Capitol Series Trust

03/06/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/06/2026 15:48

Annual Report by Investment Company (Form N-CSR)

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: 811-22895
Capitol Series Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
Cincinnati, OH 45246
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Zachary P. Richmond
Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
Cincinnati, OH 45246
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 513-587-3400
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2025

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, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

(a)

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF

(SCEC) Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.

Annual Shareholder Report - December 31, 2025

Fund Overview

This annual shareholder report contains important information about Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF for the period of March 13, 2025 to December 31, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://sterlingcapital.com/investments/exchange-traded-funds/scec/#materials. You can also request this information by contacting us at (888) 228-1872. This report describes material fund changes to the Fund that occurred during the period in the MATERIAL FUND CHANGES section of this report.

What were the Fund's costs for the period since inception?

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

The expenses reflect the period of March 13, 2025 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2025. Such expenses would be higher for the full reporting period.

Fund Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
$24
0.29%Footnote Reference*
Footnote Description
Footnote*
Annualized

How did the Fund perform during the reporting period?

From its inception date on March 13, 2025, through to the end of the fiscal period on December 31, 2025, the Fund outperformed its primary benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The period under review began with risk assets under pressure in the wake of new tariff announcements in April. Markets rebounded from their April lows as investors developed a renewed appetite for risk. This shift led to a decline in the risk premium investors demanded on various asset classes, including bonds. The Federal Reserve chose to lower the fed funds target rate in September, November, and December after signs of growing weakness in the labor market. This move put downward pressure on interest rates in general, which added to the Fund's total return on an absolute basis. The Fund's performance on an absolute basis also benefited from the high level of current income generated from high yields on its holdings early in the period.

The Fund's outperformance relative to its primary benchmark during the nine and a half-month period since inception was largely due to its above-benchmark exposure to securitized assets, including asset-backed securities (ABS), mortgage-backed securities (MBS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Investor demand for the attractive yields on these assets contributed to tighter spreads and higher prices relative to Treasuries. The Fund's overweight exposure to BBB-rated and below-investment grade securities also contributed to returns on a relative basis, as these riskier assets outperformed.

The Fund's below-benchmark investments in USD-denominated sovereign bonds weighed on relative performance, as a weaker dollar and improved appetite for risk boosted this sub-sector. The Fund's slightly shorter duration relative to the benchmark also detracted on a relative basis as interest rates fell.

A Note on Indices: The volatility of an index varies greatly. All indices are unmanaged and investments cannot be made directly in an index.

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of securities that are SEC-registered, taxable, and USD-denominated. The index covers the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market.

How has the Fund performed since inception?

Total Return Based on $10,000 Investment

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF - NAV
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
03/13/25
$10,000
$10,000
03/31/25
$10,052
$10,047
04/30/25
$10,064
$10,086
05/31/25
$10,002
$10,014
06/30/25
$10,164
$10,168
07/31/25
$10,148
$10,141
08/31/25
$10,269
$10,262
09/30/25
$10,376
$10,374
10/31/25
$10,434
$10,439
11/30/25
$10,503
$10,504
12/31/25
$10,483
$10,489

Average Annual Total Returns

Since Inception (March 13, 2025)
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF - NAV
4.83%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
4.89%

The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. For updated performance call .

What did the Fund invest in?

Asset Weighting (% of total investments)

Value
Value
Asset Backed Securities
29.8%
Corporate Bonds
29.9%
Preferred Stocks
0.2%
U.S. Government & Agencies
28.3%
U.S. Treasury Bonds & Notes
11.8%

Fund Statistics

Net Assets
$487,885,459
Number of Portfolio Holdings
284
Advisory Fee
$1,264,021
Portfolio Turnover
67%

Material Fund Changes

At a meeting held on October 23, 2025, the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of Capitol Series Trust (the "Trust") approved a proposed Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Reorganization") of the Fund into a fund of the same name, a newly created series of Sterling Capital Funds (the "Acquiring Fund"), whereby the Acquiring Fund will acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of the Fund. The proposed Reorganization is subject to shareholder approval and certain other conditions. Sterling Capital Management LLC ("Sterling Capital"), the investment adviser of the Fund, will serve as the adviser of the Acquiring Fund following the Reorganization.

The Acquiring Fund will have the same investment objective and substantially similar principal investment strategies and principal risks as the Fund. The same portfolio managers of the Fund, who are employees of Sterling Capital, will continue to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Acquiring Fund. Sterling Capital will continue to handle the trading of portfolio securities for the Acquiring Fund. The management fee and expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund are expected to be the same as those of the Fund.

The proposed Reorganization will occur by transferring all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for shares of the Acquiring Fund. As a result, shareholders of the Fund will become shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and will receive shares of the Acquiring Fund with a value equal to the aggregate net asset value of their shares of the Fund held immediately prior to the Reorganization. The proposed Reorganization is expected to be a tax-free transaction for federal income tax purposes.

The Board of the Trust has determined that the Reorganization is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, and that the interests of the Fund's shareholders will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization.

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF

Annual Shareholder Report - December 31, 2025

Where can I find additional information about the Fund?

Additional information is available on the Fund's website (https://sterlingcapital.com/investments/exchange-traded-funds/scec/#materials), including its:

  • Prospectus

  • Financial information

  • Holdings

  • Proxy voting information

TSR-AR 123125-SCEC

(b) Not Applicable.

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. Pursuant to Item 13(a)(1), a copy of registrant's code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. During the period covered by this report, the code of ethics has not been amended, and the registrant has not granted any waivers, including implicit waivers, from the provisions of the code of ethics.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

(a)(1) The registrant's Board of Trustees has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
(a)(2) The audit committee financial expert is Lori Kaiser, who is "independent" for purposes of this Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

(a) Audit Fees billed to the registrant by its principal accountants for the most recent fiscal year:
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF: FY 2025 $17,500
(b) Audit-Related Fees billed to the registrant by its principal accountants for the most recent fiscal year:
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF: FY 2025 $0
(c) Tax Fees billed to the registrant by its principal accountants for the most recent fiscal year:
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF: FY 2025 $3,500
Nature of the fees: Preparation of the 1120 RIC and Excise review
(d) All other fees billed to the registrant by its principal accountants for the most recent fiscal year:
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF: FY 2025 $0
(e)(1) Audit Committee's Pre-Approval Policies

The Audit Committee Charter requires the Audit Committee to be responsible for the selection, retention or termination of auditors and, in connection therewith, to (i) evaluate the proposed fees and other compensation, if any, to be paid to the auditors, (ii) evaluate the independence of the auditors, (iii) pre-approve all audit services and, when appropriate, any non-audit services provided by the independent auditors to the Trust, (iv) pre-approve, when appropriate, any non-audit services provided by the independent auditors to the Trust's investment adviser, or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser and that provides ongoing services to the Trust if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Trust, and (v) receive the auditors' specific representations as to their independence;

(2) None of the services described in paragraph (b) through (d) of this Item were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) During audit of registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year, less than 50 percent of the hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant's full-time, permanent employees.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant's accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant:
Registrant Adviser
FY 2025 $3,500 $0
(h) Not applicable. The auditor performed no services for the registrant's investment advisers or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Not applicable.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Certain series of the registrant that appear in the shareholder report included in Item 1 are listed issuers as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and have a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)A of the Exchange Act. The registrant's audit committee member is Lori Kaiser.

Item 6. Investments.

The Registrant's schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the Financial Statements under Item 7 of this form.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Financial Highlights for Open-End Management Investment Companies.

(a)

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF

SCEC

Annual Financial Statements

and Additional Information

December 31, 2025

1-888-228-1872

www.sterlingcapital.com/etf

LISTED ON THE CBOE BZX EXCHANGE, INC. (THE "EXCHANGE")

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of shareholders and are not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. Nothing herein contained is to be considered an offer of sale or solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund. Such offering is made only by prospectus, which includes details as to offering price and other material information.

Distributed by Northern Lights Distributors LLC

Member FINRA

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2025

Shares Fair Value
PREFERRED STOCKS - 0.2%
ASSET MANAGEMENT - 0.2%
37,100 Apollo Global Management, Inc., 7.24% $ 977,214
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (Cost $966,538) 977,214

Principal

Amount

($)

Spread

Coupon

Rate (%)

Maturity Fair Value
ASSET BACKED SECURITIES - 29.6%
AUTO LOAN - 0.1%
250,000 Avis Budget Rental Car Funding AESOP, LLC Series 3A A(a) 5.2300 12/20/30 258,200
155,000 Enterprise Fleet Financing 2024-3, LLC Series 3 A4(a) 5.0600 03/20/31 158,736
416,936
COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS - 3.3%
4,016,000 Ares XLIV CLO Ltd. Series 44A A1RR(a)(b) TSFR3M + 1.130% 5.0350 04/15/34 4,014,442
2,275,056 Carlyle US CLO 2017-3 Ltd. Series 3A A1R2 3A(a)(b) TSFR3M + 1.400% 5.2700 10/21/37 2,279,224
2,673,000 Dryden 53 CLO Ltd. Series 53A BR(a)(b) TSFR3M + 1.300% 5.2050 01/15/31 2,670,987
4,182,000 LCM 33 Ltd. Series 33A AR(a)(b) TSFR3M + 1.180% 5.0640 07/20/34 4,181,042
3,031,000 Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 41 Ltd. Series 41A AR(a)(b) TSFR3M + 1.050% 4.9550 04/15/34 3,030,397
16,176,092
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS - 23.2%
3,500,000 Avis Budget Rental Car Funding AESOP, LLC Series 4A A(a) 4.7700 02/20/29 3,541,084
200,000 BANK 2023-BNK46 Series BNK46 A4 5.7450 08/15/56 211,166
1,390,000 BANK5 2023-5YR1 Series 5YR1 A3 6.2600 04/15/56 1,442,036
4,150,000 BANK5 2023-5YR3 Series 5YR3 AS 7.3150 09/15/56 4,432,108
3,462,454 BANK5 2023-5YR4 Series 5YR4 A3 6.5000 12/15/56 3,645,397
200,000 BANK5 2023-5YR4 Series 5YR4 AS 7.2740 12/15/56 213,392
1,189,928 BANK5 2024-5YR5 Series 5YR5 A3 5.7020 02/15/29 1,234,245
3,340,000 BANK5 2025-5YR17 Series 5YR17 A3 5.2250 11/15/58 3,446,466
2,959,000 BANK5 2025-5YR18 Series 5YR18 A3 5.1450 12/15/58 3,044,239
2,202,000 BANK5 2025-5YR19 Series 5YR19 A3 5.2700 12/15/30 2,277,814
2,500,000 BANK5 Trust 2024-5YR6 Series 5YR6 A3 6.2250 05/15/57 2,635,819
2,000,000 BANK5 Trust 2024-5YR6 Series 5YR6 AS 6.7900 05/15/57 2,122,019
2,200,000 BBCMS Mortgage Trust 2024-5C25 Series 5C25 A3 5.9460 03/15/57 2,302,467
485,000 BBCMS Mortgage Trust 2024-5C25 Series 5C25 AS 6.3580 03/15/57 505,999

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

1

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2025

Principal

Amount

($)

Spread

Coupon

Rate (%)

Maturity Fair Value
1,665,000 BBCMS Mortgage Trust 2025-5C36 Series 5C36 A3 5.5170 08/15/58 $ 1,738,172
2,414,000 BBCMS Mortgage Trust 2025-5C38 Series 5C38 A3 5.1460 11/15/58 2,485,460
1,141,000 Benchmark 2023-V2 Mortgage Trust Series V2 A3 5.8120 05/15/55 1,178,923
3,222,000 Benchmark 2023-V3 Mortgage Trust Series V3 A3 6.3630 07/15/56 3,370,645
2,165,000 Benchmark 2024-V5 Mortgage Trust Series V5 A3 5.8050 01/10/57 2,254,194
100,000 Benchmark 2024-V6 Mortgage Trust Series V6 A3 5.9260 03/15/57 104,541
1,750,000 Benchmark 2024-V6 Mortgage Trust Series V6 AS 6.3840 03/15/57 1,830,682
200,000 Benchmark 2024-V7 Mortgage Trust Series V7 A3 6.2280 05/15/56 211,212
3,500,000 Benchmark 2024-V9 Mortgage Trust Series V9 A3 5.6020 08/15/57 3,639,208
900,000 Benchmark 2025-V16 Mortgage Trust Series V16 A3 5.4390 08/15/57 936,028
4,271,000 Benchmark 2025-V18 Mortgage Trust Series V18 A3 5.1840 10/15/30 4,402,009
1,228,000 Benchmark 2025-V19 Mortgage Trust Series V19 A3 5.2490 01/15/58 1,269,533
3,260,000 BMO 2023-5C1 Mortgage Trust Series 5C1 A3 6.5340 08/15/56 3,414,858
2,234,000 BMO 2025-5C12 Mortgage Trust Series 5C12 A3 5.1800 10/15/58 2,295,371
1,461,000 BMO 2025-5C13 Mortgage Trust Series 5C13 A3 5.2270 12/15/58 1,505,198
285,000 CD 2016-CD2 Mortgage Trust Series CD2 A4 3.5260 11/10/49 278,639
880,000 CD 2017-CD3 Mortgage Trust Series CD3 A4 3.6310 02/10/50 859,448
5,000,000 CIFC Funding 2017-III Ltd. Series 3A AR(a)(b) TSFR3M + 1.540% 5.4240 04/20/37 5,008,675
2,000,000 Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust 2018-B2 Series B2 A4 4.0090 03/10/51 1,991,108
1,300,000 COMM 2017-COR2 Mortgage Trust Series COR2 A3 3.5100 09/10/50 1,283,362
8,844,890 Freddie Mac REMICS Series 5243 B 3.5000 05/15/40 8,598,795
3,655,000 Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC Series 2A A(a) 5.5700 09/25/29 3,768,279
175,000 JPMCC Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust Series JP5 A5 3.7230 03/15/50 174,008

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

2

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2025

Principal

Amount

($)

Spread

Coupon

Rate (%)

Maturity Fair Value
500,000 Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust Series C32 A4 3.7200 12/15/26 $ 496,111
2,581,000 Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust Series 5C2 A3 5.1070 11/15/30 2,647,694
300,000 Morgan Stanley Capital I 2017-HR2 Series HR2 A4 3.5870 12/15/50 296,533
1,282,000 Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust 2016-BNK2 Series BNK2 A4 3.0490 11/15/49 1,258,319
908,000 Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust 2018-H3 Series H3 A5 4.1770 07/15/51 906,982
4,500,000 OneMain Direct Auto Receivables Trust 2025-1 Series 1A A(a) 5.3600 04/16/35 4,667,688
3,740,000 PFS Financing Corporation Series B A(a) 4.8500 02/15/30 3,810,742
3,042,808 Progress Residential 2025-SFR1 Trust Series SFR1 A(a) 3.4000 02/17/42 2,921,794
2,550,000 Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust 2025-1 Series 1 B 4.8800 03/17/31 2,571,342
3,135,188 SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2024-A Series A A1A(a) 5.2400 03/15/56 3,193,453
739,000 VDCM Commercial Mortgage Trust 2025-AZ Series AZ C(a)(b) 5.8380 07/13/44 753,347
1,964,000 Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2025-5C5 Series 5C5 A3 5.5900 07/15/58 2,052,833
2,015,000 Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2025-5C6 Series 5C6 A3 5.1860 10/15/58 2,073,998
1,743,000 Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2025-5C7 Series 5C7 A3 5.2030 12/15/58 1,794,566
113,098,001
OTHER ASSET BACKED SECURITIES - 3.0%
4,463,000 Barings Equipment Finance, LLC 2025-A Series A A3(a) 4.8200 08/13/32 4,573,959
161,650 MVW 2024-2, LLC Series 2A A(a) 4.4300 03/20/42 162,172
1,950,000 OneMain Financial Issuance Trust 2023-1 Series 1A A(a) 5.5000 06/14/38 2,016,216
1,385,000 OneMain Financial Issuance Trust 2023-2 Series 2A A1(a) 5.8400 09/15/36 1,413,533
2,207,000 Stack Infrastructure Issuer, LLC Series 1A A2(a) 5.0000 05/25/50 2,183,970
2,299,000 Vantage Data Centers Issuer, LLC Series 2A A2(a) 5.2390 11/15/55 2,281,302
2,270,000 Vantage Data Centers, LLC Series 1A A2(a) 5.1320 08/15/55 2,247,586
14,878,738
TOTALASSET BACKED SECURITIES (Cost $143,634,356) 144,569,767

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2025

Principal

Amount

($)

Spread

Coupon

Rate (%)

Maturity Fair Value
CORPORATE BONDS - 29.8%
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE - 0.7%
632,000 BAE Systems plc(a) 5.1250 03/26/29 $ 650,482
638,000 Boeing Company (The) 6.2980 05/01/29 677,425
1,161,000 Boeing Company (The) 5.7050 05/01/40 1,186,197
71,000 Howmet Aerospace, Inc. 4.8500 10/15/31 73,005
471,000 Howmet Aerospace, Inc. 4.5500 11/15/32 473,260
3,060,369
ASSET MANAGEMENT - 1.4%
912,000 Apollo Debt Solutions BDC 6.9000 04/13/29 957,408
568,000 Ares Finance Co. III LLC(a)(b) H15T5Y + 3.237% 4.1250 06/30/51 561,000
479,000 Ares Management Corporation 6.3750 11/10/28 507,092
1,124,000 BlackRock, Inc. 1.9000 01/28/31 1,010,922
1,385,000 Blackstone Secured Lending Fund 5.1250 01/31/31 1,368,410
843,000 Fortitude Group Holdings, LLC(a) 6.2500 04/01/30 878,697
637,000 FS KKR Capital Corp 3.1250 10/12/28 588,022
415,000 Goldman Sachs Private Credit Corporation(a) 5.8750 01/31/31 415,679
540,000 KKR Group Finance Company III, LLC(a) 5.1250 06/01/44 506,017
6,793,247
AUTOMOTIVE - 0.3%
1,014,000 Ford Motor Company 6.1000 08/19/32 1,045,246
289,000 Hyundai Capital America(a) 5.4000 06/23/32 299,721
1,344,967
BANKING - 4.9%
1,897,000 Bank of America Corporation(b) SOFRRATE + 2.160% 5.0150 07/22/33 1,934,967
890,000 Bank of America Corporation(b) SOFRRATE + 1.910% 5.2880 04/25/34 916,573
1,188,000 Bank of America Corporation(b) SOFRRATE + 1.697% 5.7440 02/12/36 1,238,380
642,000 Barclays plc 5.0880 06/20/30 653,531
2,082,000 Citigroup, Inc.(b) SOFRRATE + 1.422% 2.9760 11/05/30 1,984,026
974,000 Citigroup, Inc.(b) H15T5Y + 3.001% 6.6250 05/15/74 990,248
539,000 Citizens Financial Group, Inc.(b) SOFRRATE + 2.010% 5.8410 01/23/30 562,286
590,000 Comerica Inc.(b) SOFRRATE + 2.155% 5.9820 01/30/30 615,603
943,000 Fifth Third Bancorp(b) SOFRRATE + 1.660% 4.3370 04/25/33 922,119
706,000 Huntington Bancshares, Inc.(b) SOFRRATE + 2.020% 6.2080 08/21/29 741,211

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2025

Principal
Amount
($)
Spread Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
447,000 Huntington Bancshares, Inc.(b) SOFRINDX + 1.870% 5.7090 02/02/35 $ 467,159
474,000 JPMorgan Chase & Co(b) SOFRRATE + 1.635% 5.5760 07/23/36 490,510
1,868,000 JPMorgan Chase & Company(b) SOFRRATE + 1.310% 5.0120 01/23/30 1,915,516
1,215,000 JPMorgan Chase & Company(b) SOFRRATE + 2.080% 4.9120 07/25/33 1,238,118
1,410,000 Macquarie Group Ltd.(a)(b) SOFRRATE + 1.440% 2.6910 06/23/32 1,284,280
897,000 Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.(b) H15T1Y + 0.970% 2.4940 10/13/32 804,108
1,083,000 Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. 2.1300 07/08/30 987,064
947,000 Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)(b) USSW5 + 2.205% 3.6250 09/15/31 941,790
646,000 US Bancorp(b) SOFRRATE + 1.600% 4.8390 02/01/34 650,940
1,077,000 Wells Fargo & Co.(b) SOFRRATE + 210.000% 4.8970 07/25/33 1,094,057
1,251,000 Wells Fargo & Company(b) TSFR3M+ 1.432% 2.8790 10/30/30 1,190,480
1,437,000 Wells Fargo & Company(b) SOFRRATE + 1.740% 5.6050 04/23/36 1,506,738
1,103,000 Westpac Banking Corporation(b) USISOA05 + 2.236% 4.3220 11/23/31 1,102,415
24,232,119
BEVERAGES - 0.2%
818,000 Bacardi Ltd. / Bacardi-Martini BV(a) 5.4000 06/15/33 829,048
BIOTECH & PHARMA - 1.1%
1,187,000 Amgen, Inc. 5.2500 03/02/30 1,232,599
763,000 CSL Finance plc(a) 4.2500 04/27/32 750,307
720,000 Eli Lilly & Company Series X2 A 4.9000 02/12/32 744,715
166,000 Eli Lilly & Company 5.5500 10/15/55 167,295
1,600,000 Organon & Company / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer(a) 5.1250 04/30/31 1,326,297
1,130,000 Zoetis, Inc. 5.0000 08/17/35 1,142,806
5,364,019
CABLE & SATELLITE - 0.4%
1,371,000 CCO Holdings, LLC / CCO Holdings Capital(a) 4.2500 01/15/34 1,167,028
542,000 Charter Communications Operating, LLC / Charter 6.1000 06/01/29 565,922
1,732,950

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2025

Principal
Amount
($)
Spread Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
COMMERCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES - 0.1%
570,000 ADT Security Corporation (The)(a) 5.8750 10/15/33 $ 577,646
COMMUNICATIONS - 0.1%
490,000 WULF Compute, LLC(a) 7.7500 10/15/30 505,194
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS - 0.3%
970,000 CRH America Finance, Inc. 5.0000 02/09/36 973,725
640,000 Eagle Materials, Inc. 5.0000 03/15/36 627,273
1,600,998
E-COMMERCE DISCRETIONARY - 0.3%
852,000 Amazon.com, Inc. 4.6500 11/20/35 848,888
1,051,000 Amazon.com, Inc. 2.8750 05/12/41 797,943
1,646,831
ELECTRIC UTILITIES - 2.5%
1,184,000 Alpha Generation, LLC(a) 6.2500 01/15/34 1,196,837
732,000 CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC 5.1500 03/01/34 748,823
805,000 CMS Energy Corporation 4.7000 03/31/43 704,373
948,000 DTE Electric Company 5.2500 05/15/35 974,882
1,289,000 Duke Energy Florida, LLC 6.2000 11/15/53 1,384,879
1,283,000 Duke Energy Progress, LLC 3.6000 09/15/47 958,422
1,063,000 Entergy Louisiana, LLC 5.7000 03/15/54 1,060,477
1,199,000 FirstEnergy Transmission, LLC(a) 4.7500 01/15/33 1,201,834
430,000 Nevada Power Company(b) H15T5Y + 1.936% 6.2500 05/15/55 437,052
1,133,000 NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc 2.4400 01/15/32 1,009,687
703,000 NRG Energy, Inc.(a) 5.4070 10/15/35 702,635
786,000 Public Service Company of Colorado 5.3500 05/15/34 807,993
954,000 Sempra 3.8000 02/01/38 820,661
12,008,555
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT - 0.3%
1,436,000 Amphenol Corporation 4.6250 02/15/36 1,407,436
FOOD - 0.2%
855,000 Kraft Heinz Foods Company 5.0000 06/04/42 785,049
GAS & WATER UTILITIES - 0.2%
999,000 Southern Company Gas Capital Corporation 5.1000 09/15/35 1,009,383
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES & SERVICES - 0.5%
799,000 CVS Health Corporation 6.0500 06/01/54 794,944
822,000 HCA, Inc. 5.5000 06/01/33 855,823
661,000 IQVIA, Inc. 6.2500 02/01/29 697,169
2,347,936
HOME CONSTRUCTION - 0.6%
468,000 DR Horton, Inc. 4.8500 10/15/30 478,364
487,000 Meritage Homes Corporation(a) 3.8750 04/15/29 478,519
685,000 Meritage Homes Corporation 5.6500 03/15/35 700,232

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

6

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2025

Principal
Amount
($)
Spread Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
641,000 New Home Company, Inc. (The)(a) 9.2500 10/01/29 $ 669,791
456,000 New Home Company, Inc. (The)(a) 8.5000 11/01/30 470,183
2,797,089
INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES - 0.9%
836,000 Jane Street Group / JSG Finance, Inc.(a) 7.1250 04/30/31 878,930
417,000 Jane Street Group / JSG Finance, Inc.(a) 6.7500 05/01/33 435,538
1,583,000 Morgan Stanley(b) SOFRRATE + 1.200% 2.5110 10/20/32 1,420,359
1,777,000 Morgan Stanley(b) SOFRRATE + 1.870% 5.2500 04/21/34 1,830,082
4,564,909
INSURANCE - 1.9%
747,000 American National Group, Inc. 6.0000 07/15/35 757,992
1,291,000 Athene Holding Ltd. 5.8750 01/15/34 1,339,162
696,000 Athene Holding Ltd.(b) H15T5Y + 2.607% 6.6250 10/15/54 696,274
516,000 Enstar Group Ltd. 3.1000 09/01/31 464,434
675,000 GA Global Funding Trust(a) 5.5000 01/08/29 694,210
673,000 Global Atlantic Fin Company(a) 6.7500 03/15/54 688,140
637,000 Lincoln National Corporation 5.3500 11/15/35 642,978
460,000 Ohio National Financial Services, Inc.(a) 6.8000 01/24/30 463,602
1,046,000 Panther Escrow Issuer, LLC(a) 7.1250 06/01/31 1,084,574
485,000 RGA Global Funding(a) 5.5000 01/11/31 504,818
464,000 SBL Holdings, Inc.(a) 7.2000 10/30/34 449,511
783,000 SBL Holdings, Inc.(a)(b) H15T5Y + 5.620% 6.5000 11/13/74 748,322
569,000 Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. 8.0000 11/30/39 712,531
9,246,548
INTERNET MEDIA & SERVICES - 0.6%
1,196,000 Beignet Investor, LLC(a) 6.5810 05/30/49 1,264,661
764,000 Meta Platforms, Inc. 4.6000 11/15/32 770,362
851,000 Meta Platforms, Inc. 5.4000 08/15/54 792,407
2,827,430
LEISURE PRODUCTS - 0.1%
254,000 Mattel, Inc.(a) 3.7500 04/01/29 247,939
227,000 Mattel, Inc. 5.0000 11/17/30 228,642
476,581
MACHINERY - 0.1%
677,000 Caterpillar, Inc. 5.2000 05/15/35 702,131
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & DEVICES - 0.3%
820,000 Baxter International, Inc. 2.5390 02/01/32 714,755
816,000 GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc. 5.8570 03/15/30 863,226
1,577,981

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

7

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2025

Principal
Amount
($)
Spread Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
METALS & MINING - 0.6%
690,000 Anglo American Capital plc(a) 6.0000 04/05/54 $ 694,979
1,374,000 Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. 5.4500 03/15/43 1,331,161
967,000 Glencore Funding, LLC(a) 5.6730 04/01/35 1,010,383
3,036,523
OIL & GAS PRODUCERS - 2.2%
585,000 Aker BP ASA(a) 3.7500 01/15/30 566,331
489,000 APA Corporation 6.7500 02/15/55 488,359
415,000 Ascent Resources Utica Holdings, LLC / ARU Finance(a) 6.6250 10/15/32 430,567
240,000 Buckeye Partners, L.P.(a) 6.7500 02/01/30 252,079
685,000 Civitas Resources, Inc.(a) 9.6250 06/15/33 740,035
924,000 Crescent Energy Finance, LLC(a) 8.3750 01/15/34 918,410
487,000 Diamondback Energy, Inc. 5.4000 04/18/34 498,813
805,000 DT Midstream, Inc.(a) 4.1250 06/15/29 794,767
845,000 MPLX, L.P. 4.5000 04/15/38 770,987
666,000 Ovintiv, Inc. 6.2500 07/15/33 706,801
836,000 Permian Resources Operating LLC(a) 5.8750 07/01/29 843,650
707,000 Pioneer Natural Resources Company 1.9000 08/15/30 640,657
710,000 Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. / PAA Finance 5.6000 01/15/36 718,620
644,000 Sunoco, L.P. / Sunoco Finance Corporation 4.5000 05/15/29 632,722
941,000 Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC(a) 6.1250 12/15/30 958,808
765,000 Woodside Finance Ltd. 6.0000 05/19/35 797,125
10,758,731
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS - 1.5%
878,000 Extra Space Storage, L.P. 4.9500 01/15/33 889,423
472,000 Global Net Lease, Inc.(a) 4.5000 09/30/28 464,341
480,000 Global Net Lease, Inc. / Global Net Lease(a) 3.7500 12/15/27 467,757
559,000 Invitation Homes Operating Partnership, L.P. 4.1500 04/15/32 542,854
1,217,000 Iron Mountain, Inc.(a) 4.5000 02/15/31 1,160,979
721,000 LXP Industrial Trust 2.7000 09/15/30 662,309
801,000 Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating 4.9500 01/15/35 792,527
689,000 Prologis Targeted US Logistics Fund, L.P.(a) 5.5000 04/01/34 717,562
944,000 Store Capital, LLC 2.7500 11/18/30 860,905
750,000 Tanger Properties, L.P. 2.7500 09/01/31 679,967
7,238,624
RETAIL - CONSUMER STAPLES - 0.1%
569,000 Kroger Company (The) 5.0000 09/15/34 572,362
RETAIL - DISCRETIONARY - 0.5%
876,000 Bath & Body Works, Inc. 6.8750 11/01/35 887,132
877,000 Lowe's Companies, Inc. 1.7000 10/15/30 779,478
820,000 Macy's Retail Holdings, LLC(a) 5.8750 03/15/30 828,219
2,494,829

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

8

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2025

Principal
Amount
($)
Spread Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
SEMICONDUCTORS - 1.2%
1,148,000 Broadcom, Inc.(a) 4.9260 05/15/37 $ 1,133,573
1,005,000 Entegris Escrow Corporation(a) 4.7500 04/15/29 1,008,193
1,039,000 Foundry JV Holdco, LLC(a) 6.1500 01/25/32 1,101,832
309,000 Intel Corporation 3.7340 12/08/47 220,708
842,000 Intel Corporation 4.9000 08/05/52 697,968
1,211,000 Microchip Technology, Inc. 5.0500 02/15/30 1,236,109
5,398,383
SOFTWARE - 0.5%
1,185,000 Oracle Corporation 5.8750 09/26/45 1,070,797
925,000 Oracle Corporation 6.1250 08/03/65 820,429
704,000 Synopsys, Inc. 5.0000 04/01/32 719,940
2,611,166
SPECIALTY FINANCE - 1.8%
480,000 AerCap Ireland Capital DAC 6.1500 09/30/30 513,570
936,000 Aircastle Ltd. / Aircastle Ireland DAC(a) 5.0000 09/15/30 946,326
940,000 Ally Financial, Inc.(b) SOFRRATE + 1.730% 5.5430 01/17/31 962,290
900,000 American Express Company(b) SOFRINDX + 1.320% 5.4420 01/30/36 935,204
815,000 Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP / Ladder(a) 7.0000 07/15/31 864,693
413,000 OneMain Finance Corporation 7.8750 03/15/30 436,945
437,000 OneMain Finance Corporation 6.1250 05/15/30 446,584
474,000 OneMain Finance Corporation 7.1250 09/15/32 493,041
1,172,000 PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.(a) 6.7500 02/15/34 1,212,301
1,124,000 Starwood Property Trust, Inc.(a) 6.5000 10/15/30 1,172,668
591,000 Stonebriar A.B.F Issuer, LLC(a) 8.1250 12/15/30 608,706
8,592,328
STEEL - 0.3%
489,000 Commercial Metals Company(a) 5.7500 11/15/33 500,302
819,000 Steel Dynamics, Inc. 5.3750 08/15/34 850,638
1,350,940
TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE - 0.8%
619,000 Dell International, LLC / EMC Corporation 4.7500 10/06/32 619,056
813,000 Dell Technologies, Inc. 5.5000 04/01/35 838,033
891,000 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company 4.4000 10/15/30 888,539
649,000 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company 6.3500 10/15/45 666,223
761,000 Motorola Solutions, Inc. 4.8500 08/15/30 776,708
36,000 Motorola Solutions, Inc. 5.5500 08/15/35 37,434
3,825,993
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES - 0.4%
743,000 Gartner, Inc.(a) 4.5000 07/01/28 740,779
187,000 S&P Global, Inc.(a) 4.8000 12/04/35 186,496

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

9

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2025

Principal
Amount
($)
Spread Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
534,000 Sabre GLBL, Inc.(a) 10.7500 11/15/29 $ 454,462
755,000 Verisk Analytics, Inc. 5.2500 03/15/35 768,713
2,150,450
TELECOMMUNICATIONS - 1.0%
327,000 APLD ComputeCo, LLC(a) 9.2500 12/15/30 321,008
739,000 AT&T, Inc. 4.3000 02/15/30 740,222
1,565,000 AT&T, Inc. 3.5000 06/01/41 1,232,278
436,000 Cipher Compute, LLC(a) 7.1250 11/15/30 444,604
806,000 Sprint Capital Corporation 8.7500 03/15/32 975,275
1,211,000 T-Mobile USA, Inc. 6.0000 06/15/54 1,237,418
344,000 Verizon Communications, Inc. 5.8750 11/30/55 340,109
5,290,914
TOBACCO & CANNABIS - 0.3%
846,000 B.A.T. Capital Corp. 6.4210 08/02/33 934,500
718,000 Philip Morris International, Inc. 5.1250 02/15/30 742,451
1,676,951
TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS - 0.6%
774,000 Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC 4.9500 09/15/41 748,773
810,000 Delta Air Lines, Inc. 5.2500 07/10/30 832,735
415,000 Stonepeak Nile Parent, LLC(a) 7.2500 03/15/32 439,687
848,000 United Airlines, Inc.(a) 4.6250 04/15/29 844,919
2,866,114
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (Cost $143,187,792) 145,302,724
Principal
Amount
($)
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCIES - 28.1%
8,245,799 Fannie Mae Pool FA0642 2.5000 03/01/42 7,447,033
4,214,332 Fannie Mae Pool CA3823 4.0000 07/01/49 4,104,502
10,200,880 Fannie Mae Pool CB0737 3.0000 06/01/51 9,074,493
378,383 Fannie Mae Pool FS8708 4.0000 08/01/51 364,426
9,228,270 Fannie Mae Pool FM8686 2.5000 09/01/51 7,997,524
5,395,017 Fannie Mae Pool FS1133 4.0000 10/01/51 5,178,925
1,214,459 Fannie Mae Pool FM9464 3.0000 11/01/51 1,095,047
207,644 Fannie Mae Pool FS8108 2.5000 01/01/52 177,534
3,156,101 Fannie Mae Pool FA0543 2.5000 06/01/52 2,729,996
351,715 Fannie Mae Pool FS3809 4.5000 11/01/52 347,438
5,374,719 Fannie Mae Pool CB6081 5.5000 04/01/53 5,490,558
350,671 Fannie Mae Pool FS4571 5.5000 05/01/53 358,894
3,721,129 Fannie Mae Pool FA0202 5.5000 02/01/54 3,795,672
8,858,686 Fannie Mae Pool CB8755 6.0000 06/01/54 9,135,243
6,997,050 Fannie Mae Pool FS9801 5.5000 11/01/54 7,117,622
6,496,792 Freddie Mac Pool SD6920 4.0000 04/01/47 6,354,049
9,657,515 Freddie Mac Pool SD0739 3.5000 10/01/51 9,095,775

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

10

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2025

Principal
Amount
($)
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
1,468,919 Freddie Mac Pool RA7191 3.5000 04/01/52 $ 1,364,756
6,788,802 Freddie Mac Pool SL0704 4.5000 03/01/53 6,707,663
4,583,233 Freddie Mac Pool SL1072 4.5000 04/01/53 4,508,161
5,763,697 Freddie Mac Pool SL0448 4.5000 04/01/53 5,659,906
3,045,260 Freddie Mac Pool SD2639 4.5000 04/01/53 3,004,226
8,772,746 Freddie Mac Pool SD3354 5.0000 06/01/53 8,784,589
349,319 Freddie Mac Pool SD3814 5.0000 08/01/53 349,784
5,851,081 Freddie Mac Pool SL0715 5.0000 10/01/54 5,866,917
6,812,638 Freddie Mac Pool QX0510 5.0000 12/01/54 6,812,469
3,761,197 Freddie Mac Pool SL0797 6.0000 02/01/55 3,889,581
3,239,076 Freddie Mac Pool SL0769 6.0000 02/01/55 3,374,180
4,634,582 Freddie Mac Pool SL1522 6.0000 02/01/55 4,825,217
2,255,626 Freddie Mac Pool SL1812 5.5000 08/01/55 2,315,925
137,328,105
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCIES (Cost $134,644,171) 137,328,105
Principal
Amount
($)
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Fair Value
U.S. TREASURY BONDS & NOTES - 11.7%
7,507,700 United States Treasury Bond 4.0000 02/15/34 7,485,998
23,377,200 United States Treasury Bond 2.5000 02/15/45 16,563,111
29,100,400 United States Treasury Bond 1.3750 08/15/50 14,315,464
15,409,800 United States Treasury Bond 4.2500 08/15/54 13,937,141
4,652,400 United States Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond 1.8750 07/15/35 4,706,516
57,008,230
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY BONDS & NOTES (Cost $57,729,345) 57,008,230
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 99.4% (Cost $480,162,202) $ 485,186,040
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES - 0.6% 2,699,419
NET ASSETS - 100.0% $ 487,885,459
(a) Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. The security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2025, the total market value of Rule 144A securities is $103,897,684 or 21.30% of net assets.
(b) Variable rate security; the rate shown represents the rate on December 31, 2025.

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

11

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2025

H15T5Y - 5 Year Treasury Rate

SOFRINDX - Secured Overnight Financing Rate Index

SOFRRATE - Secured Overnight Financing Rate

TSFR3M - Chicago Mercantile Exchange Term Secured Overnight Finance Rate (3 Month)

USISOA05 - 5 Year Secured Overnight Financing Swap Rate

USSW5 - USD 5 Year Interest Rate Swap Rate

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

12

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Schedule of Futures Contracts

December 31, 2025

FUTURES CONTRACTS Contracts Expiration
Date
Notional Value Aggregate
Market Value
of Contracts
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
CBOT 2 Year US Treasury Note Future 85 03/31/2026 $ 17,753,712 $ 17,747,071 $ (6,641 )
CBOT 5-Year US Treasury Note 95 03/31/2026 10,418,840 10,383,945 (34,895 )
Total Futures Contracts $ 28,172,552 $ 28,131,016 $ (41,536 )

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

13

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2025

Sterling Capital
Enhanced Core
Bond ETF
Assets:
Investments at fair value(a) $ 485,186,040
Cash held for futures contract transactions(b) 746,392
Cash 2,577,422
Interest receivable 3,956,055
Total Assets 492,465,909
Liabilities:
Distributions payable 2,669,190
Payable for investments purchased 1,665,943
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts 41,536
Accrued expenses and other payables:
Investment advisory fees 203,781
Total Liabilities 4,580,450
Net Assets $ 487,885,459
Net Assets consist of:
Capital $ 482,814,396
Total distributable earnings 5,071,063
Net Assets $ 487,885,459
Shares of Beneficial Interest Outstanding (Unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value) 19,300,000
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share $ 25.28
(a) Investments, at cost $ 480,162,202
(b) Cash held as collateral at broker

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

14

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Statement of Operations

For the Period ended December 31, 2025(a)

Sterling Capital
Enhanced Core
Bond ETF
Investment Income:
Interest income $ 16,291,888
Total investment income 16,291,888
Expenses:
Investment advisory fees (See Note 6) 1,264,021
Total expenses 1,264,021
Net investment income 15,027,867
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):
Net realized gain (loss) from:
Investments 629,897
Futures contracts (1,063 )
Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:
Investments 5,023,838
Futures contracts (41,536 )
Net realized and change in unrealized gain on investments 5,611,136
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $ 20,639,003
(a) For the period March 13, 2025 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2025.

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

15

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets

For the
Period Ended
December 31,
2025(a)
Increase in Net Assets due to:
Operations:
Net investment income $ 15,027,867
Net realized gain 628,834
Net change in unrealized appreciation 4,982,302
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations 20,639,003
Distributions to Shareholders:
Income distribution (15,567,940 )
Capital Transactions:
Proceeds from shares sold 482,814,396
Change in net assets from capital transactions 482,814,396
Change in net assets 487,885,459
Net Assets:
Beginning of period -
End of period $ 487,885,459
Share Transactions:
Shares sold 19,300,000
Net increase in shares outstanding 19,300,000
(a) For the period March 13, 2025 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2025.

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

16

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding during each period)

For the
Period Ended
December 31,
2025(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 25.00
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income 0.89
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments 0.31
Total from investment operations 1.20
Less distributions to shareholders from:
Net investment income (0.92 )
Net asset value, end of period $ 25.28
Total Return(b) 4.83 %(c)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) $ 487,885
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 0.39 %(d)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 4.63 %(d)
Portfolio turnover 67 %(c)(e)
(a) For the period March 13, 2025 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2025.
(b) Total returns are historical in nature and assume changes in share price, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any.
(c) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(d) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of processing capital share transactions in Creation Units. (See Note 8)

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

17

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2025

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF (the "Fund") was organized as a diversified series of Capitol Series Trust (the "Trust") at a meeting of the Board of Trustees (the "Board") held on December 10-11, 2025. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 18, 2023 (the "Trust Agreement"). The Trust Agreement permits the Board to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series. The Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Board. The Fund's investment adviser is Sterling Capital Management, LLC (the "Adviser"). The Fund's investment objective is to seek high level current income and competitive total return.

The Fund has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. Adoption of the standard impacted financial statement disclosures only and did not affect the Fund's financial position or the results of its operations. An operating segment is defined in Topic 280 as a component of a public entity that engages in business activities from which it may recognize revenues and incur expenses, has operating results that are regularly reviewed by the public entity's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and has discrete financial information available. The CODM is the President and Principal Executive Officer of the Trust. The Fund operates as a single operating segment. The Fund's income, expenses, assets, changes in net assets resulting from operations and performance are regularly monitored and assessed as a whole by the CODM responsible for oversight functions of the Fund, using the information presented in the financial statements and financial highlights.

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 946, "Financial Services-Investment Companies." The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP").

Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

18

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

Federal Income Taxes - The Fund makes no provision for federal income or excise tax. The Fund has qualified and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by complying with the requirements applicable to RICs and by distributing substantially all of its taxable income. The Fund also intends to distribute sufficient net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. If the required amount of net investment income or gains is not distributed, the Fund could incur a tax expense.

The Fund recognizes tax benefits or expenses of uncertain tax positions only when the position is "more likely than not" to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the previous tax year end and the interim tax period since then, as applicable) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements and does not expect this to change over the next twelve months. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. During the period, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

Expenses - Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific fund of the Trust are allocated to the individual funds based on each fund's relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Board). The Adviser has agreed to pay all regular and recurring expenses of the Fund under terms of the management agreement.

Security Transactions and Related Income - Throughout the reporting period, security transactions are accounted for no later than one business day following the trade date. For financial reporting purposes, security transactions are accounted for on trade date on the last business day of the reporting period. The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statements and income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, interest income is recorded on an accrual basis and includes the amortization of premium or accretion of discount based on the effective yield.

Dividends and Distributions - The Fund intends to distribute its net investment income, if any, monthly and net realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the period from net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. These differences are caused primarily by differences

19

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

in the timing of the recognition of certain components of income, expense or realized capital gain for federal income tax purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified among the components of net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund.

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Fund values its portfolio securities at fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each business day the NYSE is open for business. Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk (the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique). Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained and available from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments and/or registered investment companies where the value per share is determined and published and is the basis for current transactions for identical assets or liabilities at the valuation date
Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for an identical security in an inactive market, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds' own assumptions in determining fair value of investments based on the best information available)

20

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy which is reported is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

In computing the NAV of the Fund, fair value is based on market valuations with respect to portfolio securities for which market quotations are readily available. Pursuant to Board approved policies, the Fund relies on independent third-party pricing services to provide the current market value of securities. Those pricing services value equity securities, including exchange-traded funds, exchange-traded notes, closed-end funds and preferred stocks, traded on a securities exchange at the last reported sales price on the principal exchange. Equity securities quoted by Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price. If there is no reported sale on the principal exchange, equity securities are valued at the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked price. When using market quotations or close prices provided by the pricing service and when the market is considered active, the security will be classified as a Level 1 security. Investments in open-end mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, are generally priced at the ending NAV provided by the pricing service of the funds and are generally categorized as Level 1 securities. Debt securities are valued using evaluated prices furnished by a pricing vendor selected by the Board and are generally classified as Level 2 securities.

Futures contracts that the Fund invests in are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded, and when the market is considered active, will generally be categorized as Level 1 securities.

In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, securities are valued in good faith by the Adviser as "valuation designee" under the oversight of the Board. The Adviser has adopted written policies and procedures for valuing securities and other assets in circumstances where market quotes are not readily available. In the event that market quotes are not readily available, and the security or asset cannot be valued pursuant to one of the valuation methods, the value of the security or asset will be determined in good faith by the Adviser pursuant to its policies and procedures. On a quarterly basis, the Adviser's fair valuation determinations will be reviewed by the Board. Under these policies, the securities will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used.

21

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund's investments as of December 31, 2025:

Valuation Inputs
Assets Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Asset Backed Securities $ - $ 144,569,767 $ - $ 144,569,767
Corporate Bonds - 145,302,724 - 145,302,724
Preferred Stocks 977,214 - - 977,214
U.S. Government & Agencies - 137,328,105 - 137,328,105
U.S. Treasury Bonds & Notes - 57,008,230 - 57,008,230
Total $ 977,214 $ 484,208,826 $ - $ 485,186,040
Valuation Inputs
Liabilities Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Long Futures Contracts (a) (41,536 ) - - $ (41,536 )
Total $ (41,536 ) $ - $ - $ (41,536 )
(a) The amount shown represents the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation).

The Fund did not hold any investments during or at the end of the reporting period in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value; therefore, no reconciliation of Level 3 securities is included for this reporting period.

NOTE 4. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS RISK EXPOSURES AND THE USE OF DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Fund's investment objectives allow for various types of derivative instruments, including futures contracts. Derivatives are investments whose value is primarily derived from underlying assets, indices or reference rates. Derivatives may involve a future commitment to buy or sell a specified asset based on specified terms, to exchange future cash flows at periodic intervals based on a notional principal amount, or for one party to make one or more payments upon the occurrence of specified events in exchange for periodic payments from the other party.

Derivatives were used to increase returns, to gain exposure to certain types of assets, to facilitate transactions in foreign-denominated securities and to manage exposure to certain risks as defined below. The success of any strategy involving derivatives depends on analysis of numerous economic factors, and if the strategies for investment do not work as intended, the objectives may not be achieved.

Derivatives may be used to increase or decrease exposure to the following risk:

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk relates to the fluctuations in the value of interest-bearing securities due to changes in the prevailing levels of market interest rates.

22

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

The Fund is also exposed to additional risks from investing in derivatives, such as liquidity risk and counterparty credit risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a fund will be unable to close out the derivative in the open market in a timely manner. Counterparty credit risk is the risk that the counterparty will not be able to fulfill its obligation to a fund. Derivative counterparty credit risk is managed through formal evaluation of the creditworthiness of all potential counterpart.

Investing in derivatives may involve greater risks than investing in the underlying assets directly and, to varying degrees, may involve risk of loss in excess of any initial investment and collateral received and amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. In addition, there may be the risk that the change in value of the derivative contract does not correspond to the change in value of the underlying instrument.

Futures Contracts - The Fund may invest in futures contracts to hedge or manage risks associated with the Fund's investments or to obtain market exposure in an effort to generate returns. During the period the futures contracts are open, changes in the value of the contracts are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by "marking to market" on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contracts at the end of each day's trading. Payments are received or made depending upon whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. When the contracts are closed, the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from, or cost of, the closing transaction and the Fund's basis in the contract. If the Fund is unable to liquidate a futures contract and/or enter into an offsetting closing transaction, the Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the value of the contracts.

NOTE 5. DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS

The following tables identify the location and fair value of derivative instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2025, and the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the period ended December 31, 2025.

At December 31, 2025:

Assets Liabilities
Contract Type/Primary Risk Exposure Unrealized
appreciation
on futures
contracts*
Unrealized
depreciation
on futures
contracts*
Interest Rate Contracts $ - $ (41,536 )
* Includes cumulative appreciation/(depreciation), as reported in the Schedule of Futures Contracts.

23

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

For the period ended December 31, 2025:

Location Interest Rate
Contracts
Net Realized gain (loss) from:
Futures contracts $ (1,063 )
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on:
Futures Contracts $ (41,536 )

The following table summarizes the average ending monthly notional value of derivatives outstanding during the period ended December 31, 2025:

Derivatives Average Ending
Monthly
Notional Value
Long Futures $ 9,391,047

The following table provides a summary of offsetting financial liabilities and derivatives and the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2025:

Gross Amounts Not Offset in
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities
Gross
Amounts
Offset in

Statement of
Assets and
Liabilities
Net
Amounts of
Liabilities
Presented in
Statement of
Assets and
Liabilities
Financial
Instruments
Collateral
Pledged*
Net
Amount
Futures Contracts $ (41,536 ) $ - $ (41,536 ) $ - $ 41,536 $ -
* Any over-collateralization of total financial instruments is not shown. Collateral amounts can be found on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash held for futures contract transactions.

NOTE 6. FEESAND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITHAFFILIATESAND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

The Adviser, under the terms of the investment advisory agreement with the Trust with respect to the Fund (the "Agreement"), manages the Fund's investments. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.39% of the Fund's average daily

24

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

net assets. Pursuant to its Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all other expenses of the Fund, except for the management fee, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

For the period ended December 31, 2025, the Adviser earned a fee of $1,264,021 from the Fund. At December 31, 2025, the Fund owed the Adviser $203,781 relating to the Adviser fee.

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC ("Ultimus") provides administration and fund accounting services to the Fund. The Adviser pays Ultimus fees in accordance with the agreements for such services.

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC ("NLCS"), an affiliate of Ultimus, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust, as well as related compliance services, pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust. Under the terms of such agreement, NLCS receives fees from the Adviser, which are approved by the Board.

The Board supervises the business activities of the Trust. Each Trustee serves as a Trustee for the lifetime of the Trust or until the earlier of his or her required retirement as a Trustee at age 78 (which may be extended for up to two years in an emeritus capacity at the pleasure and request of the Board), or until he/she dies, resigns, or is removed, whichever is sooner. "Independent Trustees", meaning those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, as amended, have each received an annual retainer of $2,000 per Fund and $500 per Fund for each quarterly Board meeting. The Trust also reimburses Trustees for out-of-pocket expense incurred in conjunction with attendance at Board meetings. The officers of the Trust are employees of Ultimus.

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor") acts as the principal distributor of the Fund's shares. The Distributor is an affiliate of Ultimus. The Distributor is compensated by the Adviser (not the Fund) for acting as principal underwriter.

NOTE 7. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

For the period ended December 31, 2025, purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments and long-term U.S. government obligations, were $293,154,286 and $65,107,823, respectively.

For the period ended December 31, 2025, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government obligations were $375,188,115 and $175,208,879, respectively.

25

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

NOTE 8. CAPITAL SHARES TRANSACTIONS

Shares are not individually redeemable and may be redeemed by the Fund at NAV only in large blocks known as "Creation Units". Shares are created and redeemed by the Fund only in Creation Unit size aggregations of 25,000 shares. Only Authorized Participants or transactions done through an Authorized Participant are permitted to purchase or redeem Creation Units from the Fund. An Authorized Participant is either (i) a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation or (ii) a Depository Trust Company participant and, in each case, must have executed a Participant Agreement with the Distributor. Such transactions are generally permitted on an in-kind basis, with a balancing cash component to equate the transaction to the NAV per share of the Fund on the transaction date. Cash may be substituted equivalent to the value of certain securities generally when they are not available in sufficient quantity for delivery, not eligible for trading by the Authorized Participant or as a result of other market circumstances. In addition, the Fund may impose transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Fund shares to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by the Fund in effecting trades. A fixed fee of $250 per transaction may be imposed on each creation and redemption transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units involved in the transaction ("Fixed Fee"). An additional variable charge of 2.00% for cash redemptions or redemptions may also be imposed to compensate the Fund for the costs associated with selling the applicable securities. The Fund may adjust these fees from time to time based on actual experience. ("Variable Charge", and together with the Fixed Fee, the "Transaction Fees"). For the period ended December 31, 2025, the Fund received $0 and $0 in Fixed Fees and Variable Charges, respectively.

NOTE 9. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

At December 31, 2025, the net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and tax cost of investments for tax purposes were as follows:

Net Tax
Gross Tax Gross Tax Unrealized
Unrealized Unrealized Appreciation
Tax Cost Appreciation Depreciation (Depreciation)
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF $ 480,568,446 $ 6,552,867 $ (1,935,273 ) $ 4,617,594

The tax character of distributions paid for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows:

2025
Distributions paid from:
Ordinary income(a) 15,567,940
Long-term capital gains -

26

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

2025
Tax return of capital -
Total distributions paid 15,567,940
(a) Short-term capital gain distributions are treated as ordinary income for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2025, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

Undistributed ordinary income $ 453,469
Undistributed long-term capital gains -
Unrealized appreciation on investments 4,617,594
Total accumulated earnings $ 5,071,063

For Federal income tax purposes, the cost of securities owned at December 31, 2025, and the net realized gains or losses on securities sold for the period, were different from amounts reported for financial reporting purposes primarily due to wash sales, derivative transactions and other temporary differences, which cannot be used for Federal income tax purposes in the current year and have been deferred for use in future years.

NOTE 10. INDEMNIFICATIONS

The Trust indemnifies its officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from their performance of their duties to the Trust or the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

NOTE 11. MATERIAL EVENTS

On August 28, 2025, Guardian Capital Group Limited ("Guardian"), the indirect parent company of the Adviser, announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. ("DGAM"), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec ("Desjardins"), to be taken private pursuant to an arrangement agreement whereby DGAM will purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of Guardian, other than Guardian shares held by specified shareholders who entered into equity rollover agreements to exchange certain of their Guardian shares for up to 10% of the shares in the capital of DGAM (the "Transaction"). The closing of the Transaction (the "Closing") is subject to various customary approvals and conditions and is expected to take place in the first half of 2026. Following the Closing, it is anticipated that the Adviser will continue to operate as a standalone entity indirectly owned by Guardian,

27

Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2025

which will in turn be indirectly owned by Desjardins. To provide continuity and stability, the Adviser's team of management and senior professionals are currently expected to continue servicing the Adviser's clients, including the Fund, after Closing.

NOTE 12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management of the Funds has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date at which these financial statements were issued. Based upon this evaluation, management has determined there were no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure other than the following:

At a meeting held on October 23, 2025, the Board of the Trust approved a proposed Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Reorganization") of the Fund into a fund of the same name, a newly created series of Sterling Capital Funds (the "Acquiring Fund"), whereby the Acquiring Fund will acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of the Fund. The proposed Reorganization is subject to shareholder approval and certain other conditions. The Adviser will continue to serve as the adviser of the Acquiring Fund following the Reorganization. The Acquiring Fund will have the same investment objective and substantially similar principal investment strategies and principal risks as the Fund. The same portfolio managers of the Fund will continue to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Acquiring Fund. The management fee and expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund are expected to be the same as those of the Fund.

The proposed Reorganization will occur by transferring all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for shares of the Acquiring Fund. As a result, shareholders of the Fund will become shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and will receive shares of the Acquiring Fund with a value equal to the aggregate net asset value of their shares of the Fund held immediately prior to the Reorganization. The proposed Reorganization is expected to be a tax-free transaction for federal income tax purposes. The Board of the Trust has determined that the Reorganization is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, and that the interests of the Fund's shareholders will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization. Shareholders of record of the Fund will receive a Proxy Statement/Prospectus which contains more information with respect to the proposed Reorganization. The Reorganization is expected to occur in March 2026.

28

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders of Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF and
Board of Trustees of Capitol Series Trust

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments and futures contracts, of Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF (the "Fund"), a series of Capitol Series Trust, as of December 31, 2025, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets, the financial highlights for the period from March 13, 2025 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2025, the results of its operations, the changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for the period from March 13, 2025 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement whether due to error or fraud.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2025, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Sterling Capital Management LLC since 2019.

COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.

Cleveland, Ohio

February 25, 2026

29

Additional Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

The Form 1099-DIV you receive in January 2026 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar year 2025. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax adviser with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund. As required by the Internal Revenue Code and/or regulations, shareholders must be notified regarding the status of qualified dividend income for individuals and the dividends received deduction for corporations.

Qualified Dividend Income. The Fund designates approximately 0% or up to the maximum amount of such dividends allowable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as qualified dividend income eligible for a reduced tax rate.

Qualified Business Income. The Fund designates approximately 0% of its ordinary income dividends, or up to the maximum amount of such dividends allowable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as qualified business income.

Dividends Received Deduction. Corporate shareholders are generally entitled to take the dividends received deduction on the portion of the Fund's dividend distribution that qualifies under tax law. For the Fund's calendar year 2025 ordinary income dividends, 0% qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction.

For the period ended December 31, 2025, the Fund designated $0 as long-term capital gain distributions.

30

Additional Information (Unaudited)

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants

There were no changes in or disagreements with accountants during the period covered by this report.

Proxy Disclosures

Not applicable.

Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers and Others

Refer to the financial statements included herein.

Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

Not applicable.

31

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.

Included under Item 7

Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract.

Included under Item 7

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.

None

Item 16. Controls and Procedures

(a) The registrant's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Act) are effective in design and operation and are sufficient to form the basis of the certifications required by Rule 30a-(2) under the Act, based on their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of this report on Form N-CSR.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are 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.

(a) Not Applicable.
(b) Not Applicable.

Item 19. Exhibits.

(a)(1) Code of Ethics attached hereto.
(a)(2) Not Applicable.
(a)(3) Certifications by the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are filed herewith.
(a)(4) Not Applicable.
(b) Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)): Attached hereto.

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) Capitol Series Trust
By (Signature and Title) /s/ Matthew J. Miller
Matthew J. Miller, President and Principal Executive Officer
Date 3/05/2026

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 (Signature and Title) /s/ Matthew J. Miller
Matthew J. Miller, President and Principal Executive Officer
Date 3/05/2026
By (Signature and Title) /s/ Zachary P. Richmond
Zachary P. Richmond, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
Date 3/05/2026
Capitol Series Trust published this content on March 06, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via EDGAR on March 06, 2026 at 21:49 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]