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.
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”). Certain changes in the U.S.
economy in particular, such as when the U.S. economy weakens or when its financial markets decline, may have a material adverse effect on global financial markets as a whole, and on the securities to which the Underlying Index has
exposure. Increasingly strained relations between the U.S. and foreign countries, including as a result of economic sanctions and tariffs, may also adversely affect U.S. issuers, as well as non-U.S. issuers.
During a general downturn in the financial markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that specific investments
held by the Underlying Index will rise in value.
Index Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund
does not utilize an investing strategy that seeks returns in excess of its Underlying Index.
Therefore, the Fund would not necessarily buy or sell a security unless that security is added to or removed from, respectively, its Underlying Index, even if that security generally is underperforming. Additionally, the Fund generally rebalances its
portfolio in accordance with its Underlying Index, and, therefore, any changes to its Underlying Index’s rebalance schedule will typically result in corresponding changes to the Fund’s rebalance schedule.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk. Investing in securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies involves greater risk than customarily is associated with investing in larger, more established companies. Stocks of small- and
mid-capitalization companies tend to be more vulnerable to changing market conditions, may have little or no operating history or track record of success, and may have more limited product lines and markets, less
experienced management and fewer financial resources than larger companies. These companies’ securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of more established companies. They may be more sensitive to
changes in a company’s earnings expectations and may experience more abrupt and erratic price movements. Smaller companies’ securities often trade in lower volumes and in many instances, are traded
over-the-counter or on a regional securities exchange, where the frequency and volume of trading is substantially less than is typical for securities of larger companies traded on national securities exchanges. Therefore, the securities
of smaller companies may be subject to wider price fluctuations and it might be harder for the Fund to dispose of its holdings at an acceptable price when it wants to sell them. Since small- and mid-capitalization companies
typically reinvest a high proportion of their earnings in their business, they may not pay dividends for some time, particularly if they are newer companies. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an
investment in a small- or mid-capitalization company, if any gain is realized at all.
Growth Investing Risk. The market values of growth
securities may be more volatile than other types of investments. The returns on growth securities
may or may not move in tandem with the returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results,
the value of its securities may decline sharply.
Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and
risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a
large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets.
Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth companies typically invest a high portion of their earnings back into their business and may lack the dividend yield that could cushion their decline in a market downturn. During
periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price and the securities of growth companies may underperform the
securities of value companies or the overall stock market. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation and the value of the Fund’s investments will vary and at
times may be lower than that of other types of investments.
Equity Risk. Equity risk is the risk that the value of
equity securities, including common stocks, may fall due to both changes in general economic
conditions that impact the market as a whole, as well as factors that directly relate to a specific company or its industry. Such general economic conditions include changes in interest rates, periods of market turbulence or instability, or general
and prolonged periods of economic decline and cyclical change. It is possible that a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks that the Fund holds. In addition, equity risk
includes the risk that investor sentiment toward one or more industries will become negative, resulting in those investors exiting their investments in those industries, which could cause a reduction in the value of
companies in those industries more broadly. The value of a company's common stock may fall solely because of factors, such as an increase in production costs, that negatively impact other companies in the same region, industry
or sector of the market. A company's common stock also may decline significantly in price over a
short period of time due to factors specific to that company, including decisions made by its
management or lower demand for the company's products or services. For example, an adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report or the failure to make anticipated dividend payments, may depress the value of
common stock.
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.
Issuer-Specific Changes Risk. The performance of the Fund depends on the performance of individual securities to which the Fund has exposure. The value of an individual
security or particular type of security may be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole, causing the value of the Fund’s securities to decline.
Valuation Risk. The price the Fund could receive upon the sale of a portfolio investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for
investments that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology. Fixed income securities are often