Daily Price & Premium/Discount
| Symbol | Net Asset Value | 1 Day Change | Closing Market Price | 1 Day Change | Premium/Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUND | $7.38 | ▲ +$0.02 (0.27%) | $6.16 | ▼ -$0.04 (-0.64%) | -16.53% |
Overview
Sprott Focus Trust is a closed-end fund that trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol FUND. Veteran portfolio manager Whitney George manages FUND, which seeks to deliver superior performance to investors by investing with a long time horizon in high-quality businesses with strong balance sheets that are trading at attractive valuations.
Why Invest in Sprott Focus Trust?
- Investment goal of long-term growth of capital
- Focused portfolio (generally less than 50 positions), disciplined value approach
- Invests in a combination of small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks
- Pays a managed quarterly distribution currently set at 1.50% of trailing net asset value (NAV)
Fund Details
| Nasdaq Symbol | FUND |
| Benchmark Index | Russell 3000 TR |
| Inception Date | 11/1/19962 |
| CUSIP | 85208J109 |
| Years of History | 20+ |
| Average Market Cap1 | $3.30 Billion |
| Net Assets | $202.3 Million |
| Total Equity Holdings | 38 |
Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Manager of Sprott Focus Trust, President, Sprott Inc.; Chief Investment Officer, Sprott Asset Management; Chairman, Sprott U.S. Holdings
Sprott's Commitment to Stockholders
Co-Investment – Sprott Employees, Mr. George, Officers and Trustees own over 41% of Sprott
Focus Trust outstanding shares.
Low Operating Expenses – Operating expenses, including advisory fee, are capped at 1.2% or
less of average net assets applicable to common stockholders
Quarter-End Performance
| Q2 2020 3 | Q1 2020 3 | YTD3 | 1 YR | 3 YR | 5 YR | 10 YR | 15 YR | 20 YR | SI2 | |
| Sprott Focus Trust (NAV) | 22.56 | -28.74 | -12.67 | -0.74 | 2.28 | 4.26 | 7.18 | 6.46 | 8.93 | 8.65 |
| Sprott Focus Trust (MKT) | 17.06 | -31.52 | -19.84 | -12.46 | -7.15 | -3.58 | 0.28 | -2.44 | 0.93 | 1.27 |
| Russell 3000 TR | 22.03 | -20.90 | -3.48 | 6.53 | 10.04 | 10.03 | 13.72 | 8.78 | 6.15 | 8.55 |
Fees and Expenses
| Management Fees | 1.00% |
| Other Expenses* | 0.20% |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.20% |
*The Adviser has agreed to cap the operating expenses at 1.20%.
Important Performance and Expense Information
All performance information reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis, net of the Fund's investment advisory fee, and reflects the reinvestment of distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted. NAV performance is based on the Fund's net asset value, and MKT performance is based on the Fund's market price. The market price of the Fund's shares will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold. The Fund invests a significant portion of its net assets in small-cap stocks, which may involve considerably more risk than investing in larger-cap stocks. The Fund also invests a significant portion of its assets in a limited number of stocks, which may involve considerably more risk than a more broadly diversified portfolio because a decline in the value of any one of these stocks would cause the Fund's overall value to decline to a greater degree. From time to time, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its net assets in foreign securities, which may involve political, economic, currency, and other risks not encountered in U.S. investments.
Growth of $10,000 Since Inception
Calendar Year Total Returns (%)
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| Sprott Focus Trust (NAV) | -12.5 | 54.3 | 29.3 | 13.7 | 15.8 | 12.2 | -42.7 | 54.0 | 21.8 | -10.5 | 11.4 | 19.7 | 0.3 | -11.1 | 24.8 | 18.5 | -17.0 | 32.7 |
| RUSSELL 3000 TR | -21.5 | 31.1 | 11.9 | 6.1 | 15.7 | 5.1 | -37.3 | 28.3 | 16.9 | 1.0 | 16.4 | 33.6 | 12.6 | 0.5 | 12.7 | 21.1 | -5.2 | 31.0 |
Portfolio Analytics
As of 6/30/2020
Portfolio Diagnostics
| Trailing Annual Turnover | 34.08% |
| Weighted Average P/E Ratio4 | 13.1x |
| Weighted Average P/B Ratio5 | 1.5x |
| Weighted Average Yield | 3.2% |
| Weighted Average ROIC 6 | 17.80% |
| Weighted Average Leverage Ratio 7 | 2.20x |
| U.S. Investments (% of Net Assets) | 70.9% |
| Non-U.S. Investments (% of Net Assets) | 29.1% |
Top 10 Positions (% of net assets)
| Westlake Chemical Corporation | 4.5 |
| Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc. | 4.5 |
| Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. | 4.4 |
| Western Digital Corporation | 4.3 |
| Biogen Inc. | 4.2 |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | 4.0 |
| Franklin Resources, Inc. | 3.9 |
| Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | 3.8 |
| Federated Hermes, Inc. | 3.5 |
| Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | 3.5 |
Sector Breakdown (% of net assets)
Distributions
| RECORD DATE | EX-DATE | PAYABLE DATE | INCOME ($) | SHORT TERM GAINS ($) | LONG TERM GAINS ($) | RETURN OF CAPITAL ($) | TOTAL ($) | REINVEST PRICE ($) |
| 9/15/2020 | 9/14/2020 | 9/25/2020 | 0.0453 | 0.0093 | 0.0524 | 0.0000 | 0.1070 | 6.16 |
| 6/15/2020 | 6/12/2020 | 6/26/2020 | 0.0591 | 0.0057 | 0.0445 | 0.0000 | 0.1093 | 5.86 |
| 3/13/2020 | 3/12/2020 | 3/27/2020 | 0.0816 | 0.0021 | 0.0322 | 0.0000 | 0.1159 | 4.33 |
| 12/13/2019 | 12/12/2019 | 12/27/2019 | 0.0090 | 0.0000 | 0.1073 | 0.0000 | 0.1163 | 7.23 |
Distribution Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (“DRIP”) for Common Stockholders of Sprott Focus Trust, Inc.
Registered Common Stockholders of the Fund automatically participate in its Distribution Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plans, which allows participants to reinvest their dividend and capital gains distributions and to make optional cash purchases of shares directly through Equiserve, the Fund’s Plan Agent, on a quarterly basis. The DRIP also allows stockholders to deposit certificates representing their shares with Computershare for safekeeping.
For additional details, please contact Computershare the plan agent administering the DRIP Program, by clicking this link or call: Within the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada 800.426.5523 or Outside the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada 781.575.2879.
Sources of Distributions Notifications
Manager Commentary
In the Media
May 11, 2020
Investing in a Crisis
Whitney George discusses how he applies his "value" investing approach during this crisis with John Heins, President and Editor-in-Chief of Value Investor Insight.
January 29, 2019
Whitney George Named President of Sprott
June 14, 2018
Forbes: This Rare 10.5% Dividend Won't Be Cheap For Long
May 25, 2018
Manager Interview: Whitney George on Berkshire Hathaway's 2018 AGM
March 1, 2018
Sprott US Media "Focus: Whitney George - Value in Volatility"
December 30, 2017
Value Investor Interview with Whitney George: "Adversity to Advantage"
How to Invest
Sprott Focus Trust trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol FUND. You may purchase shares of Sprott Focus Trust through:
- Authorized financial intermediaries including securities dealers and full service broker-dealers
- The Fund’s distributor, Sprott Global Resource Investments; contact 800.477.7853
- Registered Common Stockholders of the Fund automatically participate in its Distribution Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan, which allows participants to reinvest their dividend and capital gains distributions and to make optional cash purchases of shares directly through Equiserve, the Fund’s Plan Agent, on a quarterly basis. The DRIP also allows stockholders to deposit certificates representing their shares with Computershare for safekeeping.
| FUND CUSIP: 85208J109 |
Documents
Financial Reports
Disclosure Information
Prospectus
| 1 | Average Market Cap is a weighted calculation that uses each portfolio holding’s market cap in a way designed to not skew the effect of very large or small holdings; instead, it aims to better identify the portfolio’s center, which Sprott believes offers a more accurate measure of average market cap than a simple mean or median. |
| 2 | Since Inception (SI) date is 11/11/1996. FUND was formerly Royce Focus Trust, from its inception to March 8, 2015 and was managed by Royce & Associaties, LLC. Effective March 9, 2015, Royce Focus Trust became Sprott Focus Trust. |
| 3 | These returns are not annualized. |
| 4 | The Price-Earnings, or P/E, Ratio is calculated by dividing a company’s share price by its trailing 12-month earnings-per-share (EPS). The Fund’s P/E Ratio calculation excludes companies with zero or negative earnings (19.5% of portfolio holdings as of 6/30/2020). |
| 5 | The Price-to-Book, or P/B, Ratio is calculated by dividing a company’s share price by its book value per share. This weighted calculation evaluates a portfolio as if it were a single stock and measures it overall. It compares the total market value of the portfolio to the portfolio’s share in the earnings or book value, as the case may be, of its underlying stocks. |
| 6 | Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is calculated by dividing the estimated net profit by the sum of the estimated shareholder equity and total debt of the security. |
| 7 | Leverage is calculated by dividing the estimated Total Assets by Total Equity of a security. |
The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate, and shares, if redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted.
Sprott Focus Trust, Inc. (the “Fund”) is a closed-end investment company whose shares of common stock trade on the Nasdaq Select Market. Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered. After the initial public offering, shares of closed-end funds are sold on the open market through a stock exchange. For additional information, contact your financial advisor or call 1.203.656.2430. Investment policies, management fees and other matters of interest to prospective investors may be found in the Fund’s prospectus and shareholder reports.
The Fund is a closed-end registered investment company whose shares of common stock may trade at a discount to their net asset value. Shares of the Fund’s common stock are also subject to the market risks of investing in the underlying portfolio securities held by the Fund.
Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Russell Investment Group. The Russell 3000 Total Return Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies. The performance of an index does not represent exactly any particular investment, as you cannot invest directly in an index.
Sector weightings are determined using the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). GICS was developed by, and is the exclusive property of, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”). GICS is the trademark of S&P and MSCI. “Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)” and “GICS Direct” are service marks of S&P and MSCI.
NOT FDIC INSURED • MAY LOSE VALUE • NOT BANK GUARANTEED
Sprott Asset Management LP is the investment manager to the Fund. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. Prospective investors who are not resident in Canada or the United States should contact their financial advisor to determine whether securities of the Fund may be lawfully sold in their jurisdiction.
© 2020 Sprott Inc. All rights reserved.