Annual Report
April
30, 2022
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Ticker: ACIO
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Ticker: DRSK
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Ticker: ADME
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Ticker: OSCV
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Ticker: IDME
Aptus ETFs
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
Shareholder Letters |
1 |
Performance Summaries |
11 |
Portfolio Allocations |
16 |
Schedules of Investments and Schedules of Written Options |
18 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities |
32 |
Statements of Operations |
33 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
34 |
Financial Highlights |
39 |
Notes to Financial Statements |
44 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
56 |
Trustees and Officers |
58 |
Expense Examples |
60 |
Review of Liquidity Risk Management Program |
62 |
Approval of Advisory Agreement and Board Considerations |
63 |
Federal Tax Information |
68 |
Information About Portfolio Holdings |
68 |
Information About Proxy Voting |
68 |
Frequency Distribution of Premiums and Discounts |
69 |
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
Dear ACIO Shareholders,
Thank you for your investment in the Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF, referred to herein as “ACIO” or the “Fund”. The information presented in this letter relates to ACIO’s performance period from May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund is an actively-managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective principally by investing in a portfolio of large capitalization U.S.-listed equity securities and an options collar (i.e., a mix of written (sold) call options and long (bought) put options on the same underlying equity securities or on an index tracking the large capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market (a “U.S. Large Cap Index”)). The equity securities and options held by the Fund must be listed on a U.S.-exchange, and the equity securities may include common stocks of U.S. companies, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) (i.e., receipts evidencing ownership of foreign equity securities), and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund will typically limit investments in ADRs to approximately 20% of the Fund’s net assets.
For the current fiscal period, ACIO was up 1.84% at market and up 1.78% at net asset value (“NAV”). Over the same period, the S&P 500® Index was up 0.21%.
The largest positive equity contributor to return for the current fiscal period was a put option position expiring in February 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), gaining 325.99% and adding 2.30% to the return of ACIO. The second largest contributor was a put option position expiring during May 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), gaining 156.62% and adding 2.17% to the return of ACIO. The third largest contributor was another put option position expiring during May 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), gaining 93.62% and adding 1.71% to the return of ACIO.
The largest negative contributor to the return for the current fiscal period was a put option position expiring in February 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), down 78.18% and detracting 1.19% from the return of ACIO. The second largest negative contributor was a put option position expiring in November 2021 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), down 82.71% and detracting 1.18% from the return of ACIO. The third largest negative contributor was Amazon.com, lnc. (AMZN), down 28.31% and detracting 1.12% from the return of ACIO.
We are excited about the opportunity to give our investors access to the Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF. We think its possible that future returns from a traditional 60/40 portfolio may be well below recent history, at risk of being insufficient to meet the income needs of today’s retirees. We believe we can help the math with a focus on global dividend growers. With overall valuations high, and growth difficult to project, we place great emphasis on sustainable yield in building return assumptions. The ACIO screening process takes large capitalization U.S.-listed equity securities that a) meet the filter, b) provide diversified exposure, and c) maintain an active options market from which we can sell call options on the individual names along with buying puts on the broad market index to more efficiently collar the equity portfolio. The powerful combination of a high dividend paying basket of large capitalization U.S.-listed equity securities with a collar strategy aims to deliver consistent and repeatable yield and minimal drawdown.
We appreciate your interest in ACIO. If we can elaborate on the underlying Aptus Collared Income Opportunity strategy, please don’t hesitate to ask as we would love an opportunity to discuss. Thanks again for your interest.
Sincerely,
JD
Gardner
Founder and Managing Member
Aptus Capital Advisors, Adviser to
the Fund
1
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund is non-diversified, meaning it may concentrate its assets in fewer individual holdings than diversified funds. Therefore, the Fund is more exposed to individual stock or ETF volatility than diversified funds. The Fund’s use of call and put options can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying security, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. The Fund’s use of options may reduce the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of the underlying securities. Derivatives, such as the options in which the Fund invests, can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risks. Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in a derivative could have a substantial impact on the performance of the Fund. The Fund could experience a loss if its derivatives do not perform as anticipated, the derivatives are not correlated with the performance of their underlying security, or if the Fund is unable to purchase or liquidate a position because of an illiquid secondary market. Investments in ETFs are subject to additional risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds, including the risks that the market price of the shares may trade at a discount to the net asset value (“NAV”), an active secondary trading market may not develop or be maintained, or trading may be halted by the exchange in which they trade, which may impact a fund’s ability to sell its shares.
Call options give the owner the right to buy the underlying security at the specified price within a specific time period. Put options give the owner the right to sell the underlying security at the specified price within a specific time period. A collar is an options strategy constructed by holding shares of the underlying stock while simultaneously buying put options and selling call options against that holding.
Shares of an ETF are bought and sold at market price (rather than NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based on the daily composite close price from all active exchanges at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Please refer to the Schedule of Investments and Schedule of Written Options in this report for complete holdings information.
Definitions:
S&P 500® Index - a market capitalization weighted index of the 500 largest U.S. publicly traded companies by market value. The total return index is a type of equity index that tracks both the capital gains of a group of stocks over time, and assumes that any cash distributions, such as dividends, are reinvested back into the index.
Aptus Capital Advisors is the adviser to the Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF, which is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
2
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
Dear DRSK Shareholders,
Thank you for your investment in the Aptus Defined Risk ETF, referred to herein as “DRSK” or the “Fund”. The information presented in this letter relates to DRSK’s performance from May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its objective through a hybrid fixed income and equity strategy. The Fund typically invests approximately 75% to 95% of its assets to obtain exposure to investment-grade corporate bonds (the “Fixed Income Strategy”) and invests the remainder of its assets to obtain exposure to U.S. stocks, while limiting downside risk (the “Equity Strategy”).
For the current fiscal period, DRSK was down 5.79% at market and down 5.73% at net asset value (“NAV”). Over the same period, the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index was down 8.51%.
The largest positive contributor to return for the current fiscal period was a call option position expiring in January 2022 on Merck & Company, Inc. (MRK), gaining 293.86% and adding 1.13% to the return of DRSK. The second largest contributor was a call option position expiring in November 2021 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), gaining 242.93% and adding 0.88% to the return of DRSK. The third largest contributor was a call option position expiring in October 2021 on NIKE, Inc. (NKE), gaining 227.32% and adding 0.86% to the return of DRSK.
The largest negative contributor to the return for the current fiscal period was a call option position expiring in January 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), down 55.71% and detracting 1.51% from the return of DRSK. The second largest negative contributor was iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Corporate ETF (IBDR), down 8.39% and detracting 1.29% from the return of DRSK. The third largest negative contributor was iShares iBonds Dec 2025 Term Corporate ETF (IBDQ), down 6.00% and detracting 1.27% from the return of DRSK.
We are excited about the opportunity to give our investors access to the Aptus Defined Risk ETF. We see income generation as a major issue for investors in a low interest rate environment and extending maturities or accepting poorer credit bring added risk. Our “income plus” approach utilizes call options that allows for upside capture in a rising market and defined risk in a declining market. The powerful combination of laddered bonds over a short-term maturities and asymmetric payoff opportunity of the call options aims to give investors expected returns not typically seen in the traditional fixed income space.
We appreciate your interest in DRSK. If we can elaborate on the underlying Aptus Defined Risk strategy, please don’t hesitate to ask as we would love an opportunity to discuss. Thanks again for your interest.
Sincerely,
JD
Gardner
Founder and Managing Member
Aptus Capital Advisors, Adviser to
the Fund
3
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Past Performance does not guarantee future performance. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund invests indirectly in fixed income securities through investments in bond ETFs, which involve certain risks. Options enable the Fund to purchase exposure that is significantly greater than the premium paid. Consequently, the value of such options can be volatile, and a small investment in options can have a large impact on the performance of the Fund. Because the Fund only purchases options (as opposed to writing/selling options), the Fund’s losses from its exposure to options are limited to the amount of premiums paid.
Shares of an ETF are bought and sold at market price (rather than NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based on the daily composite close price from all active exchanges at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Please see the Schedule of Investments and Schedule of Written Options for a complete list of Fund holdings.
Definitions:
Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index – a flagship measure of global investment grade debt from twenty-four local currency markets. This multi-currency benchmark includes treasury, government related, corporate and securitized fixed-rate bonds from both developed and emerging market issuers. One cannot invest directly in an index.
Call Option: Call options are financial contracts that give the option buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy a stock, bond, commodity or other asset or instrument at a specified price within a specific time period.
Put Option: A put option is a contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell–or sell short–a specified amount of an underlying security at a pre-determined price within a specified time frame.
S&P 500® Index – a market capitalization weighted index of the 500 largest U.S. publicly traded companies by market value. The total return index is a type of equity index that tracks both the capital gains of a group of stocks over time, and assumes that any cash distributions, such as dividends, are reinvested back into the index.
Aptus Capital Advisors is the adviser to the Aptus Defined Risk ETF, which is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
4
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
Dear ADME Shareholders,
Thank you for your investment in the Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF, referred to herein as “ADME” or the “Fund”. The information presented in this letter relates to ADME’s performance from May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its objective principally by investing in a portfolio of U.S.-listed equity securities, while limiting downside risk by purchasing exchange-listed put options on one or more of such equity securities or on broad-based indexes or ETFs that track the performance of the U.S. equity market. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in equity securities.
For the current fiscal period, ADME was down 1.05% at market and down 1.23% at net asset value (“NAV”). Over the same period, the S&P 500® Index was up 0.21%.
The largest positive equity contributor to return for the current fiscal period was a put option position expiring in February 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), gaining 325.99% and adding 1.88% to the return of ADME. The second largest contributor was a put option position expiring during May 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), gaining 279.72% and adding 1.45% to the return of ADME. The third largest contributor was a put option position expiring during June 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), gaining 178.67% and adding 1.28% to the return of ADME.
The largest negative equity contributor to the return for the current fiscal period was a put option position expiring in February 2022 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), down 78.18% and detracting 1.13% from the return of ADME. The second largest negative contributor was Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), down 28.31% and detracting 1.12% from the return of ADME. The third largest negative contributor was a put option position expiring in November 2021 on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), down 82.71% and detracting 1.00% from the return of ADME.
We are excited about the opportunity to give our investors access to the Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF. Historically, a small group of big winners have comprised most of each year’s market gains. Rather than diluting with hundreds of mediocre holdings, we prefer to focus on 50-60 large cap names. We build from a Yield + Growth framework, tilting holdings to favor companies with solid fundamentals and reasonable valuations while avoiding those with negative price momentum. We believe there’s an upside to less downside behaviorally and mathematically. Rather than try to time the markets, we actively hedge our holdings in an effort to mitigate downside risk. We build a portfolio that attempts to capture market upside, with a fraction of the downside.
We appreciate your interest in ADME. If we can elaborate on the underlying Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity strategy, please don’t hesitate to ask as we would love an opportunity to discuss. Thanks again for your interest.
Sincerely,
JD
Gardner
Founder and Managing Member
Aptus Capital Advisors, Adviser to
the Fund
5
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund’s use of put options can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying security, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. The Fund’s use of options may reduce the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of the underlying securities. Derivatives, such as the options in which the Fund invests, can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risks. Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in a derivative could have a substantial impact on the performance of the Fund. The Fund could experience a loss if its derivatives do not perform as anticipated, the derivatives are not correlated with the performance of their underlying security, or if the Fund is unable to purchase or liquidate a position because of an illiquid secondary market. Investments in ETFs are subject to additional risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds, including the risks that the market price of the shares may trade at a discount to the net asset value (“NAV”), an active secondary trading market may not develop or be maintained, or trading may be halted by the exchange in which they trade, which may impact a fund’s ability to sell its shares.
Shares of an ETF are bought and sold at market price (rather than NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based on the daily composite close price from all active changes at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Please see the Schedule of Investments and Schedule of Written Options for a complete list of Fund holdings.
Definitions:
Put Option: A put option is a contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell–or sell short–a specified amount of an underlying security at a pre-determined price within a specified time frame.
S&P 500® Index - a market capitalization weighted index of the 500 largest U.S. publicly traded companies by market value. The total return index is a type of equity index that tracks both the capital gains of a group of stocks over time, and assumes that any cash distributions, such as dividends, are reinvested back into the index.
Aptus Capital Advisors is the adviser to the Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF, which is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
6
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
Dear OSCV Shareholders,
Thank you for your investment in the Opus Small Cap Value ETF, referred to herein as “OSCV” or the “Fund”. The information presented in this letter relates to OSCV’s performance from May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of small-capitalization U.S. companies. The Fund defines a small capitalization company as an issuer whose market capitalization at the time of purchase is in the range of those found in the Russell 2000® Index. The Fund’s equity securities primarily include common stocks, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) representing the stock of a foreign company. The Fund will generally limit its investments in ADRs to 20% of its total assets. The Fund may invest in securities offered in an initial public offering (“IPO”) or in companies that have recently completed an IPO.
For the current fiscal period, OSCV was down 4.09% at market and down 4.25% at net asset value (“NAV”). Over the same period, the Russell 2000® Value Index was down 6.59%.
The largest positive equity contributor to return for the current fiscal period was Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (HP), gaining 86.11% and adding 0.86% to the return of OSCV. The second largest contributor was, Viper Energy Partners LP (VNOM) gaining 79.87% and adding 0.72% to the return of OSCV. The third largest contributor was Brigham Minerals, Inc.-Class A (MNRL) gaining 55.74% and adding 0.61% to the return of OSCV.
The largest negative equity contributor to the return for the current fiscal period was MKS Instruments, Inc. (MKSI) down 36.01% and detracting 0.54% from the return of OSCV. The second largest negative contributor was Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL) down 26.64% and detracting 0.51% from the return of OSCV. The third largest negative contributor was Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) down 33.20% and detracting 0.50% from the return of OSCV.
We are excited about the opportunity to give our investors access to the Opus Small Cap Value ETF. OSCV selects stocks across a variety of sectors and industries by combining factor-based analysis with rigorous fundamental research to identify high-quality, growing companies that are believed to be undervalued. OSCV is focused on three core themes to identify companies: 1. higher quality companies with sound business models, higher returns on equity, strong balance sheets, and shareholder-friendly management, 2. higher growth companies that are well-positioned to grow sales, earnings, cash flows, and dividends, and 3. lower valuation companies whose valuations reflect lower price-to-earnings and higher yields than their peers. OSCV generally sells a stock when the company is no longer believed to be high quality, when its anticipated growth rate has significantly declined, when it is no longer considered undervalued, or when it is no longer considered a small-capitalization company after a significant period of time (e.g., more than one year).
We appreciate your interest in OSCV. If we can elaborate on the underlying Opus Small Cap Value ETF strategy, please don’t hesitate to ask as we would love an opportunity to discuss. Thanks again for your interest.
Sincerely,
JD
Gardner
Founder and Managing Member
Aptus Capital Advisors, Adviser to
the Fund
7
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund invests in the securities of small-capitalization companies. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than funds that invest in larger, more established companies. The securities of small capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Small capitalization companies may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, government regulation, borrowing costs and earnings. The value investing style may over time go in and out of favor. At times when the value investing style is out of favor, the Fund may underperform other funds that use different investing styles. Investments in ETFs are subject to additional risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds, including the risks that the market price of the shares may trade at a discount to the net asset value (“NAV”), an active secondary trading market may not develop or be maintained, or trading may be halted by the exchange in which they trade, which may impact a fund’s ability to sell its shares.
Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Shares of an ETF are bought and sold at market price (rather than NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based on the daily composite close price from all active exchanges at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Please see the Schedule of Investments for a complete list of Fund holdings.
Definitions:
Russell 2000® Value Index – The Russell 2000® Value Index measures the performance of Russell 2000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.
Russell 2000® Index – The Russell 2000 index is an index measuring the performance of approximately 2,000 small-cap companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which is made up of 3,000 of the biggest U.S. stocks. The Russell 2000® serves as a benchmark for small-cap stocks in the United States.
Return on equity – a measure of financial performance calculated by dividing net income by shareholders’ equity (shareholders’ equity being a company’s assets minus its debt).
Cash flow – a measure of a company’s financial performance, calculated as operating cash flow minus capital expenditures.
Price-to-earnings – ratio for valuing a company that measures its current share price relative to its per-share earnings.
Aptus Capital Advisors is the adviser to the Opus Small Cap Value ETF, which is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
8
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
Dear IDME Shareholders,
Thank you for your investment in the International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF, referred to herein as “IDME” or the “Fund”. The information presented in this letter relates to IDME’s performance period from inception on July 22, 2021 through April 30, 2022 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its objective principally by investing in a portfolio of other ETFs that invest in equity securities of non-U.S. (international) companies in developed and emerging markets throughout the world, while purchasing and/or writing (selling) exchange-listed call or put options on one or more broad-based indexes or ETFs that track the performance of equity markets outside of the United States to (i) limit downside (“drawdown”) risk, (ii) create additional equity exposure, and/or (iii) generate premiums from writing call options on the Fund’s equity investments.
For the current fiscal period, IDME was down 12.36% at market and down -13.46% at net asset value (“NAV”). Over the same period, the MSCI All Cap World Index ex USA Net (USD) was down 11.32%.
The largest positive contributor to return for the current fiscal period was a put option position expiring in February 2022 on iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA), gaining 406.00% and adding 0.82% to the return of IDME. The second largest contributor was a put option position expiring in February 2022 on iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA), gaining 1,003.45% and adding 0.74% to the return of IDME. The third largest contributor was a put option position expiring in March 2022 on iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM), gaining 669.01% and adding 0.71% to the return of IDME.
The largest negative contributor to the return for the current fiscal period was SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW), down 12.87% and detracting 9.34% from the return of IDME. The second largest negative contributor was Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund (VWO), down 13.18% and detracting 2.88% from the return of IDME. The third largest negative contributor was a call option position expiring in March 2022 on Vanguard European Stock Index Fund (VGK), down 80.00% and detracting 1.02% from the return of IDME.
We are excited about the opportunity to give our investors access to International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF. We believe, IDME is able to capture the upside potential of investing in an All Cap World Index ex-U.S., but with structurally less downside potential. Using cost efficient and liquid passive index ETFs, we believe Aptus has created a portfolio intended to look very much like All Cap World Index (ACWX) on the way up but offer notionally hedged protection on the way down. We believe there is upside in capturing less downside, both behaviorally and mathematically. Rather than try to time the markets, we actively hedge our holdings in an effort to mitigate downside risk. We believe IDME provides a solution to every Investor’s foreign equity exposures that helps mitigate geopolitical economic risks in an ever-growing divide between Developed and Emerging markets.
We appreciate your interest in IDME. If we can elaborate on the underlying International Drawdown Managed Equity strategy, please don’t hesitate to ask as we would love an opportunity to discuss. Thanks again for your interest.
Sincerely,
JD
Gardner
Founder and Managing Member
Aptus Capital Advisors, Adviser to
the Fund
9
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Shareholder
Letter
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund is non-diversified, meaning it may concentrate its assets in fewer individual holdings than diversified funds. Therefore, the Fund is more exposed to individual stock or ETF volatility than diversified funds. The Fund’s use of call and put options can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying security, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. The Fund’s use of options may reduce the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of the underlying securities. Derivatives, such as the options in which the Fund invests, can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risks. Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in a derivative could have a substantial impact on the performance of the Fund. The Fund could experience a loss if its derivatives do not perform as anticipated, the derivatives are not correlated with the performance of their underlying security, or if the Fund is unable to purchase or liquidate a position because of an illiquid secondary market. Investments in ETFs are subject to additional risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds, including the risks that the market price of the shares may trade at a discount to the net asset value (“NAV”), an active secondary trading market may not develop or be maintained, or trading may be halted by the exchange in which they trade, which may impact a fund’s ability to sell its shares.
Call options give the owner the right to buy the underlying security at the specified price within a specific time period. Put options give the owner the right to sell the underlying security at the specified price within a specific time period. A collar is an options strategy constructed by holding shares of the underlying stock while simultaneously buying put options and selling call options against that holding
Shares of an ETF are bought and sold at market price (rather than NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based on the daily composite close price from all active changes at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Please refer to the schedule of investments in this report for complete holdings information.
Definitions:
MSCI All Cap World Index ex USA Net (USD) - captures large and mid-cap representation across 22 of 23 Developed Markets (DM) countries (excluding the US) and 27 Emerging Markets (EM) countries. With 2,350 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the global equity opportunity set outside the U.S.
Aptus Capital Advisors is the adviser to the International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF, which is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
10
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Performance
Summary
(Unaudited)
Growth of $10,000
Average
Annualized Returns |
1 Year |
Since
Inception |
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF — NAV |
1.78% |
7.97% |
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF — Market |
1.84% |
8.04% |
S&P 500® Index |
0.21% |
14.19% |
This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on July 9, 2019 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 and dividends.
The total operating expenses as stated in the fee table to the Fund’s prospectus dated August 31, 2021, is 0.79%.
The performance data represents past performance & does not guarantee future results. Investment return & principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold or redeemed. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. 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. For performance data current to the most recent month end, please call (251) 517-7198, or visit www.aptusetfs.com.
Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at Market Price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based upon the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
11
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Performance
Summary
(Unaudited)
Growth of $10,000
Average
Annualized Returns |
1 Year |
3 Years |
Since
Inception |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF — NAV |
-5.73% |
4.35% |
5.96% |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF — Market |
-5.79% |
4.33% |
5.95% |
Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index |
-8.51% |
0.38% |
1.53% |
This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on August 7, 2018 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 and dividends.
The total operating expenses as stated in the fee table to the Fund’s prospectus dated August 31, 2021, is 0.79%.
The performance data represents past performance & does not guarantee future results. Investment return & principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold or redeemed. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. 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. For performance data current to the most recent month end, please call (251) 517-7198, or visit www.aptusetfs.com.
Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at Market Price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based upon the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
12
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Performance
Summary
(Unaudited)
Growth of $10,000
Average
Annualized Returns |
1 Year |
3 Years |
5 Years |
Since
Inception |
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF — NAV |
-1.23% |
9.11% |
8.08% |
8.05% |
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF — Market |
-1.05% |
9.18% |
8.12% |
8.08% |
S&P 500® Index |
0.21% |
13.85% |
13.66% |
14.08% |
This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on June 8, 2016 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 and dividends.
The total operating expenses as stated in the fee table to the Fund’s prospectus dated August 31, 2021, is 0.79%.
The performance data represents past performance & does not guarantee future results. Investment return & principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold or redeemed. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. 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. For performance data current to the most recent month end, please call (251) 517-7198, or visit www.aptusetfs.com.
Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at Market Price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based upon the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
13
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Performance
Summary
(Unaudited)
Growth of $10,000
Average
Annualized Returns |
1 Year |
3 Years |
Since
Inception |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF — NAV |
-4.25% |
9.35% |
7.72% |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF — Market |
-4.09% |
9.30% |
7.70% |
Russell 2000® Value Index |
-6.59% |
8.38% |
5.00% |
This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on July 17, 2018 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 and dividends.
The total operating expenses as stated in the fee table to the Fund’s prospectus dated August 31, 2021, is 0.79%.
The performance data represents past performance & does not guarantee future results. Investment return & principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold or redeemed. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. 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. For performance data current to the most recent month end, please call (251) 517-7198, or visit www.aptusetfs.com.
Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at Market Price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based upon the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
14
International Drawdown Managed Risk ETF
Performance
Summary
(Unaudited)
Growth of $10,000
Cumulative
Returns |
Since
Inception |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF — NAV |
-13.46% |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF — Market |
-12.36% |
MSCI AC World Index ex USA Net |
-11.32% |
This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on July 22, 2021 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 and dividends.
The total operating expenses as stated in the fee table to the Fund’s prospectus dated July 31, 2021, is 0.65%.
The performance data represents past performance & does not guarantee future results. Investment return & principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold or redeemed. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. 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. For performance data current to the most recent month end, please call (251) 517-7198, or visit www.aptusetfs.com.
Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at Market Price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market returns are based upon the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4:00pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined for most ETFs), and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times.
15
Aptus ETFs
Portfolio Allocations
As of April 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Sector |
Percentage
of |
Technology (a) |
26.3% |
Consumer, Non-cyclical |
18.9 |
Financial |
14.5 |
Consumer, Cyclical |
9.8 |
Communications |
8.5 |
Industrial |
6.7 |
Energy |
4.7 |
Basic Materials |
4.1 |
Purchased Options |
3.6 |
Utilities |
2.5 |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities |
0.4 |
Total |
100.0% |
(a) |
To the extent that the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. See Note 9 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Sector |
Percentage
of |
Investment Grade Corporate Bonds |
92.4% |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities |
6.0 |
Purchased Options |
1.6 |
Total |
100.0% |
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Sector |
Percentage
of |
Technology |
24.5% |
Consumer, Non-cyclical |
18.6 |
Financial |
16.3 |
Consumer, Cyclical |
11.8 |
Communications |
8.9 |
Industrial |
7.1 |
Energy |
3.6 |
Basic Materials |
3.5 |
Purchased Options |
3.0 |
Utilities |
2.5 |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities |
0.2 |
Total |
100.0% |
16
Aptus ETFs
Portfolio Allocations
As of April 30, 2022 (Unaudited) (Continued)
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Sector |
Percentage
of |
Financial (a) |
31.4% |
Industrial |
18.5 |
Energy |
13.6 |
Consumer, Cyclical |
12.1 |
Consumer, Non-cyclical |
11.9 |
Basic Materials |
3.5 |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities |
3.3 |
Technology |
3.3 |
Utilities |
1.3 |
Communications |
1.1 |
Total |
100.0% |
(a) |
To the extent that the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. See Note 9 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Sector |
Percentage
of |
Developed Market Equity |
70.5% |
Emerging Market Equity |
27.5 |
Purchased Options |
1.1 |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities |
0.9 |
Total |
100.0% |
17
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Schedule
of Investments
April 30, 2022
Shares |
Security Description |
|
||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.0% |
||||||||
Basic Materials — 4.1% |
||||||||
61,889 |
BHP Group, Ltd. - ADR (a) |
$ | 4,145,325 | |||||
16,483 |
Linde plc (a) |
5,142,037 | ||||||
63,368 |
Mosaic Company (a) |
3,955,431 | ||||||
11,449 |
Sherwin-Williams Company (a) |
3,148,017 | ||||||
16,390,810 | ||||||||
Communications — 8.5% |
||||||||
6,519 |
Alphabet, Inc. - Class C (a)(b) |
14,989,332 | ||||||
4,853 |
Amazon.com, Inc. (a)(b) |
12,062,762 | ||||||
50,118 |
Comcast Corporation - Class A (a) |
1,992,692 | ||||||
25,338 |
Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A (a)(b) |
5,079,509 | ||||||
34,124,295 | ||||||||
Consumer, Cyclical — 9.8% |
||||||||
31,986 |
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (a) |
4,213,516 | ||||||
23,246 |
Dollar General Corporation (a) |
5,521,622 | ||||||
61,816 |
D.R. Horton, Inc. (a) |
4,301,775 | ||||||
19,415 |
Home Depot, Inc. (a) |
5,832,266 | ||||||
29,090 |
Marriott International, Inc. - Class A (a)(b) |
5,164,057 | ||||||
26,715 |
Target Corporation (a) |
6,108,385 | ||||||
4,591 |
Tesla, Inc. (a)(b) |
3,997,659 | ||||||
29,037 |
Walmart, Inc. (a) |
4,442,371 | ||||||
39,581,651 | ||||||||
Consumer, Non-cyclical — 18.9% |
||||||||
28,599 |
Abbott Laboratories (a) |
3,245,987 | ||||||
39,075 |
AbbVie, Inc. (a) |
5,739,336 | ||||||
55,553 |
Altria Group, Inc. |
3,087,080 | ||||||
14,269 |
Anthem, Inc. (a) |
7,162,039 | ||||||
17,387 |
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (a)(b) |
4,199,134 | ||||||
9,138 |
Eli Lilly and Company (a) |
2,669,484 | ||||||
30,008 |
Johnson & Johnson (a) |
5,415,244 | ||||||
49,948 |
Medtronic plc (a) |
5,212,573 | ||||||
28,605 |
Merck & Company, Inc. (a) |
2,536,977 | ||||||
30,139 |
PepsiCo, Inc. (a) |
5,175,168 | ||||||
26,843 |
Procter & Gamble Company (a) |
4,309,644 | ||||||
12,199 |
S&P Global, Inc. (a) |
4,592,924 | ||||||
12,966 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (a) |
7,169,161 | ||||||
8,520 |
United Rentals, Inc. (a)(b) |
2,696,750 | ||||||
17,162 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (a) |
8,727,735 | ||||||
22,101 |
Zoetis, Inc. (a) |
3,917,402 | ||||||
75,856,638 | ||||||||
Energy — 4.7% |
||||||||
35,999 |
Diamondback Energy, Inc. (a) |
4,544,154 | ||||||
70,824 |
Exxon Mobil Corporation (a) |
6,037,746 | ||||||
103,938 |
Halliburton Company (a) |
3,702,272 | ||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.0% (Continued) | ||||||||
Energy — 4.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
19,584 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Company (a) |
4,552,692 | ||||||
18,836,864 | ||||||||
Financial — 14.5% |
||||||||
126,789 |
American Homes 4 Rent - Class A (a) |
5,022,112 | ||||||
131,650 |
Bank of America Corporation (a) |
4,697,272 | ||||||
20,510 |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B (a)(b) |
6,621,243 | ||||||
28,030 |
Charles Schwab Corporation (a) |
1,859,230 | ||||||
19,148 |
Chubb, Ltd. |
3,953,105 | ||||||
6,637 |
Equinix, Inc. (a) |
4,772,534 | ||||||
12,095 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (a) |
3,694,902 | ||||||
35,020 |
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (a) |
4,055,666 | ||||||
45,926 |
JPMorgan Chase & Company (a) |
5,481,727 | ||||||
33,091 |
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (a) |
5,350,815 | ||||||
11,173 |
Mastercard, Inc. - Class A (a) |
4,060,045 | ||||||
31,148 |
Prologis, Inc. (a) |
4,992,713 | ||||||
7,944 |
SVB Financial Group (a)(b) |
3,873,812 | ||||||
58,435,176 | ||||||||
Industrial — 6.7% |
||||||||
24,485 |
Caterpillar, Inc. (a) |
5,155,072 | ||||||
44,880 |
Emerson Electric Company (a) |
4,047,279 | ||||||
24,847 |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (a) |
5,770,964 | ||||||
8,995 |
Lockheed Martin Corporation (a) |
3,886,919 | ||||||
21,845 |
Union Pacific Corporation (a) |
5,118,065 | ||||||
16,296 |
United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B |
2,932,954 | ||||||
26,911,253 | ||||||||
Technology — 26.3% (c) |
||||||||
17,284 |
Accenture plc - Class A (a) |
5,191,422 | ||||||
10,969 |
Adobe, Inc. (a)(b) |
4,343,175 | ||||||
17,477 |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a)(b) |
1,494,633 | ||||||
36,560 |
Analog Devices, Inc. (a) |
5,644,133 | ||||||
174,565 |
Apple, Inc. (a) |
27,520,172 | ||||||
10,459 |
Broadcom, Inc. (a) |
5,798,365 | ||||||
27,289 |
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (a) |
3,933,163 | ||||||
41,284 |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (a) |
4,093,309 | ||||||
10,265 |
Intuit, Inc. (a) |
4,298,469 | ||||||
11,035 |
Lam Research Corporation (a) |
5,139,662 | ||||||
84,100 |
Microsoft Corporation (a) |
23,339,432 | ||||||
44,756 |
Paychex, Inc. (a) |
5,671,928 | ||||||
24,398 |
salesforce.com, Inc. (a)(b) |
4,292,584 | ||||||
29,956 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. (a) |
5,100,010 | ||||||
105,860,457 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
18
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Schedule
of Investments
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Shares |
Security Description |
|
||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.0% (Continued) | ||||||||
Utilities — 2.5% |
||||||||
28,368 |
American Water Works Company, Inc. (a) |
$ | 4,370,941 | |||||
80,160 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. (a) |
5,692,963 | ||||||
10,063,904 | ||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $359,310,954) |
386,061,048 |
Contracts | Notional Amount |
|||||||||||
PURCHASED OPTIONS (d) — 3.6% | ||||||||||||
Put Options — 3.6% | ||||||||||||
1,000 | S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $4,200.00 | $ | 413,193,000 | 14,370,000 | ||||||||
TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS (Cost $7,808,931) | 14,370,000 | |||||||||||
Total Investments (Cost $367,119,885) — 99.6% | 400,431,048 | |||||||||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.4% | 1,802,292 | |||||||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 402,233,340 |
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets. | |
ADR |
American Depositary Receipt. |
(a) |
All or a portion of this security is held as collateral for the options written. At April 30, 2022, the value of these securities amount to $365,837,887 or 91.0% of net assets. |
(b) |
Non-income producing security. |
(c) |
To the extent that the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. See Note 9 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
(d) |
Exchange Traded. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
19
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Schedule
of Written Options
April 30, 2022
Contracts |
Security Description |
Notional
|
Value |
|||||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.6)% | ||||||||||||
Call Options — (0.2)% | ||||||||||||
(169 | ) |
Accenture plc - Class A, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $360.00 |
$ | (5,076,084 | ) | $ | (2,957 | ) | ||||
(170 | ) |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Class C, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $115.00 |
(1,453,840 | ) | (5,440 | ) | ||||||
(32 | ) |
Alphabet, Inc. - Class C, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $2,600.00 |
(7,357,856 | ) | (23,040 | ) | ||||||
(32 | ) |
Alphabet, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $2,700.00 |
(7,357,856 | ) | (11,760 | ) | ||||||
(270 | ) |
Altria Group, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $59.00 |
(1,500,390 | ) | (7,425 | ) | ||||||
(48 | ) |
Amazon.com, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $2,950.00 |
(11,931,024 | ) | (30,960 | ) | ||||||
(187 | ) |
Analog Devices, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $175.00 |
(2,886,906 | ) | (11,220 | ) | ||||||
(170 | ) |
Analog Devices, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $180.00 |
(2,624,460 | ) | (5,100 | ) | ||||||
(138 | ) |
Anthem, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $560.00 |
(6,926,634 | ) | (10,350 | ) | ||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.6)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Call Options — (0.2)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
(1,275 | ) |
Apple, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $175.00 |
(20,100,375 | ) | (74,587 | ) | ||||||
(450 | ) |
Apple, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $182.50 |
(7,094,250 | ) | (9,000 | ) | ||||||
(640 | ) |
Bank of America Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $44.00 |
(2,283,520 | ) | (1,920 | ) | ||||||
(102 | ) |
Broadcom, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $660.00 |
(5,654,778 | ) | (6,120 | ) | ||||||
(240 | ) |
Caterpillar, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $240.00 |
(5,052,960 | ) | (13,920 | ) | ||||||
(170 | ) |
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $340.00 |
(4,105,670 | ) | (35,275 | ) | ||||||
(70 | ) |
Chubb, Ltd., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $230.00 |
(1,445,150 | ) | (2,100 | ) | ||||||
(493 | ) |
Comcast Corporation - Class A, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $50.00 |
(1,960,168 | ) | (1,479 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
20
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Schedule
of Written Options
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Contracts |
Security Description |
Notional
|
Value |
|||||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.6)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Call Options — (0.2)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
(312 | ) |
Darden Restaurants, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $145.00 |
$ | (4,109,976 | ) | $ | (23,400 | ) | ||||
(355 | ) |
Diamondback Energy, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $160.00 |
(4,481,165 | ) | (18,637 | ) | ||||||
(115 | ) |
Dollar General Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $260.00 |
(2,731,595 | ) | (7,475 | ) | ||||||
(115 | ) |
Dollar General Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $270.00 |
(2,731,595 | ) | (2,300 | ) | ||||||
(604 | ) |
D.R. Horton, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $85.00 |
(4,203,236 | ) | (10,570 | ) | ||||||
(89 | ) |
Eli Lilly and Company, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $320.00 |
(2,599,957 | ) | (7,342 | ) | ||||||
(220 | ) |
Emerson Electric Company, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $100.00 |
(1,983,960 | ) | (5,500 | ) | ||||||
(64 | ) |
Equinix, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $820.00 |
(4,602,112 | ) | (15,360 | ) | ||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.6)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Call Options — (0.2)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
(120 | ) |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $340.00 |
(3,665,880 | ) | (10,620 | ) | ||||||
(1,023 | ) |
Halliburton Company, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $44.00 |
(3,643,926 | ) | (14,322 | ) | ||||||
(189 | ) |
Home Depot, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $345.00 |
(5,677,560 | ) | (14,175 | ) | ||||||
(140 | ) |
Johnson & Johnson, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $190.00 |
(2,526,440 | ) | (8,190 | ) | ||||||
(242 | ) |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $290.00 |
(5,620,692 | ) | (24,200 | ) | ||||||
(108 | ) |
Lam Research Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $565.00 |
(5,030,208 | ) | (13,878 | ) | ||||||
(161 | ) |
Linde plc, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $350.00 |
(5,022,556 | ) | (9,257 | ) | ||||||
(45 | ) |
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $480.00 |
(1,944,540 | ) | (5,962 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
21
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Schedule
of Written Options
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Contracts |
Security Description |
Notional
|
Value |
|||||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.6)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Call Options — (0.2)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
(44 | ) |
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $505.00 |
$ | (1,901,328 | ) | $ | (1,980 | ) | ||||
(284 | ) |
Marriott International, Inc. - Class A, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $200.00 |
(5,041,568 | ) | (36,210 | ) | ||||||
(323 | ) |
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $185.00 |
(5,222,910 | ) | (4,038 | ) | ||||||
(91 | ) |
Mastercard, Inc. - Class A, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $400.00 |
(3,306,758 | ) | (19,156 | ) | ||||||
(280 | ) |
Merck & Company, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $91.00 |
(2,483,320 | ) | (29,400 | ) | ||||||
(136 | ) |
Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $227.50 |
(2,726,392 | ) | (22,712 | ) | ||||||
(112 | ) |
Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $235.00 |
(2,245,264 | ) | (10,640 | ) | ||||||
(414 | ) |
Microsoft Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $310.00 |
(11,489,328 | ) | (30,222 | ) | ||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.6)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Call Options — (0.2)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
(411 | ) |
Microsoft Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $325.00 |
(11,406,072 | ) | (13,563 | ) | ||||||
(628 | ) |
Mosaic Company, Expiration: 05/06/2022, Exercise Price: $77.00 |
(3,919,976 | ) | (20,096 | ) | ||||||
(223 | ) |
Paychex, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $145.00 |
(2,826,079 | ) | (5,018 | ) | ||||||
(299 | ) |
PepsiCo, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $185.00 |
(5,134,129 | ) | (11,362 | ) | ||||||
(100 | ) |
Pioneer Natural Resources Company, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $300.00 |
(2,324,700 | ) | (3,500 | ) | ||||||
(263 | ) |
Procter & Gamble Company, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $170.00 |
(4,222,465 | ) | (12,098 | ) | ||||||
(304 | ) |
Prologis, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $180.00 |
(4,872,816 | ) | (8,360 | ) | ||||||
(119 | ) |
S&P Global, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $450.00 |
(4,480,350 | ) | (9,818 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
22
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Schedule
of Written Options
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Contracts |
Security Description |
Notional
|
Value |
|||||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.6)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Call Options — (0.2)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
(239 | ) |
salesforce.com, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $207.50 |
$ | (4,204,966 | ) | $ | (12,547 | ) | ||||
(111 | ) |
Sherwin-Williams Company, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $290.00 |
(3,052,056 | ) | (23,033 | ) | ||||||
(70 | ) |
SVB Financial Group, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $600.00 |
(3,413,480 | ) | (12,425 | ) | ||||||
(261 | ) |
Target Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $270.00 |
(5,967,765 | ) | (15,530 | ) | ||||||
(45 | ) |
Tesla, Inc., Expiration: 05/06/2022, Exercise Price: $1,050.00 |
(3,918,420 | ) | (5,805 | ) | ||||||
(297 | ) |
Texas Instruments, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $187.50 |
(5,056,425 | ) | (15,890 | ) | ||||||
(216 | ) |
Union Pacific Corporation, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $260.00 |
(5,060,664 | ) | (8,640 | ) | ||||||
(80 | ) |
United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $200.00 |
(1,439,840 | ) | (3,720 | ) | ||||||
(59 | ) |
United Rentals, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $390.00 |
(1,867,468 | ) | (3,393 | ) | ||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.6)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Call Options — (0.2)% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
(284 | ) |
Walmart, Inc., Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $170.00 |
(4,344,916 | ) | (7,526 | ) | ||||||
(790,523 | ) | |||||||||||
Put Options — (0.4)% | ||||||||||||
(1,000 | ) |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $3,600.00 |
(413,193,000 | ) | (1,710,000 | ) | ||||||
TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS (Premiums Received $1,912,525) |
$ | (2,500,523 | ) |
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
(a) |
Exchange traded. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
23
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Schedule
of Investments
April 30, 2022
Shares |
Security Description |
|
||||||
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS — 92.4% (a) | ||||||||
Investment Grade Corporate Bonds — 92.4% | ||||||||
1,240,620 |
Invesco BulletShares 2024 Corporate Bond ETF |
$ | 25,854,521 | |||||
1,256,310 |
Invesco BulletShares 2025 Corporate Bond ETF |
25,829,734 | ||||||
1,324,370 |
Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF |
25,772,240 | ||||||
314,070 |
Invesco BulletShares 2028 Corporate Bond ETF |
6,378,762 | ||||||
2,011,290 |
iShares iBonds Dec 2023 Term Corporate ETF (b) |
50,583,944 | ||||||
7,246,009 |
iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Corporate ETF (b) |
179,860,435 | ||||||
7,643,518 |
iShares iBonds Dec 2025 Term Corporate ETF (b) |
190,017,857 | ||||||
7,611,322 |
iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Corporate ETF (b) |
182,671,728 | ||||||
6,118,429 |
iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF (b) |
147,698,876 | ||||||
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (Cost $876,733,983) |
834,668,097 |
Contracts | Notional Amount |
|||||||||||
PURCHASED OPTIONS (c) — 1.6% | ||||||||||||
Call Options — 1.1% | ||||||||||||
25,000 | Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., Expiration: 07/15/2022, Exercise Price: $140.00 | $ | 247,875,000 | 562,500 | ||||||||
850 | S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 07/15/2022, Exercise Price: $4,300.00 | 351,214,050 | 9,481,750 | |||||||||
10,044,250 |
Contracts |
Security Description |
Notional
|
Value |
|||||||||
PURCHASED OPTIONS (c) — 1.6% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Put Options — 0.5% | ||||||||||||
300 |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $4,200.00 (d) |
$ | 123,957,900 | $ | 4,311,000 | |||||||
TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS (Cost $14,616,490) |
14,355,250 | |||||||||||
Total Investments (Cost $891,350,473) — 94.0% |
849,023,347 | |||||||||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 6.0% |
54,346,856 | |||||||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 903,370,203 |
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets. | |
(a) |
The risks of investing in investment companies, such as the underlying ETFs, typically reflect the risks of the types of investments in which the investment companies invest. See Note 9 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
(b) |
Affiliated Exchange Traded Fund during the year. See Note 5 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
(c) |
Exchange traded. |
(d) |
Security is held in connection with a written option, see Schedule of Written Options for more details. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
24
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Schedule
of Written Options
April 30, 2022
Contracts |
Security Description |
Notional
|
Value |
|||||||||
Written Options (a) — (0.1)% | ||||||||||||
Put Options — (0.1)% | ||||||||||||
(300 | ) |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $3,600.00 |
$ | (123,957,900 | ) | $ | (513,000 | ) | ||||
TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS (Premiums Received $294,229) |
$ | (513,000 | ) |
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
(a) |
Exchange traded. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
25
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Schedule
of Investments
April 30, 2022
|
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.8% |
||||||||
Basic Materials — 3.5% |
||||||||
18,830 |
Franco-Nevada Corporation |
$ | 2,846,343 | |||||
10,294 |
Linde plc |
3,211,316 | ||||||
55,485 |
Mosaic Company |
3,463,374 | ||||||
12,052 |
Sherwin-Williams Company |
3,313,818 | ||||||
12,834,851 | ||||||||
Communications — 8.9% |
||||||||
6,054 |
Alphabet, Inc. - Class C (a) |
13,920,144 | ||||||
4,521 |
Amazon.com, Inc. (a) |
11,237,533 | ||||||
67,847 |
Comcast Corporation - Class A |
2,697,596 | ||||||
22,155 |
Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A (a) |
4,441,413 | ||||||
32,296,686 | ||||||||
Consumer, Cyclical — 11.8% |
||||||||
1,682 |
AutoZone, Inc. (a) |
3,289,101 | ||||||
33,766 |
Copart, Inc. (a) |
3,837,506 | ||||||
4,966 |
Costco Wholesale Corporation |
2,640,521 | ||||||
34,242 |
Darden Restaurants, Inc. |
4,510,699 | ||||||
26,017 |
Dollar General Corporation |
6,179,818 | ||||||
46,765 |
D.R. Horton, Inc. |
3,254,376 | ||||||
29,265 |
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (a) |
4,544,562 | ||||||
17,377 |
Home Depot, Inc. |
5,220,051 | ||||||
9,220 |
Pool Corporation |
3,736,128 | ||||||
3,751 |
Tesla, Inc. (a) |
3,266,221 | ||||||
16,916 |
Walmart, Inc. |
2,587,979 | ||||||
43,066,962 | ||||||||
Consumer, Non-cyclical — 18.6% |
||||||||
32,161 |
Abbott Laboratories |
3,650,273 | ||||||
17,308 |
AbbVie, Inc. |
2,542,199 | ||||||
44,462 |
Altria Group, Inc. |
2,470,753 | ||||||
6,133 |
Anthem, Inc. |
3,078,337 | ||||||
90,080 |
Boston Scientific Corporation (a) |
3,793,269 | ||||||
9,327 |
Chemed Corporation |
4,583,195 | ||||||
12,033 |
Eli Lilly and Company |
3,515,200 | ||||||
14,290 |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a) |
3,419,597 | ||||||
18,209 |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc. (a) |
3,969,380 | ||||||
26,919 |
Johnson & Johnson |
4,857,803 | ||||||
24,205 |
Merck & Company, Inc. |
2,146,741 | ||||||
30,097 |
PepsiCo, Inc. |
5,167,956 | ||||||
23,584 |
Procter & Gamble Company |
3,786,411 | ||||||
45,908 |
Royalty Pharma plc - Class A |
1,954,763 | ||||||
6,682 |
S&P Global, Inc. |
2,515,773 | ||||||
9,381 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. |
5,186,943 | ||||||
13,531 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. |
6,881,190 | ||||||
23,205 |
Zoetis, Inc. |
4,113,086 | ||||||
67,632,869 | ||||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.8% (Continued) | ||||||||
Energy — 3.6% |
||||||||
28,014 |
Chevron Corporation |
4,388,953 | ||||||
29,114 |
Diamondback Energy, Inc. |
3,675,060 | ||||||
21,136 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Company |
4,913,486 | ||||||
12,977,499 | ||||||||
Financial — 16.3% |
||||||||
100,596 |
Bank of America Corporation |
3,589,265 | ||||||
18,567 |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B (a) |
5,993,985 | ||||||
34,046 |
Blackstone, Inc. |
3,458,052 | ||||||
26,546 |
Charles Schwab Corporation |
1,760,796 | ||||||
20,545 |
Chubb, Ltd. |
4,241,515 | ||||||
17,921 |
Extra Space Storage, Inc. |
3,404,990 | ||||||
20,150 |
First Republic Bank/CA |
3,006,783 | ||||||
247,284 |
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. |
5,032,230 | ||||||
40,719 |
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. |
4,715,667 | ||||||
36,555 |
JPMorgan Chase & Company |
4,363,205 | ||||||
11,355 |
Mastercard, Inc. - Class A |
4,126,180 | ||||||
12,037 |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. |
1,999,346 | ||||||
24,758 |
Progressive Corporation |
2,658,019 | ||||||
26,591 |
Sun Communities, Inc. |
4,668,582 | ||||||
29,833 |
Visa, Inc. - Class A |
6,358,307 | ||||||
59,376,922 | ||||||||
Industrial — 7.1% |
||||||||
25,908 |
Caterpillar, Inc. |
5,454,670 | ||||||
11,625 |
Lockheed Martin Corporation |
5,023,395 | ||||||
64,080 |
Otis Worldwide Corporation |
4,667,587 | ||||||
19,871 |
Raytheon Technologies Corporation |
1,885,957 | ||||||
165,775 |
Tenaris SA - ADR |
5,003,089 | ||||||
15,957 |
Union Pacific Corporation |
3,738,566 | ||||||
25,773,264 | ||||||||
Technology — 24.5% |
||||||||
18,194 |
Accenture plc - Class A |
5,464,750 | ||||||
6,283 |
Adobe, Inc. (a) |
2,487,754 | ||||||
33,558 |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a) |
2,869,880 | ||||||
162,112 |
Apple, Inc. |
25,556,957 | ||||||
3,886 |
ASML Holding NV - NY |
2,190,810 | ||||||
8,106 |
Broadcom, Inc. |
4,493,885 | ||||||
38,665 |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. |
3,833,635 | ||||||
9,415 |
Lam Research Corporation |
4,385,131 | ||||||
78,368 |
Microsoft Corporation |
21,748,687 | ||||||
25,910 |
NVIDIA Corporation |
4,805,528 | ||||||
12,464 |
Roper Technologies, Inc. |
5,857,083 | ||||||
19,415 |
salesforce.com, Inc. (a) |
3,415,875 | ||||||
4,424 |
ServiceNow, Inc. (a) |
2,115,114 | ||||||
89,225,089 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
26
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Schedule
of Investments
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
|
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.8% (Continued) | ||||||||
Utilities — 2.5% |
||||||||
22,730 |
American Water Works Company, Inc. |
$ | 3,502,239 | |||||
77,920 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. |
5,533,878 | ||||||
9,036,117 | ||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $317,492,398) |
352,220,259 |
Contracts |
Notional
|
|||||||||||
PURCHASED OPTIONS (b) — 3.0% | ||||||||||||
Put Options — 3.0% |
||||||||||||
1,100 |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 05/06/2022, Exercise Price: $4,000.00 (c) |
$ | 454,512,300 | 3,421,000 | ||||||||
2,400 |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 06/17/2022, Exercise Price: $3,500.00 (c) |
991,663,200 | 7,608,000 | |||||||||
TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS (Cost $3,508,902) |
11,029,000 | |||||||||||
Total Investments (Cost $321,001,300) — 99.8% |
363,249,259 | |||||||||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.2% |
769,875 | |||||||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 364,019,134 |
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets. | |
ADR |
American Depositary Receipt. |
NY |
New York Registry Shares. |
(a) |
Non-income producing security. |
(b) |
Exchange traded. |
(c) |
Security is held in connection with a written option, see Schedule of Written Options for more details. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
27
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Schedule
of Written Options
April 30, 2022
Contracts |
Security Description |
Notional
|
Value |
|||||||||
Written Options (a) — (1.0)% | ||||||||||||
Put Options — (1.0)% | ||||||||||||
(1,100 | ) |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 05/06/2022, Exercise Price: $3,600.00 |
$ | (454,512,300 | ) | $ | (550,000 | ) | ||||
(2,400 | ) |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration: 06/17/2022, Exercise Price: $3,000.00 |
(991,663,200 | ) | (2,916,000 | ) | ||||||
TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS (Premiums Received $2,101,251) |
$ | (3,466,000 | ) |
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
(a) |
Exchange traded. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
28
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Schedule
of Investments
April 30, 2022
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.7% |
||||||||
Basic Materials — 3.5% |
||||||||
129,389 |
Hudbay Minerals, Inc. |
$ | 828,090 | |||||
15,762 |
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Company |
3,124,816 | ||||||
85,652 |
Valvoline, Inc. |
2,589,260 | ||||||
6,542,166 | ||||||||
Communications — 1.1% |
||||||||
26,374 |
Shutterstock, Inc. |
1,997,039 | ||||||
Consumer, Cyclical — 12.1% |
||||||||
42,825 |
Boyd Gaming Corporation |
2,594,339 | ||||||
12,744 |
Churchill Downs, Inc. |
2,586,267 | ||||||
20,126 |
Columbia Sportswear Company |
1,653,552 | ||||||
103,871 |
KB Home |
3,368,537 | ||||||
18,927 |
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation |
2,826,369 | ||||||
47,262 |
Patrick Industries, Inc. |
2,942,060 | ||||||
36,204 |
RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. |
2,243,200 | ||||||
31,313 |
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. |
2,577,999 | ||||||
6,790 |
Watsco, Inc. |
1,811,436 | ||||||
22,603,759 | ||||||||
Consumer, Non-cyclical — 11.9% |
||||||||
9,083 |
Chemed Corporation |
4,463,295 | ||||||
39,805 |
Ensign Group, Inc. |
3,197,536 | ||||||
51,182 |
EVERTEC, Inc. |
2,016,571 | ||||||
34,048 |
ICF International, Inc. |
3,364,283 | ||||||
59,548 |
Kforce, Inc. |
4,171,337 | ||||||
29,516 |
US Physical Therapy, Inc. |
3,062,875 | ||||||
11,020 |
WD-40 Company |
2,027,460 | ||||||
22,303,357 | ||||||||
Energy — 13.6% |
||||||||
98,716 |
Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc |
3,050,324 | ||||||
141,543 |
Brigham Minerals, Inc. - Class A |
3,507,436 | ||||||
79,844 |
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. |
3,675,219 | ||||||
176,295 |
Kimbell Royalty Partners LP |
2,967,045 | ||||||
33,020 |
NextEra Energy Partners LP |
2,201,113 | ||||||
19,466 |
Oasis Petroleum, Inc. |
2,582,360 | ||||||
112,286 |
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. |
1,845,982 | ||||||
1,955 |
Texas Pacific Land Corporation |
2,671,703 | ||||||
107,663 |
Viper Energy Partners LP |
3,093,158 | ||||||
25,594,340 | ||||||||
Financial — 31.4% (a) |
||||||||
134,004 |
City Office REIT, Inc. |
1,988,619 | ||||||
29,496 |
Community Healthcare Trust, Inc. |
1,086,043 | ||||||
16,053 |
EastGroup Properties, Inc. |
3,009,937 | ||||||
59,642 |
Enterprise Financial Services Corporation |
2,634,387 | ||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.7% (Continued) | ||||||||
Financial — 31.4% (a) (Continued) | ||||||||
88,918 |
Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. |
2,134,032 | ||||||
49,510 |
Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. |
1,359,545 | ||||||
62,930 |
German American Bancorp, Inc. |
2,208,843 | ||||||
62,650 |
Gladstone Land Corporation |
2,280,460 | ||||||
106,086 |
Global Medical REIT, Inc. |
1,565,829 | ||||||
42,334 |
Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. |
1,692,937 | ||||||
22,198 |
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. |
3,259,110 | ||||||
12,213 |
Hingham Institution for Savings |
3,945,654 | ||||||
50,668 |
Home BancShares, Inc./AR |
1,095,442 | ||||||
10,023 |
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. |
1,449,226 | ||||||
107,804 |
Ladder Capital Corporation |
1,227,887 | ||||||
37,896 |
Lakeland Financial Corporation |
2,759,587 | ||||||
28,215 |
National Storage Affiliates Trust |
1,596,969 | ||||||
30,420 |
NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. |
2,712,247 | ||||||
143,758 |
Old Second Bancorp, Inc. |
1,979,548 | ||||||
42,614 |
Preferred Bank |
2,860,252 | ||||||
11,748 |
Primerica, Inc. |
1,522,071 | ||||||
92,133 |
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida |
2,994,322 | ||||||
45,250 |
Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. |
2,365,670 | ||||||
81,430 |
UMH Properties, Inc. |
1,915,234 | ||||||
41,901 |
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. |
1,966,833 | ||||||
100,491 |
West BanCorp, Inc. |
2,512,275 | ||||||
36,627 |
Western Alliance Bancorp |
2,787,681 | ||||||
58,910,640 | ||||||||
Industrial — 18.5% |
||||||||
20,315 |
AptarGroup, Inc. |
2,332,771 | ||||||
52,136 |
Arcosa, Inc. |
2,790,840 | ||||||
13,694 |
Carlisle Companies, Inc. |
3,551,676 | ||||||
22,482 |
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. |
1,897,930 | ||||||
21,490 |
Encore Wire Corporation |
2,424,287 | ||||||
71,312 |
Federal Signal Corporation |
2,426,747 | ||||||
34,734 |
Forward Air Corporation |
3,368,156 | ||||||
13,384 |
Hubbell, Inc. |
2,614,698 | ||||||
11,958 |
Kadant, Inc. |
2,212,230 | ||||||
23,622 |
Landstar System, Inc. |
3,659,048 | ||||||
24,688 |
Owens Corning |
2,244,880 | ||||||
21,811 |
Tetra Tech, Inc. |
3,037,836 | ||||||
26,345 |
UFP Industries, Inc. |
2,038,313 | ||||||
34,599,412 | ||||||||
Technology — 3.3% |
||||||||
119,331 |
Magic Software Enterprises, Ltd. |
2,060,846 | ||||||
16,269 |
MKS Instruments, Inc. |
1,854,341 | ||||||
30,847 |
TTEC Holdings, Inc. |
2,276,817 | ||||||
6,192,004 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
29
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Schedule
of Investments
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 96.7% (Continued) | ||||||||
Utilities — 1.3% | ||||||||
46,628 |
California Water Service Group |
$ | 2,418,594 | |||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $175,221,243) |
181,161,311 | |||||||
Total Investments (Cost $175,221,243) — 96.7% |
181,161,311 | |||||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 3.3% |
6,261,474 | |||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 187,422,785 |
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets. | |
(a) |
To the extent that the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. See Note 9 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
30
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Schedule
of Investments
April 30, 2022
Shares |
Security Description |
|
||||||||||
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS — 98.0% (a) | ||||||||||||
Developed Market Equity — 70.5% | ||||||||||||
3,141,571 |
SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (b) |
$ | 100,090,452 | |||||||||
Emerging Market Equity — 27.5% (b) |
||||||||||||
897,778 |
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (b) |
38,999,477 | ||||||||||
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (Cost $160,392,920) |
139,089,929 | |||||||||||
Contracts |
Notional
|
|||||||||||
PURCHASED OPTIONS (c) — 1.1% |
||||||||||||
Call Options — 0.0% (d) |
||||||||||||
1,500 |
iShares MSCI Brazil ETF, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $35.00 |
$ | 4,915,500 | 58,500 |
Contracts |
Security Description |
Notional
|
Value |
|||||||||
PURCHASED OPTIONS (c) — 1.1% (Continued) | ||||||||||||
Put Options — 1.1% |
||||||||||||
5,000 |
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $40.00 |
$ | 21,190,000 | $ | 235,000 | |||||||
13,000 |
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, Expiration: 05/20/2022, Exercise Price: $67.00 |
89,232,000 | 1,300,000 | |||||||||
1,535,000 | ||||||||||||
TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS (Cost $1,658,804) |
1,593,500 | |||||||||||
Total Investments (Cost $162,051,724) - 99.1% |
140,683,429 | |||||||||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities - 0.9% |
1,225,325 | |||||||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 141,908,754 |
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets. | |
(a) |
The risks of investing in investment companies, such as the underlying ETFs, typically reflect the risks of the types of investments in which the investment companies invest. See Note 9 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
(b) |
Fair value of this security exceeds 25% of the Fund’s net assets. Additional information for this security, including the financial statements, is available from the SEC’s EDGAR database at www.sec.gov. |
(c) |
Exchange traded. |
(d) |
Represents less than 0.05% of net assets. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
31
Aptus ETFs
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
April 30, 2022
Aptus
Collared |
Aptus
Defined |
Aptus
Drawdown |
Opus
Small Cap |
International
|
||||||||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value* |
$ | 400,431,048 | $ | 148,774,451 | $ | 363,249,259 | $ | 181,161,311 | $ | 140,683,429 | ||||||||||
Investments in affiliated securities, at value* |
— | 700,248,896 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Cash |
699,164 | 42,430,157 | 680,447 | 6,250,783 | 390,985 | |||||||||||||||
Receivable for capital shares sold |
3,001,740 | — | — | — | 1,080,665 | |||||||||||||||
Deposit at broker for options |
2,364,503 | 12,929,295 | 3,664,512 | — | 870,015 | |||||||||||||||
Restricted cash for options |
932,394 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Dividends and interest receivable |
241,672 | — | 245,190 | 135,142 | — | |||||||||||||||
Receivable for securities sold |
214,954 | — | 3,862,048 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total assets |
407,885,475 | 904,382,799 | 371,701,456 | 187,547,236 | 143,025,094 | |||||||||||||||
LIABILITIES |
||||||||||||||||||||
Written options, at value (premiums received, $1,912,525, $294,229, $2,101,251, $0, and $0) |
2,500,523 | 513,000 | 3,466,000 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Payable for securities purchased |
2,888,372 | — | 3,969,562 | — | 1,045,753 | |||||||||||||||
Management fees payable |
263,240 | 499,596 | 246,760 | 124,451 | 70,587 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
5,652,135 | 1,012,596 | 7,682,322 | 124,451 | 1,116,340 | |||||||||||||||
NET ASSETS |
$ | 402,233,340 | $ | 903,370,203 | $ | 364,019,134 | $ | 187,422,785 | $ | 141,908,754 | ||||||||||
Net Assets Consist of: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Paid-in capital |
$ | 385,037,906 | $ | 964,972,970 | $ | 369,621,961 | $ | 183,199,911 | $ | 163,819,681 | ||||||||||
Total distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) |
17,195,434 | (61,602,767 | ) | (5,602,827 | ) | 4,222,874 | (21,910,927 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net assets |
$ | 402,233,340 | $ | 903,370,203 | $ | 364,019,134 | $ | 187,422,785 | $ | 141,908,754 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets |
$ | 402,233,340 | $ | 903,370,203 | $ | 364,019,134 | $ | 187,422,785 | $ | 141,908,754 | ||||||||||
Shares outstanding ^ |
13,400,000 | 33,450,000 | 9,541,755 | 5,975,000 | 6,650,000 | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share |
$ | 30.02 | $ | 27.01 | $ | 38.15 | $ | 31.37 | $ | 21.34 | ||||||||||
* Identified cost: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in unaffiliated securities |
$ | 367,119,885 | $ | 150,586,314 | $ | 321,001,300 | $ | 175,221,243 | $ | 162,051,724 | ||||||||||
Investment in affiliated securities |
— | 740,764,159 | — | — | — |
^ |
No par value, unlimited number of shares authorized. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
32
Aptus ETFs
Statements of Operations
For the Year/Period Ended April 30, 2022
Aptus
Collared |
Aptus
Defined |
Aptus
Drawdown |
Opus
Small Cap |
International
|
||||||||||||||||
INCOME |
||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from unaffiliated investments* |
$ | 4,302,330 | $ | 128,574 | $ | 3,175,181 | $ | 2,265,642 | $ | 2,062,437 | ||||||||||
Dividends from affiliated investments |
— | 11,756,162 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total investment income |
4,302,330 | 11,884,736 | 3,175,181 | 2,265,642 | 2,062,437 | |||||||||||||||
EXPENSES |
||||||||||||||||||||
Management fees |
2,444,002 | 5,524,175 | 2,364,545 | 1,227,928 | 481,680 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
3,957 | 61,528 | 2,274 | — | 531 | |||||||||||||||
Total expenses |
2,447,959 | 5,585,703 | 2,366,819 | 1,227,928 | 482,211 | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
1,854,371 | 6,299,033 | 808,362 | 1,037,714 | 1,580,226 | |||||||||||||||
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in unaffiliated securities |
(432,235 | ) | (10,564,973 | ) | (5,420,608 | ) | 4,954,649 | (148,022 | ) | |||||||||||
Investments in affiliated securities |
— | (7,987,539 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Capital gain distributions from affiliated underlying exchange traded funds |
— | 982,174 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Written options |
7,936,482 | 1,374,279 | 6,252,857 | — | (209,745 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in unaffiliated securities |
(11,170,803 | ) | 98,625 | (14,164,055 | ) | (16,164,706 | ) | (21,368,295 | ) | |||||||||||
Investments in affiliated securities |
— | (43,245,604 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Written options |
(874,797 | ) | 222,754 | (1,592,675 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation |
— | — | — | (169 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments |
(4,541,353 | ) | (59,120,284 | ) | (14,924,481 | ) | (11,210,226 | ) | (21,726,062 | ) | ||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
$ | (2,686,982 | ) | $ | (52,821,251 | ) | $ | (14,116,119 | ) | $ | (10,172,512 | ) | $ | (20,145,836 | ) |
* |
Net of foreign withholding taxes | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 12,729 | $ | 22,015 | $ | — |
(1) |
The Fund commenced operations on July 22, 2021. The information presented is from July 22, 2021 to April 30, 2022. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
33
Aptus
Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
Year
Ended |
Year
Ended |
|||||||
OPERATIONS |
||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 1,854,371 | $ | 1,549,485 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and written options |
7,504,247 | (10,089,648 | ) | |||||
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and written options |
(12,045,600 | ) | 42,343,475 | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(2,686,982 | ) | 33,803,312 | |||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||
Net distributions to shareholders |
(1,918,599 | ) | (1,454,907 | ) | ||||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(1,918,599 | ) | (1,454,907 | ) | ||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold |
222,153,030 | 65,756,530 | ||||||
Payments for shares redeemed |
(17,056,045 | ) | (9,332,665 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
205,096,985 | 56,423,865 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 200,491,404 | $ | 88,772,270 | ||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||||
Beginning of year |
$ | 201,741,936 | $ | 112,969,666 | ||||
End of year |
$ | 402,233,340 | $ | 201,741,936 |
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
Shares |
Shares |
|||||||
Shares sold | 7,150,000 | 2,450,000 | ||||||
Shares redeemed | (550,000 | ) | (350,000 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) | 6,600,000 | 2,100,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
34
Aptus
Defined Risk ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
Year
Ended |
Year
Ended |
|||||||
OPERATIONS |
||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 6,299,033 | $ | 5,065,214 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and written options |
(16,196,059 | ) | 15,273,873 | |||||
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and written options |
(42,924,225 | ) | (2,599,092 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(52,821,251 | ) | 17,739,995 | |||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||
Net distributions to shareholders |
(20,526,380 | ) | (27,066,131 | ) | ||||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(20,526,380 | ) | (27,066,131 | ) | ||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold |
389,698,415 | 425,007,540 | ||||||
Payments for shares redeemed |
(69,344,055 | ) | (19,346,640 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
320,354,360 | 405,660,900 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 247,006,729 | $ | 396,334,764 | ||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||||
Beginning of year |
$ | 656,363,474 | $ | 260,028,710 | ||||
End of year |
$ | 903,370,203 | $ | 656,363,474 |
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
Shares | Shares | |||||||
Shares sold | 13,500,000 | 14,150,000 | ||||||
Shares redeemed | (2,400,000 | ) | (650,000 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) | 11,100,000 | 13,500,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
35
Aptus
Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
Year
Ended |
Year
Ended |
|||||||
OPERATIONS |
||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 808,362 | $ | 510,194 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and written options |
832,249 | (4,593,838 | ) | |||||
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and written options |
(15,756,730 | ) | 47,892,841 | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(14,116,119 | ) | 43,809,197 | |||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||
Net distributions to shareholders |
(772,332 | ) | (604,958 | ) | ||||
Tax return of capital to shareholders |
— | (49,223 | ) | |||||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(772,332 | ) | (654,181 | ) | ||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold |
166,728,365 | 58,663,075 | ||||||
Payments for shares redeemed |
(10,154,155 | ) | (10,734,185 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
156,574,210 | 47,928,890 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 141,685,759 | $ | 91,083,906 | ||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||||
Beginning of year |
$ | 222,333,375 | $ | 131,249,469 | ||||
End of year |
$ | 364,019,134 | $ | 222,333,375 |
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
Shares | Shares | |||||||
Shares sold | 4,050,000 | 1,700,000 | ||||||
Shares redeemed | (250,000 | ) | (300,000 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) | 3,800,000 | 1,400,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
36
Opus
Small Cap Value ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
Year
Ended |
Year
Ended |
|||||||
OPERATIONS |
||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 1,037,714 | $ | 500,539 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments |
4,954,649 | 4,133,180 | ||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency |
(16,164,875 | ) | 27,115,173 | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(10,172,512 | ) | 31,748,892 | |||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||
Net distributions to shareholders |
(1,560,722 | ) | (500,479 | ) | ||||
Tax return of capital to shareholders |
— | (88,541 | ) | |||||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(1,560,722 | ) | (589,020 | ) | ||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold |
102,346,398 | 34,911,667 | ||||||
Payments for shares redeemed |
(9,850,255 | ) | (3,804,595 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
92,496,143 | 31,107,072 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 80,762,909 | $ | 62,266,944 | ||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||||
Beginning of year |
$ | 106,659,876 | $ | 44,392,932 | ||||
End of year |
$ | 187,422,785 | $ | 106,659,876 |
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
Shares | Shares | |||||||
Shares sold | 3,050,000 | 1,225,000 | ||||||
Shares redeemed | (300,000 | ) | (175,000 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) | 2,750,000 | 1,050,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
37
International
Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Period
Ended |
||||
OPERATIONS |
||||
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 1,580,226 | ||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and written options |
(357,767 | ) | ||
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and written options |
(21,368,295 | ) | ||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(20,145,836 | ) | ||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||
Net distributions to shareholders |
(1,732,695 | ) | ||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(1,732,695 | ) | ||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||
Proceeds from shares sold |
166,218,085 | |||
Payments for shares redeemed |
(2,430,800 | ) | ||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
163,787,285 | |||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 141,908,754 | ||
NET ASSETS |
||||
Beginning of period |
$ | — | ||
End of period |
$ | 141,908,754 |
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
Shares | ||||
Shares sold | 6,750,000 | |||
Shares redeemed | (100,000 | ) | ||
Net increase (decrease) | 6,650,000 |
(1) |
The Fund commenced operations on July 22, 2021. The information presented is from July 22, 2021 to April 30, 2022. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
38
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Financial Highlights
For a capital share outstanding throughout the year/period
Year Ended April 30, |
Period |
|||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020(1) | ||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year/period | $ | 29.67 | $ | 24.04 | $ | 25.00 | ||||||
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | ||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
0.19 | 0.27 | 0.49 | |||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (3) |
0.34 | 5.61 | (1.01 | ) | ||||||||
Total from investment operations | 0.53 | 5.88 | (0.52 | ) | ||||||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | ||||||||||||
From net investment income | (0.18 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.44 | ) | ||||||
Total distributions to shareholders | (0.18 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.44 | ) | ||||||
Net asset value, end of year/period | $ | 30.02 | $ | 29.67 | $ | 24.04 | ||||||
Total return | 1.78 | % | 24.57 | % | -2.14 | %(4) | ||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | ||||||||||||
Net assets at end of year/period (000’s) | $ | 402,233 | $ | 201,742 | $ | 112,970 | ||||||
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: | ||||||||||||
Expenses to average net assets | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | %(5) | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 0.60 | % | 0.99 | % | 2.46 | %(5) | ||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (6) |
48 | % | 46 | % | 170 | %(4) |
(1) |
Commencement of operations on July 9, 2019. |
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year/period. |
(3) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gain (loss) in the Statements of Operations due to share transactions for the period. |
(4) |
Not annualized. |
(5) |
Annualized |
(6) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
39
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Financial
Highlights
For a capital share outstanding
throughout the year/period
Year Ended April 30, |
Period |
|||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019(1) | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year/period | $ | 29.37 | $ | 29.38 | $ | 26.51 | $ | 25.00 | ||||||||
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | ||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (2)(3) |
0.23 | 0.32 | 0.55 | 0.35 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (4) |
(1.86 | ) | 1.31 | 3.14 | 1.90 | |||||||||||
Total from investment operations | (1.63 | ) | 1.63 | 3.69 | 2.25 | |||||||||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | ||||||||||||||||
From net investment income | (0.20 | ) | (0.33 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (0.27 | ) | ||||||||
From realized gains | (0.53 | ) | (1.31 | ) | (0.32 | ) | (0.47 | ) | ||||||||
Total distributions to shareholders | (0.73 | ) | (1.64 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.74 | ) | ||||||||
Net asset value, end of year/period | $ | 27.01 | $ | 29.37 | $ | 29.38 | $ | 26.51 | ||||||||
Total return | -5.73 | % | 5.62 | % | 14.12 | % | 9.23 | %(5) | ||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | ||||||||||||||||
Net assets at end of year/period (000’s) | $ | 903,370 | $ | 656,363 | $ | 260,029 | $ | 104,695 | ||||||||
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: | ||||||||||||||||
Expenses to average net assets (6) |
0.70 | %(8) | 0.70 | %(8) | 0.69 | % | 0.69 | %(7) | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets (3) |
0.79 | %(8) | 1.07 | %(8) | 1.97 | % | 1.86 | %(7) | ||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (9) |
69 | % | 28 | % | 78 | % | 21 | %(5) |
(1) |
Commencement of operations on August 7, 2018. |
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year/period. |
(3) |
Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. The ratio does not include net investment income of the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(4) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gain (loss) in the Statements of Operations due to share transactions for the period. |
(5) |
Not annualized. |
(6) |
Does not include expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(7) |
Annualized |
(8) |
Includes broker interest expense of 0.01%. |
(9) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
40
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Financial
Highlights
For a capital share outstanding
throughout the year
Year Ended April 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 38.72 | $ | 30.23 | $ | 29.82 | $ | 32.49 | $ | 26.57 | ||||||||||
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (1) |
0.11 | 0.10 | 0.28 | 0.29 | 0.05 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (2) |
(0.58 | ) | 8.52 | 0.39 | (2.72 | ) | 5.97 | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
(0.47 | ) | 8.62 | 0.67 | (2.43 | ) | 6.02 | |||||||||||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: |
||||||||||||||||||||
From net investment income |
(0.10 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.10 | ) | ||||||||||
Tax return of capital to shareholders |
— | (0.01 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(0.10 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.10 | ) | ||||||||||
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 38.15 | $ | 38.72 | $ | 30.23 | $ | 29.82 | $ | 32.49 | ||||||||||
Total return |
-1.23 | % | 28.59 | % | 2.27 | % | -7.46 | % | 22.68 | % | ||||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets at end of year (000’s) |
$ | 364,019 | $ | 222,333 | $ | 131,249 | $ | 70,065 | $ | 56,866 | ||||||||||
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses to average net assets |
0.79 | % | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | % | ||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets |
0.27 | % | 0.29 | % | 0.94 | % | 0.91 | % | 0.17 | % | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (3) |
43 | % | 48 | % | 230 | % | 321 | % | 124 | % |
(1) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(2) |
Realized and unrealized gains and losses per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statements of Operations due to share transactions for the period. |
(3) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
41
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Financial
Highlights
For a capital share outstanding
throughout the year/period
Year Ended April 30, |
Period
|
|||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019(1) | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year/period | $ | 33.07 | $ | 20.41 | $ | 25.00 | $ | 25.00 | ||||||||
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | ||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
0.22 | 0.21 | 0.48 | 0.38 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (3) |
(1.59 | ) | 12.69 | (4.53 | ) | (0.08 | ) | |||||||||
Total from investment operations | (1.37 | ) | 12.90 | (4.05 | ) | 0.30 | ||||||||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | ||||||||||||||||
From net investment income | (0.21 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.49 | ) | (0.30 | ) | ||||||||
From realized gains | (0.12 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||
Tax return of capital to shareholders | — | (0.04 | ) | (0.05 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Total distributions to shareholders | (0.33 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.54 | ) | (0.30 | ) | ||||||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS | ||||||||||||||||
Transaction fees (Note 8) | — | — | 0.00 | (4) | 0.00 | (4) | ||||||||||
Net asset value, end of year/period | $ | 31.37 | $ | 33.07 | $ | 20.41 | $ | 25.00 | ||||||||
Total return | -4.25 | % | 63.49 | % | -16.46 | % | 1.34 | %(5) | ||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | ||||||||||||||||
Net assets at end of year/period (000’s) | $ | 187,423 | $ | 106,660 | $ | 44,393 | $ | 46,877 | ||||||||
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: | ||||||||||||||||
Expenses to average net assets | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | %(6) | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 0.67 | % | 0.77 | % | 1.94 | % | 2.01 | %(6) | ||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (7) |
45 | % | 65 | % | 56 | % | 31 | %(5) |
(1) |
Commencement of operations on July 17, 2018. |
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year/period. |
(3) |
Realized and unrealized gains and losses per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statements of Operations due to share transactions for the period. |
(4) |
Less than $0.005. |
(5) |
Not annualized. |
(6) |
Annualized |
(7) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
42
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Financial
Highlights
For a capital share outstanding
throughout the period
Period
|
||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 25.00 | ||
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |
||||
Net investment income (loss) (2)(3) |
0.36 | |||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (4) |
(3.68 | ) | ||
Total from investment operations |
(3.32 | ) | ||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: |
||||
From net investment income |
(0.34 | ) | ||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(0.34 | ) | ||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 21.34 | ||
Total return |
(13.46 | )%(5) | ||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
||||
Net assets at end of period (000’s) |
$ | 141,909 | ||
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |
||||
Expenses to average net assets (6) |
0.59 | %(7) | ||
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets (3) |
1.93 | %(7) | ||
Portfolio turnover rate (8) |
2 | %(5) |
(1) |
Commencement of operations on July 22, 2021. |
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
(3) |
Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. The ratio does not include net investment income of the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(4) |
Realized and unrealized gains and losses per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statements of Operations due to share transactions for the period. |
(5) |
Not annualized. |
(6) |
Does not include expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(7) |
Annualized |
(8) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
43
Aptus ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF and International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF are each a non-diversified series and Aptus Defined Risk ETF, Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF and Opus Small Cap Value ETF are each a diversified series (individually each a “Fund” or collectively the “Funds”) of ETF Series Solutions (“ESS” or the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company consisting of multiple investment series, organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 9, 2012. The Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“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 Funds’ shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF commenced operations on July 9, 2019, and its investment objective is to seek current income and capital appreciation. Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF commenced operations on June 8, 2016, and its investment objective is to seek capital appreciation with downside protection. Aptus Defined Risk ETF commenced operations on August 7, 2018, and its investment objective is to seek current income and capital appreciation. Opus Small Cap Value ETF commenced operations on July 17, 2018, and its investment objective is to seek capital appreciation. International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF commenced operations on July 22, 2021, and its investment objective is to seek capital appreciation with downside protection.
The end of the reporting period for the Funds is April 30, 2022 and the period covered by these Notes to Financial Statements is the fiscal year from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022 for Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF, Aptus Defined Risk ETF, Aptus Drawdown Equity ETF, and Opus Small Cap Value ETF and the period from July 22, 2021 to April 30, 2022 for International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF (each, respectively, the “current fiscal period”).
NOTE 2 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Funds are each an investment company and accordingly follow the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds. These policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
A. |
Security Valuation. All equity securities, including domestic and foreign common stocks, preferred stocks, and exchange traded funds, that are traded on a national securities exchange, except those listed on the Nasdaq Global Market®, Nasdaq Global Select Market®, and the Nasdaq Capital Market® exchanges (collectively, “Nasdaq”) are valued at the last reported sale price on the exchange on which the security is principally traded. Securities traded on Nasdaq will be valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If, on a particular day, an exchange-traded or Nasdaq security does not trade, then the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked prices will be used. All equity securities that are not traded on a listed exchange are valued at the last sale price in the over-the-counter market. If a non-exchange traded security does not trade on a particular day, then the mean between the last quoted closing bid and asked price will be used. Prices denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents at the current exchange rate, which approximates fair value. |
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their net asset value (“NAV”) per share.
Exchange traded options are valued at the composite mean price, which calculates the mean of the highest bid price and lowest asked price across the exchanges where the option is principally traded. On the last trading day prior to expiration, expiring options will be priced at intrinsic value.
Securities for which quotations are not readily available are valued at their respective fair values in accordance with pricing procedures adopted by the Funds’ 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 Board. The use of fair value pricing by the Funds may cause the NAV of their shares to differ significantly from the NAV that would be calculated without regard to such considerations.
As described above, the Funds utilize various methods to measure the fair value of their investments on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods. The three levels of inputs are:
44
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Level 1 – |
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Funds have 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 Funds’ 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 Funds’ investments as of the end of the current fiscal period:
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
Common Stocks |
$ | 386,061,048 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 386,061,048 | ||||||||
Purchased Options |
— | 14,370,000 | — | 14,370,000 | ||||||||||||
Total Investments in Securities |
$ | 386,061,048 | $ | 14,370,000 | $ | — | $ | 400,431,048 |
Liabilities^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
Written Options |
$ | — | $ | 2,500,523 | $ | — | $ | 2,500,523 | ||||||||
Total Written Options |
$ | — | $ | 2,500,523 | $ | — | $ | 2,500,523 |
^ |
See Schedule of Investments and Schedule of Written Options for further disaggregation of investment categories. |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
Exchange Traded Funds |
$ | 834,668,097 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 834,668,097 | ||||||||
Purchased Options |
— | 14,355,250 | — | 14,355,250 | ||||||||||||
Total Investments in Securities |
$ | 834,668,097 | $ | 14,355,250 | $ | — | $ | 849,023,347 |
Liabilities^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
Written Options |
$ | — | $ | 513,000 | $ | — | $ | 513,000 | ||||||||
Total Written Options |
$ | — | $ | 513,000 | $ | — | $ | 513,000 |
^ |
See Schedule of Investments and Schedule of Written Options for further disaggregation of investment categories. |
45
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
Common Stocks |
$ | 352,220,259 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 352,220,259 | ||||||||
Purchased Options |
— | 11,029,000 | — | 11,029,000 | ||||||||||||
Total Investments in Securities |
$ | 352,220,259 | $ | 11,029,000 | $ | — | $ | 363,249,259 |
Liabilities^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
Written Options |
$ | — | $ | 3,466,000 | $ | — | $ | 3,466,000 | ||||||||
Total Written Options |
$ | — | $ | 3,466,000 | $ | — | $ | 3,466,000 |
^ |
See Schedule of Investments and Schedule of Written Options for further disaggregation of investment categories. |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
Common Stocks |
$ | 181,161,311 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 181,161,311 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities |
$ | 181,161,311 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 181,161,311 |
^ |
See Schedule of Investments for breakout of investments by sector classification. |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
Exchange Traded Funds |
$ | 139,089,929 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 139,089,929 | ||||||||
Purchased Options |
— | 1,593,500 | — | 1,593,500 | ||||||||||||
Total Investments in Securities |
$ | 139,089,929 | $ | 1,593,500 | $ | — | $ | 140,683,429 |
^ |
See Schedule of Investments for further disaggregation of investment categories. |
During the current fiscal period, the Funds did not recognize any transfers to or from Level 3.
B. |
Federal Income Taxes. The Funds’ policy is to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of their net investment income and net capital gains to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Funds plan to file U.S. Federal and applicable state and local tax returns. |
Each Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position is more likely than not to be sustained. Management has analyzed each Fund’s uncertain tax positions and concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions. Management 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 12 months. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. The Funds recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions as income tax expenses in the Statements of Operations. During the current fiscal period, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties.
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. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income or separately disclosed, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the security received. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Withholdings taxes on foreign dividends, if any, have been provided for in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable tax rules and regulations. |
46
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Distributions received from the Funds’ investments in real estate investment Trusts (“REITs”) may be characterized as ordinary income, net capital gain, or a return of capital. The proper characterization of REIT distributions is generally not known until after the end of each calendar year. As such, the Funds must use estimates in reporting the character of their income and distributions received during the current calendar year for financial statement purposes. The actual character of distributions to the Funds’ shareholders will be reflected on the Form 1099 received by shareholders after the end of the calendar year. Due to the nature of REIT investments, a portion of the distributions received by the Funds’ shareholders may represent a return of capital.
D. |
Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders from net investment income are declared and paid at least annually. Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains 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, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
F. |
Share Valuation. The NAV per share of each Fund is calculated by dividing the sum of the value of the securities held by each Fund, plus cash and other assets, minus all liabilities (including estimated accrued expenses) by the total number of outstanding shares for each Fund, rounded to the nearest cent. The Funds’ shares will not be priced on the days on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is closed for trading. The offering and redemption price per share of each Fund is equal to each Fund’s NAV per share. |
G. |
Guarantees and Indemnifications. In the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote. |
H. |
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 NAV per share. |
The permanent differences primarily relate to differing book and tax treatment for redemptions in-kind. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, the following table shows the reclassifications made:
Distributable
|
Paid-In Capital |
|||||||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
$ | (4,939,895 | ) | $ | 4,939,895 | |||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
(1,242,767 | ) | 1,242,767 | |||||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
(3,137,298 | ) | 3,137,298 | |||||
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
(2,618,063 | ) | 2,618,063 | |||||
International Drawdown Managed Equity |
(32,396 | ) | 32,396 |
47
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
During the current fiscal period, the Funds realized the following in net capital gains (losses) resulting from in-kind redemptions, in which shareholders exchanged Fund shares for securities held by the Fund rather than for cash. Because such gains (losses) are not taxable to the Funds, and gains are not distributed to shareholders, they have been reclassified from distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) to paid-in capital.
Gains/(Losses)
|
||||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
$ | 4,939,895 | ||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
1,242,767 | |||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
3,137,298 | |||
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
2,618,063 | |||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
32,709 |
I. |
Subsequent Events. In preparing these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued. There were no events or transactions that occurred during the period subsequent to the end of the current fiscal period that materially impacted the amounts or disclosures in the Funds’ financial statements. |
NOTE 3 – COMMITMENTS AND OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Aptus Capital Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Adviser, the Adviser provides investment advice to the Funds and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Funds, subject to the direction and control of the Board and the officers of the Trust.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses incurred by the Funds except for: the fee paid to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, 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 (12b-1) fees and expenses. For services provided to the Funds, Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF, Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF, and Opus Small Cap Value ETF each pay the Adviser an annual rate of 0.79% based on each Fund’s average daily net assets. Aptus Defined Risk ETF pays the Adviser an annual rate of 0.69% based on the Fund’s average daily net assets. International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF pays the Adviser an annual rate of 0.59% based on the Fund’s average daily net assets.
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, LLC (“Fund Services” or “Administrator”), acts as the Funds’ Administrator and, in that capacity, performs various administrative and accounting services for the Funds. The Administrator 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; monitors the activities of the Funds’ Custodian, transfer agent, and fund accountant. Fund Services also serves as the transfer agent and fund accountant to the Funds. U.S. Bank N.A. (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of Fund Services, serves as the Funds’ Custodian.
A Trustee and all officers of the Trust are affiliated with the Administrator and Custodian.
48
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
NOTE 4 – PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
During the current fiscal period, purchases and sales of securities by the Funds, excluding options, short-term securities and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
Purchases |
Sales |
|||||||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
$ | 148,542,769 | $ | 152,343,523 | ||||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
503,466,431 | 505,094,908 | ||||||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
128,211,638 | 134,471,551 | ||||||
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
68,477,474 | 72,796,510 | ||||||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
3,017,471 | 2,337,208 |
During the current fiscal period, there were no purchases or sales of U.S. Government securities.
During the current fiscal period, in-kind transactions associated with creations and redemptions were as follows:
In-Kind Purchases |
In-Kind
|
|||||||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
$ | 218,383,609 | $ | 16,843,629 | ||||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
356,010,317 | 63,023,143 | ||||||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
164,516,798 | 9,545,147 | ||||||
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
101,018,766 | 9,746,972 | ||||||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
162,288,999 | 2,407,376 |
NOTE 5 – TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATED SECURITIES
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Funds during the current fiscal period for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act were as follows:
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Affiliated Issuer |
Value
at |
Purchases
|
Proceeds
|
Net
Realized |
Change
in |
Value
at |
||||||||||||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2021 Term Corporate ETF |
$ | 82,766,954 | $ | 24,026,447 | $ | (106,439,353 | ) | $ | (677,504 | ) | $ | 323,456 | $ | — | ||||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2022 Term Corporate ETF |
106,139,099 | 59,032,887 | (162,863,190 | ) | (2,120,171 | ) | (188,625 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2023 Term Corporate ETF* |
147,385,899 | 105,633,598 | (195,313,211 | ) | (5,403,114 | ) | (1,719,228 | ) | 50,583,944 | * | ||||||||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Corporate ETF |
102,102,385 | 99,935,966 | (12,137,753 | ) | 202,686 | (10,242,849 | ) | 179,860,435 | ||||||||||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2025 Term Corporate ETF |
100,739,516 | 116,835,202 | (13,303,839 | ) | 42,646 | (14,295,668 | ) | 190,017,857 | ||||||||||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Corporate ETF |
— | 203,076,783 | (7,087,197 | ) | (27,818 | ) | (13,290,040 | ) | 182,671,728 | |||||||||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF |
— | 152,112,495 | (576,705 | ) | (4,264 | ) | (3,832,650 | ) | 147,698,876 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 539,133,853 | $ | (7,987,539 | ) | $ | (43,245,604 | ) | $ | 750,832,840 |
* |
As of April 30, 2022, no longer considered to be affiliate of the Fund. |
49
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
Affiliated Issuer (Continued) |
Shares |
Dividend |
Capital
Gain |
|||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2021 Term Corporate ETF | — | $ | 363,523 | $ | — | |||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2022 Term Corporate ETF | — | 1,798,671 | 206,852 | |||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2023 Term Corporate ETF* | 2,011,290 | 3,058,876 | 510,831 | |||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Corporate ETF | 7,246,009 | 2,466,683 | — | |||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2025 Term Corporate ETF | 7,643,518 | 2,647,193 | 264,491 | |||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Corporate ETF | 7,611,322 | 1,258,458 | — | |||||||||
iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF | 6,118,429 | 162,758 | — | |||||||||
$ | 11,756,162 | $ | 982,174 |
* |
As of April 30, 2022, no longer considered to be affiliate of the Fund. |
NOTE 6 – INCOME TAX INFORMATION
The components of distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) and cost basis of investments for federal income tax purposes as of April 30, 2022 were as follows:
Aptus
Collared |
Aptus
Defined |
Aptus
Drawdown |
Opus
Small Cap |
International
|
||||||||||||||||
Tax cost of investments |
$ | 376,803,562 | $ | 891,916,513 | $ | 330,483,517 | $ | 175,271,200 | $ | 162,253,840 | ||||||||||
Gross tax unrealized appreciation |
$ | 59,852,891 | $ | 1,874,509 | $ | 60,957,320 | $ | 19,881,019 | $ | 49,171 | ||||||||||
Gross tax unrealized depreciation |
(35,967,725 | ) | (44,767,675 | ) | (28,191,578 | ) | (13,991,077 | ) | (21,619,582 | ) | ||||||||||
Net tax unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
23,885,166 | (42,893,166 | ) | 32,765,742 | 5,889,942 | (21,570,411 | ) | |||||||||||||
Undistributed ordinary income |
3,548,875 | 1,095,870 | 36,030 | 130,568 | — | |||||||||||||||
Undistributed long-term capital gains |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Other accumulated gain (loss) |
(10,238,607 | ) | (19,805,471 | ) | (38,404,599 | ) | (1,797,636 | ) | (340,516 | ) | ||||||||||
Distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) |
$ | 17,195,434 | $ | (61,602,767 | ) | $ | (5,602,827 | ) | $ | 4,222,874 | $ | (21,910,927 | ) |
The difference between the cost basis for financial statement and federal income tax purposes was primarily due to the tax deferral of losses from wash sales and the mark-to-market on open Section 1256 options contracts.
A regulated investment company may elect for any taxable year to treat any portion of any qualified late year loss as arising on the first day of the next taxable year. Qualified late year losses are certain capital and ordinary losses which occur during the portion of the Funds’ taxable year subsequent to October 31 and December 31, respectively. At April 30, 2022, Aptus Defined Risk ETF and Opus Small Cap Value ETF, deferred on a tax basis, post-October capital losses of $19,805,471 and $1,797,636, respectively. International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF deferred, on a tax basis, $152,156 of late-year ordinary losses. Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF and Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF did not elect to defer any post-October capital losses or late-year losses.
50
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
As of April 30, 2022, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards with no expiration date:
Short-Term |
Long-Term |
|||||||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
$ | — | $ | — | ||||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
— | — | ||||||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
35,570,334 | 2,834,265 | ||||||
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
— | — | ||||||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
188,360 | — |
During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF utilized $2,171,578 of short-term and $7,557,894 of long-term capital loss carryforward, Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF utilized $5,225,545 of short-term capital loss carryforward, and Opus Small Cap Value ETF utilized $2,213,290 of short-term and $1,284,351 of long-term capital loss carryforward that was available as of April 30, 2021. Utilization of capital loss carryforwards acquired by Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF in connection with the reorganization during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020 will be subject to limitations because of an ownership change.
The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds during year/period ended April 30, 2022 and year/period ended April 30, 2021 was as follows:
Year/Period(1)
Ended |
Year
Ended |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary
|
Long-Term
|
Return
of |
Ordinary
|
Long-Term
|
Return
of |
|||||||||||||||||||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
$ | 1,918,599 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,454,907 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
17,893,513 | 2,632,867 | — | 24,142,128 | 2,924,003 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
772,332 | — | — | 604,958 | — | 49,223 | ||||||||||||||||||
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
907,157 | 653,565 | — | 500,479 | — | 88,541 | ||||||||||||||||||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
1,732,695 | — | — | N/A | N/A | N/A |
(1) |
Information for International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF is for the period from July 22, 2021 to April 30, 2022. |
NOTE 7 – ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES ABOUT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The following disclosures provide information on the Funds’ use of derivatives. The location and value of these instruments on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and the realized gains and losses and changes in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on the Statements of Operations are included in the following tables.
The Funds may purchase put options on individual stocks, on an index tracking a portfolio of U.S. equity securities, or on one or more other ETFs that principally invest in U.S. equity securities, purchase call options on the Cboe Volatility Index®, or utilize a combination of purchased and written (sold) put options (known as a “spread”) to limit the Funds’ exposure to equity market declines. The Funds may write (sell) call options on individual stocks, on an index tracking a portfolio of U.S. equity securities, or on one or more other ETFs that principally invest in U.S. equity securities, or utilize a combination of purchased and written (sold) call options (spread) to generate premium from such options.
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF’s options collar strategy typically consists of two components: (i) selling covered call options on up to 100% of the equity securities held by the Fund to generate premium from such options, while (ii) simultaneously reinvesting a portion of such premium to buy put options on the same underlying equity securities, a U.S. equity ETF, or the U.S. Equity Index to “hedge” or mitigate the downside risk associated with owning equity securities. The Fund seeks to generate income from the combination of dividends received from the equity securities held by the Fund and premiums received from
51
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
the sale of options. Additionally, the Fund may purchase put options or utilize a combination of purchased and written (sold) put options (known as a “spread”) on one or more equity securities, a U.S. equity ETF, or a U.S. Equity Index to “hedge” or mitigate the downside risk associated with owning equity securities.
Aptus Defined Risk ETF’s Equity Strategy seeks exposure to small-, mid-, and large-capitalization U.S. stocks by purchasing exchange-listed call options on individual stocks or depositary receipts (the “Underlying Individual Equities”), on one or more equity indexes, on one or more other ETFs that principally invest in U.S. equity securities (the “Underlying Equity ETFs”), or on one or more other U.S. fixed-income ETFs that provide exposure to either high yield or investment grade bonds (the “Underlying Bond ETFs”) (each, a “reference asset”). The Fund may utilize a combination of purchased and written (sold) call options (known as a “spread). Additionally, Underlying Equity ETFs, Underlying Bond ETFs, or equity indexes may be selected in lieu of or in addition to Underlying Individual Equities to adjust the balance of the Fund’s exposure across industries or to maintain the Fund’s equity exposure when the Adviser believes they present a better risk profile than Underlying Individual Equities. The Adviser may utilize a combination of purchased and written (sold) put or call options on the Cboe Volatility Index® (the “VIX® Index”). The VIX Index reflects a calculation designed to produce a measure of constant, 30-day expected volatility of the U.S. stock market, derived from real-time, mid-quote prices of S&P 500® Index call and put options. The Adviser generally expects to invest less than 1% of the Fund’s net assets in VIX Index call and put options at the time of investment.
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF seeks to limit the Fund’s exposure to equity market declines primarily by purchasing exchange-listed put options on individual equity securities or on one or more equity indexes or ETFs (each, a “reference asset”) that track a portfolio of U.S. equity securities (“Equity Puts”). In addition to purchasing Equity Puts, the Adviser may write (sell) Equity Puts. The Adviser also may purchase or write (sell) exchange-listed call options on individual equity securities or on one or more equity indexes or ETFs (each, a “reference asset”) that track a portfolio of U.S. equity securities (“Equity Calls”). In addition to or in lieu of such Equity Puts or Equity Calls, the Adviser may utilize a combination of purchased and written (sold) put or call options (known as a “spread”) on individual equity securities, one or more equity indexes or ETFs, or the Cboe Volatility Index® (the “VIX® Index”). The VIX Index reflects a calculation designed to produce a measure of constant, 30-day expected volatility of the U.S. stock market, derived from real-time, mid-quote prices of S&P 500® Index call and put options. The Adviser generally expects to invest less than 1% of the Fund’s net assets in VIX Index call options at the time of investment.
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF seeks to limit the Fund’s exposure to equity market declines primarily by purchasing exchange-listed put options or utilizing a combination of purchased and written (sold) put options (known as a “spread”), on one or more equity indexes or ETFs (each, a “reference asset”) that track a portfolio of non-U.S. equity securities (together, “Equity Puts”). The reference asset for an option will generally reflect the overall equity market for emerging markets or developed markets outside the United States, the equity market of a particular region or country (other than the United States), or a particular depositary receipt held by the Fund. In addition to purchasing Equity Puts, the Adviser may write (sell) Equity Puts. The Adviser may also purchase call options or utilize call option spreads on the Cboe Volatility Index® (the “VIX Index”). The VIX Index reflects a calculation designed to produce a measure of constant, 30-day expected volatility of the U.S. stock market, derived from real-time prices of S&P 500® Index call and put options.
When the Funds purchase a call or put option, an amount equal to the premium paid is included in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as an investment and is subsequently adjusted to reflect the value of the option. If an option expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If the Funds exercise a call option, the cost of the security acquired is increased by the premium paid for the call. If the Funds exercise a put option, a gain or loss is realized from the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from such a sale are decreased by the premium originally paid. The risk associated with purchasing options is limited to the loss of the premium paid.
A written (sold) call option gives the seller the obligation to sell shares of the underlying asset at a specified price (“strike price”) at a specified date (“expiration date”). The writer (seller) of the call option receives an amount (premium) for writing (selling) the option. In the event the underlying asset appreciates above the strike price as of the expiration date, the writer (seller) of the call option will have to pay the difference between the value of the underlying asset and the strike price (which loss is offset by the premium initially received), and in the event the underlying asset declines in value, the call option may end up worthless and the writer (seller) of the call option retains the premium.
A written (sold) put option gives the seller the obligation to buy shares of the underlying asset at a specified price (“strike price”) at a specified date (“expiration date”). The writer (seller) of the put option receives an amount (premium) for writing (selling) the option. In the event the underlying asset depreciates below the strike price as of the expiration date, the writer
52
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
(seller) of the put option pays the difference between the value of the underlying asset and the strike price (which loss is offset by the premium initially received), and in the event the underlying asset appreciates in value, the put option may end up worthless and the writer (seller) of the call option retains the premium.
When the Funds write an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Funds is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current fair value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by the Funds on the expiration date as realized gains from options written. The difference between the premium and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or, if the premium is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security in determining whether the Funds have realized a gain or loss. The Funds, as a writer of an option, bear the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option.
For financial statement purposes, cash held at the broker for options is included in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as deposits at broker for written options. Broker interest paid by the Funds, if any, is included as interest expense in the Statements of Operations. As collateral for its written options, the Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF maintains segregated assets consisting of cash, cash equivalents, or liquid securities (e.g. Permissible Assets). Segregated cash is included as restricted cash for options in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Adviser may earmark or instruct the Fund’s custodian to segregate Permissible Assets in an amount at least equal to the market value, calculated on a daily basis, of the written options. Alternatively, a written call option contract can be “covered” through (a) ownership of the underlying instruments or (b) ownership of an option on such instruments at an exercise price equal to or lower than the exercise price of the short option, and a written put option contract can be “covered” (a) through ownership of a put option with an exercise price at least equal to the Fund’s delivery or purchase obligation or (b) through selling short the underlying instrument at a price at least equal to the Fund’s purchase obligation.
The average monthly value of derivative activity during the current fiscal period was as follows:
Purchased Options |
Average Value |
|||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
$ | 4,450,648 | ||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
32,139,980 | |||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
3,800,140 | |||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
1,045,728 |
Written Options |
||||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
$ | (2,236,589 | ) | |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
(1,471,611 | ) | ||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
(1,143,731 | ) | ||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
(184,650 | ) |
Due to the absence of a master netting agreement related to the Funds’ participation in purchasing and writing options, no additional offsetting disclosures have been made on behalf of the Funds.
As the Funds value their derivatives at fair value and recognize changes in fair value through the Statements of Operations, they do not qualify for hedge accounting under authoritative guidance for derivative instruments. The Funds’ investments in derivatives may represent an economic hedge; however, they are considered to be non-hedge transactions for the purpose of these disclosures.
53
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities for the current fiscal period, is as follows:
Asset Derivatives |
||||||
Fund |
Derivatives Investment Type |
Statement of
Assets and Liabilities Location |
Value |
|||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Purchased Options |
Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value |
$ | 14,370,000 | ||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
Equity Contracts - Purchased Options |
Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value |
14,355,250 | |||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Purchased Options |
Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value |
11,029,000 | |||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Purchased Options |
Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value |
1,593,500 |
Liability Derivatives |
||||||
Fund |
Derivatives Investment Type |
Statement
of Assets and |
Value |
|||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Written Options |
Written options, at value |
$ | (2,500,523 | ) | |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
Equity Contracts - Written Options |
Written options, at value |
(513,000 | ) | ||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Written Options |
Written options, at value |
(3,466,000 | ) | ||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Written Options |
Written options, at value |
— |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statements of Operations for the current fiscal period were as follows:
Fund |
Derivatives Investment Type |
Net
Realized |
Change
in |
||||||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Purchased Options |
$ | (6,157,855 | )* | $ | 6,975,001 | ** | ||
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Written Options |
7,936,482 | (874,797 | ) | |||||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
Equity Contracts - Purchased Options |
(10,016,043 | )* | 349,799 | ** | ||||
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
Equity Contracts - Written Options |
1,374,279 | 222,754 | ||||||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Purchased Options |
(10,460,254 | )* | 8,014,971 | ** | ||||
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Written Options |
6,252,857 | (1,592,675 | ) | |||||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Purchased Options |
20,944 | * | (65,304 | )** | ||||
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
Equity Contracts - Written Options |
(209,745 | ) | — |
* |
Included in net realized gain (loss) on investments in unaffiliated securities as reported in the Statements of Operations. |
** |
Included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in unaffiliated securities as reported in the Statements of Operations. |
NOTE 8 – SHARE TRANSACTIONS
Shares of the Funds are listed and traded on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe”). Market prices for the shares may be different from their NAV. Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF, Aptus Defined Risk ETF, Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF and International Drawdown Managed Risk ETF issue and redeem shares on a continuous basis at NAV generally in blocks of 50,000 shares, called “Creation Units.” Opus Small Cap Value ETF issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis at NAV generally in blocks of 25,000 shares. 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 Funds. Creation Units may only
54
Aptus ETFs
Notes
to Financial Statements
April 30, 2022
(Continued)
be purchased or redeemed by certain financial institutions (“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 nor have the resources to buy and sell whole Creation Units. Therefore, they are unable to purchase or redeem the shares directly from the Funds. 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 Funds each currently offer 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 Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF, Aptus Defined Risk ETF, Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF, and Opus Small Cap Value ETF is $250 and the standard fixed transaction fee for International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF is $500, each payable to the Custodian. The fixed creation fee may be waived on certain orders if the Funds’ 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 Units of up to a maximum of 2% as a percentage of the value of the Creation Units subject to the transaction. Variable fees are imposed to compensate the Funds for the transaction costs associated with the cash transactions fees. Variable fees received by each Fund, if any, are displayed in the Capital Share Transactions section of the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.
NOTE 9 – RISKS
Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Funds invest more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, their performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors.
Covid-19 Risk. The recent global outbreak of COVID-19 has disrupted economic markets and the prolonged economic impact is uncertain. The operational and financial performance of the issuers of securities in which the Funds invest depends on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak, and such uncertainty may in turn impact the value of the Funds’ investments.
Other Investment Companies Risk. The risks of Aptus Defined Risk ETF and International Drawdown Managed Risk ETF investing in investment companies typically reflect the risks of the types of instruments in which the investment companies invest. By investing in another investment company, each Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company and bears its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the other investment company. The Funds may be subject to statutory limits with respect to the amount they can invest in other ETFs, which may adversely affect the Funds’ ability to achieve their investment objectives.
55
Aptus ETFs
Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To
the Shareholders of Aptus ETFs and
Board of Trustees of ETF Series Solutions
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments and written options (as applicable), of Aptus ETFs comprising the funds listed below (the “Funds”), each a series of ETF Series Solutions, as of April 30, 2022, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets, the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated below (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of April 30, 2022, the results of their operations, the changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated below in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Fund Name |
Statements
of |
Statements
of Changes |
Financial
|
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
For the year ended April 30, 2022 |
For the years ended April 30, 2022 and 2021 |
For the years ended April 30, 2022 and 2021 and for the period from July 9, 2019 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2020 |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
For the year ended April 30, 2022 |
For the years ended April 30, 2022 and 2021 |
For the years ended April 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020 and for the period from August 7, 2018 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2019 |
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
For the year ended April 30, 2022 |
For the years ended April 30, 2022 and 2021 |
For the years ended April 30, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
For the year ended April 30, 2022 |
For the years ended April 30, 2022 and 2021 |
For the years ended April 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020 and for the period from July 17, 2018 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2019 |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
For the period from July 22, 2021 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2022 |
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ 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 Funds 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 April 30, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we
56
Aptus ETFs
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(Continued)
performed other auditing procedures. 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 Funds’ auditor since 2016.
COHEN
& COMPANY, LTD.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
June 29, 2022
57
Aptus ETFs
Trustees
and Officers
(Unaudited)
Additional information about each Trustee of the Trust is set forth below. The address of each Trustee of the Trust is c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 615 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Name
and |
Position
|
Term
of |
Principal
Occupation(s) |
Number
of Portfolios |
Other
|
Independent Trustees | |||||
Leonard
M. Rush, CPA |
Lead Independent Trustee and Audit Committee Chairman |
Indefinite term; since 2012 |
Retired; formerly Chief Financial Officer, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (wealth management firm) (2000–2011). |
56 |
Independent Trustee, Managed Portfolio Series (34 portfolios) (since 2011). |
David
A. Massart |
Trustee |
Indefinite term; since 2012 |
Partner and Managing Director, Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC (since 2022); Co-Founder, President, and Chief Investment Strategist, Next Generation Wealth Management, Inc. (2005-2021). |
56 |
Independent Trustee, Managed Portfolio Series (34 portfolios) (since 2011). |
Janet
D. Olsen |
Trustee |
Indefinite term; since 2018 |
Retired; formerly Managing Director and General Counsel, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership (investment adviser) (2000–2013); Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (2012–2013); Vice President and General Counsel, Artisan Funds, Inc. (investment company) (2001–2012). |
56 |
Independent Trustee, PPM Funds (2 portfolios) (since 2018). |
Interested Trustee | |||||
Michael
A. Castino |
Trustee and Chairman |
Indefinite term; Trustee since 2014; Chairman since 2013 |
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2013); Managing Director of Index Services, Zacks Investment Management (2011–2013). |
56 |
None |
58
Aptus ETFs
Trustees
and Officers
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise its daily business. The address of each officer of the Trust is c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 615 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Additional information about the Trust’s officers is as follows:
Name
and |
Position(s)
|
Term
of |
Principal
Occupation(s) |
Principal Officers of the Trust | |||
Kristina
R. Nelson |
President |
Indefinite term; since 2019 |
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2020); Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2014–2020). |
Alyssa
M. Bernard |
Vice President |
Indefinite term; since 2021 |
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2021); Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2018–2021); Attorney, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (2017–2018). |
Cynthia
L. Andrae |
Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer |
Indefinite term; since 2022 (other roles since 2021) |
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2019); Compliance Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2015-2019). |
Kristen
M. Weitzel |
Treasurer |
Indefinite term; since 2014 (other roles since 2013) |
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2015); Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2011–2015); Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (accounting firm) (2005–2011). |
Isabella
K. Zoller |
Secretary |
Indefinite term; since 2021 (other roles since 2020) |
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2021); Regulatory Administration Attorney, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2019); Regulatory Administration Intern, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2018–2019); Law Student (2016–2019). |
Elizabeth
A. Winske |
Assistant Treasurer |
Indefinite term; since 2017 |
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2020); Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2016–2020). |
Jason
E. Shlensky |
Assistant Treasurer |
Indefinite term; since 2019 |
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2019); Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2014–2019). |
Jessica
L. Vorbeck |
Assistant Treasurer |
Indefinite term; since 2020 |
Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2018; 2014-2017). |
The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Trustees and is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll free at (800) 617-0004, or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by accessing the Funds’ website at www.aptus etfs.com or www.opusetfs.com.
59
Aptus ETFs
Expense Examples
For the Six-Months Ended April 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Funds, 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. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in each Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period as indicated in the following Expense Example tables.
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 the 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 Funds’ actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ 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 each 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.
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
| |
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 951.50 |
$3.82 |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,020.88 |
$3.96 |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
| |
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 940.20 |
$3.37 |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$1,021.32 |
$3.51 |
60
Aptus ETFs
Expense
Examples
For the Six-Months Ended April
30, 2022 (Unaudited) (Continued)
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
| |
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 911.70 |
$3.74 |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,020.88 |
$3.96 |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
| |
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 915.20 |
$3.75 |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,020.88 |
$3.96 |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
| |
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 879.60 |
$2.75 |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,021.87 |
$2.96 |
(1) |
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.79%, multiplied by the average account value during the six-month period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
(2) |
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.70%, multiplied by the average account value during the six-month period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
(3) |
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.59%, multiplied by the average account value during the six-month period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
61
Aptus ETFs
Review of Liquidity Risk Management Program
(Unaudited)
Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Trust, on behalf of the series of the Trust covered by this shareholder report (the “Series”), has adopted a liquidity risk management program to govern the Trust’s approach to managing liquidity risk. Rule 22e-4 seeks to promote effective liquidity risk management, thereby reducing the risk that a fund will be unable to meet its redemption obligations and mitigating dilution of the interests of fund shareholders. The Trust’s liquidity risk management program is tailored to reflect the Series’ particular risks, but not to eliminate all adverse impacts of liquidity risk, which would be incompatible with the nature of such Series.
The investment adviser to the Series has adopted and implemented its own written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) tailored specifically to assess and manage the liquidity risk of the Series.
At a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Trustees received a report pertaining to the operation, adequacy, and effectiveness of implementation of the Program for the period ended December 31, 2021. The report concluded that the Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Series’ liquidity risk and has operated adequately and effectively to manage such risk. The report reflected that there were no liquidity events that impacted the Series’ ability to timely meet redemptions without dilution to existing shareholders. The report further noted that no material changes have been made to the Program since its implementation.
There can be no assurance that the Program will achieve its objectives in the future. Please refer to the prospectus for more information regarding the Series’ exposure to liquidity risk and other principal risks to which an investment in the Series may be subject.
62
Aptus ETFs
Approval of Advisory Agreement and Board Considerations
(Unaudited)
Aptus
Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Aptus Defined Risk ETF
Aptus Collared Income
Opportunity ETF
Opus Small Cap Value ETF
Pursuant to Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), at a meeting held on January 19-20, 2022 (the “Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of ETF Series Solutions (the “Trust”) considered the approval of the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Aptus Capital Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the Trust, on behalf of Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF, Aptus Defined Risk ETF, Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF, and Opus Small Cap Value ETF (each, a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”).
Prior to the Meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed written materials from the Adviser (the “Materials”) regarding, among other things: (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Adviser; (ii) the historical performance of each Fund; (iii) the cost of the services provided and the profits realized by the Adviser from services rendered to the Funds; (iv) comparative fee and expense data for each Fund and other investment companies with similar investment objectives; (v) the extent to which any economies of scale realized by the Adviser in connection with its services to the Fund are shared with the applicable Fund shareholders; and (vi) other factors the Board deemed to be relevant.
The Board also considered that the Adviser, along with other service providers of the Funds, had provided written updates on the firm over the course of the year with respect to its role as investment adviser to the Funds, and the Board considered that information alongside the Materials in its evaluation of the Adviser’s fees and other aspects of the Advisory Agreement. Additionally, representatives from the Adviser provided an oral overview of each Fund’s strategy, the services provided to each Fund by the Adviser, and additional information about the Adviser’s personnel and operations. The Board then discussed the written materials and oral presentation that it had received and any other information that the Board received at the Meeting and deliberated on the approval of the Advisory Agreement in light of this information.
Approval of the Continuation of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services Provided. The Trustees considered the scope of services provided under the Advisory Agreement, noting that the Adviser would continue to provide investment management services to the Funds. In considering the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board considered the quality of the Adviser’s compliance program and past reports from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the CCO’s review of the Adviser’s compliance program. The Board also considered its previous experience with the Adviser providing investment management services to the Funds. The Board noted that it had received a copy of the Adviser’s registration form and financial statements, as well as the Adviser’s response to a detailed series of questions that included, among other things, information about the Adviser’s decision-making process, the background and experience of the firm’s key personnel, the firm’s compliance policies, and brokerage information.
The Board also considered other services currently provided by the Adviser to the Funds, such as monitoring adherence to each Fund’s investment restrictions, monitoring compliance with various policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations, and monitoring the extent to which each Fund achieved its investment objective as an actively-managed fund. The Board further considered the oral information provided by the Adviser with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Adviser’s operations.
Historical Performance. The Board noted that information regarding each Fund’s performance for various time periods had been included in the Materials. The Board considered each Fund’s past investment performance, including for periods ended September 30, 2021, unless otherwise indicated below.
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF: The Board noted that, for each of the one-year, three-year, five-year, and since inception periods, the Fund underperformed the S&P 500 Index, which provides an indication of the performance of the overall U.S. stock market.
The Board further noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund’s performance was below the median for funds in the universe of U.S. Long-Short Equity ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”). The Board also considered the Fund’s performance relative to competitor funds identified by the Adviser, at the Board’s request, that have similar objectives
63
Aptus ETFs
Approval of Advisory Agreement and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
and strategies of seeking capital appreciation from U.S. equity securities with downside protection (the “Selected Peer Group”). The Board noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund’s performance was within the range of the Selected Peer Group, while for the three- and five-year periods, the Fund underperformed those peer funds.
Aptus Defined Risk ETF: The Board noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund underperformed the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which provides an indication of the performance of the overall U.S. bond market, while for the three-year and since inception periods, the Fund outperformed the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
The Board further noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund underperformed the median for funds in the universe of U.S. Short-Term Bond ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”). The Board also considered the Fund’s performance relative to competitor funds identified by the Adviser, at the Board’s request, that have similar, but not identical, objectives and strategies (the “Selected Peer Group”). The Board noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund’s returns were the lowest of the Selected Peer Group, while for the three-year period, the Fund’s returns were the highest of the Selected Peer Group. However, the Board noted that the Selected Peer Group was not a direct comparison to the Fund because of the Fund’s unique combination of fixed-income and equity exposures. The Board also considered that, due to the Fund’s exposure to both fixed-income and equity markets, the Fund’s performance can be expected to deviate, positively or negatively, from the performance of the broader fixed income market as measured by indices such as the Fund’s benchmark index, the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index.
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF: The Board noted that, for the one-year and since inception periods, the Fund underperformed the S&P 500 Index, which provides an indication of the performance of the overall U.S. stock market.
The Board further noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund underperformed the median for funds in the universe of U.S. Derivative Income ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”). The Board also considered the Fund’s performance relative to its competitor funds identified by the Adviser, at the Board’s request, that have similar covered-call strategies with U.S. equity exposure (the “Selected Peer Group”). The Board noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund underperformed those peer funds.
Opus Small Cap Value ETF: The Board noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund underperformed the Russell 2000 Value Index, which provides an indication of the performance of approximately 2,000 U.S. small-capitalization companies, while for the three-year and since inception periods, the Fund outperformed the Russell 2000 Value Index.
The Board further noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund underperformed the median for funds in the universe of U.S. Small Blend ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”). The Board also considered the Fund’s performance relative to its competitor funds identified by the Adviser, at the Board’s request, that have strategies with a value or dividend focus on U.S. small-cap equities (the “Selected Peer Group”). The Board noted that, for the one- and three-year periods, the Fund’s returns were within the range of the Selected Peer Group.
Cost of Services Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board reviewed the expense ratio for each of the Funds and compared each Fund’s expense ratio to its respective Category Peer Group and Selected Peer Group as follows:
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF: The Board noted that the net expense ratio for the Fund was lower than the median of its Category Peer Group. The Board further noted that the Fund’s net expense ratio was within the range of expense ratios for the funds in the Selected Peer Group.
Aptus Defined Risk ETF: The Board noted that the net expense ratio for the Fund was higher than the median of its Category Peer Group. The Board further noted that the Fund’s net expense ratio was at the top of the range of expense ratios for its Selected Peer Group. The Board also noted, however, the differences between the Fund’s strategy and the strategies of the other funds in the Selected Peer Group when considering the differences in fees.
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF: The Board noted that the net expense ratio for the Fund was higher than the median of its Category Peer Group. The Board further noted that the Fund’s net expense ratio was within the range of expense ratios for the funds in the Selected Peer Group, but below the median expense ratio.
Opus Small Cap Value ETF: The Board noted that the net expense ratio for the Fund was lower than the median of its Category Peer Group. The Board further noted that the Fund’s net expense ratio was within the range of expense ratios for the funds in the Selected Peer Group, but above the median expense ratio.
64
Aptus ETFs
Approval of Advisory Agreement and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
The Board took into consideration that the Adviser would continue to charge a “unified fee,” meaning each Fund pays no expenses other than the advisory fee and certain other costs such as interest, brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, and, to the extent it is implemented, fees pursuant to a Distribution and/or Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Plan. The Board noted that the Adviser continued to be responsible for compensating the Trust’s other service providers and paying each Fund’s other expenses out of its own fee and resources. The Board also evaluated the compensation and benefits received by the Adviser from its relationship with the Funds, taking into account analyses of the Adviser’s profitability with respect to each Fund at various asset levels.
The Board considered each Fund’s expenses and the structure of a Fund’s advisory fee with respect to potential economies of scale. The Board noted that each Fund’s fee structure did not contain any breakpoint reductions as the Fund’s assets grow but considered that the Fund’s fee structure is a unitary fee. The Board concluded that the current fee structure reflects a sharing of economies of scale between the Adviser and each Fund at the Fund’s current asset level. The Board noted its intention to monitor fees and the Funds grows in size and assess whether fee breakpoints are warranted.
Conclusion. No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the Advisory Agreement; rather, the Board based its determination on the total mix of information available to it. Based on a consideration of all the factors in their totality, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, determined that the Advisory Agreement, including the compensation payable under the agreement, was fair and reasonable to each Fund. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the approval of the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of each Fund and its respective shareholders.
65
Aptus ETFs
Approval of Advisory Agreement and Board Considerations
(Unaudited)
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF
Pursuant to Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), at a meeting held on April 20-21, 2021 (the “Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of ETF Series Solutions (the “Trust”) considered the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Aptus Capital Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the Trust, on behalf of the International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF (the “Fund).
Prior to the Meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed written materials from the Adviser (the “Materials”) regarding, among other things: (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by the Adviser; (ii) the cost of the services to be provided and the profits expected to be realized by the Adviser or its affiliates from services rendered to the Fund; (iii) comparative fee and expense data for the Fund and other investment companies with similar investment objectives; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the Fund grows and whether the advisory fee for the Fund reflects these economies of scale for the benefit of the Fund; and (v) any other financial benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates resulting from services rendered to the Fund.
The Board also considered that the Adviser, along with other service providers of the Fund, presented written information to help the Board evaluate the Adviser’s fees and other aspects of the Agreement. Additionally, representatives from the Adviser provided an oral overview of the Fund’s strategy, the services to be provided to the Fund by the Adviser, and additional information about the Adviser’s personnel and operations. The Board then discussed the written materials and oral presentation that it had received and any other information that the Board received at the Meeting and deliberated on the approval of the Agreement in light of this information.
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services to be Provided. The Trustees considered the scope of services to be provided under the Advisory Agreement, noting that the Adviser will be providing investment management services to the Fund. In considering the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by the Adviser, the Board considered the quality of the Adviser’s compliance program and past reports from the Trust’s CCO regarding his review of the Adviser’s compliance program, as well as the Board’s experience with the Adviser as the investment adviser to other series of the Trust. The Board noted that it had previously received a copy of the Adviser’s registration form, as well as the response of the Adviser to a detailed series of questions that included, among other things, information about the Adviser’s decision-making process, details about the Fund, and the services to be provided by the Adviser.
The Board also considered other services to be provided to the Fund, such as monitoring adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions, monitoring compliance with various Fund policies and with applicable requirements, and monitoring the extent to which the Fund achieves its investment objective as an actively managed fund. The Board further considered the oral information provided by the Adviser with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Adviser’s operations.
Historical Performance. The Board noted that the Fund had not yet commenced operations and concluded that the performance of the Fund, thus, was not a relevant factor in their deliberations.
Cost of Services to be Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board then reviewed the Fund’s proposed expense ratio, including the “unified fee” described below and excluding estimated acquired fund fees and expenses, and compared it to the expense ratios (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses) of funds in the universe of Options-based ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”). The Board noted that the proposed expense ratio for the Fund was significantly less than the median for the Category Peer Group.
The Board further noted that the Fund’s proposed management fee and expense ratio were in line with the management fees and expense ratios for the Fund’s competitors identified by the Adviser that have a strategy of foreign equity exposure with a hedging component. The Board determined that the Fund’s anticipated expense ratio was reasonable given the nature of the investment strategy that provides international equity exposure with a hedge.
The Board took into consideration that the Adviser would charge a “unified fee,” meaning the Fund would pay no expenses other than the advisory fee and certain other costs such as interest, brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses and, to the extent it is implemented, fees pursuant to a Distribution and/or Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Plan. The Board noted that the Adviser would be responsible for compensating the Trust’s other service providers and paying the Fund’s other expenses out of its own fee and resources. The Board also evaluated the compensation and benefits expected to be received
66
Aptus ETFs
Approval of Advisory Agreement and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
by the Adviser from its relationship with the Fund, taking into account an analysis of the Adviser’s anticipated profitability with respect to the Fund and the financial resources the Adviser had committed and proposed to commit to its business. The Board determined such analyses were not a significant factor given that the Fund had not yet commenced operations and consequently, the future size of the Fund and the Adviser’s future profitability were generally unpredictable. The Board also considered the fees charged by the underlying funds in which the Fund would invest and determined that such fees were not for services that were duplicative of the services provided by the Adviser.
The Board expressed the view that the Adviser might realize economies of scale in managing the Fund as assets grow in size. The Board further determined that, based on the amount and structure of the Fund’s unitary fee, such economies of scale would be shared with Fund shareholders in the initial period of the Fund’s operations, although the Board intends to monitor fees as the Fund grows in size and assess whether fee breakpoints may be warranted.
Conclusion. No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the Advisory Agreement; rather, the Board based its determination on the total mix of information available to it. Based on a consideration of all the factors in their totality, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, determined that the Advisory Agreement, including the compensation payable under the agreement, was fair and reasonable to the Fund. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the approval of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
67
Aptus ETFs
Federal Tax Information
(Unaudited)
For the fiscal year/period ended April 30, 2022, certain dividends paid by the Funds may be subject to the maximum rate of 23.8%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The percentage of dividends declared from ordinary income designated as qualified dividend income was as follows:
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
100.00% |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
0.00% |
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
100.00% |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
100.00% |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
65.60% |
For corporate shareholders, the percentage of ordinary income distributions qualified for the corporate dividend received deduction for the fiscal year/period ended April 30, 2022 was as follows:
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
100.00% |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
0.00% |
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
100.00% |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
100.00% |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
0.00% |
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 each Fund were as follows:
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF |
0.00% |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF |
87.17% |
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
0.00% |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF |
0.00% |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF |
0.00% |
Information
About Portfolio Holdings
(Unaudited)
The Funds file their complete schedules of portfolio holdings for their first and third fiscal quarters with the SEC on Part F of Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Part F of Form N-PORT is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free at (800) 617-0004 or by accessing the Funds’ website at www.aptusetfs.com and www.opusetfs.com. Furthermore, you may obtain Part F of Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Funds’ portfolio holdings are posted on their website at www.aptusetfs.com and www.opusetfs.com daily.
Information
About Proxy Voting
(Unaudited)
A description of the policies and procedures the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is provided in the SAI. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free at (800) 617-0004, by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by accessing the Funds’ website at www.aptusetfs.com or www.opusetfs.com.
When available, information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the period ending June 30 is available by calling toll-free at (800) 617-0004 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
68
Aptus ETFs
Frequency Distribution of Premiums and Discounts
(Unaudited)
Information regarding how often shares of the Funds trade on an exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Funds are available without charge, on the Funds’ website at www.aptusetfs.com or www.opusetfs.com.
69
Adviser
Aptus
Capital Advisors, LLC
265 Young Street
Fairhope, Alabama 36532
Distributor
Quasar
Distributors, LLC
111 East Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 2200
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202
Custodian
U.S.
Bank National Association
1555 North Rivercenter Drive, Suite
302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
Transfer Agent
U.S.
Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Cohen
& Company, Ltd.
342 North Water Street, Suite 830
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202
Legal Counsel
Morgan,
Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF Symbol
– ACIO |
Aptus Defined Risk ETF Symbol
– DRSK |
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF Symbol
– ADME |
Opus Small Cap Value ETF Symbol
– OSCV |
International Drawdown Managed Equity ETF Symbol
– IDME |