Annual Report by Investment Company Form N CSR

Table of Contents

Scheduleof Investments - Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF

July 31, 2024

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

1

Statementof Assets and Liabilities

July 31, 2024

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

2

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended July 31, 2024

Statementsof Changes in Net Assets

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

FinancialHighlights

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

1Based on average shares outstanding.

2The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not accord with the amounts reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets due to the timing of creation of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values.

3Net Asset Value Total Return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value on the first day of the year, reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value during the year, and redemptions at net asset value on the last day of the year.

4Portfolio turnover excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund's capital shares.

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Notesto Financial Statements

July 31, 2024

1.ORGANIZATION

The ETFis Series Trust I (the "Trust") was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on September 20, 2012 and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

At July 31, 2024, ten funds of the Trust are offered for sale. The Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (the "Fund"), a separate investment portfolio of the Trust, is presented in this annual report. The offering of shares of the Fund is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

The Fund commenced operations on September 23, 2015.

The Fund is a "non-diversified" Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act.

The Fund's investment objective is to seek to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and income. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its objective.

2.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services - Investment Companies. The Fund prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.

(a)Use of Estimates

Management makes certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of increases and decreases in the net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(b)Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations which provide general indemnifications for certain liabilities. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

(c)Security Valuation

A description of the valuation techniques applied to the Fund's major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis is as follows:

Equity securities are valued at the official closing price (typically last sale) on the exchange on which the securities are primarily traded. Securities regularly traded in an over-the-counter market are valued at the latest quoted sale price in such market or in the case of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), at the NYSE Official Closing Price. Such valuations are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") has designated Virtus ETF Advisers LLC (the "Adviser") to serve as its valuation designee, pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, to perform the fair value determinations relating to any or all the Fund investments. Accordingly, if market quotations are not readily available, or if it is determined that a quotation of a security does not represent fair value, then the security is valued by the Adviser at fair value as determined in good faith using procedures approved by the Board. Such valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(d)Fair Value Measurement

Accounting Standards Codification, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820") defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP, and requires disclosure about fair value measurements. It also provides guidance on determining when there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability, when a transaction is not orderly, and how that information must be incorporated into fair value measurement. Under ASC 820, various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's' investments. The Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, utilizes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. These inputs are summarized in the following hierarchy:

•Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.

•Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

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Notesto Financial Statements (continued)

July 31, 2024

•Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available; representing the Fund's own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The hierarchy classification of inputs used to value the Fund's investments at July 31, 2024 is disclosed at the end of the Fund's Schedule of Investments.

(e)Security Transactions and Investment Income

Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities are calculated using specific identification. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Expenses and interest income are recognized on the accrual basis. Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities are included in interest income. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts using the effective interest method.

(f)Expenses

The Fund pays all of its expenses not assumed by W. H. Reaves & Co., Inc. doing business as Reaves Asset Management (the "Sub- Adviser"). General Trust expenses that are allocated among and charged to the assets of the Fund and other series of the Trust are done so on a basis that the Board deems fair and equitable, which may be on a basis of relative net assets of the Fund and other series of the Trust or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to the Fund and other series of the Trust.

(g)Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions are recorded by the Fund on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations that may differ from GAAP in the United States of America.

3.INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, RELATED PARTIES AND OTHER AGREEMENTS

Investment Advisory Agreement

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Adviser, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (Ticker: VRTS) (together with its affiliates, "Virtus"). Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has overall supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the Fund's securities portfolio. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive a fee, payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.075% of the Fund's average daily net assets, subject to a minimum annual fee of $25,000. The Sub-Adviser pays the Adviser's fee out of the Sub-Adviser's fee, pursuant to the Sub-Adviser's unified fee arrangement with the Fund, as described below.

The Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the approval of the Fund's Board or by a vote of the majority of the Fund's shareholders. The Advisory Agreement may also be terminated by the Adviser by not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice.

Sub-Advisory Agreement

The Sub-Adviser provides investment advice and management services to the Fund. Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement among the Trust, the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser, the Fund pays the Sub-Adviser a fee from the Fund, payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.49% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of the Fund (including the management fee paid to the Adviser), except for the following expenses, each of which is paid by the Fund: the Sub-Adviser's fee, brokerage expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, litigation and arbitration expenses, fees for professional services stemming from litigation or arbitration, payments under any 12b-1 plan adopted by the Fund, and other extraordinary expenses of the Fund.

Principal Underwriter

Pursuant to the terms of a Distribution Agreement with the Trust, VP Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor") serves as the Fund's principal underwriter. The Distributor receives compensation from the Adviser for the statutory underwriting services it provides to the Fund. The Distributor will not distribute shares in less than Creation Units (as hereinafter defined), and does not maintain a secondary market in shares. The shares are traded in the secondary market. The Distributor is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus.

Operational Administrator

Virtus ETF Solutions LLC (the "Administrator") serves as the Fund's operational administrator. The Administrator supervises the overall administration of the Trust and the Fund including, among other responsibilities, the coordination and day-to-day oversight of the Fund's operations, the service providers' communications with the Fund and each other and assistance with Trust, Board and contractual matters related to the Fund and other series of the Trust. The Administrator also provides persons satisfactory to the Board to serve as officers of the Trust. The Administrator is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus.

8

Notesto Financial Statements (continued)

July 31, 2024

Accounting Services Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent

The Bank of New York Mellon ("BNY Mellon") provides administrative, accounting, tax and financial reporting for the maintenance and operations of the Trust as the Fund's accounting services administrator. BNY Mellon also serves as the custodian for the Fund's assets, and serves as transfer agent and dividend paying agent for the Fund.

Affiliated Shareholders

At July 31, 2024, the Sub-Adviser held 13,844 shares of the Fund, which represent 0.7% of shares outstanding. These shares may be sold at any time.

4.CREATION AND REDEMPTION TRANSACTIONS

The Fund issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis at net asset value in aggregate blocks of shares or multiples thereof called "Creation Units." The Fund's Creation Units may be issued and redeemed generally for cash or an in-kind deposit of securities held by the Fund. In each instance of cash creations or redemptions, the Trust may impose transaction fees based on transaction expenses related to the particular exchange that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind purchases or redemptions. Only "Authorized Participants" who have entered into contractual arrangements with the Distributor may purchase or redeem shares directly from the Fund. An Authorized Participant is either (i) a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation or (ii) a DTC participant and, in each case, must have executed a Participant Agreement with the Distributor. Most retail investors will not qualify as Authorized Participants or have the resources to buy and sell whole Creation Units. Therefore, they will be unable to purchase or redeem the shares directly from the Fund. Rather, most retail investors will purchase shares in the secondary market with the assistance of a broker and will be subject to customary brokerage commissions or fees.

Authorized participants pay a fixed transaction fee of $500 to the shareholder servicing agent when purchasing and redeeming Creation Units of the Fund. The transaction fee is used to defray the costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units.

5.FEDERAL INCOME TAX

The Fund intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under Sub-chapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), as amended. The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is required. Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes as issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements, and requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund's tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are "more-likely-than-not" of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Interest and penalties related to income taxes would be recorded as income tax expense. Management of the Fund is required to analyze all open tax years (2021, 2022 and 2023), as defined by IRS statute of limitations, for all major jurisdictions, including federal tax authorities and certain state tax authorities. As of July 31, 2024, the Fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits or uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. The Fund has no examination in progress and is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

The Fund recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as income tax expense. For the year ended July 31, 2024, the Fund had no accrued penalties or interest.

At July 31, 2024, the adjusted cost basis of investments and gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were as follows

At July 31, 2024, the components of accumulated earnings/loss on a tax-basis were as follows

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Notesto Financial Statements (continued)

July 31, 2024

Capital losses incurred after October 31 ("Post-October Losses") and ordinary losses incurred after December 31 ("Late Year Ordinary Losses") within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund's next taxable year. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, the Fund did not incur and or elect to defer Post-October Losses and Late Year Ordinary Losses.

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended July 31, 2024 and July 31, 2023 were as follows:

Short-term gain distributions if any, are reported as ordinary income for federal tax purposes.

At July 31, 2024, for Federal income tax purposes, the Fund has capital loss carryforwards available to offset future capital gains for an unlimited period. To the extent that these loss carryforwards are utilized, capital gains so offset will not be distributed to shareholders:

For financial reporting purposes, capital accounts are adjusted to reflect the tax character of permanent book/tax differences. Results of operations and net assets were not affected by these reclassifications. Reclassifications are primarily due to tax treatment of redemptions in kind. At July 31, 2024, the effect of permanent book/tax reclassifications resulted in increases (decreases) to the components of net assets as follows:

6.INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments (excluding short-term investments), subscriptions in-kind and redemptions in-kind for the year ended July 31, 2024 were as follows:

7.INVESTMENT RISKS

As with any investment, an investment in the Fund could result in a loss or the performance of the Fund could be inferior to that of other investments. An investor should consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information contain this and other important information.

8.ASSET CONCENTRATION RISK

The Fund invests a high percentage of its assets in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in utilities-related industries. Fluctuations in these industries of concentration will have a greater impact on the Fund, positive or negative, than if the Fund did not concentrate its investments in such industries.

9.10% SHAREHOLDERS

At July 31, 2024, the Fund had individual shareholder account(s) and/or omnibus shareholder account(s) (comprised of a group of individual shareholders), which individually amounted to more than 10% of the total shares outstanding of the Fund as detailed below:

10.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were available for issuance, and has determined that there are no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in these financial statements.

10

Reportof Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees of ETFis Series Trust I and Shareholders of Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (one of the funds constituting ETFis Series Trust I, hereafter referred to as the "Fund") as of July 31, 2024, the related statement of operations for the year ended July 31, 2024, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended July 31, 2024, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended July 31, 2024 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of July 31, 2024, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended July 31, 2024 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended July 31, 2024in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of July 31, 2024 by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 27, 2024

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in Virtus ETF Solutions LLC since 2017.

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Supplemental Information (unaudited)

Discount & Premium Information

The Fund's premium/discount information for the most recently completed calendar year, and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year is available by visiting www.virtusetfs.comor by calling (888) 383-4184.

TAX INFORMATION

For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, the Fund makes the following disclosures for federal income tax purposes. Below is listed the percentages, or the maximum amount allowable, of its ordinary income dividends ("QDI") to qualify for the lower tax rates applicable to individual shareholders, and the percentage of ordinary income dividends earned by the Fund which qualifies for the dividends received deduction ("DRD") for corporate shareholders. The actual percentage of QDI and DRD for the calendar year will be designated in year-end tax statements.

8572(09/24)

c/o VP Distributors, LLC

One Financial Plaza
Hartford, Connecticut 06103