ProShare Capital Management today announced that the investment objective of two of its ETFs will change effective as of close of business on February 27, 2018.

ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (NYSE Arca: UVXY) will change its investment objective to seek results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to one and one-half times (1.5x) the performance of the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index (“Index”) for a single day. The Fund’s investment objective currently is to seek results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to two times (2x) the performance of the Index for a single day. If the Fund were successful in meeting its new objective, on a day the Index rose 1%, the Fund should rise approximately 1.5%, before fees and expenses. Similarly, on a day the Index fell 1%, the Fund should fall approximately 1.5%, before fees and expenses.

ProShares Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (NYSE Arca: SVXY) will change its investment objective to seek results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to one-half the inverse (-0.5x) of the Index for a single day. The Fund’s investment objective currently is to seek results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the inverse (-1x) of the Index for a single day. If the Fund were successful in meeting its new objective, on a day the Index fell 1%, the Fund should rise approximately 0.5%, before fees and expenses. Similarly, on a day the Index rose 1%, the Fund should fall approximately 0.5%, before fees and expenses.

Certain regulatory approvals will be required for the Funds to permanently pursue these new investment objectives. In the event that such approvals are not obtained, the Funds will consider other courses of action.

Important Considerations about the Funds:

– The Funds do not track the performance of the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) and can be expected to perform very differently from the VIX.
– The Funds are intended for short-term use. The longer the holding period, the greater the potential for loss.
– Unlike other asset classes that have tended to increase in price over long periods of time, the level of the VIX has tended to revert to a long-term average over time. As such, any gains from investments in the Funds may be constrained and subject to unexpected reversals as the VIX reverts to its long-term average.
– VIX futures indexes may reflect significant costs associated with rolling VIX futures contracts. These costs can consistently reduce the returns of the Funds.
– VIX futures indexes can be highly volatile, and investors in the Funds may be subject to the risk of large losses, including possibly losing their entire investment.