Prospectus
The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLC)
The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLY)
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLP)
The Energy Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLE)
The Financial Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLF)
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLV)
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLI)
The Materials Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLB)
The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLRE)
The Technology Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLK)
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLU)
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
January 31, 2023
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Shares in the Funds are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other agency of the U.S. Government, nor are Shares deposits or obligations of any bank. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Funds.


Table of Contents
Fund Summaries
 
1
9
17
25
33
41
49
57
65
74
82
91
93
107
113
114
116
Distributions
116
117
117
123
123
Back Cover


Fund Summaries
XLC
Investment Objective
The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Communication Services Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
1

Fund Summaries
XLC
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 21% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Communication Services companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: diversified telecommunication services; wireless telecommunication services; media; entertainment; and interactive media & services. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 25 stocks. 
2

Fund Summaries 
XLC 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Communication Services Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the communication services sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the communication services sector than a fund that is more diversified. Communication services companies are  
3

Fund Summaries 
XLC 
particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component  
4

Fund Summaries 
XLC 
securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index.  
5

Fund Summaries 
XLC 
The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com. 
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 22.54% (Q2, 2020)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -20.88% (Q2, 2022)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
6

Fund Summaries
XLC
 
One
Year
Since Inception
06/18/2018
Return Before Taxes
-37.65%
-0.04%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-37.79%
-0.24%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale
of Fund Shares
-22.16%
0.00%
Communication Services Select Sector Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or
taxes)
-37.66%
0.05%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for
fees, expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.32%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Kala O'Donnell.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Kala O'Donnell is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. She joined the Adviser in 1995.
7

Fund Summaries
XLC
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
8

Fund Summaries
XLY
Investment Objective
The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
9

Fund Summaries
XLY
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 22% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Consumer Discretionary companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: retail (specialty, multiline, internet and direct marketing); hotels, restaurants and leisure; textiles, apparel and luxury goods; household durables; automobiles; auto components; distributors; leisure products; and diversified consumer services. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single  
10

Fund Summaries 
XLY 
stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 56 stocks. 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time. 
11

Fund Summaries 
XLY 
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the consumer discretionary sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the consumer discretionary sector than a fund that is more diversified. The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its  
12

Fund Summaries 
XLY 
portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that  
13

Fund Summaries 
XLY 
includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com. 
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 30.61% (Q2, 2020)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -25.51% (Q2, 2022)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
14

Fund Summaries
XLY
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
-36.24%
6.63%
11.90%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-36.38%
6.36%
11.56%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
-21.34%
5.19%
9.87%
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or
taxes)
-36.23%
6.76%
12.07%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Kala O'Donnell.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Kala O'Donnell is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. She joined the Adviser in 1995.
15

Fund Summaries
XLY
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
16

Fund Summaries
XLP
Investment Objective
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
17

Fund Summaries
XLP
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Consumer Staples companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: food and staples retailing; household products; food products; beverages; tobacco; and personal products. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 33 stocks. 
18

Fund Summaries 
XLP 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the consumer staples sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the consumer staples sector than a fund that is more diversified. Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation  
19

Fund Summaries 
XLP 
affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies' performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal product companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund  
20

Fund Summaries 
XLP 
may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded  
21

Fund Summaries 
XLP 
in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com. 
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 14.59% (Q1, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -12.99% (Q1, 2020)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
22

Fund Summaries
XLP
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
-0.82%
8.44%
10.76%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-1.46%
7.70%
10.02%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
-0.14%
6.49%
8.69%
Consumer Staples Select Sector Index (reflects
no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-0.70%
8.59%
10.94%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Dwayne Hancock.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Dwayne Hancock, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
23

Fund Summaries
XLP
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
24

Fund Summaries
XLE
Investment Objective
The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Energy Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
25

Fund Summaries
XLE
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Energy companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: oil, gas and consumable fuels; and energy equipment and services. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 23 stocks. 
26

Fund Summaries 
XLE 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Energy Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the energy sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the energy sector than a fund that is more diversified. Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices  
27

Fund Summaries 
XLE 
and supply and demand of energy fuels. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves. Oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities  
28

Fund Summaries 
XLE 
holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded  
29

Fund Summaries 
XLE 
in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com. 
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 38.97% (Q1, 2022)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -50.72% (Q1, 2020)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
30

Fund Summaries
XLE
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
64.42%
9.12%
5.90%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
62.80%
7.83%
4.95%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
39.01%
6.73%
4.40%
Energy Select Sector Index (reflects no
deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
64.56%
9.25%
6.03%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Ted Janowsky.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Ted Janowsky, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He joined the Adviser in 2005.
31

Fund Summaries
XLE
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
32

Fund Summaries
XLF
Investment Objective
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Financial Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
33

Fund Summaries
XLF
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Financial companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: diversified financial services; insurance; banks; capital markets; mortgage real estate investment trusts (REITs); consumer finance; and thrifts and mortgage finance. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 67 stocks. 
34

Fund Summaries 
XLF 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Financial Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the financial sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the financial sector than a fund that is more diversified. Financial services companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which may  
35

Fund Summaries 
XLF 
limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. Certain events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity securities), or cease operations. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers and financial losses associated with investment activities can negatively impact the sector. Insurance companies may be subject to severe price competition. Adverse economic, business or political developments could adversely affect financial institutions engaged in mortgage finance or other lending or investing activities directly or indirectly connected to the value of real estate. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable  
36

Fund Summaries 
XLF 
than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a  
37

Fund Summaries 
XLF 
result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 23.15% (Q4, 2020)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -31.94% (Q1, 2020)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not
38

Fund Summaries
XLF
relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
-10.56%
6.29%
12.02%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-10.99%
5.77%
11.15%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
-5.95%
4.85%
9.85%
Financial Select Sector Index (reflects no
deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-10.53%
6.42%
12.16%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Karl Schneider, Dwayne Hancock and Kala O'Donnell.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Dwayne Hancock, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Kala O'Donnell is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. She joined the Adviser in 1995.
39

Fund Summaries
XLF
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
40

Fund Summaries
XLV
Investment Objective
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Health Care Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
41

Fund Summaries
XLV
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 2% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Health Care companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: pharmaceuticals; health care equipment and supplies; health care providers and services; biotechnology; life sciences tools and services; and health care technology. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 64 stocks. 
42

Fund Summaries 
XLV 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Health Care Sector Risk:  The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the health care sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the health care sector than a fund that is more diversified. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government  
43

Fund Summaries 
XLV 
regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund  
44

Fund Summaries 
XLV 
and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods  
45

Fund Summaries 
XLV 
compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com. 
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 15.70% (Q1, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -12.69% (Q1, 2020)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
46

Fund Summaries
XLV
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
-2.05%
12.37%
14.88%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-2.41%
11.89%
14.42%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
-0.98%
9.79%
12.47%
Health Care Select Sector Index (reflects no
deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-1.95%
12.52%
15.05%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Dwayne Hancock.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Dwayne Hancock, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
47

Fund Summaries
XLV
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
48

Fund Summaries
XLI
Investment Objective
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Industrial Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
49

Fund Summaries
XLI
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Industrial companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: aerospace and defense; industrial conglomerates; marine; transportation infrastructure; machinery; road and rail; air freight and logistics; commercial services and supplies; professional services; electrical equipment; construction and engineering; trading companies and distributors; airlines; and building products. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single  
50

Fund Summaries 
XLI 
stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 71 stocks. 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time. 
51

Fund Summaries 
XLI 
Industrial Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the industrial sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the industrial sector than a fund that is more diversified.  Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in, aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, a component of the industrial sector, are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and  
52

Fund Summaries 
XLI 
risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
53

Fund Summaries 
XLI 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 19.21% (Q4, 2022)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -27.09% (Q1, 2020)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements,
54

Fund Summaries
XLI
such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
-5.54%
7.27%
12.10%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-5.93%
6.81%
11.58%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
-3.04%
5.63%
9.95%
Industrial Select Sector Index (reflects no
deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-5.48%
7.42%
12.28%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider, Emiliano Rabinovich and Amy Cheng.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
55

Fund Summaries
XLI
Emiliano Rabinovich, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He joined the Adviser in 2006.
Amy Cheng is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. She joined the Adviser in 2000.
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
56

Fund Summaries
XLI
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
57

Fund Summaries
XLB
Investment Objective
The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Materials Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
58

Fund Summaries
XLB
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 2% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Materials companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging; and construction materials. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 28 stocks. 
59

Fund Summaries 
XLB 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Materials Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the materials sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the materials sector than a fund that is more diversified. Many materials companies are significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity  
60

Fund Summaries 
XLB 
prices, exchange rates, import controls, worldwide competition, environmental policies and consumer demand. At times, worldwide production of industrial materials has exceeded demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns or losses. Other risks may include liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control. The materials sector may also be affected by economic cycles, technical progress, labor relations, and government regulations. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund  
61

Fund Summaries 
XLB 
also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded  
62

Fund Summaries 
XLB 
in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com. 
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 25.79% (Q2, 2020)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -26.25% (Q1, 2020)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
63

Fund Summaries
XLB
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
-12.31%
7.31%
9.77%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-12.78%
6.78%
9.21%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
-6.96%
5.66%
7.89%
Materials Select Sector Index (reflects no
deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-12.27%
7.38%
9.88%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Ted Janowsky.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Ted Janowsky, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He joined the Adviser in 2005.
64

Fund Summaries
XLB
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
65

Fund Summaries
XLRE
Investment Objective
The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Real Estate Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
66

Fund Summaries
XLRE
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Real Estate companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: real estate management and development and real estate investment trusts (REITs), excluding mortgage REITs. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 31 stocks. 
67

Fund Summaries 
XLRE 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Real Estate Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the real estate sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the real estate sector than a fund that is more diversified. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated  
68

Fund Summaries 
XLRE 
with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property. 
REIT Risk: REITs are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities of real property companies. In particular, REITs may be affected by changes in the values of the underlying properties that they own or operate. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, and their investments may be concentrated in relatively few properties, or in a small geographic area or a single property type. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and, as a result, are particularly reliant on the proper functioning of capital markets. A variety of economic and other factors may adversely affect a lessee's ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a lessor and may incur substantial costs associated in protecting its investments. In addition, a REIT could fail to qualify for favorable tax or regulatory treatment. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform  
69

Fund Summaries 
XLRE 
a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified  
70

Fund Summaries 
XLRE 
funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 17.50% (Q4, 2021)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -19.29% (Q1, 2020)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific
71

Fund Summaries
XLRE
tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Since Inception
10/07/2015
Return Before Taxes
-26.20%
5.80%
6.56%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-27.12%
4.50%
5.12%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
and Sale of Fund Shares
-15.37%
4.01%
4.53%
Real Estate Select Sector Index
(reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-26.13%
5.93%
6.70%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction
for fees, expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
11.53%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Amy Cheng.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
72

Fund Summaries
XLRE
Amy Cheng is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. She joined the Adviser in 2000.
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you. Some distributions may be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes. Certain capital gain dividends attributable to dividends the Fund receives from U.S. REITs may be taxable to noncorporate shareholders at a rate other than the generally applicable reduced rates.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training
73

Fund Summaries
XLRE
programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
74

Fund Summaries
XLK
Investment Objective
The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Technology Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
75

Fund Summaries
XLK
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Information Technology companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: technology hardware, storage, and peripherals; software; communications equipment; semiconductors and semiconductor equipment; IT services; and electronic equipment, instruments and components. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications  
76

Fund Summaries 
XLK 
may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 75 stocks. 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time. 
77

Fund Summaries 
XLK 
Technology Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the technology sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the technology sector than a fund that is more diversified. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction  
78

Fund Summaries 
XLK 
of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
79

Fund Summaries 
XLK 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 30.43% (Q2, 2020)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -19.70% (Q2, 2022)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements,
80

Fund Summaries
XLK
such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
-27.71%
15.56%
17.41%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-27.88%
15.25%
17.01%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
-16.27%
12.53%
14.77%
Technology Select Sector Index (reflects no
deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-27.64%
15.75%
17.62%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Karl Schneider, David Chin and Kala O'Donnell.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
David Chin is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He joined the Adviser in 1999.
Kala O'Donnell is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. She joined the Adviser in 1995.
81

Fund Summaries
XLK
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
82

Fund Summaries
XLU
Investment Objective
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Utilities Select Sector Index (the Index).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (Fund Shares). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees
0.03%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees1
0.02%
Other expenses
0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1
0.10%
1
The Fund's “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses”have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 10
$10
$32
$56
$128
83

Fund Summaries
XLU
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index includes companies that have been identified as Utilities companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities of companies from the following industries: electric utilities; water utilities; multi-utilities; independent power and renewable electricity producers; and gas utilities. The Index is one of eleven Select Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (S&P DJI) based on a proprietary modified market capitalization methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code or IRC). As of November 30, 2022, the Index was composed of 30 stocks. 
84

Fund Summaries 
XLU 
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the Index Compilation Agent). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the Index Provider). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. 
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Utilities Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the utilities sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the utilities sector than a fund that is more diversified. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation,  
85

Fund Summaries 
XLU 
environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company's earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability. 
Among the risks that may affect utility companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes. 
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the net asset value per share (premium) or less than the net asset  
86

Fund Summaries 
XLU 
value per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. 
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk: The Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When there are changes made to the component securities of the Index and the Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in the Index. The Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may  
87

Fund Summaries 
XLU 
be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies. 
Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. The Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking the Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). 
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index and the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a well-known, broad-based securities market index that includes common stocks of approximately 500 companies from a number of sectors representing a significant portion of the market value of all stocks publicly traded in the United States. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-732-8673 or visiting our website at www.sectorspdr.com. 
88

Fund Summaries 
XLU 
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)
Highest Quarterly Return: 15.47% (Q1, 2016)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -13.53% (Q1, 2020)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ending 12/31/22)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
89

Fund Summaries
XLU
 
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Return Before Taxes
1.44%
9.44%
10.92%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
0.71%
8.60%
10.02%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
1.31%
7.33%
8.79%
Utilities Select Sector Index (reflects no
deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.57%
9.59%
11.10%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
-18.11%
9.42%
12.56%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Dwayne Hancock.
Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He worked at the Adviser from 1997 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010. Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the Fund.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Dwayne Hancock, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
90

Fund Summaries
XLU
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as Creation Units. Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the Exchange), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value (NAV), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund Shares (ask) (the bid-ask spread). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.sectorspdr.com.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
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Principal Strategies
Please see each Fund's The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy section under Fund Summaries for a complete discussion of each Fund's principal investment strategies. A Fund may invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment techniques which are not the principal focus of the Fund. Some of these are described below under Non-Principal Strategies and others are not described in this Prospectus. These other securities, techniques and practices, together with their associated risks, are described in the Statement of Additional Information (the SAI), which you may obtain free of charge by contacting the Distributor (see the back cover of this Prospectus for the address and phone number).
The Adviser seeks to track the performance of a Fund's Index as closely as possible (i.e., obtain a high degree of correlation with the Index). A number of factors may affect a Fund's ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with its Index, and there can be no guarantee that a Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. For example, a Fund may not be able to achieve a high degree of correlation with its Index when there are practical difficulties or substantial costs involved in compiling a portfolio of securities to follow the Index, when a security in the Index becomes temporarily illiquid, unavailable or less liquid, or legal restrictions exist that prohibit the Fund from investing in a security in the Index.
While normally each Fund employs a replication strategy to track the performance of its Index, under various circumstances it may not be possible or practical to purchase all of the securities in the benchmark Index for a Fund, or amounts of such securities in proportion to their weighting in the Index, such as when there are practical difficulties or substantial costs involved in compiling a portfolio of securities to follow the Index; in instances when a security in the Index becomes temporarily illiquid, unavailable or less liquid; or due to legal restrictions (such as diversification requirements that apply to the Fund but not the Index). Under such circumstances, the Adviser intends to employ a sampling strategy in managing such Fund. Sampling means that the Adviser uses quantitative analysis to select securities, including securities in the Index, outside of the Index and derivatives that have a similar investment profile as the relevant Index in terms of key risk factors, performance attributes and other economic characteristics. These include industry weightings, market capitalization, and other financial characteristics of securities. The quantity of holdings in a Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. In addition, from time to time, securities are added to or removed from each Index. The Adviser may sell securities that are represented in an Index, or purchase securities that are not yet represented in an Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to an Index. Further,
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the Adviser may choose to overweight securities in an Index, purchase or sell securities not in an Index, or utilize various combinations of other available techniques, in seeking to track an Index.
The Select Sector SPDR Trust's (the Trust) Board of Trustees (the Board) may change a Fund's investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or in the SAI. The Board may not change a Fund's investment objective without shareholder approval.
Non-Principal Strategies
Certain Other Investments. Each Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Fund's Index, convertible securities, variable rate demand notes, commercial paper, structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors such as the movement of a particular security or index), swaps and options and futures contracts. Swaps, options and futures contracts, convertible securities and structured notes may be used by a Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
Temporary Defensive Positions. In certain situations or market conditions, a Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies provided that the alternative is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is in the best interest of the Fund. For example, a Fund may make larger than normal investments in derivatives to maintain exposure to its Index if it is unable to invest directly in a component security, or if a derivative investment may provide higher liquidity than other types of investments. Consequently, under such circumstances, such Fund may invest in a different mix of investments than it would under normal circumstances.
Borrowing Money. Each Fund may borrow money from a bank up to a limit of 10% of the value of its assets, but only for temporary or emergency purposes.
Lending of Securities. Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 40% of the value of its net assets via a securities lending program through its securities lending agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company (State Street or the Lending Agent), to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions desiring to borrow securities to complete transactions and for other purposes. A securities lending program allows a Fund to receive a portion of the income generated by lending its securities and investing the respective collateral. A Fund will receive collateral for each loaned security which is at least equal to the market value of that security, marked to market each trading day. To the extent a Fund receives cash collateral, as of the date of this Prospectus, the Adviser expects to invest such cash collateral in a fund managed by the Adviser that invests in: a broad range of money market instruments; certificates of deposit and time deposits of U.S. and foreign banks; commercial paper and other high quality
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obligations of U.S. or foreign companies; asset-backed securities; mortgage-related securities; repurchase agreements; and shares of money market funds. In the securities lending program, the borrower generally has the right to vote the loaned securities; however, a Fund may call loans to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the Fund's economic interest in the investment is to be voted upon. Security loans may be terminated at any time by a Fund.
The following section provides information regarding the principal risks identified under Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund in each Fund Summary along with additional risk information.
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Principal Risks
The table below identifies the principal risks of investing in each Fund.
The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC)
The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY)
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP)
The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE)
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV)
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI)
The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB)
The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE)
The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK)
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU)
Fund Name
XLC
XLY
XLP
XLE
XLF
XLV
XLI
XLB
XLRE
XLK
XLU
Communication Services
Sector Risk
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Discretionary
Sector Risk
 
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Staples Sector
Risk
 
 
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy Sector Risk
 
 
 
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity Investing Risk
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Financial Sector Risk
 
 
 
 
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fluctuation of Net Asset
Value, Share Premiums and
Discounts Risk
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Health Care Sector Risk
 
 
 
 
 
x
 
 
 
 
 
Indexing Strategy/Index
Tracking Risk
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Industrial Sector Risk
 
 
 
 
 
 
x
 
 
 
 
Large-Capitalization
Securities Risk
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Market Risk
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Materials Sector Risk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
x
 
 
 
Non-Diversification Risk
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Real Estate Sector Risk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
x
 
 
REIT Risk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
x
 
 
Technology Sector Risk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
x
 
Utilities Sector Risk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
x
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Communication Services Sector Risk. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies' performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal products companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.
Energy Sector Risk. Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels caused by geopolitical events, energy conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, the success of exploration projects, weather or meteorological events, taxes, increased governmental or environmental regulation, resource depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, or terrorist threats or attacks, among others. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of
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debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves through exploration of new sources of supply, through the development of existing sources, through acquisitions, or through long-term contracts to acquire reserves. Factors adversely affecting producers, refiners, distributors, or others in the energy sector may affect adversely companies that service or supply those entities, either because demand for those services or products is curtailed, or those services or products come under price pressure.
Equity Investing Risk. The market prices of equity securities owned by a Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services. The values of equity securities also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Financial Sector Risk. Financial services companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. Certain events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity securities), or cease operations. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers and financial losses associated with investment activities can negatively impact the sector. Insurance companies may be subject to severe price competition. Adverse economic, business or political developments could adversely affect financial institutions engaged in mortgage finance or other lending or investing activities directly or indirectly connected to the value of real estate. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's exposure to real estate securities is limited to mortgage REITs.
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Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk. The net asset value of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of a Fund's securities holdings. The market prices of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in a Fund's net asset value and supply and demand of Fund Shares on the Exchange. It cannot be predicted whether Fund Shares will trade below, at or above their net asset value. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for Fund Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities of an Index trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. The market prices of Fund Shares may deviate significantly from the net asset value of Fund Shares during periods of market volatility. However, given that Fund Shares can be created and redeemed in Creation Units (unlike shares of many closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset value), the Adviser believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of Fund Shares should not be sustained over long periods. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that Fund Shares normally will trade close to a Fund's net asset value, disruptions to creations and redemptions or market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from such Fund's net asset value. If an investor purchases Fund Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value of Fund Shares or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the net asset value of Fund Shares, then the investor may sustain losses.
Health Care Sector Risk. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
Indexing Strategy/Index Tracking Risk. Each Fund is managed with an indexing investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities. Each Fund will seek to replicate Index returns, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising
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the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. Each Fund generally will buy and will not sell a security included in the Index as long as the security is part of the Index regardless of any sudden or material decline in value or foreseeable material decline in value of the security, even though the Adviser may make a different investment decision for other actively managed accounts or portfolios that hold the security. As a result, a Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of an Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index (in absolute terms and by comparison with other indices) and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of a Fund. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on a Fund and its shareholders. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), a Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. Each Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, a Fund may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. Changes in the composition of the Index and regulatory requirements also may impact a Fund's ability to match the return of the Index. Index tracking risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
Pursuant to the applicable Index methodology, a security may be removed from an Index in the event that it does not comply with the eligibility requirements of the Index. As a result, a Fund may be forced to sell securities at inopportune times and/or unfavorable prices due to these changes in its Index components. When there are changes made to the component securities of an Index and the applicable Fund in turn makes similar changes to its portfolio to attempt to increase the correlation between such Fund's portfolio and its Index, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio changes will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled changes to an Index may expose a Fund to additional tracking error risk. Each Fund may recognize gains as a result of rebalancing or reconstituting its securities holdings to reflect changes in the securities included in its Index. A Fund also may be required to distribute any such gains to its shareholders to avoid adverse federal income tax consequences.
Industrial Sector Risk. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies.
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Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in, aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, a component of the industrial sector, are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk. Securities issued by large-capitalization companies may present risks not present in smaller companies. For example, larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies, especially during strong economic periods. Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies.
Market Risk. Market prices of investments held by a Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile, and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors, including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers and general market liquidity. Even if general economic conditions do not change, the value of an investment in a Fund could decline if the particular industries, sectors or companies in which the Fund invests do not perform well or are adversely affected by events. Further, legal, political, regulatory and tax changes also may cause fluctuations in markets and securities prices. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on a Fund and its investments.
An outbreak of a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (known as COVID-19) first detected in China in December 2019 has resulted in a global pandemic and major disruptions to economies and markets around the world, including the United States. Although vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the duration of the pandemic and its effects cannot be predicted with certainty. COVID-19 has contributed to, and may continue to contribute to, market volatility, inflation, reduced liquidity of certain instruments,
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and systemic economic weakness, and trading in many instruments was and may continue to be disrupted as a result. In addition, the transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international border closings, enhanced health screenings, strained healthcare systems and increased healthcare expenses, quarantines and other restrictions on business and personal activities, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and consumer activity, as well as general public concern and uncertainty. Governments and central banks, including the Federal Reserve in the United States, have taken extraordinary and unprecedented actions to support local and global economies and the financial markets. The impact of these measures, and whether they will be effective to mitigate the economic and market disruption, will not be known for some time. The foregoing could impact a Fund and its investments and result in disruptions to the services provided to a Fund by its service providers.
Materials Sector Risk. Many materials companies are significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity prices, exchange rates, import controls, worldwide competition, environmental policies and consumer demand. At times, worldwide production of industrial materials has exceeded demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns or losses. Other risks may include liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control. The materials sector may also be affected by economic cycles, technical progress, labor relations, and government regulations.
Non-Diversification Risk. As a non-diversified fund, each Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent a Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds. A Fund may become diversified for periods of time solely as a result of tracking its corresponding Index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities).
Real Estate Sector Risk. There are special risks associated with investment in securities of companies engaged in real property markets, including without limitation REITs and real estate operating companies. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. An investment in a real property company is subject to additional risks, such as poor performance by the manager of the real property company, adverse changes in tax laws, difficulties in valuing and disposing of real estate, and the effect of
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general declines in stock prices. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property. Also, the organizational documents of a real property company may contain provisions that make changes in control of the company difficult and time-consuming. As a shareholder in a real property company, the Fund, and indirectly the Fund's shareholders, would bear their ratable shares of the real property company's expenses and would at the same time continue to pay their own fees and expenses.
REIT Risk. REITs are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities of real property companies. In particular, REITs may be affected by changes in the values of the underlying properties that they own or operate. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, and their investments may be concentrated in relatively few properties, or in a small geographic area or a single property type. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and, as a result, are particularly reliant on the proper functioning of capital markets, as well as defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. A variety of economic and other factors may adversely affect a lessee's ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, a REIT could possibly fail to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, or to maintain its exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act, which could have adverse consequences for a Fund. Investments in REITs are also subject to the risks affecting equity markets generally.
Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
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Utilities Sector Risk. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors, rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company's earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.
Among the risks that may affect utility companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes.
Non-Principal Risks
Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. A Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants (APs), which are responsible for the creation and redemption activity for a Fund. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Fund Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.
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Conflicts of Interest Risk. An investment in a Fund will be subject to a number of actual or potential conflicts of interest. For example, the Adviser or its affiliates may provide services to a Fund, such as securities lending agency services, custodial, administrative, bookkeeping, and accounting services, transfer agency and shareholder servicing, securities brokerage services, and other services for which the Fund would compensate the Adviser and/or such affiliates. The Funds may invest in other pooled investment vehicles sponsored, managed, or otherwise affiliated with the Adviser. There is no assurance that the rates at which a Fund pays fees or expenses to the Adviser or its affiliates, or the terms on which it enters into transactions with the Adviser or its affiliates will be the most favorable available in the market generally or as favorable as the rates the Adviser or its affiliates make available to other clients. Because of its financial interest, the Adviser will have an incentive to enter into transactions or arrangements on behalf of a Fund with itself or its affiliates in circumstances where it might not have done so in the absence of that interest, provided that the Adviser will comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
The Adviser and its affiliates serve as investment adviser to other clients and may make investment decisions that may be different from those that will be made by the Adviser on behalf of the Funds. For example, the Adviser may provide asset allocation advice to some clients that may include a recommendation to invest in or redeem from particular issuers while not providing that same recommendation to all clients invested in the same or similar issuers. The Adviser may (subject to applicable law) be simultaneously seeking to purchase (or sell) investments for a Fund and to sell (or purchase) the same investment for accounts, funds, or structured products for which it serves as asset manager, or for other clients or affiliates. The Adviser and its affiliates may invest for clients in various securities that are senior, pari passu or junior to, or have interests different from or adverse to, the securities that are owned by a Fund. The Adviser or its affiliates, in connection with its other business activities, may acquire material nonpublic confidential information that may restrict the Adviser from purchasing securities or selling securities for itself or its clients (including the Funds) or otherwise using such information for the benefit of its clients or itself.
The foregoing does not purport to be a comprehensive list or complete explanation of all potential conflicts of interests which may affect a Fund. A Fund may encounter circumstances, or enter into transactions, in which conflicts of interest that are not listed or discussed above may arise.
Costs of Buying and Selling Shares. Investors buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers, as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of Fund Shares. In addition, secondary
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market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price that an investor is willing to pay for Fund Shares (the bid price) and the price at which an investor is willing to sell Fund Shares (the ask price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the spread or bid/ask spread. The bid/ask spread varies over time for Fund Shares based on trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if Fund Shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if Fund Shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, increased market volatility may cause increased bid/ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling Fund Shares, including bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of Fund Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Fund Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
Cybersecurity Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform business and operational functions, funds (such as the Funds) and their service providers (including the Adviser) may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions. In general, cyber-attacks are deliberate, but unintentional events may have similar effects. Cyber-attacks include, among others, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, preventing legitimate users from accessing information or services on a website, releasing confidential information without authorization, and causing operational disruption. Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, a Fund, the Adviser, a sub-adviser or a custodian, transfer agent, or other affiliated or third-party service provider may adversely affect a Fund or its shareholders. For instance, cyber-attacks or technical malfunctions may interfere with the processing of shareholder or other transactions, affect a Fund's ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential Fund information, impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject a Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and additional compliance costs. Cyber-attacks or technical malfunctions may render records of Fund assets and transactions, shareholder ownership of Fund Shares, and other data integral to the functioning of a Fund inaccessible or inaccurate or incomplete. A Fund may also incur substantial costs for cybersecurity risk management in order to prevent cyber incidents in the future. A Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. While the Adviser has established a business continuity plan and systems designed to minimize the risk of cyber-attacks through the use of technology, processes and controls, there are inherent limitations in such plan and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified, given the evolving nature of this threat. Each Fund relies on third-party service providers for many of its day-to-day operations, and will be subject to the risk that the protections and protocols implemented by those service providers will be ineffective to protect the Fund
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from cyber-attack. The Adviser does not control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by third-party service providers, and such third-party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Adviser or the Funds. Similar types of cybersecurity risks or technical malfunctions also are present for issuers of securities in which each Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause a Fund's investment in such securities to lose value.
Derivatives Risk. A derivative is a financial contract the value of which depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, interest rate, or index. Derivative transactions typically involve leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a loss greater than the principal amount invested, and a Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. Risks associated with derivative instruments include potential changes in value in response to interest rate changes or other market developments or as a result of the counterparty's credit quality; the potential for the derivative transaction not to have the effect the Adviser anticipated or a different or less favorable effect than the Adviser anticipated; the failure of the counterparty to the derivative transaction to perform its obligations under the transaction or to settle a trade; possible mispricing or improper valuation of the derivative instrument; imperfect correlation in the value of a derivative with the asset, rate, or index underlying the derivative; the risk that a Fund may be required to post collateral or margin with its counterparty, and will not be able to recover the collateral or margin in the event of the counterparty's insolvency or bankruptcy; the risk that a Fund will experience losses on its derivatives investments and on its other portfolio investments, even when the derivatives investments may be intended in part or entirely to hedge those portfolio investments; the risks specific to the asset underlying the derivative instrument; lack of liquidity for the derivative instrument, including without limitation absence of a secondary trading market; the potential for reduced returns to a Fund due to losses on the transaction and an increase in volatility; the potential for the derivative transaction to have the effect of accelerating the recognition of gain; and legal risks arising from the documentation relating to the derivative transaction.
Index Licensing Risk. It is possible that the license under which the Adviser or a Fund is permitted to replicate or otherwise use an Index will be terminated or may be disputed, impaired or cease to remain in effect. In such a case, the Adviser may be required to replace the relevant Index with another index which it considers to be appropriate in light of the investment strategy of a Fund. The use of any such substitute index may have an adverse impact on a Fund's performance. In the event that the Adviser is unable to identify a suitable replacement for the relevant Index, it may determine to terminate a Fund.
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Money Market Risk. An investment in a money market fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds seek to preserve the value of their shares at $1.00 per share, although there can be no assurance that they will do so, and it is possible to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. A major or unexpected change in interest rates or a decline in the credit quality of an issuer or entity providing credit support, an inactive trading market for money market instruments, or adverse market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions could cause the share price of such a money market fund to fall below $1.00. It is possible that such a money market fund will issue and redeem shares at $1.00 per share at times when the fair value of the money market fund's portfolio per share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street, State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), SSGA FM or their affiliates (State Street Entities) guarantee the value of an investment in a money market fund at $1.00 per share. Investors should have no expectation of capital support to a money market fund from State Street Entities. Other money market funds price and transact at a floating NAV that will fluctuate along with changes in the market-based value of fund assets. Shares sold utilizing a floating NAV may be worth more or less than their original purchase price. Recent changes in the regulation of money market funds may affect the operations and structures of money market funds. A money market fund may be permitted or required to impose redemption fees or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
Securities Lending Risk. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value of up to 40% of its net assets. For these purposes, net assets shall exclude the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan. Such loans may be terminated at any time. Any such loans must be continuously secured by collateral maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by a Fund. In a loan transaction, as compensation for lending its securities, a Fund will receive a portion of the dividends or interest accrued on the securities held as collateral or, in the case of cash collateral, a portion of the income from the investment of such cash. In addition, a Fund will receive the amount of all dividends, interest and other distributions on the loaned securities. However, the borrower has the right to vote the loaned securities. A Fund will call loans to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the investment is to be voted upon. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, a Fund may experience delays in recovering the securities or exercising its rights in the collateral. Loans are made only to borrowers that are deemed by the securities lending agent to be of good financial standing. In a loan transaction, a Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral. A Fund will
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attempt to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to high quality instruments of short maturity. The Adviser will take into account the tax impact to shareholders of substitute payments for dividends when overseeing a Fund's securities lending activity.
Trading Issues. Although Fund Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange and may be listed or traded on U.S. and non-U.S. stock exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such Fund Shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Fund Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Fund Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Fund Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to Exchange circuit breaker rules. Similar to the shares of operating companies listed on a stock exchange, Fund Shares may be sold short and are therefore subject to the risk of increased volatility in the trading price of the Fund's shares. While each Fund expects that the ability of Authorized Participants to create and redeem Fund Shares at net asset value should be effective in reducing any such volatility, there is no guarantee that it will eliminate the volatility associated with such short sales. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of a Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged or that Fund Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange.
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to each Fund and, subject to the oversight of the Board, is responsible for the investment management of each Fund. The Adviser provides an investment management program for each Fund and manages the investment of each Fund's assets. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Global Advisors, Inc., which itself is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. The Adviser is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser and certain other affiliates of State Street Corporation make up SSGA. SSGA is one of the world's largest institutional money managers and the investment management arm of State Street Corporation. As of September 30, 2022, the Adviser managed approximately $768.42 billion in assets and SSGA managed approximately $3.26 trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal business address is One Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.
For the services provided to the Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreement, each Fund pays the Adviser a fee accrued daily and payable monthly based on the Trust's average daily net assets at the following annual rates: 0.05% of the first $12.5 billion of average daily net assets of the Trust, 0.04% of the next $17.5 billion of average daily net assets of the Trust, 0.035% of the next $20.0 billion
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of average daily net assets of the Trust, 0.03% of the next $50.0 billion of average daily net assets of the Trust, 0.0285% of the next $50.0 billion of average daily net assets of the Trust, 0.0271% of the next $50.0 billion of average daily net assets of the Trust, and 0.0256% thereafter. The advisory fee is allocated to each Fund pro rata based upon the net assets of each Fund. For the services provided to each Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the fee paid to the Adviser was equivalent to an effective rate of 0.0305% of each applicable Fund's average daily net assets.
From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its management fee, although it does not currently intend to do so.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board's approval of the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement for all Funds is available in the Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.
Portfolio Managers.
The Adviser manages the Funds using a team of investment professionals. The team approach is used to create an environment that encourages the flow of investment ideas. The portfolio managers within each team work together in a cohesive manner to develop and enhance techniques that drive the investment process for the respective investment strategy. This approach requires portfolio managers to share a variety of responsibilities, including investment strategy and analysis, while retaining responsibility for the implementation of the strategy within any particular portfolio. The approach also enables the team to draw upon the resources of other groups within SSGA. Each portfolio management team is overseen by the SSGA Investment Committee.
The table below identifies the professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund:
Portfolio Managers
Fund
Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Amy
Cheng
The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund
Karl Schneider, David Chin and Kala
O'Donnell
The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund
Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Dwayne
Hancock
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund, The Health Care Select Sector
SPDR Fund, The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund
Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Ted
Janowsky
The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund, The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund
Karl Schneider, Dwayne Hancock and Kala
O'Donnell
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund
Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider and Kala
O'Donnell
The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund, The Consumer
Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund
Michael Feehily, Karl Schneider, Emiliano
Rabinovich and Amy Cheng
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund
Amy Cheng
Amy Cheng is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. Within this group, she is the strategy leader for alternative asset equities. She is responsible for the
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management of various domestic, international and emerging market equity index strategies, including listed real estate securities and commodities. Prior to joining the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group in 2008, Ms. Cheng worked in SSGA's Implementation Group, where she performed the day-to-day management of active developed and emerging market equity portfolios. She also worked as an operations associate responsible for funds managed by the active international equities team. Prior to joining SSGA in 2000, Ms. Cheng worked at Mellon Financial. Ms. Cheng earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of Rochester and a Master of Business Administration from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. She is a member of the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Real Estate Index Series Americas Regional Advisory Committee.
David Chin
David Chin is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. He is responsible for managing a full range of equity index and tax-efficient products. Prior to joining SSGA in 1999, Mr. Chin worked at Frank Russell Company, OneSource Information Systems, and PanAgora Asset Management. Mr. Chin has been working in the investment management field since 1992. Mr. Chin holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Massachusetts/Boston and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arizona.
Michael Feehily
Effective March 1, 2023, Mr. Feehily will no longer serve as a portfolio manager. Michael Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and the Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in the Americas. He is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team and is a voting member on the firm's Trade Management Oversight Committee and the North America Product Committee. In his current role, Mr. Feehily is responsible for overseeing the Global Equity Beta Solutions portfolio management team in the Boston office and helping lead the strategic direction of the business. In addition, he contributes to developing new business opportunities, consulting with clients, and running day-to-day business operations. Mr. Feehily rejoined SSGA in 2010 after spending four years in State Street Global Markets, LLC, where he helped to build the Global Exposure Solutions business. This group created and managed portfolios that were designed to meet the short-term market exposure needs of institutional clients. Prior to this, Mr. Feehily had been Head of the U.S. Passive Equity Team within SSGA, which he originally joined in 1997. He began his career at State Street in 1993 within the Global Services division, where he was a member of the Performance & Analytics team and was one of the founding members of the firm's Private Edge business, which helped to analyze clients' private market investments such as venture capital, corporate finance, and real estate. Mr. Feehily received a Bachelor of Science
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from Babson College in Finance, Investments, and Economics. He received a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Bentley College and also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Mr. Feehily is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Boston, Inc. He is also a former member of the FTSE/Russell Index Client Advisory Board and the S&P Index Advisory Committee. He is registered as an Advising Representative with all Canadian Provincial Securities Commissions under State Street Global Advisor Limited's (Canada) Portfolio Manager registration category. He currently serves as an Executive Sponsor for the Inclusion & Diversity Talent Acquisition Pillar at SSGA.
Dwayne Hancock
Dwayne Hancock, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the firm's Global Equity Beta Solutions (GEBS) Group. Within this group, he is currently the strategy leader for the group's non-U.S. passive products. Prior to taking on this responsibility, Mr. Hancock was the ETF product specialist for the GEBS group. He is also a member of the SSGA Valuation Committee. Mr. Hancock currently manages a varied mix of funds with both domestic and international strategies, which include separate accounts, commingled funds, mutual funds and ETFs. Additionally, he has played a primary role in determining trading strategies for significant benchmark changes such as the annual Russell indices reconstitution. Mr. Hancock joined SSGA in 1996 and became part of the GEBS portfolio management team in 1998. Prior to this, he worked in the firm's Passive International Equity Operations department as a senior analyst. He has been working in the investment management field since 1994. Mr. Hancock holds a Master of Business Administration from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Framingham State College. He also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of CFA Society Boston, Inc.
Ted Janowsky
Ted Janowsky, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. In this capacity, he manages a diverse group of equity and derivative-based index portfolios and has played a significant role designing proprietary portfolio management software. Additionally, Mr. Janowsky was head of the portfolio management team of SSGA's Company Stock Group, which manages all fiduciary transactions and company stock investments including employee stock ownership plans, 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified plans. Prior to joining the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group, he worked as an application developer in Investor Technology Services within State Street Corporation. He also worked as a business analyst in State Street's London and Sydney offices. Mr. Janowsky joined SSGA in 2005. Mr. Janowsky holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bucknell
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University and a Master of Business Administration from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Boston, Inc.
Kala O'Donnell
Kala O'Donnell is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. She is responsible for managing both domestic and international equity index portfolios, including a variety of separate accounts, commingled funds, ETFs and alternative beta strategies. Additionally, Ms. O'Donnell has been involved in various research and process improvement projects, and has served as a hedging specialist within the Group. Prior to joining SSGA, Ms. O'Donnell worked in State Street Corporation's Mutual Funds division in the U.S., as well as in Canada and Germany. She has been in the investment management field since she joined SSGA in 1995. Ms. O'Donnell holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Lehigh University and a Master of Business Administration in International Business from Bentley College. She is member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and CFA Society Boston, Inc.
Emiliano Rabinovich
Emiliano Rabinovich, CFA, is a Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group. Within this group, he is the strategy leader for their Tax Aware, Smart Beta and ESG products. Mr. Rabinovich currently manages a varied mix of funds that include both traditional indexing and a variety of alternative beta mandates. He also manages local and global strategies and fund structures, which include separate accounts, commingled funds, mutual funds and ETFs. Mr. Rabinovich joined SSGA in Montreal in 2006, where he was the Head of the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group in Canada. He has been working in the investment management field since 2003. Mr. Rabinovich holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of CEMA. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of CFA Society Boston, Inc.
Karl Schneider
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Deputy Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions (GEBS) in the Americas, where he also serves as a Senior Portfolio Manager for a number of the group's passive equity portfolios. Previously within GEBS, he served as a portfolio manager and product specialist for U.S. equity strategies and synthetic beta strategies, including commodities, buy/write, and hedge fund replication. He is also a member of the S&P Dow Jones U.S. Equities Index Advisory Panel. Prior to joining the GEBS
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group, Mr. Schneider worked as a portfolio manager in SSGA's Currency Management Group, managing both active currency selection and traditional passive hedging overlay portfolios. He joined SSGA in 1997. Mr. Schneider holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Investments from Babson College and a Master of Science in Finance from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and is a member of the CAIA Association.
Additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers' ownership of the Funds is available in the SAI.
Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. The Adviser serves as Administrator for each Fund. State Street, part of State Street Corporation, is the Sub-Administrator for each Fund and the Custodian for each Fund's assets, and serves as Transfer Agent to each Fund.
Lending Agent. State Street is the securities lending agent for each Fund. For its services, the lending agent would typically receive a portion of the net investment income, if any, earned on the collateral for the securities loaned.
Distributor. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (the Distributor) serves as the Funds' distributor pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Distributor and the Trust. The Distributor will not distribute Fund Shares in less than Creation Units, and it does not maintain a secondary market in Fund Shares. The Distributor may enter into selected dealer agreements with other broker-dealers or other qualified financial institutions for the sale of Creation Units of Fund Shares.
Additional Information. The Board oversees generally the operations of the Funds and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others the Funds' investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, and accountants, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to any such contractual arrangements or intended beneficiaries of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any shareholder any right to enforce them directly against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them directly against the service providers.
This Prospectus provides information concerning the Trust and the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase Fund Shares. Neither this Prospectus nor the related SAI is intended, or should be read, to be or give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Funds and any investor, or to give rise to any rights in any shareholder or other person other than any rights under federal or state law that may not be waived.
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Index License
S&P Opco, LLC, a subsidiary of S&P DJI and S&P Global (S&P), and NYSE Arca, Inc. (either directly or through affiliates) have entered into a license agreement with respect to each Fund's Select Sector Index. The Trust has entered into a sublicense agreement with S&P whereby each Fund pays an annual sub-license fee to S&P based on a percentage of the Fund's total expense ratio for the most recent fiscal year and applied to the Fund's average daily net assets.
Additional Information Concerning Index Construction and Maintenance
The Index Compilation Agent assigns each constituent stock of the S&P 500 Index to a Select Sector Index in alignment with the stock's GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) classification. Changes to the S&P 500 Index are made as needed in response to corporate actions and market developments, with no annual or semi-annual reconstitution. S&P DJI has sole control over the removal of stocks from the S&P 500 Index and the selection of replacement stocks to be added to the S&P 500 Index.
Additional Information Concerning the Role of S&P
The weighting of the stocks included in each Select Sector Index are limited and will likely differ from the weighting of stocks included in any similar S&P 500 sector index that is published and disseminated by S&P DJI because each S&P 500 sector index uses a float adjusted market capitalization which does not limit the weight of any stocks in the index. S&P DJI acts as index calculation agent in connection with the calculation and dissemination of each Select Sector Index. S&P DJI and its affiliates do not sponsor, endorse, sell or market Fund Shares.
Neither S&P DJI nor its affiliates make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to SSGA FM, the owners of Fund Shares of the Select Sector SPDR Funds or any member of the public regarding the ability of a Fund to track the performance of the various sectors represented in the stock market. Additionally, S&P DJI and its affiliates do not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to SSGA FM, the owners of Fund Shares or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in Fund Shares particularly.
With respect to the Select Sector Indices, S&P DJI's only relationship to the Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P, the S&P 500 Index and Select Sector Indices which are determined, composed and calculated by S&P DJI. S&P® and S&P 500® are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, an affiliate of S&P DJI; Select Sector® is a trademark of S&P DJI; Dow Jones® is a trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC; and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P DJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by
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the Trust. S&P DJI and its affiliates have no obligation to take the needs of SSGA FM, the Trust or the owners of Fund Shares into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P 500 or the Select Sector Indices.
Although S&P DJI seeks to obtain and use information from sources which it considers reliable, S&P DJI and its affiliates do not guarantee the accuracy and/or completeness of the S&P 500 Index, any Select Sector SPDR Index (collectively, the Indexes) or any data related thereto. S&P DJI and its affiliates make no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by SSGA FM, the Trust, owners of a Fund, or any other person or entity from the use of the S&P 500 Index, the Indexes or any data related thereto in connection with the rights licensed under the license agreement or for any other use. S&P DJI and its affiliates make no express or implied warranties, and hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the S&P 500 Index, the Indexes or any data related thereto. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall S&P DJI and its affiliates have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages (including lost profits), even if notified of the possibility of such damages.
The Indexes identified herein are determined, composed and calculated without regard to any Fund Shares or the issuer thereof. S&P DJI is not responsible for, and has not participated in, the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of any Fund Shares to be issued, or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which Fund Shares are redeemable.
Fund Shares are listed for secondary trading on the Exchange and individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold in the secondary market through a broker-dealer. The secondary markets are closed on weekends and also are generally closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day (observed), Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Exchange may close early on the business day before certain holidays and on the day after Thanksgiving Day. Exchange holiday schedules are subject to change without notice. If you buy or sell Fund Shares in the secondary market, you will pay the secondary market price for Fund Shares. In addition, you may incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction.
The trading prices of Fund Shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand rather than the relevant Fund's net asset value, which is calculated at the end of each business day. Fund Shares
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will trade on the Exchange at prices that may be above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount), to varying degrees, the daily net asset value of Fund Shares. The trading prices of Fund Shares may deviate significantly from the relevant Fund's net asset value during periods of market volatility. Given, however, that Fund Shares can be issued and redeemed daily in Creation Units, the Adviser believes that large discounts and premiums to net asset value should not be sustained over long periods.
The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an indicative optimized portfolio value (IOPV) relating to each Fund. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of each Fund's net asset value per Fund Share. Premiums and discounts between the IOPV and the market price may occur. This should not be viewed as a real-time update of the net asset value per Fund Share. The IOPV is based on the current market value of the published basket of portfolio securities and/or cash required to be deposited in exchange for a Creation Unit and does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of the Fund's actual portfolio at a particular point in time. Moreover, the IOPV is generally determined by using current market quotations and/or price quotations obtained from broker-dealers and other market intermediaries and valuations based on current market rates. The IOPV may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which (i) is computed only once a day, (ii) unlike the calculation of the IOPV, takes into account Fund expenses, and (iii) may be subject, in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, to fair valuation at different prices than those used in the calculations of the IOPV. Therefore, the IOPV may not reflect the best possible valuation of the Fund's current portfolio. Neither the Funds nor the Adviser or any of their affiliates are involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of such IOPVs and make no warranty as to their accuracy.
The Funds do not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions; however, the Funds reserve the right to reject or limit purchases at any time as described in the SAI. When considering that no restriction or policy was necessary, the Board evaluated the risks posed by market timing activities, such as whether frequent purchases and redemptions would interfere with the efficient implementation of a Fund's investment strategy, or whether they would cause a Fund to experience increased transaction costs. The Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, Fund Shares are issued and redeemed only in large quantities of shares known as Creation Units, available only from a Fund directly, and that most trading in a Fund occurs on the Exchange at prevailing market prices and does not involve the Fund directly. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is unlikely that (a) market timing would be attempted by a Fund's shareholders or (b) any attempts to market time a Fund by shareholders would result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders.
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In addition, certain affiliates of each Fund and the Adviser may purchase and resell or distribute Fund Shares pursuant to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of Fund Shares. Effective February 1, 2022, the Board limited each Fund's 12b-1 fee to an annual rate of 0.02% of its average daily net assets (prior to February 1, 2022, each applicable Fund's 12b-1 fee was limited to an annual rate of 0.03% of its average daily net assets). This limitation is in effect through at least January 31, 2024. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund's assets on an on-going basis, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more over time than paying other types of sales charges.
Distributions
Dividends and Capital Gains. As a Fund shareholder, you are entitled to your share of the applicable Fund's income and net realized gains on its investments. Each Fund pays out substantially all of its net earnings to its shareholders as distributions.
Each Fund typically earns income dividends from stocks, interest from debt securities and securities lending income. These amounts, net of expenses and taxes (if applicable), are passed along to Fund shareholders as income dividend distributions. Each Fund will generally realize short-term capital gains or losses whenever it sells or exchanges assets held for one year or less. Net short-term capital gains will generally be treated as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders. Each Fund will generally realize long-term capital gains or losses whenever it sells or exchanges assets held for more than one year. Net capital gains (the excess of a Fund's net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses) are distributed to shareholders as capital gain distributions.
Income dividend distributions, if any, are generally distributed to shareholders quarterly, but may vary significantly from period to period.
Net capital gains for each Fund are distributed at least annually. Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently or at any other time to improve Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, each Fund intends to distribute at least annually amounts representing the full dividend yield net of expenses on the underlying investment
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securities as if the Fund owned the underlying investment securities for the entire dividend period. As a result, some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital. You will be notified regarding the portion of the distribution which represents a return of capital.
Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole Fund Shares only if the broker through whom you purchased Fund Shares makes such option available. Dividends which are reinvested will nevertheless be taxable to the same extent as if such dividends had not been reinvested.
The Funds' portfolio holdings disclosure policy is described in the SAI. In addition, the identities and quantities of the securities held by each Fund are disclosed on the Funds' website.
The following discussion is a summary of some important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to an investment in a Fund. Your investment in a Fund may have other tax implications. Please consult your tax advisor about federal, state, local, foreign or other tax laws applicable to you. Investors, including non-U.S. investors, may wish to consult the SAI tax section for additional disclosure.
Each Fund has elected or will elect to be a regulated investment company (RIC) and intends to qualify each year to be treated as such. A RIC is generally not subject to tax at the corporate level on income and gains that are distributed to shareholders. However, a Fund's failure to qualify for treatment as a RIC may result in corporate level taxation, and consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.
In general, your distributions are subject to federal income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in a Fund. The income dividends and short-term capital gains distributions you receive from a Fund will be taxed as either ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Subject to certain limitations, dividends that are reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income are taxable to noncorporate shareholders at reduced rates. Any distributions of a Fund's net capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gain regardless of how long you have owned Fund Shares. Long-term capital gains are generally taxed to noncorporate shareholders at reduced rates. Distributions in excess of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of your basis in your Fund Shares, and, in general, as capital gain thereafter.
118

In general, dividends may be reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by such Fund, which, in general, includes dividend income from taxable U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations (i.e., certain foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, and certain other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States), provided that the Fund satisfies certain holding period requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations and has not hedged its position in the stock in certain ways. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held by a Fund for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning at the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for fewer than 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date. These holding period requirements will also apply to your ownership of Fund Shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. Additionally, income derived in connection with a Fund's securities lending activities will not be treated as qualified dividend income.
U.S. individuals with income exceeding specified thresholds are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on all or a portion of their net investment income, which includes taxable interest, dividends and certain capital gains (generally including capital gain distributions and capital gains realized upon the sale of Fund Shares). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts.
Certain tax-exempt educational institutions will be subject to a 1.4% tax on net investment income. For these purposes, certain dividends and capital gain distributions, and certain gains from the disposition of Fund Shares (among other categories of income), are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder's net investment income.
If you lend your Fund Shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements you may lose the ability to treat Fund dividends (paid while Fund Shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. You should consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor to discuss your particular circumstances.
Distributions paid in January, but declared by a Fund in October, November or December of the previous year, payable to shareholders of record in such a month, may be taxable to you in the calendar year in which they were declared. The Funds will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
119

A distribution will reduce a Fund's net asset value per Fund Share and may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain even though, from an investment standpoint, the distribution may constitute a return of capital.
Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. A Fund may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject to numerous special and complex rules. These rules could affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund and/or defer a Fund's ability to recognize losses. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by a Fund. You should consult your personal tax advisor regarding the application of these rules.
Index Concentration. In order to qualify for the favorable tax treatment generally available to RICs, a Fund must satisfy certain diversification requirements. In particular, a Fund generally may not acquire a security if, as a result of the acquisition, more than 50% of the value of the Fund's assets would be invested in (a) issuers in which the Fund has, in each case, invested more than 5% of the Fund's assets and (b) issuers more than 10% of whose outstanding voting securities are owned by the Fund. Given the concentration of certain indexes tracked by the Funds in a relatively small number of securities, it may not be possible for such Funds to fully implement a replication strategy while satisfying these diversification requirements. A Fund's efforts to satisfy the diversification requirements may affect a Fund's execution of its investment strategy and may cause a Fund's return to deviate from that of the Index, and a Fund's efforts to track the Index may cause it inadvertently to fail to satisfy the diversification requirements. If a Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income.
Non-U.S. Investors. Ordinary income dividends paid by a Fund to shareholders who are non-resident aliens or foreign entities will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax (other than distributions reported by the Fund as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends), unless a lower treaty rate applies or unless such income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. In general, a Fund may report interest-related dividends to the extent of its net income derived from U.S. source interest, and a Fund may report short-term capital gain dividends to the extent its net short-term capital gain for the taxable year exceeds its net long-term capital loss.Gains on the sale of Fund Shares and dividends that are, in each case, effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. will generally be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates. Non-U.S. shareholders that own, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of a Fund's shares are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning special tax rules that may apply to their investment.
120

Unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold Fund Shares comply with Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) requirements that will generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to distributions payable to such entities. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.
Real Estate Investments. Non-U.S. persons are generally subject to U.S. tax on a disposition of a United States real property interest (a USRPI). Gain on such a disposition is generally referred to as FIRPTA gain. The Internal Revenue Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of so-called FIRPTA gain by a Fund if certain requirements are met. If the look-through rule applies, certain distributions attributable to income received by a Fund, e.g., from U.S. REITs, may be treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding taxes, and requiring non-U.S. investors to file nonresident U.S. income tax returns. Also, gain may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a foreign stockholder that is treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Under certain circumstances, Fund Shares may qualify as USRPIs, which could result in 15% withholding on certain distributions and gross redemption proceeds paid to certain non-U.S. shareholders.
For tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, a noncorporate taxpayer is generally eligible for a deduction of up to 20% of the taxpayer's qualified REIT dividends.  If a Fund receives dividends (other than capital gain dividends) in respect of U.S. REIT shares, the Fund may report its own dividends as eligible for the 20% deduction, to the extent the Fund's income is derived from such qualified REIT dividends, as reduced by allocable Fund expenses. In order for a Fund's dividends to be eligible for this deduction when received by a noncorporate shareholder, the Fund must meet certain holding period requirements with respect to the U.S. REIT shares on which the Fund received the eligible dividends, and the noncorporate shareholder must meet certain holding period requirements with respect to the Fund Shares.
Taxes on Exchange-Listed Share Sales. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund Shares is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if Fund Shares have been held for more than one year and as short-term capital gain or loss if Fund Shares have been held for one year or less, except that any capital loss on the sale of Fund Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such Fund Shares.
121

Taxes on Creations and Redemptions of Creation Units. A person who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time and the exchanger's aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus any cash paid for the Creation Units. A person who exchanges Creation Units for securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger's basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities and the amount of cash received. The IRS, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing wash sales, or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Persons exchanging securities should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.
Under current federal tax laws, any capital gain or loss realized upon a redemption (or creation) of Creation Units is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the applicable Fund Shares (or securities surrendered) have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the applicable Fund Shares (or securities surrendered) have been held for one year or less.
If you create or redeem Creation Units, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many Fund Shares you purchased or sold and at what price.
The Trust on behalf of each Fund has the right to reject an order for Creation Units if the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the Fund Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code, the applicable Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of the securities on the date of deposit.  The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination.  If the Trust does issue Creation Units to a purchaser (or a group of purchasers) that would, upon obtaining the Fund Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund, the purchaser (or group of purchasers) will not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.
If a Fund redeems Creation Units in cash, it may bear additional costs and recognize more capital gains than it would if it redeems Creation Units in-kind.
Certain Tax-Exempt Investors. A Fund, if investing in certain limited real estate investments and other publicly traded partnerships, may be required to pass through certain excess inclusion income and other income as unrelated business
122

taxable income (UBTI). Prior to investing in a Fund, tax-exempt investors sensitive to UBTI should consult their tax advisors regarding this issue and IRS pronouncements addressing the treatment of such income in the hands of such investors.
Backup Withholding. A Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold (as backup withholding) on amounts payable to any shareholder who (1) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all, (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends, (3) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (4) has not certified that such shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). The backup withholding rate is currently 24%. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax on shareholders who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States.
Certain Potential Tax Reporting Requirements. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Significant penalties may be imposed for the failure to comply with the reporting requirements. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Other Tax Issues. A Fund may be subject to tax in certain states where the Fund does business (or is treated as doing business as a result of its investments). Furthermore, in those states which have income tax laws, the tax treatment of the Funds and of Fund shareholders with respect to distributions by the Funds may differ from federal tax treatment.
The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the consequences under current federal income tax law of an investment in the Funds. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Funds under all applicable tax laws.
123

The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 10, 1998. If shareholders of any Fund are required to vote on any matters, shareholders are entitled to one vote for each Fund Share they own. Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable law. See the SAI for more information concerning the Trust's form of organization.
Management and Organization
Each Fund is a separate, non-diversified series of the Trust, which is an open-end registered management investment company.
From time to time, a Fund may advertise yield and total return figures. Yield is a historical measure of dividend income, and total return is a measure of past dividend income (assuming that it has been reinvested) plus capital appreciation. Neither yield nor total return should be used to predict the future performance of a Fund.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP serves as counsel to the Trust, including the Funds. Ernst & Young LLP (EY) serves as the independent registered public accounting firm and will audit the Funds' financial statements annually.
The financial highlight tables below are intended to help you understand each Fund's financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the period since each Fund's inception. Certain information reflects the performance results for a single Fund Share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in each Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions).
The Trust's previous independent registered certified public accounting firm (the Previous Auditor) resigned on April 20, 2020. On May 21, 2020, the Board selected EY to replace the Previous Auditor as the independent registered certified public accountant. The information for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2020, September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022 has been audited by EY. Previous fiscal years were audited by the Previous Auditor.
EY's report dated September 30, 2022, along with each Fund's financial highlights and financial statements, is included in the annual report to shareholders, which is available upon request. Any references to Notes in these financial highlight tables refer to the Notes to Financial Statements section of each Fund's financial statements, and the financial information included in these tables should be read in conjunction with the financial statements incorporated by reference in the SAI.
124

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
For the
Period
06/19/18* -
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$80.15
$59.40
$49.50
$48.98
$50.00
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
0.58
0.54
0.47
0.44
0.09
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (c)
(32.25)
20.73
9.88
0.51
(1.17)
Total from investment operations
(31.67)
21.27
10.35
0.95
(1.08)
Net equalization credits and charges (b)
(0.02)
(0.00)(d)
0.02
0.02
0.19
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(0.57)
(0.52)
(0.47)
(0.45)
(0.05)
Return of Capital
(0.08)
Total distributions
(0.57)
(0.52)
(0.47)
(0.45)
(0.13)
Net asset value, end of period
$47.89
$80.15
$59.40
$49.50
$48.98
Total return (e)
(39.71)%
35.88%
21.05%
2.07%
(1.78)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$7,578,050
$15,176,057
$10,106,071
$6,039,403
$2,035,011
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.15%(f)
Net expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%(f)
Net investment income (loss)
0.88%
0.73%
0.86%
0.93%
0.62%(f)
Portfolio turnover rate (g)
21%
15%
15%
16%
7%(h)
 
 
*
Commencement of operations.
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(f)
The ratios for periods less than one year are annualized.
(g)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
(h)
Period less than one year are not annualized.
125

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$179.54
$146.99
$120.69
$117.19
$90.09
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
1.23
1.09
1.46
1.58
1.49
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) (c)
(37.06)
32.54
26.34
3.51
26.81
Total from investment operations
(35.83)
33.63
27.80
5.09
28.30
Net equalization credits and
charges (b)
(0.01)
0.01
(0.06)
(0.02)
0.09
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(1.22)
(1.09)
(1.44)
(1.57)
(1.29)
Net asset value, end of period
$142.48
$179.54
$146.99
$120.69
$117.19
Total return (d)
(20.06)%
22.93%
23.25%
4.45%
31.63%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$14,098,639
$19,633,737
$15,809,198
$13,928,314
$16,218,942
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
0.70%
0.65%
1.17%
1.40%
1.43%
Portfolio turnover rate (e)
22%
23%
11%
6%
23%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(e)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
126

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$68.83
$64.13
$61.41
$53.92
$53.99
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
1.84
1.85
1.66
1.60
1.52
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) (c)
(2.16)
4.67
2.70
7.41
(0.17)
Total from investment operations
(0.32)
6.52
4.36
9.01
1.35
Net equalization credits and charges (b)
0.03
(0.01)
0.00(d)
0.05
0.08
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(1.82)
(1.81)
(1.64)
(1.57)
(1.50)
Net asset value, end of period
$66.72
$68.83
$64.13
$61.41
$53.92
Total return (e)
(0.63)%
10.19%
7.32%
17.14%
2.70%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$14,465,958
$11,757,576
$13,687,240
$14,015,004
$9,256,716
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
2.49%
2.71%
2.73%
2.84%
2.84%
Portfolio turnover rate (f)
11%
4%
5%
10%
12%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(f)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
127

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$52.12
$29.97
$59.18
$75.75
$68.46
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
2.91
2.11
2.19
4.01
1.95
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) (c)
20.07
22.11
(27.49)
(18.36)
7.32
Total from investment operations
22.98
24.22
(25.30)
(14.35)
9.27
Net equalization credits and charges (b)
(0.06)
0.09
0.08
(0.04)
(0.02)
Contribution from Affiliate
0.00(d)(e)
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(3.06)
(2.16)
(3.99)
(2.18)
(1.96)
Net asset value, end of period
$71.98
$52.12
$29.97
$59.18
$75.75
Total return (f)
44.34%
81.93%
(44.68)%(g)
(19.08)%
13.64%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$33,531,192
$25,084,339
$8,430,789
$10,014,781
$18,435,159
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
4.14%
4.54%
5.08%
6.25%
2.71%
Portfolio turnover rate (h)
9%
14%
13%
10%
8%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e)
Contribution paid by an Affiliate in the amount of $290,417.
(f)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(g)
The contribution from an Affiliate had no impact on total return.
(h)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
128

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$37.53
$24.06
$28.02
$27.58
$25.84
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
0.68
0.61
0.60
0.57
0.48
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) (c)
(7.21)
13.44
(3.94)
0.46
1.73
Total from investment operations
(6.53)
14.05
(3.34)
1.03
2.21
Net equalization credits and
charges (b)
(0.02)
0.02
(0.02)
(0.03)
0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(0.67)
(0.60)
(0.60)
(0.56)
(0.48)
Net asset value, end of period
$30.31
$37.53
$24.06
$28.02
$27.58
Total return (d)
(17.67)%
58.79%
(11.98)%
3.81%
8.58%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$26,953,933
$40,412,690
$16,646,404
$22,552,204
$31,053,806
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
1.83%
1.80%
2.30%
2.13%
1.72%
Portfolio turnover rate (e)
4%
3%
4%
4%
3%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(e)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
129

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$127.26
$105.56
$90.13
$95.11
$81.76
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
1.95
1.85
1.66
2.29
1.31
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) (c)
(6.27)
21.65
16.08
(5.75)
13.34
Total from investment operations
(4.32)
23.50
17.74
(3.46)
14.65
Net equalization credits and
charges (b)
0.04
0.01
(0.00)(d)
(0.02)
0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(1.96)
(1.81)
(2.31)
(1.50)
(1.31)
Net asset value, end of period
$121.02
$127.26
$105.56
$90.13
$95.11
Total return (e)
(3.47)%
22.37%
19.90%
(3.65)%
18.10%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$35,805,067
$30,358,856
$23,873,455
$16,818,717
$19,632,378
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
1.48%
1.54%
1.67%
2.53%
1.54%
Portfolio turnover rate (f)
2%
4%
3%
2%
5%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(f)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
130

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$97.77
$76.98
$77.66
$78.37
$70.99
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
1.52
1.27
1.39
1.52
1.30
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) (c)
(14.94)
20.81
(0.68)
(0.63)
7.49
Total from investment operations
(13.42)
22.08
0.71
0.89
8.79
Net equalization credits and charges (b)
(0.04)
0.01
0.02
(0.03)
(0.02)
Contribution from Affiliate
0.00(d)(e)
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(1.52)
(1.30)
(1.41)
(1.57)
(1.39)
Net asset value, end of period
$82.79
$97.77
$76.98
$77.66
$78.37
Total return (f)
(13.95)%
28.74%
1.12%
1.25%(g)
12.43%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$11,104,720
$17,367,182
$12,179,734
$9,802,368
$12,925,332
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
1.54%
1.33%
1.87%
2.07%
1.74%
Portfolio turnover rate (h)
7%
2%
3%
3%
6%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e)
Contribution paid by an Affiliate in the amount of $60,421.
(f)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(g)
The contribution from an Affiliate had no impact on total return.
(h)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
131

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$79.11
$63.62
$58.17
$57.92
$56.80
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
1.64
1.45
1.23
1.20
1.09
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (c)
(11.02)
15.43
5.47
0.28
1.09
Total from investment operations
(9.38)
16.88
6.70
1.48
2.18
Net equalization credits and charges (b)
(0.06)
(0.00)(d)
(0.03)
(0.03)
0.02
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(1.69)
(1.39)
(1.22)
(1.20)
(1.08)
Net asset value, end of period
$67.98
$79.11
$63.62
$58.17
$57.92
Total return (e)
(12.23)%
26.60%
11.76%
2.64%
3.84%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$4,702,427
$7,501,906
$3,917,044
$4,201,473
$4,547,766
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
1.97%
1.83%
2.15%
2.18%
1.84%
Portfolio turnover rate (f)
2%
5%
4%
20%
17%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(f)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
132

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$44.47
$35.30
$39.35
$32.62
$32.26
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
0.86
0.85
0.88
0.95
0.95
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (c)
(7.99)
9.66
(3.78)
6.91
0.58
Total from investment operations
(7.13)
10.51
(2.90)
7.86
1.53
Net equalization credits and charges (b)
0.03
0.05
(0.05)
0.01
0.00(d)
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(1.37)
(1.39)
(1.10)
(1.14)
(1.17)
Net asset value, end of period
$36.00
$44.47
$35.30
$39.35
$32.62
Total return (e)
(16.46)%
30.42%
(7.46)%
24.64%
4.87%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$4,612,173
$4,282,141
$2,264,406
$3,884,273
$2,732,078
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
1.90%
2.05%
2.42%
2.69%
2.94%
Portfolio turnover rate (f)
11%
4%
5%
3%
7%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(f)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
133

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$149.35
$116.76
$80.51
$75.30
$59.13
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
1.24
1.11
1.20
1.05
0.93
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) (c)
(30.62)
32.60
36.24
5.18
16.17
Total from investment operations
(29.38)
33.71
37.44
6.23
17.10
Net equalization credits and
charges (b)
(0.00)(d)
(0.02)
(0.00)(d)
0.01
0.04
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(1.24)
(1.10)
(1.19)
(1.03)
(0.97)
Net asset value, end of period
$118.73
$149.35
$116.76
$80.51
$75.30
Total return (e)
(19.82)%
28.93%
46.88%
8.44%
29.14%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$35,656,531
$43,022,516
$34,095,026
$22,417,160
$22,959,484
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
0.83%
0.81%
1.24%
1.44%
1.37%
Portfolio turnover rate (f)
9%
4%
3%
6%
19%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(f)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
134

THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
 
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund
 
Year
Ended
9/30/22
Year
Ended
9/30/21
Year
Ended
9/30/20
Year
Ended
9/30/19(a)
Year
Ended
9/30/18(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period
$63.88
$59.40
$64.73
$52.68
$53.05
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss) (b)
1.96
1.86
2.00
1.90
1.76
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) (c)
1.61
4.61
(5.36)
12.01
(0.28)
Total from investment operations
3.57
6.47
(3.36)
13.91
1.48
Net equalization credits and charges (b)
0.04
(0.01)
(0.02)
0.01
(0.04)
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
(2.03)
(1.98)
(1.95)
(1.87)
(1.81)
Net asset value, end of period
$65.46
$63.88
$59.40
$64.73
$52.68
Total return (d)
5.46%
10.95%
(5.12)%
26.85%
2.89%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
$16,119,053
$11,956,669
$11,405,751
$11,296,483
$7,642,260
Ratios to average net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenses
0.10%
0.11%
0.13%
0.13%
0.13%
Net investment income (loss)
2.76%
2.89%
3.29%
3.30%
3.37%
Portfolio turnover rate (e)
4%
3%
3%
5%
5%
 
 
(a)
Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The
previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(b)
Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately
presents the per share data for the year.
(c)
Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate
gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d)
Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at
net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of
this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each
distribution. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Broker commission
charges are not included in this calculation.
(e)
Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or
redemptions on Select Sector SPDR shares.
135


This Prospectus does not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC with respect to Fund Shares. The SAI and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders, each of which has been or will be filed with the SEC, provide more information about the Funds. The Prospectus and SAI may be supplemented from time to time. In the Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund's performance during the Fund's last fiscal year. The SAI isincorporated herein by reference (i.e., it is legally part of this Prospectus). These materials may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing to the Distributor, ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, by visiting the Funds' website at www.sectorspdr.com or by calling the following number:
Investor Information: 1-866-SECTOR-ETF (1-866-732-8673)
The Registration Statement, including this Prospectus, the SAI, and the exhibits as well as any shareholder reports may be reviewed on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also obtain copies of this and other information, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: [email protected].
Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Funds in writing to ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, or by calling the Investor Information number listed above.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offer of Fund Shares, and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust or the Funds. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale of Fund Shares shall under any circumstance imply that the information contained herein is correct as of any date after the date of this Prospectus.
Dealers effecting transactions in Fund Shares, whether or not participating in this distribution, are generally required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition to any obligation of dealers to deliver a Prospectus when acting as underwriters.
SSSPDRPRO
The Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-08837