The Fund does not purchase
all of the securities in the Underlying Index; instead, the Fund utilizes a “sampling” methodology to seek to achieve its investment objective.
Concentration Policy. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e.,
invest more than 25% of the value of its net assets) in securities of issuers in any one industry
or group of industries only to the extent that the Underlying Index reflects a concentration in that industry or group of industries. The Fund will not otherwise concentrate its investments in securities of issuers in any one
industry or group of industries. As of August 31, 2024, the Fund had significant exposure to the financials sector. The Fund’s portfolio holdings, and the extent to which it concentrates its investments, are likely to
change over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Fund
The following summarizes the principal risks of investing in the Fund.
The Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Market Risk. Securities in the Underlying Index are subject to market fluctuations. You should anticipate that the value of the Shares will decline, more or less, in correlation
with any decline in value of the securities in the Underlying Index. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, economic crises
or other events could result in increased premiums or discounts to the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”).
Index Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does not utilize an investing strategy that seeks returns in
excess of the Underlying Index. Therefore, the Fund would not necessarily buy or sell a security
unless that security is added or removed, respectively, from the Underlying Index, even if that
security generally is underperforming. Additionally, the Fund rebalances its portfolio in accordance with the Underlying Index, and, therefore, any changes to the Underlying Index’s rebalance schedule will result in corresponding changes
to the Fund’s rebalance schedule.
Fixed-Income Securities
Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a
fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices
of most fixed-income securities go up. Fixed-income securities with longer maturities typically are more sensitive to changes in interest rates, making them more volatile than securities with shorter maturities. Credit risk
refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable and/or unwilling to make timely interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Debt instruments are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which
may be reflected in credit ratings. There is a possibility that the credit rating of a fixed-income security may be downgraded after purchase, which may occur quickly and without advance warning following sudden market
downturns or unexpected developments involving an issuer, and which may adversely affect the liquidity and value of the security.
Changing Fixed-Income Market Conditions Risk. Fluctuations in the federal funds and equivalent foreign interest rates or other changes to monetary policy or regulatory
actions may expose fixed-income markets to heightened volatility, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree, and to reduced liquidity for certain fixed-income investments, particularly those with longer maturities, when rates
increase. Such changes and resulting increased volatility may adversely impact the Fund, including its operations and return potential. It is difficult to predict the impact of interest rate changes on various markets. In
addition, decreases in fixed-income dealer market-making capacity may also potentially lead to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity in the fixed-income markets. As a result, the value of the Fund's investments and share
price may decline. Changes in central bank policies and other governmental actions and political events within the U.S. and abroad may also, among other things, affect investor and consumer expectations and confidence in the
financial markets. This could
result in higher than normal redemptions by APs (as defined herein), which could potentially increase the
Fund’s portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs.
Industry Concentration Risk. In following its methodology, the Underlying Index from time to time may be concentrated to a significant
degree in securities of issuers operating in a single industry or industry group. To the extent
that the Underlying Index concentrates in the securities of issuers in a particular industry or industry group, the Fund will also concentrate its investments to approximately the same extent. By concentrating its investments in an industry
or industry group, the Fund may face more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous industries or industry groups. Such industry-based risks, any of which may adversely affect the companies in which the
Fund invests, may include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions or cyclical market patterns that could negatively affect supply and demand in a particular industry; competition for resources;
adverse labor relations; political or world events; obsolescence of technologies; and increased competition or new product introductions that may affect the profitability or viability of companies in an industry. In
addition, at times, such industry or industry group may be out of favor and underperform other industries or the market as a whole.
Financials Sector Risk.
The Fund may be susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting the
financials sector. Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation
and, as a result, their profitability may be affected by new regulations or regulatory interpretations. Changes in interest rates can have a disproportionate effect on the financials sector, and financial services companies whose securities the
Fund may purchase may themselves have concentrated portfolios, which makes them vulnerable to
economic conditions that affect that sector. Financial services companies have also been affected by increased competition, which could adversely affect the profitability or viability of such companies.
Rule 144A Securities
Risk. The Fund may invest in securities that are normally purchased or resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Rule 144A securities are
restricted securities that are not publicly traded. As such, Rule 144A securities may be subject to legal restrictions on resale. Rule 144A securities are generally not traded on established markets and may be
illiquid, difficult to value and subject to wide fluctuations in value. Delay or difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to the Fund.
Call Risk. If interest rates fall, it is possible that
issuers of callable securities with high interest coupons will “call” (or prepay) their bonds before their maturity date. If an issuer exercises such a call during a period of declining interest rates,
the Fund may have to replace such called security with a lower yielding security. If that were to happen, the Fund’s net investment income could fall.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the
Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Reinvestment risk is greater during periods of declining interest rates, as prepayments often occur faster. It is related to call risk, since issuers of callable securities with high interest coupons may call their bonds before their maturity date.
This may require the Fund to reinvest the proceeds at an earlier date, and it may be able to do so only at lower yields, thereby reducing its return.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when a particular investment is difficult to purchase or sell. If the Fund invests in
illiquid securities or current portfolio securities become illiquid, it may reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.
Issuer-Specific Changes Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security may be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform differently from
the value of the market as a whole.
Sampling Risk. The Fund's use of a representative sampling methodology may result in it holding a smaller number of
securities than are