BlackRock Health Sciences Trust

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number: 811-21702

Name of Fund:  BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME)

Fund Address:   100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809

Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock Health Sciences Trust, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4

Date of fiscal year end: 12/31/2015

Date of reporting period: 03/31/2015


Item 1 – Schedule of Investments


Schedule of Investments March 31, 2015 (Unaudited)      BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME)   
     (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)   

 

Common Stocks    Shares      Value  

Biotechnology — 30.4%

     

Acceleron Pharma, Inc. (a)(b)

     24,300       $ 924,858   

Actelion Ltd.

     11,600         1,337,869   

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     20,698         1,951,821   

Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

     31,300         903,318   

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     45,860         7,947,538   

Alkermes PLC (a)(b)

     52,500         3,200,925   

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     7,418         774,588   

Amgen, Inc. (b)

     57,300         9,159,405   

Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     10,300         595,855   

Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

     6,400         54,912   

Ascendis Pharma A/S — ADR (a)

     7,700         133,595   

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     16,000         144,480   

Biogen Idec, Inc. (a)(b)

     28,295         11,947,281   

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. (a)(b)

     39,800         4,959,876   

Bluebird Bio, Inc. (a)(b)

     3,000         362,310   

Celgene Corp. (a)(b)

     91,386         10,534,978   

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

     21,400         596,418   

Cellectis SA — ADR (a)

     8,600         297,474   

Clovis Oncology, Inc. (a)(b)

     11,100         823,953   

Conatus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

     8,200         58,384   

Dyax Corp. (a)(b)

     39,627         663,950   

Genomic Health, Inc. (a)

     24,100         736,255   

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)(b)

     48,300         4,739,679   

Incyte Corp. (a)(b)

     33,900         3,107,274   

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     49,900         697,602   

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     5,700         1,607,514   

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     56,900         3,622,823   

Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

     14,700         449,967   

Medivation, Inc. (a)(b)

     23,900         3,084,773   

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (a)(b)

     34,962         1,388,341   

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (a)

     115,600         205,768   

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

     19,800         1,204,830   

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (a)(b)

     7,400         1,747,214   

Receptos, Inc. (a)(b)

     23,800         3,924,382   

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     10,958         4,947,318   

Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (a)

     15,942         800,767   

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (a)

     34,000         451,520   

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (a)(b)

     13,367         472,523   

Seres Health, Inc. (Acquired 11/24/14,
Cost $251,900) (a)(c)

     20,710         372,780   

Spark Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)

     8,900         689,750   

Synageva BioPharma Corp. (a)(b)

     8,700         848,511   

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. (a)(b)

     42,949         2,666,703   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     33,805         3,987,976   

Zafgen, Inc. (a)

     11,000         435,710   
     

 

 

 
                99,563,768   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 18.0%

     

Abbott Laboratories (b)

     162,000         7,505,459   

Align Technology, Inc. (a)(b)

     10,400         559,364   

AtriCure, Inc. (a)

     24,162         495,079   

Baxter International, Inc. (b)

     16,600         1,137,100   
Common Stocks    Shares      Value  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies (concluded)

     

Becton Dickinson and Co. (b)

     34,433       $ 4,944,234   

Boston Scientific Corp. (a)(b)

     386,800         6,865,700   

The Cooper Cos., Inc. (b)

     15,000         2,811,300   

CR Bard, Inc. (b)

     9,200         1,539,620   

DexCom, Inc. (a)(b)

     22,500         1,402,650   

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (a)(b)(d)

     36,899         5,256,632   

Endologix, Inc. (a)

     18,869         322,094   

Insulet Corp. (a)

     13,900         463,565   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)(b)

     5,900         2,979,677   

Masimo Corp. (a)

     32,700         1,078,446   

Medtronic PLC (b)

     131,413         10,248,900   

PW Medtech Group Ltd. (a)

     156,400         59,046   

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (b)

     61,000         3,989,400   

Stryker Corp. (b)

     62,600         5,774,850   

Thoratec Corp. (a)(b)

     12,100         506,869   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (b)

     8,400         987,168   
     

 

 

 
                58,927,153   

Health Care Providers & Services — 16.8%

     

Aetna, Inc. (b)

     26,911         2,866,829   

AmerisourceBergen Corp. (b)

     19,400         2,205,198   

Anthem, Inc. (b)

     38,800         5,991,108   

Cardinal Health, Inc. (b)

     67,830         6,123,014   

Cigna Corp. (b)

     48,900         6,329,616   

Express Scripts Holding Co. (a)(b)

     25,476         2,210,553   

HCA Holdings, Inc. (a)(b)

     47,294         3,557,928   

HealthEquity, Inc. (a)(b)

     5,900         147,441   

Humana, Inc. (b)

     14,400         2,563,488   

McKesson Corp. (b)

     37,700         8,527,740   

Premier, Inc., Class A (a)

     8,700         326,946   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (b)

     89,357         10,570,040   

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B (b)

     30,200         3,554,842   
     

 

 

 
                54,974,743   

Health Care Technology — 0.3%

     

Cerner Corp. (a)(b)

     16,300         1,194,138   

Life Sciences Tools & Services — 3.2%

     

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (a)

     47,100         3,734,559   

Illumina, Inc. (a)(b)

     12,400         2,301,936   

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (b)

     33,000         4,433,220   
     

 

 

 
                10,469,715   

Machinery — 0.2%

     

Pall Corp. (b)

     6,400         642,496   

Pharmaceuticals — 29.4%

     

AbbVie, Inc. (b)(d)

     85,984         5,033,503   

Achaogen, Inc. (a)

     13,094         127,797   

Actavis PLC (a)(b)

     35,125         10,453,904   

AstraZeneca PLC

     63,200         4,336,668   

Bayer AG

     17,400         2,603,306   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (b)

     135,600         8,746,200   
 
Portfolio Abbreviations
ADR    American Depositary Receipt      GBP    British Pound    USD    U.S. Dollar
CHF    Swiss Franc      HKD    Hong Kong Dollar      
EUR    Euro      JPY    Japanese Yen      

 

 

          MARCH 31, 2015    1


Schedule of Investments (continued)      BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME)   
     (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)   

 

Common Stocks    Shares      Value  

Pharmaceuticals (concluded)

     

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

     51,500       $ 1,625,388   

Dermira, Inc. (a)

     9,300         142,755   

Eli Lilly & Co. (b)

     110,100         7,998,765   

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (a)

     57,481         1,372,646   

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (a)(b)

     6,500         1,123,135   

Johnson & Johnson (b)

     46,370         4,664,822   

Mallinckrodt PLC (a)(b)

     35,100         4,445,415   

Merck & Co., Inc. (b)

     110,100         6,328,548   

Mylan NV (a)(b)

     63,500         3,768,725   

Novartis AG

     49,500         4,885,674   

Perrigo Co. PLC (b)

     25,680         4,251,324   

Pfizer, Inc. (b)

     95,700         3,329,403   

Phibro Animal Health Corp., Class A

     20,800         736,528   

Roche Holding AG

     12,500         3,434,901   

Shire PLC — ADR (b)

     14,900         3,565,421   

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)

     13,500         494,640   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — ADR (b)

     84,100         5,239,430   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (a)(b)

     31,100         6,177,082   

Zoetis, Inc. (b)

     28,400         1,314,636   
     

 

 

 
                96,200,616   

Total Common Stocks — 98.3%

  

     321,972,629   
     
                  
Preferred Stocks    Shares      Value  

Biotechnology — 0.5%

     

ProNAi Therapeutics, Inc., Series D (Acquired 4/15/14, cost $270,735), 0.00% (a)(c)

     386,764       $ 270,735   

Spark Therapeutics, Inc., 0.00% (a)

     19,210         1,414,336   
     

 

 

 
                1,685,071   

Total Preferred Stocks — 0.5%

  

     1,685,071   

Total Long-Term Investments

(Cost — $201,075,930) — 98.8%

  

  

     323,657,700   
     
Short-Term Securities                

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, TempFund, Institutional Class, 0.06% (e)(f)

     7,536,121         7,536,121   

Total Short-Term Securities

(Cost — $7,536,121) — 2.3%

  

  

     7,536,121   

Total Investments Before Options Written

(Cost — $208,612,051*) — 101.1%

  

  

     331,193,821   
     
Options Written                

(Premiums Received — $2,942,206) — (0.9)%

  

     (2,892,652

Total Investments Net of Options Written — 100.2%

  

     328,301,169   

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.2)%

        (773,643
     

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

      $ 327,527,526   
     

 

 

 
 
Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

* As of March 31, 2015, gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation based on cost for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

Tax cost

   $ 210,078,579   
  

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 123,457,631   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (2,342,389
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 121,115,242   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Non-income producing security.

 

(b) All or a portion of security has been pledged/segregated as collateral in connection with outstanding options written.

 

(c) Restricted securities as to resale. As of March 31, 2015 the Trust held 0.2% of its net assets, with current market value of $643,515 and the original cost of $522,635, in these securities.

 

(d) All or a portion of security has been pledged as collateral in connection with outstanding OTC derivatives.

 

(e) Represents the current yield as of report date.

 

(f) During the period ended March 31, 2015, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate of the Trust for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliates    Shares Held at
December 31, 2014
    

Net

Activity

     Shares Held at
March 31, 2015
     Income  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, TempFund, Institutional Class

     3,271,616         4,264,505         7,536,121       $ 931   

BlackRock Liquidity Series, LLC Money Market Series

                           $ 228   

 

Ÿ  

For Trust compliance purposes, the Trust’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment advisor. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease.

 

Ÿ  

As of March 31, 2015, exchange-traded options written were as follows:

 

Description    Put/
Call
    

Strike

Price

     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Market
Value
 

AbbVie, Inc.

     Call         USD         61.00         4/02/15         145       $ (725

Baxter International, Inc.

     Call         USD         70.00         4/02/15         40         (200

Illumina, Inc.

     Call         USD         202.50         4/02/15         42         (2,100

 

 

2         MARCH 31, 2015     


Schedule of Investments (continued)      BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME)   

 

As of March 31, 2015, exchange-traded options written were as follows: (continued)

 

Description    Put/
Call
    

Strike

Price

     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Market
Value
 

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         320.00         4/02/15         12       $ (360

Medtronic PLC

     Call         USD         78.00         4/02/15         124         (5,332

Merck & Co., Inc.

     Call         USD         59.50         4/02/15         65         (195

Actavis PLC

     Call         USD         290.00         4/06/15         102         (87,720

Anthem, Inc.

     Call         USD         148.00         4/06/15         50         (35,125

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — ADR

     Call         USD         58.50         4/06/15         50         (19,250

Aetna, Inc.

     Call         USD         100.00         4/10/15         94         (69,090

Celgene Corp.

     Call         USD         125.00         4/10/15         341         (10,401

Eli Lilly & Co.

     Call         USD         76.50         4/10/15         110         (770

Express Scripts Holding Co.

     Call         USD         85.50         4/10/15         31         (6,820

Medtronic PLC

     Call         USD         79.00         4/10/15         119         (5,296

Puma Biotechnology, Inc.

     Call         USD         230.00         4/10/15         20         (27,900

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — ADR

     Call         USD         57.50         4/10/15         77         (38,115

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     Call         USD         116.00         4/10/15         310         (102,300

Abbott Laboratories

     Call         USD         48.00         4/17/15         192         (2,112

AbbVie, Inc.

     Call         USD         62.50         4/17/15         152         (1,140

Acceleron Pharma, Inc.

     Call         USD         45.00         4/17/15         52         (2,600

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         115.00         4/17/15         72         (6,480

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         190.00         4/17/15         90         (4,950

Align Technology, Inc.

     Call         USD         60.00         4/17/15         40         (600

Alkermes PLC

     Call         USD         70.00         4/17/15         69         (1,898

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         130.00         4/17/15         26         (520

Amgen, Inc.

     Call         USD         165.00         4/17/15         110         (16,280

Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         41.90         4/17/15         37         (59,079

Anthem, Inc.

     Call         USD         150.00         4/17/15         85         (50,362

Becton Dickinson and Co.

     Call         USD         150.00         4/17/15         115         (3,450

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         11.00         4/17/15         56         (532

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.

     Call         USD         105.00         4/17/15         136         (275,400

Bluebird Bio, Inc.

     Call         USD         155.00         4/17/15         11         (522

Boston Scientific Corp.

     Call         USD         17.00         4/17/15         538         (48,420

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     Call         USD         67.50         4/17/15         70         (1,470

Cardinal Health, Inc.

     Call         USD         92.50         4/17/15         235         (11,162

Cerner Corp.

     Call         USD         70.75         4/17/15         121         (41,950

Cigna Corp.

     Call         USD         120.00         4/17/15         165         (165,825

Cigna Corp.

     Call         USD         130.00         4/17/15         4         (862

Clovis Oncology, Inc.

     Call         USD         75.00         4/17/15         38         (12,920

CR Bard, Inc.

     Call         USD         175.00         4/17/15         16         (640

CR Bard, Inc.

     Call         USD         180.00         4/17/15         16         (800

DexCom, Inc.

     Call         USD         65.00         4/17/15         79         (5,530

Dyax Corp.

     Call         USD         17.50         4/17/15         200         (35,500

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.

     Call         USD         150.00         4/17/15         128         (8,000

Eli Lilly & Co.

     Call         USD         70.00         4/17/15         65         (20,475

Eli Lilly & Co.

     Call         USD         72.50         4/17/15         143         (18,733

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

     Call         USD         105.00         4/17/15         52         (1,794

HCA Holdings, Inc.

     Call         USD         75.00         4/17/15         164         (29,520

HealthEquity, Inc.

     Call         USD         25.00         4/17/15         20         (1,900

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

     Call         USD         510.00         4/17/15         20         (15,500

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         70.00         4/17/15         175         (16,188

Johnson & Johnson

     Call         USD         100.50         4/17/15         160         (23,405

McKesson Corp.

     Call         USD         230.00         4/17/15         63         (11,812

Merck & Co., Inc.

     Call         USD         60.00         4/17/15         320         (4,320

Mylan NV

     Call         USD         57.50         4/17/15         223         (67,792

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.

     Call         USD         46.00         4/17/15         122         (4,880

Pall Corp.

     Call         USD         105.00         4/17/15         22         (605

Perrigo Co. PLC

     Call         USD         175.00         4/17/15         90         (7,200

PTC Therapeutics, Inc.

     Call         USD         80.00         4/17/15         69         (2,242

Receptos, Inc.

     Call         USD         122.75         4/17/15         57         (240,753

Receptos, Inc.

     Call         USD         145.00         4/17/15         32         (81,920

Shire PLC — ADR

     Call         USD         250.00         4/17/15         13         (4,160

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

     Call         USD         70.00         4/17/15         197         (2,955

Stryker Corp.

     Call         USD         95.00         4/17/15         212         (10,070

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         50.00         4/17/15         42         (1,680

Thoratec Corp.

     Call         USD         41.00         4/17/15         42         (9,240

 

 

          MARCH 31, 2015    3


Schedule of Investments (continued)      BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME)   

 

As of March 31, 2015, exchange-traded options written were as follows: (concluded)

 

Description    Put/
Call
    

Strike

Price

     Expiration
Date
     Contracts     

Market

Value

 

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.

     Call         USD         65.00         4/17/15         150       $ (34,500

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B

     Call         USD         120.00         4/17/15         107         (14,445

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

     Call         USD         200.00         4/17/15         107         (49,755

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         125.00         4/17/15         95         (23,988

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

     Call         USD         120.00         4/17/15         45         (4,950

Zoetis, Inc.

     Call         USD         46.00         4/17/15         96         (12,000

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         187.50         4/24/15         71         (16,685

Baxter International, Inc.

     Call         USD         68.50         4/24/15         18         (2,043

Biogen Idec, Inc.

     Call         USD         432.50         4/24/15         48         (64,320

Eli Lilly & Co.

     Call         USD         77.00         4/24/15         63         (1,638

Pfizer, Inc.

     Call         USD         35.00         4/24/15         55         (2,585

Seattle Genetics, Inc.

     Call         USD         38.90         4/24/15         50         (2,462

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — ADR

     Call         USD         62.00         4/24/15         58         (10,440

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — ADR

     Call         USD         63.00         4/24/15         55         (7,122

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

     Call         USD         137.01         4/24/15         108         (16,260

Incyte Corp.

     Call         USD         97.25         4/28/15         115         (34,839

Amgen, Inc.

     Call         USD         162.50         5/01/15         88         (36,080

Biogen Idec, Inc.

     Call         USD         437.50         5/01/15         51         (68,085

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     Call         USD         69.50         5/01/15         400         (15,400

Express Scripts Holding Co.

     Call         USD         86.50         5/01/15         19         (6,061

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

     Call         USD         105.00         5/01/15         52         (7,384

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         71.00         5/01/15         20         (3,500

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC

     Call         USD         195.00         5/01/15         23         (4,428

Mallinckrodt PLC

     Call         USD         127.00         5/01/15         121         (58,080

Medivation, Inc.

     Call         USD         138.00         5/01/15         82         (25,912

Medtronic PLC

     Call         USD         79.50         5/01/15         212         (21,306

Pfizer, Inc.

     Call         USD         35.00         5/01/15         275         (16,912

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — ADR

     Call         USD         62.00         5/01/15         58         (12,122

Abbott Laboratories

     Call         USD         47.60         5/15/15         370         (21,901

Acceleron Pharma, Inc.

     Call         USD         45.00         5/15/15         33         (15,840

AmerisourceBergen Corp.

     Call         USD         115.00         5/15/15         67         (20,770

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.

     Call         USD         31.00         5/15/15         75         (9,375

The Cooper Cos., Inc.

     Call         USD         185.00         5/15/15         50         (31,250

Express Scripts Holding Co.

     Call         USD         85.00         5/15/15         20         (8,500

Express Scripts Holding Co.

     Call         USD         87.50         5/15/15         19         (5,424

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

     Call         USD         105.00         5/15/15         63         (11,938

Humana, Inc.

     Call         USD         180.00         5/15/15         50         (31,250

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         17.00         5/15/15         85         (2,550

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         18.00         5/15/15         85         (1,488

Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc.

     Call         USD         35.00         5/15/15         76         (10,830

McKesson Corp.

     Call         USD         240.00         5/15/15         64         (11,360

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Call         USD         500.00         5/15/15         39         (31,200

Spark Therapeutics, Inc.

     Call         USD         85.00         5/15/15         31         (14,570

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Put         USD         90.00         4/17/15         17         (1,020

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     Put         USD         95.00         4/17/15         17         (2,168

Synageva BioPharma Corp.

     Put         USD         85.00         4/17/15         18         (1,530

Synageva BioPharma Corp.

     Put         USD         90.00         4/17/15         18         (3,015

Total

                  $ (2,557,128
                 

 

 

 

 

Ÿ  

As of March 31, 2015, over-the-counter options written were as follows:

 

Description   Counterparty    Put/
Call
    

Strike

Price

     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Market
Value
 

Masimo Corp.

 

Deutsche Bank AG

     Call         USD         31.17         4/08/15         11,300       $ (21,275

PW Medtech Group Ltd.

 

BNP Paribas S.A.

     Call         HKD         2.93         4/08/15         95,000         (759

Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     Call         USD         27.13         4/09/15         11,000         (25,782

AstraZeneca PLC

 

UBS AG

     Call         GBP         45.15         4/14/15         10,400         (21,129

Roche Holding AG

 

Bank of America N.A.

     Call         CHF         262.94         4/14/15         1,500         (9,881

Novartis AG

 

UBS AG

     Call         CHF         97.72         4/23/15         13,600         (11,813

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.

 

Barclays Bank PLC

     Call         USD         26.00         4/27/15         22,000         (23,553

Actelion Ltd.

 

Bank of America N.A.

     Call         CHF         119.85         4/28/15         4,000         (4,158

AstraZeneca PLC

 

Goldman Sachs International

     Call         GBP         47.78         4/28/15         11,500         (6,535

Bayer AG

 

Goldman Sachs International

     Call         EUR         142.05         4/28/15         6,000         (16,974

 

 

4         MARCH 31, 2015     


Schedule of Investments (continued)      BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME)   

 

As of March 31, 2015, over-the-counter options written were as follows: (concluded)

 

Description   Counterparty    Put/
Call
    

Strike

Price

     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Market
Value
 

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     Call         USD         76.80         5/04/15         16,300       $ (63,550

Boston Scientific Corp.

 

Citibank N.A.

     Call         USD         18.26         5/05/15         80,300         (31,531

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

 

Citibank N.A.

     Call         USD         66.67         5/05/15         1,500         (2,174

Novartis AG

 

UBS AG

     Call         CHF         99.23         5/06/15         6,800         (5,710

Roche Holding AG

 

UBS AG

     Call         CHF         263.07         5/06/15         2,500         (21,167

Sage Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Goldman Sachs International

     Call         USD         47.50         5/07/15         6,500         (34,839

Shire PLC — ADR

 

Citibank N.A.

     Call         USD         255.19         5/12/15         4,000         (14,427

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

 

Bank of America N.A.

     Call         JPY         3,841.78         5/20/15         18,000         (20,267

Total

                    $ (335,524
                   

 

 

 

 

Ÿ  

Fair Value Measurements — Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The categorization of a value determined for investments and derivative financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the investment and derivative financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

  Ÿ  

Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that the Trust has the ability to access

 

  Ÿ  

Level 2 — other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market-corroborated inputs)

 

  Ÿ  

Level 3 — unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the Trust’s own assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. In accordance with the Trust’s policy, transfers between different levels of the fair value disclosure hierarchy are deemed to have occurred as of the beginning of the reporting period. For information about the Trust’s policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Trust’s most recent financial statements as contained in its annual report.

As of March 31, 2015, the following tables summarize the Trust’s investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:

 

      Level 1   Level 2   Level 3    Total

Assets:

                 

Investments:

                 

Long-Term Investments:

                 

Common Stocks:

                 

Biotechnology

     $ 97,853,119       $ 1,337,869       $ 372,780        $ 99,563,768  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

       58,868,107         59,046                  58,927,153  

Health Care Providers & Services

       54,974,743                          54,974,743  

Health Care Technology

       1,194,138                          1,194,138  

Life Sciences Tools & Services

       10,469,715                          10,469,715  

Machinery

       642,496                          642,496  

Pharmaceuticals

       79,314,679         16,885,937                  96,200,616  

Preferred Stocks

               1,414,336         270,735          1,685,071  

Short-Term Securities

       7,536,121                          7,536,121  
    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 310,853,118       $ 19,697,188       $ 643,515        $ 331,193,821  
    

 

 

 
                 
      Level 1   Level 2   Level 3    Total

Derivative Financial Instruments1

                 

Liabilities:

                 

Equity contracts.

     $ (2,116,480 )     $ (776,172 )              $ (2,892,652 )
    

 

 

 

1    Derivative financial instruments are options written, which are shown at value.

       

 

 

          MARCH 31, 2015    5


Schedule of Investments (concluded)      BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME)   

 

The Trust may hold assets in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial reporting purposes. As of March 31, 2015, such assets are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:

 

      Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total

Assets:

                   

Cash

     $ 196,150                          $ 196,150  

Foreign currency at value

       264,341                            264,341  

Cash collateral on exchange-traded options written

       660,975                            660,975  

Total

     $ 1,121,466                          $ 1,121,466  
    

 

 

 

During the period ended March 31, 2015, there were no transfers between levels.

 

 

6         MARCH 31, 2015     


Item 2 – Controls and Procedures

 

2(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”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2(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) that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3 – Exhibits

Certifications – Attached hereto


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.

 

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust
By:

    /s/ John M. Perlowski

John M. Perlowski
Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust
Date: May 22, 2015

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/ John M. Perlowski

John M. Perlowski
Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust
Date: May 22, 2015
By:

    /s/ Neal J. Andrews

Neal J. Andrews
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust
Date: May 22, 2015