The ICA Guide

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There have always been reasons not to invest Figures shown are past results for Class A shares and are not predictive of results in future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. Unless otherwise indicated, results shown are at the 5.75% maximum sales charge for Class A shares (3.50% for investments of $100,000 or more) with all distributions reinvested. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com. Many investors may be tempted to base investment decisions on emotion — especially when events such as the war in Iraq occur. But, historically, ICA has given its shareholders good reason to 10 The ICA Guide • Pearl Harbor was bombed (December 7, 1941) look beyond the day’s headlines. Here’s what would have happened (in terms of dollar amounts and average annual total returns) if you had invested $10,000 in ICA on the day that … — 10 years later you would have had $34,710 / 13.3% — by the end of 2011 you would have had $24,738,319 / 11.8% • the Soviets launched Sputnik, vaulting into space ahead of the U.S. (October 4, 1957) — 10 years later you would have had $38,083 / 14.3% — by the end of 2011 you would have had $2,877,932 / 11.0% • the Berlin Wall was erected (August 13, 1961) — 10 years later you would have had $23,180 / 8.8% — by the end of 2011 you would have had $1,523,173 / 10.5% • President Kennedy was assassinated (November 22, 1963) — 10 years later you would have had $22,945 / 8.7% — by the end of 2011 you would have had $1,418,660 / 10.8% • President Nixon resigned (August 9, 1974) — 10 years later you would have had $40,379 / 15.0% — by the end of 2011 you would have had $650,518 / 11.8% • the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped a record 22.6% in one day (October 19, 1987) — 10 years later you would have had $44,268 / 16.0% — by the end of 2011 you would have had $90,001 / 9.5% • Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait, setting off the first Gulf War (August 2, 1990) — 10 years later you would have had $41,882 / 15.4% — by the end of 2011 you would have had $57,399 / 8.5% • terrorists attacked the World Trade Center (September 11, 2001) — 10 years later you would have had $12,715 / 2.4% — by the end of 2011 you would have had $13,828 / 3.2%
$100,000,000 70,000,000 50,000,000 40,000,000 30,000,000 20,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 10,000 8,000 Year ended Dec. 31 Depression Capital value ($ in 000) Dividends excluded: — Value at year-end: $11.8 Total value ($ in 000) Dividends reinvested: — Value at year-end: $11.8 Total return Civil war in Spain — 21.6 — 21.6 Economy still struggling $.4 31.0 $.4 31.6 Recession 1.0 18.3 1.0 19.4 War clouds gather .2 23.2 .2 24.8 War in Europe .5 22.9 .5 25.0 France falls .8 21.5 .9 24.4 Pearl Harbor 1.1 18.8 1.3 22.6 Wartime price controls 1.0 20.9 1.2 26.4 Industry mobilizes 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 +18.2% e Investment Company of America Growth of a hypothetical $10,000 investment from 1934 through 2011 ere have always been reasons not to invest. ICA has given its investors good reason to look beyond the headlines. .9 26.9 1.1 35.0 +83.1 +45.8 –38.5 +27.6 +0.8 –2.4 –7.4 +16.8 +32.8 +23.3 +36.8 –2.4 +0.9 +0.4 +9.4 +19.8 +17.8 +12.2 Results reflect payment of the maximum 5.75% sales charge for Class A shares on a hypothetical $10,000 investment. Thus the net amount invested was $9,425. The maximum initial sales charge was 8.5% prior to July 1, 1988. As outlined in the prospectus, the sales charge is reduced for larger investments. There is no sales charge on dividends or capital gain distributions that are reinvested in additional shares. The results shown are before taxes on fund distributions and sale of fund shares. Past results are not predictive of results in future periods. Results for other share classes may differ. Consumer goods shortages .9 32.1 1.2 43.2 Post-war recession predicted .9 42.9 1.2 59.1 Dow tops 200 — market “too high” 1.3 40.7 1.8 57.7 Cold War begins 1.7 39.3 2.4 58.2 Berlin blockade 1.8 37.7 2.7 58.4 Soviets detonate A-bomb 1.7 39.4 2.7 63.9 Korean War 1.9 45.2 3.2 76.6 Excess profits tax 2.0 51.2 3.4 90.3 U.S. seizes steel mills 2.0 55.3 3.5 101.3 H d C
Page 1 and 2: The ICA Guide 2012 edition Investor
Page 3 and 4: ICA: A 78-year history of success O
Page 5 and 6: The Klausens invested their $200,00
Page 7 and 8: Investing in stocks requires skill
Page 9: How ICA is managed A fund’s long-
Page 13 and 14: Oil embargo 0.6 7.9 .4 .1 Nixon res
Page 15 and 16: Time, not timing, is what matters D
Page 17 and 18: The benefit of time Long-term inves
Page 19 and 20: Growth over a wide variety of perio
Page 21 and 22: Customizing withdrawals Over time,
Page 23 and 24: A rare opportunity If The Investmen

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