With this election season upon us, market volatility has become a rising concern for investors. While at Calamos, we value time in the market versus timing the market, but we understand that the uncertainty surrounding election outcomes can trigger investor retreats that may have an adverse effect upon their portfolios. Today, however, there are solutions that can help investors stay invested in the market, limiting actions based on behavioral biases often associated with near term risks, like elections.
Understanding Election Risk
Election risk refers to the potential for market instability due to the uncertain outcomes of political events. This risk is magnified during election periods as markets react to new policies, leadership changes, and shifts in geopolitical dynamics. Investors often face the dilemma of how to protect their portfolios from potential losses without sacrificing the opportunity for gains. Traditional hedging strategies, such as options and futures, can be complex and costly. This is where structured protection ETFs may be a fit.
Equity Market Volatility Tracker: Elections And Political Governance
Source: Baker, Scott R., Bloom, Nick and Davis, Stephen J., Equity Market Volatility Tracker: Elections And Political Governance [EMVELECTGOVRN], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/EMVELECTGOVRN, July 8, 2024.
Our Solution: Calamos Structured Protection ETFs
One way to mitigate these election-risks without sacrificing too much upside opportunity is with Calamos Structured Protection ETFs, a strategic approach that offers 100% downside protection against market downturns over an outcome period, while maintaining growth potential to a cap.
The next ETF in the series, Calamos S&P 500® Structured Alt Protection ETF – August (CPSA) will launch on August 1, 2024. CPSA and offers exposure to the S&P 500 with an estimated upside cap of 8.58%-9.07% and 100% downside protection through July 2025 (before fees and expenses). With a one-year outcome period, investors will gain protection both before and after the election and allow for optimal upside participation should the markets continue higher.
In addition to downside protection and upside potential growth, these ETFs offer simplicity. Compared to other hedging strategies, Structured Protection ETFs are relatively straightforward to understand and implement, as investors do not need to manage complex options positions or constantly monitor futures contracts.
As we approach the 2024 election, the markets are already showing signs of increased volatility. Policy proposals, debates, polling data, and party nominees are all contributing factors to potential market swings. Investors can hedge against the downside risks associated with the election while still capitalizing on potential market gains with Calamos’ Structured Protection ETFs.
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Disclosure Information
Before investing, carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please see the prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information which can be obtained by calling 1-866-363-9219. Read it carefully before investing.
An investment in the Fund(s) is subject to risks, and you could lose money on your investment in the Fund(s). There can be no assurance that the Fund(s) will achieve its investment objective. Your investment in the Fund(s) is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund(s) can increase during times of significant market volatility. The Fund(s) also has specific principal risks, which are described below. More detailed information regarding these risks can be found in the Fund's prospectus.
Investing involves risks. Loss of principal is possible. The Funds face numerous market trading risks, including authorized participation concentration risk, cap change risk, capital protection risk, capped upside risk, cash holdings risk, clearing member default risk, correlation risk, derivatives risk, equity securities risk, investment timing risk, large-capitalization investing risk, liquidity risk, market maker risk, market risk, non-diversification risk, options risk, premium-discount risk, secondary market trading risk, sector risk, tax risk, trading issues risk, underlying ETF risk and valuation risk. For a detailed list of fund risks see the prospectus.
There are no assurances the Fund will be successful in providing the sought-after protection. The outcomes that the Fund seeks to provide may only be realized if you are holding shares on the first day of the Outcome Period and continue to hold them on the last day of the Outcome Period, approximately one year. There is no guarantee that the Outcomes for an Outcome Period will be realized or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. If the Outcome Period has begun and the Underlying ETF has increased in value, any appreciation of the Fund by virtue of increases in the Underlying ETF since the commencement of the Outcome Period will not be protected by the sought-after protection, and an investor could experience losses until the Underlying ETF returns to the original price at the commencement of the Outcome Period. Fund shareholders are subject to an upside return cap (the "Cap") that represents the maximum percentage return an investor can achieve from an investment in the funds' for the Outcome Period, before fees and expenses. If the Outcome Period has begun and the Fund has increased in value to a level near to the Cap, an investor purchasing at that price has little or no ability to achieve gains but remains vulnerable to downside risks. Additionally, the Cap may rise or fall from one Outcome Period to the next. The Cap, and the Fund's position relative to it, should be considered before investing in the Fund. The Fund's website, www.calamos.com, provides important Fund information as well information relating to the potential outcomes of an investment in a Fund on a daily basis.
These Funds are designed to provide point-to-point exposure to the price return of the Reference Asset via a basket of Flex Options. As a result, the ETFs are not expected to move directly in line with the Reference Asset during the interim period.
Investors purchasing shares after an outcome period has begun may experience very different results than fund's investment objective. Initial outcome periods are approximately 1-year beginning on the fund's inception date. Following the initial outcome period, each subsequent outcome period will begin on the first day of the month the fund was incepted. After the conclusion of an outcome period, another will begin.
FLEX Options Risk The Fund will utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). In the unlikely event that the OCC becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to meet its settlement obligations, the Fund could suffer significant losses. Additionally, FLEX Options may be less liquid than standard options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the Fund may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices. The values of FLEX Options do not increase or decrease at the same rate as the reference asset and may vary due to factors other than the price of reference asset.
Shares are bought and sold at market price, not net asset value (NAV), and are not individually redeemable from the fund. NAV represents the value of each share's portion of the fund's underlying assets and cash at the end of the trading day. Market price returns reflect the midpoint of the bid/ask spread as of the close of trading on the exchange where fund shares are listed.
100% capital protection is over a one-year period before fees and expenses. All caps are pre-determined.
Cap Range – Maximum percentage return an investor can achieve from an investment in the Fund if held over the Outcome Period. Cap range depicted is the high and low cap rate over the past 15 trading days. Actual cap delivered by the Fund may be different.
Protection Level – Amount of protection the Fund is designed to achieve over the Days Remaining.
Outcome Period – Number of days in the Outcome Period.
Nasdaq® and Nasdaq-100 are registered trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. (which with its affiliates is referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by Calamos Advisors LLC. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. The Corporations make no warranties and bear no liability with respect to the Fund(s).
The Calamos Russell2000® Structured Alt Protection ETFs (the “Funds”) have been developed solely by Calamos Advisors LLC. The “Funds” are not in any way connected to or sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group”). FTSE Russell is a trading name of certain of the LSE Group companies. All rights in the Russell 2000® Index (the “Index”) vest in the relevant LSE Group company which owns the Index. The Russell 2000® Index is a trademark(s) of the relevant LSE Group company and is used by any other LSE Group company under license.
STRUCTURED ALT PROTECTION ETF and STRUCTURED PROTECTION ETF are trademarks of Calamos Investments LLC.
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Calamos Financial Services LLC
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