us en false false Default
Skip directly to Accessibility Notice

BUZZ Investing: Geopolitical Shocks Trigger Broad Market Retreat

March 20, 2026

Read Time 6 MIN

U.S. equity markets shifted from a sector rotation driven by AI disruption fears to a broad sell-off fueled by geopolitical shocks in Iran and a surprisingly weak jobs report, raising stagflation concerns.

Market movements discussed below reflect a range of factors, and specific drivers are based on market observations and may not fully explain performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other investments may have performed differently during the same period.

Key takeaways

  • U.S. equities shifted from an orderly sector rotation, dubbed the "immaculate rotation," into a broad risk-off sell-off as geopolitical shocks from U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and a worse-than-expected jobs report reignited stagflation fears.
  • Netflix and Nebius led BUZZ Index gains on disciplined capital allocation and AI infrastructure validation, while Applied Digital and SoFi weighed on performance amid neocloud financing concerns and high-beta positioning unwinds.
  • Defense contractor RTX and fintech disruptor Block entered the BUZZ Index in March, reflecting surging sentiment around military spending following the Iran conflict and investor enthusiasm for Block’s aggressive AI-driven workforce restructuring.

U.S. equity markets transitioned from a tactical rotation to a broader, more defensive retrenchment during the recent period between selection dates (February 11, 2026 – March 12, 2026, the “Period”). During the latter half of February, the "SaaS-pocalypse" narrative intensified, as investors aggressively de-rated enterprise software leaders like Salesforce, Atlassian, and Workday over fears that autonomous AI agents would disrupt traditional per-seat licensing models. Leadership rotated toward financials, industrials, healthcare, and select cyclical segments as last year’s dominant mega-cap names lagged. Some coined this dynamic an “immaculate rotation,” reflecting the market’s ability to reallocate capital away from crowded leadership without materially disrupting index-level stability. However, this relative index-level stability proved fleeting as the Period progressed, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ultimately declining, erasing earlier year-to-date gains. Against this backdrop, the BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index (the “BUZZ Index”) exhibited relative resilience, declining 1.4% compared with declines of 3.7% and 3.2% in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite, respectively.

The market’s tone shifted in early March, as a confluence of macro shocks triggered a shift from sector-specific dispersion to broad-based liquidation. The February 28 coordinated military strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iranian targets introduced a sudden wave of geopolitical instability, resulting in a surge in Brent crude prices amid shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. This inflationary shock was compounded by the March 6 Department of Labor report, which revealed a larger than expected contraction of 92,000 jobs and a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.4%, the highest in nearly two years. These dual shocks effectively collapsed the "soft landing" narrative, replacing it with fears of stagflation and a potential "policy trap" for the Federal Reserve. As risk-off sentiment took hold, safe-haven assets like gold and silver reached new highs while speculative appetite vanished, leaving equities to digest a high-correlation sell-off as the Period concluded near its session lows.

The BUZZ Index returned -7.03% during the month of February compared to a return of -0.76% for the S&P 500 Index during the same period. Year-to-date, the BUZZ Index lags the S&P 500 with returns of -5.32% and 0.68%, respectively, as of the end of February.

Netflix and Nebius Lead BUZZ Gains on Strategic Developments

Shares of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) were among the leading contributors to BUZZ Index performance during the Period. The stock advanced following the company’s decision to withdraw from its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, allowing Paramount Skydance to pursue the transaction while collecting a $2.8 billion breakup fee. Investors appeared to view the outcome favorably, as it removed the need for Netflix to assume significant incremental debt and regulatory uncertainty associated with a complex media merger. The move also reinforced management’s longstanding preference for organic growth and disciplined capital allocation. With the potential distraction of a large-scale acquisition removed, market attention returned to Netflix’s core strengths, including its global content production engine and established track record of generating high engagement across its platform.

Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ: NBIS) was another notable contributor, rising following the announcement of a strategic partnership with Nvidia that includes a planned $2 billion investment to support the deployment of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The agreement is expected to enable Nebius to expand its AI cloud capabilities and deploy large-scale Nvidia systems as demand for accelerated computing continues to grow. Nebius has positioned itself as an emerging provider of AI-focused cloud capacity, and the endorsement from Nvidia was interpreted by investors as a meaningful validation of the company’s technology and growth strategy. Shares responded positively to the announcement, reflecting broader investor interest in companies building the infrastructure required to support the expanding AI ecosystem.

Company Ticker Average Weight (%) Return Contribution (%)
Netflix Inc NFLX 3.05 0.58
Nebius Group NV NBIS 2.39 0.55
Palantir Technologies Inc PLTR 3.00 0.39
Coinbase Global Inc COIN 1.64 0.35
Strategy Inc MSTR 3.04 0.26
PayPal Holdings Inc PYPL 2.72 0.25
Moderna Inc MRNA 0.49 0.13
Venture Global Inc VG 0.43 0.12
Rivian Automotive Inc RIVN 1.20 0.09
Amazon.com Inc AMZN 2.95 0.08

Source: BUZZ Holdings ULC, Bloomberg. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is not illustrative of fund performance. Not intended as a recommendation to buy or to sell any of the securities mentioned herein.

AI Infrastructure and Fintech Weakness Weigh on BUZZ Performance

Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: APLD) was among the largest detractors from BUZZ Index performance during the Period, as investor sentiment toward AI infrastructure operators softened. Shares declined amid broader volatility across the emerging “neocloud” segment following reports that financing challenges had surfaced around a large data-center development associated with CoreWeave. While the situation did not directly involve Applied Digital, the news appeared to raise broader questions about the availability and cost of capital required to fund large-scale GPU clusters and next-generation data centers. Additional pressure followed disclosures that Nvidia had exited its equity stake in the company during the fourth quarter, a move that some investors interpreted cautiously despite Nvidia’s history of actively rotating its investment portfolio. Taken together, the developments highlighted the sensitivity of capital-intensive AI infrastructure businesses to changes in credit conditions and investor expectations around funding timelines.

SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) was another notable detractor during the Period as shares continued a difficult start to the year. The stock had declined meaningfully year-to-date, with weakness appearing to reflect a combination of valuation sensitivity, high beta exposure, and a moderation in retail-driven momentum that had previously supported the shares. Some analysts suggested that positioning rather than fundamental deterioration may have been a key factor, as the broader digital banking segment also experienced pressure. During the Period, CEO Anthony Noto purchased approximately $1 million of stock in the open market, a move that historically has been interpreted by some investors as a signal of confidence in the company’s longer-term outlook, even as the shares faced near-term volatility.

Company Ticker Average Weight (%) Return Contribution (%)
Applied Digital Corp APLD 2.72 -0.86
SoFi Technologies Inc SOFI 2.54 -0.36
AST SpaceMobile Inc ASTS 2.86 -0.36
Tesla Inc TSLA 2.96 -0.24
Intel Corp INTC 2.93 -0.20
Advanced Micro Devices Inc AMD 2.77 -0.20
Carvana Co CVNA 0.96 -0.20
QuantumScape Corp QS 0.81 -0.19
Apple Inc AAPL 2.68 -0.17
Meta Platforms Inc META 3.07 -0.15

Source: BUZZ Holdings ULC, Bloomberg. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is not illustrative of fund performance. Not intended as a recommendation to buy or to sell any of the securities mentioned herein.

BUZZ Index March 2026 Rebalance Highlights

RTX Corporation

After weeks of escalating rhetoric and military positioning, the United States announced on March 1 that it had carried out missile strikes targeting Iran’s leadership. The operation reportedly targeted senior Iranian leadership, according to media reports, and was intended to destabilize the current regime and halt Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions. While the initial reaction in equity markets was relatively muted, sector-level impacts soon began to emerge. Oil prices moved sharply higher after the Strait of Hormuz, which runs along Iran’s southern coast and handles nearly 20% of global daily oil traffic, was effectively shut down. The U.S. defense sector also rallied, as military conflicts historically tend to increase demand for defense spending. RTX Corp (NYSE: RTX), one of the largest U.S. defense contractors, saw a notable surge in investor sentiment following the onset of the strikes. Sentiment continued to climb as the month progressed after it became increasingly clear that the conflict was unlikely to quickly resolve. This month, RTX enters the BUZZ with a 1.22% weight.

Block, Inc.

On February 26, Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ), led by former Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, reported earnings alongside a sweeping restructuring announcement. The company revealed plans to lay off roughly 4,000 employees, approximately 40% of its workforce, and transition many of those functions to AI-driven teams. While investors have long expected artificial intelligence to gradually replace certain human tasks, the speed and scale of Block’s move was a shock for many. Management framed the restructuring as a major efficiency initiative aimed at lowering costs and streamline operations through automation. The market’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with shares jumping 20% the following day. Investor sentiment also surged, as many retail investors pointed to the move as a clear example of real-world AI adoption beginning to reshape companies. XYZ joins the BUZZ Index in March with a 0.69% weight.

For more on rebalancing results and a full breakdown of index constituents added and removed for the month, view the BUZZ Index reconstitution report.

Important Disclosures

Company data is the source for all particular company information quoted.

Definitions: The S&P 500 is a stock market index of 500 of the largest companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The Nasdaq Composite Index is a stock market index that consists of the stocks that are listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. S&P Banks Select Industry Index comprises stocks in the S&P Total Market Index that are classified in the GICS asset management & custody banks, diversified banks, regional banks, other diversified financial services and thrifts & mortgage finance sub-industries. Markit CDX North America High Yield Index represents one hundred liquid North American entities with high yield credit ratings as published by Markit. CBOE VIX Index is a real-time market index representing the market’s expectations for volatility over the coming 30 days.

This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities/financial instruments mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are valid as of the date of this communication and subject to change without notice. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of 3rd party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck.

The BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index is designed to track the performance of U.S. large cap equities that exhibit the highest degree of positive investor sentiment based on social media, news articles and other alternative datasets.

An investment in the Fund may be subject to risks which include, among others, risks related to social media analytics, equity securities, medium-capitalization companies, information technology sector, communication services sector, consumer discretionary sector, market, operational, high portfolio turnover, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified and index-related concentration risks, all of which may adversely affect the Fund. Medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.

Investing in companies based on social media analytics involves the potential risk of market manipulation because social media posts may be made with an intent to inflate, or otherwise manipulate, the public perception of a company stock or other investment. Although the Sentiment Leaders Index provider attempts to mitigate the potential risk of such manipulation by employing screens to identify posts which may be computer generated or deceptive and by employing market capitalization and trading volume criteria to remove companies which may be more likely targets for such manipulation, there is no guarantee that the Sentiment Leaders Index’s model will successfully reduce such risk. Furthermore, text and sentiment analysis of social media postings may prove inaccurate in predicting a company’s stock performance.

Cryptocurrency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value, but it does not have legal tender status. Cryptocurrencies are sometimes exchanged for U.S. dollars or other currencies around the world, but they are not generally backed or supported by any government or central bank. Their value is completely derived by market forces of supply and demand, and they are more volatile than traditional currencies. The value of cryptocurrency may be derived from the continued willingness of market participants to exchange fiat currency for cryptocurrency, which may result in the potential for permanent and total loss of value of a particular cryptocurrency should the market for that cryptocurrency disappear. Cryptocurrencies are not covered by either FDIC or SIPC insurance. Legislative and regulatory changes or actions at the state, federal, or international level may adversely affect the use, transfer, exchange, and value of cryptocurrency.

An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Returns reflect past performance and do not guarantee future results. Results reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes. Index returns do not represent Fund returns. The Index does not charge management fees or brokerage expenses, nor does the Index lend securities, and no revenues from securities lending were added to the performance shown.

BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index (the “BUZZ Index”) is a product of BUZZ Holdings ULC (“BUZZ Holdings”), and has been licensed to Van Eck Associates Corporation for use in connection with the VanEck Social Sentiment ETF.

BUZZ” is a trademark of BUZZ Holdings, which has been licensed by Van Eck Associates Corporation for use in connection with the BUZZ Index.

VanEck Social Sentiment ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by BUZZ Holdings, or its shareholders, or the licensor of the BUZZ Index and/or its affiliates and third party licensors. BUZZ Holdings makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the VanEck Social Sentiment ETF or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in VanEck Social Sentiment ETF, particularly or the ability of the BUZZ Index to track general market performance.

BUZZ Holdings’ only relationship to Van Eck Associates Corporation with respect to the BUZZ Index is the licensing of the BUZZ Index and certain trademarks of BUZZ Holdings. The BUZZ Holdings are determined and composed by BUZZ Holdings without regard to Van Eck Associates Corporation or the VanEck Social Sentiment ETF. BUZZ Holdings has no obligation to take the needs of Van Eck Associates Corporation or the owners of VanEck Social Sentiment ETF into consideration in determining and composing the BUZZ Index.

BUZZ Holdings are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices of VanEck Social Sentiment ETF or the timing of the issuance or sale of securities of VanEck Social Sentiment ETF or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which VanEck Social Sentiment ETF securities may be converted into cash, surrendered, or redeemed, as the case may be. BUZZ Holdings have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of VanEck Social Sentiment ETF. There is no assurance that investment products based on the BUZZ Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. BUZZ Holdings is not an investment advisor and the inclusion of a security in the BUZZ Index is not a recommendation by BUZZ Holdings to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor should it be considered investment advice.

BUZZ HOLDINGS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE BUZZ INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION WITH RESPECT THERETO, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS). BUZZ HOLDINGS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. BUZZ HOLDINGS MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY Van Eck Associates Corporation, OWNERS OF THE VanEck Social Sentiment ETF, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE BUZZ INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL BUZZ HOLDINGS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN BUZZ HOLDINGS AND Van Eck Associates Corporation, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF BUZZ HOLDINGS.

Effective August 18, 2016, BUZZ Indexes Inc. implemented changes to the BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index construction rules. The index constituent count was increased from 25 to 75 stocks and the maximum constituent weight was reduce from 15% to 3%. These change may result in more a diversified exposure to index constituents than under the rules in effect prior to this date. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Van Eck Associates Corporation. Copyright© 2025 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part are prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information on any of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC’s indices please visit www.spdji.com. S&P® is a registered trademark of S&P Global and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the ability of any index to accurately represent the asset class or market sector that it purports to represent and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index or the data included therein.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of a Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.

Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation.

© 2026 VanEck. VanEck®, VanEck Access the opportunities®, and the stylized VanEck design® are trademarks of Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Important Disclosures

Company data is the source for all particular company information quoted.

Definitions: The S&P 500 is a stock market index of 500 of the largest companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The Nasdaq Composite Index is a stock market index that consists of the stocks that are listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. S&P Banks Select Industry Index comprises stocks in the S&P Total Market Index that are classified in the GICS asset management & custody banks, diversified banks, regional banks, other diversified financial services and thrifts & mortgage finance sub-industries. Markit CDX North America High Yield Index represents one hundred liquid North American entities with high yield credit ratings as published by Markit. CBOE VIX Index is a real-time market index representing the market’s expectations for volatility over the coming 30 days.

This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities/financial instruments mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are valid as of the date of this communication and subject to change without notice. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of 3rd party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck.

The BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index is designed to track the performance of U.S. large cap equities that exhibit the highest degree of positive investor sentiment based on social media, news articles and other alternative datasets.

An investment in the Fund may be subject to risks which include, among others, risks related to social media analytics, equity securities, medium-capitalization companies, information technology sector, communication services sector, consumer discretionary sector, market, operational, high portfolio turnover, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified and index-related concentration risks, all of which may adversely affect the Fund. Medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.

Investing in companies based on social media analytics involves the potential risk of market manipulation because social media posts may be made with an intent to inflate, or otherwise manipulate, the public perception of a company stock or other investment. Although the Sentiment Leaders Index provider attempts to mitigate the potential risk of such manipulation by employing screens to identify posts which may be computer generated or deceptive and by employing market capitalization and trading volume criteria to remove companies which may be more likely targets for such manipulation, there is no guarantee that the Sentiment Leaders Index’s model will successfully reduce such risk. Furthermore, text and sentiment analysis of social media postings may prove inaccurate in predicting a company’s stock performance.

Cryptocurrency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value, but it does not have legal tender status. Cryptocurrencies are sometimes exchanged for U.S. dollars or other currencies around the world, but they are not generally backed or supported by any government or central bank. Their value is completely derived by market forces of supply and demand, and they are more volatile than traditional currencies. The value of cryptocurrency may be derived from the continued willingness of market participants to exchange fiat currency for cryptocurrency, which may result in the potential for permanent and total loss of value of a particular cryptocurrency should the market for that cryptocurrency disappear. Cryptocurrencies are not covered by either FDIC or SIPC insurance. Legislative and regulatory changes or actions at the state, federal, or international level may adversely affect the use, transfer, exchange, and value of cryptocurrency.

An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Returns reflect past performance and do not guarantee future results. Results reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes. Index returns do not represent Fund returns. The Index does not charge management fees or brokerage expenses, nor does the Index lend securities, and no revenues from securities lending were added to the performance shown.

BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index (the “BUZZ Index”) is a product of BUZZ Holdings ULC (“BUZZ Holdings”), and has been licensed to Van Eck Associates Corporation for use in connection with the VanEck Social Sentiment ETF.

BUZZ” is a trademark of BUZZ Holdings, which has been licensed by Van Eck Associates Corporation for use in connection with the BUZZ Index.

VanEck Social Sentiment ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by BUZZ Holdings, or its shareholders, or the licensor of the BUZZ Index and/or its affiliates and third party licensors. BUZZ Holdings makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the VanEck Social Sentiment ETF or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in VanEck Social Sentiment ETF, particularly or the ability of the BUZZ Index to track general market performance.

BUZZ Holdings’ only relationship to Van Eck Associates Corporation with respect to the BUZZ Index is the licensing of the BUZZ Index and certain trademarks of BUZZ Holdings. The BUZZ Holdings are determined and composed by BUZZ Holdings without regard to Van Eck Associates Corporation or the VanEck Social Sentiment ETF. BUZZ Holdings has no obligation to take the needs of Van Eck Associates Corporation or the owners of VanEck Social Sentiment ETF into consideration in determining and composing the BUZZ Index.

BUZZ Holdings are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices of VanEck Social Sentiment ETF or the timing of the issuance or sale of securities of VanEck Social Sentiment ETF or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which VanEck Social Sentiment ETF securities may be converted into cash, surrendered, or redeemed, as the case may be. BUZZ Holdings have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of VanEck Social Sentiment ETF. There is no assurance that investment products based on the BUZZ Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. BUZZ Holdings is not an investment advisor and the inclusion of a security in the BUZZ Index is not a recommendation by BUZZ Holdings to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor should it be considered investment advice.

BUZZ HOLDINGS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE BUZZ INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION WITH RESPECT THERETO, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS). BUZZ HOLDINGS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. BUZZ HOLDINGS MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY Van Eck Associates Corporation, OWNERS OF THE VanEck Social Sentiment ETF, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE BUZZ INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL BUZZ HOLDINGS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN BUZZ HOLDINGS AND Van Eck Associates Corporation, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF BUZZ HOLDINGS.

Effective August 18, 2016, BUZZ Indexes Inc. implemented changes to the BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index construction rules. The index constituent count was increased from 25 to 75 stocks and the maximum constituent weight was reduce from 15% to 3%. These change may result in more a diversified exposure to index constituents than under the rules in effect prior to this date. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Van Eck Associates Corporation. Copyright© 2025 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part are prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information on any of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC’s indices please visit www.spdji.com. S&P® is a registered trademark of S&P Global and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the ability of any index to accurately represent the asset class or market sector that it purports to represent and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index or the data included therein.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of a Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.

Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation.

© 2026 VanEck. VanEck®, VanEck Access the opportunities®, and the stylized VanEck design® are trademarks of Van Eck Associates Corporation.