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.
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.
Real Estate Sector Risk. The real estate sector contains
companies operating in real estate development and operation, as well as companies related to the
real estate sector, including REITs. Investments in securities of these companies are subject to risks such as: fluctuations in the value of the underlying properties; defaults by borrowers or tenants; market
saturation; changes in general and local economic conditions; decreases in market rates for rents; changes in the availability, cost and terms of mortgage funds; increased competition, property taxes, capital
expenditures, or operating expenses; and other economic, political or regulatory occurrences,
including the impact of changes in environmental laws. The real estate sector is particularly
sensitive to economic downturns and changes to interest rates.
REIT Risk. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that trade like stocks and invest substantially all of their assets in
real estate, and may qualify for special tax considerations. REITs are subject to certain risks inherent in the direct ownership of real estate, including without limitation, a possible lack of mortgage funds and
associated interest rate risks, overbuilding, property vacancies, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, losses due to environmental damages and changes in neighborhood values and appeal to purchasers.
Further, failure of a company to qualify as a REIT under federal tax law may have adverse
consequences to the REIT’s shareholders. In addition, REITs may have expenses, including
advisory and administration expenses, and REIT shareholders will incur a proportionate share of the underlying expenses.
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.
Mid-Capitalization Companies
Risk. Investing in securities of mid-capitalization companies typically involves greater risk than is associated with investing in securities of larger, more
established companies. Mid-capitalization companies’ securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger, more established companies and may have returns that vary, sometimes significantly, from
the overall securities market. Mid-capitalization companies may have less experienced management, more limited product and market diversification, and fewer financial resources compared to larger capitalization
companies. Often mid-capitalization companies and the industries in which they focus are still evolving and, as a result, they may be more sensitive to changing market conditions.
Investment in Investment Companies Risk.
Investing in other investment companies, including ETFs, subjects the Fund to those risks affecting the investment company, including the possibility that the value of the underlying securities held
by the investment company could decrease or the portfolio becomes illiquid. Moreover, the Fund will pay indirectly a proportional share of the fees and expenses of the investment companies in which it invests. Investments in
another ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of its shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF’s
shares.
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 valued assuming orderly transactions of institutional round lot size, but the Fund may hold or transact in the
same securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots often trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. Financial information related to securities of non-U.S. issuers may be less reliable than information related to
securities of U.S. issuers, which may make it difficult to obtain a current price for a non-U.S. security held by the Fund. When market quotations are not readily available or deemed non-representative of fair value for Fund
investments, those investments are fair