<strong>Why Invest in MSOS?</strong>
- The First U.S.-Listed ETF Available – MSOS is the first actively managed U.S.-listed ETF with dedicated cannabis exposure focusing exclusively on U.S. companies, including multi-state operators. The portfolio manager allocates across an investable universe of U.S. companies spanning a variety of cannabis-related businesses.
- Easy Access to U.S. Cannabis Exposure – MSOS trades on the NYSE Arca exchange, offering exposure to multiple cannabis securities in a convenient, single trade. To buy U.S. cannabis companies on your own, investors will need to seek these stocks out in smaller, foreign exchanges.
- Experience – MSOS’ portfolio manager has deep experience in the capital markets and well-established expertise investing in highly-regulated areas in the equity markets, including cannabis. MSOS assets are held by one of the largest U.S. custodial banks, BNY Mellon.
<strong>Where Can MSOS Fit in a Traditional Portfolio?</strong>
MSOS can be used as a thematic investment, offering specific and focused exposure to the U.S. cannabis market. MSOS can also deliver an alpha-seeking, high-growth complement to a broad-based equity allocation.
<strong>Key Attributes</strong>
- Dedicated U.S. Cannabis Exposure – Even with limited legal availability, the U.S. cannabis market is the largest in the world and is forecast to remain so into the immediate future. The U.S. is also recognized as a leader in the cannabis space, having a reputation for creating some of the best and innovative products, as well as, mastering large scale cultivation. With exposure to U.S. companies spanning a variety of cannabis-related businesses, MSOS seeks to take advantage of this growth opportunity.
- Emerging Growth Opportunity – Cannabis securities span multiple industries including agriculture, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, real estate, retail, finance, and other medical applications. The portfolio manager believes that an evolving landscape of select, cannabis-related companies may provide upside potential that may lead to attractive growth opportunities, including the potential for merger and acquisition activity as the market matures and evolves.
- Active Management – The cannabis marketplace is quickly evolving, witnessing ongoing innovation, and seeing an influx of new companies. Additionally, cannabis-related securities can experience fluctuation and rapid change. Using daily, active management, MSOS’ portfolio manager can adjust the portfolio more quickly and opportunistically than a passive index-based strategy that must wait for periodic rebalancing.
<strong>About the Portfolio Manager</strong>
Dan Ahrens, Portfolio Manager
Mr. Ahrens is a Managing Director and the Chief Operating Officer of AdvisorShares. He is the portfolio manager of the Pure US Cannabis ETF (ticker: MSOS) – the first ETF to offer US-exclusive cannabis exposure – the Pure Cannabis ETF (ticker: YOLO), and the Vice ETF (ticker: VICE).
He carries over two decades of experience in the financial services industry serving in a variety of senior-level capacities and is the author of Investing in Cannabis (Wiley, 2020) and Investing in Vice (St. Martin’s Press, 2004). Additionally, Mr. Ahrens has appeared on numerous financial programs including CNBC, CNN, Fox Business, ABC News and Bloomberg and has been featured, along with funds under his management in major national and trade publications including The Economist, the New York Times, Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
