp.*
 
16,862
953,040
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.*
 
14,060
447,108
Exact Sciences Corp.*
 
14,922
1,217,337
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
 
52,050
4,004,727
Grifols SA (ADR)*
 
42,000
346,080
Incyte Corp.*
 
13,679
841,942
Insmed, Inc.*
 
36,810
700,494
Moderna, Inc.*
 
10,706
1,367,263
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*
 
12,537
1,122,438
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*
 
6,385
4,696,551
Seagen, Inc.*
 
8,297
1,623,723
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*
 
21,271
1,049,937
Ventyx Biosciences, Inc.*
 
8,000
275,760
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*
 
17,681
5,721,041
 
 
37,663,204
Health Care Services 21.0%
agilon health, Inc.*
 
29,730
591,032
AmerisourceBergen Corp.
 
21,114
3,592,547
Cardinal Health, Inc.
 
14,600
1,201,580
Centene Corp.*
 
22,974
1,433,807
Certara, Inc.*
 
23,641
491,260
Humana, Inc.
 
3,416
1,714,388
IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*
 
12,400
2,441,684
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings
 
3,790
805,489
McKesson Corp.
 
11,600
4,533,744
Privia Health Group, Inc.*
 
44,932
1,121,053
RadNet, Inc.*
 
39,287
1,136,966
Surgery Partners, Inc.*
 
30,140
1,129,647
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

 
Shares
Value ($)
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
 
20,198
10,269,875
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
 
54,823
26,711,959
Veeva Systems, Inc. “A” *
 
5,718
947,473
 
 
58,122,504
Medical Supply & Specialty 31.5%
Abbott Laboratories
 
76,501
7,803,102
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
 
21,506
2,487,599
Alcon, Inc.
 
48,397
3,745,444
Align Technology, Inc.*
 
2,735
773,075
Avantor, Inc.*
 
26,151
521,451
Axonics, Inc.*
 
22,930
1,109,583
Azenta, Inc.*
 
16,300
704,975
Baxter International, Inc.
 
49,300
2,007,496
Becton, Dickinson & Co.
 
16,800
4,061,568
Bio-Techne Corp.
 
11,800
965,122
Boston Scientific Corp.*
 
167,456
8,620,635
Catalent, Inc.*
 
10,000
372,300
Danaher Corp.
 
32,338
7,425,452
DexCom, Inc.*
 
25,108
2,944,164
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*
 
23,496
1,979,068
GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc.
 
24,500
1,947,995
Globus Medical, Inc. “A” *
 
8,900
481,757
Hologic, Inc.*
 
30,377
2,396,441
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*
 
4,589
2,132,829
Illumina, Inc.*
 
5,091
1,001,145
Inari Medical, Inc.*
 
11,012
665,125
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.*
 
3,424
1,001,486
Insulet Corp.*
 
5,832
1,599,426
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*
 
19,359
5,959,475
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. “A” *
 
17,000
218,280
Masimo Corp.*
 
7,827
1,266,722
Medtronic PLC
 
54,788
4,534,255
Omnicell, Inc.*
 
6,942
509,682
Outset Medical, Inc.*
 
35,623
742,027
Penumbra, Inc.*
 
7,757
2,384,036
Repligen Corp.*
 
4,100
688,472
ResMed, Inc.
 
12,447
2,623,703
Shockwave Medical, Inc.*
 
2,700
742,743
Stryker Corp.
 
21,804
6,008,746
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*
 
8,979
233,364
The Cooper Companies, Inc.
 
3,800
1,411,814
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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Shares
Value ($)
Waters Corp.*
 
2,800
703,416
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
 
7,915
2,648,596
 
 
87,422,569
Pharmaceuticals 29.7%
AbbVie, Inc.
 
56,880
7,847,165
AstraZeneca PLC (ADR)
 
101,046
7,384,442
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
 
43,160
2,781,230
Eli Lilly & Co.
 
41,607
17,868,542
Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.*
 
16,682
990,577
Johnson & Johnson
 
70,085
10,867,380
Merck & Co., Inc.
 
112,519
12,423,223
Novartis AG (ADR)
 
45,000
4,331,250
Novo Nordisk AS (ADR)
 
40,655
6,523,501
Pfizer, Inc.
 
112,670
4,283,714
Sanofi (ADR)
 
41,450
2,114,779
Zoetis, Inc.
 
29,556
4,817,924
 
 
82,233,727
Total Common Stocks (Cost $142,778,508)
 
265,442,004
Cash Equivalents 4.1%
DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund,
5.13% (a) (Cost $11,390,463)
 
11,390,463
11,390,463
 
 
% of
Net Assets
Value ($)
Total Investment Portfolio (Cost $154,168,971)
 
99.9
276,832,467
Other Assets and Liabilities, Net
 
0.1
168,814
Net Assets
 
100.0
277,001,281
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

A summary of the Fund’s transactions with affiliated investments during the year ended May 31, 2023 are as follows:
Value ($)
at
5/31/2022
Pur-
chases
Cost
($)
Sales
Proceeds
($)
Net
Real-
ized
Gain/
(Loss)
($)
Net
Change
in
Unreal-
ized
Appreci-
ation
(Depreci-
ation)
($)
Income
($)
Capital
Gain
Distri-
butions
($)
Number of
Shares at
5/31/2023
Value ($)
at
5/31/2023
Securities Lending Collateral 0.0%
DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio “DWS Government Cash Institutional Shares” ,
5.03% (a) (b)
0 (c)
2,574
Cash Equivalents 4.1%
DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund, 5.13% (a)
11,742,673
53,776,100
54,128,310
433,004
11,390,463
11,390,463
11,742,673
53,776,100
54,128,310
435,578
11,390,463
11,390,463
*
Non-income producing security.
(a)
Affiliated fund managed by DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. The rate
shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end.
(b)
Represents cash collateral held in connection with securities lending. Income earned by
the Fund is net of borrower rebates.
(c)
Represents the net increase (purchase cost) or decrease (sales proceeds) in the amount
invested in cash collateral for the year ended May 31, 2023.
ADR: American Depositary Receipt
Fair Value Measurements
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk). Level 3 includes significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). The level assigned to the securities valuations may not be an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investing in those securities.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of May 31, 2023 in valuing the Fund’s investments. For information on the Fund’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Security Valuation section of Note A in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Assets
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Common Stocks (a)
$265,442,004
$
$
$265,442,004
Short-Term Investments
11,390,463
11,390,463
Total
$276,832,467
$
$
$276,832,467
(a)
See Investment Portfolio for additional detailed categorizations.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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15

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
as of May 31, 2023
Assets
 Investments in non-affiliated securities, at value (cost $142,778,508)
$265,442,004
Investment in DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund
(cost $11,390,463)
11,390,463
Cash
3,852
Receivable for Fund shares sold
87,668
Dividends receivable
315,943
Interest receivable
51,054
Foreign taxes recoverable
170,532
Other assets
25,379
Total assets
277,486,895
Liabilities
 
Payable for Fund shares redeemed
109,925
Accrued management fee
183,570
Accrued Trustees' fees
3,925
Other accrued expenses and payables
188,194
Total liabilities
485,614
Net assets, at value
$277,001,281
Net Assets Consist of
 
Distributable earnings (loss)
137,024,771
Paid-in capital
139,976,510
Net assets, at value
$277,001,281
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of May 31, 2023 (continued)
Net Asset Value
 
Class A
Net Asset Value and redemption price per share
($56,635,287 ÷ 1,626,192 outstanding shares of beneficial interest,
$.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized)
$34.83
Maximum offering price per share (100 ÷ 94.25 of $34.83)
$36.95
Class C
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price
(subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share
($1,878,606 ÷ 83,951 outstanding shares of beneficial interest,
$.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized)
$22.38
Class S
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share
($204,346,642 ÷ 5,291,749 outstanding shares of beneficial interest,
$.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized)
$38.62
Institutional Class
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share
($14,140,746 ÷ 345,610 outstanding shares of beneficial interest,
$.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized)
$40.92
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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17

Statement of Operations
for the year ended May 31, 2023
Investment Income
 
Income:
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $39,887)
$3,557,118
Income distributions DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund
433,004
Securities lending income, net of borrower rebates
2,574
Total income
3,992,696
Expenses:
Management fee
2,201,797
Administration fee
279,182
Services to shareholders
359,509
Distribution and service fees
166,249
Custodian fee
8,792
Professional fees
74,933
Reports to shareholders
42,202
Registration fees
60,702
Trustees' fees and expenses
13,212
Other
22,566
Total expenses before expense reductions
3,229,144
Expense reductions
(228,087
)
Total expenses after expense reductions
3,001,057
Net investment income
991,639
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
 
Net realized gain (loss) from:
Investments
21,828,149
Foreign currency
7,513
 
21,835,662
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
Investments
(19,374,468
)
Foreign currency
2,185
 
(19,372,283
)
Net gain (loss)
2,463,379
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
$3,455,018
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 
Years Ended May 31,
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
2023
2022
Operations:
Net investment income
$991,639
$534,157
Net realized gain (loss)
21,835,662
9,862,641
Change in net unrealized appreciation
(depreciation)
(19,372,283
)
(9,803,690
)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
from operations
3,455,018
593,108
Distributions to shareholders:
Class A
(985,076
)
(6,371,062
)
Class C
(59,648
)
(523,559
)
Class S
(3,807,875
)
(20,821,943
)
Institutional Class
(283,624
)
(1,292,245
)
Total distributions
(5,136,223
)
(29,008,809
)
Fund share transactions:
Proceeds from shares sold
12,779,240
12,184,531
Reinvestment of distributions
4,973,887
28,067,591
Payments for shares redeemed
(34,660,277
)
(37,768,912
)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund
share transactions
(16,907,150
)
2,483,210
Increase (decrease) in net assets
(18,588,355
)
(25,932,491
)
Net assets at beginning of period
295,589,636
321,522,127
Net assets at end of period
$277,001,281
$295,589,636
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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19

Financial Highlights
DWS Health and Wellness Fund Class A
 
Years Ended May 31,
 
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Selected Per Share Data
Net asset value, beginning of period
$35.05
$38.73
$37.28
$33.63
$35.96
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)a
.05
(.01
)
(.01
)
.02
.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
.32
.14
5.10
7.37
1.60
Total from investment operations
.37
.13
5.09
7.39
1.62
Less distributions from:
Net investment income
(.05
)
(.04
)
Net realized gains
(.54
)
(3.81
)
(3.64
)
(3.70
)
(3.95
)
Total distributions
(.59
)
(3.81
)
(3.64
)
(3.74
)
(3.95
)
Net asset value, end of period
$34.83
$35.05
$38.73
$37.28
$33.63
Total Return (%)b
.99
c
(.34
)c
14.27
c
22.66
c
4.22
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period ($ millions)
57
60
68
63
59
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions(%)
1.33
1.32
1.33
1.35
1.34
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions(%)
1.24
1.09
1.18
1.34
1.34
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%)
.15
(.02
)
(.02
)
.07
.06
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
27
17
36
43
39
a
Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
b
Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
c
Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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|
DWS Health and Wellness Fund

DWS Health and Wellness Fund Class C
 
Years Ended May 31,
 
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Selected Per Share Data
Net asset value, beginning of period
$22.84
$26.67
$26.91
$25.32
$28.19
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)a
(.13
)
(.20
)
(.21
)
(.18
)
(.20
)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
.21
.18
3.61
5.47
1.28
Total from investment operations
.08
(.02
)
3.40
5.29
1.08
Less distributions from:
Net realized gains
(.54
)
(3.81
)
(3.64
)
(3.70
)
(3.95
)
Net asset value, end of period
$22.38
$22.84
$26.67
$26.91
$25.32
Total Return (%)b,c
.24
(1.10
)
13.40
21.76
3.43
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period ($ millions)
2
3
4
5
5
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions(%)
2.13
2.10
2.10
2.13
2.09
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions(%)
1.98
1.84
1.94
2.10
2.09
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%)
(.60
)
(.78
)
(.79
)
(.70
)
(.72
)
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
27
17
36
43
39
a
Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
b
Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
c
Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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21

DWS Health and Wellness Fund Class S
 
Years Ended May 31,
 
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Selected Per Share Data
Net asset value, beginning of period
$38.81
$42.49
$40.57
$36.32
$38.53
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment incomea
.16
.10
.10
.14
.13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
.35
.13
5.57
7.96
1.69
Total from investment operations
.51
.23
5.67
8.10
1.82
Less distributions from:
Net investment income
(.16
)
(.10
)
(.11
)
(.15
)
(.08
)
Net realized gains
(.54
)
(3.81
)
(3.64
)
(3.70
)
(3.95
)
Total distributions
(.70
)
(3.91
)
(3.75
)
(3.85
)
(4.03
)
Net asset value, end of period
$38.62
$38.81
$42.49
$40.57
$36.32
Total Return (%)
1.23
b
(.08
)b
14.58
b
22.99
4.48
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period ($ millions)
204
217
235
222
201
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions(%)
1.06
1.04
1.06
1.07
1.07
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions(%)
.98
.84
.93
1.07
1.07
Ratio of net investment income (%)
.41
.23
.23
.35
.33
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
27
17
36
43
39
a
Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
b
Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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|
DWS Health and Wellness Fund

DWS Health and Wellness Fund Institutional Class
 
Years Ended May 31,
 
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Selected Per Share Data
Net asset value, beginning of period
$41.08
$44.79
$42.58
$37.96
$40.10
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment incomea
.17
.11
.12
.15
.15
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
.38
.10
5.85
8.33
1.76
Total from investment operations
.55
.21
5.97
8.48
1.91
Less distributions from:
Net investment income
(.17
)
(.11
)
(.12
)
(.16
)
(.10
)
Net realized gains
(.54
)
(3.81
)
(3.64
)
(3.70
)
(3.95
)
Total distributions
(.71
)
(3.92
)
(3.76
)
(3.86
)
(4.05
)
Net asset value, end of period
$40.92
$41.08
$44.79
$42.58
$37.96
Total Return (%)
1.26
b
(.12
)b
14.57
b
23.00
4.50
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period ($ millions)
14
15
15
10
5
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions(%)
1.06
1.05
1.05
1.06
1.06
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions(%)
.99
.84
.91
1.06
1.06
Ratio of net investment income (%)
.41
.24
.27
.39
.37
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
27
17
36
43
39
a
Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
b
Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
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23

Notes to Financial Statements
A.
Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
DWS Health and Wellness Fund (the “Fund” ) is a diversified series of Deutsche DWS Securities Trust (the “Trust” ), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act” ), as an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust.
The Fund offers multiple classes of shares which provide investors with different purchase options. Class A shares are subject to an initial sales charge. Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge but are subject to higher ongoing expenses than Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge payable upon certain redemptions within one year of purchase. Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares in the same fund after 8 years, provided that the Fund or the financial intermediary through which the shareholder purchased the Class C shares has records verifying that the Class C shares have been held for at least 8 years. Class S shares are not subject to initial or contingent deferred sales charges and are available through certain intermediary relationships with financial services firms, or can be purchased by establishing an account directly with the Fund’s transfer agent. Institutional Class shares are not subject to initial or contingent deferred sales charges and are generally available only to qualified institutions.
Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and certain fund-level expenses and expense reductions, if any, are borne pro rata on the basis of relative net assets by the holders of all classes of shares, except that each class bears certain expenses unique to that class such as distribution and service fees, services to shareholders and certain other class-specific expenses. Differences in class-level expenses may result in payment of different per share dividends by class. All shares of the Fund have equal rights with respect to voting subject to class-specific arrangements.
The Fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP” ) which require the use of management estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund qualifies as an investment company under Topic 946 of Accounting Standards Codification of U.S. GAAP. The policies described below are followed consistently by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation.Investments are stated at value determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the exchange is open for trading.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

The Fund’s Board has designated DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (the “Advisor” ) as the valuation designee for the Fund pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. The Advisor’s Pricing Committee (the “Pricing Committee” ) typically values securities using readily available market quotations or prices supplied by independent pricing services (which are considered fair values under Rule 2a-5). The Advisor has adopted fair valuation procedures that provide methodologies for fair valuing securities.
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk). Level 3 includes significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). The level assigned to the securities valuations may not be an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investing in those securities.
Equity securities are valued at the most recent sale price or official closing price reported on the exchange (U.S. or foreign) or over-the-counter market on which they trade. Securities for which no sales are reported are valued at the calculated mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations on the relevant market or, if a mean cannot be determined, at the most recent bid quotation. Equity securities are generally categorized as Level 1. For certain international equity securities, in order to adjust for events which may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the New York Stock Exchange, a fair valuation model may be used. This fair valuation model takes into account comparisons to the valuation of American Depository Receipts (ADRs), exchange-traded funds, futures contracts and certain indices and these securities are categorized as Level 2.
Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their net asset value each business day and are categorized as Level 1.
Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the above valuation procedures are deemed not to reflect fair value are valued in a manner that is intended to reflect their fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Pricing Committee and are generally categorized as Level 3. In accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures, factors considered in determining value may include, but are not limited to, the type of the security; the size of the holding; the initial cost of the security; the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies; quotations or evaluated prices from broker-dealers and/or pricing services; information obtained from the issuer, analysts, and/or the
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
|
25

appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities); an analysis of the company’s or issuer’s financial statements; an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold; and with respect to debt securities, the maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency denomination and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded. The value determined under these procedures may differ from published values for the same securities.
Disclosure about the classification of fair value measurements is included in a table following the Fund’s Investment Portfolio.
Securities Lending.Prior to March 27, 2023, Deutsche Bank AG served as securities lending agent for the Fund. Effective March 27, 2023, National Financial Services LLC (Fidelity Agency Lending), as securities lending agent, lends securities of the Fund to certain financial institutions under the terms of its securities lending agreement. During the term of the loans, the Fund continues to receive interest and dividends generated by the securities and to participate in any changes in their market value. The Fund requires the borrowers of the securities to maintain collateral with the Fund consisting of either cash or liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at least equal to the value of the securities loaned. When the collateral falls below specified amounts, the securities lending agent will use its best efforts to obtain additional collateral on the next business day to meet required amounts under the securities lending agreement. As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash. During the year ended May 31, 2023, the Fund invested the cash collateral into a joint trading account in affiliated money market funds, including DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio, managed by DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. receives a management/administration fee (0.08% annualized effective rate as of May 31, 2023) on the cash collateral invested in DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio. The Fund receives compensation for lending its securities either in the form of fees or by earning interest on invested cash collateral net of borrower rebates and fees paid to a securities lending agent. Either the Fund or the borrower may terminate the loan at any time, and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within a standard time period. There may be risks of delay and costs in recovery of securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. If the Fund is not able to recover securities lent, the Fund may sell the collateral and purchase a replacement investment in the market, incurring the risk that the value of the replacement security is greater than the value of the collateral. The Fund is also subject to all investment risks associated with the reinvestment of any cash collateral received, including, but not limited to, interest rate, credit and liquidity risk associated with such investments.
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|
DWS Health and Wellness Fund

As of May 31, 2023, the Fund had no securities on loan.
Foreign Currency Translations.The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rates at period end. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of the transactions.
Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent net gains and losses between trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the acquisition and disposition of foreign currencies, and the difference between the amount of net investment income accrued and the U.S. dollar amount actually received. The portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed but is included with net realized and unrealized gain/appreciation and loss/depreciation on investments.
Federal Income Taxes.The Fund’s policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which are applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders.
The Fund has reviewed the tax positions for the open tax years as of May 31, 2023 and has determined that no provision for income tax and/or uncertain tax positions is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.
Distribution of Income and Gains.Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared and distributed to shareholders annually. Net realized gains from investment transactions, in excess of available capital loss carryforwards, would be taxable to the Fund if not distributed, and, therefore, will be distributed to shareholders at least annually. The Fund may also make additional distributions for tax purposes if necessary.
The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gain distributions are determined annually in accordance with federal tax regulations which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences primarily relate to investments in certain securities sold at a loss and the realized tax character on distributions from certain securities. The Fund may utilize a portion of the proceeds from capital shares redeemed as a distribution from net investment income and realized capital gains.  As a result, net investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions for a reporting period may differ significantly from
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
|
27

distributions during such period. Accordingly, the Fund may periodically make reclassifications among certain of its capital accounts without impacting the net asset value of the Fund.
At May 31, 2023, the Fund’s components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a net tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed long-term capital gains
$14,495,898
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
$122,528,543
At May 31, 2023, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $154,303,924. The net unrealized appreciation for all investments based on tax cost was $122,528,543. This consisted of aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments for which there was an excess of value over tax cost of $130,843,179 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments for which there was an excess of tax cost over value of $8,314,636.
In addition, the tax character of distributions paid to shareholders by the Fund is summarized as follows:
 
Years Ended May 31,
 
2023
2022
Distributions from ordinary income*
$994,984
$3,105,191
Distributions from long-term capital gains
$4,141,239
$25,903,618
*
For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions are considered ordinary
income distributions.
Expenses.Expenses of the Trust arising in connection with a specific fund are allocated to that fund. Other Trust expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a fund are apportioned among the funds in the Trust based upon the relative net assets or other appropriate measures.
Contingencies.In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet been made. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.
Other.Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are reported on trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date net of foreign withholding taxes. Certain dividends from foreign securities may be recorded subsequent to the ex-dividend date as soon as the Fund is informed of such dividends. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified
28
|
DWS Health and Wellness Fund

cost basis. Proceeds from litigation payments, if any, are included in net realized gain (loss) from investments.
B.
Purchases and Sales of Securities
During the year ended May 31, 2023, purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) aggregated $74,145,894 and $94,779,270, respectively.
C.
Related Parties
Management Agreement.Under the Investment Management Agreement with DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA”  or the “Advisor” ), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA (“DWS Group” ), the Advisor directs the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives, policies and restrictions. The Advisor determines the securities, instruments and other contracts relating to investments to be purchased, sold or entered into by the Fund.
Under the Investment Management Agreement with the Advisor, the Fund pays a monthly management fee based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly, at the following annual rates:
First $500 million of the Fund’s average daily net assets
.765%
Over $500 million of such net assets
.715%
Accordingly, for the year ended May 31, 2023, the fee pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement was equivalent to an annual rate (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements) of 0.765% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
For the period from June 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022, the Advisor had contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual operating expenses (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest expense and acquired fund fees and expenses) of each class as follows:
Class A
1.08%
Class C
1.83%
Class S
.83%
Institutional Class
.83%
Effective October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
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29

operating expenses (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest expense and acquired fund fees and expenses) of each class as follows:
Class A
1.32%
Class C
2.07%
Class S
1.07%
Institutional Class
1.07%
For the year ended May 31, 2023, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed for each class are as follows:
Class A
$55,351
Class C
3,915
Class S
157,134
Institutional Class
11,687
 
$228,087
Administration Fee.Pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement, DIMA provides most administrative services to the Fund. For all services provided under the Administrative Services Agreement, the Fund pays the Advisor an annual fee (“Administration Fee” ) of 0.097% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly. For the year ended May 31, 2023, the Administration Fee was $279,182, of which $23,479 is unpaid.
Service Provider Fees.DWS Service Company (“DSC” ), an affiliate of the Advisor, is the transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent for the Fund. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between DSC and SS&C GIDS, Inc. (“SS&C” ) (name changed from DST Systems, Inc. effective January 1, 2023), DSC has delegated certain transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent functions to SS&C. DSC compensates SS&C out of the shareholder servicing fee it receives from the Fund. For the year ended May 31, 2023, the amounts charged to the Fund by DSC were as follows:
Services to Shareholders
Total
Aggregated
Unpaid at
May 31, 2023
Class A
$26,292
$4,392
Class C
1,006
155
Class S
119,824
19,980
Institutional Class
574
94
 
$147,696
$24,621
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

In addition, for the year ended May 31, 2023, the amounts charged to the Fund for recordkeeping and other administrative services provided by unaffiliated third parties, included in the Statement of Operations under “Services to shareholders,”  were as follows:
Sub-Recordkeeping
Total
Aggregated
Class A
$54,799
Class C
3,888
Class S
94,465
Institutional Class
15,966
 
$169,118
Distribution and Service Fees.Under the Fund’s Class C 12b-1 Plan, DWS Distributors, Inc. (“DDI” ), an affiliate of the Advisor, receives a fee (“Distribution Fee” ) of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares. In accordance with the Fund’s Underwriting and Distribution Services Agreement, DDI enters into related selling group agreements with various firms at various rates for sales of Class C shares. For the year ended May 31, 2023, the Distribution Fee was as follows:
Distribution Fee
Total
Aggregated
Unpaid at
May 31, 2023
Class C
$18,997
$1,246
In addition, DDI provides information and administrative services for a fee (“Service Fee” ) to Class A and C shareholders at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets for each such class. DDI in turn has various agreements with financial services firms that provide these services and pays these fees based upon the assets of shareholder accounts the firms service. For the year ended May 31, 2023, the Service Fee was as follows:
Service Fee
Total
Aggregated
Unpaid at
May 31, 2023
Annual
Rate
Class A
$141,325
$25,021
.24%
Class C
5,927
1,118
.23%
 
$147,252
$26,139
Underwriting Agreement and Contingent Deferred Sales Charge.DDI is the principal underwriter for the Fund. Underwriting commissions paid in connection with the distribution of Class A shares for the year ended May 31, 2023 aggregated $10,603.
In addition, DDI receives any contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC” ) from Class C share redemptions occurring within one year of purchase. There is no such charge upon redemption of any share appreciation or
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31

reinvested dividends. The CDSC is 1% of the value of the shares redeemed for Class C. For the year ended May 31, 2023, there was no CDSC for Class C Shares. A deferred sales charge of up to 1% is assessed on certain redemptions of Class A shares.
Other Service Fees.Under an agreement with the Fund, DIMA is compensated for providing regulatory filing services to the Fund. For the year ended May 31, 2023, the amount charged to the Fund by DIMA included in the Statement of Operations under “Reports to shareholders”  aggregated $1,590, of which $496 is unpaid.
Trustees’ Fees and Expenses.The Fund paid retainer fees to each Trustee not affiliated with the Advisor, plus specified amounts to the Board Chairperson and to each committee Chairperson.
Affiliated Cash Management Vehicles.The Fund may invest uninvested cash balances in DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund and DWS ESG Liquidity Fund, affiliated money market funds which are managed by the Advisor. Each affiliated money market fund is managed in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, which governs the quality, maturity, diversity and liquidity of instruments in which a money market fund may invest. DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund seeks to maintain a stable net asset value, and DWS ESG Liquidity Fund maintains a floating net asset value. The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of each affiliated money market fund in which it invests. DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund does not pay the Advisor an investment management fee. To the extent that DWS ESG Liquidity Fund pays an investment management fee to the Advisor, the Advisor will waive an amount of the investment management fee payable to the Advisor by the Fund equal to the amount of the investment management fee payable on the Fund’s assets invested in DWS ESG Liquidity Fund.
Securities Lending Agent Fees.Prior to March 27, 2023, Deutsche Bank AG served as securities lending agent for the Fund. For the year ended May 31, 2023, the Fund incurred securities lending agent fees to Deutsche Bank AG in the amount of $131.
D.
Line of Credit
The Fund and other affiliated funds (the “Participants” ) share in a $375 million revolving credit facility provided by a syndication of banks. The Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests that otherwise might require the untimely disposition of securities. The Participants are charged an annual commitment fee, which is allocated based on net assets, among each of the Participants. Interest is calculated at a daily fluctuating rate per annum equal to the sum of 0.10% plus the higher of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, plus 1.25%. The Fund may
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

borrow up to a maximum of 33 percent of its net assets under the agreement. The Fund had no outstanding loans at May 31, 2023.
E.
Fund Share Transactions
The following table summarizes share and dollar activity in the Fund:
 
Year Ended
May 31, 2023
Year Ended
May 31, 2022
 
Shares
Dollars
Shares
Dollars
Shares sold
Class A
119,870
$4,197,407
70,450
$2,737,188
Class C
10,435
236,892
9,815
258,495
Class S
76,539
2,961,904
107,383
4,557,686
Institutional Class
131,729
5,383,037
106,877
4,631,162
 
$12,779,240
$12,184,531
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions
Class A
26,523
$970,210
166,258
$6,266,255
Class C
2,529
59,648
21,248
523,559
Class S
90,358
3,660,405
479,615
19,985,533
Institutional Class
6,608
283,624
29,289
1,292,244
 
$4,973,887
$28,067,591
Shares redeemed
Class A
(243,599
)
$(8,465,223
)
(260,817
)
$(10,008,394
)
Class C
(67,965
)
(1,536,441
)
(37,037
)
(937,632
)
Class S
(471,416
)
(18,309,314
)
(509,771
)
(21,644,628
)
Institutional Class
(154,020
)
(6,349,299
)
(120,075
)
(5,178,258
)
 
$(34,660,277
)
$(37,768,912
)
Net increase (decrease)
Class A
(97,206
)
$(3,297,606
)
(24,109
)
$(1,004,951
)
Class C
(55,001
)
(1,239,901
)
(5,974
)
(155,578
)
Class S
(304,519
)
(11,687,005
)
77,227
2,898,591
Institutional Class
(15,683
)
(682,638
)
16,091
745,148
 
$(16,907,150
)
$2,483,210
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33

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of Deutsche DWS Securities Trust and Shareholders of DWS Health and Wellness Fund:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of DWS Health and Wellness Fund (the “Fund” ) (one of the funds constituting Deutsche DWS Securities Trust) (the “Trust” ), including the investment portfolio, as of May 31, 2023, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements” ). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund (one of the funds constituting Deutsche DWS Securities Trust) at May 31, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB” ) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of May 31, 2023, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers, and others; when replies were not received from brokers and others, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the DWS family of funds since at least 1979, but we are unable to determine the specific year.
Boston, Massachusetts
July 24, 2023
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Other Information (Unaudited)
Regulatory Update  Tailored Shareholder Report
Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC amended the rules for mutual fund and exchange-traded fund (“ETF” ) annual and semi-annual shareholder reports. The amended rules apply to mutual funds and ETFs that are registered on Form N-1A (i.e., open-end funds) and implement a new streamlined disclosure framework requiring “concise and visually engaging”  shareholder reports highlighting key information, including a simplified expense presentation, performance information, portfolio holdings and certain fund statistics. The amended rules seek to simplify shareholder reporting by consolidating investor friendly data in one report and moving other data to Form N-CSR, creating a layered disclosure framework. Certain information from the Fund’s current shareholder reports, including the Fund’s investment portfolio, financial statements and financial highlights, will move to Form N-CSR. This information must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. Notably, the amended rules will require mutual funds and ETFs to prepare separate individual shareholder reports for each fund share class. The amendments also include a revised definition of “appropriate broad-based securities market index”  that will affect performance presentations in the new streamlined reports and mutual fund and ETF prospectuses. The amended rules and related form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of the amended rules and form amendments on the content of the Fund’s current shareholder reports.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Information About Your Fund’s Expenses
As an investor of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: ongoing expenses and transaction costs. Ongoing expenses include management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses. Examples of transaction costs include sales charges (loads) and account maintenance fees, which are not shown in this section. The following tables are intended to help you understand your ongoing expenses (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to help you compare these expenses
with the ongoing expenses of investing in other mutual funds.In the most recent six-month period, the Fund limited these expenses for Class A and
Class C shares; had it not done so, expenses would have been higher.The example in the table is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period (December 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023).
The tables illustrate your Fund’s expenses in two ways:
— 
Actual Fund Return. This helps you estimate the actual dollar amount of ongoing expenses (but not transaction costs) paid on a $1,000 investment in the Fund using the Fund’s actual return during the period. To estimate the expenses you paid over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Expenses Paid per $1,000”  line under the share class you hold.
— 
Hypothetical 5% Fund Return. This helps you to compare your Fund’s ongoing expenses (but not transaction costs) with those of other mutual funds using the Fund’s actual expense ratio and a hypothetical rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. Examples using a 5% hypothetical fund return may be found in the shareholder reports of other mutual funds. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.
Please note that the expenses shown in these tables are meant to highlight your ongoing expenses only and do not reflect any transaction costs. The “Expenses Paid per $1,000”  line of the tables is useful in comparing ongoing expenses only and will not help you determine the
relative total expense of owning different funds.Subject to certain exceptions, an account maintenance fee of $20.00 assessed once per calendar year for Classes A, C and S shares may apply for accounts with balances less than $10,000. This fee is not included in these tables. If it was, the estimate of expenses paid for Classes A, C and S shares during the period would be higher, and account value during the period would be lower, by this amount.
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Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment
for the six months ended May 31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Actual Fund Return
Class A
Class C
Class S
Institutional
Class
Beginning Account Value 12/1/22
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
Ending Account Value 5/31/23
$957.10
$953.50
$958.30
$958.00
Expenses Paid per $1,000*
$6.44
$10.08
$5.18
$5.17
Hypothetical 5% Fund Return
Class A
Class C
Class S
Institutional
Class
Beginning Account Value 12/1/22
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
Ending Account Value 5/31/23
$1,018.35
$1,014.61
$1,019.65
$1,019.65
Expenses Paid per $1,000*
$6.64
$10.40
$5.34
$5.34
*
Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for each share class,
multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182 (the number of
days in the most recent six-month period), then divided by 365.
Annualized Expense Ratios
Class A
Class C
Class S
Institutional
Class
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
1.32%
2.07%
1.06%
1.06%
For more information, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.
For an analysis of the fees associated with an investment in the Fund or similar funds, please refer to tools.finra.org/fund_analyzer/.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Tax Information (Unaudited)
The Fund paid distributions of $0.54 per share from net long-term capital gains during its year ended May 31, 2023.
Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund designates $21,097,000 as capital gain dividends for its year ended May 31, 2023.
For corporate shareholders, 100% of the ordinary dividends (i.e., income dividends plus short-term capital gains) paid during the Fund’s fiscal year ended May 31, 2023, qualified for the dividends received deduction.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund designates approximately $3,957,000, or the maximum amount allowable under tax law, as qualified dividend income.
Please consult a tax advisor if you have questions about federal or state income tax laws, or on how to prepare your tax returns. If you have specific questions about your account, please call (800) 728-3337.
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Liquidity Risk Management
In accordance with Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule” ) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act” ), your Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “Program” ), and the Board has designated DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA” ) as Program administrator. The Program is designed to assess and manage your Fund’s liquidity risk (the risk that the Fund would be unable to meet requests to redeem shares of the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund). DIMA has designated a committee (the “Committee” ) composed of personnel from multiple departments within DIMA and its affiliates that is responsible for the implementation and ongoing administration of the Program, which includes assessing the Fund’s liquidity risk under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions. Under the Program, every investment held by the Fund is classified on a daily basis into one of four liquidity categories based on estimations of the investment’s ability to be sold during designated timeframes in current market conditions without significantly changing the investment’s market value.
In February 2023, as required by the Program and the Liquidity Rule, DIMA provided the Board with an annual written report (the “Report” ) addressing the operation of the Program and assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of its implementation during the period from December 1, 2021 through November 30, 2022 (the “Reporting Period” ). During the Reporting Period, your Fund was predominately invested in highly liquid investments (investments that the Fund anticipates can be converted to cash within three business days or less in current market conditions without significantly changing their market value). As a result, your Fund is not required to adopt, and has not adopted, a “Highly Liquid Investment Minimum”  as defined in the Liquidity Rule. During the Reporting Period, the Fund did not approach the 15% limit imposed by the Liquidity Rule on holdings in illiquid investments (investments that cannot be sold or disposed of in seven days or less in current market conditions without the sale of the investment significantly changing the market value of the investment). Your Fund did not experience any issues meeting investor redemptions at any time during the Reporting Period. In the Report, DIMA stated that it believes the Program has operated adequately and effectively to manage the Fund’s liquidity risk during the Reporting Period. DIMA also reported that there were no material changes made to the Program during the Reporting Period.
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Advisory Agreement Board Considerations and Fee Evaluation
The Board of Trustees (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”  or “Trustees” ) approved the renewal of DWS Health and Wellness Fund’s (the “Fund” ) investment management agreement (the “Agreement” ) with DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA” ) in September 2022.
In terms of the process that the Board followed prior to approving the Agreement, shareholders should know that:
— 
During the entire process, all of the Fund’s Trustees were independent of DIMA and its affiliates (the “Independent Trustees” ).
— 
The Board met frequently during the past year to discuss fund matters and dedicated a substantial amount of time to contract review matters. Over the course of several months, the Board reviewed extensive materials received from DIMA, independent third parties and independent counsel. These materials included an analysis of the Fund’s performance, fees and expenses, and profitability from a fee consultant retained by the Fund’s Independent Trustees (the “Fee Consultant” ).
— 
The Board also received extensive information throughout the year regarding performance of the Fund.
— 
The Independent Trustees regularly met privately with counsel to discuss contract review and other matters. In addition, the Independent Trustees were advised by the Fee Consultant in the course of their review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements and considered a comprehensive report prepared by the Fee Consultant in connection with their deliberations.
— 
In connection with reviewing the Agreement, the Board also reviewed the terms of the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 plan, distribution agreement, administrative services agreement, transfer agency agreement and other material service agreements.
In connection with the contract review process, the Board considered the factors discussed below, among others. The Board also considered that DIMA and its predecessors have managed the Fund since its inception, and the Board believes that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious advisor is in the best interests of the Fund. The Board considered, generally, that shareholders chose to invest or remain invested in the Fund knowing that DIMA managed the Fund. DIMA is part of DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA (“DWS Group” ). DWS Group is a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including research capabilities in many countries throughout the world. In 2018, approximately 20% of DWS Group’s
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shares were sold in an initial public offering, with Deutsche Bank AG owning the remaining shares.
As part of the contract review process, the Board carefully considered the fees and expenses of each DWS fund overseen by the Board in light of the fund’s performance. In many cases, this led to the negotiation and implementation of expense caps.
While shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, the Fund’s Board considers these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DIMA’s personnel and administrative support services provided by DIMA, such as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures.
Nature, Quality and Extent of Services.The Board considered the terms of the Agreement, including the scope of advisory services provided under the Agreement. The Board noted that, under the Agreement, DIMA provides portfolio management services to the Fund and that, pursuant to a separate administrative services agreement, DIMA provides administrative services to the Fund. The Board considered the experience and skills of senior management and investment personnel and the resources made available to such personnel. The Board also considered the risks to DIMA in sponsoring or managing the Fund, including financial, operational and reputational risks, the potential economic impact to DIMA from such risks and DIMA’s approach to addressing such risks. The Board reviewed the Fund’s performance over short-term and long-term periods and compared those returns to various agreed-upon performance measures, including market index(es) and a peer universe compiled using information supplied by Morningstar Direct (“Morningstar” ), an independent fund data service. The Board also noted that it has put into place a process of identifying “Funds in Review”  (e.g., funds performing poorly relative to a peer universe), and receives additional reporting from DIMA regarding such funds and, where appropriate, DIMA’s plans to address underperformance. The Board believes this process is an effective manner of identifying and addressing underperforming funds. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that, for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2021, the Fund’s performance (Class A shares) was in the 1st quartile, 3rd quartile and 3rd quartile, respectively, of the applicable Morningstar universe (the 1st quartile being the best performers and the 4th quartile being the worst performers). The Board also observed that the Fund has underperformed its benchmark in the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2021.
Fees and Expenses.The Board considered the Fund’s investment management fee schedule, operating expenses and total expense ratios, and comparative information provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge” ) and the Fee Consultant regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisors by similar funds
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DWS Health and Wellness Fund

(1st quartile being the most favorable and 4th quartile being the least favorable). With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisors by similar funds, the Board noted that the contractual fee rates paid by the Fund, which include a 0.097% fee paid to DIMA under the Fund’s administrative services agreement, were higher than the median (3rd quartile) of the applicable Broadridge peer group (based on Broadridge data provided as of December 31, 2021). The Board noted that the Fund’s Class A shares total (net) operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees) were expected to be higher than the median (3rd quartile) of the applicable Broadridge expense universe (based on Broadridge data provided as of December 31, 2021, and analyzing Broadridge expense universe Class A (net) expenses less any applicable 12b-1 fees) (“Broadridge Universe Expenses” ). The Board also reviewed data comparing each other operational share class’s total (net) operating expenses to the applicable Broadridge Universe Expenses. The Board noted that the expense limitations agreed to by DIMA were expected to help the Fund’s total (net) operating expenses remain competitive. The Board considered the Fund’s management fee rate as compared to fees charged by DIMA to a comparable DWS U.S. registered fund (“DWS Funds” ) and considered differences between the Fund and the comparable DWS Fund. The information requested by the Board as part of its review of fees and expenses also included information about institutional accounts (including any sub-advised funds and accounts) and funds offered primarily to European investors (“DWS Europe Funds” ) managed by DWS Group. The Board noted that DIMA indicated that DWS Group does not manage any institutional accounts or DWS Europe Funds comparable to the Fund.
On the basis of the information provided, the Board concluded that management fees were reasonable and appropriate in light of the nature, quality and extent of services provided by DIMA.
Profitability.The Board reviewed detailed information regarding revenues received by DIMA under the Agreement. The Board considered the estimated costs to DIMA, and pre-tax profits realized by DIMA, from advising the DWS Funds, as well as estimates of the pre-tax profits attributable to managing the Fund in particular. The Board also received information regarding the estimated enterprise-wide profitability of DIMA and its affiliates with respect to all fund services in totality and by fund. The Board and the Fee Consultant reviewed DIMA’s methodology in allocating its costs to the management of the Fund. Based on the information provided, the Board concluded that the pre-tax profits realized by DIMA in connection with the management of the Fund were not unreasonable. The Board also reviewed certain publicly available information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that, while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited (and in some cases is not necessarily
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
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prepared on a comparable basis), DIMA and its affiliates’ overall profitability with respect to the DWS Funds (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DIMA and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available.
Economies of Scale.The Board considered whether there are economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund and whether the Fund benefits from any economies of scale. The Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between the Fund and DIMA of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels.
Other Benefits to DIMA and Its Affiliates.The Board also considered the character and amount of other incidental or “fall-out”  benefits received by DIMA and its affiliates, including any fees received by DIMA for administrative services provided to the Fund, any fees received by an affiliate of DIMA for transfer agency services provided to the Fund and any fees received by an affiliate of DIMA for distribution services. The Board also considered benefits to DIMA related to brokerage and soft-dollar allocations, including allocating brokerage to pay for research generated by parties other than the executing broker dealers, which pertain primarily to funds investing in equity securities. In addition, the Board considered the incidental public relations benefits to DIMA related to DWS Funds advertising and cross-selling opportunities among DIMA products and services. The Board considered these benefits in reaching its conclusion that the Fund’s management fees were reasonable.
Compliance.The Board considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DIMA to its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience, seniority and time commitment of the individuals serving as DIMA’s and the Fund’s chief compliance officers and (ii) the substantial commitment of resources by DIMA and its affiliates to compliance matters, including the retention of compliance personnel.
Based on all of the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board determined that the continuation of the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund. In making this determination, the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, certain of which were in executive session with only the Independent Trustees and counsel present. It is possible that individual Independent Trustees may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the Agreement.
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Board Members and Officers
The following table presents certain information regarding the Board Members and Officers of the Trust/Corporation. Each Board Member’s year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Board Member has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity; and (ii) the address of each Independent Board Member is c/o Keith R. Fox, DWS Funds Board Chair, c/o Thomas R. Hiller, Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston
Street, Boston, MA 02199-3600.Except as otherwise noted below, the term of office for each Board Member is until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Board Member sooner dies, resigns, is removed or as otherwise provided in the governing documents of the Trust/Corporation. Because the Fund does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders, each Board Member will hold office for an indeterminate period.
The Board Members may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex. The number of funds in the DWS fund complex shown in the table below includes all registered open- and closed-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Advisor and any registered funds that have an investment advisor that is an affiliated person of the Advisor.
Independent Board Members/Independent Advisory Board Members
Name, Year of
Birth, Position
with the Trust/
Corporation
and Length of
Time Served1
Business Experience and Directorships
During the Past Five Years
Number of
Funds in
DWS Fund
Complex
Overseen
Other
Directorships
Held by Board
Member
Keith R. Fox,
CFA (1954)
Chairperson
since 2017, and
Board Member
since 1996
Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital
Partners (a series of private investment
funds) (since 1986). Former Chairman,
National Association of Small Business
Investment Companies; Former
Directorships: ICI Mutual Insurance
Company; BoxTop Media Inc. (advertising);
Sun Capital Advisers Trust (mutual
funds); Progressive International Corporation
(kitchen goods designer and distributor)
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Name, Year of
Birth, Position
with the Trust/
Corporation
and Length of
Time Served1
Business Experience and Directorships
During the Past Five Years
Number of
Funds in
DWS Fund
Complex
Overseen
Other
Directorships
Held by Board
Member
John W.
Ballantine
(1946)
Board Member
since 1999
Retired; formerly, Executive Vice President
and Chief Risk Management Officer, First
Chicago NBD Corporation/The First National
Bank of Chicago (1996–1998); Executive Vice
President and Head of International Banking
(1995–1996); Not-for-Profit Directorships:
Window to the World Communications
(public media); Life Director of Harris Theater
for Music and Dance (Chicago); Life Director
of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; Former
Directorships: Director and Chairman of the
Board, Healthways, Inc.2 (population
wellbeing and wellness services)
(2003–2014); Stockwell Capital Investments
PLC (private equity); Enron Corporation; FNB
Corporation; Tokheim Corporation; First Oak
Brook Bancshares, Inc.; Oak Brook Bank;
Portland General Electric2 (utility company
(2003–2021); and Prisma Energy
International; Former Not-for-Profit
Directorships: Public Radio International;
Palm Beach Civic Assn.
69
Dawn-Marie
Driscoll (1946)
Board Member
since 1987
Emeritus Advisory Board and former
Executive Fellow, Hoffman Center for
Business Ethics, Bentley University; formerly:
Partner, Palmer & Dodge (law firm)
(1988–1990); Vice President of Corporate
Affairs and General Counsel, Filene’s (retail)
(1978–1988); Directorships: Trustee and
former Chairman of the Board, Southwest
Florida Community Foundation (charitable
organization); Former Directorships: ICI
Mutual Insurance Company (2007–2015); Sun
Capital Advisers Trust (mutual funds)
(2007–2012), Investment Company Institute
(audit, executive, nominating committees)
and Independent Directors Council
(governance, executive committees)
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Name, Year of
Birth, Position
with the Trust/
Corporation
and Length of
Time Served1
Business Experience and Directorships
During the Past Five Years
Number of
Funds in
DWS Fund
Complex
Overseen
Other
Directorships
Held by Board
Member
Richard J.
Herring (1946)
Board Member
since 1990
Jacob Safra Professor of International
Banking and Professor of Finance, The
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
(since July 1972); formerly: Director, The
Wharton Financial Institutions Center
(1994–2020); Vice Dean and Director,
Wharton Undergraduate Division (1995–2000)
and Director, The Lauder Institute of
International Management Studies
(2000–2006); Member FDIC Systemic Risk
Advisory Committee since 2011, member
Systemic Risk Council since 2012 and
member of the Advisory Board at the Yale
Program on Financial Stability since 2013;
Former Directorships: Co-Chair of the
Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee
(2003–2015), Executive Director of The
Financial Economists Roundtable
(2008–2015), Director of The Thai Capital Fund
(2007–2013), Director of The Aberdeen
Singapore Fund (2007–2018), Director, The
Aberdeen Japan Fund (2007-2021) and
Nonexecutive Director of Barclays Bank
DE (2010–2018)
69
Chad D. Perry
(1972)
Board Member
or Advisory
Board Member
since 20213
Executive Vice President, and General
Counsel, RLJ Lodging Trust.2 (Since 2023);
formerly: Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary, Tanger Factory Outlet
Centers, Inc.2 (2011-2023); Executive Vice
President and Deputy General Counsel, LPL
Financial Holdings Inc.2 (2006–2011); Senior
Corporate Counsel, EMC Corporation
(2005–2006); Associate, Ropes & Gray
LLP (1997–2005)
214
Director - Great
Elm Capital
Corp. (business
development
company)
(since 2022)
Rebecca W.
Rimel (1951)
Board Member
since 1995
Formerly: Executive Vice President, The
Glenmede Trust Company (investment trust
and wealth management) (1983–2004); Board
Member, Investor Education (charitable
organization) (2004–2005); Former
Directorships: Trustee, Executive Committee,
Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
(2001–2007); Director, Viasys Health Care2
(January 2007–June 2007); Trustee, Thomas
Jefferson Foundation (charitable organization)
(1994–2012); President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director (1994–2020) and Senior
Advisor (2020-2021), The Pew Charitable
Trusts (charitable organization); Director,
BioTelemetry Inc.2 (acquired by Royal Philips
in 2021) (healthcare) (2009–2021); Director,
Becton Dickinson and Company2 (medical
technology company) (2012-2022)
69
Director, The
Bridgespan
Group
(nonprofit
organization)
(since
October 2020)
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
|
47

Name, Year of
Birth, Position
with the Trust/
Corporation
and Length of
Time Served1
Business Experience and Directorships
During the Past Five Years
Number of
Funds in
DWS Fund
Complex
Overseen
Other
Directorships
Held by Board
Member
Catherine
Schrand (1964)
Board Member
since 2021
Celia Z. Moh Professor of Accounting (since
2016) and Professor of Accounting (since
1994); Directorships: Director, the Jacobs
Levy Center, The Wharton School, University
of Pennsylvania (since 2023); Former
positions: Vice Dean, Wharton Doctoral
Programs, The Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania (2016–2019)
69
William N.
Searcy, Jr.
(1946)
Board Member
since 1993
Private investor since October 2003; formerly:
Pension & Savings Trust Officer, Sprint
Corporation2 (telecommunications)
(November 1989–September 2003); Former
Directorships: Trustee, Sun Capital Advisers
Trust (mutual funds) (1998–2012)
69
Officers5
Name, Year of Birth, Position
with the Trust/Corporation
and Length of Time Served6
Business Experience and Directorships During the
Past Five Years
Hepsen Uzcan7 (1974)
President and Chief Executive
Officer, 2017–present
Fund Administration (Head since 2017), DWS; Secretary,
DWS USA Corporation (2018–present); Assistant Secretary,
DWS Distributors, Inc. (2018–present); Director and Vice
President, DWS Service Company (2018–present); Assistant
Secretary, DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc.
(2018–present); Director and President, DB Investment
Managers, Inc. (2018–present); President and Chief
Executive Officer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New
Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe
Fund, Inc. (2017–present); formerly: Vice President for the
Deutsche funds (2016–2017); Assistant Secretary for the
DWS funds (2013–2019); Assistant Secretary, The European
Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The
Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2013–2020);
Directorships: Interested Director, The European Equity
Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and
Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (since June 25, 2020); ICI Mutual
Insurance Company (since October 16, 2020); and
Episcopalian Charities of New York (2018–present)
John Millette8 (1962)
Vice President and
Secretary, 1999–present
Legal (Associate General Counsel), DWS; Chief Legal
Officer, DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc.
(2015–present); Director and Vice President, DWS Trust
Company (2016–present); Secretary, DBX ETF Trust
(2020–present); Vice President, DBX Advisors LLC
(2021–present); Secretary, The European Equity Fund, Inc.,
The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern
Europe Fund, Inc. 2011–present); formerly: Secretary,
Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
(2015–2017); and Assistant Secretary, DBX ETF
Trust (2019–2020)
Ciara Crawford9 (1984)
Assistant
Secretary, 2019–present
Fund Administration (Specialist), DWS (2015–present);
formerly, Legal Assistant at Accelerated Tax Solutions
48
|
DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Name, Year of Birth, Position
with the Trust/Corporation
and Length of Time Served6
Business Experience and Directorships During the
Past Five Years
Diane Kenneally8 (1966)
Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer, 2018–present
Fund Administration Treasurer’s Office (Co-Head since 2018),
DWS; Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller, DBX
ETF Trust (2019–present); Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany
Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc.
(2018–present); formerly: Assistant Treasurer for the DWS
funds (2007–2018)
Paul Antosca8 (1957)
Assistant
Treasurer, 2007–present
Fund Administration Tax (Head), DWS; and Assistant
Treasurer, DBX ETF Trust (2019–present)
Sheila Cadogan8 (1966)
Assistant
Treasurer, 2017–present
Fund Administration Treasurer’s Office (Co-Head since 2018),
DWS; Director and Vice President, DWS Trust Company
(2018–present); Assistant Treasurer, DBX ETF Trust
(2019–present); Assistant Treasurer, The European Equity
Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and
Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2018–present)
Scott D. Hogan8 (1970)
Chief Compliance
Officer, 2016–present
Anti-Financial Crime & Compliance US (Senior Team Lead),
DWS; Chief Compliance Officer, The European Equity Fund,
Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and
Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2016–present)
Caroline Pearson8 (1962)
Chief Legal
Officer, 2010–present
Legal (Senior Team Lead), DWS; Assistant Secretary, DBX
ETF Trust (2020–present); Chief Legal Officer, DBX Advisors
LLC (2020–present); Chief Legal Officer, The European
Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The
Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2012–present);
formerly: Secretary, Deutsche AM Distributors, Inc.
(2002–2017); Secretary, Deutsche AM Service Company
(2010–2017); and Chief Legal Officer, DBX Strategic Advisors
LLC (2020–2021)
Christian Rijs7 (1980)
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer,
since 2021
Senior Team Lead Anti-Financial Crime and Compliance,
DWS; AML Officer, DWS Trust Company (since November 2,
2021); AML Officer, DBX ETF Trust (since October 21, 2021);
AML Officer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New
Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe
Fund, Inc. (since November 12, 2021); formerly: DWS UK &
Ireland Head of Anti-Financial Crime and MLRO
1
The length of time served represents the year in which the Board Member joined the
board of one or more DWS funds currently overseen by the Board.
2
A publicly held company with securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
3
Mr. Perry is an Advisory Board Member of Deutsche DWS Asset Allocation Trust,
Deutsche DWS Equity 500 Index Portfolio, Deutsche DWS Global/International Fund, Inc.,
Deutsche DWS Income Trust, Deutsche DWS Institutional Funds, Deutsche DWS
International Fund, Inc., Deutsche DWS Investment Trust, Deutsche DWS Investments
VIT Funds, Deutsche DWS Money Market Trust, Deutsche DWS Municipal Trust,
Deutsche DWS Portfolio Trust, Deutsche DWS Securities Trust, Deutsche DWS Tax Free
Trust, Deutsche DWS Variable Series I and Government Cash Management Portfolio. Mr.
Perry is a Board Member of each other Trust.
4
Mr. Perry oversees 21 funds in the DWS Fund Complex as a Board Member of various
Trusts. Mr. Perry is an Advisory Board Member of various Trusts/Corporations comprised
of 48 funds in the DWS Fund Complex.
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
|
49

5
As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor or its affiliates, these
individuals are considered “interested persons”  of the Advisor within the meaning of the
1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Fund.
6
The length of time served represents the year in which the officer was first elected in
such capacity for one or more DWS funds.
7
Address: 875 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
8
Address: 100 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110.
9
Address: 5201 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Certain officers hold similar positions for other investment companies for which DIMA or an affiliate serves as the Advisor.
The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI” ) includes additional information about the Board Members. The SAI is available, without charge, upon request. If you would like to request a copy of the SAI, you may do so by calling the following toll-free number: (800) 728-3337.
50
|
DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Account Management Resources
For More
Information
The automated telephone system allows you to access personalized
account information and obtain information on other DWS funds
using either your voice or your telephone keypad. Certain account
types within Classes A, C and S also have the ability to purchase,
exchange or redeem shares using this system.
For more information, contact your financial representative. You may
also access our automated telephone system or speak with a
Shareholder Service representative by calling:
(800) 728-3337
Web Site
dws.com
View your account transactions and balances, trade shares, monitor
your asset allocation, subscribe to fund and account updates by
e-mail, and change your address, 24 hours a day.
Obtain prospectuses and applications, news about DWS funds,
insight from DWS economists and investment specialists and access
to DWS fund account information.
Written
Correspondence
DWS
PO Box 219151
Kansas City, MO 64121-9151
Proxy Voting
The Fund’s policies and procedures for voting proxies for portfolio
securities and information about how the Fund voted proxies related
to its portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period
ended June 30 are available on our Web site
dws.com/en-us/resources/proxy-voting or on the SEC’s Web site
sec.gov. To obtain a written copy of the Fund’s policies and
procedures without charge, upon request, call us toll free at
(800) 728-3337.
Portfolio Holdings
Following the Fund’s fiscal first and third quarter-end, a complete
portfolio holdings listing is posted on dws.com and is available free
of charge by contacting your financial intermediary or, if you are a
direct investor, by calling (800) 728-3337. In addition, the portfolio
holdings listing is filed with the SEC on the Fund’s Form N-PORT and
will be available on the SEC’s Web site at sec.gov. Additional portfolio
holdings for the Fund are also posted on dws.com from time to time.
Please see the Fund’s current prospectus for more information.
Principal
Underwriter
If you have questions, comments or complaints, contact:
DWS Distributors, Inc.
222 South Riverside Plaza
Chicago, IL 60606-5808
(800) 621-1148
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
|
51

Investment
Management
DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA”  or the
“Advisor”  ), which is part of the DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA
(“DWS Group” ), is the investment advisor for the Fund. DIMA and its
predecessors have more than 90 years of experience managing
mutual funds and DIMA provides a full range of investment advisory
services to both institutional and retail clients. DIMA is an indirect,
wholly owned subsidiary of DWS Group.
 
DWS Group is a global organization that offers a wide range of
investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio
managers and analysts and an office network that reaches the
world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global
investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and
investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and
investing styles.
 
Class A
Class C
Class S
Institutional
Class
Nasdaq Symbol
SUHAX
SUHCX
SCHLX
SUHIX
CUSIP Number
25159L620
25159L596
25159L588
25159L570
Fund Number
452
752
2352
1452
52
|
DWS Health and Wellness Fund

Notes

Notes

Notes

222 South Riverside Plaza
Chicago, IL 60606-5808
DHWF-2
(R-027917-13 7/23)

   
  (b) Not applicable
   
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS
   
 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer.

 

There have been no amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report that would require disclosure under Item 2.

 

A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

   
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
   
  The fund’s audit committee is comprised solely of trustees who are "independent" (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (the "Regulations")). The fund’s Board of Trustees has determined that there are several "audit committee financial experts" (as such term has been defined by the Regulations) serving on the fund’s audit committee including Ms. Catherine Schrand, the chair of the fund’s audit committee.  An “audit committee financial expert” is not an “expert” for any purpose, including for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the designation or identification of a person as an “audit committee financial expert” does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or identification.
   
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
   

DWS Health and wellness Fund

form n-csr disclosure re: AUDIT FEES

The following table shows the amount of fees that Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”), the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, billed to the Fund during the Fund’s last two fiscal years. The Audit Committee approved in advance all audit services and non-audit services that EY provided to the Fund.

Services that the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Billed to the Fund

Fiscal Year
Ended
May 31,
Audit Fees Billed to Fund Audit-Related
Fees Billed to Fund
Tax Fees Billed to Fund All
Other Fees Billed to Fund
2023 $44,111 $0 $7,880 $0
2022 $46,433 $0 $7,880 $0

 

The above “Tax Fees” were billed for professional services rendered for tax preparation.

Services that the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Billed to the Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers

The following table shows the amount of fees billed by EY to DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA” or the “Adviser”), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with DIMA (“Control Affiliate”) that provides ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Fund Service Provider”), for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, during the Fund’s last two fiscal years.

Fiscal Year
Ended
May 31,
Audit-Related
Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers
Tax Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers All
Other Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers
2023 $0 $572,355 $0
2022 $0 $429,517 $0

The above “Tax Fees” were billed in connection with tax compliance services and agreed upon procedures.

Non-Audit Services

The following table shows the amount of fees that EY billed during the Fund’s last two fiscal years for non-audit services. The Audit Committee pre-approved all non-audit services that EY provided to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider that related directly to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting. The Audit Committee requested and received information from EY about any non-audit services that EY rendered during the Fund’s last fiscal year to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider. The Committee considered this information in evaluating EY’s independence.

Fiscal Year
Ended
May 31,
Total
Non-Audit Fees Billed to Fund
(A)
Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (engagements related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund)
(B)
Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (all other engagements)
(C)
Total of
(A), (B) and (C)
2023 $7,880 $572,355 $0 $580,235
2022 $7,880 $429,517 $0 $437,397

All other engagement fees were billed for services in connection with agreed upon procedures and tax compliance for DIMA and other related entities.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Generally, each Fund’s Audit Committee must pre approve (i) all services to be performed for a Fund by a Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and (ii) all non-audit services to be performed by a Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the DIMA Entities with respect to operations and financial reporting of the Fund, except that the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of each Fund’s Audit Committee may grant the pre-approval for non-audit services described in items (i) and (ii) above for non-prohibited services for engagements of less than $100,000. All such delegated pre approvals shall be presented to each Fund’s Audit Committee no later than the next Audit Committee meeting.

There were no amounts that were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

According to the registrant’s principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, substantially all of the principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's hours spent on auditing the registrant's financial statements were attributed to work performed by full-time permanent employees of the principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

***

In connection with the audit of the 2022 and 2023 financial statements, the Fund entered into an engagement letter with EY. The terms of the engagement letter required by EY, and agreed to by the Audit Committee, include a provision mandating the use of mediation and arbitration to resolve any controversy or claim between the parties arising out of or relating to the engagement letter or services provided thereunder.

***

Pursuant to PCAOB Rule 3526, EY is required to describe in writing to the Fund’s Audit Committee, on at least an annual basis, all relationships between EY, or any of its affiliates, and the DWS Funds, including the Fund, or persons in financial reporting oversight roles at the DWS Funds that, as of the date of the communication, may reasonably be thought to bear on EY’s independence. Pursuant to PCAOB Rule 3526, EY has reported the matters set forth below that may reasonably be thought to bear on EY’s independence. With respect to each reported matter in the aggregate, EY advised the Audit Committee that, after careful consideration of the facts and circumstances and the applicable independence rules, it concluded that the matters do not and will not impair EY’s ability to exercise objective and impartial judgement in connection with the audits of the financial statements for the Fund and a reasonable investor with knowledge of all relevant facts and circumstances would conclude that EY has been and is capable of exercising objective and impartial judgment on all issues encompassed within EY’s audit engagements. EY also confirmed to the Audit Committee that it can continue to act as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Fund.

·EY advised the Fund’s Audit Committee that various covered persons within EY and EY’s affiliates held investments in, or had other financial relationships with, entities within the DWS Funds “investment company complex” (as defined in Regulation S-X) (the “DWS Funds Complex”). EY informed the Audit Committee that these investments and financial relationships were inconsistent with Rule 2-01(c)(1) of Regulation S-X. EY reported that all breaches have been resolved and that none of the breaches involved any professionals who were part of the audit engagement team for the Fund or in the position to influence the audit engagement team for the Fund.

 

   
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
   
  There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board. The primary function of the Nominating and Governance Committee is to identify and recommend individuals for membership on the Board and oversee the administration of the Board Governance Guidelines. Shareholders may recommend candidates for Board positions by forwarding their correspondence by U.S. mail or courier service to Keith R. Fox, DWS Funds Board Chair, c/o Thomas R. Hiller, Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199-3600.
   
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
   
  (a) The Chief Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on the evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.
   
  (b) There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.
   
ITEM 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS
   
  (a)(1) Code of Ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed and attached hereto as EX-99.CODE ETH.
   
  (a)(2) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.
   
  (b) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT.

 

 

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.

 

Registrant: DWS Health and Wellness Fund, a series of Deutsche DWS Securities Trust
   
   
By:

/s/Hepsen Uzcan

Hepsen Uzcan

President

   
Date: 7/28/2023

 

 

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

 

 

By:

/s/Hepsen Uzcan

Hepsen Uzcan

President

   
Date: 7/28/2023
   
   
   
By:

/s/Diane Kenneally

Diane Kenneally

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

   
Date: 7/28/2023