American Customer Satisfaction ETF

Ticker: ACSI

Annual Report

September 30, 2023

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

A Message to Our Shareholders

1

Performance Summary

3

Portfolio Allocation

4

Schedule of Investments

5

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

6

Statement of Operations

7

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

8

Financial Highlights

9

Notes to Financial Statements

10

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

18

Expense Example

19

Basis for Trustees’ Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

20

Statement Regarding Liquidity Risk Management Program

22

Trustees and Executive Officers

19

23

Additional Information

25

This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.

1

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

SHAREHOLDER LETTER

The American Customer Satisfaction ETF

The American Customer Satisfaction ETF (“ACSI” or the “Fund”) tracks the American Customer Satisfaction Investable Index (“ACSII” of the “Index”). The underlying strategy behind the Index was altered, beginning August 24, 2020, detailed below.

The Fund, via its Index, uses an objective, rules-based methodology to measure the performance of U.S.-listed companies whose customers have been surveyed and who have been assigned a customer satisfaction score as part of the Customer Satisfaction Data (collectively, “ACSI Companies”). Construction of the Index begins with over 400 ACSI Companies across 46 industries and 10 economic sectors. The initial universe is then screened to eliminate companies whose stock is not principally listed on a U.S. exchange, whose market capitalization is less than $1 billion, or for which the Customer Satisfaction Data is statistically insignificant. The Index is comprised of ACSI Companies in the 25 industries (as classified by the Customer Satisfaction Data) with the highest customer retention, and the company(ies) with the highest ACSI Score (described below) in each such industry will be included in the Index. One to three ACSI Companies from each industry are included in the Index based on the number of ACSI Companies in a given industry. The Index will generally be comprised of 25 to 35 companies at the time of each rebalance of the Index.

Tidal Investments LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, believes that companies who possess higher satisfaction among their customers have higher cash flows, higher profitability, and higher relative stock appreciation over the long term. The source of this data – The American Customer Satisfaction Index – is recognized as a world leader in the measurement and analysis of customer satisfaction. It is the only national cross-industry measure of customer satisfaction in the United States.

The information presented in this report relates to the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2023 (the “Current Fiscal Year”).

For the Current Fiscal Year, ACSI generated a total return of 8.40% (NAV) and 8.34% (Market). This compares to the 9.07% total return of its Index, and the 21.62% total return of the benchmark, the S&P 500® Total Return Index (S&P 500®), for the same period.

Performance

As of September 30, 2023

1 Year

5 Years

INCEPTION

Market Price

8.34%

6.47%

9.64%

Fund NAV

8.40%

6.50%

9.64%

American Customer Satisfaction Investable Index

9.07%

7.19%

10.41%

S&P 500® Total Return Index

21.62%

9.92%

12.70%

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance current to the most recent month-end can be obtained by calling 800-617-0004. Short-term performance, in particular, is not a good indication of the Fund’s future performance, and an investment should not be made based solely on returns. Returns beyond 1 year are annualized.

The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is the sum of all its assets less any liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding. The market price is the most recent price at which the Fund was traded. The Fund intends to pay out income, if any, annually. There is no guarantee these distributions will be made.

Total Expense Ratio is 0.65% (as of the Fund’s most recently filed prospectus dated January 28, 2023).

For the twelve-month period from a sector perspective, Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services were the leading contributors to the Fund’s performance while Healthcare, Utilities and Financials were the leading detractors. In general, we were hurt by our “Allocation Effect” (our relative sector weights) particularly being under-weight Information Technology (the sector had +42.97% performance vs +21.62% for the S&P 500®) and over-weight Consumer Discretionary for this period (+13.69% (sector) vs +21.62% (S&P 500®)). Our “Selection Effect” (relative stock picks within those industries) also hurt us for this period, particularly in Communication Services (+12.51% for our selections vs +38.53% for the sector) and Financials (-3.16% (our selections) vs +13.81% (sector)).

Reviewing individual stocks, leading contributors included Apple, Amazon and Alphabet - which had the highest customer satisfaction scores in their aggregate industries. Conversely, leading detractors included Chewy, CVS, and Schwab.

2

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

For the period since the Index change (8/24/2020 – 9/30/2023) we were hurt to an even greater degree (-7.65%) by our “Allocation Effect” (our relative sector weights) particularly from being over-weight Consumer Discretionary (the sector had +5.31% performance vs +31.23% for the S&P 500®) and under-weight Energy for this period (+186.10% (sector) vs +31.23% (S&P 500®)). However, our “Selection Effect” (relative stock picks within those industries) provided bright spots, particularly in Financials (+51.87% for our selections vs +27.33% for the sector) and Consumer Staples (+40.54% (our selections) vs 18.69% (sector)).

American Customer Satisfaction Investable Index is an objective, rules-based methodology to measure the performance of (i) ACSI Companies and (ii) U.S. sector-specific exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) used by the Index to supplement its exposure to sectors for which there are too few ACSI Companies to achieve the target sector weights at the time of each rebalance. The Index is sector-weighted to reflect the overall U.S. large cap market, and security-weighted based on the Customer Satisfaction Data. You cannot invest directly in an index.

The S&P 500® Total Return Index is a widely recognized capitalization-weighted index of 500 common stock prices in U.S. companies.

Must be preceded or accompanied by a Prospectus.

Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion. The ACSI Index relies heavily on proprietary quantitative models as well as information and data supplied by third parties (Models and Data). Because the ACSI Index is composed based on such Models and Data, when such Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, the Index and Fund may not perform as expected. As with all index funds, the performance of the Fund and its Index may differ from each other for a variety of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses and portfolio transaction costs not incurred by the Index. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested in the securities of the Index at all times or may hold securities not included in the Index. The Fund has the same risks as the underlying securities traded on the exchange through the day. Commissions may be charged on purchases and sales of the Fund, and ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, the Fund’s performance may be more sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors.

Holdings and sector allocations are subject to change. Please see the schedule of investments for a complete list of fund holdings.

Cash flow is the total amount of money being transferred into and out of a business, especially as affecting liquidity.

Selection and Allocation effect data was sourced from Bloomberg.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC

3

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY (Unaudited)

Annualized Returns for the Periods Ended September 30, 2023(1):

1 Year

5 Year

Since Inception (10/31/2016)

Ending Values (09/30/2023)

American Customer Satisfaction ETF - NAV

8.40%

6.50%

9.64%

$18,903

American Customer Satisfaction ETF - Market

8.34%

6.47%

9.64%

18,894

American Customer Satisfaction Investable Index

9.07%

7.19%

10.41%

19,836

S&P 500® Total Return Index

21.62%

9.92%

12.70%

22,855

(1)Performance shown for periods prior to May 24, 2021 reflects the historical performance of the then-existing shares of the American Customer Satisfaction ETF, a series of ETF Series Solutions (the predecessor to the Fund and for which CSat Investment Advisory, L.P., the Fund’s index provider, served as investment adviser).

This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on October 31, 2016 (commencement of operations), and is not intended to imply any future performance. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. The chart assumes reinvestment of capital gains, dividends, and return of capital, if applicable, for a fund and dividends for an index.

Performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 617-0004. The Fund’s expense ratio is 0.65% (as of the Fund’s most recently filed Prospectus dated January 28, 2023).

4

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION at September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

Sector/Security Type

% of Net Assets

Communications

26.0

%

Consumer, Cyclical

23.7

Consumer, Non-Cyclical

16.5

Technology

13.8

Financial

13.0

Utilities

3.9

Industrial

2.9

Cash Equivalents(1) 

0.2

 

Total

100.0

%

(1)Represents short-term investments and liabilities in excess of other assets.

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

5

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2023

 

 

Shares

 

Value

COMMON STOCKS – 99.8%

Airlines – 2.3%

Alaska Air Group, Inc.(1) 

42,406

$1,572,415

 

Apparel – 2.3%

Nike, Inc. - Class B 

16,308

1,559,371

 

Auto Manufacturers – 4.5%

Tesla, Inc.(1) 

12,415

3,106,481

 

Beverages – 2.1%

The Coca-Cola Co. 

25,428

1,423,459

 

Commercial Services – 1.9%

Avis Budget Group, Inc.(1) 

7,280

1,308,143

 

Computers – 9.1%

Apple, Inc. 

36,430

6,237,180

 

Diversified Financial Services – 7.6%

Ally Financial, Inc. 

68,474

1,826,886

Capital One Financial Corp. 

16,878

1,638,010

The Charles Schwab Corp. 

32,109

1,762,784

 

5,227,680

Electric – 2.5%

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 

34,364

922,674

NextEra Energy, Inc. 

14,060

805,497

 

1,728,171

Food – 3.8%

The Hershey Co. 

8,338

1,668,267

The Kroger Co. 

21,476

961,051

 

2,629,318

Gas – 1.3%

Atmos Energy Corp. 

8,636

914,812

 

Healthcare-Services – 4.5%

Humana, Inc. 

3,255

1,583,623

UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 

3,033

1,529,208

 

3,112,831

Insurance – 5.4%

MetLife, Inc. 

31,652

1,991,227

The Travelers Cos. Inc.

10,623

1,734,842

 

3,726,069

Internet – 17.3%

Alphabet, Inc. - Class C (1) 

43,365

5,717,675

Amazon.com, Inc.(1) 

33,453

4,252,545

Chewy, Inc. - Class A(1) 

46,417

847,575

Pinterest, Inc. - Class A(1) 

39,076

1,056,224

11,874,019

 

 

Shares

 

Value

Lodging – 2.3%

Hyatt Hotels Corp. - Class A 

14,735

$1,563,089

 

Media – 1.5%

The Walt Disney Co.(1) 

12,101

980,786

 

Pharmaceuticals – 4.1%

CVS Health Corp. 

40,481

2,826,383

 

Retail – 12.4%

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. 

143,394

2,381,775

Costco Wholesale Corp. 

4,867

2,749,660

Papa John’s International, Inc. 

22,418

1,529,356

The TJX Companies, Inc. 

20,599

1,830,839

 

8,491,630

Software – 4.8%

Microsoft Corp. 

10,300

3,252,225

 

Telecommunications – 7.2%

AT&T, Inc. 

91,619

1,376,117

Motorola Solutions, Inc. 

4,463

1,215,007

T-Mobile US, Inc.(1) 

7,718

1,080,906

Verizon Communications, Inc. 

39,838

1,291,150

 

4,963,180

Transportation – 2.9%

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B 

12,680

1,976,432

Total Common Stocks

(Cost $70,922,165)

68,473,674

Short-Term Investments – 0.2%

Money Market Funds – 0.2%

First American Government Obligations Fund, Class X, 5.265%(2) 

167,351

167,351

Total Short-Term Investments

(Cost $167,351)

167,351

 

Total Investments in Securities – 100.0%

(Cost $71,089,516)

68,641,025

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - 0.0%(3) 

(13,116

)

Total Net Assets – 100.0%

$68,627,909

(1)Non-income producing security.

(2)The rate shown is the annualized seven-day effective yield as of September 30, 2023.

(3)Does not round to 0.1% or (0.1%), as applicable.


American Customer Satisfaction ETF

6

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES at September 30, 2023

Assets:

Investments in securities, at value (Cost $71,089,516) (Note 2)

$68,641,025

Receivables:

Dividends and interest

24,637

Total assets

68,665,662

 

Liabilities:

Payables:

Management fees (Note 4)

37,753

Total liabilities

37,753

Net Assets

$68,627,909

 

Components of Net Assets:

Paid-in capital

$92,004,661

Total distributable (accumulated) earnings (losses)

(23,376,752

)

Net assets

$68,627,909

 

Net Asset Value (unlimited shares authorized):

Net assets

$68,627,909

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding

1,550,000

Net asset value

$44.28

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

7

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  For the Year Ended September 30, 2023

Investment Income:

Dividend income

$1,044,775

Interest income

4,673

Total investment income

1,049,448

 

Expenses:

Management fees (Note 4)

449,289

Total expenses

449,289

Net investment income (loss)

600,159

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

Net realized gain (loss) on:

Investments

(2,477,360

)

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on:

Investments

7,280,941

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

4,803,581

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

$5,403,740

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

8

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Year Ended
September 30,
2023

 

Year Ended
September 30,
2022

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From:

 

Operations:

Net investment income (loss)

$600,159

$428,872

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

(2,477,360

)

2,366,583

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

7,280,941

(14,384,238

)

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

5,403,740

(11,588,783

)

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

Net distributions to shareholders

(521,186

)

(259,875

)

 

Capital Share Transactions:

Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from net change in outstanding shares(1)

(73,525

)

(2,635,778

)

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

4,809,029

(14,484,436

)

 

Net Assets:

Beginning of year

63,818,880

78,303,316

End of year

$68,627,909

$63,818,880

(1)Summary of share transactions is as follows:

Year Ended
September 30, 2023

Year Ended
September 30, 2022

Shares

Value

Shares

Value

Shares sold

875,000

$39,398,140

575,000

$27,909,480

Shares redeemed

(875,000

)

(39,471,665

)

(625,000

)

(30,545,258

)

Net increase (decrease)

$(73,525

)

(50,000

)

$(2,635,778

)

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

9

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a capital share outstanding throughout each year

 

 

Year Ended
September 30, 2023

 

Year Ended
September 30, 2022

 

Year Ended
September 30, 2021

 

Year Ended
September 30, 2020

 

Year Ended
September 30, 2019

Net asset value, beginning of year

$41.17

$48.94

$37.40

$34.12

$34.03

 

Income from Investment Operations:

Net investment income (loss)(1)

0.39

0.27

0.20

0.47

0.52

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments
(4)

3.06

(7.87

)

11.69

3.39

0.03

Total from investment operations

3.45

(7.60

)

11.89

3.86

0.55

 

Less Distributions:

From net investment income

(0.34

)

(0.17

)

(0.35

)

(0.58

)

(0.46

)

Total distributions

(0.34

)

(0.17

)

(0.35

)

(0.58

)

(0.46

)

Net asset value, end of year

$44.28

$41.17

$48.94

$37.40

$34.12

Total return(2)

8.40

%

(15.61

)%

31.91

%

11.44

%

1.86

%

 

Ratios / Supplemental Data:

Net assets, end of year (millions)

$68.6

$63.8

$78.3

$58.9

$58.0

Portfolio turnover rate(3)

54

%

54

%

50

%

67

%

36

%

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

0.65

%

0.65

%

0.65

%

0.65

%

0.65

%

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to
average net assets

0.87

%

0.57

%

0.42

%

1.37

%

1.59

%

(1)Calculated using average shares outstanding method.

(2)Total return is based on the Fund’s net assets value. Additional performance information is presented in the Performance Summary.

(3)Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions.

(4)Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) per share in the caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in the net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations due to share transactions for the period.

10

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS September 30, 2023

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION

The American Customer Satisfaction ETF (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of shares of beneficial interest of Tidal ETF Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on June 4, 2018 and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company and the offering of the Fund’s shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Trust is governed by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Tidal Investments LLC (f/k/a Toroso Investments, LLC) (“Tidal Investments” or the “Adviser”), a Tidal Financial Group company, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies.” The Fund commenced operations on October 31, 2016.

The investment objective of the Fund is to track the performance, before fees and expenses, of the American Customer Satisfaction Investable Index (the “Index”).

The Trust acquired the American Customer Satisfaction ETF (the “Predecessor Fund”), a series of ETF Series Solutions, in a tax-free reorganization on May 24, 2021. As a series of the Trust, the Fund is a continuation of the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Fund was deemed to be the accounting survivor of the reorganization for financial reporting purposes and as a result, the financial statements of the Fund reflect the operations of the Predecessor Fund for the period prior to May 24, 2021.

NOTE 2 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

A.Security Valuation. Equity securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC (“NASDAQ”), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on the primary exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. EST if a security’s primary exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price or mean between the most recent quoted bid and ask prices for long and short positions. For a security that trades on multiple exchanges, the primary exchange will generally be considered the exchange on which the security is generally most actively traded. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. Prices of securities traded on the securities exchange will be obtained from recognized independent pricing agents (“Independent Pricing Agents”) each day that the Fund is open for business.

Under Rule 2a-5 of the 1940 Act, a fair value will be determined for securities for which quotations are not readily available by the Valuation Designee (as defined in Rule 2a-5) in accordance with the Pricing and Valuation Policy and Fair Value Procedures, as applicable, of the Adviser, subject to oversight by the Board. When a security is “fair valued,” consideration is given to the facts and circumstances relevant to the particular situation, including a review of various factors set forth in the Adviser’s Pricing and Valuation Policy and Fair Value Procedures, as applicable. Fair value pricing is an inherently subjective process, and no single standard exists for determining fair value. Different funds could reasonably arrive at different values for the same security. The use of fair value pricing by a fund may cause the net asset value (“NAV”) of its shares to differ significantly from the NAV that would be calculated without regard to such considerations.

As described above, the Fund utilizes various methods to measure the fair value of its investments on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods. The three levels of inputs are:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 –Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

11

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS September 30, 2023 (Continued)

Level 3 –Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available; representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability and would be based on the best information available.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2023:

Investments in Securities

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Common Stocks(1) 

$68,473,674

$

$

$68,473,674

Short-Term Investments

167,351

167,351

Total Investments in Securities

$68,641,025

$

$

$68,641,025

(1)See Schedule of Investments for the industry breakout.

B.Federal Income Taxes. The Fund has elected to be taxed as a “regulated investment company” and intends to distribute substantially all taxable income to its shareholders and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes or excise taxes has been made.

In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, the Fund intends to declare as dividends in each calendar year at least 98.0% of its net investment income (earned during the calendar year) and at least 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ended October 31) plus undistributed amounts, if any, from prior years. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax position as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations.

As of September 30, 2023, the Fund did not have any tax positions that did not meet the threshold of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Generally, tax authorities can examine all the tax returns filed for the last three years. The Fund identifies its major tax jurisdiction as U.S. Federal and the Commonwealth of Delaware; however, the Fund is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially.

C.Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Investment securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses realized on sales of securities are determined on a specific identification basis. Discounts/premiums on debt securities purchased are accreted/amortized over the life of the respective securities using the effective interest method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Debt income is recorded on an accrual basis. Other non-cash dividends are recognized as investment income at the fair value of the property received. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.

D.Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders from net investment income, if any, for the Fund are declared and paid annually. Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains on securities, if any, for the Fund normally are declared and paid on an annual basis. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

E.Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S.GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

F.Share Valuation. The NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by dividing the sum of the value of the securities held by the Fund, plus cash or other assets, minus all liabilities by the total number of shares outstanding for the Fund, rounded to the nearest cent. The Fund’s shares will not be priced on the days on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is closed for trading.

12

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS September 30, 2023 (Continued)

G.Guarantees and Indemnifications. In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

H.Illiquid Securities. Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund has adopted a Board-approved Liquidity Risk Management Program (the “LRMP”) that requires, among other things, that the Fund limit its illiquid investments that are assets to no more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. If the Fund should be in a position where the value of illiquid investments held by the Fund exceeds 15% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund will take such steps as set forth in the LRMP.

I.Reclassification of Capital Accounts. U.S. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets relating to permanent differences be reclassified between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. These differences are primarily due to redemptions in-kind. For the year ended September 30, 2023, the following adjustments were made:

Paid-In Capital

Total Distributed (Accumulated) Earnings (Losses)

$5,715,964

$(5,715,964)

During the year ended September 30, 2023, the Fund realized $5,715,964 in net capital gains resulting from in-kind redemptions, in which shareholders exchanged Fund shares for securities held by the Fund rather than for cash. Because such gains are not taxable to the Fund, and are not distributed to shareholders, they have been reclassified from accumulated earnings to paid-in capital.

J.Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.

In June 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2022-03, which amends Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions (“ASU 2022-03”). ASU 2022-03 clarifies guidance for fair value measurement of an equity security subject to a contractual sale restriction and establishes new disclosure requirements for such equity securities. ASU 2022-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Fund is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of these amendments on the financial statements.

In December 2022, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848 (“ASU 2022-06”). ASU 2022-06 is an amendment to ASU 2020-04, which provided optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates and which was effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. ASU 2022-06 extends the effective period through December 31, 2024. The Fund is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2022-06.

K.Other Regulatory Matters. In October 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted a final rule relating to Tailored Shareholder Reports for Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds; Fee Information in Investment Company Advertisements. The rule and form amendments will, among other things, require the Fund to transmit concise and visually engaging shareholder reports that highlight key information. The amendments will require that the Fund tags information in a structured data format and that certain more in-depth information be made available online and available for delivery free of charge to investors on request. The amendments became effective January 24, 2023. There is an 18-month transition period after the effective date of the amendment.

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS September 30, 2023 (Continued)

NOTE 3 – PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

A.Cybersecurity Risk. With the increased use of technologies, such as the Internet, to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers may cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs.

B.Equity Market Risk. The equity securities held in the Fund’s portfolio may experience sudden, unpredictable drops in value or long periods of decline in value. This may occur because of factors that affect securities markets generally or factors affecting specific issuers, industries, or sectors in which the Fund invests. Common stocks, in which the Fund primarily invests, are generally exposed to greater risk than other types of securities, such as preferred stock and debt obligations, because common stockholders generally have inferior rights to receive payment from issuers.

C.Exchange Traded Fund (“ETF”) Risk. The Fund is an ETF, and, as a result of an ETF’s structure, it is exposed to the following risks:

Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that are authorized to purchase and redeem shares directly from the Fund (know as “Authorized Participants” or “APs”). 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, 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.

Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Due to the costs of buying or selling shares, including brokerage commissions imposed by brokers and bid-ask spreads, frequent trading of shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.

Shares May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. As with all ETFs, shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price of shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility, periods of steep market declines, and periods when there is limited trading activity for shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant.

Trading. Although shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange”) and may be traded on U.S. exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than shares. Also, in stressed market conditions, the market for shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings. These adverse effects on liquidity for shares, in turn, could lead to wider bid/ask spreads and differences between the market price of shares and the underlying value of those shares.

D.Other Investment Companies Risk. The Fund will incur higher and duplicative expenses when it invests in ETFs and other investment companies. By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company and bears its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the other investment company. There is also the risk that the Fund may suffer losses due to the investment practices of the underlying funds as the Fund will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of securities held by such investment companies. ETFs may be less liquid than other investments, and thus their share values more volatile than the values of the investments they hold. Investments in ETFs are also subject to the “ETF Risks” described above.

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS September 30, 2023 (Continued)

E.Models and Data Risk. The composition of the Index is heavily dependent on proprietary quantitative models as well as information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon may lead to securities being included in or excluded from the Index that would have been excluded or included had the Models and Data been correct and complete. If the composition of the Index reflects such errors, the Fund’s portfolio can be expected to reflect the errors, too.

F.Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not actively-managed and the Adviser would not sell a security due to current or projected underperformance of a security, industry or sector, unless that security is removed from the Index or the selling of shares of that security is otherwise required upon a reconstitution of the Index in accordance with the Index methodology. The Fund does not attempt to outperform the Index or take defensive positions in declining markets. As a result, the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected by a general decline in the market segments relating to the Index.

G.Sector Risk. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors.

Communication Services Sector Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in companies in the communications services sector, and therefore the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. Communication companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communications 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 company’s profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communications 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. As of September 30, 2023, the Fund maintained 26.0% of its net assets in the Communications sector.

Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in companies in the consumer discretionary sector, and therefore the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of domestic and international economies, interest rates, exchange rates, competition, consumer confidence, changes in demographics and consumer preferences. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector depend heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending, and may be strongly affected by social trends and marketing campaigns. These companies may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their profitability.

Consumer Staples Sector Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in companies in the consumer staples sector, and therefore the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. Companies in the consumer staples sector, including those in the food and beverage industries, may be affected by general economic conditions, commodity production and pricing, consumer confidence and spending, consumer preferences, interest rates, product cycles, marketing campaigns, competition, and government regulations.

H.Tracking Error Risk. As with all index funds, the performance of the Fund and the Index may differ from each other for a variety of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses and portfolio transaction costs not incurred by the Index. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested in the securities of the Index at all times or may hold securities not included in the Index.

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS September 30, 2023 (Continued)

NOTE 4 – COMMITMENTS AND OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Tidal Investments LLC serves as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of the Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”), and, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Fund, subject to the oversight of the Board. The Adviser is also responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sales transactions, subject to the supervision of the Board.

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a unitary management fee (the “Management Fee”) based on the average daily net assets of the Fund at the annualized rate of 0.65%. Out of the Management Fee, the Adviser is obligated to pay or arrange for the payment of substantially all expenses of the Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, and all other related services necessary for the Fund to operate. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses incurred by the Fund except for interest charges on any borrowings, dividends and other expenses on securities sold short, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (collectively, “Excluded Expenses”), and the Management Fee payable to the Adviser. The Management Fees incurred are paid monthly to the Adviser. Management Fees for the year ended September 30, 2023 are disclosed in the Statement of Operations.

The Adviser has entered into an agreement with CSat Investment Advisory, L.P. (“CSat”), under which CSat assumes the obligation of the Adviser to pay all expenses of the Fund, except Excluded Expenses (such expenses of the Fund, except Excluded Expenses, the “Unitary Expenses”). Although CSat has agreed to be responsible for the Unitary Expenses, the Adviser retains the ultimate obligation to the Fund to pay such expenses. CSat will also provide marketing support for the Fund, including hosting the Fund’s website and preparing marketing materials related to the Fund. For these services and payments, CSat is entitled to a fee, to be paid by the Adviser, based on the total management fee earned by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement less the Unitary Expenses. CSat does not make investment decisions, provide investment advice, or otherwise act in the capacity of an investment adviser to the Fund.

Tidal ETF Services LLC (“Tidal”), a Tidal Financial Group company and an affiliate of the Adviser, serves as the Fund’s administrator and, in that capacity, performs various administrative and management services for the Fund. Tidal coordinates the payment of Fund related expenses and manages the Trust’s relationships with its various service providers.

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services”), serves as the Fund’s sub-administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent. In those capacities, Fund Services performs various administrative and accounting services for the Fund. Fund Services prepares various federal and state regulatory filings, reports and returns for the Fund, including regulatory compliance monitoring and financial reporting; prepares reports and materials to be supplied to the Board; and monitors the activities of the Fund’s custodian. U.S. Bank N.A. (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of Fund Services, serves as the Fund’s custodian.

Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Fund’s shares.

Certain officers and a trustee of the Trust are affiliated with the Adviser. Neither the affiliated trustee nor the Trust’s officers receive compensation from the Fund.

NOTE 5 – PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

For the year ended September 30, 2023, the cost of purchases and proceeds from the sales or maturities of securities, excluding short-term investments, U.S. government securities, and in-kind transactions were $37,602,027 and $37,728,256, respectively.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, there were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. government securities.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, in-kind transactions associated with creations and redemptions for the Fund were $39,252,637 and $39,129,460, respectively.

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS September 30, 2023 (Continued)

NOTE 6 – INCOME TAXES AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022 was as follows:

Distribution paid from:

September 30, 2023

September 30, 2022

Ordinary income

$521,186

$259,875

As of the year ended September 30, 2023, the components of distributable (accumulated) earnings (losses) on a tax basis were as follows:

September 30, 2023

Cost of investments(1) 

$74,006,424

Gross tax unrealized appreciation

4,158,108

Gross tax unrealized depreciation

(9,523,507

)

Net tax unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

(5,365,399

)

Undistributed ordinary income

482,653

Undistributed long-term capital gain

Total distributable earnings

482,653

Other accumulated gain (loss)

(18,494,006

)

Total distributable (accumulated) earnings (losses)

$(23,376,752

)

(1)The difference between book and tax-basis unrealized appreciation was attributable primarily to the treatment of wash sales.

Net capital losses incurred after October 31 (post-October losses) and net investment losses incurred after December 31 (late year losses), and within the taxable year, may be elected to be deferred to the first business day of each Fund’s next taxable year. As of September 30, 2023, the Fund has not elected to defer any post-October or late year losses. As of September 30, 2023, the Fund had short-term and long-term capital loss carryovers of $(9,168,245) and $(9,325,761), respectively, which do not expire.

NOTE 7 – SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Shares of the Fund are listed and traded on the Exchange. Market prices for the shares may be different from their NAV. The Fund issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis at NAV generally in large blocks of shares (“Creation Units”). Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in-kind for securities included in a specified universe. Once created, shares generally trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund. Creation Units may only be purchased or redeemed by Authorized Participants. An Authorized Participant is either (i) a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation or (ii) a Depository Trust Company participant and, in each case, must have executed a Participant Agreement with the Distributor. Most retail investors do not qualify as Authorized Participants or have the resources to buy and sell whole Creation Units. Therefore, they are unable to purchase or redeem the shares directly from the Fund. Rather, most retail investors may purchase shares in the secondary market with the assistance of a broker and are subject to customary brokerage commissions or fees.

The Fund currently offers one class of shares, which has no front-end sales load, no deferred sales charge, and no redemption fee. A fixed transaction fee is imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase or sale of Creation Units. The standard fixed transaction fee for the Fund is $300, payable to the Custodian. The fixed transaction fee may be waived on certain orders if the Fund’s Custodian has determined to waive some or all of the costs associated with the order or another party, such as the Adviser, has agreed to pay such fee. In addition, a variable fee may be charged on all cash transactions or substitutes for Creation Unit of up to a maximum of 2% and for Redemption Units of up to a maximum of 2%, respectively, of the value of the Creation Units and Redemption Units subject to the transaction. Variable fees are imposed to compensate the Fund for transaction costs associated with the cash transactions. Variable fees received by the Fund, if any, are disclosed in the capital shares transactions section of the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. The Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, with no par value. All shares of the Fund have equal rights and privileges.

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

NOTE 8 – RECENT MARKET EVENTS

U.S. and international markets have experienced and may continue to experience significant periods of volatility in recent years and months due to a number of economic, political and global macro factors including rising inflation, uncertainty regarding central banks’ interest rate increases, the possibility of a national or global recession, trade tensions, political events, the war between Russia and Ukraine and the impact of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) global pandemic. The global recovery from COVID-19 may last for an extended period of time. As a result of continuing political tensions and armed conflicts, including the war between Ukraine and Russia, the U.S. and the European Union imposed sanctions on certain Russian individuals and companies, including certain financial institutions, and have limited certain exports and imports to and from Russia. The war has contributed to recent market volatility and may continue to do so. These developments, as well as other events, could result in further market volatility and negatively affect financial asset prices, the liquidity of certain securities and the normal operations of securities exchanges and other markets, despite government efforts to address market disruptions. Continuing market volatility as a result of recent market conditions or other events may have adverse effects on your account.

NOTE 9 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In preparing these financial statements, the Fund has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued. The Fund has determined that there are no subsequent events that would need to be recorded or disclosed in the Fund’s financial statements.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS September 30, 2023 (Continued)

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders of American Customer Satisfaction ETF and
Board of Trustees of Tidal
ETF Trust

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of American Customer Satisfaction ETF (the “Fund”), a series of Tidal ETF Trust, as of September 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of September 30, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2023, by correspondence with the custodian. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

We have served as the Fund’s auditor since 2016.

COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
November
29, 2023

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

EXPENSE EXAMPLE For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of the Fund’s shares, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees of the Fund. The example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period indicated, which is from April 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023.

Actual Expenses

The first line of the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. The example includes, but is not limited to, unitary fees. However, the example does not include portfolio trading commissions and related expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then, multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period’’ to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line of the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of the Fund’s shares. Therefore, the second line of the following table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

Beginning
Account Value
April 1, 2023

Ending
Account Value
September 30, 2023

Expenses Paid
During the Period
April 1, 2023 –
September 30, 2023
(1) 

Actual

$1,000.00

$  996.60

$3.25

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

$1,000.00

$1,021.81

$3.29

(1)Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six-month period of 0.65%, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the most recent six-month period).

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

BASIS FOR TRUSTEES’ APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (Unaudited)

The Board of Trustees (the “Board” or the “Trustees”) of Tidal ETF Trust (the “Trust”) met at a meeting held on April 5, 2023 to consider the renewal of the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between the Trust, on behalf of the American Customer Satisfaction ETF (the “Fund”), a series of the Trust, and Tidal Investments LLC (f/k/a Toroso Investments, LLC), the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). Prior to this meeting, the Board requested and received materials to assist them in considering the renewal of the Advisory Agreement. The materials provided contained information with respect to the factors enumerated below, including a copy of the Advisory Agreement, a memorandum prepared by outside legal counsel to the Trust and Independent Trustees discussing in detail the Trustees’ fiduciary obligations and the factors they should assess in considering the renewal of the Advisory Agreement, due diligence materials relating to the Adviser (including the due diligence response completed by the Adviser with respect to a specific request letter from outside legal counsel to the Trust and Independent Trustees, the Adviser’s Form ADV, select ownership, organizational, financial and insurance information for the Adviser, biographical information of the Adviser’s key management and compliance personnel, detailed comparative information regarding the unitary advisory fee for the Fund, and information regarding the Adviser’s compliance program) and other pertinent information. Based on their evaluation of the information provided, the Trustees, by a unanimous vote (including a separate vote of the Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Independent Trustees”)), approved the renewal of the Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year term.

Discussion of Factors Considered

In considering the renewal of the Advisory Agreement and reaching their conclusions, the Trustees reviewed and analyzed various factors that they determined were relevant, including the factors enumerated below.

1.Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided. The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the Adviser’s overall services provided to the Fund as well as its specific responsibilities in all aspects of day-to-day investment management of the Fund, including trade execution. The Board considered the qualifications, experience and responsibilities of the Adviser’s investment management team, including Michael Venuto and Charles Ragauss, who each serve as a portfolio manager to the Fund, as well as the responsibilities of other key personnel of the Adviser involved in the daytoday activities of the Fund. The Board reviewed due diligence information provided by the Adviser, including information regarding the Adviser’s compliance program, its compliance personnel and compliance record, as well as the Adviser’s cybersecurity program and business continuity plan. The Board noted that the Adviser does not manage any other accounts that utilize a strategy similar to that employed by the Fund.

The Board also considered other services provided to the Fund, such as monitoring adherence to the Fund’s investment strategy and restrictions, oversight of other service providers to the Fund, monitoring compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations, and monitoring the extent to which the Fund achieves its investment objective as a passively-managed ETF. The Board noted that the Fund is designed to track the performance of an index and the Adviser is responsible for trade execution.

The Board concluded that the Adviser had sufficient quality and depth of personnel, resources, investment methods and compliance policies and procedures essential to performing its duties under the Advisory Agreement and managing the Fund and that the nature, overall quality and extent of the management services provided to the Fund, as well as the Adviser’s compliance program, were satisfactory.

2.Investment Performance of the Fund and the Adviser. The Board considered the investment performance of the Fund and the Adviser. The Board noted that the Fund was designed to track the performance of an index and considered the extent to which the Fund tracked its index, before fees and expenses, in addition to the performance of the Fund against its benchmark index and peer group.

The Board considered the performance of the Fund on an absolute basis, in comparison to its underlying index (the American Consumer Satisfaction Investable Index), in comparison to its benchmark index (S&P 500® Total Return Index), and in comparison to a peer group of funds in the Fund’s current Morningstar category based on comparative information prepared by Fund Services utilizing data provided by Morningstar Direct (a peer group of U.S. large blend funds) (the “Morningstar Peer Group”). The Board considered the Fund’s performance was generally in line with its underlying index and noted factors that contributed to any tracking error. The Board noted that the Fund underperformed the S&P 500® Total Return Index over the one-year and since inception periods ended December 31, 2022. The Board also noted that the Fund outperformed the Morningstar Peer Group average for the year-to-date, three-year and five-year periods ended February 28, 2023, but underperformed the Morningstar Peer Group average for the one-year period ended February 28, 2023.

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American Customer Satisfaction ETF

After considering all of the information, the Board concluded that the performance of the Fund was satisfactory under current market conditions and that the Adviser has the necessary expertise and resources in providing investment advisory services in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies. Although past performance is not a guarantee or indication of future results, the Board determined that the Fund and its shareholders were likely to benefit from the Adviser’s continued management.

3.Cost of Services Provided and Profits Realized by the Adviser. The Board considered the cost of services and the structure of the Adviser’s advisory fee, including a review of comparative expenses, expense components and peer group selection. The Board took into consideration that the advisory fee for the Fund was a “unitary fee,” meaning that the Fund pays no expenses other than the advisory fee and certain other costs such as interest, brokerage, and extraordinary expenses and, to the extent it is implemented, fees pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b1 Plan. The Board noted that the Adviser continues to responsible for compensating the Fund’s other service providers and paying the Fund’s other expenses out of its own fees and resources, subject to the contractual agreement of the Fund’s sponsor, CSat Investment Advisory, L.P., to assume such obligation in exchange for the profits, if any, generated by the Fund’s unitary fee. The Board also considered the overall profitability of the Adviser and examined the level of profits accrued to the Adviser from the fees payable under the Advisory Agreement. The Board considered that the Fund’s advisory fee of 0.65% was above the Morningstar Peer Group average of 0.37% and that the Fund’s expense ratio of 0.65% was above the Morningstar Peer Group average of 0.37%.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio and the advisory fee were fair and reasonable in light of the comparative performance, advisory fee and expense information and the investment management services provided to the Fund by the Adviser given the nature of the Fund’s investment strategy. The Board also evaluated, based on a profitability analysis prepared by the Adviser, the fees received by the Adviser and its affiliates and the profit realized by the Adviser from its relationship with the Fund, and concluded that the fees had not been, and currently were not, excessive, and the Board further concluded that the Adviser had adequate financial resources to support its services to the Fund from the revenues of its overall investment advisory business.

4.Extent of Economies of Scale as the Fund Grows. The Board compared the Fund’s expenses relative to its Morningstar Peer Group and discussed realized and potential economies of scale. The Board considered the potential economies of scale that the Fund might realize under the structure of the advisory fee. The Board noted that the advisory fee did not contain any breakpoint reductions as the Fund’s assets grow in size, but that the Adviser would evaluate future circumstances that may warrant breakpoints in the fee structure.

5.Benefits Derived from the Relationship with the Fund. The Board considered the direct and indirect benefits that could be received by the Adviser and its affiliates from association with the Fund. The Board concluded that the benefits the Adviser may receive, such as greater name recognition or the ability to attract additional investor assets, appear to be reasonable and in many cases may benefit the Fund.

Conclusion. Based on the Board’s deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, with no single factor determinative of a conclusion, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, unanimously concluded that: (a) the terms of the Advisory Agreement are fair and reasonable; (b) the advisory fee is reasonable in light of the services that the Adviser provides to the Fund; and (c) the approval of the renewal of the Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year term was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

BASIS FOR TRUSTEES’ APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (Unaudited) (Continued)

22

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

Statement Regarding Liquidity Risk Management Program (Unaudited)

In accordance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Rule 22e-4”), Tidal ETF Trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of its series, the American Customer Satisfaction ETF (the “Fund”), has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”). The Program seeks to promote effective liquidity risk management for the Fund and to protect the Fund’s shareholders from dilution of their interests. The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has approved the designation of Tidal Investments LLC (f/k/a Toroso Investments, LLC), the Fund’s investment adviser, as the program administrator (the “Program Administrator”). The Program Administrator has further delegated administration of the Program to a member of its compliance team. The Program Administrator is required to provide a written annual report to the Board regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the Program, including the operation of the highly liquid investment minimum, if applicable, and any material changes to the Program.

On August 24, 2023, the Board reviewed the Program Administrator’s written annual report for the period October 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 (the “Report”). The Program assesses liquidity risk under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed market conditions. The risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of a fund’s investments, limiting the amount of illiquid investments and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to a fund, among other means. The Trust has engaged the services of ICE Data Services, Inc., a third-party vendor, to provide daily portfolio investment classification services to assist in the Program Administrator’s assessment. The Report noted that no highly liquid investment minimum is required for the Fund because the Fund is classified as an In-Kind ETF (as defined under Rule 22e-4). The Report noted that there were no breaches of the restrictions on acquiring or holding greater than 15% illiquid investments of the Fund during the review period. The Report confirmed that the Fund’s investment strategy remained appropriate for an open-end fund and that the Fund was able to meet requests for redemptions without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Report noted that no material changes had been made to the Program during the review period. The Program Administrator determined that the Program complies with the requirements of Rule 22e-4 and is reasonably designed and operating effectively.

23

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (Unaudited)

Name, Address and
Year of Birth

 

Position
Held with
the Trust

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
(3) 

 

Other Directorships
Held by Trustee During
Past 5 Years

Independent Trustees(1) 

Mark H .W . Baltimore

c/o Tidal ETF Services, LLC

234 West Florida Street,

Suite 203

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204

Born: 1967

Trustee

Indefinite term;
since 2018

Co-Chief Executive Officer, Global Rhino, LLC (asset management consulting firm) (since 2018); Chief Business Development Officer, Joot (asset management compliance services firm) (since 2019); Chief Executive Officer, Global Sight, LLC (asset management distribution consulting firm) (2016 to 2018).

42

None

Dusko Culafic

c/o Tidal ETF Services, LLC

234 West Florida Street,

Suite 203

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204

Born: 1958

Trustee

Indefinite term;
since 2018

Retired (since 2018); Senior Operational Due Diligence Analyst, Aurora Investment Management, LLC (2012 to 2018).

42

None

Eduardo Mendoza

c/o Tidal ETF Services, LLC

234 West Florida Street,

Suite 203

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204

Born: 1966

Trustee

Indefinite term;
since 2018

Chief Financial Officer (since 2022), Executive Vice President - Head of Capital Markets & Corporate Development (since 2019), Advisor (2017 to 2019), Credijusto (financial technology company).

42

None

Interested Trustee and Executive Officer

Eric W. Falkeis(2)
Born: 1973

President, Principal Executive Officer, Interested Trustee and Chairman

President and Principal Executive Officer since 2019, Indefinite term; Interested Trustee and Chairman since 2018, Indefinite term

Chief Executive Officer, Tidal ETF Services LLC (since 2018); Chief Operating Officer (and other positions), Rafferty Asset Management, LLC (2013 to 2018) and Direxion Advisors, LLC (2017 to 2018).

42

Trustee, Tidal Trust II 32 Series (since 2022); Independent Director, Muzinich BDC, Inc. (since 2019); Trustee, Professionally Managed Portfolios (25 series) (since 2011); Interested Trustee, Direxion Funds, Direxion Shares ETF Trust, and Direxion Insurance Trust (2014 to 2018).

24

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (Unaudited) (Continued)

Name and
Year of Birth

 

Position
Held with
the
Trust

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee

 

Other Directorships
Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years

Executive Officers

Aaron J. Perkovich
Born: 1973

Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer, and Principal Accounting Officer

Indefinite term; since 2022

Head of Fund Administration (since 2023), Fund Administration Manager (2022 to 2023); Tidal ETF Services LLC; Assistant Director Investments, Mason Street Advisors, LLC (2021 to 2022); Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2006 to 2021).

Not
Applicable

Not Applicable

William H. Woolverton, Esq.
Born: 1951

Chief Compliance Officer and AML Compliance Officer

AML Compliance Officer since 2023, Indefinite term; Chief Compliance Officer since 2021, Indefinite term

Chief Compliance Officer (since 2023), Compliance Advisor (2022 to 2023), Tidal Investments LLC; Chief Compliance Officer, Tidal ETF Services LLC (since 2022); Senior Compliance Advisor, Cipperman Compliance Services, LLC (2020 to 2022); Operating Partner, Altamont Capital Partners (private equity firm) (since 2021); Managing Director and Head of Legal - US, Waystone (global governance solutions) (2016 to 2019).

Not
Applicable

Not Applicable

Ally L. Mueller
Born: 1979

Vice
President

Indefinite term; since 2023

Head of ETF Launches and Client Success (since 2023), Head of ETF Launches and Finance Director (2019 to 2023), Tidal ETF Services LLC.

Not
Applicable

Not Applicable

Lissa M. Richter
Born: 1979

Secretary

Indefinite term; since 2023

ETF Regulatory Manager (since 2021), Tidal ETF Services LLC; Senior Paralegal, Rafferty Asset Management, LLC (2013 to 2020); Senior Paralegal, Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services LLC (2005 to 2013).

Not
Applicable

Not Applicable

Melissa Breitzman
Born: 1983

Assistant Treasurer

Indefinite term: since 2023

Fund Administration Manager, Tidal ETF Services LLC (since 2023); Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2005 to 2023).

Not
Applicable

Not Applicable

(1)All Independent Trustees of the Trust are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”).

(2)Mr. Falkeis is considered an “interested person” of the Trust due to his positions as President, Principal Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Trust, and Chief Executive Officer of Tidal ETF Services LLC, a Tidal Financial Group company and an affiliate of the Adviser.

(3)The Trust, as of the date of this shareholder report, offered for sale to the public 36 of the 42 Funds registered with the SEC.

25

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

QUALIFIED DIVIDEND INCOME/DIVIDENDS RECEIVED DEDUCTION (Unaudited)

For the year ended September 30, 2023, certain dividends paid by the Fund may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 23.8%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

The percentage of dividends declared from ordinary income designated as qualified dividend income for the year ended September 30, 2023 was 100.00%.

For corporate shareholders, the percent of ordinary income distributions qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction for the year ended September 30, 2023 was 100.00%.

The percentage of taxable ordinary income distributions that are designated as short-term capital gain distribution under Internal Revenue Section 871(k)(2)(c) for the year ended September 30, 2023 was 0.00%.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROXY VOTING (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available upon request without charge, by calling (800) 617-0004 or by accessing the Fund’s website at www.acsietf.com. Furthermore, you can obtain the description on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available upon request without charge by calling (800) 617-0004 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS (Unaudited)

The Fund’s portfolio holdings are posted on the Fund’s website daily at www.acsietf.com. The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for its first and third fiscal quarters on Part F of Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Part F of Form N-PORT is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 617-0004. Furthermore, you can obtain the Part F of Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or on the Fund’s website at www.acsietf.com.

FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF PREMIUMS AND DISCOUNTS (Unaudited)

Information regarding how often shares of the Fund trade on the exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) to its daily NAV is available, without charge, on the Fund’s website at www.acsietf.com.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S TRUSTEES (Unaudited)

The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Fund’s Trustees and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 617-0004. Furthermore, you can obtain the SAI on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or the Fund’s website at www.acsietf.com.

Investment Adviser
Tidal Investments LLC
234 West Florida Street, Suite 203
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53204

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Cohen & Company, Ltd.
342 North Water Street, Suite 830
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202

Legal Counsel
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
833 East Michigan Street, Suite 1800
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202

Custodian
U.S. Bank N.A.
1555 North RiverCenter Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53212

Fund Administrator
Tidal ETF Services LLC
234 West Florida Street, Suite 203
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53204

Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant and Fund Sub-Administrator
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202

Distributor
Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland,
Maine 04101

 

Fund Information

Fund

Ticker

CUSIP

American Customer Satisfaction ETF

ACSI

886364710