ALPS Equal Sector Factor Series ALPS SECTOR LEADERS ETF www.alpsfunds.com 866.759.5679
Why and Growth? Tilting exposure towards high-quality companies has historically produced higher returns on an absolute and risk adjusted basis. Returns by * 16% 78.32% 121.82% Pure growth indices, while providing strong growth characteristics, typically ignore quality measures. 14 12 10 12% 8% 56.03% 149.96% 8 6 4 Pure Growth 4% 2 High 2 3 4 Low Risk-adjusted Returns by * 1. 3 Year EPS Growth D/E Source: Bloomberg as of 6/30/2015 This can lead to higher exposure to companies with greater financial leverage, and thus higher sensitivity to changes in interest rates. 0.8% 0.6% 0.4% 0.2% 0. High 2 3 4 Low *Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. Figures based on monthly USD total returns between November 1994 and December 2013 based on the S&P 900 (indicated as U.S.). Past performance is no guarantee of future results. measured by a combination of profitability, earnings quality, and financial robustness. Earnings per Share (EPS) is defined as the portion of a company s profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock, and serves as an indicator of a company s profitability. Debt to Equity (D/E) is defined as a measure of a company s financial leverage calculated by dividing its total liabilities by stockholder s equity, helping to determine what proportion of equity and debt the company is using to finance its operations. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Factor/Diversification Trade-Off The vs. Growth Case High - Undiversified Provides meaningful exposure relative to broad based index Large sector biases High concentration in top 10 holdings High /Growth - Sector/Stock Diversified Provides meaningful factor exposure to both and Growth Factors Diversified at the stock and sector level High Growth - Undiviersified Sub-OPTIMAL Provides meaningful Growth exposure relative to broad based index Large sector biases High concentration in top 10 holdings Growth
The Sector Leaders Methodology Starting Universe Selection Criteria ALPS Sector Leaders (SLDR) Weighting Methodology Equal Weight - 2.22% / Security Rebalancing 5 Highest Ranked /Growth Securities in 9* GICS Sectors = ROE & Debt/Equity Growth = 3 year SPS growth & 3 year EPS growth - 11.1% / Sector Quarterly reconstituted based on last trading dates of February, May, August and November Implemented on 3rd Friday of March, June, September and December *GICS Global Industry Classification Standard Info Tech and Telecom combined
The Potential Sector Leaders Advantage Growth without Sacrificing Low Leverage High Growth 14 Debt to Equity 16 3 Year EPS Growth 12 14 10 12 8 10 8 6 6 4 4 2 2 S-Net Sector Leaders MSCI USA Pure Growth S-Net Sector Leaders MSCI USA Pure Growth Source: Bloomberg as of 6/30/15 Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Diversification Selecting 5 securities from each of 9 GICS* sectors and equally weighting them provides diversification at both the stock and sector level. Top 10 Holding Sector Allocations Other Top 10 Health Care - 11.3 Energy - 11.24% Consumer Discretionary - 11.2 Financials - 11.15% Industrials - 11.12% Consumer Staples - 11.08% Materials - 11.05% Utilities - 11.03% Info Tech/Telecom - 10.83% Health Care - 11.3 Energy - 11.24% Consumer Discretionary - 11.2 Financials - 11.15% Industrials - 11.12% Consumer Staples - 11.08% Materials - 11.05% Diversification does not eliminate potential risk. Subject to change. Utilities - 11.03% Info Tech/Telecom - 10.83%
Benefits of the ETF Structure 1 2 3 Low Expenses The ALPS Sector Leaders ETF is designed to be cost efficient. Unlike active mutual funds, whose objective is to beat a respective index, the ALPS Sector Leaders ETF is managed passively, with the objective of matching the performance of the underlying index. Consequently, the ALPS Sector Leaders ETF is able to eliminate many of the operating, research and transaction expenses incurred by active money managers. The expense ratio for the ALPS Sector Leaders ETF is.4. Ordinary brokerage commissions apply. Some index mutual funds may be subject to lower expenses. Tax Efficiency The unique structure of ETFs minimize potential capital gains. ALPS Sector Leaders investors transact with one another via brokers on the stock exchange, instead of directly with the fund company. All share activity with the Trust is facilitated via in-kind transfers with institutional investors, a process called the Creation/Redemption Process. This procedure essentially prevents the fund from incurring capital gains as the result of shareholder trades. The increased tax efficiency of ETFs, even in comparison to index mutual funds, makes them a viable option for those who seek to diminish the effects of taxes on their investments. Some mutual funds may have the objective of tax efficiency. *For informational purposes only and should not be considered tax advice Transparency With the ALPS Sector Leaders ETF, you know exactly the companies in which you are investing. The holdings of the fund s are available on a daily basis. Meanwhile, active mutual funds generally reveal their entire holdings quarterly, which can leave you guessing about how closely the fund manager is sticking to the objectives and style of the fund. The transparency of the portfolio also facilitates the use of the ALPS Sector Leaders ETF as a hedging vehicle for both institutional and individual investors. By knowing exactly what stocks make up each fund, individuals, traders, and hedge fund managers alike can easily obtain or hedge exposure to a specific group of securities. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES & DEFINITIONS An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 1-866-759-5679 or visit www.alpsfunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Shares are not individually redeemable and the owners of shares may purchase or redeem shares from a fund in creation units (blocks of 25,000 shares) only. The Fund is subject to the Underlying Sector ETFs Risks, making it subject to certain risks specific to each Underlying Sector ETF. The Fund is considered non-diversified which could cause greater fluctuation in share price than would occur in a diversified fund. An investment in the Fund involves risks, including loss of principal. Growth Investing Style Risk: While the Underlying attempts to identify stocks with growth characteristics, the securities held by the Fund may not experience such growth, which may affect the performance of the Fund. Past growth is not a guarantee of future growth or yield. Also, securities chosen for growth potential may experience greater volatility than other investment strategies or the overall stock market. Underlying Sector Risk: The Fund will be exposed to the additional risks associated with its investments in companies of each GICS sector of the Underlying. For more on these risks, see Risks of Underlying Sectors in this Prospectus. Replication Management Risk: Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not actively managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security because the security s issuer was in financial trouble unless that security is removed from the Underlying. The ALPS Sector Leaders ETF is new and has limited operating history. MSCI USA : An index that aims to capture the performance of quality growth stocks by identifying stocks with high quality scores based on three main fundamental variables: high return on equity, stable year-over year- earnings growth, and low financial leverage. : The Standard & Poor s composite index of 500 stocks, a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices. Pure Growth : A style-concentrated index designed to track the performance of stocks that exhibit the strongest growth characteristics by using a styleattractiveness-weighting scheme. Growth stocks are measured using three factors: sales growth, the ratio of earnings change to price, and momentum. S-Network Sector Leaders : An index that selects the five stocks in each of the nine GICS sectors (Info Tech and Telecom combined) contained in the which statistically demonstrate key characteristics associated with growth and quality. One may not invest directly in an index. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the distributor for the ALPS Sector Leaders ETF. ASL000104 10/31/15 www.alpsfunds.com 866.759.5679