Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions,
when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which
are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 2% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Index, the
Fund employs a replication strategy, which means that the Fund typically invests in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally
invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any material change in this 95% investment policy. In addition, the
Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”),
the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index
includes companies that have been identified as Health Care companies by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), including securities
of companies from the following industries: pharmaceuticals; health care equipment and supplies; health care providers and services; biotechnology; life sciences tools and services; and health care technology. The Index is one of eleven Select
Sector Indexes developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria: (1) each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index; and (2) the Index is calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC
(“S&P DJI”) based on a proprietary “modified market capitalization” methodology which means that modifications may be made to the market capitalization weights of single stock concentrations in order to conform to the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code” or “IRC”). As of November 30, 2019, the Index was composed of 60 stocks.
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P
DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the “Index Compilation Agent”). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the
market value of the Index (as the “Index Provider”). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of
investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be
volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general
market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets.
Equity Investing
Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly
relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or
extended periods of time.
Health Care
Sector Risk: The Fund's assets will be concentrated in the health care sector, which means the Fund will be more affected by the performance of the health care sector than a fund
that is more diversified. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of
medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on
obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product
liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development
and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.