Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Report”). This Report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. The matters discussed throughout this Report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Fund’s and Invesco Capital Management LLC’s (the “Managing Owner”) current expectations, estimates and projections about the future results, performance, prospects and opportunities of the Fund and the Fund’s business and industry and their beliefs and assumptions about future events and speak only as of the date on which they are made. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “outlook” and “estimate,” as well as similar words and phrases, signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results. Future economic and industry trends that could potentially impact the Fund and its performance are difficult to predict. Conditions and important factors, risks and uncertainties in the markets for financial instruments that the Fund trades, in the markets for related physical commodities, in the legal and regulatory regimes applicable to the Managing Owner, the Fund, and the Fund’s service providers, in the broader economy and in global politics may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this Report will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause results to differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Fund’s Prospectus and elsewhere in the Prospectus and in other SEC filings by the Fund, such as its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as well as the following:
• Risks related to market volatility and fluctuations in the price of assets held by the Fund, including the imposition of trading limitations or trading halts, and the potential loss of investment;
• Risks that the market price of Shares will not correspond to NAV;
• Risks related to market competition;
• Risks related to the market conditions unique to futures contracts;
• Risks related to the impact of regulatory actions, such as position limits, accountability levels and daily limits;
• Risks and uncertainty related to public health emergencies and other adverse public health developments; and
• Risks related to geopolitical conflict, including the on-going hostilities in Ukraine, the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas, the possible expansion of such conflicts and potential geopolitical consequences, acts of terrorism, mass casualty events, social unrest, civil disturbance or disobedience.
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the Federal securities laws, the Fund and the Managing Owner undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or the risks, uncertainties or other factors described in this Report, as a result of new information, future events or changed circumstances or for any other reason after the date of this Report.
Overview/Introduction
Invesco DB Agriculture Fund (the “Fund”), a separate series of Invesco DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized in five separate series, was formed on August 3, 2006. The term of the Fund is perpetual (unless terminated earlier in certain circumstances) as provided for in the Fifth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Trust, as amended (the “Trust Agreement”). The Fund has an unlimited number of shares authorized for issuance.
Invesco Capital Management LLC has served as the managing owner (the “Managing Owner”), commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Trust and the Fund since February 23, 2015. The Managing Owner is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) as a commodity pool operator and a commodity trading advisor, and it is a member firm of the National Futures Association (“NFA”).
The Fund seeks to track changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index Excess Return (the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the sum of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations (“Treasury Income”), dividends from its holdings in money market mutual funds (affiliated or otherwise) (“Money Market Income”) and dividends or distributions of capital gains from its holdings of T-Bill ETFs (as defined below) (“T-Bill ETF Income”) over the expenses of the Fund. The Fund invests in futures contracts in an attempt to track its Index. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the agricultural sector. The commodities comprising the Index are Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Kansas City Wheat, Sugar, Cocoa, Coffee, Cotton, Live Cattle, Feeder Cattle and Lean Hogs (each an “Index Commodity”, and collectively, the “Index Commodities”).
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The Fund may invest directly in United States Treasury Obligations. The Fund may also gain exposure to United States Treasury Obligations through investments in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) (affiliated or otherwise) that track indexes that measure the performance of United States Treasury Obligations with a maximum remaining maturity of up to 12 months (“T-Bill ETFs”). The Fund holds as collateral United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs (affiliated or otherwise), if any, for margin and/or cash management purposes. While the Fund's performance reflects the appreciation and depreciation of those holdings, the Fund's performance, whether positive or negative, is driven primarily by its strategy of trading futures contracts with the aim of seeking to track the Index.
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of exchange-traded commodity futures contracts that expire in a specific month and trade on a specific exchange (the “Index Contracts”) in the Index Commodities. The notional amounts of each Index Commodity included in the Index are broadly in proportion to historic levels of the world’s production and stocks of the Index Commodities. The Fund also holds United States Treasury Obligations and T-Bill ETFs, if any, for deposit with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, the Fund’s commodity broker (the “Commodity Broker”) as margin, to the extent permissible under CFTC rules and United States Treasury Obligations, cash, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs (affiliated or otherwise), if any, on deposit with The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), for cash management purposes. The aggregate notional value of the commodity futures contracts owned by the Fund is expected to approximate the aggregate net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund, as opposed to the aggregate Index value.
The CFTC and certain futures exchanges impose position limits on futures contracts, including on Index Contracts. As the Fund approaches or reaches position limits with respect to an Index Commodity, the Fund may commence investing in Index Contracts that reference other Index Commodities. In those circumstances, the Fund may also trade in futures contracts based on commodities other than Index Commodities that the Managing Owner reasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with an Index Contract.
The Managing Owner may determine to invest in other futures contracts if at any time it is impractical, including in scenarios wherein the futures market for an Index Contract is thinly traded, or inefficient to gain full or partial exposure to an Index Commodity through the use of Index Contracts. These other futures contracts may or may not be based on an Index Commodity. When they are not, the Managing Owner may seek to select futures contracts that it reasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with an Index Contract.
The Shares are intended to provide investment results that generally correspond to the changes, positive or negative, in the levels of the Index over time. The value of the Shares is expected to fluctuate in relation to changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio. The market price of the Shares may not be identical to the NAV per Share, but these two valuations are expected to be very close.
Index Description
The Managing Owner has entered into a license agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. (the “Index Sponsor”) to use the Index. The Managing Owner pays the Index Sponsor a licensing fee and an index services fee for performing its duties.
These fees constitute a portion of the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses which are paid out of the management fee paid to the Managing Owner (the "Management Fee") and are not charged to or reimbursed by the Fund.
Neither the Managing Owner nor any affiliate of the Managing Owner has any rights to influence the selection of the futures contracts underlying the Index.
The Fund is not sponsored or endorsed by Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. or any subsidiary or affiliate of Deutsche Bank AG or Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. (collectively, “Deutsche Bank”). The DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index Excess Return (the “Index”) is the exclusive property of Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. “DBIQ” is a service mark of Deutsche Bank AG and has been licensed for use for certain purposes by Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any other party involved in, or related to, making or compiling the Index makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, concerning the Index, the Fund or the advisability of investing in securities generally. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any other party involved in, or related to, making or compiling the Index has any obligation to take the needs of the Managing Owner, or its clients into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any other party involved in, or related to, making or compiling the Index is responsible for or has participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, quantities or valuation of the Fund. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any other party involved in, or related to, making or compiling the Index has any obligation or liability in connection with the administration or trading of the Fund.
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NEITHER DEUTSCHE BANK NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, MAKING OR COMPILING THE INDEX, WARRANTS OR GUARANTEES THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. NEITHER DEUTSCHE BANK NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, MAKING OR COMPILING THE INDEX, MAKES ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY INVESCO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NEITHER DEUTSCHE BANK NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, MAKING OR COMPILING THE INDEX, MAKES ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL DEUTSCHE BANK OR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, MAKING OR COMPILING THE INDEX HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES OR LOSSES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY, THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN DEUTSCHE BANK AND INVESCO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC.
No purchaser, seller or holder of the Shares of this Fund, or any other person or entity, should use or refer to any Deutsche Bank trade name, trademark or service mark to sponsor, endorse, market or promote this Fund without first contacting Deutsche Bank to determine whether Deutsche Bank’s permission is required. Under no circumstances may any person or entity claim any affiliation with Deutsche Bank without the written permission of Deutsche Bank.
The Index Sponsor may from time to time subcontract the provision of the calculation and other services described below to one or more third parties. The Index is composed of notional amounts of each of the underlying Index Commodities. The notional amount of each Index Commodity included in the Index is intended to reflect the changes in market value of each such Index Commodity within the Index. The closing level of the Index is calculated on each business day by the Index Sponsor based on the closing price of the commodity futures contracts for each of the Index Commodities and the notional amount of such Index Commodity.
The Index is rebalanced annually in November to ensure that each of the Index Commodities is weighted in the same proportion that such Index Commodities were weighted on January 18, 1989. The composition of the Index may be adjusted in the event that the Index Sponsor is not able to calculate the closing prices of the Index Commodities.
The following table reflects the Fund weights of each Index Commodity or related futures contracts, as applicable, as of September 30, 2024:
Index Commodity
Fund Weight (%)
Cocoa
25.95
%
Coffee
15.36
Corn
8.18
Cotton
2.20
Feeder Cattle
3.49
Kansas City Wheat
4.52
Lean Hogs
7.06
Live Cattle
11.10
Soybeans
8.67
Sugar
8.91
Wheat
4.56
Closing Level as of September 30, 2024:
100.00
%
Please see http://www.invesco.com/ETFs with respect to the most recently available weighted composition of the Fund and the composition of the Index.
Market Risk
Trading in futures contracts involves the Fund entering into contractual commitments to purchase a particular commodity at a specified date and price. The market risk associated with the Fund’s commitments to purchase commodities is limited to the gross or face amount of the contracts held.
The Fund’s exposure to market risk is also influenced by a number of factors including the volatility of interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, the liquidity of the markets in which the contracts are traded and the relationships among the contracts held. The inherent uncertainty of the Fund’s trading as well as the development of drastic market occurrences could ultimately lead to a loss of all or substantially all of the investors’ capital.
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Credit Risk
When the Fund enters into futures contracts, the Fund is exposed to credit risk that the counterparty to the contract will not meet its obligations. The counterparty for futures contracts traded on United States and on most foreign futures exchanges is the clearing house associated with the particular exchange. In general, clearing houses are backed by their corporate members who may be required to share in the financial burden resulting from the nonperformance by one of their members and, as such, is designed to disperse and mitigate the credit risk posed by any other one member. In cases where the clearing house is not backed by the clearing members (i.e., some foreign exchanges), it may be backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions. There can be no assurance that any counterparty, clearing member or clearinghouse will meet its obligations to the Fund.
The Commodity Broker, when acting as the Fund’s futures commission merchant (“FCM”) in accepting orders for the purchase or sale of domestic futures contracts, is required by CFTC regulations to separately account for and segregate as belonging to the Fund all assets of the Fund relating to domestic futures trading. The Commodity Broker is not allowed to commingle such assets with other assets of the Commodity Broker. In addition, CFTC regulations also require the Commodity Broker to hold in a secure account assets of the Fund related to foreign futures trading. While these legal requirements are designed to protect the customers of FCMs, a failure by the Commodity Broker to comply with those requirements would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund in the event that the Commodity Broker became insolvent or suffered other financial distress.
Liquidity
The Fund’s entire source of capital is derived from the Fund’s offering of Shares to Authorized Participants. The Fund in turn allocates its net assets to commodity futures trading. A significant portion of the NAV is held in United States Treasury Obligations, which may be used as margin for the Fund’s trading in commodity futures contracts and United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds, cash and T-Bill ETFs, if any, which may be used for cash management purposes. The percentage that United States Treasury Obligations bear to the total net assets will vary from period to period as the market values of the Fund’s commodity interests change. A portion of the Fund’s United States Treasury Obligations are held for deposit with the Commodity Broker to meet margin requirements. All remaining cash, money market mutual funds, T-Bill ETFs, if any, and United States Treasury Obligations are on deposit with the Custodian. Interest earned on the Fund’s interest-bearing funds and dividends from the Fund’s holdings of money market mutual funds are paid to the Fund. Any dividends or distributions of capital gains received from the Fund’s holdings of T-Bill ETFs, if any, are paid to the Fund.
The Fund’s commodity futures contracts may be subject to periods of illiquidity because of market conditions, regulatory considerations or for other reasons. For example, U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices that may occur during a single business day. These limits are generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” or “daily limits,” and the maximum or minimum price of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” Once a limit price has been reached in a particular contract, it is usually the case that no trades may be made at a different price than specified in the limit. The duration of limit prices generally varies. Limit prices may have the effect of precluding the Fund from trading in a particular contract or requiring the Fund to liquidate contracts at disadvantageous times or prices. Either of those outcomes could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective.
Because the Fund trades futures contracts, its capital is at risk due to changes in the value of futures contracts (market risk) or the inability of counterparties (including the Commodity Broker and/or exchange clearinghouses) to perform under the terms of the contracts (credit risk).
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Transfer Agent to redeem one or more blocks of 50,000 Shares (“Creation Units”). Redemption orders must be placed by 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The day on which the Managing Owner receives a valid redemption order is the redemption order date. The day on which a redemption order is settled is the redemption order settlement date. As provided below, the redemption order settlement date may occur up to one business day after the redemption order date. Redemption orders are irrevocable. The redemption procedures allow Authorized Participants to redeem Creation Units. Individual Shareholders may not redeem directly from the Fund. Instead, individual Shareholders may only redeem Shares in integral multiples of 50,000 and only through an Authorized Participant.
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Managing Owner and the Authorized Participant as provided in the next sentence, by placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the Creation Units to be redeemed through DTC’s book-entry system to the Fund no later than the redemption order settlement date as of 2:45 p.m., Eastern Time, on the business day immediately following the redemption order date. Upon submission of a redemption order, the Authorized Participant may request the Managing Owner to agree to a redemption order settlement date up to one business day after the redemption order date. By placing a redemption order, and prior to receipt of the redemption proceeds, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account is charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order.
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Redemption orders may be placed either (i) through the Continuous Net Settlement (“CNS”) clearing processes of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) (the “CNS Clearing Process”) or (ii) if outside the CNS Clearing Process, only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC” or the “Depository”) (the “DTC Process”), or a successor depository, and only in exchange for cash. By placing a redemption order, and prior to receipt of the redemption proceeds, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account is charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order and such fee is not borne by the Fund.
The Fund is unaware of any known trends or any known demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that will result in or that are reasonably likely to result in the Fund's liquidity increasing or decreasing in any material way.
Capital Resources
The Fund does not have any material cash requirements as of the end of the latest fiscal period. The Fund is unaware of any known material trends, favorable or unfavorable, in the Fund’s capital resources.
In the normal course of its business, the Fund is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. The term “off-balance sheet risk” refers to an unrecorded potential liability that, even though it does not appear on the balance sheet, may result in a future obligation or loss. The financial instruments used by the Fund are commodity futures, the values of which are based upon an underlying asset and generally represent future commitments which have a reasonable possibility to be settled in cash or through physical delivery. The financial instruments are traded on an exchange and are standardized contracts.
The Fund has not utilized, nor does it expect to utilize in the future, special purpose entities to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements and has no loan guarantee arrangements or off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind, other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business noted above, which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in providing services to the Fund. While the Fund’s exposure under such indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on the Fund’s financial position. The Managing Owner expects the risk of loss relating to indemnification to be remote.
The Fund has financial obligations to the Managing Owner and the Commodity Broker under the Trust Agreement and its agreement with the Commodity Broker (the “Commodity Broker Agreement”), respectively. Management Fee payments made to the Managing Owner, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, are calculated as a fixed percentage of the Fund’s NAV. Commission payments to the Commodity Broker, pursuant to the Commodity Broker Agreement, are on a contract-by-contract, or round-turn, basis. As such, the Managing Owner cannot anticipate the number of payments that will be required under these arrangements for future periods as NAVs and trading activity will not be known until a future date. The Fund’s agreement with the Commodity Broker may be terminated by either party for various reasons. All Management Fees and commission payments are paid to the Managing Owner and the Commodity Broker, respectively.
Cash Flows
A primary cash flow activity of the Fund is to raise capital from Authorized Participants through the issuance of Shares. This cash is used to invest in United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs, if any, and to meet margin requirements as a result of the positions taken in futures contracts to match the fluctuations of the Index.
As of the date of this Report, each of ABN AMRO Clearing Chicago LLC, Bank of America Securities, BMO Capital Markets Corp., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., BofA Securities, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Citadel Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing LP, Interactive Brokers LLC, Jane Street Capital LLC, Jefferies LLC, JP Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Nomura Securities International Inc., RBC Capital Markets LLC, SG Americas Securities LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Virtu Americas LLC and Virtu Financial Capital Markets LLC has executed a Participant Agreement and are the only Authorized Participants.
Operating Activities
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities was $124.7 million and $319.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These amounts primarily include net income (loss), net purchases and sales of money market mutual funds and net purchases and sales of United States Treasury Obligations and affiliated investments. The Fund invests in United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs (affiliated or otherwise), if any, for margin and/or cash management purposes. While the Fund's performance reflects the appreciation and depreciation of those holdings, the Fund's performance, whether positive or negative, is driven primarily by its strategy of trading futures contracts with the aim of seeking to track the Index.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, $292.1 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $350.0 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, $760.8 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $1,000.0 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. $659.0 million was received from sales of affiliated investments and $744.5 million was paid to purchase affiliated investments during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. $1,336.8 million was received
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from sales of affiliated investments and $1,305.4 million was paid to purchase affiliated investments during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Financing Activities
The Fund’s net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities was $(129.4) million and $(319.4) million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This included $96.4 million and $95.5 million from Shares purchased by Authorized Participants and $225.4 million and $414.9 million from Shares redeemed by Authorized Participants during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, distributions paid to Shareholders were $0.3 million. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Results of Operations
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023
The following graphs illustrate the percentage changes in (i) the market price of the Shares (as reflected by the line “Market”), (ii) the Fund’s NAV (as reflected by the line “NAV”), and (iii) the closing levels of the Index (as reflected by the line “DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index ER”). Whenever the Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income, if any, earned by the Fund exceeds Fund expenses, the price of the Shares generally exceeds the level of the Index primarily because the Share price reflects Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income from the Fund’s collateral holdings whereas the Index does not consider such income. There can be no assurances that the price of the Shares or the Fund’s NAV will exceed the Index levels.
No representation is being made that the Index will or is likely to achieve closing levels consistent with or similar to those set forth herein. Similarly, no representation is being made that the Fund will generate profits or losses similar to the Fund’s past performance or changes in the Index closing levels.
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COMPARISON OF MARKET, NAV AND DBIQ DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE INDEX ER TM
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
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NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
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Performance Summary
This Report covers the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. Past performance of the Fund is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the Index Commodities. In turn, the notional amounts of each Index Commodity are broadly in proportion to historic levels of the world’s production and stocks of such Index Commodities. The DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index Total Return (the “DBIQ Diversified Agriculture TR”) consists of the Index plus 3-month United States Treasury Obligations returns. Past results of the Index and the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture TR are not necessarily indicative of future changes, positive or negative.
The section “Summary of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture TR and Underlying Index Commodity Returns for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023” below provides an overview of the changes in the closing levels of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture TR by disclosing the change in market value of each underlying component Index Commodity through a “surrogate” (and analogous) index that also reflects 3-month United States Treasury Obligations returns. Please note also that the Fund’s objective is to track the Index (not the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture TR) and the Fund does not attempt to outperform or underperform the Index. The Index employs the optimum yield roll method with the objective of mitigating the negative effects of contango, the condition in which distant delivery prices for futures exceed spot prices, and maximizing the positive effects of backwardation, a condition opposite of contango.
Summary of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture TR and Underlying Index
Commodity Returns for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
AGGREGATE RETURNS FOR INDICES IN THE DBIQ AGRICULTURE TR
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
September 30,
Underlying Index
2024
2023
2024
2023
DB Cocoa Indices
21.22
%
3.08
%
168.14
%
36.46
%
DB Coffee Indices
22.32
(6.52
)
54.81
(6.60
)
DB Corn Indices
(2.25
)
(1.63
)
(17.69
)
(21.45
)
DB Cotton Indices
2.61
9.90
(6.80
)
11.96
DB Feeder Cattle Indices
(2.82
)
1.63
7.99
21.73
DB Kansas City Wheat Indices
(0.22
)
(10.22
)
(6.91
)
(15.32
)
DB Lean Hogs Indices
13.06
2.20
14.28
(14.59
)
DB Live Cattle Indices
0.69
3.57
15.95
21.42
DB Soybean Indices
(2.99
)
(3.80
)
(11.70
)
(6.52
)
DB Sugar Indices
7.30
16.72
5.78
54.05
DB Wheat Indices
0.14
(11.06
)
(10.26
)
(27.81
)
AGGREGATE RETURN
9.09
%
1.78
%
26.47
%
7.10
%
If the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income were to exceed the Fund’s fees and expenses, the aggregate return on an investment in the Fund would be expected to outperform the Index and underperform the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture TR. The only difference between (i) the Index (the “Excess Return Index”) and (ii) the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture TR (the “Total Return Index”) is that the Excess Return Index does not include interest income from fixed income securities while the Total Return Index does include such a component. Thus, the difference between the Excess Return Index and the Total Return Index is attributable entirely to the interest income attributable to the fixed income securities reflected in the Total Return Index. The Total Return Index does not actually hold any fixed income securities. If the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income, if any, exceeds the Fund’s fees and expenses, then the amount of such excess is expected to be distributed periodically. The market price of the Shares is expected to closely track the Excess Return Index. The aggregate return on an investment in the Fund over any period is the sum of the capital appreciation or depreciation of the Shares over the period, plus the amount of any distributions during the period. Consequently, the Fund’s aggregate return is expected to outperform the Excess Return Index by the amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income over its fees and expenses. As a result of the Fund’s fees and expenses, however, the aggregate return on the Fund is expected to underperform the
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Total Return Index. If the Fund’s fees and expenses were to exceed the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income, if any, the aggregate return on an investment in the Fund is expected to underperform the Excess Return Index.
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
Fund Share Price Performance
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share increased from $23.81 per Share to $26.10 per Share. The Share price low and high for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and related change from the Share price on June 30, 2024 was as follows: Shares traded at a low of $23.26 per Share (-2.31%) on August 1, 2024, and a high of $26.56 per Share (+11.55%) on September 27, 2024. The total return for the Fund on a market value basis was +9.62%.
Agricultural commodities continued to move higher in the third quarter of 2024, however the bifurcation between grains and soft commodities continued. Cocoa and coffee were the top contributors, supported by persisting supply shortfalls. In contrast, for grains, while there were pockets of adverse weather, specifically in Europe and the US, the markets largely expected there to be enough cushion to weather those losses, keeping prices capped. Soybeans and corn were the largest detractors in the quarter, followed by feeder and live cattle, which fell on the availability of cheaper alternatives.
For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share increased from $21.08 per Share to $21.40 per Share. The Share price low and high for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and related change from the Share price on June 30, 2023 was as follows: Shares traded at a low of $21.09 per Share (+0.05%) on August 15, 2023, and a high of $22.37 per Share (+6.12%) on July 25, 2023. The total return for the Fund on a market value basis was +1.52%.
Agricultural commodities posted slight positive performance in the third quarter of 2023, with most of the gains coming from sugar. Front month sugar prices rose nearly 15% over the quarter as concerns over a domestic supply shortfall rose with India, the world’s second largest sugar exporter, closing in on an export ban. Cocoa also rose on deteriorating crops in West Africa but fell sharply to end the quarter. While grains gained in July after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) and escalated attacks on Ukraine’s grain export infrastructure, prices retreated starting the last week of July. Improving weather outlooks across the US Midwest, another bumper Russian wheat harvest, strong corn and soybean harvests in Brazil and the availability of alternative shipping routes all helped ease the blow from escalating tensions in Ukraine. US grains remained largely uncompetitive on global markets, sending prices even lower in September.
Fund Share Net Asset Performance
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the NAV of each Share increased from $23.92 per Share to $26.05 per Share. Rising commodity futures contract prices for Cocoa, Coffee, Cotton, Lean Hogs, Live Cattle, Sugar and Wheat were partially offset by falling commodity futures contract prices of Corn, Feeder Cattle, Kansas City Wheat and Soybeans during the three months ended September 30, 2024, contributing to an overall 7.67% increase in the level of the Index and to a 9.09% increase in the level of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index TR. The total return for the Fund on a NAV basis was +8.90%.
Net income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was $59.8 million, primarily resulting from $9.2 million of income, net realized gain (loss) of $(33.5) million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $85.7 million and net operating expenses of $1.6 million.
For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the NAV of each Share increased from $21.10 per Share to $21.42 per Share. Rising commodity futures contract prices for Cocoa, Cotton, Feeder Cattle, Lean Hogs, Live Cattle and Sugar were partially offset by falling commodity futures contract prices of Coffee, Corn, Kansas City Wheat, Soybeans and Wheat during the three months ended September 30, 2023, contributing to an overall 0.42% increase in the level of the Index and to a 1.78% increase in the level of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index TR. The total return for the Fund on a NAV basis was +1.52%.
Net income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was $13.2 million, primarily resulting from $11.2 million of income, net realized gain (loss) of $13.0 million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $(9.2) million and net operating expenses of $1.8 million.
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 COMPARED TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
Fund Share Price Performance
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share increased from $20.73 per Share to $26.10 per Share. The Share price low and high for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and related change from the Share price on December 31, 2023 was as follows: Shares traded at a low of $20.52 per Share (-1.01%) on January 8, 2024, and a high of $26.56 per Share (+28.13%) on September 27, 2024. The total return for the Fund on a market value basis was +25.90%.
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Agricultural commodities ended the first three quarters of 2024 with strong positive performance, though cocoa was the dominant driver. Front month prices skyrocketed over 180% between the start of the year and its peak in mid-April, repeatedly surpassing all-time highs as crop-damaging disease and adverse weather in West Africa fueled worries for a global supply shortfall. However, front month prices did ease in the second and end of third quarter on increased profit-taking. The other contributors were coffee and livestock commodities which also faced supply concerns. Grains, on the other hand, all retreated on ample global supplies and lacking US competitiveness. While renewed weather concerns did take the market by surprise in April and May, sending wheat skyrocketing, the rally was short-lived. Corn and soybeans led the losses year-to-date as the US is expected to have close to record yields due to favorable weather.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share increased from $20.15 per Share to $21.40 per Share. The Share price low and high for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and related change from the Share price on December 31, 2022 was as follows: Shares traded at a low of $19.36 per Share (-3.92%) on January 19, 2023, and a high of $22.37 per Share (+11.02%) on July 25, 2023. The total return for the Fund on a market value basis was +6.20%.
Agricultural commodities remained in positive territory for the first three quarters of 2023, supported by gains in sugar, cocoa, live cattle, and feeder cattle. The cocoa rally was driven by supply shortfalls in the Ivory Coast, the largest global exporter, while sugar prices rallied on Indian export uncertainty. Live cattle and feeder cattle also added positive performance on dwindled herd counts, while grains (wheat, corn, soybeans) were all detractors. Robust wheat harvests from Russia and Australia, projections for bumper Brazilian corn and soybeans harvests, as well as the continued extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), continued to ease supply concerns through the first half of the year. While Russia did pull out of the BSGI in July, the impact was mitigated given strong Russian wheat exports and the availability of alternative shipping routes. US grains were also largely uncompetitive on global markets, adding further pressure.
Fund Share Net Asset Performance
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the NAV of each Share increased from $20.74 per Share to $26.05 per Share. Rising commodity futures contract prices for Cocoa, Coffee, Feeder Cattle, Lean Hogs, Live Cattle and Sugar were partially offset by falling commodity futures contract prices of Corn, Cotton, Kansas City Wheat, Soybeans and Wheat during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, contributing to an overall 21.53% increase in the level of the Index and to a 26.47% increase in the level of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index TR. The total return for the Fund on a NAV basis was +25.60%.
Net income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $162.2 million, primarily resulting from $28.9 million of income, net realized gain (loss) of $92.0 million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $46.2 million and net operating expenses of $4.8 million.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the NAV of each Share increased from $20.16 per Share to $21.42 per Share. Rising commodity futures contract prices for Cocoa, Cotton, Feeder Cattle, Live Cattle and Sugar, were partially offset by falling commodity futures contract prices of Coffee, Corn, Kansas City Wheat, Lean Hogs, Soybeans and Wheat during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, contributing to an overall 3.11% increase in the level of the Index and to a 7.10% increase in the level of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index TR. The total return for the Fund on a NAV basis was +6.25%.
Net income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $49.9 million, primarily resulting from $32.5 million of income, net realized gain (loss) of $31.3 million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $(8.0) million and net operating expenses of $5.9 million.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements relies on estimates and assumptions that impact the Fund’s financial position and results of operations. These estimates and assumptions affect the Fund’s application of accounting policies. In addition, please refer to Note 2 to the financial statements of the Fund for further discussion of the Fund’s accounting policies and Item 7 – Management’s Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Estimates on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
There were no material estimates, which involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and had or are reasonably likely to have had a material impact on the Fund's financial condition, used in the preparation of these financial statements.
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