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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 811-21727
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
W. Scott Jardine, Esq.
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code: 630-765-8000
Date of fiscal year end: October 31
Date of reporting period: April 30, 2023
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment
companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required
to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use
the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information
specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection
of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”)
control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing
the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection
of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
| (a) | | The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith. |
First Trust
Mortgage Income
Fund (FMY)
Semi-Annual
Report
For the Six
Months Ended
April 30,
2023
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund
(FMY)
Semi-Annual Report
April 30, 2023
| 1
|
| 2
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| 4
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| 7
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| 14
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| 15
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| 16
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| 17
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| 18
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| 26
|
Caution Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains
certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the goals,
beliefs, plans or current expectations of First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) and its representatives, taking into account the information currently available to them.
Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to current or historical fact. For example, forward-looking statements include the use of words such as “anticipate,”
“estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “would” or other words that convey uncertainty of
future events or outcomes.
Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (the “Fund”) to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. When evaluating the information included in this report, you are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the judgment of the Advisor and its representatives only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking
statements to reflect events and circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
Performance and Risk
Disclosure
There is no assurance
that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and that the value of the
Fund’s shares may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money by investing in the Fund. See “Principal Risks” in the Additional Information section of this report
for a discussion of certain other risks of investing in the Fund.
Performance data quoted
represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For the most recent month-end performance figures, please visit www.ftportfolios.com or speak with your financial advisor. Investment returns, net asset value and common share price will fluctuate and Fund shares, when sold,
may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The Advisor may also
periodically provide additional information on Fund performance on the Fund’s web page at www.ftportfolios.com.
How to Read This
Report
This report contains
information that may help you evaluate your investment in the Fund. It includes details about the Fund and presents data and analysis that provide insight into the Fund’s performance and investment approach.
By reading the portfolio
commentary by the portfolio management team of the Fund, you may obtain an understanding of how the market environment affected the Fund’s performance. The statistical information that follows may help you
understand the Fund’s performance compared to that of a relevant market benchmark.
It is important to keep
in mind that the opinions expressed by personnel of the Advisor are just that: informed opinions. They should not be considered to be promises or advice. The opinions, like the statistics, cover the period through the
date on the cover of this report. The material risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the prospectus, the statement of additional information, this report and other Fund regulatory filings.
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund
(FMY)
Semi-Annual Letter from the Chairman
and CEO
April 30, 2023
Dear Shareholders,
First
Trust is pleased to provide you with the semi-annual report for the First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (the “Fund”), which
contains detailed information about the Fund for the six months ended April 30, 2023.
It
pleases me to write that on May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization officially declared that the coronavirus
(“COVID-19”) pandemic no longer qualified as a global health emergency. While the virus officially no longer poses an
immediate threat, its full impact on the world economy remains to be seen, in my opinion. Recall, if you will, those early days of
the pandemic; companies sent workers home, consumers were afraid or unwilling to leave their homes, supply chains dried up, and
grocery shelves were left bare. Hoping to provide relief to their constituents and to bolster economic activity, governments
across the globe funneled trillions of dollars in stimulus directly into the hands of their citizens. Unfortunately, economist
Milton Friedman’s age-old economic adage “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” still holds. As a
result of the U.S. government stimulus, gross domestic product rebounded quickly, but so did inflation.
As
many investors are aware, the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) has been locked in a battle with stubbornly high inflation for
several years now. Inflation, as measured by the trailing 12-month rate of change in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”),
surged from 1.4% on December 31, 2020, to 9.1% as of June 30, 2022. Since then, the trailing rate on the CPI has come down, but
remains elevated. On April 30, 2023, the CPI stood at 4.9%, well above the Fed’s goal of 2.0%. Surging prices have not
been restricted to the U.S. Headline inflation rates in each of the countries that make up the so-called Group of Ten (G-10)
stand above the targets set by their central banks, according to data from Bloomberg.
From
the Fed’s perspective, monetary policy is the most efficient means to combat rising prices. From December 31, 2020 through May
3, 2023, the Fed increased the Federal Funds target rate (upper bound) a total of ten times, raising the rate from 0.25% to 5.25%.
As mentioned, tighter monetary policy resulted in a decrease in the CPI, but there have been casualties in the Fed’s battle
with rising prices. The most recent banking turmoil is one example. Another is the spike in mortgage rates. According to Bankrate,
the national average for a 30-year mortgage stood at just 2.87% on December 31, 2020. As of May 1, 2023, the average 30-year
mortgage rate had surged to 6.88%. Not all the news is negative, however. Driven by a strong U.S. labor market, consumer spending
remained robust in April 2023. Notably, American corporations added 253,000 jobs during the month, and the unemployment rate stood
at a 53-year low. Bob Carey, Chief Market Strategist at First Trust, recently summed up the current situation, noting that
“we’re not out of the woods yet.” That said, even the most difficult situations don’t last forever. In
my opinion, like the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and the tighter monetary policy it ushered in, will pass with time.
Thank you for giving
First Trust the opportunity to play a role in your financial future. We value our relationship with you and will report on the Fund again in six months.
Sincerely,
James A. Bowen
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Chief Executive Officer of First Trust
Advisors L.P.
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
“AT A GLANCE”
As of April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
| Fund Statistics
|
|
| Symbol on New York Stock Exchange
| FMY
|
| Common Share Price
| $11.50
|
| Common Share Net Asset Value (“NAV”)
| $12.49
|
| Premium (Discount) to NAV
| (7.93)%
|
| Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares
| $52,616,481
|
| Current Distribution per Common Share(1)
| $0.0550
|
| Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share
| $0.6600
|
| Current Distribution Rate on Common Share Price(2)
| 5.74%
|
| Current Distribution Rate on NAV(2)
| 5.28%
|
Common Share Price & NAV (weekly closing price)
| Performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Average Annual Total Returns
|
|
| 6 Months Ended
4/30/23
| 1 Year Ended
4/30/23
| 5 Years Ended
4/30/23
| 10 Years Ended
4/30/23
| Inception
(5/25/05)
to 4/30/23
|
| Fund Performance(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NAV
| 6.31%
| 1.55%
| 1.43%
| 2.26%
| 4.52%
|
| Market Value
| 7.49%
| 4.23%
| 2.19%
| 1.96%
| 3.77%
|
| Index Performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bloomberg U.S. Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) Index
| 6.78%
| -0.88%
| 0.41%
| 1.00%
| 2.87%
|
| (1)
| Most recent distribution paid through April 30, 2023. Subject to change in the future.
|
| (2)
| Distribution rates are calculated by annualizing the most recent distribution paid through the report date and then dividing by Common Share Price or NAV, as applicable, as of April 30, 2023. Subject to
change in the future.
|
| (3)
| Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain, and return of capital distributions, if any, at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and changes in NAV per
share for NAV returns and changes in Common Share Price for market value returns. Total returns do not reflect sales load and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Past performance is not indicative of
future results.
|
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
“AT A GLANCE”
(Continued)
As of April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
| Portfolio Characteristics
|
|
| Weighted Average Effective Duration
| 4.6 Years
|
| Weighted Average Effective Maturity
| 7.4 Years
|
| Fund Allocation
| % of Net Assets
|
| U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities
| 55.2%
|
| Mortgage-Backed Securities
| 47.4
|
| Asset-Backed Securities
| 6.2
|
| Call Options Purchased
| 0.0*
|
| Call Options Written
| (0.0)*
|
| Net Other Assets and Liabilities(4)
| (8.8)
|
| Total
| 100.0%
|
| *
| Amount is less than 0.01%.
|
| Credit Quality(5)
| % of Total
Fixed-Income
Investments
|
| AAA
| 19.1%
|
| AA+
| 1.5
|
| AA
| 0.4
|
| AA-
| 1.7
|
| A+
| 1.0
|
| A
| 0.0*
|
| BBB
| 0.3
|
| BBB-
| 4.6
|
| BB
| 0.5
|
| BB-
| 1.8
|
| B
| 1.0
|
| CCC
| 0.0*
|
| CCC-
| 0.0*
|
| CC
| 0.6
|
| Not Rated
| 15.0
|
| Government
| 49.0
|
| Cash & Cash Equivalents
| 3.5
|
| Total
| 100.0%
|
| *
| Amount is less than 0.01%.
|
| (4)
| Includes variation margin on futures contracts.
|
| (5)
| The credit quality and ratings information presented above reflect the ratings assigned by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs), including S&P Global Ratings,
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Ratings or a comparably rated NRSRO. For situations in which a security is rated by more than one NRSRO and the ratings are not equivalent, the highest rating is used.
Sub-investment grade ratings are those rated BB+/Ba1 or lower. Investment grade ratings are those rated BBB-/Baa3 or higher. The credit ratings shown relate to the creditworthiness of the issuers of the
underlying securities in the Fund, and not to the Fund or its shares. U.S. Treasury, U.S. Agency and U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities appear under “Government.” Credit ratings are subject to change.
|
Portfolio Commentary
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
Semi-Annual Report
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Advisor
First Trust Advisors L.P.
(“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) serves as the investment advisor to the First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (the “Fund” or “FMY”) and offers customized portfolio
management using its structured, quantitative approach to security selection.
Portfolio Management
Team
Jeremiah Charles –
Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, First Trust Government & Securitized Products Group
James Snyder – Senior
Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, First Trust Government & Securitized Products Group
Owen Aronson –
Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Fund, First Trust Government & Securitized Products Group
The following information
is a summary of certain changes during the most recent fiscal period ended April 30, 2023 relating to the portfolio managers of the Fund. This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since
you purchased shares of the Fund.
Effective June 1, 2023,
Owen Aronson was added as a portfolio manager to the Fund. Mr. Aronson is a Senior Investment Analyst for the First Trust Government & Securitized Products Group. He has over 15 years of investment research and
trading experience. At First Trust, he focuses primarily on the commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMBS, sector and contributes to the management of the non-agency sectors. Prior to joining First Trust in 2020,
Owen spent the majority of his career in the Securitized Products team at Neuberger Berman where he was responsible for CMBS investments. He began his career at Lehman Brothers Asset Management as an Analyst. Mr.
Aronson holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago.
Commentary
First Trust Mortgage Income
Fund
The Fund’s primary
investment objective is to seek a high level of current income. As a secondary objective the Fund seeks to preserve capital. The Fund pursues its objectives by investing primarily in mortgage-backed securities
(“MBS”) representing part ownership in a pool of either residential or commercial mortgage loans that, in the opinion of the Fund’s investment advisor, offer an attractive combination of credit
quality, yield and maturity. There can be no assurance the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.
Market Recap
The fiscal year began
with markets under considerable strain as the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) continued with its aggressive rate hiking campaign to combat soaring inflation. With volatility high and liquidity challenged as
bond market participants suffered through outflows, bond market spreads remained under pressure. As the calendar year rolled over, the market began to once again price in, just as it incorrectly had several times over
the preceding year; a belief that inflation would quickly cool, and the Fed would be ‘forced’ to cut rates. This saw the 2-Year U.S. Treasury trade as high as 4.72% and subsequently rally to a low of
4.08%. Meanwhile, bond market spreads slowly tightened off their wides as outflows slowed. Unfortunately, a hot jobs number and hawkish language from the Fed Chair Jerome Powell pushed yields on the front end north of
5% in early March 2023, putting significant pressure on an already inverted curve, until it all unraveled mere days later as the first of the large banks, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”), began to fail. Front
end treasury yields plunged, which saw the 2-Year Treasury fall from 5% to sub 4%, while spreads gapped wider, with the option-adjusted spread (“OAS”) on Agency MBS widening approximately 20 basis points
(“bps”), almost immediately. Ultimately the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) took control of two banks, SVB, and Signature Bank of New York, and released plans to liquidate in
excess of $100 billion worth of high quality bond assets. Yes, we believe it is safe to say that the aggressive campaign the Fed was forced to undertake when it was too late to respond to the impending inflation
debacle the year prior helped cause the banking issues. Less talked about however, is the importance of understanding the duration gap, and convexity embedded in a bond portfolio. These issues have been front and
center in bond portfolios the last 18 months as rates have risen so significantly in such a short amount of time. The ability to understand and manage these risks, properly, and with skill, has never been more
important.
Portfolio Commentary (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
Semi-Annual Report
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Performance Analysis
|
|
| |
Average Annual Total Returns |
|
| 6 Months Ended
4/30/23
| 1 Year Ended
4/30/23
| 5 Years Ended
4/30/23
| 10 Years Ended
4/30/23
| Inception
(5/25/05)
to 4/30/23
|
| Fund Performance*
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NAV
| 6.31%
| 1.55%
| 1.43%
| 2.26%
| 4.52%
|
| Market Value
| 7.49%
| 4.23%
| 2.19%
| 1.96%
| 3.77%
|
| Index Performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bloomberg U.S. Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) Index
| 6.78%
| -0.88%
| 0.41%
| 1.00%
| 2.87%
|
Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a
statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund.
These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Performance in securitized product investment strategies can be impacted from the benefits of purchasing odd lot positions. The impact of these investments can be particularly meaningful when funds have limited
assets under management and may not be a sustainable source of performance as a fund grows in size.
For the six-month period
ended April 30, 2023, the Fund returned 6.31% on a net asset value basis (“NAV”), and 7.49% on a market price basis.
For the same period, the
Bloomberg U.S. Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) Index (the “Index”) returned 6.78%.
During the same period,
the Fund underperformed the Index by 0.47% net of fees, on a NAV basis, and outperformed by 0.71% on a market price basis.
Typically, the Fund is
structured with a lower and more stable duration profile, which in a broader bond market rally, would likely cause it to underperform its longer duration benchmark. However, with bond market yields at levels not
experienced in over a decade, the decision was made to increase the duration of the Fund, predominantly by using treasury futures. This decision ultimately proved to be very beneficial to the performance of the
strategy as it nearly kept up with its longer benchmark during a period of very heightened volatility and challenged liquidity. On the asset side, the Fund slightly reduced its holdings in Agency collateralized
mortgage obligation interest only bonds, while taking advantage of very spready opportunities in both Non-Agency residential mortgage-back securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”).
CMBS, while in the headlines as of late, have already experienced
| *
| Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain, and return of capital distributions, if any, at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and changes in NAV per
share for NAV returns and changes in Common Share Price for market value returns. Total returns do not reflect sales load and are not annualized for periods of less than one year.
|
Portfolio Commentary (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
Semi-Annual Report
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
meaningful widening, and
the portfolio management team put capital to work in bonds that were believed to be money good, would benefit from extension or workout scenarios, and such challenges were already reflected in the asset pricing. We
believe this modest reallocation allowed the Fund to take advantage of opportunities in the market and allowed the Fund to achieve its primary objective of a high level of current income more easily. To be clear, the
Fund’s usage of futures positions to help manage interest rate risk and to position a higher overall effective duration, was beneficial to the Fund’s performance during the period as interest rates
declined over the six-month period ended April 30, 2023. The Fund’s use of options had minimal impact on the Fund’s performance during the same period. During the period, the Fund utilized a modest amount
of leverage, using Agency MBS to-be-announced, which had no meaningful impact on the Fund’s performance to date as spreads remain quite wide in nominal and OAS terms. As a reminder, in a lookback to when this
market cycle commenced, the Fund has outperformed its benchmark by over 600 bps on a NAV basis since October 31, 2021.
The Fund has a practice
of seeking to maintain a relatively stable monthly distribution, which may be changed at any time. The practice has no impact on the Fund’s investment strategy and may reduce the Fund’s NAV. However, the
Advisor believes the practice helps maintain the Fund’s competitiveness and may benefit the Fund’s market price and premium/discount to the Fund’s NAV. The monthly distribution rate began the period
at $0.0550 per share and ended at $0.0550 per share. At the $0.0550 per share monthly distribution rate, the annualized distribution rate at April 30, 2023 was 5.28% at NAV and 5.74% at market price. The final
determination of the source and tax status of all 2023 distributions will be made after the end of 2023 and will be provided on Form 1099-DIV. Not to be construed as tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor for
further information regarding tax matters.
Fund and Market Outlook
Inflation remains quite
sticky, and we remain mindful of both how hard it can be to tame inflation once set in, and the impacts this can have on term premium pricing along the U.S. yield curve. We believe the Fed may be forced to hold
interest rates at levels higher than the market currently is pricing. As such, yields may drift higher from here, although we believe there is a ceiling as the end of the interest rate hiking cycle is on the horizon.
Although we believe follow through from the aggressive interest rate hiking campaign has begun to work its way through the broader economy, and issues related to the banking crisis can, and will, have an impact, the
economy does not appear to be derailing. Job market numbers remain fairly positive, and housing seems to have found some support, thanks in large part to the lock-in effect of low mortgage rates on existing loans and
the above-mentioned labor market. As long as the FDIC continues to slowly liquidate the SVB and Signature Bank of New York bond portfolios, we do not believe the Fed will be an outright seller of its MBS holdings. One
might wonder, however, if inflation continues to remain this sticky, if they ought to be. We do anticipate bouts of heightened levels of rate volatility going forward, and frankly, to expect measures of rate
volatility and spread pricing to simply return to post-global financial crisis/pre-COVID-19 levels in the near term and perhaps even intermediate term, would be unrealistic. Spreads remain near their multi-year wides,
and we believe opportunities abound, as we are positive on generic Agency MBS spread valuations, along with AAA shorter duration securitized opportunities.
We remain committed to
finding value across the various sectors of the mortgage and securitized market, but also along the term spectrum of the U.S. yield curve. Given the level of yields available across the curve, we continue to maintain
higher levels of interest rate sensitivity in the Fund than typical, as duration risks feel more balanced, in our opinion, and should yields continue to climb, we will likely continue to extend duration. We remain
committed to actively managing the convexity component in the portfolio and will look to continue to manage the Fund to a more stable duration target than its benchmark; meaning we do not want to extend in duration as
rates rise, and conversely, we do not want to shorten or lose duration into a rally, unless we explicitly look to do so. From an asset allocation perspective, we plan to continue to take advantage of very wide spreads
in select securitized opportunities that the portfolio managers find to be attractively priced in the short to intermediate part of the curve, which we find to be particularly attractive in light of the current curve
inversion. In our view, this approach would provide higher current yield, income, dividend, and spread protection for shareholders. As an ongoing reminder, as part of the investment team’s Agency MBS strategy, a
portion of the agency securities have been, and will continue to, be invested in the interest-only sectors in an attempt to increase the income and economic earnings of the portfolio. We believe this strategy can be
very effective with proper security selection, particularly when combined with appropriate yield curve management. Given the amount of rate increases already experienced across the curve, we anticipate holding lower
levels of Agency MBS Interest-Only for the time being and are seeking to profit from select CMBS opportunities that benefit from extension and workout scenarios. We plan to continue to maintain a tradeable portfolio
as that is critical to being able to act should opportunities arise.
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Portfolio of Investments
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Principal
Value
|
| Description
|
| Stated
Coupon
|
| Stated
Maturity
|
| Value
|
| U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES – 55.2%
|
|
|
| Collateralized Mortgage Obligations – 26.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $1,569
|
| Series 2303, Class SW, IO, ECOFIN x -15.87 + 121.11%, Capped at 10.00% (a)
|
| 10.00%
|
| 03/01/24
|
| $47
|
| 29,201
|
| Series 2334, Class QS, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -3.5 + 28.18% (a)
|
| 10.86%
|
| 07/15/31
|
| 31,321
|
| 129,526
|
| Series 2439, Class XI, IO, if 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 7.74% is less than 7.50%, then 6.50%, otherwise 0.00% (a)
|
| 6.50%
|
| 03/01/32
|
| 18,135
|
| 627,904
|
| Series 2975, Class SJ, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.65% (a)
|
| 1.70%
|
| 05/15/35
|
| 51,886
|
| 162,674
|
| Series 3012, Class GK, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -4.5 + 24.75% (a)
|
| 2.49%
|
| 06/15/35
|
| 179,037
|
| 50,606
|
| Series 3410, Class HC
|
| 5.50%
|
| 02/01/38
|
| 52,943
|
| 14,855
|
| Series 3451, Class SB, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.03% (a)
|
| 1.08%
|
| 05/15/38
|
| 1,218
|
| 223,533
|
| Series 3471, Class SD, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.08% (a)
|
| 1.13%
|
| 12/15/36
|
| 19,847
|
| 250,000
|
| Series 3797, Class KB
|
| 4.50%
|
| 01/01/41
|
| 252,431
|
| 12,120
|
| Series 4021, Class IP, IO
|
| 3.00%
|
| 03/01/27
|
| 448
|
| 204,109
|
| Series 4057, Class YI, IO
|
| 3.00%
|
| 06/01/27
|
| 8,030
|
| 418,165
|
| Series 4082, Class PI, IO
|
| 3.00%
|
| 06/01/27
|
| 16,309
|
| 2,201,089
|
| Series 4142, Class IO, IO
|
| 3.00%
|
| 12/01/27
|
| 90,457
|
| 259,722
|
| Series 4206, Class IA, IO
|
| 3.00%
|
| 03/01/33
|
| 21,902
|
| 283,810
|
| Series 4615, Class GT, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -4 + 16.00%, 0.00% Floor (a)
|
| 0.00%
|
| 10/15/42
|
| 203,624
|
| 3,286,061
|
| Series 4938, Class IB, IO
|
| 4.00%
|
| 07/01/49
|
| 423,618
|
|
|
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. STACR REMIC Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2020-DNA2, Class B2, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.80% (b) (c)
|
| 9.82%
|
| 02/25/50
|
| 903,817
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2020-HQA2, Class B2, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 7.60% (b) (c)
|
| 12.62%
|
| 03/25/50
|
| 1,011,874
|
|
|
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. STACR Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2019-DNA3, Class B2, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 8.15% (b) (c)
|
| 13.17%
|
| 07/25/49
|
| 1,039,044
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2019-DNA4, Class B2, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 6.25% (b) (c)
|
| 11.27%
|
| 10/25/49
|
| 1,002,706
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2019-HQA1, Class B1, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.40% (b) (c)
|
| 9.42%
|
| 02/25/49
|
| 1,056,278
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2019-HQA3, Class B1, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00% (b) (c)
|
| 8.02%
|
| 09/25/49
|
| 993,563
|
|
|
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Pass-Through
Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 45,242
|
| Series T-56, Class APO
|
| (d)
|
| 05/01/43
|
| 44,721
|
|
|
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., STRIPS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 22,411
|
| Series 177, IO
|
| 7.00%
|
| 07/01/26
|
| 1,608
|
|
|
| Federal National Mortgage Association
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 18,244
|
| Series 1996-46, Class ZA
|
| 7.50%
|
| 11/01/26
|
| 18,455
|
| 22,641
|
| Series 1997-85, Class M, IO
|
| 6.50%
|
| 12/01/27
|
| 376
|
| 18,664
|
| Series 2002-80, Class IO, IO
|
| 6.00%
|
| 09/01/32
|
| 1,253
|
| 46,244
|
| Series 2003-15, Class MS, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 8.00% (a)
|
| 2.98%
|
| 03/25/33
|
| 5,294
|
| 57,490
|
| Series 2003-44, Class IU, IO
|
| 7.00%
|
| 06/01/33
|
| 9,099
|
| 8,742
|
| Series 2004-74, Class SW, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -2 + 15.50% (a)
|
| 5.58%
|
| 11/25/31
|
| 9,344
|
| 273,214
|
| Series 2005-122, Class SN, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -4 + 28.60% (a)
|
| 8.52%
|
| 01/25/36
|
| 320,182
|
| 27,362
|
| Series 2005-59 Class SU, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -5 + 25.50% (a)
|
| 0.40%
|
| 06/25/35
|
| 26,008
|
| 56,386
|
| Series 2005-6, Class SE, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.70% (a)
|
| 1.68%
|
| 02/25/35
|
| 4,756
|
| 28,723
|
| Series 2007-100, Class SM, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.45% (a)
|
| 1.43%
|
| 10/25/37
|
| 2,867
|
| 163,942
|
| Series 2007-37, Class SB, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.75% (a)
|
| 1.73%
|
| 05/25/37
|
| 17,921
|
| 294,177
|
| Series 2008-17, Class BE
|
| 5.50%
|
| 10/01/37
|
| 301,249
|
| 652,914
|
| Series 2010-103, Class ID, IO
|
| 5.00%
|
| 09/01/40
|
| 108,904
|
| 329,025
|
| Series 2010-59, Class EI, IO
|
| 6.00%
|
| 06/01/40
|
| 58,986
|
| 39,245
|
| Series 2010-99, Class SG, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -5 + 25.00% (a)
|
| 0.76%
|
| 09/01/40
|
| 41,601
|
| 424,054
|
| Series 2011-81, Class PI, IO
|
| 3.50%
|
| 08/01/26
|
| 13,357
|
| 57,178
|
| Series 2012-111, Class B
|
| 7.00%
|
| 10/01/42
|
| 61,029
|
| 272,161
|
| Series 2012-112, Class BI, IO
|
| 3.00%
|
| 09/01/31
|
| 6,183
|
| 1,356,832
|
| Series 2012-125, Class MI, IO
|
| 3.50%
|
| 11/01/42
|
| 194,291
|
| 16,897
|
| Series 2013-132, Class SW, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -2.67 + 10.67%, 0.00% Floor (a)
|
| 0.00%
|
| 01/01/44
|
| 14,130
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 7
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Principal
Value
|
| Description
|
| Stated
Coupon
|
| Stated
Maturity
|
| Value
|
| U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (Continued)
|
|
|
| Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Federal National Mortgage Association (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $1,748,407
|
| Series 2013-32, Class IG, IO
|
| 3.50%
|
| 04/01/33
|
| $194,753
|
| 207,213
|
| Series 2013-51, Class PI, IO
|
| 3.00%
|
| 11/01/32
|
| 18,111
|
| 1,390,448
|
| Series 2015-20, Class ES, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.15% (a)
|
| 1.13%
|
| 04/25/45
|
| 187,192
|
| 122,272
|
| Series 2015-76, Class BI, IO
|
| 4.00%
|
| 10/01/39
|
| 3,724
|
| 30,566
|
| Series 2015-97, Class AI, IO
|
| 4.00%
|
| 09/01/41
|
| 21
|
| 168,142
|
| Series 2016-74, Class LI, IO
|
| 3.50%
|
| 09/01/46
|
| 44,332
|
| 2,615,776
|
| Series 2017-109, Class SJ, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1+ 6.20% (a)
|
| 1.18%
|
| 01/25/48
|
| 338,102
|
| 1,920,628
|
| Series 5179, Class GZ
|
| 2.00%
|
| 01/01/52
|
| 1,130,216
|
|
|
| Federal National Mortgage Association, STRIPS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 18,659
|
| Series 305, Class 12, IO (e)
|
| 6.50%
|
| 12/01/29
|
| 1,743
|
| 32,915
|
| Series 355, Class 18, IO
|
| 7.50%
|
| 11/01/33
|
| 4,935
|
| 466,061
|
| Series 406, Class 6, IO (e)
|
| 4.00%
|
| 01/01/41
|
| 76,992
|
| 431,067
|
| Series 413, Class 173, IO (e)
|
| 4.50%
|
| 07/01/42
|
| 75,181
|
|
|
| Government National Mortgage Association
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 224,222
|
| Series 2004-95, Class QZ
|
| 4.50%
|
| 11/01/34
|
| 221,236
|
| 120,562
|
| Series 2005-33, Class AY
|
| 5.50%
|
| 04/01/35
|
| 122,111
|
| 38,686
|
| Series 2005-68, Class DP, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -2.41 + 16.43% (a)
|
| 4.51%
|
| 06/17/35
|
| 39,867
|
| 26,204
|
| Series 2006-28, Class VS, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -13 + 87.10% (a)
|
| 22.71%
|
| 06/20/36
|
| 44,138
|
| 141,133
|
| Series 2007-68, Class PI, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.65% (a)
|
| 1.70%
|
| 11/20/37
|
| 4,592
|
| 100,000
|
| Series 2008-2, Class HB
|
| 5.50%
|
| 01/01/38
|
| 100,967
|
| 117,589
|
| Series 2008-73, Class SK, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.74% (a)
|
| 1.79%
|
| 08/20/38
|
| 6,543
|
| 159,848
|
| Series 2009-79, Class PZ
|
| 6.00%
|
| 09/01/39
|
| 174,748
|
| 227,249
|
| Series 2013-104, Class YS, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.15% (a)
|
| 1.20%
|
| 07/16/43
|
| 16,943
|
| 126,575
|
| Series 2014-41, Class ST, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -2.67 + 11.47%, 0.00% Floor (a)
|
| 0.00%
|
| 11/20/42
|
| 106,187
|
| 3,675,833
|
| Series 2015-158, Class KS, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.25% (a)
|
| 1.30%
|
| 11/20/45
|
| 456,414
|
| 75,715
|
| Series 2016-139, Class MZ
|
| 1.50%
|
| 07/01/45
|
| 57,752
|
| 159,185
|
| Series 2017-4, Class CZ
|
| 3.00%
|
| 01/01/47
|
| 136,247
|
| 129,237
|
| Series 2017-H18, Class DZ (e)
|
| 4.63%
|
| 09/01/67
|
| 127,003
|
| 10,502,988
|
| Series 2020-13, Class BT, IO, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -1 + 6.20%, Capped at 0.50% (a)
|
| 0.50%
|
| 11/20/45
|
| 226,880
|
| 1,478,000
|
| Series 2022-146, Class PL
|
| 4.00%
|
| 08/01/52
|
| 1,333,417
|
|
|
|
|
| 13,890,496
|
|
|
| Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities – 15.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Multifamily Structured
Pass-Through Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 30,000,000
|
| Series K043, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 1.69%
|
| 02/01/43
|
| 779,967
|
| 4,000,000
|
| Series K110, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 3.52%
|
| 06/01/48
|
| 728,824
|
| 3,330,000
|
| Series K112, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 3.11%
|
| 07/01/48
|
| 546,006
|
| 4,605,411
|
| Series K115, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 3.06%
|
| 09/01/48
|
| 746,381
|
| 4,326,216
|
| Series K118, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 2.79%
|
| 10/25/48
|
| 650,931
|
| 1,900,000
|
| Series K122, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 2.72%
|
| 01/01/49
|
| 279,852
|
| 5,000,000
|
| Series K124, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 2.71%
|
| 02/01/49
|
| 746,639
|
| 3,343,856
|
| Series K128, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 2.88%
|
| 04/01/31
|
| 539,755
|
| 1,831,144
|
| Series K739, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 2.90%
|
| 11/25/48
|
| 184,497
|
| 342,320,115
|
| Series KBX1, Class X1, IO (f)
|
| 0.20%
|
| 01/01/26
|
| 713,703
|
| 4,571,896
|
| Series KG06, Class X3, IO (f)
|
| 2.83%
|
| 10/01/31
|
| 746,608
|
|
|
| Federal National Mortgage Association, ACES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 13,100,000
|
| Series 2019-M29, Class X4, IO
|
| 0.70%
|
| 03/01/29
|
| 400,322
|
|
|
| Freddie Mac Multiclass Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 6,004,434
|
| Series 2021-P011, Class X1, IO (f)
|
| 1.79%
|
| 09/01/45
|
| 756,137
|
Page 8
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Principal
Value
|
| Description
|
| Stated
Coupon
|
| Stated
Maturity
|
| Value
|
| U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (Continued)
|
|
|
| Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Government National Mortgage Association
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $2,223,865
|
| Series 2016-11, Class IO (e)
|
| 0.78%
|
| 01/01/56
|
| $77,772
|
|
|
|
|
| 7,897,394
|
|
|
| Pass-through Security – 13.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Pool TBA (g)
|
| 2.50%
|
| 05/01/53
|
| 865,957
|
| 2,000,000
|
| Pool TBA (g)
|
| 3.00%
|
| 05/01/53
|
| 1,796,562
|
| 2,000,000
|
| Pool TBA (g)
|
| 2.50%
|
| 06/01/53
|
| 1,734,414
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Pool TBA (g)
|
| 3.00%
|
| 06/01/53
|
| 899,375
|
| 2,000,000
|
| Pool TBA (g)
|
| 4.50%
|
| 06/01/53
|
| 1,956,172
|
|
|
|
|
| 7,252,480
|
|
|
| Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities
|
| 29,040,370
|
|
|
| (Cost $32,077,417)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES – 47.4%
|
|
|
| Collateralized Mortgage Obligations – 20.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Banc of America Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 45,115
|
| Series 2002-L, Class 1A1 (f)
|
| 3.56%
|
| 12/01/32
|
| 33,952
|
|
|
| Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 77,365
|
| Series 2005-6, Class A1, US Treasury Yield Curve Rate T Note Constant Maturity 1 Year + 2.10% (c)
|
| 6.08%
|
| 09/01/35
|
| 77,002
|
| 11,699
|
| Series 2009-10, Class 1A1 (b) (f)
|
| 4.16%
|
| 09/01/33
|
| 11,442
|
| 170,581
|
| Series 2012-7, Class 10A2 (b) (f)
|
| 4.09%
|
| 09/01/36
|
| 151,555
|
|
|
| Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2019-R01, Class 2B1, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.35% (b) (c)
|
| 9.37%
|
| 07/25/31
|
| 1,046,631
|
|
|
| Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 243,093
|
| Series 2006-HYB5, Class 3A1A (f)
|
| 3.92%
|
| 09/01/36
|
| 211,857
|
|
|
| Credit Suisse Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 329,331
|
| Series 2017-FHA1, Class A1 (b)
|
| 3.25%
|
| 04/01/47
|
| 300,187
|
|
|
| DSLA Mortgage Loan Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 258,550
|
| Series 2004-AR3, Class 2A2A, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 0.74% (c)
|
| 5.69%
|
| 07/19/44
|
| 230,630
|
|
|
| Flagstar Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,080,168
|
| Series 2021-9INV, Class A1 (b)
|
| 2.50%
|
| 09/01/41
|
| 953,239
|
|
|
| GSR Mortgage Loan Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,433
|
| Series 2003-10, Class 1A12 (f)
|
| 3.94%
|
| 10/01/33
|
| 2,304
|
| 80,316
|
| Series 2005-AR1, Class 4A1 (f)
|
| 3.19%
|
| 01/01/35
|
| 69,370
|
|
|
| JP Morgan Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 229,296
|
| Series 2006-A2, Class 4A1 (f)
|
| 3.66%
|
| 08/01/34
|
| 226,307
|
| 37,527
|
| Series 2006-A2, Class 5A3 (f)
|
| 4.18%
|
| 11/01/33
|
| 36,029
|
|
|
| MASTR Alternative Loan Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3,550,101
|
| Series 2006-2, Class 2A3, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 0.35% (c)
|
| 5.37%
|
| 03/25/36
|
| 366,343
|
|
|
| MASTR Asset Securitization Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 16,538
|
| Series 2003-11, Class 6A16
|
| 5.25%
|
| 12/01/33
|
| 15,887
|
|
|
| MortgageIT Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 164,553
|
| Series 2005-2, Class 2A, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.65% (c)
|
| 6.50%
|
| 05/01/35
|
| 153,276
|
|
|
| New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 210,903
|
| Series 2014-2A, Class A2 (b)
|
| 3.75%
|
| 05/01/54
|
| 195,696
|
|
|
| Pretium Mortgage Credit Partners I LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2021-NPL2, Class A2 (b) (h)
|
| 3.84%
|
| 06/27/60
|
| 851,881
|
|
|
| PRKCM Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2021-AFC1, Class B2 (b)
|
| 3.95%
|
| 08/01/56
|
| 574,565
|
|
|
| Residential Accredit Loans, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 73,816
|
| Series 2006-QO1, Class 2A1, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 0.54% (c)
|
| 5.56%
|
| 02/25/46
|
| 46,177
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 9
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Principal
Value
|
| Description
|
| Stated
Coupon
|
| Stated
Maturity
|
| Value
|
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (Continued)
|
|
|
| Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $711,674
|
| Series 2006-QS6, Class 1AV, IO (f)
|
| 0.78%
|
| 06/01/36
|
| $15,537
|
|
|
| Residential Asset Securitization Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 19,692
|
| Series 2004-A3, Class A7
|
| 5.25%
|
| 06/01/34
|
| 19,379
|
|
|
| Roc Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2021-RTL1, Class M (b)
|
| 5.68%
|
| 08/25/26
|
| 876,551
|
|
|
| RUN Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 921,481
|
| Series 2022-NQM1, Class A1 (b)
|
| 4.00%
|
| 03/01/67
|
| 866,057
|
|
|
| Starwood Mortgage Residential Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 915,962
|
| Series 2022-3, Class A1 (b)
|
| 4.16%
|
| 03/01/67
|
| 882,555
|
|
|
| Structured Asset Securities Corp. Mortgage Pass-Through
Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 9,713
|
| Series 2001-SB1, Class A2
|
| 3.38%
|
| 08/01/31
|
| 9,628
|
|
|
| VCAT LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2021-NPL5, Class A2 (b) (h)
|
| 3.84%
|
| 08/25/51
|
| 861,491
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2021-NPL6, Class A2 (b) (h)
|
| 3.97%
|
| 09/25/51
|
| 872,288
|
|
|
| Vendee Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 34,288,748
|
| Series 2010-1, Class DI, IO (f)
|
| 0.25%
|
| 04/01/40
|
| 250,911
|
|
|
| WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 173,269
|
| Series 2004-AR13, Class A1A, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 0.72% (c)
|
| 5.74%
|
| 11/25/34
|
| 159,584
|
|
|
| Washington Mutual Alternative Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 10,529
|
| Series 2007-5, Class A11, 1 Mo. LIBOR x -6 + 39.48% (a)
|
| 9.36%
|
| 06/25/37
|
| 12,337
|
|
|
| WinWater Mortgage Loan Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 228,878
|
| Series 2015-3, Class B1 (b) (f)
|
| 3.85%
|
| 03/01/45
|
| 217,234
|
|
|
|
|
| 10,597,882
|
|
|
| Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities – 27.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2013-WBRK, Class A (b) (f)
|
| 3.65%
|
| 03/01/37
|
| 922,928
|
|
|
| BANK
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 22,502,663
|
| Series 2017-BNK7, Class XA (f)
|
| 0.85%
|
| 09/01/60
|
| 551,747
|
|
|
| BBCMS Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2018-TALL, Class A, 1. Mo. LIBOR + 0.87% (b) (c)
|
| 5.82%
|
| 03/15/37
|
| 895,685
|
|
|
| Benchmark Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2020-IG2, Class UBRD (b) (f)
|
| 3.63%
|
| 09/01/48
|
| 819,209
|
|
|
| CCRE Commercial Mortgage Securities L.P.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 8,009,765
|
| CFCRE Mortgage Trust Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2017-C8, Class XA, IO (f)
|
| 1.64%
|
| 06/01/50
|
| 362,251
|
|
|
| CD Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 8,664,482
|
| Series 2018-CD7, Class XA (f)
|
| 0.82%
|
| 08/01/51
|
| 246,400
|
|
|
| Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4,220,696
|
| Series 2015-GC29, Class XA (f)
|
| 1.15%
|
| 04/01/48
|
| 65,365
|
| 8,703,230
|
| Series 2016-GC37, Class XA (f)
|
| 1.82%
|
| 04/01/49
|
| 319,140
|
| 5,568,006
|
| Series 2016-P4, Class XA (f)
|
| 2.05%
|
| 07/01/49
|
| 253,652
|
|
|
| COMM Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 444,742
|
| Series 2013-LC13, Class XA (f)
|
| 1.13%
|
| 08/01/46
|
| 240
|
| 122,774,000
|
| Series 2014-UBS6, Class XB (b) (f)
|
| 0.11%
|
| 12/01/47
|
| 110,423
|
| 3,829,000
|
| Series 2015-CCRE26, Class XD (b) (f)
|
| 1.36%
|
| 10/01/48
|
| 100,020
|
| 15,271,648
|
| Series 2015-LC21, Class XA (f)
|
| 0.80%
|
| 07/01/48
|
| 173,246
|
|
|
| Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2021-980M, Class G (b) (f)
|
| 3.65%
|
| 07/15/31
|
| 686,682
|
|
|
| Credit Suisse Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2022-CNTR, Class A, 1 Mo. Term SOFR + 3.94%, 4.09% Floor (b) (c)
|
| 8.83%
|
| 01/15/24
|
| 820,403
|
Page 10
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Principal
Value
|
| Description
|
| Stated
Coupon
|
| Stated
Maturity
|
| Value
|
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (Continued)
|
|
|
| Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $5,905,119
|
| Series 2020-C19, Class XA (f)
|
| 1.23%
|
| 03/01/53
|
| $327,883
|
|
|
| FIVE Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 28,988,138
|
| Series 2023-V1, Class XA, IO (c)
|
| 1.04%
|
| 02/01/56
|
| 988,240
|
|
|
| GS Mortgage Securities Corp Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2018-3PCK, Class C, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50% (b) (c)
|
| 8.45%
|
| 09/15/31
|
| 928,384
|
|
|
| GS Mortgage Securities Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 875,321
|
| Series 2012-GCJ9, Class D (b) (f)
|
| 4.77%
|
| 11/01/45
|
| 814,439
|
|
|
| Hawaii Hotel Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2019-MAUI, Class A, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.15% (b) (c)
|
| 6.10%
|
| 05/15/38
|
| 982,531
|
|
|
| Houston Galleria Mall Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2015-HGLR, Class D (b)
|
| 3.98%
|
| 03/01/37
|
| 894,374
|
|
|
| Hudsons Bay Simon JV Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 360,634
|
| Series 2015-HBFL, Class DFL, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.90% (b) (c)
|
| 8.76%
|
| 08/05/34
|
| 281,229
|
|
|
| JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3,112,340
|
| Series 2016-JP4, Class XA (f)
|
| 0.71%
|
| 12/01/49
|
| 49,629
|
| 969,086
|
| Series 2018-PHH, Class A, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.21%, 2.41% Floor (b) (c)
|
| 6.16%
|
| 06/15/35
|
| 896,717
|
|
|
| LSTAR Commercial Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,500,000
|
| Series 2017-5, Class D (b) (f)
|
| 4.83%
|
| 03/01/50
|
| 1,047,376
|
| 24,804,950
|
| Series 2017-5, Class X (b) (f)
|
| 0.95%
|
| 03/01/50
|
| 462,622
|
|
|
| Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 21,270,053
|
| Series 2014-C16, Class XA (f)
|
| 1.07%
|
| 06/01/47
|
| 84,244
|
| 1,900,960
|
| Series 2014-C19, Class XA (f)
|
| 1.10%
|
| 12/01/47
|
| 19,601
|
| 5,632,500
|
| Series 2014-C19, Class XE (b) (f)
|
| 1.33%
|
| 12/01/47
|
| 102,847
|
| 442,613
|
| Series 2016-C31, Class XA (f)
|
| 1.42%
|
| 11/01/49
|
| 14,800
|
|
|
| Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,180,000
|
| Series 2016-UBS9, Class XD (b) (f)
|
| 1.75%
|
| 03/01/49
|
| 88,034
|
|
|
| Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,287,043
|
| Series 2015-C26, Class XA (f)
|
| 1.33%
|
| 02/01/48
|
| 20,799
|
|
|
|
|
| 14,331,140
|
|
|
| Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
|
| 24,929,022
|
|
|
| (Cost $28,341,665)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – 6.2%
|
|
|
| AMSR Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,000,000
|
| Series 2020-SFR4, Class A (b)
|
| 1.36%
|
| 11/01/37
|
| 912,329
|
|
|
| CoreVest American Finance Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 9,239,011
|
| Series 2021-3, Class XA (b) (f)
|
| 2.53%
|
| 10/01/54
|
| 626,642
|
|
|
| FirstKey Homes Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 986,932
|
| Series 2020-SFR2, Class A (b)
|
| 1.27%
|
| 10/03/37
|
| 898,695
|
|
|
| Mid-State Capital Corp. Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 137,797
|
| Series 2005-1, Class A
|
| 5.75%
|
| 01/01/40
|
| 135,463
|
|
|
| PAGAYA AI Debt Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 708,431
|
| Series 2022-3, Class A (b)
|
| 6.06%
|
| 03/15/30
|
| 704,104
|
|
|
| Total Asset-Backed Securities
|
| 3,277,233
|
|
|
| (Cost $3,341,932)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Investments – 108.8%
|
| 57,246,625
|
|
|
| (Cost $63,761,014)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial
Statements
Page 11
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
| Number of Contracts
|
| Description
|
| Notional Amount
|
| Exercise Price
|
| Expiration Date
|
| Value
|
| CALL OPTIONS PURCHASED – 0.0%
|
| 10
|
| U.S. 2-Year Treasury Futures Call
|
| $320
|
| $103.25
|
| 05/26/23
|
| $6,406
|
| 10
|
| U.S. 5-Year Treasury Futures Call
|
| 1,297
|
| $110.75
|
| 08/25/23
|
| 12,969
|
|
|
| Total Call Options Purchased
|
| 19,375
|
|
|
| (Premiums paid $22,241)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN – (0.0)%
|
| (10)
|
| U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures Call
|
| (2,359)
|
| $135.00
|
| 08/25/23
|
| (23,594)
|
|
|
| (Premiums received $23,099)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net Other Assets and Liabilities – (8.8)%
|
| (4,625,925)
|
|
| Net Assets – 100.0%
|
| $52,616,481
|
Futures Contracts (See Note 2C - Futures Contracts in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| Futures Contracts
|
| Position
|
| Number of
Contracts
|
| Expiration
Date
|
| Notional
Value
|
| Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)/
Value
|
| 10-Year U.S. Treasury Notes
|
| Long
|
| 21
|
| Jun 2023
|
| $ 2,419,266
|
| $10,500
|
| U.S. 5-Year Treasury Notes
|
| Long
|
| 13
|
| Jun 2023
|
| 1,426,648
|
| 2,945
|
| U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures
|
| Long
|
| 8
|
| Jun 2023
|
| 1,053,250
|
| 3,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $4,899,164
|
| $17,195
|
| (a)
| Inverse floating rate security.
|
| (b)
| This security, sold within the terms of a private placement memorandum, is exempt from registration upon resale under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may be
resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. Pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, this security has been determined to be liquid by
First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor. Although market instability can result in periods of increased overall market illiquidity, liquidity for each security is determined based on security
specific factors and assumptions, which require subjective judgment. At April 30, 2023, securities noted as such amounted to $28,664,327 or 54.5% of net assets.
|
| (c)
| Floating or variable rate security.
|
| (d)
| Zero coupon security.
|
| (e)
| Weighted Average Coupon security. Coupon is based on the blended interest rate of the underlying holdings, which may have different coupons. The coupon may change in any period.
|
| (f)
| Collateral Strip Rate security. Coupon is based on the weighted net interest rate of the investment’s underlying collateral. The interest rate resets periodically.
|
| (g)
| All or portion of this security is part of a mortgage dollar roll agreement (see Note 2H - Mortgage Dollar Rolls and TBA Transactions in the Notes to Financial Statements).
|
| (h)
| Step-up security. A security where the coupon increases or steps up at a predetermined date. Interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at April 30, 2023.
|
| ACES
| Alternative Credit Enhancement Securities
|
| ECOFIN
| Enterprise 11th District COFI Institutional Replacement Index
|
| IO
| Interest-Only Security - Principal amount shown represents par value on which interest payments are based.
|
| LIBOR
| London Interbank Offered Rate
|
| SOFR
| Secured Overnight Financing Rate
|
| STRIPS
| Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities
|
| TBA
| To-Be-Announced Security
|
Page 12
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs
used to value the Fund’s investments as of April 30, 2023 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| ASSETS TABLE
|
|
| Total
Value at
4/30/2023
| Level 1
Quoted
Prices
| Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
| Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
|
U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities
| $ 29,040,370
| $ —
| $ 29,040,370
| $ —
|
Mortgage-Backed Securities
| 24,929,022
| —
| 24,929,022
| —
|
Asset-Backed Securities
| 3,277,233
| —
| 3,277,233
| —
|
Total Investments
| 57,246,625
| —
| 57,246,625
| —
|
Call Options Purchased
| 19,375
| 19,375
| —
| —
|
Futures Contracts*
| 17,195
| 17,195
| —
| —
|
Total Investments
| $ 57,283,195
| $ 36,570
| $ 57,246,625
| $—
|
|
|
| LIABILITIES TABLE
|
|
| Total
Value at
4/30/2023
| Level 1
Quoted
Prices
| Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
| Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
|
Call Options Written
| $ (23,594)
| $ (23,594)
| $ —
| $ —
|
| *
| Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts as reported in the Futures Contracts table. Only the current day’s variation margin is
presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 13
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Statement of Assets and
Liabilities
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
| ASSETS:
|
|
Investments, at value
(Cost $63,761,014)
| $ 57,246,625
|
Cash
| 2,056,200
|
Restricted Cash
| 156,057
|
Options purchased, at value (Premiums paid $22,241)
| 19,375
|
| Receivables:
|
|
Investment securities sold
| 2,615,972
|
Interest
| 545,497
|
Variation margin
| 23,297
|
Prepaid expenses
| 17,087
|
Total Assets
| 62,680,110
|
| LIABILITIES:
|
|
Options written, at value (Premiums received $23,099)
| 23,594
|
| Payables:
|
|
Investment securities purchased
| 9,910,875
|
Audit and tax fees
| 56,031
|
Investment advisory fees
| 36,527
|
Administrative fees
| 19,664
|
Trustees’ fees and expenses
| 6,036
|
Shareholder reporting fees
| 4,995
|
Transfer agent fees
| 1,349
|
Custodian fees
| 1,240
|
Legal fees
| 1,005
|
Financial reporting fees
| 732
|
Other liabilities
| 1,581
|
Total Liabilities
| 10,063,629
|
NET ASSETS
| $52,616,481
|
| NET ASSETS consist of:
|
|
Paid-in capital
| $ 63,705,638
|
Par value
| 42,131
|
Accumulated distributable earnings (loss)
| (11,131,288)
|
NET ASSETS
| $52,616,481
|
NET ASSET VALUE, per Common Share (par value $0.01 per Common Share)
| $12.49
|
Number of Common Shares outstanding (unlimited number of Common Shares has been authorized)
| 4,213,115
|
Page 14
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended
April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
| INVESTMENT INCOME:
|
|
Interest
| $ 1,713,065
|
Other
| 3,473
|
Total investment income
| 1,716,538
|
| EXPENSES:
|
|
Investment advisory fees
| 218,264
|
Audit and tax fees
| 36,475
|
Administrative fees
| 27,936
|
Shareholder reporting fees
| 12,404
|
Listing expense
| 11,906
|
Transfer agent fees
| 9,130
|
Trustees’ fees and expenses
| 9,082
|
Legal fees
| 6,214
|
Financial reporting fees
| 4,587
|
Custodian fees
| 3,872
|
Other
| 12,352
|
Total expenses
| 352,222
|
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)
| 1,364,316
|
| NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):
|
|
| Net realized gain (loss) on:
|
|
Investments
| (415,222)
|
Purchased options contracts
| 17,891
|
Written options contracts
| 13,422
|
Futures contracts
| 690,122
|
Net realized gain (loss)
| 306,213
|
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
|
|
Investments
| 1,324,208
|
Purchased options contracts
| (2,866)
|
Written options contracts
| (495)
|
Futures contracts
| 86,257
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| 1,407,104
|
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)
| 1,713,317
|
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS
| $ 3,077,633
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 15
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Statements of Changes in
Net Assets
|
| Six Months
Ended
4/30/2023
(Unaudited)
|
| Year
Ended
10/31/2022
|
| OPERATIONS:
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)
| $ 1,364,316
|
| $ 2,122,909
|
Net realized gain (loss)
| 306,213
|
| (1,419,227)
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| 1,407,104
|
| (5,640,691)
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| 3,077,633
|
| (4,937,009)
|
| DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:
|
|
|
|
Investment operations
| (1,390,328)
|
| (1,819,898)
|
Return of capital
| —
|
| (960,758)
|
Total distributions to shareholders
| (1,390,328)
|
| (2,780,656)
|
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
| 1,687,305
|
| (7,717,665)
|
| NET ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period
| 50,929,176
|
| 58,646,841
|
End of period
| $ 52,616,481
|
| $ 50,929,176
|
| COMMON SHARES:
|
|
|
|
Common Shares at end of period
| 4,213,115
|
| 4,213,115
|
Page 16
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (FMY)
Financial Highlights
For a Common Share
outstanding throughout each period
|
| Six Months
Ended
4/30/2023
(Unaudited)
|
| Year Ended October 31,
|
|
| 2022
|
| 2021
|
| 2020
|
| 2019
|
| 2018
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period
| $ 12.09
|
| $ 13.92
|
| $ 14.45
|
| $ 14.91
|
| $ 14.96
|
| $ 15.47
|
| Income from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)
| 0.32
|
| 0.50
|
| 0.44
|
| 0.44
|
| 0.34
|
| 0.45
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
| 0.41
|
| (1.67)
|
| (0.25)
|
| (0.18)
|
| 0.33
|
| (0.21)
|
Total from investment operations
| 0.73
|
| (1.17)
|
| 0.19
|
| 0.26
|
| 0.67
|
| 0.24
|
| Distributions paid to shareholders from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
| (0.33)
|
| (0.43)
|
| (0.35)
|
| (0.63)
|
| (0.50)
|
| (0.42)
|
Return of capital
| —
|
| (0.23)
|
| (0.37)
|
| (0.09)
|
| (0.22)
|
| (0.33)
|
Total distributions paid to Common Shareholders
| (0.33)
|
| (0.66)
|
| (0.72)
|
| (0.72)
|
| (0.72)
|
| (0.75)
|
Net asset value, end of period
| $12.49
|
| $12.09
|
| $13.92
|
| $14.45
|
| $14.91
|
| $14.96
|
Market value, end of period
| $11.50
|
| $11.01
|
| $13.70
|
| $13.40
|
| $13.99
|
| $13.01
|
Total return based on net asset value (a)
| 6.31%
|
| (8.38)%
|
| 1.51%
|
| 2.12%
|
| 5.08%
|
| 2.13%
|
Total return based on market value (a)
| 7.49%
|
| (15.22)%
|
| 7.74%
|
| 0.93%
|
| 13.37%
|
| (4.52)%
|
| Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)
| $ 52,616
|
| $ 50,929
|
| $ 58,647
|
| $ 60,878
|
| $ 62,832
|
| $ 63,047
|
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets
| 1.37% (b)
|
| 1.33%
|
| 1.31%
|
| 1.33%
|
| 1.33%
|
| 1.59%
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets
| 5.31% (b)
|
| 3.86%
|
| 3.11%
|
| 3.03%
|
| 2.29%
|
| 2.95%
|
Portfolio turnover rate
| 60%
|
| 44%
|
| 67%
|
| 28%
|
| 69%
|
| 30%
|
| (a)
| Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain and return of capital distributions, if any, at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, and
changes in net asset value per share for net asset value returns and changes in Common Share Price for market value returns. Total returns do not reflect sales load and are not annualized for periods of less than one
year. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
|
| (b)
| Annualized.
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 17
Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
1. Organization
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on February 22, 2005, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund trades under the ticker symbol “FMY” on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).
The Fund’s primary
investment objective is to seek a high level of current income. As a secondary objective, the Fund seeks to preserve capital. The Fund pursues its objectives by investing primarily in mortgage-backed securities
(“MBS”) representing part ownership in a pool of either residential or commercial mortgage loans that, in the opinion of First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”),
offer an attractive combination of credit quality, yield and maturity. There can be no assurance the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.
2. Significant
Accounting Policies
The Fund is considered an
investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The
following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of the financial statements. The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Portfolio
Valuation
The net asset value
(“NAV”) of the Common Shares of the Fund is determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. If the NYSE closes
early on a valuation day, the NAV is determined as of that time. Domestic debt securities and foreign securities are priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. The
Fund’s NAV per Common Share is calculated by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses, dividends declared but
unpaid and any borrowings of the Fund), by the total number of Common Shares outstanding.
The Fund’s
investments are valued daily at market value or, in the absence of market value with respect to any portfolio securities, at fair value. Market value prices represent readily available market quotations such as last
sale or official closing prices from a national or foreign exchange (i.e., a regulated market) and are primarily obtained from third-party pricing services. Fair value prices represent any prices not considered market
value prices and are either obtained from a third-party pricing service or are determined by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of
Trustees, and in accordance with provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder. Investments valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, if any, are footnoted as such in the footnotes to the Portfolio of
Investments. The Fund’s investments are valued as follows:
U.S.
government securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and other debt securities are fair valued on the basis of valuations provided by a third-party pricing service approved by the Advisor’s
Pricing Committee, which may use the following valuation inputs when available:
| 1)
| benchmark yields;
|
| 2)
| reported trades;
|
| 3)
| broker/dealer quotes;
|
| 4)
| issuer spreads;
|
| 5)
| benchmark securities;
|
| 6)
| bids and offers; and
|
| 7)
| reference data including market research publications.
|
Pricing services generally value fixed-income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but a Fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may
trade at lower prices than institutional round lots.
Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the closing price in the market where such contracts are principally traded. If no closing price is available, exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the mean
of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Exchange-traded options contracts are valued at the closing price in the market where such contracts are principally traded. If no closing price is available, exchange-traded options contracts are valued at the mean
of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.
Fixed
income and other debt securities having a remaining maturity of sixty days or less when purchased are fair valued at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts (amortized cost), provided the
Advisor’s Pricing Committee has determined that the use of amortized cost is an appropriate reflection of fair value given market and issuer-specific conditions existing at the time of the determination. Factors
that may be considered in determining the appropriateness of the use of amortized cost include, but are not limited to, the following:
| 1)
| the credit conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto;
|
| 2)
| the liquidity conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto;
|
| 3)
| the interest rate conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto (such as significant changes in interest rates);
|
| 4)
| issuer-specific conditions (such as significant credit deterioration); and
|
| 5)
| any other market-based data the Advisor’s Pricing Committee considers relevant. In this regard, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee may use last-obtained market-based data to assist it when
valuing portfolio securities using amortized cost.
|
Certain securities may
not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee at fair value. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, restricted
securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) for which a third-party pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose
trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market or fair value price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to
materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of the Fund’s NAV or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose
price, as provided by the third-party pricing service, does not reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security would appear to be the amount which the owner might
reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale. When fair value prices are used, generally they will differ from market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable exchanges. A variety
of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities, including, but not limited to, the following:
| 1)
| the fundamental business data relating to the issuer;
|
| 2)
| an evaluation of the forces which influence the market in which these securities are purchased and sold;
|
| 3)
| the type, size and cost of the security;
|
| 4)
| the financial statements of the issuer;
|
| 5)
| the credit quality and cash flow of the issuer, based on the Advisor’s or external analysis;
|
| 6)
| the information as to any transactions in or offers for the security;
|
| 7)
| the price and extent of public trading in similar securities (or equity securities) of the borrower/issuer, or comparable companies;
|
| 8)
| the coupon payments;
|
| 9)
| the quality, value and salability of collateral, if any, securing the security;
|
| 10)
| the business prospects of the issuer, including any ability to obtain money or resources from a parent or affiliate and an assessment of the issuer’s management;
|
| 11)
| the prospects for the issuer’s industry, and multiples (of earnings and/or cash flows) being paid for similar businesses in that industry; and
|
| 12)
| other relevant factors.
|
The Fund is subject to
fair value accounting standards that define fair value, establish the framework for measuring fair value and provide a three-level hierarchy for fair valuation based upon the inputs to the valuation as of the
measurement date. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
| •
| Level 1 – Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. An active market is a market in which transactions for the investment occur with sufficient frequency and
volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
|
| •
| Level 2 – Level 2 inputs are observable inputs, either directly or indirectly, and include the following:
|
| o
| Quoted prices for similar investments in active markets.
|
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
| o
| Quoted prices for identical or similar investments in markets that are non-active. A non-active market is a market where there are few transactions for the investment, the prices are not current, or
price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly.
|
| o
| Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the investment (for example, interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss
severities, credit risks, and default rates).
|
| o
| Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
|
| •
| Level 3 – Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs may reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing
the investment.
|
The inputs or
methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments. A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of April
30, 2023, is included with the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
B. Securities
Transactions and Investment Income
Securities transactions
are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest income is recorded daily on the accrual basis. Amortization of premiums and
accretion of discounts are recorded using the effective interest method.
The Fund invests in
interest-only securities. For these securities, if there is a change in the estimated cash flows, based on an evaluation of current information, then the estimated yield is adjusted. Additionally, if the evaluation of
current information indicates a permanent impairment of the security, the cost basis of the security is written down and a loss is recognized. Debt obligations may be placed on non-accrual status and the related
interest income may be reduced by ceasing current accruals and writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has become doubtful based on consistently applied procedures. A debt
obligation is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
Securities purchased or
sold on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward purchase commitment basis may have extended settlement periods. The value of the security so purchased is subject to market fluctuations during this period. The Fund
maintains liquid assets with a current value at least equal to the amount of its when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward purchase commitments until payment is made. At April 30, 2023, the Fund held no when-issued or
delayed-delivery securities. At April 30, 2023, the Fund held $2,662,520 of forward purchase commitments.
The United
Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates the London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”), announced on March 5, 2021 that it intended to phase-out all LIBOR
reference rates, beginning December 31, 2021. Since that announcement, the FCA has ceased publication of all non-USD LIBOR reference rates and the 1-week and 2-month USD LIBOR reference rates as of December 31, 2021.
The remaining USD LIBOR settings will cease to be published or no longer be representative immediately after June 30, 2023. The International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) confirmed that
the FCA’s March 5, 2021 announcement of its intention to cease providing LIBOR reference rates, constituted an index cessation event under the Interbank Offered Rates (“IBOR”) Fallbacks Supplement
and the ISDA 2020 IBOR Fallbacks Protocol for all 35 LIBOR settings and confirmed that the spread adjustment to be used in ISDA fallbacks was fixed as of the date of the announcement.
In the United States, the
Alternative Reference Rates Committee (the “ARRC”), a group of market participants convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in cooperation
with other federal and state government agencies, has since 2014 undertaken efforts to identify U.S. dollar reference interest rates as alternatives to LIBOR and to facilitate the mitigation of LIBOR-related risks. In
June 2017, the ARRC identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), a broad measure of the cost of cash overnight borrowing collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities, as the preferred
alternative for U.S. dollar LIBOR. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began daily publishing of SOFR in April 2018. There is no assurance that any alternative reference rate, including SOFR, will be similar to or
produce the same value or economic equivalence as LIBOR or that instruments using an alternative rate will have the same volume or liquidity.
At this time, it is not
possible to predict the full impact of the elimination of LIBOR and the establishment of an alternative reference rate on the Fund or its investments.
C. Futures
Contracts
The Fund may purchase or
sell (i.e., is long or short) exchange-listed futures contracts to hedge against changes in interest rates (interest rate risk). Futures contracts are agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to buy or sell a
specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and at a specified date. Depending on the terms of the contract, futures contracts are settled
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
either through physical delivery of the
underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash settlement amount on the settlement date. Open futures contracts can also be closed out prior to settlement by entering into an offsetting
transaction in a matching futures contract. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain margin deposits on the futures contract. When the contract
is closed or expires, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed or expired. This gain or loss
is included in “Net realized gain (loss) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.
Upon entering into a
futures contract, the Fund must deposit funds, called margin, with its custodian in the name of the clearing broker equal to a specified percentage of the current value of the contract. Open futures contracts are
marked to market daily with the change in value recognized as a component of “Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations. Pursuant to the
contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are included in
“Variation margin” payable or receivable on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
If market conditions
change unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the futures contract and may realize a loss. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price
of the futures contracts, interest rates and the underlying instruments.
Restricted cash
segregated as collateral for futures contracts in the amount of $156,057 is shown as “Restricted Cash” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
D. Options
Contracts
The Fund may invest in
exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury securities, exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury futures contracts, exchange-listed U.S. Treasury futures contracts, exchange-listed options on secured overnight financing
rate futures contracts and options on interest-rate swap agreements. The Fund uses derivative instruments primarily to hedge interest rate risk and actively manage interest rate exposure. The primary risk exposure is
interest rate risk.
The Fund may purchase
(buy) or write (sell) put and call options on futures contracts and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. A futures option gives the holder the right, in
return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price prior to the expiration of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the
holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true. Prior to exercise or expiration, a futures option
contract may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of a futures option of the same series. When the Fund writes (sells) an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is included in
“Options written, at value” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the Fund purchases (buys) an option, the premium paid represents the cost of the option, which is included in “Premiums
paid on options purchased” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Options are marked-to-market daily and their value is affected by changes in the value of the underlying security, changes in interest
rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the securities markets and the underlying securities, and the remaining time to the option’s expiration. The value of options may also be adversely
affected if the market for the options becomes less liquid or the trading volume diminishes.
The Fund uses options on
futures contracts in connection with hedging strategies. Generally, these strategies are applied under the same market and market sector conditions in which the Fund uses put and call options on securities. The
purchase of put options on futures contracts is analogous to the purchase of puts on securities so as to hedge the Fund’s securities holdings against the risk of declining market prices. The writing of a call
option or the purchasing of a put option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against declining prices of securities which are deliverable upon exercise of the futures contract. If the price at expiration
of a written call option is below the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have occurred in the Fund’s holdings
of securities. If the price when the option is exercised is above the exercise price, however, the Fund may incur a loss (depending on the original sale price of the option), which may be offset, in whole or in part,
by the increase in the value of the securities held by the Fund that were being hedged. Writing a put option or purchasing a call option on a futures contract serves as a partial hedge against an increase in the value
of the securities the Fund intends to acquire. Realized gains and losses on written options are included in “Net realized gain (loss) on written options contracts” on the Statement of Operations. Realized
gains and losses on purchased options are included in “Net realized gain (loss) on purchased options contracts” on the Statement of Operations.
The Fund is required to
deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial
margin requirements), the current market value of the option and other futures positions held by the Fund. The Fund will pledge in a segregated account at the Fund’s custodian, liquid assets, such as cash, U.S.
government securities or other high-grade liquid debt obligations equal in value to
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
the amount due on the underlying
obligation. Such segregated assets will be marked-to-market daily, and additional assets will be pledged in the segregated account whenever the total value of the pledged assets falls below the amount due on the
underlying obligation.
The risks associated with
the use of options on future contracts include the risk that the Fund may close out its position as a writer of an option only if a liquid secondary market exists for such options, which cannot be assured. The
Fund’s successful use of options on futures contracts depends on the Advisor’s ability to correctly forecast the movement in prices on futures contracts and the underlying instruments, which may prove to
be incorrect. In addition, there may be imperfect correlation between the instruments being hedged and the futures contract subject to option.
E. Inverse
Floating-Rate Securities
An inverse floating-rate
security is one where the coupon is inversely indexed to a short-term floating interest rate multiplied by a specific factor. As the floating rate rises, the coupon is reduced. Conversely, as the floating rate
declines, the coupon is increased. The price of these securities may be more volatile than the price of a comparable fixed-rate security. These instruments are typically used to enhance the yield of the portfolio and
have the effect of creating leverage. These securities, if any, are identified on the Portfolio of Investments.
F. Stripped
Mortgage-Backed Securities
Stripped Mortgage-Backed
Securities are created by segregating the cash flows from underlying mortgage loans or mortgage securities to create two or more new securities, each with a specified percentage of the underlying security’s
principal or interest payments. Mortgage securities may be partially stripped so that each investor class receives some interest and some principal. When securities are completely stripped, however, all of the
interest is distributed to holders of one type of security known as an interest-only security (“IO Security”) and all of the principal is distributed to holders of another type of security known as a
principal-only security. These securities, if any, are identified on the Portfolio of Investments.
G. Interest-Only
Securities
An IO Security is the
interest-only portion of a mortgage-backed security that receives some or all of the interest portion of the underlying mortgage-backed security and little or no principal. A reference principal value called a
notional value is used to calculate the amount of interest due to the IO Security. IO Securities are sold at a deep discount to their notional principal amount. Generally speaking, when interest rates are falling and
prepayment rates are increasing, the value of an IO Security will fall. Conversely, when interest rates are rising and prepayment rates are decreasing, generally the value of an IO Security will rise. These
securities, if any, are identified on the Portfolio of Investments.
H. Mortgage Dollar
Rolls and TBA Transactions
The Fund may invest,
without limitation, in mortgage dollar rolls. The Fund intends to enter into mortgage dollar rolls only with high quality securities dealers and banks, as determined by the Fund’s investment advisor. In a
mortgage dollar roll, the Fund will sell (or buy) mortgage-backed securities for delivery on a specified date and simultaneously contract to repurchase (or sell) substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity)
securities on a future date. Mortgage dollar rolls are recorded as separate purchases and sales in the Fund. The Fund may also invest in to-be-announced transactions (“TBA Transactions”). A TBA Transaction
is a method of trading mortgage-backed securities. TBA Transactions generally are conducted in accordance with widely-accepted guidelines which establish commonly observed terms and conditions for execution,
settlement and delivery. In a TBA Transaction, the buyer and the seller agree on general trade parameters such as agency, settlement date, par amount and price.
I. Dividends and
Distributions to Shareholders
The Fund will distribute
to holders of its Common Shares monthly dividends of all or a portion of its net income after the payment of interest and dividends in connection with leverage, if any. Distributions of any net long-term capital gains
earned by the Fund are distributed at least annually. Distributions will automatically be reinvested into additional Common Shares pursuant to the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan unless cash distributions are
elected by the shareholder.
Distributions from net
investment income and realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically
adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These permanent differences are primarily due to the varying treatment of income and gain/loss on portfolio securities held by the Fund and
have no impact on net assets or NAV per share. Temporary differences, which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense and gain/loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes, will
reverse at some point in the future.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
The tax character of
distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, was as follows:
| Distributions paid from:
|
|
Ordinary income
| $1,819,898
|
Capital gains
| —
|
Return of capital
| 960,758
|
As of October 31, 2022,
the components of distributable earnings and net assets on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income
| $—
|
Undistributed capital gains
| —
|
Total undistributed earnings
| —
|
Accumulated capital and other losses
| (1,735,178)
|
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| (11,083,415)
|
Total accumulated earnings (losses)
| (12,818,593)
|
Other
| —
|
Paid-in capital
| 63,747,769
|
Total net assets
| $50,929,176
|
J. Income Taxes
The Fund intends to
continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which includes distributing substantially all of its net
investment income and net realized gains to shareholders. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal and state income taxes. However, due to the timing and amount of distributions, the Fund may be subject to
an excise tax of 4% of the amount by which approximately 98% of the Fund’s taxable income exceeds the distributions from such taxable income for the calendar year.
The Fund intends to
utilize provisions of the federal income tax laws which allow it to carry a realized capital loss forward indefinitely following the year of the loss and offset such loss against any future realized capital gains. The
Fund is subject to certain limitations under U.S. tax rules on the use of capital loss carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses. These limitations apply when there has been a 50% change in ownership. At
October 31, 2022, the Fund had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available for federal income tax purposes of $1,735,178.
Certain losses realized
during the current fiscal year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year for federal income tax purposes. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Fund did not incur
any net late year ordinary losses.
The Fund is subject to
accounting standards that establish a minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Taxable years ended 2019, 2020, 2021,
and 2022 remain open to federal and state audit. As of April 30, 2023, management has evaluated the application of these standards to the Fund and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the
Fund’s financial statements for uncertain tax positions.
As of April 30, 2023, the
aggregate cost, gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation, and net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for federal income tax
purposes were as follows:
| Tax Cost
|
| Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
|
| Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
|
| Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
|
| $63,760,156
|
| $421,270
|
| $(6,921,825)
|
| $(6,500,555)
|
K. Expenses
The Fund will pay all
expenses directly related to its operations.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
3. Investment
Advisory Fee, Affiliated Transactions and Other Fee Arrangements
First Trust, the
investment advisor to the Fund, is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation
controlled by James A. Bowen, Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the Fund’s investment portfolio, managing the Fund’s business
affairs and providing certain administrative services necessary for the management of the Fund. For these investment management services, First Trust is entitled to a monthly fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.85%
of the Fund’s Managed Assets (the average daily total asset value of the Fund minus the sum of the Fund’s liabilities other than the principal amount of borrowings or reverse repurchase agreements, if
any). First Trust also provides fund reporting services to the Fund for a flat annual fee in the amount of $9,250.
Computershare, Inc.
(“Computershare”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent in accordance with certain fee arrangements. As transfer agent, Computershare is responsible for maintaining shareholder records for the Fund.
The Bank of New York
Mellon (“BNYM”) serves as the Fund’s administrator, fund accountant, and custodian in accordance with certain fee arrangements. As administrator and fund accountant, BNYM is responsible for providing
certain administrative and accounting services to the Fund, including maintaining the Fund’s books of account, records of the Fund’s securities transactions, and certain other books and records. As
custodian, BNYM is responsible for custody of the Fund’s assets. BNYM is a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, a financial holding company.
Each Trustee who is not
an officer or employee of First Trust, any sub-advisor or any of their affiliates (“Independent Trustees”) is paid a fixed annual retainer that is allocated equally among each fund in the First Trust Fund
Complex. Each Independent Trustee is also paid an annual per fund fee that varies based on whether the fund is a closed-end or other actively managed fund, a target outcome fund or an index fund.
Additionally, the Lead
Independent Trustee and the Chairs of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Valuation Committee are paid annual fees to serve in such capacities, with such compensation allocated pro rata among
each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on net assets. Independent Trustees are reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with all meetings. The Lead Independent Trustee and Committee
Chairs rotate every three years. The officers and “Interested” Trustee receive no compensation from the Fund for acting in such capacities.
4. Purchases and
Sales of Securities
The cost of purchases of
U.S. Government securities and non-U.S. Government securities, excluding short-term investments, for the six months ended April 30, 2023, were $23,195,078 and $11,723,199, respectively. The proceeds from sales and
paydowns of U.S. Government securities and non-U.S. Government securities, excluding short-term investments, for the six months ended April 30, 2023, were $15,980,026 and $10,121,141, respectively.
5. Derivative
Transactions
The following table
presents the type of derivatives held by the Fund at April 30, 2023, the primary underlying risk exposure and the location of these instruments as presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
|
|
|
|
| Asset Derivatives
|
| Liability Derivatives
|
Derivative
Instrument
|
| Risk
Exposure
|
| Statement of Assets and
Liabilities Location
|
| Value
|
| Statement of Assets and
Liabilities Location
|
| Value
|
| Futures
|
| Interest Rate Risk
|
| Unrealized appreciation
on futures contracts*
|
| $ 17,195
|
| Unrealized depreciation
on futures contracts*
|
| $ —
|
| Options
|
| Interest Rate Risk
|
| Options contracts
purchased, at value
|
| 19,375
|
| Options contracts
written, at value
|
| (23,594)
|
*Includes cumulative
appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts as reported in the Futures Contracts table. Only the current day’s variation margin is presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The following table
presents the amount of net realized gain (loss) and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) recognized for the six months ended April 30, 2023, on derivative instruments, as well as the primary underlying
risk exposure associated with each instrument.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
| Statement of Operations Location
|
|
| Interest Rate Risk Exposure
|
|
| Net realized gain (loss) on purchased options contracts
| $17,891
|
| Net realized gain (loss) on written options contracts
| 13,422
|
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on purchased options contracts
| (2,866)
|
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on written options contracts
| (495)
|
| Net realized gain (loss) on futures contracts
| 690,122
|
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts
| 86,257
|
During the six months
ended April 30, 2023, the notional value of futures contracts opened and closed were $116,171,366 and $114,809,579, respectively.
During the six months
ended April 30, 2023, the premiums for purchased options opened were $73,608, and the premiums for purchased options closed, exercised and expired were $51,367.
During the six months
ended April 30, 2023, the premiums for written options opened were $164,205 and the premiums for written options closed, exercised and expired were $141,106.
The Fund does not have
the right to offset financial assets and liabilities related to futures and futures options contracts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
6. Indemnification
The Fund has a variety of
indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these
contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
7. Subsequent
Events
Management has evaluated
the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there was the following subsequent event:
On May 23, 2023, the
Advisor’s Pricing Committee approved changes to the Advisor’s Valuation Procedures for the First Trust Funds, including clarifications to certain pricing methodologies. These changes will be reflected in
future reports’ Notes to Financial Statements.
Additional Information
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Dividend Reinvestment
Plan
If your Common Shares are
registered directly with the Fund or if you hold your Common Shares with a brokerage firm that participates in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), unless you elect, by written notice
to the Fund, to receive cash distributions, all dividends, including any capital gain distributions, on your Common Shares will be automatically reinvested by Computershare Trust Company N.A. (the “Plan
Agent”), in additional Common Shares under the Plan. If you elect to receive cash distributions, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you by the Plan Agent, as the dividend
paying agent.
If you decide to
participate in the Plan, the number of Common Shares you will receive will be determined as follows:
| (1)
| If Common Shares are trading at or above net asset value (“NAV”) at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at a price equal to the greater of (i) NAV per Common Share on that
date or (ii) 95% of the market price on that date.
|
| (2)
| If Common Shares are trading below NAV at the time of valuation, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution in cash and will purchase Common Shares in the open market,
on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. It is possible that the market price for the Common Shares may increase before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases. Therefore, the average
purchase price per share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had been paid in Common Shares
issued by the Fund. The Plan Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to purchase Common Shares in the open market within 30 days of the valuation date except where temporary curtailment or
suspension of purchases is necessary to comply with federal securities laws. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments.
|
You may elect to opt-out
of or withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Plan Agent, or by telephone at (866) 340-1104, in accordance with such reasonable requirements as the Plan Agent and the Fund may agree upon. If
you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive a certificate for each whole share in your account under the Plan, and you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish,
the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions.
The Plan Agent maintains
all Common Shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Common Shares in your account will be held by
the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. The Plan Agent will forward to each participant any proxy solicitation material and will vote any shares so held only in accordance with proxies returned to the Fund. Any proxy
you receive will include all Common Shares you have received under the Plan.
There is no brokerage
charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in Common Shares. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market
purchases.
Automatically reinvesting
dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions. Capital gains and income are realized although cash is not received by you. Consult
your financial advisor for more information.
If you hold your Common
Shares with a brokerage firm that does not participate in the Plan, you will not be able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be effected on different terms than those described above.
The Fund reserves the
right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of Trustees the change is warranted. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend
the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained by writing Computershare, Inc., P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, KY 40233-5000.
Proxy Voting Policies
and Procedures
A description of the
policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies and information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio investments during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is
available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 988-5891; (2) on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com; and (3) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at www.sec.gov.
Portfolio Holdings
The Fund files portfolio
holdings information for each month in a fiscal quarter within 60 days after the end of the relevant fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. Portfolio holdings information for the third month of each fiscal quarter will be
publicly available on the
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year is included in the semi-annual and
annual reports to shareholders, respectively, and is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR. The semi-annual and annual report for the Fund is available to investors within 60 days after the period to which it relates. The
Fund’s Forms N-PORT and Forms N-CSR are available on the SEC’s website listed above.
Submission of Matters to
a Vote of Shareholders
The Fund held its Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) on April 17, 2023. At the Annual Meeting, Denise M. Keefe and Robert F. Keith were elected by the Common Shareholders of First Trust Mortgage Income Fund
as Class I Trustees for a three-year term expiring at the Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2026. The number of votes cast in favor of Ms. Keefe was 1,984,094 and the number of votes withheld was 8,063.
The number of votes cast in favor of Mr. Keith was 1,941,903 and the number of votes withheld was 50,254. Richard E. Erickson, Thomas R. Kadlec, James A. Bowen and Niel B. Nielson are the other current and
continuing Trustees.
Principal Risks
The Fund is a closed-end
management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty inherent in all
investments, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The following discussion summarizes the principal risks associated with investing in the Fund, which includes the risk that
you could lose some or all of your investment in the Fund. The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 and, in accordance
therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information that is available for review.
Collateralized Mortgage
Obligations Risks.
Collateralized mortgage
obligations (“CMOs”) are debt obligations collateralized by mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities and are a type of mortgage-backed security. CMOs are created by dividing the principal
and interest payments collected on a pool of mortgages into several revenue streams (tranches) with different priority rights to portions of the underlying mortgage payments. CMO tranches are often specially
structured in a manner that provides a variety of investment characteristics, such as yield, effective maturity and interest rate sensitivity. A risk of CMOs is the uncertainty of the timing of cash flows that
results from the rate of prepayments on the underlying mortgages serving as collateral and from the structure of the particular CMO transaction (that is, the priority of the individual tranches). An increase or
decrease in prepayment rates (resulting from a decrease or increase in mortgage interest rates) may cause the CMOs to be retired substantially earlier than their stated maturities or final distribution dates and will
affect the yield and price of CMOs. Certain classes of CMOs are structured in a manner that makes them extremely sensitive to changes in prepayment rates. In addition, if the collateral securing CMOs or any
third-party guarantees are insufficient to make payments, the Fund could sustain a loss.
Credit Agency Risk. Credit ratings are determined by credit rating agencies and are only the opinions of such entities. Ratings assigned by a rating agency are not absolute standards of credit quality and do
not evaluate market risk or the liquidity of securities. Any shortcomings or inefficiencies in credit rating agencies’ processes for determining credit ratings may adversely affect the credit ratings of
securities held by the Fund or such credit rating agency’s ability to evaluate creditworthiness and, as a result, may adversely affect those securities’ perceived or actual credit risk.
Credit and Below-Investment
Grade Securities Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or other obligated party of a debt security in the Fund’s portfolio will fail to pay, or it is perceived that it will fail to
pay, dividends or interest and/or repay principal, when due. Below-investment grade instruments, including instruments that are not rated but judged to be of comparable quality, are commonly referred to as
high-yield securities or “junk” bonds and are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay dividends or interest and repay principal and are more susceptible to default or
decline in market value than investment grade securities due to adverse economic and business developments. High-yield securities are often unsecured and subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. The
market values for high-yield securities tend to be very volatile, and these securities are generally less liquid than investment grade securities. For these reasons, an investment in the Fund is subject to the
following specific risks: (i) increased price sensitivity to changing interest rates and to a deteriorating economic environment; (ii) greater risk of loss due to default or declining credit quality; (iii) adverse
company specific events more likely to render the issuer unable to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments; (iv) negative perception of the high-yield market which may depress the price and liquidity of
high-yield securities; (v) volatility; and (vi) liquidity.
Cyber Security Risk. The Fund is susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the
Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause the Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage,
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
additional compliance costs associated
with corrective measures and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software coding, but
may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the Fund’s third-party
service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, or issuers in which the Fund invests, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct
cyber security breaches. The Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security. However, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because
the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third party service providers. Substantial costs may be incurred by the Fund in order to resolve or prevent cyber incidents in the future.
Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that, when interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the issuer (or other obligated party) more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of
these debt securities to fall. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of debt securities, making their market value more sensitive to changes in interest rates. The value of longer-term debt securities
generally changes more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term debt securities. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, securities may exhibit additional volatility and may lose
value.
Fixed-Income Securities
Risk. An investment in fixed-income securities is subject to certain risks, including:
| •
| Issuer Risk. The value of fixed-income securities may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, leverage and reduced demand for the
issuer’s goods and services. In addition, an issuer of fixed-income securities may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
|
| •
| Prepayment Risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security will repay principal prior to the scheduled maturity date. During periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a
security may exercise its option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayment in lower yielding securities, which may result in a decline in the
Fund’s income and distributions to common shareholders.
|
| •
| Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called securities or loans at market interest
rates that are below the Fund portfolio’s current earnings rate.
|
Futures Contracts
Risk. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments or indices underlying the futures
contracts and the price of the futures contracts; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a futures contract and the resulting inability to close a futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by
unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the investment adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other
economic factors; and (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations.
Illiquid and Restricted
Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in securities that are restricted and/or illiquid securities. Restricted securities are securities that cannot be offered for public resale unless registered under the
applicable securities laws or that have a contractual restriction that prohibits or limits their resale. Restricted securities may be illiquid as they generally are not listed on an exchange and may have no active
trading market. Investments in restricted securities could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if qualified institutional buyers are unwilling to
purchase these securities. Illiquid and restricted securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when the Fund believes it is desirable to do so. The market price of illiquid and restricted
securities generally is more volatile than that of more liquid securities, which may adversely affect the price that the Fund pays for or recovers upon the sale of such securities. Illiquid and restricted securities
are also more difficult to value, especially in challenging markets.
Inflation Risk. The Fund invests in securities that are subject to inflation risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as
inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions may decline. This risk is more prevalent with respect to debt securities. Inflation
creates uncertainty over the future real value (after inflation) of an investment. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic
or global economy, and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors.
Interest Rate and Duration
Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that securities will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. For fixed income securities, when market interest rates rise, the market
value of such securities generally will fall. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of slower than expected prepayments. This may lock in a
below-market yield, increase the security’s duration and further reduce the value of the security. Fixed income securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually
making them more volatile than
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
securities with shorter durations.
Investments in fixed rate securities with long-term maturities may experience significant price declines if long-term interest rates increase.
The interest rates
payable on floating rate securities are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. As short-term interest rates decline, interest payable on floating rate securities typically decreases.
Alternatively, during periods of rising interest rates, interest payable on floating rate securities typically increases. Changes in interest rates on floating rate securities may lag behind changes in market rates or
may have limits on the maximum increases in interest rates. The value of floating rate securities may decline if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general.
Many financial
instruments use or may use a floating rate based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates LIBOR,
intends to cease making LIBOR available as a reference rate over a phase-out period that began in early 2022. However, subsequent announcements by the FCA, the LIBOR administrators, and other regulators indicate that
it is possible that the most widely used LIBOR rates may continue until mid-2023. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain Fund investments and may result in
costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or on certain instruments in which the Fund invests can be
difficult to ascertain, and they may vary depending on a variety of factors. In the United States, it is anticipated that in many instances the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) will replace
LIBOR as the reference rate for many floating rate instruments. There is no assurance that the composition or characteristics of SOFR, or any alternative reference rate, will be similar to or produce the same value or
economic equivalence as LIBOR or that instruments using an alternative rate will have the same volume or liquidity. As a result, the transition process might lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in
markets that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest rates; a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments; increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of any
applicable hedging strategies against instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR; and/ or costs incurred in connection with temporary borrowings and closing out positions and entering into new agreements. Any
such effects (as well as other unforeseen effects) of the transition away from LIBOR and the adoption of alternative reference rates could result in losses to the Fund.
In general, income on
inverse floating rate securities will decrease when interest rates increase and increase when interest rates decrease. Inverse floating rate securities generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities
in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floating rate security’s price may be more volatile than that of a fixed rate security.
In the case of stripped
mortgage-backed securities, in general, when interest rates are falling and prepayment rates are increasing, the value of a principal only security (“PO Security”) will rise and the value of an interest
only security (“IO Security”) will fall. Conversely, when interest rates are rising and prepayment rates are decreasing, in general, the value of a PO Security will fall and the value of an IO Security
will rise. Yields on IOs and POs are very sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets.
Leverage Risk. The use of leverage by the Fund can magnify the effect of any losses. If the income and gains from the securities and investments purchased with leverage proceeds do not cover the cost of
leverage, the return to the common shares will be less than if leverage had not been used. Leverage involves risks and special considerations for common shareholders including: the likelihood of greater volatility of
net asset value and market price of the common shares than a comparable portfolio without leverage; the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings will reduce the return to the common shareholders or will
result in fluctuations in the dividends paid on the common shares; in a declining market, the use of leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the net asset value of the common shares than if the Fund were not
leveraged, which may result in a greater decline in the market price of the common shares; and when the Fund uses certain types of leverage, the investment advisory fee payable to the Advisor will be higher than if
the Fund did not use leverage.
Management Risk and
Reliance on Key Personnel. The implementation of the Fund’s investment strategy depends upon the continued contributions of certain key employees of the Advisor, some of whom have unique talents and experience
and would be difficult to replace. The loss or interruption of the services of a key member of the portfolio management team could have a negative impact on the Fund.
Market Discount from Net
Asset Value. Shares of closed-end investment companies such as the Fund frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. The Fund cannot predict whether its common shares will trade at, below
or above net asset value.
Market Risk. Securities held by the Fund, as well as shares of the Fund itself, are subject to market fluctuations caused by factors such as general economic conditions, political events, regulatory or
market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of the Fund could decline in value or underperform other investments as a result of the risk of loss associated with
these market fluctuations. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a
significant negative impact on the Fund and
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
its investments. For example, the
coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or
similar restrictions, had negative impacts, and in many cases severe impacts, on markets worldwide. While the development of vaccines has slowed the spread of the virus and allowed for the resumption of reasonably
normal business activity in the United States, many countries continue to impose lockdown measures in an attempt to slow the spread. Additionally, there is no guarantee that vaccines will be effective against emerging
variants of the disease. Also, in February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine which has caused and could continue to cause significant market disruptions and volatility across markets globally, including the United States.
The hostilities and sanction resulting from those hostilities could have a significant impact on certain Fund investments as well as Fund performance. As the global pandemic and conflict in Ukraine have illustrated,
such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Recent and potential future bank failures could result in disruption to the broader banking industry
or markets generally and reduce confidence in financial institutions and the economy as a whole, which may also heighten market volatility and reduce liquidity. These events also may adversely affect the prices
and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of the
Fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, the Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value and the bid/ask spread on the
Fund’s shares may widen.
Mortgage-Backed Securities
Risk. The Fund invests in mortgage-backed securities, representing direct or indirect interests in pools of underlying residential or commercial mortgage loans that are secured by real
property. These securities provide investors with payments consisting of both principal and interest as the mortgages in the underlying mortgage pools are paid. A mortgage-backed security may be negatively
affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security and the structure of its issuer. For example, if a mortgage underlying a particular mortgage-backed security defaults, the value of that security may
decrease. Moreover, a downturn in the markets for residential or commercial real estate or a general economic downturn could negatively affect both the price and liquidity of privately issued mortgage-backed
securities. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the risk that the borrowers under the mortgage loans underlying a Fund’s mortgage-backed securities might pay off their mortgage
loans sooner than expected, which could happen when interest rates fall or for other reasons, which could cause the value of the Fund’s mortgage-backed securities to fall. Moreover, if the underlying mortgage
loans are paid off sooner than expected, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in other securities that have lower yields. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that
rising interest rates could cause mortgages underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, resulting in slower prepayments of the securities. This would, in effect, convert a short or
medium-duration mortgage-backed security into a longer-duration security, increasing its sensitivity to interest rate changes and likely causing its price to decline. Mortgage-backed securities issued by a private
issuer, such as commercial mortgage-backed securities, generally entail greater risk than obligations directly or indirectly guaranteed by the U.S. government or a government-sponsored entity.
A portion of the
Fund’s managed assets may be invested in subordinated classes of mortgage-backed securities. Such subordinated classes are subject to a greater degree of non-payment risk than are senior classes of the same
issuer or agency. In addition, under certain market conditions, the market for subordinated classes of mortgage-backed securities may not be as liquid as the market for other fixed income securities.
Given its focus in
mortgage-backed securities, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political and regulatory events that affect the value of real estate.
Non-Agency Securities
Risk. Investments in asset-backed or mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loans, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage
bankers and other secondary market issuers are subject to additional risks. There are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in loan pools created by non-government issuers. Securities
issued by private issuers are subject to the credit risks of such issuers. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the loan pool may adversely affect the value of a non-agency security and could result in losses to
the Fund. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of pools that include subprime loans. Non-agency securities are typically traded “over-the-counter” rather than on a securities exchange
and there may be a limited market for the securities, especially when there is a perceived weakness in the mortgage and real estate market sectors. Without an active trading market, the non-agency mortgage-related
securities held by the Fund may be particularly difficult to value because of the complexities involved in assessing the value of the underlying loans.
Operational Risk. The Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service
providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. The Fund relies on third-parties for a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure
relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Although the Fund and the Advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through
controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Mortgage
Income Fund (FMY)
April 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
Potential Conflicts of
Interest Risk. First Trust and the portfolio managers have interests which may conflict with the interests of the Fund. In particular, First Trust currently manages and may in the future manage and/or
advise other investment funds or accounts with the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund. In addition, while the Fund is using leverage, the amount of the fees paid to First
Trust for investment advisory and management services are higher than if the Fund did not use leverage because the fees paid are calculated based on managed assets. Therefore, First Trust has a financial incentive to
leverage the Fund.
TBA Transactions
Risk. The Fund may purchase securities via TBA (To Be Announced) Transactions. In such a transaction, the purchase price of the securities is typically fixed at the time of the commitment, but
delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. At the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. Purchasing securities in
a TBA Transaction may give rise to investment leverage and may increase the Fund’s volatility. Default by, or bankruptcy of, a counterparty to a TBA Transaction would expose the Fund to possible losses because
of an adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools specified in such transaction.
Valuation Risk. The valuation of securitized assets may carry more risk than that of common stock. Uncertainties in the conditions of the financial markets, unreliable reference data, lack of transparency
and inconsistency of valuation models and processes may lead to inaccurate asset pricing. The Fund may hold investments in sizes smaller than institutionally-sized round lot positions (sometimes referred to as odd
lots). However, third-party pricing services generally provide evaluations on the basis of institutionally-sized round lots. If the Fund sells certain of its investments in an odd lot transaction, the sale price may
be less than the value at which such securities have been held by the Fund. Odd lots often trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio
security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund.
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INVESTMENT ADVISOR
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite
400
Wheaton, IL 60187
ADMINISTRATOR,
FUND ACCOUNTANT,
AND CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286
TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare, Inc.
P.O. Box 505000
Louisville, KY 40233
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP
111 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
LEGAL COUNSEL
Chapman and Cutler LLP
320 South Canal Street
Chicago, IL 60606
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
| (a) | | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers
as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form. |
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting
Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment
Companies.
| (a) | | Not applicable for this reporting period. |
| (b) | | Effective June 1, 2023, Owen Aronson was added as a portfolio manager to the registrant.
The information required by Form N-CSR follows: |
| (1) | | Identification
of New Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members and Description of Role of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members. |
Information provided as of June 1, 2023
The Government & Securitized Products Group
of First Trust Advisors L.P. is responsible for the day–to-day management of the registrant’s portfolio. The Government &
Securitized Products group has been led by James Snyder and Jeremiah Charles since 2013.
Effective June 1, 2023, Owen Aronson was added
as a portfolio manager to the registrant. Mr. Aronson is a Vice President of First Trust and a Senior Investment Analyst for the First
Trust Government & Securitized Products Group. He has over 15 years of investment research and trading experience. At First Trust,
he focuses primarily on the commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMBS, sector and contributes to the management of the non-agency sectors.
Prior to joining First Trust in 2020, Owen spent the majority of his career in the Securitized Products team at Neuberger Berman where
he was responsible for CMBS investments. He began his career at Lehman Brothers Asset Management as an Analyst. Mr. Aronson holds a B.A.
in Economics from the University of Chicago.
| |
(2) |
Other Accounts Managed by New Portfolio Manager and Potential Conflicts of Interest |
Information provided as of June 1, 2023.
Name of Portfolio Manager or Team
Member |
Type
of Accounts* |
Total
# of Accounts
Managed |
Total
Assets |
#
of Accounts Managed for which Advisory Fee is Based on
Performance |
Total
Assets for which Advisory Fee is Based on
Performance |
| 1.
Owen Aronson |
Registered Investment Companies: |
0 |
$0 |
0 |
$ 0 |
| |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: |
0 |
$ 0 |
0 |
$ 0 |
| |
Other Accounts: |
0 |
$ 0 |
0 |
$ 0 |
*Information excludes the registrant.
Portfolio Manager Material Conflicts of Interest
Potential conflicts of interest may arise
when a portfolio manager of the registrant has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other funds or other
accounts. The First Trust Government & Securitized Products Group adheres to its trade allocation policy utilizing a pro-rata
methodology to address this conflict.
First Trust and its affiliate, First Trust
Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), have in place a joint Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policies and Procedures that are designed
to (a) prevent First Trust personnel from trading securities based upon material inside information in the possession of such personnel
and (b) ensure that First Trust personnel avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest or abuse of their positions of trust and responsibility
that could occur through such activities as front running securities trades for the registrant. Personnel are required to have duplicate
confirmations and account statements delivered to First Trust and FTP compliance personnel who then compare such trades to trading activity
to detect any potential conflict situations.
(3) Compensation Structure
of Portfolio Managers or Management Team Members
Portfolio Manager Compensation
Information provided as of June 1, 2023.
The compensation structure at First Trust
is based on a fixed salary and discretionary bonus determined by First Trust management. Salaries are based on each individual’s
position and overall value to First Trust. Bonuses are determined by First Trust management and are based on individual performance, the
commitment to team performance and profitability, and the profitability of First Trust. Certain internal portfolio managers have an indirect
ownership stake in the firm and will therefore receive their allocable share of ownership-related distributions.
(4) Disclosure
of Securities Ownership
Information provided as of June 1, 2023.
| Name |
Dollar Range of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned |
| Owen Aronson |
None |
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities
by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the
procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors, where those changes were implemented
after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407)
(as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | | The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing
similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90
days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls
and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
| (b) | | There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting
(as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities For Closed-End
Management Investment Companies.
Item 13. Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
| (registrant) |
|
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund |
| By (Signature and Title)* |
|
/s/ James M. Dykas |
| |
|
James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive
officer)
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed
below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By (Signature and Title)* |
|
/s/ James M. Dykas |
| |
|
James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive
officer)
|
| By (Signature and Title)* |
|
/s/ Donald P. Swade |
| |
|
Donald P. Swade, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer
and Chief Accounting Officer
(principal financial officer)
|
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under
his or her signature.