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: 811-09833
Core Bond Portfolio
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Deidre E. Walsh
One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Name and Address of Agent for Services)
(617) 482-8260
(Registrant’s Telephone Number)
December 31
Date of Fiscal Year End
June 30, 2026
Date of Reporting Period
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders
(a)
(b) Not applicable.
Item 2. Code of Ethics
Not required in this filing.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Not required in this filing.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Not required in this filing.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
| (a) | Please see schedule of investments contained in the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights included under Item 7 of this Form N-CSR. |
| (b) | Not applicable. |
Item 7. Financial Statements and Financial Highlights for Open-End Management Investment Companies
| Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (OTC) | |||||||
| Currency Purchased | Currency Sold | Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized Appreciation |
Unrealized (Depreciation) | ||
| USD | 11,134,422 | DKK | 71,362,726 | Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank | 9/16/26 | $181,513 | $ — |
| USD | 11,098,230 | DKK | 71,362,726 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | 9/16/26 | 145,320 | — |
| USD | 2,220,153 | EUR | 1,910,894 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | 9/16/26 | 29,860 | — |
| USD | 2,649,190 | GBP | 1,974,676 | Citibank, N.A. | 9/16/26 | 29,895 | — |
| $386,588 | $— | ||||||
| Futures Contracts | |||||
| Description | Number of Contracts |
Position | Expiration Date |
Notional Amount |
Value/Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
| Interest Rate Futures | |||||
| U.S. 5-Year Treasury Note | 670 | Long | 9/30/26 | $ 71,721,407 | $ 91,323 |
| U.S. 10-Year Treasury Note | 237 | Long | 9/21/26 | 26,044,078 | 100,823 |
| U.S. Long Treasury Bond | 292 | Long | 9/21/26 | 33,142,000 | 577,404 |
| U.S. Ultra 10-Year Treasury Note | 406 | Long | 9/21/26 | 45,662,312 | 328,848 |
| Euro-Bund | (79) | Short | 9/8/26 | (11,699,493) | (118,764) |
| U.S. 2-Year Treasury Note | (119) | Short | 9/30/26 | (24,529,805) | 206 |
| U.S. Ultra-Long Treasury Bond | (6) | Short | 9/21/26 | (696,938) | 1,303 |
| $981,143 | |||||
| Abbreviations: | |
| OTC | – Over-the-counter |
| SOFR | – Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
| SONIA | – Sterling Overnight Interbank Average |
| STACR | – Structured Agency Credit Risk |
| TBA | – To Be Announced |
| Currency Abbreviations: | |
| DKK | – Denmark Krone |
| EUR | – Euro |
| GBP | – British Pound Sterling |
| USD | – United States Dollar |
| June 30, 2026 | |
| Assets | |
| Unaffiliated investments, at value (identified cost $719,520,008) | $714,478,880 |
| Affiliated investments, at value (identified cost $59,400,588) | 59,282,568 |
| Cash | 12,341 |
| Deposits for forward commitment securities | 902,000 |
| Deposits for derivatives collateral — futures contracts | 3,707,795 |
| Foreign currency, at value (identified cost $11,034,160) | 10,967,935 |
| Interest and dividends receivable | 4,571,705 |
| Interest and dividends receivable from affiliated investments | 248,642 |
| Receivable for investments sold | 4,671,231 |
| Receivable for open forward foreign currency exchange contracts | 386,588 |
| Receivable from affiliates | 59,557 |
| Trustees' deferred compensation plan | 69,303 |
| Total assets | $799,358,545 |
| Liabilities | |
| Cash collateral due to brokers | $902,000 |
| Payable for forward commitment securities | 96,704,056 |
| Payable for variation margin on open futures contracts | 521,393 |
| Payable to affiliates: | |
| Investment adviser fee | 257,526 |
| Trustees' fees | 10,585 |
| Trustees' deferred compensation plan | 69,303 |
| Accrued expenses | 129,352 |
| Total liabilities | $98,594,215 |
| Net Assets applicable to investors' interest in Portfolio | $700,764,330 |
| Six Months Ended | |
| June 30, 2026 | |
| Investment Income | |
| Dividend income (net of foreign taxes withheld of $7,518) | $52,800 |
| Dividend income from affiliated investments | 1,777,875 |
| Interest income (net of foreign taxes withheld of $891) | 15,047,833 |
| Interest income from affiliated investments | 22,828 |
| Other income | 1,635 |
| Total investment income | $16,902,971 |
| Expenses | |
| Investment adviser fee | $1,654,977 |
| Trustees’ fees and expenses | 20,428 |
| Custodian fee | 139,494 |
| Legal and accounting services | 88,094 |
| Miscellaneous | 13,093 |
| Total expenses | $1,916,086 |
| Deduct: | |
| Waiver and/or reimbursement of expenses by affiliates | $186,264 |
| Total expense reductions | $186,264 |
| Net expenses | $1,729,822 |
| Net investment income | $15,173,149 |
| Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
| Net realized gain (loss): | |
| Investment transactions | $(9,871,633) |
| Futures contracts | (6,059,136) |
| Foreign currency transactions | (12,177) |
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts | 380,131 |
| Net realized loss | $(15,562,815) |
| Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation): | |
| Investments | $2,694,491 |
| Investments - affiliated investments | (159,948) |
| Futures contracts | 2,082,578 |
| Foreign currency | (69,803) |
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts | 416,822 |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | $4,964,140 |
| Net realized and unrealized loss | $(10,598,675) |
| Net increase in net assets from operations | $4,574,474 |
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2026 (Unaudited) |
Year Ended December 31, 2025 | |
| Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | ||
| From operations: | ||
| Net investment income | $15,173,149 | $24,543,277 |
| Net realized gain (loss) | (15,562,815) | 5,189,689 |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 4,964,140 | 21,349,085 |
| Net increase in net assets from operations | $4,574,474 | $51,082,051 |
| Capital transactions: | ||
| Contributions | $38,348,773 | $204,042,651 |
| Withdrawals | (101,134,862) | (78,030,141) |
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions | $(62,786,089) | $126,012,510 |
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets | $(58,211,615) | $177,094,561 |
| Net Assets | ||
| At beginning of period | $758,975,945 | $581,881,384 |
| At end of period | $700,764,330 | $758,975,945 |
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2026 (Unaudited) |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||
| Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||
| Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):(1) | ||||||
| Total expenses | 0.52%(2) | 0.52% | 0.51% | 0.51% | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Net expenses | 0.47%(2)(3) | 0.47%(3) | 0.49%(3) | 0.49%(3) | 0.49%(3) | 0.49% |
| Net investment income | 4.13%(2) | 3.55% | 4.22% | 3.74% | 2.58% | 2.06% |
| Portfolio Turnover(4) | 146%(5) | 388% | 375% | 227% | 102% | 122% |
| Total Return | 0.67%(5) | 7.68% | 2.90% | 6.08% | (13.13)% | 0.70% |
| Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | $700,764 | $758,976 | $581,881 | $593,639 | $571,500 | $570,872 |
| (1) | Total expenses do not reflect amounts reimbursed and/or waived by the adviser and certain of its affiliates, if applicable. Net expenses are net of all reductions and represent the net expenses paid by the Portfolio. |
| (2) | Annualized. |
| (3) | Includes a reduction by the investment adviser of a portion of its adviser fee due to the Portfolio’s investment in the Liquidity Fund and in other affiliated funds (equal to 0.02% of average daily net assets for the six months ended June 30, 2026, 0.02% of average daily net assets for the year ended December 31, 2025, less than 0.01% of average daily net assets for the year ended December 31, 2024 and less than 0.005% of average daily net assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022). |
| (4) | Includes the effect of To Be Announced (TBA) transactions. |
| (5) | Not annualized. |
| Average Daily Net Assets | Annual Fee Rate |
| Up to $1 billion | 0.450% |
| $1 billion up to $2 billion | 0.425% |
| $2 billion up to $5 billion | 0.415% |
| $5 billion and over | 0.405% |
| Purchases | Sales | |
| Investments (non-U.S. Government) | $200,053,884 | $177,113,703 |
| U.S. Government and Agency Securities | 903,598,959 | 939,511,341 |
| $1,103,652,843 | $1,116,625,044 |
| Aggregate cost | $779,823,548 |
| Gross unrealized appreciation | $4,856,975 |
| Gross unrealized depreciation | (9,551,344) |
| Net unrealized depreciation | $(4,694,369) |
| Fair Value | |||
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities Caption | Foreign Exchange |
Interest Rate |
Total |
| Not applicable | $ — | $1,099,907(1) | $1,099,907 |
| Receivable for open forward foreign currency exchange contracts | 386,588 | — | 386,588 |
| Total Asset Derivatives | $386,588 | $1,099,907 | $1,486,495 |
| Derivatives not subject to master netting or similar agreements | $ — | $1,099,907 | $1,099,907 |
| Total Asset Derivatives subject to master netting or similar agreements | $386,588 | $ — | $386,588 |
| Not applicable | $ — | $(118,764)(1) | $(118,764) |
| Total Liability Derivatives not subject to master netting or similar agreements | $ — | $(118,764) | $(118,764) |
| (1) | Only the current day's variation margin on open futures contracts is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Receivable or Payable for variation margin on open futures contracts, as applicable. |
| Counterparty | Derivative Assets Subject to Master Netting Agreement |
Derivatives Available for Offset |
Non-cash Collateral Received(a) |
Cash Collateral Received(a) |
Net Amount of Derivative Assets(b) |
| Citibank, N.A. | $29,895 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $29,895 |
| Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank | 181,513 | — | — | — | 181,513 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | 175,180 | — | (175,180) | — | — |
| $386,588 | $— | $(175,180) | $— | $211,408 |
| (a) | In some instances, the total collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown due to overcollateralization. |
| (b) | Net amount represents the net amount due from the counterparty in the event of default. |
| Statement of Operations Caption | Foreign Exchange |
Interest Rate |
Total |
| Net realized gain (loss): | |||
| Futures contracts | $ — | $(6,059,136) | $(6,059,136) |
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts | 380,131 | — | 380,131 |
| Total | $380,131 | $(6,059,136) | $(5,679,005) |
| Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation): | |||
| Futures contracts | $ — | $2,082,578 | $2,082,578 |
| Forward foreign currency exchange contracts | 416,822 | — | 416,822 |
| Total | $416,822 | $2,082,578 | $2,499,400 |
| Futures Contracts — Long |
Futures Contracts — Short |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts(1) |
| $248,149,000 | $86,498,000 | $16,521,000 |
| (1) | The average notional amount for forward foreign currency exchange contracts is based on the absolute value of notional amounts of currency purchased and currency sold. |
| Name | Value, beginning of period |
Purchases | Sales proceeds |
Net realized gain (loss) |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
Value, end of period |
Interest/ Dividend income |
Principal amount ($)/ Shares, end of period |
| Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | ||||||||
| Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Series 2016-C29, Class C, 4.571%, 5/15/49 | $ 920,308 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ 18,232 | $ 938,540 | $ 22,828 | $993,200 |
| Name | Value, beginning of period |
Purchases | Sales proceeds |
Net realized gain (loss) |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
Value, end of period |
Interest/ Dividend income |
Principal amount ($)/ Shares, end of period |
| Exchange-Traded Funds | ||||||||
| Eaton Vance Short Duration Income ETF | $14,661,455 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $(167,780) | $14,493,675 | $322,752 | 285,000 |
| Eaton Vance Ultra-Short Income ETF | 6,614,400 | — | — | — | (10,400) | 6,604,000 | 142,920 | 130,000 |
| Short-Term Investments | ||||||||
| Liquidity Fund | 67,500,581 | 148,451,053 | (178,705,281) | — | — | 37,246,353 | 1,312,203 | 37,246,353 |
| Total | $ — | $(159,948) | $59,282,568 | $1,800,703 |
| • | Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments |
| • | Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
| • | Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including a fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
| Asset Description | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total |
| Asset-Backed Securities | $ — | $104,645,682 | $ — | $104,645,682 |
| Collateralized Mortgage Obligations | — | 37,828,240 | — | 37,828,240 |
| Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | 59,479,721 | — | 59,479,721 |
| Corporate Bonds | — | 187,044,729 | — | 187,044,729 |
| Exchange-Traded Funds | 21,097,675 | — | — | 21,097,675 |
| Preferred Stocks | 1,090,134 | — | — | 1,090,134 |
| Taxable Municipal Obligations | — | 3,668,129 | — | 3,668,129 |
| U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | 194,274,372 | — | 194,274,372 |
| U.S. Treasury Obligations | — | 127,386,413 | — | 127,386,413 |
| Short-Term Investments | 37,246,353 | — | — | 37,246,353 |
| Total Investments | $59,434,162 | $714,327,286 | $— | $773,761,448 |
| Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | $ — | $ 386,588 | $ — | $ 386,588 |
| Futures Contracts | 1,099,907 | — | — | 1,099,907 |
| Total | $60,534,069 | $714,713,874 | $— | $775,247,943 |
| Liability Description | ||||
| Futures Contracts | $ (118,764) | $ — | $ — | $ (118,764) |
| Total | $ (118,764) | $ — | $ — | $ (118,764) |
Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants for Open-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 9. Proxy Disclosures for Open-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 10. Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers, and Others of Open-End Management Investment Companies
The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract
The information is included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 12. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 13. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 14. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers
Not applicable.
Item 15. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominee to the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees since the Portfolio last provided disclosure in response to this item.
Item 16. Controls and Procedures
| (a) | It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. |
| (b) | There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting 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 17. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 18. Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation
Not applicable.
Item 19. Exhibits
| (a)(1) | Registrant’s Code of Ethics – Not applicable (please see Item 2). | |
| (a)(2)(i) | Principal Financial Officer’s Section 302 certification. | |
| (a)(2)(ii) | Principal Executive Officer’s Section 302 certification. | |
| (b) | Combined Section 906 certification. | |
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.
| Core Bond Portfolio | ||
| By: | /s/ Kenneth A. Topping | |
| Kenneth A. Topping | ||
| Principal Executive Officer | ||
| Date: | August 21, 2026 | |
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: | /s/ James F. Kirchner | |
| James F. Kirchner | ||
| Principal Financial Officer | ||
| Date: | August 21, 2026 | |
| By: | /s/ Kenneth A. Topping | |
| Kenneth A. Topping | ||
| Principal Executive Officer | ||
| Date: | August 21, 2026 | |