Parnassus Funds Commentary
Parnassus Funds Semiannual Commentary: June 30, 2010
Full Report (PDF)
August 9, 2010
Dear Shareholder:
Enclosed you will find the semiannual reports for all six Parnassus Funds. After
the spectacular performance of all our equity Funds in 2009, most of our Funds have
come down to earth. The performance is adequate, but not like last year. For the
quarter and the year-to-date, most of the Funds were either a bit above or a bit
below the benchmarks. Longer-term performance, though, for all the Funds, is still
excellent relative to our benchmarks. You can get all the details from the individual
Fund reports.
The one Fund that still hasn’t settled down yet is the Parnassus Small-Cap Fund.
Although that Fund lost 6.55% for the second quarter, the Russell 2000 Index of
smaller companies lost 9.92% and the average small-cap core fund followed by Lipper,
a Thomson Reuters company (“Lipper”) lost 9.37%. The Parnassus Small-Cap Fund beat
its benchmarks by three percentage points this quarter. For the year-to-date, the
Parnassus Small-Cap Fund is still defying the laws of gravity as it has gained 4.30%
compared to a loss of 1.95% for the Russell 2000 Index and a loss of 2.05% for the
average small-cap core fund followed by Lipper.
New Team Members
Maria Kamin recently joined the Parnassus team as manager of ESG (environmental,
social and governance) research. Maria has excellent qualifications, and we’re proud
that someone with Maria’s impressive background has joined the firm. Previously,
she worked at the responsible investment research firm KLD Research as the research
product manager and as a sustainability analyst. (KLD has since been bought out
by RiskMetrics Group which, in turn, has been purchased by MSCI, Inc.) In 2008,
Boston College recognized Maria as a Sustainability Fellow in the Leadership for
Change program. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Tufts
University, and a master’s degree in Pacific international affairs from the University
of California at San Diego. Maria has also worked in Latin America with the U.S.
Department of State and WorldTeach. We’re very happy to have her with us.
We also have three highly-qualified interns joining us this summer. Hallie Marshall
is an MBA candidate at the Haas School of Business at the University of California
at Berkeley, where she helps to manage the $2 million Haas Socially Responsible
Investment Fund. Although she is a new mother, she also finds time to be a member
of the Investment Club, the Finance Club, Women in Leadership and the Latin American
and Hispanic Business Association. Previously, she worked as an equity research
associate at Dodge & Cox investment managers in San Francisco. She is a graduate
of Princeton University and received a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Honduras.
George Lai is also an MBA student at the Haas School at the University of California
at Berkeley, where he is Co-President of the Investment Club and a principal of
the Haas Socially Responsible Investment Fund where he works with Hallie. His previous
experience includes work as Vice President of China Investment Banking at Merriman
Curhan Ford in San Francisco and as an associate at J.P. Morgan Investment Bank
in New York and Merrill Lynch in San Francisco. He is a graduate of Yale University
where he studied political science and history, and went to the University of Tokyo
as an exchange student. At Yale, he received an award for the best senior essay
in comparative politics on China-Taiwan high-tech relations.
Wendy Walker is another MBA candidate at the Haas School at the University of California
at Berkeley, where she is Co-President of the Investment Club, participates in Women
in Leadership and also joins Hallie and George as a principal with the Haas Socially
Responsible Investment Fund. Wendy is also a Haas Merit Scholar, a Forte Fellow
and holds scholarships from the American Association of University Women and the
Financial Women’s Association of San Francisco. Her previous experience includes
work as a securities analyst at Argus Research and as a freelance actor, performing
on stage, film, television and radio. She is a graduate of Yale University where
she studied comparative literature.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you for investing with Parnassus.
Yours truly,

Jerome L. Dodson, President
Parnassus Investments
PARNASSUS FUND
As of June 30, 2010, the net asset value per share (“NAV”) of the Parnassus Fund
was $32.33, so the total return for the quarter was a loss of 13.32%. This compares
to a loss of 11.41% for the S&P 500 Index (“S&P 500”), a loss of 11.00%
for the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Average, which represents the average multi-cap core
fund followed by Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company (“Lipper average”), and a loss
of 11.83% for the Nasdaq Composite Index (“Nasdaq”). For the quarter, we lagged
our benchmarks by a couple of percentage points.
For the year-to-date as of June 30, we were slightly behind the benchmarks. The
Fund had a loss of 7.15% compared to a loss of 6.64% for the S&P 500, a loss
of 6.15% for the Lipper average and a loss of 6.62% for the Nasdaq. Below is a table
comparing the performance of the Parnassus Fund with that of the S&P 500, the
Lipper average and the Nasdaq over the past one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods.
You’ll notice that for the ten-year period, we’re nearly even with the S&P 500,
somewhat behind the Lipper average and ahead of the Nasdaq. For the one-, three-
and five-year periods, we’re ahead of all the benchmarks.

Performance data quoted represent past performance and are no guarantee of future
returns. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted.
Current performance information to the most recent month-end is available on the
Parnassus Investments website (www.parnassus.com). Investment return and principal
value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more
or less than their original principal cost. Returns shown in the table do not reflect
the deduction of taxes a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or redemption
of shares. The S&P 500 Composite Stock Index, (also known as the S&P 500),
and the Nasdaq Composite Index are unmanaged indices of common stocks, and it is
not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not take any expenses,
fees or taxes into account, but mutual fund returns do. Prior to May 1, 2004, the
Parnassus Fund charged a sales load (maximum of 3.5%), which is not reflected in
the total return calculations. Before investing, an investor should carefully consider
the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund and should carefully
read the prospectus, which contains this and other information. The prospectus is
available on the Parnassus Investments website, or one can be obtained by calling
(800) 999--3505. As described in the Fund’s current prospectus dated May 1, 2010,
Parnassus Investments has contractually agreed to limit the total operating expenses
to 0.99% of net assets, exclusive of acquired fund fees, until May 1, 2011. This
limitation may be continued indefinitely by the Adviser on a year-to-year basis.
Company Analysis
Most of the companies in the portfolio moved sharply lower during the quarter, with
our stakes in finance, telecommunications, technology and homebuilders suffering
big losses. The four companies that hurt us the most each accounted for a loss of
28¢ or more per fund share. The company that had the biggest negative impact on
the Fund was Qualcomm, a provider of software and semiconductors for use in cellular
telephones. The stock dropped 21.8% during the quarter, sinking from $41.99 to $32.84
and slicing 44¢ off the NAV. Qualcomm earns a royalty on the average selling price
of handsets, and increased competition among handset manufacturers led to lower
selling prices during the period. We’re hanging onto the stock, because we think
the company has valuable technology, and we expect future handset price declines
will be less severe than anticipated. We also expect increased handset sales to
result in higher revenue and earnings for Qualcomm.
Three homebuilder stocks each accounted for losses of 28¢ or more on the NAV. Pulte
Homes lost 38¢ per fund share, as its stock dropped 26.4% from $11.25 to $8.28.
DR Horton cut 31¢ off each Parnassus share with its stock swooning 22.0% from $12.60
to $9.83, and KB Home cost the Fund 28¢ per share, with its stock falling 34.3%
from $16.75 to $11.00.
The difficult housing market has caused investors to stay away from the homebuilders,
so their shares have moved sharply lower. The expiration of the first-time homebuyers
tax credit during the quarter removed a stimulus to the housing market. Despite
all the negative sentiment, I’ve decided to keep the stocks in the portfolio. Homebuilding
shares are trading at very low prices with most of them selling around book value,
so they’re definitely on the bargain table. Despite difficult conditions in the
industry, the homebuilders in our portfolio are in good financial shape with all
of them having positive cash flow over the past 12 months.
Although there are a lot of homes on the market right now, including a large number
of foreclosures, the expanding U.S. population means the need for housing is increasing
at a faster rate than houses are being built, so at some point, home prices will
move higher. Housing prices and interest rates are very low now, so housing is much
more affordable than at any time in the past decade.

The real problem is jobs. People without jobs cannot make the financial commitment
necessary to purchase a home, and even those with a job are reluctant to buy with
unemployment rates so high. The economy is expanding, however, and at some point,
businesses will start hiring again. Once the economy starts creating large numbers
of new jobs, there will be an enormous demand for housing. Typically, housing stocks
move much higher 12-18 months before the housing market starts moving upward. I
had expected the homebuilders to move much higher before now, but I still expect
them to move substantially upward before the end of the year.
None of the companies in the portfolio made a substantial positive contribution
to the NAV, but there were two companies that each contributed 7¢ per fund share.
W&T Offshore, a producer of oil and natural gas, saw its stock price rise 12.6%
from $8.40 to $9.46, as it boosted profitability through lower expenses and oil
prices that averaged $75 per barrel for the quarter. Unlike BP, W&T has an excellent
safety record with its drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and it focuses primarily
on the shallow water in the Gulf, so it has not been affected by the deep-water
drilling moratorium. We think the stock will move higher due to its significant
reserves and its free cash flow generation.
The shares of Administaff moved from $21.34 to $24.16 during the quarter for a gain
of 13.2%. The company provides personnel services and employee benefits such as
health insurance to small- and medium-sized businesses, including Parnassus Investments.
Earlier this year, the stock had moved lower because of concern about the higher
cost of benefits and the lower number of covered employees. However, the company
reported lower than expected costs for benefits in the most recent period and the
client base has stabilized.
Parnassus Fund Portfolio of Investments as of 6/30/10
Outlook and Strategy
This section represents my thoughts and applies to the three Funds that I manage:
the Parnassus Fund, the Parnassus Small-Cap Fund and the Parnassus Workplace Fund.
The other portfolio managers will discuss their thoughts in their respective reports.
The most important function of the stock market is to transfer savings from individuals
and institutions to businesses, so we can finance the American economy. Another
important function is to provide a mechanism for investors to participate in the
economic benefits of American business. A third important function is to provide
a method to translate a future stream of earnings into a present value. It’s hard
to calculate what a company’s future earnings are worth today, and the stock market
gives us a way of doing this. In this manner, the stock market can be considered
a discounting mechanism, since it takes into account future events in present calculations.
In March of 2009, the stock market began a strong move higher, forecasting the end
of the recession. For me, the best definition of a recession is two consecutive
quarters of contraction in the gross domestic product (GDP), while coming out of
the recession means two consecutive quarters of GDP expansion. By this definition,
the economy came out of the recession in the second half of 2009, so the market
foreshadowed the recovery, but it predicted a much more robust recovery than we’re
now having. As if to make up for this exaggerated prediction of recovery, the market
has moved sharply lower in May and June. So what is the market forecasting now,
a double-dip recession or a pause in the economic expansion?
We don’t know for sure, but my view is that the economic recovery will continue
and we won’t have a double-dip recession. For one thing, double-dip recessions are
very rare, and the kind of government stimulus we have had has kept us out of recessions
in the past and should do so in the present situation. Economic recoveries are rarely
straight-upward-line affairs, but they proceed in fits and starts. Periods of weak
recovery in a strong economic expansion are normal, so our current experience is
not a unique one.
Both investors and the media tend to overreact to economic numbers. For example,
the June jobs numbers recently came out, and the Wall Street Journal headline read,
“U.S. Jobs Picture Darkens,” and reported that the economy lost 125,000 jobs. While
technically correct, the figure was misleading. The reason the economy lost 125,000
jobs was because the U.S. Census Bureau eliminated 225,000 positions because the
work associated with those positions was over. Excluding the effect of the Census
Bureau’s action, the economy gained 100,000 jobs, of which 83,000 were created by
the private sector, the sixth straight month of private sector gains and an increase
over the previous month. Of course, we need an increase of about 400,000 jobs a
month to bring down the real unemployment rate and get the economy moving again,
but a real gain of 100,000 jobs does not mean that we’re going into a double-dip
recession.
The same thing can be said for the June figures released by the Institute of Supply
Management (ISM) for the service sector, the biggest part of our economy. The ISM
reported a June figure of 53.8, down from a figure of 55.4 for May and below the
forecast of 55. Any number over 50 means economic expansion, so a figure of 53.8
means that the economy is expanding, but at a slow pace. I view this as a positive
rather than a negative.
My interpretation of what happened is that the huge stock market gains from March
of 2009 through April of 2010 exaggerated the strength of the economic recovery,
so the May-June decline in the stock market is really a correction of a bullish
forecast and not a sign of gloom and doom. In the meantime, stocks are at very low
valuations and it’s a great time to invest if you can break free from your emotions.
I recently bought additional shares in a couple of the Parnassus Funds in my personal
account, because of what I consider to be low prices given current valuations.
My view is that the economy will get stronger as the year progresses and the stock
market will follow. For this reason, the three Funds that I manage are fully invested
in good businesses with strong environmental, social and governance factors that
are selling at attractive prices. As always, I appreciate the confidence you’ve
shown in us by letting us take care of your money. We’ll do our best to be good
stewards of your economic resources.
Yours truly,

Jerome L. Dodson, President
Parnassus Investments
PARNASSUS EQUITY INCOME FUND
As of June 30, 2010, the NAV of the Parnassus Equity Income Fund-Investor Shares
was $22.46 per share. After taking dividends into account, the total return for
the second quarter was a loss of 11.04%. This compares to a decline of 11.41% for
the S&P 500 Index (“S&P 500”) and a drop of 10.07% for the Lipper Equity
Income Fund Average, which represents the average equity income fund followed by
Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company (“Lipper average”). The Fund slightly outperformed
the S&P 500 during the quarter.
For the first half of 2010, the Fund fell 7.60% versus 6.64% for the S&P 500
and 5.80% for the Lipper average. Despite the underperformance so far this year,
our long-term track record remains solid relative to the index. The Fund’s average
annual return beat the S&P 500 by over 5% for each of the trailing three-, five-,
and ten-year periods. Our ten-year average annual return of 4.65% far exceeds the
1.59% annual loss for the S&P 500.
Below is a table that compares the performance of the Fund with that of the S&P
500 and the Lipper average. Average annual total returns are for the one-, three-,
five- and ten-year periods.

The total return for the Parnassus Equity Income Fund-Institutional Shares from
inception (April 28, 2006) was 3.03%. Performance shown prior to the inception of
the Institutional Shares reflects the performance of the Parnassus Equity Income
Fund-Investor Shares and includes expenses that are not applicable to and are higher
than those of the Institutional Shares. The performance of Institutional Shares
differs from that shown for the Investor Shares to the extent that the classes do
not have the same expenses. Performance data quoted represent past performance and
are no guarantee of future returns. Current performance may be lower or higher than
the performance data quoted, and current performance information to the most recent
month-end is on the Parnassus website (www.parnassus.com). Investment return and
principal value will fluctuate, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may
be worth more or less than their original principal cost. Returns shown in the table
do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder may pay on fund distributions
or redemption of shares. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of common stocks,
and it is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not take
any expenses, fees or taxes into account, but mutual fund returns do. On March 31,1998,
the Fund changed its investment objective from a balanced portfolio to an equity
income portfolio. Before investing, an investor should carefully consider the investment
objectives, risk, charges and expenses of the Fund and should carefully read the
prospectus, which contains this and other information. The prospectus is on the
Parnassus website, or one can be obtained by calling (800) 999--3505. As described
in the Fund’s current prospectus dated May 1, 2010, Parnassus Investments has contractually
agreed to limit the total operating expenses to 0.99% and 0.78% of net assets, exclusive
of acquired fund fees, through May 1, 2011 for the Investor Shares and Institutional
Shares, respectively. These limitations may be continued indefinitely by the Adviser
on a year-to-year basis.
Second Quarter Review
After an 80% rise for the S&P 500 from March of 2009 to mid-April of 2010, the
stock market abruptly changed course during the second quarter. While the most talked
about problem was the Euro-region debt crisis, other concerns that impacted stock
prices included a potential double-dip recession, high unemployment and a weak housing
market. The May 4th “flash crash” and the tragic BP oil spill worsened an already
negative market sentiment.
Our strategy is to own undervalued companies with sustainable competitive advantages,
long-term growth opportunities, solid balance sheets and exceptional managers. This
formula has historically provided strong downside protection, because we have avoided
companies susceptible to severe boombust cycles and financial crises. When the Internet
bubble popped during 2000–2002, the Parnassus Equity Income Fund was up 12% while
the S&P 500 fell 40%. During the credit crisis of 2008, the S&P plunged
37% for the year while the Fund fell only 23%. Unfortunately, the Fund’s second
quarter decline of 11.0% was only slightly better than the index’s 11.4% drop. We
attribute this to the fact that this quarter’s market decline was broad-based, and
stocks dropped irrespective of their companies’ long-term fundamentals.
Looking at the portfolio, the most influential sector on the portfolio was technology,
which trimmed our lead versus the S&P 500 by 0.65%. We own some great companies
in this sector, such as Qualcomm, Microsoft and Google. These businesses have growing
profits, sustainable advantages and cash-rich balance sheets. In addition, they
trade at historically low multiples of projected 2011 earnings. Nevertheless, these
stocks collectively underperformed the S&P 500 technology sector during the
quarter. While this short-term performance is frustrating, I’m confident that these
high quality technology stocks can boost the Fund’s returns over the long-term.
The Fund’s healthcare investments cost us 0.44% versus the S&P 500, as our average
healthcare stock fell 14% versus 12% for the S&P 500 peer group. In this sector,
we own stock in companies that can improve quality of life, while also helping to
control medical costs. The financial sector trimmed our return by 0.33% versus the
S&P 500. The Fund’s investments in financial services are comprised of recurring
revenue “fee-based” businesses and high quality banks that either didn’t accept
TARP money or were among the first to repay their TARP loans.
Moving to positive sectors, good stock-picking in the industrial and energy-utility
industries each added about 0.50% to our lead versus the S&P 500. The consumer
staples area added 0.45% to our lead versus the S&P 500. Investments such as
Sysco, the food distribution business, McCormick, the spice company, and WD-40,
the lubrication company, were essentially flat for the quarter. We like our investments
in these sectors because they operate in hard-to-supply industries with predictable
demand.
While it was frustrating to generate a large loss this quarter, I’m confident that
the Fund’s investments can do well over the next several years, despite the possibility
of a slow growth economy.
Company Analysis
While 19 of our 37 stocks fell less than the S&P 500 for the quarter, no company
had a meaningful positive return. Four companies trimmed the Fund’s NAV by 16¢ or
more.
Qualcomm, a company that provides technology for wireless communication, reduced
the Fund’s NAV by 31¢ during the second quarter, as its stock declined 21.8% from
$41.99 per share to $32.84. Handset and smartphone prices have declined more than
expected recently due to increased competition, which reduces the royalty that Qualcomm
collects for its technology. We think investors are over-estimating the long-term
price decline for smartphones and its impact on the company’s intrinsic value. We’re
bullish on the company, because it has $19 billion in cash, long-term patent protection
and trades at only 12 times our expected 2011earnings, with a 2.3% dividend yield.
Microsoft also trimmed the NAV by 31¢, as the stock declined 21.4% to $23.01 from
$29.27 per share. This drop is perplexing, because Microsoft’s Windows 7 launch
seems to be going very well. Senior analyst, Lori Keith, thinks that Microsoft has
a great set of new product introductions on the way, which should provide six straight
quarters of very strong results. The company has over $40 billion in cash, trades
at only 9 times our estimated 2011 earnings and pays a 2.2% dividend. Like Qualcomm,
our Microsoft investment should prove rewarding over the long-term.
Bank of New York lowered the Fund’s NAV by 19¢ as the stock declined from $30.88
to $24.69 per share. Bank of New York is not a normal bank, because the company
generates most of its revenue and earnings from fee-based custodial, asset management
and trust services. Bank of New York’s earnings are currently depressed due to low
interest rates, which prevent the company from charging its normal fee to money
market customers. We think Bank of New York’s stock has substantial upside potential,
because the company’s earnings should improve quickly once interest rates rise.

Medtronic, the medical device company, reduced the NAV by 16¢, as the stock fell
19.5% from $45.03 to $36.27 per share. This stock price decline seems unjustified,
as Medtronic reported strong earnings during the quarter and increased its dividend
by 8%. More importantly, Medtronic has a host of new heart-, spine- and diabetesrelated
products that should support revenue growth for years, while improving the lives
of recipients.
Parnassus Equity Income Fund Portfolio of Investments as of 6/30/10
Outlook and Strategy
As of this writing, the S&P 500 has plunged almost 17% since hitting a recent
peak in late April. After this correction, I believe that the stock market is pricing
in a slow economic recovery. If this proves correct, the S&P 500 should be near
a bottom, especially considering that stocks look relatively inexpensive at an average
13 times estimated 2011 earnings. The Fund should do well, because we own a host
of companies that trade for under 12 times projected 2011 profits, many with double
digit earnings growth potential for years to come. As for sectors, we are overweighted
relative to the index in technology, energy, healthcare and industrial companies.
If the market rallies, our investments in these sectors should fuel the Fund’s return.
In spite of my overall optimism, I’m still concerned that unsustainable deficit
spending may eventually impact financial markets, including stock prices. At a minimum,
the current European sovereign debt crisis has showed that the global recovery is
fragile, since it depends in large part on unusually large government spending.
If governments begin to cut spending to curb deficits and the private sector doesn’t
pick up the slack, a “double-dip” recession is possible. My team accounts for this
risk by analyzing a range of possible economic outcomes for each stock in the portfolio.
The good news is that, based on our scenario analysis, I think our stocks have significantly
more upside than downside potential.
Thank you for your trust and investment in the Parnassus Equity Income Fund.
Highest regards,

Todd C. Ahlsten
Chief Investment Officer
Parnassus Investments
PARNASSUS MID-CAP FUND
As of June 30, 2010, the NAV of the Parnassus Mid-Cap Fund was $15.82, so the total
return for the second quarter of 2010 was a loss of 8.34%. This compares to a loss
of 11.00% for the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Average, which represents the average multi-cap
core fund followed by Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company (“Lipper average”) and a
loss of 9.88% for the Russell Midcap Index (the “Russell”). It’s always disappointing
to lose money in a quarter, but we’re proud that the Fund outperformed both its
peer group and the benchmark.
For the first half of 2010, the Fund is well ahead of its peers and slightly behind
the benchmark. Since the beginning of the year, the Fund is down 2.83% versus a
loss of 6.15% for the Lipper average and a loss of 2.06% for the Russell. We are
pleased the Fund’s strategy of buying high quality businesses at attractive prices
is limiting losses during this tumultuous period. This strategy is also benefiting
the Fund’s longer-term results, as evidenced by the three-year and five-year average
annual returns, which both beat the Russell and Lipper average.
Below is a table comparing the Parnassus Mid-Cap Fund with the Russell and the Lipper
average for the one-, three- and five-year periods and for the period since inception
on April 29, 2005.

Performance data quoted represent past performance and are no guarantee of future
returns. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted.
Current performance information to the most recent month-end is on the Parnassus
Investments website (www.parnassus.com). Investment return and principal value will
fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less
than their original principal cost. Returns shown in the table do not reflect the
deduction of taxes a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or redemption of
shares. The Russell Midcap Index is an unmanaged index of common stocks, and it
is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not take any expenses,
fees or taxes into account, but mutual fund returns do. Mid-cap companies can be
more sensitive to changing economic conditions and have fewer financial resources
than large-cap companies. Before investing, an investor should carefully consider
the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund and should carefully
read the prospectus, which contains this and other information. The prospectus is
available on the Parnassus Investments website, or one can be obtained by calling
(800) 999--3505. As described in the Fund’s current prospectus dated May 1, 2010,
Parnassus Investments has contractually agreed to limit the total operating expenses
to 1.20% of net assets, exclusive of acquired fund fees, until May 1, 2011. This
limitation may be continued indefinitely by the Adviser on a year-to-year basis.
Second Quarter Review
From April 1 through April 23, midcap stocks rose over 6%, continuing a rally that
lifted the Russell almost 100% from its March 2009 trough. Concerns over European
sovereign debt and domestic economic growth soon shifted investor sentiment, and
the Russell closed the quarter down almost 10%. Despite this drop, mid-cap stocks
outperformed the broader market averages during the second quarter, and the Fund
outperformed its peers and benchmark.
The Fund offered downside protection in the challenging second quarter, limiting
its loss to 8.34% compared to a loss of 11.00% for the Lipper average and a loss
of 9.88% for the Russell. A main factor of the Fund’s quarterly outperformance versus
the Russell was its disproportionate investment in companies with better than average
returns on equity, a measure of company efficiency and profitability. During the
second quarter, high return on equity companies outpaced low return on equity companies
in the index.
On a sector basis, we gained ground in the quarter due to our being underweighted
in the consumer discretionary sector relative to the index, and being overweighted
in the healthcare sector. The most negative sector allocation decision for the quarter
was to be underweighted in utilities.
Company Analysis
As usual, stock selection, not sector allocation, drove our performance for the
quarter. Our healthcare, industrial, consumer staples and materials stocks limited
the Fund’s losses, while our information technology and financial stocks hurt the
most. There was only one stock which helped the Fund materially in the quarter.
There were four stocks that hurt the Fund’s NAV by 8¢ or more during the period.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals, a developer of dermatology and neurology drugs, was the
Fund’s only significant winner during the quarter. Its stock rose 21.9%, from $42.91
to $52.29, adding 11¢ to the NAV, as management reported better than expected earnings
and announced a smart merger with Biovail, a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company.
We will continue holding the stock, given our confidence in management’s ability
to create long-term shareholder value.

The Fund’s biggest loser was the oil and gas services company, Noble Corporation.
Its shares dropped 26.1% in the quarter from $41.82 to $30.91, taking 15¢ from the
Fund’s NAV. Investors sold the stock after the U.S. imposed a ban on offshore drilling
in the Gulf of Mexico, where Noble has a sizeable business and outstanding safety
record. Fortunately, the company has a deep backlog of international projects, which
should enable it to weather the current moratorium in the Gulf.
Our investment in the insurer Aflac took 8¢ from the Fund’s NAV during the quarter,
as its shares dropped 21.4% from $54.29 to $42.67. Aflac has investments in European
banks and governments, so its stock went down as the continent’s financial crisis
flared. We are pleased that management has reduced risk by limiting exposure to
certain European banks and selling Greek sovereign debt. We are confident that Aflac’s
financial position is adequate to absorb potential credit losses.
Shares of Hudson City Bancorp, the New Jersey-based thrift, lost 13.6% during the
quarter, as its stock dropped from $14.16 to $12.24, to drive down the NAV by 8¢.
Despite stabilizing credit trends and lower funding costs, Hudson’s earnings have
been pressured due to lower mortgage portfolio yields. We continue to like this
well-managed, well-capitalized bank as competition in its core market is waning.
Applied Materials, the world’s largest semiconductor equipment provider, dropped
10.8% during the quarter to $12.02 from $13.48, shrinking the Fund’s NAV by 8¢.
Investors sold shares over concerns that the sector’s growth cycle is slowing. Also,
despite climate change initiatives, the company’s energy and environmental solutions
group continues to be a drag on overall profitability.
Parnassus Mid-Cap Fund Portfolio of Investments as of 6/30/10
Outlook and Strategy
Last quarter, we described our mixed opinion regarding the economy’s direction.
Since then, Europe’s sovereign debt crisis blossomed and the United States’ recovery
trajectory became less clear. As a result, investors pushed the market down almost
17% from late April highs, during which period the Fund gained ground on its peers
and the benchmark.
Going forward, we believe uncertainty is still high as national governments attempt
to balance fiscal responsibility with stimulus programs, and central bankers deal
with the risk of both deflation and inflation. Overall, our best estimate is for
a slow and bumpy recovery path ahead.
We continue to be wary of sectors that would be hardest hit if the economy turns
down again. This includes investments in the consumer discretionary and financial
areas where, relative to the Russell, we continue to be significantly underweighted.
Conversely, we’re heavily invested relative to the index in the information technology,
industrial, and healthcare sectors.
We are diligently focused on our process of identifying and investing in attractively
valued companies with secular growth opportunities, competitive advantages and quality
leadership. This process, which has resulted in solid participation in rising markets
and downside protection in declining markets, continues to be the cornerstone of
our longer-term strategy for outperformance.
Thank you for your investment with us.
Yours truly,
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Ben Allen
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Matthew D. Gershuny
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Lori A. Keith
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Portfolio Manager
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Portfolio Manager
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Portfolio Manager
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PARNASSUS SMALL-CAP FUND
As of June 30, 2010, the NAV of the Parnassus Small-Cap Fund was $18.69, so the
total return for the quarter was a loss of 6.55%. By comparison, the Russell 2000
Index (“Russell 2000”) of smaller companies lost 9.92%, and the Lipper Small-Cap
Core Average, which represents the average small-cap core fund followed by Lipper,
a Thomson Reuters company (“Lipper average”) lost 9.37%. For the quarter, we lost
money, but we lost significantly less than our benchmarks.
For the year-to-date as of June 30, we’re also substantially ahead of the benchmarks.
Apparently defying the law of gravity, the Parnassus Small-Cap Fund actually gained
4.30%, compared to a loss of 1.95% for the Russell 2000 and a loss of 2.05% for
the Lipper average.
Below is a table comparing the performance of the Parnassus Small-Cap Fund with
that of the Russell 2000 and the Lipper average for the one-, three- and five-year
periods and the period since inception. As you can see from the table, the Fund
beat all its benchmarks by substantial amounts for all time periods.
With over five years of history under its belt, the Parnassus Small-Cap Fund seems
to have discovered a winning strategy. I think there are a number of things that
have helped us achieve this record. First, we try to find companies that have unique
characteristics that are not easily duplicated. Warren Buffett calls this a “moat”
that defends the company’s castle from invasion by competitors. Of course, every
company has competition, but there are some that are better equipped to handle competition
than others, and we try to find those companies. It’s not always clear what constitutes
a moat, and people may differ on what constitutes unique characteristics, so we’re
making subjective judgments on the companies in the portfolio.

Performance data quoted represent past performance and are no guarantee of future
returns. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted.
Current performance information to the most recent month-end is available on the
Parnassus Investments website (www.parnassus.com). Investment return and principal
value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more
or less than their original principal cost. Returns shown in the table do not reflect
the deduction of taxes a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or redemption
of shares. The Russell 2000 Index is an unmanaged index of common stocks, and it
is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not take any expenses,
fees or taxes into account, but mutual fund returns do. Small-cap companies can
be particularly sensitive to changing economic conditions and have fewer financial
resources than largecap companies. Before investing, an investor should carefully
consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund and
should carefully read the prospectus, which contains this and other information.
The prospectus is on the Parnassus Investments website, or one can be obtained by
calling (800) 999--3505. As described in the Fund’s current prospectus dated May
1, 2010, Parnassus Investments has contractually agreed to limit the total operating
expenses to 1.20% of net assets, exclusive of acquired fund fees, until May 1, 2011.
This limitation may be continued indefinitely by the Adviser on a year-toyear basis.
Another important factor is valuation. We try to determine the intrinsic value of
the companies we follow, and if a stock’s market price falls a third below our estimate
of its intrinsic value, it’s a candidate for inclusion in the portfolio. Of course,
we won’t always be right in determining a company’s intrinsic value, but by buying
stocks trading at a third less than our estimate of its worth, we leave ourselves
a margin of safety.
Size and financial strength are also factors. At the time we buy them, almost all
of our companies have market valuations below $3 billion, so we’re investing in
smaller companies. However, most of the companies we invest in have capitalizations
at the higher end of the range compared with the companies in the Russell 2000.
These companies are in the small-cap world, but are larger than the small-cap average,
so they tend to be more stable.
Because the companies we invest in are relatively small, we make sure they have
a lot of financial strength. These factors give us some downside protection. When
small-cap companies go down, the Fund goes down with them, but we usually don’t
go down as much as most small-cap names. The corollary to this is that when the
really small companies with less financial strength move sharply higher, we probably
won’t move up as much. That’s all right with us, since we hope to more than make
up for it by not dropping as much during bad times. As you can see by the table,
this strategy has worked well over the past five years.
Parnassus Small-Cap Fund Portfolio of Investments as of 6/30/10
Company Analysis
Six companies in the portfolio each accounted for a loss of 14¢ or more on the NAV.
The one that hurt us the most was Ceragon Networks, which cut 24¢ off each fund
share, while its stock plummeted 24.1% from $9.75, where we bought it during the
quarter, to $7.40 at the end of the period. The company makes equipment used to
connect cellular telephone towers to the main telecommunications network (known
as “wireless backhaul”). A quarter of the company’s business comes from Europe,
and the European debt crisis caused concern among investors that economic activity
on that continent would decline and cause a drop-off in business for Ceragon. We’re
optimistic that business will increase for Ceragon even in Europe, and it will derive
a lot of revenue from all around the world, including the enormous market in India.
LHC Group cost the Fund 23¢ per share, as its stock fell 17.2% from $33.53 to $27.75.
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is investigating home healthcare companies for
possibly over-billing for home therapy visits under Medicare. LHC has responded,
saying that home therapy visits are only authorized by a doctor, and that it has
not abused the system by making unneeded home therapy visits. We’re uncertain of
the outcome, but we will continue to hold the stock, since there is no evidence
so far of unethical practices. The stock is now very undervalued.
Natural gas-producer Quicksilver Resources sliced 20¢ off the NAV, as its stock
dropped 21.8% from $14.07 to $11.00. Weak natural gas prices and the weak stock
market accounted for the big drop in the stock price. We still like the company,
because it’s a low-cost producer with access to a large number of gas fields. The
stock should move sharply higher once natural gas prices improve.
Myriad Genetics, a provider of genetic breast- and ovarian-cancer tests, saw its
shares drop sharply from $24.05 to $14.95 for a fall of 37.8% and a loss of 17¢
per fund share. In May, management provided weak earnings guidance because of the
slow economy. We believe that there may be some upside opportunity in the stock,
because only 12% of eligible women have been tested.
Bridgepoint Education, an online for-profit college, dropped 19.3% from $24.58 at
the beginning of the quarter to $19.83, where we sold it during the period. Although
Bridgepoint cost the Parnassus Small-Cap Fund 14¢ on the NAV for the quarter, we
had a gain of 27.1% on the issue during the nine months we held the stock for an
increase of 17¢ per fund share over the holding period. We sold the stock during
the quarter, because of concerns about increasing government regulation of loans
to students at for-profit colleges.
The stock of KB Home lost 34.3% during the quarter, falling from $16.75 to $11.00
for a drop of 14¢ on the NAV. See the discussion of homebuilders in the Parnassus
Fund section for more information on the company.
Although most stocks in the portfolio were down during the quarter, the Fund did
beat both the Lipper average and the Russell 2000, so on a relative basis, it was
a successful quarter. Four companies helped cushion the blow from the falling market
with each one contributing 8¢ or more to the NAV.
Cyberonics, a maker of devices for the treatment of epilepsy, contributed 16¢ to
each fund share, as its stock rose 23.6% from $19.16 to $23.68. Earnings were much
better than expected with 11% new patient growth and 17% replacement growth in the
U.S. The stock should continue to move higher on increasing sales, because of new
sales force incentives, and international expansion including Japan.

Administaff added 12¢ to the NAV, with its stock climbing 13.2% from $21.34 to $24.16.
The company provides personnel services and employee benefits such as health insurance
to small- and mediumsized businesses including Parnassus Investments. Earlier this
year, the stock had moved lower, because of concern about the higher cost of benefits
and the lower number of covered employees. However, the company reported lower than
expected costs for benefits in the most recent period and the client base has stabilized.
Mariner Energy, an oil- and gas-producer, gained an amazing 40.1%, going from $14.97
to $20.98 where we sold it during the quarter for a gain of 10¢ per fund share.
Apache Corporation announced on April 15 an agreement to acquire Mariner, which
moved the price much higher. Even though the purchase price Apache offered was higher
than the price where we sold the stock, we were concerned that the BP incident and
the moratorium on deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico might make Apache reduce
its purchase price or walk away from the deal. We decided it was prudent to sell
our shares now, rather than wait for the merger to be completed.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals gained 21.9%, rising from $42.91 to $52.29 for a gain of
8¢ per fund share. The company manufactures and markets specialty pharmaceuticals,
and its earnings exceeded investor expectations because of higher revenue and better
cost control. The company also made two shrewd acquisitions in the quarter that
should be accretive to earnings and enable the company to spread more products over
its distribution system. Aton, a privately—held ophthalmology and neurology company,
and Biovail, a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company are now part of Valeant.
Quite often, the stock of an acquiring company goes down when a merger is announced,
but in this case, the stock went up, because it appears that the company did not
overpay, and there will be no dilution in earnings, but rather enhanced profitability.
Yours truly,

Jerome L. Dodson, President
Parnassus Investments
PARNASSUS WORKPLACE FUND
As of June 30, 2010, the NAV of the Parnassus Workplace Fund was $17.61, so the
total return for the quarter was a loss of 12.82%. This compares to a loss of 11.41%
for the S&P 500 and a loss of 11.00% for the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Average,
which represents the average multi-cap core fund followed by Lipper, a Thomson Reuters
company (“Lipper average”), so we lagged somewhat behind our benchmarks during the
quarter.
For the year-to-date as of June 30, the Parnassus Workplace Fund lost 9.46%, compared
to a loss of 6.64% for the S&P 500 and a loss of 6.15% for the Lipper average.
We underperformed for the year-to-date, but our long-term and medium-term results
are excellent. Below is a table comparing the Parnassus Workplace Fund with the
S&P 500 and the Lipper average for the one-, three- and five-year periods as
well as the period since inception. You’ll notice that the Parnassus Workplace Fund
is ahead of all its benchmarks for all time periods.

Performance data quoted represent past performance and are no guarantee of future
returns. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted.
Current performance information to the most recent month-end is available on the
Parnassus Investments website (www.parnassus.com). Investment return and principal
value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more
or less than their original principal cost. Returns shown in the table do not reflect
the deduction of taxes a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or redemption
of shares. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stocks, and it
is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not take any expenses,
fees or taxes into account, but mutual fund returns do. Before investing, an investor
should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses
of the Fund and should carefully read the prospectus, which contains this and other
information. The prospectus is available on the Parnassus Investments website, or
one can be obtained by calling (800) 999--3505. As described in the Fund’s current
prospectus dated May 1, 2010, Parnassus Investments has contractually agreed to
limit the total operating expenses to 1.20% of net assets, exclusive of acquired
fund fees, until May 1, 2011. This limitation may be continued indefinitely by the
Adviser on a year-to-year basis.
Parnassus Workplace Fund Portfolio of Investments as of 6/30/10
Company Analysis
Unfortunately, no companies in the portfolio of the Parnassus Workplace Fund made
a significant positive contribution to the NAV. There were, however, two companies
that each had a negative impact of 27¢ or more.
The one that cost us the most was Qualcomm, a provider of software and semiconductors
for use in cellular telephones, which subtracted 32¢ from each fund share. The stock
sank 21.8% from $41.99 to $32.84. Qualcomm earns a royalty on the average selling
price of handsets, and increased competition among handset manufacturers led to
lower selling prices during the period. We’re hanging onto the stock, because we
think that company has valuable technology, and we expect future handset price declines
will be less severe than anticipated. We also expect increased handset sales to
result in higher revenue and earnings for Qualcomm.

eBay’s stock dropped 27.2% during the quarter, falling from $26.95 to $19.61 for
a loss of 27¢ per fund share. While the company’s PayPal unit for online transactions
performed well, the Internet auction business did not do well. Investors were also
concerned because of the company’s significant exposure to Europe, given the debt
crisis on the continent. The stock is trading at bargain levels, so we’ll continue
to keep it in the portfolio.
Yours truly,

Jerome L. Dodson, President
Parnassus Investments
PARNASSUS FIXED-INCOME FUND
As of June 30, 2010, the NAV of the Parnassus Fixed-Income Fund was $17.38, producing
a total return for the quarter of 3.20% (including dividends). This compares to
a gain of 2.89% for the Lipper A-Rated Bond Fund Average, which represents the average
return of all A-rated bond funds followed by Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company (“Lipper
average”) and a gain of 3.88% for the Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Bond
Index (“Barclays Capital Index”). Since the beginning of the year, the total return
for the Fund was 5.33% compared to a gain of 5.37% for the Lipper average and a
gain of 5.49% for the Barclays Capital Index.
Below is a table comparing the performance of the Fund with that of the Barclays
Capital Index and the Lipper average. Average annual total returns are for the one-,
three-, five- and ten-year periods. The 30-day SEC yield for the Fund for June 2010
was 2.00%. I’m pleased to report that our longterm returns are better than the Lipper
average for the three-, five- and ten-year periods as of the end of June.

Performance data quoted represent past performance and are no guarantee of future
returns. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted.
Current performance information to the most recent month-end is available on the
Parnassus Investments website (www.parnassus.com). Investment return and principal
value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more
or less than their original cost. Returns shown in the table do not reflect the
deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay in fund distributions or redemption of
shares. The Barclays Capital U.S. Government/ Credit Bond Index is an unmanaged
index of bonds, and it is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures
do not take any expenses, fees, or taxes into account, but mutual fund returns do.
Before investing, an investor should carefully consider the investment objectives,
risks, charges and expenses of the Fund and should carefully read the prospectus,
which contains this and other information. The prospectus is on the Parnassus Investments
website, or one can be obtained by calling (800) 999--3505. As described in the
Fund’s current prospectus dated May 1, 2010, Parnassus Investments has contractually
agreed to limit the total operating expenses to 0.87% of net assets, exclusive of
acquired fund fees, until May 1, 2011. This limitation may be continued indefinitely
by the Adviser on a year-to-year basis.
Second Quarter Review
Equity markets had their worst quarterly performance since the market trough of
March 2009. Investors lost their optimism as concerns spread from European sovereign
debt to U.S. financial regulations to weak housing market data, and culminated in
signs of a slowdown in the Chinese economy. Not surprisingly, corporate and convertible
bonds underperformed in that environment, while U.S. Treasuries benefited from their
safe haven status.
The S&P 500 closed the second quarter with a total loss of 11.41%, bringing
the year-to-date performance to a loss of 6.64%. Meanwhile, U.S. government bonds
returned a gain of 4.24% during the quarter and are up 5.40% so far this year. Yields
moved lower across the entire curve, with yields on longer-dated bonds down the
most. The yield on the 10-year decreased 90 basis points to 2.93% at the end of
the second quarter compared to the end of the first quarter. The 30-year decreased
82 basis points to 3.90% during the same period.
With the exception of convertible bonds, all asset classes in the portfolio benefited
from lower yields and contributed positively to the NAV during the quarter. Our
position in U.S. Treasuries was the biggest winner, adding 36¢ to the NAV. Corporate
bonds contributed 23¢, while our convertible bonds reduced the NAV by 2¢. The underperformance
of the convertible bonds was due to their sensitivity to a declining equity market.

While the Fund outperformed the Lipper average by 31 basis points during the second
quarter, I am disappointed because the performance trailed the Barclays Capital
Index by 68 basis points. The underperformance relative to the Barclays Capital
Index was due to the benchmark’s larger exposure to government bonds. During the
quarter, the Fund had an average of 42% of total net assets invested in government
bonds, while the index had an average weight of 63%. I talked about the risk of
worse-than-anticipated economic data in the March 31, 2010 quarterly shareholder
report, but in hindsight, I underestimated the magnitude of the market’s reaction
to those events. This is why I didn’t overweight government bonds relative to the
Barclays Capital Index during the second quarter.
We outperformed the Lipper average because we don’t own any mortgagebacked securities,
while most of the funds in the Lipper average do. These securities underperformed
both U.S. government and corporate bonds during the quarter. Commercial mortgage-backed
securities returned 2.78%, while mortgage-backed securities were up 2.87%. This
compares to the gains of 3.42% for corporate bonds and 4.24% for U.S. government
bonds.
Parnassus Fixed-Income Fund Portfolio of Investments as of 6/30/10
Outlook and Strategy
At this time of doubt and confusion, my main worry is not so much about the economic
recovery itself. Rather, it is that investors have set expectations too high for
economic growth and corporate earnings. As I wrote in previous reports, I think
that the economic improvements that we have witnessed so far are mostly due to unprecedented
large government interventions. In fact, the economy is still fragile and plagued
by a weak housing market and high unemployment. Also, the lingering problem of too
much debt has not been solved.
With the impact of the government support starting to fade, I think that the economy
will grow at a slower rate than the current market expectation. Even if the economy
doesn’t succumb to a doubledip recession during the second half of this year, a
slowdown in GDP growth to 1% or 2% would be a sharp disappointment. Indeed, the
current market expectation for GDP growth is 3.0% for the third quarter, followed
by 2.8% in the fourth quarter.
Given this outlook, I have reduced the portfolio’s exposure to risk assets (corporate
and convertible bonds) and increased the holdings in U.S. Treasuries. As of the
end of the second quarter, risk assets represent 46.2% of total net assets, down
from 56.8% at the end of the first quarter, and U.S. Treasuries make up 48.6% of
total net assets. This compares to the Barclays Capital Index, where government
bonds represent 63.8% of the index and corporate bonds 36.2%.
I also exited our investments in agency bonds (mostly Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
bonds) and reinvested the proceeds into Treasury bonds. I think that these agency
bonds no longer provide enough yields considering their risk profile. It’s especially
alarming when Fannie Mae warned earlier in the quarter of “significant uncertainty
as to [its] long-term financial sustainability”, because it expects a still fragile
housing market to keep default rates and credit-related costs high.
As always, I remain vigilant to changes in the economic outlook and will adapt the
investment strategy as necessary.
Thank you for your confidence and investments in the Parnassus Fixed-Income Fund.
Yours truly,

Minh T. Bui
Portfolio Manager
SOCIAL NOTES
By Milton Moskowitz and Jerome Dodson
The bar is always being raised in assessing the responsibility of corporations.
Issues that would never have surfaced 25 years ago — executive compensation, domestic
partner benefits, genocide in Darfur, sustainable practices — are now commonplace
in shareholder resolutions and they’re used as criteria by funds in the responsible
investing field. The latest cause celebre is labor unrest in contract factories,
and who would have thought that it would crop up in, of all places, China. This
year, Chinese workers have gone on strike in factories turning out automotive and
electronic products for Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mitsumi Electric. At the sprawling
Shenzhen factory operated by a Taiwanese company, Foxconn, high-tech gadgets like
the iPhone and iPad are being assembled for Apple by workers earning an average
of $300 a month. Indeed, wages are so low at these Chinese plants, that the workers
who went on strike were immediately offered wage increases ranging from 30 to 50%.
News of these successful walkouts will spread like wildfire in China. You can expect
more strikes. The workers are also demanding the right to choose trade unions to
represent them. It’s a replay of the 1930s in America.
And it is no longer possible for companies to claim no responsibility, to explain
that these plants are operated by contractors. The workers may not be employees
of the companies whose brands are on the products, but these companies are being
held responsible for conditions in these factories. One of the funds in the Parnassus
family is the Parnassus Workplace Fund, where investments are limited to companies
with exemplary workplaces — and so this is an issue close to our hearts. Nike, one
of the Parnassus Workplace Fund’s investments, closely monitors conditions in the
618 locally-owned factories where 823,000 people are employed. China accounts for
36% of Nike’s footwear production.
Many Parnassus portfolio companies appear on the lists of corporations which contributed
to Haiti relief. Microsoft contributed $1.25 million, Google $1 million, Wells Fargo
$100,000. Walgreens contributed $100,000 and matched employee contributions up to
$50,000.
Sysco, a major supplier of food to restaurants and other institutions, has converted
its 585,000 square-foot distribution center in North Houston to a greenfield site.
All 98 vehicles there will operate on hydrogen fuel cells instead of rechargeable
lead-acid batteries . . . For the second year in a row, the Mexican subsidiary of
Cisco Systems has been recognized by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy for its
commitment to socially responsible management. At the same time, Cisco’s manufacturing
plant in Ciudad Juarez won an award for its employee working conditions — for the
third time… Intel, the world’s largest producer of microprocessors, joined the United
Nations Global Compact and published its own set of Human Rights Principles to express
its “dedication to human rights and responsible labor practices — not only at Intel
but throughout its supply chain” . . . Target continued its partnership with Feeding
America to combat child hunger and improve nutrition education. It is spending more
than $4 million on this front, including a “Meals for Minds” school pantry program
in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Miami, Baltimore and Los Angeles . . . Google, a holding
in three Parnassus Funds, invested $38.8 million in two North Dakota wind farms,
its first direct investment in utilityscale renewable energy generation.
Eight Parnassus portfolio companies made the Bloomberg Business Week list of the
world’s 50 Most Innovative Companies: Google (2), Microsoft (3) and IBM (4) placed
among the Top 10, Intel was ranked 12th, and then came: Procter & Gamble (25),
Cisco (31), JPMorgan Chase (39) and Nike (46).
PulteGroup, which became the largest home builder in the United States after its
2009 merger with Centex, is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. William J.
“Bill” Pulte, fresh out of high school, built the company’s first home in Detroit
in 1950: a five-room bungalow that sold for $10,000. Today the average Pulte home
covers more than 2,000 square feet. The company builds homes in 67 markets in 29
states and the District of Columbia. Its three brands are Pulte, Del Webb and Centex.
The company is proud of having won more J.D. Power awards for customer satisfaction
than any other home builder.
WD-40, a stalwart of the Parnassus Small-Cap Fund, generates sales of $312 million
with only 290 employees, a function perhaps of its structure: it has no manufacturing
facilities of its own, buying chemicals from contractors and then packaging and
marketing the products. Its mainstay product, for which the company is named, squelches
squeaks, but the company is always trying to think of new uses. There are a lot
of stories about odd uses to which it has been put: a bus driver in Asia who used
it to remove a python snake from the undercarriage of his bus; police officers who
used it to remove a naked burglar from an air conditioning vent. WD-40 maintains
an innovative Fortress of Health Program through Blue Shield of California. By encouraging
employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle, the company has been able to reduce its
health costs. And as a result, it has been able to reduce its health insurance premiums
by 2% each year.
The information above represents the Letter from Parnassus Investments, management's
discussion and analysis of fund performance, and Responsible Investing Notes as
excerpted from the Report. Please click on the "Full Report" link above to
view the Report in its entirety.