SEMIANNUAL REPORT
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON
ETF TRUST
September 30, 2021
Franklin FTSE Asia ex Japan ETF |
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF | |
Franklin FTSE Australia ETF |
Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF | |
Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF |
Franklin FTSE Latin America ETF | |
Franklin FTSE Canada ETF |
Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF | |
Franklin FTSE China ETF |
Franklin FTSE Russia ETF | |
Franklin FTSE Europe ETF |
Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF | |
Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF |
Franklin FTSE South Africa ETF | |
Franklin FTSE France ETF |
Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF | |
Franklin FTSE Germany ETF |
Franklin FTSE Switzerland ETF | |
Franklin FTSE Hong Kong ETF |
Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF | |
Franklin FTSE India ETF |
Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF | |
Franklin FTSE Italy ETF |
Not FDIC Insured | | | May Lose Value | | | No Bank Guarantee |
Visit franklintempleton.com for fund updates and documents, or to find helpful financial planning tools.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT
Global developed and emerging market equities, as measured by the FTSE All-World Index, posted gains for the six months ended September 30, 2021. Global equities benefited from the continued progress of vaccination programs for COVID-19, solid economic growth and a rebound in global trade. However, the Chinese government’s imposition of additional restrictions on some businesses pressured Asian and global emerging market stocks. The combination of increased consumer demand and persistent supply chain disruptions contributed to higher inflation in many countries. Additionally, the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, which caused COVID-19 cases to rise even in some intensively vaccinated areas, pressured global equities during the six-month period.
In the U.S., the economy continued to recover amid declining unemployment, solid wage growth and high business confidence. GDP growth was robust, as strong consumer spending, driven by a surge in consumer demand, supported the economy. A rebound in corporate earnings and the U.S. Senate’s passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill further bolstered investor sentiment. The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) kept the federal funds target rate at a record-low range of 0.00%–0.25% and continued its program of open-ended U.S. Treasury and mortgage bond purchases to help keep markets functioning. In its September 2021 meeting statement, the Fed indicated that it plans to soon reduce its purchases of U.S. Treasury and mortgage-backed securities but declined to provide a timetable. The Fed also maintained that it views inflation as partially transitory, and that further employment progress was needed before the Fed would consider raising the range for the federal funds target rate.
The eurozone economy showed signs of recovery, as quarter-over-quarter GDP increased in the second quarter of 2021 after contracting for the previous two quarters. Most of the eurozone’s largest economies posted improving growth rates, as increased vaccination rates helped consumer activity return to pre-pandemic levels. The fastest rate of business activity growth in more than a decade also helped European developed market equities, as measured by the FTSE Developed Europe Index, to advance during the six months under review. However, in September 2021, the annual inflation rate in the eurozone reached the highest level in 13 years, and the prospect of energy shortages as winter approaches tempered investor optimism.
Asian developed and emerging market equities, as measured by the FTSE Asia Pacific Index, declined during the six-month period. Although China continued to grow, its economy was pressured by higher commodity prices,
increased fuel costs and production disruption caused by government-mandated suspensions of power use. Asian equity markets experienced heightened volatility due to inflation concerns and rising COVID-19 infection rates in some countries. Unexpected regulatory changes by the Chinese government, which negatively impacted education- and technology-related businesses, and concerns about a large property developer’s solvency pressured Asian stocks late in the six-month period.
Global emerging market stocks, as measured by the FTSE Emerging Index, also declined during the six months under review. Higher COVID-19 cases in some countries, limited vaccine rollouts and concerns about rising interest rates and elevated inflation dampened investor enthusiasm in global emerging market equities. Investor concerns that problems in China’s highly indebted property development sector could affect other emerging markets further hurt returns.
The foregoing information reflects our analysis and opinions as of September 30, 2021. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable.
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Franklin FTSE Asia ex Japan ETF
This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Asia ex Japan ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Asia ex Japan RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Asia ex Japan Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Asia ex Japan Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of -6.95% based on market price and -5.64% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Asia ex Japan Capped Index posted a -5.18% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 5.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Asia ex Japan Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
10.2% | |||
Banks |
9.7% | |||
Interactive Media & Services |
7.0% | |||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail |
7.0% | |||
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
6.2% | |||
Insurance |
4.5% | |||
Automobiles |
3.5% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
3.4% | |||
Real Estate Management & Development |
3.1% | |||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components |
3.0% |
the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Asia ex Japan Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Asia ex Japan Capped Index is based on the FTSE Asia ex Japan Index and is designed to measure the performance of large- and mid-capitalization stocks from developed and emerging Asian countries, excluding Japan. The Chinese constituents in the FTSE Asia ex Japan Capped Index are represented by H-shares, B-shares, A-shares, N-shares, Red Chips, P-Chips and S-Chips.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 119.
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FRANKLIN FTSE ASIA EX JAPAN ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, Taiwan |
7.0% | |||
Tencent
Holdings Ltd. Interactive Media & Services, China |
5.0% | |||
Samsung
Electronics Co. Ltd. Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals, South Korea |
4.8% | |||
Alibaba Group
Holding Ltd. Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, China |
3.6% | |||
AIA Group
Ltd. Insurance, Hong Kong |
2.0% | |||
Meituan
Dianping, 144A Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, China |
1.7% | |||
Reliance
Industries Ltd. Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, India |
1.6% | |||
Infosys
Ltd. IT Services, India |
1.1% | |||
Hong Kong
Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. Capital Markets, Hong Kong |
1.1% | |||
China
Construction Bank Corp., A, H Banks, China |
1.0% |
Top 10 Countries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
China |
36.4% | |||
Taiwan |
16.6% | |||
India |
15.1% | |||
South Korea |
14.2% | |||
Hong Kong |
8.1% | |||
Singapore |
2.9% | |||
Thailand |
2.2% | |||
Malaysia |
1.8% | |||
Indonesia |
1.5% | |||
Philippines |
0.9% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Asia ex Japan ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.
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FRANKLIN FTSE ASIA EX JAPAN ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (2/9/18), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
-5.64% | -6.95% | -5.64% | -6.95% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+15.45% | +14.00% | +15.45% | +14.00% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+30.46% | +29.58% | +9.27% | +9.02% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (2/6/18) |
+21.60% | +20.84% | +5.51% | +5.33% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 6 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE ASIA EX JAPAN ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.107678 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.19% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in developing markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors, in addition to those associated with these markets’ smaller size, lesser liquidity and lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. Investments in securities of issuers in Asian countries involve risks that are specific to Asia, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE ASIA EX JAPAN ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 943.60 | $ | 0.93 | $ | 1,024.12 | $ | 0.96 | 0.19 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Australia ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Australia RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Australia Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Australia Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +1.90% based on market price and +3.86% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Australia Capped Index posted a +3.91% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 10.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Australia Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Banks |
25.6% | |||
Metals & Mining |
14.6% | |||
Biotechnology |
7.4% | |||
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
6.4% | |||
Capital Markets |
4.8% | |||
Food & Staples Retailing |
4.6% | |||
Multiline Retail |
3.6% | |||
Transportation Infrastructure |
3.6% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
3.3% | |||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure |
3.3% |
Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Australia Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Australia Capped Index is based on the FTSE Australia Index and is designed to measure the performance of Australian large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 156.
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FRANKLIN FTSE AUSTRALIA ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Commonwealth
Bank of Australia Banks, Australia |
10.2% | |||
CSL
Ltd. Biotechnology, Australia |
7.4% | |||
BHP Group
Ltd. Metals & Mining, Australia |
6.1% | |||
Westpac Banking
Corp. Banks, Australia |
5.3% | |||
National
Australia Bank Ltd. Banks, Australia |
5.1% | |||
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group
Ltd. Banks, Australia |
4.4% | |||
Wesfarmers
Ltd. Multiline Retail, Australia |
3.5% | |||
Macquarie Group
Ltd. Capital Markets, Australia |
3.3% | |||
Woolworths
Group Ltd. Food & Staples Retailing, Australia |
2.8% | |||
Goodman
Group Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Australia |
2.2% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Australia ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
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FRANKLIN FTSE AUSTRALIA ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+3.86% | +1.90% | +3.86% | +1.90% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+31.80% | +28.86% | +31.80% | +28.86% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+31.48% | +30.26% | +9.55% | +9.21% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+34.04% | +31.79% | +7.78% | +7.32% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 11 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE AUSTRALIA ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.523552 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of Australian issuers involve risks that are specific to Australia, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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Semiannual Report |
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FRANKLIN FTSE AUSTRALIA ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,038.60 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Brazil RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Brazil Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Brazil Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of -1.92% based on market price and -1.43% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Brazil Capped Index posted a -1.32% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 15.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Brazil Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Banks |
17.2% | |||
Metals & Mining |
17.1% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
13.9% | |||
Electric Utilities |
5.5% | |||
Health Care Providers & Services |
4.5% | |||
Capital Markets |
4.5% | |||
Multiline Retail |
3.4% | |||
Food Products |
3.3% | |||
Road & Rail |
3.0% | |||
Beverages |
3.0% |
may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Brazil Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Brazil Capped Index is based on the FTSE Brazil Index and is designed to measure the performance of Brazilian large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 160.
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FRANKLIN FTSE BRAZIL ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Vale
SA |
13.3% | |||
Petroleo
Brasileiro SA Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, Brazil |
6.7% | |||
Itau Unibanco
Holding SA Banks, Brazil |
6.1% | |||
Petroleo
Brasileiro SA Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, Brazil |
4.6% | |||
Banco Bradesco
SA Banks, Brazil |
4.3% | |||
B3 SA – Brasil
Bolsa Balcao Capital Markets, Brazil |
3.4% | |||
Ambev
SA Beverages, Brazil |
3.0% | |||
WEG
SA Electrical Equipment, Brazil |
2.6% | |||
Itausa
SA Banks, Brazil |
2.2% | |||
Natura & Co. Holding SA Personal Products, Brazil |
1.9% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE BRAZIL ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/7/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
-1.43% | -1.92% | -1.43% | -1.92% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+21.46% | +20.24% | +21.46% | +20.24% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+4.14% | +5.26% | +1.36% | +1.72% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/3/17) |
-6.92% | -7.08% | -1.82% | -1.86% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 16 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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Semiannual Report |
15 |
FRANKLIN FTSE BRAZIL ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net Investment Income |
$0.408162 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.19% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sector, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in developing markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors, in addition to those associated with these markets’ smaller size, lesser liquidity and lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. The Brazilian economy has experienced in the past, and may continue to experience, periods of high inflation rates and political unrest. Investments in securities of Brazilian issuers involve risks that are specific to Brazil, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE BRAZIL ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 985.70 | $ | 0.95 | $ | 1,024.12 | $ | 0.96 | 0.19 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
17 |
This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Canada ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Canada RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Canada Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Canada Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +7.89% based on market price and +7.85% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Canada Capped Index posted a +7.76% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 20.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Canada Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Banks |
29.0% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
14.5% | |||
IT Services |
10.4% | |||
Insurance |
7.5% | |||
Road & Rail |
6.8% | |||
Metals & Mining |
6.0% | |||
Capital Markets |
4.6% | |||
Food & Staples Retailing |
3.7% | |||
Chemicals |
2.3% | |||
Commercial Services & Supplies |
2.0% |
Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Canada Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Canada Capped Index is based on the FTSE Canada Index and is designed to measure the performance of Canadian large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 164.
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FRANKLIN FTSE CANADA ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Shopify Inc., A IT Services, Canada |
9.3% | |||
Royal Bank of Canada Banks, Canada |
8.6% | |||
The Toronto-Dominion Bank Banks, Canada |
7.3% | |||
Enbridge Inc. Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, Canada |
4.9% | |||
The Bank of Nova Scotia Banks, Canada |
4.6% | |||
Brookfield Asset Management Inc., A Capital Markets, Canada |
4.4% | |||
Canadian National Railway Co. Road & Rail, Canada |
4.2% | |||
Bank of Montreal Banks, Canada |
3.9% | |||
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Banks, Canada |
3.0% | |||
TC Energy Corp. Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, Canada |
2.9% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Canada ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
19 |
FRANKLIN FTSE CANADA ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+7.85% | +7.89% | +7.85% | +7.89% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+35.40% | +35.38% | +35.40% | +35.38% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+40.08% | +40.44% | +11.89% | +11.99% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+42.33% | +42.81% | +9.45% | +9.54% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 21 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE CANADA ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.238872 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of Canadian issuers involve risks that are specific to Canada, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
21 |
FRANKLIN FTSE CANADA ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,078.50 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE China ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE China RIC Capped Index (the FTSE China Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE China Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of -17.09% based on market price and -15.98% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE China Capped Index posted a -15.98% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 25.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE China Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail |
18.6% | |||
Interactive Media & Services |
16.0% | |||
Banks |
9.3% | |||
Automobiles |
5.5% | |||
Real Estate Management & Development |
3.7% | |||
Insurance |
3.3% | |||
Life Sciences Tools & Services |
2.8% | |||
Beverages |
2.6% | |||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods |
2.5% | |||
Capital Markets |
2.2% |
their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE China Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE China Capped Index is based on the FTSE China Index and is designed to measure the performance of Chinese large- and mid-capitalization stocks, as represented by H-shares, B-shares, A-shares, N-shares, Red Chips, P-Chips and S-Chips.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 167.
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FRANKLIN FTSE CHINA ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Tencent
Holdings Ltd. |
13.4% | |||
Alibaba Group
Holding Ltd. Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, China |
9.8% | |||
Meituan
Dianping, 144A Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, China |
4.6% | |||
China
Construction Bank Corp., H Banks, China |
2.5% | |||
WuXi Biologics
(Cayman) Inc., 144A Life Sciences Tools & Services, China |
2.0% | |||
NIO Inc.,
ADR Automobiles, China |
1.7% | |||
JD.com Inc.,
A Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, China |
1.7% | |||
Industrial and
Commercial Bank of China Ltd., H Banks, China |
1.7% | |||
Baidu Inc.,
ADR Interactive Media & Services, China |
1.6% | |||
Ping An
Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., H Insurance, China |
1.5% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE China ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE CHINA ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
-15.98% | -17.09% | -15.98% | -17.09% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
-6.57% | -7.54% | -6.57% | -7.54% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+20.45% | +20.78% | +6.40% | +6.50% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+12.39% | +12.26% | +3.03% | +3.00% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 26 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE CHINA ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.024514 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.19% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in developing markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors, in addition to those associated with these markets’ smaller size, lesser liquidity and lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. China may be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability. Investments in securities of Chinese issuers involve risks that are specific to China, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE CHINA ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 840.20 | $ | 0.88 | $ | 1,024.12 | $ | 0.96 | 0.19 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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27 |
This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Europe ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Developed Europe RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +5.83% based on market price and +5.95% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Index posted a +5.85% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 30.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Pharmaceuticals |
9.8% | |||
Banks |
7.3% | |||
Insurance |
4.9% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
4.6% | |||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods |
4.5% | |||
Food Products |
4.2% | |||
Chemicals |
3.8% | |||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
3.6% | |||
Machinery |
3.1% | |||
Capital Markets |
2.7% |
the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Developed Europe Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Developed Europe Capped Index is based on the FTSE Developed Europe Index and is designed to measure the performance of large- and mid-capitalization stocks from developed European countries.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 189.
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FRANKLIN FTSE EUROPE ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Nestle
SA Food Products, Switzerland |
3.0% | |||
ASML Holding
NV Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, Netherlands |
2.6% | |||
Roche Holding
AG, Non-Voting Pharmaceuticals, Switzerland |
|
2.3% |
| |
AstraZeneca
PLC Pharmaceuticals, United Kingdom |
1.7% | |||
LVMH Moet
Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, France |
1.6% | |||
Novartis
AG Pharmaceuticals, Switzerland |
1.5% | |||
Novo Nordisk
AS, B Pharmaceuticals, Denmark |
1.4% | |||
SAP
SE Software, Germany |
1.3% | |||
Unilever
PLC Personal Products, United Kingdom |
1.2% | |||
Siemens
AG Industrial Conglomerates, Germany |
1.1% |
Top 10 Countries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
United Kingdom |
19.5% | |||
France |
15.9% | |||
Switzerland |
15.1% | |||
Germany |
13.7% | |||
Netherlands |
9.1% | |||
Sweden |
5.7% | |||
Denmark |
3.9% | |||
Spain |
3.8% | |||
Italy |
3.4% | |||
Finland |
2.2% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Europe ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
29 |
FRANKLIN FTSE EUROPE ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+5.95% | +5.83% | +5.95% | +5.83% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+27.60% | +27.72% | +27.60% | +27.72% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+26.62% | +26.81% | +8.19% | +8.24% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+25.86% | +25.83% | +6.06% | +6.05% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 31 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE EUROPE ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.650603 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of issuers in European countries involve risks that are specific to Europe, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
31 |
FRANKLIN FTSE EUROPE ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,059.50 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF
This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Developed Europe RIC Capped Hedged to USD Index (the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Hedged Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Hedged Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities, including indirectly through Franklin FTSE Europe ETF (Underlying Fund).
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +7.05% based on market price and +7.65% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Hedged Index posted a +7.57% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 35.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Hedged Index. We seek to achieve, over
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Pharmaceuticals |
9.8% | |||
Banks |
7.3% | |||
Insurance |
4.9% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
4.6% | |||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods |
4.5% | |||
Food Products |
4.2% | |||
Chemicals |
3.8% | |||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
3.6% | |||
Machinery |
3.1% | |||
Capital Markets |
2.7% |
time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. We intend to enter into monthly foreign currency forward contracts and/or currency futures contracts designed to offset the Fund’s
1. The FTSE Developed Europe Capped Hedged Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Developed Europe Capped Hedged Index is based on the FTSE Developed Europe Hedged to USD Index and is designed to measure the performance of large- and mid-capitalization stocks from developed European countries. The FTSE Developed Europe Capped Hedged Index incorporates a hedge against non-U.S. currency fluctuations by reflecting the impact of rolling monthly currency forward contracts on the currencies represented in the FTSE Developed Europe Capped Hedged Index.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 203.
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FRANKLIN FTSE EUROPE HEDGED ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Nestle
SA Food Products, Switzerland |
3.0% | |||
ASML Holding
NV Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, Netherlands |
2.6% | |||
Roche Holding
AG Pharmaceuticals, Switzerland |
2.2% | |||
AstraZeneca
PLC Pharmaceuticals, United Kingdom |
1.7% | |||
LVMH Moet
Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, France |
1.6% | |||
Novartis
AG Pharmaceuticals, Switzerland |
1.5% | |||
Novo Nordisk
AS, B Pharmaceuticals, Denmark |
1.4% | |||
SAP
SE Software, Germany |
1.3% | |||
Unilever
PLC Personal Products, United Kingdom |
1.2% | |||
Siemens
AG Industrial Conglomerates, Germany |
1.1% |
exposure to the component currencies, in order to replicate the hedge impact incorporated in the calculation of the Underlying Index. The Fund’s exposure to foreign currency forward contracts and currency futures contracts is based on the aggregate exposure of the Fund to the component currencies. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
Top 10 Countries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
United Kingdom |
19.5% | |||
France |
15.8% | |||
Switzerland |
15.3% | |||
Germany |
13.7% | |||
Netherlands |
9.2% | |||
Sweden |
5.7% | |||
Denmark |
3.9% | |||
Spain |
3.8% | |||
Italy |
3.4% | |||
Finland |
2.2% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE EUROPE HEDGED ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+7.65% | +7.05% | +7.65% | +7.05% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+28.37% | +28.09% | +28.37% | +28.09% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+32.21% | +32.76% | +9.75% | +9.91% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+34.37% | +34.54% | +7.85% | +7.88% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 36 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE EUROPE HEDGED ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.145441 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of issuers in European countries involve risks that are specific to Europe, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. Derivatives, including currency management strategies, involve costs and can create economic leverage in the portfolio which may result in significant volatility and cause the Fund to participate in losses on an amount that exceeds the Fund’s initial investment. The Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits, and may realize losses when a counterparty fails to perform as promised. While the Fund’s currency hedging approach is designed to minimize the impact of currency fluctuations on Fund returns, it does not necessarily eliminate the Fund’s exposure to the currencies. The return of the currency-related derivatives will not perfectly offset the actual fluctuations between the currencies and the U.S. dollar. The Fund’s exposure to the currencies may not be hedged at all times. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE EUROPE HEDGED ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,076.50 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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37 |
This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE France ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE France RIC Capped Index (the FTSE France Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE France Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +6.82% based on market price and +6.98% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE France Capped Index posted a +6.64% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 40.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE France Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods |
18.1% | |||
Aerospace & Defense |
7.1% | |||
Electrical Equipment |
6.4% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
6.3% | |||
Banks |
6.1% | |||
Pharmaceuticals |
5.9% | |||
Personal Products |
5.4% | |||
Chemicals |
4.5% | |||
IT Services |
3.8% | |||
Construction & Engineering |
3.8% |
Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE France Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE France Capped Index is based on the FTSE France Index and is designed to measure the performance of French large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 218.
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FRANKLIN FTSE FRANCE ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
LVMH Moet
Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, France |
9.8% | |||
TotalEnergies
SE Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, France |
6.3% | |||
Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, France |
5.7% | |||
L’Oreal
SA Personal Products, France |
5.4% | |||
Schneider
Electric SE Electrical Equipment, France |
4.8% | |||
Air Liquide
SA Chemicals, France |
4.1% | |||
Airbus
SE Aerospace & Defense, France |
4.0% | |||
BNP Paribas
SA Banks, France |
3.8% | |||
EssilorLuxottica SA Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, France |
3.1% | |||
AXA
SA Insurance, France |
2.9% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE France ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
39 |
FRANKLIN FTSE FRANCE ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+6.98% | +6.82% | +6.98% | +6.82% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+33.26% | +33.17% | +33.26% | +33.17% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+24.84% | +24.97% | +7.68% | +7.71% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+28.87% | +28.93% | +6.70% | +6.72% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 41 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE FRANCE ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.363865 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of French issuers involve risks that are specific to France, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
41 |
FRANKLIN FTSE FRANCE ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,069.80 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Germany ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Germany RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Germany Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Germany Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +0.53% based on market price and +0.62% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Germany Capped Index posted a +0.39% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 45.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Germany Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Automobiles |
11.1% | |||
Software |
10.1% | |||
Insurance |
9.1% | |||
Industrial Conglomerates |
8.1% | |||
Chemicals |
7.5% | |||
Pharmaceuticals |
5.2% | |||
Diversified Telecommunication Services |
4.6% | |||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods |
4.5% | |||
Real Estate Management & Development |
4.3% | |||
Air Freight & Logistics |
3.9% |
Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Germany Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Germany Capped Index is based on the FTSE Germany Index and is designed to measure the performance of German large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 221.
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FRANKLIN FTSE GERMANY ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
SAP
SE Software, Germany |
9.5% | |||
Siemens
AG Industrial Conglomerates, Germany |
7.8% | |||
Allianz
SE Insurance, Germany |
5.9% | |||
Daimler
AG Automobiles, Germany |
4.7% | |||
BASF
SE Chemicals, Germany |
4.4% | |||
Deutsche
Telekom AG Diversified Telecommunication Services, Germany |
4.1% | |||
Deutsche Post
AG Air Freight & Logistics, Germany |
3.9% | |||
adidas
AG Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, Germany |
3.8% | |||
Infineon
Technologies AG Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, Germany |
3.4% | |||
Bayer
AG Pharmaceuticals, Germany |
3.4% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Germany ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE GERMANY ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+0.62% | +0.53% | +0.62% | +0.53% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+16.81% | +16.50% | +16.81% | +16.50% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+20.94% | +21.17% | +6.54% | +6.61% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+10.84% | +10.76% | +2.67% | +2.65% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 46 for Performance Summary footnotes.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
45 |
FRANKLIN FTSE GERMANY ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net Investment Income |
$0.428858 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of German issuers involve risks that are specific to Germany, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE GERMANY ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,006.20 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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47 |
This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Hong Kong ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Hong Kong RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Hong Kong Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Hong Kong Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of -8.67% based on market price and -7.70% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Hong Kong Capped Index posted a -7.74% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 50.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Hong Kong Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Insurance |
20.2% | |||
Real Estate Management & Development |
15.5% | |||
Capital Markets |
14.3% | |||
Industrial Conglomerates |
5.5% | |||
Electric Utilities |
4.9% | |||
Banks |
4.7% | |||
Machinery |
4.5% | |||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure |
4.2% | |||
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
3.4% | |||
Food Products |
3.1% |
in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Hong Kong Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Hong Kong Capped Index is based on the FTSE Hong Kong Index and is designed to measure the performance of Hong Kong large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 225.
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Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
AIA Group Ltd. Insurance, Hong Kong |
20.2% | |||
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. Capital Markets, Hong Kong |
14.1% | |||
Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. Machinery, Hong Kong |
4.5% | |||
CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. Industrial Conglomerates, United Kingdom |
3.2% | |||
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. Real Estate Management & Development, Hong Kong |
3.2% | |||
Link REIT Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Hong Kong |
3.2% | |||
BeiGene Ltd. Biotechnology, China |
3.1% | |||
Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd. Gas Utilities, Hong Kong |
2.9% | |||
CLP Holdings Ltd. Electric Utilities, Hong Kong |
2.9% | |||
Hang Seng Bank Ltd. Banks, Hong Kong |
2.2% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Hong Kong ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE HONG KONG ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
-7.70% | -8.67% | -7.70% | -8.67% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+16.21% | +15.02% | +16.21% | +15.02% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+11.74% | +11.30% | +3.77% | +3.63% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+12.16% | +11.93% | +2.98% | +2.93% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 51 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE HONG KONG ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net Investment Income |
$0.264326 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of Hong Kong issuers involve risks that are specific to Hong Kong, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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Semiannual Report |
51 |
FRANKLIN FTSE HONG KONG ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 923.00 | $ | 0.43 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE India ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE India RIC Capped Index (the FTSE India Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE India Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +17.15% based on market price and +18.52% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE India Capped Index posted a +21.15% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 55.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE India Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
IT Services |
17.4% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
13.0% | |||
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance |
6.4% | |||
Banks |
5.9% | |||
Automobiles |
4.5% | |||
Chemicals |
4.4% | |||
Pharmaceuticals |
4.2% | |||
Metals & Mining |
4.1% | |||
Consumer Finance |
3.8% | |||
Construction Materials |
3.2% |
their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE India Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE India Capped Index is based on the FTSE India Index and is designed to measure the performance of Indian large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 229.
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FRANKLIN FTSE INDIA ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Reliance
Industries Ltd. Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, India |
10.0% | |||
Infosys
Ltd. IT Services, India |
7.7% | |||
Housing
Development Finance Corp. Ltd. Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, India |
6.1% | |||
Tata
Consultancy Services Ltd. IT Services, India |
5.0% | |||
Hindustan
Unilever Ltd. Household Products, India |
3.1% | |||
Bajaj Finance
Ltd. Consumer Finance, India |
2.3% | |||
Axis Bank
Ltd. Banks, India |
2.2% | |||
Bharti Airtel
Ltd. Wireless Telecommunication Services, India |
2.0% | |||
Asian Paints
Ltd. Chemicals, India |
1.9% | |||
HCL
Technologies Ltd. IT Services, India |
1.8% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE India ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE INDIA ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (2/9/18), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+18.52% | +17.15% | +18.52% | +17.15% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+49.09% | +47.51% | +49.09% | +47.51% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+55.36% | +55.06% | +15.82% | +15.75% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (2/6/18) |
+42.15% | +42.01% | +10.13% | +10.10% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 56 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE INDIA ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.045733 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.19% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in developing markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors, in addition to those associated with these markets’ smaller size, lesser liquidity and lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. There are special risks associated with investments in India, including exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, and exchange control regulations (including currency blockage). Investments in securities of Indian issuers involve risks that are specific to India, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE INDIA ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,185.20 | $ | 1.04 | $ | 1,024.12 | $ | 0.96 | 0.19 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Italy ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Italy RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Italy Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Italy Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +2.23% based on market price and +2.58% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Italy Capped Index posted a +2.43% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 60.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Italy Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However,
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Banks |
20.7% | |||
Electric Utilities |
14.4% | |||
Automobiles |
13.4% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
7.1% | |||
Insurance |
6.7% | |||
Machinery |
5.0% | |||
Gas Utilities |
3.9% | |||
IT Services |
3.9% | |||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods |
3.1% | |||
Diversified Financial Services |
2.9% |
under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Italy Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Italy Capped Index is based on the FTSE Italy Index and is designed to measure the performance of Italian large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 234.
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FRANKLIN FTSE ITALY ETF
Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Enel
SpA |
11.8% | |||
Intesa Sanpaolo
SpA Banks, Italy |
9.6% | |||
Stellantis
NV Automobiles, United States |
8.0% | |||
Eni
SpA Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, Italy |
7.1% | |||
UniCredit
SpA Banks, Italy |
6.2% | |||
Ferrari
NV Automobiles, Italy |
5.5% | |||
Assicurazioni
Generali SpA Insurance, Italy |
4.8% | |||
CNH Industrial
NV Machinery, United Kingdom |
3.7% | |||
Moncler
SpA Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, Italy |
3.1% | |||
Snam
SpA Gas Utilities, Italy |
3.1% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Italy ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE ITALY ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+2.58% | +2.23% | +2.58% | +2.23% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+32.40% | +32.03% | +32.40% | +32.03% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+26.26% | +26.35% | +8.08% | +8.11% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+17.04% | +16.86% | +4.11% | +4.07% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 61 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE ITALY ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.416084 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of Italian issuers involve risks that are specific to Italy, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest in a relatively small number of issuers which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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61 |
FRANKLIN FTSE ITALY ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,025.80 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Japan ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Japan RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Japan Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Japan Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +2.90% based on market price and +3.81% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Japan Capped Index posted a +3.87% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 65.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Japan Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index).
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Automobiles |
7.2% | |||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components |
5.8% | |||
Pharmaceuticals |
5.5% | |||
Machinery |
5.2% | |||
Banks |
4.7% | |||
Household Durables |
4.5% | |||
Chemicals |
4.5% | |||
Wireless Telecommunication Services |
3.6% | |||
Trading Companies & Distributors |
3.5% | |||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
3.2% |
However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Japan Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Japan Capped Index is based on the FTSE Japan Index and is designed to measure the performance of Japanese large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 236.
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Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Toyota Motor
Corp. Automobiles, Japan |
4.7% | |||
Sony
Corp. Household Durables, Japan |
2.9% | |||
Keyence
Corp. Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, Japan |
2.3% | |||
Recruit
Holdings Co. Ltd. Professional Services, Japan |
1.7% | |||
SoftBank Group
Corp. Wireless Telecommunication Services, Japan |
1.7% | |||
Mitsubishi UFJ
Financial Group Inc. Banks, Japan |
1.6% | |||
Shin-Etsu
Chemical Co. Ltd. Chemicals, Japan |
1.4% | |||
Tokyo Electron
Ltd. Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, Japan |
1.4% | |||
Daikin
Industries Ltd. Building Products, Japan |
1.2% | |||
KDDI
Corp. Wireless Telecommunication Services, Japan |
1.2% |
FRANKLIN FTSE JAPAN ETF
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Japan ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE JAPAN ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+3.81% | +2.90% | +3.81% | +2.90% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+21.66% | +20.53% | +21.66% | +20.53% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+23.37% | +22.95% | +7.25% | +7.13% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+28.07% | +27.64% | +6.53% | +6.44% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 66 for Performance Summary footnotes.
franklintempleton.com |
Semiannual Report |
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FRANKLIN FTSE JAPAN ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.393526 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of Japanese issuers involve risks that are specific to Japan, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE JAPAN ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,038.10 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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Semiannual Report |
67 |
Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF
This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Japan RIC Capped Hedged to USD Index (the FTSE Japan Capped Hedged Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Japan Capped Hedged Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities, including indirectly through Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (Underlying Fund).
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +3.98% based on market price and +4.79% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Japan Capped Hedged Index posted a +4.89% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 70.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Japan Capped Hedged Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation.
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Automobiles |
7.2% | |||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components |
5.8% | |||
Pharmaceuticals |
5.4% | |||
Machinery |
5.2% | |||
Banks |
4.7% | |||
Household Durables |
4.5% | |||
Chemicals |
4.5% | |||
Wireless Telecommunication Services |
3.6% | |||
Trading Companies & Distributors |
3.5% | |||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
3.2% |
Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. We intend to enter into monthly foreign currency forward contracts and/or currency futures contracts designed to offset the Fund’s exposure to the Japanese yen, in order to replicate the hedge impact incorporated in the calculation of the Underlying Index. The Fund’s exposure to foreign currency forward contracts and currency futures contracts is based on
1. The FTSE Japan Capped Hedged Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Japan Capped Hedged Index is based on the FTSE Japan Hedged to USD Index and is designed to measure the performance of Japanese large- and mid-capitalization stocks. The FTSE Japan Capped Hedged Index incorporates a hedge against fluctuations of the Japanese yen by reflecting the impact of rolling monthly currency forward contracts on the Japanese yen.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 247.
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Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Toyota Motor
Corp. Automobiles, Japan |
4.7% | |||
Sony
Corp. Household Durables, Japan |
3.0% | |||
Keyence
Corp. Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, Japan |
2.3% | |||
Recruit
Holdings Co. Ltd. Professional Services, Japan |
1.7% | |||
SoftBank Group
Corp. Wireless Telecommunication Services, Japan |
1.7% | |||
Mitsubishi UFJ
Financial Group Inc. Banks, Japan |
1.6% | |||
Shin-Etsu
Chemical Co. Ltd. Chemicals, Japan |
1.4% | |||
Tokyo Electron
Ltd. Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, Japan |
1.4% | |||
Daikin
Industries Ltd. Building Products, Japan |
1.2% | |||
Hoya
Corp. Health Care Equipment & Supplies, Japan |
1.2% |
the aggregate exposure of the Fund to the Japanese yen. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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FRANKLIN FTSE JAPAN HEDGED ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (11/6/17), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
+4.79% | +3.98% | +4.79% | +3.98% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+28.67% | +27.43% | +28.67% | +27.43% | ||||||||||||
3-Year |
+25.15% | +24.65% | +7.77% | +7.62% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (11/2/17) |
+31.46% | +31.17% | +7.25% | +7.19% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 71 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.09% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in securities of Japanese issuers involve risks that are specific to Japan, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. Derivatives, including currency management strategies, involve costs and can create economic leverage in the portfolio, which may result in significant volatility and cause the Fund to participate in losses on an amount that exceeds the Fund’s initial investment. The Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits, and may realize losses when a counterparty fails to perform as promised. While the Fund’s currency hedging approach is designed to minimize the impact of currency fluctuations on Fund returns, it does not necessarily eliminate the Fund’s exposure to the currencies. The return of currency-related derivatives will not perfectly offset the actual fluctuations between the currencies and the U.S. dollar. The Fund’s exposure to the currencies may not be hedged at all times. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE JAPAN HEDGED ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 1,047.90 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 1,024.62 | $ | 0.46 | 0.09 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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Franklin FTSE Latin America ETF
This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Latin America ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Latin America RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Latin America Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Latin America Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of -0.85% based on market price and -0.67% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Latin America Capped Index posted a -0.60% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 75.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Latin America Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Banks |
18.4% | |||
Metals & Mining |
13.7% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
10.3% | |||
Beverages |
5.9% | |||
Food & Staples Retailing |
4.7% | |||
Electric Utilities |
4.6% | |||
Wireless Telecommunication Services |
4.6% | |||
Food Products |
3.7% | |||
Capital Markets |
3.0% | |||
Health Care Providers & Services |
2.9% |
closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Latin America Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Latin America Capped Index is based on the FTSE Latin America Index and is designed to measure the performance of Latin American large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 258.
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Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
Vale
SA Metals & Mining, Brazil |
8.8% | |||
Petroleo
Brasileiro SA Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, Brazil |
7.5% | |||
Itau Unibanco
Holding SA Banks, Brazil |
4.5% | |||
America Movil
SAB de CV, L Wireless Telecommunication Services, Mexico |
4.2% | |||
Banco Bradesco
SA Banks, Brazil |
3.6% | |||
Grupo
Financiero Banorte SAB de CV Banks, Mexico |
3.0% | |||
Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV,
V Food & Staples Retailing, Mexico |
2.8% | |||
Fomento
Economico Mexicano SAB de CV Beverages, Mexico |
2.5% | |||
B3 SA – Brasil
Bolsa Balcao Capital Markets, Brazil |
2.3% | |||
Grupo Mexico
SAB de CV, B Metals & Mining, Mexico |
2.0% |
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Latin America ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
Country Composition | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Brazil |
63.8% | |||
Mexico |
25.9% | |||
Chile |
6.3% | |||
Colombia |
2.7% | |||
United States |
1.0% |
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FRANKLIN FTSE LATIN AMERICA ETF
Performance Summary as of September 30, 2021
Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale or redemption of Fund shares.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading (10/11/18), the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV.
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Performance as of 9/30/21
Cumulative Total Return1 | Average Annual Total Return1 | |||||||||||||||
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
Based on NAV2 |
Based on market price3 |
|||||||||||||
6-Month |
-0.67% | -0.85% | -0.67% | -0.85% | ||||||||||||
1-Year |
+27.19% | +26.23% | +27.19% | +26.23% | ||||||||||||
Since Inception (10/9/18) |
-9.60% | -9.29% | -3.33% | -3.23% |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 76 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN FTSE LATIN AMERICA ETF
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Distributions (4/1/21–9/30/21)
Net
Investment Income |
$0.306940 |
Total Annual Operating Expenses4
0.19% |
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in developing markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors, in addition to those associated with these markets’ smaller size, lesser liquidity and lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. Investments in securities of issuers in Latin American countries involve risks that are specific to Latin America, including certain legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region, the Fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. Events such as the spread of deadly diseases, disasters, and financial, political or social disruptions, may heighten risks and adversely affect performance. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below their net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
1. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.
2. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on market price.
4. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Your Fund’s Expenses and Financial Highlights sections in this report. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to become higher than the figures shown.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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FRANKLIN FTSE LATIN AMERICA ETF
Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing Fund costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. All funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses. The table below shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses in the columns under the heading “Actual.” In these columns the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses, is used to calculate the “Ending Account Value.” You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps (of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration): Divide your account value by $1,000 (if your account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6). Then multiply the result by the number in the row under the headings “Actual” and “Expenses Paid During Period” (if Actual Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50). In this illustration, the actual expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Under the heading “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.
Actual (actual return after expenses) |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 4/1/21 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Ending Account Value 9/30/21 |
Expenses Paid During Period 4/1/21–9/30/211,2 |
Net Annualized Expense Ratio2 |
|||||||||||||||||
$1,000.00 | $ | 993.30 | $ | 0.95 | $ | 1,024.12 | $ | 0.96 | 0.19 | % |
1. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above—in the far right column—multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
2. Reflects expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
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This semiannual report for Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF covers the period ended September 30, 2021.
Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Mexico RIC Capped Index (the FTSE Mexico Capped Index or the Underlying Index).1 Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the FTSE Mexico Capped Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities.
Performance Overview
During the six-month period, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +9.94% based on market price and +10.80% based on net asset value. In comparison, the FTSE Mexico Capped Index posted a +10.69% total return for the same period.2 You can find more of the Fund’s performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 80.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Investment Strategy
The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Mexico Capped Index. We seek to achieve, over time, a correlation between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and that of the Underlying Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect correlation. Our intention is to replicate the component securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible (i.e., invest in all of the component securities in their respective weightings in the Underlying Index). However, under various circumstances, it
Top 10 Sectors/Industries | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
% of Total Net Assets |
||||
Banks |
16.3% | |||
Beverages |
14.5% | |||
Wireless Telecommunication Services |
13.3% | |||
Food & Staples Retailing |
9.2% | |||
Transportation Infrastructure |
8.8% | |||
Metals & Mining |
8.2% | |||
Food Products |
6.4% | |||
Construction Materials |
5.4% | |||
Media |
3.9% | |||
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
3.2% |
may not be possible or practicable to replicate the Underlying Index. In these circumstances, we may use a “representative sampling” strategy whereby we would invest in what we believe to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index, but may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire Underlying Index. Under the representative sampling technique, we will select securities that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index, including securities that resemble those included in the Underlying Index in terms of risk factors, performance attributes and other characteristics, such as market capitalization and industry weightings. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its net assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated.
1. The FTSE Mexico Capped Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index maintained and calculated by FTSE Russell with a capping methodology applied quarterly to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the index weight, and all issuers with weights above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index’s weight. The FTSE Mexico Capped Index is based on the FTSE Mexico Index and is designed to measure the performance of Mexican large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
2. Source: FactSet.
The index is unmanaged and includes reinvestment of any income or distributions (after the deduction of certain withholding taxes). It does not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 264.
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Top 10 Holdings | ||||
9/30/21 | ||||
Company Sector/Industry, Country |
% of Total Net Assets |
|||
America
Movil SAB de CV, L |
13.3% | |||
Grupo
Financiero Banorte SAB de CV Banks, Mexico |
9.8% | |||
Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV,
V Food & Staples Retailing, Mexico |
9.2% | |||
Fomento
Economico Mexicano SAB de CV Beverages, Mexico |
8.5% | |||
Grupo Mexico
SAB de CV, B Metals & Mining, Mexico |
6.9% | |||
Cemex SAB de
CV Construction Materials, Mexico |
4.4% | |||
Grupo Bimbo SAB
de CV, A Food Products, Mexico |
3.8% | |||
Grupo Elektra
SAB de CV Banks, Mexico |
3.1% | |||
Grupo Televisa
SAB Media, Mexico |
3.1% | |||
Grupo
Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV, B Transportation Infrastructure, Mexico |
3.1% |
FRANKLIN FTSE MEXICO ETF
Thank you for your participation in Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Dina Ting, CFA
Hailey Harris
Portfolio Management Team
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2021, the end of the reporting period. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.