Semi-Annual Report
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Semi-Annual Report INNOVATOR IBD® 50 ETF (FFTY) INNOVATOR IBD® ETF LEADERS ETF (LDRS) INNOVATOR IBD® BREAKOUT OPPORTUNITIES ETF (BOUT) INNOVATOR LOUP FRONTIER TECH ETF (LOUP) April 30, 2021 Innovator ETFs Trust TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter to Shareholders ......................................................................................... 3 Fund Performance ............................................................................................... 6 Expense Example ................................................................................................. 14 Schedules of Investments ................................................................................... 16 Statements of Assets and Liabilities .................................................................. 28 Statements of Operations ................................................................................... 29 Statements of Changes in Net Assets ................................................................ 30 Financial Highlights ............................................................................................. 32 Notes to Financial Statements ............................................................................ 34 Trustees and Officers .......................................................................................... 50 Additional Information ......................................................................................... 52 INNOVATOR ETFs TRUST Letter to Shareholders (Unaudited) Dear Valued Shareholders, The following shareholder letter covers the period ended April 30, 2021. What a difference a year makes. This time last year, the stock market was struggling to get out of a bear market. Millions of Americans were losing their jobs. The country was in lockdown due to the pandemic, and people had to wear masks in public at all times. The outlook for the economy was dire and the nation was sorely divided over the presidential election. Today, the severe impact of Covid is fading away. The stock market has not only recovered but has soared to new heights. The economy has rebounded, growing over the last three quarters at its fastest pace in 70 years. And there was a peaceful, albeit slightly extended, transition of power in the White House. Life is getting back to normal – of a sort – even if there are longer-lasting changes to the post-Covid world. Innovator Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) ETFs and Innovator Loup Frontier Tech ETF We are pleased to report that most of our IBD ETFs and the Loup ETF outperformed the broad market in the six months ended April 30. In particular, the IBD Breakout Opportunities ETF (BOUT) outperformed the S&P over the six- month period. This ETF provides exposure to the IBD Breakout Stocks Index, which identifies stocks poised to experience a period of sustained price growth beyond their recent technical “resistance level.” The Loup ETF (LOUP), also outperformed the Nasdaq’s returns over the six-month period. The ETF provides exposure to the Loup Frontier Tech Index, which tracks the performance of cutting-edge tech companies in the fields of AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, virtual reality, and other areas. The index was created by Loup Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital firm founded by tech guru Gene Munster. We are grateful for our successful partnerships with IBD, Loup Ventures, and Gene. 3 INNOVATOR ETFs TRUST Letter to Shareholders (Unaudited) (Continued) As always, all of us at Innovator thank you for your patronage. We will continue to work hard to earn your trust and support. Looking forward to even better times ahead, Bruce Bond Chief Executive Officer The views in this report were those of the Fund’s CEO as of April 30, 2021 and may not reflect his views on the date that this report is first published or anytime thereafter. These views are intended to assist shareholders in understanding their investments and do not constitute investment advice. Investing involves risks. Principal loss is possible. An ETF that concentrates its investments in the securities of a particular industry, market, sector, or geographic area may be more volatile than a fund that invests in a broader range of industries. Additionally, the Fund may invest in securities that have additional risks. Foreign companies can be more volatile, less liquid, and subject to the risk of currency fluctuations. This risk is greater for emerging markets. Small- and mid- cap companies can have limited liquidity and greater volatility than large-cap companies. 4 INNOVATOR ETFs TRUST Letter to Shareholders (Unaudited) (Continued) Information Technology Companies Risk. Information technology companies face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on profit margins. Like other technology companies, information technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments, frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the information technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies. This material must be accompanied by a prospectus. Read carefully before investing. Innovator ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. 5 INNOVATOR IBD® 50 ETF Fund Performance April 30, 2021 (Unaudited) The following chart compares the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Innovator IBD® 50 ETF from its inception (April 8, 2015) to April 30, 2021 as compared with the S&P 500® Index. Average Annual Total Returns As of April 30, 2021 Since 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years Inception (a) Innovator IBD® 50 ETF NAV Return 55.16 % 12.10 % 17.50% 10.86% Market Return 54.99 % 12.07 % 17.53% 10.86% S&P 500® Index 45.98 % 18.67 % 17.42% 14.43% IBD® 50 Index (b) 56.56 % 12.90 % N/A 10.03% (c) (a) Inception date is April 8, 2015. (b) The Fund began tracking the IBD® 50 Index on November 20, 2017. (c) Since Inception return is from the date the Fund began tracking the IBD® 50 Index, November 20, 2017. Performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. As of the latest prospectus, the gross and net expense ratios of the Fund were 0.90% and 0.80%, respectively. For the most recent month–end performance, please visit the Fund’s website at innovatoretfs.com. 6 INNOVATOR IBD® 50 ETF Fund Performance April 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued) The line graph and performance table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return calculations reflect the effect of the Advisor’s expense limitation agreement for the Fund. Returns shown for the Fund, S&P 500® Index and IBD® 50 Index include the reinvestment of all dividends, if any. The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged, capitalization–weighted index generally representative of the U.S. market for large capitalization stocks. The IBD® 50 Index is a weekly, rule–based, computer–generated stock index compiled and published by Investor’s Business Daily® that seeks to identify the current top 50 growth stocks. The Fund’s portfolio holdings may differ significantly from the securities held in the relevant index and, unlike an exchange–traded fund, the performance of an unmanaged index does not reflect deductions for transaction costs, taxes, management fees or other expenses. You cannot invest directly in an index. Premium/Discount Information: Information regarding the differences between the price of the Fund’s shares on the secondary market and the Fund’s net asset value is available at Innovatoretfs.com/FFTY. 7 INNOVATOR IBD® ETF LEADERS ETF Fund Performance April 30, 2021 (Unaudited) The following chart compares the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Innovator IBD® ETF Leaders ETF from its inception (December 20, 2017) to April 30, 2021 as compared with the S&P 500® Index and IBD® ETF Leaders Index. Average Annual Total Returns As of April 30, 2021 Since 1 Year 3 Years Inception (a) Innovator IBD® ETF Leaders ETF NAV Return 50.77% 5.23% 3.31% Market Return 50.82% 5.27% 3.29% S&P 500® Index 45.98% 18.67% 16.33% IBD® ETF Leaders Index 52.29% 6.10% 4.08% (a) Inception date is December 20, 2017. Performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. As of the latest prospectus, the net expense ratio of the Fund was 1.07%. This expense ratio includes acquired fund fees and expenses of 0.45%. For the most recent performance, please visit the Fund’s website at innovatoretfs.com. 8 INNOVATOR IBD® ETF LEADERS ETF Fund Performance April 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued) The line graph and performance table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of