Despite the recent correction, the broad equities market could still move higher. Nevertheless, investors who are wary of any potential volatility along the road could consider exchange traded funds that focus on consistent dividend payers, say S&P analysts.
“While we believe equities should move higher in the next twelve months, the journey will likely be a volatile one,” Todd Rosenbluth, S&P Capital IQ Director of ETF and Mutual Fund Research, wrote in a research note. “With that in mind, we think investors might find investment strategies focused on consistent dividend-paying stocks appealing. Not only can they help protect against downside in a market pullback, they can also aid returns during a subsequent potential market rally.”
Over the long-term, consistent dividend payers have contributed to higher returns. Specifically, over 40% of total return in the S&P 500 since 1926 has come from reinvested dividends. [Dividend ETFs Remain in Favor as Stocks Hit Record Highs]
One way to gain exposure to quality dividend paying stocks is through the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund (VIG) . Rosenbluth believes that VIG offers a “diversified way to get exposure to companies with dividend growth prospects,” and the fund’s “overweight” ranking is attributed to S&P’s performance risk and cost analysis. [A Closer Look at Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF]
VIG tracks a group of “dividend achievers” that have increased their dividends in each of the past 10 years.
The fund’s top holdings have a combination of attractive valuations, modest risk and strong balance sheets, according to S&P analysts. VIG, while holding a large exposure to defensive sector consumer staples, also includes cyclical exposure to industrials, consumer discretionary, energy and materials.
VIG has a 0.13% expense ratio and comes with a 2.17% 12-month yield. The ETF has outperfrmed the S&P 500 index so far this year, gaining 9.9% year-to-date, compared to the 8.8% rise in the S&P 500.
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund
Dividend_ETF
For more information on dividend stocks, visit our dividend ETFs category.
Max Chen contributed to this article.
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.
