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: 811-22603
Name of Fund: BlackRock Municipal Target Term Trust (BTT)
Fund Address: 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809
Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock Municipal Target Term Trust, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4
Date of fiscal year end: 07/31/2016
Date of reporting period: 07/31/2016
Item 1 | Report to Stockholders |
JULY 31, 2016
ANNUAL REPORT
|
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (BFZ)
BlackRock Florida Municipal 2020 Term Trust (BFO)
BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust (BTT)
BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trust (BBF)
BlackRock New Jersey Municipal Income Trust (BNJ)
BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust (BNY)
Not FDIC Insured May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee |
Table of Contents |
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Annual Report: |
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Financial Statements: | ||||
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66 | ||||
79 | ||||
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89 |
2 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
The Markets in Review |
Dear Shareholder,
Uneven economic outlooks and the divergence of monetary policies across regions have been the overarching themes driving financial markets over the past couple of years. In the latter half of 2015, as U.S. growth outpaced other developed markets, investors were focused largely on the timing of the Federal Reserves (the Fed) decision to end its near-zero interest rate policy. The Fed ultimately hiked rates in December, whereas the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan took additional steps to stimulate growth, even introducing negative interest rates. The U.S. dollar had strengthened considerably ahead of these developments, causing profit challenges for U.S. companies that generate revenues overseas, and pressuring emerging market currencies and commodities prices.
Also during this time period, oil prices collapsed due to excess global supply. China, one of the worlds largest consumers of oil, was another notable source of stress for financial markets as the country showed signs of slowing economic growth and took measures to devalue its currency. Declining confidence in the countrys policymakers stoked investors worries about the potential impact of Chinas weakness on the global economy. Global market volatility increased and risk assets (such as equities and high yield bonds) suffered in this environment.
The elevated market volatility spilled over into 2016, but as the first quarter wore on, fears of a global recession began to fade, allowing markets to calm and risk assets to rebound. Central bank stimulus in Europe and Japan, combined with a more tempered outlook for rate hikes in the United States, helped bolster financial markets. A softening in U.S. dollar strength brought relief to U.S. exporters and emerging market economies. Oil prices rebounded as the worlds largest producers agreed to reduce supply.
Volatility spiked again in late June when the United Kingdom shocked investors with its vote to leave the European Union. Uncertainty around how the British exit might affect the global economy and political landscape drove investors to high-quality assets, pushing already low global yields to even lower levels. But markets recovered swiftly in July as economic data suggested that the negative impact had thus far been contained to the United Kingdom and investors returned to risk assets.
At BlackRock, we believe investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes and be prepared to adjust accordingly as market conditions change over time. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit blackrock.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC
Total Returns as of July 31, 2016 | ||||||||
6-month | 12-month | |||||||
U.S. large cap equities |
13.29 | % | 5.61 | % | ||||
U.S. small cap equities |
18.76 | 0.00 | ||||||
International equities |
8.25 | (7.53 | ) | |||||
Emerging market equities |
19.52 | (0.75 | ) | |||||
3-month Treasury bills |
0.17 | 0.22 | ||||||
U.S. Treasury securities |
5.01 | 8.53 | ||||||
U.S. investment grade bonds |
4.54 | 5.94 | ||||||
Tax-exempt municipal |
3.27 | 7.06 | ||||||
U.S. high yield bonds |
13.84 | 5.01 | ||||||
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index. |
THIS PAGE NOT PART OF YOUR FUND REPORT | 3 |
Municipal Market Overview |
For the Reporting Period Ended July 31, 2016 |
Municipal Market Conditions
Municipal bonds generated positive performance for the period due to falling interest rates and a favorable supply-and-demand environment. Interest rates were volatile in 2015 (bond prices rise as rates fall) leading up to a long-awaited rate hike from the Fed that ultimately came in December. However, ongoing reassurance from the Fed that rates would be increased gradually and would likely remain low overall resulted in strong demand for fixed income investments. Investors favored the relative yield and stability of municipal bonds amid bouts of volatility resulting from uneven U.S. economic data, volatile oil prices, global growth concerns, geopolitical risks (particularly the U.K.s decision to leave the European Union), and widening central bank divergence i.e., policy easing outside the United States while the Fed was posturing to commence policy tightening. During the 12 months ended July 31, 2016, municipal bond funds garnered net inflows of approximately $49 billion (based on data from the Investment Company Institute).
For the same 12-month period, total new issuance remained relatively strong from a historical perspective at $386 billion (though lower than the $417 billion issued in the prior 12-month period). A noteworthy portion of new supply during this period was attributable to refinancing activity (roughly 59%) as issuers continued to take advantage of low interest rates and a flatter yield curve to reduce their borrowing costs.
S&P Municipal Bond Index |
Total Returns as of July 31, 2016 |
6 months: 3.27% |
12 months: 7.06% |
A Closer Look at Yields
From July 31, 2015 to July 31, 2016, yields on AAA-rated 30-year municipal bonds decreased by 100 basis points (bps) from 3.12% to 2.12%, while 10-year rates fell by 79 bps from 2.19% to 1.40% and 5-year rates decreased 46 bps from 1.30% to 0.84% (as measured by Thomson Municipal Market Data). The municipal yield curve experienced significant flattening over the 12-month period with the spread between 2- and 30-year maturities flattening by 90 bps and the spread between 2- and 10-year maturities flattening by 69 bps.
During the same time period, on a relative basis, tax-exempt municipal bonds broadly outperformed U.S. Treasuries with the greatest outperformance experienced in longer-term issues. In absolute terms, the positive performance of municipal bonds was driven largely by falling interest rates as well as a supply/demand imbalance within the municipal market as investors sought income and incremental yield in an environment where opportunities became increasingly scarce. More broadly, municipal bonds benefited from the greater appeal of tax-exempt investing in light of the higher tax rates implemented in 2014. The asset class is known for its lower relative volatility and preservation of principal with an emphasis on income as tax rates rise.
Financial Conditions of Municipal Issuers
The majority of municipal credits remain strong, despite well-publicized distress among a few issuers. Four of the five states with the largest amount of debt outstanding California, New York, Texas and Floridahave exhibited markedly improved credit fundamentals during the slow national recovery. However, several states with the largest unfunded pension liabilities have seen their bond prices decline noticeably and remain vulnerable to additional price deterioration. On the local level, Chicagos credit quality downgrade is an outlier relative to other cities due to its larger pension liability and inadequate funding remedies. BlackRock maintains the view that municipal bond defaults will remain minimal and in the periphery while the overall market is fundamentally sound. We continue to advocate careful credit research and believe that a thoughtful approach to structure and security selection remains imperative amid uncertainty in a modestly improving economic environment.
The opinions expressed are those of BlackRock as of July 31, 2016, and are subject to change at any time due to changes in market or economic conditions. The comments should not be construed as a recommendation of any individual holdings or market sectors. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Bond values fluctuate in price so the value of your investment can go down depending on market conditions. Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments. There may be less information on the financial condition of municipal issuers than for public corporations. The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. Some investors may be subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Capital gains distributions, if any, are taxable.
The Standard & Poors Municipal Bond Index, a broad, market value-weighted index, seeks to measure the performance of the US municipal bond market. All bonds in the index are exempt from US federal income taxes or subject to the alternative minimum tax. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
4 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging |
Derivative Financial Instruments |
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 5 |
Trust Summary as of July 31, 2016 | BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trusts (BFZ) (the Trust) investment objective is to provide current income exempt from regular U.S. federal income and California income taxes. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax) and California income taxes. The Trust invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in municipal obligations that are investment grade quality. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Trusts investment objective will be achieved.
Trust Information | ||
Symbol on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
BFZ | |
Initial Offering Date |
July 27, 2001 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2016 ($16.76)1 |
4.81% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
9.80% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0672 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.8064 | |
Economic Leverage as of July 31, 20164 |
41% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal and state tax rate of 50.93%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
BFZ1,2 |
20.72 | % | 8.92 | % | ||||
Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds3 |
22.31 | % | 11.51 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Trust moved from a discount to NAV to a premium during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
The following discussion relates to the Trusts absolute performance based on NAV:
| Municipal bonds generated strong performance for the annual period. Municipals were aided by the sharp decline in Treasury yields, which was brought about by the slow global economy and the accommodative policies of the worlds central banks. (Bond prices rise as yields fall.) The gains were largely concentrated among intermediate- and longer-term bonds, while shorter-term issues produced much smaller returns. California municipal bonds outperformed the broader national tax-exempt market due to the states sound financial condition, robust employment growth and rising personal income. California municipals were also boosted by the favorable balance of supply and demand in the market. |
| The Trust was helped by its exposure to the long end of the yield curve, where performance was strongest. The portfolios fully invested posture and low level of cash reserves was an additional positive in the rising market. |
| Investments in AA-rated credits in the school district, transportation and health care sectors also aided results. AA-rated bonds generally experienced rising valuations thanks to Californias improving credit profile. At the sector level, allocations to the health care and utilities made the largest contributions to performance. |
| The Trust continued to employ leverage in order to increase income at a time in which the municipal yield curve was steep and short-term interest rates remained low. Leverage amplifies the effect of interest rate movements, which was a positive to performance during the past 12 months given that yields declined. |
| The Trust utilized ten-year U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a rise in interest rates, which had a slightly negative impact on performance given that the Treasury market finished with positive returns. |
6 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
7/31/16 | 7/31/15 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 16.76 | $ | 14.65 | 14.40 | % | $ | 17.00 | $ | 14.55 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 16.35 | $ | 15.84 | 3.22 | % | $ | 16.53 | $ | 15.64 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments* |
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 7 |
Trust Summary as of July 31, 2016 | BlackRock Florida Municipal 2020 Term Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock Florida Municipal 2020 Term Trusts (BFO) (the Trust) investment objectives are to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and Florida intangible personal property tax and to return $15.00 per common share (the initial offering price per share) to holders of common shares on or about December 31, 2020. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax) and Florida intangible personal property tax. The Trust invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds that are investment grade quality at the time of investment. The Trust actively manages the maturity of its bonds to seek to have a dollar-weighted average effective maturity approximately equal to the Trusts maturity date. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives. Effective January 1, 2007, the Florida intangible personal property tax was repealed.
There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objective of returning $15.00 per share.
Trust Information | ||
Symbol on NYSE |
BFO | |
Initial Offering Date |
September 30, 2003 | |
Termination Date (on or about) |
December 31, 2020 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2016 ($15.21)1 |
2.45% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
4.33% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.031 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.372 | |
Economic Leverage as of July 31, 20164 |
|
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Percentage is less than 1% which represents TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust, including any assets attributable to TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
BFO1,2 |
5.24 | % | 3.41 | % | ||||
Lipper Other States Municipal Debt Funds3 |
20.84 | % | 10.74 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Trusts discount to NAV, which narrowed during the period, accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
The following discussion relates to the Trusts absolute performance based on NAV:
| The Trust is scheduled to mature on or about December 31, 2020, and it therefore holds securities that will mature close to that date. Given that longer-term bonds generally delivered the best performance, the Trusts shorter maturity profile was a disadvantage in comparison to its Lipper category peers. |
| Municipal bonds generated strong performance in the annual period. Municipals were aided by the sharp decline in Treasury yields, which was brought about by the slow global economy and the accommodative policies of the worlds central banks. (Bond prices rise as yields fall.) The gains were largely concentrated among intermediate- and longer-term bonds, while shorter-term issues produced much smaller returns. In addition, lower-rated securities generally outpaced their higher-quality counterparts. |
| Florida municipal bonds underperformed the national market. The states strong economic momentum contributed to a higher average credit quality for its municipal market, which was a headwind at a time in which lower-quality issues outperformed. |
| The Trusts allocations to the health care and utilities sectors provided the largest contribution to returns. The Trusts positions in zero-coupon bonds, which outperformed current-coupon bonds, also benefited performance. Income in the form of coupon payments, which the Trust maximized through its fully invested posture, made up a meaningful portion of the Trusts total return for the period. However, the price declines of select distressed securities detracted from performance. |
8 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
BlackRock Florida Municipal 2020 Term Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
7/31/16 | 7/31/15 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$15.21 | $14.82 | 2.63% | $15.30 | $14.78 | |||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$15.50 | $15.37 | 0.85% | $15.50 | $15.23 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments* |
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 9 |
Trust Summary as of July 31, 2016 | BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trusts (BTT) (the Trust) investment objectives are to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax (but which may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax in certain circumstances) and to return $25.00 per common share (the initial offering price per share) to holders of common shares on or about December 31, 2030. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax). The Trust invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds that are investment grade quality at the time of investment. The Trust actively manages the maturity of its bonds to seek to have a dollar weighted average effective maturity approximately equal to the Trusts maturity date. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
The Trusts Board approved a name change from BlackRock Municipal Target Term Trust to BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust effective March 1, 2016. The Trust continues to trade under the symbol BTT.
There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objective of returning $25.00 per share.
Trust Information | ||
Symbol on NYSE |
BTT | |
Initial Offering Date |
August 30, 2012 | |
Termination Date (on or about) |
December 31, 2030 | |
Current Distribution Rate on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2016 ($24.24)1 |
3.96% | |
Tax Equivalent Rate2 |
7.00% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.080 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.960 | |
Economic Leverage as of July 31, 20164 |
34% |
1 | Current Distribution Rate on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. The current distribution rate may consist of income, net realized gains and/or a return of capital. See the financial highlights for the actual sources and character of distributions. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. A portion of the distribution may be deemed a return of capital or net realized gain at fiscal year end. |
4 | Represents RVMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust, including any assets attributable to RVMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
BTT1,2 |
21.67 | % | 16.57 | % | ||||
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)3 |
21.89 | % | 11.98 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Trusts discount to NAV, which narrowed during the period, accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
The following discussion relates to the Trusts absolute performance based on NAV:
| Municipal bonds generated strong performance in the annual period. Municipals were aided by the sharp decline in Treasury yields, which was brought about by the slow global economy and the accommodative policies of the worlds central banks. (Bond prices rise as yields fall.) The gains were largely concentrated among intermediate- and longer-term bonds, while shorter-term issues produced much smaller returns. In addition, lower-rated securities generally outpaced their higher-quality counterparts. |
| The Trusts allocations to the health care and transportation sectors provided the largest contribution to returns. Positions in zero-coupon bonds also contributed to performance due to their longer duration profile and relatively higher yields. (Duration is a measure of interest-rate sensitivity.) The Trusts overall duration exposure contributed positively to performance given that bond yields declined. |
| The Trust continued to employ leverage in order to increase income at a time which the municipal yield curve was steep and short-term interest rates remained low. Leverage amplifies the effect of interest rate movements, which was a positive to performance during the past 12 months. |
| The Trust utilized ten-year U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a rise in interest rates during the first half of the reporting period. This aspect of the Trusts strategy had a slightly negative impact on performance given that the Treasury market finished with positive returns in that interval. The Trust eliminated this strategy mid-way through the period. |
10 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
7/31/16 | 7/31/15 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 24.24 | $ | 20.80 | 16.54 | % | $ | 24.44 | $ | 20.19 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 25.38 | $ | 22.73 | 11.66 | % | $ | 25.73 | $ | 22.44 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History Since Inception |
1 | Commencement of operations. |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments* |
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 11 |
Trust Summary as of July 31, 2016 | BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trusts (BBF) (the Trust) investment objective is to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and Florida intangible personal property tax. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds, the interest of which is exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax and Florida intangible) personal property tax. The Trust invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds that are investment grade quality at the time of investment. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives. Due to the repeal of the Florida intangible personal property tax, in September 2008, the Board gave approval to permit the Trust the flexibility to invest in municipal obligations regardless of geographical location since municipal obligations issued by any state or municipality that provides income exempt from regular federal income tax would now satisfy the foregoing objective and policy.
On December 18, 2015, the Boards of the Trust and BlackRock Municipal Bond Investment Trust (BIE) approved the reorganization of BIE with and into the Trust, with the Trust continuing as the surviving trust after the reorganization. At a special shareholder meeting on March 21, 2016, the shareholders of the Trust approved the reorganization of BIE with and into the Trust, which was effective on May 16, 2016.
No assurance can be given that the Trusts investment objective will be achieved.
Trust Information | ||
Symbol on NYSE |
BBF | |
Initial Offering Date |
July 27, 2001 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2016 ($16.00)1 |
5.43% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
9.59% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.072375 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.868500 | |
Economic Leverage as of July 31, 20164 |
39% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust, including any assets attributable to VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
BBF1,2 |
26.29 | % | 8.40 | % | ||||
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)3 |
21.89 | % | 11.98 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Trust moved from a discount to NAV to a premium during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
The following discussion relates to the Trusts absolute performance based on NAV:
| Municipal bonds generated strong performance for the annual period. Municipals were aided by the sharp decline in Treasury yields, which was brought about by the slow global economy and the accommodative policies of the worlds central banks. (Bond prices rise as yields fall.) The gains were largely concentrated among intermediate- and longer-term bonds, while shorter-term issues produced much smaller returns. In addition, lower-rated securities generally outpaced their higher-quality counterparts. |
| The Trust was helped by its exposure to the long end of the yield curve, where performance was strongest. Leverage helped augment returns in this portion of the portfolio, as well. However, leverage had less of an impact in the second half of the period due to the Feds interest rate increase in December 2015. |
| Holdings in AA and A rated securities, including investments in transportation, tax-backed (states) and health care sectors, aided performance. Positions in the utilities and tax-backed (local) sectors were also additive. |
| The Trust utilized U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a rise in interest rates, which had a slightly negative impact on performance given that the Treasury market finished with positive returns. |
12 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
7/31/16 | 7/31/15 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 16.00 | $ | 13.44 | 19.05 | % | $ | 17.00 | $ | 13.28 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 15.47 | $ | 15.14 | 2.18 | % | $ | 15.62 | $ | 14.92 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments* |
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 13 |
Trust Summary as of July 31, 2016 | BlackRock New Jersey Municipal Income Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock New Jersey Municipal Income Trusts (BNJ) (the Trust) investment objective is to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and New Jersey gross income tax. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax) and New Jersey gross income taxes. The Trust invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds that are investment grade quality at the time of investment. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Trusts investment objective will be achieved.
Trust Information | ||
Symbol on NYSE |
BNJ | |
Initial Offering Date |
July 27, 2001 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2016 ($16.79)1 |
4.97% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
9.65% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0696 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.8352 | |
Economic Leverage as of July 31, 20164 |
38% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal and state tax rate of 48.48%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
BNJ1,2 |
21.76 | % | 11.81 | % | ||||
Lipper New Jersey Municipal Debt Funds3 |
21.92 | % | 11.82 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Trust moved from a discount to NAV to a premium during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
The following discussion relates to the Trusts absolute performance based on NAV:
| Municipal bonds generated strong performance in the annual period. Municipals were aided by the sharp decline in Treasury yields, which was brought about by the slow global economy and the accommodative policies of the worlds central banks. (Bond prices rise as yields fall. The gains were largely concentrated among intermediate- and longer-term bonds, while shorter-term issues produced much smaller returns. New Jersey municipal bonds performed particularly well as a result of the highly favorable supply-and-demand profile in the states market. |
| At a time of falling yields, the Trusts positions in longer-duration and longer-dated bonds generally provided the largest absolute returns. (Duration is a measure of interest-rate sensitivity.) The Trusts positions in the tax-backed (state and local), transportation, education and corporate sectors made positive contributions to performance. The Trusts exposure to lower-coupon and zero-coupon bonds, both of which outperformed, also aided returns. |
| Lower-rated bonds within the investment grade category outperformed during the period. In addition to offering higher incremental yield, the market segment benefited from a tightening of yield spreads that was fueled in part by investors elevated appetite for risk. In this environment, the Trusts exposure to these higher-yielding bonds was a positive contributor to performance. |
| Leverage amplifies the effect of interest-rate movements, which was a positive to performance during the past 12 months given that yields declined. |
| The Trust utilized a mix of U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a rise in interest rates, which had a slightly negative impact on performance at a time in which the Treasury market finished with positive returns. |
14 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
BlackRock New Jersey Municipal Income Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
7/31/16 | 7/31/15 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 16.79 | $ | 14.61 | 14.92 | % | $ | 16.95 | $ | 14.00 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 16.41 | $ | 15.55 | 5.53 | % | $ | 16.60 | $ | 15.23 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments* |
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 15 |
Trust Summary as of July 31, 2016 | BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trusts (BNY) (the Trust) investment objective is to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and New York State and New York City personal income taxes. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax) and New York State and New York City personal income taxes. The Trust invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds that are investment grade quality at the time of investment. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Trusts investment objective will be achieved.
Trust Information | ||
Symbol on NYSE |
BNY | |
Initial Offering Date |
July 27, 2001 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2016 ($16.71)1 |
4.31% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
8.72% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.06 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.72 | |
Economic Leverage as of July 31, 20164 |
38% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal and state tax rate of 50.59%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
BNY1,2 |
21.02 | % | 12.13 | % | ||||
Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds3 |
20.33 | % | 10.69 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Trust moved from a discount to NAV to a premium during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
The following discussion relates to the Trusts absolute performance based on NAV:
| Municipal bonds generated strong performance for the annual period. Municipals were aided by the sharp decline in Treasury yields, which was brought about by the slow global economy and the accommodative policies of the worlds central banks. (Bond prices rise as yields fall.) The gains were largely concentrated among intermediate- and longer-term bonds, while shorter-term issues produced much smaller returns. New York municipal bonds performed well in the period, as the states healthy economy, robust overall financial position and general lack of pension-funding issues contributed to strong investor demand. |
| At a time of falling yields, the Trusts positions in longer-duration and longer-dated bonds generally provided the largest absolute returns. (Duration is a measure of interest-rate sensitivity.) The Trusts positions in the health care, transportation and education sectors made positive contributions to performance. The Trusts exposure to lower-coupon and zero-coupon bonds, both of which outperformed, also aided returns. |
| Lower-rated bonds within the investment grade category outperformed during the period. In addition to offering higher incremental yield, the market segment benefited from a tightening of yield spreads that was fueled in part by investors elevated appetite for risk. In this environment, the Trusts exposure to these higher-yielding bonds contributed to performance. |
| Leverage amplifies the effect of interest-rate movements, which was a positive to performance during the past 12 months given that yields declined. |
| The Trust utilized a mix of U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a rise in interest rates, which had a slightly negative impact on performance at a time in which the Treasury market finished with positive returns. |
16 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
7/31/16 | 7/31/15 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 16.71 | $ | 14.54 | 14.92 | % | $ | 16.91 | $ | 14.10 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 15.94 | $ | 14.97 | 6.48 | % | $ | 16.15 | $ | 14.80 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments* |
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 17 |
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (BFZ) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
Portfolio Abbreviations |
ACA | American Capital Access Holding Ltd. | COP | Certificates of Participation | ISD | Independent School District | |||||
AGC | Assured Guarantee Corp. | DFA | Development Finance Agency | LRB | Lease Revenue Bonds | |||||
AGM | Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. | EDA | Economic Development Authority | M/F | Multi-Family | |||||
AMBAC | American Municipal Bond Assurance Corp. | EDC | Economic Development Corp. | MRB | Mortgage Revenue Bonds | |||||
AMT | Alternative Minimum Tax (subject to) | ERB | Education Revenue Bonds | NPFGC | National Public Finance Guarantee Corp. | |||||
ARB | Airport Revenue Bonds | FHA | Federal Housing Administration | OTC | Over-the-Counter | |||||
BAM | Build America Mutual Assurance Co. | GARB | General Airport Revenue Bonds | PILOT | Payment in Lieu of Taxes | |||||
BARB | Building Aid Revenue Bonds | GO | General Obligation Bonds | PSF-GTD | Permanent School Fund Guaranteed | |||||
BHAC | Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corp. | HFA | Housing Finance Agency | RB | Revenue Bonds | |||||
CAB | Capital Appreciation Bonds | IDA | Industrial Development Authority | S/F | Single-Family | |||||
CIFG | CDC IXIS Financial Guaranty | IDB | Industrial Development Board | SONYMA | State of New York Mortgage Agency |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
18 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (BFZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 19 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (BFZ) |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
(a) | U.S. Government securities, held in escrow, are used to pay interest on this security, as well as to retire the bond in full at the date indicated, typically at a premium to par. |
(b) | Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors. |
(c) | Represents a beneficial interest in a trust. The collateral deposited into the trust is federally tax-exempt revenue bonds issued by various state or local governments, or their respective agencies or authorities. The security is subject to remarketing prior to its stated maturity. |
(d) | Represent bonds transferred to a TOB Trust in exchange of cash and residual certificates received by the Trust. These bonds serve as collateral in a secured borrowing. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details of municipal bonds transferred to TOB Trusts. |
(e) | All or a portion of security is subject to a recourse agreement. The aggregate maximum potential amount the Trust could ultimately be required to pay under the agreements, which expire between October 1, 2016 and August 1, 2018, is $14,013,534. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
20 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (BFZ) |
(f) | During the year ended July 31, 2016, investments in issuers considered to be affiliates of the Trust for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows: |
Affiliate | Shares Held at July 31, 2015 |
Net Activity |
Shares Held at July 31, 2016 |
Value at July 31, 2016 |
Income | |||||||||||||||
BIF California Municipal Money Fund |
6,380,903 | (6,380,903 | ) | | | $ | 3 | |||||||||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class |
| 3,771,908 | 3,771,908 | $ | 3,771,908 | 1,010 | ||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 3,771,908 | $ | 1,013 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(g) | Current yield as of period end. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End |
Futures Contracts
Contracts Short |
Issue | Expiration | Notional Value |
Unrealized (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
(52 | ) | 5-Year U.S. Treasury Note | September 2016 | USD | 6,344,813 | $ | 8,146 | |||||||||||||
(63 | ) | 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note | September 2016 | USD | 8,381,953 | 16,280 | ||||||||||||||
(31 | ) | Long U.S. Treasury Bond | September 2016 | USD | 5,407,562 | (106,299 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
Total |
|
$ | (81,873 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
|
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure |
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments | Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | |||||||||||||
Futures contracts |
Net unrealized appreciation1 | | | | | $ | 24,426 | | $ | 24,426 | ||||||||||
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
Futures contracts |
Net unrealized depreciation1 | | | | | $ | 106,299 | | $ | 106,299 | ||||||||||
1 Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, if any, as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only current days variation margin is reported within the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. |
|
For the year ended July 31, 2016, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) From: | Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | |||||||||||
Futures contracts |
| | | | $ | (953,509 | ) | | $ | (953,509 | ) | |||||||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: | ||||||||||||||||||
Futures contracts |
| | | | $ | (38,759 | ) | | $ | (38,759 | ) |
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments |
Futures contracts: | ||||
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 164,560 | 1 | |
Average notional value of contracts short |
$ | 19,959,439 | ||
1 Actual amounts for the period are shown due to limited outstanding derivative financial instruments as of each quarter. |
|
For more information about the Trusts investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End |
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Trusts policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 21 |
Schedule of Investments (concluded) |
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (BFZ) |
The following tables summarize the Trusts investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Investments1 |
| $ | 869,092,403 | | $ | 869,092,403 | ||||||||||
Short-Term Securities |
$ | 3,771,908 | | | 3,771,908 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
$ | 3,771,908 | $ | 869,092,403 | | $ | 872,864,311 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments2 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
$ | 24,426 | | | $ | 24,426 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
(106,299 | ) | | | (106,299 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
$ | (81,873 | ) | | | $ | (81,873 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
1 See above Schedule of Investments for values in each sector. |
| |||||||||||||||
2 Derivative financial instruments futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
|
The Trust may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | 115,411 | | | $ | 115,411 | ||||||||
Cash pledged for futures contracts |
249,000 | | | 249,000 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||
Loan for TOB Trust Certificates |
| $ | (2,045,025 | ) | | (2,045,025 | ) | |||||||
TOB Trust Certificates |
| (181,645,774 | ) | | (181,645,774 | ) | ||||||||
VMTP Shares at Liquidation Value |
| (171,300,000 | ) | | (171,300,000 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Total |
$ | 364,411 | $ | (354,990,799 | ) | | $ | (354,626,388 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the year ended July 31, 2016, there were no transfers between levels.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
22 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments July 31, 2016 |
BlackRock Florida Municipal 2020 Term Trust (BFO) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 23 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Florida Municipal 2020 Term Trust (BFO) |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
(a) | U.S. Government securities, held in escrow, are used to pay interest on this security, as well as to retire the bond in full at the date indicated, typically at a premium to par. |
(b) | Non-income producing security. |
(c) | Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default of interest payments. |
(d) | When-issued security. |
(e) | Zero-coupon bond. |
(f) | During the year ended July 31, 2016, investments in issuers considered to be affiliates of the Trust for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows: |
Affiliate | Shares Held at July 31, 2015 |
Net Activity |
Shares Held at July 31, 2016 |
Value at July 31, 2016 |
Net Income |
|||||||||||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class |
| 1,836,731 | $ | 1,836,731 | $ | 1,836,731 | $ | 1,529 | ||||||||||||
FFI Institutional Tax-Exempt Fund |
550,062 | (550,062 | ) | | | 61 | ||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1,836,731 | $ | 1,590 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(g) | Current yield as of period end. |
For Trust compliance purposes, the Trusts sector classifications refer to any one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment advisor. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector sub-classifications for reporting ease.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End |
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments. For information about the Trusts policy regarding valuation of investments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following tables summarize the Trusts investments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Investments1 |
| $ | 85,751,650 | | $ | 85,751,650 | ||||||||||
Short-Term Securities |
$ | 1,836,731 | | | 1,836,731 | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1,836,731 | $ | 85,751,650 | | $ | 87,588,381 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
1 See above Schedule of Investments for values in each sector. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
24 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments (concluded) |
BlackRock Florida Municipal 2020 Term Trust (BFO) |
The Trust may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of July 31, 2016, cash of $25,110 was categorized as Level 1 within the disclosure hierarchy.
During the year ended July 31, 2016, there were no transfers between levels.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 25 |
Schedule of Investments July 31, 2016 |
BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust (BTT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
26 | ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust (BTT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | JULY 31, 2016 | 27 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust (BTT) |