Strategy. In seeking to track the performance of the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index ? (the Index), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund, either may invest … Show more… In seeking to track the performance of the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index ? (the Index), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (SSGA FM or the Adviser), the investment adviser to the Fund, either may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index, as determined by the Adviser to be in the best interest of the Fund in pursuing its objective. Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, in seeking to track the Index, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index. The Fund may also invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments (including money market funds advised by the Adviser) for cash management purposes. In seeking to track the Index, the Fund's assets may be concentrated in an industry or group of industries, but only to the extent that the Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. Swaps and futures contracts (each, a type of derivative instrument) may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to the Index and in managing cash flows. The Index is designed to measure the performance of the highest dividend yielding S&P Composite 1500 Index (the Parent Index) constituents that have followed a managed-dividends policy of consistently increasing dividends every year for at least 20 consecutive years. The Parent Index is designed to measure the performance of the broad exchange-traded US equity securities universe. To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a company must also (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization of at least $2 billion ($1.5 billion for current Index constituents) and (ii) have a minimum three-month average daily value traded of at least $5 million ($4 million for current Index constituents). Stocks within the Index are weighted by indicated yield (annualized gross dividend payment per share divided by price per share), subject to the following constraints: (i) no stock can have a weight greater than 4% in the Index; (ii) no stock can have a weight greater than 30 times its weight in the Parent Index; and (iii) no stock can have a weight greater than the ratio of its three-month average daily value traded divided by $2 billion. The Index components are reviewed annually in January for continued inclusion in the Index and re-weighted quarterly after the closing of the last business day of January, April, July and October. If between annual reviews the Index Provider (as defined below) determines, based on publicly available information, that an Index constituent has omitted a scheduled dividend payment, announced it will cease paying dividends for an undetermined period, or announced a reduced dividend amount and will no longer qualify for the Index at the subsequent reconstitution, the Index constituent will be removed from the index effective prior to the open of the first business day of the following month. As of August 31, 2025, a significant portion of the Fund comprised companies in the financial, utilities and real estate sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of July 31, 2025, the Index comprised 149 stocks. The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC ? (the Index Provider), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index. Show less