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: 811-01435
AMCAP Fund, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 90071
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 486-9200
Date of fiscal year end: February 28 or 29
Date of reporting period: February 28, 2010
Vincent P. Corti
Capital Research and Management Company
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 90071
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Eric A. S. Richards
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
400 South Hope Street, 10th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071
(Counsel for the Registrant)
ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders
AMCAP Fund
After the storm: Lessons learned from
the market decline and resurgence
the market decline and resurgence
Annual report for the year ended February 28, 2010
AMCAP Fund® seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in U.S. companies that have solid long-term growth records and the potential for good future growth.
This fund is one of the 30 American Funds. For nearly 80 years, Capital Research and Management Company,SM the American Funds adviser, has invested with a long-term focus based on thorough research and attention to risk.
Fund results shown in this report, unless otherwise indicated, are for Class A shares at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, the results would have been lower. Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.
Here are returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for periods ended March 31, 2010 (the most recent calendar quarter-end):
Class A shares | |||||||||||
Reflecting 5.75% maximum sales charge | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | ||||||||
Average annual total return | — | 2.12 | % | 1.75 | % | ||||||
Cumulative total return | 46.08 | % | 11.07 | % | 18.94 | % |
The total annual fund operating expense ratio was 0.78% for Class A shares as of February 28, 2010.
Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. The fund’s investment adviser waived a portion of its management fees from September 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008. Fund results shown reflect the waiver, without which they would have been lower. See the Financial Highlights table on pages 26 and 27 for details.
Results for other share classes can be found on page 32.
Equity investments are subject to market fluctuations. See the prospectus and the Risk Factors section of this report for more information on these and other risks associated with investing in the fund.
Special feature | |
6 | After the storm: Lessons learned from the market decline and resurgence |
The past two fiscal years have been among the most challenging in AMCAP Fund’s almost 43-year history. | |
Contents | |
Fellow shareholders:
What a difference a year makes. In fiscal 2009, weak housing markets, slowing economies and a worldwide credit crunch triggered the worst crisis for the global financial system since the Great Depression. Stock markets around the world fell sharply. Then, fiscal 2010 began with the fastest market surge in 70 years, powered by monetary and fiscal stimulus, improving fundamentals, low interest rates, subdued inflation and better-than-expected corporate results.
In this volatile environment, AMCAP Fund posted a total return of 60.5%, outpacing the 53.6% of the unmanaged Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index, a broad measure of mostly large U.S. stocks. As the table on the next page shows, AMCAP also did better than the 59.7% of the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Index and the 56.7% return of the Lipper Growth Funds Index.
Although we are very pleased with the results for AMCAP’s fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, it’s important to point out that the fund’s recent fiscal year began just before the market lows and ended close to the near-term market highs. In many ways, the surge reflects a margins, and finding bounce back from the pessimism of the period leading up to the market low on March 9 of last year. So we encourage shareholders to assess our results by looking at longer periods.
The 10-year period ended February 28, 2010, was one of the worst decades for stocks in modern history. It included two major declines — the burst of the tech stock bubble from 2000–2002 and the recent decline. Over this difficult decade, AMCAP produced a cumulative total return of 26.3%. By comparison, the S&P 500 had a cumulative loss of 3.0%. The Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Index posted a cumulative total return of 5.4%, and the Lipper Growth Funds Index had a cumulative loss of 24.6%. On a cumulative basis during its almost 43-year lifetime, AMCAP has returned more than twice as much as the S&P 500.
Investment results analysis
AMCAP Fund seeks to invest in high-quality companies with a track record of growth and good future prospects. But in fiscal 2009, many fundamentally sound companies had difficulty obtaining credit, maintaining profit adequate demand for their goods and
AMCAP Fund 1
services. In many cases during this period, we chose to stay the course with these fundamentally sound companies that we believed would weather the decline, despite the economic uncertainty. It has been a successful strategy. These long-term holding periods are not necessarily the rule for all of the fund’s investments.
Many of the companies we invested in came back sharply in the recent fiscal year from their fiscal 2009 declines. Information technology companies, the fund’s largest industry sector, had a strong recovery in the past 12 months. Microsoft, the fund’s largest individual position, rose 77.5% during fiscal 2010. Other major technology contributors were Oracle (+58.6%) and Google (+55.9%). Consumer discretionary, industrial and health care companies also did especially well. Johnson Controls, a maker of components for automobile systems and building controls, rose 173.0%. Precision Castparts, manufacturer of jet engine parts, valves and industrial tools, climbed 103.4%. Medtronic, a producer of medical devices, including pacemakers, moved up 46.7%.
At the end of the year, the fund’s industry sector mix was 27.3% in information technology, 14.9% in consumer discretionary, 13.6% in industrials, 11.0% in health care, 7.6% in financials, 6.6% in energy, 4.5% in consumer staples, 2.1% in materials and 4.3% in other industries. During the fund’s fiscal year, the fund’s cash position declined from 13.6% to 8.1%, as portfolio counselors and investment analysts invested in companies selling at what they considered to be attractive stock valuations. The cash position represents the aggregate views of the six portfolio counselors and is not a top-down decision.
Looking ahead
The stock market and the economy will continue to face challenges, despite their improvement this past year. Today, economic indicators have improved from a year ago. Retail sales, industrial production and exports have picked up. After four quarters of negative gross domestic product growth, the U.S. economy grew at a 2.2% annual rate in the third quarter of 2009 and by a 5.6% annual rate in the fourth quarter. We see the beginning signs of stability, but uncertainty remains. Companies are still only tentatively replenishing their inventories, and they haven’t returned to an enthusiastic
Cumulative total returns (for periods ended 2/28/2010)
1 year | 5 years | 10 years | ||||||||
AMCAP (Class A shares) | 60.5 | % | 9.9 | % | 26.3 | % | ||||
Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index1 | 53.6 | 1.9 | –3.0 | |||||||
Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Index2 | 59.7 | 7.1 | 5.4 | |||||||
Lipper Growth Funds Index2 | 56.7 | 0.5 | –24.6 |
1 | The S&P 500 is unmanaged, and its results do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions or expenses. |
2 | Lipper indexes do not include the effect of sales charges. |
2 AMCAP Fund
hiring stance. Unemployment remains high. Even though housing starts improved in January, sales of new single-family homes declined. State and federal governments are grappling with fiscal crises.
On the other hand, many companies in AMCAP’s portfolio have emerged from the past volatile two years as stronger, leaner and more focused than when the problems began. However, we still need to monitor developments very closely. We will continue to seek to identify those companies that are well-positioned to take advantage of long-term opportunities.
This has been a particularly challenging period. We welcome our new shareholders and thank our long-term investors for their confidence in AMCAP Fund.
Cordially,
Claudia P. Huntington
Vice Chairman of the Board
Vice Chairman of the Board
Timothy D. Armour
President
President
April 6, 2010
We take this opportunity to thank Mike Shanahan for his many years of leadership and service as a director and officer of AMCAP Fund.
For current information about the fund, visit americanfunds.com.
AMCAP’s lifetime results (5/1/1967–2/28/2010)
Average annual total return | |||
AMCAP | 11.2 | % | |
Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index1 | 9.3 | ||
Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Index2 | 9.1 | ||
Lipper Growth Funds Index2 | 8.3 | ||
Consumer Price Index (inflation) 3 | 4.5 |
1 | The S&P 500 is unmanaged, and its results do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions or expenses. |
2 | Lipper indexes do not include the effect of sales charges. |
3 | Computed from data supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
AMCAP Fund 3
How a $10,000 investment has grown.
Fund results shown are for Class A shares and reflect deduction of the maximum sales charge of 5.75% on the $10,000 investment.1 Thus, the net amount invested was $9,425.2 Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.
The chart and accompanying table illustrate how a $10,000 investment in AMCAP grew between May 1, 1967 — when the fund began operations — and February 28, 2010.
As you can see, that $10,000 grew to $888,146 with all distributions reinvested. Over the same period, $10,000 would
Average annual total returns based on a $1,000 investment | ||||||||
(for periods ended February 28, 2010)* | ||||||||
1 year | 5 years | 10 years | ||||||
Class A shares | 51.19% | 0.71% | 1.75% | |||||
*Assumes reinvestment of all distributions and payment of the maximum 5.75% sales charge. | ||||||||
Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. The fund’s investment adviser waived a portion of its management fees from September 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008. Fund results shown reflect the waiver, without which they would have been lower. Please see the Financial Highlights table on pages 26 and 27 for details. | ||||||||
Total value | (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19683 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends reinvested | — | $ | .1 | .2 | .2 | .2 | .2 | .2 | .3 | .3 | .2 | .3 | .3 | .4 | .7 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Value at fiscal year-end1 | $ | 10.1 | 12.2 | 11.8 | 12.6 | 14.9 | 14.0 | 11.0 | 9.9 | 13.9 | 14.2 | 16.6 | 22.7 | 33.5 | 40.5 | 42.6 | 61.5 | 62.1 | 72.2 | 88.7 | 115.7 | 112.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
AMCAP total return | 0.6 | % | 21.4 | (3.1 | ) | 6.8 | 17.9 | (6.2 | ) | (21.0 | ) | (10.3 | ) | 40.2 | 2.1 | 17.2 | 36.9 | 47.5 | 20.9 | 5.2 | 44.1 | 1.1 | 16.2 | 23.0 | 30.3 | (3.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
1 | As outlined in the prospectus, the sales charge is reduced for accounts (and aggregated investments) of $25,000 or more and is eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more. There is no sales charge on dividends or capital gain distributions that are reinvested in additional shares. |
2 | The maximum initial sales charge was 8.5% prior to July 1, 1988. |
3 | For the period May 1, 1967 (when the fund began operations), through February 29, 1968. |
4 | AMCAP Fund |
have grown to $457,105 in the unmanaged Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index. The chart also records the fund’s progress relative to the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
The fund’s year-by-year results appear in the table under the chart. You can use this table to estimate how much the value of your own holdings has grown. Let’s say, for example, that you have been reinvesting all your dividends and capital gain distributions since February 28, 1995. Over the last 15 years, the value of the investment shown here more than tripled, from $240,047 to $888,146. Thus, in the same period, the value of your 1995 investment — regardless of size — has also more than tripled. While the previous year’s results have eroded gains made in recent years, it is helpful to maintain a long-term perspective.
1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Average annual total return for 42¾ years | |||||||||||||||||||||||
3.2 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 1.1 | .1 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 7.2 | 11.4 | — | 8.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
122.8 | 140.0 | 163.5 | 196.9 | 208.6 | 232.1 | 240.0 | 310.3 | 346.8 | 475.0 | 575.1 | 703.4 | 724.6 | 673.3 | 567.6 | 777.4 | 808.0 | 895.9 | 968.1 | 937.7 | 553.5 | 888.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9.6 | 14.0 | 16.8 | 20.4 | 5.9 | 11.3 | 3.4 | 29.3 | 11.7 | 37.0 | 21.1 | 22.3 | 3.0 | (7.1 | ) | (15.7 | ) | 37.0 | 3.9 | 10.9 | 8.1 | (3.1 | ) | (41.0 | ) | 60.5 | ► | 11.0%4 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | Includes reinvested dividends of $93,498 and reinvested capital gain distributions of $633,757. |
5 | Computed from data supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
The market indexes are unmanaged and their results do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions or expenses. The results shown are before taxes on fund distributions and sale of fund shares.
AMCAP Fund | 5 |
After the storm: Lessons learned from the market decline and resurgence
AMCAP Fund
6
The past two fiscal years have been among the most challenging in AMCAP Fund’s almost 43-year history. After this tumultuous period, it’s time to consider the lessons learned from this stock market cycle.
In the pages that follow, four AMCAP portfolio counselors and an investment analyst offer their views on this important subject. They include Claudia Huntington, vice chairman of AMCAP and a portfolio counselor; Tim Armour, president and a portfolio counselor; portfolio counselors Michael Shanahan and Eric Richter; and health care investment analyst Alex Nicolaou. We hope you will gain some perspective from our roundtable discussion on how AMCAP navigated this difficult period.
What lessons have you learned during this volatile period?
Claudia Huntington: This stock market cycle, more than others I have lived through, challenged us to keep our focus on the fundamentals of the companies in our portfolio. It would have been easy to get caught up in the concerns of the moment and to lose focus on the basics. We learned to maintain our focus and be ready to take advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves.
AMCAP works very hard to invest in companies with strong fundamentals, a history of proven growth and good prospects for the future. These fundamentals were tested in the sharp market decline of 2008 and early 2009. Since March 2009, companies with these attributes have, for the most part, done well in the recovery. In other cases, some companies were added to the fund in the downturn because of their very attractive valuations. All in all, this cycle proved that focusing on the fundamentals was — and is — the right strategy.
The other lesson that we must never forget is that there is risk in investing in virtually anything, unless it’s cash under the mattress. And even then, inflation could reduce the value of that. Many companies in AMCAP have come out of this cycle as better growth companies than they were at the beginning, though their stock prices may not yet have regained previous levels. Our lesson is to continue to keep in mind that markets have risk and to always balance that against the long-term superior returns that equities can provide. The past 12 months, as an example, showed that volatility worked well on the upside, following a very difficult year.
Tim Armour: This volatile period reiterates the importance of fundamental analysis: understanding companies’ balance sheets, cash flows and income statements. Learning what makes companies work and how they make a profit is crucial. Fundamental analysis gives us the confidence to stick with these companies throughout the turbulent times we have just experienced.
Eric Richter: I learned to spend time talking with and listening to people in our organization who have a different point of view than mine. This is one of the great benefits of the multiple portfolio counselor system, in which we share ideas and value different investment approaches and styles. Talking to people with a similar framework is helpful, but there is the possibility of reinforcing each other’s conclusions.
I also learned that what had seemed to be “small percentage risks” can occur. They did during the market decline. This meant that it was extremely difficult to determine in a collapsing environment where the maximum level of panic or pessimism was. In 2008 and early 2009, there were a lot of situations that looked like a bottom, but the stocks kept declining. After March 9, 2009, many of the high-quality cyclical companies that we had invested in recovered much faster than the market as a whole once the storm began to abate.
AMCAP Fund 7
A wealth of experience
AMCAP Fund’s six portfolio counselors bring together 158 years of investment experience to managing your investment. Here are the specific years of experience for these primary decision-makers for the fund:
Portfolio counselor | Years of investment experience | |||
R. Michael Shanahan | 45 | |||
Claudia P. Huntington | 37 | |||
Timothy D. Armour | 27 | |||
Eric S. Richter | 18 | |||
C. Ross Sappenfield | 18 | |||
Barry S. Crosthwaite | 13 |
Years of experience as of May 1, 2010.
What lessons have we learned about the origin of the recent stock market decline and resurgence?
Mike Shanahan: When the world goes to excess, it gets corrected. The excess this time was debt and problems with real estate and the effect on asset prices. We are still adjusting to new lending policies that are more carefully designed not to lend to people who can’t pay you back. It can take years before normal lending starts again. In 2009, U.S. banks posted their sharpest decline in lending since 1942. The last time this crisis happened (in the early 1930s), it took until the late 1940s for banks and financial companies to start lending again at a normal pace. Currently, the economy is on a much sounder basis, but there are still a large number of commercial bad loans to work through and a lot of troubled real estate to resell.
That said, the market recovery was spectacular. But I believe this may not be a booming recovery because there are too many problems left over. Two situations trouble me: Dividends are only half of normal in the U.S., and China has imbalances in its economy that present a risk.
Eric: I am fairly optimistic right now. We have had two good quarters of gross domestic product growth, with the current quarter looking good as well. But there are a lot of simmering problems, like the Middle East crisis, Washington gridlock and legislation that may or may not derail the recovery. Companies cut back hard in the recession, and they have been very cautious so far about hiring. Looking at all the fiscal and monetary stimulus, as well as strong improvements in business productivity, we could be very pleased a year from now at how the U.S. economy has grown.
“AMCAP works very hard to invest in companies with strong fundamentals, a history of proven growth and good prospects for the future.”
— Claudia Huntington, vice chairman
8 AMCAP Fund
We might be surprised at the rate at which employment has increased, compared with the forecast of a jobless recovery. Employers were scared by the crisis and cut back as hard as they could on employment and expenses, maybe too much in light of a growing economy. So it is reasonable to expect hiring to improve meaningfully over the next year.
Claudia: The recovery we are now in is likely to be more complicated and not as conventional as many in the past. Crises that are caused by fiscal problems are usually tougher to get through than those caused by other problems. This cycle certainly could be classified as having been caused by a fiscal crisis, so I would not be surprised to see a somewhat rocky recovery. It will take a while for lending to begin in earnest. It will take a while for consumers to spend, given the state of their finances. It will take a while before hiring begins on a wide scale until the costs and prices of doing business get clarified by all the legislation that is being discussed. Additionally, much of this recovery will depend on global economies as well as local economies. While I am optimistic about the strength of the global economy, it is unlikely to be completely smooth sailing from here. All that said, the direction is positive, and I am fairly optimistic.
Alex, how have health care companies fared during the past two years?
Alex Nicolaou: The perception was that health care would be a safe haven. In 2008, it was — for a while. But health care fundamentals turned negative in the fourth quarter of 2008 and remained so through the end of 2009. Inpatient volumes declined, as unemployment increased and out-of-pocket expenses were too high. Hospitals suffered a major budgetary crisis and weren’t able to access capital markets for funding. Equipment buying came to a halt, pricing began to turn negative and the prospect of health care reform caused uncertainty in the entire group. This is somewhat expected, as health care companies tend to lag the economy, and we are indeed seeing the early signs of a rebound.
What lessons have we learned about investing outside the United States?
Claudia: Think global and act local. Many AMCAP companies based in the United
“Currently, the economy is on a much sounder basis, but there are still a large number of commercial bad loans to work through and a lot of troubled real estate to resell.”
— Michael Shanahan, portfolio counselor
AMCAP Fund 9
“This volatile period reiterates the importance of fundamental analysis: understanding companies’ balance sheets, cash flows and income statements.”
— Tim Armour, portfolio counselor
States do a lot of business overseas. Companies that held up better than others were those that were able to take advantage of their position in the global markets when sales and profits weren’t growing in the U.S. Their global businesses helped them recover more swiftly than companies that do business only in the U.S.
Have companies become more productive?
Claudia: Yes. In the downturn, many companies were careful in cost-cutting and in conserving cash. If they were carrying too much debt, they tried to delever, as hard as that was. So at this point, companies are very lean and their inventories are still generally quite low. Capital spending and hiring haven’t picked up. Just like investors, companies are nervous about the future, although they are far less so now than they were a year ago.
Alex: Most health care companies took action to become leaner, more efficient and more profitable. They reduced their headcounts, consolidated manufacturing plants, invested in faster growing regions,
Rolling 10-year stock market returns from 1925 to 2009
The chart shows monthly rolling 10-year average annual returns for the S&P 500. The index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions or expenses.
10 AMCAP Fund
and maintained a healthy dose of research and development. While sales growth did slow down in 2009, earnings remained fairly healthy and the outlook for 2010 can be bright, as revenues could begin to reaccelerate off a smaller, more efficient cost base. Importantly, research and development remained healthy throughout the downturn, and pipelines for new products are robust. This could translate into higher profits the next few years and sustained growth, given the continued focus on product development. |
What major issues are companies facing? |
Claudia: Uncertainty surrounding tax, regulatory or cost issues weighs on companies. It still remains to be seen how taxes will change and by how much health care costs will rise, and there still are questions on how the banking system will be regulated. And until that gets clarified, banks may be reticent to lend and instead may work on improving their balance sheets. And, of course, companies are waiting to see how strong the recovery may be. My hope is that by the fall, the economy will be on a firmer path to growth, but in the meantime, we may have a pattern of two steps forward and one step back on the road to recovery. |
What are the lessons for shareholders? |
Tim: It’s not surprising that investors are nervous, considering what has happened in the past 10 years. The chart on page 10 compares equity returns to comparable periods in the past, and highlights how the S&P 500 endured one of the worst stretches for equity returns since the 1930s. The last decade also had two major declines — when the Internet bubble burst in 2000–2002 and the recent credit decline. |
The key element of successful investing is to follow a long-term approach. The 2008–2009 period was one of the most frightening periods that most of us have ever lived through. So it was easy to question whether you should stay the course. I think a lot of investors got scared and couldn’t hold their stock growth fund positions. But it is during these periods of strife, uncertainty and trauma that the best long-term investment opportunities arise. In fact, we had a great opportunity to buy good companies at attractive prices when there was the most amount of stress and fear. |
Alex: This great recession will be studied for decades, and while I am not convinced we have heard the last of the financial crisis, the scars we all share from this downturn will act as reminders that we must never underestimate the volatility of the market, the importance of patience, fundamental analysis and a disciplined approach to investing. § |
“This great recession will be studied for decades, and while I am not convinced we have heard the last of the financial crisis, the scars we all share from this downturn will act as reminders that we must never underestimate the volatility of the market.” |
— Alex Nicolaou, investment analyst |
AMCAP Fund 11
The following summary investment portfolio is designed to streamline the report and help investors better focus on a fund’s principal holdings. See the inside back cover for details on how to obtain a complete schedule of portfolio holdings.
Industry sector diversification (percent of net assets)
Common stocks— 91.89% | Shares | Value (000) | Percent of net assets | |||||||
Information technology — 27.33% | ||||||||||
Microsoft Corp. | 20,295,000 | $ | 581,655 | 2.96 | % | |||||
A world leader in software and Internet technologies. Its products include the Windows operating system and Office software. | ||||||||||
Oracle Corp. | 18,420,000 | 454,053 | 2.31 | |||||||
Major supplier of database management software. Also develops business applications and provides consulting and support. | ||||||||||
Google Inc., Class A1 | 852,300 | 448,992 | 2.28 | |||||||
One of the most frequently used website search engines in the world. | ||||||||||
Accenture PLC, Class A | 10,060,000 | 402,098 | 2.05 | |||||||
Management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. | ||||||||||
Yahoo! Inc.1 | 21,395,000 | 327,557 | 1.67 | |||||||
One of the three largest Internet portals, offering online media, commerce and communications services to consumers and businesses worldwide. | ||||||||||
Corning Inc. | 17,260,000 | 304,294 | 1.55 | |||||||
Leading manufacturer of optical fiber, ceramics and high-performance glass used in industrial and scientific products. | ||||||||||
Hewlett-Packard Co. | 5,400,000 | 274,266 | 1.40 | |||||||
A premier manufacturer of servers, software, printing systems and PCs. | ||||||||||
Cisco Systems, Inc.1 | 9,169,300 | 223,089 | 1.13 | |||||||
The leading maker of equipment used in Internet networking. | ||||||||||
SAP AG | 4,850,000 | 216,482 | 1.10 | |||||||
A leading developer of software for business applications. Also provides information technology services. | ||||||||||
Apple Inc.1 | 920,000 | 188,250 | .96 | |||||||
Manufacturer of personal computers and various software products, as well as portable media players, browsers and smartphones. | ||||||||||
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | 3,900,000 | 162,279 | .83 | |||||||
Major provider of payroll processing and data communications services. | ||||||||||
MasterCard Inc., Class A | 675,000 | 151,450 | .77 | |||||||
Major transaction processing company that manages several payment card brands. | ||||||||||
Other securities | 1,635,268 | 8.32 | ||||||||
5,369,733 | 27.33 | |||||||||
12 AMCAP Fund
Shares | Value (000) | Percent of net assets | ||||||||
Consumer discretionary — 14.88% | ||||||||||
Johnson Controls, Inc. | 10,239,000 | $ | 318,433 | 1.62 | % | |||||
A leading manufacturer of components for automotive systems and building controls. | ||||||||||
Omnicom Group Inc. | 7,951,000 | 291,166 | 1.48 | |||||||
One of the world’s largest advertising and marketing companies. | ||||||||||
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 5,650,000 | 206,225 | 1.05 | |||||||
This leading consumer electronics retailer also sells home office products, entertainment software and appliances. | ||||||||||
YUM! Brands, Inc. | 5,976,000 | 201,511 | 1.03 | |||||||
Quick-service-oriented restaurant company whose brands include KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. | ||||||||||
Harman International Industries, Inc.1,2 | 4,051,200 | 174,769 | .89 | |||||||
Global manufacturer of audio products and electronic systems. | ||||||||||
Staples, Inc. | 6,565,000 | 169,114 | .86 | |||||||
Among the leaders in sales of office supplies and equipment. | ||||||||||
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. | 7,117,000 | 168,744 | .86 | |||||||
Among America’s largest do-it-yourself home improvement retailers. | ||||||||||
Apollo Group, Inc., Class A1 | 2,750,000 | 164,670 | .84 | |||||||
Provides higher education programs for working adults through subsidiaries including the University of Phoenix and Western International University. | ||||||||||
Time Warner Inc. | 5,133,333 | 149,072 | .76 | |||||||
This media and communications conglomerate combines Internet services with film, TV, cable and publishing. | ||||||||||
Target Corp. | 2,650,000 | 136,528 | .69 | |||||||
Operates Target, a major chain of general merchandise and food discount stores in the U.S. | ||||||||||
Other securities | 943,674 | 4.80 | ||||||||
2,923,906 | 14.88 | |||||||||
Industrials — 13.60% | ||||||||||
Precision Castparts Corp. | 3,814,924 | 430,133 | 2.19 | |||||||
Manufactures jet engine parts, valves and industrial tools. | ||||||||||
General Dynamics Corp. | 4,365,000 | 316,681 | 1.61 | |||||||
This major defense contractor manufactures warships, submarines and information systems. | ||||||||||
Union Pacific Corp. | 3,476,100 | 234,185 | 1.19 | |||||||
Operates the largest railroad in the U.S.; also delivers freight to Canada and Mexico. | ||||||||||
Robert Half International Inc. | 7,359,000 | 205,316 | 1.05 | |||||||
One of the world’s largest providers of professional staffing services. | ||||||||||
United Technologies Corp. | 2,850,000 | 195,652 | 1.00 | |||||||
Among the world’s leading producers of elevators, jet engines, helicopters, aerospace systems, security services, and heating and air conditioning systems. | ||||||||||
CSX Corp. | 3,801,500 | 180,419 | .92 | |||||||
Operates a major rail system and provides freight transportation across the U.S. | ||||||||||
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 2,820,000 | 165,647 | .84 | |||||||
The world’s largest package delivery company and express carrier. | ||||||||||
Manpower Inc. | 2,606,000 | 134,261 | .68 | |||||||
Provides temporary staffing services around the world. | ||||||||||
Other securities | 809,667 | 4.12 | ||||||||
2,671,961 | 13.60 | |||||||||
Health care — 11.02% | ||||||||||
Medtronic, Inc. | 9,970,000 | 432,698 | 2.20 | |||||||
A leading producer of medical devices, including pacemakers and implantable defibrillators. | ||||||||||
McKesson Corp. | 4,600,000 | 272,090 | 1.39 | |||||||
A leading distributor of pharmaceuticals in the U.S. | ||||||||||
Hologic, Inc.1 | 12,001,100 | 207,019 | 1.05 | |||||||
Manufacturer of various medical technologies relating to women’s health care. | ||||||||||
AMCAP Fund 13
Common stocks | Shares | Value (000) | Percent of net assets | |||||||
Health care (continued) | ||||||||||
Roche Holding AG | 865,000 | $ | 144,597 | .74 | % | |||||
A world leader in pharmaceuticals and diagnostic research. | ||||||||||
Other securities | 1,108,190 | 5.64 | ||||||||
2,164,594 | 11.02 | |||||||||
Financials — 7.61% | ||||||||||
Capital One Financial Corp. | 6,000,000 | 226,500 | 1.15 | |||||||
One of the largest U.S. credit card issuers. | ||||||||||
State Street Corp. | 4,852,200 | 217,912 | 1.11 | |||||||
This global investment management company serves pension plan and mutual fund managers, large businesses and government. | ||||||||||
Wells Fargo & Co. | 7,479,600 | 204,492 | 1.04 | |||||||
One of the largest banks in the U.S. and a leader in online banking. | ||||||||||
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. | 7,136,000 | 203,519 | 1.04 | |||||||
Asset management and securities services company providing a wide array of financial solutions for businesses, individuals and advisers. | ||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 3,950,000 | 165,782 | .84 | |||||||
Leading global financial services firm operating in the investment banking, transaction processing, asset and wealth management, and private equity sectors. | ||||||||||
American Express Co. | 3,500,000 | 133,665 | .68 | |||||||
A leading travel and financial services company. | ||||||||||
Other securities | 344,592 | 1.75 | ||||||||
1,496,462 | 7.61 | |||||||||
Energy — 6.61% | ||||||||||
Schlumberger Ltd. | 5,440,000 | 332,384 | 1.69 | |||||||
A leading provider of services and technology to the petroleum industry. | ||||||||||
EOG Resources, Inc. | 1,667,900 | 156,866 | .80 | |||||||
An oil and gas exploration and production company with global operations. | ||||||||||
FMC Technologies, Inc.1 | 2,420,000 | 135,932 | .69 | |||||||
Engaged in offshore energy production, food processing and airplane loading systems. | ||||||||||
Apache Corp. | 1,300,000 | 134,732 | .69 | |||||||
An independent oil and gas exploration and development company with onshore and offshore operations worldwide. | ||||||||||
Other securities | 537,951 | 2.74 | ||||||||
1,297,865 | 6.61 | |||||||||
Consumer staples — 4.54% | ||||||||||
PepsiCo, Inc. | 3,042,481 | 190,064 | .97 | |||||||
A global soft drink and snack foods company. | ||||||||||
CVS/Caremark Corp. | 5,500,000 | 185,625 | .95 | |||||||
A major U.S. drugstore chain. | ||||||||||
L’Oréal SA | 1,450,000 | 150,187 | .76 | |||||||
One of the world’s largest makers of beauty products. In addition to L’Oréal, its brands include Maybelline and Lancôme. | ||||||||||
Other securities | 365,849 | 1.86 | ||||||||
891,725 | 4.54 | |||||||||
Materials — 2.05% | ||||||||||
Other securities | 402,411 | 2.05 | ||||||||
Other — 0.44% | ||||||||||
Other securities | 86,179 | .44 | ||||||||
14 AMCAP Fund
Value (000) | Percent of net assets | |||||||||
Miscellaneous — 3.81% | ||||||||||
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition | $ | 749,045 | 3.81 | % | ||||||
Total common stocks (cost: $14,759,597,000) | 18,053,881 | 91.89 | ||||||||
Convertible securities — 0.00% | Shares | |||||||||
Consumer discretionary — 0.00% | ||||||||||
Johnson Controls, Inc. 11.50% convertible preferred 2012, units | 4,600 | 722 | .00 | |||||||
Total convertible securities (cost: $230,000) | 722 | .00 | ||||||||
Short-term securities — 8.00% | Principal amount (000) | |||||||||
Fannie Mae 0.085%–0.35% due 3/24-10/4/2010 | $ | 385,721 | 385,589 | 1.96 | ||||||
Freddie Mac 0.12%–0.435% due 4/7-9/1/2010 | 258,300 | 258,176 | 1.32 | |||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank 0.08%–0.14% due 3/3-5/21/2010 | 253,500 | 253,469 | 1.29 | |||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills 0.085%–0.28% due 3/25-8/26/2010 | 225,600 | 225,519 | 1.15 | |||||||
Jupiter Securitization Co., LLC 0.13%–0.19% due 3/1-5/12/20103 | 92,600 | 92,552 | .47 | |||||||
Hewlett-Packard Co. 0.10% due 3/19/20103 | 25,500 | 25,499 | .13 | |||||||
Other securities | 329,972 | 1.68 | ||||||||
Total short-term securities (cost: $1,570,680,000) | 1,570,776 | 8.00 | ||||||||
Total investment securities (cost: $16,330,507,000) | 19,625,379 | 99.89 | ||||||||
Other assets less liabilities | 22,225 | .11 | ||||||||
Net assets | $ | 19,647,604 | 100.00 | % | ||||||
“Miscellaneous” securities include holdings in their initial period of acquisition that have not previously been publicly disclosed. “Other securities” include all issues that are not disclosed separately in the summary investment portfolio.
Investments in affiliates
A company is considered to be an affiliate of the fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 if the fund’s holdings in that company represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares. The value of the fund’s affiliated-company holdings is either shown in the summary investment portfolio or included in the value of “Other securities” under the respective industry sectors. Further details on such holdings and related transactions during the year ended February 28, 2010, appear below.
Beginning shares | Additions | Reductions | Ending shares | Dividend income (000) | Value of affiliates at 2/28/2010 (000) | ||||||||||
Harman International Industries, Inc.1 | 3,320,000 | 755,900 | 24,700 | 4,051,200 | $ | — | $ | 174,769 | |||||||
Tractor Supply Co.1 | 1,525,000 | 500,000 | — | 2,025,000 | — | 110,808 | |||||||||
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.1 | 975,391 | 17,609 | 2,400 | 990,600 | — | 52,829 | |||||||||
Bare Escentuals, Inc.4 | 5,735,000 | — | 5,735,000 | — | — | — | |||||||||
Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., Class A4 | 3,625,000 | — | 3,625,000 | — | 250 | — | |||||||||
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.4 | 6,174,900 | 173,100 | 4,848,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,980 | — | |||||||||
$ | 2,230 | $ | 338,406 | ||||||||||||
The following footnotes apply to either the individual securities noted or one or more of the securities aggregated and listed as a single line item.
1 | Security did not produce income during the last 12 months. |
2 | Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
3 | Purchased in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. May be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of all such securities, including those in “Other securities,” was $390,145,000, which represented 1.99% of the net assets of the fund. |
4 | Unaffiliated issuer at 2/28/2010. |
The descriptions of the companies shown in the summary investment portfolio, which were obtained from published reports and other sources believed to be reliable, are supplemental and are not covered by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
See Notes to Financial Statements
AMCAP Fund 15
Statement of assets and liabilities at February 28, 2010 | (dollars in thousands) | |
Assets: | |||||||
Investment securities, at value: | |||||||
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $15,989,125) | $ | 19,286,973 | |||||
Affiliated issuers (cost: $341,382) | 338,406 | $ | 19,625,379 | ||||
Cash | 89 | ||||||
Receivables for: | |||||||
Sales of investments | 47,876 | ||||||
Sales of fund’s shares | 26,302 | ||||||
Dividends and interest | 24,492 | 98,670 | |||||
19,724,138 | |||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||
Payables for: | |||||||
Purchases of investments | 26,266 | ||||||
Repurchases of fund’s shares | 29,239 | ||||||
Investment advisory services | 4,833 | ||||||
Services provided by affiliates | 13,479 | ||||||
Directors’ deferred compensation | 1,499 | ||||||
Other | 1,218 | 76,534 | |||||
Net assets at February 28, 2010 | $ | 19,647,604 | |||||
Net assets consist of: | |||||||
Capital paid in on shares of capital stock | $ | 19,351,033 | |||||
Undistributed net investment income | 84,598 | ||||||
Accumulated net realized loss | (3,082,899 | ) | |||||
Net unrealized appreciation | 3,294,872 | ||||||
Net assets at February 28, 2010 | $ | 19,647,604 | |||||
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)
Total authorized capital stock — 2,000,000 shares, $1.00 par value (1,194,497 total shares outstanding)
Net assets | Shares outstanding | Net asset value per share * | ||||||||
Class A | $ | 12,973,370 | 783,998 | $ | 16.55 | |||||
Class B | 631,982 | 39,878 | 15.85 | |||||||
Class C | 1,064,816 | 67,720 | 15.72 | |||||||
Class F-1 | 1,421,172 | 86,228 | 16.48 | |||||||
Class F-2 | 366,954 | 22,104 | 16.60 | |||||||
Class 529-A | 474,387 | 28,774 | 16.49 | |||||||
Class 529-B | 71,941 | 4,539 | 15.85 | |||||||
Class 529-C | 134,096 | 8,457 | 15.86 | |||||||
Class 529-E | 27,182 | 1,669 | 16.28 | |||||||
Class 529-F-1 | 19,582 | 1,186 | 16.52 | |||||||
Class R-1 | 39,843 | 2,492 | 15.99 | |||||||
Class R-2 | 382,654 | 23,960 | 15.97 | |||||||
Class R-3 | 540,760 | 33,123 | 16.33 | |||||||
Class R-4 | 377,607 | 22,925 | 16.47 | |||||||
Class R-5 | �� | 741,519 | 44,572 | 16.64 | ||||||
Class R-6 | 379,739 | 22,872 | 16.60 | |||||||
* | Maximum offering price and redemption price per share were equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Classes A and 529-A, for which the maximum offering prices per share were $17.56 and $17.50, respectively. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
16 AMCAP Fund
Statement of operations for the year ended February 28, 2010 | (dollars in thousands) | |
Investment income: | |||||||
Income: | |||||||
Dividends (net of non-U.S. taxes of $2,697; also includes $2,230 from affiliates) | $ | 234,971 | |||||
Interest | 3,913 | $ | 238,884 | ||||
Fees and expenses*: | |||||||
Investment advisory services | 58,172 | ||||||
Distribution services | 54,737 | ||||||
Transfer agent services | 21,869 | ||||||
Administrative services | 9,540 | ||||||
Reports to shareholders | 1,450 | ||||||
Registration statement and prospectus | 4,180 | ||||||
Directors’ compensation | 1,035 | ||||||
Auditing and legal | 117 | ||||||
Custodian | 240 | ||||||
State and local taxes | 1 | ||||||
Other | 1,293 | 152,634 | |||||
Net investment income | 86,250 | ||||||
Net realized loss and unrealized appreciation on investments and currency: | |||||||
Net realized (loss) gain on: | |||||||
Investments (including $88,311 net loss from affiliates) | (779,916 | ) | |||||
Currency transactions | 450 | (779,466 | ) | ||||
Net unrealized appreciation on: | |||||||
Investments | 8,316,044 | ||||||
Currency translations | 57 | 8,316,101 | |||||
Net realized loss and unrealized appreciation on investments and currency | 7,536,635 | ||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | $ | 7,622,885 | |||||
* | Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the Notes to Financial Statements. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
AMCAP Fund 17
Statements of changes in net assets | (dollars in thousands) | |
Year ended February 28, 2010 | Year ended February 28, 2009 | ||||||
Operations: | |||||||
Net investment income | $ | 86,250 | $ | 188,389 | |||
Net realized loss on investments and currency transactions | (779,466 | ) | (2,303,365 | ) | |||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and currency translations | 8,316,101 | (7,434,726 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 7,622,885 | (9,549,702 | ) | ||||
Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders: | |||||||
Dividends from net investment income | (181,054 | ) | — | ||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investments | — | (938,078 | ) | ||||
Total dividends and distributions paid to shareholders | (181,054 | ) | (938,078 | ) | |||
Net capital share transactions | (808,734 | ) | (1,160,523 | ) | |||
Total increase (decrease) in net assets | 6,633,097 | (11,648,303 | ) | ||||
Net assets: | |||||||
Beginning of year | 13,014,507 | 24,662,810 | |||||
End of year (including undistributed net investment income: $84,598 and $179,211, respectively) | $ | 19,647,604 | $ | 13,014,507 | |||
See Notes to Financial Statements
18 AMCAP Fund
Notes to financial statements
1. Organization and significant accounting policies
Organization — AMCAP Fund, Inc. (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified investment company. The fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in U.S. companies that have solid long-term growth records and the potential for good future growth.
On November 24, 2009, shareholders approved a proposal to reorganize the fund from a Maryland corporation to a Delaware statutory trust. The reorganization may be completed in 2010 or early 2011; however, the fund reserves the right to delay the implementation. Shareholders also approved amendments to the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement and amendments to and elimination of certain fundamental investment policies of the fund.
The fund has 16 share classes consisting of five retail share classes, five 529 college savings plan share classes and six retirement plan share classes. The 529 college savings plan share classes (529-A, 529-B, 529-C, 529-E and 529-F-1) can be used to save for college education. The six retirement plan share classes (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-6) are generally offered only through eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans. The fund’s share classes are described below:
Share class | Initial sales charge | Contingent deferred sales charge upon redemption | Conversion feature | |||
Classes A and 529-A | Up to 5.75% | None (except 1% for certain redemptions within one year of purchase without an initial sales charge) | None | |||
Classes B and 529-B* | None | Declines from 5% to 0% for redemptions within six years of purchase | Classes B and 529-B convert to Classes A and 529-A, respectively, after eight years | |||
Class C | None | 1% for redemptions within one year of purchase | Class C converts to Class F-1 after 10 years | |||
Class 529-C | None | 1% for redemptions within one year of purchase | None | |||
Class 529-E | None | None | None | |||
Classes F-1, F-2 and 529-F-1 | None | None | None | |||
Classes R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-6 | None | None | None | |||
*Effective April 21, 2009, Class B and 529-B shares of the fund are not available for purchase. |
On May 1, 2009, the fund made an additional retirement plan share class (Class R-6) available for sale pursuant to an amendment to its registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Refer to the fund’s retirement plan prospectus for more details.
Holders of all share classes have equal pro rata rights to assets, dividends and liquidation proceeds. Each share class has identical voting rights, except for the exclusive right to vote on matters affecting only its class. Share classes have different fees and expenses (“class-specific fees and expenses”), primarily due to different arrangements for distribution, administrative and shareholder services. Differences in class-specific fees and expenses will result in differences in net investment income and, therefore, the payment of different per-share dividends by each class.
Significant accounting policies — The financial statements have been prepared to comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies followed by the fund:
Net asset value — The fund generally determines its net asset value as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. |
AMCAP Fund 19
Security valuation — Equity securities are valued at the official closing price of, or the last reported sale price on, the exchange or market on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any sales, at the last available bid price. Prices for each security are taken from the principal exchange or market in which the security trades. Fixed-income securities, including short-term securities purchased with more than 60 days left to maturity, are valued at prices obtained from one or more independent pricing vendors when such prices are available. However, where the investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so, such securities will be valued in good faith at the mean quoted bid and asked prices that are reasonably and timely available (or bid prices, if asked prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type. Vendors base bond prices on, among other things, valuation matrices that incorporate dealer-supplied valuations, proprietary pricing models and evaluations of the yield curve as of approximately 3:00 p.m. New York time. Securities with both fixed-income and equity characteristics, or equity securities traded principally among fixed-income dealers, are valued in the manner described above for either equity or fixed-income securities, depending on which method is deemed most appropriate by the investment adviser. Short-term securities purchased within 60 days to maturity are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. The value of short-term securities originally purchased with maturities greater than 60 days is determined based on an amortized value to par when they reach 60 days or less remaining to maturity.
Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under guidelines adopted by authority of the fund’s board of directors. Market quotations may be considered unreliable if events occur that materially affect the value of securities (particularly securities outside the U.S.) between the close of trading in those securities and the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Various factors may be reviewed in order to make a good faith determination of a security’s fair value. These factors include, but are not limited to, the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; significant events occurring after the close of trading in the security; and changes in overall market conditions. Fair valuations and valuations of investments that are not actively trading involve judgment and may differ materially from valuations that would have been used had greater market activity occurred.
Security transactions and related investment income — Security transactions are recorded by the fund as of the date the trades are executed with brokers. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Market discounts, premiums and original issue discounts on fixed-income securities are amortized daily over the expected life of the security.
Class allocations — Income, fees and expenses (other than class-specific fees and expenses) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net assets. Class-specific fees and expenses, such as distribution, administrative and shareholder services, are charged directly to the respective share class.
Dividends and distributions to shareholders — Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Currency translation — Assets and liabilities, including investment securities, denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the valuation date. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates on the dates of such transactions. On the accompanying financial statements, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investment securities are included with the net realized gain or loss and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments. The realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation resulting from all other transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are disclosed separately.
20 AMCAP Fund
2. Risk factors
Investing in the fund may involve certain risks including, but not limited to, those described below.
Investors in the fund should have a long-term perspective and, for example, be able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value.
The prices of the common stocks and other securities held by the fund may decline in response to certain events taking place around the world, including those directly involving the issuers whose securities are owned by the fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; governmental or governmental agency responses to economic conditions; and currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.
3. Taxation and distributions
Federal income taxation — The fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to mutual funds and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains each year. The fund is not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
As of and during the period ended February 28, 2010, the fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the statement of operations. During the period, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.
The fund is not subject to examination by U.S. federal tax authorities for tax years before 2006 and by state tax authorities for tax years before 2005.
Non-U.S. taxation — Dividend income is recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid.
Distributions — Distributions paid to shareholders are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to different treatment for items such as currency gains and losses; short-term capital gains and losses; capital losses related to sales of certain securities within 30 days of purchase; deferred expenses; cost of investments sold; and net capital losses. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes.
During the year ended February 28, 2010, the fund reclassified $450,000 from accumulated net realized loss to undistributed net investment income and $259,000 from undistributed net investment income to capital paid in on shares of capital stock to align financial reporting with tax reporting.
As of February 28, 2010, the tax basis components of distributable earnings, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investment securities were as follows:
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 86,101 | |||||
Capital loss carryforwards*: | |||||||
Expiring 2017 | $ | (860,717 | ) | ||||
Expiring 2018 | (2,221,999 | ) | (3,082,716 | ) | |||
Gross unrealized appreciation on investment securities | 4,121,800 | ||||||
Gross unrealized depreciation on investment securities | (827,115 | ) | |||||
Net unrealized appreciation on investment securities | 3,294,685 | ||||||
Cost of investment securities | 16,330,694 | ||||||
* The capital loss carryforwards will be used to offset any capital gains realized by the fund in future years through the expiration dates. The fund will not make distributions from capital gains while capital loss carryforwards remain.
AMCAP Fund 21
The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders was as follows (dollars in thousands):
Year ended February 28, 2010 | Year ended February 28, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||
Share class | Ordinary income | Long-term capital gains | Total distributions paid | Ordinary income | Long-term capital gains | Total distributions paid | |||||||||||||
Class A | $ | 132,922 | $ | — | $ | 132,922 | $ | — | $ | 621,109 | $ | 621,109 | |||||||
Class B | 1,312 | — | 1,312 | — | 39,384 | 39,384 | |||||||||||||
Class C | 2,279 | — | 2,279 | — | 58,353 | 58,353 | |||||||||||||
Class F-1 | 14,462 | — | 14,462 | — | 92,611 | 92,611 | |||||||||||||
Class F-2* | 2,791 | — | 2,791 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Class 529-A | 4,608 | — | 4,608 | — | 18,357 | 18,357 | |||||||||||||
Class 529-B | 204 | — | 204 | — | 3,329 | 3,329 | |||||||||||||
Class 529-C | 395 | — | 395 | — | 5,770 | 5,770 | |||||||||||||
Class 529-E | 205 | — | 205 | — | 1,043 | 1,043 | |||||||||||||
Class 529-F-1 | 230 | — | 230 | — | 749 | 749 | |||||||||||||
Class R-1 | 166 | — | 166 | — | 1,617 | 1,617 | |||||||||||||
Class R-2 | 1,184 | — | 1,184 | — | 16,318 | 16,318 | |||||||||||||
Class R-3 | 3,791 | — | 3,791 | — | 27,709 | 27,709 | |||||||||||||
Class R-4 | 4,322 | — | 4,322 | — | 16,070 | 16,070 | |||||||||||||
Class R-5 | 9,204 | — | 9,204 | — | 35,659 | 35,659 | |||||||||||||
Class R-6† | 2,979 | — | 2,979 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | 181,054 | $ | — | $ | 181,054 | $ | — | $ | 938,078 | $ | 938,078 | |||||||
* Class F-2 was offered beginning August 1, 2008.
† Class R-6 was offered beginning May 1, 2009.
† Class R-6 was offered beginning May 1, 2009.
4. Fees and transactions with related parties
Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), the fund’s investment adviser, is the parent company of American Funds Distributors,® Inc. (“AFD”), the principal underwriter of the fund’s shares, and American Funds Service Company® (“AFS”), the fund’s transfer agent.
Investment advisory services — The Investment Advisory and Service Agreement with CRMC provides for monthly fees accrued daily. These fees are based on a declining series of annual rates beginning with 0.485% on the first $1 billion of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.290% on such assets in excess of $27 billion. For the year ended February 28, 2010, the investment advisory services fee was $58,172,000, which was equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.329% of average daily net assets.
Class-specific fees and expenses — Expenses that are specific to individual share classes are accrued directly to the respective share class. The principal class-specific fees and expenses are described below:
Distribution services — The fund has adopted plans of distribution for all share classes, except Classes F-2, R-5 and R-6. Under the plans, the board of directors approves certain categories of expenses that are used to finance activities primarily intended to sell fund shares and service existing accounts. The plans provide for payments, based on an annualized percentage of average daily net assets, ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% as noted on the following page. In some cases, the board of directors has limited the amounts that may be paid to less than the maximum allowed by the plans. All share classes with a plan may use up to 0.25% of average daily net assets to pay service fees, or to compensate AFD for paying service fees, to firms that have entered into agreements with AFD to provide certain shareholder services. The remaining amounts available to be paid under each plan are paid to dealers to compensate them for their sales activities. | |
For Classes A and 529-A, the board of directors has also approved the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limit of 0.25% is not exceeded. As of February 28, 2010, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Classes A or 529-A. |
22 AMCAP Fund
Share class | Currently approved limits | Plan limits | |||||
Class A | 0.25 | % | 0.25 | % | |||
Class 529-A | 0.25 | 0.50 | |||||
Classes B and 529-B | 1.00 | 1.00 | |||||
Classes C, 529-C and R-1 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |||||
Class R-2 | 0.75 | 1.00 | |||||
Classes 529-E and R-3 | 0.50 | 0.75 | |||||
Classes F-1, 529-F-1 and R-4 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
Transfer agent services — The fund has a transfer agent agreement with AFS for Classes A and B. Under this agreement, these share classes compensate AFS for transfer agent services including shareholder recordkeeping, communications and transaction processing. AFS is also compensated for certain transfer agent services provided to all other share classes from the administrative services fees paid to CRMC as described below. | |
Administrative services — The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC to provide transfer agent and other related shareholder services for all share classes other than Classes A and B. Each relevant share class pays CRMC annual fees up to 0.15% (0.10% for Class R-5 and 0.05% for Class R-6) based on its respective average daily net assets. Each relevant share class also pays AFS additional amounts for certain transfer agent services. CRMC and AFS may use these fees to compensate third parties for performing these services. Each 529 share class is subject to an additional administrative services fee payable to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the maintenance of the 529 college savings plan. The quarterly fee is based on a declining series of annual rates beginning with 0.10% on the first $30 billion of the net assets invested in Class 529 shares of the American Funds and decreasing to 0.06% on such assets between $120 billion and $150 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 shares of the American Funds for the last month of the prior calendar quarter. Although these amounts are included with administrative services fees on the accompanying financial statements, the Commonwealth of Virginia is not considered a related party. |
Expenses under the agreements described above for the year ended February 28, 2010, were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Administrative services | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Share class | Distribution services | Transfer agent services | CRMC administrative services | Transfer agent services | Commonwealth of Virginia administrative services | |||||||||||||||||
Class A | $ | 26,507 | $ | 20,766 | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | |||||||||||||||
Class B | 6,244 | 1,103 | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | |||||||||||||||||
Class C | 9,745 | $ | 1,464 | $ | 299 | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||
Class F-1 | 3,208 | 1,592 | 150 | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Class F-2 | Not applicable | 330 | 21 | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-A | 848 | 516 | 93 | $ | 411 | |||||||||||||||||
Class 529-B | 655 | 83 | 27 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-C | 1,167 | 148 | 43 | 117 | ||||||||||||||||||
Included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-E | 119 | administrative | 30 | 5 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
services | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-F-1 | — | 21 | 4 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||
Class R-1 | 343 | 44 | 16 | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Class R-2 | 2,555 | 509 | 1,131 | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Class R-3 | 2,424 | 708 | 349 | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Class R-4 | 922 | 526 | 17 | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Class R-5 | Not applicable | 644 | 7 | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Class R-6* | Not applicable | 128 | —† | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 54,737 | $ | 21,869 | $ | 6,743 | $ | 2,162 | $ | 635 | ||||||||||||
* Class R-6 was offered beginning May 1, 2009.
† Amount less than one thousand.
AMCAP Fund 23
Directors’ deferred compensation — Since the adoption of the deferred compensation plan in 1993, directors who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer the cash payment of part or all of their compensation. These deferred amounts, which remain as liabilities of the fund, are treated as if invested in shares of the fund or other American Funds. These amounts represent general, unsecured liabilities of the fund and vary according to the total returns of the selected funds. Directors’ compensation of $1,035,000, shown on the accompanying financial statements, includes $457,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net increase of $578,000 in the value of the deferred amounts.
Affiliated Officers and directors — Officers and certain directors of the fund are or may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFS and AFD. No affiliated officers or directors received any compensation directly from the fund.
5. Disclosure of fair value measurements
The fund classifies its assets and liabilities into three levels based on the method used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 values are based on significant observable market inputs, such as quoted prices for similar securities and quoted prices in inactive markets. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs that reflect the fund’s determination of assumptions that market participants might reasonably use in valuing the securities. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. For example, U.S. government securities are generally high-quality and liquid; however, they are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market. The following table presents the fund’s valuation levels as of February 28, 2010 (dollars in thousands):
Investment securities: | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common stocks: | |||||||||||||
Information technology | $ | 5,369,733 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,369,733 | |||||
Consumer discretionary | 2,923,906 | — | — | 2,923,906 | |||||||||
Industrials | 2,671,961 | — | — | 2,671,961 | |||||||||
Health care | 2,164,594 | — | — | 2,164,594 | |||||||||
Financials | 1,496,462 | — | — | 1,496,462 | |||||||||
Energy | 1,297,865 | — | — | 1,297,865 | |||||||||
Consumer staples | 891,725 | — | — | 891,725 | |||||||||
Materials | 402,411 | — | — | 402,411 | |||||||||
Other | 86,179 | — | — | 86,179 | |||||||||
Miscellaneous | 749,045 | — | — | 749,045 | |||||||||
Convertible securities | — | 722 | — | 722 | |||||||||
Short-term securities | — | 1,570,776 | — | 1,570,776 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 18,053,881 | $ | 1,571,498 | $ | — | $ | 19,625,379 | |||||
24 AMCAP Fund
6. Capital share transactions
Capital share transactions in the fund were as follows (dollars and shares in thousands):
Sales1 | Reinvestments of dividends and distributions | Repurchases1 | Net (decrease) increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Share class | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | |||||||||||||||||
Year ended February 28, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | $ | 1,507,879 | 104,997 | $ | 126,497 | 9,398 | $ | (2,299,485 | ) | (162,394 | ) | $ | (665,109 | ) | (47,999 | ) | |||||||||
Class B | 23,505 | 1,788 | 1,265 | 98 | (165,417 | ) | (12,007 | ) | (140,647 | ) | (10,121 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class C | 121,330 | 8,798 | 2,165 | 168 | (208,216 | ) | (15,531 | ) | (84,721 | ) | (6,565 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class F-1 | 281,641 | 19,567 | 12,582 | 939 | (519,481 | ) | (37,981 | ) | (225,258 | ) | (17,475 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class F-2 | 263,691 | 18,036 | 1,996 | 148 | (64,898 | ) | (4,417 | ) | 200,789 | 13,767 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-A | 59,495 | 4,080 | 4,608 | 343 | (46,183 | ) | (3,197 | ) | 17,920 | 1,226 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-B | 2,201 | 171 | 204 | 15 | (6,636 | ) | (483 | ) | (4,231 | ) | (297 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class 529-C | 18,923 | 1,351 | 393 | 30 | (17,272 | ) | (1,241 | ) | 2,044 | 140 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-E | 3,986 | 280 | 205 | 15 | (3,393 | ) | (238 | ) | 798 | 57 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-F-1 | 4,223 | 291 | 230 | 17 | (3,598 | ) | (248 | ) | 855 | 60 | |||||||||||||||
Class R-1 | 12,124 | 854 | 165 | 13 | (10,497 | ) | (737 | ) | 1,792 | 130 | |||||||||||||||
Class R-2 | 91,844 | 6,686 | 1,183 | 91 | (90,288 | ) | (6,470 | ) | 2,739 | 307 | |||||||||||||||
Class R-3 | 124,096 | 8,706 | 3,784 | 284 | (141,784 | ) | (9,800 | ) | (13,904 | ) | (810 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class R-4 | 133,309 | 9,217 | 4,319 | 323 | (163,311 | ) | (10,835 | ) | (25,683 | ) | (1,295 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class R-5 | 196,892 | 13,697 | 9,194 | 681 | (391,376 | ) | (28,712 | ) | (185,290 | ) | (14,334 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class R-62 | 327,153 | 23,905 | 2,979 | 221 | (20,960 | ) | (1,254 | ) | 309,172 | 22,872 | |||||||||||||||
Total net increase (decrease) | $ | 3,172,292 | 222,424 | $ | 171,769 | 12,784 | $ | (4,152,795 | ) | (295,545 | ) | $ | (808,734 | ) | (60,337 | ) | |||||||||
Year ended February 28, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | $ | 2,031,710 | 140,956 | $ | 596,800 | 34,698 | $ | (3,325,626 | ) | (233,947 | ) | $ | (697,116 | ) | (58,293 | ) | |||||||||
Class B | 56,893 | 4,006 | 38,002 | 2,299 | (203,079 | ) | (14,362 | ) | (108,184 | ) | (8,057 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class C | 184,522 | 13,664 | 55,790 | 3,401 | (400,253 | ) | (28,945 | ) | (159,941 | ) | (11,880 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class F-1 | 503,663 | 35,048 | 83,010 | 4,851 | (1,051,411 | ) | (72,303 | ) | (464,738 | ) | (32,404 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class F-23 | 117,839 | 9,582 | — | — | (14,721 | ) | (1,245 | ) | 103,118 | 8,337 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-A | 60,850 | 4,067 | 18,352 | 1,070 | (43,463 | ) | (3,017 | ) | 35,739 | 2,120 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-B | 6,477 | 450 | 3,329 | 201 | (7,032 | ) | (509 | ) | 2,774 | 142 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-C | 18,181 | 1,259 | 5,766 | 348 | (18,794 | ) | (1,352 | ) | 5,153 | 255 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-E | 4,038 | 281 | 1,043 | 61 | (2,761 | ) | (192 | ) | 2,320 | 150 | |||||||||||||||
Class 529-F-1 | 4,736 | 311 | 749 | 44 | (3,407 | ) | (237 | ) | 2,078 | 118 | |||||||||||||||
Class R-1 | 10,855 | 723 | 1,609 | 96 | (10,141 | ) | (705 | ) | 2,323 | 114 | |||||||||||||||
Class R-2 | 100,826 | 6,952 | 16,308 | 977 | (107,330 | ) | (7,410 | ) | 9,804 | 519 | |||||||||||||||
Class R-3 | 144,480 | 9,603 | 27,641 | 1,627 | (255,728 | ) | (17,046 | ) | (83,607 | ) | (5,816 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class R-4 | 130,418 | 8,744 | 16,066 | 938 | (232,374 | ) | (14,267 | ) | (85,890 | ) | (4,585 | ) | |||||||||||||
Class R-5 | 415,141 | 26,109 | 35,408 | 2,051 | (174,905 | ) | (11,887 | ) | 275,644 | 16,273 | |||||||||||||||
Total net increase (decrease) | $ | 3,790,629 | 261,755 | $ | 899,873 | 52,662 | $ | (5,851,025 | ) | (407,424 | ) | $ | (1,160,523 | ) | (93,007 | ) | |||||||||
1 | Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund. |
2 | Class R-6 was offered beginning May 1, 2009. |
3 | Class F-2 was offered beginning August 1, 2008. |
7. Investment transactions
The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $4,657,616,000 and $5,339,823,000, respectively, during the year ended February 28, 2010.
AMCAP Fund 25
Financial highlights1
Income (loss) from investment operations2 | Dividends and distributions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | Net investment income (loss) | Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized) | Total from investment operations | Dividends (from net investment income) | Distributions (from capital gains) | Total dividends and distributions | Net asset value, end of period | Total return3,4 | Net assets, end of period (in millions) | Ratio of expenses to average net assets before reimburse- ments/ waivers | Ratio of expenses to average net assets after reimburse- ments/ waivers4 | Ratio of net income (loss) to average net assets4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | $ | 10.44 | $ | .08 | $ | 6.19 | $ | 6.27 | $ | (.16 | ) | $ | — | $ | (.16 | ) | $ | 16.55 | 60.46 | % | $ | 12,973 | .78 | % | .78 | % | .57 | % | ||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 18.41 | .16 | (7.43 | ) | (7.27 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.44 | (40.97 | ) | 8,687 | .74 | .71 | 1.03 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 20.29 | .25 | (.77 | ) | (.52 | ) | (.24 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.36 | ) | 18.41 | (3.14 | ) | 16,387 | .68 | .65 | 1.21 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.48 | .18 | 1.37 | 1.55 | (.16 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.74 | ) | 20.29 | 8.07 | 17,341 | .68 | .65 | .91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 18.02 | .12 | 1.82 | 1.94 | (.09 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.48 | ) | 19.48 | 10.87 | 16,091 | .68 | .65 | .66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class B: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 9.98 | (.03 | ) | 5.93 | 5.90 | (.03 | ) | — | (.03 | ) | 15.85 | 59.16 | 632 | 1.55 | 1.55 | (.20 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 17.75 | .04 | (7.11 | ) | (7.07 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 9.98 | (41.38 | ) | 499 | 1.50 | 1.48 | .26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 19.59 | .09 | (.76 | ) | (.67 | ) | (.05 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.17 | ) | 17.75 | (3.92 | ) | 1,031 | 1.45 | 1.42 | .44 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 18.83 | .02 | 1.32 | 1.34 | — | (.58 | ) | (.58 | ) | 19.59 | 7.23 | 1,163 | 1.46 | 1.42 | .13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.48 | (.02 | ) | 1.76 | 1.74 | — | (.39 | ) | (.39 | ) | 18.83 | 10.04 | 1,139 | 1.47 | 1.44 | (.13 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 9.90 | (.03 | ) | 5.88 | 5.85 | (.03 | ) | — | (.03 | ) | 15.72 | 59.18 | 1,065 | 1.56 | 1.56 | (.21 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 17.63 | .03 | (7.06 | ) | (7.03 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 9.90 | (41.44 | ) | 736 | 1.52 | 1.49 | .24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 19.46 | .08 | (.74 | ) | (.66 | ) | (.05 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.17 | ) | 17.63 | (3.93 | ) | 1,519 | 1.50 | 1.47 | .39 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 18.72 | .01 | 1.31 | 1.32 | — | (.58 | ) | (.58 | ) | 19.46 | 7.16 | 1,667 | 1.51 | 1.48 | .07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.39 | (.03 | ) | 1.75 | 1.72 | — | (.39 | ) | (.39 | ) | 18.72 | 9.98 | 1,607 | 1.52 | 1.49 | (.18 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class F-1: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.39 | .09 | 6.16 | 6.25 | (.16 | ) | — | (.16 | ) | 16.48 | 60.46 | 1,421 | .74 | .74 | .61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 18.31 | .16 | (7.38 | ) | (7.22 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.39 | (40.92 | ) | 1,077 | .70 | .67 | 1.06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 20.20 | .25 | (.78 | ) | (.53 | ) | (.24 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.36 | ) | 18.31 | (3.19 | ) | 2,492 | .68 | .65 | 1.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.40 | .18 | 1.36 | 1.54 | (.16 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.74 | ) | 20.20 | 8.06 | 2,506 | .68 | .65 | .90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.94 | .12 | 1.82 | 1.94 | (.09 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.48 | ) | 19.40 | 10.90 | 2,132 | .71 | .68 | .63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class F-2: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.46 | .12 | 6.20 | 6.32 | (.18 | ) | — | (.18 | ) | 16.60 | 60.82 | 367 | .52 | .52 | .79 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Period from 8/1/2008 to 2/28/2009 | 16.52 | .10 | (6.16 | ) | (6.06 | ) | — | — | — | 10.46 | (36.68 | ) | 87 | .50 | 5 | .48 | 5 | 1.50 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-A: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.41 | .08 | 6.17 | 6.25 | (.17 | ) | — | (.17 | ) | 16.49 | 60.35 | 474 | .83 | .83 | .51 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 18.36 | .15 | (7.40 | ) | (7.25 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.41 | (40.97 | ) | 287 | .79 | .76 | .98 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 20.25 | .23 | (.78 | ) | (.55 | ) | (.22 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.34 | ) | 18.36 | (3.26 | ) | 467 | .76 | .73 | 1.12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.45 | .17 | 1.36 | 1.53 | (.15 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.73 | ) | 20.25 | 7.99 | 432 | .74 | .71 | .84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.99 | .11 | 1.82 | 1.93 | (.08 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.47 | ) | 19.45 | 10.85 | 339 | .75 | .72 | .60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-B: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.00 | (.04 | ) | 5.93 | 5.89 | (.04 | ) | — | (.04 | ) | 15.85 | 59.02 | 72 | 1.64 | 1.64 | (.29 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 17.81 | .02 | (7.13 | ) | (7.11 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.00 | (41.47 | ) | 48 | 1.60 | 1.57 | .17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 19.65 | .06 | (.74 | ) | (.68 | ) | (.04 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.16 | ) | 17.81 | (3.99 | ) | 84 | 1.57 | 1.54 | .31 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 18.91 | — 6 | 1.32 | 1.32 | — | (.58 | ) | (.58 | ) | 19.65 | 7.09 | 84 | 1.57 | 1.54 | .01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.58 | (.05 | ) | 1.77 | 1.72 | — | (.39 | ) | (.39 | ) | 18.91 | 9.87 | 73 | 1.61 | 1.58 | (.27 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-C: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.00 | (.04 | ) | 5.95 | 5.91 | (.05 | ) | — | (.05 | ) | 15.86 | 59.02 | 134 | 1.63 | 1.63 | (.28 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 17.82 | .03 | (7.15 | ) | (7.12 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.00 | (41.44 | ) | 83 | 1.59 | 1.57 | .17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 19.67 | .06 | (.74 | ) | (.68 | ) | (.05 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.17 | ) | 17.82 | (4.00 | ) | 144 | 1.57 | 1.54 | .31 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 18.93 | — 6 | 1.32 | 1.32 | — | (.58 | ) | (.58 | ) | 19.67 | 7.08 | 136 | 1.56 | 1.53 | .02 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.59 | (.05 | ) | 1.78 | 1.73 | — | (.39 | ) | (.39 | ) | 18.93 | 9.92 | 110 | 1.59 | 1.56 | (.25 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-E: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.28 | .03 | 6.10 | 6.13 | (.13 | ) | — | (.13 | ) | 16.28 | 59.86 | 27 | 1.13 | 1.13 | .22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 18.20 | .10 | (7.32 | ) | (7.22 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.28 | (41.17 | ) | 17 | 1.09 | 1.06 | .69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 20.07 | .17 | (.76 | ) | (.59 | ) | (.16 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.28 | ) | 18.20 | (3.50 | ) | 27 | 1.06 | 1.03 | .82 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.28 | .10 | 1.35 | 1.45 | (.08 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.66 | ) | 20.07 | 7.66 | 25 | 1.05 | 1.02 | .54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.85 | .05 | 1.80 | 1.85 | (.03 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.42 | ) | 19.28 | 10.46 | 20 | 1.08 | 1.05 | .27 |
See page 27 for footnotes.
26 AMCAP Fund
Income (loss) from investment operations2 | Dividends and distributions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | Net investment income (loss) | Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized) | Total from investment operations | Dividends (from net investment income) | Distributions (from capital gains) | Total dividends and distributions | Net asset value, end of period | Total return4 | Net assets, end of period (in millions) | Ratio of expenses to average net assets before reimburse- ments/ waivers | Ratio of expenses to average net assets after reimburse- ments/ waivers4 | Ratio of net income (loss) to average net assets4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 529-F-1: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | $ | 10.43 | $ | .11 | $ | 6.18 | $ | 6.29 | $ | (.20 | ) | $ | — | $ | (.20 | ) | $ | 16.52 | 60.70 | % | $ | 20 | .63 | % | .63 | % | .72 | % | ||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 18.36 | .18 | (7.41 | ) | (7.23 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.43 | (40.86 | ) | 12 | .59 | .56 | 1.18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 20.26 | .27 | (.77 | ) | (.50 | ) | (.28 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.40 | ) | 18.36 | (3.07 | ) | 18 | .56 | .53 | 1.30 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.46 | .20 | 1.37 | 1.57 | (.19 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.77 | ) | 20.26 | 8.20 | 14 | .55 | .52 | 1.04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.99 | .14 | 1.82 | 1.96 | (.10 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.49 | ) | 19.46 | 10.99 | 10 | .62 | .59 | .73 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R-1: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.09 | (.03 | ) | 6.00 | 5.97 | (.07 | ) | — | (.07 | ) | 15.99 | 59.14 | 40 | 1.53 | 1.53 | (.19 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 17.95 | .04 | (7.20 | ) | (7.16 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.09 | (41.36 | ) | 24 | 1.48 | 1.45 | .29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 19.80 | .08 | (.76 | ) | (.68 | ) | (.05 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.17 | ) | 17.95 | (3.93 | ) | 40 | 1.50 | 1.47 | .39 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.04 | .02 | 1.32 | 1.34 | — | (.58 | ) | (.58 | ) | 19.80 | 7.14 | 43 | 1.50 | 1.47 | .09 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.69 | (.03 | ) | 1.77 | 1.74 | — | (.39 | ) | (.39 | ) | 19.04 | 9.92 | 35 | 1.55 | 1.51 | (.19 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R-2: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.08 | (.04 | ) | 5.98 | 5.94 | (.05 | ) | — | (.05 | ) | 15.97 | 59.02 | 383 | 1.60 | 1.60 | (.25 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 17.94 | .03 | (7.19 | ) | (7.16 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.08 | (41.44 | ) | 238 | 1.59 | 1.57 | .17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 19.79 | .08 | (.76 | ) | (.68 | ) | (.05 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.17 | ) | 17.94 | (3.95 | ) | 415 | 1.53 | 1.47 | .38 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.03 | .02 | 1.32 | 1.34 | — | (.58 | ) | (.58 | ) | 19.79 | 7.15 | 427 | 1.59 | 1.46 | .09 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.66 | (.03 | ) | 1.79 | 1.76 | — | (.39 | ) | (.39 | ) | 19.03 | 10.05 | 358 | 1.66 | 1.48 | (.17 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R-3: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.29 | .04 | 6.11 | 6.15 | (.11 | ) | — | (.11 | ) | 16.33 | 60.02 | 541 | 1.08 | 1.08 | .27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 18.21 | .11 | (7.33 | ) | (7.22 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.29 | (41.15 | ) | 349 | 1.05 | 1.02 | .70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 20.08 | .18 | (.78 | ) | (.60 | ) | (.15 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.27 | ) | 18.21 | (3.51 | ) | 724 | 1.04 | 1.01 | .85 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.28 | .11 | 1.35 | 1.46 | (.08 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.66 | ) | 20.08 | 7.68 | 747 | 1.04 | 1.01 | .55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.86 | .05 | 1.80 | 1.85 | (.04 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.43 | ) | 19.28 | 10.45 | 662 | 1.06 | 1.02 | .29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R-4: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.40 | .08 | 6.16 | 6.24 | (.17 | ) | — | (.17 | ) | 16.47 | 60.42 | 378 | .77 | .77 | .57 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 18.33 | .16 | (7.39 | ) | (7.23 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.40 | (40.93 | ) | 252 | .73 | .70 | 1.04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 20.22 | .24 | (.78 | ) | (.54 | ) | (.23 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.35 | ) | 18.33 | (3.22 | ) | 528 | .73 | .70 | 1.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.42 | .17 | 1.35 | 1.52 | (.14 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.72 | ) | 20.22 | 7.97 | 555 | .73 | .70 | .85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 17.99 | .11 | 1.81 | 1.92 | (.10 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.49 | ) | 19.42 | 10.79 | 405 | .75 | .71 | .61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R-5: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2010 | 10.50 | .13 | 6.22 | 6.35 | (.21 | ) | — | (.21 | ) | 16.64 | 60.97 | 741 | .47 | .47 | .89 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2009 | 18.45 | .20 | (7.45 | ) | (7.25 | ) | — | (.70 | ) | (.70 | ) | 10.50 | (40.77 | ) | 619 | .43 | .40 | 1.35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/29/2008 | 20.35 | .30 | (.77 | ) | (.47 | ) | (.31 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.43 | ) | 18.45 | (2.93 | ) | 787 | .43 | .40 | 1.43 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2007 | 19.55 | .23 | 1.36 | 1.59 | (.21 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.79 | ) | 20.35 | 8.29 | 514 | .43 | .40 | 1.15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended 2/28/2006 | 18.07 | .17 | 1.83 | 2.00 | (.13 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.52 | ) | 19.55 | 11.19 | 359 | .44 | .41 | .90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R-6: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Period from 5/1/2009 to 2/28/2010 | 13.04 | .11 | 3.61 | 3.72 | (.16 | ) | — | (.16 | ) | 16.60 | 28.85 | 380 | .425 | .425 | .905 |
Year ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate for all classes of shares | 29% | 37% | 29% | 20% | 20% |
1 | Based on operations for the periods shown (unless otherwise noted) and, accordingly, may not be representative of a full year. |
2 | Based on average shares outstanding. |
3 | Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. |
4 | This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain reimbursements/waivers from CRMC. During some of the periods shown, CRMC reduced fees for investment advisory services. In addition, during some of the periods shown, CRMC paid a portion of the fund’s transfer agent fees for certain retirement plan share classes. |
5 | Annualized. |
6 | Amount less than $.01. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
AMCAP Fund 27
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of AMCAP Fund, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the summary investment portfolio, of AMCAP Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), as of February 28, 2010, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of February 28, 2010, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of AMCAP Fund, Inc. as of February 28, 2010, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Costa Mesa, California
April 6, 2010
April 6, 2010
28 AMCAP Fund
Tax information | unaudited |
We are required to advise you within 60 days of the fund’s fiscal year-end regarding the federal tax status of certain distributions received by shareholders during such fiscal year. The fund hereby designates the following amounts for the fund’s fiscal year ended February 28, 2010:
Qualified dividend income | 100 | % | ||
Corporate dividends received deduction | $ | 86,203,000 | ||
U.S. government income that may be exempt from state taxation | $ | 347,000 | ||
Individual shareholders should refer to their Form 1099 or other tax information, which will be mailed in January 2011, to determine the calendar year amounts to be included on their 2010 tax returns. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers.
AMCAP Fund 29
Expense example | unaudited |
As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as initial sales charges on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions (loads), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund so you can compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (September 1, 2009, through February 28, 2010).
Actual expenses:
The first line of each share class in the table on the next page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical example for comparison purposes:
The second line of each share class in the table on the next page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio for the share class and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of the share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5.00% hypothetical example with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Notes:
There are some account fees that are charged to certain types of accounts, such as individual retirement accounts and 529 college savings plan accounts (generally, a $10 fee is charged to set up the account and an additional $10 fee is charged to the account annually), that would increase the amount of expenses paid on your account. In addition, retirement plan participants may be subject to certain fees charged by the plan sponsor, and Class F-1, F-2 and 529-F-1 shareholders may be subject to fees charged by financial intermediaries, typically ranging from 0.75% to 1.50% of assets annually depending on services offered. You can estimate the impact of these fees by adding the amount of the fees to the total estimated expenses you paid on your account during the period as calculated above. In addition, your ending account value would be lower by the amount of these fees.
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). Therefore, the second line of each share class in the 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.
30 AMCAP Fund
Beginning account value 9/1/2009 | Ending account value 2/28/2010 | Expenses paid during period* | Annualized expense ratio | |||||||||||
Class A — actual return | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,098.94 | $ | 3.80 | .73 | % | ||||||
Class A — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,021.17 | 3.66 | .73 | ||||||||||
Class B — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,094.62 | 7.84 | 1.51 | ||||||||||
Class B — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,017.31 | 7.55 | 1.51 | ||||||||||
Class C — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,093.94 | 8.00 | 1.54 | ||||||||||
Class C — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,017.16 | 7.70 | 1.54 | ||||||||||
Class F-1 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,098.67 | 3.75 | .72 | ||||||||||
Class F-1 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,021.22 | 3.61 | .72 | ||||||||||
Class F-2 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,100.07 | 2.60 | .50 | ||||||||||
Class F-2 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,022.32 | 2.51 | .50 | ||||||||||
Class 529-A — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,098.60 | 4.11 | .79 | ||||||||||
Class 529-A — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,020.88 | 3.96 | .79 | ||||||||||
Class 529-B — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,093.86 | 8.31 | 1.60 | ||||||||||
Class 529-B — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,016.86 | 8.00 | 1.60 | ||||||||||
Class 529-C — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,093.80 | 8.25 | 1.59 | ||||||||||
Class 529-C — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,016.91 | 7.95 | 1.59 | ||||||||||
Class 529-E — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,096.30 | 5.67 | 1.09 | ||||||||||
Class 529-E — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,019.39 | 5.46 | 1.09 | ||||||||||
Class 529-F-1 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,099.87 | 3.07 | .59 | ||||||||||
Class 529-F-1 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,021.87 | 2.96 | .59 | ||||||||||
Class R-1 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,094.45 | 7.84 | 1.51 | ||||||||||
Class R-1 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,017.31 | 7.55 | 1.51 | ||||||||||
Class R-2 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,093.83 | 8.05 | 1.55 | ||||||||||
Class R-2 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,017.11 | 7.75 | 1.55 | ||||||||||
Class R-3 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,097.44 | 5.51 | 1.06 | ||||||||||
Class R-3 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,019.54 | 5.31 | 1.06 | ||||||||||
Class R-4 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,098.73 | 3.90 | .75 | ||||||||||
Class R-4 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,021.08 | 3.76 | .75 | ||||||||||
Class R-5 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,100.54 | 2.34 | .45 | ||||||||||
Class R-5 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,022.56 | 2.26 | .45 | ||||||||||
Class R-6 — actual return | 1,000.00 | 1,100.07 | 2.08 | .40 | ||||||||||
Class R-6 — assumed 5% return | 1,000.00 | 1,022.81 | 2.01 | .40 | ||||||||||
* The “expenses paid during period” are equal to the “annualized expense ratio,” multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, and divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).
AMCAP Fund 31
Other share class results | unaudited |
Classes B, C, F and 529 |
Fund results shown are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.
Average annual total returns for periods ended March 31, 2010 (the most recent calendar quarter-end): | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years1/ Life of class | |||||||
Class B shares2 | ||||||||||
Reflecting applicable contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), maximum of 5%, payable only if shares are sold within six years of purchase | 48.66 | % | 2.18 | % | 1.72 | % | ||||
Not reflecting CDSC | 53.66 | 2.54 | 1.72 | |||||||
Class C shares — first sold 3/15/01 | ||||||||||
Reflecting CDSC, maximum of 1%, payable only if shares are sold within one year of purchase | 52.65 | 2.50 | 2.51 | |||||||
Not reflecting CDSC | 53.65 | 2.50 | 2.51 | |||||||
Class F-1 shares3 — first sold 3/16/01 | ||||||||||
Not reflecting annual asset-based fee charged by sponsoring firm | 54.98 | 3.35 | 3.52 | |||||||
Class F-2 shares3 — first sold 8/1/08 | ||||||||||
Not reflecting annual asset-based fee charged by sponsoring firm | 55.31 | — | 4.75 | |||||||
Class 529-A shares4 — first sold 2/15/02 | ||||||||||
Reflecting 5.75% maximum sales charge | 45.88 | 2.06 | 3.25 | |||||||
Not reflecting maximum sales charge | 54.81 | 3.28 | 4.00 | |||||||
Class 529-B shares2,4 — first sold 2/19/02 | ||||||||||
Reflecting applicable CDSC, maximum of 5%, payable only if shares are sold within six years of purchase | 48.65 | 2.09 | 3.35 | |||||||
Not reflecting CDSC | 53.65 | 2.44 | 3.35 | |||||||
Class 529-C shares4 — first sold 2/19/02 | ||||||||||
Reflecting CDSC, maximum of 1%, payable only if shares are sold within one year of purchase | 52.56 | 2.44 | 3.36 | |||||||
Not reflecting CDSC | 53.56 | 2.44 | 3.36 | |||||||
Class 529-E shares3,4 — first sold 3/7/02 | 54.32 | 2.96 | 3.20 | |||||||
Class 529-F-1 shares3,4 — first sold 9/17/02 | ||||||||||
Not reflecting annual asset-based fee charged by sponsoring firm | 55.24 | 3.48 | 6.99 |
1 | Applicable to Class B shares only. All other share classes reflect results for the life of the class. |
2 | These shares are not available for purchase. |
3 | These shares are sold without any initial or contingent deferred sales charge. |
4 | Results shown do not reflect the $10 account setup fee and an annual $10 account maintenance fee. |
Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. The fund’s investment adviser waived a portion of its management fees from September 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008. Fund results shown reflect the waiver, without which they would have been lower. See the Financial Highlights table on pages 26 and 27 for details that include expense ratios for all share classes.
For information regarding the differences among the various share classes, refer to the fund’s prospectus.
32 AMCAP Fund
“Independent” directors |
Name and age | Year first elected a director of the fund1 | Principal occupation(s) during past five years | Number of portfolios in fund complex2 overseen by director | Other directorships3 held by director | ||||
Louise H. Bryson, 66 | 2010 | Chair of the Board of Trustees, J. Paul Getty Trust; former President, Distribution, Lifetime Entertainment Network; former Executive Vice President and General Manager, Lifetime Movie Network | 6 | None | ||||
Mary Anne Dolan, 63 Chairman of the Board (Independent and Non-Executive) | 1998 | Founder and President, MAD Ink (communications company); former Editor-in-Chief, The Los Angeles Herald Examiner | 9 | None | ||||
James G. Ellis, 63 | 2010 | Dean and Professor of Marketing, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California | 41 | Quiksilver, Inc. | ||||
Martin Fenton, 74 | 1990 | Chairman of the Board, Senior Resource Group LLC (development and management of senior living communities) | 41 | None | ||||
Leonard R. Fuller, 63 | 2010 | President and CEO, Fuller Consulting (financial management consulting firm) | 41 | None | ||||
William D. Jones, 54 | 2006 | Real estate developer/owner, President and CEO, CityLink Investment Corporation (acquires, develops and manages real estate ventures in selected urban communities) and City Scene Management Company (provides commercial asset and property management services) | 6 | Sempra Energy; SouthWest Water Company | ||||
L. Daniel Jorndt, 68 | 2010 | Retired; former Chairman of the Board and CEO, Walgreen Co. (drug store chain) | 3 | None | ||||
William H. Kling, 68 | 2006 | President and CEO, American Public Media Group | 9 | None | ||||
John G. McDonald, 72 | 2010 | Stanford Investors Professor, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University | 12 | iStar Financial, Inc.; Plum Creek Timber Co.; Quinstreet, Inc.; Scholastic Corporation; Varian, Inc. | ||||
Bailey Morris-Eck, 65 | 1999 | Director and Programming Chair, WYPR Baltimore/Washington (public radio station); Senior Adviser, Financial News (London); Senior Fellow, Institute for International Economics; former Senior Associate and head of the Global Policy Initiative, Reuters Foundation | 3 | None | ||||
Olin C. Robison, Ph.D., 73 | 1998 | Fellow, The Oxford Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture; Director, The Oxford Project on Religion and Public Policy; President Emeritus of the Salzburg Seminar; President Emeritus, Middlebury College | 3 | American Shared Hospital Services | ||||
Steven B. Sample, Ph.D., 69 | 1999 | President, University of Southern California | 3 | Intermec, Inc. | ||||
Kirk P. Pendleton and Mary Myers Kauppila retired from the board in May 2009 and September 2009, respectively. The directors thank Mr. Pendleton and Mrs. Kauppila for their dedication and service to the fund.
“Interested” directors4 |
Name, age and position with fund | Year first elected a director or officer of the fund 1 | Principal occupation(s) during past five years and positions held with affiliated entities or the principal underwriter of the fund | Number of portfolios in fund complex2 overseen by director | Other directorships3 held by director | ||||
Claudia P. Huntington, 58 Vice Chairman of the Board | 1992 1994 1996 | Senior Vice President — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Research and Management Company | 2 | None | ||||
Timothy D. Armour, 49 President | 1996 | President and Director, Capital Research and Management Company; Senior Vice President — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.5 | 2 | None | ||||
Chairman emeritus |
James D. Fullerton, 93 | Retired; former Chairman of the Board, The Capital Group Companies, Inc. 5 | ||||||||
The fund’s statement of additional information includes additional information about fund directors and is available without charge upon request by calling American Funds Service Company at 800/421-0180. The address for all directors and officers of the fund is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Secretary.
AMCAP Fund 33
Other officers |
Name, age and position with fund | Year first elected an officer of the fund1 | Principal occupation(s) during past five years and positions held with affiliated entities or the principal underwriter of the fund | ||
Eric S. Richter, 49 Senior Vice President | 2008 | Vice President — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company | ||
Paul F. Roye, 56 Senior Vice President | 2007 | Senior Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, American Funds Service Company;5 former Director, Division of Investment Management, United States Securities and Exchange Commission | ||
Barry S. Crosthwaite, 51 Vice President | 2006 | Senior Vice President — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research Company5 | ||
C. Ross Sappenfield, 44 Vice President | 1999 | Senior Vice President — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research Company5 | ||
James Terrile, 44 Vice President | 2006 | Senior Vice President — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research Company5 | ||
Vincent P. Corti, 53 Secretary | 1998 | Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company | ||
Karl C. Grauman, 42 Treasurer | 2006 | Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company | ||
Courtney R. Taylor, 35 Assistant Secretary | 2007 | Assistant Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company | ||
Jeffrey P. Regal, 38 Assistant Treasurer | 2003 | Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company | ||
1 | Directors and officers of the fund serve until their resignation, removal or retirement. |
2 | Capital Research and Management Company manages the American Funds, consisting of 30 funds. Capital Research and Management Company also manages American Funds Insurance Series,® which is composed of 16 funds and serves as the underlying investment vehicle for certain variable insurance contracts; American Funds Target Date Retirement Series,® Inc., which is composed of 10 funds and is available through tax-deferred retirement plans and IRAs; and Endowments, which is available to certain nonprofit organizations. |
3 | This includes all directorships (other than those in the American Funds or other funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company) that are held by each director as a director of a public company or a registered investment company. |
4 | ”Interested persons” within the meaning of the 1940 Act, as amended, on the basis of their affiliation with the fund’s investment adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, or affiliated entities (including the fund’s principal underwriter). |
5 | Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company. |
34 AMCAP Fund
Results of meeting of shareholders held November 24, 2009 |
Shares outstanding (all classes) on record date (August 28, 2009): | 1,232,372,504 | ||
Total shares voting on November 24, 2009: | 827,787,443 | (67.2% of shares outstanding) |
Election of board members |
Board member* | Votes for | Percent of shares voting for | Votes withheld | Percent of shares withheld | |||||||||||
Timothy D. Armour | 801,522,245 | 96.8 | % | 26,265,198 | 3.2 | % | |||||||||
Louise H. Bryson | 801,520,101 | 96.8 | 26,267,342 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
Mary Anne Dolan | 801,530,424 | 96.8 | 26,257,019 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
James G. Ellis | 801,492,889 | 96.8 | 26,294,554 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
Leonard R. Fuller | 801,416,873 | 96.8 | 26,370,570 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
Claudia P. Huntington | 801,604,245 | 96.8 | 26,183,198 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
William D. Jones | 801,422,708 | 96.8 | 26,364,735 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
L. Daniel Jorndt | 801,387,857 | 96.8 | 26,399,586 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
William H. Kling | 801,255,726 | 96.8 | 26,531,717 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
John G. McDonald | 801,257,196 | 96.8 | 26,530,247 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
Bailey Morris-Eck | 801,437,688 | 96.8 | 26,349,755 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
Olin C. Robison | 801,366,681 | 96.8 | 26,420,762 | 3.2 | |||||||||||
Steven B. Sample | 801,536,033 | 96.8 | 26,251,410 | 3.2 |
Votes for | Percent of outstanding shares voting for | Votes against | Percent of outstanding shares voting against | Votes abstaining | Percent of outstanding shares abstaining | ||||||||||||||||||
To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization | 644,115,909 | 52.3 | % | 18,699,523 | 1.5 | % | 164,972,011 | † | 13.4 | % |
Votes for | Percent of shares voting for | Votes against | Percent of shares voting against | Votes abstaining | Percent of shares abstaining | ||||||||||||||||||
To update the fund’s fundamental investment policies regarding: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowing | 640,489,389 | 77.4 | % | 22,680,946 | 2.7 | % | 164,617,108 | † | 19.9 | % | |||||||||||||
Issuance of senior securities | 640,113,789 | 77.3 | 22,563,579 | 2.8 | 165,110,075 | † | 19.9 | ||||||||||||||||
Underwriting | 641,403,033 | 77.5 | 21,312,553 | 2.6 | 165,071,857 | † | 19.9 | ||||||||||||||||
Investments in real estate or commodities | 639,075,482 | 77.2 | 23,833,286 | 2.9 | 164,878,675 | † | 19.9 | ||||||||||||||||
Lending | 638,551,772 | 77.1 | 24,250,751 | 3.0 | 164,984,920 | † | 19.9 | ||||||||||||||||
Industry concentration | 641,268,769 | 77.4 | 21,211,466 | 2.6 | 165,307,208 | † | 20.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Elimination of certain policies | 638,158,584 | 77.1 | 23,499,459 | 2.8 | 166,129,400 | † | 20.1 | ||||||||||||||||
To approve a policy allowing CRMC to appoint subsidiary advisers for the fund’s day-to-day investment management without additional shareholder approval | 635,383,807 | 76.7 | 23,897,592 | 2.9 | 168,506,044 | † | 20.4 | ||||||||||||||||
To approve amendments to the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement with CRMC | 637,041,560 | 76.9 | 21,397,943 | 2.6 | 169,347,940 | † | 20.5 | ||||||||||||||||
To approve a form of Subsidiary Agreement and appointment of one or more subsidiary advisers for the fund | 635,741,713 | 76.8 | 22,903,200 | 2.8 | 169,142,530 | † | 20.4 | ||||||||||||||||
To consider a shareholder proposal regarding genocide-free investing | 69,725,904 | 10.3 | 577,228,206 | 84.8 | 33,649,252 | 4.9 | |||||||||||||||||
(broker non-votes = 147,184,081) |
* Martin Fenton did not stand for election at the Meeting of Shareholders because he plans to retire in December 2010. †Includes broker non-votes.
† Includes broker non-votes.
AMCAP Fund 35
Offices of the fund and of the investment adviser |
Capital Research and Management Company 333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406 |
6455 Irvine Center Drive Irvine, CA 92618 |
Custodian of assets |
JPMorgan Chase Bank 270 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017-2070 |
Transfer agent for shareholder accounts |
American Funds Service Company (Write to the address near you.) |
P.O. Box 6007 Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 |
P.O. Box 2280 Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 |
Counsel |
O’Melveny & Myers LLP 400 South Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071-2899 |
Independent registered public accounting firm |
Deloitte & Touche LLP 695 Town Center Drive Suite 1200 Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7188 |
Principal underwriter |
American Funds Distributors, Inc. 333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406 |
36 AMCAP Fund
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the American Funds. This and other important information is contained in the fund’s summary prospectus and prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at 800/421-0180 or visit the American Funds website at americanfunds.com.
“American Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Principles” — which describes how we vote proxies relating to portfolio securities — is available on the American Funds website or upon request by calling AFS. The fund files its proxy voting record with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the 12 months ended June 30 by August 31. The proxy voting record is available free of charge on the SEC website at sec.gov and on the American Funds website.
A complete February 28, 2010, portfolio of AMCAP Fund’s investments is available free of charge by calling AFS or visiting the SEC website (where it is part of Form N-CSR).
AMCAP Fund files a complete list of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website. You may also review or, for a fee, copy this filing at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Additional information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at 800/SEC-0330. Additionally, the list of portfolio holdings is available by calling AFS.
This report is for the information of shareholders of AMCAP Fund, but it also may be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current summary prospectus or prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after June 30, 2010, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.
American Funds® | The right choice for the long term® |
What makes American Funds different?
For nearly 80 years, we have followed a consistent philosophy to benefit our investors. Our 30 carefully conceived, broadly diversified funds, in addition to the target date retirement series, offer opportunities that have attracted over 50 million shareholder accounts.
Our unique combination of strengths includes these five factors:
§ | A long-term, value-oriented approach |
We seek to buy securities at reasonable prices relative to their prospects and hold them for the long term. | |
§ | An extensive global research effort |
Our investment professionals travel the world to find the best investment opportunities and gain a comprehensive understanding of companies and markets. | |
§ | The multiple portfolio counselor system |
Our unique approach to portfolio management, developed more than 50 years ago, blends teamwork with individual accountability and has provided American Funds with a sustainable method of achieving fund objectives. | |
§ | Experienced investment professionals |
American Funds portfolio counselors have an average of 26 years of investment experience, providing a depth of knowledge and broad perspective that few organizations have. | |
§ | A commitment to low management fees |
The American Funds provide exceptional value for shareholders, with management fees that are among the lowest in the mutual fund industry. |
American Funds span a range of investment objectives | |
n | Growth funds |
Emphasis on long-term growth through stocks | |
> | AMCAP Fund® |
EuroPacific Growth Fund® | |
The Growth Fund of America® | |
The New Economy Fund® | |
New Perspective Fund® | |
New World Fund® | |
SMALLCAP World Fund® | |
n | Growth-and-income funds |
Emphasis on long-term growth and dividends through stocks | |
American Mutual Fund® | |
Capital World Growth and Income FundSM | |
Fundamental InvestorsSM | |
International Growth and Income FundSM | |
The Investment Company of America® | |
Washington Mutual Investors FundSM | |
n | Equity-income funds |
Emphasis on above-average income and growth through stocks and/or bonds | |
Capital Income Builder® | |
The Income Fund of America® | |
n | Balanced fund |
Emphasis on long-term growth and current income through stocks and bonds | |
American Balanced Fund® | |
n | Bond funds |
Emphasis on current income through bonds | |
American High-Income TrustSM | |
The Bond Fund of AmericaSM | |
Capital World Bond Fund® | |
Intermediate Bond Fund of America® | |
Short-Term Bond Fund of AmericaSM | |
U.S. Government Securities FundSM | |
n | Tax-exempt bond funds |
Emphasis on tax-exempt current income through municipal bonds | |
American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond FundSM | |
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund® | |
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of AmericaSM | |
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America® | |
State-specific tax-exempt funds | |
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California® | |
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland® | |
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia® | |
n | Money market fund |
American Funds Money Market FundSM | |
n | American Funds Target Date Retirement Series® |
The Capital Group Companies | ||||
American Funds | Capital Research and Management | Capital International | Capital Guardian | Capital Bank and Trust |
Lit. No. MFGEAR-902-0410P Litho in USA AGD/LPT/8051-S20662 | Printed on paper containing 10% post-consumer waste Printed with inks containing soy and/or vegetable oil |
ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics
The Registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. The Registrant undertakes to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of the Code of Ethics. Such request can be made to American Funds Service Company at 800/421-0180 or to the Secretary of the Registrant, 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071.
ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Registrant’s board has determined that James G. Ellis, a member of the Registrant’s audit committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” and "independent," as such terms are defined in this Item. This designation will not increase the designee’s duties, obligations or liability as compared to his or her duties, obligations and liability as a member of the audit committee and of the board, nor will it reduce the responsibility of the other audit committee members. There may be other individuals who, through education or experience, would qualify as "audit committee financial experts" if the board had designated them as such. Most importantly, the board believes each member of the audit committee contributes significantly to the effective oversight of the Registrant’s financial statements and condition.
ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Registrant: | ||||
a) Audit Fees: | ||||
2009 | $74,000 | |||
2010 | $74,000 | |||
b) Audit-Related Fees: | ||||
2009 | $7,000 | |||
2010 | $6,000 | |||
The audit-related fees consist of assurance and related services relating to the examination of the Registrant’s investment adviser conducted in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards Number 70 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. | ||||
c) Tax Fees: | ||||
2009 | $7,000 | |||
2010 | $7,000 | |||
The tax fees consist of professional services relating to the preparation of the Registrant’s tax returns. | ||||
d) All Other Fees: | ||||
2009 | None | |||
2010 | None | |||
Adviser and affiliates (includes only fees for non-audit services billed to the adviser and affiliates for engagements that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant and were subject to the pre-approval policies described below): | ||||
a) Audit Fees: | ||||
Not Applicable | ||||
b) Audit-Related Fees: | ||||
2009 | $1,024,000 | |||
2010 | $907,000 | |||
The audit-related fees consist of assurance and related services relating to the examination of the Registrant’s transfer agent, principal underwriter and investment adviser conducted in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards Number 70 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. | ||||
c) Tax Fees: | ||||
2009 | $6,000 | |||
2010 | None | |||
The tax fees consist of consulting services relating to the Registrant’s investments. | ||||
d) All Other Fees: | ||||
2009 | $2,000 | |||
2010 | $2,000 | |||
The other fees consist of subscription services related to an accounting research tool. |
All audit and permissible non-audit services that the Registrant’s audit committee considers compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence are required to be pre-approved by the committee. The pre-approval requirement will extend to all non-audit services provided to the Registrant, the investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant. The committee will not delegate its responsibility to pre-approve these services to the investment adviser. The committee may delegate to one or more committee members the authority to review and pre-approve audit and permissible non-audit services. Actions taken under any such delegation will be reported to the full committee at its next meeting. The pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to non-audit services if certain conditions are met. The pre-approval requirement was not waived for any of the non-audit services listed above provided to the Registrant, adviser and affiliates.
Aggregate non-audit fees paid to the Registrant’s auditors, including fees for all services billed to the Registrant, adviser and affiliates that provide ongoing services to the Registrant, were $1,390,000 for fiscal year 2009 and $1,340,000 for fiscal year 2010. The non-audit services represented by these amounts were brought to the attention of the committee and considered to be compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence.
ITEM 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
ITEM 6 – Schedule of Investments
AMCAP Fund®
Investment portfolio
February 28, 2010
Common stocks — 91.89% | Shares | Value (000) | ||||||
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 27.33% | ||||||||
Microsoft Corp. | 20,295,000 | $ | 581,655 | |||||
Oracle Corp. | 18,420,000 | 454,053 | ||||||
Google Inc., Class A1 | 852,300 | 448,992 | ||||||
Accenture PLC, Class A | 10,060,000 | 402,098 | ||||||
Yahoo! Inc.1 | 21,395,000 | 327,557 | ||||||
Corning Inc. | 17,260,000 | 304,294 | ||||||
Hewlett-Packard Co. | 5,400,000 | 274,266 | ||||||
Cisco Systems, Inc.1 | 9,169,300 | 223,089 | ||||||
SAP AG | 4,850,000 | 216,482 | ||||||
Apple Inc.1 | 920,000 | 188,250 | ||||||
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | 3,900,000 | 162,279 | ||||||
MasterCard Inc., Class A | 675,000 | 151,450 | ||||||
Global Payments Inc. | 2,934,500 | 125,626 | ||||||
Intel Corp. | 6,000,000 | 123,180 | ||||||
QUALCOMM Inc. | 3,100,000 | 113,739 | ||||||
McAfee, Inc.1 | 2,800,000 | 111,132 | ||||||
Trimble Navigation Ltd.1 | 3,990,000 | 107,211 | ||||||
Autodesk, Inc.1 | 3,460,000 | 96,465 | ||||||
eBay Inc.1 | 4,050,000 | 93,231 | ||||||
NVIDIA Corp.1 | 5,400,000 | 87,480 | ||||||
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. | 4,645,000 | 86,025 | ||||||
Verifone Holdings, Inc.1 | 4,000,000 | 77,200 | ||||||
Xilinx, Inc. | 2,708,000 | 69,948 | ||||||
Visa Inc., Class A | 800,000 | 68,224 | ||||||
Texas Instruments Inc. | 2,460,000 | 59,975 | ||||||
Paychex, Inc. | 1,975,000 | 59,131 | ||||||
EMC Corp.1 | 3,150,000 | 55,092 | ||||||
Linear Technology Corp. | 1,500,000 | 40,755 | ||||||
Intersil Corp., Class A | 2,567,908 | 38,108 | ||||||
Delta Electronics, Inc. | 12,562,830 | 36,576 | ||||||
Logitech International SA1 | 2,081,556 | 32,431 | ||||||
HTC Corp. | 3,150,000 | 31,780 | ||||||
KLA-Tencor Corp. | 1,083,000 | 31,548 | ||||||
Intuit Inc.1 | 950,000 | 30,742 | ||||||
Altera Corp. | 818,000 | 19,984 | ||||||
Digital River, Inc.1 | 503,300 | 13,232 | ||||||
Applied Materials, Inc. | 1,057,000 | 12,938 | ||||||
FLIR Systems, Inc.1 | 334,800 | 8,976 | ||||||
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.1 | 796,400 | 4,539 | ||||||
5,369,733 | ||||||||
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 14.88% | ||||||||
Johnson Controls, Inc. | 10,239,000 | 318,433 | ||||||
Omnicom Group Inc. | 7,951,000 | 291,166 | ||||||
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 5,650,000 | 206,225 | ||||||
YUM! Brands, Inc. | 5,976,000 | 201,511 | ||||||
Harman International Industries, Inc.1,2 | 4,051,200 | 174,769 | ||||||
Staples, Inc. | 6,565,000 | 169,114 | ||||||
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. | 7,117,000 | 168,744 | ||||||
Apollo Group, Inc., Class A1 | 2,750,000 | 164,670 | ||||||
Time Warner Inc. | 5,133,333 | 149,072 | ||||||
Target Corp. | 2,650,000 | 136,528 | ||||||
Tractor Supply Co.1,2 | 2,025,000 | 110,808 | ||||||
Harley-Davidson, Inc. | 4,181,900 | 102,917 | ||||||
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.1 | 2,400,000 | 99,864 | ||||||
Time Warner Cable Inc. | 2,095,613 | 97,844 | ||||||
Comcast Corp., Class A, special nonvoting shares | 5,280,000 | 81,787 | ||||||
Carnival Corp., units | 2,225,200 | 80,018 | ||||||
News Corp., Class A | 5,000,000 | 66,850 | ||||||
Texas Roadhouse, Inc.1 | 4,457,200 | 59,860 | ||||||
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.1 | 1,475,000 | 57,968 | ||||||
McDonald’s Corp. | 700,000 | 44,695 | ||||||
Expedia, Inc.1 | 1,500,000 | 33,360 | ||||||
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 1,500,000 | 32,190 | ||||||
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc.1 | 700,000 | 29,708 | ||||||
NIKE, Inc., Class B | 400,000 | 27,040 | ||||||
Life Time Fitness, Inc.1 | 390,000 | 9,890 | ||||||
Timberland Co., Class A1 | 480,000 | 8,875 | ||||||
2,923,906 | ||||||||
INDUSTRIALS — 13.60% | ||||||||
Precision Castparts Corp. | 3,814,924 | 430,133 | ||||||
General Dynamics Corp. | 4,365,000 | 316,681 | ||||||
Union Pacific Corp. | 3,476,100 | 234,185 | ||||||
Robert Half International Inc. | 7,359,000 | 205,316 | ||||||
United Technologies Corp. | 2,850,000 | 195,652 | ||||||
CSX Corp. | 3,801,500 | 180,419 | ||||||
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 2,820,000 | 165,647 | ||||||
Manpower Inc. | 2,606,000 | 134,261 | ||||||
Copart, Inc.1 | 2,900,000 | 103,472 | ||||||
Southwest Airlines Co. | 7,385,000 | 92,903 | ||||||
SGS SA | 60,000 | 80,395 | ||||||
General Electric Co. | 5,000,000 | 80,300 | ||||||
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A | 1,660,000 | 75,646 | ||||||
Serco Group PLC | 8,358,000 | 70,530 | ||||||
FedEx Corp. | 790,000 | 66,960 | ||||||
Gardner Denver, Inc. | 1,368,600 | 59,685 | ||||||
MITIE Group PLC | 14,578,000 | 50,297 | ||||||
MITIE Group PLC3 | 2,578,000 | 8,895 | ||||||
Rockwell Collins, Inc. | 950,000 | 53,466 | ||||||
Mine Safety Appliances Co. | 810,000 | 20,566 | ||||||
Iron Mountain Inc.1 | 685,000 | 17,728 | ||||||
Cintas Corp. | 680,000 | 16,857 | ||||||
Landstar System, Inc. | 300,000 | 11,967 | ||||||
2,671,961 | ||||||||
HEALTH CARE — 11.02% | ||||||||
Medtronic, Inc. | 9,970,000 | 432,698 | ||||||
McKesson Corp. | 4,600,000 | 272,090 | ||||||
Hologic, Inc.1 | 12,001,100 | 207,019 | ||||||
Roche Holding AG | 865,000 | 144,597 | ||||||
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.1 | 2,000,000 | 126,480 | ||||||
Abbott Laboratories | 2,000,000 | 108,560 | ||||||
Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc.1 | 4,606,300 | 104,793 | ||||||
Beckman Coulter, Inc. | 1,565,100 | 102,608 | ||||||
Aetna Inc. | 3,379,100 | 101,339 | ||||||
Becton, Dickinson and Co. | 1,200,000 | 93,444 | ||||||
UnitedHealth Group Inc. | 2,500,000 | 84,650 | ||||||
Merck & Co., Inc. | 1,931,945 | 71,250 | ||||||
Myriad Genetics, Inc.1 | 2,847,009 | 65,481 | ||||||
Allergan, Inc. | 780,000 | 45,576 | ||||||
ResMed Inc.1 | 690,000 | 39,385 | ||||||
Cochlear Ltd. | 600,000 | 34,118 | ||||||
Johnson & Johnson | 500,000 | 31,500 | ||||||
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc.1 | 787,000 | 30,709 | ||||||
Amgen Inc.1 | 377,700 | 21,382 | ||||||
Boston Scientific Corp.1 | 2,547,890 | 19,721 | ||||||
Illumina, Inc.1 | 420,000 | 15,254 | ||||||
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.1 | 300,000 | 11,940 | ||||||
2,164,594 | ||||||||
FINANCIALS — 7.61% | ||||||||
Capital One Financial Corp. | 6,000,000 | 226,500 | ||||||
State Street Corp. | 4,852,200 | 217,912 | ||||||
Wells Fargo & Co. | 7,479,600 | 204,492 | ||||||
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. | 7,136,000 | 203,519 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 3,950,000 | 165,782 | ||||||
American Express Co. | 3,500,000 | 133,665 | ||||||
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | 3,525,000 | 83,648 | ||||||
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. | 1,250,000 | 67,687 | ||||||
Zions Bancorporation | 3,487,000 | 64,649 | ||||||
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.1,2 | 990,600 | 52,829 | ||||||
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 795,000 | 42,739 | ||||||
Northern Trust Corp. | 620,000 | 33,040 | ||||||
1,496,462 | ||||||||
ENERGY — 6.61% | ||||||||
Schlumberger Ltd. | 5,440,000 | 332,384 | ||||||
EOG Resources, Inc. | 1,667,900 | 156,866 | ||||||
FMC Technologies, Inc.1 | 2,420,000 | 135,932 | ||||||
Apache Corp. | 1,300,000 | 134,732 | ||||||
Baker Hughes Inc. | 2,469,300 | 118,329 | ||||||
Chevron Corp. | 1,100,000 | 79,530 | ||||||
Devon Energy Corp. | 1,100,000 | 75,746 | ||||||
ConocoPhillips | 1,363,000 | 65,424 | ||||||
Marathon Oil Corp. | 2,240,000 | 64,848 | ||||||
Smith International, Inc. | 900,000 | 36,891 | ||||||
Murphy Oil Corp. | 700,000 | 36,330 | ||||||
BJ Services Co. | 1,000,000 | 21,850 | ||||||
BG Group PLC | 1,180,000 | 20,599 | ||||||
Hess Corp. | 313,000 | 18,404 | ||||||
1,297,865 | ||||||||
CONSUMER STAPLES — 4.54% | ||||||||
PepsiCo, Inc. | 3,042,481 | 190,064 | ||||||
CVS/Caremark Corp. | 5,500,000 | 185,625 | ||||||
L’Oréal SA | 1,450,000 | 150,187 | ||||||
Philip Morris International Inc. | 2,500,000 | 122,450 | ||||||
Avon Products, Inc. | 2,950,000 | 89,798 | ||||||
Walgreen Co. | 2,000,000 | 70,480 | ||||||
Whole Foods Market, Inc.1 | 1,350,000 | 47,911 | ||||||
Altria Group, Inc. | 1,750,000 | 35,210 | ||||||
891,725 | ||||||||
MATERIALS — 2.05% | ||||||||
Barrick Gold Corp. | 2,500,000 | 94,150 | ||||||
AptarGroup, Inc. | 2,100,000 | 80,913 | ||||||
Monsanto Co. | 1,056,003 | 74,607 | ||||||
Ecolab Inc. | 1,560,000 | 65,738 | ||||||
Vulcan Materials Co. | 1,450,000 | 62,944 | ||||||
AK Steel Holding Corp. | 784,400 | 16,888 | ||||||
Praxair, Inc. | 95,431 | 7,171 | ||||||
402,411 | ||||||||
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 0.44% | ||||||||
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., special common shares | 1,658,400 | 47,082 | ||||||
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. | 390,900 | 12,200 | ||||||
United States Cellular Corp.1 | 734,300 | 26,897 | ||||||
86,179 | ||||||||
MISCELLANEOUS — 3.81% | ||||||||
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition | 749,045 | |||||||
Total common stocks (cost: $14,759,597,000) | 18,053,881 | |||||||
Convertible securities — 0.00% | ||||||||
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 0.00% | ||||||||
Johnson Controls, Inc. 11.50% convertible preferred 2012, units | 4,600 | 722 | ||||||
Total convertible securities (cost: $230,000) | 722 | |||||||
Principal amount | ||||||||
Short-term securities — 8.00% | (000 | ) | ||||||
Fannie Mae 0.085%–0.35% due 3/24–10/4/2010 | $ | 385,721 | 385,589 | |||||
Freddie Mac 0.12%–0.435% due 4/7–9/1/2010 | 258,300 | 258,176 | ||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank 0.08%–0.14% due 3/3–5/21/2010 | 253,500 | 253,469 | ||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills 0.085%–0.28% due 3/25–8/26/2010 | 225,600 | 225,519 | ||||||
Jupiter Securitization Co., LLC 0.13%–0.19% due 3/1–5/12/20103 | 92,600 | 92,552 | ||||||
Ranger Funding Co. LLC 0.17% due 4/20/20103 | 25,000 | 24,994 | ||||||
Enterprise Funding Co. LLC 0.17% due 3/18/20103 | 11,700 | 11,699 | ||||||
Bank of America Corp. 0.18% due 4/12/2010 | 7,900 | 7,898 | ||||||
Walt Disney Co. 0.12%–0.14% due 3/8–4/6/20103 | 41,200 | 41,196 | ||||||
Coca-Cola Co. 0.17%–0.19% due 3/15–6/21/20103 | 36,161 | 36,147 | ||||||
Procter & Gamble International Funding S.C.A. 0.10% due 3/16/20103 | 30,000 | 29,999 | ||||||
Harvard University 0.12% due 3/19/2010 | 27,234 | 27,232 | ||||||
John Deere Credit Ltd. 0.11% due 3/2/20103 | 25,800 | 25,800 | ||||||
Hewlett-Packard Co. 0.10% due 3/19/20103 | 25,500 | 25,499 | ||||||
Private Export Funding Corp. 0.13% due 4/28/20103 | 25,100 | 25,094 | ||||||
Paccar Financial Corp. 0.15%–0.16% due 3/25–4/15/2010 | 23,450 | 23,446 | ||||||
Straight-A Funding LLC 0.14% due 3/22/20103 | 23,000 | 22,998 | ||||||
NetJets Inc. 0.13% due 4/19/20103 | 20,400 | 20,396 | ||||||
Johnson & Johnson 0.12% due 3/18/20103 | 19,500 | 19,499 | ||||||
General Electric Capital Services, Inc. 0.23% due 5/7/2010 | 8,200 | 8,197 | ||||||
Emerson Electric Co. 0.10% due 3/24/20103 | 5,377 | 5,377 | ||||||
Total short-term securities (cost: $1,570,680,000) | $ | 1,570,776 | ||||||
Total investment securities (cost: $16,330,507,000) | 19,625,379 | |||||||
Other assets less liabilities | 22,225 | |||||||
Net assets | $ | 19,647,604 |
"Miscellaneous" securities include holdings in their initial period of acquisition that have not previously been publicly disclosed.
1Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
2Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
3Purchased in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. May be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of all such securities was $390,145,000, which represented 1.99% of the net assets of the fund.
Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so you may lose money.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the American Funds. This and other important information is contained in the fund’s summary prospectus and prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at 800/421-0180 or visit the American Funds website at americanfunds.com.
MFGEFP-902-0410O-S21507
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
AMCAP Fund, Inc.:
We have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the financial statements of AMCAP Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) as of February 28, 2010, and for the year then ended and have issued our report thereon dated April 6, 2010, which report and financial statements are included in Item 1 of this Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR. Our audit also included the Fund’s investment portfolio (the “Schedule”) as of February 28, 2010, appearing in Item 6 of this Form N-CSR. This Schedule is the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audit. In our opinion, the Schedule referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole of the Fund referred to above, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Costa Mesa, California
April 6, 2010
ITEM 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.
ITEM 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.
ITEM 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers
Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.
ITEM 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of directors since the Registrant last submitted a proxy statement to its shareholders. The procedures are as follows. The Registrant has a nominating and governance committee comprised solely of persons who are not considered ‘‘interested persons’’ of the Registrant within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The committee periodically reviews such issues as the board’s composition, responsibilities, committees, compensation and other relevant issues, and recommends any appropriate changes to the full board of directors. While the committee normally is able to identify from its own resources an ample number of qualified candidates, it will consider shareholder suggestions of persons to be considered as nominees to fill future vacancies on the board. Such suggestions must be sent in writing to the nominating and governance committee of the Registrant, c/o the Registrant’s Secretary, and must be accompanied by complete biographical and occupational data on the prospective nominee, along with a written consent of the prospective nominee for consideration of his or her name by the nominating and governance committee.
ITEM 11 – Controls and Procedures
(a) | The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940), that such controls and procedures are adequate and reasonably designed to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (c) of such rule. |
(b) | There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the Registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
ITEM 12 – Exhibits
(a)(1) | The Code of Ethics that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 is attached as an exhibit hereto. |
(a)(2) | The certifications required by Rule 30a-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as exhibits hereto. |
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.
AMCAP FUND, INC. | |
By /s/ Claudia P. Huntington | |
Claudia P. Huntington, Vice Chairman and Principal Executive Officer | |
Date: April 30, 2010 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By /s/ Claudia P. Huntington |
Claudia P. Huntington, Vice Chairman and Principal Executive Officer |
Date: April 30, 2010 |
By /s/ Karl C. Grauman |
Karl C. Grauman, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
Date: April 30, 2010 |