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 811-22039

First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities 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: November 30

Date of reporting period: May 31, 2022

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
Specialty Finance and Financial
Opportunities Fund (FGB)
Semi-Annual Report
For the Six Months Ended
May 31, 2022

Table of Contents
First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (FGB)
Semi-Annual Report
May 31, 2022
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/or Confluence Investment Management LLC (“Confluence” or the “Sub-Advisor”) and their respective 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 Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities 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/or Sub-Advisor and their respective 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 relevant market benchmarks.
It is important to keep in mind that the opinions expressed by personnel of First Trust and Confluence 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.

Shareholder Letter
First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (FGB)
Semi-Annual Letter from the Chairman and CEO
May 31, 2022
Dear Shareholders,
First Trust is pleased to provide you with the semi-annual report for the First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”), which contains detailed information about the Fund for the six months ended May 31, 2022.
I would like to begin by addressing the elephant in the room: how everything so good has seemingly gotten so bad. If you are someone having difficulty understanding today’s investment climate, you are certainly not alone, in my opinion. Let us see if we can make some sense of things. While stocks and bonds have been roughed up in 2022, commodities, such as crude oil and gasoline, have surged higher. For the better part of the previous decade, the opposite was true. Stocks and bonds prospered in a low rate, low inflationary climate, while commodities dropped in value. It appears that the primary catalyst behind this recent shift in sentiment is robust inflation, which is defined as too much money chasing too few goods. The Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) stood at 8.6% on a trailing 12-month basis on May 31, 2022, the highest it has been since 1982, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For comparative purposes, the average rate on the CPI has been 3.0% since 1926.
Conventional wisdom says that the cure for high prices is high prices, particularly with respect to commodities. In other words, let market forces determine prices. This implies that high prices at some point should be effective in curbing demand, which, in turn, should reduce the supply of goods and prices over time. But we do not leave it solely to market forces. This is where the central banks step in. The Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) played a major role in fueling inflation by massively increasing the U.S. money supply during the coronavirus pandemic to help prop up demand, in my opinion. The Fed’s traditional remedy for spiking inflation is to curb demand for goods and services by increasing the rate of interest levied on borrowed money. This process is currently underway. As of June 15, 2022, the Federal Funds target rate (upper bound) stood at 1.75%, up from 0.25% this past March. The Fed has signaled that it intends to raise this benchmark lending rate by another 50-75 basis points (“bps”) at its next meeting on July 27, 2022 and could take the rate above the 3.00% mark by year-end. Investors need to accept the fact that the days of low inflation and low interest rates are behind us, at least for the foreseeable future.
As previously noted, stocks and bonds have succumbed to selling pressure in 2022. Aside from spiking inflation, the common thread between the two markets is the sharp rise in Treasury yields, particularly the benchmark 10-Year Treasury Note (“T-Note”). In fact, higher bond yields are usually a byproduct of rising inflation. The closing yield on the 10-Year T-Note has risen from 1.51% on December 31, 2021 to 3.23% on June 17, 2022, or an increase of 172 bps, according to Bloomberg. That is a sharp move higher in a relatively short period of time. As you likely know, bond prices and bond yields are inversely related. When bond yields rise, bond prices, in most cases, fall, particularly with respect to investment-grade debt. Keep in mind, the yield on the 10-Year T-Note bottomed at 0.51% (all-time closing low) on August 4, 2020, so bond yields have been normalizing for nearly two years. What is normal? Well, the yield on the 10-Year T-Note averaged 3.95% for the 30-year period ended June 17, 2022. Stock prices have also been negatively impacted by the upward move in bond yields. Higher bond yields can put downward pressure on future corporate earnings and margins. Stock prices have been adjusting lower to reflect this. Also, over time, the higher bond yields trend, the more attractive/competitive they become to investors relative to stocks. Lastly, after posting an annualized U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”) growth rate of -1.5% in the first quarter of 2022, we are hearing more talk about the potential for a recession, which is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. The Fed has discussed the concept of a soft landing, where the economy would slow but not enter recessionary territory, but that is easier said than done. Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist at First Trust, is not forecasting a recession for this year, but he does believe we could experience one in late 2023 or 2024. As always, stay the course!
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.
Page 1

First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (FGB)
“AT A GLANCE”
As of May 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Fund Statistics
Symbol on New York Stock Exchange FGB
Common Share Price $3.58
Common Share Net Asset Value (“NAV”) $4.01
Premium (Discount) to NAV (10.72)%
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares $57,611,329
Current Quarterly Distribution per Common Share(1) $0.0825
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share $0.3300
Current Distribution Rate on Common Share Price(2) 9.22%
Current Distribution Rate on NAV(2) 8.23%
Common Share Price & NAV (weekly closing price)
  
 
Performance
    Average Annual Total Returns
  6 Months Ended
5/31/22
1 Year Ended
5/31/22
5 Years Ended
5/31/22
10 Years Ended
5/31/22
Inception
(5/25/07)
to 5/31/22
Fund Performance(3)          
NAV -3.28% 2.09% -0.71% 4.23% 0.12%
Market Value -6.53% -7.56% -3.77% 3.09% -0.94%
Index Performance          
Blended Benchmark(4) -3.51% -0.99% 6.68% 8.50% N/A
MSCI U.S. Investable Market Financials Index -7.99% -7.05% 7.96% 11.13% N/A
Prior Blended Benchmark(4)(5) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    
(1) Most recent distribution paid or declared through May 31, 2022. Subject to change in the future.
(2) Distribution rates are calculated by annualizing the most recent distribution paid or declared through the report date and then dividing by Common Share Price or NAV, as applicable, as of May 31, 2022. 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.
(4) On 7/1/21, the Fund’s benchmark changed from the Prior Blended Benchmark to the Blended Benchmark, because the Wells Fargo BDC Index (one of the Prior Blended Benchmark’s components) was discontinued on 7/30/2021. The Blended Benchmark consists of a 70/20/10 blend of the MVIS U.S. Business Development Companies Index, the FTSE NARIET Mortgage REIT Index and the S&P SmallCap Financials Index. The Prior Blended Benchmark consists of a 70/20/10 blend of the Wells Fargo BDC Index, the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REIT Index, and the S&P SmallCap Financials Index. The Blended Benchmark and Prior Blended Benchmark returns are calculated by using the monthly return of the three indices during each period shown above. At the beginning of each month, the three indices are rebalanced, to account for divergence from that ratio that occurred during the course of each month to the ratios noted above. The monthly returns are then compounded for each period shown above, giving the performance for the Blended Benchmark and the Prior Blended Benchmark for each period shown above. Since the MVIS U.S. Business Development Companies Index had an inception date of August 4, 2011, the performance of the Blended Benchmark is not available for all of the periods disclosed.
(5) Because a component of the Prior Blended Benchmark has been discontinued, performance for the Prior Blended Benchmark is not available for the periods disclosed.
Page 2

First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (FGB)
“AT A GLANCE” (Continued)
As of May 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Asset Classification % of Total
Investments
Common Stocks - Business Development Companies 92.0%
Common Stocks 4.3
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 3.7
Total 100.0%
    
Industry Classification % of Total
Investments
Capital Markets 92.0%
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts 3.7
Diversified Financial Services 2.2
Insurance 2.1
Total 100.0%
    
Top Ten Holdings % of Total
Investments
Ares Capital Corp. 7.4%
Hercules Capital, Inc. 7.3
PennantPark Investment Corp. 7.1
BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. 6.8
New Mountain Finance Corp. 6.5
Main Street Capital Corp. 6.5
Barings BDC, Inc. 6.2
Golub Capital BDC, Inc. 5.4
OFS Capital Corp. 5.2
Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. 4.6
Total 63.0%
 
Page 3

Portfolio Commentary
First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (FGB)
Semi-Annual Report
May 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Advisor
First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) serves as the investment advisor to the First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”). First Trust is responsible for the 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.
Sub-Advisor
Confluence Investment Management LLC, a registered investment advisor (“Confluence” or the “Sub-Advisor”), located in St. Louis, Missouri, serves as the sub-advisor to the Fund. The investment professionals at Confluence have an average of over 20 years of portfolio management experience each. Confluence professionals have invested in a wide range of specialty finance and other financial company securities during various market cycles, working to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to clients.
Confluence Portfolio Management Team
Mark Keller, CFA
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
David Miyazaki, CFA
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
Daniel Winter, CFA
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer - Value Equity
First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (FGB)
The primary investment objective of the Fund is to seek a high level of current income. As a secondary objective, the Fund seeks an attractive total return. The Fund pursues its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its Managed Assets in a portfolio of securities of specialty finance and other financial companies that the Fund’s Sub-Advisor believes offer attractive opportunities for income and capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the Fund concentrates its investments in securities of companies within the industries in the financial sector. “Managed Assets” means the total asset value of the Fund minus the sum of its liabilities, other than the principal amount of borrowings. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. The Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.
Market Recap
The Fund is a financial sector fund with a particular focus on a niche called business development companies (“BDCs”). BDCs lend to, and invest in, private companies, oftentimes working with those not large enough to efficiently access the public markets. Each BDC has a unique profile, determined by its respective management team. Some specialize in particular industries, while others apply a more generalized approach and maintain a diversified portfolio. Both approaches can work effectively and offer shareholders a unique and differentiated return opportunity derived from the private markets.
During the six-month period ended May 31, 2022, the Fund had approximately 93% of its assets invested in 23 BDCs; 4% in large capitalization (“cap”) financials and 3% in mortgage-backed real estate investment trusts (“MBS REITs”).
Page 4

Portfolio Commentary (Continued)
First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (FGB)
Semi-Annual Report
May 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Performance Analysis
    Average Annual Total Returns
  6 Months Ended
5/31/22
1 Year Ended
5/31/22
5 Years Ended
5/31/22
10 Years Ended
5/31/22
Inception
(5/25/07)
to 5/31/22
Fund Performance(1)          
NAV -3.28% 2.09% -0.71% 4.23% 0.12%
Market Value -6.53% -7.56% -3.77% 3.09% -0.94%
Index Performance          
Blended Benchmark(2) -3.51% -0.99% 6.68% 8.50% N/A
MSCI U.S. Investable Market Financials Index -7.99% -7.05% 7.96% 11.13% N/A
Prior Blended Benchmark(2)(3) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
 

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 indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do 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.
  
(1) 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.
  
(2) On 7/1/2021, the Fund’s benchmark changed from the Prior Blended Benchmark to the Blended Benchmark, because the Wells Fargo BDC Index (one of the Prior Blended Benchmark’s components) was discontinued on 7/30/2021. The Blended Benchmark consists of a 70/20/10 blend of the MVIS U.S. Business Development Companies Index, the FTSE NARIET Mortgage REIT Index and the S&P SmallCap Financials Index. The Prior Blended Benchmark consists of a 70/20/10 blend of the Wells Fargo BDC Index, the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REIT Index, and the S&P SmallCap Financials Index. The Blended Benchmark and Prior Blended Benchmark returns are calculated by using the monthly return of the three indices during each period shown above. At the beginning of each month, the three indices are rebalanced, to account for divergence from that ratio that occurred during the course of each month to the ratios noted above. The monthly returns are then compounded for each period shown above, giving the performance for the Blended Benchmark and the Prior Blended Benchmark for each period shown above. Since the MVIS U.S. Business Development Companies Index had an inception date of August 4, 2011, the performance of the Blended Benchmark is not available for all of the periods disclosed.
  
(3) Because a component of the Prior Blended Benchmark has been discontinued, performance for the Prior Blended Benchmark is not available for the periods disclosed.
Page 5