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.
Industry Concentration Risk. In following its methodology, the Underlying Index will be concentrated to a significant degree in
securities of issuers operating in a single industry or industry group. As a result, the Fund
will also concentrate its investments in such industries or industry groups to approximately the
same extent. By concentrating its investments in an industry or industry group, the Fund faces 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.
Semiconductors Industry Risk. The Fund will be sensitive to, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the semiconductors industry. Competitive pressures, intense competition, aggressive pricing,
technological developments, changing demand, research and development costs, fluctuations in the
availability and price of components and product obsolescence can significantly affect companies
operating in the semiconductors industry. Semiconductor companies depend significantly on third-party suppliers and the availability of raw materials and may be adversely affected by supply chain disruptions, which may
further impact industries that rely on semiconductor equipment. Additionally, the potential imposition and lack of resolution of trade tariffs may hinder the ability of semiconductor companies to successfully deploy
their inventories. Companies in this industry may also face increased risk from trade agreements between countries that develop semiconductor technologies and the countries in which customers of these technologies
are based. Semiconductor companies are vulnerable to wide fluctuations in securities prices due to
such global circumstances and may be negatively impacted as a result.
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. Equity
risk also includes the risk of large-capitalization companies, which may adapt more slowly to new competitive
challenges or may be more mature and subject to more limited growth potential, and consequently may
underperform other segments of the equity market or the market as a whole. 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.
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.
Non-Diversified Fund
Risk. The Fund is non-diversified and can invest a greater portion of its assets in the obligations or securities of a small number of issuers or any
single issuer than a diversified fund can. As a result, changes in the market value of a single investment could cause greater fluctuations in Share price than would occur in a diversified fund. This may increase the Fund's
volatility and cause the performance of a relatively small number of issuers to have a greater impact on the Fund's performance.
Foreign Exposure Risk. Although the Fund may invest in securities of companies listed on U.S. securities exchanges, the
international operations of those companies may create exposure to foreign markets where such
companies operate. The international operations of many companies expose them to risks associated with political, social or economic events in other countries or regions, which may include instability and changes in economic and
political conditions, foreign currency fluctuations, changes in foreign regulations, tariffs and trade disputes, competition from subsidized foreign competitors with lower production costs and other risks inherent to
international business.
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