Annual Report
September 30, 2022

 

AI Powered Equity ETF
Ticker: AIEQ

 

 

The fund is a series of ETF Managers Trust. 


AI Powered Equity ETF

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

September 30, 2022 

 

  Page
Shareholder Letter 2
   
Growth of $10,000 Investment 3
   
Top 10 Holdings 4
   
Important Disclosures and Key Risk Factors 5
   
Portfolio Allocations 6
   
Schedule of Investments 7
   
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 13
   
Statement of Operations 14
   
Statements of Changes in Net Assets 15
   
Financial Highlights 16
   
Notes to the Financial Statements 17
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 26
   
Expense Example 27
   
Supplementary Information 28
   
Information About Portfolio Holdings 28
   
Information About Proxy Voting 28
   
Trustees and Officers Table 29
   
Privacy Policy 31

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Dear Shareholder,

 

On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the AI Powered Equity Exchange-Traded Fund (“AIEQ” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the fiscal period from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022.

 

Market Overview

 

Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, financial markets in the United States and around the world experienced extreme and, in many cases, unprecedented volatility and severe losses due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses because of these disruptions. In response to these disruptions, the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have taken extraordinary actions to support the domestic economy and financial markets, contributing to inflationary pressure and expectations for inflation. Further, Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the resulting responses by the United States and other countries, and the potential for wider conflict have increased volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets and adversely affect regional and global economies. The full extent and duration of these conditions and the totality of repercussions are impossible to predict but could continue to result in significant market disruptions and may continue to negatively affect global supply chains, inflation and global growth. These and related events have impacted the ETFs’ performance, among other factors, and the value of an investment in the ETFs. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit etfmg.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

 

The AI Powered Equity ETF is actively managed and seeks capital appreciation. Over the fiscal-year ended September 30, 2022, the total return for the Fund was -28.45%, while the total return for its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, was -15.47%. The best performers in the Fund on the basis of contribution to return were Livent Corp, Cheniere Energy Inc, Microsoft Corp, Wolfspeed Inc and Autodesk Inc, while the worst performers were Nvidia Corp, Novavax Inc, Moderna Inc, Antero Resources Corp and Tesla Inc.

 

During the reporting period, the Fund saw an average approximate allocation of 23.14% to the Energy sector, 16.59% to Consumer Discretionary, and 15.68% to Health Care. The portfolio holdings of the Fund are solely exposed to the United States.

 

AIEQ invests primarily in equity securities listed on a U.S. exchange based on the results of a proprietary, quantitative model developed by EquBot LLC that runs on the Watson™ platform. Each day, the EquBot Model ranks each company based on the probability of the company benefiting from current economic conditions, trends, and world events and identifies approximately 30 to 150 companies with the greatest potential over the next twelve months for appreciation and weights those companies to seek a level of volatility comparable to that of the broader U.S. equity market. EquBot, the Fund’s sub-adviser, is a technology-based company focused on applying artificial intelligence (“AI”) based solutions to investment analyses.

 

You can find further details about AIEQ by visiting www.etfmg.com, or by calling 1-844-ETF-MGRS (1-844-383-6477).

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Samuel Masucci III 

Chairman of the Board

2

AI Powered Equity ETF

Growth of $10,000 (Unaudited) 

 

 

 

Average Annual Returns

Year Ended September 30, 2022

 

1 Year

Return

 

3 Year

Return

 

Since

Inception

(10/17/17)

 

Value of

$10,000

(9/30/2022)

 
AI Powered Equity ETF (NAV)     -28.45 %     4.18 %     5.59 %   $ 13,091  
AI Powered Equity ETF (Market)     -28.50 %     4.29 %     5.50 %   $ 13,038  
S&P 500 Index     -15.47 %     8.16 %     8.96 %   $ 15,300  

 

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. All performance is historical and includes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 1-844-ETF-MGRS (1-844-383-6477).

 

The chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on October 17, 2017, 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 from the sales of Fund shares. The chart assumes reinvestment of capital gains and dividends. The chart assumes reinvestment of capital gains and dividends, if any. The index returns do not reflect fees or expenses and are not available for direct investment. 

3

AI Powered Equity ETF 

 

Top Ten Holdings as of September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)*

 

Security  

% of Total

Investments

  1 Five Below, Inc.   5.61%
  2 Antero Resources Corp.   3.93%
  3 Sunnova Energy International, Inc.   3.04%
  4 Moderna, Inc.   2.99%
  5 Mosaic Co.   1.94%
  6 American Express Co.   1.90%
  7 Lantheus Holdings, Inc.   1.74%
  8 NXP Semiconductors NV   1.54%
  9 Novavax, Inc.   1.52%
10 Bumble, Inc.   1.47%
       
  Top Ten Holdings = 25.68% of Total Investments    
  * Current Fund holdings may not be indicative of future Fund holdings.    
4

AI Powered Equity ETF

Important Disclosures and Key Risks Factors

 

Past performance is not indicative of future return. A fund’s performance for very short time periods may not be indicative of future performance.

 

AIEQ

 

The AI Powered Equity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation within risk constraints commensurate with broad market U.S. equity indices.

 

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV), may trade at a discount premium to NAV and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Narrowly focused investments typically exhibit higher volatility. 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 such as political, market and economic developments, as well as events that impact specific issuers.

 

The Fund is actively-managed and may not meet its investment objective based on the success or failure of a proprietary, quantitative model (the “Equbot Model”) that runs on the IBM WatsonTM platform to identify investment opportunities. Fund holdings are subject to change. For full holdings information, please visit www.etfmg.com.

 

The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade securities or other instruments in the Fund’s portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses.

 

Some of the models used by the Adviser for the Fund are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose the Fund to potential risks. For example, by relying on Models and Data, the Adviser may be induced to buy certain investments at prices that are too high, to sell certain other investments at prices that are too low, or to miss favorable opportunities altogether. Similarly, any hedging based on faulty Models and Data may prove to be unsuccessful.

 

Natural or environmental disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and other severe weather - related phenomena generally, and widespread disease, including pandemics and epidemics, have been and may be highly disruptive to economies and markets, adversely impacting individual companies, sectors, industries, markets, currencies, interest and inflation rates, credit ratings, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region are increasingly likely to adversely affect markets, issuers, and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the U.S. Any such events could have a significant adverse impact on the value of the Fund’s investments.

 

ETF Managers Group LLC is the investment adviser to the fund. EquBot LLC serves as the sub-advisor to the Fund.

 

The Fund is distributed by ETFMG Financial LLC. ETF Managers Group LLC and ETFMG Financial LLC are wholly owned subsidiaries of Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC (collectively, “ETFMG”). ETFMG is not affiliated with EquBot LLC. 

5

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

PORTFOLIO ALLOCATIONS 

As of September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

   

AI Powered 

Equity ETF 

 
As a percent of Net Assets:
Bermuda     0.7 %
Canada     3.2  
Cayman Islands     1.1  
Ireland     0.5  
Marshall Islands     0.1  
Netherlands     2.2  
United States     89.8  
Short-Term and other Net Assets (Liabilities)     2.4  
      100.0 %
6

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2022

 

    Shares     Value  
             
COMMON STOCKS - 97.6%                
Bermuda - 0.7%                
Capital Markets - 0.1%                
Lazard, Ltd. - Class A     3,616     $ 115,097  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 0.6%                
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. (a)(b)     48,210       547,666  
Total Bermuda             662,763  
                 
Canada - 3.2%                
Metals & Mining - 0.9%                
B2Gold Corp.     279,826       901,041  
Pharmaceuticals - 1.2%                
Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (a)(b)     179,161       218,576  
Bausch Health Cos., Inc. (a)(b)     147,789       1,018,267  
Total Pharmaceuticals             1,236,843  
Professional Services - 0.1%                
Stantec, Inc.     2,880       126,230  
Software - 1.0%                
BlackBerry, Ltd. (a)     205,664       966,621  
Total Canada             3,230,735  
                 
Cayman Islands - 1.1%                
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment - 1.1%                
Ambarella, Inc. - ADR (a)     19,038       1,069,555  
                 
Ireland - 0.5%                
Pharmaceuticals - 0.5%                
Perrigo Co. PLC     13,088       466,718  
                 
Marshall Islands - 0.1%                
Marine - 0.1%                
Eagle Bulk Shipping, Inc. (b)     3,163       136,578  
                 
Netherlands - 2.2%                
Biotechnology - 0.3%                
uniQure NV (a)     14,120       264,891  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment - 1.9%                
NXP Semiconductors NV     13,018       1,920,284  
Total Netherlands             2,185,175  
                 
United States - 89.8%                
Aerospace & Defense - 2.3%                
Lockheed Martin Corp.     3,338       1,289,436  
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. - Class A     43,965       963,713  
Total Aerospace & Defense             2,253,149  

 

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

7

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

    Shares     Value  
Airlines - 1.7%                
Alaska Air Group, Inc. (a)     14,337     $ 561,294  
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (a)     4,134       116,000  
Spirit Airlines, Inc. (a)     21,393       402,616  
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (a)     19,636       638,759  
Total Airlines             1,718,669  
Auto Components - 0.2%                
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (a)     21,961       221,586  
Automobiles - 1.4%                
Canoo, Inc. (a)(b)     175,895       329,803  
Ford Motor Co.     28,227       316,142  
Harley-Davidson, Inc.     21,020       733,178  
Total Automobiles             1,379,123  
Banks - 0.6%                
Ameris Bancorp     7,659       342,433  
Wells Fargo & Co.     7,457       299,921  
Total Banks             642,354  
Biotechnology - 9.2%                
Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (a)     11,922       336,916  
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (a)(b)     42,106       1,664,871  
Moderna, Inc. (a)     31,597       3,736,346  
Novavax, Inc. (a)(b)     104,168       1,895,858  
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)     2,945       852,695  
Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (a)(b)     34,935       673,547  
Total Biotechnology             9,160,233  
Building Products - 2.4%                
AZEK Co., Inc. (a)     35,563       591,057  
Builders FirstSource, Inc. (a)     29,938       1,763,947  
Total Building Products             2,355,004  
Capital Markets - 1.8%                
Blackstone, Inc. (b)     11,949       1,000,131  
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.     2,675       783,909  
Total Capital Markets             1,784,040  
Chemicals - 2.9%                
Celanese Corp.     4,871       440,046  
Mosaic Co.     50,108       2,421,719  
Total Chemicals             2,861,765  
Communications Equipment - 0.5%                
Cisco Systems, Inc.     12,261       490,440  
Construction & Engineering - 0.6%                
Fluor Corp. (a)(b)     21,943       546,161  
Consumer Finance - 2.4%                
American Express Co.     17,631       2,378,598  
Containers & Packaging - 0.4%                
O-I Glass, Inc. (a)(b)     29,741       385,146  
Diversified Consumer Services - 1.0%                
2U, Inc. (a)     46,433       290,206  
H&R Block, Inc. (b)     16,808       715,013  
Total Diversified Consumer Services             1,005,219  

 

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

8

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

    Shares     Value  
Diversified Financial Services - 0.1%                
A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc.     4,178     $ 118,613  
Electrical Equipment - 2.5%                
Array Technologies, Inc. (a)(b)     70,930       1,176,020  
Bloom Energy Corp. - Class A (a)(b)     55,887       1,117,181  
Sunrun, Inc. (a)     7,951       219,368  
Total Electrical Equipment             2,512,569  
Entertainment - 1.4%                
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (a)     204,343       1,424,271  
Food & Staples Retailing - 0.7%                
US Foods Holding Corp. (a)     24,682       652,592  
Food Products - 0.8%                
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.     4,917       380,477  
The Simply Good Foods Co. (a)     14,228       455,154  
Total Food Products             835,631  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies - 3.9%                
DexCom, Inc. (a)     1,583       127,495  
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (a)     1,820       592,956  
iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (a)     7,920       992,218  
Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (a)     30,918       2,174,462  
Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies             3,887,131  
Health Care Providers & Services - 0.7%                
Clover Health Investments Corp. (a)     208,528       354,497  
Tenet Healthcare Corp. (a)     6,594       340,119  
Total Health Care Providers & Services             694,616  
Health Care Technology - 0.8%                
Schrodinger, Inc. (a)     30,530       762,639  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 1.7%                
Bally’s Corp. (a)(b)     16,361       323,293  
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (a)     17,176       781,680  
Travel + Leisure Co.     17,379       592,971  
Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure             1,697,944  
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers - 3.8%                
Sunnova Energy International, Inc. (a)(b)     172,264       3,803,589  
Insurance - 0.9%                
American International Group, Inc.     9,650       458,182  
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.     3,239       407,499  
Total Insurance             865,681  
Interactive Media & Services - 2.4%                
Bumble, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)     85,654       1,840,704  
fuboTV, Inc. (a)(b)     132,715       471,138  
Total Interactive Media & Services             2,311,842  
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail - 0.2%                
Overstock.com, Inc. (a)(b)     6,533       159,079  

 

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

9

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

    Shares     Value  
IT Services - 2.1%                
BigCommerce Holdings, Inc. (a)     16,302     $ 241,270  
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A     11,669       670,268  
FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a)     3,172       558,811  
Visa, Inc. - Class A (b)     1,134       201,455  
WEX, Inc. (a)     3,496       443,782  
Total IT Services             2,115,586  
Life Sciences Tools & Services - 0.5%                
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. (a)     19,393       495,103  
Machinery - 0.4%                
Deere & Co. (b)     1,101       367,613  
Marine - 0.3%                
Matson, Inc.     4,384       269,704  
Metals & Mining - 1.0%                
Coeur Mining, Inc. (a)     106,389       363,850  
Steel Dynamics, Inc. (b)     2,031       144,099  
Warrior Met Coal, Inc.     17,025       484,191  
Total Metals & Mining             992,140  
Multiline Retail - 0.7%                
Nordstrom, Inc. (b)     41,048       686,733  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 16.7%                
Antero Resources Corp. (a)     160,830       4,910,140  
APA Corp.     6,210       212,320  
Brigham Minerals, Inc.     6,586       162,477  
CONSOL Energy, Inc.     1,859       119,571  
Continental Resources, Inc.     3,829       255,815  
Coterra Energy, Inc.     21,494       561,423  
Devon Energy Corp. (b)     5,542       333,240  
Earthstone Energy, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)     28,290       348,533  
EOG Resources, Inc.     1,397       156,087  
Gevo, Inc. (a)(b)     198,998       453,715  
HF Sinclair Corp.     23,794       1,281,069  
Marathon Oil Corp.     22,948       518,166  
Matador Resources Co. (b)     21,984       1,075,457  
Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (b)     31,280       857,385  
Occidental Petroleum Corp. (b)     5,964       366,488  
Range Resources Corp. (b)     64,029       1,617,373  
Ranger Oil Corp.     12,067       379,507  
Southwestern Energy Co. (a)     257,523       1,576,041  
Valero Energy Corp.     12,826       1,370,458  
Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels             16,555,265  
Personal Products - 0.5%                
Coty, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)     75,855       479,404  
Pharmaceuticals - 1.2%                
Cassava Sciences, Inc. (a)(b)     13,571       567,539  
Organon & Co. (b)     5,460       127,764  
Zoetis, Inc.     3,092       458,513  
Total Pharmaceuticals             1,153,816  

 

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

10

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

    Shares     Value  
Professional Services - 0.3%                
Upwork, Inc. (a)     17,692     $ 240,965  
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - 1.4%                
Equinix, Inc.     668       379,985  
PotlatchDeltic Corp.     8,598       352,862  
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (b)     8,864       652,302  
Total Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)             1,385,149  
Road & Rail - 1.5%                
Lyft, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)     110,687       1,457,748  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment - 1.8%                
First Solar, Inc. (a)(b)     2,828       374,060  
KLA Corp.     604       182,789  
Microchip Technology, Inc.     15,993       976,053  
QUALCOMM, Inc.     2,511       283,693  
Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment             1,816,595  
Software - 2.9%                
Bentley Systems, Inc. - Class B     18,107       553,893  
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. - Class A (a)     3,032       499,704  
Fortinet, Inc. (a)     2,172       106,710  
Palantir Technologies, Inc. - Class A (a)(b)     131,216       1,066,786  
Tenable Holdings, Inc. (a)     18,757       652,744  
Total Software             2,879,837  
Specialty Retail - 8.5%                
AutoNation, Inc. (a)(b)     6,571       669,388  
CarMax, Inc. (a)(b)     4,151       274,049  
Five Below, Inc. (a)(b)     50,923       7,010,569  
Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (b)     965       137,870  
The Home Depot, Inc.     1,481       408,667  
Total Specialty Retail             8,500,543  
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals - 0.9%                
Apple, Inc.     6,287       868,863  
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods - 0.9%                
Tapestry, Inc.     22,134       629,269  
Under Armour, Inc. - Class C (a)     41,461       247,108  
Total Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods             876,377  
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance - 0.4%                
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.     8,475       363,578  
Trading Companies & Distributors - 0.5%                
United Rentals, Inc. (a)     1,869       504,854  
Total United States             88,917,557  
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $108,956,095)             96,669,081  

 

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

11

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

    Shares     Value  
INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL - 27.8%                
Mount Vernon Liquid Assets Portfolio, LLC, 3.18% (c)     27,544,826     $ 27,544,826  
TOTAL INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL (Cost $27,544,826)             27,544,826  
                 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 0.8%                
Money Market Funds - 0.8%                
First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X, 2.77% (c)     786,697       786,697  
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $786,697)             786,697  
                 
Total Investments (Cost $137,287,618) - 126.2%             125,000,604  
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (26.2)%             (25,940,314 )
TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.0%           $ 99,060,290  

 

Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.

 


PLC Public Limited Company

(a) Non-income producing security.

(b) All or portion of this security was out on loan at September 30, 2022.

(c) The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end.

 

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services”).

 

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

12

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 

As of September 30, 2022

 

   

AI Powered

Equity ETF

 
ASSETS      
Investments in securities, at value*   $ 125,000,604  
Receivables:        
Dividends and interest receivable     55,020  
Securities lending income receivable     8,248  
Receivable for investments sold     12,405,085  
Total Assets     137,468,957  
         
LIABILITIES        
Collateral received for securities loaned (Note 7)     27,544,826  
Payables:        
Payable for investments purchased     10,796,250  
Unitary fees payable     67,591  
Total Liabilities     38,408,667  
Net Assets   $ 99,060,290  
         
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:        
Paid-in Capital   $ 157,414,561  
Total distributable earnings (accumulated losses)     (58,354,271 )
Net Assets   $ 99,060,290  
         
*Identified Cost:        
Investments in securities   $ 137,287,618  
         
Shares Outstanding^     3,425,000  
Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption Price per Share   $ 28.92  

 


^ No par value, unlimited number of shares authorized

 

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

13

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS 

For the Year Ended September 30, 2022 

 

   

AI Powered

Equity ETF

 
INVESTMENT INCOME      
Income:      
Dividends from investments (net of foreign withholdings tax of $4,793)   $ 1,244,401  
Interest     15,560  
Securities lending income     128,381  
Total Investment Income     1,388,342  
         
Expenses:        
Unitary fees     1,050,557  
Total Expenses     1,050,557  
Net Investment Income     337,785  
         
REALIZED & UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS        
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on:        
Investments     (45,737,170 )
In-Kind Redemptions     17,759,210  
Net Realized Loss on Investments and In-Kind Redemptions     (27,977,960 )
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation of:        
Investments     (14,563,258 )
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation of Investments     (14,563,258 )
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments     (42,541,218 )
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS   $ (42,203,433 )

 

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

14

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   

Year Ended

September 30,

2022

   

Year Ended

September 30,

2021

 
             
OPERATIONS                
Net investment income (loss)   $ 337,785     $ (149,583 )
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and in-kind redemptions     (27,977,960 )     47,269,564  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments     (14,563,258 )     (13,078,850 )
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations     (42,203,433 )     34,041,131  
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS                
Total distributions from distributable earnings     (2,903,688 )     (145,000 )
                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS                
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from net change in outstanding shares     (23,394,942 )     40,773,047  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets     (68,502,063 )     74,629,178  
                 
NET ASSETS                
Beginning of Year     167,562,353       92,933,175  
End of Year   $ 99,060,290     $ 167,562,353  

 

Summary of share transactions is as follows:

 

      Year Ended
September 30, 2022
    Year Ended
September 30, 2021
 
      Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
Shares Sold       4,550,000     $ 187,547,448       7,000,000     $ 282,430,807  
Shares Redeemed       (5,200,000 )     (210,942,390 )     (5,950,000 )     (241,697,760 )
Net Transactions in Fund Shares       (650,000 )   $ (23,394,942 )     1,050,000     $ 40,733,047  
                                   
Beginning Shares       4,075,000               3,025,000          
Ending Shares       3,425,000               4,075,000          

 

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

15

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For a capital share outstanding throughout the year/period 

 

    Year Ended September 30, 2022     Year Ended September 30, 2021     Year Ended September 30, 2020     Year Ended September 30, 2019     Period Ended September 30, 20181  
                                         
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year/Period   $ 41.12     $ 30.72     $ 26.19     $ 29.50     $ 25.00  
Income from Investment Operations:                                        
Net investment income (loss) 2     0.09       (0.03 )     0.14       0.16       0.14  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on Investments     (11.57 )     10.47       4.52       (1.41 )     4.49  
Total from investment operations     (11.48 )     10.44       4.66       (1.25 )     4.63  
Less Distributions:                                        
Distributions from net investment income           (0.04 )     (0.13 )     (0.17 )     (0.12 )
Net realized gains     (0.72 )                 (1.89 )     (0.01 )
Total distributions     (0.72 )     (0.04 )     (0.13 )     (2.06 )     (0.13 )
Net asset value, end of year/period   $ 28.92     $ 41.12     $ 30.72     $ 26.19     $ 29.50  
Total Return     (28.45 )%     34.00 %     17.94 %     (2.32 )%     18.53 %3
                                         
Ratios/Supplemental Data:                                        
Net Assets at end of year/period (000’s)   $ 99,060     $ 167,562     $ 92,933     $ 114,573     $ 206,472  
                                         
Expenses to Average Net Assets     0.75 %     0.75 %     0.75 %     0.75 %     0.75 %4
Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets     0.24 %     (0.09 )%     0.49 %     0.64 %     0.52 %4
Portfolio Turnover Rate     1708 %     540 %     239 %     129 %     260 %3

 


1 Commencement of operations on October 17, 2017.

2 Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year/period.

3 Not annualized.

4 Annualized.

 

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

16

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022

 

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION

 

The AI Powered Equity ETF (the “Fund”) is a series of ETF Managers Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company consisting of multiple investment series, organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 1, 2009. The Trust is registered with 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 (“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation. The Fund commenced operations on October 17, 2017.

 

The Fund currently offers one class of shares, which has no front end sales load, no deferred sales charges, and no redemption fees. 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.

 

Shares of the Fund are listed and traded on the NYSE Arca, Inc. Market prices for the Shares may be different from their net asset value (“NAV”). The Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis at NAV only in blocks of 25,000 shares, called “Creation Units.” Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in-kind for securities included in a specified Index. Once created, Shares generally trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day in quantities less than a Creation Unit. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, Shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund. Shares of the Fund may only be purchased or redeemed by certain financial institutions (“Authorized Participant”). 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 DTC participant and, in each case, must have executed a Participant Agreement with the Distributor. Most retail investors do not qualify as Authorized Participants nor 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.

 

Authorized Participants transacting in Creation Units for cash may pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant Fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in “Transaction Fees” in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

 

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”).

 

The Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies.

 

The Fund may invest in certain other investment companies (underlying funds). For more information about the underlying Fund’s operations and policies, please refer to those fund’s semiannual and annual reports, which are filed with the SEC.

 


A. Security Valuation. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on 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 pm Eastern Time 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. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used.

 

17

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

Securities for which quotations are not readily available are valued at their respective fair values as determined in good faith by ETF Managers Group, LLC (the “Adviser”), using procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees (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 pricing procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. The use of fair value pricing by a fund may cause the net asset value of its shares to differ significantly from the net asset value that would be calculated without regard to such considerations. As of September 30, 2022, the Fund did not hold any securities fair valued by the Adviser.

 

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.

 


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.

 

18

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

The following table presents a summary of the Fund’s investments in securities, at fair value, as of September 30, 2022:

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Assets^   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Common Stocks   $ 96,669,081     $     $     $ 96,669,081  
Short-Term Investments     786,697                   786,697  
Investments Purchased with Securities Lending Collateral*                       27,544,826  
Total Investments in Securities   $ 97,455,778     $     $     $ 125,000,604  

 

^ For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Schedule of Investments.

 

* Certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in the table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Schedule of Investments.

 


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 provisions for federal income taxes or excise taxes have been made.

 

To avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, the Fund intends to declare each year as dividends, in each calendar year, at least 98.0% of its net investment income (earned during the calendar year) and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ended October 31) plus undistributed amounts, if any, from prior years.

 

Net capital losses incurred after October 31, within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund’s next taxable year.

 

The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. The Fund has analyzed its tax position and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions expected to be taken in the Fund’s 2022 tax returns. The Fund identifies its major tax jurisdictions as U.S. Federal, the State of New Jersey, and the State 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 in the next twelve months.

 

As of September 30, 2022, management has reviewed the tax positions for open periods (for Federal purposes, three years from the date of filing and for state purposes, generally a range of three to four years from the date of filing), as applicable to the Fund, and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

 


C. Security 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. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Income, including gains, from investments in foreign securities received by the Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries.

 

19

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 


D. Foreign Currency Translations and Transactions. The Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions. Foreign currency transactions are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis: (i) market value of investment securities, assets and liabilities at the daily rates of exchange, and (ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income and certain expenses at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not isolate changes in the exchange rate of investment securities from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities for unrealized gains and losses. However, for federal income tax purposes, the Fund does isolate and treat as ordinary income the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on realized gains or losses from the sale of investment securities and payables and receivables arising from trade-date and settlement-date differences.

 


E. Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders from net investment income are declared and paid for the Fund on a quarterly basis. Net realized gains on securities for the Fund normally are declared and paid on an annual basis. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 


F. 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 at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 


G. 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 and other assets, minus all liabilities (including estimated accrued expenses) 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 NYSE is closed for trading. The offering and redemption price per share for the Fund is equal to the Fund’s NAV per share.

 


H. 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.

 

NOTE 3 - RISK FACTORS

Investing in the AI Powered Equity ETF may involve certain risks, as discussed in the Fund’s prospectus, including, but not limited to, those described below. Any of these risks could cause an investor to lose money.

 

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 such as political, market and economic developments, as well as events that impact specific issuers.

 

20

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk as an actively-managed investment portfolio. The Adviser’s investment approach may fail to produce the intended results. If the Adviser’s implementation of the EquBot Model is inaccurate or incomplete, the Fund may not perform as expected and your investment could lose value over short or long-term periods. Additionally, the Adviser has not previously managed a Fund whose strategy relies on the use of AI, which may create additional risks for the Fund.

 

Market Trading Risk. An investment in the Fund faces numerous market trading risks, including the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares, losses from trading in secondary markets, periods of high volatility and disruption in the creation/redemption process of the Fund. Any of these factors, among others, may lead to the Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to NAV.

 

Models and Data Risk. The Fund relies heavily 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 expose the Fund to potential risks.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade securities or other instruments in the Fund’s portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses.

 

Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) Investment Risk. Investments in REITs involve unique risks. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume, and may be more volatile than other securities. REITs may be affected by changes in the value of their underlying properties or mortgages or by defaults by their borrowers or tenants. Furthermore, these entities depend upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in financing a limited number of projects. In addition, the performance of a REIT may be affected by changes in the tax laws or by its failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income.

 

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.

 

Smaller Companies Risk. Smaller companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies, and may underperform other segments of the market or the equity market as a whole. The securities of smaller companies also tend to be bought and sold less frequently and at significantly lower trading volumes than the securities of larger companies. As a result, it may be more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell a significant amount of the securities of a smaller company without an adverse impact on the price of the company’s securities, or the Fund may have to sell such securities in smaller quantities over a longer period of time, which may increase the Fund’s tracking error.

 

Natural Disaster/Epidemic Risk. Natural or environmental disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and other severe weather related phenomena generally, and widespread disease, including pandemics and epidemics (for example, the novel coronavirus COVID-19), have been and can be highly disruptive to economies and markets and have recently led, and may continue to lead, to increased market volatility and significant market losses. Such natural disaster and health crises could exacerbate political, social, and economic risks previously mentioned, and result in significant breakdowns, delays, shutdowns, social isolation, and other disruptions to important global, local and regional supply chains affected, with potential corresponding results on the operating performance of the Fund and its investments. A climate of uncertainty and panic, including the contagion of infectious viruses or diseases, may adversely affect global, regional, and local economies and reduce the availability of potential investment opportunities, and increases the difficulty of performing due diligence and modeling market conditions, potentially reducing the accuracy of financial projections. Under these circumstances, the Fund may have difficulty achieving its investment objective which may adversely impact performance. Further, such events can be highly disruptive to economies and markets, significantly disrupt the operations of individual companies (including, but not limited to, the Fund’s third party service providers), sectors, industries, markets, securities and commodity exchanges, currencies, interest and inflation rates, credit ratings, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. These factors can cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures and can impact the ability of the Fund to complete redemptions and otherwise affect Fund performance and Fund trading in the secondary market. A widespread crisis may also affect the global economy in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the current time. How long such events will last and whether they will continue or recur cannot be predicted. Impacts from these events could have significant impact on the Fund’s performance, resulting in losses to the Fund.

 

21

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

On February 24, 2022, Russia commenced a military attack on Ukraine. The outbreak of hostilities between the two countries could result in more widespread conflict and could have a severe adverse effect on the region and the markets. In addition, sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other countries, and any sanctions imposed in the future could have a significant adverse impact on the Russian economy and related markets. The price and liquidity of investments may fluctuate widely as a result of the conflict and related events. How long such conflict and related events will last and whether it will escalate further cannot be predicted, nor its effect on the Fund.

 

A complete description of the principal risks is included in the Fund’s prospectus under the heading “Principal Investment Risks.”

 

NOTE 4 - MANAGEMENT AND OTHER CONTRACTS

 

The Adviser serves as the investment Adviser to the Fund. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser, the Adviser provides investment advice to the Fund and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Fund, subject to the direction and control of the Board and the officers of the Trust.

 

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund, the Adviser has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Fund and arranges for sub-Advisory, transfer agency, custody, fund administration, securities lending, and all other non-distribution related services necessary for the Fund to operate. The Adviser bears the costs of all Advisory and non-Advisory services required to operate the Fund, in exchange for a single unitary fee. For services provided the Fund pays the Adviser at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has an agreement with, and is dependent on, a third party to pay the Fund’s expenses in excess of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Additionally, under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of the Fund, except for: the fee paid to the Adviser pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, interest charges on any borrowings, 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 (12b-1) fees and expenses (collectively, “Excluded Expenses”). The Adviser has entered into an Agreement with its affiliate, ETFMG Financial, LLC, to serve as distributor the Fund (the “Distributor”). The Distributor provides marketing support for the Fund, including distributing marketing materials related to the Fund.

 

EquBot, LLC serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund (the “Sub-Adviser”) and provides investment advice using the EquBot Model to the Adviser and the Fund. The Adviser is responsible for paying the entire amount of the Sub-Adviser’s fee for the Fund. The Sub-Adviser also provides marketing support for the Fund.

 

22

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (the “Administrator”) provides fund accounting, fund administration, and transfer agency services to the Fund. The Adviser compensates the Administrator for these services under an administration agreement between the two entities.

 

The Adviser pays each independent Trustee a quarterly fee for service to the Fund. Each Trustee is also reimbursed by the Adviser for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their duties as Trustee, including travel and related expenses incurred in attending Board meetings.

 

NOTE 5 - DISTRIBUTION PLAN

 

The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Fund may pay compensation to the Distributor or any other distributor or financial institution with which the Trust has an agreement with respect to the Fund, with the amount of such compensation not to exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund’s daily average net assets. For the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund did not incur any 12b-1 expenses.

 

NOTE 6 - PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

 

The costs of purchases and sales of securities, excluding short-term securities and in-kind transactions, for the year ended September 30, 2022:

 

    Purchases     Sales  
AI Powered Equity ETF   $ 2,320,112,704     $ 2,323,584,346  

 

The costs of purchases and sales of in-kind transactions associated with creations and redemptions for the year ended September 30, 2022:

 

    Purchases In-
Kind
    Sales In-
Kind
 
AI Powered Equity ETF   $ 182,601,868     $ 206,186,126  

 

Purchases in-kind are the aggregate of all in-kind purchases and sales in-kind are the aggregate of all in-kind sales. Net capital gains or losses resulting from in-kind redemptions are excluded from the Fund’s taxable gains and are not distributed to shareholders.

 

There were no purchases or sales of U.S. Government obligations for the year ended September 30, 2022.

 

NOTE 7 — SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of the value of the securities in its portfolio to brokers, dealers and financial institutions (but not individuals) under terms of participation in a securities lending program administered by U.S. Bank N.A. (“the Custodian”). The securities lending agreement requires that loans are collateralized at all times in an amount equal to at least 102% of the value of any loaned securities at the time of the loan, plus accrued interest. The Fund receives compensation in the form of fees and earn interest on the cash collateral. The amount of fees depends on a number of factors including the type of security and length of the loan. The Fund continues to receive interest payments or dividends on the securities loaned during the borrowing period. Gain or loss in the fair value of securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Fund. The Fund has the right under the terms of the securities lending agreement to recall the securities from the borrower on demand. The cash collateral is invested by the Custodian in accordance with approved investment guidelines. Those guidelines require the cash collateral to be invested in readily marketable, high quality, short-term obligations either directly on behalf of the Fund or through one or more joint accounts, money market funds, or short-term bond funds, including those advised by or affiliated with the Adviser; however, such investments are subject to risk of payment delays or default on the part of the issuer or counterparty or otherwise may not generate sufficient interest to support the costs associated with securities lending. Other investment companies, in which the Fund may invest cash collateral, can be expected to incur fees and expenses for operations, such as investment Advisory and administration fees, which would be in addition to those incurred by the Fund, and which may be received in full or in part by the Adviser. Pursuant to guidance issued by the SEC staff, fees and expenses of money market funds used for cash collateral received in connection with loans of securities are not treated as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, which reflect a fund’s pro rata share of the fees and expenses incurred by other investment companies in which the Fund invests (as disclosed in the Prospectus, as applicable). The Fund could also experience delays in recovering its securities and possible loss of income or value if the borrower fails to return the borrowed securities, although the Fund is indemnified from this risk by contract with the securities lending agent.

 

23

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

As of September 30, 2022, the value of the securities on loan and payable for collateral due to broker were as follows:

 

Value of Securities on Loan Collateral Received

 

Fund   Values of
Securities
on Loan
    Fund
Collateral
Received*
 
AI Powered Equity ETF   $ 26,561,070     $ 27,544,826  

 

* The cash collateral received was invested in the Mount Vernon Liquid Assets Portfolio, LLC, an investment with an overnight and continuous maturity, as shown on the Schedule of Investments.

 

NOTE 8 - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

 

The components of distributable earnings (losses) and cost basis of investments for federal income tax purposes at September 30, 2022, were as follows:

 

    Cost     Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
    Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
AI Powered Equity ETF   $ 139,681,683     $ 425,239     $ (15,106,318 )   $ (14,681,079 )

 

    Undistributed Ordinary Income     Undistributed
Long-Term
Gain
    Total
Distributable
Earnings
    Other Accumulated
(Loss)
    Total Accumulated
Gain
 
AI Powered Equity ETF   $ 105,914     $     $ 105,914     $ (43,779,106 )   $ (58,354,271 )

 

As of September 30, 2022, the Fund had accumulated capital loss carryovers of:

 

    Capital Loss
Carryover ST
    Capital Loss
Carryover LT
  Expires  
AI Powered Equity ETF   $ (43,783,881 )   None   Indefinite  

 

Under current tax law, capital and currency losses realized after October 31 of a fund’s fiscal year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first business day of the following fiscal year for tax purposes. The Fund had deferred post-October capital and currency losses, which will be treated as arising on the first business day of the year ended September 30, 2022.

 

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AI Powered Equity ETF

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2022 (Continued)

 

    Later Year
Ordinary Loss
  Post-October Loss
AI Powered Equity ETF   None   None

 

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. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the following table shows the reclassifications made:

 

    Total
Distributable
Earnings/(Loss)
    Paid-In
Capital
 
AI Powered Equity ETF   $ (16,040,303 )   $ 16,040,303  

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021 are as follows:

 

    Year Ended
September 30, 2022
    Year Ended
September 30, 2021
 
      From
Ordinary
Income
      From
Capital
Gains
      From
Ordinary
Income
      From
Capital
Gains
 
AI Powered Equity ETF   $     $ 2,903,688     $ 145,000     $  

 

NOTE 9 - LEGAL MATTERS

 

The Trust, the Adviser, and certain officers and affiliated persons of the Adviser (together with the Adviser, the “Adviser Defendants”) were named as defendants in an action filed December 21, 2021, in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Union County, captioned PureShares, LLC, d/b/a PureFunds et al. v. ETF Managers Group, LLC et al., Docket No. UNN-C-152-21 (the “NJ Action”). The NJ Action asserted breach of contract and other tort claims and sought damages in unspecified amounts and injunctive relief. On May 25, 2022, the court in the NJ Action dismissed with prejudice all claims asserted against the Trust, as well as all contract claims and all except one tort claim asserted against the Adviser Defendants.

 

As of September 30, 2022, there were no adjustments made to the accompanying financial statements based on the above legal matters.

 

NOTE 10 - 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. This evaluation did not result in any subsequent events that necessitated disclosures and/or adjustments to the financial statements.

 

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AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Trustees of ETF Managers Trust
and the Shareholders of AI Powered Equity ETF:

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of AI Powered Equity ETF (the “Fund”) (a series of ETF Managers Trust) as of September 30, 2022, 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 financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein, and the related notes (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, 2022, and 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 periods indicated therein, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, 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 and financial highlights. 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 and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/WithumSmith+Brown, PC

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more series of the Trust since 2013.

 

New York, New York
November 29, 2022

 

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AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Expense Example

Six Months Ended September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of AI Powered Equity ETF (the “Fund”) you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are 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 (April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022).

 

Actual Expenses

The first line of the table provides information about actual account values based on actual returns and actual 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 Period’’ to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line of the table provides information about hypothetical account values based on a hypothetical return 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 Fund shares. Therefore, the second line of the 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.

 

AI Powered Equity ETF   Beginning
Account
Value
April 1,
2022
    Ending
Account
Value
September 30,
2022
    Expenses
Paid,
During the
Period ^
    Annualized
Expense Ratio
 During the
Period
April 1,
2022 to
September 30,
2022
 
Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 785.80     $ 3.36       0.75 %
Hypothetical (5% annual)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.31     $ 3.80       0.75 %

 

^ The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized six-month expense ratio multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

27

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1 - FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF PREMIUMS AND DISCOUNTS

 

Information regarding how often shares of the Fund traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV is available on the Fund’s website at www.etfmgfunds.com.

 

NOTE 2 - FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

 

Qualified Dividend Income/Dividends Received Deduction

 

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, certain dividends paid by the Fund may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Reconciliation Act of 2003. The percentage of dividends declared from ordinary income designated as qualified dividend income was as follows:

Fund Name Qualified Dividend Income
AI Powered Equity ETF 0.00%

 

For corporate shareholders, the percent of ordinary income distributions qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 was as follows:

Fund Name Dividends Received Deduction
AI Powered Equity ETF 0.00%

 

Short Term Capital Gain

The percentage of taxable ordinary income distributions that are designated as short-term capital gain distributions under Internal Revenue Section 871 (k)(2)(C) for the Fund were as follows:

Fund Name Short-Term Capital Gain
AI Powered Equity ETF 0.00%

 

NOTE 3 - INFORMATION ABOUT PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for its first and third fiscal quarters on Part F of Form N-PORT. Once filed, the Fund’s Part F of Form N-PORT is available, without charge, upon request on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov), the Fund’s website (www.etfmgfunds.com) and is available by calling (877) 756-7873. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are posted on its website at www.etfmgfunds.com daily.

 

NOTE 4 - INFORMATION ABOUT PROXY VOTING

 

A description of the policies and procedures the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is provided in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). The SAI is available without charge upon request by calling toll-free at 1-844-ETF-MGRS (1-844-383-6477), by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by accessing the Fund’s website at www.etfmgfunds.com.

 

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the period ending June 30 is available by calling toll-free at 1-844-ETF-MGRS (1-844-383-6477) or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 1-844-ETF-MGRS (1-844-383-6477) or by visiting www.etfmgfunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

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AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Board of Trustees

 

Set forth below are the names, birth years, positions with the Trust, length of term of office, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee of the Trust, as well as information about each officer. The business address of each Trustee and officer is 30 Maple Street, 2nd Floor, Summit, New Jersey 07901. The SAI includes additional information about Fund directors and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1-844-ETF-MGRS (1-844-383-6477).

 

Name and Year of
Birth
Position(s) 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
Interested Trustee and Officers
Samuel Masucci, III
 (1962)
Trustee, Chairman of the Board and President (since 2012); Secretary (since 2014) Chief Executive Officer, Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC (since 2013); Chief Executive Officer, ETF Managers Group LLC (since 2016); Chief Executive Officer, ETF Managers Capital LLC (commodity pool operator) (since 2014). 17 None
John A. Flanagan,
(1946)
Treasurer (since 2015) President, John A. Flanagan CPA, LLC (accounting services) (since 2010); Treasurer, ETF Managers Trust (since 2015); Chief Financial Officer, ETF Managers Capital, LLC (commodity pool operator) (since 2015). n/a Independent Trustee - Absolute Shares Trust (since 2014) (6 portfolios)
Kevin Hourihan
(1978)
Chief Compliance Officer (since 2022) Senior Principal Consultant, Fund Chief Compliance Officer, ACA Global, LLC (since 2022); Chief Compliance Officer, Ashmore Funds (2017-2022); Chief Compliance Officer, Ashmore Investment Management (US) Corp (2014-2022); Chief Compliance Officer, Ashmore Equities Investment Management (2015-2019). n/a n/a
Matthew J.
Bromberg (1973)
Assistant Secretary (since 2020) Chief Compliance Officer of ETF Managers Group, LLC (since 2022); General Counsel and Secretary of Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC (since 2020); ETF Managers Group LLC (since 2020); ETFMG Financial LLC (since 2020); ETF Managers Capital LLC (since 2020); Partner of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (law firm) (2019-2020); General Counsel of WBI Investments, Inc. (2016-2019); Millington Securities, Inc. (2016-2019). n/a n/a
* Mr. Masucci is an interested Trustee by virtue of his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser.

 

29

 

AI Powered Equity ETF

 

Board of Trustees (Continued)

 

Name and Year of
Birth
Position(s) 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
Terry Loebs
(1963)
Trustee (since 2014); Lead Independent Trustee (since 2020) Founder and Managing Member, Pulsenomics LLC (index product development and consulting firm) (since 2011); Managing Director, MacroMarkets, LLC (exchange-traded products firm) (2006-2011). 17 None
Eric Wiegel
(1960)
Trustee (since 2020) Senior Portfolio Manager, Little House Capital (2019-present); Managing Partner, Global Focus Capital LLC (2013-present); Chief Investment Officer, Insight Financial Strategist LLC (2017-2018). 17 None

 

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AI Powered Equity ETF

 

ETF MANAGERS TRUST
Privacy Policy and Procedures

 

ETF Managers Trust, (the “Trust”) has adopted the following privacy policies in order to safeguard the personal information of the Trust’s customers and consumers in accordance with Regulation S-P as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Trust officers are responsible for ensuring that the following policies and procedures are implemented:

 

1)      The Trust is committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of the information they collect and will handle personal customer and consumer information only in accordance with Regulation S-P and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations1. The Trust will ensure: (a) the security and confidentiality of customer records and information; (b) that customer records and information are protected from any anticipated threats and hazards; and (c) that customer records and information are protected from unauthorized access or use.

 

2)       The Trust conducts its business affairs through its trustees, officers and third parties that provide services pursuant to agreements with the Trust. The Trust has no employees. It is anticipated that the trustees and officers of the Trust who are not employees of service providers of the Trust will not have access to customer records and information in the performance of their normal responsibilities for the Trust.

 

3)       The Trust may share customer information with its affiliates, subject to the customers’ right to prohibit such sharing.

 

4)       The Trust may share customer information with unaffiliated third parties only in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S-P. Pursuant to this policy, the Trust will not share customer information with unaffiliated third parties other than as permitted by law, unless authorized to do so by the customer.

 

Consistent with these policies, the Trust has adopted the following procedures:

 

1)      The Trust will determine that the policies and procedures of its affiliates and Service Providers are reasonably designed to safeguard customer information and only permit appropriate and authorized access to and use of customer information through the application of appropriate administrative, technical and physical protections.

 

2)      The Trust will direct each of its Service Providers to adhere to the privacy policy of the Trust and to its privacy policies with respect to all customer information of the Trust and to take all actions reasonably necessary so that the Trust is in compliance with the provisions of Regulation S-P, including, as applicable, the development and delivery of privacy notices and the maintenance of appropriate and adequate records.

 

3)       The Trust requires its Service Providers to provide periodic reports to the Trust’s Board of Trustees outlining their privacy policies and the implementation of such policies. Each Service Provider is required to promptly report to the Trust’s Board any material changes to its privacy policy before, or promptly after, the adoption of such changes.

 

(1) Generally, the Funds have institutional clients which are not considered “customers” for purposes of regulation S-P.

 

31

 

Advisor
ETF Managers Group, LLC
30 Maple Street, Suite 2, Summit, NJ 07901

 

Distributor
ETFMG Financial LLC
30 Maple Street, Suite 2, Summit, NJ 07901

 

Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association

 

Custody Operations
1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

 

Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

 

Securities Lending Agent

U.S. Bank, National Association
Securities Lending
800 Nicolet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402-7020

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
WithumSmith + Brown, PC
1411 Broadway, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10018

 

Legal Counsel
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
1666 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006