N-CSR 1 fp0059927_ncsr.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number 811- 07584

 

Rydex Series Funds

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200
Rockville, Maryland 20850

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Amy J. Lee

Rydex Series Funds
702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200
Rockville, Maryland 20850

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 1-301-296-5100

 

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

 

Date of reporting period: January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

The registrant’s annual report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), is as follows:

 

 

 

12.31.2020

 

Guggenheim Funds Annual Report

 

Guggenheim Alternative Fund

Guggenheim Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

   

Rydex Commodities Fund

Rydex Commodities Strategy Fund

   

 

GuggenheimInvestments.com

RDXSGIALT-ANN-1220x1221

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   

DEAR SHAREHOLDER

2

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW

4

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES

7

ALTERNATIVE FUND

 

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

10

COMMODITIES FUND

 

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

56

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

69

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

94

OTHER INFORMATION

96

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

98

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE

105

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

109

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 1

 

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

Security Investors, LLC (the “Investment Adviser”) is pleased to present the annual shareholder report for two alternative strategy funds that are part of the Rydex Series Funds (each a “Fund”). This report covers performance of the Funds for the annual period ended December 31, 2020.

 

The Investment Adviser is a part of Guggenheim Investments, which represents the investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (“Guggenheim”), a global, diversified financial services firm.

 

Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC is the distributor of the Funds. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC is affiliated with Guggenheim and the Investment Adviser.

 

We encourage you to read the Economic and Market Overview section of the report, which follows this letter, and then the Performance Report and Fund Profile for each Fund.

 

We are committed to providing innovative investment solutions and appreciate the trust you place in us.

 

Sincerely,

 

Security Investors, LLC

 

January 31, 2021

 

Read a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before investing. It contains the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information, which should be considered carefully before investing. Obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) at guggenheiminvestments.com or call 800.820.0888.

 

This material is not intended as a recommendation or as investment advice of any kind, including in connection with rollovers, transfers, and distributions. Such material is not provided in a fiduciary capacity, may not be relied upon for or in connection with the making of investment decisions, and does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. All content has been provided for informational or educational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Always consult a financial, tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

 

2 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

The global ongoing crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 is causing materially reduced consumer demand and economic output, disrupting supply chains, resulting in market closures, travel restrictions and quarantines, and adversely impacting local and global economies. Investors should be aware that in light of the current uncertainty, volatility and distress in economies, financial markets, and labor and health conditions all over the world, the Funds’ investments and a shareholder’s investment in a Fund are subject to sudden and substantial losses, increased volatility and other adverse events. Firms through which investors invest with the Funds, the Funds, their service providers, the markets in which they invest and market intermediaries are also impacted by quarantines and similar measures intended to contain the ongoing pandemic, which can obstruct their functioning and subject them to heightened operational risks.

 

The Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund is subject to a number of risks and may not be suitable for all investors. ● The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures, options and swap agreements may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. ● The more the Fund invests in leveraged instruments, the more the leverage will magnify any gains or losses on those investments. ● The Fund’s use of short selling involves increased risks and costs. The Fund risks paying more for a security than it received from its sale. ● The Fund’s investments in high yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (“junk bonds”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit and liquidity risk than funds that do not invest in such securities. ● The Fund’s fixed income investments will change in value in response to interest rate changes and other factors. ● The Fund’s exposure to the commodity and currency markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility as commodity- and currency-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates or factors affecting a particular industry, commodity or currency—such as droughts, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The Fund may also incur transaction costs with the conversion between various currencies. ● The Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of short positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged. ● These risks may cause the Fund to experience higher losses and/or volatility than a fund that does not invest in derivatives, use leverage or short sales or have exposure to high yield/fixed income securities, foreign currencies and/or securities. ● This Fund is considered non-diversified and can invest a greater portion of its assets in securities of individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in the market value of a single security could cause greater fluctuations in the value of Fund shares than would occur in a more diversified Fund. ● Please read the prospectus for more detailed information regarding these and other risks.

 

The Commodities Strategy Fund is subject to a number of risks and may not be suitable for all investors. ● The Fund’s exposure to the commodity markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility as commodity-linked investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity—such as droughts, floods, weather, embargos, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. ● To the extent that the Fund’s investments are concentrated in energy-related commodities, the Fund is subject to the risk that this sector will underperform the market as a whole. ● The Fund’s use of derivatives, such as futures, options, structured notes and swap agreements, may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities or investments underlying those derivatives. ● The more the Fund invests in leveraged instruments, the more the leverage will magnify any gains or losses on those investments. ● The Fund is subject to tracking error risks, which may cause the Fund’s performance not to match that of or be lower than the Fund’s underlying benchmark. ● The Fund’s investments in other investment companies subjects the Fund to those risks affecting the investment company, including the possibility that the value of the underlying securities held by the investment company could decrease. Moreover, the Fund will incur its pro rata share of the expenses of the underlying investment companies’ expenses. ● This Fund is considered non-diversified and can invest a greater portion of its assets in securities of individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in the market value of a single security could cause greater fluctuations in the value of Fund shares than would occur in a more diversified fund. ● Please read the prospectus for more detailed information regarding these and other risks.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 3

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

In what could have been one of the worst years on record for equity investors due to the devastating human and economic cost of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with political unrest in the U.S., the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020, witnessed the Standard & Poor’s 500® (“S&P 500”) Index reach a record high of 3,756.07 from 3,234.85 at the start of the year. This was despite plummeting to 2,237.40 on March 23, 2020 as the effects of the pandemic caused the U.S. economy to stall. This dramatic change in fortune for equity markets was due in large part by a swift, sweeping response to the economic shutdown in March 2020 by the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), which has continued to signal its intention to use ultra-accommodative monetary policy to strive toward full employment and 2% inflation via unprecedented measures. The central bank’s commitment to keeping interest rates near zero and its bond-buying program to lessen the risk of corporate defaults resulted in bountiful debt issuance by corporate borrowers and a growing confidence among equity investors that the investment environment would remain benign for the foreseeable future.

 

As such, our economic outlook for the coming year is positive, owing to another round of COVID-19 relief and more planned by the new administration, plus the expectation for a successful vaccine distribution. The new package, titled the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, delivers a $900 billion injection into the economy, bringing total COVID-related aid to over $3.5 trillion including the 2020 bill, or roughly 8.5% of 2020–2021 gross domestic product (“GDP”). On this measure, it is already 3.5x more than the stimulus delivered in the five years following the financial crisis.

 

The latest round of fiscal stimulus should cause a surge in personal income during the first quarter, and a significant percentage of the population should be vaccinated or immune from prior infection by mid-2021. It is likely that local governments will be able to begin to relax restrictions even before herd immunity is reached since hospitalizations should fall once the elderly are vaccinated. As we move through the year, consumer spending growth should start to accelerate, spurred on by elevated personal savings and strong gains in household net worth. Elsewhere, the housing market will continue to benefit from tight supply and low interest rates, and business investment should rebound as corporations look to put to work record levels of precautionary cash. As a result, we expect real GDP growth to be well above potential for the year.

 

If the unemployment rate continues to fall at its recent pace and inflation picks up with its usual six-quarter lag behind economic activity, the experience of prior cycles would suggest that the Fed could start its hiking cycle as early as late-2022. However, the change in the Fed’s playbook will keep it sidelined for years as it looks to make up for shortfalls related to its 2% inflation target and no longer worries about an overly tight labor market.

 

This means the Fed is likely to keep rates at zero for several years beyond the late-2023 liftoff currently priced into the bond market. Similarly, the odds are low of a tapering of the Fed’s bond purchases in 2021. While we believe the government response to the pandemic was necessary and appropriate, investors are already paying some price with more elevated valuations due in part

 

4 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited)(continued)

December 31, 2020

 

to the Fed’s aggressive relaunch of quantitative easing. Under these circumstances, investors will likely continue to take on more risk as long as more fiscal support is underway and while the Fed remains willing to backstop credit markets to support financial conditions.

 

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020, the S&P 500 Index* returned 18.40%. The MSCI Europe-Australasia-Far East (“EAFE”) Index* returned 7.82%. The return of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index* was 15.84%.

 

In the bond market, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* posted a 7.51% return for the 12-month period, while the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index* returned 7.11%. The return of the ICE Bank of America (“BofA”) Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index* was 0.67% for the 12-month period.

 

The opinions and forecasts expressed may not actually come to pass. This information is subject to change at any time, based on market and other conditions, and should not be construed as a recommendation of any specific security or strategy.

 

*Index Definitions:

 

The following indices are referenced throughout this report. Indices are unmanaged and not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect transaction costs, fees, or expenses.

 

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including U.S. Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities or “MBS” (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage, or “ARM”, pass-throughs), asset-backed securities (“ABS”), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) (agency and non-agency).

 

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index measures the U.S. dollar-denominated, high yield, fixed-rate corporate bond market. Securities are classified as high yield if the middle rating of Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P is Ba1/BB +/BB + or below.

 

ICE BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged market Index of U.S. Treasury securities maturing in 90 days that assumes reinvestment of all income.

 

MSCI EAFE Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. & Canada.

 

MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets.

 

S&P 500® is a broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the performance of 500 widely held common stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 5

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited)(concluded)

December 31, 2020

 

S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (S&P GSCI®), a benchmark for investment performance in the commodity markets, measures investable commodity price movements and inflation in the world economy. The index is calculated primarily on a world production weighted basis and is comprised of the principal physical commodities that are the subject of active, liquid futures markets.

 

HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index is designed to be representative of the overall composition of the hedge fund universe. It is comprised of all eligible hedge fund strategies, including, but not limited to, convertible arbitrage, distressed securities, equity hedge, equity market neutral, event driven, macro, merger arbitrage and relative-value arbitrage. The strategies are asset weighted based on the distribution of assets in the hedge fund industry.

 

6 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)

 

All mutual funds have operating expenses, and it is important for our shareholders to understand the impact of costs on their investments. Shareholders of a fund incur two types of costs: (i) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, other distributions, and exchange fees, and (ii) ongoing costs, including management fees, administrative services, and shareholder reports, among others. These ongoing costs, or operating expenses, are deducted from a fund’s gross income and reduce the investment return of the fund.

 

A fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets, which is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help investors understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period beginning June 30, 2020 and ending December 31, 2020.

 

The following tables illustrate the Funds’ costs in two ways:

 

Table 1. Based on actual Fund return: This section helps investors estimate the actual expenses paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return, and the fifth column shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. Investors may use the information here, together with the amount invested, to estimate the expenses paid over the period. Simply divide the Fund’s 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 provided under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

Table 2. Based on hypothetical 5% return: This section is intended to help investors compare a fund’s cost with those of other mutual funds. The table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses paid during the period. The example is useful in making comparisons because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on the 5% return. Investors can assess a fund’s costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

The calculations illustrated above assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 7

 

 

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) on redemptions, if any. Therefore, the second table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

More information about the Funds’ expenses, including annual expense ratios for periods up to five years (subject to the Fund’s inception date), can be found in the Financial Highlights section of this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the appropriate Fund prospectus.

 

8 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

 

Expense
Ratio
1

Fund
Return

Beginning
Account Value
June 30,
2020

Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2020

Expenses
Paid During
Period
2

Table 1. Based on actual Fund return3

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

A-Class

2.26%

2.67%

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,026.70

$ 11.54

C-Class

3.05%

2.27%

1,000.00

1,022.70

15.55

P-Class

2.34%

2.65%

1,000.00

1,026.50

11.95

Institutional Class

1.88%

2.81%

1,000.00

1,028.10

9.61

Commodities Strategy Fund

A-Class

6.61%

19.22%

1,000.00

1,192.20

36.52

C-Class

8.23%

18.78%

1,000.00

1,187.80

45.38

H-Class

6.83%

19.21%

1,000.00

1,192.10

37.74

 

Table 2. Based on hypothetical 5% return (before expenses)

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

A-Class

2.26%

5.00%

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,013.81

$ 11.47

C-Class

3.05%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,009.83

15.45

P-Class

2.34%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,013.41

11.88

Institutional Class

1.88%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,015.73

9.55

Commodities Strategy Fund

A-Class

6.61%

5.00%

1,000.00

991.88

33.19

C-Class

8.23%

5.00%

1,000.00

983.72

41.15

H-Class

6.83%

5.00%

1,000.00

990.77

34.27

 

1

Annualized and excludes expenses of the underlying funds in which the Funds invest. This ratio represents net expenses which include interest and dividend expenses related to securities sold short. Excluding short interest and dividend expenses, the net expense ratio of the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund would be 1.36%, 2.11%, 1.36% and 1.12% for the A-Class, C-Class, P-Class and Institutional Class, respectively.

2

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, net of any applicable fee waivers, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

3

Actual cumulative return at net asset value for the period June 30, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 9

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

OBJECTIVE: Seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation with less risk than traditional equity funds.

 

The Fund seeks capital appreciation with low correlation to equity and fixed income markets, while doing so with low risk*–typically in the 5% to 8% range.

 

For the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, the Institutional Class shares of the Fund produced a return of 7.70%.

 

The Fund succeeded in maintaining low correlation with stock and bond indices, as its correlation with the S&P 500 and the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index came in at 58% and -1%, respectively. During the period, the Fund experienced 7.6% risk, as measured by annualized daily return standard deviation.

 

The Fund outperformed the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, which returned 6.81% for the year. The HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index had a correlation of 59% with the S&P 500 and a 16% correlation to the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index in 2020.

 

Four of the five hedge fund strategies used within the Fund contributed positively to Fund returns in 2020. Specifically, Equity Market Neutral, Global Macro, Merger Arbitrage, and Long/Short Equity strategies were positive contributors for the year.

 

The Fund held derivatives for a number of reasons, including liquidity, leverage, speculation, and hedging. Derivatives were liquid and allowed the Fund to gain leveraged access to markets in order to express investment views and to hedge exposures. During the year, derivatives were used within the Global Macro, Long/Short Equity, and Equity Market Neutral strategies and to a limited extent in the Merger Arbitrage strategy. Overall, the use of derivatives had a positive contribution to Fund performance for the year.

 

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund and Guggenheim Strategy Funds were utilized within the Fund to achieve higher yields than what would otherwise be achieved through overnight repurchase agreements or short-term investments.

 

Performance displayed represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results.

 

*

Risk is measured by standard deviation, a statistic of the historical volatility of an investment, usually computed using the most recent 36-monthly returns and then annualized. More generally, it is a measure of the extent to which numbers are spread around their average. The higher the number, the more volatility is to be expected.

 

10 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Consolidated Holdings Diversification (Market Exposure as % of Net Assets)

 

 

“Consolidated Holdings Diversification (Market Exposure as % of Net Assets)” excludes any temporary cash investments, investments in Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust mutual funds, or investments in Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund. Investments in those Funds do not provide “market exposure” to meet the Fund’s investment objective, but will significantly increase the portfolio’s exposure to certain other asset categories (and their associated risks), which may cause the Fund to deviate from its principal investment strategy, including: (i) high yield, high risk debt securities rated below the top four long-term rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (also known as “junk bonds”); (ii) securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; (iii) CLOs and similar investments; and (iv) other short-term fixed income securities.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 11

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Inception Dates:

Institutional Class

May 3, 2010

A-Class

September 19, 2005

C-Class

September 19, 2005

P-Class

September 19, 2005

 

Ten Largest Holdings (% of Total Net Assets)

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

13.9%

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

9.2%

Tiffany & Co.

3.3%

Willis Towers Watson plc

2.5%

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

2.3%

National General Holdings Corp.

2.2%

Eaton Vance Corp.

1.9%

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

1.6%

Navistar International Corp.

1.5%

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III

1.4%

Top Ten Total

39.8%

   

“Ten Largest Holdings” excludes any temporary cash or derivative investments.

 

Cumulative Fund Performance*

 

 

 

12 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(concluded)

December 31, 2020

 

Average Annual Returns*

Periods Ended December 31, 2020

 

 

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

A-Class Shares

7.39%

2.03%

2.30%

A-Class Shares with sales charge

2.30%

1.04%

1.80%

C-Class Shares

6.57%

1.29%

1.54%

C-Class Shares with CDSC§

5.57%

1.29%

1.54%

P-Class Shares

7.40%

2.06%

2.32%

Institutional Class Shares

7.70%

2.29%

2.55%

S&P 500 Index

18.40%

15.22%

13.88%

HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index

6.81%

3.29%

1.27%

 

*

The performance data above represents past performance that is not predictive of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Returns are historical and include changes in principal and reinvested dividends and capital gains and do not reflect the effect of taxes. The S&P 500 Index and HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index are unmanaged indices and, unlike the Fund, have no management fees or operating expenses to reduce their reported returns. The graphs are based on A-Class share and P-Class shares only; performance for C-Class and Institutional Class shares will vary due to differences in fee structures.

Fund returns are calculated using the maximum sales charge of 4.75%.

§

Fund returns include a CDSC of 1% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 13

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

COMMON STOCKS - 34.9%

                 

Financial - 10.0%

Willis Towers Watson plc1

    5,948     $ 1,253,125  

National General Holdings Corp.1

    32,141       1,098,579  

Eaton Vance Corp.1

    14,039       953,670  

Front Yard Residential Corp. REIT1

    41,457       671,603  

Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.1

    19,209       302,926  

TCF Financial Corp.

    8,179       302,787  

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. — Class A

    11,811       300,826  

Genworth Financial, Inc. — Class A*

    38,492       145,500  

Total Financial

    5,029,016  
                 

Technology - 7.5%

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.1

    9,302       824,622  

Virtusa Corp.*,1

    12,469       637,540  

RealPage, Inc.*

    6,903       602,218  

Xilinx, Inc.

    4,207       596,427  

Slack Technologies, Inc. — Class A*

    13,679       577,801  

Inphi Corp.*

    2,232       358,169  

MTS Systems Corp.*

    3,076       178,900  

Total Technology

    3,775,677  
                 

Consumer, Cyclical - 7.1%

Tiffany & Co.1

    12,569       1,652,195  

Navistar International Corp.*

    16,809       738,924  

BMC Stock Holdings, Inc.*,1

    11,622       623,869  

Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc.*,††

    16,974       297,894  

Foundation Building Materials, Inc.*

    15,112       290,301  

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    3,603,183  
                 

Consumer, Non-cyclical - 5.6%

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.*,1

    6,700       1,172,567  

IHS Markit Ltd.

    5,976       536,824  

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

    1,952       304,981  

HMS Holdings Corp.*

    8,184       300,762  

American Renal Associates Holdings, Inc.*

    25,999       297,688  

Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc.*

    12,126       222,876  

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    2,835,698  
                 

Industrial - 2.3%

Fitbit, Inc. — Class A*,1

    86,358       587,234  

SEACOR Holdings, Inc.*

    7,232       299,766  

Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.*

    5,057       267,263  

Total Industrial

    1,154,263  
                 

Communications - 1.8%

Cincinnati Bell, Inc.*,1

    41,474       633,815  

Endurance International Group Holdings, Inc.*

    30,998       292,931  

Total Communications

    926,746  
                 

Utilities - 0.6%

PNM Resources, Inc.1

    6,252       303,410  
                 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $16,836,425)

            17,627,993  
                 

 

14 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

RIGHTS - 0.0%

Consumer, Non-cyclical - 0.0%

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    6,173     $ 4,260  

Lantheus Holdings, Inc.

    42,000        

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    34,843        

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    4,260  
                 

Total Rights

(Cost $14,198)

            4,260  
                 

MUTUAL FUNDS - 24.5%

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class2

    703,602       7,021,947  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II2

    184,502       4,605,176  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III2

    28,626       718,511  

Total Mutual Funds

(Cost $12,287,337)

            12,345,634  
                 

CLOSED-END FUNDS - 9.0%

Apollo Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.

    9,692       139,567  

Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund

    10,430       139,345  

BrandywineGLOBAL Global Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.

    11,035       137,827  

Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund

    11,100       137,751  

Royce Micro-Capital Trust, Inc.

    13,562       137,247  

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Inc.

    9,808       136,331  

PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc.

    9,360       136,001  

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Inc.

    14,635       135,520  

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust

    9,503       135,228  

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund

    15,571       134,845  

Nuveen New Jersey Quality Municipal Income Fund

    9,281       133,368  

Invesco Senior Income Trust

    33,104       131,754  

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund, Inc.

    20,799       130,826  

BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust

    15,752       116,722  

CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund

    16,601       114,215  

LMP Capital and Income Fund, Inc.

    9,357       109,009  

Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund

    7,401       99,617  

Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

    8,902       98,634  

General American Investors Company, Inc.

    2,605       96,880  

Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc.

    5,048       89,905  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 15

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Miller/Howard High Dividend Fund

    9,103     $ 70,548  

Gabelli Global Small and Mid Capital Value Trust

    4,954       64,650  

Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund

    7,362       62,135  

Franklin Universal Trust

    7,190       53,853  

Neuberger Berman California Municipal Fund, Inc.

    3,509       47,722  

Gabelli Healthcare & WellnessRx Trust

    3,835       45,828  

Voya Infrastructure Industrials and Materials Fund

    4,436       45,691  

Clough Global Equity Fund

    3,080       42,258  

Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund, Inc.

    2,841       35,030  

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund

    3,880       33,911  

Nuveen Ohio Quality Municipal Income Fund

    1,853       29,009  

European Equity Fund, Inc.

    2,134       22,194  

New Germany Fund, Inc.

    1,053       20,039  

Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc.

    2,075       19,609  

Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.

    1,077       18,621  

Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund

    1,368       18,017  

Nuveen Senior Income Fund

    2,169       11,257  

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.

    711       9,862  

Korea Fund, Inc.

    244       9,845  

Bancroft Fund Ltd.

    323       9,735  

Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.

    1,896       9,689  

Tekla Healthcare Investors

    402       9,579  

AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund

    292       9,543  

New Ireland Fund, Inc.

    919       9,539  

Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust

    1,008       9,495  

Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc.

    763       9,476  

Templeton Emerging Markets Fund/United States

    504       9,435  

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

    373       9,426  

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

    516       9,417  

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

    664       9,416  

AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund

    1,625       9,327  

Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund, Inc.

    1,488       9,300  

 

16 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Tekla Healthcare Opportunities Fund

    456     $ 9,293  

Nuveen Global High Income Fund

    597       9,283  

AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund II

    1,822       9,274  

Tekla Life Sciences Investors

    469       9,263  

Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc.

    384       9,243  

Invesco Bond Fund

    424       9,235  

Royce Value Trust, Inc.

    572       9,232  

Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

    500       9,210  

Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund

    680       9,207  

Liberty All-Star Equity Fund

    1,334       9,205  

Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.

    1,028       9,190  

First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund

    777       9,169  

Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund

    877       9,156  

Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund

    689       9,150  

Virtus Total Return Fund, Inc.

    1,042       9,149  

Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc.

    1,735       9,143  

Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund

    640       9,139  

First Trust Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund

    638       9,136  

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

    649       9,131  

Calamos Dynamic Convertible & Income Fund

    324       9,127  

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc.

    775       9,122  

Delaware Investments Dividend & Income Fund, Inc.

    984       9,102  

MFS High Income Municipal Trust

    1,795       9,101  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

    629       9,089  

BlackRock Municipal Income Quality Trust

    599       9,087  

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Dividend Growth Fund

    638       9,072  

Western Asset Inflation - Linked Securities & Income Fund

    665       9,071  

Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund

    749       9,070  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust

    517       9,068  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc.

    664       9,064  

Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund

    1,024       9,062  

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund

    962       9,062  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 17

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund

    562     $ 9,059  

Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund

    626       9,058  

Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund

    1,110       9,058  

Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals

    693       9,044  

Tri-Continental Corp.

    307       9,036  

Invesco California Value Municipal Income Trust

    683       9,036  

Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust

    421       9,035  

Nuveen Maryland Quality Municipal Income Fund

    639       9,016  

Duff & Phelps Utility and Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

    739       9,016  

BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund

    604       9,012  

BlackRock MuniYield California Fund, Inc.

    609       9,007  

Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund

    689       9,005  

Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Plus Fund

    579       9,003  

BNY Mellon Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

    1,144       9,003  

Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund

    662       9,003  

BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust

    617       9,002  

BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc.

    600       9,000  

Wells Fargo Global Dividend Opportunity Fund

    1,854       8,992  

DWS Municipal Income Trust

    773       8,990  

Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust

    689       8,985  

Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

    664       8,984  

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

    634       8,984  

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc.

    623       8,984  

Source Capital, Inc.

    225       8,980  

BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust II

    619       8,975  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc.

    642       8,975  

Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund

    739       8,971  

Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust

    703       8,970  

Federated Hermes Premier Municipal Income Fund

    606       8,969  

 

18 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

BlackRock Muni Intermediate Duration Fund, Inc.

    603     $ 8,967  

BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust

    349       8,962  

Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust

    1,409       8,961  

Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund

    583       8,961  

BlackRock MuniYield New Jersey Fund, Inc.

    620       8,959  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc.

    553       8,959  

Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

    593       8,954  

MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust

    913       8,947  

Eaton Vance New York Municipal Income Trust

    640       8,947  

PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II

    823       8,946  

Invesco Trust for Investment Grade Municipals

    677       8,943  

Eaton Vance New York Municipal Bond Fund

    728       8,940  

Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund

    1,068       8,939  

BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc.

    613       8,931  

Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund, Inc.

    1,189       8,929  

Sprott Focus Trust, Inc.

    1,294       8,929  

Western Asset Managed Municipals Fund, Inc.

    695       8,924  

BlackRock MuniVest Fund, Inc.

    971       8,924  

BNY Mellon Municipal Income, Inc.

    1,006       8,923  

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

    2,028       8,923  

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc.

    632       8,918  

Aberdeen Global Premier Properties Fund

    1,695       8,916  

Pioneer Municipal High Income Advantage Trust

    765       8,912  

Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund, Inc.

    596       8,910  

PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc.

    594       8,910  

Invesco Municipal Opportunity Trust

    695       8,910  

BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund, Inc.

    616       8,907  

Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust

    650       8,902  

Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund

    629       8,900  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 19

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund

    757     $ 8,895  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc.

    669       8,891  

Invesco Value Municipal Income Trust

    568       8,889  

Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

    564       8,889  

Western Asset Intermediate Muni Fund, Inc.

    966       8,887  

Delaware Investments Colorado Municipal Income Fund, Inc.

    624       8,879  

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund

    601       8,877  

Voya International High Dividend Equity Income Fund

    1,938       8,876  

Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II

    782       8,876  

MFS Multimarket Income Trust

    1,451       8,866  

Nuveen Michigan Quality Municipal Income Fund

    600       8,856  

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Value Fund

    539       8,856  

BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc.

    617       8,854  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.

    847       8,851  

Invesco High Income Trust II

    651       8,847  

DWS Strategic Municipal Income Trust

    776       8,846  

Invesco Municipal Trust

    690       8,846  

Pioneer Municipal High Income Trust

    711       8,845  

Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust

    661       8,844  

John Hancock Investors Trust

    512       8,842  

Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund

    583       8,838  

MFS Municipal Income Trust

    1,321       8,824  

Insight Select Income Fund

    413       8,822  

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Fund

    891       8,821  

First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II

    759       8,820  

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund

    1,393       8,818  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Investment Quality Fund

    626       8,814  

Voya Asia Pacific High Dividend Equity Income Fund

    1,021       8,811  

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund

    1,593       8,809  

BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trust

    659       8,804  

 

20 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund, Inc.

    727     $ 8,804  

Voya Emerging Markets High Income Dividend Equity Fund

    1,210       8,785  

BlackRock New York Municipal Income Quality Trust

    644       8,778  

Delaware Investments Minnesota Municipal Income Fund II, Inc.

    669       8,777  

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

    417       8,774  

BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust

    551       8,772  

Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust

    666       8,765  

Voya Prime Rate Trust

    1,960       8,761  

Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc.

    2,781       8,760  

Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust

    688       8,758  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund, Inc.

    662       8,752  

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2

    590       8,750  

BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund

    2,911       8,733  

Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund 2

    566       8,722  

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust

    737       8,689  

BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust

    590       8,679  

DTF Tax-Free Income, Inc.

    582       8,672  

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

    3,793       8,648  

Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Value Fund

    617       8,648  

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund, Inc.

    1,738       8,603  

Nuveen Pennsylvania Municipal Value Fund

    186       2,654  

Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund, Inc.

    203       2,373  

Total Closed-End Funds

(Cost $4,026,054)

            4,532,308  
                 
   

Face
Amount

         

U.S. TREASURY BILLS†† - 14.1%

U.S. Treasury Bills

0.08% due 04/08/213,4

  $ 3,865,000       3,864,243  

0.08% due 01/28/214,5

    3,211,000       3,210,877  

Total U.S. Treasury Bills

(Cost $7,074,980)

            7,075,120  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 21

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Face
Amount

   

Value

 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS††,6 - 15.2%

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

  $ 4,245,938     $ 4,245,938  

Barclays Capital, Inc.
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

    1,768,903       1,768,903  

BofA Securities, Inc.
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

    1,637,873       1,637,873  

Total Repurchase Agreements

(Cost $7,652,714)

            7,652,714  
                 

Total Investments - 97.7%

(Cost $47,891,708)

  $ 49,238,029  
                 
   

Shares

         

COMMON STOCKS SOLD SHORT - (11.7)%

Industrial - (1.2)%

Builders FirstSource, Inc.*

    15,254       (622,516 )
                 

Consumer, Non-cyclical - (1.5)%

AstraZeneca plc ADR

    4,147       (207,309 )

S&P Global, Inc.

    1,696       (557,526 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    (764,835 )
                 

Technology - (4.0)%

salesforce.com, Inc.*

    1,061       (236,105 )

Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

    5,185       (246,495 )

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*

    7,250       (664,897 )

Analog Devices, Inc.

    5,860       (865,698 )

Total Technology

    (2,013,195 )

 

Financial - (5.0)%

Bridge Bancorp, Inc.

    12,447       (300,969 )

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

    24,560       (310,193 )

Morgan Stanley

    8,189       (561,192 )

Aon plc — Class A

    6,424       (1,357,199 )

Total Financial

    (2,529,553 )
                 

Total Common Stocks Sold Short

(Proceeds $5,167,738)

            (5,930,099 )
                 

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS SOLD SHORT - (9.7)%

iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF

    58       (1,848 )

iShares Latin America 40 ETF

    83       (2,436 )

iShares Agency Bond ETF

    22       (2,630 )

iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF

    31       (2,778 )

iShares Core High Dividend ETF

    45       (3,945 )

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

    62       (8,728 )

SPDR Gold Shares — Class D*

    55       (9,810 )

Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund

    202       (12,666 )

iShares Preferred & Income Securities ETF

    348       (13,401 )

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

    270       (13,951 )

VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF

    632       (22,765 )

iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF

    233       (27,948 )

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund

    411       (46,624 )

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF

    205       (49,434 )

Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund

    1,323       (50,142 )

 

22 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF

    414     $ (57,186 )

iShares TIPS Bond ETF

    457       (58,336 )

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF

    873       (72,276 )

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

    1,154       (136,391 )

VanEck Vectors High Yield Muni ETF

    2,590       (159,388 )

iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF

    1,889       (161,793 )

iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF

    1,658       (226,698 )

iShares Russell 2000 Index ETF

    1,459       (286,052 )

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

    793       (296,487 )

iShares JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

    2,853       (330,691 )

iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

    3,811       (332,700 )

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

    6,070       (442,867 )

iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF

    9,288       (471,087 )

Invesco Senior Loan ETF

    24,799       (552,522 )

iShares National Muni Bond ETF

    8,770       (1,027,844 )

Total Exchange-Traded Funds Sold Short

(Proceeds $4,667,836)

    (4,881,424 )
                 

Total Securities Sold Short - (21.4)%

(Proceeds $9,835,574)

  $ (10,811,523 )

Other Assets & Liabilities, net - 23.7%

    11,944,447  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

  $ 50,370,953  

 

       

 

Futures Contracts

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**

 

Commodity Futures Contracts Purchased

Wheat Futures Contracts

    100       Jul 2021     $ 3,150,000     $ 173,531  

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    222       Apr 2021       3,652,522       149,134  

Live Cattle Futures Contracts

    104       Jun 2021       4,770,480       99,848  

Corn Futures Contracts

    33       Mar 2021       801,488       96,514  

Soybean Futures Contracts

    13       Mar 2021       851,500       79,149  

Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts

    31       Jan 2021       1,837,643       77,986  

Soybean Oil Futures Contracts

    23       Mar 2021       585,672       51,267  

Copper Futures Contracts

    3       Mar 2021       264,300       28,716  

Cotton #2 Futures Contracts

    7       Mar 2021       273,735       23,883  

Brent Crude Futures Contracts

    7       Jan 2021       362,040       20,638  

Soybean Meal Futures Contracts

    20       Mar 2021       858,200       20,140  

Silver Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       132,775       10,772  

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    47       Jun 2021       746,435       6,169  

Gold 100 oz. Futures Contracts

    1       Feb 2021       190,370       3,557  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 23

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Futures Contracts (continued)

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**

 

Commodity Futures Contracts Purchased (continued)

WTI Crude Futures Contracts

    7       Jan 2021     $ 339,150     $ 3,330  

LME Nickel Futures Contracts

    2       Feb 2021       199,032       (1,280 )

Cocoa Futures Contracts

    4       Mar 2021       103,880       (6,213 )

LME Primary Aluminum Futures Contracts

    7       Feb 2021       346,978       (8,687 )

LME Zinc Futures Contracts

    4       Feb 2021       274,176       (10,911 )

LME Lead Futures Contracts

    8       Feb 2021       397,820       (23,654 )

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    80       Feb 2021       2,024,800       (74,454 )
                    $ 22,162,996     $ 719,435  

Currency Futures Contracts Purchased

British Pound Futures Contracts

    98       Mar 2021     $ 8,379,613     $ 196,760  

Canadian Dollar Futures Contracts

    150       Mar 2021       11,790,750       66,006  

New Zealand Dollar Futures Contracts

    36       Mar 2021       2,590,920       54,740  

Japanese Yen Futures Contracts

    49       Mar 2021       5,936,656       37,038  

Euro FX Futures Contracts

    21       Mar 2021       3,211,950       18,501  
                    $ 31,909,889     $ 373,045  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts Purchased

Australian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts

    84       Mar 2021     $ 9,537,446     $ 36,700  

Euro - BTP Italian Government Bond Futures Contracts††

    21       Mar 2021       3,903,116       29,584  

U.S. Treasury 10 Year Note Futures Contracts

    91       Mar 2021       12,559,422       13,056  

Euro - 30 year Bond Futures Contracts††

    6       Mar 2021       1,654,839       11,485  
                    $ 27,654,823     $ 90,825  

Equity Futures Contracts Purchased

Tokyo Stock Price Index Futures Contracts

    2       Mar 2021     $ 351,679     $ 8,114  

Nikkei 225 (OSE) Index Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       266,868       7,657  

Amsterdam Index Futures Contracts††

    1       Jan 2021       153,588       3,345  

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    5       Jun 2021       129,750       1,244  

CAC 40 10 Euro Index Futures Contracts††

    1       Jan 2021       68,276       1,033  

SPI 200 Index Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       127,747       686  

Russell 2000 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    2       Mar 2021       197,420       (4 )

S&P 500 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       187,213       (152 )

NASDAQ-100 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       257,385       (197 )

OMX Stockholm 30 Index Futures Contracts††

    9       Jan 2021       206,178       (668 )

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    99       Jan 2021       2,344,320       (1,971 )

S&P/TSX 60 IX Index Futures Contracts

    2       Mar 2021       323,234       (4,176 )
                    $ 4,613,658     $ 14,911  

 

24 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Futures Contracts (continued)

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**

 

Interest Rate Futures Contracts Sold Short

Long Gilt Futures Contracts

    23       Mar 2021     $ 4,260,739     $ 2,767  

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures Contracts

    2       Mar 2021       345,875       480  

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       213,063       431  

Canadian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts

    32       Mar 2021       3,750,633       235  

Euro - Bund Futures Contracts††

    4       Mar 2021       869,306       (1,097 )

Euro - OATS Futures Contracts††

    9       Mar 2021       1,848,057       (2,126 )
                    $ 11,287,673     $ 690  

Equity Futures Contracts Sold Short

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    100       Feb 2021     $ 2,556,000     $ 27,014  

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    48       Mar 2021       1,237,920       (3,058 )

FTSE 100 Index Futures Contracts††

    12       Mar 2021       1,065,517       (19,887 )

DAX Index Futures Contracts††

    2       Mar 2021       838,672       (29,920 )

Euro STOXX 50 Index Futures Contracts††

    21       Mar 2021       912,199       (31,906 )
                    $ 6,610,308     $ (57,757 )

Currency Futures Contracts Sold Short

Swiss Franc Futures Contracts

    137       Mar 2021     $ 19,383,788     $ (57,496 )

Australian Dollar Futures Contracts

    45       Mar 2021       3,471,300       (98,490 )
                    $ 22,855,088     $ (155,986 )

Commodity Futures Contracts Sold Short

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    16       Jan 2021     $ 406,400     $ 22,519  

NY Harbor ULSD Futures Contracts

    4       Jan 2021       249,413       (665 )

Live Cattle Futures Contracts

    1       Feb 2021       46,050       (793 )

Lean Hogs Futures Contracts

    1       Feb 2021       28,140       (1,951 )

Cattle Feeder Futures Contracts

    13       Mar 2021       910,813       (8,190 )

Low Sulphur Gas Oil Futures Contracts

    6       Feb 2021       256,350       (13,660 )

Hard Red Winter Wheat Futures Contracts

    7       Mar 2021       212,013       (16,083 )

Coffee ‘C’ Futures Contracts

    10       Mar 2021       477,375       (39,500 )

Wheat Futures Contracts

    89       Mar 2021       2,855,788       (49,579 )

Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts

    26       Mar 2021       1,669,340       (49,647 )

Live Cattle Futures Contracts

    85       Apr 2021       4,056,200       (62,812 )

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    104       Mar 2021       2,648,880       (104,265 )

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    179       Feb 2021       3,107,440       (171,281 )
                    $ 16,924,202     $ (495,907 )

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 25

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Custom Basket Swap Agreements

Counterparty

Reference
Obligation

Financing Rate
Pay (Receive)

Payment
Frequency

 

Maturity
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

OTC Custom Basket Swap Agreements ††

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

MS Long/Short Equity Custom Basket

0.49% (Federal Funds Rate + 0.40%)

At Maturity

    08/31/23     $ 9,722,774     $ 1,004,780  

Goldman Sachs International

GS Long/Short Equity Custom Basket

0.54% (Federal Funds Rate + 0.45%)

At Maturity

    05/06/24       9,722,774       984,215  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

MS Equity Market Neutral Custom Basket

0.49% (Federal Funds Rate + 0.40%)

At Maturity

    08/31/23       4,366,135       440,298  

Goldman Sachs International

GS Equity Market Neutral Custom Basket

0.54% (Federal Funds Rate + 0.45%)

At Maturity

    05/06/24       4,365,023       386,962  
                  $ 28,176,706     $ 2,816,255  

OTC Custom Basket Swap Agreements Sold Short ††

Goldman Sachs International

GS Equity Market Neutral Custom Basket

(0.11%) (Federal Funds Rate - 0.20%)

At Maturity

    05/06/24     $ 4,105,814     $ (256,242 )

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

MS Equity Market Neutral Custom Basket

(0.21%) (Federal Funds Rate - 0.30%)

At Maturity

    08/31/23       4,105,418       (257,184 )

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

MS Long/Short Equity Custom Basket

(0.21%) (Federal Funds Rate - 0.30%)

At Maturity

    08/31/23       6,212,473       (814,205 )

Goldman Sachs International

GS Long/Short Equity Custom Basket

(0.11%) (Federal Funds Rate - 0.20%)

At Maturity

    05/06/24       6,212,409       (815,155 )
                  $ 20,636,114     $ (2,142,786 )

 

 

26 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

MS LONG/SHORT EQUITY LONG CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

MetLife, Inc.

    2,477       1.17 %   $ 19,483  

Allstate Corp.

    1,145       1.27 %     12,321  

Travelers Companies, Inc.

    462       0.67 %     9,568  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

    926       0.47 %     8,805  

Synchrony Financial

    1,073       0.38 %     8,569  

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

    218       0.44 %     7,152  

Aflac, Inc.

    926       0.42 %     6,441  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    196       0.26 %     5,878  

M&T Bank Corp.

    194       0.25 %     3,897  

Bank of America Corp.

    837       0.26 %     3,314  

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. — Class B

    340       0.81 %     2,530  

Western Union Co.

    2,468       0.56 %     1,487  

SEI Investments Co.

    529       0.31 %     393  

Equity Residential

    1,138       0.69 %     327  

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. — Class A

    3,435       0.57 %     (559 )

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    2,026       0.83 %     (1,151 )

Total Financial

    88,455  
                         

Industrial

AGCO Corp.

    741       0.79 %     22,893  

TE Connectivity Ltd.

    643       0.80 %     21,346  

Snap-on, Inc.

    435       0.77 %     20,477  

Caterpillar, Inc.

    278       0.52 %     17,689  

Timken Co.

    676       0.54 %     17,294  

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

    3,402       0.72 %     15,347  

Terex Corp.

    1,008       0.36 %     15,087  

Regal Beloit Corp.

    335       0.42 %     13,695  

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

    393       0.47 %     12,460  

Hubbell, Inc.

    556       0.90 %     12,151  

Garmin Ltd.

    381       0.47 %     11,184  

Waters Corp.

    195       0.50 %     11,138  

Owens Corning

    459       0.36 %     10,595  

Eaton Corporation plc

    258       0.32 %     6,954  

Arrow Electronics, Inc.

    535       0.54 %     6,837  

Oshkosh Corp.

    618       0.55 %     6,305  

Acuity Brands, Inc.

    265       0.33 %     5,229  

National Instruments Corp.

    640       0.29 %     4,361  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

    311       0.42 %     4,280  

Trane Technologies plc

    159       0.24 %     3,851  

Dover Corp.

    193       0.25 %     3,304  

Pentair plc

    513       0.28 %     3,107  

PerkinElmer, Inc.

    186       0.27 %     3,044  

A O Smith Corp.

    441       0.25 %     1,924  

Energizer Holdings, Inc.

    738       0.32 %     1,737  

Lennox International, Inc.

    77       0.22 %     416  

3M Co.

    276       0.50 %     (368 )

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 27

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

General Dynamics Corp.

    322       0.49 %   $ (1,334 )

Masco Corp.

    1,107       0.63 %     (1,520 )

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    122       0.45 %     (3,244 )

Total Industrial

    246,239  
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

Gentherm, Inc.

    1,395       0.94 %     35,505  

Gentex Corp.

    3,342       1.17 %     25,133  

Autoliv, Inc.

    773       0.73 %     23,455  

Lear Corp.

    325       0.53 %     16,561  

Cummins, Inc.

    175       0.41 %     13,594  

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. — Class A

    263       0.26 %     8,216  

Hanesbrands, Inc.

    1,696       0.25 %     7,573  

Brunswick Corp.

    533       0.42 %     6,836  

MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. — Class A

    352       0.31 %     6,343  

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

    1,832       0.81 %     5,566  

AutoNation, Inc.

    632       0.45 %     3,047  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    403       0.67 %     2,036  

Genuine Parts Co.

    757       0.78 %     1,913  

AutoZone, Inc.

    46       0.56 %     1,794  

PACCAR, Inc.

    649       0.58 %     1,360  

Lennar Corp. — Class A

    531       0.42 %     (512 )

PulteGroup, Inc.

    953       0.42 %     (1,113 )

Meritage Homes Corp.

    361       0.31 %     (2,818 )

Best Buy Company, Inc.

    943       0.97 %     (9,703 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    144,786  
                         

Consumer, Non-cyclical

United Rentals, Inc.

    308       0.73 %     23,615  

McKesson Corp.

    502       0.90 %     19,828  

United Therapeutics Corp.

    429       0.67 %     18,490  

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

    1,170       0.46 %     17,705  

DaVita, Inc.

    712       0.86 %     16,775  

Eli Lilly & Co.

    236       0.41 %     14,606  

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc

    314       0.53 %     13,678  

Quanta Services, Inc.

    830       0.61 %     12,813  

Johnson & Johnson

    606       0.98 %     11,104  

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

    1,128       0.99 %     10,402  

Philip Morris International, Inc.

    1,332       1.13 %     10,136  

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    201       0.32 %     10,049  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    211       0.76 %     8,912  

Procter & Gamble Co.

    605       0.87 %     7,733  

Molson Coors Beverage Co. — Class B

    2,557       1.19 %     7,341  

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    1,489       0.82 %     6,965  

Kraft Heinz Co.

    2,713       0.97 %     6,793  

Anthem, Inc.

    132       0.44 %     5,622  

Amgen, Inc.

    469       1.11 %     5,593  

Cigna Corp.

    184       0.39 %     5,360  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.

    146       0.32 %     5,150  

J M Smucker Co.

    539       0.64 %     5,035  

 

28 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Medtronic plc

    208       0.25 %   $ 4,848  

Constellation Brands, Inc. — Class A

    156       0.35 %     4,363  

Post Holdings, Inc.

    492       0.51 %     4,263  

Pfizer, Inc.

    1,328       0.50 %     3,792  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    657       0.91 %     3,599  

Mondelez International, Inc. — Class A

    702       0.42 %     3,439  

Chemed Corp.

    50       0.27 %     3,156  

Conagra Brands, Inc.

    1,538       0.57 %     1,889  

Kellogg Co.

    379       0.24 %     1,885  

Alkermes plc

    1,322       0.27 %     1,764  

Tyson Foods, Inc. — Class A

    793       0.53 %     1,743  

Hologic, Inc.

    346       0.26 %     1,517  

Merck & Company, Inc.

    1,285       1.08 %     1,149  

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

    259       0.54 %     1,109  

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.

    263       0.27 %     1,037  

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    475       0.28 %     925  

Altria Group, Inc.

    1,935       0.82 %     785  

AbbVie, Inc.

    229       0.25 %     690  

USANA Health Sciences, Inc.

    313       0.25 %     569  

Encompass Health Corp.

    395       0.34 %     315  

Clorox Co.

    119       0.25 %     205  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    515       0.33 %     26  

CVS Health Corp.

    739       0.52 %     (143 )

Vector Group Ltd.

    2,737       0.33 %     (169 )

Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.

    652       0.23 %     (281 )

Humana, Inc.

    105       0.44 %     (404 )

TreeHouse Foods, Inc.

    883       0.39 %     (1,086 )

Campbell Soup Co.

    1,590       0.79 %     (1,165 )

General Mills, Inc.

    1,683       1.02 %     (1,517 )

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

    1,931       0.40 %     (1,807 )

Innoviva, Inc.

    2,408       0.31 %     (2,345 )

John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.

    549       0.45 %     (3,922 )

Ingredion, Inc.

    727       0.59 %     (4,583 )

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

    789       0.47 %     (8,645 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    260,706  
                         

Utilities

Exelon Corp.

    2,010       0.87 %     7,324  

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

    1,607       0.96 %     6,918  

Southern Co.

    989       0.62 %     5,714  

IDACORP, Inc.

    1,033       1.02 %     4,444  

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

    1,763       0.39 %     3,368  

NorthWestern Corp.

    475       0.28 %     2,394  

Ameren Corp.

    1,123       0.90 %     914  

UGI Corp.

    1,468       0.53 %     724  

PPL Corp.

    2,937       0.85 %     349  

Avista Corp.

    646       0.27 %     (151 )

OGE Energy Corp.

    1,705       0.56 %     (332 )

Portland General Electric Co.

    550       0.24 %     (590 )

ONE Gas, Inc.

    551       0.44 %     (1,430 )

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

    613       0.46 %     (1,533 )

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 29

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

NiSource, Inc.

    1,952       0.46 %   $ (2,595 )

Evergy, Inc.

    1,719       0.98 %     (3,342 )

Duke Energy Corp.

    846       0.80 %     (3,729 )

National Fuel Gas Co.

    798       0.34 %     (4,846 )

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

    638       0.40 %     (6,674 )

Total Utilities

    6,927  
                         

Technology

NetApp, Inc.

    1,271       0.87 %     29,846  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    502       0.85 %     17,726  

SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.

    1,483       1.11 %     15,753  

Seagate Technology plc

    1,567       1.00 %     15,711  

KLA Corp.

    214       0.57 %     15,264  

CDK Global, Inc.

    1,135       0.61 %     14,255  

HP, Inc.

    2,633       0.67 %     13,632  

Oracle Corp.

    1,135       0.76 %     11,730  

Cerner Corp.

    1,383       1.12 %     11,076  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    406       0.36 %     10,979  

Microchip Technology, Inc.

    212       0.30 %     8,184  

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

    464       0.39 %     7,033  

Apple, Inc.

    365       0.50 %     6,453  

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.

    968       0.32 %     6,084  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

    273       0.43 %     3,745  

Dell Technologies, Inc. — Class C

    544       0.41 %     1,623  

International Business Machines Corp.

    966       1.25 %     781  

Paychex, Inc.

    340       0.33 %     (89 )

Intel Corp.

    1,646       0.84 %     (6,499 )

Total Technology

    183,287  
                         

Communications

Viavi Solutions, Inc.

    6,507       1.00 %     19,316  

T-Mobile US, Inc.

    683       0.95 %     14,833  

Alphabet, Inc. — Class C

    13       0.23 %     8,161  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    2,825       1.30 %     6,936  

Ciena Corp.

    816       0.44 %     5,549  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    1,972       1.19 %     4,832  

Omnicom Group, Inc.

    923       0.59 %     4,158  

VeriSign, Inc.

    221       0.49 %     3,547  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    296       0.52 %     3,519  

Discovery, Inc. — Class A

    1,133       0.35 %     3,315  

Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

    1,047       0.64 %     2,678  

Juniper Networks, Inc.

    3,535       0.82 %     (218 )

Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.

    11,925       0.78 %     (478 )

eBay, Inc.

    844       0.44 %     (784 )

AT&T, Inc.

    1,172       0.35 %     (984 )

Total Communications

    74,380  

Total MS Long/Short Equity Long Custom Basket

  $ 1,004,780  
                 

MS LONG/SHORT EQUITY SHORT CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Realty Income Corp.

    1,530       (1.53 )%   $ 5,450  

 

30 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Kilroy Realty Corp.

    1,025       (0.95 )%   $ 5,360  

UDR, Inc.

    1,041       (0.64 )%     5,345  

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

    714       (0.34 )%     2,952  

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. — Class A

    529       (0.53 )%     1,159  

Global Net Lease, Inc.

    1,920       (0.53 )%     974  

American Tower Corp. — Class A

    87       (0.31 )%     835  

JBG SMITH Properties

    1,567       (0.79 )%     498  

Truist Financial Corp.

    497       (0.38 )%     346  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

    1,055       (0.72 )%     344  

Crown Castle International Corp.

    120       (0.31 )%     327  

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    1,593       (0.38 )%     236  

Camden Property Trust

    440       (0.71 )%     (69 )

Americold Realty Trust

    915       (0.55 )%     (140 )

CyrusOne, Inc.

    563       (0.66 )%     (1,026 )

Agree Realty Corp.

    1,440       (1.54 )%     (1,058 )

SBA Communications Corp.

    70       (0.32 )%     (1,250 )

Prologis, Inc.

    629       (1.01 )%     (1,364 )

Duke Realty Corp.

    979       (0.63 )%     (1,669 )

Howard Hughes Corp.

    421       (0.53 )%     (1,676 )

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

    1,516       (0.74 )%     (1,886 )

Fulton Financial Corp.

    1,822       (0.37 )%     (1,930 )

Southside Bancshares, Inc.

    1,246       (0.62 )%     (2,548 )

STAG Industrial, Inc.

    801       (0.40 )%     (3,065 )

TFS Financial Corp.

    1,795       (0.51 )%     (3,112 )

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

    2,146       (0.55 )%     (3,379 )

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. — Class A

    1,678       (0.74 )%     (3,533 )

Equinix, Inc.

    64       (0.74 )%     (3,629 )

Rayonier, Inc.

    1,484       (0.70 )%     (3,834 )

EastGroup Properties, Inc.

    346       (0.77 )%     (4,760 )

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    442       (0.82 )%     (5,254 )

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

    1,306       (0.76 )%     (5,700 )

Brookline Bancorp, Inc.

    3,875       (0.75 )%     (6,074 )

Loews Corp.

    847       (0.61 )%     (6,235 )

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    334       (0.96 )%     (6,861 )

Terreno Realty Corp.

    693       (0.65 )%     (7,176 )

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

    2,743       (0.96 )%     (7,563 )

Alleghany Corp.

    129       (1.25 )%     (8,045 )

Sun Communities, Inc.

    462       (1.13 )%     (8,409 )

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

    1,557       (1.23 )%     (14,632 )

First Republic Bank

    569       (1.35 )%     (20,984 )

Total Financial

    (113,035 )
                         

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 31

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Basic Materials

Huntsman Corp.

    2,197       (0.89 )%   $ 2,103  

Newmont Corp.

    489       (0.47 )%     409  

Sherwin-Williams Co.

    42       (0.50 )%     88  

Ecolab, Inc.

    109       (0.38 )%     (2,097 )

Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.

    839       (1.07 )%     (4,765 )

Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.

    1,448       (0.67 )%     (4,936 )

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

    1,209       (1.38 )%     (6,063 )

PPG Industries, Inc.

    251       (0.58 )%     (6,551 )

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

    424       (1.86 )%     (6,789 )

Balchem Corp.

    860       (1.60 )%     (9,351 )

Celanese Corp. — Class A

    469       (0.98 )%     (11,389 )

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

    1,041       (0.44 )%     (15,168 )

RPM International, Inc.

    1,032       (1.51 )%     (16,514 )

Linde plc

    467       (1.98 )%     (17,705 )

Quaker Chemical Corp.

    317       (1.29 )%     (30,710 )

Albemarle Corp.

    464       (1.10 )%     (34,392 )

United States Steel Corp.

    4,382       (1.18 )%     (41,092 )

Total Basic Materials

    (204,922 )
                         

Technology

Splunk, Inc.

    230       (0.63 )%     3,797  

NVIDIA Corp.

    46       (0.39 )%     (2,110 )

salesforce.com, Inc.

    150       (0.54 )%     (3,118 )

Appfolio, Inc. — Class A

    110       (0.32 )%     (3,456 )

Clarivate plc

    1,315       (0.63 )%     (3,854 )

Pegasystems, Inc.

    371       (0.80 )%     (4,236 )

Tyler Technologies, Inc.

    73       (0.51 )%     (4,976 )

Coupa Software, Inc.

    64       (0.35 )%     (5,634 )

Atlassian Corporation plc — Class A

    113       (0.43 )%     (5,715 )

Smartsheet, Inc. — Class A

    312       (0.35 )%     (6,784 )

ANSYS, Inc.

    153       (0.90 )%     (6,793 )

Rapid7, Inc.

    427       (0.62 )%     (7,508 )

Workiva, Inc.

    217       (0.32 )%     (9,198 )

Zscaler, Inc.

    114       (0.37 )%     (12,657 )

HubSpot, Inc.

    81       (0.52 )%     (12,907 )

Varonis Systems, Inc.

    392       (1.03 )%     (18,670 )

Total Technology

    (103,819 )
                         

Industrial

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

    855       (0.98 )%     2,600  

US Ecology, Inc.

    697       (0.41 )%     709  

Boeing Co.

    73       (0.25 )%     413  

AMETEK, Inc.

    244       (0.47 )%     (155 )

TransDigm Group, Inc.

    66       (0.66 )%     (4,606 )

HEICO Corp.

    184       (0.39 )%     (5,782 )

Eagle Materials, Inc.

    243       (0.40 )%     (6,512 )

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

    89       (0.41 )%     (6,515 )

Ingersoll Rand, Inc.

    1,588       (1.16 )%     (7,364 )

Crown Holdings, Inc.

    381       (0.61 )%     (9,462 )

Vulcan Materials Co.

    361       (0.86 )%     (10,605 )

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. — Class A

    821       (0.82 )%     (10,684 )

AptarGroup, Inc.

    940       (2.07 )%     (11,856 )

 

32 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Ball Corp.

    925       (1.39 )%   $ (13,252 )

Tetra Tech, Inc.

    644       (1.20 )%     (17,304 )

Total Industrial

    (100,375 )
                         

Consumer, Non-cyclical

Nevro Corp.

    350       (0.98 )%     (892 )

Moody’s Corp.

    176       (0.82 )%     (3,239 )

Verisk Analytics, Inc. — Class A

    218       (0.73 )%     (4,627 )

CoStar Group, Inc.

    59       (0.88 )%     (4,915 )

WD-40 Co.

    124       (0.53 )%     (5,776 )

Avalara, Inc.

    120       (0.32 )%     (7,123 )

Avery Dennison Corp.

    240       (0.60 )%     (9,165 )

Equifax, Inc.

    344       (1.07 )%     (10,401 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    (46,138 )
                         

Energy

Williams Companies, Inc.

    1,559       (0.50 )%     997  

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

    617       (0.60 )%     (747 )

Ovintiv, Inc.

    2,962       (0.68 )%     (2,905 )

NOV, Inc.

    1,725       (0.38 )%     (3,387 )

ChampionX Corp.

    2,878       (0.71 )%     (4,229 )

Hess Corp.

    916       (0.78 )%     (6,840 )

Schlumberger N.V.

    3,618       (1.27 )%     (7,710 )

Phillips 66

    1,183       (1.33 )%     (9,022 )

Total Energy

    (33,843 )
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

United Airlines Holdings, Inc.

    737       (0.51 )%     643  

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

    1,033       (0.86 )%     243  

JetBlue Airways Corp.

    2,737       (0.64 )%     (5,200 )

Five Below, Inc.

    179       (0.50 )%     (7,438 )

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

    1,509       (0.98 )%     (7,756 )

Southwest Airlines Co.

    1,475       (1.11 )%     (8,603 )

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

    597       (1.07 )%     (10,081 )

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

    489       (0.58 )%     (10,495 )

TJX Companies, Inc.

    977       (1.07 )%     (11,605 )

Copart, Inc.

    567       (1.16 )%     (15,579 )

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. — Class A

    249       (0.80 )%     (15,856 )

NIKE, Inc. — Class B

    619       (1.41 )%     (16,440 )

Burlington Stores, Inc.

    278       (1.17 )%     (17,246 )

Starbucks Corp.

    976       (1.68 )%     (25,520 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    (150,933 )
                         

Communications

Anaplan, Inc.

    237       (0.27 )%     (6,852 )

Okta, Inc.

    105       (0.43 )%     (7,471 )

Liberty Broadband Corp. — Class C

    752       (1.92 )%     (13,338 )

Zendesk, Inc.

    386       (0.89 )%     (13,457 )

Q2 Holdings, Inc.

    434       (0.88 )%     (17,171 )

Total Communications

    (58,289 )
                         

Utilities

American States Water Co.

    313       (0.40 )%     1,811  

California Water Service Group

    975       (0.85 )%     (4,662 )

Total Utilities

    (2,851 )

Total MS Long/Short Equity Short Custom Basket

  $ (814,205 )

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 33

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

GS LONG/SHORT EQUITY LONG CUSTOM BASKET

Communications

Viavi Solutions, Inc.

    6,507       0.97 %   $ 18,835  

T-Mobile US, Inc.

    683       0.93 %     14,846  

Alphabet, Inc. — Class C

    13       0.23 %     8,148  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    2,825       1.30 %     6,937  

Ciena Corp.

    816       0.44 %     5,583  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    296       0.52 %     3,605  

VeriSign, Inc.

    221       0.49 %     3,569  

Discovery, Inc. — Class A

    1,133       0.35 %     3,284  

Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

    1,047       0.64 %     2,945  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    1,972       1.19 %     2,399  

Omnicom Group, Inc.

    923       0.59 %     2,314  

Juniper Networks, Inc.

    3,535       0.82 %     (118 )

Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.

    11,925       0.78 %     (565 )

eBay, Inc.

    844       0.44 %     (923 )

AT&T, Inc.

    1,172       0.35 %     (3,926 )

Total Communications

    66,933  
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

Gentherm, Inc.

    1,395       0.94 %     35,570  

Gentex Corp.

    3,342       1.17 %     25,120  

Autoliv, Inc.

    773       0.73 %     23,529  

Lear Corp.

    325       0.53 %     16,500  

Cummins, Inc.

    175       0.41 %     13,604  

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. — Class A

    263       0.26 %     8,223  

Hanesbrands, Inc.

    1,696       0.25 %     7,534  

Brunswick Corp.

    533       0.42 %     6,852  

MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. — Class A

    352       0.31 %     6,349  

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

    1,832       0.81 %     5,814  

AutoNation, Inc.

    632       0.45 %     2,973  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    403       0.67 %     2,051  

Genuine Parts Co.

    757       0.78 %     1,971  

AutoZone, Inc.

    46       0.56 %     1,874  

PACCAR, Inc.

    649       0.58 %     1,309  

Lennar Corp. — Class A

    531       0.42 %     (524 )

PulteGroup, Inc.

    953       0.42 %     (1,157 )

Meritage Homes Corp.

    361       0.31 %     (3,002 )

Best Buy Company, Inc.

    943       0.97 %     (9,805 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    144,785  
                         

Financial

MetLife, Inc.

    2,477       1.20 %     19,554  

Allstate Corp.

    1,145       1.29 %     12,350  

Travelers Companies, Inc.

    462       0.67 %     9,482  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

    926       0.47 %     8,804  

Synchrony Financial

    1,073       0.38 %     8,571  

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

    218       0.44 %     7,152  

Aflac, Inc.

    926       0.42 %     6,374  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    196       0.26 %     5,801  

M&T Bank Corp.

    194       0.25 %     3,950  

 

34 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Bank of America Corp.

    837       0.26 %   $ 3,256  

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. — Class B

    340       0.81 %     2,516  

Western Union Co.

    2,468       0.56 %     1,423  

SEI Investments Co.

    529       0.31 %     360  

Equity Residential

    1,138       0.69 %     309  

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. — Class A

    3,435       0.57 %     (451 )

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    2,026       0.83 %     (1,220 )

Total Financial

    88,231  
                         

Utilities

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

    1,607       0.96 %     6,929  

Exelon Corp.

    2,010       0.87 %     6,652  

Southern Co.

    989       0.62 %     5,483  

IDACORP, Inc.

    1,033       1.02 %     4,505  

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

    1,763       0.39 %     3,350  

NorthWestern Corp.

    475       0.28 %     2,412  

Ameren Corp.

    1,123       0.90 %     926  

PPL Corp.

    2,937       0.85 %     830  

UGI Corp.

    1,468       0.53 %     706  

Avista Corp.

    646       0.27 %     (111 )

OGE Energy Corp.

    1,705       0.56 %     (374 )

ONE Gas, Inc.

    551       0.44 %     (1,337 )

Portland General Electric Co.

    550       0.24 %     (1,522 )

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

    613       0.46 %     (1,570 )

NiSource, Inc.

    1,952       0.46 %     (2,582 )

Evergy, Inc.

    1,719       0.98 %     (3,338 )

Duke Energy Corp.

    846       0.80 %     (3,763 )

National Fuel Gas Co.

    798       0.34 %     (4,178 )

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

    638       0.40 %     (6,627 )

Total Utilities

    6,391  
                         

Consumer, Non-cyclical

United Rentals, Inc.

    308       0.73 %     23,611  

United Therapeutics Corp.

    429       0.67 %     18,443  

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

    1,170       0.46 %     17,713  

DaVita, Inc.

    712       0.86 %     16,787  

McKesson Corp.

    502       0.90 %     15,746  

Eli Lilly & Co.

    236       0.41 %     14,448  

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc

    314       0.53 %     13,790  

Quanta Services, Inc.

    830       0.61 %     12,771  

Johnson & Johnson

    606       0.98 %     10,627  

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

    1,128       0.99 %     10,296  

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    201       0.32 %     10,062  

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    1,489       0.82 %     8,981  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    211       0.76 %     8,942  

Philip Morris International, Inc.

    1,332       1.13 %     8,667  

Molson Coors Beverage Co. — Class B

    2,557       1.19 %     7,859  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 35

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   


Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation

 

Procter & Gamble Co.

    605       0.87 %   $ 7,782  

Amgen, Inc.

    469       1.11 %     6,817  

Kraft Heinz Co.

    2,713       0.97 %     6,731  

Anthem, Inc.

    132       0.44 %     5,655  

Cigna Corp.

    184       0.39 %     5,505  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.

    146       0.32 %     5,085  

Medtronic plc

    208       0.25 %     4,746  

J M Smucker Co.

    539       0.64 %     4,453  

Constellation Brands, Inc. — Class A

    156       0.35 %     4,390  

Post Holdings, Inc.

    492       0.51 %     4,187  

Mondelez International, Inc. — Class A

    702       0.42 %     3,379  

Chemed Corp.

    50       0.27 %     3,063  

Conagra Brands, Inc.

    1,538       0.57 %     1,886  

Pfizer, Inc.

    1,328       0.50 %     1,841  

Alkermes plc

    1,322       0.27 %     1,785  

Kellogg Co.

    379       0.24 %     1,695  

Tyson Foods, Inc. — Class A

    793       0.53 %     1,635  

Hologic, Inc.

    346       0.26 %     1,628  

Merck & Company, Inc.

    1,285       1.08 %     1,164  

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

    259       0.54 %     1,116  

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.

    263       0.27 %     1,003  

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    475       0.28 %     964  

Altria Group, Inc.

    1,935       0.82 %     728  

AbbVie, Inc.

    229       0.25 %     714  

USANA Health Sciences, Inc.

    313       0.25 %     553  

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Encompass Health Corp.

    395       0.34 %     340  

Clorox Co.

    119       0.25 %     184  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    515       0.33 %     82  

CVS Health Corp.

    739       0.52 %     (142 )

Vector Group Ltd.

    2,737       0.33 %     (181 )

Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.

    652       0.23 %     (303 )

Humana, Inc.

    105       0.44 %     (318 )

TreeHouse Foods, Inc.

    883       0.39 %     (1,057 )

Campbell Soup Co.

    1,590       0.79 %     (1,205 )

Innoviva, Inc.

    2,408       0.31 %     (1,330 )

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

    1,931       0.40 %     (1,902 )

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    657       0.91 %     (2,120 )

General Mills, Inc.

    1,683       1.02 %     (2,151 )

Ingredion, Inc.

    727       0.59 %     (2,728 )

John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.

    549       0.45 %     (3,850 )

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

    789       0.47 %     (8,847 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    251,720  
                         

Technology

NetApp, Inc.

    1,271       0.87 %     29,856  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    502       0.85 %     17,652  

SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.

    1,483       1.11 %     15,757  

Seagate Technology plc

    1,567       1.00 %     15,697  

KLA Corp.

    214       0.57 %     15,205  

CDK Global, Inc.

    1,135       0.61 %     14,273  

 

36 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

HP, Inc.

    2,633       0.67 %   $ 13,641  

Cerner Corp.

    1,383       1.12 %     11,087  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    406       0.36 %     11,012  

Oracle Corp.

    1,135       0.76 %     10,326  

Microchip Technology, Inc.

    212       0.30 %     8,191  

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

    464       0.39 %     7,081  

Apple, Inc.

    365       0.50 %     6,440  

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.

    968       0.32 %     6,158  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

    273       0.43 %     3,781  

Dell Technologies, Inc. — Class C

    544       0.41 %     1,619  

International Business Machines Corp.

    966       1.25 %     573  

Paychex, Inc.

    340       0.33 %     (90 )

Intel Corp.

    1,646       0.84 %     (6,486 )

Total Technology

    181,773  
                         

Industrial

AGCO Corp.

    741       0.79 %     22,869  

TE Connectivity Ltd.

    643       0.80 %     21,345  

Snap-on, Inc.

    435       0.77 %     20,330  

Caterpillar, Inc.

    278       0.52 %     17,470  

Timken Co.

    676       0.54 %     17,317  

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

    3,402       0.72 %     15,252  

Terex Corp.

    1,008       0.36 %     15,104  

Regal Beloit Corp.

    335       0.42 %     13,603  

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

    393       0.47 %     12,406  

Hubbell, Inc.

    556       0.90 %     12,152  

Garmin Ltd.

    381       0.47 %     11,132  

Waters Corp.

    195       0.50 %     11,118  

Owens Corning

    459       0.36 %     10,603  

Eaton Corporation plc

    258       0.32 %     6,935  

Arrow Electronics, Inc.

    535       0.54 %     6,793  

Acuity Brands, Inc.

    265       0.33 %     5,292  

Oshkosh Corp.

    618       0.55 %     5,075  

National Instruments Corp.

    640       0.29 %     4,334  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

    311       0.42 %     4,278  

Trane Technologies plc

    159       0.24 %     3,909  

Dover Corp.

    193       0.25 %     3,345  

Pentair plc

    513       0.28 %     3,112  

PerkinElmer, Inc.

    186       0.27 %     3,062  

A O Smith Corp.

    441       0.25 %     1,906  

Energizer Holdings, Inc.

    738       0.32 %     1,713  

Lennox International, Inc.

    77       0.22 %     441  

3M Co.

    276       0.50 %     (362 )

General Dynamics Corp.

    322       0.49 %     (1,336 )

Masco Corp.

    1,107       0.63 %     (1,532 )

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    122       0.45 %     (3,284 )

Total Industrial

    244,382  

Total GS Long/Short Equity Long Custom Basket

  $ 984,215  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 37

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

GS LONG/SHORT EQUITY SHORT CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

UDR, Inc.

    1,041       (0.63 )%   $ 5,525  

Kilroy Realty Corp.

    1,025       (0.95 )%     5,285  

Realty Income Corp.

    1,530       (1.53 )%     4,923  

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

    714       (0.34 )%     2,943  

Global Net Lease, Inc.

    1,920       (0.53 )%     934  

American Tower Corp. — Class A

    87       (0.31 )%     840  

JBG SMITH Properties

    1,567       (0.79 )%     516  

Truist Financial Corp.

    497       (0.38 )%     400  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

    1,055       (0.72 )%     373  

Crown Castle International Corp.

    120       (0.31 )%     295  

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    1,593       (0.38 )%     277  

Camden Property Trust

    440       (0.71 )%     (68 )

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. — Class A

    529       (0.53 )%     (1,095 )

CyrusOne, Inc.

    563       (0.66 )%     (1,114 )

SBA Communications Corp.

    70       (0.32 )%     (1,162 )

Prologis, Inc.

    629       (1.01 )%     (1,274 )

Agree Realty Corp.

    1,440       (1.54 )%     (1,310 )

Howard Hughes Corp.

    421       (0.53 )%     (1,563 )

Duke Realty Corp.

    979       (0.63 )%     (1,611 )

Americold Realty Trust

    915       (0.55 )%     (1,790 )

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

    1,516       (0.74 )%     (1,947 )

Fulton Financial Corp.

    1,822       (0.37 )%     (2,023 )

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

    2,146       (0.55 )%     (2,403 )

Southside Bancshares, Inc.

    1,246       (0.62 )%     (2,676 )

Equinix, Inc.

    64       (0.74 )%     (3,088 )

STAG Industrial, Inc.

    801       (0.40 )%     (3,150 )

TFS Financial Corp.

    1,795       (0.51 )%     (3,158 )

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. — Class A

    1,678       (0.74 )%     (3,617 )

Rayonier, Inc.

    1,484       (0.70 )%     (3,777 )

EastGroup Properties, Inc.

    346       (0.77 )%     (4,535 )

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    442       (0.82 )%     (5,250 )

Terreno Realty Corp.

    693       (0.65 )%     (5,656 )

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

    1,306       (0.76 )%     (5,744 )

Brookline Bancorp, Inc.

    3,875       (0.75 )%     (6,096 )

Loews Corp.

    847       (0.61 )%     (6,336 )

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    334       (0.96 )%     (6,830 )

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

    2,743       (0.96 )%     (7,592 )

Alleghany Corp.

    129       (1.25 )%     (7,799 )

Sun Communities, Inc.

    462       (1.13 )%     (8,028 )

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

    1,557       (1.23 )%     (11,570 )

 

38 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

First Republic Bank

    569       (1.35 )%   $ (20,861 )

Total Financial

    (110,812 )
                         

Utilities

American States Water Co.

    313       (0.40 )%     1,800  

California Water Service Group

    975       (0.85 )%     (4,688 )

Total Utilities

    (2,888 )
                         

Communications

Anaplan, Inc.

    237       (0.27 )%     (6,881 )

Okta, Inc.

    105       (0.43 )%     (7,304 )

Liberty Broadband Corp. — Class C

    752       (1.92 )%     (13,320 )

Zendesk, Inc.

    386       (0.89 )%     (13,395 )

Q2 Holdings, Inc.

    434       (0.88 )%     (16,684 )

Total Communications

    (57,584 )
                         

Industrial

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

    855       (0.98 )%     2,688  

US Ecology, Inc.

    697       (0.41 )%     689  

Boeing Co.

    73       (0.25 )%     401  

AMETEK, Inc.

    244       (0.48 )%     (150 )

TransDigm Group, Inc.

    66       (0.66 )%     (4,623 )

HEICO Corp.

    184       (0.39 )%     (5,690 )

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

    89       (0.41 )%     (6,469 )

Eagle Materials, Inc.

    243       (0.40 )%     (6,506 )

Ingersoll Rand, Inc.

    1,588       (1.16 )%     (7,384 )

Crown Holdings, Inc.

    381       (0.61 )%     (9,479 )

Vulcan Materials Co.

    361       (0.86 )%     (10,535 )

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. — Class A

    821       (0.82 )%     (10,743 )

AptarGroup, Inc.

    940       (2.07 )%     (11,809 )

Ball Corp.

    925       (1.39 )%     (12,893 )

Tetra Tech, Inc.

    644       (1.20 )%     (17,424 )

Total Industrial

    (99,927 )
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

United Airlines Holdings, Inc.

    737       (0.51 )%     604  

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

    1,033       (0.86 )%     17  

JetBlue Airways Corp.

    2,737       (0.64 )%     (5,139 )

Five Below, Inc.

    179       (0.50 )%     (7,430 )

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

    1,509       (0.98 )%     (7,685 )

Southwest Airlines Co.

    1,475       (1.11 )%     (8,615 )

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

    597       (1.07 )%     (10,018 )

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

    489       (0.58 )%     (10,449 )

TJX Companies, Inc.

    977       (1.07 )%     (11,560 )

Copart, Inc.

    567       (1.16 )%     (15,601 )

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. — Class A

    249       (0.80 )%     (15,809 )

NIKE, Inc. — Class B

    619       (1.41 )%     (16,459 )

Burlington Stores, Inc.

    278       (1.17 )%     (17,471 )

Starbucks Corp.

    976       (1.68 )%     (25,562 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    (151,177 )
                         

Basic Materials

Huntsman Corp.

    2,197       (0.89 )%     2,154  

Newmont Corp.

    489       (0.47 )%     442  

Sherwin-Williams Co.

    42       (0.50 )%     80  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 39

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   


Value and
Unrealized
Depreciation

 

Ecolab, Inc.

    109       (0.38 )%   $ (2,028 )

Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.

    839       (1.07 )%     (4,505 )

Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.

    1,448       (0.67 )%     (4,869 )

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

    1,209       (1.38 )%     (6,045 )

PPG Industries, Inc.

    251       (0.58 )%     (6,053 )

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

    424       (1.86 )%     (6,763 )

Celanese Corp. — Class A

    469       (0.98 )%     (11,357 )

Balchem Corp.

    860       (1.60 )%     (14,957 )

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

    1,041       (0.44 )%     (15,174 )

Linde plc

    467       (1.98 )%     (17,513 )

RPM International, Inc.

    1,032       (1.51 )%     (18,229 )

Quaker Chemical Corp.

    317       (1.29 )%     (30,653 )

Albemarle Corp.

    464       (1.10 )%     (34,475 )

United States Steel Corp.

    4,382       (1.18 )%     (41,092 )

Total Basic Materials

    (211,037 )
                         

Technology

Splunk, Inc.

    230       (0.63 )%     3,794  

NVIDIA Corp.

    46       (0.39 )%     (2,196 )

salesforce.com, Inc.

    150       (0.54 )%     (3,245 )

Appfolio, Inc. — Class A

    110       (0.32 )%     (3,471 )

Clarivate plc

    1,315       (0.63 )%     (3,873 )

Pegasystems, Inc.

    371       (0.80 )%     (4,225 )

Tyler Technologies, Inc.

    73       (0.51 )%     (4,987 )

Coupa Software, Inc.

    64       (0.35 )%     (5,634 )

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Atlassian Corporation plc — Class A

    113       (0.43 )%     (5,791 )

Smartsheet, Inc. — Class A

    312       (0.35 )%     (6,794 )

ANSYS, Inc.

    153       (0.90 )%     (6,835 )

Rapid7, Inc.

    427       (0.62 )%     (7,305 )

Workiva, Inc.

    217       (0.32 )%     (9,202 )

Zscaler, Inc.

    114       (0.37 )%     (12,650 )

HubSpot, Inc.

    81       (0.52 )%     (12,666 )

Varonis Systems, Inc.

    392       (1.03 )%     (18,511 )

Total Technology

    (103,591 )
                         

Consumer, Non-cyclical

Nevro Corp.

    350       (0.98 )%     (566 )

Moody’s Corp.

    176       (0.82 )%     (3,266 )

Verisk Analytics, Inc. — Class A

    218       (0.73 )%     (4,625 )

CoStar Group, Inc.

    59       (0.88 )%     (4,957 )

WD-40 Co.

    124       (0.53 )%     (5,813 )

Avalara, Inc.

    120       (0.32 )%     (6,582 )

Avery Dennison Corp.

    240       (0.60 )%     (9,209 )

Equifax, Inc.

    344       (1.07 )%     (10,334 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    (45,352 )
                         

Energy

Williams Companies, Inc.

    1,559       (0.50 )%     989  

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

    617       (0.60 )%     (680 )

Ovintiv, Inc.

    2,962       (0.68 )%     (2,513 )

NOV, Inc.

    1,725       (0.38 )%     (3,398 )

ChampionX Corp.

    2,878       (0.71 )%     (3,783 )

Hess Corp.

    916       (0.78 )%     (6,861 )

Schlumberger N.V.

    3,618       (1.27 )%     (7,413 )

Phillips 66

    1,183       (1.33 )%     (9,128 )

Total Energy

    (32,787 )

Total GS Long/Short Equity Short Custom Basket

  $ (815,155 )

 

40 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   


Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation

 

MS EQUITY MARKET NEUTRAL LONG CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.

    1,015       4.26 %   $ 105,296  

Safehold, Inc.

    2,299       3.82 %     100,699  

Sun Communities, Inc.

    1,295       4.51 %     52,186  

Terreno Realty Corp.

    3,077       4.12 %     39,555  

Kilroy Realty Corp.

    2,533       3.33 %     26,601  

Weingarten Realty Investors

    7,610       3.78 %     25,950  

Ventas, Inc.

    3,728       4.19 %     24,619  

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

    3,824       3.71 %     20,415  

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

    4,802       3.32 %     15,852  

Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

    8,919       3.55 %     15,124  

Colony Capital, Inc.

    18,001       1.98 %     10,378  

NETSTREIT Corp.

    5,564       2.48 %     9,868  

VICI Properties, Inc.

    4,939       2.88 %     7,810  

CyrusOne, Inc.

    1,612       2.70 %     5,060  

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.

    1,240       1.80 %     3,647  

Public Storage

    656       3.47 %     2,261  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

    2,740       2.64 %     1,861  

Invitation Homes, Inc.

    2,545       1.73 %     1,839  

JBG SMITH Properties

    4,830       3.46 %     1,699  

Welltower, Inc.

    2,336       3.46 %     756  

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

National Retail Properties, Inc.

    1,840       1.72 %     624  

Apartment Income REIT Corp.

    3,931       3.46 %     (168 )

Prologis, Inc.

    1,501       3.43 %     (1,161 )

UDR, Inc.

    2,868       2.52 %     (1,179 )

American Assets Trust, Inc.

    2,598       1.72 %     (2,266 )

Urban Edge Properties

    5,190       1.54 %     (2,528 )

Boston Properties, Inc.

    900       1.95 %     (3,315 )

American Tower Corp. — Class A

    483       2.48 %     (3,464 )

Equity Residential

    2,457       3.34 %     (6,382 )

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    3,732       3.39 %     (7,293 )

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    877       3.22 %     (9,463 )

Total Financial

    434,881  
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

Las Vegas Sands Corp.

    1,882       2.57 %     3,533  

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

    1,341       3.47 %     1,884  

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    5,417  

Total MS Equity Market Neutral Long Custom Basket

  $ 440,298  
                 

MS EQUITY MARKET NEUTRAL SHORT CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Crown Castle International Corp.

    671       (2.61 )%   $ 5,385  

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    3,995       (3.53 )%     4,765  

Equinix, Inc.

    100       (1.74 )%     3,280  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 41

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

PS Business Parks, Inc.

    826       (2.67 )%   $ 2,742  

Cousins Properties, Inc.

    4,326       (3.53 )%     2,067  

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

    5,619       (1.83 )%     1,686  

Duke Realty Corp.

    3,718       (3.62 )%     1,645  

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

    1,207       (3.72 )%     1,455  

American Campus Communities, Inc.

    1,734       (1.81 )%     1,012  

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.

    1,826       (1.79 )%     483  

Camden Property Trust

    1,502       (3.66 )%     (249 )

Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

    5,532       (1.81 )%     (635 )

CoreSite Realty Corp.

    900       (2.75 )%     (790 )

Physicians Realty Trust

    6,376       (2.76 )%     (1,002 )

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

    4,716       (1.90 )%     (1,167 )

Global Net Lease, Inc.

    3,164       (1.32 )%     (2,415 )

Life Storage, Inc.

    1,264       (3.68 )%     (2,592 )

American Homes 4 Rent — Class A

    5,078       (3.71 )%     (3,232 )

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

    3,931       (2.17 )%     (3,475 )

Industrial Logistics Properties Trust

    3,239       (1.84 )%     (4,055 )

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. — Class A

    4,345       (2.91 )%     (5,559 )

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

    3,262       (1.91 )%     (9,064 )

Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.

    1,968       (1.43 )%     (9,265 )

Paramount Group, Inc.

    9,781       (2.15 )%     (11,838 )

Columbia Property Trust, Inc.

    4,056       (1.42 )%     (14,462 )

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

    2,584       (1.84 )%     (14,740 )

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

    5,427       (2.80 )%     (16,166 )

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

    6,171       (3.25 )%     (16,491 )

VEREIT, Inc.

    3,129       (2.88 )%     (22,884 )

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.

    7,443       (3.24 )%     (30,312 )

STORE Capital Corp.

    3,742       (3.10 )%     (38,320 )

Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp.

    13,080       (5.52 )%     (38,791 )

Retail Properties of America, Inc. — Class A

    15,600       (3.25 )%     (45,861 )

Total Financial

    (268,845 )
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

Hyatt Hotels Corp. — Class A

    1,466       (2.65 )%     (2,028 )

 

42 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

    1,424       (3.70 )%   $ (3,013 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    (5,041 )
                         

Exchange Traded Funds

Vanguard Real Estate ETF

    2,660       (5.50 )%     16,702  

Total MS Equity Market Neutral Short Custom Basket

  $ (257,184 )
                         

GS EQUITY MARKET NEUTRAL LONG CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.

    1,015       4.26 %   $ 106,518  

Safehold, Inc.

    2,297       3.81 %     100,566  

Terreno Realty Corp.

    3,077       4.12 %     26,845  

Kilroy Realty Corp.

    2,533       3.33 %     26,581  

Sun Communities, Inc.

    1,295       4.51 %     25,808  

Weingarten Realty Investors

    7,610       3.78 %     25,752  

Ventas, Inc.

    3,728       4.19 %     24,484  

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

    3,772       3.66 %     20,535  

Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

    8,919       3.55 %     14,604  

Colony Capital, Inc.

    18,001       1.98 %     10,560  

NETSTREIT Corp.

    5,564       2.48 %     9,507  

VICI Properties, Inc.

    4,939       2.89 %     7,596  

CyrusOne, Inc.

    1,612       2.70 %     5,058  

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.

    1,240       1.80 %     3,644  

Public Storage

    656       3.47 %     2,264  

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

    4,802       3.33 %     2,038  

Invitation Homes, Inc.

    2,545       1.73 %     1,891  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

    2,740       2.64 %     1,884  

JBG SMITH Properties

    4,830       3.46 %     1,781  

Welltower, Inc.

    2,336       3.46 %     727  

National Retail Properties, Inc.

    1,840       1.72 %     647  

Apartment Income REIT Corp.

    3,931       3.46 %     (96 )

UDR, Inc.

    2,868       2.53 %     (1,117 )

Prologis, Inc.

    1,501       3.43 %     (1,137 )

American Assets Trust, Inc.

    2,598       1.72 %     (2,255 )

Urban Edge Properties

    5,190       1.54 %     (2,425 )

Boston Properties, Inc.

    913       1.98 %     (3,431 )

American Tower Corp. — Class A

    483       2.48 %     (3,467 )

Equity Residential

    2,457       3.34 %     (6,989 )

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    3,732       3.39 %     (7,391 )

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    877       3.22 %     (9,469 )

Total Financial

    381,513  
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

Las Vegas Sands Corp.

    1,882       2.57 %     3,555  

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

    1,341       3.47 %     1,894  

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    5,449  

Total GS Equity Market Neutral Long Custom Basket

  $ 386,962  
                 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 43

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

GS EQUITY MARKET NEUTRAL SHORT CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Crown Castle International Corp.

    671       (2.60 )%   $ 5,423  

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    3,995       (3.53 )%     4,761  

Equinix, Inc.

    100       (1.74 )%     3,077  

PS Business Parks, Inc.

    826       (2.67 )%     2,584  

Cousins Properties, Inc.

    4,326       (3.53 )%     2,063  

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

    5,619       (1.83 )%     1,775  

Duke Realty Corp.

    3,718       (3.62 )%     1,678  

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

    1,207       (3.72 )%     1,513  

American Campus Communities, Inc.

    1,734       (1.81 )%     1,041  

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.

    1,826       (1.79 )%     538  

Camden Property Trust

    1,502       (3.66 )%     (235 )

Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

    5,532       (1.81 )%     (649 )

CoreSite Realty Corp.

    900       (2.75 )%     (786 )

Physicians Realty Trust

    6,376       (2.76 )%     (979 )

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

    4,716       (1.90 )%     (1,121 )

Global Net Lease, Inc.

    3,055       (1.28 )%     (2,266 )

Life Storage, Inc.

    1,264       (3.68 )%     (2,564 )

American Homes 4 Rent — Class A

    5,078       (3.71 )%     (3,198 )

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

    4,031       (2.22 )%     (3,530 )

Industrial Logistics Properties Trust

    3,239       (1.84 )%     (4,024 )

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. — Class A

    4,345       (2.91 )%     (5,523 )

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

    3,262       (1.91 )%     (8,971 )

Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.

    1,968       (1.43 )%     (9,212 )

Paramount Group, Inc.

    9,781       (2.15 )%     (11,708 )

Columbia Property Trust, Inc.

    4,056       (1.42 )%     (14,435 )

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

    2,584       (1.84 )%     (14,720 )

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

    5,427       (2.80 )%     (16,129 )

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

    6,171       (3.25 )%     (16,374 )

VEREIT, Inc.

    3,129       (2.88 )%     (22,810 )

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.

    7,443       (3.24 )%     (30,402 )

STORE Capital Corp.

    3,742       (3.10 )%     (38,272 )

Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp.

    13,080       (5.52 )%     (38,734 )

 

44 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Retail Properties of America, Inc. — Class A

    15,600       (3.25 )%   $ (45,743 )

Total Financial

    (267,932 )
                         

Exchange Traded Funds

Vanguard Real Estate ETF

    2,660       (5.50 )%     16,716  
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

Hyatt Hotels Corp. — Class A

    1,466       (2.65 )%     (2,039 )

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

    1,424       (3.70 )%     (2,987 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    (5,026 )

Total GS Equity Market Neutral Short Custom Basket

  $ (256,242 )

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

 

**

Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation). Variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Value determined based on Level 1 inputs, unless otherwise noted — See Note 4.

††

Value determined based on Level 2 inputs — See Note 4.

1

All or a portion of this security is pledged as short security collateral at December 31, 2020.

2

Affiliated issuer.

3

All or a portion of this security is pledged as equity custom basket swap collateral at December 31, 2020.

4

Rate indicated is the effective yield at the time of purchase.

5

All or a portion of this security is pledged as futures collateral at December 31, 2020.

6

Repurchase Agreements — See Note 6.

 

ADR — American Depositary Receipt

 

GS — Goldman Sachs International

 

MS — Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

 

plc — Public Limited Company

 

REIT — Real Estate Investment Trust

   
 

See Sector Classification in Other Information section.

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 45

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments at December 31, 2020 (See Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements):

 

Investments in Securities (Assets)

 

Level 1
Quoted
Prices

   

Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs

   

Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

  $ 17,330,099     $ 297,894     $     $ 17,627,993  

Rights

    4,260                   4,260  

Mutual Funds

    12,345,634                   12,345,634  

Closed-End Funds

    4,532,308                   4,532,308  

U.S. Treasury Bills

          7,075,120             7,075,120  

Repurchase Agreements

          7,652,714             7,652,714  

Commodity Futures Contracts**

    867,153                   867,153  

Currency Futures Contracts**

    373,045                   373,045  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts**

    53,669       41,069             94,738  

Equity Futures Contracts**

    44,715       4,378             49,093  

Equity Custom Basket Swap Agreements**

          2,816,255             2,816,255  

Total Assets

  $ 35,550,883     $ 17,887,430     $     $ 53,438,313  

 

Investments in Securities (Liabilities)

 

Level 1
Quoted
Prices

   

Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs

   

Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

  $ 5,930,099     $     $     $ 5,930,099  

Exchange-Traded Funds

    4,881,424                   4,881,424  

Commodity Futures Contracts**

    643,625                   643,625  

Currency Futures Contracts**

    155,986                   155,986  

Equity Futures Contracts**

    9,558       82,381             91,939  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts**

          3,223             3,223  

Equity Custom Basket Swap Agreements**

          2,142,786             2,142,786  

Total Liabilities

  $ 11,620,692     $ 2,228,390     $     $ 13,849,082  

 

**

This derivative is reported as unrealized appreciation/depreciation at period end.

 

 

46 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (concluded)

December 31, 2020

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Affiliated Transactions

 

Investments representing 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of a company, or control of or by, or common control under Guggenheim Investments (“GI”), result in that company being considered an affiliated issuer, as defined in the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund may invest in certain of the underlying series of Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, including Guggenheim Strategy Fund II and Guggenheim Strategy Fund III, (collectively, the “Short Term Investment Vehicles”), each of which are open-end management investment companies managed by GI. The Short Term Investment Vehicles, which launched on March 11, 2014, are offered as short term investment options only to mutual funds, trusts, and other accounts managed by GI and/or its affiliates, and are not available to the public. The Short Term Investment Vehicles pay no investment management fees. The Short Term Investment Vehicles’ annual report on Form N-CSR dated September 30, 2020, is available publicly or upon request. This information is available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1601445/000182126820000133/gug81042-ncsr.htm.

 

Transactions during the year ended December 31, 2020, in which the company is an affiliated issuer, were as follows:

 

Security Name

 

Value
12/31/19

   

Additions

   

Reductions

   

Realized
Gain (Loss)

   

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   

Value
12/31/20

   

Shares
12/31/20

   

Investment
Income

 

Mutual Funds

                                                               

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

  $ 4,129,718     $ 4,203,921     $ (3,730,000 )   $ (53,833 )   $ 55,370     $ 4,605,176       184,502     $ 68,706  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III

    2,052,661       117,812       (1,445,000 )     (35,365 )     28,403       718,511       28,626       17,830  

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

    5,376,078       12,448,203       (10,860,000 )     29,949       27,717       7,021,947       703,602       73,082  
    $ 11,558,457     $ 16,769,936     $ (16,035,000 )   $ (59,249 )   $ 111,490     $ 12,345,634             $ 159,618  

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 47

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

December 31, 2020

 

Assets:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value (cost $27,951,657)

  $ 29,239,681  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (cost $12,287,337)

    12,345,634  

Repurchase agreements, at value (cost $7,652,714)

    7,652,714  

Cash

    11,094,497  

Segregated cash with broker

    470,660  

Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap agreements

    2,816,255  

Receivables:

Variation margin on futures contracts

    244,666  

Swap settlement

    131,265  

Dividends

    31,750  

Fund shares sold

    19,406  

Foreign tax reclaims

    906  

Interest

    13  

Total assets

    64,047,447  
         

Liabilities:

Securities sold short, at value (proceeds $9,835,574)

    10,811,523  

Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap agreements

    2,142,786  

Payable for:

Securities purchased

    615,713  

Fund shares redeemed

    58,879  

Management fees

    37,941  

Distribution and service fees

    3,467  

Miscellaneous

    6,185  

Total liabilities

    13,676,494  

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 10)

     

Net assets

  $ 50,370,953  
         

Net assets consist of:

Paid in capital

  $ 53,614,072  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

    (3,243,119 )

Net assets

  $ 50,370,953  
         

A-Class:

Net assets

  $ 4,019,254  

Capital shares outstanding

    155,217  

Net asset value per share

  $ 25.89  

Maximum offering price per share (Net asset value divided by 95.25%)

  $ 27.18  
         

C-Class:

Net assets

  $ 1,205,515  

Capital shares outstanding

    50,761  

Net asset value per share

  $ 23.75  
         

P-Class:

Net assets

  $ 7,676,024  

Capital shares outstanding

    295,608  

Net asset value per share

  $ 25.97  
         

Institutional Class:

Net assets

  $ 37,470,160  

Capital shares outstanding

    1,418,735  

Net asset value per share

  $ 26.41  

 

 

 

 

48 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

Investment Income:

Dividends from securities of unaffiliated issuers

  $ 441,980  

Dividends from securities of affiliated issuers

    159,618  

Interest

    54,734  

Total investment income

    656,332  
         

Expenses:

Management fees

    527,636  

Distribution and service fees:

A-Class

    9,436  

C-Class

    13,635  

P-Class

    21,947  

Short sales dividend expense

    173,454  

Prime broker interest expense

    46,863  

Miscellaneous

    2,333  

Total expenses

    795,304  

Less:

Expenses waived by Adviser

    (28,471 )

Net expenses

    766,833  

Net investment loss

    (110,501 )
         

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

Net realized gain (loss) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

    811,450  

Investments in affiliated issuers

    (59,249 )

Investments sold short

    (640,957 )

Swap agreements

    2,345,639  

Futures contracts

    137,921  

Options written

    4,024  

Foreign currency transactions

    (10,425 )

Net realized gain

    2,588,403  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

    632,579  

Investments in affiliated issuers

    111,490  

Investments sold short

    (785,585 )

Swap agreements

    (506,460 )

Futures contracts

    707,409  

Foreign currency translations

    (832 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    158,601  

Net realized and unrealized gain

    2,747,004  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 2,636,503  

 

 

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 49

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2019

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:

               

Net investment income (loss)

  $ (110,501 )   $ 288,933  

Net realized gain on investments

    2,588,403       533,976  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    158,601       1,016,747  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    2,636,503       1,839,656  
                 

Distributions to shareholders:

               

A-Class

    (41,281 )     (76,348 )

C-Class

    (4,460 )      

P-Class

    (75,583 )     (153,288 )

Institutional Class

    (442,898 )     (555,004 )

Total distributions to shareholders

    (564,222 )     (784,640 )
                 

Capital share transactions:

               

Proceeds from sale of shares

               

A-Class

    1,306,835       1,016,616  

C-Class

    211,800       9,261  

P-Class

    11,055,670       1,375,799  

Institutional Class

    27,020,776       7,366,374  

Distributions reinvested

               

A-Class

    34,896       65,173  

C-Class

    3,943        

P-Class

    74,354       150,819  

Institutional Class

    442,728       554,702  

Cost of shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (1,102,066 )     (1,244,841 )

C-Class

    (521,624 )     (1,331,205 )

P-Class

    (11,250,761 )     (2,197,085 )

Institutional Class

    (16,278,135 )     (7,230,307 )

Net increase (decrease) from capital share transactions

    10,998,416       (1,464,694 )

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

    13,070,697       (409,678 )
                 

Net assets:

               

Beginning of year

    37,300,256       37,709,934  

End of year

  $ 50,370,953     $ 37,300,256  
                 

 

50 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (concluded)

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2019

 

Capital share activity:

               

Shares sold

               

A-Class

    50,836       41,532  

C-Class

    8,911       416  

P-Class

    428,583       55,641  

Institutional Class

    1,029,374       292,279  

Shares issued from reinvestment of distributions

               

A-Class

    1,357       2,660  

C-Class

    167        

P-Class

    2,884       6,141  

Institutional Class

    16,885       22,224  

Shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (43,501 )     (50,577 )

C-Class

    (22,471 )     (60,081 )

P-Class

    (440,618 )     (89,432 )

Institutional Class

    (628,619 )     (289,332 )

Net increase (decrease) in shares

    403,788       (68,529 )

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 51

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

A-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 24.36     $ 23.69     $ 24.91     $ 24.08     $ 24.22  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.10 )     .16       .08       (.13 )     (.24 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    1.90       1.02       (1.26 )     .96       .14  

Total from investment operations

    1.80       1.18       (1.18 )     .83       (.10 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (.27 )     (.51 )     (.04 )           (.04 )

Total distributions

    (.27 )     (.51 )     (.04 )           (.04 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 25.89     $ 24.36     $ 23.69     $ 24.91     $ 24.08  

 

Total Returnb

    7.39 %     4.97 %     (4.78 %)     3.49 %     (0.43 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 4,019     $ 3,570     $ 3,622     $ 12,154     $ 12,407  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.40 %)     0.64 %     0.32 %     (0.53 %)     (1.00 %)

Total expensesc

    1.93 %     1.96 %     1.75 %     2.18 %     2.54 %

Net expensesd,e

    1.87 %     1.93 %     1.73 %     2.14 %     2.49 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    248 %     156 %     212 %     172 %     123 %

 

52 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

C-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 22.36     $ 21.46     $ 22.68     $ 22.08     $ 22.38  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.27 )     (.02 )     (.09 )     (.29 )     (.39 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    1.75       .92       (1.13 )     .89       .13  

Total from investment operations

    1.48       .90       (1.22 )     .60       (.26 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (.09 )                       (.04 )

Total distributions

    (.09 )                       (.04 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 23.75     $ 22.36     $ 21.46     $ 22.68     $ 22.08  

 

Total Returnb

    6.57 %     4.19 %     (5.38 %)     2.72 %     (1.18 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 1,206     $ 1,435     $ 2,657     $ 7,586     $ 8,595  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (1.18 %)     (0.08 %)     (0.42 %)     (1.30 %)     (1.76 %)

Total expensesc

    2.68 %     2.70 %     2.53 %     2.94 %     3.30 %

Net expensesd,e

    2.62 %     2.67 %     2.51 %     2.90 %     3.25 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    248 %     156 %     212 %     172 %     123 %

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 53

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

P-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 24.42     $ 23.74     $ 24.93     $ 24.10     $ 24.24  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.10 )     .16       .08       (.14 )     (.24 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    1.90       1.03       (1.23 )     .97       .14  

Total from investment operations

    1.80       1.19       (1.15 )     .83       (.10 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (.25 )     (.51 )     (.04 )           (.04 )

Total distributions

    (.25 )     (.51 )     (.04 )           (.04 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 25.97     $ 24.42     $ 23.74     $ 24.93     $ 24.10  

 

Total Return

    7.40 %     5.00 %     (4.61 %)     3.49 %     (0.47 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 7,676     $ 7,442     $ 7,892     $ 14,066     $ 30,801  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.39 %)     0.65 %     0.34 %     (0.56 %)     (1.00 %)

Total expensesc

    1.93 %     1.96 %     1.77 %     2.20 %     2.52 %

Net expensesd,e

    1.87 %     1.93 %     1.75 %     2.16 %     2.47 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    248 %     156 %     212 %     172 %     123 %

 

54 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (concluded)

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

Institutional Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 24.83     $ 24.12     $ 25.42     $ 24.50     $ 24.58  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.04 )     .22       .17       (.07 )     (.18 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    1.94       1.05       (1.33 )     .99       .14  

Total from investment operations

    1.90       1.27       (1.16 )     .92       (.04 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (.32 )     (.56 )     (.14 )           (.04 )

Total distributions

    (.32 )     (.56 )     (.14 )           (.04 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 26.41     $ 24.83     $ 24.12     $ 25.42     $ 24.50  

 

Total Return

    7.70 %     5.26 %     (4.56 %)     3.76 %     (0.18 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 37,470     $ 24,854     $ 23,539     $ 25,376     $ 50,395  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.15 %)     0.90 %     0.68 %     (0.30 %)     (0.74 %)

Total expensesc

    1.68 %     1.72 %     1.58 %     1.92 %     2.30 %

Net expensesd,e

    1.62 %     1.69 %     1.56 %     1.88 %     2.25 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    248 %     156 %     212 %     172 %     123 %

 

a

Net investment income (loss) per share was computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

b

Total return does not reflect the impact of any applicable sales charges.

c

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

d

Net expense information reflects the expense ratios after expense waivers and reimbursements, as applicable.

e

Excluding interest and dividend expense related to short sales, the net expense ratios for the years presented would be:

 

 

 

12/31/20

12/31/19

12/31/18

12/31/17

12/31/16

 

A-Class

1.37%

1.41%

1.41%

1.42%

1.43%

 

C-Class

2.12%

2.16%

2.16%

2.17%

2.18%

 

P-Class

1.37%

1.41%

1.41%

1.42%

1.43%

 

Institutional Class

1.12%

1.16%

1.16%

1.17%

1.18%

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 55

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

OBJECTIVE: Seeks to provide investment results that correlate, before fees and expenses, to the performance of a benchmark for commodities. The Fund’s current benchmark is the S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (“GSCI” or “Index”).

 

For the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, the Fund’s H-Class returned -23.58%, compared with a return of –23.72% for the Index.

 

Crude Oil and other petroleum prices collapsed in the first four months of the year once COVID-19 restrictions reduced demand combined with limited storage capacity for excess supplies. Crude Oil futures briefly experienced negative prices in April. However, commodities prices rallied strongly from the end of April through year end.

 

Fourteen of the 24 components in the Index had positive returns during the period. The best-performing component was Silver with a return above 40%. Soybeans had a positive return of 30%. Gold and Copper each rose more than 20%. Crude Oil fell more than 60%. Gas Oil and Natural Gas were both down more than 40%. Brent Crude, Heating Oil, and Lean Hogs all experienced losses of 30% or more for the year.

 

Three of the five S&P GSCI sectors experienced positive performance during the period. Precious Metals (+23%), Agriculture (+15%), and Industrial Metals (+15%) were the S&P GSCI sectors with positive performance. Energy (-46%) and Livestock (-22%) were the sector with negative performance.

 

Derivatives in the Fund are used to help provide exposure to the composition of the benchmark in the most efficient manner, as well as to provide liquidity. Derivatives are the primary way in which the Fund gains exposure to commodities, and therefore most of the Fund’s performance is due to derivatives.

 

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund and Guggenheim Strategy Funds were utilized within the Fund to achieve higher yields than what would otherwise be achieved through overnight repurchase agreements or short-term investments.

 

Performance displayed represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results.

 

56 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Consolidated Holdings Diversification (Market Exposure as % of Net Assets)

 

 

“Consolidated Holdings Diversification (Market Exposure as % of Net Assets)” excludes any temporary cash investments, investments in Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust mutual funds, or investments in Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund. Investments in those Funds do not provide “market exposure” to meet the Fund’s investment objective, but will significantly increase the portfolio’s exposure to certain other asset categories (and their associated risks), which may cause the Fund to deviate from its principal investment strategy, including: (i) high yield, high risk debt securities rated below the top four long-term rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (also known as “junk bonds”); (ii) securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; (iii) CLOs and similar investments; and (iv) other short-term fixed income securities.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 57

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Inception Dates:

A-Class

May 25, 2005

C-Class

May 25, 2005

H-Class

May 25, 2005

 

The Fund invests principally in derivative investments such as swap agreements and futures contracts.

 

Largest Holdings (% of Total Net Assets)

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

18.6%

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

18.0%

Total

36.6%

   

“Largest Holdings” excludes any temporary cash or derivative investments.

 

Cumulative Fund Performance*

 

 

 

58 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(concluded)

December 31, 2020

 

Average Annual Returns*

Periods Ended December 31, 2020

 

 

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

A-Class Shares

(23.58%)

(2.89%)

(10.19%)

A-Class Shares with sales charge

(27.20%)

(3.83%)

(10.62%)

C-Class Shares

(24.15%)

(3.65%)

(10.86%)

C-Class Shares with CDSC§

(24.43%)

(3.65%)

(10.86%)

H-Class Shares

(23.58%)

(2.91%)

(10.19%)

S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index

(23.72%)

(1.85%)

(8.76%)

 

*

The performance data above represents past performance that is not predictive of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Returns are historical and include changes in principal and reinvested dividends and capital gains and do not reflect the effect of taxes. The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index is an unmanaged index and, unlike the Fund, has no management fees or operating expenses to reduce its reported return. The graphs are based on A-Class shares and H-Class shares only; performance for C-Class shares will vary due to differences in fee structures.

Fund returns are calculated using the maximum sales charge of 4.75%.

§

Fund returns include a CDSC of 1% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 59

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2020

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

MUTUAL FUNDS - 36.6%

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class1

    20,854     $ 208,126  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II1

    8,100       202,174  

Total Mutual Funds

       

(Cost $407,291)

            410,300  
                 
   

Face
Amount

         

U.S. TREASURY BILLS†† - 8.7%

U.S. Treasury Bills

0.08% due 01/28/212,3

  $ 98,000       97,996  

Total U.S. Treasury Bills

       

(Cost $97,994)

            97,996  

 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS††,4 - 53.3%

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

    331,750       331,750  

Barclays Capital, Inc.
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

    138,210       138,210  

BofA Securities, Inc.
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

    127,973       127,973  

Total Repurchase Agreements

       

(Cost $597,933)

            597,933  
                 

Total Investments - 98.6%

       

(Cost $1,103,218)

  $ 1,106,229  

Other Assets & Liabilities, net - 1.4%

    15,204  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

  $ 1,121,433  

 

       

 

Futures Contracts

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation**

 

Commodity Futures Contracts Purchased

Goldman Sachs Commodity Index Futures Contracts

    11       Jan 2021     $ 1,126,813     $ 61,294  

 

 

**

Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation). Variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Value determined based on Level 1 inputs — See Note 4.

††

Value determined based on Level 2 inputs — See Note 4.

1

Affiliated issuer.

2

All or a portion of this security is pledged as futures collateral at December 31, 2020.

3

Rate indicated is the effective yield at the time of purchase.

4

Repurchase Agreements — See Note 6.

   
 

See Sector Classification in Other Information section.

 

60 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (concluded)

December 31, 2020

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments at December 31, 2020 (See Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements):

 

Investments in Securities (Assets)

 

Level 1
Quoted
Prices

   

Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs

   

Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

   

Total

 

Mutual Funds

  $ 410,300     $     $     $ 410,300  

U.S. Treasury Bills

          97,996             97,996  

Repurchase Agreements

          597,933             597,933  

Commodity Futures Contracts**

    61,294                   61,294  

Total Assets

  $ 471,594     $ 695,929     $     $ 1,167,523  

 

**

This derivative is reported as unrealized appreciation/depreciation at period end.

 

Affiliated Transactions

 

Investments representing 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of a company, or control of or by, or common control under Guggenheim Investments (“GI”), result in that company being considered an affiliated issuer, as defined in the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund may invest in certain of the underlying series of Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, including Guggenheim Strategy Fund II and Guggenheim Strategy Fund III, (collectively, the “Short Term Investment Vehicles”), each of which are open-end management investment companies managed by GI. The Short Term Investment Vehicles, which launched on March 11, 2014, are offered as short term investment options only to mutual funds, trusts, and other accounts managed by GI and/or its affiliates, and are not available to the public. The Short Term Investment Vehicles pay no investment management fees. The Short Term Investment Vehicles’ annual report on Form N-CSR dated September 30, 2020, is available publicly or upon request. This information is available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1601445/000182126820000133/gug81042-ncsr.htm.

 

Transactions during the year ended December 31, 2020, in which the company is an affiliated issuer, were as follows:

 

Security Name

 

Value
12/31/19

   

Additions

   

Reductions

   

Realized
Gain (Loss)

   

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   

Value
12/31/20

   

Shares
12/31/20

   

Investment
Income

 

Mutual Funds

                                                               

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

  $ 817,677     $ 20,000     $ (635,000 )   $ (4,451 )   $ 3,948     $ 202,174       8,100     $ 6,154  

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

    823,023       10,000       (625,000 )     (986 )     1,089       208,126       20,854       5,208  
    $ 1,640,700     $ 30,000     $ (1,260,000 )   $ (5,437 )   $ 5,037     $ 410,300             $ 11,362  

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 61

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

December 31, 2020

 

Assets:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value (cost $97,994)

  $ 97,996  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (cost $407,291)

    410,300  

Repurchase agreements, at value (cost $597,933)

    597,933  

Receivables:

Fund shares sold

    75,125  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    6,325  

Dividends

    409  

Interest

    1  

Total assets

    1,188,089  
         

Liabilities:

Payable for:

Fund shares redeemed

    63,706  

Management fees

    715  

Distribution and service fees

    289  

Transfer agent and administrative fees

    272  

Portfolio accounting fees

    101  

Trustees’ fees*

    30  

Miscellaneous

    1,543  

Total liabilities

    66,656  

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 10)

     

Net assets

  $ 1,121,433  
         

Net assets consist of:

Paid in capital

  $ 4,499,617  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

    (3,378,184 )

Net assets

  $ 1,121,433  
         

A-Class:

Net assets

  $ 211,098  

Capital shares outstanding

    9,625  

Net asset value per share

  $ 21.93  

Maximum offering price per share (Net asset value divided by 95.25%)

  $ 23.02  
         

C-Class:

Net assets

  $ 55,087  

Capital shares outstanding

    3,775  

Net asset value per share

  $ 14.59  
         

H-Class:

Net assets

  $ 855,248  

Capital shares outstanding

    38,948  

Net asset value per share

  $ 21.96  

 

 

*

Relates to Trustees not deemed “interested persons” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

 

62 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

Investment Income:

Dividends from securities of affiliated issuers

  $ 11,362  

Interest

    8,807  

Total investment income

    20,169  
         

Expenses:

Management fees

    20,975  

Distribution and service fees:

A-Class

    761  

C-Class

    636  

H-Class

    4,986  

Transfer agent and administrative fees

    6,675  

Professional fees

    5,053  

Portfolio accounting fees

    2,362  

Trustees’ fees*

    649  

Custodian fees

    388  

Miscellaneous

    70  

Total expenses

    42,555  

Less:

Expenses waived by Adviser

    (4,061 )

Net expenses

    38,494  

Net investment loss

    (18,325 )
         

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

Net realized gain (loss) on:

Investments in affiliated issuers

    (5,437 )

Futures contracts

    (432,755 )

Net realized loss

    (438,192 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

    6  

Investments in affiliated issuers

    5,037  

Futures contracts

    (130,462 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (125,419 )

Net realized and unrealized loss

    (563,611 )

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (581,936 )

 

 

*

Relates to Trustees not deemed “interested persons” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 63

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2019

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:

               

Net investment income (loss)

  $ (18,325 )   $ 42,840  

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

    (438,192 )     817,745  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (125,419 )     451,456  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (581,936 )     1,312,041  
                 

Distributions to shareholders:

               

A-Class

    (134,155 )     (5,520 )

C-Class

    (37,215 )     (702 )

H-Class

    (569,791 )     (36,354 )

Total distributions to shareholders

    (741,161 )     (42,576 )
                 

Capital share transactions:

               

Proceeds from sale of shares

               

A-Class

    108,251       697,465  

C-Class

    394       77,324  

H-Class

    7,866,887       31,229,415  

Distributions reinvested

               

A-Class

    116,280       4,825  

C-Class

    37,106       686  

H-Class

    535,101       35,752  

Cost of shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (311,469 )     (1,049,147 )

C-Class

    (29,316 )     (89,894 )

H-Class

    (11,492,371 )     (36,245,145 )

Net decrease from capital share transactions

    (3,169,137 )     (5,338,719 )

Net decrease in net assets

    (4,492,234 )     (4,069,254 )
                 

Net assets:

               

Beginning of year

    5,613,667       9,682,921  

End of year

  $ 1,121,433     $ 5,613,667  
                 

 

 

64 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (concluded)

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2019

 

Capital share activity:

               

Shares sold

               

A-Class

    3,057       11,634  

C-Class

    13       1,510  

H-Class

    201,034       535,338  

Shares issued from reinvestment of distributions

               

A-Class

    5,462       81  

C-Class

    2,619       14  

H-Class

    25,099       600  

Shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (8,589 )     (17,593 )

C-Class

    (999 )     (1,782 )

H-Class

    (267,560 )     (619,568 )

Net decrease in shares

    (39,864 )     (89,766 )

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 65

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

A-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016
e

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 61.06     $ 53.27     $ 88.34     $ 85.75     $ 77.58  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.28 )     .36       .39       (.22 )     (.09 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    (14.84 )     7.88       (11.90 )     4.13       8.26  

Total from investment operations

    (15.12 )     8.24       (11.51 )     3.91       8.17  

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )     (1.32 )      

Total distributions

    (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )     (1.32 )      

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 21.93     $ 61.06     $ 53.27     $ 88.34     $ 85.75  

 

Total Returnb

    (23.58 %)     15.47 %     (15.47 %)     4.68 %     10.59 %

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 211     $ 592     $ 830     $ 819     $ 875  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.65 %)     0.60 %     0.44 %     (0.28 %)     (1.02 %)

Total expensesc

    1.79 %     1.88 %     1.81 %     1.73 %     1.77 %

Net expensesd

    1.61 %     1.73 %     1.68 %     1.63 %     1.65 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    5 %           65 %     25 %     208 %

 

66 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

C-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016
e

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 51.84     $ 45.63     $ 79.89     $ 78.32     $ 71.38  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.50 )     (.07 )     (.41 )     (.70 )     (.11 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    (12.74 )     6.73       (10.29 )     3.59       7.05  

Total from investment operations

    (13.24 )     6.66       (10.70 )     2.89       6.94  

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )     (1.32 )      

Total distributions

    (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )     (1.32 )      

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 14.59     $ 51.84     $ 45.63     $ 79.89     $ 78.32  

 

Total Returnb

    (24.15 %)     14.61 %     (16.11 %)     3.80 %     9.66 %

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 55     $ 111     $ 110     $ 332     $ 482  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (1.44 %)     (0.13 %)     (0.49 %)     (0.94 %)     (1.48 %)

Total expensesc

    2.54 %     2.63 %     2.55 %     2.48 %     2.51 %

Net expensesd

    2.36 %     2.48 %     2.42 %     2.36 %     2.38 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    5 %           65 %     25 %     208 %

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 67

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (concluded)

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

H-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016
e

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 61.10     $ 53.31     $ 88.39     $ 85.82     $ 77.69  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.34 )     .35       .25       (.25 )     (.07 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    (14.79 )     7.89       (11.77 )     4.14       8.20  

Total from investment operations

    (15.13 )     8.24       (11.52 )     3.89       8.13  

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )     (1.32 )      

Total distributions

    (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )     (1.32 )      

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 21.96     $ 61.10     $ 53.31     $ 88.39     $ 85.82  

 

Total Return

    (23.58 %)     15.48 %     (15.50 %)     4.65 %     10.52 %

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 855     $ 4,911     $ 8,744     $ 6,002     $ 7,386  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.77 %)     0.59 %     0.27 %     (0.31 %)     (0.87 %)

Total expensesc

    1.78 %     1.89 %     1.81 %     1.74 %     1.74 %

Net expensesd

    1.61 %     1.74 %     1.68 %     1.65 %     1.62 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    5 %           65 %     25 %     208 %

 

 

a

Net investment income (loss) per share was computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

b

Total return does not reflect the impact of any applicable sales charges.

c

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

d

Net expense information reflects the expense ratios after expense waivers and reimbursements, as applicable.

e

Reverse share split — Per share amounts for the year ended December 31, 2016 have been restated to reflect a 1:12 reverse share split effective October 28, 2016.

 

68 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 – Organization, Consolidation of Subsidiary and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Organization

 

The Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (”1940 Act”), as an open-ended investment company of the series type. Each series, in effect, is representing a separate fund (each, a “Fund”). The Trust may issue an unlimited number of authorized shares. The Trust accounts for the assets of each Fund separately.

 

The Trust offers a combination of seven separate classes of shares: Investor Class shares, A-Class shares, C-Class shares, H-Class shares, P-Class shares, Institutional Class shares and Money Market Class shares. Sales of shares of each Class are made without a front-end sales charge at the net asset value per share (“NAV”), with the exception of A-Class shares. A-Class shares are sold at the NAV, plus the applicable front-end sales charge. The sales charge varies depending on the amount purchased, but will not exceed 4.75%. A-Class share purchases of $1 million or more are exempt from the front-end sales charge but have a 1% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) if shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchase. C-Class shares have a 1% CDSC if shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchase. C-Class shares of each Fund automatically convert to A-Class shares of the same Fund on or about the 10th day of the month following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase of the C-Class shares. This conversion will be executed without any sales charge, fee or other charge. After the conversion is completed, the shares will be subject to all features and expenses of A-Class shares. Institutional Class shares are offered primarily for direct investment by institutions such as pension and profit sharing plans, endowments, foundations and corporations. Institutional Class shares require a minimum initial investment of $2 million and a minimum account balance of $1 million. At December 31, 2020, the Trust consisted of fifty-two funds.

 

This report covers the following funds (collectively, the “Funds”):

 

Fund Name

 

Investment Company Type

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

    Non-diversified  

Commodities Strategy Fund

    Non-diversified  

 

At December 31, 2020, A-Class, C-Class, H-Class, P-Class, Institutional Class shares have been issued by the Funds.

 

The Commodities Strategy Fund is designed and operated to accommodate frequent trading by shareholders and, unlike most mutual funds, offers unlimited exchange privileges with no minimum holding periods or transactions fees, which may cause the Fund to experience high portfolio turnover.

 

Security Investors, LLC, which operates under the name Guggenheim Investments (“GI”), provides advisory services. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC (“GFD”) acts as principal underwriter for the Trust. GI and GFD are affiliated entities.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 69

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Consolidation of Subsidiary

 

Each of the consolidated financial statements of the Funds include the accounts of a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”). Significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Funds.

 

Each Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in its Subsidiary which acts as an investment vehicle in order to effect certain investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

 

A summary of each Fund’s investment in its respective Subsidiary is as follows:

 

Fund

 

Inception
Date of
Subsidary

   

Subsidary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2020

   

% of net Assets
of the Fund at
December 31, 2020

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

    09/18/09     $ 2,108,260       4.2 %

Commodities Strategy Fund

    09/08/09       238,955       21.3 %

 

Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Funds operate as investment companies and, accordingly, follow the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.

 

The following significant accounting policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and are consistently followed by the Trust. This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. All time references are based on Eastern Time.

 

The NAV of each Class of a fund is calculated by dividing the market value of a fund’s securities and other assets, less all liabilities, attributable to the Class by the number of outstanding shares of the Class.

 

(a) Valuation of Investments

 

The Board of Trustees of the Funds (the “Board”) has adopted policies and procedures for the valuation of the Funds’ investments (the “Valuation Procedures”). Pursuant to the Valuation Procedures, the Board has delegated to a valuation committee, consisting of representatives from Guggenheim’s investment management, fund administration, legal and compliance departments (the “Valuation Committee”), the day-to-day responsibility for implementing the Valuation Procedures, including, under most circumstances, the responsibility for determining the fair value of the Funds’ securities and/or other assets.

 

70 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Valuations of the Funds’ securities and other assets are supplied primarily by pricing services appointed pursuant to the processes set forth in the Valuation Procedures. The Valuation Committee convenes monthly, or more frequently as needed, to review the valuation of all assets which have been fair valued for reasonableness. The Funds’ officers, through the Valuation Committee and consistent with the monitoring and review responsibilities set forth in the Valuation Procedures, regularly review procedures used and valuations provided by the pricing services.

 

If the pricing service cannot or does not provide a valuation for a particular investment or such valuation is deemed unreliable, such investment is fair valued by the Valuation Committee.

 

Equity securities listed or traded on a recognized U.S. securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“NASDAQ”) National Market System shall generally be valued on the basis of the last sale price on the primary U.S. exchange or market on which the security is listed or traded; provided, however, that securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, which may not necessarily represent the last sale price. If there is no sale on the valuation date, exchange-traded U.S. equity securities will be valued on the basis of the last bid price.

 

Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The values of foreign securities are determined as of the close of such foreign markets or the close of the NYSE, if earlier. All investments quoted in foreign currencies are valued in U.S. dollars on the basis of the foreign currency exchange rates prevailing at the close of business at 4:00 p.m. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. The Valuation Committee will determine the current value of such foreign securities by taking into consideration certain factors which may include those discussed above, as well as the following factors, among others: the value of the securities traded on other foreign markets, ADR trading, closed-end fund trading, foreign currency exchange activity, and the trading prices of financial products that are tied to foreign securities. In addition, the Board has authorized the Valuation Committee and GI to use prices and other information supplied by a third party pricing vendor in valuing foreign securities.

 

Open-end investment companies are valued at their NAV as of the close of business, on the valuation date. Exchange-traded funds and closed-end investment companies are valued at the last quoted sale price.

 

U.S. Government securities are valued by independent pricing services, the last traded fill price, or at the reported bid price at the close of business.

 

Repurchase agreements are generally valued at amortized cost, provided such amounts approximate market value.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 71

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The value of futures contracts is accounted for using the unrealized appreciation or depreciation on the contracts that is determined by marking the contracts to their current realized settlement prices. Financial futures contracts are valued at the 4:00 p.m. price on the valuation date. In the event that the exchange for a specific futures contract closes earlier than 4:00 p.m., the futures contract is valued at the official settlement price of the exchange. However, the underlying securities from which the futures contract value is derived are monitored until 4:00 p.m. to determine if fair valuation would provide a more accurate valuation.

 

The values of swap agreements entered into by a fund are accounted for using the unrealized appreciation or depreciation on the agreements that are determined by marking the agreements to the last quoted value of the index or other underlying position that the swaps pertain to at the close of the NYSE.

 

Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are fair-valued as determined in good faith by GI, subject to review and approval by the Valuation Committee, pursuant to methods established or ratified by the Board. Valuations in accordance with these methods are intended to reflect each security’s (or asset’s or liability’s) “fair value”. Each such determination is based on a consideration of all relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. Examples of such factors may include, but are not limited to market prices; sale prices; broker quotes; and models which derive prices based on inputs such as prices of securities with comparable maturities and characteristics, or based on inputs such as anticipated cash flows or collateral, spread over U.S. Treasury securities, and other information analysis. In connection with futures contracts and other derivative investments, such factors may include obtaining information as to how (a) these contracts and other derivative investments trade in the futures or other derivative markets, respectively, and (b) the securities underlying these contracts and other derivative investments trade in the cash market.

 

(b) U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

 

Certain U.S. Government and Agency Obligations are traded on a discount basis; the interest rates shown on the Consolidated Schedules of Investments reflect the effective rates paid at the time of purchase by the Funds. Other securities bear interest at the rates shown, payable at fixed dates through maturity.

 

(c) Short Sales

 

When a Fund engages in a short sale of a security, an amount equal to the proceeds is reflected as an asset and an equivalent liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the market value of the short sale. The Fund maintains a segregated account of cash and/or securities as collateral for short sales.

 

Fees, if any, paid to brokers to borrow securities in connection with short sales are recorded as interest expense. In addition, the Fund must pay out the dividend rate of the equity or coupon rate of the obligation to the lender and record this as an expense. Short dividend or interest expense

 

72 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

is a cost associated with the investment objective of short sales transactions, rather than an operational cost associated with the day-to-day management of any mutual fund. The Fund may also receive rebate income from the broker resulting from the investment of the proceeds from securities sold short.

 

(d) Options

 

Upon the purchase of an option, the premium paid is recorded as an investment, the value of which is marked-to-market daily. If a purchased option expires, the Fund realizes a loss in the amount of the cost of the option. When the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction, it realizes a gain or loss depending on whether the proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the cost of the option. If the Fund exercises a put option, it realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid. When the Fund exercises a call option, the cost of the security purchased by the Fund upon exercise increases by the premium originally paid.

 

When the Fund writes (sells) an option, an amount equal to the premium received is entered in that Fund’s accounting records as an asset and equivalent liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires, or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold).

 

(e) Futures Contracts

 

Upon entering into a futures contract, a Fund deposits and maintains as collateral such initial margin as required by the exchange on which the transaction is affected. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

 

(f) Swap Agreements

 

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily and the change, if any, is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Payments received or made as a result of an agreement or termination of an agreement are recognized as realized gains or losses.

 

Upon entering into certain centrally-cleared swap transactions, a Fund is required to deposit with its clearing broker an amount of cash or securities as an initial margin. Subsequent variation margin receipts or payments are received or made by the Fund depending on fluctuations in the fair value of the reference entity and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized appreciation or

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 73

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

depreciation. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

 

(g) Currency Translations

 

The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, and certain expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Funds. Foreign investments may also subject the Funds to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation, or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments.

 

The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in the foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments.

 

Reported net realized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from sales of foreign currencies and currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on investment transactions. Net unrealized appreciation and depreciation arise from changes in the fair values of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities at the fiscal period end, resulting from changes in exchange rates.

 

(h) Foreign Taxes

 

The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which the Funds invest. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by the Funds and reflected in their Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments are included with the net realized gain (loss) on investments. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of December 31, 2020, if any, are disclosed in the Funds’ Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

(i) Security Transactions

 

Security transactions are recorded on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded using the identified cost basis. Proceeds from lawsuits related to investment holdings are recorded as a reduction to cost if the securities are still held and as realized gains if no longer held in the respective Fund. Dividend

 

74 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, net of applicable taxes withheld by foreign countries, if any. Taxable non-cash dividends are recorded as dividend income. Interest income, including amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, is accrued on a daily basis. Dividend income from Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) is recorded based on the income included in the distributions received from the REIT investments using published REIT classifications, including some management estimates when actual amounts are not available. Distributions received in excess of this estimated amount are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments or reclassified to realized gains. The actual amounts of income, return of capital, and realized gains are only determined by each REIT after its fiscal year-end, and may differ from the estimated amounts.

 

(j) Distributions

 

Distributions of net investment income and net realized gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually. Dividends are reinvested in additional shares, unless shareholders request payment in cash. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

 

(k) Class Allocations

 

Interest and dividend income, most expenses, all realized gains and losses, and all unrealized appreciation and depreciation are allocated to the classes based upon the value of the outstanding shares in each Class. Certain costs, such as distribution and service fees are charged directly to specific classes. In addition, certain expenses have been allocated to the individual Funds in the Trust based on the respective net assets of each Fund included in the Trust.

 

(l) Cash

 

The Funds may leave cash overnight in their cash account with the custodian. Periodically, a Fund may have cash due to the custodian bank as an overdraft balance. A fee is incurred on this overdraft, calculated by multiplying the overdraft by a rate based on the federal funds rate, which was 0.09% at December 31, 2020.

 

(m) Indemnifications

 

Under the Funds’ organizational documents, the Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. In addition, throughout the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds and/or their affiliates that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 75

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Note 2 – Financial Instruments and Derivatives

 

As part of their investment strategy, the Funds utilize short sales and a variety of derivative instruments. These investments involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk and risks in excess of amounts recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Valuation and accounting treatment of these instruments can be found under Significant Accounting Policies in Note 1 of these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Short Sales

 

A short sale is a transaction in which a Fund sells a security it does not own. If the security sold short decreases in price between the time the Fund sells the security and closes its short position, the Fund will realize a gain on the transaction. Conversely, if the security increases in price during the period, the Fund will realize a loss on the transaction. The risk of such price increases is the principal risk of engaging in short sales.

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives are instruments whose values depend on, or are derived from, in whole or in part, the value of one or more other assets, such as securities, currencies, commodities or indices. Derivative instruments may be used to increase investment flexibility (including to maintain cash reserves while maintaining exposure to certain other assets), for risk management (hedging) purposes, to facilitate trading, to reduce transaction costs and to pursue higher investment returns. Derivative instruments may also be used to mitigate certain investment risks, such as foreign currency exchange rate risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. U.S. GAAP requires disclosures to enable investors to better understand how and why a Fund uses derivative instruments, how these derivative instruments are accounted for and their effects on the Fund’s financial position and results of operations.

 

The Funds may utilize derivatives for the following purposes:

 

Hedge: an investment made in order to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in a security, by taking an offsetting position to protect against broad market moves.

 

Income: the use of any instrument that distributes cash flows typically based upon some rate of interest.

 

Index Exposure: the use of an instrument to obtain exposure to a listed or other type of index.

 

Leverage: gaining total exposure to equities or other assets on the long and short sides at greater than 100% of invested capital.

 

Liquidity: the ability to buy or sell exposure with little price/market impact.

 

Speculation: the use of an instrument to express macro-economic and other investment views.

 

76 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

For any Fund whose investment strategy consistently involves applying leverage, the value of the Fund’s shares will tend to increase or decrease more than the value of any increase or decrease in the underlying index or other asset. In addition, because an investment in derivative instruments generally requires a small investment relative to the amount of investment exposure assumed, an opportunity for increased net income is created; but, at the same time, leverage risk will increase. The Fund’s use of leverage, through borrowings or instruments such as derivatives, may cause the Fund to be more volatile and riskier than if they had not been leveraged.

 

Options Purchased and Written

 

A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of a call option the obligation to sell, the underlying security. The purchaser of a put option has the right to sell, and the writer of the put option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. The risk associated with purchasing options is limited to the premium originally paid.

 

The risk in writing a call option is that a Fund may incur a loss if the market price of the underlying security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in writing a put option is that a Fund may incur a loss if the market price of the underlying security decreases and the option is exercised. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the underlying securities where a Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market; or, for over-the-counter (“OTC”) options, a Fund may be at risk because of the counterparty’s inability to perform.

 

The following table represents the Fund’s use and volume of call/put options written on a monthly basis:

 

     

Average Notional Amount

 

Fund

Use

 

Call

   

Put

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

Hedge, Income

  $ 34,374     $  

 

Futures Contracts

 

A futures contract is an agreement to purchase (long) or sell (short) an agreed amount of securities or other instruments at a set price for delivery at a future date. There are significant risks associated with a Fund’s use of futures contracts, including (i) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the underlying asset and the prices of futures contracts; (ii) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract; (iii) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (iv) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts. When investing in futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to a Fund because futures are exchange-traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees against default. Cash deposits are shown as segregated cash with broker on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities; securities held as collateral are noted on the Consolidated Schedules of Investments.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 77

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The following table represents the Funds’ use and volume of futures on a monthly basis:

 

     

Average Notional Amount

 

Fund

Use

 

Long

   

Short

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

Hedge, Index exposure, Leverage, Liquidity, Speculation

  $ 68,131,006     $ 35,538,678  

Commodities Strategy Fund

Index exposure, Liquidity

    1,886,307        

 

Swap Agreements

 

A swap is an agreement that obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. When utilizing OTC swaps, a fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty or if the underlying asset declines in value. Certain standardized swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing and are executed on a multi-lateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange. There is limited counterparty credit risk with respect to centrally-cleared swaps as the transaction is facilitated through a central clearinghouse, much like exchange-traded futures contracts. For a fund utilizing centrally-cleared swaps, the exchange bears the risk of loss resulting from a counterparty not being able to pay. There is no guarantee that a fund or an underlying fund could eliminate its exposure under an outstanding swap agreement by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same or another party.

 

Custom basket swaps involve commitments where single or multiple cash flows are exchanged based on the price of an underlying reference asset (such as an index or custom basket of securities) for a fixed or variable interest rate. Custom basket swaps will usually be computed based on the current value of the reference asset as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE or other exchange, with the swap value being adjusted to include dividends accrued, financing charges and/or interest associated with the swap agreement. When utilizing custom basket swaps, a fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty or if the underlying reference asset declines in value.

 

The following table represents the Funds’ use and volume of custom basket swaps on a monthly basis:

 

     

Average Notional Amount

 

Fund

Use

 

Long

   

Short

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

Hedge, Index exposure, Leverage, Liquidity, Speculation

  $ 22,842,329     $ 17,597,188  

 

78 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Derivative Investment Holdings Categorized by Risk Exposure

 

The following is a summary of the location of derivative investments on the Funds’ Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2020:

 

Derivative Investment Type

Asset Derivatives

Liability Derivatives

Equity/Currency/Interest Rate/Commodity contracts

Variation margin on futures contracts

Variation margin on futures contracts

Equity contracts

Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap agreements

Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap agreements

 

The following tables set forth the fair value of the Funds’ derivative investments categorized by primary risk exposure at December 31, 2020:

 

Asset Derivative Investments Value

Fund

 

Futures
Equity
Risk*

   

Swaps
Equity
Risk

   

Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk*

   

Futures
Interest
Rate
Risk*

   

Futures
Commodity
Risk*

   

Total Value at
December 31,
2020

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 49,093     $ 2,816,255     $ 373,045     $ 94,738     $ 867,153     $ 4,200,284  

Commodities Strategy Fund

                            61,294       61,294  

 

Liability Derivative Investments Value

Fund

 

Futures
Equity
Risk*

   

Swaps
Equity
Risk

   

Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk*

   

Futures
Interest
Rate
Risk*

   

Futures
Commodity
Risk*

   

Total Value at
December 31,
2020

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 91,939     $ 2,142,786     $ 155,986     $ 3,223     $ 643,625     $ 3,037,559  

 

*

Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of exchange-traded, OTC and centrally-cleared derivatives contracts as reported on the Consolidated Schedules of Investments. For exchange-traded and centrally-cleared derivatives, variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 79

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The following is a summary of the location of derivative investments on the Funds’ Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020:

 

Derivative Investment Type

Location of Gain (Loss) on Derivatives

Equity/Currency/Interest Rate/Commodity contracts

Net realized gain (loss) on futures contracts

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts

Equity contracts

Net realized gain (loss) on swap agreements

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on swap agreements

 

Net realized gain (loss) on options written

 

The following is a summary of the Funds’ realized gain (loss) and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on derivative investments recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Operations categorized by primary risk exposure for the year ended December 31, 2020:

 

Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Investments Recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Operations

Fund

 

Futures
Equity
Risk

   

Swaps
Equity
Risk

   

Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk

   

Futures
Interest
Rate
Risk

   

Futures
Commodity
Risk

   

Options
Written
Equity
Risk

   

Total

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 197,455     $ 2,345,639     $ (48,571 )   $ 209,618     $ (220,581 )   $ 4,024     $ 2,487,584  

Commodities Strategy Fund

                            (432,755 )           (432,755 )

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivative Investments
Recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Operations

Fund

 

Futures
Equity
Risk

   

Swaps
Equity
Risk

   

Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk

   

Futures
Interest
Rate
Risk

   

Futures
Commodity
Risk

   

Options
Written
Equity
Risk

   

Total

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 115,072     $ (506,460 )   $ 255,695     $ 97,690     $ 238,952     $     $ 200,949  

Commodities Strategy Fund

                            (130,462 )           (130,462 )

 

In conjunction with short sales and the use of derivative instruments, the Funds are required to maintain collateral in various forms. Depending on the financial instrument utilized and the broker involved, the Funds use margin deposits at the broker, cash and/or securities segregated at the custodian bank, discount notes or repurchase agreements allocated to the Funds as collateral.

 

The Trust has established counterparty credit guidelines and enters into transactions only with financial institutions of investment grade or better. The Trust monitors the counterparty credit risk.

 

80 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Note 3 – Offsetting

 

In the normal course of business, the Funds enter into transactions subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or other similar arrangements. Generally, the right to offset in those agreements allows the Funds to counteract the exposure to a specific counterparty with collateral received from or delivered to that counterparty based on the terms of the arrangements. These arrangements provide for the right to liquidate upon the occurrence of an event of default, credit event upon merger or additional termination event.

 

In order to better define their contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Funds mitigate their counterparty risk, the Funds may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with their derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a fund and a counterparty that governs OTC derivatives, including foreign exchange contracts, and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of a default (close-out netting) or similar event, including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty.

 

For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Funds and the counterparty. For financial reporting purposes, cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Funds and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, are reported separately on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities as segregated cash with broker/receivable for variation margin, or payable for swap settlement/variation margin. Cash and/or securities pledged or received as collateral by the Funds in connection with an OTC derivative subject to an ISDA Master Agreement generally may not be invested, sold or rehypothecated by the counterparty or the Funds, as applicable, absent an event of default under such agreement, in which case such collateral generally may be applied towards obligations due to and payable by such counterparty or the Funds, as applicable. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty must exceed a minimum transfer amount threshold (e.g., $300,000) before a transfer is required to be made. To the extent amounts due to the Funds from their counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Funds bear the risk of loss from counterparty nonperformance. The Funds attempt to mitigate counterparty risk by only entering into agreements with counterparties that they believe to be of good standing and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties.

 

For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

The following tables present derivative financial instruments and secured financing transactions that are subject to enforceable netting arrangements:

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 81

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

                             

Gross Amounts Not Offset
in the Consolidated
Statements of
Assets and Liabilities

         

Fund

Instrument

 

Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets
1

   

Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Consolidated
Statements
of Assets and
Liabilities

   

Net Amount
of Assets
Presented
on the
Consolidated
Statements
of Assets and
Liabilities

   

Financial
Instruments

   

Cash
Collateral
Received

   

Net
Amount

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

Custom basket swap agreements

  $ 2,816,255     $     $ 2,816,255     $ (2,142,786 )   $     $ 673,469  

 

                             

Gross Amounts Not
Offset in the Consolidated
Statements of Assets
and Liabilities

         

Fund

Instrument

 

Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities
1

   

Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Consolidated
Statements
of Assets and
Liabilities

   

Net Amount
of Liabilities
Presented
on the
Consolidated
Statements
of Assets and
Liabilities

   

Financial
Instruments

   

Cash
Collateral
Pledged

   

Net
Amount

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

Custom basket swap agreements

  $ 2,142,786     $     $ 2,142,786     $ (2,142,786 )   $     $  

 

1

Exchange-traded or centrally-cleared derivatives are excluded from these reported amounts.

 

The Funds have the right to offset deposits against any related derivative liabilities outstanding with each counterparty with the exception of exchange-traded or centrally-cleared derivatives. The following table presents deposits held by others in connection with derivative investments as of December 31, 2020.

 

Fund

 

Counterparty

   

Asset Type

   

Cash
Pledged

   

Cash
Received

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

Goldman Sachs International

Futures contracts

  $ 470,660     $  

 

82 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Note 4 – Fair Value Measurement

 

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that the Funds would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the types of inputs used to value assets and liabilities and requires corresponding disclosure. The hierarchy and the corresponding inputs are summarized below:

 

Level 1 —

quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 —

significant other observable inputs (for example quoted prices for securities that are similar based on characteristics such as interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).

 

Level 3 —

significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available under the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available, which may include assumptions.

 

The types of inputs available depend on a variety of factors, such as the type of security and the characteristics of the markets in which it trades, if any. Fair valuation determinations that rely on fewer or no observable inputs require greater judgment. Accordingly, fair value determinations for Level 3 securities require the greatest amount of judgment.

 

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The suitability of the techniques and sources employed to determine fair valuation are regularly monitored and subject to change.

 

Note 5 – Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Agreements

 

Under the terms of an investment advisory contract, the Funds pay GI investment advisory fees calculated at the annualized rates below, based on the average daily net assets of the Funds:

 

Fund

 

Management Fees
(as a % of Net Assets)

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

    1.15 %

Commodities Strategy Fund

    0.75 %

 

As part of its agreement with the Trust, GI will pay all expenses of the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, except interest expense, taxes (expected to be de minimis), brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with execution of portfolio transactions, short dividend expenses, subsidiary expenses and extraordinary expenses.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 83

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

When the aggregate assets of each series of the Trust (excluding the Long Short Equity Fund, Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund) and each series of Rydex Dynamic Funds equal or exceed $10 billion, the advisory fee rate paid by each individual Fund (excluding the Long Short Equity Fund, Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund) will be reduced in accordance with the asset level and breakpoint schedule set forth below.

 

Fund Assets Under Management

 

Fund Asset-Based
Breakpoint Reductions

 

$500 million - $1 billion

    0.025 %

> $1 billion - $2 billion

    0.050 %

> $2 billion

    0.075 %

 

GI has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from each Subsidiary in an amount equal to the management fee paid to GI by the Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for so long as the Funds invest in the Subsidiaries, and may not be terminated by GI unless GI obtains the prior approval of the Funds’ Board for such termination. Fees waived under this arrangement are not subject to reimbursement to GI. For the year ended December 31, 2020, Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Commodities Strategy Fund waived $14,605 and $3,259, respectively, related to advisory fees in the Subsidiary.

 

As part of its agreement with the Trust, GI will pay all expenses of the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, except interest expense, taxes (expected to be de minimis), brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with execution of portfolio transactions, short dividend expenses, subsidiary expenses and extraordinary expenses.

 

GI pays operating expenses on behalf of the Trust, such as audit and accounting related services, legal services, custody, printing and mailing, among others, on a pass-through basis. Such expenses are allocated to various Funds within the complex based on relative net assets.

 

The Board has adopted a Distribution Plan applicable to A-Class shares, P-Class Shares and H-Class shares for which GFD and other firms that provide distribution and/or shareholder services (“Service Providers”) may receive compensation. If a Service Provider provides distribution services, the Funds will pay distribution fees to GFD at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of average daily net assets, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. GFD, in turn, will pay the Service Provider out of its fees. GFD may, at its discretion, retain a portion of such payments to compensate itself for distribution services.

 

The Board has adopted a separate Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan applicable to C-Class shares that allows the Funds to pay annual distribution and service fees of 1.00% of the Funds’ C-Class shares average daily net assets. The annual 0.25% service fee compensates a shareholder’s financial adviser for providing ongoing services to the shareholder. The annual distribution fee of 0.75% reimburses GFD for paying the shareholder’s financial adviser an

 

84 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

ongoing sales commission. GFD advances the first year’s service and distribution fees to the financial adviser. GFD retains the service and distribution fees on accounts with no authorized dealer of record.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, GFD retained sales charges of $152,893 relating to sales of A-Class shares of the Trust.

 

If a Fund invests in a fund that is advised by the same adviser or an affiliated adviser, the investing Fund’s adviser has agreed to waive fees at the investing fund level to the extent necessary to offset the proportionate share of any management fee paid by each Fund with respect to its investment in such affiliated fund. Fee waivers will be calculated at the investing Fund level without regard to any expense cap in effect for the investing Fund. Fees waived under this arrangement are not subject to reimbursement to GI. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Commodities Strategy Fund waived $13,866 and $802, respectively, related to investments in affiliated funds.

 

Certain trustees and officers of the Trust are also officers of GI and/or GFD. The Trust does not compensate its officers or trustees who are officers, directors and/or employees of GI or GFD.

 

MUFG Investor Services (US), LLC (“MUIS”) acts as the Funds’ administrator, transfer agent and accounting agent. As administrator, transfer agent and accounting agent, MUIS maintains the books and records of the Funds’ securities and cash. U.S. Bank, N.A. (“U.S. Bank”) acts as the Funds’ custodian. As custodian, U.S. Bank is responsible for the custody of the Funds’ assets. For providing the aforementioned services, MUIS and U.S. Bank are entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets and out of pocket expenses.

 

Note 6 – Repurchase Agreements

 

The Funds transfer uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily aggregate balance of which is invested in one or more repurchase agreements collateralized by obligations of the U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agencies. The joint account includes other Funds in the Guggenheim complex not covered in this report. The collateral is in the possession of the Funds’ custodian and is evaluated to ensure that its market value exceeds, at a minimum, 102% of the original face amount of the repurchase agreements. Each Fund holds a pro rata share of the collateral based on the dollar amount of the repurchase agreement entered into by each Fund.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 85

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

At December 31, 2020, the repurchase agreements in the joint account were as follows:

 

Counterparty and
Terms of Agreement

 

Face
Value

   

Repurchase
Price

 

 

Collateral

 

Par
Value

   

Fair
Value

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

                 

U.S. Treasury Note

               

0.06%

                 

0.13%

               

Due 01/04/21

  $ 139,293,770     $ 139,294,699    

07/31/22

  $ 75,740,000     $ 75,786,330  
                   

U.S. Treasury Bill

               
                   

0.00%

               
                   

02/23/21

    57,662,600       57,657,295  
                   

U.S. Treasury Strip

               
                   

0.00%

               
                   

08/15/23

    8,671,437       8,636,040  
                          142,074,037       142,079,665  
                                     

Barclays Capital, Inc.

                 

U.S. Treasury Note

               

0.06%

                 

1.75%

               

Due 01/04/21

    58,031,279       58,031,666    

06/30/22

    57,795,700       59,191,929  
                                     

BofA Securities, Inc.

                 

U.S. Treasury Note

               

0.06%

                 

1.50%

               

Due 01/04/21

    53,732,665       53,733,023    

11/30/24

    52,215,500       54,807,345  

 

In the event of counterparty default, the Funds have the right to collect the collateral to offset losses incurred. There is potential loss to the Funds in the event the Funds are delayed or prevented from exercising their rights to dispose of the collateral securities, including the risk of a possible decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period while the Funds seek to assert their rights. GI, acting under the supervision of the Board, reviews the value of the collateral and the creditworthiness of those banks and dealers with which the Funds enter into repurchase agreements to evaluate potential risks.

 

Note 7 – Federal Income Tax Information

 

The Funds intend to comply with the provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and will distribute substantially all taxable net investment income and capital gains sufficient to relieve the Funds from all, or substantially all, federal income, excise and state income taxes. Therefore, no provision for federal or state income tax or federal excise tax is required.

 

Tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Funds’ tax returns are evaluated to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken, or to be taken, on U.S. federal income tax returns for all open tax

 

86 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

years, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Funds’ consolidated financial statements. The Funds’ U.S. federal income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for a period of three years after they are filed.

 

The Funds intend to invest up to 25% of their assets in the respective Subsidiary, which is expected to provide the Funds with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the U.S. federal income tax requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Funds have received a private letter ruling from the IRS that concludes that the income the Funds receive from the Subsidiary will constitute qualifying income for purposes of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Subsidiary will be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless it is deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If, during a taxable year, the Subsidiary’s taxable losses (and other deductible items) exceed its income and gains, the net loss will not pass through to the Fund as a deductible amount for Federal income tax purposes and cannot be carried forward to reduce future income from the Subsidiary in subsequent years.

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

Fund

 

Ordinary
Income

   

Long-Term
Capital Gain

   

Total
Distributions

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 564,222     $     $ 564,222  

Commodities Strategy Fund

    741,161             741,161  

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2019 was as follows:

 

Fund

 

Ordinary
Income

   

Long-Term
Capital Gain

   

Total
Distributions

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 784,640     $     $ 784,640  

Commodities Strategy Fund

    42,576             42,576  

 

Note: For U.S. federal income tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions are treated as ordinary income distributions.

 

The tax components of distributable earnings/(loss) as of December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

Fund

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   

Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain

   

Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   

Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses

   

Total

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 68     $     $ (3,208,845 )   $ (388,155 )   $ (3,596,932 )

Commodities Strategy Fund

                (3,178,659 )     (51,827 )     (3,230,486 )

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 87

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards represent realized losses of the Funds that may be carried forward and applied against future capital gains. The Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an unlimited period and such capital loss carryforwards retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2020, capital loss carryforwards for the Funds were as follows:

 

   

Unlimited

         

Fund

 

Short-Term

   

Long-Term

   

Total
Capital Loss
Carryforward

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ (102,228 )   $     $ (102,228 )

Commodities Strategy Fund

    (35,715 )     (16,112 )     (51,827 )

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the following capital loss carryforward amounts were utilized:

 

Fund

 

Utilized

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 3,194,481  

 

Net investment income and net realized gains (losses) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes because of temporary or permanent book/tax differences. These differences are primarily due to investments in subsidiaries, the “mark-to-market” of certain derivatives, the tax treatment of net operating losses, investments in securities sold short, investments in real estate investment trusts, foreign currency gains and losses, losses deferred due to wash sales, special dividends, and investments in swaps. To the extent these differences are permanent and would require a reclassification between Paid in Capital and Total Distributable Earnings (Loss), such reclassifications are made in the period that the differences arise. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or NAV per share.

 

The following adjustments were made on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2020 for permanent book/tax differences:

 

Fund

 

Paid In
Capital

   

Total
Distributable
Earnings/(Loss)

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ (242,935 )   $ 242,935  

Commodities Strategy Fund

    (451,080 )     451,080  

 

88 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

At December 31, 2020, the cost of investments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments for which there was an excess of value over tax cost and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments for which there was an excess of tax cost over value, were as follows:

 

Fund

 

Tax
Cost

   

Tax
Unrealized
Appreciation

   

Tax
Unrealized
Depreciation

   

Net Tax
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 42,942,916     $ 2,945,708     $ (6,153,710 )   $ (3,208,002 )

Commodities Strategy Fund

    4,414,847             (3,178,659 )     (3,178,659 )

 

Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations applicable to regulated investment companies, the Funds have elected to treat net capital losses and certain ordinary losses realized between November 1 and December 31 of each year as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. The Funds have also elected to treat certain ordinary losses realized between January 1 and December 31 of each year as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the following losses reflected in the accompanying financial statements were deferred for U.S. federal income tax purposes until January 1, 2021:

 

Fund

 

Ordinary

   

Capital

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ (200,275 )   $  

 

Note 8 – Securities Transactions

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities, excluding government securities, short-term investments and derivatives, were as follows:

 

Fund

 

Purchases

   

Sales

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 90,322,737     $ 86,476,913  

Commodities Strategy Fund

    30,000       1,260,000  

 

The Funds are permitted to purchase or sell securities from or to certain affiliated funds under specified conditions outlined in procedures adopted by the Board. The procedures have been designed to ensure that any purchase or sale of securities by a Fund from or to another fund or portfolio that is or could be considered an affiliate by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common trustees and/or common officers complies with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act. Further, as defined under these procedures, each transaction is effected at the current market price to save costs, where permissible. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Funds did not engage in purchases and sales of securities, pursuant to Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 89

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Note 9 – Line of Credit

 

The Trust, along with other affiliated trusts, secured an uncommitted $75,000,000 line of credit from U.S. Bank, N.A., which expired June 8, 2020. On March 30, 2020, the Board approved increasing the line of credit from $75,000,000 to $150,000,000. On June 8, 2020, the line of credit agreement was renewed at the increased $150,000,000 amount and expires on June 7, 2021. This line of credit is reserved for emergency or temporary purposes. Borrowings, if any, under this arrangement bear interest equal to the Prime Rate, minus 2%, which shall be paid monthly, averaging 1.54% for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Funds did not have any borrowings outstanding under this agreement at December 31, 2020.

 

The average daily balance borrowed for the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

Fund

 

Average Daily Balance

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 52  

 

Note 10 – Legal Proceedings

 

Tribune Company

 

Rydex Series Funds has been named as a defendant and a putative member of the proposed defendant class of shareholders in the case entitled Kirschner v. FitzSimons, No. 12-2652 (S.D.N.Y.) (formerly Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Tribune Co. v. FitzSimons, Adv. Pro. No. 10-54010 (Bankr. D. Del.)) (the “FitzSimons action”), as a result of ownership by certain series of the Rydex Series Funds of shares in the Tribune Company (“Tribune”) in 2007, when Tribune effected a leveraged buyout transaction (“LBO”) by which Tribune converted to a privately-held company. In his complaint, the plaintiff has alleged that, in connection with the LBO, Tribune insiders and shareholders were overpaid for their Tribune stock using financing that the insiders knew would, and ultimately did, leave Tribune insolvent. The plaintiff has asserted claims against certain insiders, major shareholders, professional advisers, and others involved in the LBO. The plaintiff is also attempting to obtain from former Tribune shareholders, including the Rydex Series Funds, the proceeds they received in connection with the LBO.

 

In June 2011, a group of Tribune creditors filed multiple actions against former Tribune shareholders involving state law constructive fraudulent conveyance claims arising out of the 2007 LBO (the “SLCFC actions”). Rydex Series Funds has been named as a defendant in one or more of these suits. In those actions, the creditors seek to recover from Tribune’s former shareholders the proceeds received in connection with the 2007 LBO.

 

The FitzSimons action and the SLCFC actions have been consolidated with the majority of the other Tribune LBO-related lawsuits in a multidistrict litigation proceeding captioned In re Tribune Company Fraudulent Conveyance Litig., No. 11-md-2296 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “MDL Proceeding”).

 

90 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

On September 23, 2013, the District Court granted the defendants’ omnibus motion to dismiss the SLCFC actions, on the basis that the creditors lacked standing. On September 30, 2013, the creditors filed a notice of appeal of the September 23 order. On October 28, 2013, the defendants filed a joint notice of cross-appeal of that same order.

 

On March 29, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its opinion on the appeal of the SLCFC actions. The appeals court affirmed the district court’s dismissal of those lawsuits, but on different grounds than the district court. The appeals court held that while the plaintiffs have standing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, their claims were preempted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code—the statutory safe harbor for settlement payments.

 

On April 12, 2016, the Plaintiffs in the SLCFC actions filed a petition seeking rehearing en banc before the appeals court. On July 22, 2016, the appeals court denied the petition. On September 9, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Second Circuit’s decision that the safe harbor of Section 546(e) applied to their claims. The shareholder defendants, including the Funds, filed a joint brief in opposition to the petition for certiorari on October 24, 2016. On April 3, 2018, Justice Kennedy and Justice Thomas issued a “Statement” related to the petition for certiorari suggesting that the Second Circuit and/or District Court may want to take steps to reexamine the application of the Section 546(e) safe harbor to the previously dismissed state law constructive fraudulent transfer claims based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Merit Management Group LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc. On April 10, 2018, Plaintiffs filed in the Second Circuit a motion for that court to recall its mandate, vacate its prior decision, and remand to the district court for further proceedings consistent with Merit Management. On April 20, 2018, the shareholder defendants filed an opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion to recall the mandate. On May 15, 2018, the Second Circuit issued an order recalling the mandate “in anticipation of further panel review.” On December 19, 2019, the Second Circuit issued an amended opinion that again affirmed the district court’s ruling on the basis that plaintiffs’ claims were preempted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code. Plaintiffs filed a motion for rehearing and rehearing en banc on January 2, 2020. The Second Circuit denied the petition on February 6, 2020. On July 6, 2020, plaintiffs filed a new petition for a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. In that petition, plaintiffs stated that “[t]o make it more likely that there will be a quorum for this petition,” they have “abandon[ed] the case and let the judgment below stand” with respect to certain defendants. That list did not include the Rydex Series Funds. Defendants filed an opposition to the certiorari petition on August 26, 2020, and plaintiffs filed a reply in support of the petition for certiorari on September 8, 2020.

 

On May 23, 2014, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the FitzSimons action, including a global motion to dismiss Count I, which is the claim brought against former Tribune shareholders for intentional fraudulent conveyance under U.S. federal law. On January 6, 2017, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the shareholder defendants’ motion to dismiss the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim in the FitzSimons action. In dismissing the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request to amend the complaint. The plaintiff requested that the Court direct entry of a final judgment in order to make

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 91

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

the order immediately appealable. On February 23, 2017, the Court issued an order stating that it intended to permit an interlocutory appeal of the dismissal order, but would wait to do so until it has resolved outstanding motions to dismiss filed by other defendants.

 

On July 18, 2017, the plaintiff submitted a letter to the District Court seeking leave to amend its complaint to add a constructive fraudulent transfer claim. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On August 24, 2017, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request without prejudice to renewal of the request in the event of an intervening change in the law. On March 8, 2018, the plaintiff renewed his request for leave to file a motion to amend the complaint to assert a constructive fraudulent transfer claim based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Merit Management Group LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On June 18, 2018 the District Court ordered that the request would be stayed pending further action by the Second Circuit in the SLCFC actions.

 

On December 18, 2018, plaintiff filed a letter with the District Court requesting that the stay be dissolved in order to permit briefing on the motion to amend the complaint and indicating plaintiff’s intention to file another motion to amend the complaint to reinstate claims for intentional fraudulent transfer. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On January 14, 2019, the court held a case management conference, during which the court stated that it would not lift the stay prior to further action from the Second Circuit in the SLCFC actions. The court further stated that it would allow the plaintiff to file a motion to amend to try to reinstate its intentional fraudulent transfer claim. On January 23, 2019, the court ordered the parties still facing pending claims to participate in a mediation, to commence on January 28, 2019. The mediation did not result in a settlement of the claims against the shareholder defendants.

 

On April 4, 2019, plaintiff filed a motion to amend the Fifth Amended Complaint to assert a federal constructive fraudulent transfer claim against certain shareholder defendants. On April 10, 2019, the shareholder defendants filed a brief in opposition to plaintiff’s motion to amend. On April 12, 2019, the plaintiff filed a reply brief. On April 23, 2019, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion to amend. On June 13, 2019, the court entered judgment pursuant to Rule 54(b). On July 12, 2019, the Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal with respect to the dismissal of his claims and the District Court’s denial of his motion for leave to amend. Plaintiff filed an appellate brief on January 7, 2020. The shareholder defendants’ brief was filed on April 27, 2020. Plaintiff filed a reply brief on May 18, 2020. The Court held oral argument on August 24, 2020.

 

None of these lawsuits alleges any wrongdoing on the part of Rydex Series Funds. The following series of Rydex Series Funds held shares of Tribune and tendered these shares as part of Tribune’s LBO: Nova Fund, S&P 500® Pure Value Fund, Multi-Cap Core Equity Fund, S&P 500® Fund, Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Hedged Equity Fund (the “Funds”). The value of the proceeds received by the foregoing Funds was $28,220, $109,242, $9,860, $3,400, $1,181,160, and $10,880, respectively. At this stage of the proceedings, Rydex Series Funds is not able to make a reliable predication as to the outcome of these lawsuits or the effect, if any, on a Fund’s net asset value.

 

92 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (concluded)

 

Note 11 – COVID-19 and Recent Developments

 

The global ongoing crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 is causing materially reduced consumer demand and economic output, disrupting supply chains, resulting in market closures, travel restrictions and quarantines, and adversely impacting local and global economies. Investors should be aware that in light of the current uncertainty, volatility and distress in economies, financial markets, and labor and health conditions all over the world, the Funds’ investments and a shareholder’s investment in a Fund are subject to sudden and substantial losses, increased volatility and other adverse events. Firms through which investors invest with the Funds, the Funds, their service providers, the markets in which they invest and market intermediaries are also impacted by quarantines and similar measures intended to contain the ongoing pandemic, which can obstruct their functioning and subject them to heightened operational risks.

 

Note 12 – Subsequent Events

 

On February 10, 2021, the Trust, along with other affiliated trusts, increased the line of credit agreement with U.S. Bank, N.A. from $150,000,000 to $200,000,000.

 

The Funds evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were available for issue and determined there were no material events, other than disclosed above, that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the Funds’ financial statements.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 93

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders of Guggenheim Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Commodities Strategy Fund and the Board of Trustees of Rydex Series Funds

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities of Guggenheim Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Commodities Strategy Fund (collectively referred to as the “Funds”), (two of the funds constituting Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”)), including the consolidated schedules of investments, as of December 31, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the consolidated 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 consolidated financial position of each of the Funds (two of the funds constituting Rydex Series Funds) at December 31, 2020, the consolidated results of their operations for the year then ended, the consolidated changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and their consolidated 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 each of the Funds’ 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.

 

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 December 31, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent, and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received.

 

94 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (concluded)

 

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 Guggenheim investment companies since 1979.

 

Tysons, Virginia
February 26, 2021

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 95

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

Federal Income Tax Information

 

This information is being provided as required by the Internal Revenue Code. Amounts shown may differ from those elsewhere in the report because of differences in tax and financial reporting practice.

 

In January 2021, shareholders will be advised on IRS Form 1099 DIV or substitute 1099 DIV as to the federal tax status of the distributions received by shareholders in the calendar year 2020.

 

The Funds’ investment income (dividend income plus short-term capital gains, if any) qualifies as follows:

 

Of the taxable ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, the following funds had the corresponding percentages qualify for the reduced tax rate pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief and Reconciliation Act of 2003 or for the dividends received deduction for corporations. See the qualified dividend income and dividend received deduction columns, respectively, in the table below.

 

Fund

 

Qualified
Dividend
Income

   

Dividend
Received
Deduction

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

    0.00 %     25.95 %

 

Delivery of Shareholder Reports

 

Paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports are not sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from a fund or from your financial intermediary. Instead, the reports are made available on a website, and you are notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report. You may elect to receive all future shareholder reports in paper free of charge. If you hold shares of a fund directly, you can inform the Fund that you wish to receive paper copies of reports by calling 800.820.0888. If you hold shares of a fund through a financial intermediary, please contact the financial intermediary to make this election. Your election to receive reports in paper may apply to all Guggenheim Funds in which you are invested and may apply to all Guggenheim funds held with your financial intermediary.

 

Proxy Voting Information

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to securities held in the Funds’ portfolios is available, without charge and upon request, by calling 800.820.0888. This information is also available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

96 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

Information regarding how the Funds’ voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800.820.0888. This information is also available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

Sector Classification

 

Information in the Schedule of Investments is categorized by sectors using sector-level Classifications defined by the Bloomberg Industry Classification System, a widely recognized industry classification system provider. Each Fund’s registration statement has investment policies relating to concentration in specific sectors/industries. For purposes of these investment policies, the Funds usually classify sectors/industries based on industry-level Classifications used by widely recognized industry classification system providers such as Bloomberg Industry Classification System, Global Industry Classification Standards and Barclays Global Classification Scheme.

 

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules Information

 

The Trust files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT, and for reporting periods ended prior to March 31, 2019, filed such information on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Forms N-PORT and N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. Copies of the portfolio holdings are also available to shareholders, without charge and upon request, by calling 800.820.0888.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 97

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other Directorships
Held b
y Trustees***

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

       

Randall C. Barnes

(1951)

Trustee and Chair of the Valuation Oversight Committee

Since 2019
(Trustee)

Since 2020 (Chair of the Valuation Oversight Committee)

Current: Private Investor (2001-present).

Former: Senior Vice President and Treasurer, PepsiCo, Inc. (1993-1997); President, Pizza Hut International (1991-1993); Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and New Business Development, PepsiCo, Inc. (1987-1990).

157

Current: Purpose Investments Funds (2013-present).

 

Former: Managed Duration Investment Grade Municipal Fund (2006-2016).

Angela Brock-Kyle

(1959)

Trustee

Since 2016

Current: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, B.O.A.R.D.S. (2013-present).

Former: Senior Leader, TIAA (1987-2012).

156

Current: Bowhead Insurance GP, LLC (2020-present); Hunt Companies, Inc. (2019-present).

Former: Infinity Property & Casualty Corp. (2014-2018).

Donald A.
Chubb, Jr.

(1946)1

Trustee

Since 2019

Current: Retired.

Former: Business broker and manager of commercial real estate, Griffith & Blair, Inc. (1997-2017).

156

Former: Midland Care, Inc. (2011-2016).

Jerry B. Farley

(1946)1

Trustee

Since 2019

Current: President, Washburn University (1997-present).

156

Current: CoreFirst Bank & Trust (2000-present).

Former: Westar Energy, Inc. (2004-2018).

 

98 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other Directorships
Held b
y Trustees***

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES - continued

     

Roman Friedrich III

(1946)1

Trustee

Since 2019

Current: Founder and Managing Partner, Roman Friedrich & Company (1998-present).

156

Former: Zincore Metals, Inc. (2009-2019).

Thomas F.
Lydon, Jr.

(1960)

Trustee and Chair of the Contracts Review Committee

Since 2005 (Trustee)

Since 2020 (Chair of the Contracts Review Committee)

Current: President, Global Trends Investments (1996-present); Co-Chief Executive Officer, ETF Flows, LLC (2019-present); Chief Executive Officer, Lydon Media (2016-present).

156

Current: US Global Investors (GROW) (1995-present).

Former: Harvest Volatility Edge Trust (3) (2017-2019).

Ronald A. Nyberg

(1953)

Trustee and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee

Since 2019

Current: Of Counsel, Momkus LLP (2016-present).

 

Former: Partner, Nyberg & Cassioppi, LLC (2000-2016); Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Van Kampen Investments (1982-1999).

157

Current: PPM Funds (3) (2018-present); Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare System (2012-present).

 

Former: Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (2004-2020); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (2003-2020); Managed Duration Investment Grade Municipal Fund (2003-2016).

Sandra G. Sponem

(1958)

Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee

Since 2016 (Trustee)

Since 2019 (Chair of the Audit Committee)

Current: Retired.

 

Former: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, M.A. Mortenson-Companies, Inc. (2007-2017).

156

Current: SPDR Series Trust (81) (2018-present); SPDR Index Shares Funds (30) (2018-present); SSGA Active Trust (14) (2018-present).

 

Former: SSGA Master Trust (1) (2018-2020).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 99

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other Directorships
Held b
y Trustees***

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES - concluded

     

Ronald E.
Toupin, Jr.

(1958)

Trustee, Chair of the Board and Chair of the Executive Committee

Since 2019

Current: Portfolio Consultant (2010-present); Member, Governing Council, Independent Directors Council (2013-present); Governor, Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute (2018-present).

 

Former: Member, Executive Committee, Independent Directors Council (2016-2018); Vice President, Manager and Portfolio Manager, Nuveen Asset Management (1998-1999); Vice President, Nuveen Investment Advisory Corp. (1992-1999); Vice President and Manager, Nuveen Unit Investment Trusts (1991-1999); and Assistant Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Nuveen Unit Investment Trusts (1988-1999), each of John Nuveen & Co., Inc. (1982-1999).

156

Former: Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (2004-2020); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (2003-2020); Managed Duration Investment Grade Municipal Fund (2003-2016).

 

100 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other Directorships
Held b
y Trustees***

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

       

Amy J. Lee****

(1961)

Trustee, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

Since 2019

Current: Interested Trustee, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2018-present); Chief Legal Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2014-present); Vice President, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2007-present); Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present).

 

Former: President and Chief Executive Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2017-2019); Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Security Benefit Life Insurance Company and Security Benefit Corporation (2004-2012).

156

None.

 

*

The business address of each Trustee is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

**

Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

***

Each Trustee also serves on the Boards of Trustees of Guggenheim Funds Trust, Guggenheim Variable Funds Trust, Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund, Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust, Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund, Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund, Guggenheim Energy & Income Fund, Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund, Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Dynamic Funds, Rydex Variable Trust and Transparent Value Trust. Messrs. Barnes and Nyberg also serve on the Board of Trustees of Advent Convertible & Income Fund.

****

This Trustee is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Funds under the 1940 Act by reason of her position with the Funds’ Investment Manager and/or the parent of the Investment Manager.

1

Under the Fund’s Independent Trustees Retirement Policy, Messrs. Chubb, Farley and Friedrich are expected to retire in 2021.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 101

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

OFFICERS

     

Brian E. Binder

(1972)

President and Chief Executive Officer

Since 2019

Current: President and Chief Executive Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2018-present); President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Managers, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (2018-present); President and Chief Executive Officer, Security Investors, LLC (2018-present); Board Member of Guggenheim Partners Fund Management (Europe) Limited (2018-present); Senior Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Guggenheim Investments (2018-present).

 

Former: Managing Director and President, Deutsche Funds, and Head of US Product, Trading and Fund Administration, Deutsche Asset Management (2013-2018); Managing Director, Head of Business Management and Consulting, Invesco Ltd. (2010-2012).

James M. Howley

(1972)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2016

Current: Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2004-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2006-present).

 

Former: Manager, Mutual Fund Administration of Van Kampen Investments, Inc. (1996-2004).

Mark E. Mathiasen

(1978)

Secretary

Since 2017

Current: Secretary, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2007-present); Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2007-present).

Glenn McWhinnie

(1969)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2016

Current: Vice President, Guggenheim Investments (2009-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2016-present).

Michael P. Megaris

(1984)

Assistant Secretary

Since 2018

Current: Assistant Secretary, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2014-present); Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present).

 

102 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

OFFICERS - continued

   

Elisabeth Miller

(1968)

Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2012

Current: Chief Compliance Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2012-present); Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present). Vice President, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC (2014-present).

Former: Chief Compliance Officer, Security Investors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (2012-2018); Chief Compliance Officer, Guggenheim Distributors, LLC (2009-2014); Senior Manager, Security Investors, LLC (2004-2014); Senior Manager, Guggenheim Distributors, LLC (2004-2014).

Margaux Misantone

(1978)

AML Officer

Since 2017

Current: Chief Compliance Officer, Security Investors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (2018-present); AML Officer, Security Investors, LLC and certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2017-present); Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2015-present).

 

Former: Assistant Chief Compliance Officer, Security Investors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Investments Advisors, LLC (2015-2018).

William Rehder

(1967)

Assistant Vice President

Since 2018

Current: Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2002-present).

Kimberly J. Scott

(1974)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2016

Current: Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2012-present).

 

Former: Financial Reporting Manager, Invesco, Ltd. (2010-2011); Vice President/Assistant Treasurer, Mutual Fund Administration for Van Kampen Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2009-2010); Manager of Mutual Fund Administration, Van Kampen Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2005-2009).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 103

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

OFFICERS - concluded

   

Bryan Stone

(1979)

Vice President

Since 2019

Current: Vice President, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2014-present); Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2013-present).

Former: Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman Group LLC (2009-2013); Vice President, Morgan Stanley (2002-2009).

John L. Sullivan

(1955)

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer

Since 2016

Current: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2010-present); Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2010-present).

Former: Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer, each of the funds in the Van Kampen Investments fund complex (2004-2010); Managing Director and Head of Fund Accounting and Administration, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2002-2004); Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Van Kampen Funds (1996-2004).

Jon Szafran

(1989)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2017

Current: Vice President, Guggenheim Investments (2017-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2017-present).

Former: Assistant Treasurer of Henderson Global Funds and Manager of US Fund Administration, Henderson Global Investors (North America) Inc. (“HGINA”), (2017); Senior Analyst of US Fund Administration, HGINA (2014–2017); Senior Associate of Fund Administration, Cortland Capital Market Services, LLC (2013-2014); Experienced Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2012-2013).

 

*

The business address of each officer is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

**

Each officer serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

104 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)

 

Who We Are

 

This Privacy Notice describes the data protection practices of Guggenheim Investments. Guggenheim Investments as used herein refers to the affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Investment Advisors (Europe) Limited, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, GS Gamma Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners India Management, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, as well as the funds in the Guggenheim Funds complex (the “Funds”) (“Guggenheim Investments,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

 

Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings, LLC, located at 330 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017 is the data controller for your information. The affiliates who are also controllers of certain of your information are: Guggenheim Investment Advisors (Europe) Limited, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, Guggenheim Partners, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC and Security Investors, LLC, as well as the Funds.

 

Our Commitment to You

 

Guggenheim Investments considers your privacy our utmost concern. When you become our client or investor, you entrust us with not only your hard-earned money but also with your personal and financial information. Because we have access to your private information, we hold ourselves to the highest standards in its safekeeping and use. We strictly limit how we share your information with others, whether you are a current or former Guggenheim Investments client or investor.

 

The Information We Collect About You

 

We collect certain nonpublic personal information about you from information you provide on applications, other forms, our website, and/or from third parties including investment advisors. This information includes Social Security or other tax identification number, assets, income, tax information, retirement and estate plan information, transaction history, account balance, payment history, bank account information, marital status, family relationships, information that we collect on our website through the use of “cookies,” and other personal information that you or others provide to us. We may also collect such information through your inquiries by mail, e-mail or telephone. We may also collect customer due diligence information, as required by applicable law and regulation, through third party service providers.

 

How We Handle Your Personal Information

 

The legal basis for using your information as set out in this Privacy Notice is as follows: (a) use of your personal data is necessary to perform our obligations under any contract with you (such as a contract for us to provide financial services to you); or (b) where use of your personal data is not necessary for performance of a contract, use of your personal data is necessary for our

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 105

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(continued)

 

legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of others (for example, to enforce the legal terms governing our services, operate and market our website and other services we offer, ensure safe environments for our personnel and others, make and receive payments, prevent fraud and to know the customer to whom we are providing the services). Some processing is done to comply with applicable law.

 

In addition to the specific uses described above, we also use your information in the following manner:

 

 

We use your information in connection with servicing your accounts.

 

 

We use information to respond to your requests or questions. For example, we might use your information to respond to your customer feedback.

 

 

We use information to improve our products and services. We may use your information to make our website and products better. We may use your information to customize your experience with us.

 

 

We use information for security purposes. We may use your information to protect our company and our customers.

 

 

We use information to communicate with you. For example, we will communicate with you about your account or our relationship. We may contact you about your feedback. We might also contact you about this Privacy Notice. We may also enroll you in our email newsletter.

 

 

We use information as otherwise permitted by law, as we may notify you.

 

 

Aggregate/Anonymous Data. We may aggregate and/or anonymize any information collected through the website so that such information can no longer be linked to you or your device (“Aggregate/Anonymous Information”). We may use Aggregate/Anonymous Information for any purpose, including without limitation for research and marketing purposes, and may also share such data with any third parties, including advertisers, promotional partners, and sponsors.

 

We do not sell information about current or former clients or their accounts to third parties. Nor do we share this information, except when necessary to complete transactions at your request, to make you aware of investment products and services that we or our affiliates offer, or as permitted or required by law.

 

We provide information about you to companies and individuals not affiliated with Guggenheim Investments to complete certain transactions or account changes, or to perform services for us related to your account. For example, if you ask to transfer assets from another financial institution to Guggenheim Investments, we must provide certain information about you to that company to complete the transaction. We provide the third party with only the information necessary to carry out its responsibilities and only for that purpose. And we require these third

 

106 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(continued)

 

parties to treat your private information with the same high degree of confidentiality that we do. To alert you to other Guggenheim Investments products and services, we share your information within our family of affiliated companies. You may limit our sharing with affiliated companies as set out below. We may also share information with any successor to all or part of our business, or in connection with steps leading up to a merger or acquisition. For example, if part of our business was sold we may give customer information as part of that transaction. We may also share information about you with your consent.

 

We will release information about you if you direct us to do so, if we are compelled by law to do so, or in other circumstances as permitted by law (for example, to protect your account from fraud).

 

If you close your account(s) or become an inactive client or investor, we will continue to adhere to the privacy policies and practices described in this notice.

 

Opt-Out Provisions and Your Data Choices

 

The law allows you to “opt out” of certain kinds of information sharing with third parties. We do not share personal information about you with any third parties that triggers this opt-out right. This means YOU ARE ALREADY OPTED OUT.

 

When you are no longer our client or investor, we continue to share your information as described in this notice, and you may contact us at any time to limit our sharing by sending an email to CorporateDataPrivacy@GuggenheimPartners.com.

 

European Union Data Subjects and certain others: In addition to the choices set forth above, residents of the European Union and certain other jurisdictions have certain rights to (1) request access to or rectification or deletion of information we collect about them, (2) request a restriction on the processing of their information, (3) object to the processing of their information, or (4) request the portability of certain information. To exercise these or other rights, please contact us using the contact information below. We will consider all requests and provide our response within the time period stated by applicable law. Please note, however, that certain information may be exempt from such requests in some circumstances, which may include if we need to keep processing your information for our legitimate interests or to comply with a legal obligation. We may request you provide us with information necessary to confirm your identity before responding to your request. Residents of France and certain other jurisdictions may also provide us with instructions regarding the manner in which we may continue to store, erase and share your information after your death, and where applicable, the person you have designated to exercise these rights after your death.

 

How We Protect Privacy Online

 

We take steps to protect your privacy when you use our web site – www.guggenheiminvestments.com – by using secure forms of online communication, including encryption technology, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol, firewalls and user names and passwords. These safeguards vary based on the sensitivity of the information that we collect

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 107

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

and store. However, we cannot and do not guarantee that these measures will prevent every unauthorized attempt to access, use, or disclose your information since despite our efforts, no Internet and/or other electronic transmissions can be completely secure. Our web site uses “http cookies”—tiny pieces of information that we ask your browser to store. We use cookies for session management and security features on the Guggenheim Investments web site. We do not use them to pull data from your hard drive, to learn your e-mail address, or to view data in cookies created by other web sites. We will not share the information in our cookies or give others access to it. See the legal information area on our web site for more details about web site security and privacy features.

 

How We Safeguard Your Personal Information and Data Retention

 

We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to our employees and in some cases to third parties (for example, the service providers described above) as permitted by law. We maintain strict physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic personal information.

 

We keep your information for no longer than necessary for the purposes for which it is processed. The length of time for which we retain information depends on the purposes for which we collected and use it and/or as required to comply with applicable laws. Information may persist in copies made for backup and business continuity purposes for additional time.

 

International Visitors

 

If you are not a resident of the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored and processed in the United States where our servers are located and our databases are operated. The data protection and other laws of the United States and other countries might not be as comprehensive as those in your country.

 

In such cases, we ensure that a legal basis for such a transfer exists and that adequate protection is provided as required by applicable law, for example, by using standard contractual clauses or by transferring your data to a jurisdiction that has obtained an adequacy finding. Individuals whose data may be transferred on the basis of standard contractual clauses may contact us as described below.

 

We’ll Keep You Informed

 

If you have any questions or concerns about how we treat your personal data, we encourage you to consult with us first. You may also contact the relevant supervisory authority.

 

We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time and will inform you promptly of material changes. You may access our privacy policy from our web site at www.guggenheiminvestments.com. Should you have any questions regarding our privacy policy, contact us by email at CorporateDataPrivacy@GuggenheimPartners.com.

 

108 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Unaudited)

 

In compliance with SEC Rule 22e-4 under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”) has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) for each series of the Trust (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”). The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) previously approved the designation of a Program administrator (the “Administrator”).

 

The Liquidity Rule requires that the Program be reasonably designed to assess and manage each Fund’s liquidity risk. A Fund’s “liquidity risk” is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Program includes a number of elements that support the assessment, management and review of liquidity risk.In accordance with the Program, each Fund’s liquidity risk is assessed no less frequently than annually taking into consideration a variety of factors, including, as applicable, the Fund’s investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments, cash flow projections, and holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements and other funding sources. Certain factors are considered under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions. There is no guarantee that the Program will achieve its objective under all circumstances.

 

Under the Program, each Fund portfolio investment is classified into one of four liquidity categories based on a determination of the number of days it is reasonably expected to take to convert the investment to cash, or sell or dispose of the investment, in current market conditions without significantly changing the investment’s market value. The Program is reasonably designed to meet Liquidity Rule requirements relating to “highly liquid investment minimums” (i.e., the minimum amount of Fund net assets to be invested in highly liquid investments that are assets) and to monitor compliance with the Liquidity Rule’s limitations on a Fund’s investments in illiquid investments. Under the Liquidity Rule, a Fund is prohibited from acquiring any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

 

During the period covered by this shareholder report, the Board received a written report (the “Report”) prepared by the Administrator addressing the Program’s operation and assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of its implementation for the period from December 1, 2018, through March 31, 2020. The Report concluded that the Program operated effectively, the Program had been and continued to be reasonably designed to assess and manage each Fund’s liquidity risk and the Program has been adequately and effectively implemented to monitor and respond to the Funds’ liquidity developments, as applicable.

 

Please refer to your Fund’s prospectus for more information regarding the Fund’s exposure to liquidity risk and other risks to which an investment in the Fund may be subject.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 109

 

 

 

 

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12.31.2020

 

Guggenheim Funds Annual Report

 

Guggenheim Alternative Fund

Guggenheim Managed Futures Strategy Fund

   

 

GuggenheimInvestments.com

RMFSF-ANN-1220x1221

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   

DEAR SHAREHOLDER

2

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW

4

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES

6

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

9

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

27

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

45

OTHER INFORMATION

47

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

49

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE

56

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

61

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 1

 

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

Security Investors, LLC (the “Investment Adviser”), is pleased to present the annual shareholder report for the Managed Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) that is part of the Rydex Series Funds. This report covers performance of the Fund for the annual period ended December 31, 2020.

 

The Investment Adviser is a part of Guggenheim Investments, which represents the investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (“Guggenheim”), a global, diversified financial services firm.

 

Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC is the distributor of the Fund. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC is affiliated with Guggenheim and the Investment Adviser.

 

We encourage you to read the Economic and Market Overview section of the report, which follows this letter, and then the Performance Report and Fund Profile for the Fund.

 

We are committed to providing innovative investment solutions and appreciate the trust you place in us.

 

Sincerely,

 

Security Investors, LLC

 

January 31, 2021

 

Read a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before investing. It contains the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information, which should be considered carefully before investing. Obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) at guggenheiminvestments.com or call 800.820.0888.

 

This material is not intended as a recommendation or as investment advice of any kind, including in connection with rollovers, transfers, and distributions. Such material is not provided in a fiduciary capacity, may not be relied upon for or in connection with the making of investment decisions, and does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. All content has been provided for informational or educational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Always consult a financial, tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

 

2 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

The global ongoing crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 is causing materially reduced consumer demand and economic output, disrupting supply chains, resulting in market closures, travel restrictions and quarantines, and adversely impacting local and global economies. Investors should be aware that in light of the current uncertainty, volatility and distress in economies, financial markets, and labor and health conditions all over the world, the Fund’s investments and a shareholder’s investment in the Fund are subject to sudden and substantial losses, increased volatility and other adverse events. Firms through which investors invest with the Fund, the Fund, its service providers, the markets in which it invests and market intermediaries are also impacted by quarantines and similar measures intended to contain the ongoing pandemic, which can obstruct their functioning and subject them to heightened operational risks.

 

The Managed Futures Strategy Fund may not be suitable for all investors. ●The Fund’s investments in securities and derivatives, in general, are subject to market risks that may cause their prices, and therefore the Fund’s value, to fluctuate over time. An investment in the Fund may lose money. ● The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to those associated with investing directly in securities or other investments, including illiquidity of the derivatives, imperfect correlations with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, lack of availability and counterparty risk. To the extent the Fund invests in derivatives to seek to hedge risk or limit leveraged exposure created by other investments, there is no guarantee that such hedging strategies will be effective at managing risk or limiting exposure to leveraged investments. ● The Fund’s use of leverage will exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio. ● The Fund’s use of short selling involves increased risk and costs. The Fund risks paying more for a security than it received from its sale. Theoretically, securities sold short have the risk of unlimited losses. ● The Fund’s investments in fixed income securities will change in value in response to interest rate changes and other factors. In general, bond prices rise when interest rates fall and vice versa. ● The Fund‘s exposure to high yield, asset backed and mortgaged backed securities may subject the Fund to greater volatility. ● The Fund’s indirect and direct exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of short positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged. ● The Fund’s exposure to the commodity markets may subject the fund to greater volatility as commodity-linked investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity such as droughts, floods, weather, embargos, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. ● The Fund may invest in securities of foreign companies directly, or indirectly through the use of other investment companies and financial instruments that are linked to the performance of foreign issuers. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets, and prices in some foreign markets may fluctuate more than those of securities traded on U.S. markets. ● See the prospectus for more information on these and other risks.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 3

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

In what could have been one of the worst years on record for equity investors due to the devastating human and economic cost of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with political unrest in the U.S., the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020, witnessed the Standard & Poor’s 500® (“S&P 500®”) Index reach a record high of 3,756.07 from 3,234.85 at the start of the year. This was despite plummeting to 2,237.40 on March 23, 2020 as the effects of the pandemic caused the U.S. economy to stall. This dramatic change in fortune for equity markets was due in large part by a swift, sweeping response to the economic shutdown in March 2020 by the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), which has continued to signal its intention to use ultra-accommodative monetary policy to strive toward full employment and 2% inflation via unprecedented measures. The central bank’s commitment to keeping interest rates near zero and its bond-buying program to lessen the risk of corporate defaults resulted in bountiful debt issuance by corporate borrowers and a growing confidence among equity investors that the investment environment would remain benign for the foreseeable future.

 

As such, our economic outlook for the coming year is positive, owing to another round of COVID-19 relief and more planned by the new administration, plus the expectation for a successful vaccine distribution. The new package, titled the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, delivers a $900 billion injection into the economy, bringing total COVID-related aid to over $3.5 trillion including the 2020 bill, or roughly 8.5% of 2020–2021 gross domestic product (“GDP”). On this measure, it is already 3.5x more than the stimulus delivered in the five years following the financial crisis.

 

The latest round of fiscal stimulus should cause a surge in personal income during the first quarter, and a significant percentage of the population should be vaccinated or immune from prior infection by mid-2021. It is likely that local governments will be able to begin to relax restrictions even before herd immunity is reached since hospitalizations should fall once the elderly are vaccinated. As we move through the year, consumer spending growth should start to accelerate, spurred on by elevated personal savings and strong gains in household net worth. Elsewhere, the housing market will continue to benefit from tight supply and low interest rates, and business investment should rebound as corporations look to put to work record levels of precautionary cash. As a result, we expect real GDP growth to be well above potential for the year.

 

If the unemployment rate continues to fall at its recent pace and inflation picks up with its usual six-quarter lag behind economic activity, the experience of prior cycles would suggest that the Fed could start its hiking cycle as early as late-2022. However, the change in the Fed’s playbook will keep it sidelined for years as it looks to make up for shortfalls related to its 2% inflation target and no longer worries about an overly tight labor market.

 

This means the Fed is likely to keep rates at zero for several years beyond the late-2023 liftoff currently priced into the bond market. Similarly, the odds are low of a tapering of the Fed’s bond purchases in 2021. While we believe the government response to the pandemic was necessary and appropriate, investors are already paying some price with more elevated valuations due in part

 

4 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited)(concluded)

December 31, 2020

 

to the Fed’s aggressive relaunch of quantitative easing. Under these circumstances, investors will likely continue to take on more risk as long as more fiscal support is underway and while the Fed remains willing to backstop credit markets to support financial conditions.

 

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020, the S&P 500® Index* returned 18.40%. The MSCI Europe-Australasia-Far East (“EAFE”) Index* returned 7.82%. The return of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index* was 15.84%.

 

In the bond market, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* posted a 7.51% return for the 12-month period, while the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index* returned 7.11%. The return of the ICE Bank of America (“BofA”) Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index* was 0.67% for the 12-month period.

 

The opinions and forecasts expressed may not actually come to pass. This information is subject to change at any time, based on market and other conditions, and should not be construed as a recommendation of any specific security or strategy.

 

*Index Definitions:

 

The following indices are referenced throughout this report. Indices are unmanaged and not available for direct investment. Index performance does not reflect transaction costs, fees, or expenses.

 

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including U.S. Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities or “MBS” (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage, or “ARM”, pass-throughs), asset-backed securities (“ABS”), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) (agency and non-agency).

 

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index measures the U.S. dollar-denominated, high yield, fixed-rate corporate bond market. Securities are classified as high yield if the middle rating of Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P is Ba1/BB +/BB + or below.

 

ICE BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged market index of U.S. Treasury securities maturing in 90 days that assumes reinvestment of all income.

 

MSCI EAFE Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. & Canada.

 

MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets.

 

S&P 500® is a broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the performance of 500 widely held common stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation.

 

SG (“Societe Generale”) CTA Index is designed to track the largest 20 (by assets under management) Commodity Trading Advisors, or CTAs, and be representative of the managed futures space. The CTA Index is equally weighted, and reblanced and reconstituted annually.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 5

 

 

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)

 

All mutual funds have operating expenses, and it is important for our shareholders to understand the impact of costs on their investments. Shareholders of a fund incur two types of costs: (i) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, other distributions, and exchange fees, and (ii) ongoing costs, including management fees, administrative services, and shareholder reports, among others. These ongoing costs, or operating expenses, are deducted from a fund’s gross income and reduce the investment return of the fund.

 

A fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets, which is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help investors understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period beginning June 30, 2020 and ending December 31, 2020.

 

The following tables illustrate the Fund’s costs in two ways:

 

Table 1. Based on actual Fund return: This section helps investors estimate the actual expenses paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return, and the fifth column shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. Investors may use the information here, together with the amount invested, to estimate the expenses paid over the period. Simply divide the Fund’s 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 provided under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

Table 2. Based on hypothetical 5% return: This section is intended to help investors compare a fund’s cost with those of other mutual funds. The table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses paid during the period. The example is useful in making comparisons because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on the 5% return. Investors can assess a Fund’s costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

The calculations illustrated above assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

6 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) on redemptions, if any. Therefore, the second table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

More information about the Fund’s expenses, including annual expense ratios for periods up to five years (subject to the Fund’s inception date), can be found in the Financial Highlights section of this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 7

 

 

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

 

Expense
Ratio
1

Fund
Return

Beginning
Account Value
June 30,
2020

Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2020

Expenses
Paid During
Period
2

Table 1. Based on actual Fund return3

Managed Futures Strategy Fund

A-Class

1.72%

1.00%

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,010.00

$ 8.71

C-Class

2.48%

0.60%

1,000.00

1,006.00

12.54

P-Class

1.73%

0.98%

1,000.00

1,009.80

8.76

Institutional Class

1.47%

1.10%

1,000.00

1,011.00

7.45

 

Table 2. Based on hypothetical 5% return (before expenses)

Managed Futures Strategy Fund

A-Class

1.72%

5.00%

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,016.53

$ 8.74

C-Class

2.48%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,012.70

12.58

P-Class

1.73%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,016.48

8.79

Institutional Class

1.47%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,017.80

7.48

 

 

1

Annualized and excludes expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

2

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, net of any applicable fee waivers, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

3

Actual cumulative return at net asset value for the period June 30, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

 

8 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

OBJECTIVE: Seeks to achieve absolute returns.

 

For the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, the Managed Futures Strategy Fund Institutional shares returned 2.29%. The ICE BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, the Fund’s benchmark, returned 0.67%.

 

The Fund is comprised of multiple proprietary strategies designed to systematically exploit market inefficiencies in futures markets around the globe.

 

The Fund may invest in certain of the underlying series of Guggenheim Funds Trust and Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, including Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration, Guggenheim Strategy Fund II, and Guggenheim Strategy Fund III, (collectively, the “Short Term Investment Vehicles”), each of which are open-end management investment companies managed by Guggenheim Investments. The Short Term Investment Vehicles, which launched on March 11, 2014, are offered as short term investment options only to mutual funds, trusts, and other accounts managed by Guggenheim Investments and/or its affiliates, and are not available to the public, with the exception of Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund, which is available to the public. Guggenheim Strategy Fund II and Guggenheim Strategy Fund III do not charge an investment management fee. Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund charges an investment management fee but that fee is waived by the respective investee fund. For the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, investment in the Short Term Investment Vehicles benefited Fund performance.

 

The Fund underperformed the SG CTA Index for the year, which returned 3.16%.

 

For the one-year period ending December 31, 2020, positions in fixed income, volatility, equity indexes, and commodities all contributed positively to the Fund’s return. Positions in currencies detracted from performance in 2020. Among the futures that contributed the most to performance were positions in soybeans, NASDAQ 100, gold, FTSE Taiwan, and U.S. Government 30-Year Bond.

 

The Fund held derivatives for a number of reasons, including liquidity, leverage, speculation, and hedging. Derivatives were liquid and allowed the Fund to gain leveraged access to markets in order to express investment views and to hedge exposures. Futures are an integral part of a managed futures strategy, and therefore derivatives performance was the primary driver of the Fund’s performance for the period.

 

Performance displayed represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 9

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Consolidated Holdings Diversification (Market Exposure as % of Net Assets)

 

 

“Consolidated Holdings Diversification (Market Exposure as % of Net Assets)” excludes any temporary cash investments, investments in Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust mutual funds, or investments in Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund. Investments in those Funds do not provide “market exposure” to meet the Fund’s investment objective, but will significantly increase the portfolio’s exposure to certain other asset categories (and their associated risks), which may cause the Fund to deviate from its principal investment strategy, including: (i) high yield, high risk debt securities rated below the top four long-term rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (also known as “junk bonds”); (ii) securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; (iii) CLOs and similar investments; and (iv) other short-term fixed income securities.

 

Inception Dates:

A-Class

March 2, 2007

C-Class

March 2, 2007

P-Class

March 2, 2007

Institutional Class

May 3, 2010

 

Largest Holdings (% of Total Net Assets)

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III

24.4%

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

15.3%

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

11.3%

Total

51.0%

   

“Largest Holdings” excludes any temporary cash or derivative investments.

 

10 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Cumulative Fund Performance*

 

 

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 11

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(concluded)

December 31, 2020

 

Average Annual Returns*

Periods Ended December 31, 2020

 

 

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

A-Class Shares

2.01%

(1.70%)

(1.51%)

A-Class Shares with sales charge

(2.86%)

(2.65%)

(1.99%)

C-Class Shares

1.25%

(2.43%)

(2.25%)

C-Class Shares with CDSC§

0.31%

(2.43%)

(2.25%)

P-Class Shares

2.05%

(1.66%)

(1.49%)

Institutional Class Shares

2.29%

(1.46%)

(1.27%)

ICE BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index

0.67%

1.20%

0.64%

 

*

The performance data above represents past performance that is not predictive of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Returns are historical and include changes in principal and reinvested dividends and capital gains and do not reflect the effect of taxes. The ICE BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index and, unlike the Fund, has no management fees or operating expenses to reduce its reported return. The graphs are based on A-Class shares and P-Class shares only; performance for C-Class shares and Institutional Class shares will vary due to differences in fee structure.

Fund returns are calculated using the maximum sales charge of 4.75%.

§

Fund returns include a CDSC of 1% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase.

 

12 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2020

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

MUTUAL FUNDS - 51.0%

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III1

    223,685     $ 5,614,498  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II1

    140,642       3,510,413  

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class1

    259,982       2,594,622  

Total Mutual Funds

       

(Cost $11,605,971)

            11,719,533  
                 
   

Face
Amount

         

U.S. TREASURY BILLS†† - 10.9%

U.S. Treasury Bills

0.08% due 01/28/212,3

  $ 2,490,000       2,489,904  

Total U.S. Treasury Bills

       

(Cost $2,489,855)

            2,489,904  
                 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS††,4 - 37.0%

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

    4,717,523       4,717,523  

Barclays Capital, Inc.
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

    1,965,371       1,965,371  

BofA Securities, Inc.
issued 12/31/20 at 0.06%
due 01/04/21

    1,819,787       1,819,787  

Total Repurchase Agreements

       

(Cost $8,502,681)

            8,502,681  
                 

Total Investments - 98.9%

       

(Cost $22,598,507)

  $ 22,712,118  

Other Assets & Liabilities, net - 1.1%

    258,648  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

  $ 22,970,766  

 

       

Futures Contracts

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation**

 

Commodity Futures Contracts Purchased

Soybean Futures Contracts

    16       Mar 2021     $ 1,048,000     $ 91,208  

Wheat Futures Contracts

    45       Jul 2021       1,417,500       76,431  

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    98       Apr 2021       1,612,374       63,055  

Live Cattle Futures Contracts

    45       Jun 2021       2,064,150       47,769  

Corn Futures Contracts

    16       Mar 2021       388,600       46,907  

Copper Futures Contracts

    8       Mar 2021       704,800       46,701  

Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts

    15       Jan 2021       889,182       37,707  

Soybean Oil Futures Contracts

    15       Mar 2021       381,960       31,557  

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    7       Feb 2021       121,520       17,856  

Cotton #2 Futures Contracts

    7       Mar 2021       273,735       17,808  

Gold 100 oz. Futures Contracts

    2       Feb 2021       380,740       12,034  

Soybean Meal Futures Contracts

    11       Mar 2021       472,010       11,587  

Silver Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       132,775       10,522  

Hard Red Winter Wheat Futures Contracts

    5       Mar 2021       151,438       9,960  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 13

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

Futures Contracts (continued)

                               

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**

 

Brent Crude Futures Contracts

    4       Jan 2021     $ 206,880     $ 8,963  

WTI Crude Futures Contracts

    5       Jan 2021       242,250       6,442  

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    20       Jun 2021       317,632       2,625  

Platinum Futures Contracts

    1       Apr 2021       54,045       1,862  

Wheat Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       32,088       1,297  

Cocoa Futures Contracts

    2       Mar 2021       51,940       (1,076 )

LME Nickel Futures Contracts

    3       Feb 2021       298,548       (1,921 )

LME Primary Aluminum Futures Contracts

    4       Feb 2021       198,273       (4,964 )

LME Lead Futures Contracts

    5       Feb 2021       248,638       (14,784 )

LME Zinc Futures Contracts

    7       Feb 2021       479,808       (19,094 )

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    35       Feb 2021       885,850       (44,559 )
                    $ 13,054,736     $ 455,893  

Currency Futures Contracts Purchased

British Pound Futures Contracts

    40       Mar 2021     $ 3,420,250     $ 78,980  

Australian Dollar Futures Contracts

    19       Mar 2021       1,465,660       46,149  

Canadian Dollar Futures Contracts

    72       Mar 2021       5,659,560       32,492  

Euro FX Futures Contracts

    22       Mar 2021       3,364,900       25,199  

New Zealand Dollar Futures Contracts

    16       Mar 2021       1,151,520       24,360  

Japanese Yen Futures Contracts

    27       Mar 2021       3,271,219       21,895  

Mexican Peso Futures Contracts

    35       Mar 2021       872,900       402  
                    $ 19,206,009     $ 229,477  

Equity Futures Contracts Purchased

FTSE Taiwan Index Futures Contracts

    19       Jan 2021     $ 969,570     $ 30,749  

NASDAQ-100 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    2       Mar 2021       514,770       18,723  

DAX Index Futures Contracts††

    1       Mar 2021       419,336       18,606  

Amsterdam Index Futures Contracts††

    4       Jan 2021       614,350       10,892  

S&P 500 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    4       Mar 2021       748,850       10,666  

Russell 2000 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    3       Mar 2021       296,130       8,162  

Nikkei 225 (OSE) Index Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       266,868       7,767  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index Futures Contracts

    5       Mar 2021       321,975       7,412  

S&P MidCap 400 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       230,260       6,054  

Tokyo Stock Price Index Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       175,840       5,847  

MSCI EAFE Index Futures Contracts

    2       Mar 2021       213,050       4,857  

Euro STOXX 50 Index Futures Contracts††

    3       Mar 2021       130,314       2,940  

FTSE/JSE TOP 40 Index Futures Contracts††

    5       Mar 2021       187,692       2,280  

SPI 200 Index Futures Contracts

    3       Mar 2021       383,241       2,057  

CAC 40 10 Euro Index Futures Contracts††

    4       Jan 2021       273,105       2,057  

Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Mini Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       152,340       1,768  

OMX Stockholm 30 Index Futures Contracts††

    3       Jan 2021       68,726       1,430  

HSCEI Index Futures Contracts††

    1       Jan 2021       68,195       1,223  

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    1       Jun 2021       25,950       249  

 

14 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

Futures Contracts (continued)

                               

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**

 

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    14       Jan 2021     $ 331,520     $ (3,679 )

S&P/TSX 60 IX Index Futures Contracts

    2       Mar 2021       323,234       (3,925 )
                    $ 6,715,316     $ 136,135  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts Purchased

Australian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts

    48       Mar 2021     $ 5,449,969     $ 19,671  

U.S. Treasury 2 Year Note Futures Contracts

    88       Mar 2021       19,444,563       18,298  

U.S. Treasury 5 Year Note Futures Contracts

    49       Mar 2021       6,180,891       13,439  

U.S. Treasury 10 Year Note Futures Contracts

    51       Mar 2021       7,038,797       7,746  

Euro - Bund Futures Contracts††

    12       Mar 2021       2,607,918       6,933  

Australian Government 3 Year Bond Futures Contracts

    279       Mar 2021       25,260,171       6,821  

Long Gilt Futures Contracts††

    4       Mar 2021       740,998       6,655  

Canadian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts††

    11       Mar 2021       1,289,280       5,193  

Euro - Bobl Futures Contracts††

    8       Mar 2021       1,322,287       618  

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       172,938       (1,674 )
                    $ 69,507,812     $ 83,700  

Equity Futures Contracts Sold Short

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    14       Feb 2021     $ 357,840     $ 23,050  

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    7       Mar 2021       180,530       135  

Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Mini Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       152,340       (1,142 )

HSCEI Index Futures Contracts††

    3       Jan 2021       204,586       (3,268 )

FTSE 100 Index Futures Contracts††

    6       Mar 2021       532,759       (5,774 )

Euro STOXX 50 Index Futures Contracts††

    5       Mar 2021       217,190       (7,597 )
                    $ 1,645,245     $ 5,404  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts Sold Short

Euro - Schatz Futures Contracts††

    84       Mar 2021     $ 11,524,340     $ 3,233  

Canadian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts††

    21       Mar 2021       2,461,353       154  

Euro - BTP Italian Government Bond Futures Contracts††

    5       Mar 2021       929,313       (651 )

Long Gilt Futures Contracts††

    15       Mar 2021       2,778,743       (3,212 )

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       213,063       (3,377 )

Euro - Bund Futures Contracts††

    12       Mar 2021       2,607,918       (3,807 )

Euro - OATS Futures Contracts††

    17       Mar 2021       3,490,775       (6,726 )
                    $ 24,005,505     $ (14,386 )

Currency Futures Contracts Sold Short

Swiss Franc Futures Contracts

    46       Mar 2021     $ 6,508,425     $ (14,179 )

Australian Dollar Futures Contracts

    15       Mar 2021       1,157,100       (19,780 )
                    $ 7,665,525     $ (33,959 )

Commodity Futures Contracts Sold Short

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    11       Jan 2021     $ 279,400     $ 4,942  

LME Primary Aluminum Futures Contracts

    2       Feb 2021       99,137       1,320  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 15

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

Futures Contracts (concluded)

                               

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Depreciation**

 

Cocoa Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021     $ 25,970     $ (313 )

NY Harbor ULSD Futures Contracts

    2       Jan 2021       124,706       (333 )

Lean Hogs Futures Contracts

    1       Feb 2021       28,140       (1,123 )

Red Spring Wheat Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       30,000       (2,138 )

Corn Futures Contracts

    1       Mar 2021       24,288       (2,940 )

Cattle Feeder Futures Contracts

    5       Mar 2021       350,313       (3,128 )

Hard Red Winter Wheat Futures Contracts

    3       Mar 2021       90,863       (3,922 )

Live Cattle Futures Contracts

    5       Feb 2021       230,250       (3,965 )

Low Sulphur Gas Oil Futures Contracts

    9       Feb 2021       384,525       (20,490 )

Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts

    11       Mar 2021       706,259       (20,709 )

Coffee ‘C’ Futures Contracts

    6       Mar 2021       286,425       (27,419 )

Wheat Futures Contracts

    42       Mar 2021       1,347,675       (28,101 )

Live Cattle Futures Contracts

    37       Apr 2021       1,765,640       (31,751 )

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    45       Mar 2021       1,146,150       (45,115 )

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    80       Feb 2021       1,388,800       (79,519 )
                    $ 8,308,541     $ (264,704 )

 

 

**

Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation). Variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Value determined based on Level 1 inputs, unless otherwise noted — See Note 4.

††

Value determined based on Level 2 inputs — See Note 4.

1

Affiliated issuer.

2

All or a portion of this security is pledged as futures collateral at December 31, 2020.

3

Rate indicated is the effective yield at the time of purchase.

4

Repurchase Agreements — See Note 6.

   
 

See Sector Classification in Other Information section.

 

16 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2020

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments at December 31, 2020 (See Note 4 in the Consolidated Notes to Financial Statements):

 

Investments in Securities (Assets)

 

Level 1
Quoted
Prices

   

Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs

   

Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

   

Total

 

Mutual Funds

  $ 11,719,533     $     $     $ 11,719,533  

U.S. Treasury Bills

          2,489,904             2,489,904  

Repurchase Agreements

          8,502,681             8,502,681  

Commodity Futures Contracts**

    548,553                   548,553  

Currency Futures Contracts**

    229,477                   229,477  

Equity Futures Contracts**

    127,496       39,428             166,924  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts**

    65,975       22,786             88,761  

Total Assets

  $ 12,691,034     $ 11,054,799     $     $ 23,745,833  

 

Investments in Securities (Liabilities)

 

Level 1
Quoted
Prices

   

Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs

   

Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

   

Total

 

Commodity Futures Contracts**

  $ 357,364     $     $     $ 357,364  

Currency Futures Contracts**

    33,959                   33,959  

Equity Futures Contracts**

    8,746       16,639             25,385  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts**

    5,051       14,396             19,447  

Total Liabilities

  $ 405,120     $ 31,035     $     $ 436,155  

 

**

This derivative is reported as unrealized appreciation/depreciation at period end.

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 17

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (concluded)

December 31, 2020

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

Affiliated Transactions

 

Investments representing 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of a company, or control of or by, or common control under Guggenheim Investments (“GI”), result in that company being considered an affiliated issuer, as defined in the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund may invest in certain of the underlying series of Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, including Guggenheim Strategy Fund II and Guggenheim Strategy Fund III, (collectively, the “Short Term Investment Vehicles”), each of which are open-end management investment companies managed by GI. The Short Term Investment Vehicles, which launched on March 11, 2014, are offered as short term investment options only to mutual funds, trusts, and other accounts managed by GI and/or its affiliates, and are not available to the public. The Short Term Investment Vehicles pay no investment management fees. The Short Term Investment Vehicles’ annual report on Form N-CSR dated September 30, 2020, is available publicly or upon request. This information is available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1601445/000182126820000133/gug81042-ncsr.htm.

 

Transactions during the year ended December 31, 2020, in which the company is an affiliated issuer, were as follows:

 

Security Name

 

Value
12/31/19

   

Additions

   

Reductions

   

Realized
Gain (Loss)

   

Change in
Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

   

Value
12/31/20

   

Shares
12/31/20

   

Investment
Income

 

Mutual Funds

                                                               

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

  $ 4,666,613     $ 9,776,344     $ (10,850,000 )   $ (169,555 )   $ 87,011     $ 3,510,413       140,642     $ 76,267  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III

    9,534,979       148,695       (4,150,000 )     (49,658 )     130,482       5,614,498       223,685       148,519  

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

    7,222,483       8,373,817       (12,900,000 )     (130,022 )     28,344       2,594,622       259,982       74,017  
    $ 21,424,075     $ 18,298,856     $ (27,900,000 )   $ (349,235 )   $ 245,837     $ 11,719,533             $ 298,803  

 

 

18 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

December 31, 2020

 

Assets:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value (cost $2,489,855)

  $ 2,489,904  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (cost $11,605,971)

    11,719,533  

Repurchase agreements, at value (cost $8,502,681)

    8,502,681  

Segregated cash with broker

    295,379  

Receivables:

Variation margin on futures contracts

    60,678  

Fund shares sold

    21,134  

Dividends

    14,790  

Interest

    14  

Total assets

    23,104,113  
         

Liabilities:

Overdraft due to custodian bank

    127  

Payable for:

Fund shares redeemed

    48,418  

Management fees

    16,994  

Securities purchased

    15,913  

Professional fees

    6,119  

Transfer agent and administrative fees

    5,180  

Printing fees

    4,242  

Distribution and service fees

    3,912  

Portfolio accounting fees

    1,926  

Trustees’ fees*

    552  

Miscellaneous

    29,964  

Total liabilities

    133,347  

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 10)

     

Net assets

  $ 22,970,766  
         

Net assets consist of:

Paid in capital

  $ 65,695,071  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

    (42,724,305 )

Net assets

  $ 22,970,766  
         

A-Class:

Net assets

  $ 6,305,880  

Capital shares outstanding

    351,199  

Net asset value per share

  $ 17.96  

Maximum offering price per share (Net asset value divided by 95.25%)

  $ 18.86  
         

C-Class:

Net assets

  $ 1,121,386  

Capital shares outstanding

    70,077  

Net asset value per share

  $ 16.00  
         

P-Class:

Net assets

  $ 7,741,481  

Capital shares outstanding

    429,356  

Net asset value per share

  $ 18.03  
         

Institutional Class:

Net assets

  $ 7,802,019  

Capital shares outstanding

    422,019  

Net asset value per share

  $ 18.49  

 

 

*

Relates to Trustees not deemed “interested persons” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 19

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

Investment Income:

Dividends from securities of affiliated issuers

  $ 298,803  

Interest

    29,299  

Total investment income

    328,102  
         

Expenses:

Management fees

    285,121  

Distribution and service fees:

A-Class

    17,231  

C-Class

    14,485  

P-Class

    29,989  

Transfer agent and administrative fees

    83,093  

Professional fees

    37,021  

Portfolio accounting fees

    29,182  

Trustees’ fees*

    8,704  

Custodian fees

    4,644  

Miscellaneous

    25,327  

Total expenses

    534,797  

Less:

Expenses waived by Adviser

    (33,997 )

Net expenses

    500,800  

Net investment loss

    (172,698 )
         

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

Net realized gain (loss) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

    13  

Investments in affiliated issuers

    (349,235 )

Futures contracts

    214,867  

Foreign currency transactions

    560  

Net realized loss

    (133,795 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

    127  

Investments in affiliated issuers

    245,837  

Futures contracts

    735,001  

Foreign currency translations

    (445 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    980,520  

Net realized and unrealized gain

    846,725  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 674,027  

 

 

*

Relates to Trustees not deemed “interested persons” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

 

20 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2019

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:

               

Net investment income (loss)

  $ (172,698 )   $ 262,823  

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

    (133,795 )     2,552,599  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    980,520       (723,368 )

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    674,027       2,092,054  
                 

Distributions to shareholders:

               

A-Class

    (451,080 )      

C-Class

    (80,374 )      

P-Class

    (543,862 )      

Institutional Class

    (548,863 )      

Total distributions to shareholders

    (1,624,179 )      
                 

Capital share transactions:

               

Proceeds from sale of shares

               

A-Class

    2,075,146       4,902,512  

C-Class

    121,954       88,090  

P-Class

    51,171,335       4,724,755  

Institutional Class

    7,313,155       3,973,680  

Distributions reinvested

               

A-Class

    436,975        

C-Class

    80,300        

P-Class

    532,574        

Institutional Class

    546,866        

Cost of shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (2,942,119 )     (5,060,110 )

C-Class

    (835,458 )     (3,001,984 )

P-Class

    (54,761,136 )     (8,419,838 )

Institutional Class

    (6,807,075 )     (4,969,114 )

Net decrease from capital share transactions

    (3,067,483 )     (7,762,009 )

Net decrease in net assets

    (4,017,635 )     (5,669,955 )
                 

Net assets:

               

Beginning of year

    26,988,401       32,658,356  

End of year

  $ 22,970,766     $ 26,988,401  
                 

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 21

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (concluded)

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2019

 

Capital share activity:

               

Shares sold

               

A-Class

    108,202       253,438  

C-Class

    7,056       5,252  

P-Class

    2,659,332       249,695  

Institutional Class

    372,363       198,858  

Shares issued from reinvestment of distributions

               

A-Class

    24,786        

C-Class

    5,108        

P-Class

    30,072        

Institutional Class

    30,130        

Shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (152,744 )     (267,264 )

C-Class

    (48,680 )     (179,550 )

P-Class

    (2,836,006 )     (446,211 )

Institutional Class

    (349,861 )     (255,769 )

Net decrease in shares

    (150,242 )     (441,551 )

 

 

22 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

A-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 18.96     $ 17.65     $ 19.19     $ 18.71     $ 23.21  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.12 )     .15       .15       .04       b 

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    .48       1.16       (1.69 )     1.34       (3.53 )

Total from investment operations

    .36       1.31       (1.54 )     1.38       (3.53 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (1.36 )                 (.90 )     (.97 )

Total distributions

    (1.36 )                 (.90 )     (.97 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 17.96     $ 18.96     $ 17.65     $ 19.19     $ 18.71  

 

Total Returnc

    2.01 %     7.42 %     (8.03 %)     7.41 %     (15.18 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 6,306     $ 7,033     $ 6,793     $ 10,621     $ 22,734  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.62 %)     0.82 %     0.80 %     0.21 %     (0.02 %)

Total expensesd

    1.87 %     1.90 %     1.84 %     1.78 %     1.84 %

Net expensese

    1.75 %     1.80 %     1.79 %     1.72 %     1.76 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    111 %     26 %     21 %     68 %     16 %

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 23

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

C-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 17.03     $ 15.97     $ 17.49     $ 17.26     $ 21.65  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.23 )     .01       .01       (.10 )     (.16 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    .41       1.05       (1.53 )     1.23       (3.26 )

Total from investment operations

    .18       1.06       (1.52 )     1.13       (3.42 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (1.21 )                 (.90 )     (.97 )

Total distributions

    (1.21 )                 (.90 )     (.97 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 16.00     $ 17.03     $ 15.97     $ 17.49     $ 17.26  

 

Total Returnc

    1.25 %     6.64 %     (8.69 %)     6.64 %     (15.81 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 1,121     $ 1,815     $ 4,485     $ 8,234     $ 11,245  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (1.37 %)     0.06 %     0.04 %     (0.56 %)     (0.81 %)

Total expensesd

    2.62 %     2.65 %     2.59 %     2.53 %     2.61 %

Net expensese

    2.50 %     2.57 %     2.53 %     2.47 %     2.54 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    111 %     26 %     21 %     68 %     16 %

 

24 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

P-Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 19.00     $ 17.70     $ 19.23     $ 18.71     $ 23.20  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.12 )     .15       .15       .06       (.01 )

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    .49       1.15       (1.68 )     1.36       (3.51 )

Total from investment operations

    .37       1.30       (1.53 )     1.42       (3.52 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (1.34 )                 (.90 )     (.97 )

Total distributions

    (1.34 )                 (.90 )     (.97 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 18.03     $ 19.00     $ 17.70     $ 19.23     $ 18.71  

 

Total Return

    2.05 %     7.34 %     (7.96 %)     7.68 %     (15.18 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 7,741     $ 10,946     $ 13,669     $ 21,426     $ 77,859  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.63 %)     0.82 %     0.80 %     0.29 %     (0.07 %)

Total expensesd

    1.88 %     1.90 %     1.84 %     1.78 %     1.87 %

Net expensese

    1.77 %     1.81 %     1.78 %     1.72 %     1.79 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    111 %     26 %     21 %     68 %     16 %

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 25

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (concluded)

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented.

 

Institutional Class

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 19.48     $ 18.09     $ 19.61     $ 19.07     $ 23.56  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

    (.08 )     .21       .20       .08       .04  

Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)

    .49       1.18       (1.72 )     1.36       (3.56 )

Total from investment operations

    .41       1.39       (1.52 )     1.44       (3.52 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

    (1.40 )                 (.90 )     (.97 )

Total distributions

    (1.40 )                 (.90 )     (.97 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 18.49     $ 19.48     $ 18.09     $ 19.61     $ 19.07  

 

Total Return

    2.29 %     7.68 %     (7.75 %)     7.69 %     (14.95 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 7,802     $ 7,195     $ 7,711     $ 10,339     $ 6,151  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.38 %)     1.07 %     1.05 %     0.41 %     0.20 %

Total expensesd

    1.61 %     1.65 %     1.59 %     1.53 %     1.61 %

Net expensese

    1.49 %     1.55 %     1.54 %     1.46 %     1.54 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    111 %     26 %     21 %     68 %     16 %

 

 

a

Net investment income (loss) per share was computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

b

Net investment income is less than $0.01 per share.

c

Total return does not reflect the impact of any applicable sales charges.

d

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

e

Net expense information reflects the expense ratios after expense waivers and reimbursements, as applicable.

 

26 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 – Organization, Consolidation of Subsidiary and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Organization

 

The Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (”1940 Act”), as an open-ended investment company of the series type. Each series, in effect, is representing a separate fund. The Trust may issue an unlimited number of authorized shares. The Trust accounts for the assets of each fund separately.

 

The Trust offers a combination of seven separate classes of shares: Investor Class shares, A-Class shares, C-Class shares, H-Class shares, P-Class shares, Institutional Class shares and Money Market Class shares. Sales of shares of each Class are made without a front-end sales charge at the net asset value per share (“NAV”), with the exception of A-Class shares. A-Class shares are sold at the NAV, plus the applicable front-end sales charge. The sales charge varies depending on the amount purchased, but will not exceed 4.75%. A-Class share purchases of $1 million or more are exempt from the front-end sales charge but have a 1% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) if shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchase. C-Class shares have a 1% CDSC if shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchase. C-Class shares automatically convert to A-Class shares on or about the 10th day of the month following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase of the C-Class shares. This conversion will be executed without any sales charge, fee or other charge. After the conversion is completed, the shares will be subject to all features and expenses of A-Class shares. Institutional Class shares are offered primarily for direct investment by institutions such as pension and profit sharing plans, endowments, foundations and corporations. Institutional Class shares require a minimum initial investment of $2 million and a minimum account balance of $1 million. At December 31, 2020, the Trust consisted of fifty-two funds (the “Funds”).

 

This report covers the Managed Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), a diversified investment company. At December 31, 2020, only A-Class, C-Class, P-Class and Institutional Class shares have been issued by the Fund.

 

Security Investors, LLC, which operates under the name Guggenheim Investments (“GI”), provides advisory services. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC (“GFD”) acts as principal underwriter for the Trust. GI and GFD are affiliated entities.

 

Consolidation of Subsidiary

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Fund include the accounts of a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”). Significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Fund.

 

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in its Subsidiary which acts as an investment vehicle in order to effect certain investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 27

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

A summary of the Fund’s investment in its Subsidiary is as follows:

 

 

 

Inception
Date of
Subsidiary

   

Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31,
2020

   

% of Net Assets
of the Fund at
December 31,
2020

 
      05/01/08     $ 2,338,241       10.2 %

 

Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Fund operates as an investment company and, accordingly, follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.

 

The following significant accounting policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and are consistently followed by the Trust. This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. All time references are based on Eastern Time.

 

The NAV of each Class of the Fund is calculated by dividing the market value of the Fund’s securities and other assets, less all liabilities, attributable to the Class by the number of outstanding shares of the Class.

 

(a) Valuation of Investments

 

The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) has adopted policies and procedures for the valuation of the Fund’s investments (the “Valuation Procedures”). Pursuant to the Valuation Procedures, the Board has delegated to a valuation committee, consisting of representatives from Guggenheim’s investment management, fund administration, legal and compliance departments (the “Valuation Committee”), the day-to-day responsibility for implementing the Valuation Procedures, including, under most circumstances, the responsibility for determining the fair value of the Fund’s securities and/or other assets.

 

Valuations of the Fund’s securities and other assets are supplied primarily by pricing services appointed pursuant to the processes set forth in the Valuation Procedures. The Valuation Committee convenes monthly, or more frequently as needed, to review the valuation of all assets which have been fair valued for reasonableness. The Fund’s officers, through the Valuation Committee and consistent with the monitoring and review responsibilities set forth in the Valuation Procedures, regularly review procedures used and valuations provided by the pricing services.

 

If the pricing service cannot or does not provide a valuation for a particular investment or such valuation is deemed unreliable, such investment is fair valued by the Valuation Committee.

 

28 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Open-end investment companies are valued at their NAV as of the close of business, on the valuation date.

 

U.S. Government securities are valued by independent pricing services, the last traded fill price, or at the reported bid price at the close of business.

 

Debt securities with a maturity of greater than 60 days at acquisition are valued at prices that reflect broker-dealer supplied valuations or are obtained from independent pricing services, which may consider the trade activity, treasury spreads, yields or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Short-term debt securities with a maturity of 60 days or less at acquisition are valued at amortized cost, provided such amount approximates market value.

 

Repurchase agreements are generally valued at amortized cost, provided such amounts approximate market value.

 

The value of futures contracts is accounted for using the unrealized appreciation or depreciation on the contracts that is determined by marking the contracts to their current realized settlement prices. Financial futures contracts are valued at the 4:00 p.m. price on the valuation date. In the event that the exchange for a specific futures contract closes earlier than 4:00 p.m., the futures contract is valued at the official settlement price of the exchange. However, the underlying securities from which the futures contract value is derived are monitored until 4:00 p.m. to determine if fair valuation would provide a more accurate valuation.

 

Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are fair-valued as determined in good faith by GI, subject to review and approval by the Valuation Committee, pursuant to methods established or ratified by the Board. Valuations in accordance with these methods are intended to reflect each security’s (or asset’s or liability’s) “fair value”. Each such determination is based on a consideration of all relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. Examples of such factors may include, but are not limited to market prices; sale prices; broker quotes; and models which derive prices based on inputs such as prices of securities with comparable maturities and characteristics, or based on inputs such as anticipated cash flows or collateral, spread over U.S. Treasury securities, and other information analysis. In connection with futures contracts and other derivative investments, such factors may include obtaining information as to how (a) these contracts and other derivative investments trade in the futures or other derivative markets, respectively, and (b) the securities underlying these contracts and other derivative investments trade in the cash market.

 

(b) U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

 

Certain U.S. Government and Agency Obligations are traded on a discount basis; the interest rates shown on the Consolidated Schedule of Investments reflect the effective rates paid at the time of purchase by the Fund. Other securities bear interest at the rates shown, payable at fixed dates through maturity.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 29

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

(c) Futures Contracts

 

Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund deposits and maintains as collateral such initial margin as required by the exchange on which the transaction is affected. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

 

(d) Currency Translations

 

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, and certain expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Fund. Foreign investments may also subject the Fund to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation, or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments.

 

The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in the foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments.

 

Reported net realized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from sales of foreign currencies and currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on investment transactions. Net unrealized appreciation and depreciation arise from changes in the fair values of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities at the fiscal period end, resulting from changes in exchange rates.

 

(e) Security Transactions

 

Security transactions are recorded on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded using the identified cost basis. Proceeds from lawsuits related to investment holdings are recorded as a reduction to cost if the securities are still held and as realized gains if no longer held in the Fund. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, net of applicable taxes withheld by foreign countries, if any. Taxable non-cash dividends are recorded as dividend income. Interest income, including amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, is accrued on a daily basis.

 

30 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

(f) Distributions

 

Distributions of net investment income and net realized gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually. Dividends are reinvested in additional shares, unless shareholders request payment in cash. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

 

(g) Class Allocations

 

Interest and dividend income, most expenses, all realized gains and losses, and all unrealized appreciation and depreciation are allocated to the classes based upon the value of the outstanding shares in each Class. Certain costs, such as distribution and service fees are charged directly to specific classes. In addition, certain expenses have been allocated to the individual Funds in the Trust based on the respective net assets of each Fund included in the Trust.

 

(h) Cash

 

The Fund may leave cash overnight in its cash account with the custodian. Periodically, the Fund may have cash due to the custodian bank as an overdraft balance. A fee is incurred on this overdraft, calculated by multiplying the overdraft by a rate based on the federal funds rate, which was 0.09% at December 31, 2020.

 

(i) Indemnifications

 

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. In addition, throughout the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund and/or its affiliates that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

 

Note 2 – Derivatives

 

As part of its investment strategy, the Fund may utilize a variety of derivative instruments. These investments involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk and risks in excess of amounts recognized on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Valuation and accounting treatment of these instruments can be found under Significant Accounting Policies in Note 1 of these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Derivatives are instruments whose values depend on, or are derived from, in whole or in part, the value of one or more other assets, such as securities, currencies, commodities or indices. Derivative instruments may be used to increase investment flexibility (including to maintain cash reserves while maintaining exposure to certain other assets), for risk management (hedging) purposes, to facilitate trading, to reduce transaction costs and to pursue higher investment returns. Derivative instruments may also be used to mitigate certain investment risks, such

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 31

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

as foreign currency exchange rate risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. U.S. GAAP requires disclosures to enable investors to better understand how and why a Fund uses derivative instruments, how these derivative instruments are accounted for and their effects on the Fund’s financial position and results of operations.

 

The Fund utilized derivatives for the following purposes:

 

Hedge: an investment made in order to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in a security, by taking an offsetting position to protect against broad market moves.

 

Leverage: gaining total exposure to equities or other assets on the long and short sides at greater than 100% of invested capital.

 

Liquidity: the ability to buy or sell exposure with little price/market impact.

 

Speculation: the use of an instrument to express macro-economic and other investment views.

 

For any Fund whose investment strategy consistently involves applying leverage, the value of the Fund’s shares will tend to increase or decrease more than the value of any increase or decrease in the underlying index or other asset. In addition, because an investment in derivative instruments generally requires a small investment relative to the amount of investment exposure assumed, an opportunity for increased net income is created; but, at the same time, leverage risk will increase. The Fund’s use of leverage, through borrowings or instruments such as derivatives, may cause the Fund to be more volatile and riskier than if they had not been leveraged.

 

Futures Contracts

 

A futures contract is an agreement to purchase (long) or sell (short) an agreed amount of securities or other instruments at a set price for delivery at a future date. There are significant risks associated with a Fund’s use of futures contracts, including (i) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the underlying asset and the prices of futures contracts; (ii) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract; (iii) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (iv) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts. When investing in futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to a Fund because futures are exchange-traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees against default. Cash deposits are shown as segregated cash with broker on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities; securities held as collateral are noted on the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

 

The following table represents the Fund’s use and volume of futures on a monthly basis:

 

   

Average Notional Amount

 

Use

 

Long

   

Short

 

Hedge, Leverage, Liquidity, Speculation

  $ 108,192,781     $ 48,785,626  

 

32 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Derivative Investment Holdings Categorized by Risk Exposure

 

The following is a summary of the location of derivative investments on the Fund’s Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2020:

 

Derivative Investment Type

Asset Derivatives

Liability Derivatives

Equity/Interest Rate/Currency/Commodity contracts

Variation margin on futures contracts

 

The following tables set forth the fair value of the Fund’s derivative investments categorized by primary risk exposure at December 31, 2020:

 

Asset Derivative Investments Value

 

 

Futures
Equity
Risk*

   

Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk*

   

Futures
Interest Rate
Risk*

   

Futures
Commodity
Risk*

   

Total Value at
December 31,
2020

 
    $ 166,924     $ 229,477     $ 88,761     $ 548,553     $ 1,033,715  

 

Liability Derivative Investments Value

 

 

Futures
Equity
Risk*

   

Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk*

   

Futures
Interest Rate
Risk*

   

Futures
Commodity
Risk*

   

Total Value at
December 31,
2020

 
    $ 25,385     $ 33,959     $ 19,447     $ 357,364     $ 436,155  

 

*

Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported on the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. For exchange-traded and centrally-cleared derivatives, variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

The following is a summary of the location of derivative investments on the Fund’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020:

 

Derivative Investment Type

Location of Gain (Loss) on Derivatives

Equity/Interest Rate/Currency/Commodity contracts

Net realized gain (loss) on futures contracts

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts

 

The following is a summary of the Fund’s realized gain (loss) and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on derivative investments recognized on the Consolidated Statement of Operations categorized by primary risk exposure for the year ended December 31, 2020:

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 33

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Investments Recognized on the Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

 

Futures
Equity
Risk

   

Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk

   

Futures
Interest Rate
Risk

   

Futures
Commodity
Risk

   

Total

 
    $ 373,816     $ (997,560 )   $ 919,273     $ (80,662 )   $ 214,867  

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivative Investments
Recognized on the Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

 

Futures
Equity
Risk

   

Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk

   

Futures
Interest Rate
Risk

   

Futures
Commodity
Risk

   

Total

 
    $ 157,424     $ 227,959     $ 206,706     $ 142,912     $ 735,001  

 

In conjunction with the use of derivative instruments, the Fund is required to maintain collateral in various forms. Depending on the financial instrument utilized and the broker involved, the Fund uses margin deposits at the broker, cash and/or securities segregated at the custodian bank, discount notes or repurchase agreements allocated to the Fund as collateral.

 

The Trust has established counterparty credit guidelines and enters into transactions only with financial institutions of investment grade or better. The Trust monitors the counterparty credit risk.

 

Note 3 – Offsetting

 

In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into transactions subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or other similar arrangements. Generally, the right to offset in those agreements allows the Fund to counteract the exposure to a specific counterparty with collateral received from or delivered to that counterparty based on the terms of the arrangements. These arrangements provide for the right to liquidate upon the occurrence of an event of default, credit event upon merger or additional termination event.

 

In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Fund mitigate its counterparty risk, the Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a fund and a counterparty that governs over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, including foreign exchange contracts, and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting

 

34 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of a default (close-out netting) or similar event, including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty.

 

For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Fund and the counterparty. For financial reporting purposes, cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, are reported separately on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as segregated cash with broker/receivable for variation margin, or payable for swap settlement/variation margin. Cash and/or securities pledged or received as collateral by the Fund in connection with an OTC derivative subject to an ISDA Master Agreement generally may not be invested, sold or rehypothecated by the counterparty or the Fund, as applicable, absent an event of default under such agreement, in which case such collateral generally may be applied towards obligations due to and payable by such counterparty or the Fund, as applicable. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty must exceed a minimum transfer amount threshold (e.g., $300,000) before a transfer is required to be made. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from its counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty nonperformance. The Fund attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by only entering into agreements with counterparties that they believe to be of good standing and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties.

 

For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund does not have any derivative financial instruments that are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements as of December 31, 2020.

 

The Fund has the right to offset deposits against any related derivative liabilities outstanding with each counterparty with the exception of exchange-traded or centrally-cleared derivatives. The following table presents deposits held by others in connection with derivative investments as of December 31, 2020.

 

Counterparty

Asset Type

 

Cash Pledged

   

Cash Received

 

Goldman Sachs International

Futures contracts

  $ 295,379     $  

 

Note 4 – Fair Value Measurement

 

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 35

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

the investment or liability. U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the types of inputs used to value assets and liabilities and requires corresponding disclosure. The hierarchy and the corresponding inputs are summarized below:

 

Level 1 —

quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 —

significant other observable inputs (for example quoted prices for securities that are similar based on characteristics such as interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).

 

Level 3 —

significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available under the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available, which may include assumptions.

 

The types of inputs available depend on a variety of factors, such as the type of security and the characteristics of the markets in which it trades, if any. Fair valuation determinations that rely on fewer or no observable inputs require greater judgment. Accordingly, fair value determinations for Level 3 securities require the greatest amount of judgment.

 

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The suitability of the techniques and sources employed to determine fair valuation are regularly monitored and subject to change.

 

Note 5 – Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Agreements

 

Under the terms of an investment advisory contract, the Fund pays GI investment advisory fees calculated at an annualized rate of 0.90% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

GI has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Subsidiary in an amount equal to the management fee paid to GI by the Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for so long as the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, and may not be terminated by GI unless GI obtains the prior approval of the Fund’s Board for such termination. Fees waived under this arrangement are not subject to reimbursement to GI. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund waived $22,478 related to advisory fees in the Subsidiary.

 

GI pays operating expenses on behalf of the Trust, such as audit and accounting related services, legal services, custody, printing and mailing, among others, on a pass-through basis. Such expenses are allocated to various Funds within the complex based on relative net assets.

 

The Board has adopted a Distribution Plan applicable to A-Class and P-Class shares for which GFD and other firms that provide distribution and/or shareholder services (“Service Providers”) may receive compensation. If a Service Provider provides distribution services, the Fund will pay distribution fees to GFD at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of average daily net assets, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. GFD, in turn, will pay the Service Provider out of its fees. GFD may, at its discretion, retain a portion of such payments to compensate itself for distribution services.

 

36 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The Board has adopted a separate Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan applicable to C-Class shares that allows the Fund to pay annual distribution and service fees of 1.00% of the Fund’s C-Class shares average daily net assets. The annual 0.25% service fee compensates a shareholder’s financial adviser for providing ongoing services to the shareholder. The annual distribution fee of 0.75% reimburses GFD for paying the shareholder’s financial adviser an ongoing sales commission. GFD advances the first year’s service and distribution fees to the financial adviser. GFD retains the service and distribution fees on accounts with no authorized dealer of record.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, GFD retained sales charges of $152,893 relating to sales of A-Class shares of the Trust.

 

If the Fund invests in a fund that is advised by the same adviser or an affiliated adviser, the investing Fund’s adviser has agreed to waive fees at the investing fund level to the extent necessary to offset the proportionate share of any management fee paid by the Fund with respect to its investment in such affiliated fund. Fee waivers will be calculated at the investing Fund level without regard to any expense cap, if any, in effect for the investing Fund. Fees waived under this arrangement are not subject to reimbursement to GI. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund waived $11,519 related to investments in affiliated funds.

 

Certain trustees and officers of the Trust are also officers of GI and/or GFD. The Trust does not compensate its officers or trustees who are officers, directors and/or employees of GI or GFD.

 

MUFG Investor Services (US), LLC (“MUIS”) acts as the Fund’s administrator, transfer agent and accounting agent. As administrator, transfer agent and accounting agent, MUIS maintains the books and records of the Fund’s securities and cash. U.S. Bank, N.A. (“U.S. Bank”) acts as the Fund’s custodian. As custodian, U.S. Bank is responsible for the custody of the Fund’s assets. For providing the aforementioned services, MUIS and U.S. Bank are entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets and out of pocket expenses.

 

Note 6 – Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund transfers uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily aggregate balance of which is invested in one or more repurchase agreements collateralized by obligations of the U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agencies. The joint account includes other Funds in the Guggenheim complex not covered in this report. The collateral is in the possession of the Funds’ custodian and is evaluated to ensure that its market value exceeds, at a minimum, 102% of the original face amount of the repurchase agreements. Each Fund holds a pro rata share of the collateral based on the dollar amount of the repurchase agreement entered into by each Fund.

 

At December 31, 2020, the repurchase agreements in the joint account were as follows:

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 37

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Counterparty and
Terms of Agreement

 

Face
Value

   

Repurchase
Price

 

 

Collateral

 

Par
Value

   

Fair
Value

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

                 

U.S. Treasury Note

               

0.06%

                 

0.13%

               

Due 01/04/21

  $ 139,293,770     $ 139,294,699    

07/31/22

  $ 75,740,000     $ 75,786,330  
                   

U.S. Treasury Bill

               
                   

0.00%

               
                   

02/23/21

    57,662,600       57,657,295  
                   

U.S. Treasury Strip

               
                   

0.00%

               
                   

08/15/23

    8,671,437       8,636,040  
                          142,074,037       142,079,665  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

                 

U.S. Treasury Note

               

0.06%

                 

1.75%

               

Due 01/04/21

    58,031,279       58,031,666    

06/30/22

    57,795,700       59,191,929  
                                     

BofA Securities, Inc.

                 

U.S. Treasury Note

               

0.06%

                 

1.50%

               

Due 01/04/21

    53,732,665       53,733,023    

11/30/24

    52,215,500       54,807,345  

 

In the event of counterparty default, the Funds have the right to collect the collateral to offset losses incurred. There is potential loss to the Funds in the event the Funds are delayed or prevented from exercising their rights to dispose of the collateral securities, including the risk of a possible decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period while the Funds seek to assert their rights. GI, acting under the supervision of the Board, reviews the value of the collateral and the creditworthiness of those banks and dealers with which the Funds enter into repurchase agreements to evaluate potential risks.

 

Note 7 – Federal Income Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to comply with the provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and will distribute substantially all taxable net investment income and capital gains sufficient to relieve the Fund from all, or substantially all, federal income, excise and state income taxes. Therefore, no provision for federal or state income tax or federal excise tax is required.

 

Tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns are evaluated to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken, or to be taken, on U.S. federal income tax returns for all open tax years, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s consolidated financial statements. The Fund’s U.S. federal income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for a period of three years after they are filed.

 

38 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The Fund intends to invest up to 25% of its assets in the Subsidiary which is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the U.S. federal income tax requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund has received a private letter ruling from the IRS that concludes that the income the Fund receives from the Subsidiary will constitute qualifying income for purposes of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Subsidiary will be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless it is deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If, during a taxable year, the Subsidiary’s taxable losses (and other deductible items) exceed its income and gains, the net loss will not pass through to the Fund as a deductible amount for Federal income tax purposes and cannot be carried forward to reduce future income from the Subsidiary in subsequent years.

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

 

 

Ordinary
Income

   

Long-Term
Capital Gain

   

Return
of Capital

   

Total
Distributions

 
    $ 1,624,179     $     $     $ 1,624,179  

 

Note: For U.S. federal income tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions are treated as ordinary income distributions.

 

The tax components of distributable earnings/(loss) as of December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

 

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   

Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain

   

Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   

Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses

   

Total

 
    $     $     $ (16,482,574 )   $ (27,357,804 )   $ (43,840,378 )

 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards represent realized losses of the Fund that may be carried forward and applied against future capital gains. The Fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses for an unlimited period and such capital loss carryforwards retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2020, capital loss carryforwards for the Fund were as follows:

 

   

Unlimited

         

 

 

Short-Term

   

Long-Term

   

Total
Capital Loss
Carryforward

 
    $ (4,647,090 )   $ (22,710,714 )   $ (27,357,804 )

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 39

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the following capital loss carryforward amounts were utilized:

 

 

 

Utilized

 
    $ 261,094  

 

Net investment income and net realized gains (losses) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes because of temporary or permanent book/tax differences. These differences are primarily due to investments in subsidiaries, foreign currency gains and losses, the tax treatment of net operating losses, losses deferred due to wash sales, and the “mark-to-market” of certain derivatives. To the extent these differences are permanent and would require a reclassification between Paid in Capital and Total Distributable Earnings (Loss), such reclassifications are made in the period that the differences arise. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or NAV per share.

 

The following adjustments were made on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2020 for permanent book/tax differences:

 

 

 

Paid In
Capital

   

Total
Distributable
Earnings/(Loss)

 
    $ (168,811 )   $ 168,811  

 

At December 31, 2020, the cost of investments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments for which there was an excess of value over tax cost and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments for which there was an excess of tax cost over value, were as follows:

 

 

 

Tax
Cost

   

Tax
Unrealized
Appreciation

   

Tax
Unrealized
Depreciation

   

Net Tax
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

 
    $ 47,017,716     $     $ (16,482,256 )   $ (16,482,256 )

 

Note 8 – Securities Transactions

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities, excluding government securities, short-term investments and derivatives, were as follows:

 

 

 

Purchases

   

Sales

 
    $ 18,298,856     $ 27,900,000  

 

40 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The Fund is permitted to purchase or sell securities from or to certain affiliated funds under specified conditions outlined in procedures adopted by the Board. The procedures have been designed to ensure that any purchase or sale of securities by the Fund from or to another fund or portfolio that is or could be considered an affiliate by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common trustees and/or common officers complies with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act. Further, as defined under these procedures, each transaction is effected at the current market price to save costs, where permissible. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund did not engage in purchases and sales of securities, pursuant to Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act.

 

Note 9 – Line of Credit

 

The Trust, along with other affiliated trusts, secured an uncommitted $75,000,000 line of credit from U.S. Bank, N.A., which expired June 8, 2020. On March 30, 2020, the Board approved increasing the line of credit from $75,000,000 to $150,000,000. On June 8, 2020, the line of credit agreement was renewed at the increased $150,000,000 amount and expires on June 7, 2021. This line of credit is reserved for emergency or temporary purposes. Borrowings, if any, under this arrangement bear interest equal to the Prime Rate, minus 2%, which shall be paid monthly, averaging 1.54% for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Fund did not have any borrowings outstanding under this agreement at or during the year December 31, 2020.

 

Note 10 – Legal Proceedings

 

Tribune Company

 

Rydex Series Funds has been named as a defendant and a putative member of the proposed defendant class of shareholders in the case entitled Kirschner v. FitzSimons, No. 12-2652 (S.D.N.Y.) (formerly Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Tribune Co. v. FitzSimons, Adv. Pro. No. 10-54010 (Bankr. D. Del.)) (the “FitzSimons action”), as a result of ownership by certain series of the Rydex Series Funds of shares in the Tribune Company (“Tribune”) in 2007, when Tribune effected a leveraged buyout transaction (“LBO”) by which Tribune converted to a privately-held company. In his complaint, the plaintiff has alleged that, in connection with the LBO, Tribune insiders and shareholders were overpaid for their Tribune stock using financing that the insiders knew would, and ultimately did, leave Tribune insolvent. The plaintiff has asserted claims against certain insiders, major shareholders, professional advisers, and others involved in the LBO. The plaintiff is also attempting to obtain from former Tribune shareholders, including the Rydex Series Funds, the proceeds they received in connection with the LBO.

 

In June 2011, a group of Tribune creditors filed multiple actions against former Tribune shareholders involving state law constructive fraudulent conveyance claims arising out of the 2007 LBO (the “SLCFC actions”). Rydex Series Funds has been named as a defendant in one or more of these suits. In those actions, the creditors seek to recover from Tribune’s former shareholders the proceeds received in connection with the 2007 LBO.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 41

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The FitzSimons action and the SLCFC actions have been consolidated with the majority of the other Tribune LBO-related lawsuits in a multidistrict litigation proceeding captioned In re Tribune Company Fraudulent Conveyance Litig., No. 11-md-2296 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “MDL Proceeding”).

 

On September 23, 2013, the District Court granted the defendants’ omnibus motion to dismiss the SLCFC actions, on the basis that the creditors lacked standing. On September 30, 2013, the creditors filed a notice of appeal of the September 23 order. On October 28, 2013, the defendants filed a joint notice of cross-appeal of that same order.

 

On March 29, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its opinion on the appeal of the SLCFC actions. The appeals court affirmed the district court’s dismissal of those lawsuits, but on different grounds than the district court. The appeals court held that while the plaintiffs have standing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, their claims were preempted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code—the statutory safe harbor for settlement payments.

 

On April 12, 2016, the Plaintiffs in the SLCFC actions filed a petition seeking rehearing en banc before the appeals court. On July 22, 2016, the appeals court denied the petition. On September 9, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Second Circuit’s decision that the safe harbor of Section 546(e) applied to their claims. The shareholder defendants, including the Funds, filed a joint brief in opposition to the petition for certiorari on October 24, 2016. On April 3, 2018, Justice Kennedy and Justice Thomas issued a “Statement” related to the petition for certiorari suggesting that the Second Circuit and/or District Court may want to take steps to reexamine the application of the Section 546(e) safe harbor to the previously dismissed state law constructive fraudulent transfer claims based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Merit Management Group LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc. On April 10, 2018, Plaintiffs filed in the Second Circuit a motion for that court to recall its mandate, vacate its prior decision, and remand to the district court for further proceedings consistent with Merit Management. On April 20, 2018, the shareholder defendants filed an opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion to recall the mandate. On May 15, 2018, the Second Circuit issued an order recalling the mandate “in anticipation of further panel review.” On December 19, 2019, the Second Circuit issued an amended opinion that again affirmed the district court’s ruling on the basis that plaintiffs’ claims were preempted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code. Plaintiffs filed a motion for rehearing and rehearing en banc on January 2, 2020. The Second Circuit denied the petition on February 6, 2020. On July 6, 2020, plaintiffs filed a new petition for a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. In that petition, plaintiffs stated that “[t]o make it more likely that there will be a quorum for this petition,” they have “abandon[ed] the case and let the judgment below stand” with respect to certain defendants. That list did not include the Rydex Series Funds. Defendants filed an opposition to the certiorari petition on August 26, 2020, and plaintiffs filed a reply in support of the petition for certiorari on September 8, 2020.

 

42 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

On May 23, 2014, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the FitzSimons action, including a global motion to dismiss Count I, which is the claim brought against former Tribune shareholders for intentional fraudulent conveyance under U.S. federal law. On January 6, 2017, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the shareholder defendants’ motion to dismiss the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim in the FitzSimons action. In dismissing the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request to amend the complaint. The plaintiff requested that the Court direct entry of a final judgment in order to make the order immediately appealable. On February 23, 2017, the Court issued an order stating that it intended to permit an interlocutory appeal of the dismissal order, but would wait to do so until it has resolved outstanding motions to dismiss filed by other defendants.

 

On July 18, 2017, the plaintiff submitted a letter to the District Court seeking leave to amend its complaint to add a constructive fraudulent transfer claim. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On August 24, 2017, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request without prejudice to renewal of the request in the event of an intervening change in the law. On March 8, 2018, the plaintiff renewed his request for leave to file a motion to amend the complaint to assert a constructive fraudulent transfer claim based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Merit Management Group LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On June 18, 2018 the District Court ordered that the request would be stayed pending further action by the Second Circuit in the SLCFC actions.

 

On December 18, 2018, plaintiff filed a letter with the District Court requesting that the stay be dissolved in order to permit briefing on the motion to amend the complaint and indicating plaintiff’s intention to file another motion to amend the complaint to reinstate claims for intentional fraudulent transfer. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On January 14, 2019, the court held a case management conference, during which the court stated that it would not lift the stay prior to further action from the Second Circuit in the SLCFC actions. The court further stated that it would allow the plaintiff to file a motion to amend to try to reinstate its intentional fraudulent transfer claim. On January 23, 2019, the court ordered the parties still facing pending claims to participate in a mediation, to commence on January 28, 2019. The mediation did not result in a settlement of the claims against the shareholder defendants.

 

On April 4, 2019, plaintiff filed a motion to amend the Fifth Amended Complaint to assert a federal constructive fraudulent transfer claim against certain shareholder defendants. On April 10, 2019, the shareholder defendants filed a brief in opposition to plaintiff’s motion to amend. On April 12, 2019, the plaintiff filed a reply brief. On April 23, 2019, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion to amend. On June 13, 2019, the court entered judgment pursuant to Rule 54(b). On July 12, 2019, the Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal with respect to the dismissal of his claims and the District Court’s denial of his motion for leave to amend. Plaintiff filed an appellate brief on January 7, 2020. The shareholder defendants’ brief was filed on April 27, 2020. Plaintiff filed a reply brief on May 18, 2020. The Court held oral argument on August 24, 2020.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 43

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (concluded)

 

None of these lawsuits alleges any wrongdoing on the part of Rydex Series Funds. The following series of Rydex Series Funds held shares of Tribune and tendered these shares as part of Tribune’s LBO: Nova Fund, S&P 500® Pure Value Fund, Multi-Cap Core Equity Fund, S&P 500® Fund, Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Hedged Equity Fund (the “Funds”). The value of the proceeds received by the foregoing Funds was $28,220, $109,242, $9,860, $3,400, $1,181,160, and $10,880, respectively. At this stage of the proceedings, Rydex Series Funds is not able to make a reliable predication as to the outcome of these lawsuits or the effect, if any, on a Fund’s net asset value.

 

Note 11 – COVID-19 and Recent Developments

 

The global ongoing crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 is causing materially reduced consumer demand and economic output, disrupting supply chains, resulting in market closures, travel restrictions and quarantines, and adversely impacting local and global economies. Investors should be aware that in light of the current uncertainty, volatility and distress in economies, financial markets, and labor and health conditions all over the world, the Fund’s investments and a shareholder’s investment in the Fund are subject to sudden and substantial losses, increased volatility and other adverse events. Firms through which investors invest with the Fund, the Fund, its service providers, the markets in which it invests and market intermediaries are also impacted by quarantines and similar measures intended to contain the ongoing pandemic, which can obstruct their functioning and subject them to heightened operational risks.

 

Note 12 – Subsequent Events

 

On February 10, 2021, the Trust, along with other affiliated trusts, increased the line of credit agreement with U.S. Bank, N.A. from $150,000,000 to $200,000,000.

 

The Fund evaluated subsequent events through the date the consolidated financial statements were available for issue and determined there were no material events, other than disclosed above, that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the Fund’s consolidated financial statements.

 

44 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders of Guggenheim Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the Board of Trustees of Rydex Series Funds

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities of Guggenheim Managed Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) (one of the funds constituting Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”)), including the consolidated schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2020, and the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the consolidated 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 consolidated financial position of the Fund (one of the funds constituting Rydex Series Funds) at December 31, 2020, the consolidated results of its operations for the year then ended, the consolidated changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and its consolidated 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.

 

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 December 31, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent,

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 45

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (concluded)

 

and brokers. 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 Guggenheim investment companies since 1979.

 

Tysons, Virginia
February 26, 2021

 

46 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

Federal Income Tax Information

 

This information is being provided as required by the Internal Revenue Code. Amounts shown may differ from those elsewhere in the report because of differences in tax and financial reporting practice.

 

In January 2021, shareholders will be advised on IRS Form 1099 DIV or substitute 1099 DIV as to the federal tax status of the distributions received by shareholders in the calendar year 2020.

 

Delivery of Shareholder Reports

 

Paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports are not sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from a fund or from your financial intermediary. Instead, the reports are made available on a website, and you are notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

 

You may elect to receive all future shareholder reports in paper free of charge. If you hold shares of a fund directly, you can inform the Fund that you wish to receive paper copies of reports by calling 800.820.0888. If you hold shares of a fund through a financial intermediary, please contact the financial intermediary to make this election. Your election to receive reports in paper may apply to all Guggenheim Funds in which you are invested and may apply to all Guggenheim funds held with your financial intermediary.

 

Proxy Voting Information

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to securities held in the Fund’s portfolio is available, without charge and upon request, by calling 800.820.0888. This information is also available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800.820.0888. This information is also available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

Sector Classification

 

Information in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments is categorized by sectors using sector-level Classifications defined by the Bloomberg Industry Classification System, a widely recognized industry classification system provider. The Fund’s registration statement has investment policies relating to concentration in specific sectors/industries. For purposes of these investment policies, the Fund usually classifies sectors/industries based on industry-level Classifications used by widely recognized industry classification system providers such as Bloomberg Industry Classification System, Global Industry Classification Standards and Barclays Global Classification Scheme.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 47

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules Information

 

The Trust files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT, and for reporting periods ended prior to March 31, 2019, filed such information on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT and N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. Copies of the portfolio holdings are also available to shareholders, without charge and upon request, by calling 800.820.0888.

 

48 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)

 

A Board of Trustees oversees the Trust, as well as other trusts of GI, in which its members have no stated term of service, and continue to serve after election until resignation. The Statement of Additional Information includes further information about Fund Trustees and Officers, and can be obtained without charge by visiting guggenheiminvestments.com or by calling 800.820.0888.

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other
Directorships Held
by Trustees***

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

     

Randall C. Barnes

(1951)

Trustee and Chair of the Valuation Oversight Committee

Since 2019 (Trustee)

 

Since 2020 (Chair of the Valuation Oversight Committee)

Current: Private Investor (2001-present).

Former: Senior Vice President and Treasurer, PepsiCo, Inc. (1993-1997); President, Pizza Hut International (1991-1993); Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and New Business Development, PepsiCo, Inc. (1987-1990).

157

Current: Purpose Investments Funds (2013-present).

Former: Managed Duration Investment Grade Municipal Fund (2006-2016).

Angela Brock-Kyle

(1959)

Trustee

Since 2016

Current: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, B.O.A.R.D.S. (2013-present).

Former: Senior Leader, TIAA (1987-2012).

156

Current: Bowhead Insurance GP, LLC (2020-present); Hunt Companies, Inc. (2019-present).

Former: Infinity Property & Casualty Corp. (2014-2018).

Donald A.
Chubb, Jr.

(1946)1

Trustee

Since 2019

Current: Retired.

Former: Business broker and manager of commercial real estate, Griffith & Blair, Inc. (1997-2017).

156

Former: Midland Care, Inc. (2011-2016).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 49

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other
Directorships Held
by Trustees***

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES - continued

     

Jerry B. Farley

(1946)1

Trustee

Since 2019

Current: President, Washburn University (1997-present).

156

Current: CoreFirst Bank & Trust (2000-present).

Former: Westar Energy, Inc. (2004-2018).

Roman
Friedrich III

(1946)1

Trustee

Since 2019

Current: Founder and Managing Partner, Roman Friedrich & Company (1998-present).

156

Former: Zincore Metals, Inc. (2009-2019).

Thomas F.
Lydon, Jr.

(1960)

Trustee and Chair of the Contracts Review Committee

Since 2005 (Trustee)

 

Since 2020 (Chair of the Contracts Review Committee)

Current: President, Global Trends Investments (1996-present); Co-Chief Executive Officer, ETF Flows, LLC (2019-present); Chief Executive Officer, Lydon Media (2016-present).

156

Current: US Global Investors (GROW) (1995-present).

Former: Harvest Volatility Edge Trust (3) (2017-2019).

Ronald A. Nyberg

(1953)

Trustee and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee

Since 2019

Current: Of Counsel, Momkus LLP (2016-present).

Former: Partner, Nyberg & Cassioppi, LLC (2000-2016); Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Van Kampen Investments (1982-1999).

157

Current: PPM Funds (3) (2018-present); Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare System (2012-present).

Former: Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (2004-2020); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (2003-2020); Managed Duration Investment Grade Municipal Fund (2003-2016).

 

50 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other
Directorships Held
by Trustees***

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES - concluded

     

Sandra G. Sponem

(1958)

Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee

Since 2016 (Trustee)

 

Since 2019 (Chair of the Audit Committee)

Current: Retired.

Former: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, M.A. Mortenson-Companies, Inc. (2007-2017).

156

Current: SPDR Series Trust (81) (2018-present); SPDR Index Shares Funds (30) (2018-present); SSGA Active Trust (14) (2018-present).

Former: SSGA Master Trust (1) (2018-2020).

Ronald E.
Toupin, Jr.

(1958)

Trustee, Chair of the Board and Chair of the Executive Committee

Since 2019

Current: Portfolio Consultant (2010-present); Member, Governing Council, Independent Directors Council (2013-present); Governor, Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute (2018-present).

Former: Member, Executive Committee, Independent Directors Council (2016-2018); Vice President, Manager and Portfolio Manager, Nuveen Asset Management (1998-1999); Vice President, Nuveen Investment Advisory Corp. (1992-1999); Vice President and Manager, Nuveen Unit Investment Trusts (1991-1999); and Assistant Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Nuveen Unit Investment Trusts (1988-1999), each of John Nuveen & Co., Inc. (1982-1999).

156

Former: Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (2004-2020); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (2003-2020); Managed Duration Investment Grade Municipal Fund (2003-2016).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 51

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other
Directorships Held
by Trustees***

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

 

 

 

 

Amy J. Lee****

(1961)

Trustee, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

Since 2019

Current: Interested Trustee, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2018-present); Chief Legal Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2014-present); Vice President, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2007-present); Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present).

Former: President and Chief Executive Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2017-2019); Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Security Benefit Life Insurance Company and Security Benefit Corporation (2004-2012).

156

None.

 

*

The business address of each Trustee is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

**

Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

***

Each Trustee also serves on the Boards of Trustees of Guggenheim Funds Trust, Guggenheim Variable Funds Trust, Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund, Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust, Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund, Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund, Guggenheim Energy & Income Fund, Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund, Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Dynamic Funds, Rydex Variable Trust and Transparent Value Trust. Messrs. Barnes and Nyberg also serve on the Board of Trustees of Advent Convertible & Income Fund.

****

This Trustee is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Fund under the 1940 Act by reason of her position with the Fund’s Investment Manager and/or the parent of the Investment Manager.

1

Under the Fund’s Independent Trustees Retirement Policy, Messrs. Chubb, Farley and Friedrich are expected to retire in 2021.

 

52 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

OFFICERS

     

Brian E. Binder

(1972)

President and Chief Executive Officer

Since 2019

Current: President and Chief Executive Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2018-present); President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Managers, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (2018-present); President and Chief Executive Officer, Security Investors, LLC (2018-present); Board Member of Guggenheim Partners Fund Management (Europe) Limited (2018-present); Senior Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Guggenheim Investments (2018-present).

Former: Managing Director and President, Deutsche Funds, and Head of US Product, Trading and Fund Administration, Deutsche Asset Management (2013-2018); Managing Director, Head of Business Management and Consulting, Invesco Ltd. (2010-2012).

James M. Howley

(1972)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2016

Current: Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2004-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2006-present).

Former: Manager, Mutual Fund Administration of Van Kampen Investments, Inc. (1996-2004).

Mark E. Mathiasen

(1978)

Secretary

Since 2017

Current: Secretary, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2007-present); Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2007-present).

Glenn McWhinnie

(1969)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2016

Current: Vice President, Guggenheim Investments (2009-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2016-present).

Michael P. Megaris

(1984)

Assistant Secretary

Since 2018

Current: Assistant Secretary, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2014-present); Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 53

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

OFFICERS - continued

 

Elisabeth Miller

(1968)

Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2012

Current: Chief Compliance Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2012-present); Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present). Vice President, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC (2014-present).

Former: Chief Compliance Officer, Security Investors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (2012-2018); Chief Compliance Officer, Guggenheim Distributors, LLC (2009-2014); Senior Manager, Security Investors, LLC (2004-2014); Senior Manager, Guggenheim Distributors, LLC (2004-2014).

Margaux Misantone

(1978)

AML Officer

Since 2017

Current: Chief Compliance Officer, Security Investors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (2018-present); AML Officer, Security Investors, LLC and certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2017-present); Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2015-present).

Former: Assistant Chief Compliance Officer, Security Investors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Investments Advisors, LLC (2015-2018).

William Rehder

(1967)

Assistant Vice President

Since 2018

Current: Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2002-present).

Kimberly J. Scott

(1974)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2016

Current: Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2012-present).

Former: Financial Reporting Manager, Invesco, Ltd. (2010-2011); Vice President/Assistant Treasurer, Mutual Fund Administration for Van Kampen Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2009-2010); Manager of Mutual Fund Administration, Van Kampen Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2005-2009).

Bryan Stone

(1979)

Vice President

Since 2019

Current: Vice President, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2014-present); Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2013-present).

Former: Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman Group LLC (2009-2013); Vice President, Morgan Stanley (2002-2009).

 

54 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

Name, Address*
and Year of Birth

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

OFFICERS - concluded

 

John L. Sullivan

(1955)

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer

Since 2016

Current: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2010-present); Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2010-present).

Former: Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer, each of the funds in the Van Kampen Investments fund complex (2004-2010); Managing Director and Head of Fund Accounting and Administration, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2002-2004); Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Van Kampen Funds (1996-2004).

Jon Szafran

(1989)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2017

Current: Vice President, Guggenheim Investments (2017-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2017-present).

Former: Assistant Treasurer of Henderson Global Funds and Manager of US Fund Administration, Henderson Global Investors (North America) Inc. (“HGINA”), (2017); Senior Analyst of US Fund Administration, HGINA (2014–2017); Senior Associate of Fund Administration, Cortland Capital Market Services, LLC (2013-2014); Experienced Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2012-2013).

 

*

The business address of each officer is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

**

Each officer serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 55

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)

 

Who We Are

 

This Privacy Notice describes the data protection practices of Guggenheim Investments. Guggenheim Investments as used herein refers to the affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Investment Advisors (Europe) Limited, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, GS Gamma Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners India Management, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, as well as the funds in the Guggenheim Funds complex (the “Funds”) (“Guggenheim Investments,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

 

Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings, LLC, located at 330 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017 is the data controller for your information. The affiliates who are also controllers of certain of your information are: Guggenheim Investment Advisors (Europe) Limited, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, Guggenheim Partners, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC and Security Investors, LLC, as well as the Funds.

 

Our Commitment to You

 

Guggenheim Investments considers your privacy our utmost concern. When you become our client or investor, you entrust us with not only your hard-earned money but also with your personal and financial information. Because we have access to your private information, we hold ourselves to the highest standards in its safekeeping and use. We strictly limit how we share your information with others, whether you are a current or former Guggenheim Investments client or investor.

 

The Information We Collect About You

 

We collect certain nonpublic personal information about you from information you provide on applications, other forms, our website, and/or from third parties including investment advisors. This information includes Social Security or other tax identification number, assets, income, tax information, retirement and estate plan information, transaction history, account balance, payment history, bank account information, marital status, family relationships, information that we collect on our website through the use of “cookies,” and other personal information that you or others provide to us. We may also collect such information through your inquiries by mail, e-mail or telephone. We may also collect customer due diligence information, as required by applicable law and regulation, through third party service providers.

 

How We Handle Your Personal Information

 

The legal basis for using your information as set out in this Privacy Notice is as follows: (a) use of your personal data is necessary to perform our obligations under any contract with you (such as a contract for us to provide financial services to you); or (b) where use of your personal data is not necessary for performance of a contract, use of your personal data is necessary for our

 

56 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(continued)

 

legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of others (for example, to enforce the legal terms governing our services, operate and market our website and other services we offer, ensure safe environments for our personnel and others, make and receive payments, prevent fraud and to know the customer to whom we are providing the services). Some processing is done to comply with applicable law.

 

In addition to the specific uses described above, we also use your information in the following manner:

 

 

We use your information in connection with servicing your accounts.

 

 

We use information to respond to your requests or questions. For example, we might use your information to respond to your customer feedback.

 

 

We use information to improve our products and services. We may use your information to make our website and products better. We may use your information to customize your experience with us.

 

 

We use information for security purposes. We may use your information to protect our company and our customers.

 

 

We use information to communicate with you. For example, we will communicate with you about your account or our relationship. We may contact you about your feedback. We might also contact you about this Privacy Notice. We may also enroll you in our email newsletter.

 

 

We use information as otherwise permitted by law, as we may notify you.

 

 

Aggregate/Anonymous Data. We may aggregate and/or anonymize any information collected through the website so that such information can no longer be linked to you or your device (“Aggregate/Anonymous Information”). We may use Aggregate/Anonymous Information for any purpose, including without limitation for research and marketing purposes, and may also share such data with any third parties, including advertisers, promotional partners, and sponsors.

 

We do not sell information about current or former clients or their accounts to third parties. Nor do we share this information, except when necessary to complete transactions at your request, to make you aware of investment products and services that we or our affiliates offer, or as permitted or required by law.

 

We provide information about you to companies and individuals not affiliated with Guggenheim Investments to complete certain transactions or account changes, or to perform services for us related to your account. For example, if you ask to transfer assets from another financial institution to Guggenheim Investments, we must provide certain information about you to that company to complete the transaction. We provide the third party with only the information necessary to carry out its responsibilities and only for that purpose. And we require these third

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 57

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(continued)

 

parties to treat your private information with the same high degree of confidentiality that we do. To alert you to other Guggenheim Investments products and services, we share your information within our family of affiliated companies. You may limit our sharing with affiliated companies as set out below. We may also share information with any successor to all or part of our business, or in connection with steps leading up to a merger or acquisition. For example, if part of our business was sold we may give customer information as part of that transaction. We may also share information about you with your consent.

 

We will release information about you if you direct us to do so, if we are compelled by law to do so, or in other circumstances as permitted by law (for example, to protect your account from fraud).

 

If you close your account(s) or become an inactive client or investor, we will continue to adhere to the privacy policies and practices described in this notice.

 

Opt-Out Provisions and Your Data Choices

 

The law allows you to “opt out” of certain kinds of information sharing with third parties. We do not share personal information about you with any third parties that triggers this opt-out right. This means YOU ARE ALREADY OPTED OUT.

 

When you are no longer our client or investor, we continue to share your information as described in this notice, and you may contact us at any time to limit our sharing by sending an email to CorporateDataPrivacy@GuggenheimPartners.com.

 

European Union Data Subjects and certain others: In addition to the choices set forth above, residents of the European Union and certain other jurisdictions have certain rights to (1) request access to or rectification or deletion of information we collect about them, (2) request a restriction on the processing of their information, (3) object to the processing of their information, or (4) request the portability of certain information. To exercise these or other rights, please contact us using the contact information below. We will consider all requests and provide our response within the time period stated by applicable law. Please note, however, that certain information may be exempt from such requests in some circumstances, which may include if we need to keep processing your information for our legitimate interests or to comply with a legal obligation. We may request you provide us with information necessary to confirm your identity before responding to your request.

 

Residents of France and certain other jurisdictions may also provide us with instructions regarding the manner in which we may continue to store, erase and share your information after your death, and where applicable, the person you have designated to exercise these rights after your death.

 

58 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(continued)

 

How We Protect Privacy Online

 

We take steps to protect your privacy when you use our web site – www.guggenheiminvestments.com – by using secure forms of online communication, including encryption technology, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol, firewalls and user names and passwords. These safeguards vary based on the sensitivity of the information that we collect and store. However, we cannot and do not guarantee that these measures will prevent every unauthorized attempt to access, use, or disclose your information since despite our efforts, no Internet and/or other electronic transmissions can be completely secure. Our web site uses “http cookies”—tiny pieces of information that we ask your browser to store. We use cookies for session management and security features on the Guggenheim Investments web site. We do not use them to pull data from your hard drive, to learn your e-mail address, or to view data in cookies created by other web sites. We will not share the information in our cookies or give others access to it. See the legal information area on our web site for more details about web site security and privacy features.

 

How We Safeguard Your Personal Information and Data Retention

 

We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to our employees and in some cases to third parties (for example, the service providers described above) as permitted by law. We maintain strict physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic personal information.

 

We keep your information for no longer than necessary for the purposes for which it is processed. The length of time for which we retain information depends on the purposes for which we collected and use it and/or as required to comply with applicable laws. Information may persist in copies made for backup and business continuity purposes for additional time.

 

International Visitors

 

If you are not a resident of the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored and processed in the United States where our servers are located and our databases are operated. The data protection and other laws of the United States and other countries might not be as comprehensive as those in your country.

 

In such cases, we ensure that a legal basis for such a transfer exists and that adequate protection is provided as required by applicable law, for example, by using standard contractual clauses or by transferring your data to a jurisdiction that has obtained an adequacy finding. Individuals whose data may be transferred on the basis of standard contractual clauses may contact us as described below.

 

We’ll Keep You Informed

 

If you have any questions or concerns about how we treat your personal data, we encourage you to consult with us first. You may also contact the relevant supervisory authority.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 59

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time and will inform you promptly of material changes. You may access our privacy policy from our web site at www.guggenheiminvestments.com. Should you have any questions regarding our privacy policy, contact us by email at CorporateDataPrivacy@GuggenheimPartners.com.

 

60 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Unaudited)

 

In compliance with SEC Rule 22e-4 under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”) has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) for each series of the Trust (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”). The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) previously approved the designation of a Program administrator (the “Administrator”).

 

The Liquidity Rule requires that the Program be reasonably designed to assess and manage each Fund’s liquidity risk. A Fund’s “liquidity risk” is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Program includes a number of elements that support the assessment, management and review of liquidity risk. In accordance with the Program, each Fund’s liquidity risk is assessed no less frequently than annually taking into consideration a variety of factors, including, as applicable, the Fund’s investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments, cash flow projections, and holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements and other funding sources. Certain factors are considered under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions. There is no guarantee that the Program will achieve its objective under all circumstances.

 

Under the Program, each Fund portfolio investment is classified into one of four liquidity categories based on a determination of the number of days it is reasonably expected to take to convert the investment to cash, or sell or dispose of the investment, in current market conditions without significantly changing the investment’s market value. The Program is reasonably designed to meet Liquidity Rule requirements relating to “highly liquid investment minimums” (i.e., the minimum amount of Fund net assets to be invested in highly liquid investments that are assets) and to monitor compliance with the Liquidity Rule’s limitations on a Fund’s investments in illiquid investments. Under the Liquidity Rule, a Fund is prohibited from acquiring any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

 

During the period covered by this shareholder report, the Board received a written report (the “Report”) prepared by the Administrator addressing the Program’s operation and assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of its implementation for the period from December 1, 2018, through March 31, 2020. The Report concluded that the Program operated effectively, the Program had been and continued to be reasonably designed to assess and manage each Fund’s liquidity risk and the Program has been adequately and effectively implemented to monitor and respond to the Funds’ liquidity developments, as applicable.

 

Please refer to your Fund’s prospectus for more information regarding the Fund’s exposure to liquidity risk and other risks to which an investment in the Fund may be subject.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT | 61

 

 

 

 

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Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

The registrant’s Board of Trustees has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer. No substantive amendments were approved or waivers were granted to the Code during the period covered by this report. The Code is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The registrant's Board of Trustees has determined that it has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee (the “Audit Committee”), Sandra G. Sponem. Ms. Sponem is “independent,” meaning that she is not an “interested person” of the Registrant (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and she does not accept any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Registrant (except in her capacity as a Board or committee member).

 

(Under applicable securities laws, a person who is determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an "expert" for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the Audit Committee and Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or Board of Trustees.)

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a) Audit Fees. The aggregate Audit Fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for professional services rendered for the audit of the annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were $96,915 and $94,462, respectively.

 

(b) Audit Related Fees. The aggregate Audit-Related Fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

 

 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the Auditor to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-investment adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant (“Service Affiliates”) which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee which related to the review of the transfer agent function for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

(c) Tax Fees: The aggregate Tax Fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning, including preparation of tax returns and distribution assistance, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were $36,979, and $40,936, respectively.

 

(d) All Other Fees. The aggregate All Other Fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

(e) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.

 

1. (1) Audit Committee pre-approval policies and procedures:

 

To fulfill its responsibilities and duties the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) shall:

 

1.Pre-Approval Policy (Trusts). Pre-approve any engagement of the independent auditors to provide any services, other than “prohibited non-audit services,” to the Trust, including the fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent auditors (unless an exception is available under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X).

 

(a)The categories of services to be reviewed and considered for pre-approval include those services set forth under Section II.A.1. of the Background and Definitions for Audit Committee Charter (collectively, “Identified Services”).

 

(b)The Committee has pre-approved Identified Services for which the estimated fees are less than $25,000.

 

(c)For Identified Services with estimated fees of $25,000 or more, but less than $50,000, the Chair or any member of the Committee designated by the Chair is hereby authorized to pre-approve such Identified Services on behalf of the Committee.

 

 

 

(d)For Identified Services with estimated fees of $50,000 or more, such Identified Services require pre-approval by the Committee.

 

(e)All requests for Identified Services to be provided by the independent auditor that were pre-approved by the Committee shall be submitted to the Principal/Chief Accounting Officer (“CAO”) of the Trust by the independent auditor using the pre-approval request form. The Trust’s CAO will determine whether such services are included within the list of services that have received the general pre-approval of the Committee.

 

(f)The independent auditors or the CAO of the Trust (or an officer of the Trust who reports to the CAO) shall report to the Committee at each of its regular scheduled meetings all audit, audit-related and permissible non-audit services initiated since the last such report (unless the services were contained in the initial audit plan, as previously presented to, and approved by, the Committee). The report shall include a general description of the services and projected fees, and the means by which such services were approved by the Committee (including the particular category of Identified Services under which pre-approval was obtained).

 

2.Pre-Approval Policy (Adviser or Any Control Affiliate). Pre-approve any engagement of the independent auditors, including the fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent auditors, to provide any non-audit services to the Adviser (or any “control affiliate” of the Adviser providing ongoing services to the Trust), if the engagement relates directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Trust (unless an exception is available under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X).

 

(a)The Chair or any member of the Committee designated by the Chair may grant the pre-approval for non-audit services to the Adviser (or any “control affiliate” of the Adviser providing ongoing services to the Trust) relating directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Trust for which the estimated fees are less than $25,000. All such delegated pre-approvals shall be presented to the Committee no later than the next Committee meeting.

 

(b)For non-audit services to the Adviser (or any “control affiliate” of the Adviser providing ongoing services to the Trust) relating directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Trust for which the estimated fees are $25,000 or more, such services require pre-approval by the Committee.

 

 

 

a.Pre-Approval Requirements

 

i.Categories of Services to be Reviewed and Considered for Pre-Approval

 

1.Audit Services

 

a.Annual financial statement audits

 

b.Seed audits (related to new product filings, as required)

 

c.SEC and regulatory filings and consents

 

2.Audit-Related Services

 

a.Accounting consultations

 

b.Fund merger/reorganization support services

 

c.Other accounting related matters

 

d.Agreed upon procedures reports

 

e.Attestation reports

 

f.Other internal control reports

 

3.Tax Services

 

a.Recurring tax services:

 

i.Preparation of Federal and state income tax returns, including extensions

 

ii.Preparation of calculations of taxable income, including fiscal year tax designations

 

iii.Preparation of annual Federal excise tax returns (if applicable)

 

iv.Preparation of calendar year excise distribution calculations

 

v.Calculation of tax equalization on an as-needed basis

 

 

 

vi.Preparation of monthly/quarterly estimates of tax undistributed position for closed-end funds

 

vii.Preparation of the estimated excise distribution calculations on an as-needed basis

 

viii.Preparation of calendar year shareholder reporting designations on Form 1099

 

ix.Preparation of quarterly Federal, state and local and franchise tax estimated tax payments on an as-needed basis

 

x.Preparation of state apportionment calculations to properly allocate Fund taxable income among the states for state tax filing purposes

 

xi.Assistance with management’s identification of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) for tax purposes

 

b.Permissible non-recurring tax services upon request:

 

i.Assistance with determining ownership changes which impact a Fund’s utilization of loss carryforwards

 

ii.Assistance with corporate actions and tax treatment of complex securities and structured products

 

iii.Assistance with IRS ruling requests and calculation of deficiency dividends

 

iv.Conduct training sessions for the Adviser’s internal tax resources

 

v.Assistance with Federal, state, local and international tax planning and advice regarding the tax consequences of proposed or actual transactions

 

vi.Tax services related to amendments to Federal, state and local returns and sales and use tax compliance

 

 

 

vii.RIC qualification reviews

 

viii.Tax distribution analysis and planning

 

ix.Tax authority examination services

 

x.Tax appeals support services

 

xi.Tax accounting methods studies

 

xii.Fund merger, reorganization and liquidation support services

 

xiii.Tax compliance, planning and advice services and related projects

 

xiv.Assistance with out of state residency status

 

xv.Provision of tax compliance services in India for Funds with direct investments in India

 

(2) None of the services described in each of Items 4(b) through (d) were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X

 

(f)  Not applicable.

 

(g) Non-Audit Fees. The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for the most recent fiscal year and the preceding fiscal year for services rendered to the registrant, the investment advisor, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the advisor that provides ongoing services to the registrant were $36,979, and $40,936, respectively. These aggregate fees were less than the aggregate fees billed for the same periods by the registrant’s principal accountant for audit services rendered to the registrant, the investment advisor, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the advisor that provides ongoing services to the registrant.

 

(h) Auditor Independence. The registrant’s Audit Committee was provided with information relating to the provision of non-audit services by Ernst & Young, LLP to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved by the Audit Committee so that a determination could be made whether the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining Ernst & Young, LLP’s independence

 

 

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

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.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a) The registrant’s President (principal executive officer) and Treasurer (principal financial officer) have evaluated the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act) as of a date within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that based on such evaluation as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Investment Company Act, that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

(b) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not Applicable.

 

 

 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1) The registrant’s code of ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is attached.

 

(a)(2) Separate certifications by the President (principal executive officer) and Treasurer (principal financial officer) of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) are attached.

 

(b) A certification by the registrant’s President (principal executive officer) and Treasurer (principal financial officer) as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is attached.

 

 

 

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) Rydex Series Funds  
     
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Brian E. Binder  
  Brian E. Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer  
     
Date March 5, 2021  

 

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

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Brian E. Binder  
  Brian E. Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer  
     
Date March 5, 2021  
     
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John L. Sullivan  
  John L. Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, and Treasurer  
     
Date March 5, 2021  

 

*Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.