Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund
Period
Ended March 31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Fund Statistics |
|
Net Asset Value (NAV) |
$5.46 |
Market Price |
$5.28 |
Discount |
-3.3% |
|
1st
Quarter 2023 |
Distribution* |
$0.11 |
Market Price Trading Range |
$4.90 to $5.62 |
Discount Range |
-2.8% to -5.8% |
Performance |
|
Shares
Valued at NAV with Dividends Reinvested |
6.55% |
Shares
Valued at Market Price with Dividends Reinvested |
9.31% |
Dow
Jones Industrial Average |
0.93% |
Lipper
Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Average |
11.35% |
NASDAQ
Composite Index |
17.05% |
Russell
Growth Benchmark |
10.27% |
S&P
500® Index |
7.50% |
* | Sources
of distributions to shareholders may include ordinary dividends, long-term capital gains
and return of capital. The final determination of the source of all distributions in
2023 for tax reporting purposes will be made after year end. The actual amounts and sources
of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment
experience during its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations.
Based on current estimates a portion of the distribution consists of a return of capital.
Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, the taxability of this distribution
will be reported on Form 1099-DIV for 2023. |
Performance
returns for the Fund are total returns, which include dividends. Returns are net of management fees and other Fund expenses.
The
return shown for the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Average is based on open-end mutual funds’ total returns, which
include dividends, and are net of fund expenses. Returns for the unmanaged Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ Composite Index,
the Russell Growth Benchmark and the S&P 500® Index are total returns, including dividends. A description of
the Lipper benchmark and the market indices can be found on page 17.
Past
performance cannot predict future results. Performance will fluctuate with market conditions. Current performance may be lower
or higher than the performance data shown. Performance information does not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders would
pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. An investment in the Fund involves risk, including loss of principal.
Closed-end
funds raise money in an initial public offering and shares are listed and traded on an exchange. Open-end mutual funds continuously
issue and redeem shares at net asset value. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The
price of the Fund’s shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the Fund. Therefore,
the Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value.
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund |
President’s
Letter |
(Unaudited)
Fellow Shareholders: |
April
2023 |
Headlines
from the first quarter held all the potential needed for a setback in equity markets: stubbornly high inflation and continued
interest rate increases capped off by a banking crisis. As events played out, however, stocks proved to be resilient and delivered
positive returns for investors to start the year.
The
S&P 500® Index occupied the middle ground with a return of 7.50 percent for the period, a result bracketed
by returns of 0.93 percent for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and 17.05 percent for the NASDAQ Composite Index. The NASDAQ
advantage over the DJIA was the widest since the fourth quarter 2001, and it was the NASDAQ’s best three-month period since
the second quarter of 2020.
The
quarter was highly volatile. January opened on a positive note with what was called a “Goldilocks jobs report”—solid
hiring but slower wage growth. That was followed by CPI data showing inflation slowing from a 7.1 percent annual rate in November
to 6.5 percent in December. Retail sales softened and producer prices eased. Next, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure
of inflation—the core personal consumption expenditures price index, or PCE, which strips out food and energy—slowed
to its lowest annual rate in more than a year. Technology stocks, in particular, were bolstered by the prospect of a pause to
interest rate hikes, with the NASDAQ posting its best opening month performance since 2001.
The
rally came to an abrupt halt in early February. The Fed increased the fed funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4.50 to
4.75 percent and signaled more increases would be coming. That move was expected; what surprised was an increase of 517,000 in
January payrolls versus an estimate of 189,000 and a drop in the unemployment rate to 3.4 percent, the lowest since May 1969.
Stocks promptly sold off, opening a period in which the DJIA declined for three straight weeks. The selling culminated during
the week of February 20, when the S&P 500®, DJIA and NASDAQ were all down in a range of 2.7 to 3.3 percent.
Softer employment data filtered in during early March and bond yields eased, taking pressure off stocks—both factors serving
to bolster investor sentiment and lead to a rebound to start the month.
Markets
were soon roiled by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the biggest bank failure since 2008, raising doubts about the health
of the banking sector overall. SVB, a prominent financial institution for start-ups, was put under the control of the FDIC and
within days was purchased out of receivership by First Citizens Bank. The collapse was the second-biggest bank failure in U.S.
history. Although this event would be followed by another failure, Signature Bank, as well as a takeover in Europe of Credit Suisse
by UBS, forceful action by regulators staunched the possibility of a systemic banking crisis. Much of the banks’ problem
was seen as stemming from the Federal Reserve’s rapid interest rate increases, which took the fed funds rate from near zero
in early 2022 to a range of 4.75 to 5.00 percent after another 25-basis-point increase in latter March. With confidence restored,
the bond market holding steady and mildly positive economic news, both March and the quarter closed in positive territory.
Growth
stocks outperformed value stocks for the quarter, the broad market Russell 3000® Growth Index returning 13.85 percent,
strongly outperforming the 0.91 percent return of its value counterpart. Growth stocks also outperformed value across the capitalization
spectrum of small-, mid- and large-cap stocks.
First Quarter Report (Unaudited)
| March 31, 2023 |
1 |
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund |
President’s
Letter |
(Unaudited)
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund
Liberty
All-Star Growth Fund generally lagged the returns of key benchmarks in the first quarter. The Fund returned 6.55 percent when
shares are valued at net asset value (NAV) with dividends reinvested and 9.31 percent when shares are valued at market price with
dividends reinvested. (Fund returns are net of expenses.) Both measures of return trailed the Fund’s primary benchmark,
the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Average, which advanced 11.35 percent. Fund returns were also lower than the 10.27 percent
return of the Russell Growth Benchmark. Fund returns were mixed compared with the S&P 500® Index—the
NAV return trailing and the market price return leading—while both returns were ahead of the DJIA but behind the NASDAQ.
In
terms of performance attribution, the quarter was dominated by mega-cap growth stocks, leaving behind small- and mid-cap names
as well as many large-cap stocks. For example, the Russell Top 200® Growth Index returned 15.60 percent versus
9.14 percent for the Russell Midcap® Growth Index and 6.07 percent for the small-cap index. The Fund tends to
be more diversified and has a moderate tilt toward mid- and smaller-cap stocks. The Fund had very little exposure to regional
bank stocks, which suffered in the March bank sell-off.
During
the first quarter, Fund shares traded at a discount to their underlying NAV. The range extended from -2.8 percent to -5.8 percent
whereas in the fourth quarter of 2022 the range extended from a 1.3 percent premium to a -6.0 percent discount.
In
accordance with the Fund’s distribution policy, the Fund paid a distribution of $0.11 to shareholders during the first quarter,
bringing the total distributed to shareholders since 1997, when the distribution policy commenced, to $16.61 per share. The Fund’s
distribution policy is a major component of the Fund's total return, and we continue to emphasize that shareholders should include
these distributions when determining the total return on their investment in the Fund.
As
communicated in the 2022 Annual Report, William “Bill” Parmentier has retired after serving as President of the Fund
for 24 years. The Fund’s Board of Directors named me to succeed Bill and voted to officially confirm my appointment, effective
April 3. I previously served as Senior Vice President and have been with the Fund for nearly 30 years. This facilitated a smooth
transition while I continue to work closely with a dedicated and experienced team of professionals, all of whom share our core
value of serving Fund shareholders and their best interests. I look forward to reporting to you as we carry on the process of
managing the Fund as a diversified all-cap growth portfolio for long-term investors.
Sincerely,
Mark
T. Haley, CFA
President
Liberty
All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.
The
views expressed in the President’s letter reflect the views of the President as of April 2023 and may not reflect his views
on the date this report is first published or anytime thereafter. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly
from the views expressed. These views are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and the
Fund disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment
decisions for the Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent.
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund |
Table
of Distributions,
Rights Offerings and Distribution Policy |
(Unaudited)
|
|
Rights Offerings |
Year |
Per
Share
Distributions |
Month
Completed |
Shares
Needed to Purchase
One Additional Share |
Subscription
Price |
1997 |
$1.24 |
|
|
|
1998 |
1.35 |
July |
10 |
$12.41 |
1999 |
1.23 |
|
|
|
2000 |
1.34 |
|
|
|
2001 |
0.92 |
September |
8 |
6.64 |
2002 |
0.67 |
|
|
|
2003 |
0.58 |
September |
81 |
5.72 |
2004 |
0.63 |
|
|
|
2005 |
0.58 |
|
|
|
2006 |
0.59 |
|
|
|
2007 |
0.61 |
|
|
|
2008 |
0.47 |
|
|
|
20092 |
0.24 |
|
|
|
2010 |
0.25 |
|
|
|
2011 |
0.27 |
|
|
|
2012 |
0.27 |
|
|
|
2013 |
0.31 |
|
|
|
2014 |
0.33 |
|
|
|
20153 |
0.77 |
|
|
|
2016 |
0.36 |
|
|
|
2017 |
0.42 |
|
|
|
2018 |
0.46 |
November |
3 |
4.81 |
2019 |
0.46 |
|
|
|
2020 |
0.63 |
March |
5 |
4.34 |
2021 |
1.02 |
June |
51 |
8.21 |
2022 |
0.50 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
|
1st
Quarter |
0.11 |
|
|
|
Total |
$16.61 |
|
|
|
1 | The
number of shares offered was increased by an additional 25 percent to cover a portion
of the over-subscription requests. |
2 | Effective
with the second quarter distribution, the annual distribution rate was changed from 10
percent to 6 percent. |
3 | Effective
with the second quarter distribution, the annual distribution rate was changed from 6
percent to 8 percent. |
DISTRIBUTION
POLICY
The
current policy is to pay distributions on its shares totaling approximately 8 percent of its net asset value per year, payable
in four quarterly installments of 2 percent of the Fund’s net asset value at the close of the New York Stock Exchange on
the Friday prior to each quarterly declaration date. Sources of distributions to shareholders may include ordinary dividends,
long-term capital gains and return of capital. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2023 for tax reporting
purposes will be made after year end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon
the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations.
If a distribution includes anything other than net investment income, the Fund provides a Section 19(a) notice of the best estimate
of its distribution sources at that time. These estimates may not match the final tax characterization (for the full year’s
distributions) contained in shareholder 1099-DIV forms after the end of the year. If the Fund’s ordinary dividends and long-term
capital gains for any year exceed the amount distributed under the distribution policy, the Fund may, in its discretion, retain
and not distribute capital gains and pay income tax thereon to the extent of such excess.
First Quarter Report (Unaudited)
| March 31, 2023 |
3 |
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund |
Top 20
Holdings & Economic Sectors |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Top
20 Holdings* |
Percent
of Net Assets |
SPS
Commerce, Inc. |
2.60% |
Microsoft
Corp. |
1.92 |
Amazon.com,
Inc. |
1.92 |
FirstService
Corp. |
1.80 |
Casella
Waste Systems, Inc. |
1.80 |
Visa,
Inc. |
1.71 |
Progyny,
Inc. |
1.54 |
Workday,
Inc. |
1.45 |
Deckers
Outdoor Corp. |
1.43 |
MSCI,
Inc. |
1.42 |
Planet
Fitness, Inc. |
1.39 |
Alphabet,
Inc. |
1.34 |
Danaher
Corp. |
1.33 |
S&P
Global, Inc. |
1.33 |
SiteOne
Landscape Supply, Inc. |
1.32 |
UnitedHealth
Group, Inc. |
1.32 |
Thermo
Fisher Scientific, Inc. |
1.30 |
Intuit,
Inc. |
1.26 |
Yum!
Brands, Inc. |
1.25 |
Aon
PLC |
1.24 |
|
30.67% |
Economic
Sectors* |
Percent
of Net Assets |
Information
Technology |
24.30% |
Health
Care |
19.65 |
Consumer
Discretionary |
15.28 |
Industrials |
12.32 |
Financials |
11.20 |
Materials |
3.94 |
Real
Estate |
3.88 |
Communication
Services |
3.18 |
Consumer
Staples |
2.58 |
Energy |
1.75 |
Other
Net Assets |
1.92 |
|
100.00% |
* | Because
the Fund is actively managed, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will continue to
hold securities of the indicated issuers and sectors in the future. |
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund |
Stock Changes in the Quarter |
(Unaudited)
The
following are the largest ($2 million or more) stock changes - both purchases and sales - that were made in the Fund’s portfolio
during the first quarter of 2023.
|
Shares |
Security
Name |
Purchases
(Sales) |
Held
as of 3/31/23 |
Purchases |
|
|
BJ's Wholesale Club
Holdings, Inc. |
32,500 |
32,500 |
Darden Restaurants,
Inc. |
20,000 |
20,000 |
Flywire Corp. |
95,577 |
117,129 |
ServiceNow, Inc. |
5,974 |
5,974 |
WillScot Mobile Mini
Holdings Corp. |
55,000 |
55,000 |
Sales |
|
|
Horizon Therapeutics
Plc |
(25,000) |
0 |
McCormick & Co.,
Inc. |
(35,000) |
0 |
First Quarter Report (Unaudited)
| March 31, 2023 |
5 |
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund |
Investment
Managers/
Portfolio Characteristics |
(Unaudited)
THE
FUND’S THREE GROWTH INVESTMENT MANAGERS
AND
THE MARKET CAPITALIZATION ON WHICH EACH FOCUSES:
ALPS
Advisors, Inc., the investment advisor to the Fund, has the ultimate authority (subject to oversight by the Board of Directors)
to oversee the investment managers and recommend their hiring, termination and replacement.
MANAGERS’
DIFFERING INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
ARE
REFLECTED IN PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS
The
portfolio characteristics table below is a regular feature of the Fund’s shareholder reports. It serves as a useful tool
for understanding the value of the Fund’s multi-managed portfolio. The characteristics are different for each of the Fund’s
three investment managers. These differences are a reflection of the fact that each has a different capitalization focus and investment
strategy. The shaded column highlights the characteristics of the Fund as a whole, while the first three columns show portfolio
characteristics for the Russell Smallcap, Midcap and Largecap Growth indices. See page 17 for a description of these indices.
PORTFOLIO
CHARACTERISTICS As of March 31, 2023 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
Market Capitalization
Spectrum |
|
|
|
Russell
Growth |
Small |
|
Large |
|
|
Smallcap |
Midcap |
Largecap |
|
Total |
|
Index |
Index |
Index |
Weatherbie |
Congress |
Sustainable |
Fund |
Number of Holdings |
1,095 |
397 |
509 |
50 |
40 |
29 |
118* |
Percent of Holdings in Top 10 |
6% |
13% |
45% |
49% |
30% |
43% |
18% |
Weighted Average Market |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalization (billions) |
$3.4 |
$26.5 |
$820.0 |
$3.6 |
$15.8 |
$339.2 |
$127.2 |
Average Five-Year Earnings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per Share Growth |
17% |
21% |
21% |
22% |
21% |
18% |
20% |
Average Five-Year Sales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per Share Growth |
10% |
14% |
15% |
10% |
12% |
14% |
12% |
Price/Earnings Ratio** |
16x |
25x |
28x |
42x |
22x |
33x |
29x |
* | Certain
holdings are held by more than one manager. |
** | Excludes
negative earnings. |
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
Schedule of Investments |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
| |
SHARES | | |
VALUE | |
COMMON STOCKS (98.08%) | |
| | | |
| | |
COMMUNICATION SERVICES (3.18%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Entertainment (1.77%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Netflix, Inc.(a) | |
| 9,269 | | |
$ | 3,202,254 | |
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.(a) | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 2,386,000 | |
| |
| | | |
| 5,588,254 | |
Interactive Media & Services (1.33%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(a) | |
| 40,479 | | |
| 4,209,816 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Media (0.08%) | |
| | | |
| | |
TechTarget, Inc.(a) | |
| 6,640 | | |
| 239,837 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (15.28%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Broadline Retail (2.36%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(a) | |
| 58,607 | | |
| 6,053,517 | |
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.(a) | |
| 24,072 | | |
| 1,394,732 | |
| |
| | | |
| 7,448,249 | |
Distributors (0.76%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Pool Corp. | |
| 7,000 | | |
| 2,397,080 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Diversified Consumer Services (0.74%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Chegg, Inc.(a) | |
| 142,730 | | |
| 2,326,499 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (5.74%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Choice Hotels International, Inc. | |
| 22,500 | | |
| 2,636,775 | |
Darden Restaurants, Inc. | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 3,103,200 | |
Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A(a) | |
| 56,383 | | |
| 4,379,268 | |
Starbucks Corp. | |
| 31,342 | | |
| 3,263,643 | |
Wingstop, Inc. | |
| 4,178 | | |
| 766,997 | |
Yum! Brands, Inc. | |
| 29,892 | | |
| 3,948,135 | |
| |
| | | |
| 18,098,018 | |
Leisure Products (0.07%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Latham Group, Inc.(a) | |
| 73,068 | | |
| 208,974 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Specialty Retail (4.10%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.(a) | |
| 15,000 | | |
| 3,150,000 | |
Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A(a) | |
| 30,500 | | |
| 2,995,710 | |
MYT Netherlands Parent BV(a)(b)(c) | |
| 61,705 | | |
| 433,786 | |
National Vision Holdings, Inc.(a) | |
| 4,085 | | |
| 76,961 | |
Ulta Beauty, Inc.(a) | |
| 7,000 | | |
| 3,819,690 | |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 2,433,200 | |
| |
| | | |
| 12,909,347 | |
See Notes
to Schedule of Investments.
First Quarter Report (Unaudited)
| March 31, 2023 |
7 |
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund |
Schedule
of Investments |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
| |
SHARES | | |
VALUE | |
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |
| | | |
| | |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.51%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Canada Goose Holdings, Inc.(a)(c) | |
| 13,816 | | |
$ | 265,958 | |
Deckers Outdoor Corp.(a) | |
| 10,000 | | |
| 4,495,500 | |
| |
| | | |
| 4,761,458 | |
CONSUMER STAPLES (2.58%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail (1.74%) | |
| | | |
| | |
BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.(a) | |
| 32,500 | | |
| 2,472,275 | |
Dollar General Corp. | |
| 14,325 | | |
| 3,014,840 | |
| |
| | | |
| 5,487,115 | |
Household Products (0.84%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 2,652,300 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
ENERGY (1.75%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Energy Equipment & Services (1.75%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Core Laboratories NV | |
| 158,700 | | |
| 3,499,335 | |
Dril-Quip, Inc.(a) | |
| 70,199 | | |
| 2,014,009 | |
| |
| | | |
| 5,513,344 | |
FINANCIALS (11.20%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Banks (0.14%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Axos Financial, Inc.(a) | |
| 6,656 | | |
| 245,739 | |
Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida | |
| 8,431 | | |
| 199,815 | |
| |
| | | |
| 445,554 | |
Capital Markets (5.27%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A | |
| 43,413 | | |
| 3,211,694 | |
MSCI, Inc. | |
| 7,977 | | |
| 4,464,647 | |
Raymond James Financial, Inc. | |
| 22,500 | | |
| 2,098,575 | |
S&P Global, Inc. | |
| 12,187 | | |
| 4,201,712 | |
StepStone Group, Inc., Class A | |
| 108,276 | | |
| 2,627,858 | |
| |
| | | |
| 16,604,486 | |
Consumer Finance (0.92%) | |
| | | |
| | |
American Express Co. | |
| 17,090 | | |
| 2,818,995 | |
Upstart Holdings, Inc.(a)(c) | |
| 5,659 | | |
| 89,922 | |
| |
| | | |
| 2,908,917 | |
Financial Services (3.62%) | |
| | | |
| | |
FleetCor Technologies, Inc.(a) | |
| 12,196 | | |
| 2,571,527 | |
Flywire Corp.(a) | |
| 117,129 | | |
| 3,438,907 | |
Visa, Inc., Class A | |
| 23,893 | | |
| 5,386,916 | |
| |
| | | |
| 11,397,350 | |
Insurance (1.25%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Aon PLC, Class A | |
| 12,438 | | |
| 3,921,577 | |
See
Notes to Schedule of Investments.
Liberty
All-Star® Growth Fund |
Schedule
of Investments |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |
SHARES | | |
VALUE | |
HEALTH CARE (19.65%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Biotechnology (2.94%) | |
| | | |
| | |
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | |
| 78,093 | | |
$ | 1,469,710 | |
Natera, Inc.(a) | |
| 20,895 | | |
| 1,160,091 | |
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.(a) | |
| 22,500 | | |
| 2,277,450 | |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | |
| 4,055 | | |
| 3,331,872 | |
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a) | |
| 25,642 | | |
| 1,028,244 | |
| |
| | | |
| 9,267,367 | |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (6.40%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Cooper Cos., Inc. | |
| 8,500 | | |
| 3,173,560 | |
Glaukos Corp.(a) | |
| 67,743 | | |
| 3,393,924 | |
Inmode, Ltd.(a) | |
| 19,951 | | |
| 637,634 | |
Inogen, Inc.(a) | |
| 49,267 | | |
| 614,852 | |
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.(a) | |
| 6,213 | | |
| 1,454,277 | |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a) | |
| 13,457 | | |
| 3,437,860 | |
Nevro Corp.(a) | |
| 51,527 | | |
| 1,862,701 | |
ResMed, Inc. | |
| 12,500 | | |
| 2,737,375 | |
STERIS PLC | |
| 14,000 | | |
| 2,677,920 | |
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.(a) | |
| 3,726 | | |
| 151,313 | |
| |
| | | |
| 20,141,416 | |
Health Care Providers & Services (3.93%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Agiliti, Inc.(a)(c) | |
| 133,167 | | |
| 2,128,009 | |
Progyny, Inc.(a) | |
| 150,850 | | |
| 4,845,302 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | |
| 8,774 | | |
| 4,146,505 | |
US Physical Therapy, Inc. | |
| 12,951 | | |
| 1,268,032 | |
| |
| | | |
| 12,387,848 | |
Health Care Technology (0.37%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Definitive Healthcare Corp.(a) | |
| 113,099 | | |
| 1,168,313 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Life Sciences Tools & Services (6.01%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.(a) | |
| 10,500 | | |
| 2,119,110 | |
Danaher Corp. | |
| 16,687 | | |
| 4,205,791 | |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc.(a) | |
| 14,993 | | |
| 2,981,958 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.(a) | |
| 1,700 | | |
| 2,601,357 | |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | |
| 7,093 | | |
| 4,088,192 | |
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | |
| 8,500 | | |
| 2,944,995 | |
| |
| | | |
| 18,941,403 | |
INDUSTRIALS (12.32%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Aerospace & Defense (0.23%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.(a) | |
| 54,730 | | |
| 737,760 | |
See
Notes to Schedule of Investments.
First Quarter Report (Unaudited)
| March 31, 2023 |
9 |
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
Schedule
of Investments |
March 31,
2023 (Unaudited)
| |
SHARES | | |
VALUE | |
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |
| | | |
| | |
Building Products (0.87%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Masco Corp. | |
| 55,000 | | |
$ | 2,734,600 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Commercial Services & Supplies (3.85%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., Class A(a) | |
| 68,433 | | |
| 5,656,672 | |
Copart, Inc.(a) | |
| 35,000 | | |
| 2,632,350 | |
Montrose Environmental Group, Inc.(a) | |
| 107,790 | | |
| 3,844,869 | |
| |
| | | |
| 12,133,891 | |
Construction & Engineering (1.99%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Ameresco, Inc., Class A(a) | |
| 17,053 | | |
| 839,349 | |
EMCOR Group, Inc. | |
| 17,500 | | |
| 2,845,325 | |
WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.(a) | |
| 55,000 | | |
| 2,578,400 | |
| |
| | | |
| 6,263,074 | |
Ground Transportation (1.18%) | |
| | | |
| | |
RXO, Inc.(a) | |
| 50,783 | | |
| 997,378 | |
Saia, Inc.(a) | |
| 10,000 | | |
| 2,720,800 | |
| |
| | | |
| 3,718,178 | |
Machinery (1.03%) | |
| | | |
| | |
IDEX Corp. | |
| 14,000 | | |
| 3,234,420 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Professional Services (0.73%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | |
| 25,000 | | |
| 2,317,250 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Trading Companies & Distributors (2.44%) | |
| | | |
| | |
SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.(a) | |
| 30,354 | | |
| 4,154,552 | |
Transcat, Inc.(a) | |
| 35,323 | | |
| 3,157,523 | |
Xometry, Inc., Class A(a) | |
| 25,859 | | |
| 387,109 | |
| |
| | | |
| 7,699,184 | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (24.30%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Communications Equipment (0.83%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Ciena Corp.(a) | |
| 50,000 | | |
| 2,626,000 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (3.51%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Keysight Technologies, Inc.(a) | |
| 15,000 | | |
| 2,422,200 | |
Novanta, Inc.(a) | |
| 19,491 | | |
| 3,100,823 | |
Teledyne Technologies, Inc.(a) | |
| 6,500 | | |
| 2,907,840 | |
Trimble, Inc.(a) | |
| 50,000 | | |
| 2,621,000 | |
| |
| | | |
| 11,051,863 | |
IT Services (1.83%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc.(a) | |
| 32,000 | | |
| 2,505,600 | |
CI&T, Inc., Class A(a)(c) | |
| 128,685 | | |
| 709,054 | |
Globant SA(a) | |
| 12,518 | | |
| 2,053,077 | |
See Notes
to Schedule of Investments.
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
Schedule
of Investments |
March 31,
2023 (Unaudited)
| |
SHARES | | |
VALUE | |
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |
| | | |
| | |
IT
Services (continued) | |
| | | |
| | |
Grid Dynamics
Holdings, Inc.(a) | |
| 44,340 | | |
$ | 508,137 | |
| |
| | | |
| 5,775,868 | |
Semiconductors
& Semiconductor Equipment (4.15%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Diodes, Inc.(a) | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 2,782,800 | |
Entegris, Inc. | |
| 28,500 | | |
| 2,337,285 | |
Impinj, Inc.(a) | |
| 16,195 | | |
| 2,194,747 | |
Monolithic Power Systems,
Inc. | |
| 5,500 | | |
| 2,752,970 | |
SiTime Corp.(a) | |
| 2,479 | | |
| 352,588 | |
Skyworks Solutions,
Inc. | |
| 22,500 | | |
| 2,654,550 | |
| |
| | | |
| 13,074,940 | |
Software (13.98%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Adobe, Inc.(a) | |
| 6,986 | | |
| 2,692,195 | |
Autodesk, Inc.(a) | |
| 16,934 | | |
| 3,524,982 | |
Everbridge, Inc.(a) | |
| 998 | | |
| 34,601 | |
Intuit, Inc. | |
| 8,908 | | |
| 3,971,454 | |
Microsoft Corp. | |
| 21,014 | | |
| 6,058,336 | |
nCino, Inc.(a) | |
| 2,654 | | |
| 65,766 | |
Paycom Software, Inc.(a) | |
| 8,000 | | |
| 2,432,080 | |
Qualys, Inc.(a) | |
| 19,000 | | |
| 2,470,380 | |
Rapid7, Inc.(a) | |
| 17,492 | | |
| 803,058 | |
Salesforce, Inc.(a) | |
| 17,417 | | |
| 3,479,568 | |
ServiceNow, Inc.(a) | |
| 5,974 | | |
| 2,776,237 | |
SPS Commerce, Inc.(a) | |
| 53,818 | | |
| 8,196,481 | |
Vertex, Inc., Class
A(a) | |
| 143,016 | | |
| 2,959,001 | |
Workday, Inc., Class
A(a) | |
| 22,145 | | |
| 4,573,828 | |
| |
| | | |
| 44,037,967 | |
MATERIALS (3.94%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Chemicals (2.08%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Ecolab, Inc. | |
| 23,049 | | |
| 3,815,301 | |
Sherwin-Williams Co. | |
| 12,167 | | |
| 2,734,777 | |
| |
| | | |
| 6,550,078 | |
Containers
& Packaging (1.86%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Avery Dennison Corp. | |
| 15,000 | | |
| 2,683,950 | |
Ball Corp. | |
| 57,604 | | |
| 3,174,556 | |
| |
| | | |
| 5,858,506 | |
REAL
ESTATE (3.88%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Real
Estate Management & Development (1.80%) | |
| | | |
| | |
FirstService Corp. | |
| 40,168 | | |
| 5,663,286 | |
See Notes
to Schedule of Investments.
First Quarter Report (Unaudited) | March 31, 2023 |
11 |
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
Schedule
of Investments |
March 31,
2023 (Unaudited)
| |
SHARES | | |
VALUE | |
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |
| | | |
| | |
Residential REITs (0.87%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Sun Communities, Inc. | |
| 19,500 | | |
$ | 2,747,160 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Specialized REITs (1.21%) | |
| | | |
| | |
Equinix, Inc. | |
| 5,296 | | |
| 3,818,628 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | |
| | | |
| | |
(COST OF $246,492,101) | |
| | | |
| 309,067,175 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (2.22%) | |
| | | |
| | |
MONEY MARKET FUND (1.96%) | |
| | | |
| | |
State Street Institutional US Government Money Market Fund, 4.67%(d) | |
| | | |
| | |
(COST OF $6,164,228) | |
| 6,164,228 | | |
| 6,164,228 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH COLLATERAL FROM SECURITIES LOANED (0.26%) | |
| | | |
| | |
State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, 4.84% | |
| | | |
| | |
(COST OF $804,957) | |
| 804,957 | | |
| 804,957 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS | |
| | | |
| | |
(COST OF $6,969,185) | |
| | | |
| 6,969,185 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.30%) | |
| | | |
| | |
(COST OF $253,461,286) | |
| | | |
| 316,036,360 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (-0.30%) | |
| | | |
| (931,195 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | |
NET ASSETS (100.00%) | |
| | | |
$ | 315,105,165 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE | |
| | | |
| | |
(57,707,771 SHARES OUTSTANDING) | |
| | | |
$ | 5.46 | |
(a) | Non-income
producing security. |
(b) | American
Depositary Receipt. |
(c) | Security,
or a portion of the security position, is currently on loan. The total market value of
securities on loan is $2,948,643. |
(d) | Rate
reflects seven-day effective yield on March 31, 2023. |
See Notes
to Schedule of Investments.
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Security
Valuation
Equity
securities are valued at the last sale price at the close of the principal exchange on which they trade, except for securities
listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”), which are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Unlisted
securities or listed securities for which there were no sales during the day are valued at the closing bid price on such exchanges
or over-the-counter markets.
Cash
collateral from securities lending activity is reinvested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market
Portfolio (“State Street Navigator”), a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
“1940 Act”), which operates as a money market fund in compliance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Shares of registered
investment companies are valued daily at that investment company’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share.
The
Fund’s investments are valued at market value or, in the absence of market value with respect to any portfolio securities,
at fair value according to procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Board approved changes
to the Fund’s valuation policy to comply with Rule 2a-5 and designated ALPS Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”) as
the Fund’s Valuation Designee (as defined in the rule). The Valuation Designee will be responsible for determining fair
value in good faith for all Fund investments, subject to oversight by the Board. When market quotations are not readily available,
or in management’s judgment they do not accurately reflect fair value of a security, or an event occurs after the market
close but before the Fund is priced that materially affects the value of a security, the security will be valued by the Fund’s
Valuation Committee, using fair valuation procedures established by the Board. Examples of potentially significant events that
could materially impact a Fund’s NAV include, but are not limited to: single issuer events such as corporate actions, reorganizations,
mergers, spin-offs, liquidations, acquisitions and buyouts; corporate announcements on earnings or product offerings; regulatory
news; and litigation and multiple issuer events such as governmental actions; natural disasters or armed conflicts that affect
a country or a region; or significant market fluctuations. Potential significant events are monitored by the Advisor, Sub-Advisers
and/or the Valuation Committee through independent reviews of market indicators, general news sources and communications from
the Fund’s custodian. As of March 31, 2023, the Fund held no securities that were fair valued.
Security
Transactions
Security
transactions are recorded on trade date. Cost is determined and gains/(losses) are based upon the specific identification method
for both financial statement and federal income tax purposes.
Income
Recognition
Interest
income is recorded on the accrual basis. Corporate actions and dividend income are recorded on the ex-date.
The
Fund estimates components of distributions from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). Distributions received in
excess of income are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the related investments. Once the REIT reports annually the tax character
of its distributions, the Fund revises its estimates. If the Fund no longer owns the applicable securities, any distributions
received in excess of income are recorded as realized gains.
First Quarter Report (Unaudited) | March 31, 2023 |
13 |
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Lending
of Portfolio Securities
The
Fund may lend its portfolio securities only to borrowers that are approved by the Fund’s securities lending agent, State
Street Bank & Trust Co. (“SSB”). The Fund will limit such lending to not more than 20% of the value of its total
assets. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash (U.S. Dollar only), securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or by irrevocable bank letters of credit issued by a person
other than the borrower or an affiliate of the borrower. The initial collateral received by the Fund is required to have a value
of no less than 102% of the market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of no less
than 105% of the market value for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter, at a market value equal to no
less than 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the
close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. During the
term of the loan, the Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities. Loans of securities
are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time
period for settlement of securities transactions.
Any
cash collateral received is reinvested in State Street Navigator. Non-cash collateral, in the form of securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, is not disclosed in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments as it
is held by the lending agent on behalf of the Fund, and the Fund does not have the ability to re-hypothecate these securities.
The
following is a summary of the Fund’s securities lending positions and related cash and non-cash collateral received as of
March 31, 2023:
Market
Value of
Securities
on Loan |
Cash
Collateral
Received |
Non-Cash
Collateral
Received |
Total
Collateral
Received |
$2,948,643 |
$804,957 |
$2,163,964 |
$2,968,921 |
The
risks of securities lending include the risk that the borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or may not
return the securities when due. To mitigate these risks, the Fund benefits from a borrower default indemnity provided by SSB.
SSB’s indemnity allows for full replacement of securities lent wherein SSB will purchase the unreturned loaned securities
on the open market by applying the proceeds of the collateral, or to the extent such proceeds are insufficient or the collateral
is unavailable, SSB will purchase the unreturned loan securities at SSB’s expense. However, the Fund could suffer a loss
if the value of the investments purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the cash collateral received.
Fair
Value Measurements
The
Fund discloses the classification of its fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to
measure fair value. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability,
including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants
would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting
entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions
about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information
available.
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Valuation
techniques used to value the Fund’s investments by major category are as follows:
Equity
securities that are valued based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy. In
the event there were no sales during the day or closing prices are not available, securities are valued at the mean of the most
recent quoted bid and ask prices on such day and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Investments in open-end
mutual funds are valued at their closing NAV each business day and are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Various
inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used
fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls
is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The designated
input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments.
These
inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:
Level 1 – |
Unadjusted quoted
prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that a Fund has the ability to access at
the measurement date; |
Level 2 – |
Quoted prices which
are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are
observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and |
Level 3 – |
Significant unobservable
prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little
or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. |
The
following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of March 31, 2023:
| |
Valuation
Inputs | | |
| |
Investments in Securities
at Value | |
Level
1 | | |
Level
2 | | |
Level
3 | | |
Total | |
Common
Stocks* | |
$ | 309,067,175 | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | 309,067,175 | |
Short Term Investments | |
| 6,969,185 | | |
| – | | |
| – | | |
| 6,969,185 | |
Total | |
$ | 316,036,360 | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | 316,036,360 | |
* | See
Schedule of Investments for industry classifications. |
The
Fund did not have any securities that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value during the period.
First Quarter Report (Unaudited) | March 31, 2023 |
15 |
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Indemnification
In
the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which
provide general indemnities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future
claims against the Fund. Also, under the Fund’s organizational documents and by contract, the Directors and Officers of
the Fund are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of their duties to the Fund. However, based on experience,
the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be minimal.
Maryland
Statutes
By
resolution of the Board of Directors, the Fund has opted into the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act and the Maryland Business
Combination Act. In general, the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act provides that “control shares” of a Maryland
corporation acquired in a control share acquisition may not be voted except to the extent approved by shareholders at a meeting
by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter (excluding shares owned by the acquirer and by officers
or directors who are employees of the corporation). “Control shares” are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated
with all other shares of stock owned by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise
of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing
directors within certain statutorily defined ranges (one-tenth but less than one-third, one-third but less than a majority, and
more than a majority of the voting power). In general, the Maryland Business Combination Act prohibits an interested shareholder
(a shareholder that holds 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the corporation) of a Maryland corporation
from engaging in a business combination (generally defined to include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of a substantial
amount of assets, a transfer of the corporation’s securities and similar transactions to or with the interested shareholder
or an entity affiliated with the interested shareholder) with the corporation for a period of five years after the most recent
date on which the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder. At the time of adoption, March 19, 2009, the Board
and the Fund were not aware of any shareholder that held control shares or that was an interested shareholder under the statutes.
A January 2023 Memorandum of Decision and Order issued by a Massachusetts Superior Court judge has held that a by-laws provision
limiting the ability of shareholders to vote shares in excess of a specified amount is not permissible under the Investment Company
Act of 1940. As a result of this decision, there is some uncertainty whether a registered investment company such as the Fund
may rely on the Maryland Business Control Share Acquisition Act.
|
Description of Lipper
Benchmark |
Liberty All-Star®
Growth Fund |
and Market
Indices |
March
31, 2023 (Unaudited)
Dow
Jones Industrial Average
A
price-weighted measure of 30 U.S. blue-chip companies.
Lipper
Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Average
The
average of funds that, by portfolio practice, invest in a variety of market capitalization ranges without concentrating 75% of
their equity assets in any one market capitalization range over an extended period of time. Multi-Cap growth funds typically have
above-average characteristics compared to the S&P SuperComposite 1500® Index.
NASDAQ
Composite Index
Measures
all NASDAQ domestic and international based common type stocks listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market.
Russell
3000® Growth Index
Measures
the performance of those Russell 3000® companies with lower book-to-price ratios and higher growth values. The
Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization,
which represents approximately 96% of the investable U.S. equity market.
Russell
3000® Value Index
Measures
the performance of those Russell 3000® companies with higher book-to-price ratios and lower growth values.
Russell
Top 200® Growth Index
Measures
the performance of those Russell Top 200® companies with lower book-to-price-ratios and higher growth values. The
Russell Top 200® Index measures the performance of the 200 largest companies in the Russell 3000®
Index.
Russell
1000® Growth Index (Largecap)
Measures
the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with lower book-to-price-ratios and higher growth values. The
Russell 1000® Index measures the performance of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell 3000®
Index.
Russell
Midcap® Growth Index
Measures
the performance of those Russell Midcap® companies with lower book-to-price-ratios and higher growth values. The
Russell Midcap® Index measures the performance of the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000®
Index.
Russell
2000® Growth Index (Smallcap)
Measures
the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with lower book-to-price-ratios and higher growth values. The
Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000®
Index.
Russell
Growth Benchmark
The
average of the Russell Top 200®, Midcap® and 2000® Growth Indices.
S&P
500® Index
A
large cap U.S. equities index that includes 500 leading companies and represents approximately 80% of the total domestic U.S.
equity market capitalization.
An
investor cannot invest directly in an index.
First Quarter Report (Unaudited) | March 31, 2023 |
17 |
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