Northern Equity Index Funds
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NORTHERN EQUITY INDEX FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT MARCH 31, 2021 Dear Shareholder: Global equities delivered very strong corporate earnings and ongoing Fed hospitalizations beginning to decline, returns during the 12-month period accommodation provided a firm the vaccine rollout underway, additional ended March 31, 2021. At the start of the foundation for investor risk appetite. fiscal stimulus apparently on the way period,stockswerejustdaysbeyondthe The approval of the first COVID-19 later in the year, and broadening market lows established in the coronavirus- vaccine not only boosted the equity leadership, the investment backdrop driven downturn that occurred in the first market as a whole, but also led to an remained supportive for stocks at quarter of 2020. The early stages of the important change in market leadership. period end. market’s recovery derived mainly from From the March 2020 low through early In closing, we would like to the swift and aggressive monetary and November 2020, gains for the leading U.S. recognize the planning and dedication fiscal stimulus provided by global and global indices had been driven largely of those who have helped Northern governments and central banks. The bygrowthstocks,aswellasbyasmall Trust Asset Management navigate the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) cut number of mega-cap technology unprecedented challenges of the past 12 short-term rates to near zero, and companies. With so much uncertainty months. Our commitment to our clients Congress passed a $2 trillion stimulus surrounding the path of the virus and the remainsunwaveringasthebusiness package. Investors, seeing a path to when trajectory of global growth, investors environment continues to evolve in the the economic effects of COVID-19 could gravitated to the relative safety of months ahead. dissipate, began to bargain hunt in a companies that they believed could market that was well off its prior peak. maintain steady earnings in any economic Sincerely, The ensuing rally gained momentum environment. Once the vaccines were through the summer of 2020, propelling approved, investors began to look around Darek Wojnar, CFA major large-cap equity indices above their for improved relative performance from Head of Funds and Managed Accounts pre-pandemic highs by late August 2020. economically-sensitive segments that had Group, Stock prices paused in early autumn previously lagged, including value stocks Northern Trust Asset Management* due in part to a resurgence in COVID-19 and smaller companies. Theviewsinthisletterwereasof cases and uncertainty surrounding the In combination, these developments March 31, 2021 and may not necessarily U.S. election. However, markets resumed helped major equity indices to deliver reflect the same views on the date this their advance in November 2020 remarkable 12-month returns. For letter is first published or any time following the eventual conclusion of the example, the large-cap Russell 1000 Index thereafter. These views are intended to U.S. election and announcements that and the small-cap Russell 2000 Index help shareholders in understanding the two coronavirus vaccines had been posted dramatically strong one-year Funds’ investment methodology and do approved by U.S. regulatory agencies. returns of 60.59% and 94.85%, not constitute investment advice. Investors were further encouraged by the respectively, as of March 31, 2021. Based passage of a new round of U.S. fiscal on the MSCI EAFE Index and the MSCI This report is submitted for the stimulus in early 2021, as well as by Emerging Markets Index, developed- and general information of the shareholders of expectations that a significant emerging-market international stocks, the Funds. It is not authorized for infrastructure package might also emerge though they lagged U.S. indices, distribution to prospective investors unless from Congress. The rally continued nonetheless delivered robust gains of preceded or accompanied by an effective through the end of the 12-month period 44.57% and 58.39%, respectively. It is prospectus, which includes information ended March 31, 2021, as the prospect of highly unlikely that these returns can be regarding the Funds’ risks, objectives, fees improving economic growth, rising replicated in the next 12-month period. and expenses, experience of its Still, with COVID-19 cases and management, and other information. *Northern Trust Asset Management is the branding name of the asset management business of Northern Trust Corporation, a financial holding company and publicly traded company. EQUITY INDEX FUNDS TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY 10 STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 12 STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 14 STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 16 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 24 SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS 24 EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY INDEX FUND Ticker Symbol: NOEMX 48 GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INDEX FUND Ticker Symbol: NGREX 59 GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY INDEX FUND Ticker Symbols: Class I: NSRIX Class K: NSRKX 71 INTERNATIONAL EQUITY INDEX FUND This report has been prepared for the general Ticker Symbol: NOINX information of Northern Funds shareholders. It 85 MID CAP INDEX FUND is not authorized for distribution to prospective Ticker Symbol: NOMIX investors unless accompanied or preceded by a current Northern Funds summary prospectus 92 SMALL CAP INDEX FUND or prospectus, which contains more complete Ticker Symbol: NSIDX information about a fund’s investment 119 STOCK INDEX FUND objectives, risks, fees and expenses. Investors Ticker Symbol: NOSIX are reminded to read a summary prospectus or prospectus carefully before investing or 128 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS sending money. 143 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM This report contains certain forward-looking statements about factors that may affect the 144 TAX INFORMATION performance of the Funds in the future. These statements are based on Northern Funds’ 145 LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM management predictions and expectations 146 FUND EXPENSES concerning certain future events, such as performance of the economy as a whole and 148 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS of specific industry sectors, changes in the levels of interest rates, the impact of 152 INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS developing world events, and other factors. 156 FOR MORE INFORMATION Management believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, although they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Actual events may cause adjustments in Northern Funds’ management strategies from those currently expected to be employed. Northern Funds are distributed by Northern Funds Distributors, LLC, Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, not affiliated with Northern Trust. NOT FDIC INSURED May lose value / No bank guarantee NORTHERN FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT 1 EQUITY INDEX FUNDS EQUITY INDEX FUNDS EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY INDEX FUND (UNAUDITED) PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY The Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund returned 58.51% during the 12-month reporting period ended March 31, 2021, compared with the 58.39% return of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. During the period, emerging market stocks outperformed their developed market counterparts as measured by the 54.03% return of the MSCI World Index. Global equity markets rebounded significantly during the reporting period following a challenging first quarter of 2020. Unprecedented levels of fiscal and monetary stimulus paved the way for a recovery in equity markets following the sharp COVID-19-related sell-off in early 2020. A host of economic indicators including employment, consumer spending, manufacturing and housing data reached very low levels early in the period, then steadily recovered. Continued fiscal and monetary support, along with declining rates of COVID-19 infection, bolstered investor confidence. Credit spreads tightened as oil prices, interest rates and inflation expectations moved higher. Following positive news surrounding COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution, investors returned to more value- and cyclically-oriented segments of the market, as well as to those best positioned to benefit from economic recovery. For the 12-month reporting period, information technology and materials were the top-performing sectors in the benchmark index with returns of 110.72% and 102.77%, respectively. Real estate and utilities were the bottom performers in the index, returning 33.23% and 35.02%, respectively. South Korea and Taiwan were the top performers at the country level in the index, with returns of 101.81% and 96.04%, respectively, while Egypt and Turkey lagged with returns of 4.21% and 6.35%, respectively. INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS for periods ended March 31, 2021 SINCE INCEPTION TOTAL RETURN ONE YEAR FIVE YEAR TEN YEAR 04/25/06 EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY INDEX FUND 58.51% 11.71% 3.29% 4.81% MSCI EMERGING MARKETS INDEX 58.39 12.07 3.65 5.53 Fund Performance reflects contractual expense reimbursements in effect. In their absence, performance would be reduced. Performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than that shown here. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at northerntrust.com/funds. The gross and net expense ratios are 0.34% and 0.30%, respectively, as of the most recent prospectus dated July 31, 2020. The net expense ratio includes contractual