UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSRS
CERTIFIED
SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-22311
Schwab Strategic Trust Schwab Ariel ESG ETF and Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
211 Main
Street,
San Francisco, California 94105
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Jonathan de.
St. Paer
Schwab Strategic Trust Schwab Ariel ESG ETF and Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF
211 Main Street,
San
Francisco, California 94105
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (415) 636-7000
Date of fiscal year end: March 31
Date of reporting period: September 30, 2022
Item 1: Report(s) to Shareholders.
Semiannual
Report | September 30, 2022
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF
Ticker Symbol SAEF
Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., dba Schwab Asset ManagementTM
Subadviser
Ariel Investments, LLC
THIS
FUND IS DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL ETFs |
Traditional
ETFs tell the public what assets they hold each day. This fund will not. This may create additional risks for your investment. For example: |
•
You may have to pay more money to trade the fund’s shares. This fund will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information. |
•
The price you pay to buy fund shares on an exchange may not match the value of the fund’s portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for this fund compared to other
ETFs because it provides less information to traders. |
•
These additional risks may be even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions. |
•
The ETF will publish on its website each day a “Proxy Portfolio” designed to help trading in shares of the ETF. While the Proxy Portfolio includes some of the ETF’s holdings, it is not the
ETF’s actual portfolio. |
The
differences between this fund and other ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about the fund secret, this fund may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve the
fund’s performance. If other traders are able to copy or predict the fund’s investment strategy, however, this may hurt the fund’s performance. |
For
additional information regarding the unique attributes and risks of the fund, see Proxy Portfolio Risk, Premium/Discount Risk, Trading
Halt Risk, Authorized Participant Concentration Risk, Tracking Error Risk and Shares of the Fund May Trade at Prices Other Than
NAV in the Principal Risks and Proxy Portfolio and Proxy Overlap sections of the prospectus and/or the Statement of
Additional Information. These risks are also discussed in the Financial Notes of this report. |
This page is intentionally left blank.
Fund investment adviser: Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., dba
Schwab Asset ManagementTM
Distributor: SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO)
The Sector/Industry classifications in this report use the
Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by and is the exclusive property of MSCI Inc. (MSCI) and Standard & Poor’s (S&P). GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. The Industry classifications used in the Portfolio Holdings are sub-categories of Sector classifications.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance
does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or
higher than the performance quoted. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus.
Total
Returns for the 6 Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
Schwab
Ariel ESG ETF (Ticker Symbol: SAEF) |
|
Market
Price Return1 |
-21.14%
|
NAV
Return1 |
-21.30%
|
Russell
2500TM Index |
-19.32%
|
ETF
Category: Mid-Cap Blend2 |
-17.56%
|
Performance
Details |
pages
4-5 |
All total returns on this page
assume dividends and distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly. Performance results less than one year are not
annualized.
For index definitions, please see the
Glossary.
Performance does not reflect the deduction of
taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares.
Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher
or lower than the net asset value (NAV). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
Active semi-transparent (also referred to as non-transparent)
ETFs operate differently from other exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Unlike other ETFs, an active semi-transparent ETF does not publicly disclose its entire portfolio composition each business day, which may affect the price at which shares of the ETF
trade in the secondary market. Active semi-transparent ETFs have limited public trading history. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop, be maintained or operate as intended. There is a risk that the market price of an
active semi-transparent ETF may vary significantly from the ETF’s net asset value and that its shares may trade at a wider bid/ask spread and, therefore, cost investors more to trade than shares of other ETFs. These risks are heightened during
periods of market disruption or volatility.
Because
environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies exclude some securities, ESG-focused products may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as products that do not use such strategies. Additionally, the criteria
used to select companies for investment may result in investing in securities, industries or sectors that underperform the market as a whole.
Value investing attempts to identify undervalued companies with
characteristics for improved valuations. Securities that exhibit value characteristics tend to perform differently and shift in and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic conditions. As a result, the fund’s
performance may at times fall behind the performance of other funds that invest more broadly or in securities that exhibit different characteristics.
Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or
economic events than larger, more established companies and the value of securities issued by these companies may move sharply. Securities issued by small-cap companies may be riskier than those issued by larger companies, and their prices may move
sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns.
1 |
ETF performance must be shown
based on both a market price and NAV basis. The fund’s per share NAV is the value of one share of the fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets (including the fair value of securities owned), subtracting liabilities, and
dividing by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV Return is based on the NAV of the fund, and the Market Price Return is based on the market price per share of the fund. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined
using the Official Closing Price on the primary stock exchange (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) and may not represent the returns you would receive if shares were traded at other times. Market Price and NAV returns assume that dividends and
capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund at Market Price and NAV, respectively. |
2 |
Source for category
information: Morningstar, Inc. The Morningstar Category return represents all passively- and actively-managed ETFs and mutual funds within the category as of the report date. |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
The Investment
Environment
For the six-month reporting period ended September 30, 2022,
U.S. stocks generally lost ground as a result of accelerating inflation, rising interest rates, and geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine. Albeit decelerating, COVID-19 continued to weigh on the U.S. economy, with highly transmissible
variants and subvariants keeping infection rates high in many areas. Economic growth slowed and recession fears rose. For the reporting period, the S&P 500® Index, a
bellwether for the overall U.S. stock market, returned -20.20%. The Russell 2500TM Index, which measures the performance of the small- to mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity
universe, returned -19.32%. Among U.S. stocks, large-cap stocks underperformed small-cap stocks, with the Russell 1000® Index and Russell 2000® Index returning -20.51% and -19.01%, respectively. Among the sectors in the Russell 2500TM Index, all
lost ground for the reporting period. The weakest were the communication services and real estate sectors. Although still negative for the reporting period, the financials and consumer staples sectors were the two best performers on a comparative
basis.
The U.S. economy showed signs of weakening over
the reporting period. Amid ongoing supply chain disruptions, persisting inflation, and a tight labor market, gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annualized rate of -0.6% for the second quarter of 2022, following a decrease at an annualized
rate of -1.6% for the first quarter of 2022. The unemployment rate remained near pre-pandemic lows over the reporting period. Inflation remained stubbornly high due to supply chain bottlenecks and soaring energy and food prices.
Monetary policy around the world varied. In the United States,
after raising interest rates by 0.25% in mid-March 2022—its first hike since December 2018—the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) increased the federal funds rate four times during the reporting period—by 0.50% in early May, 0.75% in
mid-June, 0.75% in late July, and 0.75% in late September—in its ongoing efforts to achieve a return to price stability. The federal funds rate ended the reporting period in a range of 3.00% to 3.25%. The Fed reiterated that further rate hikes
were likely by the end of 2022. In June, the Fed also began to reduce the $9 trillion in assets it holds on its balance sheet, vowing to be even more aggressive than during its last round of quantitative tightening in 2017 through 2019.
Asset
Class Performance Comparison % returns during the 6 months ended September 30, 2022
Index figures assume
dividends and distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly. Performance results less than one year are not
annualized. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
For index definitions, please see the Glossary.
Data source: Index provider websites and Schwab Asset
Management.
Nothing in this report represents a
recommendation of a security by the investment adviser.
Management views may have changed since the report date.
*
|
The net version of the index
reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for expenses or other taxes. |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past
performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may
be lower or higher than the performance quoted. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus.
Average
Annual Total Returns1
Fund
and Inception Date |
6
Months |
Since
Inception* |
Fund:
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF (11/16/21) |
|
|
Market
Price Return2 |
-21.14%
|
-27.72%
|
NAV
Return2 |
-21.30%
|
-27.96%
|
Russell
2500TM Index |
-19.32%
|
-27.31%
|
ETF
Category: Mid-Cap Blend3 |
-17.56%
|
N/A
|
Fund
Expense Ratio4: 0.59% |
All total returns on this page assume dividends and
distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly. Performance results less than one year are not annualized.
For index definitions, please see the Glossary.
Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher
or lower than the net asset value (NAV). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
Active semi-transparent (also referred to as non-transparent)
ETFs operate differently from other exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Unlike other ETFs, an active semi-transparent ETF does not publicly disclose its entire portfolio composition each business day, which may affect the price at which shares of the ETF
trade in the secondary market. Active semi-transparent ETFs have limited public trading history. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop, be maintained or operate as intended. There is a risk that the market price of an
active semi-transparent ETF may vary significantly from the ETF’s net asset value and that its shares may trade at a wider bid/ask spread and, therefore, cost investors more to trade than shares of other ETFs. These risks are heightened during
periods of market disruption or volatility.
Because
environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies exclude some securities, ESG-focused products may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as products that do not use such strategies. Additionally, the criteria
used to select companies for investment may result in investing in securities, industries or sectors that underperform the market as a whole.
Value investing attempts to identify undervalued companies with
characteristics for improved valuations. Securities that exhibit value characteristics tend to perform differently and shift in and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic conditions. As a result, the fund’s
performance may at times fall behind the performance of other funds that invest more broadly or in securities that exhibit different characteristics.
Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or
economic events than larger, more established companies and the value of securities issued by these companies may move sharply. Securities issued by small-cap companies may be riskier than those issued by larger companies, and their prices may move
sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns.
* |
Inception (11/16/21)
represents the date that the shares began trading in the secondary market. |
1 |
Performance does not reflect
the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. |
2 |
ETF performance must be shown
based on both a market price and NAV basis. The fund’s per share NAV is the value of one share of the fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets (including the fair value of securities owned), subtracting liabilities, and
dividing by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV Return is based on the NAV of the fund, and the Market Price Return is based on the market price per share of the fund. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined
using the Official Closing Price on the primary stock exchange (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) and may not represent the returns you would receive if shares were traded at other times. NAV is used as a proxy for purposes of calculating Market
Price Return on inception date. Market Price and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund at Market Price and NAV, respectively. |
3 |
Source for category
information: Morningstar, Inc. The Morningstar Category return represents all passively- and actively-managed ETFs and mutual funds within the category as of the report date. |
4 |
As stated in the prospectus.
|
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Performance and
Fund Facts as of September 30, 2022
Number
of Holdings |
61
|
Weighted
Average Market Cap (millions) |
$14,261
|
Price/Earnings
Ratio (P/E) |
12.8
|
Price/Book
Ratio (P/B) |
1.8
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate |
10%
1,2 |
Sector Weightings % of Investments3
Top Holdings % of Net Assets4
Portfolio holdings may have changed since the report
date.
Source of Sector Classification: S&P and
MSCI.
1 |
Not annualized. |
2 |
Portfolio turnover rate
excludes securities received or delivered from processing of in-kind creations or redemptions. |
3 |
The percentage may differ
from the Portfolio Holdings because the above calculation is based on a percentage of total investments, whereas the calculation in the Portfolio Holdings is based on a percentage of net assets. |
4 |
This list is not a
recommendation of any security by the investment adviser. |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Fund Expenses (Unaudited)
Examples for a $1,000 Investment
As a fund shareholder, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction
costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares; and, (2) ongoing costs, including management fees.
The expense examples below are intended to help you
understand your ongoing cost (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare this cost with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds. These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested for six months beginning April 1, 2022
and held through September 30, 2022.
Actual Return line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.
To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value ÷ $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for the fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During
Period.”
Hypothetical Return line in the table
below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed return of 5% per year before expenses. Because the return used is not an actual return, it may not
be used to estimate the actual ending account value or expenses you paid for the period.
You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs
of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant
to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, including any brokerage commissions you may pay when purchasing or selling shares of a fund. Therefore, the hypothetical return lines of the table are useful in
comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
EXPENSE
RATIO (ANNUALIZED) 1 |
BEGINNING
ACCOUNT VALUE AT 4/1/22 |
ENDING
ACCOUNT VALUE (NET OF EXPENSES) AT 9/30/22 |
EXPENSES
PAID DURING PERIOD 4/1/22-9/30/22 2 |
Schwab
Ariel ESG ETF |
|
|
|
|
Actual
Return |
0.59%
|
$1,000.00
|
$
787.00 |
$2.64
|
Hypothetical
5% Return |
0.59%
|
$1,000.00
|
$1,022.11
|
$2.99
|
1 |
Based on the
most recent six-month expense ratio. |
2 |
Expenses
for the fund are equal to its annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183 days of the period, and divided by 365 days of the fiscal year. |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial Statements
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
|
4/1/22–
9/30/22* |
11/16/21
1– 3/31/22 |
|
|
|
|
Per-Share
Data |
Net
asset value at beginning of period |
$22.84
|
$25.00
|
|
|
|
|
Income
(loss) from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss)2 |
0.07
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
Net
realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(4.93)
|
(2.16)
|
|
|
|
|
Total
from investment operations |
(4.86)
|
(2.11)
|
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
from net investment income |
(0.05)
|
(0.05)
|
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value at end of period |
$17.93
|
$22.84
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return |
(21.30%)
3 |
(8.46%)
3 |
|
|
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental
Data |
Ratios
to average net assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
expenses |
0.59%
4,5 |
0.59%
6 |
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss) |
0.65%
4 |
0.61%
6 |
|
|
|
|
Portfolio
turnover rate7 |
10%
3 |
15%
3 |
|
|
|
|
Net
assets, end of period (x 1,000) |
$10,665
|
$10,622
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
Unaudited.
|
1 |
Commencement
of operations. |
2 |
Calculated
based on the average shares outstanding during the period. |
3 |
Not
annualized. |
4 |
Annualized
(except for proxy expenses). |
5 |
Ratio
includes less than 0.005% of non-routine proxy expenses. |
6 |
Annualized.
|
7 |
Portfolio
turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from processing of in-kind creations or redemptions. |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Portfolio
Holdings as of September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
This section shows all the securities in the fund’s portfolio and their
values as of the report date.
The fund files its complete
schedule of portfolio holdings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT Part F. The fund’s Form N-PORT Part F is available on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov. You can also obtain this information at no cost on the fund’s website at
www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus, by calling
1-866-414-6349, or by sending an email request to
[email protected]. The fund also makes available its complete schedule of holdings approximately 30 days after the end
of each calendar quarter on the fund’s website.
SECURITY
|
NUMBER
OF SHARES |
VALUE
($) |
COMMON
STOCKS 99.0% OF NET ASSETS |
|
Automobiles
& Components 3.4% |
BorgWarner,
Inc. |
4,745
|
148,993
|
Gentex
Corp. |
8,925
|
212,772
|
|
|
361,765
|
|
Banks
2.8% |
M&T
Bank Corp. |
1,709
|
301,331
|
|
Capital
Goods 14.8% |
Generac
Holdings, Inc. * |
1,125
|
200,408
|
Kennametal,
Inc. |
8,476
|
174,436
|
Masco
Corp. |
2,436
|
113,737
|
nVent
Electric PLC |
7,744
|
244,788
|
Resideo
Technologies, Inc. * |
15,515
|
295,716
|
Sensata
Technologies Holding PLC |
4,755
|
177,266
|
Simpson
Manufacturing Co., Inc. |
1,310
|
102,704
|
Snap-on,
Inc. |
744
|
149,804
|
The
Middleby Corp. * |
962
|
123,300
|
|
|
1,582,159
|
|
Commercial
& Professional Services 7.1% |
Brady
Corp., Class A |
2,380
|
99,317
|
Dun
& Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. |
11,424
|
141,543
|
Korn
Ferry |
1,588
|
74,557
|
Stericycle,
Inc. * |
4,641
|
195,432
|
The
Brink's Co. |
4,983
|
241,377
|
|
|
752,226
|
|
Consumer
Durables & Apparel 3.2% |
Mattel,
Inc. * |
12,227
|
231,579
|
Mohawk
Industries, Inc. * |
1,190
|
108,516
|
|
|
340,095
|
|
Consumer
Services 11.1% |
ADT,
Inc. |
27,068
|
202,739
|
Adtalem
Global Education, Inc. * |
3,239
|
118,062
|
Lindblad
Expeditions Holdings, Inc. * |
30,595
|
206,822
|
Norwegian
Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. * |
27,403
|
311,298
|
OneSpaWorld
Holdings Ltd. * |
41,146
|
345,627
|
|
|
1,184,548
|
|
Diversified
Financials 8.1% |
KKR
& Co., Inc. |
4,760
|
204,680
|
Lazard
Ltd., Class A |
5,697
|
181,335
|
Northern
Trust Corp. |
2,968
|
253,942
|
The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. |
777
|
227,700
|
|
|
867,657
|
|
SECURITY
|
NUMBER
OF SHARES |
VALUE
($) |
Food
& Staples Retailing 1.1% |
Walgreens
Boots Alliance, Inc. |
3,808
|
119,571
|
|
Food,
Beverage & Tobacco 0.7% |
The
JM Smucker Co. |
565
|
77,637
|
|
Health
Care Equipment & Services 7.9% |
Cardinal
Health, Inc. |
2,261
|
150,763
|
Envista
Holdings Corp. * |
5,060
|
166,019
|
Laboratory
Corp. of America Holdings |
872
|
178,594
|
Patterson
Cos., Inc. |
5,804
|
139,412
|
Zimmer
Biomet Holdings, Inc. |
1,834
|
191,745
|
Zimvie,
Inc. * |
1,446
|
14,272
|
|
|
840,805
|
|
Household
& Personal Products 1.1% |
Reynolds
Consumer Products, Inc. |
4,614
|
120,010
|
|
Insurance
5.2% |
Aflac,
Inc. |
3,641
|
204,624
|
First
American Financial Corp. |
3,927
|
181,035
|
The
Progressive Corp. |
1,402
|
162,926
|
|
|
548,585
|
|
Materials
1.4% |
Axalta
Coating Systems Ltd. * |
6,902
|
145,356
|
|
Media
& Entertainment 8.0% |
Madison
Square Garden Entertainment Corp. * |
5,150
|
227,063
|
Madison
Square Garden Sports Corp. * |
952
|
130,100
|
Manchester
United Plc, Class A |
16,303
|
216,341
|
Paramount
Global, Class B |
6,691
|
127,397
|
The
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. |
6,096
|
156,058
|
|
|
856,959
|
|
Pharmaceuticals,
Biotechnology & Life Sciences 4.9% |
Bio-Rad
Laboratories, Inc., Class A * |
281
|
117,216
|
Charles
River Laboratories International, Inc. * |
940
|
184,992
|
Prestige
Consumer Healthcare, Inc. * |
4,474
|
222,940
|
|
|
525,148
|
|
Real
Estate 3.0% |
CBRE
Group, Inc., Class A * |
2,499
|
168,707
|
Jones
Lang LaSalle, Inc. * |
979
|
147,898
|
|
|
316,605
|
|
Retailing
0.7% |
CarMax,
Inc. * |
1,190
|
78,564
|
|
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Portfolio
Holdings as of September 30, 2022 (Unaudited) (continued)
SECURITY
|
NUMBER
OF SHARES |
VALUE
($) |
Software
& Services 5.5% |
Fair
Isaac Corp. * |
503
|
207,241
|
Fiserv,
Inc. * |
2,856
|
267,236
|
The
Hackett Group, Inc. |
6,386
|
113,160
|
|
|
587,637
|
|
Technology
Hardware & Equipment 9.0% |
Keysight
Technologies, Inc. * |
1,423
|
223,923
|
Knowles
Corp. * |
9,610
|
116,954
|
Littelfuse,
Inc. |
862
|
171,271
|
Motorola
Solutions, Inc. |
727
|
162,826
|
Zebra
Technologies Corp., Class A * |
1,066
|
279,303
|
|
|
954,277
|
Total
Common Stocks (Cost $13,705,877) |
10,560,935
|
SECURITY
|
NUMBEROF
SHARES |
VALUE
($) |
SHORT-TERM
INVESTMENTS 1.4% OF NET ASSETS |
|
Money
Market Funds 1.4% |
State
Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class 2.94% (a) |
147,816
|
147,816
|
Total
Short-Term Investments (Cost $147,816) |
147,816
|
Total
Investments in Securities (Cost $13,853,693) |
10,708,751
|
*
|
Non-income
producing security. |
(a)
|
The
rate shown is the 7-day yield. |
The following is a summary of the inputs used to
value the fund’s investments as of September 30, 2022 (see financial note 2(a) for additional information):
DESCRIPTION
|
QUOTED
PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1) |
OTHER
SIGNIFICANT OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2) |
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3) |
TOTAL
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stocks1 |
$10,560,935
|
$—
|
$—
|
$10,560,935
|
Short-Term
Investments1 |
147,816
|
—
|
—
|
147,816
|
Total
|
$10,708,751
|
$—
|
$—
|
$10,708,751
|
1 |
As
categorized in the Portfolio Holdings. |
Fund investments in mutual funds are classified as
Level 1, without consideration to the classification level of the underlying securities held by the mutual funds, which could be Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
As of September 30, 2022; unaudited
Assets
|
Investments
in securities, at value - unaffiliated (cost $13,853,693) |
|
$10,708,751
|
Receivables:
|
|
|
Dividends
|
+
|
7,984
|
Total
assets |
|
10,716,735
|
Liabilities
|
Payables:
|
|
|
Investments
bought |
|
45,486
|
Management
fees |
+
|
5,840
|
Total
liabilities |
|
51,326
|
Net
assets |
|
$10,665,409
|
Net
Assets by Source |
Capital
received from investors |
|
$13,861,114
|
Total
distributable loss |
+
|
(3,195,705)
|
Net
assets |
|
$10,665,409
|
Net
Asset Value (NAV) |
Net
Assets |
÷
|
Shares
Outstanding |
=
|
NAV
|
$10,665,409
|
|
595,000
|
|
$17.93
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Statement of
Operations
For
the period April 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022; unaudited |
Investment
Income |
Dividends
received from securities - unaffiliated |
|
$68,158
|
Expenses
|
Management
fees |
|
32,432
|
Proxy
fees1 |
+
|
423
|
Total
expenses |
–
|
32,855
|
Net
investment income |
|
35,303
|
REALIZED
AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) |
Net
realized losses on sales of securities - unaffiliated |
|
(58,884)
|
Net
realized gains on sales of in-kind redemptions - unaffiliated |
+
|
28,537
|
Net
realized losses |
|
(30,347)
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities - unaffiliated |
+
|
(2,615,972)
|
Net
realized and unrealized losses |
|
(2,646,319)
|
Decrease
in net assets resulting from operations |
|
($2,611,016)
|
1 |
Proxy fees
are non-routine expenses (see financial note 2(d) for additional information). |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Statement of
Changes in Net Assets
For the current and prior report periods
Figures for the current period are unaudited
OPERATIONS
|
|
4/1/22-9/30/22
|
11/16/21
1-3/31/22 |
Net
investment income |
|
$35,303
|
$19,134
|
Net
realized losses |
|
(30,347)
|
(31,335)
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
+
|
(2,615,972)
|
(528,970)
|
Decrease
in net assets from operations |
|
($2,611,016)
|
($541,171)
|
DISTRIBUTIONS
TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Total
distributions |
|
($26,297)
|
($18,371)
|
TRANSACTIONS
IN FUND SHARES |
|
4/1/22-9/30/22
|
11/16/21
1-3/31/22 |
|
|
SHARES
|
VALUE
|
SHARES
|
VALUE
|
Shares
sold |
|
140,000
|
$2,901,658
|
465,000
|
$11,181,214
|
Shares
redeemed |
+
|
(10,000)
|
(220,608)
|
—
|
—
|
Net
transactions in fund shares |
|
130,000
|
$2,681,050
|
465,000
|
$11,181,214
|
SHARES
OUTSTANDING AND NET ASSETS |
|
4/1/22-9/30/22
|
11/16/21
1-3/31/22 |
|
|
SHARES
|
NET
ASSETS |
SHARES
|
NET
ASSETS |
Beginning
of period |
|
465,000
|
$10,621,672
|
—
|
$—
|
Total
increase |
+
|
130,000
|
43,737
|
465,000
|
10,621,672
|
End
of period |
|
595,000
|
$10,665,409
|
465,000
|
$10,621,672
|
1 |
Commencement
of operations. |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial
Notes, unaudited
1. Business
Structure of the Fund:
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF is a series of Schwab Strategic Trust (the
trust), a no-load, open-end management investment company. The trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The list below shows all the operational funds in
the trust as of the end of the period, including the fund discussed in this report, which is highlighted:
SCHWAB
STRATEGIC TRUST (ORGANIZED JANUARY 27, 2009) |
Schwab
Ariel ESG ETF |
Schwab
U.S. TIPS ETF |
Schwab
U.S. REIT ETF |
Schwab
Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF |
Schwab
1000 Index® ETF |
Schwab
Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Broad Market ETF |
Schwab
Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Large-Cap ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF |
Schwab
1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF |
Schwab
5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Mid-Cap ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Small-Cap ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF |
Schwab
International Dividend Equity ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF |
Schwab
International Equity ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF |
Schwab
International Small-Cap Equity ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF |
Schwab
Emerging Markets Equity ETF |
Schwab
Crypto Thematic ETF |
The fund issues
and redeems shares at its net asset value per share (NAV) only in large blocks of shares (Creation Units). These transactions are usually in exchange for a basket of securities and/or an amount of cash. As a practical matter, only institutional
investors who have entered into an authorized participant agreement purchase or redeem Creation Units. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the fund are not redeemable securities.
Individual shares of the fund trade on national securities
exchanges and elsewhere during the trading day and can only be bought and sold at market prices throughout the trading day through a broker-dealer. Because fund shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than
NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). A chart showing the frequency at which the fund’s daily closing market price was at a discount or premium to the fund’s NAV can be found at www.schwabassetmanagement.com.
The fund maintains its own account for purposes of holding
assets and accounting, and is considered a separate entity for tax purposes. Within its account, the fund may also keep certain assets in segregated accounts, as required by securities law.
2. Significant Accounting Policies:
The following is a summary of the significant accounting
policies the fund uses in its preparation of financial statements. The fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies. The accounting policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).
The fund may invest in certain mutual funds and exchange-traded
funds (ETFs), which are referred to as "underlying funds". For more information about the underlying funds’ operations and policies, please refer to those funds’ semiannual and annual reports, which are filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
(a) Security Valuation
Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board has
designated authority to a Valuation Designee, the fund’s investment adviser, to make fair valuation determinations under adopted procedures, subject to Board oversight. The investment adviser has formed a Pricing Committee to administer the
pricing and valuation of portfolio securities and other assets and to ensure that prices used for internal purposes or provided by third parties reasonably reflect fair value. The Valuation Designee may utilize independent pricing services,
quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers and other market sources to determine fair value.
Securities held in the fund’s portfolio are valued every
business day. The following valuation policies and procedures are used by the Valuation Designee to value various types of securities:
•
Securities traded on an exchange or over-the-counter: Traded securities are valued at the closing value for the day, or, on days when no closing value has been reported, at the mean of the most recent bid
and ask quotes.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial
Notes, unaudited (continued)
2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued):
• Mutual funds: Mutual funds are valued at their respective NAVs.
•
Securities for which no quoted value is available: The Valuation Designee has adopted procedures to fair value the fund’s securities when market prices are not “readily available” or are
unreliable. For example, a security may be fair valued when it’s de-listed or its trading is halted or suspended; when a security’s primary pricing source is unable or unwilling to provide a price; or when a security’s primary
trading market is closed during regular market hours. Fair value determinations are made in good faith in accordance with adopted valuation procedures. The Valuation Designee considers a number of factors, including unobservable market inputs, when
arriving at fair value. The Valuation Designee may employ methods such as the review of related or comparable assets or liabilities, related market activities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, transactional back-testing,
disposition analysis and other relevant information. Due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, there can be no assurance that a fund could obtain the fair value assigned to the security upon the sale of such security.
In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value
measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the fund discloses the fair value of its investments in a hierarchy that prioritizes the significant inputs to valuation methods used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to
valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation (Level 3
measurements). If inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation. If it is determined that either the volume
and/or level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased (from normal conditions for that asset or liability) or price quotations or observable inputs are not associated with orderly transactions, increased analysis and
management judgment will be required to estimate fair value.
The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as
follows:
•
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities — Investments whose values are based on quoted market prices in active markets, and whose values are therefore classified as Level 1 prices, include active listed
equities and mutual funds. Investments in mutual funds are valued daily at their NAVs, which are classified as Level 1 prices, without consideration to the classification level of the underlying securities held by an underlying fund.
•
Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) — Investments that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but whose
values are based on quoted market prices, dealer quotations or valuations provided by alternative pricing sources supported by observable inputs are classified as Level 2 prices. These generally include U.S. government and sovereign obligations,
most government agency securities, investment-grade corporate bonds, certain mortgage products, less liquid listed equities, and state, municipal and provincial obligations.
•
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Valuation Designee’s assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) — Investments whose values are classified as Level 3 prices have significant unobservable
inputs, as they may trade infrequently or not at all. When observable prices are not readily available for these securities, one or more valuation methods are used for which sufficient and reliable data is available. The inputs used in estimating
the value of Level 3 prices may include the original transaction price, quoted prices for similar securities or assets in active markets, completed or pending third-party transactions in the underlying investment or comparable issuers, and changes
in financial ratios or cash flows. Level 3 prices may also be adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability, with the amount of such discount estimated in the absence of market information. Assumptions used due to the lack of observable
inputs may significantly impact the resulting fair value and therefore the fund’s results of operations.
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are
not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
The levels associated with valuing the fund’s
investments as of September 30, 2022 are disclosed in the Portfolio Holdings.
(b) Security Transactions:
Security transactions are recorded as of the date the order
to buy or sell the security is executed. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are based on the identified costs of the securities involved.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial
Notes, unaudited (continued)
2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued):
(c) Investment Income:
Interest income is recorded as it accrues. Dividends and
distributions from portfolio securities and underlying funds are recorded on the date they are effective (the ex-dividend date). Any distributions from underlying funds are recorded in accordance with the character of the distributions as designated
by the underlying funds.
(d) Expenses:
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement
(Advisory Agreement) between the investment adviser and the trust, the investment adviser will pay the operating expenses of the fund, excluding taxes, any brokerage expenses, and extraordinary or non-routine expenses. Taxes, any brokerage expenses
and extraordinary or non-routine expenses that are specific to the fund are charged directly to the fund. The Advisory Agreement excludes paying acquired fund fees and expenses, which are indirect expenses incurred by a fund through its investments
in underlying funds.
(e) Distributions to
Shareholders:
The fund makes distributions from net
investment income, if any, quarterly and from net realized capital gains, if any, once a year. To receive a distribution, you must be a registered shareholder on the record date. Distributions are paid to shareholders on the payable date.
(f) Accounting Estimates:
The accounting policies described in this report conform to
GAAP. Notwithstanding this, shareholders should understand that in order to follow these principles, fund management has to make estimates and assumptions that affect the information reported in the financial statements. It’s possible that
once the results are known, they may turn out to be different from these estimates and these differences may be material.
(g) Federal Income Taxes:
The fund intends to meet federal income and excise tax
requirements for regulated investment companies under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. Accordingly, the fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders
each year. As long as the fund meets the tax requirements, it is not required to pay federal income tax.
(h) Indemnification:
Under the fund’s organizational documents, the
officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business the fund enters into contracts with its vendors and others that provide
general indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund. However, based on experience, the fund expects the risk of loss attributable to
these arrangements to be remote.
(i) Regulatory
Update:
In October 2022, the SEC adopted rule and
form amendments to require mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information deemed important for retail investors to assess and monitor their
fund investments. Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in funds’ streamlined shareholder reports but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form
N-CSR. The rule and form amendments are effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The compliance date is 18 months following the effective date. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of these rule and form amendment
changes on the content of the current shareholder report and the newly created annual and semiannual streamlined shareholder reports.
3. Risk Factors:
Investing in the fund may involve certain risks, as discussed
in the fund’s prospectus, including, but not limited to, those described below. Any of these risks could cause an investor to lose money.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial
Notes, unaudited (continued)
3. Risk Factors (continued):
Proxy Portfolio Risk.
Unlike traditional ETFs that disclose their portfolio holdings on a daily basis, the fund does not disclose its holdings daily, rather it discloses a Proxy Portfolio. The goal of the Proxy Portfolio, during all market conditions, is to track closely
the daily performance of the Actual Portfolio and minimize intra-day misalignment between the performance of the Proxy Portfolio and the performance of the Actual Portfolio. The Proxy Portfolio is designed to reflect the economic exposures and the
risk characteristics of the Actual Portfolio on any given trading day.
The Proxy Portfolio is intended to provide authorized
participants and other market participants with enough information to support an effective arbitrage mechanism that keeps the market price of the fund at or close to the underlying net asset value (NAV) per share of the fund. The Proxy Portfolio
methodology is novel and not yet proven as an effective arbitrage mechanism. The effectiveness of the Proxy Portfolio as an arbitrage mechanism is contingent upon, among other things, the fund’s factor model analysis creating a Proxy Portfolio
that performs in a manner substantially identical to the performance of the Actual Portfolio and the willingness of authorized participants and other market participants to trade based on a Proxy Portfolio. There is no guarantee that this arbitrage
mechanism will operate as intended. Further, while the Proxy Portfolio may include some of the fund’s holdings, it is not the fund’s Actual Portfolio. ETFs trading on the basis of a published Proxy Portfolio may exhibit wider premiums
and discounts, bid/ask spreads, and tracking error than other ETFs using the same investment strategies that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, especially during periods of market disruption or volatility. Therefore, shares of the fund may
cost investors more to trade than shares of a traditional ETF.
•
Each day the fund calculates the overlap between the holdings of the prior Business Day’s Proxy Portfolio compared to the Actual Portfolio (Proxy Overlap) and the difference, in percentage terms, between the Proxy Portfolio per share NAV
and that of the Actual Portfolio (Tracking Error). If the Tracking Error becomes large, there is a risk that the performance of the Proxy Portfolio may deviate from the performance of the Actual Portfolio.
•
The fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) monitors its Tracking Error, bid/ask spread and premiums/discounts. If deviations become too large, the Board will consider the continuing viability of the fund, whether shareholders are being
harmed, and what, if any, corrective measures would be appropriate. See the Statement of Additional Information for further discussion of the Board’s monitoring responsibilities.
•
Although the fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Proxy Portfolio to identify the fund’s trading strategy, which if successful, could result in such market
participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders. The Proxy Portfolio and any related disclosures have been designed to minimize the risk of predatory trading practices,
but they may not be successful in doing so.
Premium/Discount Risk.
Publication of the Proxy Portfolio is not the same level of transparency as the publication of the Actual Portfolio by a fully transparent ETF. Although the Proxy Portfolio is intended to provide authorized participants and other market participants
with enough information to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that is intended to keep the market price of the fund at or close to the underlying NAV per share of the fund, there is a risk (which may increase during periods of market
disruption or volatility) that market prices will vary significantly from NAV per share of the fund. This means the price paid to buy shares on an exchange may not match the value of the fund’s portfolio. The same is true when shares are
sold.
Trading Halt Risk. If securities representing 10% or more of the fund’s Actual Portfolio do not have readily available market quotations, the fund will promptly request that the listing exchange halt trading in the fund’s
shares which means that investors would not be able to trade their shares. Trading halts may have a greater impact on the fund compared to other ETFs due to the fund’s non-transparent structure. If the trading of a security held in the
fund’s Actual Portfolio is halted, or otherwise does not have readily available market quotations, and the investment adviser believes that the lack of any such readily available market quotations may affect the reliability of the Proxy
Portfolio as an arbitrage vehicle, or otherwise determines it is in the best interest of the fund, the investment adviser will promptly disclose on the fund’s website the identity and weighting of such security for so long as such
security’s trading is halted or otherwise does not have readily available market quotations and remains in the Actual Portfolio.
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the fund. The fund may have a limited number of institutions that act as authorized participants, none of which are
obligated to engage in creation and/or redemption transactions. To the extent that these institutions exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders with respect to the fund and no other authorized participant is
able to step forward to process creation and/or redemption orders, fund shares may trade at a discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting. This risk may be more pronounced during periods of market volatility or market
disruptions. The fact that the fund is offering a novel and unique structure may affect the number of entities willing to act as authorized participants.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial
Notes, unaudited (continued)
3. Risk Factors (continued):
Tracking Error Risk.
Although the Proxy Portfolio is designed to reflect the economic exposure and risk characteristics of the fund’s Actual Portfolio on any given trading day, there is a risk that the performance of the Proxy Portfolio will diverge from the
performance of the Actual Portfolio, potentially materially.
Equity Risk. The prices of
equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to
fall over short or extended periods of time.
Market Capitalization Risk.
Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when securities of a particular market capitalization fall
behind other types of investments, the fund’s performance could be impacted.
Small-Cap Company Risk.
Securities issued by small-cap companies may be riskier than those issued by larger companies, and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns.
Mid-Cap Company Risk.
Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and the value of securities issued by these companies may move sharply.
Management Risk. As with
all actively managed funds, the fund is subject to the risk that its investment adviser and/or subadviser will select investments or allocate assets in a manner that could cause the fund to underperform or otherwise not meet its investment
objective. The fund’s investment adviser and/or subadviser applies its own investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the fund, but there can be no guarantee that they will produce the desired
results.
ESG Risk. Because the fund considers ESG metrics in addition to fundamental financial metrics when selecting securities, its portfolio may perform differently than funds that do not screen for ESG attributes. Additionally, the
criteria used to select companies for investment may result in the fund investing in securities, industries or sectors that underperform the market as a whole. ESG considerations may prioritize long-term rather than short-term returns. Furthermore,
when screening securities’ ESG attributes, the portfolio management team utilizes information published by third-party sources and as a result there is a risk that this information might be incorrect, incomplete, inconsistent or incomparable,
which could cause the subadviser to incorrectly assess a company’s business practices with respect to its ESG practices. ESG is not a uniformly defined characteristic and applying ESG criteria involves a subjective assessment.
Value Investing Risk. Value
investing attempts to identify undervalued companies with characteristics for improved valuations. Securities that exhibit value characteristics tend to perform differently and shift in and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market
and economic conditions. As a result, the fund’s performance may at times fall behind the performance of other funds that invest more broadly or in securities that exhibit different characteristics.
Market Risk. Financial
markets rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Markets may be impacted by economic, political, regulatory and other conditions, including economic sanctions and other government actions. In addition,
the occurrence of global events, such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters and epidemics, may also negatively affect the financial markets. As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of an
investment in the fund will fluctuate, which means that an investor could lose money over short or long periods.
Liquidity Risk. The fund
may be unable to sell certain securities, such as illiquid securities, readily at a favorable time or price, or the fund may have to sell them at a loss.
Securities Lending Risk.
Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in, or delay in recovery of, the loaned securities if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent.
Market Trading Risk.
Although fund shares are listed on national securities exchanges, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for fund shares will develop or be maintained. If an active market is not maintained, investors may find it difficult to buy or
sell fund shares.
Shares of the Fund May Trade
at Prices Other Than NAV. Fund shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of the shares of the fund will approximate the fund’s NAV,
there may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. In addition, due to the fund’s novel and unique structure, shares of the fund may trade at a larger premium or discount to the NAV of shares of traditional ETFs that
disclose their portfolio holdings daily. As a result, an investor may pay more than NAV when buying shares of the fund in the secondary market, and an investor may receive less than NAV when selling those shares in the secondary market. The market
price of fund shares may deviate, sometimes significantly, from NAV during periods of market disruptions or volatility.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial
Notes, unaudited (continued)
3. Risk Factors (continued):
Please refer to the fund’s prospectus for a more
complete description of the principal risks of investing in the fund.
4. Affiliates and Affiliated Transactions:
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc., dba Schwab Asset
Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation, serves as the fund’s investment adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the investment adviser and the trust. Ariel Investments, LLC (Ariel), the fund’s
subadviser, provides day-to-day portfolio management services to the fund, subject to the supervision of the investment adviser.
For its advisory services to the fund, the investment adviser
is entitled to receive an annual management fee, payable monthly, equal to 0.59% of the fund’s average daily net assets.
The investment adviser (not the fund) pays a portion of the
management fee it receives to Ariel in return for its portfolio management services.
Interfund Borrowing and Lending
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund may
enter into interfund borrowing and lending transactions with other funds in the Fund Complex (for definition refer to the Trustees and Officers section). All loans are for temporary or emergency purposes and the interest rate to be charged will be
the average of the overnight repurchase agreement rate and the short-term bank loan rate. All loans are subject to numerous conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds. The interfund lending facility is
subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Board. The fund had no interfund borrowing or lending activity during the period.
5. Other Service Providers:
SEI Investments Distribution Co. is the principal underwriter
and distributor of shares of the fund.
State Street Bank
and Trust Company (State Street) serves as the fund’s transfer agent. As part of these services, the transfer agent maintains records pertaining to the sale, redemption and transfer of the fund’s shares. The transfer agent is also
responsible for the order-taking function for the fund’s shares.
State Street also serves as custodian and accountant for the
fund. The custodian is responsible for the daily safekeeping of securities and cash held by the fund. The fund’s accountant maintains all books and records related to the fund’s transactions.
6. Board of Trustees:
The Board may include people who are officers and/or directors
of the investment adviser or its affiliates. Federal securities law limits the percentage of such “interested persons” who may serve on a trust’s board, and the trust was in compliance with these limitations throughout the report
period. The fund does not pay any interested or non-interested trustees (independent trustees). The independent trustees are paid by the investment adviser. For information regarding the trustees, please refer to the Trustees and Officers table at
the end of this report.
7. Borrowing from Banks:
During the period, the fund was a participant with other funds
in the Fund Complex in a joint, syndicated, committed $850 million line of credit (the Syndicated Credit Facility), which matured on September 29, 2022. On September 29, 2022, the Syndicated Credit Facility was amended to run for a new 364 day
period with the line of credit amount increasing to $1 billion, maturing on September 28, 2023. Under the terms of the Syndicated Credit Facility, in addition to the investment adviser paying the interest charged on any borrowings by the fund, the
investment adviser paid a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on its proportionate share of the unused portion of the Syndicated Credit Facility.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial
Notes, unaudited (continued)
7. Borrowing from Banks (continued):
During the period, the fund was a participant with other
funds in the Fund Complex in a joint, unsecured, uncommitted $400 million line of credit (the Uncommitted Credit Facility), with State Street, which matured on September 29, 2022. On September 29, 2022, the Uncommitted Credit Facility was amended to
run for a new 364 day period with the line of credit amount remaining unchanged, maturing on September 28, 2023. Under the terms of the Uncommitted Credit Facility, the investment adviser pays interest on the amount the fund borrows. There were no
borrowings from either line of credit during the period.
The fund also has access to custodian overdraft facilities.
The fund may have utilized the overdraft facility and incurred an interest expense, which is paid by the investment adviser. The interest expense is determined based on a negotiated rate above the current Federal Funds Rate.
8. Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities:
For the period ended September 30, 2022, purchases and sales of
securities (excluding in-kind transactions and short-term obligations) were as follows:
PURCHASES
OF SECURITIES |
SALES
OF SECURITIES |
$1,290,462
|
$1,008,935
|
9. In-Kind Transactions:
The consideration for the purchase of Creation Units of the
fund often consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of equity securities, which constitutes an optimized representation of the securities involved in a relevant fund’s underlying index, and an amount of cash. Investors
purchasing and redeeming Creation Units are subject to a standard creation transaction fee and a standard redemption transaction fee paid to the custodian to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of
Creation Units. Purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units for cash are subject to an additional variable charge paid to the fund that will offset the transaction costs to the fund of buying or selling portfolio securities. In addition, purchasers
and redeemers of shares in Creation Units are responsible for payment of the costs of transferring securities to or out of the fund. From time to time, the investment adviser may cover the cost of any transaction fees when believed to be in the best
interests of the fund.
The in-kind transactions for the
period ended September 30, 2022, were as follows:
IN-KIND
PURCHASES OF SECURITIES |
IN-KIND
SALES OF SECURITIES |
$2,694,743
|
$205,432
|
For the period ended September 30,
2022, the fund realized net capital gains or losses resulting from in-kind redemptions of Creation Units. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the fund and are not distributed to existing fund shareholders, the gains or losses are
reclassified from accumulated net realized gains or losses to capital received from investors at the end of the fund’s tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The net realized in-kind gains
or losses on sales of in-kind redemptions for the period ended September 30, 2022 are disclosed in the fund’s Statement of Operations, if any.
10. Federal Income Taxes:
As of September 30, 2022, the tax basis cost of the
fund’s investments and gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation were as follows:
TAX
COST |
GROSS
UNREALIZED APPRECIATION |
GROSS
UNREALIZED DEPRECIATION |
NET
UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) |
$13,875,418
|
$88,080
|
($3,254,747)
|
($3,166,667)
|
Capital loss carryforwards have no
expiration and may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes. As of March 31, 2022, the fund had capital loss carryforwards of $14,758.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Financial
Notes, unaudited (continued)
10. Federal Income Taxes (continued):
The tax-basis components of distributions and components of
distributable earnings on a tax basis are finalized at fiscal year-end; accordingly, tax basis balances have not been determined as of September 30, 2022. The tax-basis components of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022
were as follows:
|
PRIOR
FISCAL YEAR END DISTRIBUTIONS |
|
ORDINARY
INCOME |
|
$18,371
|
Distributions paid to shareholders
are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain
income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements. The fund may also designate a portion of the amount paid to
redeeming shareholders as a distribution for tax purposes.
As of March 31, 2022, management has reviewed the tax positions
for open periods (for federal purposes, three years from the date of filing and for state purposes, four years from the date of filing) as applicable to the fund, and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the fund’s
financial statements. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. During the period ended March 31, 2022, the fund did not incur any interest or
penalties.
11. Subsequent Events:
Management has determined there are no subsequent events or
transactions through the date the financial statements were issued that would have materially impacted the financial statements as presented.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Shareholder
Vote Results (unaudited)
A Special Meeting of Shareholders of Schwab Strategic Trust
(the “Trust”) was held on June 1, 2022, for the purpose of seeking shareholder approval to elect the following individuals as trustees of the Trust: Walter W. Bettinger II, Richard A. Wurster, Michael J. Beer, Robert W. Burns, Nancy F.
Heller, David L. Mahoney, Jane P. Moncreiff, Kiran M. Patel, Kimberly S. Patmore, and J. Derek Penn. The number of votes necessary to conduct the Special Meeting and approve the proposal was obtained. The results of the shareholder vote are listed
below:
Proposal
– To elect each of the following individuals as trustees of the Trust: |
For
|
Withheld
|
Walter
W. Bettinger II |
1,707,011,744.958
|
53,766,812.577
|
Richard
A. Wurster |
1,741,778,933.018
|
18,999,624.517
|
Michael
J. Beer |
1,741,911,579.511
|
18,866,978.024
|
Robert
W. Burns |
1,742,002,589.714
|
18,775,967.821
|
Nancy
F. Heller |
1,743,265,288.229
|
17,513,269.306
|
David
L. Mahoney |
1,488,067,807.852
|
272,710,749.683
|
Jane
P. Moncreiff |
1,743,396,670.121
|
17,381,887.414
|
Kiran
M. Patel |
1,738,761,227.827
|
22,017,329.708
|
Kimberly
S. Patmore |
1,740,654,694.664
|
20,123,862.871
|
J.
Derek Penn |
1,739,737,491.136
|
21,041,066.399
|
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Liquidity Risk
Management Program (unaudited)
The fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk
management program (the “program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has designated the fund’s investment adviser, Charles
Schwab Investment Management, Inc., dba Schwab Asset Management, as the administrator of the program. Personnel of the investment adviser or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program.
Under the program, the investment adviser manages a
fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the fund. The program is reasonably designed to assess and manage
a fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration the fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its historical redemption history and
shareholder concentrations; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources, including the custodian overdraft facility and lines of credit. The investment adviser’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of each fund’s
investments is supported by third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The fund’s Board reviewed a report at its meeting held on
September 19, 2022 prepared by the investment adviser regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period June 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022, which included individual fund liquidity metrics. No significant liquidity events
impacting the fund were noted in the report. In addition, the investment adviser provided its assessment that the program had been operating effectively in managing the fund’s liquidity risk.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Investment
Advisory Agreement Approval
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), requires that
the continuation of a fund’s investment advisory agreement must be specifically approved (1) by the vote of the trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the fund, and (2) by the vote of a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the
investment advisory agreement or “interested persons” of any party (the Independent Trustees), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. In connection with such approvals, the fund’s trustees
must request and evaluate, and the investment adviser is required to furnish, such information as may be reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the investment advisory agreement.
The Board of Trustees (the Board or the Trustees, as
appropriate) calls and holds one or more meetings each year that are dedicated, in whole or in part, to considering whether to renew the investment advisory agreement between Schwab Strategic Trust (the Trust) and Charles Schwab Investment
Management, Inc. (dba Schwab Asset Management) (the investment adviser), and the subadvisory agreement between the investment adviser and Ariel Investments, LLC (Ariel) (such investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements, collectively, the
Agreements) with respect to Schwab Ariel ESG ETF (the Fund), and to review certain other agreements pursuant to which the investment adviser provides investment advisory services to other funds in the Trust and certain other registered investment
companies. In preparation for the meeting(s), the Board requests and reviews a wide variety of materials provided by the investment adviser and Ariel, including information about their affiliates, personnel, business goals and priorities,
profitability, third-party oversight, corporate structure and operations. The Board also receives data provided by an independent provider of investment company data. This information is in addition to the detailed information about the Fund that
the Board reviews during the course of each year, including information that relates to the Fund’s operations and performance, legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, and sales and marketing activity. In considering
the renewal, the Independent Trustees receive advice from Independent Trustees’ legal counsel, including a memorandum regarding the responsibilities of trustees for the approval of investment advisory agreements. In addition, the Independent
Trustees participate in question and answer sessions with representatives of the investment adviser and meet in executive session outside the presence of Fund management.
As part of the renewal process and ongoing oversight of the
investment advisory and sub-advisory relationships, the Independent Trustees’ legal counsel, on behalf of the Independent Trustees, sends an information request letter to the investment adviser and the investment adviser sends an information
request letter to Ariel seeking certain relevant
information. The responses by the investment adviser and Ariel are provided to
the Trustees in the Board materials for their review prior to their meeting, and the Trustees are provided with the opportunity to request any additional materials.
The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees,
considered information specifically relating to the continuance of the Agreements with respect to the Fund at meetings held on May 16, 2022 and June 8, 2022, and approved the renewal of the Agreements with respect to the Fund for an additional
one-year term at the meeting on June 8, 2022 called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Board’s approval of the continuance of the Agreements
was based on consideration and evaluation of a variety of specific factors discussed at these meetings and at prior meetings, including:
1.
|
the nature, extent and
quality of the services provided to the Fund under the Agreements, including the resources of the investment adviser and its affiliates, and Ariel, dedicated to the Fund; |
2.
|
the Fund’s limited
investment performance; |
3.
|
the Fund’s expenses and
how those expenses compared to those of certain other similar exchange-traded funds; |
4.
|
the profitability of the
investment adviser and its affiliates, including Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab), with respect to the Fund, including both direct and indirect benefits accruing to the investment adviser and its affiliates, as well as the profitability of
Ariel; and |
5.
|
the extent
to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows and whether fee levels in the Agreements reflect those economies of scale for the benefit of Fund investors. |
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services. The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund and the resources of the investment adviser and its affiliates and Ariel dedicated to the Fund. In this regard, the Trustees
evaluated, among other things, the investment adviser’s and Ariel’s experience, track record, compliance program, resources dedicated to hiring and retaining skilled personnel and specialized talent, and information security resources.
The Trustees also considered information provided by the investment adviser and Ariel relating to services and support provided with respect to the Fund’s portfolio management team, portfolio strategy, and internal investment guidelines, as
well as trading infrastructure, liquidity management, product design and analysis, shareholder communications, securities valuation, fund accounting and custody, and vendor and risk oversight. The Trustees also considered investments the investment
adviser has made in its infrastructure, including modernizing the investment adviser’s
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
technology and use of data, increasing expertise in key areas (including
portfolio management and trade operations), and improving business continuity, cybersecurity, due diligence, risk management processes, and information security programs, which are designed to provide enhanced services to the Fund and its
shareholders. The Trustees considered Schwab’s overall financial condition and its reputation as a full service brokerage firm, as well as the wide range of products, services and account features that benefit Fund shareholders who are
brokerage clients of Schwab. Following such evaluation, the Board concluded, within the context of its full deliberations, that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the investment adviser and Ariel to the Fund and the resources of
the investment adviser and its affiliates and Ariel supported renewal of the Agreements with respect to the Fund.
Fund Performance. The Board
considered that the Fund commenced operations on November 16, 2021 and therefore had less than one year of performance history available.
Fund Expenses. With respect to
the Fund’s expenses, the Trustees considered the rate of compensation called for by the Agreements and the Fund’s operating expense ratio, in each case, in comparison to those of other similar exchange-traded funds, such peer category
and comparison having been selected and calculated by an independent provider of investment company data. The investment adviser reported to the Board, and the Board took into account the risk assumed by the investment adviser in the development of
the Fund and provision of services provided as well as the competitive marketplace for financial products. The Board evaluated the Fund’s unitary fee through review of comparative information with respect to fees paid by other similar
exchange-traded funds. Following such evaluation, the Board concluded, within the context of its full deliberations, that the expenses of the Fund are reasonable and supported renewal of the Agreements with respect to the Fund.
Profitability. The Trustees
considered the compensation flowing to the investment adviser and its affiliates and Ariel, directly or indirectly, and reviewed profitability on a pre-tax basis, without regard to distribution expenses. In this connection, the Trustees reviewed
management’s profitability analyses. The Trustees also reviewed the profitability of the investment adviser relating to the Schwab fund complex as a whole, noting the benefits to Fund shareholders of being part of the Schwab fund complex,
including the allocations of certain fixed costs across the Fund and other funds in the complex. The Trustees also considered any other benefits derived by the investment adviser and Ariel from their relationships with the Fund, such as whether, by
virtue of their management of the Fund, the investment adviser or Ariel obtains investment information or other research resources that aid it in providing advisory services to other clients. With respect to the investment adviser and its affiliates
and Ariel,
the Trustees considered whether the compensation and profitability with
respect to the Fund under the Agreements and other service agreements were reasonable and justified in light of the quality of all services rendered to the Fund by the investment adviser and its affiliates and Ariel. The Trustees noted that the
investment adviser continues to invest substantial sums in its business in order to provide enhanced services and systems to benefit the Fund. With respect to the profitability of Ariel, the Board also considered that Ariel is compensated by the
investment adviser and not by the Fund directly, and such compensation reflects an arms-length negotiation between the investment adviser and Ariel. Based on this evaluation, the Board concluded, within the context of its full deliberations, that
the profitability of the investment adviser and Ariel, is reasonable and supported renewal of the Agreements with respect to the Fund.
Economies of Scale. Although
the Trustees recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Trustees considered the potential existence of any economies of scale and whether those could be passed along to the Fund’s shareholders through (i)
the enhancement of services provided to the Fund in return for fees paid, including through investments by the investment adviser in its infrastructure, including modernizing the investment adviser’s technology and use of data, increasing
expertise and capabilities in key areas (including portfolio and trade operations), and improving business continuity, cybersecurity, due diligence and information security programs, which are designed to provide enhanced services to the Fund and
its shareholders; and (ii) pricing the Fund to scale and keeping overall expenses down as the Fund grows. The Trustees acknowledged that the investment adviser’s internal costs of providing investment management, technology, administrative,
legal and compliance services to the Fund may increase as a result of regulatory or other developments. Based on this evaluation, the Board concluded, within the context of its full deliberations, that the Fund may expect to obtain reasonable
benefits from economies of scale.
In the course of
their deliberations, the Trustees may have accorded different weights to various factors and did not identify any particular information or factor that was all important or controlling. Based on the Trustees’ deliberation and their evaluation
of the information described above, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, approved the continuation of the Agreements with respect to the Fund and concluded that the compensation under the Agreements with respect to the Fund is fair
and reasonable in light of the services provided and the related expenses borne by the investment adviser and its affiliates and such other matters as the Trustees considered to be relevant in the exercise of their reasonable judgment.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Trustees and
Officers
The tables below give information about the trustees and
officers of Schwab Strategic Trust, which includes the funds covered in this report. The “Fund Complex” includes The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic
Trust and Laudus Trust. The Fund Complex includes 105 funds.
The address for all trustees and officers is 211 Main Street,
San Francisco, CA 94105. You can find more information about the trustees and officers in the Statement of Additional Information, which is available free by calling 1-877-824-5615.
Independent
Trustees |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served1) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by the Trustee |
Other
Directorships |
Michael J. Beer 1961 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since
2022) |
Retired.
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2016 – Sept. 2019), Principal Funds (investment management). |
105
|
Director
(2016 – 2019), Principal Funds, Inc. |
Robert
W. Burns 1959 Trustee (Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009; The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since
2016) |
Retired/Private
Investor. |
105
|
None
|
Nancy
F. Heller 1956 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2018)
|
Retired.
|
105
|
None
|
David
L. Mahoney 1954 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2011; Schwab Strategic Trust since
2016) |
Private
Investor. |
105
|
Director
(2004 – present), Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated Director (2009 – 2021), Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Director (2003 – 2019), Symantec Corporation |
Jane
P. Moncreiff 1961 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2019)
|
Consultant
(2018 – present), Fulham Advisers LLC (management consulting); Chief Investment Officer (2009 – 2017), CareGroup Healthcare System, Inc. (healthcare). |
105
|
None
|
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Independent
Trustees (continued) |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served1) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by the Trustee |
Other
Directorships |
Kiran
M. Patel 1948 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2011; Schwab Strategic Trust since
2016) |
Retired.
|
105
|
Director
(2008 – present), KLA-Tencor Corporation |
Kimberly
S. Patmore 1956 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2016)
|
Consultant
(2008 – present), Patmore Management Consulting (management consulting). |
105
|
None
|
J. Derek Penn 1957 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since
2021) |
Head
of Equity Sales and Trading (2006 – 2018), BNY Mellon (financial services). |
105
|
None
|
Interested
Trustees |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served1) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by the Trustee |
Other
Directorships |
Walter
W. Bettinger II2 1960 Chairman and Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital
Trust and Schwab Annuity Portfolios since 2008; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009; Laudus Trust since 2010) |
Co-Chairman
of the Board (July 2022 – present), Director and Chief Executive Officer (Oct. 2008 – present) and President (Feb. 2007 – Oct. 2021), The Charles Schwab Corporation; President and Chief Executive Officer (Oct. 2008 – Oct.
2021) and Director (May 2008 – Oct. 2021), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Director (Apr. 2006 – present), Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Director (Nov. 2017 – present), Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB; Director (July 2019 –
present), Charles Schwab Trust Bank; Director (May 2008 – present), Chief Executive Officer (Aug. 2017 – present) and President (Aug. 2017 – Nov. 2021), Schwab Holdings, Inc.; Director (Oct. 2020 – present), TD Ameritrade
Holding Corporation; Director (July 2016 – Oct. 2021), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. |
105
|
Director
(2008 – present), The Charles Schwab Corporation |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Interested
Trustees (continued) |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served1) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by the Trustee |
Other
Directorships |
Richard
A. Wurster2 1973 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity
Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2022) |
President
(Oct. 2021 – present) and Executive Vice President – Schwab Asset Management Solutions (Apr. 2019 – Oct. 2021), The Charles Schwab Corporation; President, Director (Oct. 2021 – present), Executive Vice President –
Schwab Asset Management Solutions (July 2019 – Oct. 2021) and Senior Vice President – Advisory (May 2016 – July 2019), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; President (Nov. 2021 – present), Schwab Holdings, Inc.; Director (Oct.
2021 – present) and Chief Executive Officer (Nov. 2019 – Jan. 2022), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Director, Chief Executive Officer and President (Mar. 2018 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Advisory, Inc.; Chief
Executive Officer (July 2016 – Apr. 2018) and President (Mar. 2017 – Apr. 2018), ThomasPartners, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer (July 2016 – Apr. 2018), Windhaven Investment Management, Inc. |
105
|
None
|
Officers
of the Trust |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served3) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Jonathan
de St. Paer 1973 President and Chief Executive Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and
Laudus Trust since 2018) |
Director
(Apr. 2019 – present), President (Oct. 2018 – present), Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2021 – present), and Chief Executive Officer (Apr. 2019 – Nov. 2019), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Senior Vice President
(June 2020 – Mar. 2022) and Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2021 – Mar. 2022), Charles Schwab Investment Advisory, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer (Apr. 2019 – present), President (Nov. 2018 – present) and Trustee (Apr. 2019
– Dec. 2020), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs; Director (Mar. 2019 – Apr. 2022), Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited; Managing Director (May 2022 – present), Senior
Vice President (Apr. 2019 – May 2022) and Senior Vice President – Strategy and Product Development (CSIM) (Jan. 2014 – Mar. 2019), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. |
Mark
Fischer 1970 Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab
Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2013) |
Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer (Jan. 2016 – present) and Chief Operating Officer (Dec. 2020 – present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs; Chief Financial Officer (Mar. 2020 – present) and Vice President (Oct. 2013 –
present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Director (July 2020 – Apr. 2022), Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited. |
Omar
Aguilar 1970 Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and
Laudus Trust since 2011) |
Chief
Executive Officer (Jan. 2022 – present), Chief Investment Officer (Apr. 2011 – present) and Senior Vice President (Apr. 2011 – Dec. 2021), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
(June 2011 – present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs. |
Brett
Wander 1961 Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and
Laudus Trust since 2011) |
Senior
Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Apr. 2011 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (June 2011 – present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs. |
William
P. McMahon, Jr. 1972 Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic
Trust and Laudus Trust since 2021) |
Senior
Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Jan. 2020 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (June 2021 – present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs; Senior Vice
President and Chief Investment Officer – ThomasPartners Strategies (Apr. 2018 – Dec. 2019), Charles Schwab Investment Advisory, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (May 2001 – Apr. 2018), ThomasPartners, Inc.
|
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Officers
of the Trust (continued) |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served3) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Catherine
MacGregor 1964 Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Schwab Funds and Schwab ETFs Chief Legal Officer, Vice President and Clerk, Laudus Trust (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab
Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2005; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009) |
Chief
Legal Officer (Mar. 2022 – present) and Vice President (Sept. 2005 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Managing Director (May 2022 – present) and Vice President (July 2005 – May 2022), Charles Schwab
& Co., Inc.; Vice President (Dec. 2005 – present) and Chief Legal Officer and Clerk (Mar. 2007 – present), Laudus Trust; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary (Oct. 2021 – present), Vice President (Nov. 2005 – Oct. 2021) and
Assistant Secretary (June 2007 – Oct. 2021), Schwab Funds; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary (Oct. 2021 – present), Vice President and Assistant Secretary (Oct. 2009 – Oct. 2021), Schwab ETFs. |
1 |
Each Trustee shall hold
office until the election and qualification of his or her successor, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed. The retirement policy requires that each independent trustee retire by December 31 of the year in which the Trustee turns 74 or the
Trustee’s twentieth year of service as an independent trustee on any trust in the Fund Complex, whichever occurs first. |
2 |
Mr. Bettinger and Mr. Wurster
are Interested Trustees. Mr. Bettinger and Mr. Wurster are Interested Trustees because each owns stock of The Charles Schwab Corporation (CSC), the parent company of Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., the investment adviser for the trusts
in the Fund Complex, and is an employee of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab), the principal underwriter for The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust. |
3 |
The President, Treasurer and
Secretary/Clerk hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each of the other officers serves at the pleasure of the Board. |
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
ask See
“offer.”
asset allocation The practice of dividing a portfolio among different asset classes, with each asset class assigned a particular percentage to help offset risks and rewards, based on your goals, time horizon and risk
tolerance.
asset class A group of securities with similar structure and basic characteristics. Stocks, bonds and cash are the three main examples of asset classes.
authorized participant
(AP) A large institutional investor that places orders for creation units with the funds’ distributor.
beta A historical
measure of an investment’s volatility relative to a market index (usually the S&P 500®). The index is defined as having a beta of 1.00. Investments with a beta
higher than 1.00 have been more volatile than the index; those with a beta of less than 1.00 have been less volatile.
bid The highest
price at which someone is willing to buy a security.
Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index An index that is a broad-based benchmark measuring the performance of the U.S. investment grade, taxable bond market, including U.S. Treasuries, government-related and corporate bonds, mortgage pass-through
securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities that are publicly available for sale in the United States. To be eligible for inclusion in the index, securities must be fixed rate, non-convertible, U.S.
dollar-denominated with at least $300 million or more of outstanding face value and have one or more years remaining to maturity. The index excludes certain types of securities, including tax-exempt state and local government series bonds,
structured notes embedded with swaps or other special features, private placements, floating rate securities, inflation-linked bonds and Eurobonds. The index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the index are updated on the last
business day of each month.
Bloomberg US Treasury
Bills 1–3 Month Index An index that includes all publicly issued zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Bills that have a remaining maturity of less than 3 months but more than 1 month, are rated investment
grade and have $300 million or more of outstanding face value. It excludes zero-coupon STRIPS.
cap,
capitalization See “market cap.”
capital gain, capital
loss The difference between the amount paid for an investment and its value at a later time. If the investment has been sold, the capital gain or loss is considered a realized gain or loss. If the
investment is still held, the gain or loss is still “on paper” and is considered unrealized.
commencement of
operations The date that the first NAV was calculated.
creation unit
(C.U.) A basket of securities that is delivered by an authorized participant (AP) to the fund equal to the current holdings of the ETF, plus a designated cash component. In return, the APs receive a large
block of ETF shares (typically 50,000 shares), which investors can then buy and sell in the secondary market.
dividend yield A
stock’s indicated annual dividend divided by current price. At the portfolio level, it is the value-weighted average of the dividend yield of the securities in the portfolio.
exchange A
marketplace, or any organization or group that provides or maintains a marketplace for trading securities, options, futures, or commodities.
expense ratio The amount that is
taken from the fund’s assets each year to cover the operating expenses. An expense ratio of 0.50% means that a fund’s expenses amount to half of one percent of its average net assets a year.
gross domestic product
(GDP) The output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States.
inception date The
date that the shares began trading in the secondary market.
indicative optimized portfolio value (IOPV) A calculation disseminated by the stock exchange that approximates the fund’s NAV every 15 seconds throughout the trading day.
liquidity The
ability to convert a security or asset quickly into cash.
market cap, market capitalization The value of a company as determined by the total value of all shares of its stock outstanding. Free-float market capitalization is a variation of market capitalization that only includes shares generally
available to the public, and excludes shares of a company held by entities such as the government. Modified market capitalization weighting represents a mix between conventional market capitalization weighting and equal weighting.
market price
return The return based on the change in market price per share of the fund over a given time period. Market price returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the
fund at market price.
median market cap The midpoint of the range of market caps of the stocks held by a fund. There are different ways of calculating median market cap. With a simple median, half of the stocks in the fund’s portfolio would
be larger than the median, and half would be smaller. With a weighted median (the type that is calculated for these funds), half of the fund’s assets are invested in stocks that are larger than the median market cap, and half in stocks that
are smaller.
MSCI EAFE Index (Net) A free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. The Net version of the index reflects
reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes, but reflects no deductions for expenses or other taxes; returns are calculated applying dividend withholding rates applicable to non-resident persons who do not benefit from double taxation
treaties.
net asset value (NAV) The value of one share of a fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets, subtracting liabilities, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding.
NAV return The
return based on the change in NAV of the fund over a given time period. NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund.
offer (ask) The
lowest price at which an individual is willing to sell a security.
open The price at
which a security opened for trading on a given day.
outstanding shares, shares outstanding When speaking of the fund, indicates all shares currently held by investors.
price-to-book ratio
(P/B) The market price of a company’s stock compared with its “book value.” A mutual fund’s P/B is the weighted average of the P/B of all stocks in the fund’s
portfolio.
price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) The market price of a company’s stock compared with earnings over the past year. A mutual fund’s P/E is the weighted average of the P/E of all stocks in the fund’s portfolio.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
primary market The market that
deals with the issuance of new securities.
rights
and warrants Rights and warrants are types of securities that entitle the holder to purchase a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price for a specific period of time. Rights allow a
shareholder to buy more shares directly from the company, usually at a price somewhat lower than the current market price of the outstanding shares. Warrants are usually issued with bonds and preferred stock. Rights and warrants can trade on the
market separately from the company’s stock. The prices of rights and warrants do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying common stock. Rights usually expire within a few weeks of issuance, while warrants may not expire
for several years. If a right or warrant is not exercised within the specified time period, it will become worthless and a fund will lose the purchase price it paid for the right or warrant and the right to purchase the underlying
security.
Russell 1000 Index An index that measures the performance of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell 3000 Index, and represents approximately 92% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. The Russell 3000
Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market.
Russell 2000
Index An index that measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The Russell 3000 Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies representing
approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market.
Russell 2500
Index An index that measures the performance of the small- to mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe, commonly referred to as “smid” cap. The Russell 2500 Index is a subset of the Russell
3000 Index. It includes approximately 2500 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current
index membership. The Russell 2500 Index is constructed to provide a
comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the small- to mid-cap segment. The index is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the true small to mid-cap opportunity set.
S&P 500 Index An
index that is designed to measure the performance of 500 leading publicly traded companies from a broad range of industries.
SEC yield A standard
yield calculation developed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that allows for fairer comparisons of bond funds. It is based on the most recent 30-day period covered by the fund’s filings with the SEC. The yield figure reflects
the dividends and interest earned during the period, after the deduction of the fund’s expenses. This is also referred to as the “standardized yield.”
sampling If a fund
uses a sampling method, the fund will not fully replicate the benchmark index and may hold securities not included in the index. A fund that utilizes a sampling approach may not track the return of the index.
secondary market The
market in which investors purchase securities from other investors rather than directly from the issuing companies. Organized exchanges facilitate the trading of securities in the secondary market.
spread The gap
between bid and ask prices of a security.
stock A share of ownership, or equity, in the issuing company.
total return The
percentage that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the fund assuming dividends and distributions were reinvested.
tracking error The
difference between the performance of the fund and its benchmark index, positive or negative.
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab
ETFs
Schwab ETFs are designed to serve as simple low-cost core
investment products for a diversified portfolio. These ETFs seek to provide consistent, repeatable performance through a variety of investment strategies that span the equity and fixed income spectrum. The list below shows all currently available
Schwab ETFs.
Investors should carefully consider
information contained in the prospectus, or if available, the summary prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. Please call 1-877-824-5615 for a prospectus for any Schwab ETF. Please read the
prospectus carefully before you invest. This report must be preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Results
A description of the proxy voting policies and procedures
used to determine how to vote proxies on behalf of the funds is available without charge, upon request, by visiting the Schwab ETFs’ website at www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus, the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by contacting Schwab ETFs at 1-877-824-5615.
Information regarding how a fund voted proxies relating to
portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, by visiting the fund’s website at www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus or the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
U.S. ETFs
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF
Schwab 1000 Index® ETF
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
International ETFs
Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF
Schwab International Equity ETF
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF
Fixed-Income ETFs
Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF
Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF
Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF
Schwab Municipal Bond ETF
Fundamental Index* ETFs
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental Emerging
Markets Large Company
Index ETF
Active,
Semi-Transparent (Also Known As Non-Transparent) ETF
Schwab Ariel
ESG ETF
Thematic ETFs
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment
Management, Inc., dba Schwab Asset Management
211 Main Street, San
Francisco, CA 94105
Schwab ETFs
1-877-824-5615
© 2022 Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., dba Schwab Asset
Management. All rights reserved.
Printed on recycled paper.
*
|
FUNDAMENTAL INDEX is a
registered trademark of Research Affiliates LLC. |
The Schwab Ariel ESG ETF is different from traditional
ETFs. Traditional ETFs tell the public what assets they hold each day. This fund will not. This may create additional risks for your investment. For example:
•
|
You may have to pay more
money to trade the fund’s shares. This fund will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information. |
•
|
The price you pay to buy fund
shares on an exchange may not match the value of the fund’s portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for this fund compared to other ETFs because it provides less information to traders.
|
•
|
These additional risks may be
even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions. |
•
|
The ETF
will publish on its website each day a “Proxy Portfolio” designed to help trading in shares of the ETF. While the Proxy Portfolio includes some of the ETF’s holdings, it is not the ETF’s actual portfolio. |
The differences between this fund and other
ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about the fund secret, this fund may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve the fund’s performance. If other traders are
able to copy or predict the fund’s investment strategy, however, this may hurt the fund’s performance.
For additional information regarding the unique
attributes and risks of the fund, see Proxy Portfolio Risk, Premium/Discount Risk, Trading Halt Risk, Authorized Participant Concentration Risk, Tracking Error Risk and Shares of the Fund May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV in the Principal Risks and Proxy Portfolio and Proxy Overlap sections of the prospectus and/or the Statement of Additional Information. These
risks are discussed on the next page.
Active semi-transparent ETFs operate differently from other
exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Unlike other ETFs, an active semi-transparent ETF does not publicly disclose its entire portfolio composition each business day, which may affect the price at which shares of the ETF trade in the secondary market.
Active semi-transparent ETFs have limited public trading history. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop, be maintained or operate as intended. There is a risk that the market price of an active semi-transparent ETF may
vary significantly from the ETF’s net asset value and that its shares may trade at a wider bid/ask spread and, therefore, cost investors more to trade than shares of other ETFs. These risks are heightened during periods of market disruption or
volatility.
Proxy Portfolio Risk: Unlike traditional ETFs, this fund does not disclose its portfolio holdings (Actual Portfolio) daily. The fund instead posts a Proxy Portfolio on its website each day. The Proxy Portfolio is designed to reflect the
economic exposures and risk characteristics of the fund’s actual holdings on each trading day, but it is not the same as the fund’s Actual Portfolio. Although the Proxy Portfolio is intended to provide investors with enough information
to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that will keep the market price of the Fund at or close to the underlying NAV per Share of the Fund, there is a risk (which may increase during periods of market disruption or volatility) that market
prices will vary significantly from the underlying NAV of the fund. ETF trading on the basis of a published Proxy Portfolio may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, especially during periods of
market disruption or volatility, and therefore may cost investors more to trade. Also, while the Fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Proxy Portfolio to identify a
Fund’s trading strategy, which if successful, could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the Fund and its shareholders.
Proxy Portfolio Construction:
The Proxy Portfolio is designed to recreate the daily performance of the Actual Portfolio. This is achieved by performing a “Factor Model” analysis of the Actual Portfolio. The Factor Model is comprised of three sets of factors or
analytical metrics: market-based factors, fundamental factors, and industry/sector factors. The fund uses a “Model Universe” to generate its Proxy Portfolio. The Model Universe is comprised of securities that the fund can purchase and
will be a financial index or stated portfolio of securities from which fund investments will be selected. The results of the Factor Model analysis are then applied to the Model Universe. The Proxy Portfolio is then generated as a result of this
Model Universe analysis with the Proxy Portfolio being a small sub-set of the Model Universe. The Factor Model is applied to both the Actual Portfolio and the Model Universe to construct the fund’s Proxy Portfolio that performs in a manner
substantially identical to the performance of its Actual Portfolio. The Proxy Portfolio will only include investments the fund is permitted to hold. The fund’s SAI contains more information on the Proxy Portfolio and its
construction.
Proxy Portfolio and Proxy Overlap
Information regarding the contents of the Proxy Portfolio, and the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the Proxy Portfolio and the fund’s Actual Portfolio holdings that formed the basis for its calculation of NAV at the end of
the prior Business Day (the Portfolio Overlap), is available by visiting the fund’s website www.schwabassetmanagement.com.
Because environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies
exclude some securities, ESG-focused products may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as products that do not use such strategies. Additionally, the criteria used to select companies for investment may result in
investing in securities, industries or sectors that underperform the market as a whole.
This page
is intentionally left blank.
Semiannual
Report | September 30, 2022
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF
Ticker Symbol STCE
This page is intentionally left blank.
Fund investment adviser: Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., dba
Schwab Asset ManagementTM
Distributor: SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO)
The Sector/Industry classifications in this report use the
Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by and is the exclusive property of MSCI Inc. (MSCI) and Standard & Poor’s (S&P). GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance
does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or
higher than the performance quoted. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus.
Total
Returns for the 6 Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
Schwab
Crypto Thematic ETF (Ticker Symbol: STCE) |
|
Market
Price Return1 |
-20.32%
2 |
NAV
Return1 |
-20.52%
2 |
Schwab
Crypto Thematic Index® (Net)3 |
-20.51%
2 |
MSCI
ACWI Index (Net)3 |
-13.08%
2 |
ETF
Category: Digital Assets4 |
N/A
|
Performance
Details |
pages
6-7 |
All total returns on this page
assume dividends and distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly. Performance results less than one year are not
annualized.
For index definitions, please see the
Glossary.
Performance does not reflect the deduction of
taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares.
Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher
or lower than the net asset value (NAV). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF will not invest in any
cryptocurrency or digital assets directly. It invests in companies listed in the Schwab Crypto Thematic Index and is designed to deliver global exposure to companies that may benefit from the development or
utilization of cryptocurrencies (including bitcoin) and other digital assets, and the business activities connected to blockchain and other distributed ledger technology.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF is non-diversified, which means
that it may invest in the securities of relatively few issuers. As a result, a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence may have a more significant effect on the fund’s investments, and the fund may experience increased
volatility.
The technology relating to digital assets,
including blockchain, is new and developing and the risks associated with digital assets may not fully emerge until the technology is widely used. In addition, the values of the companies included in the fund may not be a reflection of their
connection to digital assets but may be based on other business operations or lines of business which means that such companies’ operating results may not be significantly tied to their respective activities related to digital assets.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF invests in a portfolio of
securities that are based on a theme and its performance may suffer if such theme is not correctly identified or if the theme develops in an unexpected manner. Performance may also suffer if the securities included in the index do not benefit from
the development of such theme.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic
Index was developed by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. and is designed to deliver global exposure to companies that may benefit from one or more of the following business activities: either directly or facilitating others in validating
consensus mechanisms for (such as mining or staking), investing in, or trading cryptocurrency or other digital assets; enabling the use of cryptocurrency or other digital assets to buy or sell goods and services; or developing, distributing or
implementing applications of blockchain or other distributed ledger technology including in new cryptocurrencies or digital assets. For the complete and current index methodology please refer to www.schwabassetmanagement.com/products/stce.
1 |
ETF performance must be shown
based on both a market price and NAV basis. The fund’s per share NAV is the value of one share of the fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets (including the fair value of securities owned), subtracting liabilities, and
dividing by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV Return is based on the NAV of the fund, and the Market Price Return is based on the market price per share of the fund. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined
using the Official Closing Price on the primary stock exchange (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) and may not represent the returns you would receive if shares were traded at other times. Market Price and NAV returns assume that dividends and
capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund at Market Price and NAV, respectively. |
2 |
Total returns shown are since
the fund’s inception date of August 4, 2022. |
3 |
The net version of the index
reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for expenses or other taxes. |
4 |
Source for category
information: Morningstar, Inc. The Morningstar Category return represents all passively- and actively-managed ETFs and mutual funds within the category as of the report date. |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
The
Investment Environment
For the reporting period of August 4, 20221, through September 30, 2022, U.S. and international stocks generally lost ground. Despite a boost in consumer activity as COVID-19 infections dropped worldwide, global growth
remained subdued. Russia’s war against Ukraine raged on, impacting energy markets and stifling economic output. Although oil prices declined, energy markets were volatile and prices remained elevated. Inflationary pressures abounded. As
inflation peaked and economic growth slowed, recession fears rose. For the reporting period of August 4, 20221, through September 30, 2022, the Schwab Crypto Thematic Index® (Net)*, an index designed to deliver global exposure to companies that may benefit from various cryptocurrency-related activities, returned -20.51%. The MSCI ACWI Index
(Net)* returned -13.08% for the same period.
Throughout
2022, the U.S. economy showed signs of weakening. Amid ongoing supply chain disruptions, persisting inflation, and a tight labor market, gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annualized rate of -0.6% for the second quarter of 2022, following
a decrease at an annualized rate of -1.6% for the first quarter of 2022. The unemployment rate remained near pre-pandemic lows over the reporting period. Inflation remained stubbornly high due to supply chain bottlenecks and soaring energy and food
prices.
Outside the United States, global economies also
wrestled with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, high energy costs, rising inflation, and the war in Ukraine. The eurozone, heavily impacted by the war in Ukraine and associated commodity price spikes, managed to eke out a small gain in GDP
growth for the second quarter of 2022 as COVID-19 restrictions eased and tourism increased in response to pent-up demand. The United Kingdom also posted a small increase in GDP growth for the second quarter of 2022, in part driven by increases in
COVID-19 testing and tracing and an expansion of its vaccination program. In Japan, GDP growth was positive for the second quarter of 2022 as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and government spending rose. Among emerging markets, China’s GDP
growth remained positive for the second quarter of 2022 but slowed notably as it dealt with numerous headwinds including the political landscape, an emphasis on domestic consumption over globalization, lockdowns and quarantines, and a severe
property downturn as a result of stalled demand, a decline in financing for property development, halted
Asset
Class Performance Comparison % returns during the 6 months ended September 30, 2022
Index figures assume
dividends and distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly. Performance results less than one year are not
annualized. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
For index definitions, please see the Glossary.
Data source: Index provider websites and Schwab Asset
Management.
Nothing in this report represents a
recommendation of a security by the investment adviser.
Management views may have changed since the report date.
*
|
The net version of the index
reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for expenses or other taxes. |
1 |
The fund’s inception
date. Inception represents the date that the shares began trading in the secondary market. |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF
The Investment
Environment (continued)
construction on in progress projects, and homeowners pausing
payment of their mortgages on incomplete builds. India’s GDP growth jumped for the second quarter of 2022 on rising consumer demand and a rapid decline in COVID-19 cases.
Monetary policy around the world varied. In the United States,
after raising its benchmark federal funds rate four times between March and July 2022, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) raised the federal funds rate by 0.75% in late September in its ongoing efforts to achieve a return to price stability. The federal
funds rate ended the reporting period in a range of 3.00% to 3.25%. The Fed also reiterated that further rate hikes were likely by the end of 2022. In June, the Fed also began to reduce the assets held on its balance sheet, vowing to be even more
aggressive than during its last round of quantitative tightening in 2017 through 2019. Outside the United States, central banks were generally similarly responsive. After raising its interest rate by 0.50% in July 2022, the European Central Bank
raised its interest rate by 1.25% in September 2022. European Central Bank policymakers also set expectations for future rate increases in an effort to dampen demand and control inflation. The Bank of England raised its key official bank rate twice
during the reporting period, to 2.25%, bringing borrowing costs to a 13-year high as the Bank of England wrestles with soaring inflation. In contrast, the Bank of Japan upheld its short-term interest rate target of -0.1%, unchanged since 2016, but
reiterated that it would not hesitate to take extra easing measures if needed. Central banks in India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico raised rates one or more times over the reporting period to counteract the impacts of inflation. In contrast, China
cut its rate in August 2022, its second rate reduction in 2022. Russia, which raised its benchmark policy rate to 20% in late February 2022 amid the broadening fallout of Western sanctions in retaliation against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,
reduced it during the reporting period following multiple reductions earlier in 2022.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
|
Christopher
Bliss, CFA, Managing Director and Head of Passive Equity Strategies for Schwab Asset Management, is responsible for overseeing the investment process and portfolio management of investment strategies for passive
equity Schwab Funds and Schwab ETFs. Before joining Schwab in 2016, Mr. Bliss spent 12 years at BlackRock (formerly Barclays Global Investors) managing and leading institutional index teams, most recently as a managing director and the head of the
Americas institutional index team. In this role, Mr. Bliss was responsible for overseeing a team of portfolio managers managing domestic, developed international and emerging markets index strategies. Prior to BlackRock, he worked as an equity
analyst and portfolio manager for Harris Bretall and before that, as a research analyst for JP Morgan. |
|
Chuck
Craig, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the oversight and day-to-day co-management of the fund. Prior to joining Schwab in 2012, Mr. Craig worked at Guggenheim Funds (formerly Claymore Group),
where he spent more than five years as a managing director of portfolio management and supervision, and three years as vice president of product research and development. Prior to that, he worked as an equity research analyst at First Trust
Portfolios (formerly Niké Securities), and a trader and analyst at PMA Securities, Inc. |
|
David
Rios, Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. Prior to this role, Mr. Rios was an associate portfolio manager on the equity index strategies team for four years. His first
role with Schwab Asset Management was as a trade operations specialist. Prior to joining Schwab in 2008, Mr. Rios was a senior fund accountant at Investors Bank & Trust (subsequently acquired by State Street Corporation).
|
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past
performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may
be lower or higher than the performance quoted. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus.
Average
Annual Total Returns1
Fund
and Inception Date |
Since
Inception* |
Fund:
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF (8/4/22) |
|
Market
Price Return2 |
-20.32%
|
NAV
Return2 |
-20.52%
|
Schwab
Crypto Thematic Index® (Net)3 |
-20.51%
|
MSCI
ACWI Index (Net)3 |
-13.08%
|
ETF
Category: Digital Assets4 |
N/A
|
Fund
Expense Ratio5: 0.30% |
All total returns on this page assume dividends and
distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly. Performance results less than one year are not annualized.
The first index listed for the fund is the fund’s primary
benchmark, as shown in the prospectus. Additional indices shown are provided for comparative purposes.
For index definitions, please see the Glossary.
Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher
or lower than the net asset value (NAV). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF will not invest in any
cryptocurrency or digital assets directly. It invests in companies listed in the Schwab Crypto Thematic Index and is designed to deliver global exposure to companies that may benefit from the development or
utilization of cryptocurrencies (including bitcoin) and other digital assets, and the business activities connected to blockchain and other distributed ledger technology.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF is non-diversified, which means
that it may invest in the securities of relatively few issuers. As a result, a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence may have a more significant effect on the fund’s investments, and the fund may experience increased
volatility.
The technology relating to digital assets,
including blockchain, is new and developing and the risks associated with digital assets may not fully emerge until the technology is widely used. In addition, the values of the companies included in the fund may not be a reflection of their
connection to digital assets but may be based on other business operations or lines of business which means that such companies’ operating results may not be significantly tied to their respective activities related to digital assets.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF invests in a portfolio of
securities that are based on a theme and its performance may suffer if such theme is not correctly identified or if the theme develops in an unexpected manner. Performance may also suffer if the securities included in the index do not benefit from
the development of such theme.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic
Index was developed by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. and is designed to deliver global exposure to companies that may benefit from one or more of the following business activities: either directly or facilitating others in validating
consensus mechanisms for (such as mining or staking), investing in, or trading cryptocurrency or other digital assets; enabling the use of cryptocurrency or other digital assets to buy or sell goods and services; or developing, distributing or
implementing applications of blockchain or other distributed ledger technology including in new cryptocurrencies or digital assets. For the complete and current index methodology please refer to www.schwabassetmanagement.com/products/stce.
* |
Inception (8/4/22) represents
the date that the shares began trading in the secondary market. |
1 |
Performance does not reflect
the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. |
2 |
ETF performance must be shown
based on both a market price and NAV basis. The fund’s per share NAV is the value of one share of the fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets (including the fair value of securities owned), subtracting liabilities, and
dividing by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV Return is based on the NAV of the fund, and the Market Price Return is based on the market price per share of the fund. The price used to calculate market return (Market Price) is determined
using the Official Closing Price on the primary stock exchange (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) and may not represent the returns you would receive if shares were traded at other times. NAV is used as a proxy for purposes of calculating Market
Price Return on inception date. Market Price and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund at Market Price and NAV, respectively. |
3 |
The net version of the index
reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for expenses or other taxes. |
4 |
Source for category
information: Morningstar, Inc. The Morningstar Category return represents all passively- and actively-managed ETFs and mutual funds within the category as of the report date. |
5 |
As stated in the prospectus.
|
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Performance and Fund Facts as
of September 30, 2022
Number
of Holdings |
37
|
Weighted
Average Market Cap (millions) |
$19,030
|
Price/Earnings
Ratio (P/E) |
11.9
|
Price/Book
Ratio (P/B) |
1.4
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate |
9%
1,2 |
Sector Weightings % of Investments
Top Holdings % of Net Assets3
Country Weightings % of Investments4
Portfolio holdings may have changed since the
report date.
An index is a statistical
composite of a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the fund, an index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and its return is not inclusive of trading and management costs incurred by the fund.
Source of Sector Classification: S&P and
MSCI.
1 |
Not annualized. |
2 |
Portfolio turnover rate
excludes securities received or delivered from processing of in-kind creations or redemptions. |
3 |
This list is not a
recommendation of any security by the investment adviser. |
4 |
The percentage may differ
from the Portfolio Holdings because the above calculation is based on a percentage of total investments, whereas the calculation in the Portfolio Holdings is based on a percentage of net assets. |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Fund
Expenses (Unaudited)
Examples for a $1,000 Investment
As a fund shareholder, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction
costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares; and, (2) ongoing costs, including management fees.
The expense examples below are intended to help you
understand your ongoing cost (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare this cost with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds. These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested for six months beginning April 1, 2022
and held through September 30, 2022.
Actual Return line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.
To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value ÷ $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for the fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During
Period.”
Hypothetical Return line in the table
below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed return of 5% per year before expenses. Because the return used is not an actual return, it may not
be used to estimate the actual ending account value or expenses you paid for the period.
You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs
of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant
to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, including any brokerage commissions you may pay when purchasing or selling shares of a fund. Therefore, the hypothetical return lines of the table are useful in
comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
|
EXPENSE
RATIO (ANNUALIZED) 1 |
BEGINNING
ACCOUNT VALUE AT 4/1/22 |
ENDING
ACCOUNT VALUE (NET OF EXPENSES) AT 9/30/222 |
EXPENSES
PAID DURING PERIOD 4/1/22-9/30/22 2 |
Schwab
Crypto Thematic ETF |
|
|
|
|
Actual
Return |
0.30%
|
$1,000.00
|
$
794.80 |
$0.43
|
Hypothetical
5% Return |
0.30%
|
$1,000.00
|
$1,023.56
|
$1.52
|
1 |
The expense
ratio provided for the fund is for the period from 8/4/22 (commencement of operations) through 9/30/22 (see financial note 4 for additional information). |
2 |
Actual
expenses for the fund are equal to its annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 58 days of the period from commencement of operations on 8/4/22 through 9/30/22, and divided by 365 days of
the fiscal year. Hypothetical expenses for the fund are equal to its annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 183 days of the period, and divided by 365 days of the fiscal year.
|
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Statements
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
|
8/4/22
1– 9/30/22* |
|
|
|
|
|
Per-Share
Data |
Net
asset value at beginning of period |
$25.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
(loss) from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss)2 |
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(5.18)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
from investment operations |
(5.13)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value at end of period |
$19.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return |
(20.52%)
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental
Data |
Ratios
to average net assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
expenses |
0.30%
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss) |
1.38%
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio
turnover rate5 |
9%
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net
assets, end of period (x 1,000) |
$6,954
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
Unaudited.
|
1 |
Commencement
of operations. |
2 |
Calculated
based on the average shares outstanding during the period. |
3 |
Not
annualized. |
4 |
Annualized.
|
5 |
Portfolio
turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from processing of in-kind creations or redemptions. |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Portfolio Holdings as of
September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
This section shows all
the securities in the fund’s portfolio and their values as of the report date.
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT Part F. The fund’s Form N-PORT Part F is available on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov. You can also obtain this information at no cost on the fund’s website at
www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus, by calling
1-866-414-6349, or by sending an email request to
[email protected]. The fund also makes available its complete schedule of portfolio holdings on a daily basis on the
fund’s website.
The Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF will
not invest in any cryptocurrency or digital assets directly. It invests in companies listed in the Schwab Crypto Thematic Index and is designed to deliver global exposure to companies that may benefit from the
development or utilization of cryptocurrencies (including bitcoin) and other digital assets, and the business activities connected to blockchain and other distributed ledger technology. The Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF is non-diversified, which means
that it may invest in the securities of relatively few issuers. As a result, a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence may have a more significant effect on the fund’s investments, and the fund may experience increased
volatility.
See performance and fund facts section
for additional details related to sector concentration and financial note 3 for risk factors associated with the Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF.
SECURITY
|
NUMBER
OF SHARES |
VALUE
($) |
COMMON
STOCKS 99.7% OF NET ASSETS |
|
Australia
0.4% |
Appen
Ltd. |
15,260
|
30,612
|
|
Canada
8.5% |
Bakkt
Holdings, Inc. * |
52,266
|
119,166
|
Hive
Blockchain Technologies Ltd. * |
35,262
|
132,585
|
Hut
8 Mining Corp. * |
118,001
|
210,042
|
Nuvei
Corp. * |
4,780
|
129,299
|
|
|
591,092
|
|
Colombia
2.2% |
Bancolombia
S.A., ADR |
6,346
|
154,652
|
|
Japan
11.3% |
GMO
internet group, Inc. |
5,985
|
105,356
|
Internet
Initiative Japan, Inc. |
8,670
|
133,034
|
Monex
Group, Inc. |
65,694
|
205,145
|
Remixpoint,
Inc. *(a) |
46,091
|
129,919
|
SBI
Holdings, Inc. |
11,787
|
211,400
|
|
|
784,854
|
|
Netherlands
0.8% |
Flow
Traders |
3,002
|
56,466
|
|
United
Kingdom 1.7% |
IG
Group Holdings plc |
13,871
|
118,222
|
|
United
States 74.8% |
Bitfarms
Ltd. * |
92,625
|
97,256
|
Block,
Inc. * |
3,217
|
176,903
|
Cboe
Global Markets, Inc. |
1,742
|
204,459
|
Cleanspark,
Inc. * |
35,391
|
112,543
|
CME
Group, Inc. |
1,300
|
230,269
|
Coinbase
Global, Inc., Class A * |
6,488
|
418,411
|
Core
Scientific, Inc., Class A * |
61,507
|
79,959
|
Galaxy
Digital Holdings Ltd. * |
19,271
|
82,186
|
Interactive
Brokers Group, Inc., Class A |
5,829
|
372,532
|
SECURITY
|
NUMBER
OF SHARES |
VALUE
($) |
Intercontinental
Exchange, Inc. |
2,400
|
216,840
|
Marathon
Digital Holdings, Inc. * |
44,410
|
475,631
|
MicroStrategy,
Inc., Class A * |
2,205
|
468,033
|
NCR
Corp. * |
6,110
|
116,151
|
NVIDIA
Corp. |
1,459
|
177,108
|
Overstock.com,
Inc. * |
6,041
|
147,098
|
PayPal
Holdings, Inc. * |
2,784
|
239,619
|
Riot
Blockchain, Inc. * |
72,310
|
506,893
|
Robinhood
Markets, Inc., Class A * |
39,928
|
403,273
|
Signature
Bank |
1,158
|
174,858
|
Silvergate
Capital Corp., Class A * |
4,530
|
341,336
|
StoneX
Group, Inc. * |
1,099
|
91,151
|
WisdomTree
Investments, Inc. |
14,160
|
66,269
|
|
|
5,198,778
|
Total
Common Stocks (Cost $8,579,444) |
6,934,676
|
|
|
|
SHORT-TERM
INVESTMENTS 1.6% OF NET ASSETS |
|
Money
Market Funds 1.6% |
State
Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class 2.94% (b) |
5,517
|
5,517
|
State
Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class 2.94% (b)(c) |
101,500
|
101,500
|
|
|
107,017
|
Total
Short-Term Investments (Cost $107,017) |
107,017
|
Total
Investments in Securities (Cost $8,686,461) |
7,041,693
|
*
|
Non-income
producing security. |
(a)
|
All or a
portion of this security is on loan. Securities on loan were valued at $98,656. |
(b)
|
The rate
shown is the 7-day yield. |
(c)
|
Security
purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
ADR
— |
American
Depositary Receipt |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Portfolio Holdings as of
September 30, 2022 (Unaudited) (continued)
The
following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s investments as of September 30, 2022 (see financial note 2(a) for additional information):
DESCRIPTION
|
QUOTED
PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1) |
OTHER
SIGNIFICANT OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2) |
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3) |
TOTAL
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stocks1 |
$6,934,676
|
$—
|
$—
|
$6,934,676
|
Short-Term
Investments1 |
107,017
|
—
|
—
|
107,017
|
Total
|
$7,041,693
|
$—
|
$—
|
$7,041,693
|
1 |
As
categorized in the Portfolio Holdings. |
Fund investments in mutual funds are classified as Level 1,
without consideration to the classification level of the underlying securities held by the mutual funds, which could be Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of September 30, 2022; unaudited
Assets
|
Investments
in securities, at value - unaffiliated (cost $8,686,461) including securities on loan of $98,656 |
|
$7,041,693
|
Foreign
currency, at value (cost $361) |
|
355
|
Receivables:
|
|
|
Dividends
|
|
14,798
|
Foreign
tax reclaims |
+
|
360
|
Total
assets |
|
7,057,206
|
Liabilities
|
Collateral
held for securities on loan |
|
101,500
|
Payables:
|
|
|
Management
fees |
+
|
1,972
|
Total
liabilities |
|
103,472
|
Net
assets |
|
$6,953,734
|
Net
Assets by Source |
Capital
received from investors |
|
$8,717,089
|
Total
distributable loss |
+
|
(1,763,355)
|
Net
assets |
|
$6,953,734
|
Net
Asset Value (NAV) |
Net
Assets |
÷
|
Shares
Outstanding |
=
|
NAV
|
$6,953,734
|
|
350,000
|
|
$19.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Statement of Operations
For
the period August 4, 2022* through September 30, 2022; unaudited |
Investment
Income |
Dividends
received from securities - unaffiliated (net of foreign withholding tax of $1,484) |
|
$20,312
|
Expenses
|
Management
fees |
|
3,653
|
Total
expenses |
–
|
3,653
|
Net
investment income |
|
16,659
|
REALIZED
AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) |
Net
realized losses on sales of securities - unaffiliated |
|
(134,957)
|
Net
realized losses on foreign currency transactions |
+
|
(234)
|
Net
realized losses |
|
(135,191)
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities - unaffiliated |
|
(1,644,768)
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency translations |
+
|
(55)
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
+
|
(1,644,823)
|
Net
realized and unrealized losses |
|
(1,780,014)
|
Decrease
in net assets resulting from operations |
|
($1,763,355)
|
*
|
Commencement
of operations. |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
For the current period only
Figures for the current period are unaudited
OPERATIONS
|
|
8/4/22
1-9/30/22 |
Net
investment income |
|
$16,659
|
Net
realized losses |
|
(135,191)
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
+
|
(1,644,823)
|
Decrease
in net assets from operations |
|
($1,763,355)
|
TRANSACTIONS
IN FUND SHARES |
|
8/4/22
1-9/30/22 |
|
|
SHARES
|
VALUE
|
Shares
sold |
|
350,000
|
$8,717,089
|
Net
transactions in fund shares |
|
350,000
|
$8,717,089
|
SHARES
OUTSTANDING AND NET ASSETS |
|
8/4/22
1-9/30/22 |
|
|
SHARES
|
NET
ASSETS |
Beginning
of period |
|
—
|
$—
|
Total
increase |
+
|
350,000
|
6,953,734
|
End
of period |
|
350,000
|
$6,953,734
|
1 |
Commencement
of operations. |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
1. Business Structure of the Fund:
Schwab
Crypto Thematic ETF is a series of Schwab Strategic Trust (the trust), a no-load, open-end management investment company. The trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the 1940 Act). The list below shows all the operational funds in the trust as of the end of the period, including the fund discussed in this report, which is highlighted:
SCHWAB
STRATEGIC TRUST (ORGANIZED JANUARY 27, 2009) |
Schwab
Crypto Thematic ETF |
Schwab
U.S. TIPS ETF |
Schwab
U.S. REIT ETF |
Schwab
Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF |
Schwab
1000 Index® ETF |
Schwab
Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Broad Market ETF |
Schwab
Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Large-Cap ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF |
Schwab
1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF |
Schwab
5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Mid-Cap ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Small-Cap ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF |
Schwab
U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF |
Schwab
International Dividend Equity ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF |
Schwab
International Equity ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF |
Schwab
International Small-Cap Equity ETF |
Schwab
Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF |
Schwab
Emerging Markets Equity ETF |
Schwab
Ariel ESG ETF |
The fund issues and
redeems shares at its net asset value per share (NAV) only in large blocks of shares (Creation Units). These transactions are usually in exchange for a basket of securities and/or an amount of cash. As a practical matter, only institutional
investors who have entered into an authorized participant agreement purchase or redeem Creation Units. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the fund are not redeemable securities.
Individual shares of the fund trade on national securities
exchanges and elsewhere during the trading day and can only be bought and sold at market prices throughout the trading day through a broker-dealer. Because fund shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than
NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). A chart showing the frequency at which the fund’s daily closing market price was at a discount or premium to the fund’s NAV can be found at www.schwabassetmanagement.com.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF commenced operations on August 4,
2022.
The fund maintains its own account for purposes of
holding assets and accounting, and is considered a separate entity for tax purposes. Within its account, the fund may also keep certain assets in segregated accounts, as required by securities law.
2. Significant Accounting Policies:
The following is a summary of the significant accounting
policies the fund uses in its preparation of financial statements. The fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies. The accounting policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).
The fund may invest in certain mutual funds and exchange-traded
funds (ETFs), which are referred to as "underlying funds". For more information about the underlying funds’ operations and policies, please refer to those funds’ semiannual and annual reports, which are filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
(a) Security Valuation:
Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board has
designated authority to a Valuation Designee, the fund’s investment adviser, to make fair valuation determinations under adopted procedures, subject to Board oversight. The investment adviser has formed a Pricing Committee to administer the
pricing and valuation of portfolio securities and other assets and to ensure that prices used for internal purposes or provided by third parties reasonably reflect fair value. The Valuation Designee may utilize independent pricing services,
quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers and other market sources to determine fair value.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
(continued)
2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued):
Securities held in the fund’s portfolio are valued
every business day. The following valuation policies and procedures are used by the Valuation Designee to value various types of securities:
•
Securities traded on an exchange or over-the-counter: Traded securities are valued at the closing value for the day, or, on days when no closing value has been reported, at the mean of the most recent bid
and ask quotes. Securities that are primarily traded on foreign exchanges are valued at the official closing price or the last sales price on the exchange where the securities are principally traded with these values then translated into U.S.
dollars at the current exchange rate, unless these securities are fair valued as discussed below.
• Mutual funds: Mutual funds are valued at their respective NAVs.
•
Securities for which no quoted value is available: The Valuation Designee has adopted procedures to fair value the fund’s securities when market prices are not “readily available” or are
unreliable. For example, a security may be fair valued when it’s de-listed or its trading is halted or suspended; when a security’s primary pricing source is unable or unwilling to provide a price; or when a security’s primary
trading market is closed during regular market hours. Fair value determinations are made in good faith in accordance with adopted valuation procedures. The Valuation Designee considers a number of factors, including unobservable market inputs, when
arriving at fair value. The Valuation Designee may employ methods such as the review of related or comparable assets or liabilities, related market activities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, transactional back-testing,
disposition analysis and other relevant information. Due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, there can be no assurance that a fund could obtain the fair value assigned to the security upon the sale of such security.
In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value
measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the fund discloses the fair value of its investments in a hierarchy that prioritizes the significant inputs to valuation methods used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to
valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation (Level 3
measurements). If inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation. If it is determined that either the volume
and/or level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased (from normal conditions for that asset or liability) or price quotations or observable inputs are not associated with orderly transactions, increased analysis and
management judgment will be required to estimate fair value.
The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as
follows:
•
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities — Investments whose values are based on quoted market prices in active markets, and whose values are therefore classified as Level 1 prices, include active listed
equities and mutual funds. Investments in mutual funds are valued daily at their NAVs, which are classified as Level 1 prices, without consideration to the classification level of the underlying securities held by an underlying fund.
•
Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) — Investments that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but whose
values are based on quoted market prices, dealer quotations or valuations provided by alternative pricing sources supported by observable inputs are classified as Level 2 prices. These generally include U.S. government and sovereign obligations,
most government agency securities, investment-grade corporate bonds, certain mortgage products, less liquid listed equities, and state, municipal and provincial obligations.
•
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Valuation Designee’s assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) — Investments whose values are classified as Level 3 prices have significant unobservable
inputs, as they may trade infrequently or not at all. When observable prices are not readily available for these securities, one or more valuation methods are used for which sufficient and reliable data is available. The inputs used in estimating
the value of Level 3 prices may include the original transaction price, quoted prices for similar securities or assets in active markets, completed or pending third-party transactions in the underlying investment or comparable issuers, and changes
in financial ratios or cash flows. Level 3 prices may also be adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability, with the amount of such discount estimated in the absence of market information. Assumptions used due to the lack of observable
inputs may significantly impact the resulting fair value and therefore the fund’s results of operations.
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are
not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
The levels associated with valuing the fund’s
investments as of September 30, 2022 are disclosed in the Portfolio Holdings.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
(continued)
2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued):
(b) Accounting Policies for certain Portfolio
Investments (if held):
Passive Foreign Investment
Companies: The fund may own shares in certain foreign corporations that meet the Internal Revenue Code definition of a Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC). The fund may elect for tax purposes to mark-to-market
annually the shares of each PFIC lot held and would be required to distribute as ordinary income to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains (as well as any gains realized on sale).
Securities Lending: Under
the trust’s Securities Lending Program, the fund (lender) may make short-term loans of its securities to another party (borrower) to generate additional revenue for the fund. The borrower pledges collateral in the form of cash, securities
issued or fully guaranteed by the U.S. government or foreign governments, or letters of credit issued by a bank. Collateral at the individual loan level is required to be maintained on a daily marked-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to
the current value of the securities loaned. The lending agent provides the fund with indemnification against borrower default (the borrower fails to return the security on loan) reducing the risk of loss as a result of default. The cash collateral
of securities loaned is currently invested in money market portfolios operating pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of cash collateral. The terms of the securities lending
agreement allow the fund or the lending agent to terminate any loan at any given time and the securities must be returned within the earlier of the standard trade settlement period or the specified time period under the relevant securities lending
agreement. Securities lending income, as disclosed in the fund’s Statement of Operations, if applicable, represents the income earned from the investment of the cash collateral plus any fees paid by borrowers, less the fees paid to the lending
agent and broker rebates which are subject to adjustments pursuant to the securities lending agreement. On loans not collateralized by cash, a fee is received from the borrower, and is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. The aggregate
fair value of securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the fund, including collateral received from the loan. Securities lending fees paid to the unaffiliated lending agents start at 9% of gross lending revenue,
with subsequent breakpoints to a low of 5%. In this context, the gross lending revenue equals the income received from the investment of cash collateral and fees paid by borrowers less any rebates paid to the borrowers. Any expenses charged by the
cash collateral fund are in addition to these fees. All remaining revenue is retained by the fund, as applicable. No portion of lending revenue is paid to or retained by the investment adviser or any of its affiliates.
As of September 30, 2022, the fund had securities on loan,
all of which were classified as common stocks. The value of the securities on loan and the related collateral as of September 30, 2022, are disclosed in the fund’s Portfolio Holdings and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Central Securities Depositories Regulation: The Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR) introduced measures for the authorization and supervision of European Union Central Security Depositories and created a common set of prudential, organizational, and
conduct of business standards at a European level. CSDR is designed to support securities settlement and operational aspects of securities settlement, including the provision of shorter settlement periods; mandatory buy-ins; and cash penalties, to
prevent and address settlement fails. CSDR measures are aimed to prevent settlement fails by ensuring that all transaction details are provided to facilitate settlement, as well as further incentivizing timely settlement by imposing cash penalty
fines and buy-ins. The fund may be subject to pay cash penalties and may also receive cash penalties with certain counterparties in instances where there are settlement fails. These cash penalties are included in net realized gains (losses) on sales
of securities in the fund’s Statement of Operations, if any.
(c) Security Transactions:
Security transactions are recorded as of the date the order
to buy or sell the security is executed. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are based on the identified costs of the securities involved.
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies
are reported in U.S. dollars. For assets and liabilities held on a given date, the dollar value is based on market exchange rates in effect on that date. Transactions involving foreign currencies, including purchases, sales, income receipts and
expense payments, are calculated using exchange rates in effect on the transaction date. Realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on
securities transactions and the difference between the recorded amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange appreciation or
depreciation arises from changes in foreign exchange rates on foreign denominated assets and liabilities other than investments in securities held at the end of the reporting period. These realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses are
reported in foreign currency transactions or translations on the Statement of Operations. The fund does not isolate the portion of the fluctuations on investments resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates from the fluctuations in
market prices of investments held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
(continued)
2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued):
Gains realized by the fund on the sale of securities in
certain foreign countries may be subject to non-U.S. taxes. In those instances, the fund records a liability based on unrealized gains to provide for potential non-U.S. taxes payable upon the sale of these securities.
(d) Investment Income:
Interest income is recorded as it accrues. Dividends and
distributions from portfolio securities and underlying funds are recorded on the date they are effective (the ex-dividend date), although the fund records certain foreign security dividends on the date the ex-dividend date is confirmed. Any
distributions from underlying funds are recorded in accordance with the character of the distributions as designated by the underlying funds.
Income received from foreign sources may result in
withholding tax. Withholding taxes are accrued at the same time as the related income if the tax rate is fixed and known, unless a tax withheld is reclaimable from the local tax authorities in which case it is recorded as receivable. If the tax rate
is not known or estimable, such expense or reclaim receivable is recorded when the net proceeds are received.
(e) Expenses:
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement
(Advisory Agreement) between the investment adviser and the trust, the investment adviser will pay the operating expenses of the fund, excluding taxes, any brokerage expenses, and extraordinary or non-routine expenses. Taxes, any brokerage expenses
and extraordinary or non-routine expenses that are specific to the fund are charged directly to the fund. The Advisory Agreement excludes paying acquired fund fees and expenses, which are indirect expenses incurred by a fund through its investments
in underlying funds.
(f) Distributions to
Shareholders:
The fund makes distributions from net
investment income, if any, semiannually, and from net realized capital gains, if any, once a year. To receive a distribution, you must be a registered shareholder on the record date. Distributions are paid to shareholders on the payable date.
(g) Accounting Estimates:
The accounting policies described in this report conform to
GAAP. Notwithstanding this, shareholders should understand that in order to follow these principles, fund management has to make estimates and assumptions that affect the information reported in the financial statements. It’s possible that
once the results are known, they may turn out to be different from these estimates and these differences may be material.
(h) Federal Income Taxes:
The fund intends to meet federal income and excise tax
requirements for regulated investment companies under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. Accordingly, the fund distributes substantially all of their net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to their
respective shareholders each year. As long as the fund meets the tax requirements, it is not required to pay federal income tax.
(i) Foreign Taxes:
The fund may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of
which may be reclaimable) on income, corporate events, foreign currency exchanges and capital gains on investments. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in foreign markets in
which the fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by the fund and are disclosed in the Statement of Operations. Foreign taxes accrued as of September 30, 2022, if any, are reflected in the fund’s Statement of Assets and
Liabilities.
(j) Indemnification:
Under the fund’s organizational documents, the
officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business the fund enters into contracts with its vendors and others that provide
general indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund. However, based on experience, the fund expects the risk of loss attributable to
these arrangements to be remote.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
(continued)
2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued):
(k) Regulatory Update:
In October 2022, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments
to require mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information deemed important for retail investors to assess and monitor their fund investments.
Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in funds’ streamlined shareholder reports but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The rule and
form amendments are effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The compliance date is 18 months following the effective date. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of these rule and form amendment changes on the content
of the current shareholder report and the newly created annual and semiannual streamlined shareholder reports.
3. Risk Factors:
Investing in the fund may involve certain risks, as discussed
in the fund’s prospectus, including, but not limited to, those described below. Any of these risks could cause an investor to lose money.
Market Risk. Financial markets
rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Markets may be impacted by economic, political, regulatory and other conditions, including economic sanctions and other government actions. In addition, the
occurrence of global events, such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters and epidemics, may also negatively affect the financial markets. As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of an
investment in the fund will fluctuate, which means that an investor could lose money over short or long periods.
Risk of Investing in Crypto Ecosystem Companies. The technology relating to digital assets, including blockchain, is new and developing and the risks associated with digital assets may not fully emerge until the technology is widely used. Currently, there are
relatively few companies for which digital assets represents an attributable and significant revenue stream or source of profit. Therefore, the values of the companies included in the index may not be a reflection of their connection to digital
assets but may be based on other business operations or lines of business which means that such companies’ operating results may not be significantly tied to their respective activities related to digital assets. These companies also may not
be able to develop digital asset technology applications or may not be able to capitalize on those applications. Digital asset technologies may never be fully implemented, which could adversely affect an investment in the fund. Additionally, there
may be risks posed by the lack of regulation for digital assets and any future regulatory developments could affect the viability and expansion of the use of digital assets.
Investment Style Risk. The fund
is an index fund. Therefore, the fund follows the securities included in the index during upturns as well as downturns. Because of its indexing strategy, the fund does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining
market. In addition, because of the fund’s expenses, the fund’s performance may be below that of the index. Errors relating to the index may occur from time to time and may not be identified by the index provider for a period of time. In
addition, market disruptions could cause delays in the index’s rebalancing schedule. Such errors and/or market disruptions may result in losses for the fund.
Equity Risk. The prices of
equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to
fall over short or extended periods of time.
Market
Capitalization Risk. Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when securities of a particular market
capitalization fall behind other types of investments, the fund’s performance could be impacted.
Large-Cap Company Risk.
Large-cap companies are generally more mature and the securities issued by these companies may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies.
Mid-Cap Company Risk. Mid-cap
companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and the value of securities issued by these companies may move sharply.
Small-Cap Company Risk.
Securities issued by small-cap companies may be riskier than those issued by larger companies, and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk. The
fund’s investments in securities of foreign issuers involve certain risks that may be greater than those associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. These include risks of adverse changes in foreign economic, political,
regulatory and other conditions; changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations (including limitations on currency movements and exchanges); the imposition of economic sanctions or other government restrictions; differing
accounting,
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
(continued)
3. Risk
Factors (continued):
auditing, financial
reporting and legal standards and practices; differing securities market structures; and higher transaction costs. These risks may negatively impact the value or liquidity of the fund’s investments and could impair the fund’s ability to
meet its investment objective or invest in accordance with its investment strategy. There is a risk that investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar.
Foreign securities also include American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), which are receipts issued by U.S. and foreign banks that represent shares of foreign-based corporations.
Investment in ADRs, GDRs and EDRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market, and GDRs, in particular, many of which are issued by companies in emerging markets, may be more volatile. Foreign securities may also
include investments in variable interest entities (VIEs) structures, which are created by China-based operating companies in jurisdictions outside of China to obtain indirect financing due to Chinese regulations that prohibit non-Chinese ownership
of those companies. To the extent the fund’s investments in a single country or a limited number of countries represent a large percentage of the fund’s assets, the fund’s performance may be adversely affected by the economic,
political, regulatory and social conditions in those countries and the fund’s price may be more volatile than the price of a fund that is geographically diversified.
Emerging Markets Risk.
Emerging market countries may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. Emerging market countries often have less uniformity in
accounting, auditing, financial reporting and recordkeeping requirements and greater risk associated with the custody of securities. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more
precarious than in developed countries. As a result, there may be an increased risk of illiquidity and price volatility associated with the fund’s investments in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations
relative to the U.S. dollar, and, at times, it may be difficult to value such investments.
Non-Diversification Risk.
The fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest in the securities of relatively few issuers. As a result, a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence may have a more significant effect on the fund’s investments, and the fund
may experience increased volatility.
Thematic
Investing Risk. The fund invests in a portfolio of securities that are based on a theme and its performance may suffer if such theme is not correctly identified or if the theme develops in an unexpected manner.
Performance may also suffer if the securities included in the index do not benefit from the development of such theme. A failure to correctly identify the theme or a failure of the theme to develop in the manner expected by the index provider may
result from many causes, including government or other oppositions to the theme, incorrect or incomplete demographic or economic data, social and political changes or natural disasters. In addition, the theme may go in and out of favor, which could
cause the fund to outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment strategies.
Thematic Index Methodology Risk. The index uses certain proprietary methodology to help assess the criteria of companies to be included in the index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the fund nor the
investment adviser can offer assurances that the index methodology will provide an accurate assessment of included companies. The index’s proprietary natural language algorithm may not identify companies that would otherwise have been included
in the index if the publicly available data for those companies had used the key words analyzed by the natural language algorithm or, alternatively, the natural language algorithm may identify companies that would not otherwise have been included in
the index if the publicly available data for those companies had not used the key words analyzed by the natural language algorithm. There is no guarantee that the index will reflect the Theme exposures intended.
Sampling Index Tracking Risk. The fund uses statistical sampling techniques, and as a result, the fund may not fully replicate its respective index and may hold securities not included in the index. As a result, the fund is subject to the risk that
the investment adviser’s investment management strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. Because the fund utilizes a sampling approach, it may not track the return of its
respective index as well as it would if the fund purchased all of the securities in its index.
Tracking Error Risk. As an
index fund, the fund seeks to track the performance of its respective index, although it may not be successful in doing so. The divergence between the performance of the fund and the index, positive or negative, is called “tracking
error.” Tracking error can be caused by many factors and it may be significant.
Derivatives Risk. The
fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. The fund’s use of derivatives could reduce the
fund’s performance, increase the fund’s volatility, and could cause the fund to lose more than the initial amount invested. In addition, investments in derivatives may involve leverage, which means a small percentage of assets invested
in derivatives can have a disproportionately large impact on the fund.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
(continued)
3. Risk
Factors (continued):
Liquidity Risk. The fund may be unable to sell certain securities, such as illiquid securities, readily at a favorable time or price, or the fund may have to sell them at a loss.
Securities Lending Risk.
Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in, or delay in recovery of, the loaned securities if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent.
Concentration Risk. To the
extent that the fund’s or an index’s portfolio is concentrated in the securities of issuers in a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector, country or asset class, the fund may be adversely affected by the performance of
those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more vulnerable to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting that market, industry, group of industries, sector, country or asset
class.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. High portfolio turnover may result in the fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and may generate greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the fund’s performance to be
less than expected.
Market Trading Risk. Although fund shares are listed on national securities exchanges, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for fund shares will develop or be maintained. If an active market is not maintained, investors
may find it difficult to buy or sell fund shares.
Shares of the Fund May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. Fund shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of the shares of the fund will approximate the fund’s NAV, there may be times when the
market price and the NAV vary significantly. An investor may pay more than NAV when buying shares of the fund in the secondary market, and an investor may receive less than NAV when selling those shares in the secondary market. The market price of
fund shares may deviate, sometimes significantly, from NAV during periods of market volatility or market disruption, or as a result of other factors impacting foreign securities, including liquidity, irregular trading activity and timing differences
between foreign markets where securities trade and the secondary market where fund shares are sold.
Please refer to the fund’s prospectus for a more
complete description of the principal risks of investing in the fund.
4. Affiliates and Affiliated Transactions:
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., dba Schwab Asset
Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation, serves as the fund’s investment adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the investment adviser and the trust.
For its advisory services to the fund, the investment adviser
is entitled to receive an annual management fee, payable monthly, equal to 0.30% of the fund’s average daily net assets.
Interfund Transactions
The fund may engage in transactions with certain other funds in
the Fund Complex (for definition refer to the Trustees and Officers section) in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. When one fund is seeking to sell a security that another is seeking to buy, an
interfund transaction can allow both funds to benefit by reducing transaction costs. This practice is limited to funds that share the same investment adviser, trustees and/or officers. For the period ended September 30, 2022, the fund’s
purchases and sales of securities with other funds in the Fund Complex was $412,197 and $112,001 respectively and includes realized losses of $16,750.
Interfund Borrowing and Lending
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund may
enter into interfund borrowing and lending transactions with other funds in the Fund Complex. All loans are for temporary or emergency purposes and the interest rate to be charged will be the average of the overnight repurchase agreement rate and
the short-term bank loan rate. All loans are subject to numerous conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds. The interfund lending facility is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Board. The
fund had no interfund borrowing or lending activity during the period.
5. Other Service Providers:
SEI Investments Distribution Co. is the principal underwriter
and distributor of shares of the fund.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
(continued)
5. Other
Service Providers (continued):
State Street Bank
and Trust Company (State Street) serves as the fund’s transfer agent. As part of these services, the transfer agent maintains records pertaining to the sale, redemption and transfer of the fund’s shares. The transfer agent is also
responsible for the order-taking function for the fund’s shares.
State Street also serves as custodian and accountant for
the fund. The custodian is responsible for the daily safekeeping of securities and cash held by the fund. The fund’s accountant maintains all books and records related to the fund’s transactions.
6. Board of Trustees:
The Board may include people who are officers and/or directors
of the investment adviser or its affiliates. Federal securities law limits the percentage of such “interested persons” who may serve on a trust’s board, and the trust was in compliance with these limitations throughout the report
period. The fund does not pay any interested or non-interested trustees (independent trustees). The independent trustees are paid by the investment adviser. For information regarding the trustees, please refer to the Trustees and Officers table at
the end of this report.
7. Borrowing from Banks:
Effective September 29, 2022, the fund became a participant
with other funds in the Fund Complex in a joint, syndicated, committed $1 billion line of credit (the Syndicated Credit Facility), maturing on September 28, 2023. Under the terms of the Syndicated Credit Facility, in addition to the investment
adviser paying the interest charge on any borrowing by the fund, the investment adviser paid a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on its proportionate share of the unused portion of the Syndicated Credit Facility.
Effective September 29, 2022, the fund became a participant
with other funds in the Fund Complex in a joint, unsecured, uncommitted $400 million line of credit (the Uncommitted Credit Facility), with State Street, maturing on September 28, 2023. Under the terms of the Uncommitted Credit Facility, the
investment adviser pays interest on the amount the fund borrows. There were no borrowings from either line of credit during the period.
The fund also has access to custodian overdraft facilities. The
fund may have utilized the overdraft facility and incurred an interest expense, which is paid by the investment adviser. The interest expense is determined based on a negotiated rate above the current Federal Funds Rate.
8. Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities:
Since commencement of operations on August 4, 2022 through
September 30, 2022, purchases and sales of securities (excluding in-kind transactions and short-term obligations) were as follows:
PURCHASES
OF SECURITIES |
SALES
OF SECURITIES |
$646,615
|
$739,104
|
9. In-Kind Transactions:
The consideration for the purchase of Creation Units of the
fund often consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of equity securities, which constitutes an optimized representation of the securities involved in a relevant fund’s underlying index, and an amount of cash. Investors
purchasing and redeeming Creation Units are subject to a standard creation transaction fee and a standard redemption transaction fee paid to the custodian to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of
Creation Units. Purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units for cash are subject to an additional variable charge paid to the fund that will offset the transaction costs to the fund of buying or selling portfolio securities. In addition, purchasers
and redeemers of shares in Creation Units are responsible for payment of the costs of transferring securities to or out of the fund. From time to time, the investment adviser may cover the cost of any transaction fees when believed to be in the best
interests of the fund.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Financial Notes, unaudited
(continued)
9. In-Kind
Transactions (continued):
Since commencement of
operations on August 4, 2022 through September 30, 2022, in-kind transactions were as follows:
|
IN-KIND
PURCHASES OF SECURITIES |
IN-KIND
SALES OF SECURITIES |
Schwab
Crypto Thematic ETF |
$8,806,888
|
$0
|
For the period ended September 30,
2022, the fund had no realized net capital gains or losses resulting from in-kind redemptions of Creation Units. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the fund and are not distributed to existing fund shareholders, the gains or losses are
reclassified from accumulated net realized gains or losses to capital received from investors at the end of the fund’s tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The net realized in-kind gains
or losses on sales of in-kind redemptions for the period ended September 30, 2022 are disclosed in the fund’s Statement of Operations, if any.
10. Federal Income Taxes:
As of September 30, 2022, the tax basis cost of the
fund’s investments and gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation were as follows:
TAX
COST |
GROSS
UNREALIZED APPRECIATION |
GROSS
UNREALIZED DEPRECIATION |
NET
UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) |
$8,688,066
|
$20,007
|
($1,666,380)
|
($1,646,373)
|
11. Subsequent Events:
Management has determined there are no subsequent events or
transactions through the date the financial statements were issued that would have materially impacted the financial statements as presented.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Liquidity Risk Management Program (unaudited)
The fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk
management program (the “program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has designated the fund’s investment adviser, Charles
Schwab Investment Management, Inc., dba Schwab Asset Management, as the administrator of the program. Personnel of the investment adviser or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program.
Under the program, the investment adviser manages a
fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the fund. The program is reasonably designed to assess and manage
a fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration the fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its historical redemption history and
shareholder concentrations; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources, including the custodian overdraft facility and lines of credit. The investment adviser’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of each fund’s
investments is supported by third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The fund’s Board reviewed a report at its meeting held on
September 19, 2022 prepared by the investment adviser regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period June 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022, which included individual fund liquidity metrics. No significant liquidity events were
noted in the report. In addition, the investment adviser provided its assessment that the program had been operating effectively in managing liquidity risk. The fund commenced operations on August 4, 2022.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Investment Advisory Agreement Approval
Initial Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act),
requires that the approval of a fund’s investment advisory agreement must be specifically approved (1) by the vote of the trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the fund, and (2) by the vote of a majority of the trustees who are not
parties to the investment advisory agreements or “interested persons” of any party (the Independent Trustees), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. In connection with such approvals, the
fund’s trustees must request and evaluate, and the investment adviser is required to furnish, such information as may be reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the investment advisory agreement.
The Board of Trustees (the Board or the Trustees, as
appropriate) called and held a meeting on February 24, 20221, in part, for the purpose of considering whether to appoint Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (dba Schwab
Asset Management) (the investment adviser), as investment adviser to the Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF (the Fund) under the investment advisory agreement between Schwab Strategic Trust (the Trust) and the investment adviser (the Agreement). In
preparation for the meeting, the Board requested and reviewed a wide variety of materials provided by the investment adviser and considered information that the Board receives from the investment adviser throughout the year, including information
about the investment adviser’s affiliates, personnel, business goals and priorities, profitability, third-party oversight, corporate structure and operations. The Board also received data provided by an independent provider of investment
company data. In recognition of the fact that the Fund had not yet commenced operations, the Board also considered information provided by the investment adviser in connection with the Board’s consideration of approval of the investment
advisory agreement with respect to the other funds within the Trust. The Board also took into account the detailed information about other funds within the Trust that the Board reviews during the course of each year, including information that
relates to those funds’ operations and performance, legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, and sales and marketing activity. The Independent Trustees received advice from Independent Trustees’ legal counsel,
including with respect to the responsibilities of trustees for the approval of investment advisory agreements. In addition, the Independent Trustees participated in question and answer sessions with representatives of the investment adviser and met
in executive session outside the presence of Fund management.
The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees
approved the Agreement with respect to the Fund. The
Board’s approval was based on consideration and evaluation of a variety
of specific factors discussed at this meeting, including:
1.
|
the nature, extent and
quality of the services to be provided to the Fund under the Agreement, including the resources of the investment adviser and its affiliates to be dedicated to the Fund; |
2.
|
the investment
adviser’s investment performance in managing other index-based exchange-traded funds; |
3.
|
the Fund’s estimated
expenses and how those expenses compared to those of certain other similar exchange-traded funds; |
4.
|
the expected profitability of
the investment adviser and its affiliates, including Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab), with respect to management of the Fund, including both direct and indirect benefits accruing to the investment adviser and its affiliates; and |
5.
|
the extent
to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows and whether fee levels in the Agreement reflect those economies of scale for the benefit of Fund investors. |
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services. The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by the investment adviser to the Fund and the resources that the investment adviser and its affiliates will dedicate to the Fund. In this
regard, the Trustees evaluated, among other things, the investment adviser’s experience, track record, compliance program, resources dedicated to hiring and retaining skilled personnel and specialized talent, and information security
resources. The Trustees also considered information provided by the investment adviser relating to services and support to be provided with respect to the Fund’s portfolio management team, portfolio strategy, and internal investment
guidelines, as well as trading infrastructure, liquidity management, product design and analysis, shareholder communications, securities valuation, fund accounting and custody, and vendor and risk oversight. The Trustees also considered investments
the investment adviser has made in its infrastructure, including modernizing the investment adviser’s technology and use of data, increasing expertise in key areas (including portfolio management and trade operations), and improving business
continuity, cybersecurity, due diligence, risk management processes, and information security programs, which are designed to provide enhanced services to the Fund and its shareholders. The Trustees also considered Schwab’s overall financial
condition and reputation as a full service brokerage firm as well as the wide range of products, services, and of account features that benefit Fund shareholders who are brokerage clients of Schwab. Following such evaluation, the Board concluded,
within the context of its full deliberations,
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
that the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided by the
investment adviser to the Fund and the resources of the investment adviser and its affiliates dedicated to the Fund supported approval of the Agreement with respect to the Fund.
Fund Performance. Since the
Fund had not commenced operations and therefore did not have any performance of its own, the Board considered the Fund’s risk profile and the characteristics of the Fund’s proposed index relative to other market indices in determining
whether to approve the Agreement. Following such evaluation, the Board concluded, within the context of its full deliberations, that the expected performance of the Fund supported approval of the Agreement with respect to the Fund.
Fund Expenses. With respect to
the Fund’s expenses, the Trustees considered the proposed rate of compensation called for by the Agreement and the Fund’s estimated operating expense ratio, in each case, in comparison to those of other similar exchange-traded funds,
such peer groups and comparisons having been selected and calculated by an independent provider of investment company data. The investment adviser reported to the Board, and the Board took into account, the risk assumed by the investment adviser in
the development of the Fund and the services to be provided as well as the competitive marketplace for financial products. The Trustees also considered fees charged by the investment adviser to mutual funds and other exchange-traded funds that it
manages. The Board evaluated the Fund’s unitary fee through review of comparative information with respect to fees paid by other similar exchange-traded funds tracking crypto economy indices. Following such evaluation, the Board concluded,
within the context of its full deliberations, that the expenses of the Fund are reasonable and supported approval of the Agreement with respect to the Fund.
Profitability. With regard to
profitability, the Trustees considered the expected compensation to be flowing to the investment adviser and its affiliates, directly or indirectly. In this connection, the Trustees reviewed management’s profitability analysis of the
investment adviser relating to the Fund, noting the benefits to Fund shareholders of being part of the Schwab fund complex, including the allocations of certain fixed costs across the Fund and other funds in the complex. The Trustees also considered
any other potential benefits to be derived by the investment adviser from its relationship with the Fund, such as whether, by virtue of its management of the Fund, the investment adviser obtains investment information or other research resources
that aid it in providing advisory services to other clients. The Trustees considered whether the expected compensation and profitability with respect to the
Fund under the Agreement and other service agreements were reasonable and
justified in light of the quality of all services to be rendered to the Fund by the investment adviser and its affiliates. The Trustees noted that the investment adviser continues to invest substantial sums in its business in order to provide
enhanced research capabilities, services, and systems that would benefit the Fund. Based on this evaluation, the Board concluded, within the context of its full deliberations, that the expected profitability of the investment adviser, albeit
uncertain, is reasonable and supported approval of the Agreement with respect to the Fund.
Economies of Scale. Recognizing
that the Fund had not yet commenced operations and had no assets, the Trustees considered the potential existence of any economies of scale and whether those could be expected to be passed along to the Fund’s shareholders by way of the
relatively low advisory fee and unitary fee structure of the Fund through (i) the enhancement of services provided to the Fund in return for fees paid, including through investments by the investment adviser in the investment adviser’s
infrastructure, including modernizing its technology and use of data, increasing expertise and capabilities in key areas (including portfolio and trade operations), and improving business continuity, cybersecurity, due diligence and information
security programs, which are designed to provide enhanced services to the Fund and its shareholders; and (ii) pricing the Fund to scale and keeping overall expenses down as the Fund grows. The Trustees acknowledged the investment adviser’s
internal costs of providing investment management, technology, administrative, legal and compliance services to the Fund may increase as a result of regulatory or other developments. Based on this evaluation, the Board concluded, within the context
of its full deliberations, that the Fund may be expected to obtain reasonable benefits from economies of scale if such economies develop.
In the course of their deliberations, the Trustees may have
accorded different weights to various factors and did not identify any particular information or factor that was all important or controlling. Based on the Trustees’ deliberation and their evaluation of the information described above, the
Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, approved the Agreement with respect to the Fund and concluded that the compensation under the Agreement with respect to the Fund is fair and reasonable in light of the services to be provided and the
related expenses to be borne by the investment adviser and its affiliates and such other matters as the Trustees considered to be relevant in the exercise of their reasonable judgment.
1 |
The meeting on February 24,
2022 was held by means of videoconference in reliance on exemptive relief from the in-person voting requirement under the 1940 Act as provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Trustees and Officers
The tables below give information about the trustees and
officers of Schwab Strategic Trust, which includes the funds covered in this report. The “Fund Complex” includes The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic
Trust and Laudus Trust. The Fund Complex includes 105 funds.
The address for all trustees and officers is 211 Main Street,
San Francisco, CA 94105. You can find more information about the trustees and officers in the Statement of Additional Information, which is available free by calling 1-877-824-5615.
Independent
Trustees |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served1) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by the Trustee |
Other
Directorships |
Michael J. Beer 1961 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since
2022) |
Retired.
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2016 – Sept. 2019), Principal Funds (investment management). |
105
|
Director
(2016 – 2019), Principal Funds, Inc. |
Robert
W. Burns 1959 Trustee (Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009; The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since
2016) |
Retired/Private
Investor. |
105
|
None
|
Nancy
F. Heller 1956 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2018)
|
Retired.
|
105
|
None
|
David
L. Mahoney 1954 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2011; Schwab Strategic Trust since
2016) |
Private
Investor. |
105
|
Director
(2004 – present), Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated Director (2009 – 2021), Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Director (2003 – 2019), Symantec Corporation |
Jane
P. Moncreiff 1961 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2019)
|
Consultant
(2018 – present), Fulham Advisers LLC (management consulting); Chief Investment Officer (2009 – 2017), CareGroup Healthcare System, Inc. (healthcare). |
105
|
None
|
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Independent
Trustees (continued) |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served1) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by the Trustee |
Other
Directorships |
Kiran
M. Patel 1948 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2011; Schwab Strategic Trust since
2016) |
Retired.
|
105
|
Director
(2008 – present), KLA-Tencor Corporation |
Kimberly
S. Patmore 1956 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2016)
|
Consultant
(2008 – present), Patmore Management Consulting (management consulting). |
105
|
None
|
J. Derek Penn 1957 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since
2021) |
Head
of Equity Sales and Trading (2006 – 2018), BNY Mellon (financial services). |
105
|
None
|
Interested
Trustees |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served1) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by the Trustee |
Other
Directorships |
Walter
W. Bettinger II2 1960 Chairman and Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital
Trust and Schwab Annuity Portfolios since 2008; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009; Laudus Trust since 2010) |
Co-Chairman
of the Board (July 2022 – present), Director and Chief Executive Officer (Oct. 2008 – present) and President (Feb. 2007 – Oct. 2021), The Charles Schwab Corporation; President and Chief Executive Officer (Oct. 2008 – Oct.
2021) and Director (May 2008 – Oct. 2021), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Director (Apr. 2006 – present), Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Director (Nov. 2017 – present), Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB; Director (July 2019 –
present), Charles Schwab Trust Bank; Director (May 2008 – present), Chief Executive Officer (Aug. 2017 – present) and President (Aug. 2017 – Nov. 2021), Schwab Holdings, Inc.; Director (Oct. 2020 – present), TD Ameritrade
Holding Corporation; Director (July 2016 – Oct. 2021), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. |
105
|
Director
(2008 – present), The Charles Schwab Corporation |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Interested
Trustees (continued) |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served1) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by the Trustee |
Other
Directorships |
Richard
A. Wurster2 1973 Trustee (Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity
Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2022) |
President
(Oct. 2021 – present) and Executive Vice President – Schwab Asset Management Solutions (Apr. 2019 – Oct. 2021), The Charles Schwab Corporation; President, Director (Oct. 2021 – present), Executive Vice President –
Schwab Asset Management Solutions (July 2019 – Oct. 2021) and Senior Vice President – Advisory (May 2016 – July 2019), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; President (Nov. 2021 – present), Schwab Holdings, Inc.; Director (Oct.
2021 – present) and Chief Executive Officer (Nov. 2019 – Jan. 2022), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Director, Chief Executive Officer and President (Mar. 2018 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Advisory, Inc.; Chief
Executive Officer (July 2016 – Apr. 2018) and President (Mar. 2017 – Apr. 2018), ThomasPartners, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer (July 2016 – Apr. 2018), Windhaven Investment Management, Inc. |
105
|
None
|
Officers
of the Trust |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served3) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Jonathan
de St. Paer 1973 President and Chief Executive Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and
Laudus Trust since 2018) |
Director
(Apr. 2019 – present), President (Oct. 2018 – present), Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2021 – present), and Chief Executive Officer (Apr. 2019 – Nov. 2019), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Senior Vice President
(June 2020 – Mar. 2022) and Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2021 – Mar. 2022), Charles Schwab Investment Advisory, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer (Apr. 2019 – present), President (Nov. 2018 – present) and Trustee (Apr. 2019
– Dec. 2020), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs; Director (Mar. 2019 – Apr. 2022), Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited; Managing Director (May 2022 – present), Senior
Vice President (Apr. 2019 – May 2022) and Senior Vice President – Strategy and Product Development (CSIM) (Jan. 2014 – Mar. 2019), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. |
Mark
Fischer 1970 Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab
Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2013) |
Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer (Jan. 2016 – present) and Chief Operating Officer (Dec. 2020 – present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs; Chief Financial Officer (Mar. 2020 – present) and Vice President (Oct. 2013 –
present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Director (July 2020 – Apr. 2022), Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited. |
Omar
Aguilar 1970 Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and
Laudus Trust since 2011) |
Chief
Executive Officer (Jan. 2022 – present), Chief Investment Officer (Apr. 2011 – present) and Senior Vice President (Apr. 2011 – Dec. 2021), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
(June 2011 – present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs. |
Brett
Wander 1961 Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and
Laudus Trust since 2011) |
Senior
Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Apr. 2011 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (June 2011 – present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs. |
William
P. McMahon, Jr. 1972 Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic
Trust and Laudus Trust since 2021) |
Senior
Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (Jan. 2020 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (June 2021 – present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Trust and Schwab ETFs; Senior Vice
President and Chief Investment Officer – ThomasPartners Strategies (Apr. 2018 – Dec. 2019), Charles Schwab Investment Advisory, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (May 2001 – Apr. 2018), ThomasPartners, Inc.
|
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Officers
of the Trust (continued) |
Name,
Year of Birth, and Position(s) with the trust (Terms of office, and length of Time Served3) |
Principal
Occupations During the Past Five Years |
Catherine
MacGregor 1964 Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Schwab Funds and Schwab ETFs Chief Legal Officer, Vice President and Clerk, Laudus Trust (Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab
Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2005; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009) |
Chief
Legal Officer (Mar. 2022 – present) and Vice President (Sept. 2005 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Managing Director (May 2022 – present) and Vice President (July 2005 – May 2022), Charles Schwab
& Co., Inc.; Vice President (Dec. 2005 – present) and Chief Legal Officer and Clerk (Mar. 2007 – present), Laudus Trust; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary (Oct. 2021 – present), Vice President (Nov. 2005 – Oct. 2021) and
Assistant Secretary (June 2007 – Oct. 2021), Schwab Funds; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary (Oct. 2021 – present), Vice President and Assistant Secretary (Oct. 2009 – Oct. 2021), Schwab ETFs. |
1 |
Each Trustee shall hold
office until the election and qualification of his or her successor, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed. The retirement policy requires that each independent trustee retire by December 31 of the year in which the Trustee turns 74 or the
Trustee’s twentieth year of service as an independent trustee on any trust in the Fund Complex, whichever occurs first. |
2 |
Mr. Bettinger and Mr. Wurster
are Interested Trustees. Mr. Bettinger and Mr. Wurster are Interested Trustees because each owns stock of The Charles Schwab Corporation (CSC), the parent company of Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., the investment adviser for the trusts
in the Fund Complex, and is an employee of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab), the principal underwriter for The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust. |
3 |
The President, Treasurer and
Secretary/Clerk hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each of the other officers serves at the pleasure of the Board. |
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
144A securities These securities
may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers under Securities Act Rule 144A.
American Depositary Receipt (ADR) U.S. dollar-denominated receipts issued by U.S. banks or trust companies that represent shares of foreign-based corporations.
ask See
“offer.”
asset allocation The practice of dividing a portfolio among different asset classes, with each asset class assigned a particular percentage to help offset risks and rewards, based on your goals, time horizon and risk
tolerance.
asset class A group of securities with similar structure and basic characteristics. Stocks, bonds and cash are the three main examples of asset classes.
authorized participant
(AP) A large institutional investor that places orders for creation units with the funds’ distributor.
beta A historical
measure of an investment’s volatility relative to a market index (usually the S&P 500®). The index is defined as having a beta of 1.00. Investments with a beta
higher than 1.00 have been more volatile than the index; those with a beta of less than 1.00 have been less volatile.
bid The highest
price at which someone is willing to buy a security.
Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index An index that is a broad-based benchmark measuring the performance of the U.S. investment grade, taxable bond market, including U.S. Treasuries, government-related and corporate bonds, mortgage pass-through
securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities that are publicly available for sale in the United States. To be eligible for inclusion in the index, securities must be fixed rate, non-convertible, U.S.
dollar-denominated with at least $300 million or more of outstanding face value and have one or more years remaining to maturity. The index excludes certain types of securities, including tax-exempt state and local government series bonds,
structured notes embedded with swaps or other special features, private placements, floating rate securities, inflation-linked bonds and Eurobonds. The index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the index are updated on the last
business day of each month.
Bloomberg US Treasury
Bills 1–3 Month Index An index that includes all publicly issued zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Bills that have a remaining maturity of less than 3 months but more than 1 month, are rated investment
grade and have $300 million or more of outstanding face value. It excludes zero-coupon STRIPS.
cap,
capitalization See “market cap.”
capital gain, capital
loss The difference between the amount paid for an investment and its value at a later time. If the investment has been sold, the capital gain or loss is considered a realized gain or loss. If the
investment is still held, the gain or loss is still “on paper” and is considered unrealized.
commencement of
operations The date that the first NAV was calculated.
creation unit
(C.U.) A basket of securities that is delivered by an authorized participant (AP) to the fund equal to the current holdings of the ETF, plus a designated cash component. In return, the APs receive a large
block of ETF shares (typically 50,000 shares), which investors can then buy and sell in the secondary market.
European Depositary Receipt (EDR) A
negotiable security (receipt) that is issued by a European bank, and that represents shares of foreign-based corporations.
exchange A
marketplace, or any organization or group that provides or maintains a marketplace for trading securities, options, futures, or commodities.
expense ratio The
amount that is taken from the fund’s assets each year to cover the operating expenses. An expense ratio of 0.50% means that a fund’s expenses amount to half of one percent of its average net assets a year.
Global Depositary Receipt
(GDR) A negotiable security (receipt) that is issued by a foreign bank, and that represents shares of foreign-based corporations.
gross domestic product
(GDP) The output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States.
inception date The
date that the shares began trading in the secondary market.
indicative optimized portfolio value (IOPV) A calculation disseminated by the stock exchange that approximates the fund’s NAV every 15 seconds throughout the trading day.
liquidity The
ability to convert a security or asset quickly into cash.
market cap, market capitalization The value of a company as determined by the total value of all shares of its stock outstanding. Free-float market capitalization is a variation of market capitalization that only includes shares generally
available to the public, and excludes shares of a company held by entities such as the government. Modified market capitalization weighting represents a mix between conventional market capitalization weighting and equal weighting.
market price
return The return based on the change in market price per share of the fund over a given time period. Market price returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the
fund at market price.
median market cap The midpoint of the range of market caps of the stocks held by a fund. There are different ways of calculating median market cap. With a simple median, half of the stocks in the fund’s portfolio would
be larger than the median, and half would be smaller. With a weighted median (the type that is calculated for these funds), half of the fund’s assets are invested in stocks that are larger than the median market cap, and half in stocks that
are smaller.
MSCI ACWI Index (Net) A free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of both developed markets and emerging markets. The index includes both large- and mid-cap stocks.
The Net version of the index reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for expenses or other taxes.
MSCI EAFE Index
(Net) A free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. The Net version of the
index reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes, but reflects no deductions for expenses or other taxes; returns are calculated applying dividend withholding rates applicable to non-resident persons who do not benefit from double
taxation treaties.
net asset value (NAV) The value of one share of a fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets, subtracting liabilities, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual
Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
NAV return The return based on the
change in NAV of the fund over a given time period. NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund.
offer (ask) The
lowest price at which an individual is willing to sell a security.
open The price at
which a security opened for trading on a given day.
outstanding shares, shares outstanding When speaking of the fund, indicates all shares currently held by investors.
price-to-book ratio
(P/B) The market price of a company’s stock compared with its “book value.” A mutual fund’s P/B is the weighted average of the P/B of all stocks in the fund’s
portfolio.
price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) The market price of a company’s stock compared with earnings over the past year. A mutual fund’s P/E is the weighted average of the P/E of all stocks in the fund’s portfolio.
primary market The
market that deals with the issuance of new securities.
rights and
warrants Rights and warrants are types of securities that entitle the holder to purchase a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price for a specific period of time. Rights allow a
shareholder to buy more shares directly from the company, usually at a price somewhat lower than the current market price of the outstanding shares. Warrants are usually issued with bonds and preferred stock. Rights and warrants can trade on the
market separately from the company’s stock. The prices of rights and warrants do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying common stock. Rights usually expire within a few weeks of issuance, while warrants may not expire
for several years. If a right or warrant is not exercised within the specified time period, it will become worthless and a fund will lose the purchase price it paid for the right or warrant and the right to purchase the underlying
security.
Russell 2000 Index An index that measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The Russell 3000 Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies representing approximately
98% of the investable U.S. equity market.
S&P
500 Index An index that is designed to measure the performance of 500 leading publicly traded companies from a broad range of industries.
sampling If a fund uses a sampling
method, the fund will not fully replicate the benchmark index and may hold securities not included in the index. A fund that utilizes a sampling approach may not track the return of the index.
Schwab Crypto Thematic
Index An index developed by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. and designed to deliver global exposure to companies that may benefit from one or more of the following business activities: either
directly or facilitating others in validating consensus mechanisms for (such as mining or staking), investing in, or trading cryptocurrency or other digital assets; enabling the use of cryptocurrency or other digital assets to buy or sell goods and
services; or developing, distributing or implementing applications of blockchain or other distributed ledger technology including in new cryptocurrencies or digital assets. The index is comprised of equity securities, including depositary receipts
which may be in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) and European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), of companies listed and traded on major exchanges in the U.S. and non-U.S. markets, including developed and
emerging markets, as determined by the index provider. The underlying securities comprising the index and their weights are based on a determination of relevance to the theme based on a proprietary rules-based methodology that utilizes a natural
language processing algorithm.
secondary market The market in which investors purchase securities from other investors rather than directly from the issuing companies. Organized exchanges facilitate the trading of securities in the secondary
market.
spread The gap
between bid and ask prices of a security.
stock A share of ownership, or equity, in the issuing company.
total return The
percentage that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the fund assuming dividends and distributions were reinvested.
tracking error The
difference between the performance of the fund and its benchmark index, positive or negative.
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | Semiannual Report
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Schwab ETFs
Schwab ETFs are designed to serve as simple low-cost core
investment products for a diversified portfolio. These ETFs seek to provide consistent, repeatable performance through a variety of investment strategies that span the equity and fixed income spectrum. The list below shows all currently available
Schwab ETFs.
Investors should carefully consider
information contained in the prospectus, or if available, the summary prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. Please call 1-877-824-5615 for a prospectus for any Schwab ETF. Please read the
prospectus carefully before you invest. This report must be preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Results
A description of the proxy voting policies and procedures
used to determine how to vote proxies on behalf of the funds is available without charge, upon request, by visiting the Schwab ETFs’ website at www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus, the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by contacting Schwab ETFs at 1-877-824-5615.
Information regarding how a fund voted proxies relating to
portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, by visiting the fund’s website at www.schwabassetmanagement.com/schwabetfs_prospectus or the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
U.S. ETFs
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF
Schwab 1000 Index® ETF
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
International ETFs
Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF
Schwab International Equity ETF
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF
Fixed-Income ETFs
Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF
Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF
Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF
Schwab Municipal Bond ETF
Fundamental Index* ETFs
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental Emerging
Markets Large Company
Index ETF
Active,
Semi-Transparent (Also Known As Non-Transparent) ETF
Schwab Ariel
ESG ETF
Thematic ETFs
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment
Management, Inc., dba Schwab Asset Management
211 Main Street, San
Francisco, CA 94105
Schwab ETFs
1-877-824-5615
© 2022 Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., dba Schwab Asset
Management. All rights reserved.
Printed on recycled paper.
*
|
FUNDAMENTAL INDEX is a
registered trademark of Research Affiliates LLC. |
The Schwab Ariel ESG ETF is different from traditional
ETFs. Traditional ETFs tell the public what assets they hold each day. This fund will not. This may create additional risks for your investment. For example:
•
|
You may have to pay more
money to trade the fund’s shares. This fund will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information. |
•
|
The price you pay to buy fund
shares on an exchange may not match the value of the fund’s portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for this fund compared to other ETFs because it provides less information to traders.
|
•
|
These additional risks may be
even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions. |
•
|
The ETF
will publish on its website each day a “Proxy Portfolio” designed to help trading in shares of the ETF. While the Proxy Portfolio includes some of the ETF’s holdings, it is not the ETF’s actual portfolio. |
The differences between this fund and other
ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about the fund secret, this fund may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve the fund’s performance. If other traders are
able to copy or predict the fund’s investment strategy, however, this may hurt the fund’s performance.
For additional information regarding the unique
attributes and risks of the fund, see Proxy Portfolio Risk, Premium/Discount Risk, Trading Halt Risk, Authorized Participant Concentration Risk, Tracking Error Risk and Shares of the Fund May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV in the Principal Risks and Proxy Portfolio and Proxy Overlap sections of the prospectus and/or the Statement of Additional Information. These
risks are discussed on the next page.
Schwab Crypto Thematic
ETF
Active semi-transparent ETFs operate differently from other
exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Unlike other ETFs, an active semi-transparent ETF does not publicly disclose its entire portfolio composition each business day, which may affect the price at which shares of the ETF trade in the secondary market.
Active semi-transparent ETFs have limited public trading history. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop, be maintained or operate as intended. There is a risk that the market price of an active semi-transparent ETF may
vary significantly from the ETF’s net asset value and that its shares may trade at a wider bid/ask spread and, therefore, cost investors more to trade than shares of other ETFs. These risks are heightened during periods of market disruption or
volatility.
Proxy Portfolio Risk: Unlike traditional ETFs, this fund does not disclose its portfolio holdings (Actual Portfolio) daily. The fund instead posts a Proxy Portfolio on its website each day. The Proxy Portfolio is designed to reflect the
economic exposures and risk characteristics of the fund’s actual holdings on each trading day, but it is not the same as the fund’s Actual Portfolio. Although the Proxy Portfolio is intended to provide investors with enough information
to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that will keep the market price of the Fund at or close to the underlying NAV per Share of the Fund, there is a risk (which may increase during periods of market disruption or volatility) that market
prices will vary significantly from the underlying NAV of the fund. ETF trading on the basis of a published Proxy Portfolio may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, especially during periods of
market disruption or volatility, and therefore may cost investors more to trade. Also, while the Fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Proxy Portfolio to identify a
Fund’s trading strategy, which if successful, could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the Fund and its shareholders.
Proxy Portfolio Construction:
The Proxy Portfolio is designed to recreate the daily performance of the Actual Portfolio. This is achieved by performing a “Factor Model” analysis of the Actual Portfolio. The Factor Model is comprised of three sets of factors or
analytical metrics: market-based factors, fundamental factors, and industry/sector factors. The fund uses a “Model Universe” to generate its Proxy Portfolio. The Model Universe is comprised of securities that the fund can purchase and
will be a financial index or stated portfolio of securities from which fund investments will be selected. The results of the Factor Model analysis are then applied to the Model Universe. The Proxy Portfolio is then generated as a result of this
Model Universe analysis with the Proxy Portfolio being a small sub-set of the Model Universe. The Factor Model is applied to both the Actual Portfolio and the Model Universe to construct the fund’s Proxy Portfolio that performs in a manner
substantially identical to the performance of its Actual Portfolio. The Proxy Portfolio will only include investments the fund is permitted to hold. The fund’s SAI contains more information on the Proxy Portfolio and its
construction.
Proxy Portfolio and Proxy Overlap
Information regarding the contents of the Proxy Portfolio, and the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the Proxy Portfolio and the fund’s Actual Portfolio holdings that formed the basis for its calculation of NAV at the end of
the prior Business Day (the Portfolio Overlap), is available by visiting the fund’s website www.schwabassetmanagement.com.
Because environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies
exclude some securities, ESG-focused products may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as products that do not use such strategies. Additionally, the criteria used to select companies for investment may result in
investing in securities, industries or sectors that underperform the market as a whole.
This page is intentionally left blank.
Item 2: Code of Ethics.
Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
Item 3:
Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
Item 4: Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not
applicable to this semi-annual report.
Item 5: Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
Item 6:
Schedule of Investments.
The schedules of investments are included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
Item 7: Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8: Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9: Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10: Submission of Matters
to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
Item 11: Controls and Procedures.
(a) |
Based on their evaluation of Registrants disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days
of the filing date, Registrants Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan de St. Paer and Registrants Chief Financial Officer, Mark Fischer, have concluded that Registrants disclosure controls and procedures are: (i) reasonably
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately communicated to Registrants officers to allow timely decisions regarding disclosures required in this report; (ii) reasonably designed to ensure
that information required to be disclosed in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner; and (iii) are effective in achieving the goals described in (i) and (ii) above. |
(b) |
During the period covered by this report, there have been no changes in Registrants internal control over
financial reporting that the above officers believe to have materially affected, or to be reasonably likely to materially affect, Registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12: Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 13: Exhibits.
(a) |
(1) Code of ethics not applicable to this semi-annual report. |
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) Schwab Strategic Trust - Schwab Ariel ESG ETF and Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Jonathan de St. Paer |
|
|
Jonathan de St. Paer Chief Executive
Officer |
|
|
Date: |
|
November 16, 2022 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has
been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Jonathan de St. Paer |
|
|
Jonathan de St. Paer Chief Executive
Officer |
|
|
Date: |
|
November 16, 2022 |
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Mark Fischer |
|
|
Mark Fischer Chief Financial
Officer |
|
|
Date: |
|
November 16, 2022 |
ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS
EX-99.CERT
EX-99.906 CERT