Access Fixed Income Etf Ar
Access Fixed Income Etf Ar
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Investment Process 1
Schedules of Investments 47
The FTSE Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets USD Bond Index (the “Index”) is a rules-based index that is designed to measure the
performance of investment grade and high yield bonds issued by emerging market governments or quasi-government entities
denominated in U.S. dollars (“USD”) that meet certain liquidity, governance and fundamental screening criteria. As of August 31,
2023, there were 538 constituents in the Index and the Index had a weighted average maturity of 12.20 years.
The Index is a custom index that is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the London
Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index Provider”). The Index is based
on the government and quasi-government bonds of the FTSE Emerging Markets Broad Bond Index (the “Reference Index”) using
concepts developed with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”).
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of
active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and
market factors.
The Index Provider constructs the Index in accordance with a rules-based methodology that involves two steps.
Step 1 - In the first step, the Index Provider defines a universe of potential index constituents (the “Universe”) by applying
specified criteria to the constituents of the Reference Index. The Reference Index includes sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt
issued in USD with a minimum of $500 million and $250 million outstanding, respectively, that is rated at least C by S&P Global
Ratings (“S&P”) or Ca by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”). Only constituents of the Reference Index that have a
minimum issue equivalent of $500 million outstanding, a minimum issuer size of $1 billion, and are rated at least B- by S&P or B3
by Moody’s are included in the Universe. The weight of each country within the Universe is capped at 5%. A maturity bucketing
process is used to approximate the average effective duration of the Reference Index.
Step 2 - In the second step, the Index Provider applies both governance and fundamental screens to the Universe. First, issuers are
ranked by improvement or deterioration in governance based on the Worldwide Governance Indicators. Based on this ranking, the
bottom 10% of issuing countries are excluded from the Universe. Second, issuers are ranked by improvement or deterioration in
two fundamental factors, import coverage and inflation. Based on this second ranking, the bottom 5% of issuing countries are
excluded from the Universe. Inclusion or exclusion of quasi-government bonds is based on the country of domicile.
As of August 31, 2023, issuers from 40 emerging market countries were included in the Index. The majority of these countries are
likely to be located in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern and Central Europe and Central and South America. The countries
included in the Index may change over time. The percentage of the portfolio exposed to any country or geographic region will vary
from time to time as the weightings of the securities within the Index change, and the Fund may not be invested in each country or
geographic region at all times.
The securities included in the Index include non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”).
Non-investment grade fixed income securities in the Index are securities rated below BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Moody’s. The
Investment Adviser uses a representative sampling strategy to manage the Fund. “Representative sampling” is an indexing strategy
in which the Fund invests in a representative sample of constituent securities that has a collective investment profile similar to that
of the Index.
The securities selected for investment by the Fund are expected to have, in the aggregate, investment characteristics, governance
characteristics, fundamental characteristics and liquidity measures similar to those of the Index. The Fund may or may not hold all
of the securities in the Index.
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INVESTMENT PROCESS
The Fund may concentrate its investments (i.e., hold more than 25% of its total assets) in a particular industry or group of
industries to the extent that the Index is concentrated. The degree to which components of the Index represent certain sectors or
industries may change over time.
The FTSE Goldman Sachs High Yield Corporate Bond Index (the “Index”) is a rules-based index that is designed to measure the
performance of high yield corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars (“USD”) that meet certain liquidity and fundamental
screening criteria. “High yield” bonds are bonds that are rated below investment grade and are commonly referred to as “junk
bonds.” As of August 31, 2023, there were 875 constituents in the Index and the Index had a weighted average maturity of
4.90 years. The Index is a custom index that is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the
London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index Provider”). The Index
is based on the FTSE US High-Yield Market Index (the “Reference Index”) using concepts developed with Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. (“GSAM”).
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of
active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and
market factors.
The Index Provider constructs the Index in accordance with a rules-based methodology that involves two steps.
Step 1 - In the first step, the Index Provider defines a universe of potential index constituents (the “Universe”) by applying
specified criteria to the constituents of the Reference Index. The Reference Index includes high yield corporate bonds issued by
companies domiciled in the United States or Canada that have a minimum of one year to maturity and are rated a maximum of
BB+ by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) and Ba1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and a minimum of C by S&P and
Ca by Moody’s. Only constituents of the Reference Index that (i) have a minimum of $400 million outstanding, a minimum issuer
size of $1 billion and a maximum final maturity of 15 years and (ii) if neither fundamental factor described below is available, are
rated at least CCC+ by S&P or Caa1 by Moody’s, are included in the Universe. A maturity bucketing process is used to
approximate the average effective duration of the Reference Index.
Step 2 - In the second step, the Index Provider applies a fundamental screen to the Universe. Issuers are first grouped into three
broad industry groups: financials, industrials and utilities. Within each industry group, issuers are measured by two fundamental
factors, debt service and leverage. The Index Provider ranks each issuer based on the two fundamental factors, equally weighted.
The Index is constructed by including the highest ranking eligible securities in each industry group, screening out lowest ranking
eligible securities.
The FTSE Goldman Sachs Treasury Inflation Protected USD Bond Index (the “Index”) is designed to track the performance of
inflation-protected, fixed rate U.S. Treasury Securities denominated in U.S. dollars (“USD”) that meet certain screening criteria.
“U.S. Treasury Securities” refer to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury where the payment of principal and interest
is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury Securities include U.S. Treasury notes, U.S. Treasury
bills and U.S. Treasury floating rate bonds. As of August 31, 2023, there were 43 issues in the Index and the Index had a weighted
average maturity of 7.22 years and a weighted average duration of 6.77 years. The Index is a custom index that is owned and
calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group
undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index Provider”). The Index is based on the U.S. sleeve of the FTSE World
Inflation-Linked Securities Index (the “Reference Index”) using concepts developed with GSAM.
2
INVESTMENT PROCESS
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of
active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and
market factors.
The Index Provider constructs the Index in accordance with a rules-based methodology that involves two steps.
Step 1 - In the first step, the Index Provider defines a universe of potential index constituents (the “Universe”) by applying
specified criteria to the constituents of the Reference Index. The Reference Index includes fixed-rate, sovereign bonds denominated
in USD that are linked to an inflation index. Only constituents of the Reference Index that are U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected
Securities (“TIPS”), have a minimum of 1 year to maturity and a minimum issue size of $5 billion outstanding (before taking into
account the Federal Reserve System Open Market Account (“SOMA”) holdings) are included in the Universe.
Step 2 - In the second step, the Index Provider screens the Universe to exclude securities that are unseasoned. The Index excludes
“on-the-run” bonds, or the newest issues for each security term. The Index is constructed by weighting each constituent to match
the weighted average real yield duration of the Universe.
THE FUND IS NOT A MONEY MARKET FUND AND DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN A STABLE NET
ASSET VALUE.
The FTSE Goldman Sachs Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index (the “Index”) is a rules-based index that is designed to
measure the performance of investment grade corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars that meet certain liquidity and
fundamental screening criteria. As of August 31, 2023, there were 3,033 constituents in the Index and the Index had a weighted
average maturity of 11.45 years. The Index is a custom index that is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”),
a trading name of the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index
Provider”). The Index is based on the FTSE US Broad Investment-Grade (USBIG®) Corporate Index (the “Reference Index”)
using concepts developed with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”).
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of
active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and
market factors.
The Index Provider constructs the Index in accordance with a rules-based methodology that involves two steps.
Step 1 - In the first step, the Index Provider defines a universe of potential index constituents (the “Universe”) by applying
specified criteria to the constituents of the Reference Index. The Reference Index includes investment grade corporate bonds that
have a minimum of one year to maturity and are rated at least BBB- by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Baa3 by Moody’s
Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”). Only corporate bond constituents of the Reference Index that have a minimum of
$750 million outstanding and a minimum issuer size of $2 billion are included in the Universe.
Step 2 - In the second step, the Index Provider applies a fundamental screen to the Universe. Issuers are first grouped into three
broad industry groups: financials, industrials and utilities. Within each industry group, issuers are measured by two fundamental
factors, operating margin and leverage. The Index Provider ranks each issuer based on the two fundamental factors, equally
weighted. The Index is constructed by including the highest ranking eligible securities in each industry group, screening out lowest
ranking eligible securities.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS INVESTMENT GRADE CORPORATE 1-5 YEAR BOND ETF
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets (exclusive of collateral held from
securities lending) in securities included in its underlying index.
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INVESTMENT PROCESS
The FTSE Goldman Sachs US Investment Grade Corporate Bond 1-5 Years Index (the “Index”) is a rules-based index that is
designed to measure the performance of investment grade, corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars (“USD”) with remaining
maturities between one and five years that meet certain liquidity and fundamental screening criteria. As of August 31, 2023, there
were 2,352 constituents in the Index and the Index had a weighted average maturity of 2.90 years. The Index is a custom index that
is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its
group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index Provider”). The Index is based on the FTSE US Broad
Investment-Grade (USBIG®) Corporate Bond Index (the “Reference Index”) using concepts developed with Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. (the “Investment Adviser” or “GSAM”).
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of
active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and
market factors.
The Index Provider constructs the Index in accordance with a rules-based methodology that involves two steps.
Step 1 - In the first step, the Index Provider defines a universe of potential Index constituents (the “Universe”) by applying
specified criteria to the constituents of the Reference Index. The Reference Index includes investment grade corporate bonds that
have a minimum of a minimum of one year to maturity and are rated at least BBB- by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Baa3 by
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”). Only corporate bond constituents of the Reference Index that have a minimum of
$250 million outstanding, remaining maturities between one and five years, and from issuers with at least two eligible bonds
outstanding are included in the Universe. A maturity bucketing process is used to approximate the average effective duration of
constituents of the Reference Index with remaining maturities between one and five years.
Step 2 - In the second step, the Index Provider applies a fundamental screen to the Universe. Issuers are first grouped into three
broad industry groups: financials, industrials and utilities. Within each industry group, issuers are measured by two fundamental
factors, operating margin and leverage, subject to certain exceptions. The Index Provider ranks each issuer based on the two
fundamental factors, equally weighted. The Index is constructed by including the highest ranking eligible securities in each
industry group, screening out lowest ranking eligible securities. An issuer weight cap is applied to each Index constituent.
The FTSE US Treasury 0-1 Year Composite Select Index (the “Index”) is designed to measure the performance of U.S. Treasury
Securities with a maximum remaining maturity of 12 months. “U.S. Treasury Securities” refer to securities issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. Treasury where the payment of principal and interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. U.S.
Treasury Securities include U.S. Treasury notes, U.S. Treasury bills and U.S. Treasury floating rate bonds. The Fund expects to
invest 100% of its assets in (i) U.S. Treasury Securities with a maximum remaining maturity of 12 months and (ii) cash.
As of August 31, 2023, there were 90 issues in the Index and the Index had a weighted average maturity of 0.26 years. The Index
includes publicly-issued U.S. Treasury Securities that have a minimum remaining maturity of 1 month and a maximum remaining
maturity of 12 months at the time of rebalance and that have a minimum issue size of $5 billion. In addition, the securities in the
Index must be non-convertible and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index excludes certain special issues, such as targeted
investor notes, state and local government series bonds and coupon issues that have been stripped from bonds. 10-year and 30-year
U.S. Treasury bonds are not eligible for inclusion in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its
group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the
Investment Adviser. The Index is market capitalization-weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business
day of each month.
4
INVESTMENT PROCESS
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of
active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and
market factors.
THE FUND IS NOT A MONEY MARKET FUND AND DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN A STABLE NET
ASSET VALUE.
The Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least
80% of its assets (exclusive of collateral held from securities lending) in securities included in its underlying index.
To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) transactions representing securities included in the Fund’s underlying index are counted towards the
Fund’s 80% investment policy.
The FTSE Goldman Sachs US Broad Bond Market Index (the “Index”) is a rules-based index that is designed to measure the
performance of investment grade, U.S. dollar (“USD”)-denominated bonds issued in the United States that meet certain liquidity
and fundamental screening criteria. The Index consists of the following fixed income asset class sectors: U.S. Treasury Securities,
corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, government-sponsored securities, non-U.S. sovereign and provincial securities and
asset-backed securities. As of August 31, 2023, there were 8,450 constituents in the Index and the Index had a weighted average
maturity of 9.08 years. In addition, as of August 31, 2023, the percentage breakdown of bonds included in the Index was as
follows: U.S. Treasury securities (41.6%), corporate bonds (25.3%), mortgage-backed securities (26.5%), asset-backed securities
(0.2%), government-sponsored securities (3.5%), emerging markets debt (2.7%) and non-U.S. sovereign and provincial securities
(0.1%). The Index is a custom index that is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the
London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index Provider”). The Index
is based on the FTSE US Broad Investment-Grade (USBIG®) Index (the “Reference Index”), using concepts developed with
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (the “Investment Adviser” or “GSAM”).
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of
active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and
market factors.
The Index Provider constructs the Index in accordance with a rules-based methodology that involves two steps.
Step 1 - In the first step, the Index Provider defines a universe of potential index constituents (the “Universe”) by applying
specified criteria to constituents of the Reference Index as described below. All constituents of the Reference Index must have a
minimum of one year to maturity and are rated at least BBB- by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Baa3 by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”).
U.S. Treasury Securities: “U.S. Treasury Securities” refer to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury where the
payment of principal and interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury Securities include
U.S. Treasury notes, U.S. Treasury bills and U.S. Treasury floating rate bonds. U.S. Treasury Securities that are included in the
Reference Index must have a minimum of $5 billion outstanding (before taking into account the Federal Reserve System Open
Market Account (“SOMA”) holdings). Only fixed-rate U.S. Treasury Securities within the Reference Index are included in the
Universe.
Corporate Bonds: Corporate bonds that are included in the Reference Index must have a minimum of $250 million outstanding.
Only corporate bonds within the Reference Index from issuers with at least two eligible bonds outstanding are included in the
Universe. A maturity bucketing process is used to approximate the average effective duration of the Reference Index.
Mortgage-Backed Securities: Mortgage-backed securities that are included in the Reference Index must have a minimum issuer
size of $250 million. Only mortgage-backed securities within the Reference Index that have a minimum of $1 billion outstanding
per origination year generic when the coupon has a minimum amount outstanding of $5 billion are included in the Universe.
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INVESTMENT PROCESS
Government-Sponsored Securities, Non-U.S. Sovereign and Provincial Securities and Asset-Backed Securities: Government-
sponsored securities, non-U.S. sovereign and provincial securities and asset-backed securities that are included in the Reference
Index must have a minimum of $1 billion, $500 million and $250 million outstanding, respectively. All government-sponsored
securities, non-U.S. sovereign and provincial securities and asset-backed securities within the Reference Index are included in the
Universe, except for callable zero coupon bonds, bonds callable less than one year from the issue date, and bonds issued by
supranational entities.
Step 2 - In the second step, the Index Provider applies specified fundamental screens to each type of constituents in the Universe as
described below.
U.S. Treasury Securities: U.S. Treasury Securities within the Universe are screened to exclude securities that are “on-the-run”
bonds, or the newest issues for each security term. The remaining U.S. Treasury Securities are divided into “maturity sectors”
according to their weighted average maturities. The weight of each U.S. Treasury Security within its maturity sector is determined
through an optimization process with the goal of maximizing projected one-month return net of transaction costs subject to a cap
on volatility.
Corporate Bonds: Corporate bond issuers within the Universe are grouped into three broad industry groups: financials, industrials
and utilities. Within each industry group, issuers are measured by two fundamental factors, operating margin and leverage, subject
to certain exceptions. The Index Provider ranks each issuer based on the two fundamental factors, equally weighted. The Index is
constructed by including the highest ranking eligible securities in each industry group and screening out lowest ranking eligible
securities. An issuer weight cap is applied to each Index constituent.
Mortgage-Backed Securities: Mortgage-backed securities within the Universe are grouped by issuer agency and are ranked
within each issuer agency group based on “seasoning” (i.e., the length of time the security has been publicly traded). “Unseasoned”
mortgage-backed securities (i.e., securities with less than six months of loan age) within each issuer agency group are removed
from the Index. In addition, the most “negatively convex” mortgage-backed securities within each issuer agency group are
removed from the Index (“negative convexity” refers to the tendency for a security’s price to fall when interest rates fall). The
weights of the remaining mortgage-backed securities in the Index are determined according to their market capitalizations within
the Reference Index, and the weight of each issuer agency group is adjusted to match the weighted average effective duration of
such group within the Reference Index.
Government-Sponsored Securities, Non-U.S. Sovereign and Provincial Securities and Asset-Backed Securities: Government-
sponsored securities, non-U.S. sovereign and provincial securities and asset-backed securities within the Universe are included in
the Index in accordance with their market capitalizations.
The Investment Adviser uses a representative sampling strategy to manage each Fund. “Representative sampling” is an indexing
strategy in which each Fund invests in a representative sample of constituent securities that has a collective investment profile
similar to that of its Index. The securities selected for investment by each Fund are expected to have, in the aggregate, investment
characteristics, fundamental characteristics and liquidity measures similar to those of its Index.
6
INVESTMENT PROCESS
Each Fund may or may not hold all of the securities in its Index. Each of the Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond
ETF, Goldman Sachs Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond
ETF and Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF may concentrate its investments (i.e., hold more than 25% of its total
assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that its Index is concentrated. The degree to which components
of its Index represent certain sectors or industries may change over time. Each of the Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year
ETF and Goldman Sachs Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF may concentrate its investments (i.e., hold more than 25% of
its total assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that its Index is concentrated. The U.S. government, state
and municipal governments and their agencies, authorities and instrumentalities are not deemed to be industries for this purpose.
At the end of each Fund’s Reporting Period, i.e., August 31, 2023, we continued to believe the Funds may provide investors with
smoother performance and less volatility, as a smart beta approach should provide liquidity while minimizing exposure to factors
historically associated with volatility and underperformance.*
* Smart beta refers to quantitative index-based strategies. Liquidity is the ability to invest or redeem during market hours. Volatility refers to the
annualized standard deviation of returns.
7
INVESTMENT PROCESS
and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year, certain ETFs and other investment companies
and cash items. Cash items are not income-generating and, as a result, the Fund’s current yield may be adversely affected during
periods when such positions are held. Cash positions may also subject the Fund to additional risks and costs, such as increased
exposure to the custodian bank holding the assets and any fees imposed for large cash balances. When the Fund’s assets are
invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
THE FUND IS NOT A MONEY MARKET FUND AND DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN A STABLE NET
ASSET VALUE.
The Fund is managed to seek to generate current income and secondarily maintain an emphasis on preservation of capital and
liquidity. The Investment Adviser follows a conservative, risk-managed investment process.
Global fixed income markets are constantly evolving and are highly diverse — with a large number of countries, currencies,
sectors, issuers and securities. We believe that inefficiencies in these complex markets cause bond prices to diverge from their fair
value. To capitalize on these inefficiencies and generate consistent risk-adjusted performance, we believe it is critical to:
• Employ focused specialist teams to identify short-term mispricings and incorporate long-term views
• Emphasize a risk-aware approach as we view risk management as both an offensive and defensive tool
• Build a strong team of skilled investors who excel on behalf of our clients.
***
At the end of the Reporting Period, i.e. the 12-month period ended August 31, 2023, we believed the major factors that would
influence the fixed income markets included global economic conditions (with modest growth reflecting resilient consumer
demand, although softer China growth was likely to weigh on global activity); inflation (moderating further, reflecting supply-
chain improvements and slower wage growth); central bank policy decisions (with developed markets’ central banks remaining on
hold in the near term and emerging markets’ central banks taking the lead on interest rate cuts); geopolitical risk (especially related
to Russia and China); and the relative strength of the U.S. dollar (potential impact on commodity prices and global markets).
8
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Investment Objective
The Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that closely
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets USD Bond Index
(the “Index”).
positioning for the 12-month period ended August 31, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).
Q How did the Fund perform during the Reporting Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the London Stock
Period? Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively,
the “LSE Group” or the “Index Provider”). The Index is
A During the Reporting Period, the Fund returned 3.54% based
based on the government and quasigovernment bonds of the
on net asset value (“NAV”) and 4.80% based on market
FTSE Emerging Markets Broad Bond Index (the “Reference
price. The Index returned 4.06% during the same period.
Index”) using concepts developed with GSAM. The Index is
The Fund had an NAV of $40.58 per share on August 31, rules-based and the securities in the Index are updated on the
2022 and ended the Reporting Period with an NAV of $39.59 last business day of each month.
per share. The Fund’s market price on August 31, 2023 was
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to
$39.64 per share.
track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional
Effective February 17, 2023, Goldman Sachs Asset methods of active investment management, which may
Management, L.P. (“GSAM”), the Fund’s investment involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis
adviser, implemented a management fee waiver for the Fund of economic and market factors.
such that total annual fund operating expenses after the fee
During the Reporting Period, the Fund generated positive
waiver are 0.39% until February 17, 2025 or until terminated
absolute returns but modestly underperformed the Index, as
with the approval of the Board of Trustees.
measured by NAV. The Fund is passively managed to the
Q What key factors were responsible for the Fund’s Index and aims to minimize tracking error to the Index. The
performance during the Reporting Period? Fund invests in U.S. dollar-denominated sovereign and quasi-
sovereign debt of emerging market countries, both investment
A The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely
grade and below investment grade bonds included.
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of
the Index. The Fund’s performance reflects Fund expenses, Overall, the performance of the emerging debt markets are
including management fees and brokerage expenses. The driven by five key factors — duration (whether interest rates
Fund’s relative performance also reflects the impact of any are rising or falling), spreads (a widening or tightening of the
cash held in the Fund as well as any other differences yield differential to duration-equivalent U.S. Treasuries),
between the Fund’s holdings and the constituents of the value of the U.S. dollar, macroeconomic conditions and
Index. The Index is unmanaged, and Index returns do not geopolitical concerns.
reflect fees and expenses, which would reduce returns.
U.S. dollar-denominated emerging markets debt produced
The Index is designed to measure the performance of modest gains during the Reporting Period. The asset class
investment grade and high yield bonds issued by emerging benefited from narrowing spreads, which helped offset the
market governments or quasi-government entities impact of higher interest rates as central banks tightened
denominated in U.S. dollars that meet certain liquidity, monetary policy. Spreads on global sovereign emerging
governance and fundamental screening criteria. “High yield” markets debt tightened approximately 79 basis points during the
bonds are bonds that are rated below investment grade and Reporting Period, from 501 basis points to 422 basis points. (A
are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The Index is a basis point is 1/100th of a percentage point.) Geopolitical
custom index that is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed concerns, such as the Russia/Ukraine war and overall tensions
9
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
between Western nations and China, dampened returns. The 2023. The 30-day standardized yield of the Fund at the end
value of the U.S. dollar, which fluctuated during the Reporting of the Reporting Period was 6.67%.
Period, had a rather neutral impact on the performance of U.S.
Q What was the Fund’s credit allocation at the end
dollar-denominated emerging markets debt.
of the Reporting Period?2
Q How did the Fund use derivatives and similar
A
instruments during the Reporting Period?
AA 5.44%
A The Fund does not employ derivatives. During the Reporting A 16.85%
Period, the Fund did not invest in derivatives or similar BBB 37.15%
instruments. The Fund does not employ derivatives as a BB 15.70%
source of alpha generation, although it may use them to B 22.42%
Not Rated 1.82%
equitize excess cash. Cash 0.63%
Q Were there any changes to the Fund’s portfolio
management team during the Reporting Period? Q What was the Fund’s regional allocation at the
end of the Reporting Period?3
A There were no changes to the Fund’s portfolio management
team during the Reporting Period. A Of the approximately 99.02% of the Fund’s assets invested in
emerging markets debt at the end of the Reporting Period,
Q What was the Fund’s weighted average duration, approximately 40.06% was in Latin America, 15.06% in
weighted average maturity, weighted average Europe, 23.87% in the Middle East and Africa, 19.78% in
coupon, weighted average yield to maturity and Asia and 0.25% elsewhere.
30-day standardized yield at the end of the
Reporting Period?1
A The Fund had a weighted average duration of 7.11 years, a
weighted average maturity of 12.30 years and a weighted
average coupon of 5.18% as of August 31, 2023. The Fund’s
weighted average yield to maturity was 6.94% on August 31,
1
Duration is a time measure of a bond’s interest-rate sensitivity, based
on the weighted average of the time periods over which a bond’s
cash flows accrue to the bondholder. Time periods are weighted by
multiplying by the present value of its cash flow divided by the
bond’s price. (A bond’s cash flows consist of coupon payments and
repayment of capital.) 2
The Fund and the Index have not been rated by an independent rating
A bond’s duration will almost always be shorter than its maturity, agency. The credit allocation provided refers to the Fund’s
with the exception of zero-coupon bonds, for which maturity and underlying portfolio securities. For the purpose of determining
duration are equal. Weighted average duration is a measure of the compliance with any credit rating requirement, the Fund assigns a
duration for the securities in the portfolio overall. Weighted average security, at the time of purchase, the highest rating by a Nationally
maturity (“WAM”) is the weighted average amount of time until the Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) if the
debt securities in a portfolio mature, or the weighted average of the security is rated by more than one NRSRO. For this purpose, the
remaining terms to maturity of the debt securities within a portfolio. Fund relies only on the ratings of the following NRSROs: S&P
The higher the WAM, the longer it takes for all of the bonds in the Global Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services and Fitch Ratings Inc.
portfolio to mature, and WAM is used to manage debt portfolios and This method may differ from the method independently used by the
to assess the performance of debt portfolio managers. Coupons are Index Provider. GSAM will use a single rating if that is the only one
fixed percentages paid out on a fixed income security on an annual available. Securities that are not rated by all three agencies are
basis. Weighted average coupon is calculated by weighting the reflected as such in the breakdown. Unrated securities may be
coupon of each debt security by its relative size in the portfolio. purchased by the Fund if they are determined by the Investment
Yield to maturity is the annual return that a bond is expected to Adviser to be of a credit quality consistent with the Fund’s credit rate
generate if it is held till its maturity given its coupon rate, payment requirements. Unrated securities do not necessarily indicate low
frequency and current market price. Yield to maturity is essentially quality, and for such securities the Investment Adviser will evaluate
the internal rate of return of a bond, i.e. the discount rate at which the the credit quality. GSAM converts all ratings to the equivalent S&P
present value of a bond’s coupon payments and maturity value is major rating category when illustrating credit rating breakdowns.
equal to its current market price. The 30-day standardized yield Ratings and Fund/Index credit quality may change over time.
calculation is based on a 30-day period ending on the last day of the
Reporting Period. It is computed by dividing the net investment 3
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely
income per share earned during the period by the maximum offering correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the
price per share on the last day of the period. FTSE Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets USD Bond Index.
10
FUND BASICS
FUND SNAPSHOT
For more information about the Fund, please refer to www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs. There, you can learn more about the Fund’s
investment strategies, holdings, and performance.
Government 87.0%
Energy 7.1
Financials 2.5
Materials 2.0
Industrials 0.9
Investment Company 0.5
3
The percentage shown for each investment category reflects the value of investments in that category as a percentage of net assets.
Figures in the table may not sum to 100% due to the exclusion of other assets and liabilities.
11
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS EMERGING MARKETS USD BOND ETF
Performance Summary
August 31, 2023
The following graph shows the value, as of August 31, 2023, of a $10,000 investment made on February 15, 2022 (commencement
of operations) in Shares at NAV. For comparative purposes, the performance of the Fund’s underlying index, the FTSE Goldman
Sachs Emerging Markets USD Bond Index, is shown. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in
effect during the periods shown and in their absence, performance would be reduced. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes
that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. In addition to the performance of constituents of the
underlying index, other factors may affect Fund performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, Fund operating fees and
expenses, portfolio turnover and creation and redemption in-kind transactions. The returns set forth below represent past
performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Fund’s NAV and investment return may fluctuate.
These fluctuations may cause an investor’s shares to be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance
may be lower or higher than the performance quoted below. Please visit our web site at www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to
obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF’s Lifetime Performance
Performance of a $10,000 Investment, with distributions reinvested, from February 15, 2022 through August 31, 2023.
$11,000
$10,000
$8,000
$7,000
2/15/22 4/22 8/22 12/22 4/23 8/23
Average Annual Total Return through August 31, 2023* 1 Year Return Since Inception
Shares based on NAV (Commenced February 15, 2022) 3.54% -8.75%
Shares based on Market Price (Commenced February 15, 2022) 4.80% -8.69%
FTSE Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets USD Bond Index 4.06% -9.13%
* Total returns are calculated assuming purchase of a share at the market price or NAV on the first day and sale of a share at the market price or
NAV on the last day of each period reported. The Total Returns based on NAV and Market Price assume the reinvestment of dividends and do
not reflect brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund shares, which if included would lower the performance
shown above. The NAV used in the Total Return calculations assumes all management fees incurred by the Fund. Market Price returns are
based upon the last trade at 4:00 pm EST and do not reflect the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first day of
secondary market trading is typically several days after the date on which the Fund commenced investment operations; therefore, the NAV of
the Fund is used as a proxy for the period from inception of investment operations to the first day of secondary market trading to calculate the
Market Price returns.
12
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Investment Objective
The Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that closely
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Goldman Sachs High Yield Corporate Bond Index
(the “Index”).
positioning for the 12-month period ended August 31, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).
Q How did the Fund perform during the Reporting Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to
Period? track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional
methods of active investment management, which may
A During the Reporting Period, the Fund returned 7.13% based
involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis
on net asset value (“NAV”) and 8.09% based on market
of economic and market factors.
price. The Index returned 7.47% during the same period.
During the Reporting Period, the Fund posted positive
The Fund had an NAV of $42.70 per share on August 31,
absolute returns but modestly underperformed the Index, as
2022 and ended the Reporting Period with an NAV of $43.08
measured by NAV. The Fund is passively managed to the
per share. The Fund’s market price on August 31, 2023 was
Index and aims to minimize tracking error to the Index.
$43.04 per share.
Overall, high yield corporate bond returns are driven by two
Q What key factors were responsible for the Fund’s
primary factors — duration (whether interest rates are rising
performance during the Reporting Period?
or falling) and spreads (a widening or tightening of the yield
A The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely differential to duration-equivalent U.S. Treasuries).
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of During the Reporting Period, the performance of the broad
the Index. The Fund’s performance reflects Fund expenses, U.S. fixed income market was driven, in our view, by a
including management fees and brokerage expenses. The combination of higher interest rates and a generally healthy
Fund’s relative performance also reflects the impact of any U.S. economic backdrop. U.S. economic data was relatively
cash held in the Fund as well as any other differences robust, despite above-average inflation, with strong consumer
between the Fund’s holdings and the constituents of the spending, a tight labor market and rising wages. The U.S.
Index. The Index is unmanaged, and Index returns do not Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) continued to raise interest rates in
reflect fees and expenses, which would reduce returns. an effort to stem inflation, lifting the targeted federal funds
The Index is designed to measure the performance of high rate by a total of 300 basis points during the Reporting Period.
yield corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars that meet (A basis point is 1/100th of a percentage point.)
certain liquidity and fundamental screening criteria. “High Although bonds were pressured by higher interest rates, a
yield” bonds are bonds that are rated below investment grade number of fixed income sectors, including high yield
and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The Index is corporate bonds, recorded positive returns. High yield
a custom index that is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed corporate bonds benefited from the strong U.S. economic
Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the London Stock backdrop and the comparatively higher yields they offered.
Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, The sector was also less hurt by rising interest rates than
the “LSE Group” or the “Index Provider”), using concepts some other fixed income sectors, as many high yield issuers
developed with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. had previously borrowed or refinanced their debt at lower
(“GSAM”). The Index is rules-based and the securities in the levels. In addition, high yield corporate bonds were helped
Index are updated on the last business day of each month. by spread tightening; high yield spreads narrowed from
486 basis points to 373 basis points during the Reporting
13
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Period. Lastly, the high yield corporate bond sector benefited 2023. The 30-day standardized yield of the Fund at the end
from its historical correlation with equities, as stocks rose of the Reporting Period was 7.69%.
overall during the Reporting Period.1
Q What was the Fund’s credit allocation at the end
Q How did the Fund use derivatives and similar of the Reporting Period?3
instruments during the Reporting Period?
A
A The Fund does not employ derivatives. During the Reporting BB 51.90%
Period, the Fund did not invest in derivatives or similar B 39.04%
instruments. The Fund does not employ derivatives as a CCC 7.23%
source of alpha generation, although it may use them to C 0.58%
equitize excess cash. Cash 1.25%
Q Were there any changes to the Fund’s portfolio Q What was the Fund’s industry allocation at the
management team during the Reporting Period? end of the Reporting Period?
A There were no changes to the Fund’s portfolio management A Of the approximately 98.13% of the Fund’s assets invested in
team during the Reporting Period. high yield corporate bonds at the end of the Reporting
Period, approximately 85.29% was in industrials, 10.30% in
Q What was the Fund’s weighted average duration,
financials and 2.63% in utilities.4
weighted average maturity, weighted average
coupon, weighted average yield to maturity and Q What was the Fund’s sector positioning relative
30-day standardized yield at the end of the to the Index at the end of the Reporting Period?5
Reporting Period?2
A While the Index was 99.23% invested in high yield corporate
A The Fund had a weighted average duration of 3.55 years, a bonds, 0.77% invested in emerging market corporate bonds
weighted average maturity of 4.76 years and a weighted and 0.00% in cash, the Fund was 98.13% invested in high
average coupon of 5.65% as of August 31, 2023. The Fund’s yield corporate bonds, 0.62% in emerging markets corporate
weighted average yield to maturity was 7.81% on August 31, bonds and 1.25% in cash at the end of the Reporting Period.
1
Past performance does not guarantee future results, which may vary. income per share earned during the period by the maximum offering
The value of investments and the income derived from investments price per share on the last day of the period.
will fluctuate and can go down as well as up. A loss of principal may 3
The Fund and the Index have not been rated by an independent rating
occur. agency. The credit allocation provided refers to the Fund’s underlying
2 portfolio securities. For the purpose of determining compliance with
Duration is a time measure of a bond’s interest-rate sensitivity, based
on the weighted average of the time periods over which a bond’s any credit rating requirement, the Fund assigns a security, at the time
cash flows accrue to the bondholder. Time periods are weighted by of purchase, the highest rating by a Nationally Recognized Statistical
multiplying by the present value of its cash flow divided by the Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) if the security is rated by more than
bond’s price. (A bond’s cash flows consist of coupon payments and one NRSRO. For this purpose, the Fund relies only on the ratings of
repayment of capital.) the following NRSROs: S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investor
Services and Fitch Ratings Inc. This method may differ from the
A bond’s duration will almost always be shorter than its maturity,
method independently used by the Index Provider. GSAM will use a
with the exception of zero-coupon bonds, for which maturity and
single rating if that is the only one available. Securities that are not
duration are equal. Weighted average duration is a measure of the
rated by all three agencies are reflected as such in the breakdown.
duration for the securities in the portfolio overall. Weighted average
Unrated securities may be purchased by the Fund if they are
maturity (“WAM”) is the weighted average amount of time until the
determined by the Investment Adviser to be of a credit quality
debt securities in a portfolio mature, or the weighted average of the
consistent with the Fund’s credit rate requirements. Unrated securities
remaining terms to maturity of the debt securities within a portfolio.
do not necessarily indicate low quality, and for such securities the
The higher the WAM, the longer it takes for all of the bonds in the
Investment Adviser will evaluate the credit quality. GSAM converts
portfolio to mature, and WAM is used to manage debt portfolios and
all ratings to the equivalent S&P major rating category when
to assess the performance of debt portfolio managers. Coupons are
illustrating credit rating breakdowns. Ratings and Fund/Index credit
fixed percentages paid out on a fixed income security on an annual
quality may change over time.
basis. Weighted average coupon is calculated by weighting the 4
coupon of each debt security by its relative size in the portfolio. Industry classifications for securities may differ between the above
Yield to maturity is the annual return that a bond is expected to section and the Fund Basics section due to differing classification
generate if it is held till its maturity given its coupon rate, payment methodologies. The classification methodology used for the above
frequency and current market price. Yield to maturity is essentially section is as set forth by GSAM. The Fund’s composition may differ
the internal rate of return of a bond, i.e. the discount rate at which the over time. Consequently, the Fund’s overall industry allocations may
present value of a bond’s coupon payments and maturity value is differ from percentages contained in the above section.
5
equal to its current market price. The 30-day standardized yield The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely
calculation is based on a 30-day period ending on the last day of the correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the
Reporting Period. It is computed by dividing the net investment FTSE Goldman Sachs High Yield Corporate Bond Index.
14
FUND BASICS
FUND SNAPSHOT
For more information about the Fund, please refer to www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs. There, you can learn more about the Fund’s
investment strategies, holdings, and performance.
15
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BOND ETF
Performance Summary
August 31, 2023
The following graph shows the value, as of August 31, 2023, of a $10,000 investment made on September 5, 2017
(commencement of operations) in Shares at NAV. For comparative purposes, the performance of the Fund’s underlying index, the
FTSE Goldman Sachs High Yield Corporate Bond Index, is shown. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense
limitations in effect during the periods shown and in their absence, performance would be reduced. Returns do not reflect the
deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. In addition to the performance of
constituents of the underlying index, other factors may affect Fund performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, Fund
operating fees and expenses, portfolio turnover and creation and redemption in-kind transactions. The returns set forth below
represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Fund’s NAV and investment return
may fluctuate. These fluctuations may cause an investor’s shares to be worth more or less than their original cost. Current
performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted below. Please visit our web site at
www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF’s Lifetime Performance
Performance of a $10,000 Investment, with distributions reinvested, from September 5, 2017 through August 31, 2023.
$13,000
$12,000 $11,993
$11,762
$10,000
$9,000
9/5/17 8/18 8/19 8/20 8/21 8/22 8/23
Average Annual Total Return through August 31, 2023* 1 Year Return 5 Year Return Since Inception
Shares based on NAV (Commenced September 5, 2017) 7.13% 2.79% 2.75%
Shares based on Market Price (Commenced September 5, 2017) 8.09% 2.79% 2.73%
FTSE Goldman Sachs High Yield Corporate Bond Index 7.47% 3.09% 3.08%
* Total returns are calculated assuming purchase of a share at the market price or NAV on the first day and sale of a share at the market price or
NAV on the last day of each period reported. The Total Returns based on NAV and Market Price assume the reinvestment of dividends and do
not reflect brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund shares, which if included would lower the performance
shown above. The NAV used in the Total Return calculations assumes all management fees incurred by the Fund. Market Price returns are
based upon the last trade at 4:00 pm EST and do not reflect the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first day of
secondary market trading is typically several days after the date on which the Fund commenced investment operations; therefore, the NAV of
the Fund is used as a proxy for the period from inception of investment operations to the first day of secondary market trading to calculate the
Market Price returns.
16
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Investment Objective
The Goldman Sachs Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that closely
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Goldman Sachs Treasury Inflation Protected USD
Bond Index (the “Index”).
Q How did the Fund perform during the Reporting FTSE World Inflation-Linked Securities Index (the
Period? “Reference Index”) using concepts developed with Goldman
Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
A During the Reporting Period, the Fund returned -3.64%
based on net asset value (“NAV”) and -3.48% based on Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to
market price. The Index returned -3.53% during the same track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional
period. methods of active investment management, which may
involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis
The Fund had an NAV of $51.68 per share on August 31,
of economic and market factors.
2022 and ended the Reporting Period with an NAV of
$48.32 per share. The Fund’s market price on August 31, During the Reporting Period, the Fund posted negative
2023 was $48.36 per share. absolute returns that closely tracked the Index, as measured
by NAV. The Fund is passively managed to the Index and
Q What key factors were responsible for the Fund’s
aims to minimize tracking error to the Index.
performance during the Reporting Period?
Two key drivers of return for the Treasury inflation protected
A The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely
securities (“TIPS”) market are interest rates, given the
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of
sector’s longer duration profile, and inflation. During the
the Index. The Fund’s performance reflects Fund expenses,
Reporting Period, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury rose
including management fees and brokerage expenses. The
by approximately 94 basis points to 4.09%. (A basis point is
Fund’s relative performance also reflects the impact of any
1/100th of a percentage point.) The increase in Treasury
cash held in the Fund as well as any other differences
yields was driven by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (“Fed”)
between the Fund’s holdings and the constituents of the
hawkish monetary policy. (Hawkish tends to suggest higher
Index. The Index is unmanaged, and Index returns do not
interest rates; opposite of dovish.) The Fed raised the
reflect fees and expenses, which would reduce returns.
targeted federal funds rate by a total of 300 basis points
The Index is designed to track the performance of inflation during the Reporting Period in an effort to stem inflation. As
protected, fixed rate U.S. Treasury Securities denominated in for inflation, annualized Consumer Price Index readings fell
U.S. dollars that meet certain screening criteria. “U.S. from 8.2% at the start of the Reporting Period to 3.7% in
Treasury Securities” refer to securities issued or guaranteed August 2023. While declining dramatically, inflation
by the U.S. Treasury where the payment of principal and remained persistent and well above the Fed’s target of
interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. approximately 2%. Still, inflation was not at high enough
government. U.S. Treasury Securities include U.S. Treasury levels during the Reporting Period to offset the impact of
notes, U.S. Treasury bills and U.S. Treasury floating rate rising interest rates, which drove negative returns for the
bonds. The Index is a custom index that is owned and sector during the Reporting Period.
calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading
name of the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group
undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index
Provider”). The Index is based on the U.S. sleeve of the
17
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Q How did the Fund use derivatives and similar Q What was the Fund’s sector positioning relative
instruments during the Reporting Period? to the Index at the end of the Reporting Period?2
A The Fund does not employ derivatives. During the Reporting A While the Index was 100% allocated to U.S. TIPS, the Fund
Period, the Fund did not invest in derivatives or similar was 99.47% invested in U.S. TIPS and 0.53% in cash at the
instruments. The Fund does not employ derivatives as a end of the Reporting Period.
source of alpha generation, although it may use them to
equitize excess cash.
Q Were there any changes to the Fund’s portfolio
management team during the Reporting Period?
A There were no changes to the Fund’s portfolio management
team during the Reporting Period.
Q What was the Fund’s weighted average duration,
weighted average maturity, weighted average
coupon, weighted average yield to maturity and
30-day standardized yield at the end of the
Reporting Period?1
A The Fund had a weighted average duration of 6.72 years, a
weighted average maturity of 7.20 years and a weighted
average coupon of 0.56% as of August 31, 2023. The Fund’s
weighted average yield to maturity was 4.76% on August 31,
2023. The 30-day standardized yield of the Fund at the end
of the Reporting Period was 6.31%.
1 Duration is a time measure of a bond’s interest-rate sensitivity, based
on the weighted average of the time periods over which a bond’s
cash flows accrue to the bondholder. Time periods are weighted by
multiplying by the present value of its cash flow divided by the
bond’s price. (A bond’s cash flows consist of coupon payments and
repayment of capital.)
A bond’s duration will almost always be shorter than its maturity,
with the exception of zero-coupon bonds, for which maturity and
duration are equal. Weighted average duration is a measure of the
duration for the securities in the portfolio overall. Weighted average
maturity (“WAM”) is the weighted average amount of time until the
debt securities in a portfolio mature, or the weighted average of the
remaining terms to maturity of the debt securities within a portfolio.
The higher the WAM, the longer it takes for all of the bonds in the
portfolio to mature, and WAM is used to manage debt portfolios and
to assess the performance of debt portfolio managers. Coupons are
fixed percentages paid out on a fixed income security on an annual
basis. Weighted average coupon is calculated by weighting the
coupon of each debt security by its relative size in the portfolio.
Yield to maturity is the annual return that a bond is expected to
generate if it is held till its maturity given its coupon rate, payment
frequency and current market price. Yield to maturity is essentially
the internal rate of return of a bond, i.e. the discount rate at which the
present value of a bond’s coupon payments and maturity value is
equal to its current market price. The 30-day standardized yield 2
calculation is based on a 30-day period ending on the last day of the The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely
Reporting Period. It is computed by dividing the net investment correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the
income per share earned during the period by the maximum offering FTSE Goldman Sachs Treasury Inflation Protected USD Bond
price per share on the last day of the period. Index.
18
FUND BASICS
FUND SNAPSHOT
For more information about the Fund, please refer to www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs. There, you can learn more about the Fund’s
investment strategies, holdings, and performance.
Government 99.5%
Investment Company 0.5
3
The percentage shown for each investment category reflects the value of investments in that category as a percentage of net assets.
Figures in the table may not sum to 100% due to the exclusion of other assets and liabilities.
19
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS INFLATION PROTECTED USD BOND ETF
Performance Summary
August 31, 2023
The following graph shows the value, as of August 31, 2023, of a $10,000 investment made on October 2, 2018 (commencement
of operations) in Shares at NAV. For comparative purposes, the performance of the Fund’s underlying index, the FTSE Goldman
Sachs Treasury Inflation Protected USD Bond Index, is shown. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense
limitations in effect during the periods shown and in their absence, performance would be reduced. Returns do not reflect the
deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. In addition to the performance of
constituents of the underlying index, other factors may affect Fund performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, Fund
operating fees and expenses, portfolio turnover and creation and redemption in-kind transactions. The returns set forth below
represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Fund’s NAV and investment return
may fluctuate. These fluctuations may cause an investor’s shares to be worth more or less than their original cost. Current
performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted below. Please visit our web site at
www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Goldman Sachs Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF’s Lifetime Performance
Performance of a $10,000 Investment, with distributions reinvested, from October 2, 2018 through August 31, 2023.
$13,000
$12,000
$10,000
$9,000
10/2/18 8/19 8/20 8/21 8/22 8/23
Average Annual Total Return through August 31, 2023* 1 Year Return Since Inception
Shares based on NAV (Commenced October 2, 2018) -3.64% 2.47%
FTSE Goldman Sachs Treasury Inflation Protected USD Bond Index 3.53% 2.57%
* Total returns are calculated assuming purchase of a share at the market price or NAV on the first day and sale of a share at the market price or
NAV on the last day of each period reported. The Total Returns based on NAV and Market Price assume the reinvestment of dividends and do
not reflect brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund shares, which if included would lower the performance
shown above. The NAV used in the Total Return calculations assumes all management fees incurred by the Fund. Market Price returns are
based upon the last trade at 4:00 pm EST and do not reflect the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first day of
secondary market trading is typically several days after the date on which the Fund commenced investment operations; therefore, the NAV of
the Fund is used as a proxy for the period from inception of investment operations to the first day of secondary market trading to calculate the
Market Price returns.
20
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Investment Objective
The Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment
results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Goldman Sachs US Investment
Grade Corporate Bond 1-5 Years Index (the “Index”).
positioning for the 12-month period ended August 31, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).
Q How did the Fund perform during the Reporting maturities, duration, corporate actions or ratings migration,
Period? and (ii) quarterly, to account for updates to the constituents
on the basis of the fundamental factors.
A During the Reporting Period, the Fund returned 2.11% based
on net asset value (“NAV”) and 2.34% based on market Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to
price. The Index returned 2.31% during the same period. track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional
methods of active investment management, which may
The Fund had an NAV of $46.46 per share on August 31,
involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis
2022 and ended the Reporting Period with an NAV of
of economic and market factors.
$46.01 per share. The Fund’s market price on August 31,
2023 was $46.03 per share. During the Reporting Period, the Fund generated positive
absolute returns that closely tracked the Index, as measured
Q What key factors were responsible for the Fund’s
by NAV. The Fund is passively managed to the Index and
performance during the Reporting Period?
aims to minimize tracking error to the Index.
A The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely
Overall, investment grade corporate bond returns are driven
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of
by two primary factors — duration (whether interest rates are
the Index. The Fund’s performance reflects Fund expenses,
rising or falling) and spreads (a widening or tightening of the
including management fees and brokerage expenses. The
yield differential to duration-equivalent U.S. Treasuries).
Fund’s relative performance also reflects the impact of any
cash held in the Fund as well as any other differences The performance of the fixed income markets was influenced
between the Fund’s holdings and the constituents of the during the Reporting Period by a combination of higher
Index. The Index is unmanaged, and Index returns do not interest rates and a generally healthy economic backdrop.
reflect fees and expenses, which would reduce returns. U.S. economic data was relatively robust, despite above-
average inflation, with strong consumer spending, a tight
The Index is a rules-based index that is designed to measure
labor market and rising wages. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the
the performance of investment grade, corporate bonds
“Fed”) continued to raise interest rates in an effort to stem
denominated in U.S. dollars with remaining maturities
inflation, lifting the targeted federal funds rate by a total of
between one and five years that meet certain liquidity and
300 basis points to a range between 5.25% and 5.50%. (A
fundamental screening criteria. The Index is a custom index
basis point is 1/100th of a percentage point.) Yields rose
that is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC
across the U.S. Treasury yield curve, or spectrum of
(“FTSE”), a trading name of the London Stock Exchange
maturities, with shorter-term yields rising more than longer-
Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE
term yields. The bellwether 10-year U.S. Treasury yield was
Group” or the “Index Provider”). The Index is based on the
up 94 basis points during the Reporting Period, from 3.15%
FTSE US Broad Investment-Grade (USBIG®) Corporate
to 4.09%. Shorter-term U.S. Treasury yields rose even more,
Bond Index (the “Reference Index”) using concepts
with the three-year U.S. Treasury yield increasing 103 basis
developed with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
points, from 3.46% to 4.54% during the Reporting Period.
(“GSAM”). The Index is rebalanced (i) monthly on the last
business day of each month, to account for changes in
21
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
The two-year to 10-year portion of the U.S. Treasury yield Q What was the Fund’s weighted average duration,
curve remained inverted, meaning 10-year U.S. Treasury weighted average maturity, weighted average
yields were lower than those of two-year U.S. Treasury coupon, weighted average yield to maturity and
yields. Although an inverted yield curve has historically 30-day standardized yield at the end of the
foreshadowed a recession, disinflationary trends combined Reporting Period?1
with relatively strong economic data fueled market optimism
A The Fund had a weighted average duration of 2.60 years, a
about the possibility of a soft economic landing. (A soft
weighted average maturity of 2.88 years and a weighted
landing, in economics, is a cyclical slowdown in economic
average coupon of 3.62% as of August 31, 2023. The Fund’s
growth that avoids recession.)
weighted average yield to maturity was 5.61% on August 31,
Although bonds were pressured by higher interest rates, a 2023. The 30-day standardized yield of the Fund at the end
number of fixed income sectors, including investment grade of the Reporting Period was 5.44%.
corporate bonds, produced positive returns. Investment grade
corporate bonds benefited from tightening credit spreads,
which helped boost returns and offset the impact of higher
interest rates. Short-term investment grade corporate bond
spreads narrowed by approximately 11 basis points, from
98 basis points to 87 basis points, during the Reporting
Period. Corporate fundamentals generally remained healthy
despite pockets of stress, such as the regional banking
industry following the failure of Silicon Valley Bank.
22
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Q What was the Fund’s credit allocation at the end Q What was the Fund’s sector positioning relative
of the Reporting Period?2 to the Index at the end of the Reporting Period?4
A A While the Index was 98.21% allocated to investment grade
AAA 0.33% corporate bonds, 0.71% allocated to high yield corporate
AA 8.34% bonds, 0.17% allocated to quasi-government securities,
A 38.04% 0.89% to emerging markets debt, 0.02% allocated to asset
BBB 51.90% backed securities and 0.00% in cash, the Fund was 98.60%
BB 0.87% invested in investment grade corporate bonds, 0.87% in high
Cash 0.53% yield corporate bonds and 0.53% in cash at the end of the
Reporting Period.
Q What was the Fund’s industry allocation at the
end of the Reporting Period?
A Of the approximately 98.60% of the Fund’s assets invested in
investment grade corporate bonds at the end of the Reporting
Period, approximately 39.96% was in financials, 52.66% in
industrials and 5.98% in utilities.3
2
The Fund and the Index have not been rated by an independent rating
agency. The credit allocation provided refers to the Fund’s underlying
portfolio securities. For the purpose of determining compliance with
any credit rating requirement, the Fund assigns a security, at the time
of purchase, the highest rating by a Nationally Recognized Statistical
Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) if the security is rated by more than
one NRSRO. For this purpose, the Fund relies only on the ratings of
the following NRSROs: S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investor
Services and Fitch Ratings Inc. This method may differ from the
method independently used by the Index Provider. GSAM will use a
single rating if that is the only one available. Securities that are not
rated by all three agencies are reflected as such in the breakdown.
Unrated securities may be purchased by the Fund if they are
determined by the Investment Adviser to be of a credit quality
consistent with the Fund’s credit rate requirements. Unrated securities
do not necessarily indicate low quality, and for such securities the
Investment Adviser will evaluate the credit quality. GSAM converts
all ratings to the equivalent S&P major rating category when
illustrating credit rating breakdowns. Ratings and Fund/Index credit
quality may change over time.
3
Industry classifications for securities may differ between the above
section and the Fund Basics section due to differing classification
methodologies. The classification methodology used for the above 4
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond,
section is as set forth by GSAM. The Fund’s composition may differ before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Goldman
over time. Consequently, the Fund’s overall industry allocations may Sachs Investment Grade Corporate Bond 1-5 Years Index.
differ from percentages contained in the above section.
23
FUND BASICS
FUND SNAPSHOT
For more information about the Fund, please refer to www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs. There, you can learn more about the Fund’s
investment strategies, holdings, and performance.
Financials 41.9%
Industrials 10.5
Energy 10.2
Consumer, Non-cyclical 9.3
Consumer, Cyclical 8.3
Information Technology 7.1
Utilities 6.2
Telecommunication Services 5.6
Materials 0.9
3
The percentage shown for each investment category reflects the value of investments in that category as a percentage of net assets.
Figures in the table may not sum to 100% due to the exclusion of other assets and liabilities.
24
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS INVESTMENT GRADE CORPORATE 1-5 YEAR BOND ETF
Performance Summary
August 31, 2023
The following graph shows the value, as of August 31, 2023, of a $10,000 investment made on July 7, 2020 (commencement of
operations) in Shares at NAV. For comparative purposes, the performance of the Fund’s underlying index, FTSE Goldman Sachs
US Investment-Grade Corporate Bond 1-5 Years Index, is shown. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense
limitations in effect during the periods shown and in their absence, performance would be reduced. Returns do not reflect the
deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. In addition to the performance of
constituents of the underlying index, other factors may affect Fund performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, Fund
operating fees and expenses, portfolio turnover and creation and redemption in-kind transactions. The returns set forth below
represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Fund’s NAV and investment return
may fluctuate. These fluctuations may cause an investor’s shares to be worth more or less than their original cost. Current
performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted below. Please visit our web site at
www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF’s Lifetime Performance
Performance of a $10,000 Investment, with distributions reinvested, from July 7, 2020 through August 31, 2023.
$10,500
$10,000
Shares based on NAV
$9,805
$9,740 FTSE Goldman Sachs US Investment-
Grade Corporate Bond 1-5 Years Index
$9,500
$9,000
7/7/20 8/20 2/21 8/21 2/22 8/22 2/23 8/23
Average Annual Total Return through August 31, 2023* 1 Year Return Since Inception
Shares based on NAV (Commenced July 7, 2020) 2.11% -0.83%
FTSE Goldman Sachs US Investment-Grade Corporate Bond 1-5 Years Index 2.31% -0.62%
* Total returns are calculated assuming purchase of a share at the market price or NAV on the first day and sale of a share at the market price or
NAV on the last day of each period reported. The Total Returns based on NAV and Market Price assume the reinvestment of dividends and do
not reflect brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund shares, which if included would lower the performance
shown above. The NAV used in the Total Return calculations assumes all management fees incurred by the Fund. Market Price returns are
based upon the last trade at 4:00 pm EST and do not reflect the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first day of
secondary market trading is typically several days after the date on which the Fund commenced investment operations; therefore, the NAV of
the Fund is used as a proxy for the period from inception of investment operations to the first day of secondary market trading to calculate the
Market Price returns.
25
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Investment Objective
The Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that
closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Goldman Sachs Investment Grade Corporate
Bond Index (the “Index”).
positioning for the 12-month period ended August 31, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).
Q How did the Fund perform during the Reporting Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to
Period? track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional
methods of active investment management, which may
A During the Reporting Period, the Fund returned 0.84% based
involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis
on net asset value (“NAV”) and 1.29% based on market
of economic and market factors.
price. The Index returned 0.84% during the same period.
During the Reporting Period, the Fund posted positive
The Fund had an NAV of $45.81 per share on August 31,
absolute returns that closely tracked the Index, as measured
2022 and ended the Reporting Period with an NAV of
by NAV. The Fund is passively managed to the Index and
$44.63 per share. The Fund’s market price on August 31,
aims to minimize tracking error to the Index.
2023 was $44.63 per share.
Overall, investment grade corporate bond returns are driven
Q What key factors were responsible for the Fund’s
by two primary factors — duration (whether interest rates are
performance during the Reporting Period?
rising or falling) and spreads (a widening or tightening of the
A The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely yield differential to duration-equivalent U.S. Treasuries).
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of
The performance of the fixed income markets was influenced
the Index. The Fund’s performance reflects Fund expenses,
during the Reporting Period by a combination of higher interest
including management fees and brokerage expenses. The
rates and a generally healthy economic backdrop. U.S.
Fund’s relative performance also reflects the impact of any
economic data was relatively robust, despite above-average
cash held in the Fund as well as any other differences
inflation, with strong consumer spending, a tight labor market
between the Fund’s holdings and the constituents of the
and rising wages. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”)
Index. The Index is unmanaged, and Index returns do not
continued to raise interest rates in an effort to stem inflation,
reflect fees and expenses, which would reduce returns.
lifting the targeted federal funds rate by a total of 300 basis
The Index is a rules-based index that is designed to measure points to a range between 5.25% and 5.50%. (A basis point is
the performance of investment grade, corporate bonds 1/100th of a percentage point.) Yields rose across the U.S.
denominated in U.S. dollars that meet certain liquidity and Treasury yield curve, or spectrum of maturities, with shorter-
fundamental screening criteria. The Index is a custom index term yields rising more than longer-term yields. The bellwether
that is owned and calculated by FTSE Fixed Income LLC 10-year U.S. Treasury yield was up 94 basis points during the
(“FTSE”), a trading name of the London Stock Exchange Reporting Period, from 3.15% to 4.09%. Shorter-term U.S.
Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Treasury security yields rose even more, with the three-year
Group” or the “Index Provider”) and is based on the FTSE U.S. Treasury yield increasing 103 basis points, from 3.46% to
US Broad Investment-Grade (USBIG®) Corporate Index (the 4.54% during the Reporting Period.
“Reference Index”) using concepts developed with Goldman
The two-year to 10-year portion of the U.S. Treasury yield
Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”). The Index is
curve remained inverted, meaning 10-year U.S. Treasury
rules-based and the securities in the Index are updated on the
yields were lower than those of two-year U.S. Treasury
last business day of each month.
yields. Although an inverted yield curve has historically
26
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
foreshadowed a recession, disinflationary trends combined Q Were there any changes to the Fund’s portfolio
with relatively strong economic data fueled market optimism management team during the Reporting Period?
about the possibility of a soft economic landing. (A soft
A There were no changes to the Fund’s portfolio management
landing, in economics, is a cyclical slowdown in economic
team during the Reporting Period.
growth that avoids recession.)
Q What was the Fund’s weighted average duration,
Although bonds were pressured by higher interest rates, a
weighted average maturity, weighted average
number of fixed income sectors, including investment grade
coupon, weighted average yield to maturity and
corporate bonds, produced positive returns. Investment grade
30-day standardized yield at the end of the
corporate bonds benefited from tightening credit spreads,
Reporting Period?1
which helped boost returns and offset the impact of higher
interest rates. Investment grade corporate spreads narrowed A The Fund had a weighted average duration of 6.93 years, a
by approximately 23 basis points, from 140 basis points to weighted average maturity of 10.68 years and a weighted
117 basis points, during the Reporting Period. Corporate average coupon of 3.87% as of August 31, 2023. The Fund’s
fundamentals generally remained healthy despite pockets of weighted average yield to maturity was 5.61% on August 31,
stress, such as the regional banking industry following the 2023. The 30-day standardized yield of the Fund at the end
failure of Silicon Valley Bank. of the Reporting Period was 5.43%.
27
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Q What was the Fund’s credit allocation at the end Q What was the Fund’s sector positioning relative
of the Reporting Period?2 to the Index at the end of the Reporting Period?4
A A While the Index was 98.42% allocated to investment grade
AAA 1.17% corporate bonds, 0.43% allocated to high yield corporate
AA 7.70% bonds, 0.92% allocated to emerging markets corporate
A 40.48% bonds, 0.22% allocated to quasi-government securities and
BBB 49.84% 0.00% in cash, the Fund was 98.07% invested in investment
BB 0.39% grade corporate bonds, 0.39% in high yield corporate bonds,
Cash 0.42% 0.69% in emerging markets corporate bonds, 0.43% in quasi-
government securities and 0.49% in cash at the end of the
Q What was the Fund’s industry allocation at the
Reporting Period.
end of the Reporting Period?
A Of the approximately 98.07% of the Fund’s assets invested in
investment grade corporate bonds at the end of the Reporting
Period, approximately 36.19% was in financials, 59.44% in
industrials and 2.43% in utilities.3
2 The Fund and the Index have not been rated by an independent rating
agency. The credit allocation provided refers to the Fund’s
underlying portfolio securities. For the purpose of determining
compliance with any credit rating requirement, the Fund assigns a
security, at the time of purchase, the highest rating by a Nationally
Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) if the
security is rated by more than one NRSRO. For this purpose, the
Fund relies only on the ratings of the following NRSROs: S&P
Global Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services and Fitch Ratings Inc.
This method may differ from the method independently used by the
Index Provider. GSAM will use a single rating if that is the only one
available. Securities that are not rated by all three agencies are
reflected as such in the breakdown. Unrated securities may be
purchased by the Fund if they are determined by the Investment
Adviser to be of a credit quality consistent with the Fund’s credit rate
requirements. Unrated securities do not necessarily indicate low
quality, and for such securities the Investment Adviser will evaluate
the credit quality. GSAM converts all ratings to the equivalent S&P
major rating category when illustrating credit rating breakdowns.
Ratings and Fund/Index credit quality may change over time.
3 Industry classifications for securities may differ between the above
28
FUND BASICS
FUND SNAPSHOT
For more information about the Fund, please refer to www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs. There, you can learn more about the Fund’s
investment strategies, holdings, and performance.
Financials 37.5%
Consumer, Non-cyclical 19.1
Telecommunication Services 11.7
Information Technology 8.8
Energy 8.2
Consumer, Cyclical 5.7
Industrials 5.2
Utilities 2.4
Materials 1.2
Investment Company 0.2
3
The percentage shown for each investment category reflects the value of investments in that category as a percentage of net assets.
Figures in the table may not sum to 100% due to the exclusion of other assets and liabilities.
29
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS INVESTMENT GRADE CORPORATE BOND ETF
Performance Summary
August 31, 2023
The following graph shows the value, as of August 31, 2023, of a $10,000 investment made on June 6, 2017 (commencement of
operations) in Shares at NAV. For comparative purposes, the performance of the Fund’s underlying index, the FTSE Goldman
Sachs Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index, is shown. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations
in effect during the periods shown and in their absence, performance would be reduced. Returns do not reflect the deduction of
taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. In addition to the performance of constituents
of the underlying index, other factors may affect Fund performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, Fund operating
fees and expenses, portfolio turnover and creation and redemption in-kind transactions. The returns set forth below represent
past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Fund’s NAV and investment return may
fluctuate. These fluctuations may cause an investor’s shares to be worth more or less than their original cost. Current
performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted below. Please visit our web site at
www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF’s Lifetime Performance
Performance of a $10,000 Investment, with distributions reinvested, from June 6, 2017 through August 31, 2023.
$13,000
$12,000
$10,000
$9,000
6/6/17 8/17 8/18 8/19 8/20 8/21 8/22 8/23
Average Annual Total Return through August 31, 2023* 1 Year Return 5 Year Return Since Inception
FTSE Goldman Sachs Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index 0.84% 1.54% 1.30%
* Total returns are calculated assuming purchase of a share at the market price or NAV on the first day and sale of a share at the market price or
NAV on the last day of each period reported. The Total Returns based on NAV and Market Price assume the reinvestment of dividends and do
not reflect brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund shares, which if included would lower the performance
shown above. The NAV used in the Total Return calculations assumes all management fees incurred by the Fund. Market Price returns are
based upon the last trade at 4:00 pm EST and do not reflect the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first day of
secondary market trading is typically several days after the date on which the Fund commenced investment operations; therefore, the NAV of
the Fund is used as a proxy for the period from inception of investment operations to the first day of secondary market trading to calculate the
Market Price returns.
30
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Investment Objective
The Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond,
before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE US Treasury 0-1 Year Composite Select Index (the “Index”).
positioning for the 12-month period ended August 31, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).
Q How did the Fund perform during the Reporting Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to
Period? track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional
methods of active investment management, which may
A During the Reporting Period, the Fund returned 3.99% based
involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis
on net asset value (“NAV”) and 4.00% based on market
of economic and market factors.
price. The Index returned 4.23% during the same period.
During the Reporting Period, the Fund posted positive
The Fund had an NAV of $99.84 on August 31, 2022 and
absolute returns but modestly underperformed the Index, as
ended the Reporting Period with an NAV of $100.07 per
measured by NAV. The Fund is passively managed to the
share. The Fund’s market price on August 31, 2023 was
Index and aims to minimize tracking error to the Index.
$100.12 per share.
The Fund’s and the Index’s performance was largely
Q What key factors were responsible for the Fund’s
reflective of the performance of front-end, or short-term,
performance during the Reporting Period?
U.S. Treasury rates, which were primarily affected, in turn,
A The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely by U.S. Federal Reserve (“Fed”) policy. During the
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of Reporting Period, the Fed continued to raise interest rates,
the Index. The Fund’s performance reflects Fund expenses, increasing the targeted federal funds rate by a total of
including management fees and brokerage expenses. The 300 basis points — to a range between 5.25% and 5.50% —
Fund’s relative performance also reflects the impact of any in an effort to stem inflation. (A basis point is 1/100th of a
cash held in the Fund as well as any other differences percentage point.) This put upward pressure on short-term
between the Fund’s holdings and the constituents of the U.S. interest rates and downward pressure on short-term
Index. The Index is unmanaged, and Index returns do not bond prices. In fact, short-term U.S. interest rates increased
reflect fees and expenses, which would reduce returns. significantly during the Reporting Period, with six-month
U.S. Treasury yields up from 3.32% to 5.48%.
The Index is designed to measure the performance of U.S.
Treasury Securities with a maximum remaining maturity of 12 The Fund is an ultra-short bond fund, i.e., it invests in U.S.
months. “U.S. Treasury Securities” refer to securities issued or Treasury securities with maturities of one-month to one-year,
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury where the payment of and thus its NAV has a low sensitivity to interest rate
principal and interest is backed by the full faith and credit of changes, which helped insulate the Fund from the increase in
the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury Securities include U.S. interest rates during the Reporting Period. In addition, rising
Treasury notes, U.S. Treasury bills and U.S. Treasury floating yields provided additional income as maturing bonds were
rate bonds. The Index is sponsored by FTSE Fixed Income reinvested, bolstering the Fund’s return during the Reporting
LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the London Stock Exchange Period.
Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE
Q How did the Fund use derivatives and similar
Group” or the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with
instruments during the Reporting Period?
the Fund or Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. The
Index is market capitalization-weighted and the securities in A The Fund does not employ derivatives. During the Reporting
the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. Period, the Fund did not invest in derivatives or similar
31
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
instruments. The Fund does not employ derivatives as a Q What was the Fund’s sector positioning relative
source of alpha generation, although it may use them to to the Index at the end of the Reporting Period?2
equitize excess cash.
A While the Index was 100% allocated to U.S. Treasury
Q Were there any changes to the Fund’s portfolio securities at the end of the Reporting Period, the Fund was
management team during the Reporting Period? 99.99% invested in U.S. Treasury securities, with the
remainder in cash.
A Effective October 1, 2022, David Fishman no longer served
as a portfolio manager for the Fund. Todd Henry and
David Westbrook continue to serve as portfolio managers for
the Fund. By design, all investment decisions for the Fund
are performed within a co-lead or team structure, with
multiple subject matter experts. This strategic decision
making has been a cornerstone of our approach and helps to
ensure continuity in the Fund.
FUND SNAPSHOT
For more information about the Fund, please refer to www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs. There, you can learn more about the Fund’s
investment strategies, holdings, and performance.
33
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS TREASURY 0-1 YEAR ETF
Performance Summary
August 31, 2023
The following graph shows the value, as of August 31, 2023, of a $10,000 investment made on September 6, 2016
(commencement of operations) in Shares at NAV. For comparative purposes, the performance of the Fund’s underlying index, the
FTSE US Treasury 0-1 Year Composite Select Index, is shown. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense
limitations in effect during the periods shown and in their absence, performance would be reduced. Returns do not reflect the
deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. In addition to the performance of
constituents of the underlying index, other factors may affect Fund performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, Fund
operating fees and expenses, portfolio turnover and creation and redemption in-kind transactions. The returns set forth below
represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Fund’s NAV and investment return
may fluctuate. These fluctuations may cause an investor’s shares to be worth more or less than their original cost. Current
performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted below. Please visit our web site at
www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Performance of a $10,000 Investment, with distributions reinvested, from September 6, 2016 through August 31, 2023.
$12,000
$11,103
$11,000 $11,003
Shares based on NAV
FTSE US Treasury 0-1 Year
Composite Select Index
$10,000
$9,000
9/6/16 8/17 8/18 8/19 8/20 8/21 8/22 8/23
Average Annual Total Return through August 31, 2023* 1 Year Return 5 Year Return Since Inception
Shares based on NAV (Commenced September 6, 2016) 3.99% 1.55% 1.38%
Shares based on Market Price (Commenced September 6, 2016) 4.00% 1.55% 1.38%
FTSE US Treasury 0-1 Year Composite Select Index 4.23% 1.69% 1.51%
* Total returns are calculated assuming purchase of a share at the market price or NAV on the first day and sale of a share at the market price or
NAV on the last day of each period reported. The Total Returns based on NAV and Market Price assume the reinvestment of dividends and do
not reflect brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund shares, which if included would lower the performance
shown above. The NAV used in the Total Return calculations assumes all management fees incurred by the Fund. Market Price returns are
based upon the last trade at 4:00 pm EST and do not reflect the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first day of
secondary market trading is typically several days after the date on which the Fund commenced investment operations; therefore, the NAV of
the Fund is used as a proxy for the period from inception of investment operations to the first day of secondary market trading to calculate the
Market Price returns.
34
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Investment Objective
The Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that closely
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the FTSE Goldman Sachs US Broad Bond Market Index (the
“Index”).
positioning for the 12-month period ended August 31, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).
Q How did the Fund perform during the Reporting rebalanced (i) monthly on the last business day of each
Period? month, to account for changes in maturities, duration,
corporate actions or ratings migration, and (ii) quarterly, to
A During the Reporting Period, the Fund returned -1.58%
account for updates to the corporate bond constituents of the
based on net asset value (“NAV”) and -1.44% based on
Index on the basis of the fundamental factors.
market price. The Index returned -1.26% during the same
period. Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to
track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional
The Fund had an NAV of $42.88 per share on August 31,
methods of active investment management, which may
2022 and ended the Reporting Period with an NAV of
involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis
$40.88 per share. The Fund’s market price on August 31,
of economic and market factors.
2023 was $40.99 per share.
During the Reporting Period, the Fund posted negative
Q What key factors were responsible for the Fund’s
absolute returns that modestly underperformed the Index, as
performance during the Reporting Period?
measured by NAV. The Fund is passively managed to the
A The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely Index and aims to minimize tracking error to the Index.
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of
Overall, U.S. bond returns are driven by two primary
the Index. The Fund’s performance reflects Fund expenses,
factors — duration (whether interest rates are rising or
including management fees and brokerage expenses. The
falling) and spreads (a widening or tightening of the yield
Fund’s relative performance also reflects the impact of any
differential to duration-equivalent U.S. Treasuries).
cash held in the Fund as well as any other differences
between the Fund’s holdings and the constituents of the The performance of the fixed income markets was driven
Index. The Index is unmanaged, and Index returns do not during the Reporting Period by a combination of higher
reflect fees and expenses, which would reduce returns. interest rates and a generally healthy economic backdrop.
U.S. economic data was relatively robust, despite above-
The Index is a rules-based index that is designed to measure
average inflation, with strong consumer spending, a tight
the performance of investment grade, U.S. dollar
labor market and rising wages. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the
denominated bonds issued in the United States that meet
“Fed”) continued to raise interest rates in an effort to stem
certain liquidity and fundamental screening criteria. The
inflation, lifting the targeted federal funds rate by a total of
Index is a custom index that is owned and calculated by
300 basis points to a range between 5.25% and 5.50%. (A
FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE”), a trading name of the
basis point is 1/100th of a percentage point.) Higher interest
London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group
rates put downward pressure on bond prices, resulting in a
undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group” or the “Index
negative return for the broad U.S. fixed income market.
Provider”). The Index is based on the FTSE US Broad
Investment-Grade (USBIG®) Index (the “Reference Index”) The Fund had a duration of six to seven years during the
using concepts developed with Goldman Sachs Asset Reporting Period, which means moves in the U.S. Treasury
Management, L.P. (“GSAM”). The Index is normally yield curve, particularly in the five-year to 10-year segment
35
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
of the maturity spectrum, made the Fund sensitive to moves Q Were there any changes to the Fund’s portfolio
in this intermediate segment of the curve. During the management team during the Reporting Period?
Reporting Period, five-year U.S. Treasury yields increased
A There were no changes to the Fund’s portfolio management
approximately 93 basis points, while the bellwether 10-year
team during the Reporting Period.
U.S. Treasury yield was up 94 basis points, from 3.15% to
4.09%. Q What was the Fund’s weighted average duration,
weighted average maturity, weighted average
Investment grade corporate spreads narrowed by
coupon, weighted average yield to maturity and
approximately 23 basis points during the Reporting Period,
30-day standardized yield at the end of the
from 140 basis points to 117 basis points. U.S. mortgage-
Reporting Period?1
backed securities spreads widened by 13 basis points, from
40 basis points to 53 basis points, during the Reporting A The Fund had a weighted average duration of 6.30 years, a
Period. weighted average maturity of 8.95 years and a weighted
average coupon of 2.70% as of August 31, 2023. The Fund’s
Q How did the Fund use derivatives and similar
weighted average yield to maturity was 5.04% on August 31,
instruments during the Reporting Period?
2023. The 30-day standardized yield of the Fund at the end
A The Fund does not employ derivatives. During the Reporting of the Reporting Period was 4.77%.
Period, the Fund did not invest in derivatives or similar
instruments. The Fund does not employ derivatives as a
source of alpha generation, although it may use them to
equitize excess cash.
1
Duration is a time measure of a bond’s interest-rate sensitivity, based
on the weighted average of the time periods over which a bond’s
cash flows accrue to the bondholder. Time periods are weighted by
multiplying by the present value of its cash flow divided by the
bond’s price. (A bond’s cash flows consist of coupon payments and
repayment of capital.)
A bond’s duration will almost always be shorter than its maturity,
with the exception of zero-coupon bonds, for which maturity and
duration are equal. Weighted average duration is a measure of the
duration for the securities in the portfolio overall. Weighted average
maturity (“WAM”) is the weighted average amount of time until the
debt securities in a portfolio mature, or the weighted average of the
remaining terms to maturity of the debt securities within a portfolio.
The higher the WAM, the longer it takes for all of the bonds in the
portfolio to mature, and WAM is used to manage debt portfolios and
to assess the performance of debt portfolio managers. Coupons are
fixed percentages paid out on a fixed income security on an annual
basis. Weighted average coupon is calculated by weighting the
coupon of each debt security by its relative size in the portfolio.
Yield to maturity is the annual return that a bond is expected to
generate if it is held till its maturity given its coupon rate, payment
frequency and current market price. Yield to maturity is essentially
the internal rate of return of a bond, i.e. the discount rate at which the
present value of a bond’s coupon payments and maturity value is
equal to its current market price. The 30-day standardized yield
calculation is based on a 30-day period ending on the last day of the
Reporting Period. It is computed by dividing the net investment
income per share earned during the period by the maximum offering
price per share on the last day of the period.
36
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
2
The Fund and the Index have not been rated by an independent rating
agency. The credit allocation provided refers to the Fund’s
underlying portfolio securities. For the purpose of determining
compliance with any credit rating requirement, the Fund assigns a
security, at the time of purchase, the highest rating by a Nationally
Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) if the
security is rated by more than one NRSRO. For this purpose, the
Fund relies only on the ratings of the following NRSROs: S&P
Global Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services and Fitch Ratings Inc.
This method may differ from the method independently used by the
Index Provider. GSAM will use a single rating if that is the only one
available. Securities that are not rated by all three agencies are
reflected as such in the breakdown. Unrated securities may be
purchased by the Fund if they are determined by the Investment
Adviser to be of a credit quality consistent with the Fund’s credit rate
requirements. Unrated securities do not necessarily indicate low
quality, and for such securities the Investment Adviser will evaluate
the credit quality. GSAM converts all ratings to the equivalent S&P
major rating category when illustrating credit rating breakdowns.
Ratings and Fund/Index credit quality may change over time.
3
The Fund seeks to provide investment results that closely
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the
FTSE Goldman Sachs US Broad Bond Market Index.
37
FUND BASICS
FUND SNAPSHOT
For more information about the Fund, please refer to www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs. There, you can learn more about the Fund’s
investment strategies, holdings, and performance.
38
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS U.S. AGGREGATE BOND ETF
Performance Summary
August 31, 2023
The following graph shows the value, as of August 31, 2023, of a $10,000 investment made on September 8, 2020
(commencement of operations) in Shares at NAV. For comparative purposes, the performance of a broad-based securities market
index, the FTSE Goldman Sachs US Broad Bond Market Index, is shown. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or
expense limitations in effect during the periods shown and in their absence, performance would be reduced. Returns do not reflect
the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. Certain factors may affect
Fund performance including, but not limited to, Fund operating fees and expenses, portfolio turnover and creation and redemption
in-kind transactions. The returns set forth below represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future
results. The Fund’s NAV and investment return may fluctuate. These fluctuations may cause an investor’s shares to be
worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted
below. Please visit our web site at www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Performance of a $10,000 Investment, with distributions reinvested, from September 8, 2020 through August 31, 2023.
$11,000
$10,000
Shares based on NAV
FTSE Goldman Sachs US
Broad Bond Market Index
$9,000
$8,663
$8,604
$8,000
9/8/20 2/21 8/21 2/22 8/22 2/23 8/23
Average Annual Total Return through August 31, 2023* 1 Year Return Since Inception
* Total returns are calculated assuming purchase of a share at the market price or NAV on the first day and sale of a share at the market price or
NAV on the last day of each period reported. The Total Returns based on NAV and Market Price assume the reinvestment of dividends and do
not reflect brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund shares, which if included would lower the performance
shown above. The NAV used in the Total Return calculations assumes all management fees incurred by the Fund. Market Price returns are
based upon the last trade at 4:00 pm EST and do not reflect the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first day of
secondary market trading is typically several days after the date on which the Fund commenced investment operations; therefore, the NAV of
the Fund is used as a proxy for the period from inception of investment operations to the first day of secondary market trading to calculate the
Market Price returns.
39
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
Investment Objective
The Goldman Sachs Access Ultra Short Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide current income with preservation of capital.
positioning for the 12-month period ended August 31, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).
Q How did the Fund perform during the Reporting Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc.
Period? (“Fitch”), respectively), have a long-term credit rating of at
least investment grade by at least one NRSRO (at least BBB-,
A During the Reporting Period, the Fund returned 4.25% based
Baa3, or BBB by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, respectively) if
on net asset value (“NAV”) and 4.28% based on market
such securities only maintain long-term ratings, or, if unrated,
price. The Fund’s benchmark, the FTSE Three-Month U.S.
are determined by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
Treasury Bill Index (the “Index”), returned 4.44% for the
(“GSAM”) to be of comparable credit quality at the time of
same period.
purchase. The Fund may also rely on the credit quality of a
The Fund had an NAV of $49.95 per share on August 31, guarantee or demand feature in determining the credit quality
2022 and ended the Reporting Period with an NAV of $49.98 of a security supported by the guarantee or demand feature.
per share. The Fund’s market price on August 31, 2023 was
The Fund will concentrate its investments in the financial
$49.99 per share.
services group of industries. Therefore, under normal
Q What key factors were responsible for the Fund’s circumstances, the Fund will invest more than 25% of its
performance during the Reporting Period? total assets in securities issued by companies in the financial
services group of industries and repurchase agreements
A The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
secured by such obligations.
investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net
assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes Under normal circumstances, the Fund’s effective duration is
(measured at the time of purchase) (“Net Assets”) in a broad expected to be one year or less. “Duration” is a measure of a
range of U.S. dollar denominated bonds. The Fund primarily debt security’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The
invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. longer the duration of the Fund (or an individual debt security),
Government, its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or the more sensitive its market price to changes in interest rates.
sponsored enterprises (“U.S. Government Securities”), In computing duration, the Fund will estimate the duration of
obligations of U.S. banks, corporate notes, commercial paper obligations that are subject to prepayment or redemption by the
and other short-term obligations of U.S. companies, states, issuer, taking into account the influence of interest rates on
municipalities and other entities, fixed and floating rate prepayments and coupon flows. This method of computing
mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, duration is known as “option-adjusted” duration.
collateralized loan obligations and repurchase agreements.
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund
The Fund may also invest in U.S. dollar-denominated
(“ETF”), which is a fund that trades like other publicly
obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign banks, companies
traded securities. The Fund is not an index fund and does not
and governments or their agencies, authorities,
seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.
instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises.
The Fund will generally focus its investments in securities of THE FUND IS NOT A MONEY MARKET FUND AND
issuers that, at the time of purchase, have a short-term credit DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN A STABLE
rating of at least investment grade by at least one nationally NET ASSET VALUE.
recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) (at least During the Reporting Period, the Fund generated positive
A-2, P-2, or F2 by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), Moody’s absolute returns but modestly lagged the Index. The Fund, as
40
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
an actively managed, broadly diversified portfolio of high instruments. The Fund does not employ derivatives as a
quality short-term holdings across multiple spread, or source of alpha generation, although it may use them to
non-U.S. Treasury, sectors, slightly underperformed the equitize excess cash.
Index during the Reporting Period due primarily to
differences in sector positioning and duration and yield curve Q Were there any changes to the Fund’s portfolio
positioning relative to that of the Index. management team during the Reporting Period?
Overall, short term bond returns are driven by two primary A Effective October 1, 2022, David Fishman no longer served
factors — short-term interest rates and sector yields. as a portfolio manager for the Fund. Todd Henry and David
Westbrook continue to serve as portfolio managers for the
During the Reporting Period, in a continuing effort to stem
Fund. By design, all investment decisions for the Fund are
inflation, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) raised the
performed within a co-lead or team structure, with multiple
targeted federal funds rate by a total of 300 basis points — to
subject matter experts. This strategic decision making has
a range between 5.25% and 5.50%. (A basis point is 1/100th
been a cornerstone of our approach and helps to ensure
of a percentage point.) As the Fed tightened monetary policy,
continuity in the Fund.
yields rose across the U.S. Treasury yield curve, or spectrum
of maturities, with shorter-term yields rising more than Q What was the Fund’s weighted average duration,
longer-term yields. The bellwether 10-year U.S. Treasury weighted average maturity, weighted average
yield was up 94 basis points during the Reporting Period, coupon, weighted average yield to maturity and
from 3.15% to 4.09%. Shorter-term interest rates rose even 30-day standardized yield at the end of the
more significantly, with six-month U.S. Treasury yields up Reporting Period?1
212 basis points, from 3.32% to 5.48% during the Reporting
Period. A The Fund had a weighted average duration of 0.65 years, a
weighted average maturity of 2.03 years and a weighted
The increase in short-term interest rates put downward
average coupon of 4.93% as of August 31, 2023. The Fund’s
pressure on short-term bond prices during the Reporting
weighted average yield to maturity was 5.78% on August 31,
Period, but since the Fund is an ultra-short bond fund, i.e., it
2023. The 30-day standardized yield of the Fund at the end
maintains an effective duration of less than one year, its
of the Reporting Period was 5.11%.
NAV has a low sensitivity to interest rate changes, thus
mitigating the impact of higher rates. The Fund’s allocation 1 Duration is a time measure of a bond’s interest-rate sensitivity, based
to floating rate assets also helped reduce the effect of rising on the weighted average of the time periods over which a bond’s
cash flows accrue to the bondholder. Time periods are weighted by
rates, enabling the yield of the strategy to increase along with multiplying by the present value of its cash flow divided by the
the market. Lastly, the Fund benefited from credit spread bond’s price. (A bond’s cash flows consist of coupon payments and
tightening. (Credit spreads are yield differentials versus repayment of capital.) A bond’s duration will almost always be
shorter than its maturity, with the exception of zero-coupon bonds,
duration-equivalent U.S. Treasuries.) During the Reporting for which maturity and duration are equal. Weighted average
Period, short-dated, i.e. maturities of one to three years, duration is a measure of the duration for the securities in the
portfolio overall. Weighted average maturity (“WAM”) is the
investment grade credit yields tightened by approximately weighted average amount of time until the debt securities in a
3 basis points, from 76 basis points to 73 basis points. portfolio mature, or the weighted average of the remaining terms to
maturity of the debt securities within a portfolio. The higher the
A broad diversified portfolio of high quality short-term WAM, the longer it takes for all of the bonds in the portfolio to
holdings, across investment grade corporate credit, U.S. mature, and WAM is used to manage debt portfolios and to assess
the performance of debt portfolio managers. Coupons are fixed
Treasuries, mortgage-backed securities and other securitized percentages paid out on a fixed income security on an annual basis.
credit, helped the Fund achieve a high level of current Weighted average coupon is calculated by weighting the coupon of
each debt security by its relative size in the portfolio. Yield to
income for investors while also providing reduced volatility maturity is the annual return that a bond is expected to generate if it
as yields of various individual sectors fluctuated during the is held till its maturity given its coupon rate, payment frequency and
Reporting Period. current market price. Yield to maturity is essentially the internal rate
of return of a bond, i.e. the discount rate at which the present value
Q How did the Fund use derivatives and similar of a bond’s coupon payments and maturity value is equal to its
current market price. The 30-day standardized yield calculation is
instruments during the Reporting Period? based on a 30-day period ending on the last day of the Reporting
Period. It is computed by dividing the net investment income per
A The Fund does not employ derivatives. During the Reporting share earned during the period by the maximum offering price per
Period, the Fund did not invest in derivatives or similar share on the last day of the period.
41
PORTFOLIO RESULTS
2 The Fund and the Index have not been rated by an independent rating
agency. The credit allocation provided refers to the Fund’s
underlying portfolio securities. For the purpose of determining
compliance with any credit rating requirement, the Fund assigns a
security, at the time of purchase, the highest rating by a Nationally
Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) if the
security is rated by more than one NRSRO. For this purpose, the
Fund relies only on the ratings of the following NRSROs: S&P,
Moody’s and Fitch, Inc. This method may differ from the method
independently used by the Index Provider. GSAM will use a single
rating if that is the only one available. Securities that are not rated by
all three agencies are reflected as such in the breakdown. Unrated
securities may be purchased by the Fund if they are determined by
the Investment Adviser to be of a credit quality consistent with the
Fund’s credit rating requirements. Unrated securities do not
necessarily indicate low quality, and for such securities the
Investment Adviser will evaluate the credit quality. GSAM converts
all ratings to the equivalent S&P major rating category when
illustrating credit rating breakdowns. Ratings and Fund/Index credit
quality may change over time.
42
FUND BASICS
FUND SNAPSHOT
For more information about the Fund, please refer to www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs. There, you can learn more about the Fund’s
investment strategies, holdings, and performance.
43
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
Performance Summary
August 31, 2023
The following graph shows the value, as of August 31, 2023, of a $10,000 investment made on April 15, 2019 (commencement of
operations) in Shares at NAV. For comparative purposes, the performance of a broad-based securities market index, the FTSE
Three-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, is shown. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect
during the periods shown and in their absence, performance would be reduced. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a
shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. Certain factors may affect Fund performance including,
but not limited to, Fund operating fees and expenses, portfolio turnover and creation and redemption in-kind transactions. The
returns set forth below represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Fund’s NAV
and investment return may fluctuate. These fluctuations may cause an investor’s shares to be worth more or less than their
original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted below. Please visit our web site at
www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Performance of a $10,000 Investment, with distributions reinvested, from April 15, 2019 through August 31, 2023.
$11,000
$10,850
$10,716
$10,500
Shares based on NAV
FTSE Three-Month U.S.
Treasury Bill Index
$10,000
$9,500
4/15/19 8/19 2/20 8/20 2/21 8/21 2/22 8/22 2/23 8/23
Average Annual Total Return through August 31, 2023* 1 Year Return Since Inception
* Total returns are calculated assuming purchase of a share at the market price or NAV on the first day and sale of a share at the market price or
NAV on the last day of each period reported. The Total Returns based on NAV and Market Price assume the reinvestment of dividends and do
not reflect brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund shares, which if included would lower the performance
shown above. The NAV used in the Total Return calculations assumes all management fees incurred by the Fund. Market Price returns are
based upon the last trade at 4:00 pm EST and do not reflect the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first day of
secondary market trading is typically several days after the date on which the Fund commenced investment operations; therefore, the NAV of
the Fund is used as a proxy for the period from inception of investment operations to the first day of secondary market trading to calculate the
Market Price returns.
44
FUND BASICS
Alpha: The excess returns of a fund relative to the return of a benchmark index is the fund’s alpha.
45
FUND BASICS
FTSE or its affiliates. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by FTSE without regard to the Fund. FTSE has no obligation to
take the needs of the owners or prospective owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index.
FTSE is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the shares to be issued by the Fund
or the timing of the issuance or sale of the shares to be issued by the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which
the shares to be issued by the Fund are to be converted into cash. FTSE has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration,
marketing or trading of the Fund.
Goldman Sachs Access Ultra Short Bond ETF (GSST) does not attempt to track an index and takes a more active approach.
46
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS EMERGING MARKETS USD BOND ETF
Schedule of Investments
August 31, 2023
691,120 1,353,334
Indonesia – 1.7%
Uruguay – 3.7%
Uruguay Government International Bond (BBB+/Baa2) Pertamina Persero PT (NR/Baa2)
150,000 4.375 10/27/27 148,875 757,000 3.100 08/27/30 655,751
408,000 4.375 01/23/31 399,330 200,000 6.450 05/30/44 202,500
50,000 7.875(b) 01/15/33 60,750 858,251
200,000 5.750 10/28/34 214,500
Mexico – 2.3%
200,000 7.625 03/21/36 241,250
200,000 4.125 11/20/45 174,250 Petroleos Mexicanos (BBB/B1)
450,000 5.100 06/18/50 432,844 100,000 6.875 10/16/25 94,590
240,000 4.975 04/20/55 225,300 200,000 4.500 01/23/26 175,440
180,000 6.500 03/13/27 157,738
1,897,099 25,000 5.350 02/12/28 20,058
TOTAL SOVEREIGN DEBT OBLIGATIONS 50,000 6.500 01/23/29 40,624
(Cost $45,876,770) $42,949,004 100,000 6.840 01/23/30 79,385
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 49
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS EMERGING MARKETS USD BOND ETF
Philippines – 0.4%
Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corp.
(BBB+/Baa2)
200,000 7.390 12/02/24 205,250
Poland – 0.4%
Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (NR/A2)
200,000 5.375 05/22/33 198,326
Qatar – 0.9%
QatarEnergy (NR/NR)
309,000 2.250 07/12/31 254,153
300,000 3.300 07/12/51 210,253
464,406
Saudi Arabia – 1.0%
Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (NR/A1)
375,000 3.500 04/16/29 343,519
200,000 4.250 04/16/39 171,613
515,132
TOTAL CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS
(Cost $7,915,355) $ 7,444,603
Dividend
Shares Rate Value
Schedule of Investments
August 31, 2023
Wireless – 0.4%
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA(a) (Luxembourg) (B+/B3)
$ 392,000 6.500% 03/15/30 $ 361,130
TOTAL FOREIGN CORPORATE DEBT
(Cost $6,392,124) $ 6,164,340
Dividend
Shares Rate Value
Investment Abbreviations:
GMTN—Global Medium Term Note
LP —Limited Partnership
MTN —Medium Term Note
PLC —Public Limited Company
REIT —Real Estate Investment Trust
Schedule of Investments
August 31, 2023
Dividend
Shares Rate Value
Schedule of Investments
August 31, 2023
Transportation – 0.4%
Canadian Pacific Railway Co. (Canada)
$ 40,000 3.700% 02/01/26 $ 38,268
Wireless – 0.3%
Rogers Communications, Inc. (Canada)
34,000 3.200 03/15/27 31,524
TOTAL FOREIGN CORPORATE DEBT
(Cost $1,588,978) $1,549,521
TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 98.3%
(Cost $9,313,342) $9,046,635
Investment Abbreviations:
CMT —Constant Maturity Treasury Index
GMTN —Global Medium Term Note
LIBOR —London Interbank Offered Rate
LP —Limited Partnership
MTN —Medium Term Note
PLC —Public Limited Company
REIT —Real Estate Investment Trust
SOFR —Secured Overnight Financing Rate
SOFRINDX—Secured Overnight Financing Rate Index
Schedule of Investments
August 31, 2023
Schedule of Investments
August 31, 2023
Schedule of Investments
August 31, 2023
100 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS U.S. AGGREGATE BOND ETF
102 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS U.S. AGGREGATE BOND ETF
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 105
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS U.S. AGGREGATE BOND ETF
106 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS U.S. AGGREGATE BOND ETF
FORWARD SALES CONTRACTS — At August 31, 2023, the Fund had the following forward sales contracts:
(a) TBA (To Be Announced) Securities are purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and no defined maturity date. The actual
principal and maturity date will be determined upon settlement when the specific mortgage pools are assigned.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 107
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
Schedule of Investments
August 31, 2023
Access to Loans for Learning Student Loan Corp., Series 2010-I, CIFC Funding Ltd., Series 2017-3A, Class A1(a)(b)
Class A3(a) (3M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.482%) (Cayman Islands)
(SOFR + 1.062%) $ 2,128,166 6.808% 07/20/30 $ 2,124,880
$ 421,504 6.116% 04/25/37 $ 422,437 CIFC Funding Ltd., Series 2021-2A, Class AR(a)(b)
Access to Loans for Learning Student Loan Corp., Series 2012-1, (3M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.212%) (Cayman Islands)
Class A(a) 484,345 6.538 04/20/30 482,185
(SOFR + 0.814%) Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2014-GC19,
14,917 6.102 07/25/36 14,830 Class A4
Ally Auto Receivables Trust, Series 2022-1, Class A3 2,400,000 4.023 03/11/47 2,385,196
3,170,000 3.310 11/15/26 3,105,791 Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2014-GC21,
American Express Credit Account Master Trust, Series 2022-2, Class A5
Class A 600,000 3.855 05/10/47 590,489
6,000,000 3.390 05/15/27 5,814,920 Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2015-GC29,
American Express Credit Account Master Trust 2023-1, Class AAB
Series 2023-1, Class A 106,155 2.984 04/10/48 104,483
2,100,000 4.870 05/15/28 2,091,658 Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2015-GC33,
Anchorage Capital CLO Ltd., Series 2014-4RA, Class A(a)(b) Class A4
(3M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.312%) (Cayman Islands) 3,000,000 3.778 09/10/58 2,827,605
830,232 6.677 01/28/31 826,780 Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2016-GC37,
Atlas Senior Loan Fund III Ltd., Series 2013-1A, Class AR(a)(b) Class A3
(3M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.092%) (Cayman Islands) 2,738,532 3.050 04/10/49 2,597,997
5,138 6.468 11/17/27 5,132 COMM Mortgage Trust, Series 2013-CR12, Class A4
BA Credit Card Trust, Series 2021-A1, Class A1 373,484 4.046 10/10/46 317,077
500,000 0.440 09/15/26 485,142 COMM Mortgage Trust, Series 2014-CR19, Class A5
BA Credit Card Trust, Series 2022-A2, Class A2 3,350,000 3.796 08/10/47 3,291,217
2,100,000 5.000 04/15/28 2,094,001 COMM Mortgage Trust, Series 2014-UBS2, Class A5
Barclays Dryrock Issuance Trust, Series 2021-1, Class A 5,000,000 3.961 03/10/47 4,937,394
2,400,000 0.630 07/15/27 2,285,177 COMM Mortgage Trust, Series 2015-CR24, Class ASB
Barings CLO Ltd., Series 2018-3A, Class A1(a)(b) 186,622 3.445 08/10/48 183,519
(3M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.212%) (Cayman Islands) COMM Mortgage Trust, Series 2015-CR25, Class A3
186,776 6.538 07/20/29 186,591 1,967,088 3.505 08/10/48 1,901,819
BBCMS Mortgage Trust, Series 2018-C2, Class ASB COMM Mortgage Trust, Series 2015-CR26, Class ASB
556,930 4.236 12/15/51 532,340 398,638 3.373 10/10/48 382,551
BlueMountain CLO Ltd., Series 2017-2A, Class A1R(a)(b) COMM Mortgage Trust, Series 2016-DC2, Class A4
(3M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.442%) (Cayman Islands) 486,012 3.497 02/10/49 467,560
801,959 6.787 10/22/30 799,299 CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2015-C3, Class A4
BSPDF Issuer Ltd., Series 2021-FL1, Class A(a)(b) 1,300,000 3.718 08/15/48 1,233,407
(1M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.314%) (Cayman Islands) DBJPM Mortgage Trust, Series 2016-C3, Class ASB
1,150,000 6.625 10/15/36 1,117,768 206,837 2.756 08/10/49 196,870
BX, Series 2021-MFM1, Class A(a)(b) Discover Card Execution Note Trust, Series 2017-A5, Class A5(a)
(1M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 0.810%) (1M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 0.714%)
90,425 6.125 01/15/34 89,014 2,000,000 6.025 12/15/26 2,005,188
BX Trust, Series 2021-ARIA, Class A(a)(b) Discover Card Execution Note Trust, Series 2023-A1, Class A
(1M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.014%) 2,925,000 4.310 03/15/28 2,866,557
1,300,000 6.324 10/15/36 1,266,818 Dryden XXVI Senior Loan Fund, Series 2013-26A, Class AR(a)(b)
BXHPP Trust, Series 2021-FILM, Class A(a)(b) (3M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.162%) (Cayman Islands)
(1M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 0.764%) 194,814 6.470 04/15/29 194,098
1,850,000 6.075 08/15/36 1,742,716 Edsouth Indenture No 3 LLC, Series 2012-2, Class A(a)(b)
CARDS II Trust, Series 2021-1A, Class A(b) (SOFR + 0.844%)
(Canada) 18,347 6.132 04/25/39 18,283
3,125,000 0.602 04/15/27 3,031,320 Educational Funding of the South, Inc., Series 2011-1, Class A2(a)
Carlyle US CLO Ltd., Series 2017-2A, Class A1R(a)(b) (SOFR + 0.912%)
(3M U.S. T-Bill MMY + 1.312%) (Cayman Islands) 216,576 5.966 04/25/35 216,347
2,000,000 6.638 07/20/31 1,991,720 EFS Volunteer LLC, Series 2010-1, Class A2(a)(b)
CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2016-C3, Class A3 (SOFR + 1.112%)
245,000 3.865 01/10/48 232,978 161,846 6.166 10/25/35 161,773
108 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
110 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 111
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
112 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 113
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
114 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 115
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
(e)
Certificate of Deposits – (continued) Investment Company – 0.3%
Nordea Bank Abp (SOFR + 0.610%) Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund –
$ 11,000 5.910% 01/04/24 $ 11,013 Institutional Shares
Royal Bank of Canada (SOFR + 0.700%) 1,456,006 5.234% $ 1,456,006
968,000 6.000 03/27/24 969,713 (Cost $1,456,006)
Standard Chartered Bank (SOFR + 0.640%)
2,388,000 5.940 02/20/24 2,390,483 Principal Interest Maturity
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SOFR + 0.700%) Amount Rate Date Value
3,295,000 6.000 08/14/24 3,295,817
Svenska Handelsbanken (SOFR + 0.570%) Short-Term Investments – 6.2%
1,884,000 5.870 01/09/24 1,886,091
Commercial Paper – 6.2%
Toronto Dominion Bank Bank of Montreal
1,633,000 5.510 04/03/24 1,635,343 $ 1,211,000 5.920% 09/02/24 $ 1,210,904
1,282,000 5.820 05/23/24 1,280,731 Bank of Nova Scotia
TOTAL CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITS 2,951,000 5.580 02/09/24 2,875,779
(Cost $26,509,320) $ 26,508,714 Bayer Corp.
1,200,000 6.231 07/08/24 1,138,440
3,000,000 6.231 07/09/24 2,845,650
BofA Securities, Inc.
U.S. Government Agency Obligations – 1.2%(c)
964,000 5.440 02/08/24 961,956
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp. (SOFR + 0.160%) Collateralized Commercial Paper FLEX Co. LLC
$ 193,000 5.460% 08/04/25 $ 193,010 2,861,000 5.920 02/28/24 2,861,658
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp. (SOFR + 0.125%) Credit Suisse First Boston
157,000 5.425 02/04/25 157,005 1,949,000 7.117 11/02/23 1,930,777
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp. (SOFR + 0.145%) DNB Bank
3,236,000 5.841 07/31/24 3,068,343
123,000 5.445 04/28/25 123,014
Equitable Short Term Funding LLC
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp. (FEDL01 + 0.155%)
1,500,000 5.944 07/08/24 1,427,580
101,000 5.485 06/27/25 101,024 Federation des Caisses Desjardins du Quebec
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp. (SOFR + 0.115%) 2,365,000 5.452 02/14/24 2,303,936
58,000 5.415 12/03/24 57,993 Glencore Funding LLC
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp. (FCPR DLY + 2,174,000 6.031 02/01/24 2,120,368
-3.010%) HSBC Bank USA NA(a) (SOFR + 0.610%)
29,000 5.490 08/07/25 28,993 1,000,000 5.910 04/26/24 1,000,730
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp. (SOFR + 0.200%) HSBC USA Inc.
25,000 5.500 12/05/24 25,020 1,130,000 6.484 05/20/24 1,080,823
Federal Home Loan Banks 1,053,000 6.219 05/24/24 1,006,426
4,780,000 5.340 04/23/24 4,766,459 ING (US) Funding Corp
Federal Home Loan Banks (SOFR + 0.310%) 825,000 5.956 04/01/24 797,445
160,000 5.455 07/08/25 160,004 JP Morgan Securities LLC
335,000 5.455 08/22/25 334,872 994,000 5.960 08/02/24 994,354
Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets PLC
Federal Home Loan Banks (SOFR + 0.150%)
900,000 6.094 04/08/24 869,175
300,000 5.450 05/28/25 300,023
Macquarie Bank
Federal Home Loan Banks (SOFR + 0.120%) 1,725,000 5.570 02/15/24 1,726,000
100,000 5.420 01/03/25 100,011 Nordea Bank Abp(a)(b) (SOFR + 0.450%)
Federal Home Loan Banks (SOFR + 0.125%) 1,238,000 5.749 01/18/27 1,238,693
100,000 5.425 02/03/25 100,003 Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB
Federal Home Loan Banks (SOFR + 0.135%) 1,900,000 5.950 05/31/24 1,901,957
100,000 5.435 05/02/25 99,988 998,000 5.880 08/02/24 997,544
Federal Home Loan Banks (SOFR + 0.160%) Societe Generale SA
65,000 5.460 08/08/25 65,003 1,355,000 5.413 02/09/24 1,321,057
Federal Home Loan Banks (SOFR + 0.115%) TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
50,000 5.415 11/06/24 50,003 (Cost $35,678,679) $ 35,679,595
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS
TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 99.5%
(Cost $6,676,021) $ 6,662,425 (Cost $573,164,091) $568,932,494
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF
LIABILITIES – 0.5% 3,376,499
NET ASSETS – 100.0% $572,308,993
116 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS ULTRA SHORT BOND ETF
Investment Abbreviations:
CLO —Collateralized Loan Obligation
CMT —Constant Maturity Treasury Index
FHLMC —Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
FNMA —Federal National Mortgage Association
GNMA —Government National Mortgage Association
GMTN —Global Medium Term Note
LIBOR —London Interbank Offered Rate
LP —Limited Partnership
MTN —Medium Term Note
PLC —Public Limited Company
REIT —Real Estate Investment Trust
SOFR —Secured Overnight Financing Rate
SOFRINDX—Secured Overnight Financing Rate Index
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 117
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Assets:
Liabilities:
Payables:
Management fees 16,842 27,694 11,204 —
Investments purchased — 4,205,662 — 293,550
Fund shares redeemed — 1,295 — —
Net Assets:
118 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Access
Investment Access
Grade Treasury Access U.S. Access Ultra
Corporate 0-1 Year Aggregate Short
Bond ETF ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF
Assets:
Liabilities:
Payables:
Investments purchased 55,658,665 77,318,090 78,686,039 568,972
Management fees 73,685 578,290 51,813 78,356
Fund shares redeemed — 15,010,349 — —
Forward sale contract, at value (proceeds received $–, $–,
$25,777,793 and $–) — — 25,680,859 —
Net Assets:
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 119
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Statements of Operations
For the Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2023
Access
Access Investment
Access Access Inflation Grade
Emerging High Yield Protected Corporate
Markets USD Corporate USD 1-5 Year
Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF
Investment income:
Expenses:
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (187,924) 1,274,858 (8,395,039) (141,417)
120 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Access
Investment Access
Grade Treasury Access U.S. Access Ultra
Corporate 0-1 Year Aggregate Short
Bond ETF ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF
Investment income:
Expenses:
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 121
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
From operations:
Distributions to shareholders:
Net assets:
* Commencement of operations.
122 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
For the Fiscal For the Fiscal For the Fiscal For the Fiscal
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022 August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
From operations:
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations (5,940,870) (11,325,611) 82,710 (1,349,330)
Distributions to shareholders:
Net assets:
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 123
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
For the Fiscal For the Fiscal For the Fiscal For the Fiscal
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022 August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
From operations:
Distributions to shareholders:
Net assets:
124 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Access Ultra Short Bond ETF
For the Fiscal For the Fiscal For the Fiscal For the Fiscal
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022 August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
From operations:
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations (7,483,634) (37,306,230) 23,121,395 (2,202,355)
Distributions to shareholders:
Net increase in net assets resulting from share transactions 81,293,601 254,499,846 68,152,016 178,546,882
Net assets:
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 125
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Financial Highlights
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(b) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete sale of the investment at the net asset value
at the end of the period. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. Total returns for periods
less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Annualized.
(d) The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements and excludes portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of
in-kind transactions and short term transactions. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.
126 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Net asset value, beginning of year $ 42.70 $ 50.40 $ 49.29 $ 49.42 $ 48.86
Total gain (loss) from investment operations 2.94 (5.42) 3.39 2.34 3.36
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income (2.56) (2.28) (2.28) (2.47) (2.80)
Net asset value, end of year $ 43.08 $ 42.70 $ 50.40 $ 49.29 $ 49.42
Total Return at Net Asset Value(b) 7.13% (11.07)% 7.05% 4.94% 7.20%
Net assets, end of year (in 000’s) $101,247 $134,509 $231,834 $150,347 $76,602
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets 0.34% 0.34% 0.34% 0.34% 0.34%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 5.99% 4.69% 4.49% 5.15% 5.67%
Portfolio turnover rate(c) 14% 15% 22% 22% 23%
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 127
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 51.68 $ 58.52 $ 56.96 $ 53.11 $50.00
Total gain (loss) from investment operations (1.85) (3.44) 3.15 4.51 4.25
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income (1.51) (3.40) (1.59) (0.61) (1.14)
Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains — — — (0.04) —
Distributions to shareholders from return of capital — — — (0.01) —
Net asset value, end of period $ 48.32 $ 51.68 $ 58.52 $ 56.96 $53.11
Total Return at Net Asset Value(b) (3.64)% (6.08)% 5.62% 8.57% 8.61%
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s) $111,143 $165,372 $146,311 $31,330 $7,966
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets 0.12% 0.12% 0.12% 0.12% 0.12%(c)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 1.90% 6.63% 4.96% 0.61% 2.74%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate(d) 30% 18% 56% 43% 36%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(b) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete sale of the investment at the net asset value
at the end of the period. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. Total returns for periods
less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Annualized.
(d) The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements and excludes portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of
in-kind transactions and short term transactions. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.
128 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Total gain (loss) from investment operations 0.96 (3.15) 0.55 0.35
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income (1.41) (0.67) (0.48) (0.03)
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s) $9,202 $16,262 $30,168 $27,617
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets 0.14% 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%(c)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 3.12% 1.27% 0.82% 0.73%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate(d) 37% 45% 32% 3%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(b) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete sale of the investment at the net asset value
at the end of the period. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. Total returns for periods
less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Annualized.
(d) The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements and excludes portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of
in-kind transactions and short term transactions. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 129
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Net asset value, beginning of year $ 45.81 $ 55.24 $ 55.39 $ 52.87 $ 48.31
(a)
Net investment income 1.59 1.27 1.26 1.59 1.74
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (1.23) (9.43) (0.14) 2.54 4.52
Total gain (loss) from investment operations 0.36 (8.16) 1.12 4.13 6.26
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income (1.54) (1.27) (1.27) (1.61) (1.70)
Net asset value, end of year $ 44.63 $ 45.81 $ 55.24 $ 55.39 $ 52.87
Net assets, end of year (in 000’s) $682,841 $634,530 $776,118 $642,578 $526,049
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets 0.14% 0.14% 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 3.55% 2.50% 2.30% 3.00% 3.54%
Portfolio turnover rate(c) 5% 12% 11% 9% 13%
130 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Net asset value, beginning of year $ 99.84 $ 100.09 $ 100.44 $ 100.38 $ 100.16
(a)
Net investment income (loss) 4.17 0.52 (0.02) 1.13 2.23
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.26) (0.51) (0.01) 0.29 0.15
Total gain (loss) from investment operations 3.91 0.01 (0.03) 1.42 2.38
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income (3.68) (0.26) (0.27) (1.36) (2.16)
Distributions to shareholders from return of capital — — (0.05) — —
Net asset value, end of year $ 100.07 $ 99.84 $ 100.09 $ 100.44 $ 100.38
Total Return at Net Asset Value(b) 3.99% 0.01% (0.03)% 1.42% 2.40%
Net assets, end of year (in 000’s) $6,013,216 $3,087,061 $1,857,660 $3,045,396 $3,174,026
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets 0.12% 0.12% 0.12% 0.12% 0.12%
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets 0.14% 0.14% 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets 4.18% 0.52% (0.02)% 1.13% 2.22%
Portfolio turnover rate(c) —% —% —% —% —%
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 131
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(b) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete sale of the investment at the net asset value
at the end of the period. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. Total returns for periods
less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Annualized.
(d) The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements and excludes portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of
in-kind transactions and short term transactions. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.
132 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 49.95 $ 50.71 $ 50.77 $ 50.49 $ 50.00
Total gain (loss) from investment operations 2.07 (0.30) 0.30 1.15 0.86
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income (2.04) (0.46) (0.36) (0.87) (0.37)
Net asset value, end of period $ 49.98 $ 49.95 $ 50.71 $ 50.77 $ 50.49
Total Return at Net Asset Value(b) 4.25% (0.58)% 0.59% 2.28% 1.75%
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s) $572,309 $503,197 $330,874 $149,765 $15,148
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets 0.16% 0.15% 0.16% 0.16% 0.16%(c)
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets 0.20% 0.20% 0.20% 0.20% 0.20%(c)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 4.25% 0.98% 0.55% 1.45% 2.72%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate(d) 76% 37% 51% 63% 66%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(b) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete sale of the investment at the net asset value
at the end of the period. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. Total returns for periods
less than one full year are not annualized.
(c) Annualized.
(d) The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements and excludes portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of
in-kind transactions and short term transactions. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 133
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
1. ORGANIZATION
Goldman Sachs ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company, registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), consisting of multiple series. The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust
on December 16, 2009. The following table lists those series of the Trust that are included in this report (collectively, the “Funds”
or individually a “Fund”) along with their respective diversification status under the Act:
Diversification
Fund Classification
Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF (“Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF”) Diversified
Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (“Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF”) Diversified
Goldman Sachs Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF (“Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF”) Diversified
Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF (“Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year
Bond ETF”) Diversified
Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (“Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF”) Diversified
Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF (“Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF”) Diversified
Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (“Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF”) Diversified
Goldman Sachs Access Ultra Short Bond ETF (“Access Ultra Short Bond ETF”) Diversified
The investment objective of each Fund (except the Access Ultra Short Bond ETF) is to provide investment results that closely
correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of its respective Index. The Access Ultra Short Bond ETF seeks to
provide current income with preservation of capital.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”), an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“Goldman Sachs”), serves as
investment adviser to the Funds pursuant to a management agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Trust. Each Fund is an
exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). Shares of the Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, Access Investment Grade Corporate
1-5 Year Bond ETF, Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF, Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF and Access U.S. Aggregate
Bond ETF are listed and traded on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”), and shares of the Access Emerging Markets USD Bond
ETF, Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF and Access Ultra Short Bond ETF are listed and traded on the Cboe BZX
Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe BZX”). Market prices for the Funds’ shares may be different from their net asset value (“NAV”). The
Funds issue and redeem shares at their respective NAV only in blocks of a specified number of shares, or multiples thereof,
referred to as “Creation Units”. Creation Units are issued and redeemed generally for a designated portfolio of securities (including
any portion of such securities for which cash may be substituted) and a specified amount of cash. Shares generally trade in the
secondary market in quantities less than a Creation Unit at market prices that change throughout the day. Only those that have
entered into an authorized participant agreement with ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) may do business directly with the
Funds.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America (“GAAP”) and require management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts and
disclosures. Actual results may differ from those estimates and assumptions. Each Fund is an investment company under GAAP
and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies.
A. Investment Valuation — The Funds’ valuation policy is to value investments at fair value.
B. Investment Income and Investments — Investment income includes interest income, dividend income, and securities
lending income, if any. Interest income is accrued daily and adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts.
134
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Dividend income is recognized on ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, as soon as such information is obtained
subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the securities received.
Investment transactions are reflected on trade date. Realized gains and losses are calculated using identified cost. Investment
transactions are recorded on the following business day for daily NAV calculations. Investment income is recorded net of any
foreign withholding taxes, less any amounts reclaimable. The Funds may file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to
recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. Any foreign capital gains tax is accrued daily based upon net unrealized gains,
and is payable upon sale of such investments. For treasury inflation protected securities, adjustments to principal due to inflation/
deflation are reflected as increases/decreases to interest income with a corresponding adjustment to cost.
C. Expenses — Expenses incurred directly by a Fund are charged to the Fund, and certain expenses incurred by the Trust are
allocated across the applicable Funds on a straight-line and/or pro-rata basis, depending upon the nature of the expenses, and are
accrued daily.
D. Federal Taxes and Distributions to Shareholders — It is each Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute each
year substantially all of its investment company taxable income and capital gains to its shareholders. Accordingly, each Fund is not
required to make any provisions for the payment of federal income tax. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the
ex-dividend date. For each Fund, income distributions, if any, are declared and paid monthly. Capital gains distributions, if any, are
declared and paid annually.
Net capital losses, if any, are carried forward to future fiscal years and may be used to the extent allowed by the Code to offset
any future capital gains. Losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses.
Utilization of capital loss carryforwards will reduce the requirement of future capital gains distributions.
The characterization of distributions to shareholders for financial reporting purposes is determined in accordance with federal
income tax rules, which may differ from GAAP. The source of each Fund’s distributions may be shown in the accompanying
financial statements as either from distributable earnings or capital. Certain components of the Funds’ net assets on the Statements
of Assets and Liabilities reflect permanent GAAP/tax differences based on the appropriate tax character.
U.S. GAAP defines the fair value of a financial instrument as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a
liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price); the Funds’ policy is to
use the market approach. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure
fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
(Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The level in the fair value hierarchy
within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to
the fair value measurement in its entirety. The levels used for classifying investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk
associated with investing in these investments. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted
assets or liabilities;
Level 2 — Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable
(including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, volatility and credit
spreads), either directly or indirectly;
Level 3 — Prices or valuations that require significant unobservable inputs (including GSAM’s assumptions in determining
fair value measurement).
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The Board of Trustees (“Trustees”) has approved Valuation Procedures that govern the valuation of the portfolio investments held
by the Funds, including investments for which market quotations are not readily available. With respect to a Fund’s investments
that do not have readily available market quotations, the Trustees have designated the Adviser as the valuation designee to perform
fair valuations pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Act (the “Valuation Designee”). GSAM has day-to-day responsibility for
implementing and maintaining internal controls and procedures related to the valuation of the Funds’ investments. To assess the
continuing appropriateness of pricing sources and methodologies, GSAM regularly performs price verification procedures and
issues challenges as necessary to third party pricing vendors or brokers, and any differences are reviewed in accordance with the
Valuation Procedures.
A. Level 1 and Level 2 Fair Value Investments — The valuation techniques and significant inputs used in determining the
fair values for investments classified as Level 1 and Level 2 are as follows:
Debt Securities — Debt securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued daily on the basis of quotations
supplied by dealers or an independent pricing service. The pricing services may use valuation models or matrix pricing, which
consider: (i) yield or price with respect to bonds that are considered comparable in characteristics such as rating, interest rate and
maturity date or (ii) quotations from securities dealers to determine current value. With the exception of treasury securities of G7
countries, which are generally classified as Level 1, these investments are generally classified as Level 2 of the fair value
hierarchy.
i. Commercial Paper — Commercial paper normally represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer
form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations, finance companies and other issuers. Commercial paper consists of
direct U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign issuers. Asset-backed commercial paper is issued by a
special purpose entity that is organized to issue the commercial paper and to purchase trade receivables or other financial
assets.
ii. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities — Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect
participations in, or are collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by residential and/or commercial real
estate property. Asset-backed securities include securities whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by pools of
other assets or receivables. The value of certain mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities (including adjustable rate
mortgage loans) may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. The value of these securities may also
fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers.
Asset-backed securities may present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities because they generally
do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets. Some asset-backed securities
may only have a subordinated claim on collateral.
Stripped mortgage-backed securities are usually structured with two different classes: one that receives substantially all
interest payments (interest-only, or “IO” and/or high coupon rate with relatively low principal amount, or “IOette”), and the
other that receives substantially all principal payments (principal-only, or “PO”) from a pool of mortgage loans. Little to no
principal will be received at the maturity of an IO; as a result, periodic adjustments are recorded to reduce the cost of the
security until maturity. These adjustments are included in interest income.
iii. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities — TIPS are treasury securities in which the principal amount is adjusted
daily to keep pace with inflation, as measured by the U.S. Consumer Pricing Index for Urban Consumers. The repayment of
the original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
iv. When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments — When-issued securities, including TBA (“To Be
Announced”) securities, are securities that are authorized but not yet issued in the market and purchased in order to secure
what is considered to be an advantageous price or yield to a Fund. A forward commitment involves entering into a contract to
purchase or sell securities, typically on an extended settlement basis, for a fixed price at a future date. The purchase of
securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
declines before the settlement date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment basis involves the risk that the
value of the securities sold may increase before the settlement date. Although a Fund will generally purchase securities on a
when-issued or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities for its portfolio, the Fund may dispose
of when-issued securities or forward commitments prior to settlement, which may result in a realized gain or loss. For
financial reporting purposes, cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of a Fund and cash collateral received,
if any, is reported separately on the Statement(s) of Assets and Liabilities as receivables/payables for collateral on other
investments. Non-cash collateral pledged by a Fund, if any, is noted in the Schedules of Investments.
Money Market Funds — Investments in the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund (“Underlying Money Market
Fund”) are valued at the NAV per share of the Institutional Share class on the day of valuation. These investments are generally
classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. For information regarding the Underlying Money Market Fund’s accounting
policies and investment holdings, please see the Underlying Money Market Fund’s shareholder report.
B. Level 3 Fair Value Investments — To the extent that significant inputs to valuation models and other alternative pricing
sources are unobservable, or if quotations are not readily available, or if GSAM believes that such quotations do not accurately
reflect fair value, the fair value of a Fund’s investments may be determined under the Valuation Procedures. GSAM, consistent
with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may make an adjustment to the most recent valuation prices of either
domestic or foreign securities in light of significant events to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the time
of determining a Fund’s NAV. To the extent investments are valued using single source broker quotations obtained directly from
the broker or passed through from third party pricing vendors, such investments are classified as Level 3 investments.
C. Fair Value Hierarchy — The following is a summary of the Funds’ investments and derivatives classified in the fair value
hierarchy as of August 31, 2023:
ACCESS EMERGING MARKETS USD BOND ETF
Assets
Fixed Income
Sovereign Debt Obligations $ — $42,949,004 $ —
Corporate Obligations — 7,444,603 —
Investment Company 255,051 — —
Assets
Fixed Income
Corporate Obligations $ — $92,314,782 $ —
Foreign Bonds — 6,164,340 —
Investment Company 1,043,475 — —
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Assets
Fixed Income
U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds $ 110,472,852 $ — $ —
Investment Company 536,220 — —
Total $ 111,009,072 $ — $ —
Assets
Fixed Income
Corporate Obligations $ — $ 7,497,114 $ —
Foreign Bonds — 1,549,521 —
Total $ — $ 9,046,635 $ —
Assets
Fixed Income
Corporate Obligations $ — $541,179,138 $ —
Foreign Bonds — 132,442,637 —
Investment Company 1,389,970 — —
Assets
Fixed Income
U.S. Treasury Bills $5,752,215,364 $ — $ —
U.S. Treasury Notes 260,518,769 — —
Total $6,012,734,133 $ — $ —
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Assets
Fixed Income
U.S. Treasury Notes $157,549,320 $ — $ —
Mortgage-Backed Securities — 155,145,959 —
Corporate Obligations — 101,224,016 —
U.S. Treasury Bonds 42,987,242 — —
Foreign Corporate Debt — 25,351,586 —
U.S. Treasury Obligations 22,160,639 — —
Sovereign Debt Obligations 204,586 10,953,498 —
Investment Company 45,185,528 — —
Liabilities
Forward Sales Contracts $ — $ (25,680,859) $ —
Assets
Fixed Income
Asset- Backed Securities $ — $148,997,729 $ —
Mortgage-Backed Securities — 134,874,924 —
Foreign Corporate Debt — 98,176,438 —
Corporate Obligations — 84,781,197 —
Commercial Paper — 35,679,595 —
U.S. Treasury Notes 31,795,466 — —
U.S. Government Agency Obligations — 6,662,425 —
Investment Company 1,456,006 — —
Certificate of Deposits — 26,508,714 —
For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Schedules of Investments.
A. Management Agreement — Under the Agreement, GSAM manages the Funds, subject to the general supervision of the
Trustees.
As compensation for the services rendered pursuant to the Agreement, the assumption of the expenses related thereto and
administration of the Funds’ business affairs, including providing facilities, GSAM is entitled to a management fee, accrued daily
and paid monthly, equal to an annual percentage rate of each Fund’s average daily net assets.
The Funds operate under a unitary management fee structure. Under the unitary fee structure, GSAM is responsible for paying
substantially all the expenses of each such Fund, excluding payments under the Fund’s 12b-1 plan (if any), interest expenses, taxes,
acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage fees, costs of holding shareholder meetings, litigation, indemnification and
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
extraordinary expenses. As the Funds directly pay fees and expenses of the independent Trustees, the management fee collected by
GSAM will be reduced by an amount equal to the fees and expenses paid by the Funds to the independent Trustees.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023, contractual and effective net unitary management fees with GSAM were at the
following rates:
Contractual Unitary Effective Net Unitary
Fund Management Fee Management Fee*
Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF 0.14% 0.14%
* Effective Net Unitary Management Fee includes the impact of management fee waivers, if any.
GSAM has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee rate of
0.39%, 0.12%, and 0.16% as an annual percentage rate of average daily net assets of the Access Emerging Markets USD Bond
ETF, Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF, and Access Ultra Short Bond ETF, respectively. These arrangements will remain in effect
through at least December 29, 2023 for Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF and Access Ultra Short Bond ETF and through at least
February 17, 2025 for Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF and prior to such dates the Investment Adviser may not
terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees. Prior to February 17, 2023, GSAM agreed to waive
100% of its management fee of the Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023, GSAM
waived $103,665, $974,746 and $217,815 of the Funds’ management fees for the Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF,
Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF and the Access Ultra Short Bond ETF, respectively.
The Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF, Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, Access Inflation Protected USD
Bond ETF, Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF, Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF, Access U.S.
Aggregate Bond ETF and Access Ultra Short Bond ETF invest in Institutional Shares of the Goldman Sachs Financial Square
Government Fund, which is an affiliated Underlying Fund. GSAM has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee payable by
the Funds in an amount equal to the management fee it earns as an investment adviser to the affiliated Underlying Fund in which
the Funds invest. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023, the management fee waived by GSAM for each Fund was as follows:
Management Fee
Fund Waived
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
B. Other Transactions with Affiliates — The following table provides information about the Funds’ investments in the
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023:
Beginning Ending Shares
value as of Purchases Proceeds value as of as of Dividend
Fund August 31, 2022 at Cost from Sales August 31, 2023 August 31, 2023 Income
Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF $ 483,412 $ 3,164,341 $ (3,392,702) $ 255,051 $ 255,051 $ 10,344
Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 3,157,357 15,548,490 (17,662,372) 1,043,475 1,043,475 65,895
Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF 350,717 4,939,299 (4,753,796) 536,220 536,220 14,605
Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF 155,769 239,961 (395,730) — — 456
Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF 1,956,966 34,207,707 (34,774,703) 1,389,970 1,389,970 75,243
Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 99,745,844 69,852,001 (124,412,317) 45,185,528 45,185,528 2,560,135
Access Ultra Short Bond ETF 4,270,757 446,255,166 (449,069,917) 1,456,006 1,456,006 468,432
The Trust issues and redeems shares of the Funds only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without an
initial sales load, at NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined in the Statement of Additional
Information), of an order in proper form. Shares of the Funds may only be purchased or redeemed by certain financial institutions
(each an “Authorized Participant”). An Authorized Participant is either (1) a “Participating Party” or other participant in the
clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation; or (2) a
Depository Trust Company participant; which, in either case, must have executed an agreement with the Distributor. Retail
investors will typically not qualify as an Authorized Participant or have the resources to buy and sell whole Creation Units.
Therefore, they will be unable to purchase or redeem the shares directly from the Funds. Rather, most retail investors will purchase
shares in the secondary market at market prices with the assistance of a broker and may be subject to customary brokerage
commissions or fees. Fixed creation and redemption transaction fees are imposed in connection with creations and redemptions.
Authorized Participants transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay a variable charge to compensate the relevant fund
for certain transaction costs (e.g. taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact
expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in “Proceeds from sale of shares”
in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.
Share activity is as follows:
Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF
For the Fiscal Year Ended For the Period February 15, 2022*
August 31, 2023 through August 31, 2022
* Commencement of operations.
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
For the Fiscal Year Ended For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
For the Fiscal Year Ended For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
For the Fiscal Year Ended For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
For the Fiscal Year Ended For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
For the Fiscal Year Ended For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
For the Fiscal Year Ended For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
For the Fiscal Year Ended For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2023 August 31, 2022
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of long-term securities for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023,
were as follows (with the exception of the Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF which only owns short term securities):
Sales and Sales and
Purchases of Purchases (Excluding Maturities of Maturities (Excluding
U.S. Government and U.S. Government and U.S. Government and U.S. Government and
Fund Agency Obligations Agency Obligations) Agency Obligations Agency Obligations)
Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF — 7,314,223 — 2,745,800
The purchases and sales from in-kind creation and redemption transactions for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023, were as
follows (with the exception of the Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF which only owns short term securities):
Fund Purchases Sales
7. TAX INFORMATION
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 was as follows:
Access
Access Access Investment Access
Emerging Access Inflation Grade Investment
Markets High Yield Protected Corporate Grade Access Access U.S. Access Ultra
USD Corporate USD 1-5 Year Corporate Treasury Aggregate Short
Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF 0-1 Year ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF
Total taxable distributions 2,675,655 7,421,417 4,179,323 224,601 20,409,959 182,430,853 14,281,841 22,160,976
Return of Capital $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ —
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022 was as follows:
Access
Access Access Investment Access
Emerging Access Inflation Grade Investment
Markets High Yield Protected Corporate Grade Access Access U.S. Access Ultra
USD Bond Corporate USD 1-5 Year Corporate Treasury Aggregate Short
ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF 0-1 Year ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF
Total taxable distributions 1,465,872 8,962,167 10,540,936 290,343 18,399,303 6,806,393 3,918,777 4,021,476
Return of Capital $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ —
As of August 31, 2023, the components of accumulated earnings (losses) on a tax basis were as follows:
Access
Investment Access
Access Access Access Grade Investment
Emerging High Yield Inflation Corporate Grade Access Access U.S. Access Ultra
Markets USD Corporate Protected USD 1-5 Year Corporate Treasury Aggregate Short
Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF 0-1 Year ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF
Undistributed ordinary
income — net $ 260,726 $ 542,646 $ 354,507 $ 32,773 $ 2,162,990 $25,025,838 $ 2,010,010 $ 2,709,490
Total undistributed earnings $ 260,726 $ 542,646 $ 354,507 $ 32,773 $ 2,162,990 $25,025,838 $ 2,010,010 $ 2,709,490
As of August 31, 2023, the Funds’ aggregate security unrealized gains and losses based on cost for U.S. federal income tax
purposes were as follows:
Access
Investment Access
Access Access Access Grade Investment
Emerging High Yield Inflation Corporate Grade Access Access U.S. Access Ultra
Markets USD Corporate Protected USD 1-5 Year Corporate Treasury Aggregate Short
Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF Bonds ETF 0-1 Year ETF Bond ETF Bond ETF
Tax Cost $54,047,414 $104,771,348 $128,762,661 $9,317,191 $753,125,944 $6,013,996,612 $592,069,046 $573,178,445
Gross unrealized gain 681,153 1,025,253 — 4,047 70,076 455,957 679,249 717,338
Gross unrealized loss (4,079,904) (6,274,004) (17,753,589) (274,603) (78,184,275) (1,718,436) (31,888,987) (4,963,289)
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
The difference between GAAP-basis and tax-basis unrealized gains (losses) is due to wash sales, and differences in tax
treatment of market discount accretion and premium amortization, and inflation protected securities.
In order to present certain components of the Funds’ capital accounts on a tax-basis, certain reclassifications have been
recorded to the Funds’ accounts. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Funds’ and result primarily from
redemptions utilized as distributions and redemption in-kind transactions.
Total
Paid-in Distributable
Fund Capital Earnings
Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF $ (735,630) $ 735,630
GSAM has reviewed the Funds’ tax positions for all open tax years (the current year, and prior three tax years, as applicable)
and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements. Such open tax year remains
subject to examination and adjustment by tax authorities.
8. OTHER RISKS
The Funds’ risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
Calculation Methodology Risk — The Index relies on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included
in the Index (or a Reference Index if applicable), including fundamental information that may be based on assumptions and
estimates. Neither the Fund, the Investment Adviser nor the Index Provider can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation
methodology or sources of information will provide a correct valuation of securities, nor can they guarantee the availability or
timeliness of the production of the Index.
Index Risk (each Fund except the Access Ultra Short Bond ETF) — FTSE Fixed Income LLC (the “Index Provider”)
constructs each Fund’s Index in accordance with a rules-based methodology. A Fund will be negatively affected by general declines
in the securities and asset classes represented in its Index. In addition, because the Funds are not “actively” managed, unless a
specific security is removed from an Index, a Fund generally would not sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial
trouble. Market disruptions and regulatory restrictions could have an adverse effect on a Fund’s ability to adjust its exposure to the
required levels in order to track the Index. A Fund also does not attempt to take defensive positions under any market conditions,
including declining markets. Therefore, a Fund’s performance could be lower than funds that may actively shift their portfolio assets
to take advantage of market opportunities or to lessen the impact of a market decline or a decline in the value of one or more issuers.
When the Index is rebalanced and a Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio to attempt to increase the correlation between the Fund’s
portfolio and the Index, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing may be borne directly by
the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider may utilize third party data in constructing each Index, but it does not guarantee
the accuracy or availability of any such third party data. Errors in index data, index computation or the construction of an Index in
accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the applicable Fund and its shareholders. In addition, neither a Fund,
the Investment Adviser nor the Index Provider can guarantee the availability or timeliness of the production of the Index.
Industry Concentration Risk — In following its methodology, the Index from time to time may be concentrated to a significant
degree in securities of issuers located in a single industry or group of industries. To the extent that the Index concentrates in the
securities of issuers in a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund also may concentrate its investments to approximately
the same extent. By concentrating its investments in an industry or group of industries, the Fund may face more risks than if it were
diversified broadly over numerous industries or groups of industries. If the Index is not concentrated in a particular industry or
group of industries, the Fund will not concentrate in a particular industry or group of industries.
Interest Rate Risk — When interest rates increase, fixed income securities or instruments held by a Fund will generally decline
in value. Long-term fixed income securities or instruments will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short-
term fixed income securities or instruments. A wide variety of market factors can cause interest rates to rise, including central bank
monetary policy, rising inflation and changes in general economic conditions. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable
effects on the markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund’s performance. In addition, changes
in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. Funds with longer average portfolio durations
will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than funds with a shorter average portfolio duration. Fluctuations in
interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Funds. A sudden or unpredictable
increase in interest rates may cause volatility in the market and may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, which would
make it harder for the Fund to sell its investments at an advantageous time.
Large Shareholder Transactions Risk — Certain shareholders, including other funds advised by the Investment Adviser, may
from time to time own a substantial amount of the Fund’s Shares. In addition, a third party investor, the Investment Adviser or an
affiliate of the Investment Adviser, an authorized participant, a lead market maker, or another entity (i.e., a seed investor) may
invest in the Fund and hold its investment solely to facilitate commencement of the Fund or to facilitate the Fund’s achieving a
specified size or scale. Any such investment may be held for a limited period of time. There can be no assurance that any large
shareholder would not redeem its investment, that the size of the Fund would be maintained at such levels or that the Fund would
continue to meet applicable listing requirements. Redemptions by large shareholders could have a significant negative impact on
the Fund, including on the Fund’s liquidity. In addition, transactions by large shareholders may account for a large percentage of
the trading volume on NYSE Arca and Cboe BZX and may, therefore, have a material upward or downward effect on the market
price of the Shares.
Liquidity Risk — A Fund may make investments that are illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market
developments or adverse investor perceptions. Illiquid investments may be more difficult to value. To the extent a Fund engages in
cash redemptions, then liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that a Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the
allowable time period or without significant dilution to remaining investors’ interests because of unusual market conditions,
declining prices of the securities sold, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. To meet redemption
requests, a Fund may be forced to sell investments at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions. If a Fund is forced
to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions, such sales may adversely affect the Fund’s NAV and
dilute remaining investors’ interests. Liquidity risk may be the result of, among other things, the reduced number and capacity of
traditional market participants to make a market in fixed income securities or the lack of an active market. The potential for
liquidity risk may be magnified by a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where investor redemptions from fixed
income funds may be higher than normal, potentially causing increased supply in the market due to selling activity. These risks
may be more pronounced in connection with a Fund‘s investments in securities of issuers located in emerging market countries.
Redemptions by large shareholders may have a negative impact on a Fund’s liquidity.
Market and Credit Risks — In the normal course of business, a Fund trades financial instruments and enters into financial
transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk). The value of the securities in which a
Fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or
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GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
general economic conditions throughout the world due to increasingly interconnected global economies and financial markets.
Events such as war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, social unrest, natural disasters, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate
changes, supply chain disruptions, sanctions, the spread of infectious illness or other public health threats could also significantly
impact a Fund and its investments. Additionally, a Fund may also be exposed to credit risk in the event that an issuer or guarantor
fails to perform or that an institution or entity with which the Fund has unsettled or open transactions defaults.
Market Trading Risk — Each Fund faces numerous market trading risks, including disruptions to creations and redemptions, the
existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for Shares. If a shareholder purchases Shares at a
time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV or sells Shares at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV,
the shareholder may pay more for, or receive less than, the underlying value of the Shares, respectively. The Investment Adviser
cannot predict whether Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that
supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same
forces influencing the prices of the securities of a Fund’s Index trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time.
Sampling Risk — The Fund’s use of a representative sampling approach will result in its holding a smaller number of securities
than are in the Index. As a result, an adverse development respecting a security held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in
NAV than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Index. Conversely, a positive development relating to a
security in the Index that is not held by the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform the Index. To the extent the assets in the
Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.
Tracking Error Risk — Tracking error is the divergence of a Fund’s performance from that of its Index. The performance of a
Fund may diverge from that of its Index for a number of reasons. Tracking error may occur because of transaction costs, a Fund’s
holding of cash, differences in accrual of dividends, changes to its Index or the need to meet new or existing regulatory
requirements. Unlike a Fund, the returns of an Index are not reduced by investment and other operating expenses, including the
trading costs associated with implementing changes to its portfolio of investments. Tracking error risk may be heightened during
times of market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
9. INDEMNIFICATIONS
Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its Trustees, officers, employees and agents are indemnified, to the extent permitted
by the Act and state law, against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in
the course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Funds’ maximum
exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have
not yet occurred. However, GSAM believes the risk of loss under these arrangements to be remote.
Pursuant to an effort to consolidate the membership of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) with the Board of Trustees
of each of Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II, Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund, Goldman Sachs Trust, Goldman
Sachs Trust II and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, in July 2023, the Board voted to nominate Gregory G. Weaver,
Dwight L. Bush, Kathryn A. Cassidy, John G. Chou, Joaquin Delgado, Eileen H. Dowling and Paul C. Wirth (the “Nominees”) for
election as Trustees of the Trust at a virtual special joint meeting of shareholders to be held on November 16, 2023. Each of the
Nominees currently serve as a Trustee of each of the Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust. If
elected, the Nominees will serve as Trustees alongside the current Trustees of the Trust. This annual report is not a proxy
statement. Information regarding the election of the Nominees is contained in the proxy materials filed with the SEC. The proxy
statement has been mailed to shareholders of record, and shareholders can also access the proxy statement, and any other relevant
documents, on the SEC’s website.
148
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Subsequent events after the Statements of Assets and Liabilities date have been evaluated, and GSAM has concluded that there is
no impact requiring adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
149
Report of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of Goldman Sachs ETF Trust and Shareholders of Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond
ETF, Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF,
Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate
Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF, Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, and Goldman
Sachs Access Ultra Short Bond ETF
Goldman Sachs Access High Yield For the year ended For the two years ended For each of the periods
Corporate Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs August 31, 2023 August 31, 2023 indicated therein
Access Inflation Protected USD Bond
ETF, Goldman Sachs Access
Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year
Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access
Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF,
Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1
Year ETF, Goldman Sachs Access U.S.
Aggregate Bond ETF, and Goldman
Sachs Access Ultra Short Bond ETF
Goldman Sachs Access Emerging For the year ended For the year ended August 31, 2023, and for the period
Markets USD Bond ETF August 31, 2023 February 15, 2022 (commencement of operations)
through August 31, 2022
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require
that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to
error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis,
evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2023 by correspondence with the
custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Boston, Massachusetts
October 25, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Goldman Sachs fund complex since 2000.
150
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Actual based on NAV $1,000 $1,017.16 $2.06 $1,000 $1,044.34 $1.75 $1,000 $1,005.88 $0.60 $1,000 $1,022.39 $0.71
Hypothetical 5% return 1,000 1,023.16+ 2.07 1,000 1,023.50+ 1.73 1,000 1,024.60+ 0.61 1,000 1,024.50+ 0.71
Access Investment Grade
Corporate Bond ETF Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Access Ultra Short Bond ETF
Beginning Ending Beginning Ending Beginning Ending Beginning Ending
Account Account Account Account Account Account Account Account
Value Value Expenses Value Value Expenses Value Value Expenses Value Value Expenses
3/1/23 8/31/23 Paid* 3/1/23 8/31/23 Paid* 3/1/23 8/31/23 Paid* 3/1/23 8/31/23 Paid*
Actual based on NAV $1,000 $1,021.41 $0.71 $1,000 $1,023.93 $0.61 $1,000 $1,007.13 $0.63 $1,000 $1,025.28 $0.80
Hypothetical 5% return 1,000 1,024.50+ 0.71 1,000 1,024.60+ 0.61 1,000 1,024.58+ 0.63 1,000 1,024.41+ 0.80
+ Hypothetical expenses are based on each Fund’s actual annualized net expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.
* Expenses for each Fund are calculated using the Fund’s annualized net expense ratio, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of net assets for the six months ended August 31, 2023. Expenses are calculated by multiplying the
annualized net expense ratio by the average account value for the period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the most recent fiscal year; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the fiscal year.
The annualized net expense ratio for the period is as follows:
Fund
151
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Cheryl K. Beebe Chair of the Since 2021 Ms. Beebe is retired. She is Director, Packaging 68 Packaging Corporation
Age: 67 Board of Trustees Corporation of America (2008-Present); Director, of America (producer of
The Mosaic Company (2019-Present); Director, container board); The
HanesBrands Inc. (2020-Present); and was Mosaic Company
formerly Director, Convergys Corporation (producer of phosphate
(a global leader in customer experience and potash fertilizer);
outsourcing) (2015-2018); and formerly held the HanesBrands Inc. (a
position of Executive Vice President, (2010- multinational clothing
2014); and Chief Financial Officer, Ingredion, Inc. company)
(a leading global ingredient solutions company)
(2004-2014).
Chair of the Board of Trustees — Goldman Sachs
ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman
Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and
Energy Renaissance Fund; and Goldman Sachs
Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.
Lawrence Hughes Trustee Since 2021 Mr. Hughes is retired. Formerly, he held senior 68 None
Age: 65 management positions with BNY Mellon Wealth
Management, a division of The Bank of New
York Mellon Corporation (a financial services
company) (1991-2015), most recently as Chief
Executive Officer (2010-2015). Previously,
Mr. Hughes served as an Advisory Board Member
of Goldman Sachs Trust II (February 2016-April
2016).
Trustee — Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman
Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs Trust II;
Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance
Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified
Income Fund.
John F. Killian Trustee Since 2021 Mr. Killian is retired. He is Director, Consolidated 68 Consolidated Edison,
Age: 68 Edison, Inc. (2007-Present); and was formerly Inc. (a utility holding
Director, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing company)
Company (2011-2022). Previously, he held senior
management positions with Verizon
Communications, Inc., including Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer (2009-
2010); and President, Verizon Business, Verizon
Communications, Inc. (2005-2009).
Trustee — Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman
Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs Trust II;
Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance
Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified
Income Fund.
Steven D. Krichmar Trustee Since 2021 Mr. Krichmar is retired. Formerly, he held senior 68 None
Age: 65 management and governance positions with
Putnam Investments, LLC, a financial services
company (2001-2016). He was most recently
Chief of Operations and a member of the
Operating Committee of Putnam Investments,
LLC and Principal Financial Officer of The Putnam
Funds. Previously, Mr. Krichmar served as an
Audit Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
and its predecessor company (1990-2001).
Trustee — Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman
Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs Trust II;
Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance
Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified
Income Fund.
152
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
Michael Latham Trustee Since 2015 Mr. Latham is retired. Formerly, he held senior 69 None
Age: 57 management positions with the iShares
exchange-traded fund business owned by
BlackRock, Inc., including Chairman (2011-2014);
Global Head (2010-2011); U.S. Head (2007-2010);
and Chief Operating Officer (2003-2007).
Trustee — Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman
Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs Trust II;
Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund;
Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman
Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.
Lawrence W. Stranghoener Trustee Since 2015 Mr. Stranghoener is retired. He is Chairman, 69 Kennametal, Inc.
Age: 69 Kennametal, Inc. (a global manufacturer and (a global manufacturer
distributor of tooling and industrial materials) and distributor of
(2003-Present); and was formerly Director, Aleris tooling and industrial
Corporation and Aleris International, Inc. (a materials)
producer of aluminum rolled products) (2011-
2020); Interim Chief Executive Officer (2014) and
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer (2004-2014), Mosaic Company (a fertilizer
manufacturing company).
Trustee — Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman
Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II;
Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance
Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified
Income Fund.
Chair of the Board of Trustees — Goldman
Sachs Credit Income Fund.
Interested Trustee*
Number of
Term of Portfolios in
Office and Fund Complex Other
Name, Position(s) Held Length of Principal Occupation(s) Overseen by Directorships
Address and Age1 with the Trust Time Served2 During Past 5 Years Trustee3 Held by Trustee4
James A. McNamara President and Since 2014 Advisory Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2018- 172 None
Age: 60 Trustee Present); Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
(January 2000-December 2017); Director of
Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April 1998-
December 2000); and Senior Vice President and
Manager, Dreyfus Institutional Service
Corporation (January 1993-April 1998).
President and Trustee — Goldman Sachs ETF
Trust; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman
Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance
Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs
MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman
Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs
Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.
* Mr. McNamara is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because he holds a position with Goldman Sachs and owns securities issued by The Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc. The Interested Trustee holds comparable positions with certain other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or an affiliate thereof is the investment
adviser, administrator and/or distributor.
1
Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the Trustee, c/o Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York, 10282, Attn: Caroline Kraus. Information is
provided as of August 31, 2023.
2
Each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term, until the earliest of: (a) the election of his or her successor; (b) the date the Trustee resigns or is removed by the
Board or shareholders, in accordance with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust; or (c) the termination of the Trust. The Board has adopted policies which provide that
each Independent Trustee shall retire as of December 31st of the calendar year in which he or she reaches (a) his or her 74th birthday or (b) the 15th anniversary of
the date he or she became a Trustee, whichever is earlier, unless a waiver of such requirements shall have been adopted by a majority of the other Trustees. These
policies may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder vote.
3
The Goldman Sachs Fund Complex includes certain other companies listed above for each respective Trustee. As of August 31, 2023, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust
consisted of 67 portfolios (32 of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II consisted of 2 portfolios; Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of 87
portfolios; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted of 15 portfolios (11 of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs Trust II consisted of 18
portfolios (7 of which offered shares to the public); and Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund, Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund and Goldman
Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund each consisted of one portfolio. Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund and Goldman Sachs Credit Income
Fund each did not offer shares to the public.
4
This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i.e.,
“public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the Act.
Additional information about the Trustees is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained from Goldman Sachs free of charge by
calling this toll-free number (in the United States of America): 1-800-526-7384.
153
GOLDMAN SACHS ACCESS FIXED INCOME ETFS
James A. McNamara Trustee and Since 2014 Advisory Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2018-Present); Managing Director, Goldman
200 West Street President Sachs (January 2000-December 2017); Director of Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April
New York, NY 10282 1998-December 2000); and Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus Institutional
Age: 60 Service Corporation (January 1993-April 1998).
President and Trustee — Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs
Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman
Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and
Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.
Caroline L. Kraus Secretary Since 2014 Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2016-Present); Vice President, Goldman
200 West Street Sachs (August 2006-December 2015); Senior Counsel, Goldman Sachs (January 2020-
New York, NY 10282 Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2012-December 2019); Assistant
Age: 46 General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (August 2006-December 2011); and Associate, Weil,
Gotshal & Manges, LLP (2002–2006).
Secretary — Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust (previously Assistant
Secretary (2012)); Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (previously Assistant Secretary
(2012)); Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.;
Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market
Credit II LLC; Goldman Sachs Middle Market Lending Corp.; Goldman Sachs MLP and
Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real
Estate Diversified Income Fund.
Joseph F. DiMaria Treasurer, Since 2017 Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (November 2015-Present) and Vice President-Mutual
30 Hudson Street Principal (Treasurer Fund Administration, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (May 2010-October
Jersey City, NJ 07302 Financial Officer and 2015).
Age: 55 and Principal Principal Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer — Goldman Sachs
Accounting Financial ETF Trust (previously Assistant Treasurer (2017)); Goldman Sachs Trust (previously
Officer Officer since Assistant Treasurer (2016)); Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (previously Assistant
2019) Treasurer (2016)); Goldman Sachs Trust II (previously Assistant Treasurer (2017));
Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund (previously Assistant Treasurer (2017));
Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real
Estate Diversified Income Fund.
* Represents a partial list of officers of the Trust. Additional information about all the officers is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, which can
be obtained from Goldman Sachs free of charge by calling this toll-free number (in the United States): 1-800-621-2550.
1
Information is provided as of August 31, 2023.
2
Officers hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Each officer holds comparable positions with
certain other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or an affiliate thereof is the investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022, 100% of the net investment company taxable income
distributions paid by the Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF and Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF were
designated as interest-related dividends pursuant to Section 871(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023, the Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF, Access High
Yield Corporate Bond ETF, Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF, Access Investment Grade Corporate
1-5 Year Bond ETF, Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF, Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF, Access
U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and Access Ultra Short Bond ETF designated 100%, 99.05%, 100%, 100%, 100%,
100%, 100% and 100%, respectively, of the dividends paid from net investment company taxable income as
section 163(j) Interest Dividends.
154
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FUNDS PROFILE
THE GOLDMAN Goldman Sachs is a premier financial services firm, known since 1869 for creating thoughtful and
SACHS ADVANTAGE customized investment solutions in complex global markets.
Our goal is to deliver: Today, the Asset Management Division of Goldman Sachs serves a diverse set of clients worldwide,
including private institutions, public entities and individuals. With approximately $2.46 trillion in assets
under supervision as of June 30, 2023, Goldman Sachs Asset Management has portfolio management
teams located around the world and our investment professionals bring firsthand knowledge of local
Strong, Consistent
markets to every investment decision. Assets under supervision includes assets under management and
Investment Results
other client assets for which Goldman Sachs does not have full discretion. Goldman Sachs Asset
Management leverages the resources of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC subject to legal, internal and
Global Resources and regulatory restrictions.
Global Research
GOLDMAN SACHS EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
Team Approach
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta® Emerging Markets Equity ETF
Disciplined Processes Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta® Europe Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta® International Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta® Japan Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta® Paris-Aligned Climate U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Community Municipal Bond ETF
Innovative, Goldman Sachs Defensive Equity ETF
Value-Added Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta® U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta® U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF
Investment Products Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta® World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Bloomberg Clean Energy Equity ETF
Thoughtful Solutions Goldman Sachs Equal Weight U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF
Risk Management Goldman Sachs Hedge Industry VIP ETF
Goldman Sachs Innovate Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF
Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
Goldman Sachs Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF
Outstanding Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF
Client Service Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF
Goldman Sachs Access Ultra Short Bond ETF
Dedicated Service Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
Teams Goldman Sachs MarketBeta® Emerging Markets Equity ETF
Excellence and Goldman Sachs MarketBeta® International Equity ETF
Integrity Goldman Sachs MarketBeta® U.S. Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs MarketBeta® U.S. 1000 Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs MarketBeta® Total International Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Future Planet Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Future Tech Leaders Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Future Health Care Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Future Consumer Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Future Real Estate and Infrastructure Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs North American Pipelines & Power Equity ETF
Goldman Sachs Small Cap Core Equity ETF
INDEX DISCLAIMERS
The Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate
Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access Investment
Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF,
Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF and Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (the
“Funds”) have been developed solely by GSAM. 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 FTSE Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond Index, FTSE Goldman
Sachs High Yield Corporate Bond Index, FTSE Goldman Sachs Treasury Inflation Protected USD Bond
Index, FTSE Goldman Sachs US Investment-Grade Corporate Bond 1-5 Years Index, FTSE Goldman
Sachs Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index, FTSE US Treasury 0-1 Year Composite Select Index,
FTSE Goldman Sachs US Broad Bond Market Index, and FTSE Goldman Sachs US Treasury Index
(each, an “Index” and collectively, the “Indexes”) vest in the relevant LSE Group company which owns
each Index. FTSE® is a trademark of the relevant LSE Group company and is used by any other LSE
Group company under license.
Each Index is calculated by or on behalf of FTSE Fixed Income, LLC or its affiliate, agent or partner. The
LSE Group does not accept any liability whatsoever to any person arising out of (a) the use of, reliance on
or any error in the Index or (b) investment in or operation of the Funds. The LSE Group makes no claim,
prediction, warranty or representation either as to the results to be obtained from the Funds or the
suitability of any Index for the purpose to which it is being put by GSAM.
TRUSTEES OFFICERS
Cheryl K. Beebe, Chair James A. McNamara, President
Lawrence Hughes Joseph F. DiMaria, Principal Financial Officer, Principal
John F. Killian Accounting Officer and Treasurer
Steven D. Krichmar Robert Griffith, Secretary*
Michael Latham
* Effective September 20, 2023
James A. McNamara
Lawrence W. Stranghoener
Visit our Website at www.GSAMFUNDS.com/ETFs to obtain the most recent month-end returns.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282
The reports concerning the Funds included in this shareholder report may contain certain forward-looking statements about the factors that may affect the
performance of the Funds in the future. These statements are based on Fund management’s predictions and expectations concerning certain future events and
their expected impact on the Funds, such as performance of the economy as a whole and of specific industry sectors, changes in the levels of interest rates, the
impact of developing world events, and other factors that may influence the future performance of the Funds. Management believes these forward-looking
statements to be reasonable, although they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Actual events may cause adjustments in portfolio management
strategies from those currently expected to be employed.
A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how
the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available (i) without charge, upon request by
calling 1-800-621-2550; and (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) web site at http://www.sec.gov.
The Funds will file their portfolio holdings information for each month in a fiscal quarter within 60 days after the end of the relevant fiscal quarter on Form N-
PORT. Portfolio holdings information for the third month of each fiscal quarter will be made available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. Portfolio
holdings information may be obtained upon request and without charge by calling 1-800-621-2550.
Fund holdings and allocations shown are as of August 31, 2023 and may not be representative of future investments. Fund holdings should not be relied on in
making investment decisions and should not be construed as research or investment advice regarding particular securities. Current and future holdings are
subject to risk.
ETF Fund shares are not individually redeemable and are issued and redeemed by the Funds at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in large, specified blocks of
shares called creation units. Shares otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading at market price (not NAV). Shares may trade at a premium
or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
Economic and market forecasts presented herein reflect our judgment as of the date of this presentation and are subject to change without notice. These
forecasts do not take into account the specific investment objectives, restrictions, tax and financial situation or other needs of any specific client. Actual data
will vary and may not be reflected here. These forecasts are subject to high levels of uncertainty that may affect actual performance. Accordingly, these
forecasts should be viewed as merely representative of a broad range of possible outcomes. These forecasts are estimated, based on assumptions, and are
subject to significant revision and may change materially as economic and market conditions change. Goldman Sachs has no obligation to provide updates or
changes to these forecasts. Case studies and examples are for illustrative purposes only.
ETF Fund shares are not individually redeemable and are issued and redeemed by the Funds at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in large,
specified blocks of shares called creation units. Shares otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading at market price (not
NAV). Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Ordinary
brokerage commissions apply.
This material is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current Prospectus or Summary
Prospectus, if applicable. Investors should consider the Funds’ objective, risks, and charges and expenses, and read the Summary Prospectus, if
available, and/or the Prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. The Summary Prospectus, if available, and the Prospectus contain this
and other information about the Funds and may be obtained from your authorized dealer or from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC by calling 1-800-621-2550.
ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of the Goldman Sachs ETF Funds. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
©2023 Goldman Sachs. All rights reserved. 339815-OTU-10/2023 ACFIETFAR-23