N-CSRS 1 fp0083950-3_ncsrs.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: (301) 296-5100

 

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

 

Date of reporting period: January 1, 2023 June 30, 2023

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

The registrant’s semi-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:

 

 

 

 

6.30.2023

 

Guggenheim Funds Semi-Annual Report

 

Guggenheim Alternative Fund

Guggenheim Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

   

Rydex Commodities Fund

Rydex Commodities Strategy Fund

   

 

GuggenheimInvestments.com

RDXSGIALT-SEMI-0623x1223

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   

DEAR SHAREHOLDER

2

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW

4

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES

6

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

9

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

53

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

64

OTHER INFORMATION

85

INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

99

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE

108

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

112

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 1

 

 

 

June 30, 2023

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

Security Investors, LLC (the “Investment Adviser”) is pleased to present the semi-annual shareholder report for two alternative strategy funds (each a “Fund”) that are part of the Rydex Series Funds. This report covers performance of the Funds for the semi-annual period ended June 30, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).

 

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.

 

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

 

Sincerely,

 

Security Investors, LLC

 

July 31, 2023

 

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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2023

 

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. ● See the prospectus for more detailed information regarding these and additional 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. ● See the prospectus for more detailed information on these and additional risks.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 3

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited)

June 30, 2023

 

The fundamental backdrop we see for the economy is that inflation, while making some progress, continues to run well above target while the labor market appears overheated. As a result, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) is employing a deliberate and forceful strategy which has the effect of weakening the economy. The Fed believes this strategy is required to meaningfully reduce inflation. We expect Fed policymakers to deliver an additional rate hike in September 2023 as they try to limit an undue easing of financial conditions that could risk a resurgence in inflation. Quantitative tightening appears likely to continue at least into early 2024.

 

Despite the abrupt tightening of Fed policy seen over recent quarters, growth of real gross domestic product has been resilient, aided by a significant fiscal expansion and easing inflation pressures that have boosted real personal consumption. Indeed, headline personal consumption expenditures inflation has slowed to 2.5% on an annualized basis in the three months ended May 2023, down from 7.3% in the corresponding period a year earlier, helping to lift real income growth and support consumer spending.

 

Notwithstanding recent stronger-than-expected economic activity, we continue to believe the Fed’s policy measures will likely result in a higher unemployment rate and may ultimately lead to a recession. A range of leading indicators, including a low unemployment rate, an inverted yield curve, a declining leading economic index, and falling consumer confidence, suggest a downturn may be approaching.

 

While a recession understandably provokes fear among investors, in this environment it is arguably not the worst outcome from a medium-term perspective, as we see signs a recession could be moderate in its severity. Moreover, we expect inflation to be brought under control as spending and demand for labor cool, in turn allowing the Fed to start to ease its monetary policy stance as we progress through 2024.

 

For the Reporting Period, the S&P 500® Index* returned 16.89%. The MSCI Europe-Australasia-Far East (“EAFE”) Index* returned 11.67%. The return of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index* was 4.89%.

 

In the bond market, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* posted a 2.09% return for the Reporting Period, while the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Index* returned 5.38%. The return of the ICE Bank of America (“BofA”) 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index* was 2.27% for the Reporting Period.

 

4 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited)(concluded)

June 30, 2023

 

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 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 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.

 

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.

 

ICE BofA 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® Index 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.

 

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.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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 December 31, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023.

 

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.

 

6 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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 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.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 7

 

 

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

 

Expense
Ratio
1

Fund
Return

Beginning
Account Value
December 31,
2022

Ending
Account Value
June 30,
2023

Expenses
Paid During
Period
2

Table 1. Based on actual Fund return3

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

A-Class

1.72%

1.57%

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,015.70

$ 8.60

C-Class

2.47%

1.21%

1,000.00

1,012.10

12.32

P-Class

1.72%

1.60%

1,000.00

1,016.00

8.60

Institutional Class

1.47%

1.72%

1,000.00

1,017.20

7.35

Commodities Strategy Fund

A-Class

1.54%

(8.68%)

1,000.00

913.20

7.31

C-Class

2.29%

(9.03%)

1,000.00

909.70

10.84

H-Class

1.55%

(8.66%)

1,000.00

913.40

7.35

 

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

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

A-Class

1.72%

5.00%

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,016.27

$ 8.60

C-Class

2.47%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,012.55

12.33

P-Class

1.72%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,016.27

8.60

Institutional Class

1.47%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,017.50

7.35

Commodities Strategy Fund

A-Class

1.54%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,017.16

7.70

C-Class

2.29%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,013.44

11.43

H-Class

1.55%

5.00%

1,000.00

1,017.11

7.75

 

1

Annualized and excludes expenses of the underlying funds in which the Funds invest. This ratio represents net expenses which includes dividends on short sales and interest expenses. Excluding these expenses, the net expense ratio of the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund would be 1.39%, 2.14%, 1.39% and 1.14% 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 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

3

Actual cumulative return at net asset value for the period December 31, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

 

8 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)

June 30, 2023

 

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

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

 

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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 9

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(concluded)

June 30, 2023

 

Inception Dates:

A-Class

September 19, 2005

C-Class

September 19, 2005

P-Class

September 19, 2005

Institutional Class

May 3, 2010

 

Ten Largest Holdings

% of Total Net Assets

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

7.5%

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

7.5%

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III

2.2%

VMware, Inc. — Class A

2.1%

Horizon Therapeutics plc

1.8%

ForgeRock, Inc. — Class A

1.5%

Focus Financial Partners, Inc. — Class A

1.2%

Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc. — Class A

1.1%

Syneos Health, Inc.

1.1%

Life Storage, Inc.

1.0%

Top Ten Total

27.0%

   

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

 

Average Annual Returns*

Periods Ended June 30, 2023

 

 

6 Month

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

A-Class Shares

1.57%

(0.03%)

3.38%

2.08%

A-Class Shares with sales charge

(3.25%)

(4.78%)

2.37%

1.58%

C-Class Shares

1.21%

(0.80%)

2.63%

1.33%

C-Class Shares with CDSC§

0.21%

(1.78%)

2.63%

1.33%

P-Class Shares

1.60%

(0.01%)

3.39%

2.10%

Institutional Class Shares

1.72%

0.24%

3.65%

2.33%

S&P 500 Index

16.89%

19.59%

12.31%

12.86%

HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index

0.63%

1.31%

1.71%

1.51%

 

*

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 the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index are unmanaged indices and, unlike the Fund, have no management fees or operating expenses to reduce their reported returns.

6 month returns are not annualized.

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.

 

10 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-NNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

COMMON STOCKS - 24.4%

                 

Consumer, Non-cyclical - 8.5%

Horizon Therapeutics plc*,8

    14,874     $ 1,529,791  

Syneos Health, Inc.*

    22,656       954,724  

IVERIC bio, Inc.*

    21,233       835,306  

Amedisys, Inc.*,8

    8,570       783,641  

Triton International Ltd.8

    9,197       765,742  

DICE Therapeutics, Inc.*

    15,449       717,761  

NuVasive, Inc.*

    14,543       604,843  

VectivBio Holding AG*,8

    31,692       534,644  

Chinook Therapeutics, Inc.*

    9,562       367,372  

Seagen, Inc.*,8

    1,594       306,781  

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    7,400,605  
                 

Technology - 5.2%

VMware, Inc. — Class A*,8

    12,601       1,810,506  

ForgeRock, Inc. — Class A*

    65,591       1,347,239  

Tower Semiconductor Ltd.*

    22,123       830,055  

Activision Blizzard, Inc.*,8

    6,659       561,354  

Total Technology

    4,549,154  
                 

Financial - 5.0%

Focus Financial Partners, Inc. — Class A*

    19,855       1,042,586  

Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc. — Class A*,8

    66,769       994,858  

Life Storage, Inc. REIT8

    6,392       849,880  

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.

    36,286       485,869  

Greenhill & Company, Inc.

    29,350     429,978  

Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. — Class A REIT

    11,308       240,408  

Argo Group International Holdings Ltd.

    5,511       163,181  

Necessity Retail REIT, Inc.

    13,747       92,930  

Total Financial

    4,299,690  
                 

Consumer, Cyclical - 2.1%

Univar Solutions, Inc.*,8

    18,233       653,471  

iRobot Corp.*

    12,316       557,299  

Spirit Airlines, Inc.

    21,083       361,784  

NEOGAMES S.A.*

    9,427       246,233  

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    1,818,787  
                 

Basic Materials - 1.7%

Diversey Holdings Ltd.*,1

    99,422       834,150  

Arconic Corp.*,8

    22,322       660,285  

Total Basic Materials

    1,494,435  
                 

Industrial - 1.5%

National Instruments Corp.8

    14,539       834,539  

Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.*

    8,700       477,369  

Total Industrial

    1,311,908  
                 

Energy - 0.4%

PDC Energy, Inc.8

    5,547       394,614  
                 

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $21,197,389)

            21,269,193  
                 

MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS - 0.6%

Energy - 0.6%

Magellan Midstream Partners, LP8

    8,246       513,891  

Total Master Limited Partnerships

(Cost $515,606)

            513,891  
                 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 11

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

RIGHTS††† - 0.0%

Consumer, Non-cyclical - 0.0%

Lantheus Holdings, Inc.*

    42,000     $  

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

    34,843        

Viatris, Inc.*

    31,686        

Johnson & Johnson*

    3,841        

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

     
                 

Total Rights

(Cost $5,387)

             
                 

MUTUAL FUNDS - 17.2%

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class2

    674,462       6,562,518  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II2

    269,618       6,530,150  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III2

    79,031       1,916,508  

Total Mutual Funds

(Cost $15,386,814)

            15,009,176  
                 

CLOSED-END FUNDS - 6.4%

Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund

    15,399       168,157  

BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc.

    15,332       166,352  

SRH Total Return Fund, Inc.

    12,448       165,309  

Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.

    9,810       164,906  

Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust

    7,793       164,666  

General American Investors Company, Inc.

    3,931       164,001  

Nuveen New Jersey Quality Municipal Income Fund

    13,868     159,066  

Tekla Life Sciences Investors

    11,633       157,511  

Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund

    13,740       156,911  

Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund

    12,665       142,355  

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.

    13,091       112,583  

DWS Municipal Income Trust

    12,906       111,121  

Clough Global Equity Fund

    17,457       108,932  

Voya Infrastructure Industrials and Materials Fund

    10,483       103,467  

BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust

    9,653       99,812  

Tekla Healthcare Investors

    5,842       99,606  

BrandywineGLOBAL Global Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.

    9,164       73,679  

Pioneer Municipal High Income Fund Trust

    8,497       72,479  

Gabelli Healthcare & WellnessRx Trust

    6,833       68,057  

Bancroft Fund Ltd.

    3,889       66,463  

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Inc.

    7,592       65,443  

Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals

    6,338       64,774  

 

12 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund

    7,180     $ 63,615  

Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund

    7,613       62,883  

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc.

    5,745       61,644  

CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund

    11,535       60,328  

Mexico Fund, Inc.

    3,497       58,680  

BNY Mellon Municipal Income, Inc.

    8,592       54,044  

Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.

    6,017       49,460  

Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

    3,601       47,569  

Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust

    4,485       44,222  

LMP Capital and Income Fund, Inc.

    3,360       43,042  

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

    12,937       41,657  

Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund

    4,485       39,916  

abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc.

    6,477       39,315  

Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

    3,478       38,015  

DWS Strategic Municipal Income Trust

    3,785       32,116  

Blackstone Long-Short Credit Income Fund

    2,790     31,639  

Principal Real Estate Income Fund

    3,031       28,673  

First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund

    8,735       28,476  

MFS Municipal Income Trust

    5,349       27,280  

BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund

    11,930       26,485  

Neuberger Berman California Municipal Fund, Inc.

    2,440       25,986  

Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund, Inc.

    2,139       25,030  

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund

    4,591       21,532  

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust

    1,740       20,636  

Virtus Convertible & Income Fund

    5,683       19,777  

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

    1,650       19,305  

Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund

    1,652       19,262  

Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund

    1,706       19,227  

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund

    3,585       18,104  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 13

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend

    1,857     $ 17,716  

BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust

    832       17,289  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

    1,558       17,045  

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund/Closed-end Fund

    2,108       16,632  

Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II

    5,181       16,113  

Royce Global Value Trust, Inc.

    1,700       15,708  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc.

    1,357       15,700  

BlackRock Municipal Income Fund, Inc.

    1,355       15,501  

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund

    1,945       15,171  

Nuveen Dow 30sm Dynamic Overwrite Fund

    1,073       15,140  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc.

    1,297       15,084  

Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund

    1,374       14,771  

abrdn Emerging Markets Equity

    2,803       14,548  

BlackRock Municipal Income Trust

    1,459       14,502  

Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

    1,389       14,376  

Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

    1,238       14,287  

Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust

    1,379     14,080  

Allspring Income Opportunities

    2,180       14,061  

BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund, Inc.

    1,230       13,739  

BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II

    1,311       13,648  

MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust

    1,846       13,577  

Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust

    2,206       13,435  

Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund, Inc.

    1,405       13,390  

BlackRock MuniVest Fund, Inc.

    1,980       13,325  

BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc.

    1,273       13,290  

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc.

    1,137       13,223  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc.

    1,303       13,199  

BlackRock Municipal Income Quality Trust

    1,159       13,039  

Nuveen Senior Income Fund

    2,829       12,957  

Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund

    1,737       12,906  

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund, Inc.

    3,402       12,860  

Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.

    3,246       12,788  

 

14 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Allspring Multi-Sector Income

    1,369     $ 12,677  

BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc.

    1,242       12,644  

Western Asset Managed Municipals Fund, Inc.

    1,272       12,631  

BNY Mellon Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

    2,208       12,586  

BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc.

    1,137       12,564  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc.

    1,276       12,390  

Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund

    1,066       12,312  

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

    2,347       12,251  

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc.

    1,156       12,115  

Allspring Global Dividend Oppo

    2,744       11,936  

Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund, Inc.

    1,395       11,927  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc.

    1,184       11,911  

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Value Fund

    856       11,753  

BlackRock MuniVest Fund II, Inc.

    1,105       11,746  

Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund, Inc.

    997     11,715  

Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund, Inc.

    1,767       11,574  

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II

    1,943       11,561  

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

    1,131       11,525  

Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

    487       11,503  

Western Asset Inflation - Linked Securities & Income Fund

    1,388       11,465  

BlackRock Long-Term Municipal Advantage Trust

    1,183       11,440  

MFS High Income Municipal Trust

    3,249       11,307  

Western Asset Global High Income Fund, Inc.

    1,550       11,300  

Royce Value Trust, Inc.

    814       11,233  

Nuveen Global High Income Fund

    1,003       11,203  

Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc.

    713       11,130  

Virtus Diversified Income & Co.

    557       11,129  

Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund

    1,034       11,115  

Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund, Inc.

    3,655       11,111  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 15

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Sprott Focus Trust, Inc.

    1,393     $ 11,088  

Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund

    1,027       11,081  

Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II

    619       11,074  

Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund

    1,102       11,064  

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Income Fund

    795       11,043  

Royce Micro-Capital Trust, Inc.

    1,262       11,043  

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

    483       10,988  

BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund

    938       10,965  

Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund

    1,047       10,931  

John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund

    1,012       10,909  

PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II

    1,436       10,899  

Allspring Utilities and High I

    1,077       10,899  

Western Asset Investment Grade Income Fund, Inc.

    937       10,897  

abrdn Global Premier Propertie

    2,778       10,890  

abrdn Australia Equity Fund In

    2,526       10,887  

Federated Hermes Premier Municipal Income Fund

    1,024     10,885  

Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

    1,323       10,875  

Gabelli Global Small and Mid Capital Value Trust

    907       10,869  

New Germany Fund, Inc.

    1,210       10,866  

Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

    764       10,865  

Tri-Continental Corp.

    396       10,858  

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

    650       10,855  

Templeton Emerging Markets Fund/United States

    916       10,845  

Voya Global Advantage and Premium Opportunity Fund

    1,269       10,837  

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust

    929       10,832  

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Opportunity Fund, Inc.

    1,351       10,822  

Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred and Income Fund, Inc.

    569       10,805  

First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund

    616       10,798  

Western Asset Intermediate Muni Fund, Inc.

    1,415       10,782  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.

    1,101       10,779  

 

16 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Blackstone Strategic Credit Fund

    986     $ 10,777  

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund

    843       10,774  

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund, Inc.

    881       10,757  

Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc.

    926       10,742  

BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc.

    1,204       10,740  

Apollo Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.

    831       10,728  

BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust

    1,065       10,725  

BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust

    1,182       10,721  

European Equity Fund, Inc.

    1,245       10,719  

Tekla Healthcare Opportunities Fund

    562       10,717  

MFS Charter Income Trust

    1,698       10,714  

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

    466       10,699  

RiverNorth Opportunities Fund, Inc.

    934       10,685  

First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II

    1,078       10,672  

PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III

    1,696     10,668  

Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund

    954       10,666  

Miller/Howard High Dividend Fund

    1,052       10,657  

Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund

    1,182       10,638  

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund

    929       10,628  

Invesco High Income Trust II

    1,011       10,615  

Source Capital, Inc.

    277       10,615  

BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals, Inc.

    1,706       10,611  

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

    1,356       10,577  

PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc.

    850       10,557  

Eaton Vance Tax Managed Global Buy Write Opportunities Fund

    1,284       10,554  

Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust

    1,104       10,554  

Pioneer Municipal High Income Advantage Fund, Inc.

    1,335       10,547  

Invesco Value Municipal Income Trust

    892       10,543  

Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund, Inc.

    1,024       10,527  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 17

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust

    817     $ 10,523  

BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust

    1,934       10,521  

Invesco California Value Municipal Income Trust

    1,098       10,519  

Eaton Vance New York Municipal Bond Fund

    1,119       10,519  

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund

    1,328       10,518  

Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust

    1,051       10,457  

PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc.

    953       10,454  

MFS Multimarket Income Trust

    2,316       10,445  

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Securities Fund, Inc.

    760       10,442  

BNY Mellon Municipal Bond Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

    969       10,436  

Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust

    1,687       10,426  

Franklin Universal Trust

    1,548       10,418  

Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust

    1,043       10,414  

Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund

    1,044       10,388  

Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II

    1,234     10,378  

Invesco Municipal Opportunity Trust

    1,097       10,377  

Invesco Municipal Trust

    1,100       10,373  

Invesco Trust for Investment Grade Municipals

    1,068       10,370  

MFS Intermediate High Income Fund

    6,362       10,370  

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred & Income Fund, Inc.

    1,051       10,363  

Virtus Total Return Fund, Inc.

    1,704       10,360  

Pioneer High Income Fund, Inc.

    1,541       10,356  

John Hancock Investors Trust

    819       10,352  

DTF Tax-Free Income 2028 Term Fund, Inc.

    960       10,339  

Flaherty & Crumrine Total Return Fund, Inc.

    717       10,303  

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

    5,425       10,253  

Invesco Bond Fund

    689       10,252  

Insight Select Income Fund

    655       10,243  

Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund, Inc.1

    1,367       10,239  

John Hancock Income Securities Trust

    947       10,199  

MFS Intermediate Income Trust

    3,708       10,160  

BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust

    612       10,153  

 

18 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Inc.

    1,574     $ 10,137  

Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust

    576       10,126  

MFS Government Markets Income Trust

    3,142       10,086  

Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund

    1,306       10,056  

Nuveen Preferred & Income Securities Fund

    1,391       8,875  

Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund

    1,079       8,783  

Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc.

    1,004       8,735  

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

    566       7,375  

BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc.

    752       7,182  

Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund

    968       6,273  

Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund

    1,011       5,864  

BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust

    432       4,632  

Kayne Anderson NextGen Energy & Infrastructure, Inc.

    564       4,004  

Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund

    319       3,177  

Nuveen Multi-Asset Income Fund

    267     3,113  

Nuveen Preferred & Income Term Fund

    185       3,106  

Putnam Premier Income Trust

    750       2,640  

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund

    200       2,608  

Western Asset Mortgage Opportunity Fund, Inc.

    177       1,873  

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund

    175       1,715  

Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust

    304       961  

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund

    76       642  

Nuveen Preferred and Income Fund

    24       387  

Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund

    23       371  

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

    14       166  

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Term Fund Liquidating Trust

    955        

Total Closed-End Funds

(Cost $5,425,833)

            5,619,587  

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 19

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Face
Amount

   

Value

 

U.S. TREASURY BILLS†† - 10.6%

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.02% due 08/03/233

  $ 4,700,000     $ 4,679,304  

5.11% due 07/18/233,4,8

    4,586,000       4,576,402  

Total U.S. Treasury Bills

(Cost $9,252,841)

            9,255,706  
                 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS††,5 - 27.2%

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
issued 06/30/23 at 5.05%
due 07/03/23

    12,905,446       12,905,446  

Barclays Capital, Inc.
issued 06/30/23 at 5.06%
due 07/03/23

    5,677,745       5,677,745  

BofA Securities, Inc.
issued 06/30/23 at 5.06%
due 07/03/23

    5,161,587       5,161,587  

Total Repurchase Agreements

(Cost $23,744,778)

            23,744,778  

 

   

Shares

         

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL†,6 - 0.7%

Money Market Fund

First American Government Obligations Fund — Class X, 5.01%7

    660,141       660,141  

Total Securities Lending Collateral

(Cost $660,141)

            660,141  
                 

Total Investments - 87.1%

(Cost $76,188,789)

  76,072,472  
 

COMMON STOCKS SOLD SHORT - (5.2)%

Utilities - (0.1)%

Brookfield Infrastructure Corp. — Class A

    2,483     (113,175 )
                 

Consumer, Non-cyclical - (0.7)%

Globus Medical, Inc. — Class A*

    10,907       (649,403 )
                 

Energy - (0.9)%

ONEOK, Inc.

    5,500       (339,460 )

Chevron Corp.

    2,573       (404,862 )

Total Energy

    (744,322 )
                 

Technology - (1.6)%

Broadcom, Inc.

    1,588       (1,377,479 )
                 

Financial - (1.9)%

Global Net Lease, Inc.

    9,196       (94,535 )

Regency Centers Corp.

    3,833       (236,764 )

Provident Financial Services, Inc.

    30,186       (493,239 )

Extra Space Storage, Inc.

    5,721       (851,571 )

Total Financial

    (1,676,109 )
                 

Total Common Stocks Sold Short

(Proceeds $3,926,863)

            (4,560,488 )
                 

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS SOLD SHORT - (6.9)%

SPDR Gold Shares — Class D

    20       (3,565 )

iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF

    102       (6,777 )

iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF

    309       (7,292 )

iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF

    120       (11,592 )

iShares Agency Bond ETF

    109       (11,659 )

 

20 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   


Value

 

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

    371     $ (12,506 )

Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund

    202       (16,396 )

Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund

    272       (17,800 )

VanEck Gold Miners ETF

    595       (17,915 )

iShares Latin America 40 ETF

    956       (25,975 )

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

    694       (27,455 )

iShares Preferred & Income Securities ETF

    1,644       (50,849 )

iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF

    1,030       (52,345 )

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF

    581       (62,829 )

iShares Core High Dividend ETF

    654       (65,917 )

iShares TIPS Bond ETF

    693       (74,581 )

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF

    319       (87,782 )

iShares MBS ETF

    964       (89,907 )

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

    1,219       (101,421 )

iShares Russell 2000 Index ETF

    864       (161,801 )

Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

    4,032       (186,117 )

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund

    1,417       (188,079 )

SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF

    2,742       (191,803 )

iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF

    2,328       (201,465 )

iShares JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

    2,501     (216,437 )

VanEck High Yield Muni ETF

    4,592       (235,753 )

Invesco Senior Loan ETF

    12,080       (254,163 )

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg High Yield Municipal Bond ETF

    14,736       (368,547 )

iShares National Muni Bond ETF

    3,668       (391,486 )

iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF

    2,675       (422,195 )

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

    5,917       (428,982 )

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

    1,207       (535,039 )

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Municipal Bond ETF

    15,653       (722,543 )

iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

    10,451       (784,557 )

Total Exchange-Traded Funds Sold Short

(Proceeds $6,412,853)

            (6,033,530 )
                 

Total Securities Sold Short - (12.1)%

(Proceeds $10,339,716)

  $ (10,594,018 )

Other Assets & Liabilities, net - 25.0%

    21,852,897  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

  $ 87,331,351  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 21

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Futures Contracts

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**

 

Interest Rate Futures Contracts Purchased

Canadian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts

    25       Sep 2023     $ 2,312,868     $ 16,901  

U.S. Treasury 10 Year Note Futures Contracts

    16       Sep 2023       1,797,000       2,933  

Euro - OATS Futures Contracts

    5       Sep 2023       700,829       500  
                    $ 4,810,697     $ 20,334  

Commodity Futures Contracts Purchased

Live Cattle Futures Contracts

    123       Aug 2023     $ 8,704,710     $ 443,947  

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    107       Aug 2023       2,957,480       123,427  

Cattle Feeder Futures Contracts

    8       Aug 2023       989,200       100,483  

Cocoa Futures Contracts

    38       Sep 2023       1,275,660       90,115  

Soybean Oil Futures Contracts

    22       Dec 2023       778,404       64,139  

NY Harbor ULSD Futures Contracts

    7       Jul 2023       718,859       10,512  

Brent Crude Futures Contracts

    9       Jul 2023       677,790       6,265  

Low Sulphur Gas Oil Futures Contracts

    9       Aug 2023       634,275       (3,265 )

Hard Red Winter Wheat Futures Contracts

    23       Sep 2023       912,237       (15,235 )

WTI Crude Futures Contracts

    11       Jul 2023       776,050       (16,418 )

Silver Futures Contracts

    4       Sep 2023       459,500       (26,972 )

Soybean Meal Futures Contracts

    50       Mar 2024       1,928,500       (40,595 )

Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts

    52       Sep 2023       4,841,710       (42,842 )

Coffee ‘C’ Futures Contracts

    9       Sep 2023       536,625       (43,135 )

Gold 100 oz. Futures Contracts

    5       Aug 2023       963,900       (55,733 )

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    254       Apr 2024       6,164,682       (631,102 )
                    $ 33,319,582     $ (36,409 )

Currency Futures Contracts Purchased

Euro FX Futures Contracts

    50       Sep 2023     $ 6,846,875     $ 77,048  

British Pound Futures Contracts

    153       Sep 2023       12,145,331       45,435  

New Zealand Dollar Futures Contracts

    25       Sep 2023       1,533,625       6,014  

Canadian Dollar Futures Contracts

    74       Sep 2023       5,592,920       (16,750 )

Japanese Yen Futures Contracts

    69       Sep 2023       6,049,144       (171,401 )
                    $ 32,167,895     $ (59,654 )

Equity Futures Contracts Purchased

Tokyo Stock Price Index Futures Contracts

    9       Sep 2023     $ 1,435,384     $ 89,216  

Nikkei 225 (OSE) Index Futures Contracts

    5       Sep 2023       1,158,551       78,537  

IBEX 35 Index Futures Contracts††

    9       Jul 2023       939,622       29,452  

FTSE MIB Index Futures Contracts

    5       Sep 2023       775,759       27,133  

CAC 40 10 Euro Index Futures Contracts

    9       Jul 2023       730,255       19,142  

SPI 200 Index Futures Contracts

    9       Sep 2023       1,077,638       18,755  

OMX Stockholm 30 Index Futures Contracts††

    31       Jul 2023       666,870       3,874  

Euro STOXX 50 Index Futures Contracts

    17       Sep 2023       823,652       2,158  

DAX Index Futures Contracts

    2       Sep 2023       889,980       1,951  

FTSE 100 Index Futures Contracts

    6       Sep 2023       576,104       1,465  

Russell 2000 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    30       Sep 2023       2,854,650       (1,635 )

 

22 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Futures Contracts (continued)

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**

 

Equity Futures Contracts Purchased (continued)

NASDAQ-100 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    15       Sep 2023     $ 4,599,375     $ (2,298 )

Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Mini Futures Contracts

    30       Sep 2023       5,194,200       (2,524 )

S&P 500 Index Mini Futures Contracts

    25       Sep 2023       5,608,125       (2,878 )

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    172       Sep 2023       3,035,800       (196,399 )

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    247       Dec 2023       4,730,050       (359,821 )
                    $ 35,096,015     $ (293,872 )

Equity Futures Contracts Sold Short

CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts

    256       Jul 2023     $ 3,840,000     $ 402,004  

S&P/TSX 60 IX Index Futures Contracts

    1       Sep 2023       183,957       (2,345 )
                    $ 4,023,957     $ 399,659  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts Sold Short

Long Gilt Futures Contracts††

    47       Sep 2023     $ 5,689,590     $ 14,489  

Euro - Bund Futures Contracts

    12       Sep 2023       1,752,063       (489 )

Euro - BTP Italian Government Bond Futures Contracts††

    14       Sep 2023       1,774,678       (588 )

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures Contracts

    3       Sep 2023       381,375       (631 )

Euro - 30 year Bond Futures Contracts

    6       Sep 2023       914,997       (808 )

Australian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts

    7       Sep 2023       542,952       (1,471 )

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures Contracts

    9       Sep 2023       1,229,344       (3,456 )
                    $ 12,284,999     $ 7,046  

Currency Futures Contracts Sold Short

Australian Dollar Futures Contracts

    61       Sep 2023     $ 4,071,140     $ 56,081  

Swiss Franc Futures Contracts

    131       Sep 2023       18,443,981       (77,669 )
                    $ 22,515,121     $ (21,588 )

Commodity Futures Contracts Sold Short

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    58       Sep 2023     $ 1,482,387     $ 185,634  

Corn Futures Contracts

    22       Sep 2023       537,900       136,136  

Sugar #11 Futures Contracts

    87       Feb 2024       2,233,325       91,219  

Wheat Futures Contracts

    38       Sep 2023       1,228,350       32,024  

LME Primary Aluminum Futures Contracts

    13       Aug 2023       693,794       23,883  

Copper Futures Contracts

    5       Sep 2023       470,375       15,022  

LME Nickel Futures Contracts

    3       Aug 2023       368,064       12,746  

LME Zinc Futures Contracts

    9       Aug 2023       537,581       1,626  

LME Lead Futures Contracts

    2       Aug 2023       105,073       371  

Soybean Futures Contracts

    14       Nov 2023       939,750       131  

Soybean Meal Futures Contracts

    2       Dec 2023       79,320       (3,296 )

Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts

    11       Jul 2023       1,176,945       (4,371 )

Cotton #2 Futures Contracts

    15       Dec 2023       603,150       (9,622 )

Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts

    21       Aug 2023       2,171,660       (16,728 )

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    31       Jul 2023       863,040       (36,039 )

Lean Hogs Futures Contracts

    18       Aug 2023       665,820       (50,137 )

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 23

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Futures Contracts (continued)

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**

 

Commodity Futures Contracts Sold Short (continued)

Live Cattle Futures Contracts

    110       Dec 2023     $ 8,069,600     $ (277,435 )

Natural Gas Futures Contracts

    112       Sep 2023       3,186,400       (323,175 )
                    $ 25,412,534     $ (222,011 )

 

Custom Basket Swap Agreements

Counterparty

Reference
Obligation

Type

Financing
Rate

 

Payment
Frequency

   

Maturity
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

OTC Custom Basket Swap Agreements††

Goldman Sachs International

GS Long/Short Equity Custom Basket

Pay

5.52% (Federal Funds Rate + 0.45%)

    At Maturity       05/06/24     $ 13,181,537     $ 905,553  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

MS Long/Short Equity Custom Basket

Pay

5.47% (Federal Funds Rate + 0.40%)

    At Maturity       08/31/23       13,181,579       897,005  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

MS Equity Market Neutral Custom Basket

Pay

5.47% (Federal Funds Rate + 0.40%)

    At Maturity       08/31/23       14,204,022       366,470  

Goldman Sachs International

GS Equity Market Neutral Custom Basket

Pay

5.52% (Federal Funds Rate + 0.45%)

    At Maturity       05/06/24       14,204,030       363,537  
                          $ 54,771,168     $ 2,532,565  

 

24 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Custom Basket Swap Agreements (concluded)

Counterparty

Reference
Obligation

Type

Financing
Rate

 

Payment
Frequency

   

Maturity
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

OTC Custom Basket Swap Agreements Sold Short††

Goldman Sachs International

GS Equity Market Neutral Custom Basket

Receive

4.86% (Federal Funds Rate - 0.21%)

    At Maturity       05/06/24     $ 14,999,612     $ 1,765,451  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

MS Equity Market Neutral Custom Basket

Receive

4.75% (Federal Funds Rate - 0.32%)

    At Maturity       08/31/23       14,999,603       1,756,605  

Goldman Sachs International

GS Long/Short Equity Custom Basket

Receive

4.86% (Federal Funds Rate - 0.21%)

    At Maturity       05/06/24       9,422,430       (264,965 )

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

MS Long/Short Equity Custom Basket

Receive

4.77% (Federal Funds Rate - 0.30%)

    At Maturity       08/31/23       9,527,904       (265,877 )
                          $ 48,949,549     $ 2,991,214  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 25

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

MS LONG/SHORT EQUITY LONG CUSTOM BASKET

Consumer, Non-cyclical

John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.

    560       0.49 %   $ 24,146  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    176       0.46 %     23,455  

Perdoceo Education Corp.

    8,233       0.76 %     12,498  

Quanex Building Products Corp.

    2,181       0.43 %     10,789  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    1,001       1.05 %     10,007  

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.

    433       0.36 %     9,942  

Hackett Group, Inc.

    3,176       0.54 %     9,839  

Viatris, Inc.

    14,597       1.11 %     9,352  

USANA Health Sciences, Inc.

    1,049       0.50 %     6,693  

Dynavax Technologies Corp.

    4,722       0.46 %     6,436  

Exelixis, Inc.

    3,830       0.56 %     6,360  

Innoviva, Inc.

    8,283       0.80 %     4,458  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.

    430       0.31 %     4,456  

Vector Group Ltd.

    7,075       0.69 %     4,384  

H&R Block, Inc.

    4,451       1.08 %     3,341  

Johnson & Johnson

    268       0.34 %     3,256  

Merck & Company, Inc.

    1,212       1.06 %     2,077  

United Therapeutics Corp.

    455       0.76 %     870  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.

    94       0.21 %     838  

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

    203       0.22 %     808  

Perrigo Company plc

    836       0.22 %   729  

Altria Group, Inc.

    1,135       0.39 %     345  

Abbott Laboratories

    1,321       1.09 %     (293 )

QIAGEN N.V.

    598       0.20 %     (547 )

Moderna, Inc.

    228       0.21 %     (1,873 )

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    2,071       1.00 %     (2,320 )

Vir Biotechnology, Inc.

    1,392       0.26 %     (3,103 )

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.

    566       0.40 %     (3,808 )

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    1,126       0.26 %     (4,072 )

Hershey Co.

    527       1.00 %     (4,318 )

Premier, Inc. — Class A

    1,588       0.33 %     (5,320 )

Amgen, Inc.

    619       1.04 %     (5,704 )

Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

    587       0.46 %     (6,311 )

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

    1,296       0.76 %     (9,583 )

Campbell Soup Co.

    1,080       0.37 %     (9,718 )

Humana, Inc.

    128       0.43 %     (9,951 )

Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    1,569       0.23 %     (17,999 )

Incyte Corp.

    2,071       0.98 %     (18,922 )

Royalty Pharma plc — Class A

    2,620       0.61 %     (29,714 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    21,523  
                         

Communications

Yelp, Inc. — Class A

    2,779       0.77 %     23,300  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    2,725       1.07 %     12,245  

Extreme Networks, Inc.

    1,367       0.27 %     9,292  

 

26 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

InterDigital, Inc.

    639       0.47 %   $ 7,727  

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — Class A

    437       0.55 %     4,253  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    134       0.30 %     1,046  

T-Mobile US, Inc.

    345       0.36 %     831  

VeriSign, Inc.

    606       1.04 %     291  

TEGNA, Inc.

    2,909       0.36 %     32  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    1,310       0.37 %     (183 )

A10 Networks, Inc.

    4,747       0.53 %     (1,174 )

Total Communications

    57,660  
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

    2,292       0.98 %     43,496  

PulteGroup, Inc.

    1,586       0.93 %     31,038  

DR Horton, Inc.

    792       0.73 %     23,026  

MDC Holdings, Inc.

    2,520       0.89 %     20,957  

Taylor Morrison Home Corp. — Class A

    1,342       0.50 %     16,393  

Boyd Gaming Corp.

    1,151       0.61 %     16,261  

Brunswick Corp.

    1,158       0.76 %     14,479  

Patrick Industries, Inc.

    951       0.58 %     12,707  

Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.

    3,552       0.89 %     12,541  

MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. — Class A

    1,481       1.07 %     12,500  

Meritage Homes Corp.

    378       0.41 %     7,853  

NVR, Inc.

    8       0.39 %     5,282  

Cavco Industries, Inc.

    173       0.39 %     4,706  

Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc.

    556       0.23 %   3,094  

Green Brick Partners, Inc.

    556       0.24 %     2,817  

Gentex Corp.

    4,411       0.98 %     2,593  

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.

    884       0.47 %     2,235  

Home Depot, Inc.

    94       0.22 %     1,964  

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. — Class A

    1,151       0.73 %     1,085  

Steven Madden Ltd.

    1       0.00 %     16  

Buckle, Inc.

    1,425       0.37 %     (3,065 )

PetMed Express, Inc.

    5,353       0.56 %     (4,947 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    227,015  
                         

Industrial

Standex International Corp.

    813       0.87 %     42,906  

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

    3,159       0.70 %     42,426  

Snap-on, Inc.

    529       1.16 %     38,211  

Eagle Materials, Inc.

    558       0.79 %     35,353  

Mueller Industries, Inc.

    1,429       0.95 %     30,439  

Louisiana-Pacific Corp.

    1,087       0.62 %     23,998  

Boise Cascade Co.

    1,304       0.89 %     20,829  

Builders FirstSource, Inc.

    1,005       1.04 %     20,805  

Fortive Corp.

    2,050       1.16 %     19,921  

Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc.

    650       0.68 %     17,704  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 27

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

UFP Industries, Inc.

    1,360       1.00 %   $ 17,499  

Dorian LPG Ltd.

    1,262       0.25 %     16,467  

ITT, Inc.

    1,676       1.19 %     12,110  

Donaldson Company, Inc.

    1,628       0.77 %     6,872  

Masco Corp.

    1,183       0.51 %     6,745  

Landstar System, Inc.

    451       0.66 %     6,575  

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

    1,112       0.62 %     6,178  

Dover Corp.

    832       0.93 %     4,697  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

    432       0.40 %     2,946  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

    240       0.30 %     2,913  

International Seaways, Inc.

    1,015       0.29 %     2,095  

Ardmore Shipping Corp.

    3,581       0.34 %     1,068  

GrafTech International Ltd.

    6,080       0.23 %     872  

Scorpio Tankers, Inc.

    928       0.33 %     770  

Toro Co.

    481       0.37 %     136  

Garmin Ltd.

    430       0.34 %     (519 )

Argan, Inc.

    1,214       0.36 %     (1,696 )

Golar LNG Ltd.

    2,904       0.44 %     (3,872 )

Acuity Brands, Inc.

    566       0.70 %     (6,040 )

Lindsay Corp.

    240       0.22 %     (7,352 )

3M Co.

    1,379       1.05 %     (9,640 )

Sturm Ruger & Company, Inc.

    1,693       0.68 %     (10,231 )

Total Industrial

    341,185  
                         

Basic Materials

NewMarket Corp.

    242       0.74 %     20,530  

Livent Corp.

    1       0.00 %     25  

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

    642       0.34 %   (57 )

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. — Class A

    541       0.38 %     (812 )

Westlake Corp.

    761       0.69 %     (1,913 )

AdvanSix, Inc.

    949       0.25 %     (4,303 )

Olin Corp.

    1,314       0.51 %     (5,049 )

Total Basic Materials

    8,396  
                         

Technology

NetApp, Inc.

    1,688       0.98 %     20,588  

Dropbox, Inc. — Class A

    4,706       0.95 %     19,937  

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.

    1,904       0.86 %     17,891  

KLA Corp.

    207       0.76 %     13,666  

Diodes, Inc.

    735       0.52 %     13,255  

Microsoft Corp.

    219       0.57 %     12,417  

Teradata Corp.

    589       0.24 %     11,379  

Teradyne, Inc.

    533       0.45 %     10,100  

Photronics, Inc.

    1,958       0.38 %     8,396  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    700       0.77 %     7,708  

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

    562       0.35 %     7,675  

Apple, Inc.

    441       0.65 %     5,769  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. — Class A

    1,028       0.51 %     3,609  

QUALCOMM, Inc.

    240       0.22 %     3,395  

Qualys, Inc.

    221       0.22 %     1,923  

NetScout Systems, Inc.

    2,556       0.60 %     1,712  

Veradigm, Inc.

    3,329       0.32 %     347  

Akamai Technologies, Inc.

    710       0.48 %     (2,900 )

Total Technology

    156,867  
                         

Financial

MGIC Investment Corp.

    8,920       1.07 %     13,844  

 

28 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Essent Group Ltd.

    2,269       0.81 %   $ 12,813  

NMI Holdings, Inc. — Class A

    2,384       0.47 %     12,609  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

    3,266       0.83 %     12,547  

Radian Group, Inc.

    2,729       0.52 %     9,108  

Evercore, Inc. — Class A

    487       0.46 %     8,981  

Mr Cooper Group, Inc.

    1,433       0.55 %     4,976  

Hilltop Holdings, Inc.

    921       0.22 %     2,935  

Preferred Bank/Los Angeles CA

    1,826       0.76 %     2,122  

SouthState Corp.

    2,077       1.04 %     610  

SEI Investments Co.

    2,367       1.07 %     430  

International Bancshares Corp.

    658       0.22 %     407  

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

    1       0.00 %     8  

Allstate Corp.

    249       0.21 %     (169 )

Travelers Companies, Inc.

    157       0.21 %     (189 )

S&T Bancorp, Inc.

    1,511       0.31 %     (1,396 )

Equity Commonwealth

    6,680       1.03 %     (2,488 )

Renasant Corp.

    1,565       0.31 %     (9,798 )

FB Financial Corp.

    1,812       0.39 %     (15,398 )

Total Financial

    51,944  
                         

Utilities

MGE Energy, Inc.

    1,701       1.02 %     11,708  

ONE Gas, Inc.

    1,488       0.87 %     2,900  

Chesapeake Utilities Corp.

    520       0.47 %     2,097  

Atmos Energy Corp.

    1,189       1.05 %     1,912  

Ameren Corp.

    1,674       1.04 %     (433 )

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

    972       0.67 %   (2,462 )

Black Hills Corp.

    2,215       1.01 %     (3,698 )

National Fuel Gas Co.

    1,500       0.58 %     (10,300 )

OGE Energy Corp.

    3,849       1.05 %     (11,880 )

Clearway Energy, Inc. — Class C

    2,806       0.61 %     (13,485 )

Total Utilities

    (23,641 )
                         

Energy

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    1,268       1.12 %     17,213  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    1,302       1.06 %     10,602  

REX American Resources Corp.

    1,379       0.36 %     8,015  

California Resources Corp.

    1,214       0.42 %     5,906  

SM Energy Co.

    1,208       0.29 %     5,739  

PBF Energy, Inc. — Class A

    1,201       0.37 %     5,303  

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

    566       0.65 %     4,818  

Valero Energy Corp.

    1,202       1.07 %     2,929  

Phillips 66

    654       0.47 %     (588 )

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    690       0.31 %     (3,881 )

Total Energy

    56,056  

Total MS Long/Short Equity Long Custom Basket

    897,005  
                 

MS LONG/SHORT EQUITY SHORT CUSTOM BASKET

Consumer, Non-cyclical

Driven Brands Holdings, Inc.

    4,340       (1.24 )%   10,664  

Clarivate plc

    4,116       (0.42 )%     5,663  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 29

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Global Payments, Inc.

    924       (0.96 )%   $ 4,749  

ABM Industries, Inc.

    2,556       (1.14 )%     3,974  

Utz Brands, Inc.

    2,649       (0.45 )%     2,287  

Equifax, Inc.

    533       (1.32 )%     (2,341 )

TreeHouse Foods, Inc.

    1,461       (0.77 )%     (4,140 )

FTI Consulting, Inc.

    426       (0.85 )%     (4,989 )

Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. — Class A

    433       (0.89 )%     (6,370 )

Quanta Services, Inc.

    483       (1.00 )%     (8,531 )

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

    491       (0.58 )%     (9,362 )

ICF International, Inc.

    825       (1.08 )%     (16,523 )

CoStar Group, Inc.

    1,423       (1.33 )%     (18,791 )

GXO Logistics, Inc.

    1,479       (0.98 )%     (22,995 )

TransUnion

    1,617       (1.33 )%     (23,581 )

Neogen Corp.

    5,901       (1.35 )%     (25,433 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    (115,719 )
                         

Financial

Sun Communities, Inc.

    905       (1.24 )%     36,774  

American Tower Corp. — Class A

    723       (1.47 )%     20,050  

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

    2,229       (1.22 )%     19,537  

Howard Hughes Corp.

    1,195       (0.99 )%     16,353  

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.

    7,389       (1.27 )%     12,455  

Outfront Media, Inc.

    4,043       (0.67 )%     12,217  

Kemper Corp.

    1,406       (0.71 )%   10,037  

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.

    4,823       (0.95 )%     9,973  

Equitable Holdings, Inc.

    4,904       (1.40 )%     9,264  

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

    1,456       (1.59 )%     7,430  

TFS Financial Corp.

    3,652       (0.48 )%     4,098  

Prologis, Inc.

    880       (1.13 )%     3,847  

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

    1,868       (1.09 )%     3,461  

Americold Realty Trust, Inc.

    3,707       (1.26 )%     1,862  

Progressive Corp.

    702       (0.98 )%     1,722  

Stellar Bancorp, Inc.

    2,639       (0.63 )%     878  

Rayonier, Inc.

    3,770       (1.24 )%     680  

Popular, Inc.

    744       (0.47 )%     507  

Northern Trust Corp.

    1,066       (0.83 )%     332  

KKR & Company, Inc. — Class A

    2,196       (1.29 )%     256  

Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.

    548       (0.65 )%     (33 )

Crown Castle, Inc.

    288       (0.34 )%     (214 )

Voya Financial, Inc.

    483       (0.36 )%     (372 )

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.

    3,074       (0.65 )%     (1,415 )

State Street Corp.

    1,049       (0.81 )%     (1,602 )

Equinix, Inc.

    157       (1.29 )%     (1,864 )

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    1,532       (0.49 )%     (2,188 )

Boston Properties, Inc.

    547       (0.33 )%     (3,444 )

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

    5,426       (0.53 )%     (3,795 )

 

30 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

AGNC Investment Corp.

    5,725       (0.61 )%   $ (3,872 )

UDR, Inc.

    2,877       (1.30 )%     (5,004 )

Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.

    430       (0.70 )%     (5,338 )

Brighthouse Financial, Inc.

    3,168       (1.57 )%     (5,459 )

UMH Properties, Inc.

    5,859       (0.98 )%     (5,725 )

Ellington Financial, Inc.

    6,037       (0.87 )%     (6,099 )

Welltower, Inc.

    1,204       (1.02 )%     (6,966 )

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust

    5,813       (0.82 )%     (7,294 )

Carlyle Group, Inc.

    1,605       (0.54 )%     (8,122 )

Apollo Global Management, Inc.

    836       (0.67 )%     (9,258 )

Iron Mountain, Inc.

    2,334       (1.39 )%     (10,159 )

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

    1,739       (1.28 )%     (12,961 )

Ares Management Corp. — Class A

    1,193       (1.21 )%     (17,455 )

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    1,132       (1.35 )%     (21,228 )

Total Financial

    31,866  
                         

Utilities

Avista Corp.

    2,666       (1.10 )%     11,505  

Spire, Inc.

    1,546       (1.03 )%     10,449  

Dominion Energy, Inc.

    2,110       (1.15 )%     8,257  

Sempra Energy

    932       (1.42 )%     6,401  

CMS Energy Corp.

    1,866       (1.15 )%     1,813  

UGI Corp.

    2,886       (0.82 )%   1,647  

PG&E Corp.

    6,503       (1.18 )%     266  

American Electric Power Company, Inc.

    1,632       (1.44 )%     (587 )

Alliant Energy Corp.

    2,096       (1.15 )%     (589 )

DTE Energy Co.

    840       (0.97 )%     (665 )

Exelon Corp.

    1,872       (0.80 )%     (1,610 )

Edison International

    1,628       (1.19 )%     (4,438 )

Total Utilities

    32,449  
                         

Technology

Evolent Health, Inc. — Class A

    1,931       (0.61 )%     5,476  

Procore Technologies, Inc.

    836       (0.57 )%     (370 )

KBR, Inc.

    777       (0.53 )%     (2,680 )

Guidewire Software, Inc.

    637       (0.51 )%     (2,845 )

Alteryx, Inc. — Class A

    934       (0.45 )%     (3,412 )

Paycor HCM, Inc.

    3,057       (0.76 )%     (4,597 )

Privia Health Group, Inc.

    4,038       (1.11 )%     (7,767 )

Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.

    1,690       (1.19 )%     (12,870 )

Total Technology

    (29,065 )
                         

Industrial

Waste Management, Inc.

    320       (0.58 )%     (12 )

General Electric Co.

    1       0.00 %     (23 )

Boeing Co.

    412       (0.91 )%     (4,789 )

Vulcan Materials Co.

    222       (0.53 )%     (5,082 )

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. — Class A

    907       (0.86 )%     (6,234 )

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 31

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Kirby Corp.

    759       (0.61 )%   $ (6,335 )

Tetra Tech, Inc.

    251       (0.43 )%     (7,589 )

Clean Harbors, Inc.

    286       (0.49 )%     (8,667 )

NV5 Global, Inc.

    604       (0.70 )%     (9,536 )

MasTec, Inc.

    470       (0.58 )%     (14,273 )

MSA Safety, Inc.

    642       (1.17 )%     (30,378 )

Total Industrial

    (92,895 )
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

UniFirst Corp.

    535       (0.87 )%     24,280  

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

    472       (0.29 )%     342  

Steven Madden Ltd.

    1       0.00 %     3  

Newell Brands, Inc.

    10,180       (0.93 )%     (105 )

OPENLANE, Inc.

    6,363       (1.02 )%     (610 )

Burlington Stores, Inc.

    274       (0.45 )%     (2,265 )

Five Below, Inc.

    251       (0.52 )%     (3,014 )

Shake Shack, Inc. — Class A

    723       (0.59 )%     (6,570 )

VF Corp.

    5,792       (1.16 )%     (7,202 )

Tesla, Inc.

    209       (0.57 )%     (14,414 )

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. — Class A

    767       (0.84 )%     (15,957 )

Copart, Inc.

    1,241       (1.19 )%     (30,107 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    (55,622 )
                         

Basic Materials

Hecla Mining Co.

    10,368       (0.56 )%     9,887  

Royal Gold, Inc.

    487       (0.59 )%     5,164  

Piedmont Lithium, Inc.

    798       (0.48 )%     2,940  

Livent Corp.

    1       0.00 %     (14 )

Carpenter Technology Corp.

    1,231       (0.73 )%     (20,369 )

Total Basic Materials

    (2,378 )
                         
 

Communications

Robinhood Markets, Inc. — Class A

    2,516       (0.26 )%   (802 )

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.

    114       (0.31 )%     (1,021 )

Chewy, Inc. — Class A

    1,133       (0.47 )%     (3,842 )

DoorDash, Inc. — Class A

    865       (0.69 )%     (9,243 )

Uber Technologies, Inc.

    786       (0.36 )%     (11,194 )

Total Communications

    (26,102 )
                         

Energy

NOV, Inc.

    4,938       (0.83 )%     24,061  

Hess Corp.

    1,045       (1.49 )%     (2,720 )

Valaris Ltd.

    788       (0.52 )%     (4,974 )

Schlumberger N.V.

    2,499       (1.29 )%     (11,301 )

Tidewater, Inc.

    1,103       (0.64 )%     (13,477 )

Total Energy

    (8,411 )

Total MS Long/Short Equity Short Custom Basket

  (265,877 )

 

GS LONG/SHORT EQUITY LONG CUSTOM BASKET

Consumer, Non-cyclical

John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.

    560       0.49 %   24,214  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    176       0.46 %     23,373  

Perdoceo Education Corp.

    8,233       0.76 %     12,493  

Quanex Building Products Corp.

    2,181       0.43 %     10,788  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    1,001       1.05 %     10,061  

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.

    433       0.36 %     10,033  

Hackett Group, Inc.

    3,176       0.54 %     9,832  

 

32 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Viatris, Inc.

    14,597       1.11 %   $ 9,271  

USANA Health Sciences, Inc.

    1,049       0.50 %     6,787  

Exelixis, Inc.

    3,830       0.56 %     6,505  

Dynavax Technologies Corp.

    4,722       0.46 %     6,493  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.

    430       0.31 %     4,503  

Innoviva, Inc.

    8,283       0.80 %     4,478  

Vector Group Ltd.

    7,075       0.69 %     4,459  

Johnson & Johnson

    268       0.34 %     3,240  

H&R Block, Inc.

    4,451       1.08 %     2,941  

Merck & Company, Inc.

    1,212       1.06 %     2,125  

United Therapeutics Corp.

    455       0.76 %     888  

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

    203       0.22 %     841  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.

    94       0.21 %     788  

Perrigo Company plc

    836       0.22 %     701  

Altria Group, Inc.

    1,135       0.39 %     280  

Abbott Laboratories

    1,321       1.09 %     (327 )

QIAGEN N.V.

    598       0.20 %     (578 )

Moderna, Inc.

    228       0.21 %     (1,900 )

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    2,071       1.00 %     (2,172 )

Vir Biotechnology, Inc.

    1,392       0.26 %     (3,217 )

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.

    566       0.40 %     (3,865 )

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    1,126       0.26 %     (4,007 )

Hershey Co.

    527       1.00 %   (4,464 )

Amgen, Inc.

    619       1.04 %     (5,174 )

Premier, Inc. — Class A

    1,588       0.33 %     (5,349 )

Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

    587       0.46 %     (6,403 )

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

    1,296       0.76 %     (9,485 )

Campbell Soup Co.

    1,080       0.37 %     (9,672 )

Humana, Inc.

    128       0.43 %     (9,913 )

Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    1,569       0.23 %     (17,953 )

Incyte Corp.

    2,071       0.98 %     (18,441 )

Royalty Pharma plc — Class A

    2,620       0.61 %     (29,355 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    22,816  
                         

Communications

Yelp, Inc. — Class A

    2,779       0.77 %     23,467  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    2,725       1.07 %     12,293  

Extreme Networks, Inc.

    1,367       0.27 %     9,315  

InterDigital, Inc.

    639       0.47 %     7,832  

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — Class A

    437       0.55 %     4,266  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    134       0.30 %     1,033  

T-Mobile US, Inc.

    345       0.36 %     886  

VeriSign, Inc.

    606       1.04 %     275  

TEGNA, Inc.

    2,909       0.36 %     47  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    1,310       0.37 %     (45 )

A10 Networks, Inc.

    4,747       0.53 %     (1,285 )

Total Communications

    58,084  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 33

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Consumer, Cyclical

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

    2,292       0.98 %   $ 43,425  

PulteGroup, Inc.

    1,586       0.93 %     31,117  

DR Horton, Inc.

    792       0.73 %     23,124  

MDC Holdings, Inc.

    2,520       0.89 %     20,960  

Taylor Morrison Home Corp. — Class A

    1,342       0.50 %     16,448  

Boyd Gaming Corp.

    1,151       0.61 %     16,396  

Brunswick Corp.

    1,158       0.76 %     14,646  

Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.

    3,552       0.89 %     12,779  

Patrick Industries, Inc.

    951       0.58 %     12,746  

MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. — Class A

    1,481       1.07 %     12,503  

Meritage Homes Corp.

    378       0.41 %     7,899  

NVR, Inc.

    8       0.39 %     5,301  

Cavco Industries, Inc.

    173       0.39 %     4,691  

Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc.

    556       0.23 %     3,146  

Green Brick Partners, Inc.

    556       0.24 %     2,841  

Gentex Corp.

    4,411       0.98 %     2,606  

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.

    884       0.47 %     2,180  

Home Depot, Inc.

    94       0.22 %     1,978  

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. — Class A

    1,151       0.73 %     1,119  

Buckle, Inc.

    1,425       0.37 %     (3,014 )

PetMed Express, Inc.

    5,353       0.56 %     (4,941 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    227,950  
                         

Industrial

Standex International Corp.

    813       0.87 %   42,867  

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

    3,159       0.70 %     42,354  

Snap-on, Inc.

    529       1.16 %     38,193  

Eagle Materials, Inc.

    558       0.79 %     35,354  

Mueller Industries, Inc.

    1,429       0.95 %     30,498  

Louisiana-Pacific Corp.

    1,087       0.62 %     24,504  

Builders FirstSource, Inc.

    1,005       1.04 %     21,042  

Boise Cascade Co.

    1,304       0.89 %     20,912  

Fortive Corp.

    2,050       1.16 %     19,928  

Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc.

    650       0.68 %     17,767  

UFP Industries, Inc.

    1,360       1.00 %     17,486  

Dorian LPG Ltd.

    1,262       0.25 %     16,460  

ITT, Inc.

    1,676       1.19 %     12,527  

Donaldson Company, Inc.

    1,628       0.77 %     6,981  

Masco Corp.

    1,183       0.51 %     6,677  

Landstar System, Inc.

    451       0.66 %     6,481  

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

    1,112       0.62 %     6,248  

Dover Corp.

    832       0.93 %     4,772  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

    432       0.40 %     2,945  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

    240       0.30 %     2,911  

 

34 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

International Seaways, Inc.

    1,015       0.29 %   $ 2,057  

Ardmore Shipping Corp.

    3,581       0.34 %     947  

GrafTech International Ltd.

    6,080       0.23 %     856  

Scorpio Tankers, Inc.

    928       0.33 %     780  

Toro Co.

    481       0.37 %     291  

Garmin Ltd.

    430       0.34 %     (525 )

Argan, Inc.

    1,214       0.36 %     (1,490 )

Golar LNG Ltd.

    2,904       0.44 %     (3,900 )

Acuity Brands, Inc.

    566       0.70 %     (5,792 )

Lindsay Corp.

    240       0.22 %     (7,311 )

3M Co.

    1,379       1.05 %     (9,315 )

Sturm Ruger & Company, Inc.

    1,693       0.68 %     (10,211 )

Total Industrial

    343,294  
                         

Basic Materials

NewMarket Corp.

    242       0.74 %     20,715  

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

    642       0.34 %     135  

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. — Class A

    541       0.38 %     (645 )

Westlake Corp.

    761       0.69 %     (1,992 )

AdvanSix, Inc.

    949       0.25 %     (4,281 )

Olin Corp.

    1,314       0.51 %     (4,987 )

Total Basic Materials

    8,945  
                         

Technology

NetApp, Inc.

    1,688       0.98 %     20,575  

Dropbox, Inc. — Class A

    4,706       0.95 %     19,799  

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.

    1,904       0.86 %     17,976  

KLA Corp.

    207       0.76 %     13,876  

Diodes, Inc.

    735       0.52 %     13,286  

Microsoft Corp.

    219       0.57 %     12,459  

Teradata Corp.

    589       0.24 %     11,371  

Teradyne, Inc.

    533       0.45 %   10,350  

Photronics, Inc.

    1,958       0.38 %     8,466  

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

    562       0.35 %     7,775  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    700       0.77 %     7,600  

Apple, Inc.

    441       0.65 %     5,013  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. — Class A

    1,028       0.51 %     3,638  

QUALCOMM, Inc.

    240       0.22 %     3,427  

Qualys, Inc.

    221       0.22 %     1,834  

NetScout Systems, Inc.

    2,556       0.60 %     1,788  

Veradigm, Inc.

    3,329       0.32 %     285  

Akamai Technologies, Inc.

    710       0.48 %     (2,926 )

Total Technology

    156,592  
                         

Financial

MGIC Investment Corp.

    8,920       1.07 %     13,838  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

    3,266       0.83 %     12,879  

Essent Group Ltd.

    2,269       0.81 %     12,797  

NMI Holdings, Inc. — Class A

    2,384       0.47 %     12,656  

Evercore, Inc. — Class A

    487       0.46 %     9,447  

Radian Group, Inc.

    2,729       0.52 %     8,976  

Mr Cooper Group, Inc.

    1,433       0.55 %     5,151  

Hilltop Holdings, Inc.

    921       0.22 %     2,938  

Preferred Bank/Los Angeles CA

    1,826       0.76 %     2,207  

SouthState Corp.

    2,077       1.04 %     1,480  

SEI Investments Co.

    2,367       1.07 %     675  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 35

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

International Bancshares Corp.

    658       0.22 %   $ 383  

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

    1       0.00 %     8  

Allstate Corp.

    249       0.21 %     (159 )

Travelers Companies, Inc.

    157       0.21 %     (207 )

S&T Bancorp, Inc.

    1,511       0.31 %     (1,411 )

Equity Commonwealth

    6,680       1.03 %     (2,532 )

Renasant Corp.

    1,565       0.31 %     (9,766 )

FB Financial Corp.

    1,812       0.39 %     (15,429 )

Total Financial

    53,923  
                         

Utilities

MGE Energy, Inc.

    1,701       1.02 %     11,648  

ONE Gas, Inc.

    1,488       0.87 %     3,106  

Atmos Energy Corp.

    1,189       1.05 %     2,102  

Chesapeake Utilities Corp.

    520       0.47 %     2,005  

Ameren Corp.

    1,674       1.04 %     (227 )

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

    972       0.67 %     (2,364 )

Black Hills Corp.

    2,215       1.01 %     (3,582 )

National Fuel Gas Co.

    1,500       0.58 %     (10,280 )

OGE Energy Corp.

    3,849       1.05 %     (11,614 )

Clearway Energy, Inc. — Class C

    2,806       0.61 %     (13,490 )

Total Utilities

    (22,696 )
                         

Energy

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    1,268       1.12 %     17,251  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    1,302       1.06 %     10,943  

REX American Resources Corp.

    1,379       0.36 %   8,269  

California Resources Corp.

    1,214       0.42 %     5,865  

SM Energy Co.

    1,208       0.29 %     5,843  

PBF Energy, Inc. — Class A

    1,201       0.37 %     5,111  

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

    566       0.65 %     4,642  

Valero Energy Corp.

    1,202       1.07 %     3,147  

Phillips 66

    654       0.47 %     (637 )

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    690       0.31 %     (3,789 )

Total Energy

    56,645  

Total GS Long/Short Equity Long Custom Basket

  905,553  
                 

GS LONG/SHORT EQUITY SHORT CUSTOM BASKET

Consumer, Non-cyclical

Driven Brands Holdings, Inc.

    4,340       (1.25 )%   10,860  

Clarivate plc

    4,116       (0.42 )%     5,630  

Global Payments, Inc.

    924       (0.97 )%     4,755  

ABM Industries, Inc.

    2,556       (1.16 )%     3,951  

Utz Brands, Inc.

    2,649       (0.46 )%     2,345  

Equifax, Inc.

    533       (1.33 )%     (2,403 )

TreeHouse Foods, Inc.

    1,461       (0.78 )%     (4,307 )

FTI Consulting, Inc.

    426       (0.86 )%     (4,605 )

Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. — Class A

    433       (0.90 )%     (6,280 )

Quanta Services, Inc.

    483       (1.01 )%     (8,667 )

 

36 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

    491       (0.58 )%   $ (9,469 )

ICF International, Inc.

    825       (1.09 )%     (16,517 )

CoStar Group, Inc.

    1,423       (1.34 )%     (18,959 )

GXO Logistics, Inc.

    1,479       (0.99 )%     (23,023 )

TransUnion

    1,617       (1.34 )%     (23,741 )

Neogen Corp.

    5,901       (1.36 )%     (25,509 )

Total Consumer, Non-cyclical

    (115,939 )
                         

Financial

Sun Communities, Inc.

    905       (1.25 )%     36,656  

American Tower Corp. — Class A

    723       (1.49 )%     20,168  

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

    2,229       (1.24 )%     19,358  

Howard Hughes Corp.

    1,195       (1.00 )%     16,311  

Outfront Media, Inc.

    4,043       (0.67 )%     12,402  

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.

    7,389       (1.28 )%     12,132  

Kemper Corp.

    1,406       (0.72 )%     10,118  

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.

    4,823       (0.97 )%     10,062  

Equitable Holdings, Inc.

    4,904       (1.41 )%     9,048  

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

    1,456       (1.60 )%     7,210  

TFS Financial Corp.

    3,652       (0.49 )%     4,103  

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

    1,868       (1.11 )%     3,357  

Prologis, Inc.

    880       (1.15 )%     3,307  

Progressive Corp.

    702       (0.99 )%     1,768  

Americold Realty Trust, Inc.

    3,707       (1.27 )%     1,662  

Stellar Bancorp, Inc.

    2,639       (0.64 )%   915  

Rayonier, Inc.

    3,770       (1.26 )%     820  

Popular, Inc.

    744       (0.48 )%     491  

Northern Trust Corp.

    1,066       (0.84 )%     375  

KKR & Company, Inc. — Class A

    2,196       (1.31 )%     187  

Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.

    548       (0.66 )%     (86 )

Crown Castle, Inc.

    288       (0.35 )%     (190 )

Voya Financial, Inc.

    483       (0.37 )%     (312 )

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.

    3,074       (0.65 )%     (1,405 )

State Street Corp.

    1,049       (0.81 )%     (1,625 )

Equinix, Inc.

    157       (1.31 )%     (1,883 )

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    1,532       (0.50 )%     (2,276 )

Boston Properties, Inc.

    547       (0.33 )%     (3,547 )

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

    5,426       (0.53 )%     (3,878 )

AGNC Investment Corp.

    5,725       (0.62 )%     (4,175 )

UDR, Inc.

    2,877       (1.31 )%     (4,894 )

Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.

    430       (0.71 )%     (5,404 )

Brighthouse Financial, Inc.

    3,168       (1.59 )%     (5,624 )

UMH Properties, Inc.

    5,859       (0.99 )%     (5,672 )

Ellington Financial, Inc.

    6,037       (0.88 )%     (6,096 )

Welltower, Inc.

    1,204       (1.03 )%     (7,137 )

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 37

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust

    5,813       (0.83 )%   $ (7,357 )

Carlyle Group, Inc.

    1,605       (0.54 )%     (8,472 )

Apollo Global Management, Inc.

    836       (0.68 )%     (9,438 )

Iron Mountain, Inc.

    2,334       (1.41 )%     (10,134 )

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

    1,739       (1.30 )%     (13,050 )

Ares Management Corp. — Class A

    1,193       (1.22 )%     (18,125 )

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    1,132       (1.37 )%     (21,564 )

Total Financial

    28,106  
                         

Utilities

Avista Corp.

    2,666       (1.11 )%     11,400  

Spire, Inc.

    1,546       (1.04 )%     10,306  

Dominion Energy, Inc.

    2,110       (1.16 )%     7,862  

Sempra Energy

    932       (1.44 )%     6,620  

UGI Corp.

    2,886       (0.83 )%     1,546  

CMS Energy Corp.

    1,866       (1.16 )%     1,459  

PG&E Corp.

    6,503       (1.19 )%     389  

American Electric Power Company, Inc.

    1,632       (1.46 )%     (652 )

Alliant Energy Corp.

    2,096       (1.17 )%     (732 )

DTE Energy Co.

    840       (0.98 )%     (749 )

Exelon Corp.

    1,872       (0.81 )%     (1,619 )

Edison International

    1,628       (1.20 )%     (4,572 )

Total Utilities

    31,258  

Technology

Evolent Health, Inc. — Class A

    1,931       (0.62 )%   5,131  

Procore Technologies, Inc.

    836       (0.58 )%     (450 )

KBR, Inc.

    777       (0.54 )%     (2,727 )

Guidewire Software, Inc.

    637       (0.51 )%     (2,833 )

Alteryx, Inc. — Class A

    934       (0.45 )%     (3,303 )

Paycor HCM, Inc.

    3,057       (0.77 )%     (4,682 )

Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.

    1,690       (1.20 )%     (13,320 )

Total Technology

    (22,184 )
                         

Industrial

General Electric Co.

    1       0.00 %     (23 )

Waste Management, Inc.

    320       (0.59 )%     (133 )

Boeing Co.

    412       (0.92 )%     (4,973 )

Vulcan Materials Co.

    222       (0.53 )%     (5,045 )

Kirby Corp.

    759       (0.62 )%     (6,144 )

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. — Class A

    907       (0.87 )%     (6,252 )

Tetra Tech, Inc.

    251       (0.44 )%     (7,641 )

Clean Harbors, Inc.

    286       (0.50 )%     (8,733 )

NV5 Global, Inc.

    604       (0.71 )%     (9,533 )

MasTec, Inc.

    470       (0.59 )%     (14,425 )

MSA Safety, Inc.

    642       (1.19 )%     (30,359 )

Total Industrial

    (93,238 )
                         

Consumer, Cyclical

UniFirst Corp.

    535       (0.88 )%     24,363  

Newell Brands, Inc.

    10,180       (0.94 )%     330  

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

    472       (0.29 )%     277  

 

38 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

OPENLANE, Inc.

    6,363       (1.03 )%   $ (604 )

Burlington Stores, Inc.

    274       (0.46 )%     (2,244 )

Five Below, Inc.

    251       (0.52 )%     (3,071 )

Shake Shack, Inc. — Class A

    723       (0.60 )%     (6,639 )

VF Corp.

    5,792       (1.17 )%     (7,130 )

Tesla, Inc.

    209       (0.58 )%     (14,493 )

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. — Class A

    767       (0.85 )%     (16,127 )

Copart, Inc.

    1,241       (1.20 )%     (30,260 )

Total Consumer, Cyclical

    (55,598 )
                         

Basic Materials

Hecla Mining Co.

    10,368       (0.57 )%     9,940  

Royal Gold, Inc.

    487       (0.59 )%     5,177  

Piedmont Lithium, Inc.

    798       (0.49 )%     2,785  

Carpenter Technology Corp.

    1,231       (0.73 )%     (20,368 )

Total Basic Materials

    (2,466 )
                         

Communications

Robinhood Markets, Inc. — Class A

    2,516       (0.27 )%     (909 )

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.

    114       (0.31 )%     (1,018 )

Chewy, Inc. — Class A

    1,133       (0.47 )%     (3,958 )

DoorDash, Inc. — Class A

    865       (0.70 )%     (9,389 )

Uber Technologies, Inc.

    786       (0.36 )%     (11,172 )

Total Communications

    (26,446 )
                         

Energy

NOV, Inc.

    4,938       (0.84 )%     24,213  

Hess Corp.

    1,045       (1.51 )%     (2,637 )

Valaris Ltd.

    788       (0.53 )%     (5,066 )

Schlumberger N.V.

    2,499       (1.30 )%   (11,421 )

Tidewater, Inc.

    1,103       (0.65 )%     (13,550 )

Total Energy

    (8,458 )

Total GS Long/Short Equity Short Custom Basket

  (264,965 )

 

MS EQUITY MARKET NEUTRAL LONG CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.

    13,176       8.63 %   189,321  

CareTrust REIT, Inc.

    55,123       7.71 %     95,181  

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

    19,675       6.71 %     93,704  

Ventas, Inc.

    15,678       5.22 %     92,353  

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    4,359       3.49 %     86,945  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    4,697       6.26 %     62,287  

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

    30,284       4.69 %     49,137  

Kite Realty Group Trust

    25,781       4.05 %     40,266  

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    4,820       3.92 %     23,712  

Equity Residential

    12,425       5.77 %     22,799  

Invitation Homes, Inc.

    19,891       4.82 %     5,783  

Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.

    27,892       4.99 %     5,272  

InvenTrust Properties Corp.

    30,714       5.00 %     1,605  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 39

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

VICI Properties, Inc.

    1       0.00 %   $ 8  

Agree Realty Corp.

    12,020       5.53 %     (603 )

NETSTREIT Corp.

    22,491       2.83 %     (4,706 )

American Tower Corp. — Class A

    1,455       1.99 %     (32,338 )

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

    22,535       8.28 %     (49,210 )

Boston Properties, Inc.

    4,585       1.86 %     (49,939 )

SBA Communications Corp.

    1,152       1.88 %     (52,640 )

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. — Class A

    34,750       1.78 %     (81,507 )

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    5,750       4.59 %     (130,952 )

Total Financial

    366,470  

Total MS Equity Market Neutral Long Custom Basket

  366,470  
                 

MS EQUITY MARKET NEUTRAL SHORT CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

    70,966       (5.94 )%   665,041  

Broadstone Net Lease, Inc.

    23,003       (2.36 )%     231,598  

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

    4,910       (4.97 )%     168,798  

Realty Income Corp.

    22,708       (9.05 )%     160,727  

Camden Property Trust

    3,813       (2.77 )%     141,051  

JBG SMITH Properties

    51,326       (5.15 )%     136,166  

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

    4,143       (6.47 )%   131,622  

Apartment Income REIT Corp.

    12,011       (2.89 )%     112,382  

Necessity Retail REIT, Inc.

    84,453       (3.81 )%     85,407  

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

    17,321       (1.74 )%     41,508  

Federal Realty Investment Trust

    9,061       (5.85 )%     28,537  

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

    35,226       (3.27 )%     8,063  

Service Properties Trust

    61,206       (3.55 )%     3,348  

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.

    20,077       (1.35 )%     (11,642 )

Macerich Co.

    47,462       (3.57 )%     (17,452 )

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.

    42,235       (9.60 )%     (49,159 )

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    17,140       (3.51 )%     (49,374 )

Equinix, Inc.

    698       (3.65 )%     (50,053 )

STAG Industrial, Inc.

    38,035       (9.10 )%     (52,879 )

Welltower, Inc.

    10,048       (5.42 )%     (167,995 )

Total Financial

    1,515,694  
                         

Exchange Traded Funds

Vanguard Real Estate ETF

    10,738       (5.98 )%     240,911  

Total MS Equity Market Neutral Short Custom Basket

  1,756,605  

 

GS EQUITY MARKET NEUTRAL LONG CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.

    13,176       8.63 %   190,489  

 

40 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

CareTrust REIT, Inc.

    55,123       7.71 %   94,977  

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

    19,675       6.71 %     93,563  

Ventas, Inc.

    15,678       5.22 %     92,398  

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    4,359       3.49 %     86,694  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    4,697       6.26 %     61,896  

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

    30,284       4.69 %     49,159  

Kite Realty Group Trust

    25,781       4.05 %     44,057  

Equity Residential

    12,425       5.77 %     22,127  

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    4,820       3.92 %     15,469  

Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.

    27,892       4.99 %     5,346  

InvenTrust Properties Corp.

    30,714       5.00 %     2,984  

Invitation Homes, Inc.

    19,891       4.82 %     2,742  

VICI Properties, Inc.

    1       0.00 %     8  

Agree Realty Corp.

    12,020       5.53 %     (1,558 )

NETSTREIT Corp.

    22,491       2.83 %     (4,447 )

American Tower Corp. — Class A

    1,455       1.99 %     (32,206 )

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

    22,535       8.28 %     (47,070 )

Boston Properties, Inc.

    4,585       1.86 %     (49,805 )

SBA Communications Corp.

    1,152       1.88 %     (52,539 )

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. — Class A

    34,750       1.78 %   (79,991 )

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    5,750       4.59 %     (130,756 )

Total Financial

    363,537  

Total GS Equity Market Neutral Long Custom Basket

  363,537  
                 

GS EQUITY MARKET NEUTRAL SHORT CUSTOM BASKET

Financial

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

    70,966       (5.94 )%   666,772  

Broadstone Net Lease, Inc.

    23,003       (2.36 )%     226,079  

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

    4,910       (4.97 )%     168,748  

Realty Income Corp.

    22,708       (9.05 )%     160,262  

Camden Property Trust

    3,813       (2.77 )%     141,081  

JBG SMITH Properties

    51,326       (5.15 )%     136,392  

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

    4,143       (6.47 )%     128,210  

Apartment Income REIT Corp.

    12,011       (2.89 )%     113,012  

Necessity Retail REIT, Inc.

    84,453       (3.81 )%     84,985  

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

    17,321       (1.74 )%     36,904  

Federal Realty Investment Trust

    9,061       (5.85 )%     27,794  

Service Properties Trust

    61,206       (3.55 )%     10,484  

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

    35,226       (3.27 )%     9,865  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 41

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Percentage
Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Macerich Co.

    47,462       (3.57 )%   $ 926  

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.

    20,077       (1.35 )%     (10,009 )

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    17,140       (3.51 )%     (49,899 )

Equinix, Inc.

    698       (3.65 )%     (49,992 )

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.

    42,235       (9.60 )%     (52,445 )

STAG Industrial, Inc.

    38,035       (9.10 )%     (55,401 )

Welltower, Inc.

    10,048       (5.42 )%   (169,171 )

Total Financial

    1,524,597  
                         

Exchange Traded Funds

Vanguard Real Estate ETF

    10,738       (5.98 )%     240,854  

Total GS Equity Market Neutral Short Custom Basket

  1,765,451  

 

 

*

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.

†††

Value determined based on Level 3 inputs — See Note 4.

1

All or a portion of this security is on loan at June 30, 2023 — See Note 7.

2

Affiliated issuer.

3

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

4

All or a portion of this security is pledged as futures collateral at June 30, 2023.

5

Repurchase Agreements — See Note 6.

6

Securities lending collateral — See Note 7.

7

Rate indicated is the 7-day yield as of June 30, 2023.

8

All or a portion of this security is pledged as short security and equity custom basket swap collateral at June 30, 2023.

 

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.

 

42 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments at June 30, 2023 (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

  $ 21,269,193     $     $     $ 21,269,193  

Master Limited Partnership

    513,891                   513,891  

Rights

                *      

Mutual Funds

    15,009,176                   15,009,176  

Closed-End Funds

    5,619,587                   5,619,587  

U.S. Treasury Bills

          9,255,706             9,255,706  

Repurchase Agreements

          23,744,778             23,744,778  

Securities Lending Collateral

    660,141                   660,141  

Commodity Futures Contracts**

    1,337,680                   1,337,680  

Equity Futures Contracts**

    640,361       33,326             673,687  

Currency Futures Contracts**

    184,578                   184,578  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts**

    20,334       14,489             34,823  

Equity Custom Basket Swap Agreements**

          6,054,621             6,054,621  

Total Assets

  $ 45,254,941     $ 39,102,920     $     $ 84,357,861  

 

Investments in Securities (Liabilities)

 

Level 1
Quoted
Prices

   

Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs

   

Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

   

Total

 

Common Stocks Sold Short

  $ 4,560,488     $     $     $ 4,560,488  

Exchange-Traded Funds Sold Short

    6,033,530                   6,033,530  

Commodity Futures Contracts**

    1,596,100                   1,596,100  

Equity Futures Contracts**

    567,900                   567,900  

Currency Futures Contracts**

    265,820                   265,820  

Interest Rate Futures Contracts**

    6,855       588             7,443  

Equity Custom Basket Swap Agreements**

          530,842             530,842  

Total Liabilities

  $ 13,030,693     $ 531,430     $     $ 13,562,123  

 

*

Includes securities with a market value of $0.

**

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

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 43

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(concluded)

June 30, 2023

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, 2022, 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/1601445/000182126822000340/gug84768.htm. The Fund may invest in certain of the underlying series of Guggenheim Funds Trust, which are open-end management investment companies managed by GI, are available to the public and whose most recent annual report on Form N-CSR is available publicly or upon request.

 

Transactions during the period ended June 30, 2023, in which the company is an affiliated issuer, were as follows:

 

Security Name

 

Value
12/31/22

   

Additions

   

Reductions

   

Realized
Gain (Loss)

   

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   

Value
06/30/23

   

Shares
06/30/23

   

Investment
Income

 

Mutual Funds

                                                               

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

  $ 6,481,618     $     $     $     $ 48,532     $ 6,530,150       269,618     $ 169,563  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund III

    1,901,492                         15,016       1,916,508       79,031       49,054  

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

    6,501,817                         60,701       6,562,518       674,462       167,071  
    $ 14,884,927     $     $     $     $ 124,249     $ 15,009,176             $ 385,688  

 

 

44 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited)

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

June 30, 2023

 

Assets:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value - including $633,039 of securities loaned (cost $37,057,197)

  $ 37,318,518  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (cost $15,386,814)

    15,009,176  

Repurchase agreements, at value (cost $23,744,778)

    23,744,778  

Cash

    14,003,288  

Segregated cash with broker

    2,084,263  

Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap agreements

    6,054,621  

Receivables:

Securities sold

    3,133,784  

Swap settlement

    511,155  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    109,742  

Dividends

    93,633  

Fund shares sold

    13,831  

Interest

    3,334  

Securities lending income

    824  

Other assets

    27,767  

Total assets

    102,108,714  
         

Liabilities:

Securities sold short, at value (proceeds $10,339,716)

    10,594,018  

Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap agreements

    530,842  

Payable for:

Securities purchased

    2,882,935  

Return of securities lending collateral

    660,141  

Management fees

    51,119  

Fund shares redeemed

    45,055  

Distribution and service fees

    2,528  

Trustees’ fees*

    1,324  

Miscellaneous

    9,401  

Total liabilities

    14,777,363  

Net assets

  $ 87,331,351  
         

Net assets consist of:

Paid in capital

  $ 94,167,962  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

    (6,836,611 )

Net assets

  $ 87,331,351  
         

A-Class:

Net assets

  $ 3,520,774  

Capital shares outstanding

    132,494  

Net asset value per share

  $ 26.57  

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

  $ 27.90  
         

C-Class:

Net assets

  $ 629,969  

Capital shares outstanding

    26,043  

Net asset value per share

  $ 24.19  
         

P-Class:

Net assets

  $ 6,323,271  

Capital shares outstanding

    237,076  

Net asset value per share

  $ 26.67  
         

Institutional Class:

Net assets

  $ 76,857,337  

Capital shares outstanding

    2,828,729  

Net asset value per share

  $ 27.17  

 

 

*

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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 45

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

 

Investment Income:

Dividends from securities of unaffiliated issuers

  $ 309,412  

Dividends from securities of affiliated issuers

    385,688  

Interest

    1,000,817  

Income from securities lending, net

    5,916  

Interest related to securities sold short

    119,825  

Total investment income

    1,821,658  
         

Expenses:

Management fees

    594,292  

Distribution and service fees:

A-Class

    4,539  

C-Class

    2,906  

P-Class

    10,014  

Short sales dividend expense

    164,620  

Miscellaneous

    5,218  

Total expenses

    781,589  

Less:

Expenses waived by Adviser

    (25,584 )

Net expenses

    756,005  

Net investment income

    1,065,653  
         

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

Net realized gain (loss) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

  $ (552,959 )

Investments in unaffiliated issuers sold short

    (39,117 )

Swap agreements

    483,413  

Futures contracts

    1,527,209  

Foreign currency transactions

    (4,056 )

Net realized gain

    1,414,490  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

    259,509  

Investments in affiliated issuers

    124,249  

Investments in unaffiliated issuers sold short

    (840,082 )

Swap agreements

    4,093  

Futures contracts

    (674,784 )

Foreign currency translations

    2,807  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (1,124,208 )

Net realized and unrealized gain

    290,282  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 1,355,935  

 

 

46 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI- ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
(Unaudited)

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2022

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:

               

Net investment income

  $ 1,065,653     $ 681,879  

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

    1,414,490       (7,160,468 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (1,124,208 )     2,245,877  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    1,355,935       (4,232,712 )
                 

Distributions to shareholders:

               

A-Class

          (64,618 )

C-Class

          (8,214 )

P-Class

          (146,350 )

Institutional Class

          (2,026,121 )

Total distributions to shareholders

          (2,245,303 )
                 

Capital share transactions:

               

Proceeds from sale of shares

               

A-Class

    126,656       542,921  

C-Class

    90,500       626,154  

P-Class

    610,354       9,484,918  

Institutional Class

    9,512,467       100,372,725  

Distributions reinvested

               

A-Class

          56,992  

C-Class

          7,668  

P-Class

          144,149  

Institutional Class

          2,026,121  

Cost of shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (576,215 )     (1,065,975 )

C-Class

    (88,296 )     (463,253 )

P-Class

    (3,533,078 )     (10,011,852 )

Institutional Class

    (43,213,860 )     (42,837,229 )

Net increase (decrease) from capital share transactions

    (37,071,472 )     58,883,339  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

    (35,715,537 )     52,405,324  
                 

Net assets:

               

Beginning of period

    123,046,888       70,641,564  

End of period

  $ 87,331,351     $ 123,046,888  
                 

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 47

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (concluded)

MULTI-HEDGE STRATEGIES FUND

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
(Unaudited)

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2022

 

Capital share activity:

               

Shares sold

               

A-Class

    4,834       19,818  

C-Class

    3,723       25,338  

P-Class

    23,164       347,219  

Institutional Class

    354,290       3,596,742  

Shares issued from reinvestment of distributions

               

A-Class

          2,178  

C-Class

          321  

P-Class

          5,487  

Institutional Class

          75,828  

Shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (22,015 )     (39,184 )

C-Class

    (3,679 )     (18,974 )

P-Class

    (132,904 )     (371,723 )

Institutional Class

    (1,621,365 )     (1,551,157 )

Net increase (decrease) in shares

    (1,393,952 )     2,091,893  

 

 

48 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
a

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 26.16     $ 27.52     $ 25.89     $ 24.36     $ 23.69     $ 24.91  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)b

    .25       .09       (.14 )     (.10 )     .16       .08  

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

    .16       (1.01 )     1.98       1.90       1.02       (1.26 )

Total from investment operations

    .41       (.92 )     1.84       1.80       1.18       (1.18 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

          (.44 )     (.21 )     (.27 )     (.51 )     (.04 )

Total distributions

          (.44 )     (.21 )     (.27 )     (.51 )     (.04 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 26.57     $ 26.16     $ 27.52     $ 25.89     $ 24.36     $ 23.69  

 

Total Returnc

    1.57 %     (3.47 %)     7.17 %     7.39 %     4.97 %     (4.78 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 3,521     $ 3,915     $ 4,593     $ 4,019     $ 3,570     $ 3,622  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    1.91 %     0.32 %     (0.52 %)     (0.40 %)     0.64 %     0.32 %

Total expensesd

    1.77 %     1.80 %     2.18 %     1.93 %     1.96 %     1.75 %

Net expensese,f

    1.72 %     1.76 %     2.11 %     1.87 %     1.93 %     1.73 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    83 %     203 %     205 %     248 %     156 %     212 %

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 49

 

 

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

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
a

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 23.90     $ 25.25     $ 23.75     $ 22.36     $ 21.46     $ 22.68  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)b

    .14       (.09 )     (.32 )     (.27 )     (.02 )     (.09 )

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

    .15       (.94 )     1.82       1.75       .92       (1.13 )

Total from investment operations

    .29       (1.03 )     1.50       1.48       .90       (1.22 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

          (.32 )           (.09 )            

Total distributions

          (.32 )           (.09 )            

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 24.19     $ 23.90     $ 25.25     $ 23.75     $ 22.36     $ 21.46  

 

Total Returnc

    1.21 %     (4.16 %)     6.32 %     6.57 %     4.19 %     (5.38 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 630     $ 621     $ 488     $ 1,206     $ 1,435     $ 2,657  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    1.16 %     (0.35 %)     (1.26 %)     (1.18 %)     (0.08 %)     (0.42 %)

Total expensesd

    2.52 %     2.56 %     2.93 %     2.68 %     2.70 %     2.53 %

Net expensese,f

    2.47 %     2.51 %     2.86 %     2.62 %     2.67 %     2.51 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    83 %     203 %     205 %     248 %     156 %     212 %

 

50 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI- 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.

 

P-Class

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
a

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 26.25     $ 27.61     $ 25.97     $ 24.42     $ 23.74     $ 24.93  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)b

    .25       .10       (.15 )     (.10 )     .16       .08  

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

    .17       (1.04 )     2.00       1.90       1.03       (1.23 )

Total from investment operations

    .42       (.94 )     1.85       1.80       1.19       (1.15 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

          (.42 )     (.21 )     (.25 )     (.51 )     (.04 )

Total distributions

          (.42 )     (.21 )     (.25 )     (.51 )     (.04 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 26.67     $ 26.25     $ 27.61     $ 25.97     $ 24.42     $ 23.74  

 

Total Return

    1.60 %     (3.44 %)     7.16 %     7.40 %     5.00 %     (4.61 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 6,323     $ 9,105     $ 10,100     $ 7,676     $ 7,442     $ 7,892  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    1.90 %     0.38 %     (0.53 %)     (0.39 %)     0.65 %     0.34 %

Total expensesd

    1.77 %     1.80 %     2.18 %     1.93 %     1.96 %     1.77 %

Net expensese,f

    1.72 %     1.76 %     2.12 %     1.87 %     1.93 %     1.75 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    83 %     203 %     205 %     248 %     156 %     212 %

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 51

 

 

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

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
a

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 26.71     $ 28.09     $ 26.41     $ 24.83     $ 24.12     $ 25.42  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)b

    .29       .18       (.08 )     (.04 )     .22       .17  

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

    .17       (1.06 )     2.03       1.94       1.05       (1.33 )

Total from investment operations

    .46       (.88 )     1.95       1.90       1.27       (1.16 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

          (.50 )     (.27 )     (.32 )     (.56 )     (.14 )

Total distributions

          (.50 )     (.27 )     (.32 )     (.56 )     (.14 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 27.17     $ 26.71     $ 28.09     $ 26.41     $ 24.83     $ 24.12  

 

Total Return

    1.72 %     (3.22 %)     7.43 %     7.70 %     5.26 %     (4.56 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 76,857     $ 109,405     $ 55,461     $ 37,470     $ 24,854     $ 23,539  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    2.16 %     0.66 %     (0.27 %)     (0.15 %)     0.90 %     0.68 %

Total expensesd

    1.52 %     1.55 %     1.92 %     1.68 %     1.72 %     1.58 %

Net expensese,f

    1.47 %     1.51 %     1.87 %     1.62 %     1.69 %     1.56 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    83 %     203 %     205 %     248 %     156 %     212 %

 

a

Unaudited figures for the period ended June 30, 2023. Percentage amounts for the period, except total return and portfolio turnover rate, have been annualized.

b

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

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.

f

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

 

 

 

06/30/23a

12/31/22

12/31/21

12/31/20

12/31/19

12/31/18

 

A-Class

1.39%

1.40%

1.41%

1.37%

1.41%

1.41%

 

C-Class

2.14%

2.15%

2.16%

2.12%

2.16%

2.16%

 

P-Class

1.39%

1.40%

1.41%

1.37%

1.41%

1.41%

 

Institutional Class

1.14%

1.15%

1.16%

1.12%

1.16%

1.16%

 

52 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI- ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)

June 30, 2023

 

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”).

 

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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 53

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(concluded)

June 30, 2023

 

Inception Dates:

A-Class

May 25, 2005

C-Class

May 25, 2005

H-Class

May 25, 2005

 

Largest Holdings

% of Total Net Assets

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

23.3%

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

23.1%

Total

46.4%

   

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

 

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

 

Average Annual Returns*

Periods Ended June 30, 2023

 

 

6 Month

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

A-Class Shares

(8.68%)

(16.04%)

1.37%

(4.87%)

A-Class Shares with sales charge

(13.02%)

(20.02%)

0.39%

(5.33%)

C-Class Shares

(9.03%)

(16.65%)

0.62%

(5.57%)

C-Class Shares with CDSC§

(9.94%)

(17.29%)

0.62%

(5.57%)

H-Class Shares

(8.66%)

(16.01%)

1.37%

(4.87%)

S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index

(7.54%)

(14.22%)

2.76%

(3.52%)

 

*

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.

6 month returns are not annualized.

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.

 

54 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-NNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

June 30, 2023

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

Shares

   

Value

 

MUTUAL FUNDS - 46.4%

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class1

    141,704     $ 1,378,779  

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II1

    56,518       1,368,874  

Total Mutual Funds

       

(Cost $2,822,291)

            2,747,653  
                 
   

Face
Amount

         

U.S. TREASURY BILLS†† - 5.0%

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.11% due 07/18/232,3

  $ 300,000       299,372  

Total U.S. Treasury Bills

       

(Cost $299,263)

            299,372  

 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS††,4 - 41.7%

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
issued 06/30/23 at 5.05%
due 07/03/23

  1,343,841     1,343,841  

Barclays Capital, Inc.
issued 06/30/23 at 5.06%
due 07/03/23

    591,222       591,222  

BofA Securities, Inc.
issued 06/30/23 at 5.06%
due 07/03/23

    537,475       537,475  

Total Repurchase Agreements

       

(Cost $2,472,538)

            2,472,538  
                 

Total Investments - 93.1%

       

(Cost $5,594,092)

  $ 5,519,563  

Other Assets & Liabilities, net - 6.9%

    406,050  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

  $ 5,925,613  
         

 

Futures Contracts

Description

 

Number of
Contracts

   

Expiration
Date

   

Notional
Amount

   

Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation**

 

Commodity Futures Contracts Purchased

Goldman Sachs Commodity Index Futures Contracts

    44       Jul 2023     $ 5,951,000     $ 43,490  

 

**

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 June 30, 2023.

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.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 55

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

June 30, 2023

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments at June 30, 2023 (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

  $ 2,747,653     $     $     $ 2,747,653  

U.S. Treasury Bills

          299,372             299,372  

Repurchase Agreements

          2,472,538             2,472,538  

Commodity Futures Contracts**

    43,490                   43,490  

Total Assets

  $ 2,791,143     $ 2,771,910     $     $ 5,563,053  

 

**

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, 2022, 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/1601445/000182126821000490/gugg84768-ncsr.htm. The Fund may invest in certain of the underlying series of Guggenheim Funds Trust, which are open-end management investment companies managed by GI, are available to the public and whose most recent annual report on Form N-CSR is available publicly or upon request.

 

Transactions during the period ended June 30, 2023, in which the company is an affiliated issuer, were as follows:

 

Security Name

 

Value
12/31/22

   

Additions

   

Reductions

   

Realized
Gain (Loss)

   

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   

Value
06/30/23

   

Shares
06/30/23

   

Investment
Income

 

Mutual Funds

                                                               

Guggenheim Strategy Fund II

  $ 1,358,701     $     $     $     $ 10,173     $ 1,368,874       56,518     $ 35,544  

Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class

    1,366,026                         12,753       1,378,779       141,704       35,102  
    $ 2,724,727     $     $     $     $ 22,926     $ 2,747,653             $ 70,646  

 

56 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited)

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

June 30, 2023

 

Assets:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value (cost $299,263)

  $ 299,372  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (cost $2,822,291)

    2,747,653  

Repurchase agreements, at value (cost $2,472,538)

    2,472,538  

Cash

    729  

Segregated cash with broker

    362,252  

Receivables:

Variation margin on futures contracts

    68,200  

Fund shares sold

    15,274  

Dividends

    12,592  

Interest

    347  

Other assets

    1,302  

Total assets

    5,980,259  
         

Liabilities:

Payable for:

Fund shares redeemed

    36,541  

Management fees

    3,266  

Transfer agent fees

    1,951  

Distribution and service fees

    1,449  

Portfolio accounting and administration fees

    722  

Trustees’ fees*

    92  

Miscellaneous

    10,625  

Total liabilities

    54,646  

Net assets

  $ 5,925,613  
         

Net assets consist of:

Paid in capital

  $ 18,165,456  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

    (12,239,843 )

Net assets

  $ 5,925,613  
         

A-Class:

Net assets

  $ 1,098,108  

Capital shares outstanding

    38,643  

Net asset value per share

  $ 28.42  

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

  $ 29.83  
         

C-Class:

Net assets

  $ 427,741  

Capital shares outstanding

    25,898  

Net asset value per share

  $ 16.52  
         

H-Class:

Net assets

  $ 4,399,764  

Capital shares outstanding

    154,589  

Net asset value per share

  $ 28.46  

 

 

*

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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 57

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

 

Investment Income:

Dividends from securities of affiliated issuers

  $ 70,646  

Interest

    117,562  

Total investment income

    188,208  
         

Expenses:

Management fees

    34,704  

Distribution and service fees:

A-Class

    1,566  

C-Class

    2,745  

H-Class

    7,541  

Transfer agent fees

    8,330  

Portfolio accounting and administration fees

    5,974  

Professional fees

    4,474  

Trustees’ fees*

    1,307  

Custodian fees

    621  

Miscellaneous

    2,577  

Total expenses

    69,839  

Less:

Expenses waived by Adviser

    (7,230 )

Net expenses

    62,609  

Net investment income

    125,599  
         

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

Net realized gain (loss) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

  $ 292  

Futures contracts

    (767,917 )

Net realized loss

    (767,625 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

Investments in unaffiliated issuers

    (710 )

Investments in affiliated issuers

    22,926  

Futures contracts

    (522,610 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (500,394 )

Net realized and unrealized loss

    (1,268,019 )

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (1,142,420 )

 

 

*

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

 

 

58 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI- ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
(Unaudited)

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2022

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:

               

Net investment income (loss)

  $ 125,599     $ (173,595 )

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

    (767,625 )     5,399,664  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (500,394 )     (356,811 )

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (1,142,420 )     4,869,258  
                 

Distributions to shareholders:

               

A-Class

          (219,005 )

C-Class

          (172,741 )

H-Class

          (1,133,847 )

Total distributions to shareholders

          (1,525,593 )
                 

Capital share transactions:

               

Proceeds from sale of shares

               

A-Class

    184,359       3,237,040  

C-Class

    2,150       954,727  

H-Class

    15,364,777       195,107,548  

Distributions reinvested

               

A-Class

          214,121  

C-Class

          151,621  

H-Class

          1,092,822  

Cost of shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (427,181 )     (2,584,515 )

C-Class

    (235,353 )     (423,915 )

H-Class

    (17,344,723 )     (213,373,909 )

Net decrease from capital share transactions

    (2,455,971 )     (15,624,460 )

Net decrease in net assets

    (3,598,391 )     (12,280,795 )
                 

Net assets:

               

Beginning of period

    9,524,004       21,804,799  

End of period

  $ 5,925,613     $ 9,524,004  

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 59

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (concluded)

COMMODITIES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
(Unaudited)

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2022

 

Capital share activity:

               

Shares sold

               

A-Class

    6,212       81,976  

C-Class

    125       38,976  

H-Class

    504,034       5,022,099  

Shares issued from reinvestment of distributions

               

A-Class

          6,986  

C-Class

          8,475  

H-Class

          35,608  

Shares redeemed

               

A-Class

    (14,590 )     (66,418 )

C-Class

    (14,301 )     (16,898 )

H-Class

    (584,746 )     (5,527,844 )

Net decrease in shares

    (103,266 )     (417,040 )

 

 

60 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
a

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 31.12     $ 29.59     $ 21.93     $ 61.06     $ 53.27     $ 88.34  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)b

    .48       (.02 )     (.40 )     (.28 )     .36       .39  

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

    (3.18 )     6.89       8.94       (14.84 )     7.88       (11.90 )

Total from investment operations

    (2.70 )     6.87       8.54       (15.12 )     8.24       (11.51 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

          (5.34 )     (.88 )     (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )

Total distributions

          (5.34 )     (.88 )     (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 28.42     $ 31.12     $ 29.59     $ 21.93     $ 61.06     $ 53.27  

 

Total Returnc

    (8.68 %)     23.52 %     39.06 %     (23.58 %)     15.47 %     (15.47 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 1,098     $ 1,463     $ 724     $ 211     $ 592     $ 830  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    3.28 %     (0.05 %)     (1.43 %)     (0.65 %)     0.60 %     0.44 %

Total expensesd

    1.73 %     1.74 %     1.78 %     1.79 %     1.88 %     1.81 %

Net expensese

    1.54 %     1.60 %     1.63 %     1.61 %     1.73 %     1.68 %

Portfolio turnover rate

                      5 %           65 %

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 61

 

 

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

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
a

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 18.16     $ 19.23     $ 14.59     $ 51.84     $ 45.63     $ 79.89  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)b

    .21       (.17 )     (.41 )     (.50 )     (.07 )     (.41 )

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

    (1.85 )     4.44       5.93       (12.74 )     6.73       (10.29 )

Total from investment operations

    (1.64 )     4.27       5.52       (13.24 )     6.66       (10.70 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

          (5.34 )     (.88 )     (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )

Total distributions

          (5.34 )     (.88 )     (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 16.52     $ 18.16     $ 19.23     $ 14.59     $ 51.84     $ 45.63  

 

Total Returnc

    (9.03 %)     22.60 %     38.08 %     (24.15 %)     14.61 %     (16.11 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 428     $ 728     $ 183     $ 55     $ 111     $ 110  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    2.51 %     (0.68 %)     (2.18 %)     (1.44 %)     (0.13 %)     (0.49 %)

Total expensesd

    2.48 %     2.49 %     2.53 %     2.54 %     2.63 %     2.55 %

Net expensese

    2.29 %     2.35 %     2.38 %     2.36 %     2.48 %     2.42 %

Portfolio turnover rate

                      5 %           65 %

 

62 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI- ANNUAL REPORT

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

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

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
a

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

 

Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 31.16     $ 29.62     $ 21.96     $ 61.10     $ 53.31     $ 88.39  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)b

    .48       (.23 )     (.41 )     (.34 )     .35       .25  

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

    (3.18 )     7.11       8.95       (14.79 )     7.89       (11.77 )

Total from investment operations

    (2.70 )     6.88       8.54       (15.13 )     8.24       (11.52 )

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

          (5.34 )     (.88 )     (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )

Total distributions

          (5.34 )     (.88 )     (24.01 )     (.45 )     (23.56 )

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 28.46     $ 31.16     $ 29.62     $ 21.96     $ 61.10     $ 53.31  

 

Total Return

    (8.66 %)     23.53 %     39.06 %     (23.58 %)     15.48 %     (15.50 %)

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 4,400     $ 7,333     $ 20,898     $ 855     $ 4,911     $ 8,744  

Ratios to average net assets:

Net investment income (loss)

    3.25 %     (0.58 %)     (1.44 %)     (0.77 %)     0.59 %     0.27 %

Total expensesd

    1.73 %     1.75 %     1.77 %     1.78 %     1.89 %     1.81 %

Net expensese

    1.55 %     1.61 %     1.63 %     1.61 %     1.74 %     1.68 %

Portfolio turnover rate

                      5 %           65 %

 

a

Unaudited figures for the period ended June 30, 2023. Percentage amounts for the period, except total return and portfolio turnover rate, have been annualized.

b

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

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.

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 63

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

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

 

Organization

 

The Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ”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 8-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 June 30, 2023, 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

    Diversified  

Commodities Strategy Fund

    Non-diversified  

 

At June 30, 2023, A-Class, C-Class, H-Class, P-Class and 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.

 

64 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Security Investors, LLC (the “Adviser”), 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 Subsidiaries

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Commodities Strategy Fund include the accounts of a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”). 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
Subsidiary

   

Subsidiary
Net Assets at
June 30, 2023

   

% of Net Assets
of the Fund at
June 30, 2023

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

    09/18/09     $ 3,359,473       3.85 %

Commodities Strategy Fund

    09/08/09       969,170       16.36 %

 

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”). The SEC adopted Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 2a-5”) which establishes requirements for determining fair value in

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 65

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

good faith and became effective September 8, 2022. Rule 2a-5 also defines “readily available market quotations” for purposes of the 1940 Act and establishes requirements for determining whether a fund must fair value a security in good faith.

 

Pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Board has designated the Adviser as the valuation designee to perform fair valuation determinations for the Funds with respect to all Fund investments and other assets. As the Funds’ valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Adviser has adopted separate procedures (the “Valuation Designee Procedures”) reasonably designed to prevent violations of the requirements of Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4. The Adviser, in its role as valuation designee, utilizes the assistance of a valuation committee, consisting of representatives from Guggenheim’s investment management, fund administration, legal and compliance departments (the “Valuation Committee”), in determining the fair value of the Funds’ securities and other assets.

 

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 Adviser, with the assistance of 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 Adviser, consistent with the monitoring and review responsibilities set forth in the Valuation Designee Procedures, regularly reviews the appropriateness of the inputs, methods, models and assumptions employed 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 Adviser.

 

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.

 

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 generally 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.

 

Commercial paper and discount notes 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

 

66 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

markets in such securities. Commercial paper and discount notes with a maturity of 60 days or less at acquisition are valued at amortized cost, unless the Adviser concludes that amortized cost does not represent the fair value of the applicable asset in which case it will be valued using an independent pricing service.

 

The value of futures contracts are valued on the basis of the last sale price 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 value of swap agreements entered into by a Fund are generally valued using an evaluated price provided by a third party pricing vendor.

 

Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser. 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.

 

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 is a cost associated with the investment objective of short sales transactions, rather than an

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 67

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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) 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.

 

(e) 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 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) 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.

 

68 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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.

 

(g) 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 June 30, 2023, if any, are disclosed in the Funds’ Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

(h) 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 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.

 

(i) 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.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 69

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

(j) 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.

 

(k) 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 5.08% at June 30, 2023.

 

(l) 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.

 

Note 2 – Financial Instruments and Derivatives

 

As part of their investment strategies, the Funds may 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 Funds’ 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

 

70 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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:

 

Duration: the use of an instrument to manage the interest rate risk of a portfolio.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 an investment in the Fund to be more volatile and riskier than if the Fund 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 Funds’ Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities; securities held as collateral are noted on the Consolidated Schedules of Investments.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 71

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(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

Duration, Hedge, Index exposure, Leverage, Liquidity, Speculation

  $ 104,429,639     $ 65,156,506  

Commodities Strategy Fund

Index exposure, Liquidity

    7,828,466        

 

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 over-the-counter (“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 a 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

  $ 57,709,364     $ 49,393,767  

 

72 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(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 June 30, 2023:

 

Derivative Investment Type

Asset Derivatives

Liability Derivatives

Commodity/currency/equity/interest rate futures contracts

Variation margin on futures contracts

Equity swap 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 June 30, 2023:

 

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
June 30,
2023

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 673,687     $ 6,054,621     $ 184,578     $ 34,823     $ 1,337,680     $ 8,285,389  

Commodities Strategy Fund

                            43,490       43,490  

 

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
June 30,
2023

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 567,900     $ 530,842     $ 265,820     $ 7,443     $ 1,596,100     $ 2,968,105  

 

*

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

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 73

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

The following is a summary of the location of derivative investments on the Funds’ Consolidated Statements of Operations for the period ended June 30, 2023:

 

Derivative Investment Type

Location of Gain (Loss) on Derivatives

Commodity/currency/equity/interest rate futures contracts

Net realized gain (loss) on futures contracts

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts

Equity swap contracts

Net realized gain (loss) on swap agreements

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on swap agreements

 

The following is a summary of the Funds’ realized gain (loss) and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on derivative investments recognized on the Funds’ Consolidated Statements of Operations categorized by primary risk exposure for the period ended June 30, 2023:

 

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

   

Total

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 1,312,088     $ 483,413     $ (1,511,417 )   $ 550,460     $ 1,176,078     $ 2,010,622  

Commodities Strategy Fund

                            (767,917 )     (767,917 )

 

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

   

Total

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 480,136     $ 4,093     $ 20,399     $ (186,716 )   $ (988,603 )   $ (670,691 )

Commodities Strategy Fund

                            (522,610 )     (522,610 )

 

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.

 

74 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

The Trust has established counterparty credit guidelines and enters into transactions only with financial institutions rated/identified as investment grade or better. The Trust monitors the counterparty credit risk associated with each such financial institution.

 

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 Funds’ 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.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 75

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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

 

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

 

                             

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

  $ 6,054,621     $     $ 6,054,621     $ (530,842 )   $     $ 5,523,779  

 

                             

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

  $ 530,842     $     $ 530,842     $ (530,842 )   $     $  

 

1

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

 

76 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 June 30, 2023.

 

Fund

Counterparty

Asset Type

 

Cash Pledged

   

Cash Received

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

Goldman Sachs International

Futures contracts

  $ 2,084,263     $  

Commodities Strategy Fund

Goldman Sachs International

Futures contracts

    362,252        

 

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 between market participants at the measurement date. 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 —

unadjusted 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.

 

Rule 2a-5 sets forth a definition of “readily available market quotations,” which is consistent with the definition of a Level 1 input under U.S. GAAP. Rule 2a-5 provides that “a market quotation is readily available only when that quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that the fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable.”

 

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available must be valued at fair value as determined in good faith. Accordingly, any security priced using inputs other than Level 1 inputs will be subject to fair value requirements. 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 GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 77

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

The inputs or methodologies selected and applied for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The suitability, appropriateness and accuracy of the techniques, methodologies and sources employed to determine fair valuation are periodically reviewed 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 %

 

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 period ended June 30, 2023, the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Commodities Strategy Fund waived $17,455 and $5,522, respectively, related to advisory fees in it’s respective 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.

 

78 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 separate Distribution Plans 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 it performs.

 

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 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 period ended June 30, 2023, GFD retained sales charges of $32,189 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 period ended June 30, 2023, the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund and Commodities Strategy Fund waived $8,129 and $1,708, 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.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 79

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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.

 

At June 30, 2023, 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 Inflation Indexed Bond

               

5.05%

                 

3.63%

               

Due 07/03/23

  $ 137,286,751     $ 137,344,526    

Due 04/15/28

  $ 129,694,939     $ 140,030,466  
                                     
                   

U.S. Treasury Notes

               
                   

0.25% - 2.75%

               
                   

Due 09/30/23 - 03/31/27

    2,100       2,022  
                          129,697,039       140,032,488  
                                     

Barclays Capital, Inc.

                 

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond

               

5.06%

                 

0.13% - 0.75%

               

Due 07/03/23

    60,399,250       60,424,719    

Due 10/15/26 - 02/15/45

    68,592,589       61,607,304  
                                     

BofA Securities, Inc.

                 

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond

               

5.06%

                 

0.50%

               

Due 07/03/23

    54,908,410       54,931,563    

Due 01/15/28

    59,873,011       56,006,594  

 

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 – Portfolio Securities Loaned

 

The Funds may lend their securities to approved brokers to earn additional income. Security lending income shown on the Funds’ Consolidated Statements of Operations is shown net of rebates paid to the borrowers and earnings on cash collateral investments shared with the lending

 

80 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

agent. Within this arrangement, the Funds act as the lender, U.S. Bank acts as the lending agent, and other approved registered broker dealers act as the borrowers. The Funds receive cash collateral, valued at 102% of the value of the securities on loan. Under the terms of the Funds’ securities lending agreement with U.S. Bank, cash collateral and proceeds are invested in the First American Government Obligations Fund — Class X. The Funds bear the risk of loss on cash collateral investments. Collateral is maintained over the life of the loan in an amount not less than the value of loaned securities, as determined at the close of fund business each day; any additional collateral required due to changes in security values is delivered to the Funds the next business day. Although the collateral mitigates the risk, the Funds could experience a delay in recovering their securities and a possible loss of income or value if the borrower fails to return the securities. The Funds have the right under the securities lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. Securities lending transactions are accounted for as secured borrowings. The remaining contractual maturity of the securities lending agreement is overnight and continuous.

 

At June 30, 2023, the Funds participated in securities lending transactions, which are subject to enforceable netting arrangements, as follows:

 

   

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

     

Securities Lending Collateral

 

Fund

 

Value of
Securities
Loaned

   

Collateral
Received
(a)

   

Net
Amount

     

Cash
Collateral
Invested

   

Cash
Collateral
Uninvested

   

Total
Collateral

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 633,039     $ (633,039 )   $       $ 660,141     $     $ 660,141  

 

(a)

Actual collateral received by the Fund is generally greater than the amount shown due to overcollateralization.

 

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 to evaluate potential risks.

 

Note 8 – Federal Income Tax Information

 

The Funds intend to comply with the provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (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.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 81

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes and cannot be carried forward to reduce future income from the Subsidiary in subsequent years.

 

At June 30, 2023, 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

  $ 65,963,391     $ 9,690,453     $ (4,858,106 )   $ 4,832,347  

Commodities Strategy Fund

    6,021,352       42,976       (501,275 )     (458,299 )

 

Note 9 – Securities Transactions

 

For the period ended June 30, 2023, 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

  $ 50,795,266     $ 64,962,122  

Commodities Strategy Fund

           

 

82 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 period ended June 30, 2023, the Funds did not engage in purchases and sales of securities, pursuant to Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act.

 

Note 10 – Line of Credit

 

The Trust, along with other affiliated trusts, secured an uncommitted $200,000,000 line of credit from U.S. Bank, N.A. On June 5, 2023, the line of credit agreement was renewed and expires on June 3, 2024. 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 5.83% for the period ended June 30, 2023. The Funds did not have any borrowings outstanding under this agreement at June 30, 2023.

 

The average daily balances borrowed for the period ended June 30, 2023, were as follows:

 

Fund

 

Average Daily Balance

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund

  $ 2,099  

 

Note 11 – Market Risks

 

The value of, or income generated by, the investments held by the Funds are subject to the possibility of rapid and unpredictable fluctuation, and loss that may result from various factors. These factors include, among others, developments affecting individual companies, or from broader influences, including real or perceived changes in prevailing interest rates (which have since risen and may continue to rise), changes in inflation rates or expectations about inflation rates (which are currently elevated relative to normal conditions), adverse investor confidence or sentiment, changing economic, political (including geopolitical), social or financial market conditions, increased instability or general uncertainty, environmental disasters, governmental actions, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics), debt crises, actual or threatened wars or other armed conflicts (such as the current Russia-Ukraine conflict and its risk of expansion or collateral economic and other effects) or ratings downgrades, and other similar events, each of which may be temporary or last for extended periods. Moreover, changing economic, political, geopolitical, social, financial market or other conditions in one country or geographic region could adversely affect the value, yield and return of the investments held by the Funds in a different country or geographic region, economy, and market because of the increasingly interconnected global economies and financial markets. The duration and extent of the foregoing types of factors or conditions are highly uncertain and

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

difficult to predict and have in the past, and may in the future, cause volatility and distress in economies and financial markets or other adverse circumstances, which may negatively affect the value of the Funds’ investments and performance of the Funds.

 

Note 12 – Subsequent Events

 

On May 24, 2023, the Board approved a waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement whereby GI has agreed to waive and/or reimburse expenses for Commodities Strategy Fund in an amount equal to an annual percentage rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This arrangement will take effect on August 1, 2023 and the end of the initial term is August 1, 2024. This agreement shall automatically renew for one-year terms, unless GI provides written notice to the Fund of the termination at least thirty days prior to the end of the then-current term. This agreement may be terminated at any time by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon sixty days’ written notice.

 

The Funds evaluated subsequent events through the date the consolidated financial statements are issued and determined there were no additional material events that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the Funds’ consolidated financial statements.

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

Delivery of Shareholder Reports

 

Paper copies of the Funds’ 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.

 

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 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. 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.

 

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Report of the Rydex Series Funds Board of Trustees

 

The Board of Trustees of Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”), including the Independent Trustees, unanimously approved the renewal of the investment management agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Security Investors, LLC (“Security Investors” or the “Adviser”) on behalf of the series of the Trust listed below (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):

 

Tradable Funds (Including Sector Funds*)

 

Banking Fund*

Basic Materials Fund*

Biotechnology Fund*

Commodities Strategy Fund

Consumer Products Fund*

Dow Jones Industrial Average Fund

Electronics Fund*

Emerging Markets 2x Strategy Fund

Emerging Markets Bond Strategy Fund

Energy Fund*

Energy Services Fund*

Europe 1.25x Strategy Fund

Financial Services Fund*

Government Long Bond 1.2x Strategy Fund

Health Care Fund*

High Yield Strategy Fund

Internet Fund*

Inverse Emerging Markets 2x Strategy Fund

Inverse Government Long Bond Strategy Fund

Inverse High Yield Strategy Fund

Inverse Mid-Cap Strategy Fund

Inverse NASDAQ-100 Strategy Fund

Inverse Russell 2000 Strategy Fund

Inverse S&P 500 Strategy Fund

Japan 2x Strategy Fund

Leisure Fund*

Mid-Cap 1.5x Strategy Fund

Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund

NASDAQ-100 Fund

Nova Fund

Precious Metals Fund*

Real Estate Fund

Retailing Fund*

Russell 2000 1.5x Strategy Fund

Russell 2000 Fund

S&P 500 Fund

S&P 500 Pure Growth Fund

S&P 500 Pure Value Fund

S&P MidCap 400 Pure Growth Fund

S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value Fund

S&P SmallCap 600 Pure Growth Fund

S&P SmallCap 600 Pure Value Fund

Strengthening Dollar 2x Strategy Fund

Technology Fund*

Telecommunications Fund*

Transportation Fund*

Utilities Fund*

U.S. Government Money Market Fund

Weakening Dollar 2x Strategy Fund

   

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Alternative Funds** (i.e., Non-Tradable Funds)

 

Long Short Equity Fund**

Managed Futures Strategy Fund**

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund**

   

 

*

Each a “Sector Fund” and collectively, the “Sector Funds.”

**

Each an “Alternative Fund” and collectively, the “Alternative Funds.” Each Fund other than the Alternative Funds is referred to herein as a “Tradable Fund” and collectively, the “Tradable Funds.”

 

Security Investors1 is an indirect subsidiary of Guggenheim Partners, LLC, a privately-held, global investment and advisory firm (“Guggenheim Partners”). Guggenheim Partners, Security Investors and their affiliates may be referred to herein collectively as “Guggenheim.” “Guggenheim Investments” refers to the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners and includes Security Investors, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and other affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners.

 

At meetings held in person on April 17-18, 2023 (the “April Meeting”) and meetings held by videoconference on May 15, 2023 and in person on May 24, 2023 (the “May Meeting”), the Contracts Review Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), consisting solely of the Independent Trustees, met separately from Guggenheim to consider the proposed renewal of the Advisory Agreement. As part of its review process, the Committee was represented by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Legal Counsel”), from whom the Independent Trustees received separate legal advice and with whom they met separately. Independent Legal Counsel reviewed and discussed with the Committee various key aspects of the Trustees’ legal responsibilities relating to the proposed renewal of the Advisory Agreement and other principal contracts. The Committee took into account various materials received from Guggenheim and Independent Legal Counsel. The Committee also considered the variety of written materials, reports and oral presentations the Board received throughout the year regarding performance and operating results of the Funds, and other information relevant to its evaluation of the Advisory Agreement.

 

1

Security Investors also serves as investment adviser to each of Rydex Series Funds Commodities Strategy CFC, Rydex Managed Futures Strategy CFC and Rydex Series Funds Multi-Hedge Strategies CFC (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Trust that are organized as limited companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands and used by Commodities Strategy Fund, Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund, respectively, to obtain commodities exposure. Pursuant to a separate investment management agreement for each Subsidiary (each a “Subsidiary Advisory Agreement” and collectively, the “Subsidiary Advisory Agreements”), the Subsidiary pays Security Investors an advisory fee at the same rate that the respective Fund pays Security Investors under the Advisory Agreement. The Subsidiary Advisory Agreements do not require annual renewal by the Board and will continue until they are terminated as provided in the Agreements. In addition, Security Investors has entered into a separate waiver agreement with respect to each applicable Fund pursuant to which Security Investors has contractually agreed to waive the advisory fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the advisory fee paid to Security Investors by the respective Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue with respect to each applicable Fund for so long as the Fund invests in the respective Subsidiary, and may be terminated only with the approval of the Board.

 

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

In connection with the contract review process, FUSE Research Network LLC (“FUSE”), an independent, third-party research provider, was engaged to prepare advisory contract renewal reports designed specifically to help the Board fulfill its advisory contract renewal responsibilities. The objective of the FUSE reports is to present the subject funds’ relative position regarding fees, expenses and total return performance, with peer group and universe comparisons. The Committee assessed the data provided in the FUSE reports as well as commentary presented by Guggenheim, including, among other things, a list of Funds for which no peer funds were identified, a summary of notable distinctions between certain Funds and the applicable peer group identified in the FUSE reports and explanations for custom peer groups created for certain Funds that do not fit well into any particular category.

 

As part of its evaluation of the Adviser and the proposed renewal of the Advisory Agreement, the Committee took into account that the beneficial owners of the Funds are clients of tactical advisors who are engaged to provide tactical asset allocation investment advisory services. Each Tradable Fund is designed to provide such tactical advisors with specific exposures (with the exception of the U.S. Government Money Market Fund which is designed to support tactical advisors seeking to avoid market exposure or preserve capital) while also providing for unlimited trading privileges, and that the Tradable Funds offer a unique set of product features. The Committee noted that each Tradable Fund (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund) seeks to track, or correlate to, the performance (before fees and expenses) of a specific benchmark index over certain time periods or a specific market, noting that, because appropriate published indices are not available for many of the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund, the Adviser has developed its own methodology to construct internal performance benchmarks for the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund. In this regard, the Committee received information regarding the Adviser’s proprietary methodology for constructing internal performance benchmarks for such Funds, including the personnel with primary responsibility for the maintenance and execution of the methodology. The Committee also noted that, in addition to the performance information included in the FUSE reports, the Adviser provided tracking error data for each Tradable Fund (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund) relative to the applicable benchmark index or Guggenheim-constructed internal performance benchmark. The Committee took into account the limitations of the peer group and universe comparisons provided by FUSE with respect to the Tradable Funds in light of their unique features and the limited size of the marketplace for tradable funds designed to support tactical advisors, noting that there are only two direct competitor product suites.

 

In addition, Guggenheim provided materials and data in response to formal requests for information sent by Independent Legal Counsel on behalf of the Committee. Guggenheim also made a presentation at the April Meeting. Throughout the process, the Committee asked questions of management and requested certain additional information, which Guggenheim provided (collectively with the foregoing reports and materials, the “Contract Review Materials”).

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

The Committee considered the Contract Review Materials in the context of its accumulated experience governing the Trust and other Guggenheim funds and weighed the factors and standards discussed with Independent Legal Counsel.

 

Following an analysis and discussion of relevant factors, including those identified below, and in the exercise of its business judgment, the Committee concluded that the Advisory Agreement represented a reasonable business arrangement negotiated at arm’s length and that it was in the best interest of each Fund to recommend that the Board approve the renewal of the Advisory Agreement for an additional annual term. Following its review of the Committee’s recommendation, the Board approved the renewal of the Advisory Agreement for each Fund for a one-year period ending August 1, 2024 at a meeting held on May 23-24, 2023 (the “May Board Meeting” and together with the May Meeting, the “May Meetings”) and determined to adopt the Committee’s considerations and conclusions, which follow.

 

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by the Adviser: With respect to the nature, extent and quality of services currently provided by the Adviser, the Committee considered the qualifications, experience and skills of key personnel performing services for the Funds, including those personnel providing compliance and risk oversight, as well as the supervisors and reporting lines for such personnel. The Committee also considered other information, including Guggenheim’s resources and related efforts to retain, attract and motivate capable personnel to serve the Funds. In evaluating Guggenheim’s resources and capabilities, the Committee considered Guggenheim’s commitment to focusing on, and investing resources in support of, funds in the Guggenheim fund complex, including the Funds. The Committee also considered Guggenheim’s discussion of its ongoing review of the Guggenheim fund line-up at the April Meeting and the May Board Meeting. In addition, the Committee considered the acceptability of the terms of the Advisory Agreement, including the scope of services required to be performed by the Adviser.

 

The Committee’s review of the services provided by Guggenheim to the Funds included consideration of Guggenheim’s investment processes and index methodologies and resulting performance, portfolio oversight and risk management, and the related regular quarterly reports and presentations received by the Board. The Committee took into account the risks borne by Guggenheim in sponsoring and providing services to the Funds, including regulatory, operational, legal and entrepreneurial risks. The Committee considered the resources dedicated by Guggenheim to compliance functions and the reporting made to the Board by Guggenheim compliance personnel regarding Guggenheim’s adherence to regulatory requirements. The Committee also considered the regular reports the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding compliance policies and procedures established pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

With respect to the Tradable Funds, the Committee considered their unique product features, including their tradability, the real time cash process employed for such Funds, twice-daily pricing for certain Tradable Funds on select trading platforms, and the leveraged and inverse strategies

 

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

offered, the Adviser’s assessment of the value to shareholders provided by the Funds’ structure and the services required by the Adviser to provide the Funds’ unique features, as well as the personnel responsible for such services. The Committee noted that the Tradable Funds allow frequent trading and unlimited exchange privileges among like share classes and noted the magnitude of changes in each Fund’s assets during 2022, 2021 and 2020. The Committee also considered additional information regarding trading activity in the Tradable Funds during 2022, including monthly purchases and redemptions in dollar value and in number of transactions as well as transaction volume relative to the assets in the Tradable Funds. In this regard, the Committee noted that the real time cash process is utilized by the Adviser to aggregate shareholder flow data to estimate daily net subscriptions or redemptions in order to mitigate the costs associated with the tradability feature, improve tracking and keep the Funds fully invested. The Committee took into account the infrastructure developed by the Adviser to manage the significant volume and size of trading that typically occurs near the end of each business day, as well as the unique considerations required in the portfolio construction process to determine the optimal way to obtain the applicable exposures, including leveraged and inverse exposures, while allowing for high turnover. In addition, the Committee considered information provided by the Adviser analyzing the potential costs to shareholders of investing in tradable mutual funds, such as the Tradable Funds, compared to those of investing in exchange-traded funds, including expense ratios, brokerage commissions and spread costs, as well as the relative advantages and disadvantages of each investment product. The Committee considered that, at the April Meeting, the Adviser’s Head of Quantitative Strategies with investment management responsibility for the Tradable Funds met with the Committee to discuss the Tradable Funds, including the value to shareholders of the tradability and other unique features, the personnel, operations and infrastructure required to provide those features, the reasons why tactical advisors invest in the Tradable Funds rather than other tradable products, such as exchange-traded funds, for their clients, and the level of trading activity in the Tradable Funds. With respect to the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund, the Committee also considered the Adviser’s proprietary methodology for constructing internal performance benchmarks for such Funds, noting the Adviser’s statement that it uses a quantitative portfolio investment process that also requires investment discretion in implementing adjustments for factors that affect tradability and liquidity, changing dynamics within a sector, and corporate actions such as spin-offs, among other adjustments.

 

In connection with the Committee’s evaluation of the overall package of services provided by Guggenheim, the Committee considered Guggenheim’s administrative services, including its role in supervising, monitoring, coordinating and evaluating the various services provided by the fund administrator, transfer agent, distributor, custodian and other service providers to the Funds. The Committee evaluated the Office of Chief Financial Officer (the “OCFO”), established to oversee the fund administration, accounting and transfer agency services provided to the Funds and other Guggenheim funds, including the OCFO’s resources, personnel and services provided.

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

With respect to Guggenheim’s resources and the ability of the Adviser to carry out its responsibilities under the Advisory Agreement, the Chief Financial Officer of Guggenheim Investments reviewed with the Committee financial information concerning the holding company for Guggenheim Investments, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings, LLC (“GPIMH”), and the various entities comprising Guggenheim Investments, and provided the audited consolidated financial statements of GPIMH.

 

Based on the foregoing, and based on other information received (both oral and written) at the April Meeting and the May Meetings, as well as other considerations, including the Committee’s knowledge of how the Adviser performs its duties obtained through Board meetings, discussions and reports throughout the year, the Committee concluded that the Adviser and its personnel were qualified to serve the Funds in such capacity and may reasonably be expected to continue to provide a high quality of services under the Advisory Agreement with respect to the Funds.

 

Investment Performance: Except as otherwise noted, the Committee received, for each Fund, investment returns for the since-inception, ten-year, five-year, three-year, one-year and three-month periods ended December 31, 2022, as applicable. For certain Tradable Funds with only one or two identified peer funds, if any, from the two direct competitor product suites, only investment returns for the five-year, three-year and one-year periods ended December 31, 2022, as applicable, were received. In addition, the Committee received a comparison of each Fund’s performance to the performance of a benchmark and a peer group of similar funds based on asset levels as identified by FUSE, and for certain Funds, a broader universe of funds, in each case for the same periods, as applicable. The Committee also received from FUSE a description of the methodology for identifying each Fund’s peer group and universe, if any, for performance and expense comparisons. For the Tradable Funds (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund), the Committee received tracking error data for such Funds relative to the applicable benchmark index or Guggenheim-constructed internal performance benchmark for the five-year, three-year and one-year periods ended December 31, 2022, as applicable. For certain Tradable Funds with only one or two identified peer funds from the two direct competitor product suites, the Committee received a comparison of the tracking error of each Fund’s Class H shares to the tracking error of a peer fund, in each case for the same periods, as applicable. The Committee also received certain performance information for the Alternative Funds (i.e., the non-Tradable Funds) as of March 31, 2023. In assessing each Fund’s performance, the Committee considered that the Board receives regular reporting from Guggenheim regarding performance and evaluates performance throughout the year.

 

With respect to the Tradable Funds (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund), the Committee considered the Adviser’s statement that such Funds are designed as a suite of products seeking to provide a number of broad and specific exposures for tactical advisors and also considered that the Funds have a unique set of product features designed to meet the needs of those tactical advisors, which has an impact on performance. The Committee considered the Adviser’s statement that, in circumstances where there are significant deviations from expected returns, management seeks to understand the cause of such deviations and determine if any

 

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

remedial actions should be considered, noting that no such remedial actions were currently deemed necessary by the Adviser to address performance. The Committee also considered the Adviser’s discussion of factors that contribute to such deviations, including shareholder activity, financing costs associated with leverage and investment instruments used to achieve certain exposures, noting the Adviser’s statement that expenses and transaction costs based on shareholder activity are the primary drivers of performance differences. In this connection, the Committee considered the tracking error of each Fund’s Class H shares relative to its applicable benchmark index or Guggenheim-constructed internal performance benchmark and, for certain Tradable Funds, compared to the tracking error of a peer fund. The Committee considered the Adviser’s commentary explaining the higher levels of tracking error for certain Funds.

 

With respect to certain Tradable Funds with only one or two identified peer funds, if any, from the two direct competitor product suites, the Committee considered the Adviser’s summary of notable distinctions between the Tradable Funds and the peer funds in the two direct competitor product suites and noted the Adviser’s statement that certain Tradable Funds do not have any peer funds that provide the same index, leverage or inverse exposure. The Committee also considered management’s commentary explaining instances of significant underperformance (defined as greater than 100 basis points) of such Funds’ Class H shares over the five-year, three-year and/or one-year periods ended December 31, 2022, relative to their respective peer funds, attributing such relative underperformance to, among other factors, differences in portfolio construction methodologies and exposures. The Committee noted that the two direct competitor product suites do not offer a fund comparable to either the Commodities Strategy Fund or the Emerging Markets Bond Strategy Fund. The Committee considered, for each of the Commodities Strategy Fund and the Emerging Markets Bond Strategy Fund, a comparison to a peer group identified in the FUSE report that includes actively-managed funds, in each case noting the limitations in the comparability of such peer group.

 

With respect to the U.S. Government Money Market Fund, the Committee noted the Adviser’s statement that the Fund is designed to support tactical advisors seeking to avoid market exposure or preserve capital and that only one other fund in its peer group identified in the FUSE report has product features that make it comparable in this regard. The Committee considered that the Fund performed in line with the comparable peer fund over the five-year and three-year periods ended December 31, 2022, while, in contrast, its performance ranked in the fourth quartile of the broader peer group over the five-year, three-year and one-year time periods.

 

With respect to the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund, the Committee considered the Adviser’s summary of notable distinctions between each Fund and the applicable peer group identified in the FUSE reports. The Committee considered that the peer groups are comprised of actively-managed funds seeking similar exposures but that do not offer the same product features, including unlimited trading privileges, noting the Adviser’s statement that certain peer funds also cover a narrower or wider market segment than the applicable Fund. The Committee considered management’s commentary explaining the underperformance, as applicable, of such Funds’ Class H shares over the five-year, three-year and one-year periods ended December 31, 2022, relative

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

to their respective peer groups, attributing such underperformance to, among other factors, high turnover associated with daily shareholder flows, differences in exposures and the Funds’ modified cap weighting approach to portfolio construction.

 

With respect to the Alternative Funds (i.e., the non-Tradable Funds), in seeking to evaluate Fund performance over a full market cycle, the Committee focused its attention on five-year and three-year performance rankings as compared to the relevant universe of funds. The Committee observed that the returns of the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranked in the second quartile of its performance universe for each of the relevant periods considered. In addition, the Committee made the following observations:

 

Long Short Equity Fund: The returns of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranked in the 87th and 49th percentiles of its performance universe for the five-year and three-year periods ended December 31, 2022, respectively. The Committee noted management’s explanation that the Fund’s relative underperformance over the five-year time period was primarily due to the Fund’s fundamental factor tilts. The Committee noted management’s statement that the Fund’s long exposure to value detracted from investment performance from early 2018 through early 2020 as growth stocks outperformed during that period. The Committee also noted management’s statement that the Fund’s net short exposure to oil prices within the energy sector following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in early 2022 also contributed to relative underperformance.

 

Managed Futures Strategy Fund: The returns of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranked in the 82nd and 83rd percentiles of its performance universe for the five-year and three-year periods ended December 31, 2022, respectively. The Committee noted management’s explanation that the Fund’s relative underperformance over the five-year and three-year time periods was primarily due to the Fund targeting a lower level of risk relative to its performance universe. The Committee took into account management’s statements that the portfolio management team increased the Fund’s risk target in 2021 to be more in line with peers and the Fund experienced a performance ranking that compared more favorably relative to its performance universe for the one-year period ended December 31, 2022. The Committee also noted management’s further explanation of the Fund’s performance at the April Meeting.

 

Based on the foregoing, and based on other information received (both oral and written) at the April Meeting and the May Meetings, as well as other considerations, the Committee concluded that: (i) each Fund’s performance was acceptable; or (ii) it was satisfied with Guggenheim’s responses and/or efforts to improve investment performance.

 

Comparative Fees, Costs of Services Provided and the Benefits Realized by the Adviser from Its Relationship with the Funds: The Committee compared each Fund’s contractual advisory fee, net effective management fee2 and total net expense ratio to the applicable peer group, if any. The Committee also reviewed the median advisory fees and expense

 

2

The “net effective management fee” for each Fund represents the combined effective advisory fee and administration fee as a percentage of average net assets for the latest fiscal year, after any waivers and/or reimbursements.

 

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

ratios, including expense ratio components (e.g., transfer agency fees, administration fees, other operating expenses, distribution fees and fee waivers/reimbursements), of the peer group of funds. In addition, the Committee considered information regarding Guggenheim’s process for evaluating the competitiveness of each Fund’s fees and expenses, noting Guggenheim’s statement that evaluations seek to incorporate a variety of factors with a general focus on ensuring fees and expenses: (i) are competitive; (ii) give consideration to resource support requirements; and (iii) ensure Funds are able to deliver on shareholder return expectations. The Committee also considered Guggenheim’s discussion of information regarding fee and expense trends across the open-end fund industry and its response to those trends with respect to the funds in the Guggenheim fund complex, including the Funds.

 

As part of its evaluation of each Fund’s advisory fee, the Committee considered how such fees compared to the advisory fee charged by Guggenheim to one or more other clients that it manages pursuant to similar investment strategies, to the extent applicable. The Committee noted Guggenheim’s statement that it does not provide advisory services to other clients that have investment strategies similar to those of the Funds, other than variable insurance fund counterparts to certain Funds and certain other clients with respect to Long Short Equity Fund, each of which is charged the same advisory fee as the corresponding Fund.

 

With respect to the Tradable Funds that are designed to track a widely available index, which have only one or two identified peer funds, if any, from the two direct competitor product suites, the Committee considered the Adviser’s summary of notable distinctions between the Tradable Funds and the peer funds, noting the Adviser’s statement that only one of the two direct competitor product suites (which also employs a daily rebalance feature) is directly comparable for purposes of assessing such Funds’ advisory fees, with the exception of the Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund for which the other competitor product suite (which employs a monthly rebalance feature) is directly comparable. The Committee noted that the contractual advisory fee for each Fund’s Class H shares, other than the Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund, was equal to or lower than the contractual advisory fee charged to the comparable peer fund. The Committee also considered the net effective management fee and total net expense ratio for each such Fund’s Class H shares as compared to the peer fund. For the Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund, the Committee considered that, although the contractual advisory fee for the Fund’s Class H shares is higher than the contractual advisory fee charged to the peer fund, the Adviser has contractually agreed to cap Fund expenses to ensure that total net expenses are competitive. The Committee noted that the net effective management fee and the total net expense ratio for the Fund’s Class H shares were lower than and equal to those of the peer fund, respectively.

 

With respect to the U.S. Government Money Market Fund, the Committee noted the Adviser’s statement that the Fund is designed to support tactical advisors seeking to avoid market exposure or preserve capital and that only one other fund in its peer group identified in the FUSE report is directly comparable in terms of product features offered. The Committee considered that, as of the Fund’s and the peer fund’s respective fiscal year ends, the Fund’s contractual advisory

 

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OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

fee and total net expense ratio were higher than those of the comparable peer fund, but noted management’s statement that it believes that the peer fund’s unique structural arrangement of investing in a master portfolio managed by an unaffiliated investment adviser may result in the peer fund’s stated advisory fees being understated.

 

With respect to the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund, the Committee considered the Adviser’s summary of notable distinctions between each Fund and the applicable peer group identified in the FUSE reports. The Committee considered that the peer groups are comprised of actively-managed funds seeking similar exposures but that do not offer the same product features, such as unlimited trading privileges. As a result, the fee and expense comparisons are more difficult given the uniqueness of both the Funds’ structure and the portfolio management needed to meet client requirements.

 

The Committee considered management’s agreement, as part of the 2023 annual contract review process, to reduce the total net expense ratio of each Tradable Fund (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund) by 0.05% of its average daily net assets through an expense reimbursement and/or waiver agreement effective August 1, 2023 for an initial term ending August 1, 2024 for each Fund (other than Commodities Strategy Fund for which the initial term will end May 1, 2025), with such reduction to apply in addition to any other contractual waiver and/or reimbursement arrangements already in place. The Committee also noted the continuation through August 1, 2024 of management’s separate agreement, implemented as part of the 2022 annual contract review process, to reduce the total net expense ratio of each Tradable Fund with a contractual advisory fee of 0.90% of its average daily net assets3 by 0.05% of its average daily net assets and, with respect to NASDAQ-100 Fund, to reduce the total net expense ratio of the Fund by 0.05% of its average daily net assets in excess of $500 million, through expense reimbursement and/or waiver agreements.

 

With respect to the Alternative Funds (i.e., the non-Tradable Funds), except as to the individual Fund discussed below, the Committee observed that the contractual advisory fee, net effective management fee and total net expense ratio for each Fund’s Institutional Class shares each rank in the third quartile or better of such Fund’s peer group. In addition, the Committee made the following observations:

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund: The contractual advisory fee for the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranks in the second quartile (27th percentile) of its peer group. Although the net effective management fee for the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranks in the fourth quartile (87th percentile), the Committee considered that the total net expense ratio for the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranks in the first quartile (13th percentile) of its peer group.

 

3

Emerging Markets 2x Strategy Fund, Europe 1.25x Strategy Fund, Inverse Emerging Markets 2x Strategy Fund, Inverse Government Long Bond Strategy Fund, Inverse Mid-Cap Strategy Fund, Inverse NASDAQ-100 Strategy Fund, Inverse Russell 2000 Strategy Fund, Inverse S&P 500 Strategy Fund, Mid-Cap 1.5x Strategy Fund, Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund, Russell 2000 1.5x Strategy Fund, Strengthening Dollar 2x Strategy Fund and Weakening Dollar 2x Strategy Fund.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 95

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

With respect to the costs of services provided and benefits realized by Guggenheim Investments from its relationship with the Funds, the Committee reviewed a profitability analysis and data from management for each Fund setting forth the average assets under management for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, gross revenues received, and expenses incurred directly or through allocations, by Guggenheim Investments, expense waivers (as applicable), earnings and the operating margin/profitability rate, including variance information relative to the foregoing amounts as of December 31, 2021. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer of Guggenheim Investments reviewed with, and addressed questions from, the Committee concerning the expense allocation methodology employed in producing the profitability analysis. In the course of its review of Guggenheim Investments’ profitability, the Committee took into account the methods used by Guggenheim Investments to determine expenses and profit and the representation by the Chief Financial Officer of Guggenheim Investments that such methods provided a reasonable basis for determining the profitability of the Adviser with respect to each Fund. The Committee considered all of the foregoing, among other things, in evaluating the costs of services provided, the profitability to Guggenheim Investments and the profitability rates presented.

 

The Committee also considered other benefits available to the Adviser because of its relationship with the Funds and noted Guggenheim’s statement that it does not believe the Adviser derives any such “fall-out” benefits. In this regard, the Committee noted Guggenheim’s statement that, although it does not consider such benefits to be fall-out benefits, the Adviser may benefit from certain economies of scale and synergies, such as enhanced visibility of the Adviser, enhanced leverage in fee negotiations and other synergies arising from offering a broad spectrum of products, including the Funds.

 

Based on the foregoing, and based on other information received (both oral and written) at the April Meeting and the May Meetings, as well as other considerations, the Committee concluded that the comparative fees and the benefits realized by the Adviser from its relationship with the Funds reflected reasonable business arrangements negotiated at arm’s length and that the Adviser’s profitability from its relationship with the Funds was not unreasonable.

 

Economies of Scale: The Committee received and considered information regarding whether there have been economies of scale with respect to the management of the Funds as Fund assets grow, whether the Funds have appropriately benefited from any economies of scale, and whether there is potential for realization of any further economies of scale. The Committee considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Funds were being passed along to and shared with the shareholders. The Committee considered that Guggenheim believes it is appropriately sharing potential economies of scale and that Guggenheim’s decrease in 2022 in overall expenses was attributable to decreased product costs driven by lower average assets under management and lower non-recurring costs related to closed-end fund matters as well as a decrease in compensation and benefits. The Committee also considered that although expenses related to investment resources decreased in 2022, Guggenheim’s shared services expenses and certain other expenses increased in 2022.

 

96 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

With respect to the Tradable Funds, the Committee noted that, in addition to the expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangement implemented in August 2022 for the NASDAQ-100 Fund on average daily net assets in excess of $500 million, the Adviser has agreed to a contractual advisory fee breakpoint schedule for the Funds that is applied at the product-suite level, rather than on a Fund level, as the Funds are designed for tactical advisors and provide unlimited trading privileges, with individual Fund assets fluctuating significantly throughout the year. Under the breakpoint schedule adopted in June 2018 to reflect product-suite level economies of scale, each Fund’s advisory fee would be subject to a uniform fee breakpoint reduction schedule that would take effect if the aggregate assets of the Tradable Funds and the tradable series of Rydex Dynamic Funds, a separate trust, equal or exceed $10 billion.

 

The Committee also noted the process employed by the Adviser to evaluate whether it would be appropriate to institute a new breakpoint for an Alternative Fund (i.e., a non-Tradable Fund), with consideration given to, among other things: (i) the Fund’s size and trends in asset levels over recent years; (ii) the competitiveness of the expense levels; (iii) whether expense waivers are in place; (iv) changes and trends in revenue and expenses; (v) whether there are any anticipated expenditures that may benefit the Fund in the future; (vi) Fund profit level margins; (vii) relative Fund performance; (viii) the nature, extent and quality of services management provides to the Fund; and (ix) the complexity of the Fund’s investment strategy and the resources required to support the Fund.

 

As part of its assessment of economies of scale, the Committee took into account Guggenheim’s representation that it seeks to share economies of scale through a number of means, including breakpoints, advisory fees set at competitive rates pre-assuming future asset growth, expense waivers and limitations, and investments in personnel, operations and infrastructure to support the fund business. The Committee also received information regarding amounts that had been shared with shareholders through such expense waivers and limitations and considered that the newly agreed expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangement would produce additional savings to shareholders. Thus, the Committee considered the size of the Funds and the competitiveness of and/or other determinations made regarding the current advisory fee for each Fund, as well as whether a Fund is subject to an expense limitation.

 

Based on the foregoing, and based on other information received (both oral and written) at the April Meeting and May Meetings, as well as other considerations, the Committee concluded that the advisory fee for each Fund reflected a reasonable business arrangement negotiated at arm’s length.

 

Overall Conclusions

 

The Committee concluded that the investment advisory fees reflect reasonable business arrangements negotiated at arm’s length in light of the extent and quality of the services provided and other benefits received and that the renewal of the Advisory Agreement is in the best interest

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 97

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

of each Fund. In reaching this conclusion, no single factor was determinative or conclusive and each Committee member, in the exercise of his or her informed business judgment, may afford different weights to different factors.

 

Following its review of the Committee’s analysis and determinations, the Board adopted the considerations and conclusions of the Committee and determined to approve the renewal of the Advisory Agreement.

 

98 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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 Funds’ 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).

155

Current: Advent Convertible and Income Fund (2005-present); Purpose Investments Funds (2013-present).

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2004-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2005-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2013-2021).

Angela Brock-Kyle

(1959)

Trustee

Since 2016

Current: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, B.O.A.R.D.S. (2013-present); Director, Mutual Fund Directors Forum (2022-present).

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

154

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

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2019-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2019-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2019-2021); Infinity Property & Casualty Corp. (2014-2018).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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
by Trustees***

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES - continued

   

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 (registered investment adviser) (1996-present); Chief Executive Officer, ETF Flows, LLC (financial advisor education and research provider) (2019-present); Chief Executive Officer, Lydon Media (2016-present); Director, GDX Index Partners, LLC (index provider) (2021-present); Vice Chairman, VettaFi (financial advisor content, research and digital distribution provider) (2022-present).

154

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

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2019-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2019-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2019-2021); Harvest Volatility Edge Trust (3) (2017-2019).

 

100 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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 - continued

   

Ronald A. Nyberg

(1953)

Trustee and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee

Since 2019

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

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

155

Current: Advent Convertible and Income Fund (2003-present); PPM Funds (2) (2018-present); NorthShore-Edward-Elmhurst Health (2012-present).

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2004-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2005-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2013-2021); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (2004-2020); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (2003-2020).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen

Other
Directorships Held
by Trustees***

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES - continued

   

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. (construction and real estate development company) (2007-2017).

154

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

 

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2019-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2019-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2019-2021); SSGA Master Trust (1) (2018-2020).

 

102 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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

   

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. (registered broker dealer) (1982-1999).

154

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2004-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2005-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2013-2021); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (2004-2020); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (2003-2020).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 103

 

 

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).

154

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2018-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2018-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2018-2021).

 

*

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, Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust, Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund, Guggenheim Energy & Income Fund, Guggenheim Active 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’ Adviser and/or the parent of the Adviser.

 

104 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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, Mutual Funds Boards, Guggenheim Investments (2022-present);President and Chief Executive Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2018-present); President, Mutual Funds Boards, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and Security Investors, LLC (2018-present); Board Member, Guggenheim Partners Investments Funds plc (2022-present); Board Member, Guggenheim Global Investments plc (2022-present); Board Member, Guggenheim Partners Fund Management (Europe) Limited (2018-present).

Former: Senior Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Guggenheim Investments (2018-2022); Managing Director and President, Deutsche Funds, and Head of US Product, Trading and Fund Administration, Deutsche Asset Management (2013-2018); Managing Director, Chairman of North American Executive Committee and Head of Business Management and Consulting, Invesco Ltd. (2010-2012).

James Howley

(1972)

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer

Since 2022

Current: Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2004-present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, and Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2022-present).

Former: Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2006-2022); 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); Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present).

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 105

 

 

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); Senior Managing Director, 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).

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).

 

106 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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

 

Jon Szafran

(1989)

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2017

Current: Director, 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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 107

 

 

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 legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of others (for example, to enforce the legal terms

 

108 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 parties to treat your private information with the same high degree of confidentiality that we do.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 109

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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

 

110 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 111

 

 

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”) has also designated 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” (as defined in the Liquidity Rule) 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 periodic review of liquidity risk. In accordance with the Program, each Fund’s liquidity risk is assessed, managed, and periodically reviewed 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, short-term and long-term 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. The classification is based on a determination of the number of days a Fund reasonably expects to take to convert the investment into 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 a Fund’s 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” (as defined in the Liquidity Rule). 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 March 31, 2022, to March 31, 2023. The Report summarized the Administrator’s assessment of the Program’s implementation and 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 the 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.

 

112 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

 

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6.30.2023

 

Guggenheim Funds Semi-Annual Report

 

Guggenheim Alternative Fund
Guggenheim Managed Futures Strategy Fund    

 

GuggenheimInvestments.com Rmfsf-SEMI-0623x1223

 

 

 

 

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 25
OTHER INFORMATION 40
INFORMATION ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 54
GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE 63
LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 67

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 1

 

 

  June 30, 2023

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

Security Investors, LLC (the “Investment Adviser”), is pleased to present the semi-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 semi-annual period ended June 30, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).

 

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.

 

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

 

Sincerely,

 

Security Investors, LLC

 

July 31, 2023

 

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.

 

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

 

2 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

  June 30, 2023

 

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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 3

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited) June 30, 2023

 

The fundamental backdrop we see for the economy is that inflation, while making some progress, continues to run well above target while the labor market appears overheated. As a result, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) is employing a deliberate and forceful strategy which has the effect of weakening the economy. The Fed believes this strategy is required to meaningfully reduce inflation. We expect Fed policymakers to deliver an additional rate hike in September 2023 as they try to limit an undue easing of financial conditions that could risk a resurgence in inflation. Quantitative tightening appears likely to continue at least into early 2024.

 

Despite the abrupt tightening of Fed policy seen over recent quarters, growth of real gross domestic product has been resilient, aided by a significant fiscal expansion and easing inflation pressures that have boosted real personal consumption. Indeed, headline personal consumption expenditures inflation has slowed to 2.5% on an annualized basis in the three months ended May 2023, down from 7.3% in the corresponding period a year earlier, helping to lift real income growth and support consumer spending.

 

Notwithstanding recent stronger-than-expected economic activity, we continue to believe the Fed’s policy measures will likely result in a higher unemployment rate and may ultimately lead to a recession. A range of leading indicators, including a low unemployment rate, an inverted yield curve, a declining leading economic index, and falling consumer confidence, suggest a downturn may be approaching.

 

While a recession understandably provokes fear among investors, in this environment it is arguably not the worst outcome from a medium-term perspective, as we see signs a recession could be moderate in its severity. Moreover, we expect inflation to be brought under control as spending and demand for labor cool, in turn allowing the Fed to start to ease its monetary policy stance as we progress through 2024.

 

For the Reporting Period, the S&P 500® Index* returned 16.89%. The MSCI Europe-Australasia-Far East (“EAFE”) Index* returned 11.67%. The return of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index* was 4.89%.

 

In the bond market, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* posted a 2.09% return for the Reporting Period, while the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Index* returned 5.38%. The return of the ICE Bank of America (“BofA”) 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index* was 2.27% for the Reporting Period.

 

4 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

ECONOMIC AND MARKET OVERVIEW (Unaudited)(concluded) June 30, 2023

 

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 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 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 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® Index 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 SEMI-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 December 31, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023.

 

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 SEMI-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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 7

 

 

ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS’ FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

  Expense
Ratio1
Fund
Return
Beginning
Account Value
December 31,
2022
Ending
Account Value
June 30,
2023
Expenses
Paid During
Period2
Table 1. Based on actual Fund return3
A-Class 1.72% 3.47% $ 1,000.00 $ 1,034.70 $ 8.68
C-Class 2.45% 3.06% 1,000.00 1,030.60 12.34
P-Class 1.70% 3.40% 1,000.00 1,034.00 8.57
Institutional Class 1.43% 3.60% 1,000.00 1,036.00 7.22
 
Table 2. Based on hypothetical 5% return (before expenses)
A-Class 1.72% 5.00% $ 1,000.00 $ 1,016.27 $ 8.60
C-Class 2.45% 5.00% 1,000.00 1,012.65 12.23
P-Class 1.70% 5.00% 1,000.00 1,016.36 8.50
Institutional Class 1.43% 5.00% 1,000.00 1,017.70 7.15

 

1 Annualized and excludes expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests, if any.
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 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).
3 Actual cumulative return at net asset value for the period December 31, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

 

 

8 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited) June 30, 2023

 

 

MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

OBJECTIVE: Seeks to achieve absolute returns.

 

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

 

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

 

Largest Holdings % of Total Net Assets
Guggenheim Strategy Fund III 13.0%
Guggenheim Strategy Fund II 9.2%
Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class 5.7%
Total 27.9%
   
“Largest Holdings” excludes any temporary cash or derivative investments.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 9

 

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT AND FUND PROFILE (Unaudited)(concluded) June 30, 2023

 

Average Annual Returns*

Periods Ended June 30, 2023

 

  6 Month 1 Year 5 Year 10 Year
A-Class Shares 3.47% 3.47% 4.82% 2.36%
A-Class Shares with sales charge (1.44%) (1.47%) 3.81% 1.86%
C-Class Shares 3.06% 2.70% 4.05% 1.60%
C-Class Shares with CDSC§ 2.06% 1.73% 4.05% 1.60%
P-Class Shares 3.40% 3.39% 4.81% 2.38%
Institutional Class Shares 3.60% 3.79% 5.10% 2.62%
ICE BofA 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index 2.27% 3.62% 1.56% 0.99%

 

* 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 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.
6 month returns are not annualized.
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.

 

10 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) June 30, 2023
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND  

 

    Shares     Value  
MUTUAL FUNDS - 27.9%
Guggenheim Strategy Fund III1     235,195     $ 5,703,484  
Guggenheim Strategy Fund II1     166,856       4,041,249  
Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class1     257,497       2,505,443  
Total Mutual Funds        
(Cost $12,548,781)             12,250,176  
                 
    Face
Amount
         
U.S. TREASURY BILLS†† - 17.3%
U.S. Treasury Bills
5.11% due 07/18/232,3   $ 7,605,000       7,589,085  
Total U.S. Treasury Bills        
(Cost $7,586,326)             7,589,085  

 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS††,4 - 52.7%
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
issued 06/30/23 at 5.05%
due 07/03/23
    12,559,940       12,559,940  
Barclays Capital, Inc.
issued 06/30/23 at 5.06%
due 07/03/23
    5,525,741       5,525,741  
BofA Securities, Inc.
issued 06/30/23 at 5.06%
due 07/03/23
    5,023,401       5,023,401  
Total Repurchase Agreements        
(Cost $23,109,082)             23,109,082  
                 
Total Investments - 97.9%        
(Cost $43,244,189)   $ 42,948,343  
Other Assets & Liabilities, net - 2.1%     930,269  
Total Net Assets - 100.0%   $ 43,878,612  
         

 

Futures Contracts
Description   Number of
Contracts
    Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**
 
Equity Futures Contracts Purchased
Tokyo Stock Price Index Futures Contracts     22       Sep 2023     $ 3,508,716     $ 211,960  
NASDAQ-100 Index Mini Futures Contracts     14       Sep 2023       4,292,750       136,392  
Nikkei 225 (OSE) Index Futures Contracts     7       Sep 2023       1,621,972       110,078  
S&P 500 Index Mini Futures Contracts     17       Sep 2023       3,813,525       68,402  
Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Mini Futures Contracts     29       Sep 2023       5,021,060       65,073  
IBEX 35 Index Futures Contracts††     14       Jul 2023       1,461,634       46,545  
Euro STOXX 50 Index Futures Contracts     30       Sep 2023       1,453,504       36,646  
DAX Index Futures Contracts     5       Sep 2023       2,224,951       25,859  
MSCI EAFE Index Futures Contracts     13       Sep 2023       1,400,425       12,905  
SPI 200 Index Futures Contracts     3       Sep 2023       359,213       5,508  
CAC 40 10 Euro Index Futures Contracts     1       Jul 2023       81,139       2,206  
Russell 2000 Index Mini Futures Contracts     7       Sep 2023       666,085       1,984  
OMX Stockholm 30 Index Futures Contracts††     4       Jul 2023       86,048       290  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 11

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued) June 30, 2023
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND  

 

Futures Contracts (continued)
Description   Number of
Contracts
    Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**
 
FTSE 100 Index Futures Contracts     18       Sep 2023     $ 1,728,312     $ (4,526 )
FTSE Taiwan Index Futures Contracts     45       Jul 2023       2,607,300       (20,793 )
CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts     42       Sep 2023       741,300       (47,495 )
CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts     60       Dec 2023       1,149,000       (84,579 )
                    $ 32,216,934     $ 566,455  
Commodity Futures Contracts Purchased
Cocoa Futures Contracts     52       Sep 2023     $ 1,745,640     $ 128,851  
Cattle Feeder Futures Contracts     9       Aug 2023       1,112,850       100,098  
Live Cattle Futures Contracts     33       Aug 2023       2,335,410       99,085  
Oat Futures Contracts     27       Sep 2023       525,825       46,145  
Soybean Futures Contracts     10       Nov 2023       671,250       30,084  
LME Tin Futures Contracts     5       Aug 2023       674,045       29,735  
Natural Gas Futures Contracts     29       Aug 2023       801,560       26,036  
Low Sulphur Gas Oil Futures Contracts     19       Aug 2023       1,339,025       22,067  
Canadian Canola (WCE) Futures Contracts     32       Nov 2023       355,875       13,196  
ECX Emission Futures Contracts     4       Dec 2023       388,911       12,643  
Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts     3       Jul 2023       320,985       12,240  
Soybean Oil Futures Contracts     4       Dec 2023       141,528       11,010  
LME Lead Futures Contracts     2       Aug 2023       105,073       2,879  
Copper Futures Contracts     14       Sep 2023       1,317,050       1,103  
Hard Red Winter Wheat Futures Contracts     1       Sep 2023       39,662       547  
Soybean Meal Futures Contracts     1       Dec 2023       39,660       (148 )
Natural Gas Futures Contracts     8       Jul 2023       222,720       (350 )
Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts     14       Sep 2023       1,303,537       (939 )
Soybean Meal Futures Contracts     14       Mar 2024       539,980       (2,238 )
SGX Iron Ore 62% Futures Contracts     59       Aug 2023       641,625       (17,583 )
Corn Futures Contracts     8       Sep 2023       195,600       (37,579 )
Sugar #11 Futures Contracts     69       Apr 2024       1,674,658       (117,142 )
                    $ 16,492,469     $ 359,740  
Currency Futures Contracts Purchased
Mexican Peso Futures Contracts     256       Sep 2023     $ 7,367,680     $ 97,331  
Euro FX Futures Contracts     41       Sep 2023       5,614,438       36,509  
British Pound Futures Contracts     30       Sep 2023       2,381,437       11,955  
New Zealand Dollar Futures Contracts     8       Sep 2023       490,760       707  
Canadian Dollar Futures Contracts     32       Sep 2023       2,418,560       (12,220 )
Japanese Yen Futures Contracts     14       Sep 2023       1,227,363       (44,943 )
                    $ 19,500,238     $ 89,339  

 

12 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued) June 30, 2023
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND  

 

Futures Contracts (continued)
Description   Number of
Contracts
    Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**
 
Interest Rate Futures Contracts Purchased
Euro - OATS Futures Contracts     3       Sep 2023     $ 420,498     $ (396 )
Euro - BTP Italian Government Bond Futures Contracts††     2       Sep 2023       253,525       (844 )
U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures Contracts     22       Sep 2023       3,005,063       (1,183 )
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Note Futures Contracts     71       Sep 2023       7,974,188       (10,599 )
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Note Futures Contracts     54       Sep 2023       10,982,672       (10,873 )
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Note Futures Contracts     96       Sep 2023       10,284,750       (18,435 )
                    $ 32,920,696     $ (42,330 )
Interest Rate Futures Contracts Sold Short
Euro - Schatz Futures Contracts     236       Sep 2023     $ 27,007,859     $ 185,814  
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Note Futures Contracts     45       Sep 2023       9,152,227       100,874  
Long Gilt Futures Contracts††     30       Sep 2023       3,631,653       54,626  
Euro - Bund Futures Contracts     23       Sep 2023       3,358,120       39,229  
Euro - Bobl Futures Contracts     26       Sep 2023       3,284,196       39,114  
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Note Futures Contracts     13       Sep 2023       1,392,727       19,755  
Canadian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts     26       Sep 2023       2,405,382       19,753  
Australian Government 3 Year Bond Futures Contracts     44       Sep 2023       3,096,882       11,698  
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Note Futures Contracts     11       Sep 2023       1,235,438       5,914  
Australian Government 10 Year Bond Futures Contracts     10       Sep 2023       775,646       590  
Euro - 30 year Bond Futures Contracts     1       Sep 2023       152,499       (135 )
U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures Contracts     13       Sep 2023       1,652,625       (860 )
U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures Contracts     2       Sep 2023       273,188       (933 )
                    $ 57,418,442     $ 475,439  
Currency Futures Contracts Sold Short
Japanese Yen Futures Contracts     88       Sep 2023     $ 7,714,850     $ 153,905  
Australian Dollar Futures Contracts     23       Sep 2023       1,535,020       10,114  
New Zealand Dollar Futures Contracts     3       Sep 2023       184,035       (169 )
British Pound Futures Contracts     6       Sep 2023       476,288       (3,355 )
Swiss Franc Futures Contracts     29       Sep 2023       4,083,019       (20,461 )
                    $ 13,993,212     $ 140,034  
Commodity Futures Contracts Sold Short
Palladium Futures Contracts     7       Sep 2023     $ 858,200     $ 101,082  
Wheat Futures Contracts     15       Sep 2023       484,875       53,815  
Sugar #11 Futures Contracts     38       Sep 2023       971,219       50,770  
LME Nickel Futures Contracts     9       Aug 2023       1,104,192       40,531  
LME Primary Aluminum Futures Contracts     15       Aug 2023       800,531       17,354  
Sugar #11 Futures Contracts     24       Feb 2024       616,090       14,727  
Corn Futures Contracts     2       Sep 2023       48,900       6,603  
Coffee ‘C’ Futures Contracts     9       Sep 2023       536,625       5,915  

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 13

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued) June 30, 2023
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND  

 

Futures Contracts (continued)
Description   Number of
Contracts
    Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)**
 
LME Zinc Futures Contracts     9       Aug 2023     $ 537,581     $ 5,837  
Soybean Meal Futures Contracts     5       Dec 2023       198,300       2,089  
Hard Red Winter Wheat Futures Contracts     9       Sep 2023       356,963       1,715  
CME Nonfat Dry Milk Futures Contracts     2       Aug 2023       101,376       996  
Red Spring Wheat Futures Contracts     11       Sep 2023       447,013       640  
Brent Crude Futures Contracts     1       Sep 2023       75,310       98  
Soybean Futures Contracts     1       Nov 2023       67,125       34  
Low Sulphur Gas Oil Futures Contracts     1       Aug 2023       70,475       (227 )
Gold 100 oz. Futures Contracts     2       Aug 2023       385,560       (826 )
Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts     3       Jul 2023       320,985       (1,192 )
Copper Futures Contracts     2       Sep 2023       188,150       (1,781 )
Cotton #2 Futures Contracts     11       Dec 2023       442,310       (2,020 )
Silver Futures Contracts     26       Sep 2023       2,986,750       (4,737 )
Gasoline RBOB Futures Contracts     6       Aug 2023       620,474       (9,251 )
Soybean Oil Futures Contracts     14       Dec 2023       495,348       (11,864 )
Natural Gas Futures Contracts     8       Jul 2023       222,720       (19,047 )
Lean Hogs Futures Contracts     10       Aug 2023       369,900       (23,021 )
NY Harbor ULSD Futures Contracts     7       Jul 2023       718,859       (23,080 )
Live Cattle Futures Contracts     30       Dec 2023       2,200,800       (55,326 )
Natural Gas Futures Contracts     31       Sep 2023       881,950       (61,966 )
                    $ 17,108,581     $ 87,868  
Equity Futures Contracts Sold Short
CBOE Volatility Index Futures Contracts     63       Jul 2023     $ 945,000     $ 97,949  
Russell 2000 Index Mini Futures Contracts     15       Sep 2023       1,427,325       (219 )
CAC 40 10 Euro Index Futures Contracts     1       Jul 2023       81,140       (1,219 )
FTSE/JSE TOP 40 Index Futures Contracts††     25       Sep 2023       944,658       (7,130 )
S&P MidCap 400 Index Mini Futures Contracts     9       Sep 2023       2,379,600       (11,548 )
S&P/TSX 60 IX Index Futures Contracts     10       Sep 2023       1,839,572       (21,497 )
                    $ 7,617,295     $ 56,336  

 

 

14 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(continued) June 30, 2023
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND  

 

** 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 June 30, 2023.
3 Rate indicated is the effective yield at the time of purchase.
4 Repurchase Agreements — See Note 6.
  CME — Chicago Mercantile Exchange
   
  See Sector Classification in Other Information section.

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments at June 30, 2023 (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   $ 12,250,176     $     $     $ 12,250,176  
U.S. Treasury Bills           7,589,085             7,589,085  
Repurchase Agreements           23,109,082             23,109,082  
Commodity Futures Contracts**     837,925                   837,925  
Equity Futures Contracts**     774,962       46,835             821,797  
Interest Rate Futures Contracts**     422,741       54,626             477,367  
Currency Futures Contracts**     310,521                   310,521  
Total Assets   $ 14,596,325     $ 30,799,628     $     $ 45,395,953  

 

Investments in Securities (Liabilities)   Level 1
Quoted
Prices
    Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
    Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Total  
Commodity Futures Contracts**   $ 390,317     $     $     $ 390,317  
Equity Futures Contracts**     191,876       7,130             199,006  
Currency Futures Contracts**     81,148                   81,148  
Interest Rate Futures Contracts**     43,414       844             44,258  
Total Liabilities   $ 706,755     $ 7,974     $     $ 714,729  

 

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

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 15

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)(concluded) June 30, 2023
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, 2022, 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/1601445/000182126822000340/gug84768.htm. The Fund may invest in certain of the underlying series of Guggenheim Funds Trust, which are open-end management investment companies managed by GI, are available to the public and whose most recent annual report on Form N-CSR is available publicly or upon request.

 

Transactions during the period ended June 30, 2023, in which the company is an affiliated issuer, were as follows:

 

Security Name   Value
12/31/22
    Additions     Reductions     Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
    Value
06/30/23
    Shares
06/30/23
    Investment
Income
 
Mutual Funds                                                                
Guggenheim Strategy Fund II   $ 4,011,215     $     $     $     $ 30,034     $ 4,041,249       166,856     $ 104,936  
Guggenheim Strategy Fund III     5,658,797                         44,687       5,703,484       235,195       145,983  
Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund — Institutional Class     2,482,268                         23,175       2,505,443       257,497       63,784  
    $ 12,152,280     $     $     $     $ 97,896     $ 12,250,176             $ 314,703  

 

 

16 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited)
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

June 30, 2023

 

Assets:
Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value (cost $7,586,326)   $ 7,589,085  
Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (cost $12,548,781)     12,250,176  
Repurchase agreements, at value (cost $23,109,082)     23,109,082  
Cash     9,252  
Segregated cash with broker     427,530  
Receivables:
Variation margin on futures contracts     501,255  
Dividends     56,213  
Fund shares sold     40,961  
Interest     3,245  
Other assets     1,082  
Total assets     43,987,881  
         
Liabilities:
Payable for:
Management fees     32,859  
Fund shares redeemed     21,772  
Transfer agent fees     11,546  
Printing fees     9,188  
Portfolio accounting and administration fees     5,655  
Distribution and service fees     4,930  
Professional fees     4,606  
Trustees’ fees*     596  
Miscellaneous     18,117  
Total liabilities     109,269  
Net assets   $ 43,878,612  
         
Net assets consist of:
Paid in capital   $ 85,187,774  
Total distributable earnings (loss)     (41,309,162 )
Net assets   $ 43,878,612  
         
A-Class:
Net assets   $ 6,532,931  
Capital shares outstanding     313,189  
Net asset value per share   $ 20.86  
Maximum offering price per share (Net asset value divided by 95.25%)   $ 21.90  
         
C-Class:
Net assets   $ 2,135,498  
Capital shares outstanding     117,514  
Net asset value per share   $ 18.17  
         
P-Class:
Net assets   $ 7,907,232  
Capital shares outstanding     376,628  
Net asset value per share   $ 20.99  
         
Institutional Class:
Net assets   $ 27,302,951  
Capital shares outstanding     1,263,505  
Net asset value per share   $ 21.61  

 

 

* 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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 17

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

 

Investment Income:
Dividends from securities of affiliated issuers   $ 314,703  
Interest     647,608  
Total investment income     962,311  
         
Expenses:
Management fees     205,606  
Distribution and service fees:
A-Class     7,733  
C-Class     10,631  
P-Class     12,265  
Transfer agent fees     35,549  
Portfolio accounting and administration fees     30,265  
Professional fees     20,828  
Trustees’ fees*     3,785  
Custodian fees     2,911  
Miscellaneous     17,777  
Total expenses     347,350  
Less:
Expenses waived by Adviser     (30,469 )
Net expenses     316,881  
Net investment income     645,430  
         
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investments in unaffiliated issuers   $ 39,382  
Futures contracts     (278,939 )
Foreign currency transactions     (34,851 )
Net realized loss     (274,408 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
Investments in unaffiliated issuers     1,204  
Investments in affiliated issuers     97,896  
Futures contracts     309,499  
Foreign currency translations     (724 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     407,875  
Net realized and unrealized gain     133,467  
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   $ 778,897  

 

 

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

 

 

18 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND  

 

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2022
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:                
Net investment income   $ 645,430     $ 118,179  
Net realized gain (loss) on investments     (274,408 )     2,034,368  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments     407,875       1,087,050  
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations     778,897       3,239,597  
                 
Distributions to shareholders:                
A-Class           (290,823 )
C-Class           (105,236 )
P-Class           (376,691 )
Institutional Class           (1,029,250 )
Total distributions to shareholders           (1,802,000 )
                 
Capital share transactions:                
Proceeds from sale of shares                
A-Class     469,896       1,054,342  
C-Class     327,624       2,333,140  
P-Class     19,247,109       38,401,599  
Institutional Class     13,366,076       27,909,131  
Distributions reinvested                
A-Class           282,405  
C-Class           103,217  
P-Class           369,009  
Institutional Class           1,026,092  
Cost of shares redeemed                
A-Class     (623,220 )     (1,183,747 )
C-Class     (372,645 )     (778,290 )
P-Class     (19,389,185 )     (38,944,183 )
Institutional Class     (8,220,236 )     (14,913,234 )
Net increase from capital share transactions     4,805,419       15,659,481  
Net increase in net assets     5,584,316       17,097,078  
                 
Net assets:                
Beginning of period     38,294,296       21,197,218  
End of period   $ 43,878,612     $ 38,294,296  
                 

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 19

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (concluded)
MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND  

 

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2022
 
Capital share activity:                
Shares sold                
A-Class     22,825       50,726  
C-Class     18,341       121,236  
P-Class     928,628       1,893,070  
Institutional Class     640,841       1,237,422  
Shares issued from reinvestment of distributions                
A-Class           14,328  
C-Class           5,987  
P-Class           18,599  
Institutional Class           50,348  
Shares redeemed                
A-Class     (30,886 )     (56,772 )
C-Class     (21,153 )     (41,924 )
P-Class     (966,986 )     (1,859,103 )
Institutional Class     (397,242 )     (697,841 )
Net increase in shares     194,368       736,076  

 

 

20 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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   Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023a
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018
 
Per Share Data
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 20.16     $ 18.41     $ 17.96     $ 18.96     $ 17.65     $ 19.19  
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)b     .31       .05       (.18 )     (.12 )     .15       .15  
Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)     .39       2.67       .63       .48       1.16       (1.69 )
Total from investment operations     .70       2.72       .45       .36       1.31       (1.54 )
Less distributions from:
Net investment income           (.97 )           (1.36 )            
Total distributions           (.97 )           (1.36 )            
Net asset value, end of period   $ 20.86     $ 20.16     $ 18.41     $ 17.96     $ 18.96     $ 17.65  
 
Total Returnc     3.47 %     14.76 %     2.51 %     2.01 %     7.42 %     (8.03 %)
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)   $ 6,533     $ 6,478     $ 5,760     $ 6,306     $ 7,033     $ 6,793  
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income (loss)     3.12 %     0.22 %     (0.99 %)     (0.62 %)     0.82 %     0.80 %
Total expensesd     1.88 %     1.91 %     1.88 %     1.87 %     1.90 %     1.84 %
Net expensese     1.72 %     1.75 %     1.73 %     1.75 %     1.80 %     1.79 %
Portfolio turnover rate           7 %     27 %     111 %     26 %     21 %

 

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 21

 

 

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   Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023a
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018
 
Per Share Data
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 17.63     $ 16.28     $ 16.00     $ 17.03     $ 15.97     $ 17.49  
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)b     .21       (.06 )     (.29 )     (.23 )     .01       .01  
Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)     .33       2.33       .57       .41       1.05       (1.53 )
Total from investment operations     .54       2.27       .28       .18       1.06       (1.52 )
Less distributions from:
Net investment income           (.92 )           (1.21 )            
Total distributions           (.92 )           (1.21 )            
Net asset value, end of period   $ 18.17     $ 17.63     $ 16.28     $ 16.00     $ 17.03     $ 15.97  
 
Total Returnc     3.06 %     13.96 %     1.75 %     1.25 %     6.64 %     (8.69 %)
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)   $ 2,135     $ 2,121     $ 570     $ 1,121     $ 1,815     $ 4,485  
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income (loss)     2.39 %     (0.31 %)     (1.74 %)     (1.37 %)     0.06 %     0.04 %
Total expensesd     2.60 %     2.65 %     2.63 %     2.62 %     2.65 %     2.59 %
Net expensese     2.45 %     2.49 %     2.49 %     2.50 %     2.57 %     2.53 %
Portfolio turnover rate           7 %     27 %     111 %     26 %     21 %

 

22 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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   Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023a
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018
 
Per Share Data
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 20.30     $ 18.48     $ 18.03     $ 19.00     $ 17.70     $ 19.23  
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)b     .32       .01       (.18 )     (.12 )     .15       .15  
Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)     .37       2.73       .63       .49       1.15       (1.68 )
Total from investment operations     .69       2.74       .45       .37       1.30       (1.53 )
Less distributions from:
Net investment income           (.92 )           (1.34 )            
Total distributions           (.92 )           (1.34 )            
Net asset value, end of period   $ 20.99     $ 20.30     $ 18.48     $ 18.03     $ 19.00     $ 17.70  
 
Total Return     3.40 %     14.75 %     2.50 %     2.05 %     7.34 %     (7.96 %)
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)   $ 7,907     $ 8,423     $ 6,697     $ 7,741     $ 10,946     $ 13,669  
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income (loss)     3.14 %     0.07 %     (0.99 %)     (0.63 %)     0.82 %     0.80 %
Total expensesd     1.85 %     1.91 %     1.88 %     1.88 %     1.90 %     1.84 %
Net expensese     1.70 %     1.74 %     1.73 %     1.77 %     1.81 %     1.78 %
Portfolio turnover rate           7 %     27 %     111 %     26 %     21 %

 

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 23

 

 

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   Six Months Ended
June 30, 2023a
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019
    Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018
 
Per Share Data
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 20.86     $ 19.00     $ 18.49     $ 19.48     $ 18.09     $ 19.61  
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)b     .36       .14       (.14 )     (.08 )     .21       .20  
Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)     .39       2.74       .65       .49       1.18       (1.72 )
Total from investment operations     .75       2.88       .51       .41       1.39       (1.52 )
Less distributions from:
Net investment income           (1.02 )           (1.40 )            
Total distributions           (1.02 )           (1.40 )            
Net asset value, end of period   $ 21.61     $ 20.86     $ 19.00     $ 18.49     $ 19.48     $ 18.09  
 
Total Return     3.60 %     15.03 %     2.76 %     2.29 %     7.68 %     (7.75 %)
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)   $ 27,303     $ 21,272     $ 8,169     $ 7,802     $ 7,195     $ 7,711  
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income (loss)     3.43 %     0.63 %     (0.73 %)     (0.38 %)     1.07 %     1.05 %
Total expensesd     1.58 %     1.64 %     1.63 %     1.61 %     1.65 %     1.59 %
Net expensese     1.43 %     1.48 %     1.48 %     1.49 %     1.55 %     1.54 %
Portfolio turnover rate           7 %     27 %     111 %     26 %     21 %

 

a Unaudited figures for the period ended June 30, 2023. Percentage amounts for the period, except total return and portfolio turnover rate, have been annualized.
b Net investment income (loss) per share was computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
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.

 

24 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “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 8-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 June 30, 2023, the Trust consisted of fifty-two funds (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”)

 

This report covers the Managed Futures Strategy Fund, a diversified investment company. At June 30, 2023, only A-Class, C-Class, P-Class, and Institutional Class shares have been issued by the Fund.

 

Security Investors, LLC (the “Adviser”), 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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 25

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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

 

    Inception
Date of
Subsidiary
    Subsidiary
Net Assets at
June 30,
2023
    % of Net Assets
of the Fund at
June 30,
2023
 
      05/01/08     $ 5,231,640       11.9 %

 

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”). The SEC adopted Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 2a-5”) which establishes requirements for determining fair value in good faith and became effective September 8, 2022. Rule 2a-5 also defines “readily available market quotations” for purposes of the 1940 Act and establishes requirements for determining whether a fund must fair value a security in good faith.

 

Pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Board has designated the Adviser as the valuation designee to perform fair valuation determinations for the Fund with respect to all Fund investments and other assets. As the Fund’s valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Adviser has adopted separate procedures (the “Valuation Designee Procedures”) reasonably designed to prevent violations of the requirements of Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4. The Adviser, in its role as valuation designee, utilizes the assistance of a valuation committee, consisting of representatives from Guggenheim’s investment management, fund administration, legal and compliance departments (the “Valuation Committee”), in determining the fair value of the Fund’s securities and other assets.

 

26 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 Adviser, with the assistance of 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 Adviser, consistent with the monitoring and review responsibilities set forth in the Valuation Designee Procedures, regularly review the appropriateness of the inputs, methods, models and assumptions employed 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 Adviser.

 

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 generally 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.

 

Commercial paper and discount notes 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. Commercial paper and discount notes with a maturity of 60 days or less at acquisition are valued at amortized cost, unless the Adviser concludes that amortized cost does not represent the fair value of the applicable asset in which case it will be valued using an independent pricing service.

 

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

 

The value of futures contracts are valued on the basis of the last sale price 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 the Adviser. 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

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 27

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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.

 

(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.

 

28 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

(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.

 

(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 5.08% at June 30, 2023.

 

(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.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 29

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Note 2 – Derivatives

 

As part of its investment strategies, the Fund utilizes a variety of derivative instruments. These investments involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk and risks in excess of amounts recognized on the Fund’s 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 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.

 

To the extent the Fund’s 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 the 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;

 

30 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

(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 the 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 Fund’s Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities; securities held as collateral are noted on the Fund’s 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   $ 69,670,114     $ 101,473,645  

 

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 June 30, 2023:

 

Derivative Investment Type Asset Derivatives Liability Derivatives
Equity/interest rate/currency/commodity futures 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 June 30, 2023:

 

Asset Derivative Investments Value
    Futures
Equity
Risk*
    Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk*
    Futures
Interest
Rate
Risk*
    Futures
Commodity
Risk*
    Total Value at
June 30,
2023
 
    $ 821,797     $ 310,521     $ 477,367     $ 837,925     $ 2,447,610  

 

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 31

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Liability Derivative Investments Value
    Futures
Equity
Risk*
    Futures
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Risk*
    Futures
Interest
Rate
Risk*
    Futures
Commodity
Risk*
    Total Value at
June 30,
2023
 
    $ 199,006     $ 81,148     $ 44,258     $ 390,317     $ 714,729  

 

* 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 Fund’s 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 period ended June 30, 2023:

 

Derivative Investment Type Location of Gain (Loss) on Derivatives
Equity/interest rate/currency/commodity futures 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 Fund’s Consolidated Statement of Operations categorized by primary risk exposure for the period ended June 30, 2023:

 

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  
    $ 1,057,543     $ 219,212     $ (1,021,508 )   $ (534,186 )   $ (278,939 )

 

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  
    $ 728,921     $ 259,432     $ (518,286 )   $ (160,568 )   $ 309,499  

 

32 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 rated/identified as investment grade or better. The Trust monitors the counterparty credit risk associated with each such financial institution.

 

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 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 Fund’s 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

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 33

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

of loss from counterparty nonperformance. The Fund attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by only entering into agreements with counterparties that it believes 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 Fund’s 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 June 30, 2023.

 

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 June 30, 2023.

 

Counterparty Asset Type   Cash Pledged     Cash Received  
Goldman Sachs International Futures contracts   $ 427,530     $  

 

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 between market participants at the measurement date. 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 — unadjusted 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.

 

Rule 2a-5 sets forth a definition of “readily available market quotations,” which is consistent with the definition of a Level 1 input under U.S. GAAP. Rule 2a-5 provides that “a market quotation is readily available only when that quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that the fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable.”

 

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available must be valued at fair value as determined in good faith. Accordingly, any security priced using inputs other than Level 1 inputs will be subject to fair value requirements. 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,

 

34 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 selected and applied for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The suitability, appropriateness and accuracy of the techniques, methodologies and sources employed to determine fair valuation are periodically reviewed 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 period ended June 30, 2023, the Fund waived $27,366 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 separate Distribution Plans applicable to A-Class and P-Class shares, under 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.

 

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 period ended June 30, 2023, GFD retained sales charges of $32,189 relating to sales of A-Class shares of the Trust.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 35

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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 period ended June 30, 2023, the Fund waived $3,103 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.

 

36 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

At June 30, 2023, 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 Inflation Indexed Bond                
5.05%                   3.63%                
Due 07/03/23   $ 137,286,751     $ 137,344,526     Due 04/15/28   $ 129,694,939     $ 140,030,466  
                                     
                    U.S. Treasury Notes                
                    0.25% - 2.75%                
                    Due 09/30/23 - 03/31/27     2,100       2,022  
                          129,697,039       140,032,488  
Barclays Capital, Inc.                   U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond                
5.06%                   0.13% - 0.75%                
Due 07/03/23     60,399,250       60,424,719     Due 10/15/26 - 02/15/45     68,592,589       61,607,304  
                                     
BofA Securities, Inc.                   U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond                
5.06%                   0.50%                
Due 07/03/23     54,908,410       54,931,563     Due 01/15/28     59,873,011       56,006,594  

 

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 1986, as amended (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

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 37

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(continued)

 

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.

 

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 U.S. federal income tax purposes and cannot be carried forward to reduce future income from the Subsidiary in subsequent years.

 

At June 30, 2023, 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)
 
    $ 43,356,743     $ 2,449,339     $ (1,124,858 )   $ 1,324,481  

 

Note 8 – Securities Transactions

 

For the period ended June 30, 2023, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities, excluding government securities, short-term investments and derivatives, were as follows:

 

    Purchases     Sales  
    $     $  

 

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

 

38 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

effected at the current market price to save costs, where permissible. For the period ended June 30, 2023, 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 $200,000,000 line of credit from U.S. Bank, N.A. On June 5, 2023, the line of credit agreement was renewed and expires on June 3, 2024. 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 5.83% for the period ended June 30, 2023. The Fund did not have any borrowings outstanding under this agreement at June 30, 2023.

 

Note 10 – Market Risks

 

The value of, or income generated by, the investments held by the Fund are subject to the possibility of rapid and unpredictable fluctuation, and loss that may result from various factors. These factors include, among others, developments affecting individual companies, or from broader influences, including real or perceived changes in prevailing interest rates (which have since risen and may continue to rise), changes in inflation rates or expectations about inflation rates (which are currently elevated relative to normal conditions), adverse investor confidence or sentiment, changing economic, political (including geopolitical), social or financial market conditions, increased instability or general uncertainty, environmental disasters, governmental actions, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics), debt crises, actual or threatened wars or other armed conflicts (such as the current Russia-Ukraine conflict and its risk of expansion or collateral economic and other effects) or ratings downgrades, and other similar events, each of which may be temporary or last for extended periods. Moreover, changing economic, political, geopolitical, social, financial market or other conditions in one country or geographic region could adversely affect the value, yield and return of the investments held by the Fund in a different country or geographic region, economy, and market because of the increasingly interconnected global economies and financial markets. The duration and extent of the foregoing types of factors or conditions are highly uncertain and difficult to predict and have in the past, and may in the future, cause volatility and distress in economies and financial markets or other adverse circumstances, which may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments and performance of the Fund.

 

Note 11 – Subsequent Events

 

The Fund evaluated subsequent events through the date the consolidated financial statements are issued and determined there were no material events that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the Fund’s consolidated financial statements.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 39

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

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 the 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 the 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 the 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.

 

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.

 

40 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Report of the Rydex Series Funds Board of Trustees

 

The Board of Trustees of Rydex Series Funds (the “Trust”), including the Independent Trustees, unanimously approved the renewal of the investment management agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Security Investors, LLC (“Security Investors” or the “Adviser”) on behalf of the series of the Trust listed below (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):

 

Tradable Funds (Including Sector Funds*)

 

Banking Fund* Basic Materials Fund*
Biotechnology Fund* Commodities Strategy Fund
Consumer Products Fund* Dow Jones Industrial Average Fund
Electronics Fund* Emerging Markets 2x Strategy Fund
Emerging Markets Bond Strategy Fund Energy Fund*
Energy Services Fund* Europe 1.25x Strategy Fund
Financial Services Fund* Government Long Bond 1.2x Strategy Fund
Health Care Fund* High Yield Strategy Fund
Internet Fund* Inverse Emerging Markets 2x Strategy Fund
Inverse Government Long Bond Strategy Fund Inverse High Yield Strategy Fund
Inverse Mid-Cap Strategy Fund Inverse NASDAQ-100 Strategy Fund
Inverse Russell 2000 Strategy Fund Inverse S&P 500 Strategy Fund
Japan 2x Strategy Fund Leisure Fund*
Mid-Cap 1.5x Strategy Fund Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund
NASDAQ-100 Fund Nova Fund
Precious Metals Fund* Real Estate Fund
Retailing Fund* Russell 2000 1.5x Strategy Fund
Russell 2000 Fund S&P 500 Fund
S&P 500 Pure Growth Fund S&P 500 Pure Value Fund
S&P MidCap 400 Pure Growth Fund S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value Fund
S&P SmallCap 600 Pure Growth Fund S&P SmallCap 600 Pure Value Fund
Strengthening Dollar 2x Strategy Fund Technology Fund*
Telecommunications Fund* Transportation Fund*
Utilities Fund* U.S. Government Money Market Fund
Weakening Dollar 2x Strategy Fund    

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 41

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Alternative Funds** (i.e., Non-Tradable Funds)
Long Short Equity Fund** Managed Futures Strategy Fund**
Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund**    

 

* Each a “Sector Fund” and collectively, the “Sector Funds.”
** Each an “Alternative Fund” and collectively, the “Alternative Funds.” Each Fund other than the Alternative Funds is referred to herein as a “Tradable Fund” and collectively, the “Tradable Funds.”

 

Security Investors1 is an indirect subsidiary of Guggenheim Partners, LLC, a privately-held, global investment and advisory firm (“Guggenheim Partners”). Guggenheim Partners, Security Investors and their affiliates may be referred to herein collectively as “Guggenheim.” “Guggenheim Investments” refers to the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners and includes Security Investors, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and other affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners.

 

At meetings held in person on April 17-18, 2023 (the “April Meeting”) and meetings held by videoconference on May 15, 2023 and in person on May 24, 2023 (the “May Meeting”), the Contracts Review Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), consisting solely of the Independent Trustees, met separately from Guggenheim to consider the proposed renewal of the Advisory Agreement. As part of its review process, the Committee was represented by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Legal Counsel”), from whom the Independent Trustees received separate legal advice and with whom they met separately. Independent Legal Counsel reviewed and discussed with the Committee various key aspects of the Trustees’ legal responsibilities relating to the proposed renewal of the Advisory Agreement and other principal contracts. The Committee took into account various materials received from Guggenheim and Independent Legal Counsel. The Committee also considered the variety of written materials, reports and oral presentations the Board received throughout the year regarding performance and operating results of the Funds, and other information relevant to its evaluation of the Advisory Agreement.

 

1 Security Investors also serves as investment adviser to each of Rydex Series Funds Commodities Strategy CFC, Rydex Managed Futures Strategy CFC and Rydex Series Funds Multi-Hedge Strategies CFC (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Trust that are organized as limited companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands and used by Commodities Strategy Fund, Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund, respectively, to obtain commodities exposure. Pursuant to a separate investment management agreement for each Subsidiary (each a “Subsidiary Advisory Agreement” and collectively, the “Subsidiary Advisory Agreements”), the Subsidiary pays Security Investors an advisory fee at the same rate that the respective Fund pays Security Investors under the Advisory Agreement. The Subsidiary Advisory Agreements do not require annual renewal by the Board and will continue until they are terminated as provided in the Agreements. In addition, Security Investors has entered into a separate waiver agreement with respect to each applicable Fund pursuant to which Security Investors has contractually agreed to waive the advisory fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the advisory fee paid to Security Investors by the respective Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue with respect to each applicable Fund for so long as the Fund invests in the respective Subsidiary, and may be terminated only with the approval of the Board.

 

42 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

In connection with the contract review process, FUSE Research Network LLC (“FUSE”), an independent, third-party research provider, was engaged to prepare advisory contract renewal reports designed specifically to help the Board fulfill its advisory contract renewal responsibilities. The objective of the FUSE reports is to present the subject funds’ relative position regarding fees, expenses and total return performance, with peer group and universe comparisons. The Committee assessed the data provided in the FUSE reports as well as commentary presented by Guggenheim, including, among other things, a list of Funds for which no peer funds were identified, a summary of notable distinctions between certain Funds and the applicable peer group identified in the FUSE reports and explanations for custom peer groups created for certain Funds that do not fit well into any particular category.

 

As part of its evaluation of the Adviser and the proposed renewal of the Advisory Agreement, the Committee took into account that the beneficial owners of the Funds are clients of tactical advisors who are engaged to provide tactical asset allocation investment advisory services. Each Tradable Fund is designed to provide such tactical advisors with specific exposures (with the exception of the U.S. Government Money Market Fund which is designed to support tactical advisors seeking to avoid market exposure or preserve capital) while also providing for unlimited trading privileges, and that the Tradable Funds offer a unique set of product features. The Committee noted that each Tradable Fund (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund) seeks to track, or correlate to, the performance (before fees and expenses) of a specific benchmark index over certain time periods or a specific market, noting that, because appropriate published indices are not available for many of the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund, the Adviser has developed its own methodology to construct internal performance benchmarks for the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund. In this regard, the Committee received information regarding the Adviser’s proprietary methodology for constructing internal performance benchmarks for such Funds, including the personnel with primary responsibility for the maintenance and execution of the methodology. The Committee also noted that, in addition to the performance information included in the FUSE reports, the Adviser provided tracking error data for each Tradable Fund (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund) relative to the applicable benchmark index or Guggenheim-constructed internal performance benchmark. The Committee took into account the limitations of the peer group and universe comparisons provided by FUSE with respect to the Tradable Funds in light of their unique features and the limited size of the marketplace for tradable funds designed to support tactical advisors, noting that there are only two direct competitor product suites.

 

In addition, Guggenheim provided materials and data in response to formal requests for information sent by Independent Legal Counsel on behalf of the Committee. Guggenheim also made a presentation at the April Meeting. Throughout the process, the Committee asked questions of management and requested certain additional information, which Guggenheim provided (collectively with the foregoing reports and materials, the “Contract Review Materials”).

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 43

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

The Committee considered the Contract Review Materials in the context of its accumulated experience governing the Trust and other Guggenheim funds and weighed the factors and standards discussed with Independent Legal Counsel.

 

Following an analysis and discussion of relevant factors, including those identified below, and in the exercise of its business judgment, the Committee concluded that the Advisory Agreement represented a reasonable business arrangement negotiated at arm’s length and that it was in the best interest of each Fund to recommend that the Board approve the renewal of the Advisory Agreement for an additional annual term. Following its review of the Committee’s recommendation, the Board approved the renewal of the Advisory Agreement for each Fund for a one-year period ending August 1, 2024 at a meeting held on May 23-24, 2023 (the “May Board Meeting” and together with the May Meeting, the “May Meetings”) and determined to adopt the Committee’s considerations and conclusions, which follow.

 

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by the Adviser: With respect to the nature, extent and quality of services currently provided by the Adviser, the Committee considered the qualifications, experience and skills of key personnel performing services for the Funds, including those personnel providing compliance and risk oversight, as well as the supervisors and reporting lines for such personnel. The Committee also considered other information, including Guggenheim’s resources and related efforts to retain, attract and motivate capable personnel to serve the Funds. In evaluating Guggenheim’s resources and capabilities, the Committee considered Guggenheim’s commitment to focusing on, and investing resources in support of, funds in the Guggenheim fund complex, including the Funds. The Committee also considered Guggenheim’s discussion of its ongoing review of the Guggenheim fund line-up at the April Meeting and the May Board Meeting. In addition, the Committee considered the acceptability of the terms of the Advisory Agreement, including the scope of services required to be performed by the Adviser.

 

The Committee’s review of the services provided by Guggenheim to the Funds included consideration of Guggenheim’s investment processes and index methodologies and resulting performance, portfolio oversight and risk management, and the related regular quarterly reports and presentations received by the Board. The Committee took into account the risks borne by Guggenheim in sponsoring and providing services to the Funds, including regulatory, operational, legal and entrepreneurial risks. The Committee considered the resources dedicated by Guggenheim to compliance functions and the reporting made to the Board by Guggenheim compliance personnel regarding Guggenheim’s adherence to regulatory requirements. The Committee also considered the regular reports the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding compliance policies and procedures established pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

With respect to the Tradable Funds, the Committee considered their unique product features, including their tradability, the real time cash process employed for such Funds, twice-daily pricing for certain Tradable Funds on select trading platforms, and the leveraged and inverse strategies

 

44 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

offered, the Adviser’s assessment of the value to shareholders provided by the Funds’ structure and the services required by the Adviser to provide the Funds’ unique features, as well as the personnel responsible for such services. The Committee noted that the Tradable Funds allow frequent trading and unlimited exchange privileges among like share classes and noted the magnitude of changes in each Fund’s assets during 2022, 2021 and 2020. The Committee also considered additional information regarding trading activity in the Tradable Funds during 2022, including monthly purchases and redemptions in dollar value and in number of transactions as well as transaction volume relative to the assets in the Tradable Funds. In this regard, the Committee noted that the real time cash process is utilized by the Adviser to aggregate shareholder flow data to estimate daily net subscriptions or redemptions in order to mitigate the costs associated with the tradability feature, improve tracking and keep the Funds fully invested. The Committee took into account the infrastructure developed by the Adviser to manage the significant volume and size of trading that typically occurs near the end of each business day, as well as the unique considerations required in the portfolio construction process to determine the optimal way to obtain the applicable exposures, including leveraged and inverse exposures, while allowing for high turnover. In addition, the Committee considered information provided by the Adviser analyzing the potential costs to shareholders of investing in tradable mutual funds, such as the Tradable Funds, compared to those of investing in exchange-traded funds, including expense ratios, brokerage commissions and spread costs, as well as the relative advantages and disadvantages of each investment product. The Committee considered that, at the April Meeting, the Adviser’s Head of Quantitative Strategies with investment management responsibility for the Tradable Funds met with the Committee to discuss the Tradable Funds, including the value to shareholders of the tradability and other unique features, the personnel, operations and infrastructure required to provide those features, the reasons why tactical advisors invest in the Tradable Funds rather than other tradable products, such as exchange-traded funds, for their clients, and the level of trading activity in the Tradable Funds. With respect to the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund, the Committee also considered the Adviser’s proprietary methodology for constructing internal performance benchmarks for such Funds, noting the Adviser’s statement that it uses a quantitative portfolio investment process that also requires investment discretion in implementing adjustments for factors that affect tradability and liquidity, changing dynamics within a sector, and corporate actions such as spin-offs, among other adjustments.

 

In connection with the Committee’s evaluation of the overall package of services provided by Guggenheim, the Committee considered Guggenheim’s administrative services, including its role in supervising, monitoring, coordinating and evaluating the various services provided by the fund administrator, transfer agent, distributor, custodian and other service providers to the Funds. The Committee evaluated the Office of Chief Financial Officer (the “OCFO”), established to oversee the fund administration, accounting and transfer agency services provided to the Funds and other Guggenheim funds, including the OCFO’s resources, personnel and services provided.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 45

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

With respect to Guggenheim’s resources and the ability of the Adviser to carry out its responsibilities under the Advisory Agreement, the Chief Financial Officer of Guggenheim Investments reviewed with the Committee financial information concerning the holding company for Guggenheim Investments, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings, LLC (“GPIMH”), and the various entities comprising Guggenheim Investments, and provided the audited consolidated financial statements of GPIMH.

 

Based on the foregoing, and based on other information received (both oral and written) at the April Meeting and the May Meetings, as well as other considerations, including the Committee’s knowledge of how the Adviser performs its duties obtained through Board meetings, discussions and reports throughout the year, the Committee concluded that the Adviser and its personnel were qualified to serve the Funds in such capacity and may reasonably be expected to continue to provide a high quality of services under the Advisory Agreement with respect to the Funds.

 

Investment Performance: Except as otherwise noted, the Committee received, for each Fund, investment returns for the since-inception, ten-year, five-year, three-year, one-year and three-month periods ended December 31, 2022, as applicable. For certain Tradable Funds with only one or two identified peer funds, if any, from the two direct competitor product suites, only investment returns for the five-year, three-year and one-year periods ended December 31, 2022, as applicable, were received. In addition, the Committee received a comparison of each Fund’s performance to the performance of a benchmark and a peer group of similar funds based on asset levels as identified by FUSE, and for certain Funds, a broader universe of funds, in each case for the same periods, as applicable. The Committee also received from FUSE a description of the methodology for identifying each Fund’s peer group and universe, if any, for performance and expense comparisons. For the Tradable Funds (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund), the Committee received tracking error data for such Funds relative to the applicable benchmark index or Guggenheim-constructed internal performance benchmark for the five-year, three-year and one-year periods ended December 31, 2022, as applicable. For certain Tradable Funds with only one or two identified peer funds from the two direct competitor product suites, the Committee received a comparison of the tracking error of each Fund’s Class H shares to the tracking error of a peer fund, in each case for the same periods, as applicable. The Committee also received certain performance information for the Alternative Funds (i.e., the non-Tradable Funds) as of March 31, 2023. In assessing each Fund’s performance, the Committee considered that the Board receives regular reporting from Guggenheim regarding performance and evaluates performance throughout the year.

 

With respect to the Tradable Funds (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund), the Committee considered the Adviser’s statement that such Funds are designed as a suite of products seeking to provide a number of broad and specific exposures for tactical advisors and also considered that the Funds have a unique set of product features designed to meet the needs of those tactical advisors, which has an impact on performance. The Committee considered the Adviser’s statement that, in circumstances where there are significant deviations from expected returns, management seeks to understand the cause of such deviations and determine if any

 

46 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

remedial actions should be considered, noting that no such remedial actions were currently deemed necessary by the Adviser to address performance. The Committee also considered the Adviser’s discussion of factors that contribute to such deviations, including shareholder activity, financing costs associated with leverage and investment instruments used to achieve certain exposures, noting the Adviser’s statement that expenses and transaction costs based on shareholder activity are the primary drivers of performance differences. In this connection, the Committee considered the tracking error of each Fund’s Class H shares relative to its applicable benchmark index or Guggenheim-constructed internal performance benchmark and, for certain Tradable Funds, compared to the tracking error of a peer fund. The Committee considered the Adviser’s commentary explaining the higher levels of tracking error for certain Funds.

 

With respect to certain Tradable Funds with only one or two identified peer funds, if any, from the two direct competitor product suites, the Committee considered the Adviser’s summary of notable distinctions between the Tradable Funds and the peer funds in the two direct competitor product suites and noted the Adviser’s statement that certain Tradable Funds do not have any peer funds that provide the same index, leverage or inverse exposure. The Committee also considered management’s commentary explaining instances of significant underperformance (defined as greater than 100 basis points) of such Funds’ Class H shares over the five-year, three-year and/or one-year periods ended December 31, 2022, relative to their respective peer funds, attributing such relative underperformance to, among other factors, differences in portfolio construction methodologies and exposures. The Committee noted that the two direct competitor product suites do not offer a fund comparable to either the Commodities Strategy Fund or the Emerging Markets Bond Strategy Fund. The Committee considered, for each of the Commodities Strategy Fund and the Emerging Markets Bond Strategy Fund, a comparison to a peer group identified in the FUSE report that includes actively-managed funds, in each case noting the limitations in the comparability of such peer group.

 

With respect to the U.S. Government Money Market Fund, the Committee noted the Adviser’s statement that the Fund is designed to support tactical advisors seeking to avoid market exposure or preserve capital and that only one other fund in its peer group identified in the FUSE report has product features that make it comparable in this regard. The Committee considered that the Fund performed in line with the comparable peer fund over the five-year and three-year periods ended December 31, 2022, while, in contrast, its performance ranked in the fourth quartile of the broader peer group over the five-year, three-year and one-year time periods.

 

With respect to the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund, the Committee considered the Adviser’s summary of notable distinctions between each Fund and the applicable peer group identified in the FUSE reports. The Committee considered that the peer groups are comprised of actively-managed funds seeking similar exposures but that do not offer the same product features, including unlimited trading privileges, noting the Adviser’s statement that certain peer funds also cover a narrower or wider market segment than the applicable Fund. The Committee considered management’s commentary explaining the underperformance, as applicable, of such Funds’ Class H shares over the five-year, three-year and one-year periods ended December 31, 2022, relative

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 47

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

to their respective peer groups, attributing such underperformance to, among other factors, high turnover associated with daily shareholder flows, differences in exposures and the Funds’ modified cap weighting approach to portfolio construction.

 

With respect to the Alternative Funds (i.e., the non-Tradable Funds), in seeking to evaluate Fund performance over a full market cycle, the Committee focused its attention on five-year and three-year performance rankings as compared to the relevant universe of funds. The Committee observed that the returns of the Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranked in the second quartile of its performance universe for each of the relevant periods considered. In addition, the Committee made the following observations:

 

Long Short Equity Fund: The returns of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranked in the 87th and 49th percentiles of its performance universe for the five-year and three-year periods ended December 31, 2022, respectively. The Committee noted management’s explanation that the Fund’s relative underperformance over the five-year time period was primarily due to the Fund’s fundamental factor tilts. The Committee noted management’s statement that the Fund’s long exposure to value detracted from investment performance from early 2018 through early 2020 as growth stocks outperformed during that period. The Committee also noted management’s statement that the Fund’s net short exposure to oil prices within the energy sector following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in early 2022 also contributed to relative underperformance.

 

Managed Futures Strategy Fund: The returns of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranked in the 82nd and 83rd percentiles of its performance universe for the five-year and three-year periods ended December 31, 2022, respectively. The Committee noted management’s explanation that the Fund’s relative underperformance over the five-year and three-year time periods was primarily due to the Fund targeting a lower level of risk relative to its performance universe. The Committee took into account management’s statements that the portfolio management team increased the Fund’s risk target in 2021 to be more in line with peers and the Fund experienced a performance ranking that compared more favorably relative to its performance universe for the one-year period ended December 31, 2022. The Committee also noted management’s further explanation of the Fund’s performance at the April Meeting.

 

Based on the foregoing, and based on other information received (both oral and written) at the April Meeting and the May Meetings, as well as other considerations, the Committee concluded that: (i) each Fund’s performance was acceptable; or (ii) it was satisfied with Guggenheim’s responses and/or efforts to improve investment performance.

 

48 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Comparative Fees, Costs of Services Provided and the Benefits Realized by the Adviser from Its Relationship with the Funds: The Committee compared each Fund’s contractual advisory fee, net effective management fee2 and total net expense ratio to the applicable peer group, if any. The Committee also reviewed the median advisory fees and expense ratios, including expense ratio components (e.g., transfer agency fees, administration fees, other operating expenses, distribution fees and fee waivers/reimbursements), of the peer group of funds. In addition, the Committee considered information regarding Guggenheim’s process for evaluating the competitiveness of each Fund’s fees and expenses, noting Guggenheim’s statement that evaluations seek to incorporate a variety of factors with a general focus on ensuring fees and expenses: (i) are competitive; (ii) give consideration to resource support requirements; and (iii) ensure Funds are able to deliver on shareholder return expectations. The Committee also considered Guggenheim’s discussion of information regarding fee and expense trends across the open-end fund industry and its response to those trends with respect to the funds in the Guggenheim fund complex, including the Funds.

 

As part of its evaluation of each Fund’s advisory fee, the Committee considered how such fees compared to the advisory fee charged by Guggenheim to one or more other clients that it manages pursuant to similar investment strategies, to the extent applicable. The Committee noted Guggenheim’s statement that it does not provide advisory services to other clients that have investment strategies similar to those of the Funds, other than variable insurance fund counterparts to certain Funds and certain other clients with respect to Long Short Equity Fund, each of which is charged the same advisory fee as the corresponding Fund.

 

With respect to the Tradable Funds that are designed to track a widely available index, which have only one or two identified peer funds, if any, from the two direct competitor product suites, the Committee considered the Adviser’s summary of notable distinctions between the Tradable Funds and the peer funds, noting the Adviser’s statement that only one of the two direct competitor product suites (which also employs a daily rebalance feature) is directly comparable for purposes of assessing such Funds’ advisory fees, with the exception of the Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund for which the other competitor product suite (which employs a monthly rebalance feature) is directly comparable. The Committee noted that the contractual advisory fee for each Fund’s Class H shares, other than the Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund, was equal to or lower than the contractual advisory fee charged to the comparable peer fund. The Committee also considered the net effective management fee and total net expense ratio for each such Fund’s Class H shares as compared to the peer fund. For the Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund, the Committee considered that, although the contractual advisory fee for the Fund’s Class H shares is higher than the contractual advisory fee charged to the peer fund, the Adviser has contractually agreed to cap Fund expenses to ensure that total net expenses

 

2 The “net effective management fee” for each Fund represents the combined effective advisory fee and administration fee as a percentage of average net assets for the latest fiscal year, after any waivers and/or reimbursements.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 49

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

are competitive. The Committee noted that the net effective management fee and the total net expense ratio for the Fund’s Class H shares were lower than and equal to those of the peer fund, respectively.

 

With respect to the U.S. Government Money Market Fund, the Committee noted the Adviser’s statement that the Fund is designed to support tactical advisors seeking to avoid market exposure or preserve capital and that only one other fund in its peer group identified in the FUSE report is directly comparable in terms of product features offered. The Committee considered that, as of the Fund’s and the peer fund’s respective fiscal year ends, the Fund’s contractual advisory fee and total net expense ratio were higher than those of the comparable peer fund, but noted management’s statement that it believes that the peer fund’s unique structural arrangement of investing in a master portfolio managed by an unaffiliated investment adviser may result in the peer fund’s stated advisory fees being understated.

 

With respect to the Sector Funds and the Real Estate Fund, the Committee considered the Adviser’s summary of notable distinctions between each Fund and the applicable peer group identified in the FUSE reports. The Committee considered that the peer groups are comprised of actively-managed funds seeking similar exposures but that do not offer the same product features, such as unlimited trading privileges. As a result, the fee and expense comparisons are more difficult given the uniqueness of both the Funds’ structure and the portfolio management needed to meet client requirements.

 

The Committee considered management’s agreement, as part of the 2023 annual contract review process, to reduce the total net expense ratio of each Tradable Fund (other than the U.S. Government Money Market Fund) by 0.05% of its average daily net assets through an expense reimbursement and/or waiver agreement effective August 1, 2023 for an initial term ending August 1, 2024 for each Fund (other than Commodities Strategy Fund for which the initial term will end May 1, 2025), with such reduction to apply in addition to any other contractual waiver and/or reimbursement arrangements already in place. The Committee also noted the continuation through August 1, 2024 of management’s separate agreement, implemented as part of the 2022 annual contract review process, to reduce the total net expense ratio of each Tradable Fund with a contractual advisory fee of 0.90% of its average daily net assets3 by 0.05% of its average daily net assets and, with respect to NASDAQ-100 Fund, to reduce the total net expense ratio of the Fund by 0.05% of its average daily net assets in excess of $500 million, through expense reimbursement and/or waiver agreements.

 

3 Emerging Markets 2x Strategy Fund, Europe 1.25x Strategy Fund, Inverse Emerging Markets 2x Strategy Fund, Inverse Government Long Bond Strategy Fund, Inverse Mid-Cap Strategy Fund, Inverse NASDAQ-100 Strategy Fund, Inverse Russell 2000 Strategy Fund, Inverse S&P 500 Strategy Fund, Mid-Cap 1.5x Strategy Fund, Monthly Rebalance NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund, Russell 2000 1.5x Strategy Fund, Strengthening Dollar 2x Strategy Fund and Weakening Dollar 2x Strategy Fund.

 

50 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

With respect to the Alternative Funds (i.e., the non-Tradable Funds), except as to the individual Fund discussed below, the Committee observed that the contractual advisory fee, net effective management fee and total net expense ratio for each Fund’s Institutional Class shares each rank in the third quartile or better of such Fund’s peer group. In addition, the Committee made the following observations:

 

Multi-Hedge Strategies Fund: The contractual advisory fee for the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranks in the second quartile (27th percentile) of its peer group. Although the net effective management fee for the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranks in the fourth quartile (87th percentile), the Committee considered that the total net expense ratio for the Fund’s Institutional Class shares ranks in the first quartile (13th percentile) of its peer group.

 

With respect to the costs of services provided and benefits realized by Guggenheim Investments from its relationship with the Funds, the Committee reviewed a profitability analysis and data from management for each Fund setting forth the average assets under management for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, gross revenues received, and expenses incurred directly or through allocations, by Guggenheim Investments, expense waivers (as applicable), earnings and the operating margin/profitability rate, including variance information relative to the foregoing amounts as of December 31, 2021. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer of Guggenheim Investments reviewed with, and addressed questions from, the Committee concerning the expense allocation methodology employed in producing the profitability analysis. In the course of its review of Guggenheim Investments’ profitability, the Committee took into account the methods used by Guggenheim Investments to determine expenses and profit and the representation by the Chief Financial Officer of Guggenheim Investments that such methods provided a reasonable basis for determining the profitability of the Adviser with respect to each Fund. The Committee considered all of the foregoing, among other things, in evaluating the costs of services provided, the profitability to Guggenheim Investments and the profitability rates presented.

 

The Committee also considered other benefits available to the Adviser because of its relationship with the Funds and noted Guggenheim’s statement that it does not believe the Adviser derives any such “fall-out” benefits. In this regard, the Committee noted Guggenheim’s statement that, although it does not consider such benefits to be fall-out benefits, the Adviser may benefit from certain economies of scale and synergies, such as enhanced visibility of the Adviser, enhanced leverage in fee negotiations and other synergies arising from offering a broad spectrum of products, including the Funds.

 

Based on the foregoing, and based on other information received (both oral and written) at the April Meeting and the May Meetings, as well as other considerations, the Committee concluded that the comparative fees and the benefits realized by the Adviser from its relationship with the Funds reflected reasonable business arrangements negotiated at arm’s length and that the Adviser’s profitability from its relationship with the Funds was not unreasonable.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 51

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(continued)

 

Economies of Scale: The Committee received and considered information regarding whether there have been economies of scale with respect to the management of the Funds as Fund assets grow, whether the Funds have appropriately benefited from any economies of scale, and whether there is potential for realization of any further economies of scale. The Committee considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Funds were being passed along to and shared with the shareholders. The Committee considered that Guggenheim believes it is appropriately sharing potential economies of scale and that Guggenheim’s decrease in 2022 in overall expenses was attributable to decreased product costs driven by lower average assets under management and lower non-recurring costs related to closed-end fund matters as well as a decrease in compensation and benefits. The Committee also considered that although expenses related to investment resources decreased in 2022, Guggenheim’s shared services expenses and certain other expenses increased in 2022.

 

With respect to the Tradable Funds, the Committee noted that, in addition to the expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangement implemented in August 2022 for the NASDAQ-100 Fund on average daily net assets in excess of $500 million, the Adviser has agreed to a contractual advisory fee breakpoint schedule for the Funds that is applied at the product-suite level, rather than on a Fund level, as the Funds are designed for tactical advisors and provide unlimited trading privileges, with individual Fund assets fluctuating significantly throughout the year. Under the breakpoint schedule adopted in June 2018 to reflect product-suite level economies of scale, each Fund’s advisory fee would be subject to a uniform fee breakpoint reduction schedule that would take effect if the aggregate assets of the Tradable Funds and the tradable series of Rydex Dynamic Funds, a separate trust, equal or exceed $10 billion.

 

The Committee also noted the process employed by the Adviser to evaluate whether it would be appropriate to institute a new breakpoint for an Alternative Fund (i.e., a non-Tradable Fund), with consideration given to, among other things: (i) the Fund’s size and trends in asset levels over recent years; (ii) the competitiveness of the expense levels; (iii) whether expense waivers are in place; (iv) changes and trends in revenue and expenses; (v) whether there are any anticipated expenditures that may benefit the Fund in the future; (vi) Fund profit level margins; (vii) relative Fund performance; (viii) the nature, extent and quality of services management provides to the Fund; and (ix) the complexity of the Fund’s investment strategy and the resources required to support the Fund.

 

As part of its assessment of economies of scale, the Committee took into account Guggenheim’s representation that it seeks to share economies of scale through a number of means, including breakpoints, advisory fees set at competitive rates pre-assuming future asset growth, expense waivers and limitations, and investments in personnel, operations and infrastructure to support the fund business. The Committee also received information regarding amounts that had been shared with shareholders through such expense waivers and limitations and considered that the newly agreed expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangement would produce additional

 

52 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT  

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

savings to shareholders. Thus, the Committee considered the size of the Funds and the competitiveness of and/or other determinations made regarding the current advisory fee for each Fund, as well as whether a Fund is subject to an expense limitation.

 

Based on the foregoing, and based on other information received (both oral and written) at the April Meeting and May Meetings, as well as other considerations, the Committee concluded that the advisory fee for each Fund reflected a reasonable business arrangement negotiated at arm’s length.

 

Overall Conclusions

 

The Committee concluded that the investment advisory fees reflect reasonable business arrangements negotiated at arm’s length in light of the extent and quality of the services provided and other benefits received and that the renewal of the Advisory Agreement is in the best interest of each Fund. In reaching this conclusion, no single factor was determinative or conclusive and each Committee member, in the exercise of his or her informed business judgment, may afford different weights to different factors.

 

Following its review of the Committee’s analysis and determinations, the Board adopted the considerations and conclusions of the Committee and determined to approve the renewal of the Advisory Agreement.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 53

 

 

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).
155 Current: Advent Convertible and Income Fund (2005-present); Purpose Investments Funds (2013-present).

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2004-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2005-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2013-2021).

Angela Brock-Kyle

(1959)

Trustee Since 2016 Current: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, B.O.A.R.D.S. (2013-present); Director, Mutual Fund Directors Forum (2022-present).

Former: Senior Leader, TIAA (financial services firm) (1987-2012).
154 Current: Bowhead Insurance GP, LLC (2020-present); Hunt Companies, Inc. (2019-present).

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2019-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2019-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2019-2021); Infinity Property & Casualty Corp. (2014-2018).

 

54 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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 - continued    

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 (registered investment adviser) (1996-present); CEO, ETF Flows, LLC (financial advisor education and research provider) (2019-present); CEO, Lydon Media (2016-present). Director, GDX Index Partners, LLC (index provider) (2021-present); Vice Chairman, VettaFi (financial advisor content, research and digital distribution provider) (2022-present). 154

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

 

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2019-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2019-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2019-2021); Harvest Volatility Edge Trust (3) (2017-2019).

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 55

 

 

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    

Ronald A. Nyberg

(1953)

Trustee and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee Since 2019

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

 

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

155

Current: Advent Convertible and Income Fund (2003-present); PPM Funds (2) (2018-present); NorthShore-Edward-Elmhurst Health (2012-present).

 

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2004-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2005-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2013-2021); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (2004-2020); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (2003-2020).

 

56 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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 - continued    

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. (construction and real estate development company) (2007-2017).

154

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

 

Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2019-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2019-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2019-2021); SSGA Master Trust (1) (2018-2020).

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 57

 

 

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    

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. (registered broker dealer) (1982-1999).
154 Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2004-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2005-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2013-2021); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (2004-2020); Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (2003-2020).

 

58 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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***
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).
154 Former: Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (2018-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (2018-2021); Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (2018-2021).

 

* 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, Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust, Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund, Guggenheim Energy & Income Fund, Guggenheim Active 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 Adviser and/or the parent of the Adviser.

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 59

 

 

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, Mutual Funds Boards, Guggenheim Investments (2022-present); President and Chief Executive Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2018-present); President, Mutual Funds Boards, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and Security Investors, LLC (2018-present); Board Member, Guggenheim Partners Investments Funds plc (2022-present); Board Member, Guggenheim Global Investments plc (2022-present); Board Member, Guggenheim Partners Fund Management (Europe) Limited (2018-present).

 

Former: Senior Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Guggenheim Investments (2018-2022); Managing Director and President, Deutsche Funds, and Head of US Product, Trading and Fund Administration, Deutsche Asset Management (2013-2018); Managing Director, Chairman of North American Executive Committee and Head of Business Management and Consulting, Invesco Ltd. (2010-2012).

James Howley

(1972)

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer Since 2022

Current: Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2004-present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, and Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2022-present).

 

Former: Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2006-2022); 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); Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present).

 

60 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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); Senior Managing Director, 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, LLCand 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).

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).

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 61

 

 

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    

Jon Szafran

(1989)

Assistant Treasurer Since 2017

Current: Director, 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.

 

62 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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

 

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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

 

64 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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

 

  THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 65

 

 

GUGGENHEIM INVESTMENTS PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)(concluded)

 

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.

 

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.

 

66 | THE GUGGENHEIM FUNDS SEMI-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”) has also designated 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” (as defined in the Liquidity Rule) 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 periodic review of liquidity risk. In accordance with the Program, each Fund’s liquidity risk is assessed, managed, and periodically reviewed 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, short-term and long-term 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. The classification is based on a determination of the number of days a Fund reasonably expects to take to convert the investment into 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 a Fund’s 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” (as defined in the Liquidity Rule). 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 March 31, 2022, to March 31, 2023. The Report summarized the Administrator’s assessment of the Program’s implementation and 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 the 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 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | 67

 

 

 

 

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Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

Not required at this time.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

Not required at this time.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Not required at this time.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a) The Schedule of Investments is included under Item 1 of this Form.

 

(b) Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

The registrant does not currently have in place procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board.

 

There have been no changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board.

 

 

 

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) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are 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) Not applicable.

 

(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 Investment Company Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) are attached.

 

(a)(3) Not applicable.

 

(a)(4) Not applicable.

 

(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 Investment Company 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 September 1, 2023  

 

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

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Brian E. Binder  
  Brian E. Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer  
     
Date September 1, 2023  
     
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ James Howley  
  James Howley, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, and Treasurer  
     
Date September 1, 2023  

 

*Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.