Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto of the United States Commodity Index Funds Trust (the “Trust”) included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.
Forward-Looking Information
This annual report on Form 10-K, including this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains forward-looking statements which generally relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this annual report on Form 10-K that address activities, events or developments that will or may occur in the future, including such matters as changes in inflation in the United States, movements in the stock market, movements in U.S. and foreign currencies, and market volatility in the commodities markets and futures markets and indexes that track such movements, the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, a Trust Series’ operations, USCF’s plans and references to a Trust Series’ future success and other similar matters, are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses USCF has made based on its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate in the circumstances. Whether or not actual results and developments will conform to USCF’s expectations and predictions, however, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the special considerations discussed in this annual report on Form 10-K, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in laws or regulations, including those concerning taxes, made by governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, and other world economic and political developments. Consequently, all the forward-looking statements made in this annual report on Form 10-K are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments USCF anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the expected consequences to, or have the expected effects on, a Trust Series’ operations or the value of its shares.
Each Trust Series has based the forward-looking statements included in this annual report on Form 10-K on information available to it on the date of this annual report on Form 10-K, and each Trust Series assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although each Trust Series undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, investors are advised to consult any additional disclosures that each Trust Series may make directly to them or through reports that each Trust Series files in the future with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.
Introduction
Each Trust Series is a commodity pool that issues shares representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in such Trust Series that may be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca. The Trust Series are series of the Trust, a Delaware statutory trust formed on December 21, 2009.
United States Commodity Index Fund
USCI invests in futures contracts for commodities that are traded on the Futures Exchanges and, to a lesser extent, in order to comply with regulatory requirements or in view of market conditions, Other Commodity-Related Investments. Market conditions that USCF currently anticipates could cause USCI to invest in Other Commodity Related Investments include, but are not limited to, those allowing USCI to obtain greater liquidity or to execute transactions with more favorable pricing.
The investment objective of USCI is for the daily changes in percentage terms of its shares’ per share net asset value (“NAV”) to reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of the SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Index Total Return SM (the “SDCI”), less USCI’s expenses.
The SDCI is designed to reflect the performance of a diversified group of commodities. The SDCI is owned and maintained by SummerHaven Index Management, LLC (“SHIM”) and is calculated and published by Bloomberg L.P. Futures contracts for the commodities comprising the SDCI are traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”), ICE Futures (“ICE Futures”), Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”), Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”), London Metal Exchange (“LME”), and Commodity Exchange, Inc. (“COMEX”) (the NYMEX, ICE Futures, CBOT, CME, LME and COMEX, collectively, the “Futures Exchanges”) and are collectively referred to herein as “Futures Contracts.” The Futures Contracts that at any given time make up the SDCI are referred
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to herein as “Benchmark Component Futures Contracts.” The relative weighting of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts will change on a monthly basis, based on quantitative formulas relating to the prices of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts developed by SHIM.
USCI seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts. Then, if constrained by regulatory requirements, risk mitigation measures (including those that may be taken by USCI, USCI’s FCMs, counterparties or other market participants), liquidity requirements, or in view of market conditions, USCI will invest next in other Futures Contracts based on the same commodity as the futures contracts subject to such regulatory constraints or market conditions, and finally, to a lesser extent, in other exchange-traded futures contracts that are economically identical or substantially similar to the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts if one or more other Futures Contracts is not available. When USCI has invested to the fullest extent possible in exchange-traded futures contracts, USCI may then invest in other contracts and instruments based on the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts, other Futures Contracts or the commodities included in the SDCI, such as cash-settled options, forward contracts, cleared swap contracts and swap contracts other than cleared swap contracts. Other exchange-traded futures contracts that are economically identical or substantially similar to the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts and other contracts and instruments based on the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts are collectively referred to as “Other Commodity-Related Investments,” and together with Benchmark Component Futures Contracts and other Futures Contracts, “Commodity Interests.”
USCI seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing so that the average daily percentage change in USCI’s NAV for any period of 30 successive valuation days will be within plus/minus ten percent (10%) of the average daily percentage change in the price of the SDCI over the same period. As a result, investors should be aware that USCI would meet its investment objective even if there are significant deviations between changes in its daily NAV and changes in the daily price of the SDCI, provided that the average daily percentage change in USCI’s NAV over 30 successive valuation days is within plus/minus ten percent (10%) of the average daily percentage change in the price of the SDCI over the same period.
USCF believes that the market arbitrage opportunities will cause the daily changes in USCI’s share price on the NYSE Arca on a percentage basis to closely track the daily changes in USCI’s per share NAV on a percentage basis. USCF believes that the net effect of this expected relationship and the expected relationship described above between USCI’s per share NAV and the SDCI will be that the daily changes in the price of USCI’s shares on the NYSE Arca on a percentage basis will closely track the daily changes in the SDCI on a percentage basis, less USCI’s expenses. While USCI is composed of Benchmark Component Futures Contracts and is therefore a measure of the prices of the corresponding commodities comprising the SDCI for future delivery, there is nonetheless expected to be a reasonable degree of correlation between the SDCI and the cash or spot prices of the commodities underlying the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts.
Investors should be aware that USCI’s investment objective is not for its NAV or market price of shares to equal, in dollar terms, the spot prices of the commodities underlying the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts or the prices of any particular group of futures contracts. USCI will not seek to achieve its stated investment objective over a period of time greater than one day. This is because natural market forces called contango and backwardation have impacted the total return on an investment in USCI’s shares during the past year relative to a hypothetical direct investment in the various commodities and, in the future, it is likely that the relationship between the market price of USCI’s shares and changes in the spot prices of the underlying commodities will continue to be so impacted by contango and backwardation. (It is important to note that the disclosure above ignores the potential costs associated with physically owning and storing the commodities, which could be substantial.) As of December 31, 2025, USCI held 1,132 Futures Contracts on the NYMEX, held 2,215 Futures Contracts on the ICE Futures, held 638 Futures Contracts on the CBOT, held 319 Futures Contracts on the CME, held 726 Futures Contracts on the LME and held 189 Futures Contracts on the COMEX, totaling 5,219 futures contracts.
United States Copper Index Fund
CPER invests in Futures Contracts for commodities that are traded on the COMEX and, to a lesser extent, in order to comply with regulatory requirements or in view of market conditions, Other Copper-Related Investments. Market conditions that USCF currently anticipates could cause CPER to invest in Other Copper-Related Investments include, but are not limited to, those allowing CPER to obtain greater liquidity or to execute transactions with more favorable pricing.
The investment objective of CPER is for the daily changes in percentage terms of its shares’ per share NAV to reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of the SummerHaven Copper Index Total Return SM (the “SCI”), less CPER’s expenses. CPER seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing so that the average daily percentage change in CPER’s NAV for any period of 30 successive valuation days will be within plus/minus ten percent (10%) of the average daily percentage change in the prices of the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts over the same period. The SCI is designed to reflect the performance of the investment returns from a portfolio
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of copper futures contracts on the COMEX. The SCI is owned and maintained by SHIM and calculated and published by the NYSE Arca. The SCI is comprised of either one or three Eligible Copper Futures Contracts that are selected on a monthly basis based on quantitative formulas relating to the prices of the Eligible Copper Futures Contracts developed by SHIM. The Eligible Copper Futures Contracts that at any given time make up the SCI are referred to herein as “Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts.”
CPER seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts. Then, if constrained by regulatory requirements, risk mitigation measures (including those that may be taken by CPER, CPER’s futures commission merchants (“FCMs”), counterparties or other market participants), liquidity requirements, or in view of market conditions, CPER will invest next in other Eligible Copper Futures Contracts based on the same copper as the futures contracts subject to such regulatory constraints or market conditions, and finally, to a lesser extent, in other exchange-traded futures contracts that are economically identical or substantially similar to the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts if one or more other Eligible Copper Futures Contracts is not available. When CPER has invested to the fullest extent possible in exchange-traded futures contracts, CPER may then invest in other contracts and instruments based on the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts, other Eligible Copper Futures Contracts or other items based on copper, such as cash-settled options, forward contracts, cleared swap contracts and swap contracts other than cleared swap contracts. Other exchange-traded futures contracts that are economically identical or substantially similar to the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts and other contracts and instruments based on the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts are collectively referred to as “Other Copper-Related Investments,” and together with Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts and other Eligible Copper Futures Contracts, “Copper Interests.”
CPER seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing so that the average daily percentage change in CPER’s NAV for any period of 30 successive valuation days will be within plus/minus ten percent (10%) of the average daily percentage change in the prices of the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts over the same period. USCF believes that market arbitrage opportunities will cause daily changes in CPER’s share price on the NYSE Arca on a percentage basis, to closely track the daily changes in CPER’s per share NAV on a percentage basis. USCF believes that the net effect of this expected relationship and the expected relationship described above between CPER’s per share NAV and the SCI will be that the daily changes in the price of CPER’s shares on the NYSE Arca on a percentage basis will closely track the daily changes in the SCI on a percentage basis, less CPER’s expenses. While CPER is composed of Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts and is therefore a measure of the prices of the corresponding commodities comprising the SCI for future delivery, there is nonetheless expected to be a reasonable degree of correlation between the SCI and the cash or spot prices of the commodities underlying the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts.
Investors should be aware that CPER’s investment objective is not for its NAV or market price of shares to equal, in dollar terms, the spot prices of the commodities underlying the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts or the prices of any particular group of futures contracts. CPER will not seek to achieve its stated investment objective over a period of time greater than one day. This is because natural market forces called contango and backwardation have impacted the total return on an investment in CPER’s shares during the past year relative to a hypothetical direct investment in various commodities and, in the future, it is likely that the relationship between the market price of CPER’s shares and changes in the spot prices of the underlying commodities will continue to be so impacted by contango and backwardation. (It is important to note that the disclosure above ignores the potential costs associated with physically owning and storing the commodities, which could be substantial.) CPER’s shares began trading on November 15, 2011. As of December 31, 2025, CPER held 3,184 Futures Contracts on the COMEX.
Other Defined Terms
The SCI, together with the SDCI, are referred to throughout this annual report on Form 10-K collectively as the “Applicable Index” or “Indices.”
Benchmark Component Futures Contracts and Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts are referred to throughout this annual report on Form 10-Q collectively as “Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts.”
Other Commodity-Related Investments and Other Copper-Related Investments are collectively referred to herein as “Other Related Investments.” Commodity Interests and Copper Interests are collectively referred to herein as “Applicable Interests” throughout this annual report on Form 10-K.
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Regulatory Disclosure
The regulation of commodity interest trading in the United States and other countries is an evolving area of the law. Below are certain key regulatory requirements that are, or may be, relevant to the Trust Series. The various statements made in this summary are subject to modification by legislative action and changes in the rules and regulations of the SEC, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), CFTC, NFA, the futures exchanges, clearing organizations and other regulatory bodies. Pending final resolution of all applicable regulatory requirements, some examples of how new rules and regulations could impact the Trust Series are discussed in “Item 1. Business” in this annual report on Form 10-K.
Exchange Accountability Levels, Position Limits and Price Fluctuation Limits. Designated contract markets (“DCMs”), such as the NYMEX and ICE Futures, have established accountability levels and position limits on the maximum net long or net short futures contracts in commodity interests that any person or group of persons under common trading control (other than as a hedge, which is not applicable to the Trust Series’ investments) may hold, own or control. These levels and position limits apply to the futures contracts that each Trust Series invests in to meet the investment objective of such Trust Series. In addition to accountability levels and position limits, the NYMEX and ICE Futures may also set daily price limits on futures contracts. The daily price fluctuation limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price. Once the daily price fluctuation limit has been reached in a particular futures contract, no trades may be made at a price beyond that limit.
The accountability levels for the commodities comprising an Applicable Index and other futures contracts traded on U.S. based futures exchanges are not a fixed ceiling, but rather a threshold above which such exchanges may exercise greater scrutiny and control over an investor’s positions.
As of December 31, 2025, USCI held 1,132 Futures Contracts on the NYMEX, held 2,215 Futures Contracts on the ICE Futures, held 638 Futures Contracts on the CBOT, held 319 Futures Contracts on the CME, held 726 Futures Contracts on the LME and held 189 Futures Contracts on the COMEX, totaling 5,219 futures contracts. As of December 31, 2025, CPER held 3,184 Futures Contracts on the COMEX. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, no Trust Series exceeded accountability levels imposed by the NYMEX, COMEX, CME, CBOT, LME or ICE Futures.
Position limits differ from accountability levels in that they represent fixed limits on the maximum number of futures contracts that any person may hold and cannot allow such limits to be exceeded without express CFTC authority to do so. In addition to accountability levels and position limits that may apply at any time, the Futures Exchanges may impose position limits on contracts held in the last few days of trading in the near month contract to expire. It is unlikely that a Trust Series will run up against such position limits. A Trust Series does not typically hold the near month contract in its Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts. In addition, each Trust Series’ investment strategy is to close out its positions during each Rebalancing Period in advance of the period right before expiration and purchase new contracts. As such, none of the Trust Series anticipates that position limits that apply to the last few days prior to a contract’s expiration will impact it. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, no Trust Series exceeded position limits imposed by the NYMEX, COMEX, CME, CBOT, LME or ICE Futures.
Federal Position Limits
Part 150 of the CFTC’s regulations (the “Position Limits Rule”) establishes federal position limits for 25 core referenced futures contracts (comprised of agricultural, energy and metals futures contracts), futures and options linked to the core referenced futures contracts, and swaps that are economically equivalent to the core referenced futures contracts that all market participants must comply with, with certain exemptions.
Certain Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts are subject to position limits under the Position Limits Rule, and the trading by each Trust Series does not qualify for an exemption therefrom. Accordingly, the Position Limits Rule could inhibit the Trust Series’ ability to invest in the Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts and thereby could negatively impact the ability of the Trust Series to meet its investment objective.
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No Trust Series has limited the size of its offering and each Trust Series intends to utilize substantially all of its proceeds to purchase Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts and Other Commodity-Related Investments to the extent possible. If a Trust Series encounters accountability levels, position limits, or price fluctuation limits for Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts, it may purchase commodity futures on other exchanges that trade listed commodity futures or enter into swaps or other transactions to meet its investment objective. In addition, if a Trust Series exceeds accountability levels on an exchange, and is required by the exchange to reduce its holdings, such reduction could potentially cause a tracking error between the price of the shares of a Trust Series and the prices of the Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts.
Margin for OTC Swaps
Rules put in place by U.S. federal banking regulators, the CFTC and the SEC require the daily exchange of variation margin and initial margin for swaps between swap dealers, major swap participants, security-based swap dealers, and major security-based swap participants (“Swap Entities”) and swaps between Swap Entities and their counterparties that are “financial end-users” (such rules, the “Margin Rules”). The Margin Rules require Swap Entities to exchange variation margin with all of their counterparties who are financial end-users. The minimum variation margin amount is the daily mark-to-market change in the value of the swap, taking into account the amount of variation margin previously posted or collected. Swap Entities are required to exchange initial margin with their financial end-users who have “material swaps exposure” (i.e., an average daily aggregate notional of $8 billion or more in non-cleared swaps calculated in accordance with the Margin Rules). The Margin Rules specify the types of collateral that may be posted or collected as initial margin or variation margin (generally cash, certain government, government-sponsored enterprise securities, certain liquid debt, certain equity securities, certain eligible publicly traded debt, and gold) and sets forth haircuts for certain collateral asset classes.
No Trust Series is a Swap Entity under the Margin Rules, but each is a financial end-user. Accordingly, each Trust Series will be subject to the variation margin requirements of the Margin Rules for any swaps that it enters into. However, no Trust Series has material swaps exposure and, accordingly, no Trust Series will be subject to the initial margin requirements of the Margin Rules.
Mandatory Trading and Clearing of Swaps
CFTC regulations require that certain swap transactions be executed on organized exchanges or “swap execution facilities” and cleared through regulated clearing organizations (“derivative clearing organizations” (“DCOs”)), if the CFTC mandates the central clearing of a particular class of swap and such swap is “made available to trade” on a swap execution facility. Currently, swap dealers, major swap participants, commodity pools, certain private funds and entities predominantly engaged in activities that are financial in nature are required to execute on a swap execution facility, and clear, certain interest rate swaps and index-based credit default swaps. As a result, if a Trust Series enters into an interest rate or index-based credit default swap that is subject to these requirements, such swap will be required to be executed on a swap execution facility and centrally cleared. Mandatory clearing and “made available to trade” determinations with respect to additional types of swaps may be issued in the future, and, when finalized, could require each Trust Series to electronically execute and centrally clear certain OTC instruments presently entered into and settled on a bi-lateral basis. If a swap is required to be cleared, initial and variation margin requirements are set by the relevant clearing organization, subject to certain regulatory requirements and guidelines. Additional margin may be required and held by a Trust Series’ FCM.
Other Requirements for Swaps
Swaps that are not required to be cleared and executed on a SEF but that are executed bilaterally are also subject to various requirements pursuant to CFTC regulations, including, among other things, reporting and recordkeeping requirements and, depending on the status of the counterparties, trading documentation requirements and dispute resolution requirements.
Derivatives Regulations in Non-U.S. Jurisdictions
In addition to U.S. laws and regulations, a Trust Series may be subject to non-U.S. derivatives laws and regulations if it engages in futures and/or swap transactions with non-U.S. persons. For example, each Trust Series may be impacted by European laws and regulations to the extent that it engages in futures transactions on European exchanges or derivatives transactions with European entities. Other jurisdictions impose requirements applicable to futures and derivatives that are similar to those imposed by the U.S., including position limits, margin, clearing and trade execution requirements.
The CFTC is generally prohibited by statute from regulating trading on non-U.S. futures exchanges and markets. The CFTC, however, has adopted regulations relating to the marketing of non-U.S. futures contracts in the United States. These regulations permit certain contracts on non-U.S. exchanges to be offered and sold in the United States.
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Natural disasters, public health disruptions (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), and international armed conflicts could impact the price of commodities and/or the value, pricing and liquidity of a Trust Series’ investments or assets which, in turn, could cause the loss of your investment in a Trust Series.
Natural or environmental disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and other severe weather-related phenomena generally, and widespread disease, including public health disruptions, pandemics and epidemics (for example, the COVID-19 pandemic), can be highly disruptive to economies and markets. Such events can, directly or indirectly, negatively impact, and/or cause volatility in, the price of commodities and the value, pricing, and liquidity of the investments or other assets held by a Trust Series.
Geopolitical conflict, including war and armed conflicts (such as the Russia-Ukraine war, conflicts in the Middle East, and the expansion of such conflicts in surrounding areas), sanctions, the introduction of or changes in tariffs or trade barriers, global or local recessions, and acts of terrorism, can also, directly or indirectly, negatively impact, and/or cause volatility in, the price of commodities and the value, pricing, and liquidity of the investments or other assets held by a Trust Series.
A negative impact on, or volatility in, the price of commodities or the value, pricing and liquidity of a Trust Series’ investments or other assets resulting from the occurrence of any of the aforementioned events, or similar events, could cause you to lose all, or substantially all, of your investment in a Trust Series.
An infectious disease outbreak may arise in the future and could have the same or similar effects as the COVID-19 pandemic, or different effects that cannot be foreseen. Moreover, as was the case with the COVID-19 pandemic, actions taken by government and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world in response to an infectious disease outbreak, including the potential for significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, may affect the value, volatility, pricing and liquidity of some investments or other assets, including those held by or invested in by each Trust Series. Public health crises caused by infectious disease outbreaks may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally and their duration cannot be determined with certainty.
A Trust Series may be subject to interest rate risk, which may prevent the Trust Series from investing fully at prevailing rates until any current investments in Treasuries mature in order to avoid selling those investments at a loss.
Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed income securities and other investments in a Trust Series’ portfolio will fluctuate in value because of a change in interest rates. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable, and a Trust Series may lose money because of movements in interest rates. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities typically falls. In a rising interest rate environment, a Trust Series may not be able to fully invest at prevailing rates until any current investments in Treasuries mature in order to avoid selling those investments at a loss. Interest rate risk is generally lower for shorter term investments and higher for longer term investments. In addition, in rising interest rate environments, it is possible that the Treasuries held by a Trust Series will decline in value. When interest rates fall, a Trust Series may be required to reinvest the proceeds from the sale, redemption or early prepayment of a Treasury Bill or money market security at a lower interest rate.
As inflation increases, the present value of a Trust Series’ assets may decline.
Inflation is a general increase in the overall price level of goods and services in the economy. The United States Federal Reserve has a stated goal of maintaining a two percent increase in inflation over the long run, as measured by the annual change in the price index for personal consumption expenditures.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States experienced inflation above the Federal Reserve’s stated two percent goal. Other world economies similarly experienced elevated inflation rates. The Federal Reserve increased interest rates and successfully reduced inflation so that it is close to the stated two percent goal. As a result, in 2024, the Federal Reserve began reducing interest rates. However, the rate of inflation in the United States is still above the stated two percent goal. Inflation has the effect of eroding the value of cash or bonds. In a high inflation environment, the value of a Trust Series’ cash and Treasury investments may decline.
A Trust Series may potentially lose money by investing in government money market funds.
The Trust Series invest in government money market funds. Although such government money market funds seek to preserve the value of an investment at $1.00 per share, there is no guarantee that they will be able to do so and a Trust Series may lose money by investing in a government money market fund. An investment in a government money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), or any other government agency. The share price of a government money market fund can
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fall below the $1.00 share price. A Trust Series cannot rely on or expect a government money market fund’s adviser or its affiliates to enter into support agreements or take other actions to maintain the government money market fund’s $1.00 share price. The credit quality of a government money market fund’s holdings can change rapidly in certain markets, and the default of a single holding could have an adverse impact on the government money market fund’s share price. Due to fluctuations in interest rates, the market value of securities held by a government money market fund may vary. A government money market fund’s share price can also be negatively affected during periods of high redemption pressures and/or illiquid markets.
Commodity Markets
Commodity Futures Price Movements
Year Ended December 31, 2025
As measured by the four major diversified commodity indexes listed below, commodity futures prices rose during the year ended December 31, 2025. The table below compares the total returns of the SDCI to the three major diversified commodity indexes over this time period.
SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Index Total Return SM (“SDCI”) (1)
S&P GSCI Commodity Index (GSCI ® ) Total Return (2)
Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return (2)
Deutsche Bank Index Quant Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Total Return TM
The inception date for the SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Index Total Return SM is December 2009.
Source: Bloomberg
The value of the SDCI as of December 31, 2024 was $2,329.08. As of December 31, 2025, the value of the SDCI was $2,765.82, up approximately 18.75% over the year ended December 31, 2025.
Of the 27 components of SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Index (SDCI), fifteen had positive returns for the year ended December 31 2025. The best performing commodity sector was Precious Metals (up approximately 80.1%) followed by Livestock (up approximately 22.7%). Commodities have broadly rallied in the five years since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Commodities made notable gains as inflation rose from 1.4% in 2020 to 9.1% in 2022. (Inflation is a headwind for stocks and bonds and a tailwind for real assets such as commodities. Historically, commodities have been a hedge against inflation and positive inflation shocks.) When inflation began declining in mid-2022, commodities also initially declined. However, commodities began rising again in 2023 and are up over the last three years. SDCI’s dynamic strategy led to significant outperformance versus the major commodity indexes shown above since the 2022 peak.
In April of 2025, the Trump administration announced large and widespread tariffs on trading partners. Tariffs have been paused, reinstated, negotiated, and changed numerous times since then, and final tariff levels for many countries as well as the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the legality of these tariffs are still uncertain. While tariffs are inflationary, higher prices can reduce demand for goods, including commodities, even in the absence of an economic contraction. Tariffs have other effects, such as impacts on currencies, supply chains, consumer and industry preferences, and other factors. As a result, it is difficult to forecast the overall short-term and long-term impact of tariffs on commodity prices, especially in the absence of definitive policy.
Tariffs are only one factor affecting commodity prices, and each commodity will continue to be driven by idiosyncratic factors that affect their supply and demand. Commodities often provide diversification from stocks and bonds, especially during times of uncertainty. Relative to the last eight recessions, commodities outperformed equities five times as measured from the peak to trough of each asset class. Relative to two of these recessions, both in the 1970’s, commodities returned 26% and 254% while equities were down -33% and -45% respectively. In the next six recessions, when commodities and equities both declined, commodities outperformed equities on average and often peaked at the same time or several months after equities. The 2020 recession is the only instance where commodities peaked before equities. While it is impossible to predict future performance, and past results do not predict the future, the evidence shows that commodities have, on average, provided diversification at critical times.
The return of approximately 18.75% on the SDCI listed above is a hypothetical return only and could not actually be achieved by an investor holding Futures Contracts due to the impact of trading costs and other expenses. USCI’s per share NAV began the period at $66.04 and ended the period at $77.48 on December 31, 2025, an increase of approximately 17.32% over the period. See “Tracking Each Trust Series’ Benchmark” below for information about how expenses and income affect USCI’s per share NAV.
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Copper Markets
Copper Futures Price Movements
Year Ended December 31, 2025
As measured by the two major copper indexes, copper futures prices exhibited an upward trend during the year ended December 31, 2025. The table below compares the total returns of the SCI to the Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return over this time period.
SummerHaven Copper Index Total Return SM (“SCI”) (1)
Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return (2)
The inception date for the SummerHaven Copper Index Total Return TM is November 2010.
Source: Bloomberg
The value of the SCI as of December 31, 2024 was $1,369.05. As of December 31, 2025, the value of the SCI was $1,909.69, up approximately 39.49% over the year ended December 31, 2025.
The return of approximately 39.49% on the SCI listed above is a hypothetical return only and could not actually be achieved by an investor holding Futures Contracts due to the impact of trading costs and other expenses. CPER’s per share NAV began the year at $25.23 and ended the year at $34.84 on December 31, 2025, an increase of approximately 38.09% over the year. See “Tracking Each Trust Series’ Benchmark” below for information about how expenses and income affect CPER’s per share NAV.
During the year ended December 31, 2025, the price of the front month copper futures contract traded in a range between $402.60 per pound and $583.95 per pound. Prices increased by 41.12% between December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025 finishing the period at $568.20. Copper futures markets reached a then record on July 23, 2025 due to growing undersupply of copper globally, forecasts for forthcoming copper shortages, and price increases due to the anticipation that the Trump administration might announce tariffs of up to 50% on copper imports. However, on July 30, 2025, president Trump decided to levy tariffs on finished copper products instead of the metal itself. US copper futures fell 22% on July 31, 2025, representing the collapse of a premium over London futures that had opened and grown under the expectation of expectation of tariffs. During the second half of the year, copper recovered from the drop and made a new all-time high in early December.
In April of 2025, the Trump administration announced large and widespread tariffs on trading partners. , which were later curtailed but remain open to further revision. Copper prices plummeted in the wake of the tariff announcements. While tariffs increase import costs, any attendant decline in economic growth could lead to a net negative impact on copper prices. Over the longer term, with tight markets, increased demand from China and from new technologies, and a growing drumbeat of forecasts for a supply crunch, copper demand is likely to remain robust and supply is also likely to remain constrained and slow to respond to demand increases. However, prices may come under pressure during periods of contraction and/or economic uncertainty.
The Russia-Ukraine war has affected many commodities in which Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus are major producers and exports, such as certain metals, grains, and energy products. However, copper is not one of the metals that depends heavily on supply from the region. As a result, copper prices rose only modestly from the outbreak of the war in comparison to other metals, such as Nickel. Copper supply is more affected by events, such as protests and labor strikes, that impact mining in south American nations, including Chile and Peru. Meanwhile, copper demand typical depends on the state of the global economy, particularly China, which drives industrial, commercial, and manufacturing use.
Valuation of Futures Contracts and the Computation of the Per Share NAV
Each Trust Series’ NAV is calculated once each NYSE Arca trading day. The per share NAV for a particular trading day is released after 4:00 p.m. New York time. Trading during the core trading session on the NYSE Arca typically closes at 4:00 p.m. New York time. The Trust Series’ Administrator uses the closing prices on the relevant Futures Exchanges of the Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts (determined at the earlier of the close of such exchange or 2:30 p.m. New York time) for the contracts held on the Futures Exchanges, but calculates or determines the value of all other investments of such Trust Series using market quotations, if available, or other information customarily used to determine the fair value of such investments.
Results of Operations
On July 30, 2010, USCI received a notice of effectiveness from the SEC for its registration of 50,000,000 shares on Form S-1 with the SEC. On August 10, 2010, USCI listed its shares on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “USCI.” USCI established its initial
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offering per share NAV by setting the price at $50 and issued 100,000 shares to the initial Authorized Participant, Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., in exchange for $5,000,000 in cash on August 10, 2010. USCI commenced investment operations on August 10, 2010 by purchasing Futures Contracts traded on the Futures Exchanges. In order to satisfy NYSE Arca listing standards that at least 100,000 shares be outstanding at the beginning of the trading day on the NYSE Arca, USCF purchased the initial Creation Basket from the initial Authorized Participant at the initial offering price. The $1,000 fee that would otherwise be charged to the Authorized Participant in connection with an order to create or redeem was waived in connection with the initial Creation Basket. USCF agreed not to resell the shares comprising such basket except that it may require the initial Authorized Participant to repurchase all of these shares at a per share price equal to USCI’s per share NAV within five days following written notice from USCF, subject to the conditions that: (i) on the date of repurchase, the initial Authorized Participant must immediately redeem these shares in accordance with the terms of the Authorized Participant Agreement and (ii) immediately following such redemption at least 100,000 shares of USCI remain outstanding. USCF held such initial Creation Basket until September 3, 2010, at which time the initial Authorized Participant repurchased the shares comprising such basket in accordance with the specified conditions noted above. On September 14, 2011, USCF redeemed the 20 Sponsor Shares of USCI, and on September 19, 2011, USCF purchased five shares of USCI in the open market.
As of December 31, 2025, USCI had 3,600,000 shares outstanding. USCI has an unlimited number of shares registered and available for issuance. More shares may have been issued by USCI than are outstanding due to the redemption of shares.
As of December 31, 2025, CPER had 13,100,000 shares outstanding. CPER has an unlimited number of shares registered and available for issuance. More shares may have been issued by CPER than are outstanding due to the redemption of shares.
USCF and the Trustee entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement effective as of December 15, 2017.
As of December 31, 2025, USCI and CPER had the following Authorized Participants: ABN AMRO Clearing USA LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citadel Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Company, Jane Street Capital LLC, Jefferies & Company Inc., JP Morgan Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., Morgan Stanley & Company Inc., RBC Capital Markets LLC and Virtu Americas LLC.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2025 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2024
USCI
Year ended
Year ended
December 31,
December 31,
Per share net asset value, end of year
Average daily total net assets
Dividend and interest income earned on Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents
Annualized yield based on average daily total net assets
Management fee
Total fees and other expenses excluding management fees
Total commissions accrued to brokers
Total commissions as annualized percentage of average total net assets
Portfolio Expenses. USCI’s expenses consist of investment management fees, brokerage fees and commissions, certain offering costs, licensing fees, registration fees, the fees and expenses of the independent directors of USCF and expenses relating to tax accounting and reporting requirements. The management fee that USCI pays to USCF is calculated as a percentage of the total net assets of USCI. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
The increase in the per share NAV for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, was due to increase in values of the Futures Contracts held by USCI.
Average interest rates earned on short-term investments held by USCI, including cash, cash equivalents and Treasuries, were lower during the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. As a result, the amount of income earned by USCI as a percentage of average daily total net assets was lower during the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. To the degree that the aggregate yield is lower, the net expense ratio, inclusive of income, will be higher.
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The decrease in total fees and other expenses excluding management fees for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024 was due primarily to a decrease in professional and reporting fees.
The increase in USCI’s total commissions accrued to brokers for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, was due primarily to the number of Futures Contracts being held and traded.
CPER
Year ended
Year ended
December 31,
December 31,
Per share net asset value, end of year
Average daily total net assets
Dividend and interest income earned on Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents
Annualized yield based on average daily total net assets
Management fee
Total fees and other expenses excluding management fees
Total commissions accrued to brokers
Total commissions as annualized percentage of average total net assets
Portfolio Expenses. CPER’s expenses consist of investment management fees, brokerage fees and commissions, certain offering costs, licensing fees, registration fees, the fees and expenses of the independent directors of USCF and expenses relating to tax accounting and reporting requirements. The management fee that CPER pays to USCF is calculated as a percentage of the total net assets of CPER. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
The increase in the per share NAV for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, was due to an increase in the values of the Futures Contracts held by CPER.
Average interest rates earned on short-term investments held by CPER, including cash, cash equivalents and Treasuries, were lower during the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. As a result, the amount of income earned by CPER as a percentage of average daily total net assets was lower during the year ended December 31, 2025. To the degree that the aggregate yield is lower, the net expense ratio, inclusive of income, will be higher.
The decrease in total fees and other expenses excluding management fees for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024 was due primarily to a decrease in professional and reporting fees.
The decrease in CPER’s total commissions accrued to brokers for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, was due primarily to the number of Futures Contracts being held and traded.
Tracking Each Trust Series’ Benchmark
USCF seeks to manage each Trust Series’ portfolio such that changes in its average daily per share NAV, on a percentage basis, closely track the daily changes in the average price of the Applicable Index, also on a percentage basis. Specifically, USCF seeks to manage the portfolio such that over any rolling period of 30-valuation days, the average daily change in a Trust Series’ per share NAV is within a range of 90% to 110% (0.9 to 1.1) of the average daily change in the price of the Applicable Index. As an example, if the average daily movement of the price of the Applicable Index for a particular 30-valuation daytime period was 0.50% per day, USCF would attempt to manage the portfolio such that the average daily movement of the per share NAV during that same time period fell between 0.45% and 0.55% (i.e., between 0.9 and 1.1 of the Applicable Index’s results). Each Trust Series’ portfolio management goals do not include trying to make the nominal price of its per share NAV equal to the nominal price of the Applicable Index, the nominal price of any particular commodity Futures Contract or the spot price for any particular commodity. USCF believes that it is not practical to manage the portfolio to achieve such an investment goal when investing in listed Futures Contracts and Other-Related Investments.
Portfolio Holdings for USCI
During the year ended December 31, 2025, USCI’s portfolio held at all times Futures Contracts based on at least fourteen different commodities. Due to changes in the composition of the SDCI, each month the list of Benchmark Component Futures Contracts held by
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USCI changed (see the section “The SDCI” below). The table below lists the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts held during each month in 2025.
Benchmark Component Futures Contracts for USCI
The table below reflects the same listing of monthly Benchmark Component Futures Contracts as the tables above with two changes. First, the table below includes a column showing the change in the spot price of each of the 27 commodities for the year ended December 31, 2025. Second, while the tables above list the order of the commodities alphabetically, the table below lists the commodities first by which of the five sectors a commodity falls into and then within each sector from the commodity that had the highest positive change in spot price to the commodity that had the lowest positive change or largest negative change in spot price. Investors are cautioned that the change in the spot price of a given commodity does not represent the actual return that USCI might have earned on any holdings in futures contracts based on that commodity. This is due to two factors. First, the return on a futures contract may be higher, or lower, than the change in the spot price of the commodity due to the impact of backwardation or contango. Second, USCI may not have owned any such futures contract for the entire time period represented in the table below. Thus, USCI’s total actual return on its holdings in any of the commodities shown below may be higher, or lower, than the actual change in the spot price of the particular commodity.
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USCI
For the 30-valuation days ended December 31, 2025, the simple average daily change in the SDCI was (0.044)%, while the simple average daily change in the per share NAV of USCI over the same time period was (0.051)%. The average daily difference was (0.007)% (or (0.7) basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the SDCI, the variance in daily tracking by the per share NAV was 1.870%, meaning that over this time period USCI’s tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
Since the commencement of the offering of USCI’s shares to the public on August 10, 2010 through December 31, 2025, the simple average daily change in the SDCI was 0.021%, while the simple average daily change in the per share NAV of USCI over the same time period was 0.015%. The average daily difference was (0.06)% (or (0.6) basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the SDCI, the variance in daily tracking by the per share NAV was (5.919)%, meaning that over this time period USCI’s tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
The following two charts demonstrate the correlation between the changes in SDCI’s NAV and the changes in the SDCI. The first chart below shows the daily movement of USCI’s per share NAV versus the daily movement of the SDCI for the 30-valuation day period ended December 31, 2025, the last trading day in December. The second chart below shows the monthly total returns of USCI as compared to the monthly value of the SDCI for the five years ended December 31, 2025.
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*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
An alternative tracking measurement of the return performance of USCI versus the return of its SDCI can be calculated by comparing the actual return of USCI, measured by changes in its per share NAV, versus the expected changes in its per share NAV under the assumption that USCI’s returns had been exactly the same as the daily changes in its SDCI.
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For the year ended December 31, 2025, the actual total return of USCI as measured by changes in its per share NAV was 17.32%. This is based on an initial per share NAV of $66.04 as of December 31, 2024 and an ending per share NAV as of December 31, 2025 of $77.48. During this time period, USCI made no distributions to its shareholders. However, if USCI’s daily changes in its per share NAV had instead exactly tracked the changes in the daily total return of the SDCI, USCI would have had an estimated per share NAV of $77.33 as of December 31, 2025, for a total return over the relevant time period of 17.10%. The difference between the actual per share NAV total return of USCI of 17.32% and the expected total return based on the SDCI of 17.10% was a difference over the time period of 0.22%, which is to say that USCI’s actual total return outperformed its benchmark by that percentage. USCI incurs expenses primarily composed of the management fee, brokerage commissions for the buying and selling of futures contracts, and other expenses. The impact of these expenses, offset by interest and dividend income, and net of positive or negative execution, tends to cause daily changes in the per share NAV of USCI to track slightly lower or higher than daily changes in the price of the SDCI.
By comparison, for the year ended December 31, 2024, the actual total return of USCI as measured by changes in its per share NAV was 17.22%. This is based on an initial per share NAV of $56.34 as of December 31, 2023 and an ending per share NAV as of December 31, 2024 of $66.04. During this time period, USCI made no distributions to its shareholders. However, if USCI’s daily changes in its per share NAV had instead exactly tracked the changes in the daily total return of the SDCI, USCI would have had an estimated per share NAV of $65.36 as of December 31, 2024, for a total return over the relevant time period of 16.02%. The difference between the actual per share NAV total return of USCI of 17.22% and the expected total return based on the SDCI of 16.02% was a difference over the time period of 1.20%, which is to say that USCI’s actual total return outperformed its benchmark by that percentage. USCI incurs expenses primarily composed of the management fee, brokerage commissions for the buying and selling of futures contracts, and other expenses. The impact of these expenses, offset by interest and dividend income, and net of positive or negative execution, tends to cause daily changes in the per share NAV of USCI to track slightly lower or higher than daily changes in the price of the SDCI.
CPER
For the 30-valuation days ended December 31, 2025, the simple average daily change in the SCI was 0.404%, while the simple average daily change in the per share NAV of CPER over the same time period was 0.400%. The average daily difference was (0.004)% (or (0.4) basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the SCI, the variance in daily tracking by the per share NAV was (0.724)%, meaning that over this time period CPER’s tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
Since the commencement of the offering of CPER’s shares to the public on November 15, 2011 through December 31, 2025, the simple average daily change in the SCI was 0.023%, while the simple average daily change in the per share NAV of CPER over the same time period was 0.020%. The average daily difference was (0.003)% (or (0.3) basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the SCI, the average variance in daily tracking by the per share NAV was (2.353)%, meaning that over this time period CPER’s tracking difference was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
The following two charts demonstrate the correlation between the changes in CPER’s NAV and the changes in the SCI. The first chart below shows the daily movement of CPER’s per share NAV versus the daily movement of the SCI for the 30-valuation day period ended December 31, 2025, the last trading day in December. The second chart below shows the monthly total returns of CPER as compared to the monthly value of the SCI for the five years ended December 31, 2025.
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*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
An alternative tracking measurement of the return performance of CPER versus the return of its SCI can be calculated by comparing the actual return of CPER, measured by changes in its per share NAV, versus the expected changes in its per share NAV under the assumption that CPER’s returns had been exactly the same as the daily changes in its SCI.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, the actual total return of CPER as measured by changes in its per share NAV was 38.09%. This is based on an initial per share NAV of $25.23 as of December 31, 2024 and an ending per share NAV as of December 31, 2025 of $34.84. During this time period, CPER made no distributions to its shareholders. However, if CPER’s daily changes in its per share NAV had instead exactly tracked the changes in the daily total return of the SCI, CPER would have had an estimated per share NAV of $34.62 as of December 31, 2025, for a total return over the relevant time period of 37.22%. The difference between the actual per share NAV total return of CPER of 38.09% and the expected total return based on the SCI of 37.22% was a difference over the time period of 0.87%, which is to say that CPER’s actual total return outperformed its benchmark by that percentage. CPER incurs expenses primarily composed of the management fee, brokerage commissions for the buying and selling of futures contracts, and other expenses.
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The impact of these expenses, offset by interest and dividend income, and net of positive or negative execution, tends to cause daily changes in the per share NAV of CPER to track slightly lower or higher than daily changes in the price of the SCI.
By comparison, for the year ended December 31, 2024, the actual total return of CPER as measured by changes in its per share NAV was 4.69%. This is based on an initial per share NAV of $24.10 as of December 31, 2023 and an ending per share NAV as of December 31, 2024 of $25.23. During this time period, CPER made no distributions to its shareholders. However, if CPER’s daily changes in its per share NAV had instead exactly tracked the changes in the daily total return of the SCI, CPER would have had an estimated per share NAV of $25.13 as of December 31, 2024, for a total return over the relevant time period of 4.26%. The difference between the actual per share NAV total return of CPER of 4.69% and the expected total return based on the SCI of 4.26% was a difference over the time period of 0.43%, which is to say that CPER’s actual total return outperformed its benchmark by that percentage. CPER incurs expenses primarily composed of the management fee, brokerage commissions for the buying and selling of futures contracts, and other expenses. The impact of these expenses, offset by interest and dividend income, and net of positive or negative execution, tends to cause daily changes in the per share NAV of CPER to track slightly lower or higher than daily changes in the price of the SCI.
Factors That Can Impact Ability to Track the Applicable Index
There are currently five factors that have impacted or are most likely to impact a Trust Series’ ability to accurately track its Applicable Index.
First, a Trust Series may buy or sell its holdings in the then current Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts at a price other than the closing settlement price of that contract on the day during which such Trust Series executes the trade. In that case, a Trust Series may pay a price that is higher, or lower, than that of the Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts, which could cause the changes in the daily per share NAV of a Trust Series to either be too high or too low relative to the daily changes in the price of the Applicable Index. USCF attempts to minimize the effect of these transactions by seeking to execute its purchase or sale of the Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contracts at, or as close as possible to, the end of the day settlement price. However, it may not always be possible for a Trust Series to obtain the closing settlement price and there is no assurance that failure to obtain the closing settlement price in the future will not adversely impact a Trust Series’ attempt to track the Applicable Index.
Second, each Trust Series incurs expenses primarily composed of the management fee, brokerage commissions for the buying and selling of futures contracts, and other expenses. The impact of these expenses tends to cause daily changes in the per share NAV of such Trust Series to track slightly lower than daily changes in the price of the Applicable Index. At the same time, each Trust Series earns dividend and interest income on its cash, cash equivalents and Treasuries. A Trust Series is not required to distribute any portion of its income to its shareholders and did not make any distributions to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2025. Interest payments, and any other income, were retained within the portfolio and added to each Trust Series’ NAV. When this income exceeds the level of a Trust Series’ expenses for its management fee, brokerage commissions and other expenses (including ongoing registration fees, licensing fees and the fees and expenses of the independent directors of USCF), such Trust Series realizes a net yield that will tend to cause daily changes in the per share NAV of such Trust Series to track slightly higher than daily changes in the price of the Applicable Index. If short-term interest rates rise above these levels, the level of deviation created by the yield would increase. Conversely, if short-term interest rates were to decline, the amount of error created by the yield would decrease. When short-term yields drop to a level lower than the combined expenses of the management fee and the brokerage commissions, then the tracking becomes a number and would tend to cause the daily returns of the per share NAV to the daily returns of the Applicable Index. USCF anticipates that interest rates may continue to increase over the near future from historical lows. It is anticipated that fees and expenses paid by each Trust Series may continue to be lower than interest earned by each Trust Series. As such, USCF anticipates that each Trust Series could possibly its benchmark so long as interest earned is higher than the fees and expenses paid by each Trust Series.
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Third, a Trust Series may hold Futures Contracts in a particular commodity other than the one specified as the Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contract, or may hold Other Related Investments in its portfolio that may fail to closely track the Applicable Index’s total return movements. Taking USCI as an example, assume for a given month one of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts is the NYMEX WTI physically settled Futures Contract, trading under the symbol “CL,” for the contract month of November 2020. It is possible that USCI could hold a NYMEX WTI financially settled Futures Contract, trading under the symbol “WS,” for the contract month of November 2020. Alternatively, and using the same example, USCI could hold the ICE WTI financially settled Futures Contract, also for the contract month of November 2020. As a third example, USCI could hold the NYMEX WTI physically settled Futures Contract, trading under the symbol “CL,” but for a contract month other than November 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2025, no Trust Series held any Other Related Investments.
Fourth, a Trust Series could hold Other-Related Investments. In that case, the error in tracking the Applicable Index could result in daily changes in the per share NAV of a Trust Series that are either too high, or too low, relative to the daily changes in the price of the Applicable Index. During the year ended December 31, 2025, none of the Trust Series held any Other-Related Investments, but did, at times, temporarily hold Futures Contracts that were in months other than the months specified as the Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contract. If any Trust Series increases in size, and due to its obligations to comply with regulatory limits, or due to other market pricing or liquidity factors, such Trust Series may invest in Futures Contract months other than the designated month specified as the Applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contract, or in Other-Related Investments, which may have the effect of increasing transaction related expenses and may result in increased tracking error.
Finally, a Trust Series could hold the same Futures contracts as its benchmark but at a different weight. This is due to the fact that the benchmark can theoretically own a fractional percentage of a Futures contract but a Trust Series must own a full contract. For a Trust Series with smaller asset base, this percentage difference can have a material impact.
Hypothetical Performance of the SDCI
The table and chart below show the hypothetical performance of the SDCI from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2025. The composition of the SDCI was revised effective December 24, 2020. Beginning with the commodity selection process that commenced on December 24, 2020, SHIM revised the composition of the SDCI to consolidate the six commodity sectors that comprised the index into five sectors. Specifically, prior to December 24, 2020, the SDCI reflected commodities in six commodity sectors: energy (e.g., crude oil, natural gas, heating oil, etc.), precious metals (e.g., gold, silver platinum), industrial metals (e.g., zinc, nickel, aluminum, copper, etc.), grains (e.g., wheat, corn, soybeans, etc.), softs (e.g., sugar, cotton, coffee, cocoa), and livestock (e.g., live cattle, lean hogs, feeder cattle).
HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE MANY INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT USCI WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS ACHIEVED BY ANY PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS IS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. IN ADDITION, HYPOTHETICAL TRADING DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK, AND NO HYPOTHETICAL TRADING RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND LOSSES OR TO ADHERE TO A PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM IN SPITE OF TRADING LOSSES ARE MATERIAL POINTS WHICH CAN ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO THE MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SPECIFIC TRADING PROGRAM WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS.
The performance data does not reflect any reinvestment or distribution of profits, commission charges, management fees or other expenses that would have been incurred in connection with operating and managing a commodity pool designed to track the SDCI. Such fees and expenses would reduce the performance returns shown in the table below.
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* PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Hypothetical Performance Results* for the period from Year Ending 2015 through December 31, 2025
Year
Ending Level*
Annual Return
* The “base level” for the SDCI was set at 100 on January 2, 1991. The “Ending Level” represents the value of the components of the SDCI on the last trading day of each year and is used to illustrate the cumulative performance of the SDCI. In addition to the actual performance of the SDCI, this chart includes the hypothetical performance of the SDCI had the changes to the composition of the SDCI, which became effective on December 24, 2020, been effective during the January 1, 2013 through December 24, 2020 period.
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Index Total Return SM (“SDCI”) Year-Over-Year Hypothetical Total Returns (01/01/2015-12/31/2025)*
Source: SummerHaven Index Management, Bloomberg
* In addition to the actual performance of the SDCI, this chart includes as “SDCI Hypothetical TR” the hypothetical performance of the SDCI had the changes to the composition of the SDCI, which became effective on December 24, 2020, been effective during the January 1, 2013 through December 24, 2020 period.
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The following table and chart compare the hypothetical total return of the SDCI in comparison with the actual total return of three major indexes for the period from December 31, 1997 to December 31, 2025.
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Hypothetical and Historical Results for the period
from December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2025
S&P GSCI
DBIQ OY
SDCI TR
BCOM TR
Actual
Total return
Average annualized return (total)
Annualized volatility
Annualized Sharpe ratio
The table immediately above shows the performance of the SDCI from December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2025 in comparison with three traditional commodities indices: the S&P GSCI Commodity Index (GSCI ® ) Total Return, Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return SM (“BCOM TR”), and the Deutsche Bank Index Quant Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Total Return TM (“DBIQ OY TR”). The S&P GSCI ® Commodity Index Total Return is a composite index of commodity sector returns representing an unleveraged, long-only investment in commodity futures that is broadly diversified across the spectrum of commodities. The Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return SM is currently composed of futures contracts on a diversified basket of commodities traded on U.S. exchanges. The Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index-Optimum Yield Total Return TM is designed to reflect the performance of investing in certain wheat, corn, light sweet crude oil, heating oil, gold and aluminum futures contracts plus the returns from investing in 3-month U.S. Treasury Bills in respect of a basket of commodities. The data for the SDCI Total Return Index is derived by using the SDCI’s calculation methodology with historical prices for the futures contracts comprising the SDCI. The information about each of the indices comes from publicly-available material about such indices but is not designed to provide a thorough overview of the methodology of each index.
None of the indices has an investment objective identical to the SDCI. As a result, there are inherent limitations in comparing the performance of such indices against the SDCI. For more information about these indices and their methodologies, please refer to the material published by the sponsors of each such index which may be found on their websites. USCI is not responsible for any information found on such websites, and such information is not part of this annual report on Form 10-K.
In the table above, “Total Return” refers to the return of the relevant index from December 31, 1997 to December 31, 2025; “Annualized Volatility” is a measure of the amount of variation or fluctuation in the returns of the relevant index. Annualized Volatility is calculated by taking the monthly standard deviation of the relevant index’s return and multiplying it by the square root of 12; and “Annualized Sharpe Ratio” is a measure of the total return of each relevant index adjusted by the risk-free interest rate (the 90-Day U.S. Treasury Bill yield) and the volatility of each index. Many investors consider volatility to be a measure of risk, and lower volatility of investment returns is considered a positive investment attribute as opposed to higher volatility. Annualized Sharpe Ratio is a standard measure for investors to compare two different investments or indexes that have different levels of volatility. If two indexes have the same total return, but one has lower Annualized , then its Annualized Sharpe Ratio will be higher. The higher the Annualized Sharpe Ratio, the the risk-adjusted performance. Annualized Sharpe Ratio is calculated by taking the average monthly total return of the relevant index and subtracting the then current yield on the 90-Day U.S. Treasury Bill. The annualized return of this series is then divided by the Annualized of this series, and this result is the Annualized Sharpe Ratio for the relevant index. A higher Sharpe Ratio is not a guarantee that one investment or index will in the future produce risk adjustment total returns, but USCF believes it is a useful tool for investors to consider when making investment decisions.
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The following chart compares the hypothetical total return of the SDCI in comparison with the actual total return of three major indexes between December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2025, where the SDCI TR includes the initial composition of the index until December 24, 2020 when changes to the index composition became effective.
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Ten Year Comparison of Index Returns of the BCOM TR,
S&P GSCI TR, DBIQ OY TR, and the Hypothetical Returns of the SDCI TR (12/31/2015–12/31/2025)
Source: SHIM, Bloomberg
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The following chart compares the hypothetical total return of the SDCI in comparison with the actual total return of three major indexes over a five year period, where the SDCI TR includes the initial composition of the index until December 24, 2020 when changes to the index composition became effective.
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Five Year Comparison of Index Returns of the BCOM TR,
S&P GSCI TR, DBIQ OY TR, and the Hypothetical Returns of the SDCI TR (12/31/2020–12/31/2025)
Source: SHIM, Bloomberg
SCI
The SCI is a single-commodity index designed to be an investment benchmark for copper as an asset class. The SCI is composed of copper futures contracts on the COMEX exchange. The SCI attempts to maximize backwardation and minimize contango while utilizing contracts in liquid portions of the futures curve.
The SCI is rules-based and is rebalanced monthly based on observable price signals described below in the section “Contract Selection and Weighting.” In this context, the term “rules-based” is meant to indicate that the composition of the SCI in any given month will be determined by quantitative formulas relating to the prices of the futures contracts that are included in the SCI. Such formulas are not subject to adjustment based on other factors.
The overall return on the SCI is generated by two components: (i) uncollateralized returns from the Benchmark Component Copper Futures Contracts comprising the SCI, and (ii) a daily fixed income return reflecting the interest earned on hypothetical 3-month Treasuries, calculated using the weekly auction rate for 3-Month Treasuries published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. SHIM is the owner of the SCI.
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Hypothetical Performance of the SCI
The table and chart below show the hypothetical performance of the SCI from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2025
HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE MANY INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT CPER WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS ACHIEVED BY ANY PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS IS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. IN ADDITION, HYPOTHETICAL TRADING DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK, AND NO HYPOTHETICAL TRADING RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND LOSSES OR TO ADHERE TO A PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM IN SPITE OF TRADING LOSSES ARE MATERIAL POINTS WHICH CAN ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO THE MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SPECIFIC TRADING PROGRAM WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS.
The performance data does not reflect any reinvestment or distribution profits, commission charges, management fees or other expenses that would have been incurred in connection with operating and managing a commodity pool designed to track the SCI. Such fees and expenses would reduce the performance returns shown in the table below.
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Hypothetical Performance Results* for the SCI for the period from Year Ending 2015 through December 31, 2025
Year
Ending Level*
Annual Return
* The “base level” for the SCI was set at 100 on January 2, 1991. The “Ending Level” represents the value of the components of the SCI on the last trading day of each year and is used to illustrate the cumulative performance of the SCI.
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The following table compares the total return of the SCI in comparison with the total return a major index and spot copper prices (less storage cost) from December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2025.
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
SummerHaven Copper Index (“SCI”) Year-Over-Year Hypothetical Total Returns (01/01/2015-12/31/2025)
Source: SummerHaven Index Management, Bloomberg
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Hypothetical and Historical Results for the period from December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2025
Hypothetical and Historical Results for the period
from December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2025
BCOM
Spot Copper
SCI TR
Copper TR
(less storage)
Actual
Total return
Average annualized return (total)
Annualized volatility
Annualized Sharpe ratio
Source: SHIM, Bloomberg
The table above shows the performance of the SCI from December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2025 in comparison with a traditional commodity index and spot copper prices: the Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return SM and spot copper prices less warehouse storage rents. The Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return SM includes the contract in the Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return that relates to a single commodity, copper (currently the Copper High Grade futures contract traded on the COMEX). The data for the SCI Total Return Index is derived by using the SCI’s calculation methodology with historical prices for the futures contracts comprising the SCI. The information about the index above comes from publicly-available material about such index but is not designed to provide a thorough overview of the methodology of such index. The index noted above does not have investment objectives identical to the SCI. As a result, there are inherent limitations in comparing such performance against the SCI. For more information about the index and its methodologies, please refer to the material published by the sponsor of the Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return which may be
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found on its website. In addition to the actual performance of the SCI, this chart includes as “SCI Hypothetical TR” the hypothetical performance of the SCI had the changes to the composition of the SCI, which became effective on January 1, 2021, been effective during the period from December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2020. USCF is not responsible for any information found on such website, and such information is not part of this annual report on Form 10-K.
In the table above, “Total Return” refers to the return of the relevant index from December 31, 1997 to December 31, 2025; “Annualized Volatility” is a measure of the amount of variation or fluctuation in the returns of the relevant index. Annualized Volatility is calculated by taking the monthly standard deviation of the relevant index’s return and multiplying it by the square root of 12; and “Annualized Sharpe Ratio” is a measure of the total return of each relevant index adjusted by the risk-free interest rate (the 90-Day U.S. Treasury Bill yield) and the volatility of each index. Many investors consider volatility to be a measure of risk, and lower volatility of investment returns is considered a positive investment attribute as opposed to higher volatility. Annualized Sharpe Ratio is a standard measure for investors to compare two different investments or indexes that have different levels of volatility. If two indexes have the same total return, but one has lower Annualized , then its Annualized Sharpe Ratio will be higher. The higher the Annualized Sharpe Ratio, the the risk-adjusted performance. Annualized Sharpe Ratio is calculated by taking the average monthly total return of the relevant index and subtracting the then current yield on the 90-Day U.S. Treasury Bill. The annualized return of this series is then divided by the Annualized of this series, and this result is the Annualized Sharpe Ratio for the relevant index. A higher Sharpe Ratio is not a guarantee that one investment or index will in the future produce risk adjustment total returns, but USCF believes it is a useful tool for investors to consider when making investment decisions.
The following chart compares the hypothetical total return of the SCI in comparison with the actual return of three major indexes between December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2025, where the SCI includes the original composition of the index until the changes described above and became effective on January 1, 2021, from which point then the revised composition of the index is included.
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Ten Year Comparison of Index Returns of
BCOM HG TR, Spot Copper Price, Spot Copper Price less Storage Cost, and
the Hypothetical Returns of the SCI TR (12/31/2015– 12/31/2025)
Source: SHIM, Bloomberg, LME
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The following chart compares the hypothetical total return of the SCI in comparison with the actual total return of two major indices and spot copper prices (less storage cost) over a five year period, where the SCI includes the original composition of the index until the changes described above and became effective on January 1, 2021, from which point then the revised composition of the index is included.
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Five Year Comparison of Index Returns of
BCOM HG TR, Spot Copper Price, Spot Copper Price less Storage
Cost, and the Hypothetical Returns of the SCI (12/31/2020- 12/31/2025)
Source: SHIM, Bloomberg,
For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2023
The comparison of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 can be found in the Trust’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 located within Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Critical Accounting Policies
Preparation of the financial statements and related disclosures in compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the application of appropriate accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates. The Trust’s application of these policies involves judgments and actual results may differ from the estimates used.
USCF has evaluated the nature and types of estimates that it makes in preparing the Trust’s financial statements and related disclosures and has determined that the valuation of Applicable Interests, which are not traded on a United States or internationally recognized futures exchange (such as forward contracts and OTC swaps) involves a critical accounting policy. The values which are used by each Trust Series for its Futures Contracts are provided by its commodity broker who uses market prices when available, while OTC swaps are valued based on the present value of estimated future cash flows that would be received from or paid to a third party in settlement of these derivative contracts prior to their delivery date and valued on a daily basis. In addition, each Trust Series estimates interest
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income on a daily basis using prevailing rates earned on its cash and cash equivalents. These estimates are adjusted to the actual amount received on a monthly basis and the difference, if any, is not considered material.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
None of the Trust Series has made, and does not anticipate making, use of borrowings or other lines of credit to meet its obligations. Each Trust Series has met, and it is anticipated that each Trust Series will continue to meet, its liquidity needs in the normal course of business from the proceeds of the sale of its investments, or from the Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents that it intends to hold at all times. Each Trust Series’ liquidity needs include: redeeming shares, providing margin deposits for its existing Futures Contracts or the purchase of additional Futures Contracts and posting collateral for its OTC swaps, if applicable, and payment of its expenses, summarized below under “Contractual Obligations.”
Each Trust Series currently generates cash primarily from: (i) the sale of Creation Baskets and (ii) income earned on Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents. Each Trust Series has allocated substantially all of its net assets to trading in Applicable Interests. Each Trust Series invests in Applicable Interests to the fullest extent possible without being leveraged or unable to satisfy its current or potential margin or collateral obligations with respect to its investments in Applicable Interests. A significant portion of each Trust Series’ NAV is held in Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents that are used as margin and as collateral for its trading in Applicable Interests. The balance of the assets is held in each Trust Series’ account at the Custodian and in Treasuries at one or more FCMs. Income received from any investments in money market funds and Treasuries by a Trust Series will be paid to such Trust Series. During the year ended December 31, 2025, each Trust Series’ income earned and the cash earned from the sale of Creation Baskets and the redemption of Redemption Baskets exceeded the expenses.
Each Trust Series’ investments in Applicable Interests may be subject to periods of illiquidity because of market conditions, regulatory considerations and other reasons. For example, most commodity exchanges limit the fluctuations in futures contracts prices during a single day by regulations referred to as “daily limits.” During a single day, no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a futures contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in the contracts can neither be taken nor liquidated unless the traders are willing to effect trades at or within the specified daily limit. Such market conditions could prevent a Trust Series from promptly liquidating its positions in Futures Contracts. During the year ended December 31, 2025, none of the Trust Series purchased or liquidated any of its positions while daily limits were in effect; however, no Trust Series can predict whether such an event may occur in the future.
Prior to the initial offering of each Trust Series, all payments with respect to each Trust Series’ expenses are paid by USCF. None of the Trust Series has an obligation or intention to refund such payments made by USCF. USCF is under no obligation to pay any Trust Series’ future expenses. Since the initial offering of shares, each Trust Series has been responsible for expenses relating to: (i) management fees, (ii) brokerage fees and commissions, (iii) ongoing registration expenses in connection with offers and sales of its shares subsequent to the initial offering, (iv) other expenses, including tax reporting costs, (v) the fees of the Trustee in connection with its services as Delaware trustee of the Trust, (vi) fees and expenses of the independent directors of USCF and (vii) other extraordinary expenses not in the ordinary course of business, while USCF has been responsible for expenses relating to the fees of the Trust Series’ Marketing Agent, Administrator and Custodian, the trading advisory and licensing fees of SummerHaven and offering expenses relating to the initial offering of shares of each Trust Series. If USCF and each Trust Series are unsuccessful in raising sufficient funds to cover these respective expenses or in locating any other source of funding, one or more of the Trust Series could terminate and investors may lose all or part of their investment.
Market Risk
Trading in Applicable Interests, such as Futures Contracts, involves each Trust Series entering into contractual commitments to purchase or sell specified amounts of commodities at a specified date in the future. The aggregate market value of the contracts will significantly exceed each Trust Series’ future cash requirements since each Trust Series intends to close out its open positions prior to settlement. As a result, each Trust Series is generally only subject to the risk of loss arising from the change in value of the contracts. Each Trust Series considers the “fair value” of its derivative instruments to be the unrealized gain or loss on the contracts. The market risk associated with each Trust Series’ commitments to purchase a specific commodity will be limited to the aggregate market value of the contracts held.
Each Trust Series’ exposure to market risk depends on a number of factors, including the markets for commodities, the volatility of interest rates and foreign exchange rates, the liquidity of the Applicable Interest markets and the relationships among the contracts held by each such Trust Series. The limited experience that each Trust Series has had in utilizing its model to trade in Applicable Interests in
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a manner intended to track the changes in the Applicable Index, as well as drastic market occurrences, could ultimately lead to the loss of all or substantially all of an investor’s capital.
Credit Risk
When a Trust Series enters into Futures Contracts and Other Related Investments, it is exposed to the credit risk that the counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations. The counterparty for the Futures Contracts traded on the Futures Exchanges is the clearinghouse associated with the particular exchange. In general, in addition to margin required to be posted by the clearinghouse in connection with cleared trades, clearinghouses are backed by their members who may be required to share in the financial burden resulting from the nonperformance of one of their members and, therefore, this additional member support should significantly reduce credit risk. The Trust Series are not currently a member of any clearinghouse. Some foreign exchanges are not backed by their clearinghouse members but may be backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions. There can be no assurance that any counterparty, clearinghouse, or their members or their financial backers will satisfy their obligations to a Trust Series in such circumstances.
USCF attempts to manage the credit risk of each Trust Series by following various trading limitations and policies. In particular, each Trust Series generally posts margin and/or holds liquid assets that are approximately equal to the market value of its obligations to counterparties under the Futures Contracts and Other Related Investments it holds. USCF has implemented procedures that include, but are not limited to, executing and clearing trades and entering into OTC transactions only with creditworthy parties and/or requiring the posting of collateral or margin by such parties for the benefit of each Trust Series to limit its credit exposure. Each Trust Series’ commodity broker, or any other broker that may be retained by a Trust Series in the future, when acting as the Trust Series’ FCM in accepting orders to purchase or sell Futures Contracts on United States exchanges, is required by CFTC regulations to separately account for and segregate as belonging to a Trust Series, all assets of a Trust Series relating to domestic Futures Contracts trading. FCMs are not allowed to commingle a Trust Series’ assets with their other assets. In addition, the CFTC requires FCMs to hold in a secure account a Trust Series’ assets related to foreign Futures Contracts trading. During the year ended December 31, 2025, USCI made investments on the London Metal Exchange. In the future, a Trust Series may purchase OTC swaps, see “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in this annual report on Form 10-K for a discussion of OTC swaps.
As of December 31, 2025, each of USCI and CPER held cash deposits and investments in Treasuries and money market funds in the amount of $264,041,053 and $428,215,409, respectively, with the custodian and FCMs. Some or all of these amounts held by a custodian or an FCM, as applicable, may be subject to loss should the Trust Series’ custodian or FCMs, as applicable, cease operations.
Off Balance Sheet Financing
As of December 31, 2025, neither the Trust nor any Trust Series had any loan guarantee, credit support or other off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business, which may include indemnification provisions relating to certain risks that service providers undertake in performing services which are in the best interests of any Trust Series. While each Trust Series’ exposure under these indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, they are not expected to have a material impact on any Trust Series’ financial position.
Redemption Basket Obligation
In order to meet its investment objective and pay its contractual obligations described below, each Trust Series requires liquidity to redeem shares, which redemptions must be in blocks of 50,000 shares called “Redemption Baskets.” Each Trust Series has to date satisfied this obligation by paying from the cash or cash equivalents it holds or through the sale of its Treasuries in an amount proportionate to the number of shares being redeemed.
Contractual Obligations
The Trust’s (and each series thereunder) primary contractual obligations are with USCF and certain other service providers. In return for its services, USCF is entitled to a management fee calculated as a fixed percentage of a Trust Series’ NAV. The management fee payable to USCF is 0.80% (80 basis points) per annum of average daily total net assets for USCI and 0.65% (65 basis points) per annum of average daily total net assets for CPER. Ongoing fees, costs and expenses of its operation for which a Trust Series is responsible include:
brokerage and other fees and commissions incurred in connection with the trading activities of each Trust Series;
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expenses incurred in connection with registering additional shares of each Trust Series or offering shares of each Trust Series after the time any shares of each Trust Series have begun trading on the NYSE Arca;
the routine expenses associated with distribution, including printing and mailing, of any monthly, annual and other reports to shareholders required by applicable U.S. federal and state regulatory authorities;
payment for routine services of the Trustee, legal counsel and independent accountants;
payment for fees associated with tax accounting and reporting, routine accounting, bookkeeping, whether performed by an outside service provider or by affiliates of USCF;
postage and insurance, including directors’ and officers’ liability insurance;
costs and expenses associated with investor relations and services;
the payment of any distributions related to redemption of shares;
payment of all federal, state, local or foreign taxes payable on the income, assets or operations of each Trust Series and the preparation of all tax returns related thereto; and
extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, indemnification of any person against liabilities and obligations to the extent permitted by law and required under the Trust Agreement and the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation).
While USCF has agreed to pay registration fees to the SEC, FINRA, NYSE Arca or any other regulatory agency or exchange in connection with the initial offer and sale of the shares and the legal, printing, accounting and other expenses associated with such registration, each Trust Series is responsible for any registration fees and related expenses incurred in connection with any subsequent offer and sale of its shares after the initial offering of shares. In addition, any Trust Series, in its Registration Statement, may provide for different allocation of expenses among the Sponsor and such Trust Series, in each case solely with respect to such Trust Series.
Each Trust Series pays its own brokerage and other transaction costs. Each Trust Series pays fees to FCMs in connection with its transactions in Futures Contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2025, FCM fees were approximately 0.08% of average daily total net assets for USCI, and approximately 0.02% of average daily total net assets for CPER. In general, transaction costs on OTC Applicable Interests and on Treasuries and other short-term securities are embedded in the purchase or sale price of the instrument being purchased or sold, and may not readily be estimated. USCF had voluntarily agreed to pay certain expenses normally borne by USCI to the extent that such expenses exceeded 0.15% (15 basis points) of USCI’s NAV, on an annualized basis, through June 30, 2011 when such expense waiver was terminated. USCF voluntarily agreed to pay certain expenses typically borne by CPER to the extent that such expenses exceed 0.15% (15 basis points) of CPER’s NAV, on an annualized basis. USCF terminated such expense waiver as of April 30, 2021. As a result, the Annual Fund Operating Expenses increased, which would negatively impact your total return from an investment in CPER. This voluntary expense waiver was in addition to those amounts USCF is contractually obligated to pay as described in Note 5 to the financial statements of the Trust and terminated on April 30, 2021.
The parties cannot anticipate the amount of payments that will be required under these arrangements for future periods, as each Trust Series’ NAVs and trading levels to meet its investment objective will not be known until a future date. These agreements are effective for a specific term agreed upon by the parties with an option to renew, or, in some cases, are in effect for the duration of a Trust Series’ existence. Either party may terminate these agreements earlier for certain reasons described in the agreements.
As of December 31, 2025, USCI’s portfolio held 5,219 Futures Contracts traded on the Futures Exchanges and CPER’s portfolio held 3,184 Contracts traded on the COMEX. For a list of each of USCI’s and CPER’s current holdings, please see www.uscfinvestments.com.
