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Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF - DNQ

Financial Services

Consumer Defensive

Healthcare

Industrials

Technology

Energy

Consumer Cyclical

Utilities

Communication Services

Basic Materials

Other

Real Estate

The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which consists of common stocks of companies that pay dividends that generally are higher than average. The adviser attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index.

Broadcom Inc

Jpmorgan Chase & Co.

Exxon Mobil Corp.

Procter & Gamble Company

Johnson & Johnson

Home Depot Inc/The

Merck & Co. Inc.

Abbvie Inc.

Walmart, Inc.

Bank Of America Corp.

Wall street.Stockmarket.Stock,Traders,Pointing,Highest,Stock,Market,On,Dynamic,Valued,Analysis

Equities

News

Technicals

Markets

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DGRO

SCHD

The analysis of daily moving averages indicates that the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF may be under pressure in the short term.

This High Yield Dividend ETF Is Signaling Bearish Trends: Is Trouble Brewing?

No Known Plans Yet

AMZN

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

NVDA

Rydex ETF Trust Rydex S&P Equal Weight ETF

SPXE

President-elect Donald Trump&#39;s victory has fueled a rally in equities. This is likely to sustain as the administration plans on &#34;tax cuts and deregulation will lead to higher corporate earnings,&#34; said Yogesh Kansal.

Trump&#39;s Deregulation Efforts To Benefit Energy, Oil And Gas Sectors, While AI Frenzy Will Boost FAANG Stocks And Nvidia, Says Fintech Insider

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iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace & Defense Index Fund

Morgan Stanley sees potential growth in technology, natural gas, and defense sectors under Trump&#39;s 2024 win but flags risks from trade, fiscal, and regulatory challenges.

Morgan Stanley Narrows Down Winning And Losing Bets In The First 100 Days Of Trump Administration

White House Damage Control Efforts

General

iShares Dow Jones US Financial Sector Index Fund

Donald Trump&#39;s win is positive for the financial and energy sectors as the &#34;pro-growth effects of fiscal stimulus currently outweigh the inflationary risks in the near term​​​&#34; according to an analyst.  

Donald Trump&#39;s Win Positive For Financials, Energy Sector As &#39;Pro-Growth Effects Will Outweigh Inflationary Pressures,&#39; Says Analyst

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CSCO


Dividend stocks offer multiple benefits for retail investors: in addition to providing a steady stream of passive income which can be reinvested to boost portfolio performance, dividends are usually a signal that a

Maximize Portfolio Income with These 3 Dividend ETFs

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Tech

IBM Expands Open-Source AI with Granite 3.0, Empowering Enterprise Flexibility

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Americans receiving Social Security payments may see less of an increase next year, according to a nonprofit group that represents senior citizens.

Social Security Payments Set For 2.5% Increase Next Year; Retirement-Oriented Dividend Stocks Like Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo See Gains

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Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC) approved for $1.91 billion in state grants to build new chip plant in Poland. Total investment estimated at $25B.

Intel Secures About $2B In State Aid For Poland Chip Plant

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IBM to lay off 1,000 employees as it closes research division in China. Plans to serve private enterprises and move R&amp;D to India.

IBM Shuts Down China Operations, Shifts Research to Global Offices: Report

ATT.AT&T

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Goldman Sachs reiterated Buy rating on AT&amp;T with a $22 price target. AT&amp;T reported Q2 revenue slightly below estimates but with strong wireless net adds and free cash flow. The stock is expected to rise following results.

AT&amp;T Expected to Rise on Strong Phone Net Additions and Robust Guidance: Analyst

Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF

According to the daily charts, this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">exchange-traded fund</a> with a high dividend yield of 3.67% has been under pressure as it has fallen below its short-term moving averages in the oversold territory.
What Happened: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>), which has an expense ratio of 0.06% and pays an annual dividend of $1.05 has declined 3.20% over the last month, as of Monday&#8217;s close. The ETF made its last dividend payment on Dec. 16, for the current year.
From a technical perspective, the analysis of daily moving averages indicates that the ETF may be under pressure in the short term.
The ETF ended at $27.87 apiece on Monday. This was below its eight and 20-day simple moving averages, of $28.30 and $28.82, respectively. As per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>, its current price was also lower than the 50-day moving average at $28.65.
However, the stock was above its 200-day moving average of $27.15, which implies that it could still be in a long-term uptrend while it is testing fresh support levels near the average value.
This trend combined with a relative strength index of 31.22 could mean that the ETF must be experiencing a bearish short-term trend but a price reversal is possible as it is near the oversold levels.
There is a possibility that the ETF is taking a breather and it could stage a strong comeback. Historically, stocks and other assets often retreat after rising to a crucial level and then bounce back.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/17073739/SCHD-Chart-Tech-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-695645" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/17073739/SCHD-Chart-Tech-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/17073739/SCHD-Chart-Tech-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/17073739/SCHD-Chart-Tech-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/17073739/SCHD-Chart-Tech-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/17073739/SCHD-Chart-Tech.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/24/12/42513306/elon-musks-tesla-nearly-5-times-more-expensive-than-industry-average-stock-surges-over-60-since-election">Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla Nearly 5 Times More Expensive Than Industry Average: Stock Surges Over 60% Since Election</a>
Why It Matters: When compared to its peers, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has the highest dividend yield for the least amount of expense ratio, <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/etf/schd/dividend-history">according to Nasdaq&#8217;s data</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Dividend ETFs </td>
<td>Expense Ratio </td>
<td>Dividend Yield </td>
<td>Annual Dividend</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) </td>
<td>0.06% </td>
<td>3.67% </td>
<td>$1.058</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYM#NYSE">VYM</a>) </td>
<td>0.06% </td>
<td>2.58% </td>
<td>$3.404</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGRO#NYSE">DGRO</a>) </td>
<td>0.08% </td>
<td>2.54% </td>
<td>$1.6123</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Core High Dividend ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HDV#NYSE">HDV</a>) </td>
<td>0.08% </td>
<td>4.23% </td>
<td>$4.9179</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Dividend ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SDY#NYSE">SDY</a>) </td>
<td>0.35% </td>
<td>2.27% </td>
<td>$3.1408</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/etf/schd/dividend-history">Source: Nasdaq</a></figcaption></figure>
However, on a year-to-date basis, Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has the poorest performance when compared to its peers.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Dividend ETFs </td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF</td>
<td>9.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares </td>
<td>17.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF </td>
<td>17.14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Core High Dividend ETF </td>
<td>10.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Dividend ETF</td>
<td>9.44%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Google Finance</figcaption></figure>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/12/42502069/gold-poised-for-its-best-year-in-a-decade-while-bitcoin-surges-analysts-eye-2025-as-a-golden-era-for-precious-metal-amid-michael-saylors-push-for-btc-as-a-reserve-asset" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gold Poised For Its Best Year In A Decade While Bitcoin Surges: Analysts Eye 2025 As A Golden Era For Precious Metal Amid Michael Saylor's Push For BTC As A Reserve Asset</a></li>
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President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s victory has fueled a rally in equities. This is likely to sustain as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42158682/donald-trumps-win-positive-for-financials-energy-sector-as-pro-growth-effects-will-outweigh-inflationary-pressures-says-analyst">administration plans</a> on &#8220;tax cuts and deregulation will lead to higher corporate earnings,&#8221; said Yogesh Kansal, chief business officer at fintech company, Appreciate. He added that highly regulated sectors like oil and gas will benefit under Trump&#8217;s administration.
What Happened: While tax cuts and deregulation are positive for the stock markets, the Trump administration&#8217;s take on immigration and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42178994/trump-says-he-will-impose-25-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-on-first-day-of-office-and-extra-tariffs-on-china-until-they-pay-attention">higher tariffs</a> have an opposing effect on the markets.
As per Kansal, with the deportation of immigrants, &#8220;the cost of labor will go up for all companies, which basically means the profitability of companies will go down.&#8221; Additionally, he said that with tariffs, the &#8220;stock prices could be lower&#8221; because of a shift in &#8220;global demand&#8221;.
Morgan Stanley, in its note dated Dec. 3, also cautions that concerns over trade tariffs, immigration policies, fiscal sustainability, and how the scope and timing of new policies may constrain the broader economic outlook. The global financial services firm anticipates growth and innovation, particularly in the technology and natural gas sectors.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42158682/donald-trumps-win-positive-for-financials-energy-sector-as-pro-growth-effects-will-outweigh-inflationary-pressures-says-analyst">Donald Trump&#8217;s Win Positive For Financials, Energy Sector As &#8216;Pro-Growth Effects Will Outweigh Inflationary Pressures,&#8217; Says Analyst</a>
Why It Matters: According to Kansal, highly regulated industries like &#8220;energy, oil and gas, health care, and banking will be seeing tailwinds&#8221; because of the deregulation attempts.
Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight ETF (ACRA: RSP) has risen by 17.3% on a year-to-date basis. While, the iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWD#NYSE">IWD</a>) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYM#NYSE">VYM</a>) advanced by 18.56% and 18.96%, respectively, in the same period, underperforming the S&amp;P 500 on a year-to-date basis, which has grown by 28.41% in the same period.
On the other hand, ProShares S&amp;P 500 Ex-Energy ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPXE#NYSE">SPXE</a>) grew by 28.85% year-to-date, outperforming the index.
Other analysts have also said that Trump&#8217;s victory will lead to a boom in the energy sector. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42158682/donald-trumps-win-positive-for-financials-energy-sector-as-pro-growth-effects-will-outweigh-inflationary-pressures-says-analyst">According to</a> Mario Georgiou, CFA and executive director, head of investments at InCred Global Wealth U.K., "deregulation supporting oil production and geopolitical risks could sustain elevated oil prices and relative valuations are attractive."
Even though the energy sector has underperformed the broader markets in 2024, "fundamentally, companies are shareholder friendly with 8-12% shareholder yields, have strong balance sheets with low net debt to EBITDA ratios and high free cash flow yields of 6.50% and above," he adds.
As per Morgan Stanley, the energy sector faces a divided future. Trump&#8217;s deregulation could benefit traditional energy, but the outlook for oil is uncertain due to potential oversupply and weak global demand, especially from China. In contrast, natural gas may see growth from strong European demand and increased domestic use for electrification and AI-powered data centers. The clean energy sector could face challenges, if Trump rollbacks Biden&#8217;s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. However, a full repeal seems unlikely due to the benefits for Republican states.
Kansal, on the other hand, was also positive about the technology sector given the rise in the A-I frenzy. &#8220;The biggest factor that is driving the U.S. stock market right now is AI. There&#8217;s a lot of activity, lots of investment that has gone in because of the expectation of AI increasing productivity,&#8221; he said.
However, Georgiou said, &#8220;Rising bond yields increase the discount rate applied to future earnings, disproportionately affecting high-growth sectors like technology. We therefore prefer higher quality tech companies, avoiding highly leveraged, unprofitable tech stocks. This does not make us underweight Technology, as there are sufficient high-quality companies in this sector to make up the allocation with.&#8221;
Major AI payers in the U.S. stock markets include Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) with a 195.7% year-to-date gain and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) with stock gains of 19.6% in the same period.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) rose by 51.42% and 26.46% year-to-date, respectively. &#8220;So I think in the next 12 months, software as well as hardware, technology industries will do well including FAANG stocks and Nvidia,&#8221; Kansal added.
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Trump's Deregulation Efforts To Benefit Energy, Oil And Gas Sectors, While AI Frenzy Will Boost FAANG Stocks And Nvidia, Says Fintech Insider

The Republican party&#8217;s win in the 2024 elections could pave the way for significant policy changes, according to Morgan Stanley. The global financial services firm anticipates growth and innovation, particularly in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42158682/donald-trumps-win-positive-for-financials-energy-sector-as-pro-growth-effects-will-outweigh-inflationary-pressures-says-analyst">technology </a>and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-natural-gas-stocks">natural gas</a> sectors. However, it also cautions that concerns over trade tariffs, immigration policies, fiscal sustainability, and the scope and timing of new policies may constrain the broader economic outlook.
Morgan Stanley&#8217;s Picks
Markets have reacted positively to President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s victory and have been trading higher than the pre-election levels. However, slower-than-expected deregulation and shallower tax cuts could impact the markets, Morgan Stanley's Global Investment Office believes investors should keep an eye on the following areas:
Energy As per Morgan Stanley, the energy sector faces a divided future. Trump&#8217;s deregulation could benefit traditional energy, but oil&#8217;s outlook is uncertain due to potential oversupply and weak global demand, especially from China. In contrast, natural gas may see growth from strong European demand and increased domestic use for electrification and AI-powered data centers. The clean energy sector could face challenges, if Trump rollbacks Biden&#8217;s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. But a full repeal seems unlikely due to the benefits for Republican states.
Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight ETF (ACRA: RSP) has risen by 17.36% on a year-to-date basis. While, the iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (ACRA: IWD) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF (ACRA: VYM) advanced by 18.56% and 18.96%, respectively, in the same period, underperforming the S&amp;P 500 on a year-to-date basis, which has grown by 28.41% in the same period. Whereas, ProShares S&amp;P 500 Ex-Energy ETF (ACRA: SPXE) grew by 28.85% year-to-date, outperforming the index.
Also read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42158682/donald-trumps-win-positive-for-financials-energy-sector-as-pro-growth-effects-will-outweigh-inflationary-pressures-says-analyst">Donald Trump&#8217;s Win Positive For Financials, Energy Sector As &#8216;Pro-Growth Effects Will Outweigh Inflationary Pressures,&#8217; Says Analyst</a>
Defense U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42369000/booz-allen-and-palantir-partner-to-drive-us-defense-operations">defense</a> spending is expected to stay robust amid rising geopolitical tensions, says Morgan Stanley. However, European defense stocks have outperformed U.S. ones due to uncertainty about U.S. NATO involvement and increased spending by other NATO members.
Trump during his first post-election network interview with NBC News on Sunday said &#8220;If they&#8217;re paying their bills, and if I think they&#8217;re treating us fairly, absolutely, I would stay with NATO.&#8221;
Moreover, technological advancements in cybersecurity, AI, drones, and other areas are also favoring smaller, specialized companies over traditional defense giants, added Morgan Stanley.
As per the <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data, the S&amp;P 500 Aerospace &amp; Defense Industry Index has risen by 15.78% year-to-date, whereas Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), RTX Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) and iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (ACRA: ITA) have grown by 12.48%, 38.45% and 20.15%, respectively in the same period.
Also read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42317289/ray-dalios-bridgewater-adds-broadcom-apple-smci-in-q3-while-offloading-stake-in-ai-giant-nvidia-and">Ray Dalio&#8217;s Bridgewater Adds Broadcom, Apple, SMCI In Q3, While Offloading Stake In AI Giant Nvidia And Other Big Tech Companies</a>
Technology And Communication According to Morgan Stanley, the technology sector may see mixed outcomes. Cryptocurrencies and AI industries could benefit from Trump&#8217;s favorable stance. Whereas investments in reshoring semiconductors through the CHIPS Act may strengthen those areas, highlighting AI as a national security priority. However, social media and information companies may continue facing regulatory and antitrust challenges.
Major AI payers in the U.S. stock markets include Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) with a 195.7% year-to-date performance and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) 19.6% growth in the same period. Whereas, Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) rose by 51.42% and 26.46% year-to-date, respectively.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42283257/charles-schwab-goldman-sachs-invesco-add-mara-holdings-morgan-stanley-cuts-stake-here-is-what-changed-with-mara-holdings-in-q3">Charles Schwab, Goldman Sachs Boosts MARA Stake As Stock Rallies 30% In Past 6 Months: Morgan Stanley, Other Major Funds Trim Positions In Q3</a>

Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/24/11/41968003/gold-drops-to-a-two-month-low-as-investors-turn-to-bitcoin-after-trumps-victory-but-this-economist-remains-confident-that-gold-will-surge">win is positive for the financial and energy sectors</a> as the &#8220;pro-growth effects of fiscal stimulus currently outweigh the inflationary risks in the near term​​​&#8221; according to an analyst. 
What Happened: Mario Georgiou, CFA and executive director, head of investments at InCred Global Wealth U.K., in an exclusive conversation with <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga</a>, described tax cuts and deregulation as tailwinds to the markets. He considers inflationary policies such as tariffs and immigration impacts as headwinds, leading to a steepening yield curve, and higher term premiums.
&#8220;Financials offer an attractive risk-reward and that this recent post-election rally has room to run,&#8221; added Georgiou. According to him &#8220;financials are not only well positioned to capture the benefits of the above-mentioned Trump tailwinds, but are also less impacted / would even benefit from the Trump headwinds.&#8221;
Despite a few dips, the equity markets have been trading higher than the pre-election levels after President-elect Trump&#8217;s victory. The S&amp;P 500 has increased by 3.22%, rising from $5,782.76 on Nov. 5 to $5,969.34 as of Friday&#8217;s close. The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) which tracks the S&amp;P 500 Index has had a similar momentum, according to data from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Meanwhile, Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ACRA: XLF), Vanguard Financials ETF (ACRA: VFH), iShares U.S. Financials ETF (ACRA: IYF), and SPDR S&amp;P Bank ETF (ACRA: KBE), have returned over 30% year-to-date in 2024 outperforming the S&amp;P 500 Index&#8217;s 26% run.
Also read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42131911/donald-trump-appointed-doge-to-have-marginal-impact-saving-50-100-billion-says-analyst-as-elon-musk-aims-to-target-500-billion-plus-in-federal-expenditures">Donald Trump&#8217;s DOGE Initiative To Have &#8216;Marginal Impact&#8217; Says Analyst As Elon Musk Aims To Target Over $500B In Federal Expenditures</a>
Other sectors that Georgiou prefers, include energy. According to him &#8220;deregulation supporting oil production and geopolitical risks could sustain elevated oil prices and relative valuations are attractive.&#8221;
Even though the energy sector has underperformed the broader markets in 2024, &#8220;fundamentally, companies are shareholder friendly with 8-12% shareholder yields, have strong balance sheets with low net debt to EBITDA ratios and high free cash flow yields of 6.50% and above,&#8221; he adds.
Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight ETF (ACRA: RSP), iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (ACRA: IWD), Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF (ACRA: VYM) and ProShares S&amp;P 500 Ex-Energy ETF (ACRA: SPXE) have all underperformed the S&amp;P 500 on a year-to-date basis.
Why It Matters: As markets hit their 51st record high of 2024 and the S&amp;P 500 Index crossed 6,000 points, some analysts caution that<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42134031/markets-got-it-wrong-after-elections-prospects-of-tariffs-not-good-for-equities-vs-dollar-says-ex-goldman-sachs-analyst"> tariffs could pose risks </a>to equities and suggest that the market may be overvalued.
&#8220;The prospect of tariffs isn't obviously good for equities, while it's clearly good for the Dollar," former Goldman Sachs FX strategist and senior fellow at Brookings Institution, Robin Brooks said in an X post. "Markets initially got this wrong, driving stocks up sharply right after Nov. 5,&#8221; he added.
However, Georgiou is &#8220;cautiously optimistic&#8221; about the markets, he said &#8220;a neutral to fully invested equity allocation is warranted, with a focus on sectors benefiting from Trump's policies, whilst always maintaining our core investment principles, which is a focus on fundamentals, quality, and risk management.&#8221;
<ul>
<li>Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42134031/markets-got-it-wrong-after-elections-prospects-of-tariffs-not-good-for-equities-vs-dollar-says-ex-goldman-sachs-analyst">Markets Misread Trump Win, Says Ex-Goldman Sachs Analyst: &#8216;Prospects Of Tariffs Not Good For Equities&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Flickr

Donald Trump's Win Positive For Financials, Energy Sector As 'Pro-Growth Effects Will Outweigh Inflationary Pressures,' Says Analyst

International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>) showcased its latest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/n41420523/ibm-introduces-granite-3-0-high-performing-ai-models-built-for-business" rel="noreferrer noopener">advancement in artificial intelligence</a> with the release of Granite 3.0, the company&#8217;s most sophisticated family of AI models. The announcement was made during IBM&#8217;s annual TechXchange event.
The Granite 3.0 models address the growing demand for AI transparency, safety, and performance, particularly in enterprise settings.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41407196/openais-for-profit-structure-adds-valuation-complexity-to-microsoft-and-other-equity-investors-repor" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI&#8217;s For Profit Structure Adds Valuation Complexity to Microsoft And Other Equity Investors: Report</a>
Available under the open-source Apache 2.0 license, Granite 3.0 aims to provide flexible AI solutions for businesses seeking cutting-edge performance with greater control and adaptability.
Open Source Initiative (OSI) called out Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41388451/metas-ai-open-source-claims-draw-criticism-osi-pushes-for-transparency" rel="noreferrer noopener">labeling its AI models</a> as &#8220;open-source.&#8221; OSI head Stefano Maffulli reportedly accused Meta of misleading users about open-source technology, raising concerns about the company&#8217;s claims. Meanwhile, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg has been a vocal supporter of open-source and criticized closed-source AI platforms, including ChatGPT parent OpenAI, for stifling creative freedom and development.
IBM&#8217;s Granite 3.0 series includes diverse models designed for various enterprise tasks.
The Granite 3.0 models, which support more than 12 natural and 116 programming languages, were developed using an innovative two-stage training method.
IBM continues emphasizing responsible AI development by introducing Granite Guardian 3.0, a family of models focused on safety and risk detection.
IBM aims to further support enterprise AI initiatives by integrating these models into various platforms, such as Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) NIM microservices and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google Cloud&#8217;s Vertex AI Model Garden.
Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) recently introduced an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41139084/nvidia-expands-ai-offerings-with-new-open-source-models-and-unreal-engine-5-plugins" rel="noreferrer noopener">open-source AI</a> model. The NVLM 1.0 model offers advanced capabilities for vision and language tasks, enhancing the company&#8217;s AI toolkit for developers.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41420779/dan-ives-acknowledges-nvidia-microsoft-as-core-drivers-of-ai-but-sees-palantir-ibm-amd-and-apple" rel="noreferrer noopener">highlighted IBM&#8217;s potential</a> driven by the AI boom, predicting that ongoing momentum, increasing enterprise spending, and a rebound in digital advertising will drive tech stocks upward by year-end.
IBM stock gained over 70% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Vanguard Div Appreciation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIG#NYSE">VIG</a>) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYM#NYSE">VYM</a>).
Price Action: IBM stock closed lower by 0.29% at $232.20 on Friday.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
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Americans receiving <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40800774/gen-xs-looming-retirement-crisis-is-worse-than-they-realize-expert-compares-it-to-being-handed-a">Social Security payments</a> may see less of an increase next year, according to a nonprofit group that represents senior citizens.
The Social Security Administration is poised to announce its yearly cost of living adjustment (COLA) for payments to 71 million Americans in the middle of next month, effective in January 2025. The government agency handed out a 3.2% increase for this year last October.
The Senior Citizens League expects a 2.5% increase for next year, based on inflation falling from 2.9% in July to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40815794/fed-is-all-clear-for-launch-on-cutting-rates-as-inflation-falls-to-lowest-point-in-">2.5% in August</a>.
By law, the annual inflation adjustment is based on the average inflation during July, August, and September&nbsp;as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40817544/report-warns-of-16-500-annual-social-security-benefit-cut-for-dual-income-couples-by-2033">Report Warns of $16,500 Annual Social Security Benefit Cut for Dual-Income Couples by 2033</a>
The Bureau of Labor Statistics averages the CPI-W for these three months and then compares it with the same time frame from the previous year. The percentage difference between the two is the COLA, payable for checks received in January 2025. 
The league says the expected 2.5% increase will not be enough for seniors to meet the higher cost of living. 
Nearly 80% of senior households report that their monthly budget for essential items like food, housing, and prescription drugs had increased over the last 12 months, according to a 2024 survey taken by the organization. Almost two-thirds &#8212; 63% &#8212; say they&#8217;re worried that their income won&#8217;t be enough to cover these basic costs in the coming months.
&#8220;Ensuring that seniors have enough to feed and house themselves with dignity is a major reason why we advocate for a minimum COLA of 3%,&#8221; said Shannon Benton, the league&#8217;s executive&nbsp;director.&nbsp;
She said about two-thirds of seniors rely on Social Security for more than half of their monthly income, and 28% depend on it entirely.
Retirement Stocks
Dividend-yielding, retirement-oriented stocks, typically selected for their risk-averse nature, experienced mixed performance by midday trading on Monday.
<ul>
<li>Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) gained 0.92% to $72.06.</li>
<li>Anhueser Busch InBev (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>) slipped 0.41% to $64.63.</li>
<li>Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/D#NYSE">D</a>) rose 1.07% to $58.78.</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) slipped 0.19% to $429.78.</li>
</ul>
Retirement ETFs
Exchange-traded funds that are well suited for retirement trended upward on Monday.
<ul>
<li>Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYM#NYSE">VYM</a>) rose 0.41%.</li>
<li>IShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) gained 0.34%.</li>
<li>Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VT#NYSE">VT</a>) edged up 0.53%.</li>
<li>IShares Cohen &amp; Steers REIT ETF ((BATS: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/icf#BATS">ICF</a>) went up 0.20%.</li>
<li>Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BND#NASDAQ">BND</a>) inched up 0.21%.</li>
</ul>
Retirement Plan Stocks
Financial service firms that offer retirement plans were also on the upswing on Monday.
<ul>
<li>The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>) picked up 2.5% to $63.67.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) gained 1.89% to $53.78.</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) gained 1.47% to $201.33.</li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40695081/we-should-not-just-be-dependent-upon-the-payroll-tax-to-fund-social-security-says-retirement-exp">&#8216;We Should Not Just Be Dependent Upon The Payroll Tax&#8217; To Fund Social Security, Says Retirement Expert Teresa Ghilarducci</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Intel Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) has bagged approval from the European Commission to provide over 7.4 billion Polish złoty ($1.91 billion) in state grants to support building the chipmaker&#8217;s new chip plant.
The European Commission will disburse the grant between 2024 and 2026, Reuters cites Poland&#8217;s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski.
Intel chose Poland over Vietnam, citing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39667470/whats-going-on-with-intel-stock-on-monday" rel="noreferrer noopener">insufficient investment incentives</a>.
Intel initially announced plans in 2022 to invest up to $4.6 billion in building a semiconductor assembly and test facility near Wroclaw, Poland.
The process will likely be over by the end of 2024, Reuters cites Poland&#8217;s Deputy Digital Affairs Minister Dariusz Standerski. Construction on the plant could begin later this year.
Intel stock has been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/09/40747080/intel-eyes-mobileye-stake-sale-amid-pressure-stock-slides" rel="noreferrer noopener">down 50% in</a> the last 12 months as it has failed to capitalize on the industry&#8217;s shift to artificial intelligence. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/09/40747080/intel-eyes-mobileye-stake-sale-amid-pressure-stock-slides" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to recent reports</a>, it is eying a strategic stake sale of the Israeli autonomous driving company Mobileye Global Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBLY#NASDAQ">MBLY</a>) and its Enterprise Networking division.
Investors can gain exposure to Intel through SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Technology (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYM#NYSE">VYM</a>).
Price Action: INTC stock is up 1.47% at $19.65 at the last check on Friday.
Photo via Shutterstock

International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>)&nbsp;is laying off 1,000 employees as it shutters a fundamental research division in China.
The company is shuttering two business lines specializing in research, development, and testing, Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-26/ibm-to-shut-china-r-d-in-move-affecting-1-000-staff-yicai-says?srnd=phx-technology&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
IBM proposes to serve private enterprises and select multinationals operating in China.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40166316/ibm-leverages-generative-ai-to-boost-cybersecurity-services-details" rel="noreferrer noopener">IBM Leverages Generative AI To Boost Cybersecurity Services: Details</a>
The shutdown of operation mirrors that of a host of companies reducing exposure to China, grappling with a weak domestic economy and regulatory scrutiny.
IBM plans to migrate its Chinese R&amp;D functions to offices elsewhere, the Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/business/ibm-shuts-china-r-d-operations-in-latest-retreat-by-u-s-companies-b37cd9a0?mod=tech_lead_story" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports citing</a> Jack Hergenrother, a company vice president. The company is also looking for more engineers and researchers in places like Bangalore, India.
IBM&#8217;s move follows intensifying semiconductor sanctions on China by the U.S. backed by the retaliation from China.
In July, IBM reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39943619/ibm-shares-climb-on-strong-q2-results-heres-the-details" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter sales</a> of $15.8 billion, up by 2.1% year-on-year, beating the analyst estimate of $15.6 billion.&nbsp;EPS of $2.43 topped the consensus estimate of $2.19.
IBM stock is up over 34% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Vanguard Div Appreciation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIG#NYSE">VIG</a>) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYM#NYSE">VYM</a>).
Price Action: IBM stock is down&nbsp;0.11%&nbsp;at&nbsp;$195.89 premarket at the last check Monday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40125849/ibm-backed-japanese-startup-rapidus-to-begin-test-production-of-2-nanometer-semiconductors-in-ap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IBM-Backed Japanese Startup Rapidus To Begin Test Production Of 2-Nanometer Semiconductors In April, Revitalizing Japan&#8217;s Chip Industry</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Goldman Sachs analyst James Schneider reiterated a Buy rating on AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) with a price target of $22.
AT&amp;T reported fiscal 2024 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39929205/at-t-q2-earnings-strong-wireless-net-adds-higher-free-cash-flow-stable-annual-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter revenue</a> of $29.8 billion — just below Goldman Sachs&#8217;s and the Stret&#8217;s estimate of $30 billion. 
<ul>
<li>Adjusted EBITDA of $11.34 billion was in line with Goldman Sachs&#8217;s estimate of $11.37 billion and the Street&#8217;s estimate of $11.31 billion.  </li>
<li>Free cash flow of $4.6 billion was above Goldman Sachs&#8217;s estimate at $4.3 billion and the Street at $4.3 billion on lower capital investment. </li>
<li>Wireless service revenue of $16.3 billion was in line with Goldman Sachs&#8217;s estimate at $16.2 billion, and the Street at $16.2 billion.</li>
<li>Postpaid phone net adds came in at over 419,000, which was well ahead of Goldman Sachs at more than 275,000 and the Street at more than 266,000. </li>
<li>Wireless EBITDA of $9.20 billion was in line with Goldman Sachs&#8217;s estimate at $9.29 billion and the Street at $9.18 billion.</li>
<li>Fiber net additions of 239,000-plus were below Goldman Sachs&#8217;s at +260k and the Street&#8217;s at more than 255,000.</li>
<li>Wireless service revenue growth stands at +3% versus Goldman Sachs&#8217;s estimate of +3.2% and the Street at +3.1%.</li>
<li>Adjusted EPS remains at $2.15-$2.25 versus Goldman Sachs&#8217;s estimate at $2.24 and the Street at $2.20.</li>
</ul>
Schneider expects the stock to trade modestly higher following results given more robust phone net additions, in light of lowered expectations following a Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39883078/verizon-q2-earnings-wireless-revenue-and-broadband-subs-gain-traction-sales-fall-short-of-expectati" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>. 
Price Action: AT&amp;T stock gained 27% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYM#NYSE">VYM</a>) and Vanguard Value ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTV#NYSE">VTV</a>). T shares traded higher by 4.26% at $18.98 at the last check on Wednesday.
Now Read: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39934981/us-services-activity-hits-28-month-peak-price-pressures-continue-to-ease-economist-">US Services Activity Hits 28-Month Peak, Price Pressures Continue To Ease: Economist Calls It &#8216;A Goldilocks Scenario&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

AT&T Expected to Rise on Strong Phone Net Additions and Robust Guidance: Analyst

Around 15% of Americans said they were planning to participate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/01/36458567/why-do-people-choose-not-to-drink-alcohol-for-a-month-is-weed-a-good-alternative-for-dry-january">this year in Dry January</a> — a month of abstinence from alcohol — according to a survey by Morning Consult.
Most cite the health benefits from taking a break from the bottle, but it has its financial benefits too. Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-01-04/dry-january-here-s-how-much-money-you-save-by-staying-sober?sref=TBDibEcD">reports </a>that alcohol-tracking app &#8220;I Am Sober&#8221; found that more than half its users saved more than $15 a day by abandoning drink last year.
But what do you do with those savings? Treat yourself to a new TV? Take a holiday? Or invest the money to keep it growing?
The last time I gave up drinking was during the first U.K. Covid lockdown in spring 2020. I was in denial about my favorite watering hole, The Blue Pig, being closed and stayed alcohol-free for three months. This changed my drinking habits totally.
Before Covid, I could spend anywhere between $75-$120 a week in the pub. Now, I spend only around $50. But during those three sober months in spring 2020, I saved around $1,200, and chose to put this money into a dividend yield equity individual savings account (ISA), a type of U.K. tax-free savings plan, which generally yields around 5% per year.
For context, a comparable type of investment in the U.S. might be something like the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYM#NYSE">VYM</a>). This ETF tracks U.S. companies known for high dividend yields and reinvests these dividends, aligning with long-term investment approaches. It has experienced significant growth since its low point in March 2020.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="650" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05112632/newplot-21.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-175221" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05112632/newplot-21.jpeg 650w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05112632/newplot-21-300x300.jpeg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05112632/newplot-21-150x150.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></figure>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/01/36456513/new-year-resolution-stocks-can-getting-fitter-be-a-winner-on-the-stock-market">New Year Resolution Stocks: Can Getting Fitter Be A Winner On The Stock Market?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Year Resolution Trades</h2>
So, what other interesting investments could be made using the money saved during an investor&#8217;s Dry January?
New Year&#8217;s resolutions could provide some ideas. Most resolutions involve <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/01/36456513/new-year-resolution-stocks-can-getting-fitter-be-a-winner-on-the-stock-market">getting healthier</a>, as gym memberships tend to flourish in January.
But be advised — according to a Forbes survey, these health commitments often don&#8217;t endure. Typically, they last only one to two months, as disappointment from limited progress and the lure of less healthy activities lead most people to abandon their gym memberships. This suggests that investing in fitness clubs might not be the best strategy.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Healthcare Stocks Starting The Year Well</h2>
Healthcare stocks could be a good route. The pharmaceutical industry is actively competing in the development of weight-loss medications. Stocks such as Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) have already made blockbuster gains in 2023 related to sales of their weight-loss treatments.
But Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), unliked by investors in 2023, is close to releasing its diabetes/weight-loss treatment. Marc Chaikin, CEO of Chaikin Analytics, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/36497683/exclusive-buy-the-dip-theres-a-lot-more-upside-to-come-says-marc-chaikin">told Benzinga</a>&#8216;s Pre-Market Prep this week that he&#8217;d turned bullish on the stock — it&#8217;s up 1% this week.
And the best performing stocks during a week when investors might well have sought solace in a drink, were Moderna (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NYSE">MRNA</a>) up 9% this week, after Oppenheimer upgraded the stock on optimism about its vaccines, and Merck &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), up 7.4%.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Investing In Alcohol Stocks Amid Sobriety</h2>
How could alcohol company stocks respond if people choose to abstain from drinking in January?
It remains unclear, but so far in the first week of January it&#8217;s not looking too bad. Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAP#NYSE">TAP</a>) is up 1.1%, and Constellation Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STZ#NYSE">STZ</a>) is 3.5% higher.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/36497683/exclusive-buy-the-dip-theres-a-lot-more-upside-to-come-says-marc-chaikin">EXCLUSIVE: Buy The Dip — There&#8217;s A Lot More Upside To Come, Says Marc Chaikin</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Large Cap

Mid Cap

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Health Care

MRNA

Dry January Investing: Trading Pints For Portfolio Growth

Investing in an exchange-traded fund that invests in large cap dividend stocks can be a great way to secure passive income.
Additionally, investing in such an ETF will allow&nbsp;diversification of&nbsp;a portfolio so it&nbsp;becomes more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/22/09/29104159/as-the-spread-between-the-dividend-yields-and-bond-yields-widens-to-levels-unseen-since-2011-these-2">immune to unsystematic risk.</a>&nbsp;This type of risk&nbsp;is unique to a specific company or industry and can be mitigated&nbsp;through diversification.
Systematic risk on the other hand is a type of risk that impacts the broader market&nbsp;and can be mitigated by investing in international markets, but cannot be completely eliminated.
Check out&nbsp;two dividend ETFs that can&nbsp;help with unsystematic risk.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/22/09/28763841/invest-with-these-2-high-yielding-dividend-etfs-for-an-easier-diversified-strategy">2 High-Yielding Dividend ETFs That May Help Diversify Your Investment Strategy</a>
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (ARCA: SCHD) is offering a dividend yield of 3.23% or $2.48 per share annually, making quarterly payments, with a solid track record of increasing its dividends for nine consecutive years.
The goal of Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index.
The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF&rsquo;s top three holdings include Merck &amp; Co Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrk#NYSE">MRK</a>) 4.32%, Pfizer Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) 4.14%, and PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pep#NASDAQ">PEP</a>) 4.11%, as of Sept. 30, 2022.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/vanguard-review/">Vanguard</a> High Dividend Yield ETF (ARCA: VYM) is offering a dividend yield of 2.92% or $3.22 per share annually, through quarterly payments, with a strong track record of increasing its dividends for 11 consecutive years.
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF seeks to track the performance of the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which measures the investment return of common stocks of companies characterized by high dividend yields.
The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF&rsquo;s top three holdings include Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jnj#NYSE">JNJ</a>) 3.44%, Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xom#NYSE">XOM</a>) 2.92% and JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jpm#NYSE">JPM</a>) 2.44%, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/22/11/29505353/jpmorgan-jumps-into-healthcare-space-as-vc-funding-slows-valuations-fall">as of Sept. 30, 2022</a>.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/22/11/29684333/as-cathie-woods-ark-etf-surges-these-7-stocks-in-the-fund-are-up-over-20-in-5-days">As Cathie Wood&#39;s ARK ETF Surges, These 7 Stocks In The Fund Are Up Over 20% In 5 Days</a>
Photo: Shutterstock
&nbsp;

Long Ideas

Dividends

Specialty ETFs

These 2 Dividend Paying ETFs Have A Track Record For Increasing Payments, Can Help Diversify Against Industry Risk

The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>) is already one of the largest domestic dividend exchange traded funds and the fund is continuing to grow thanks to more than $2 billion in year-to-date inflows, but understanding why investors are fond of this fund is as important as knowing that VYM continues attracting assets.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
VYM, which tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, is up 14.62%. Yes, that lags the S&amp;P 500 and other major domestic equity benchmarks, but investors&#39; fondness for the Vanguard fund can be attributable to its reduced volatility relative to standard indexes and its 3.12% dividend yield.
These days, 3.12% may be considered &ldquo;high&rdquo; in yield terms, but it&#39;s not so high that investors are forced to ponder potential dividend cuts among the fund&#39;s components. In fact, it&#39;s not a stretch to say that few if any of VYM&#39;s holdings are credible near-term dividend offenders and the same is true of most if not all of its top 10 holdings, a group that combines for <a href="https://investor.vanguard.com/etf/profile/portfolio/vym">26.50% of the fund&#39;s roster.</a>
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
Additionally, VYM&#39;s market capitalization weighting steers the fund toward large- and mega-cap companies with strong balance sheets and away from firms that could be dividend cutters.
&ldquo;But this fund weights its holdings by market capitalization, which tilts it toward relatively larger companies that are more likely to maintain their dividend payments,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/articles/950301/this-etf-offers-high-yield-while-keeping-risk-in-check">said Morningstar in a recent note</a>. &ldquo;Its average market capitalization has historically run higher than the Russell 1000 Value Index. Market-cap weighting also cuts back on turnover and the related trading costs.&rdquo;
Though its positioned as a &ldquo;high yield&rdquo; ETF, VYM has no exposure to real estate stocks and allocates just 9.2% of its weight to utilities names. Four other sectors &ndash; financial services, consumer goods, health care and technology &ndash; command larger weights in VYM than utilities.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
A longer-lasting return to value stocks would likely fuel upside for VYM given its value leanings.
&ldquo;The fund&rsquo;s focus on dividend yield means it has a value orientation,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;It ranked among the better-performing funds in the large-value Morningstar Category over the 10 years through August 2019. But value strategies underperformed the wider U.S. market over the past decade and this strategy was no exception. It lagged the Russell 1000 Index by 1 percentage point annually over the same stretch.&rdquo;
The research firm has a Silver rating on VYM.
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Investors Love This Vanguard Dividend ETF

Ten-year Treasury yields closed at a paltry 1.49% on Tuesday, so it&#39;s not particularly surprising some investors are clamoring for high dividend strategies and doing so with exchange traded funds.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
Four of the 10 largest domestic dividend ETFs are yield-based strategies and while each of those funds are trailing the S&amp;P 500 on a year-to-date basis, all four offer higher dividend yields than the benchmark U.S. equity gauge and each has some defensive positioning that could prove useful if markets continue faltering.
Year to date, the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>) and the iShares Core High Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hdv#NYSE">HDV</a>) are each up about 10%, putting them atop the yield-based dividend ETF field.
&ldquo;Four of the ten largest U.S. dividend ETFs can be considered dividend-yield oriented. These ETFs offer 12-month yields above 3% and have relatively high exposure in defensive sectors,&rdquo; said <a href="https://newpublic.cfraresearch.com/">CFRA Research</a> Director of ETF &amp; Mutual Fund Research Todd Rosenbluth in a note out Tuesday.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
The $7 billion HDV, which tracks the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index, holds 75 stocks and has a trailing 12-month yield of 3.26%.
HDV&#39;s 10.27% year-to-date gain is arguably impressive when noting the fund devotes over 40% of its combined weight to energy and healthcare stocks. Those are two of this year&#39;s worst-performing sectors.
For investors looking to skirt the risks associated with the energy patch while still maintaining yield exposure, the iShares Select Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dvy#NYSE">DVY</a>) makes sense. That ETF is also up about 10% this year, but is more traditional in its yield approach as it allocates 27% of its weight to the utilities sector. That makes DVY positively correlated to declining interest rates while driving a trailing 12-month yield of 3.36%.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
&ldquo;DVY holds only 102 securities that have paid dividends for the last five years and have a sufficiently strong earnings-to-dividend-per-share coverage ratio,&rdquo; said Rosenbluth.
That&#39;s an important consideration with high dividend strategies because some high-yield stocks are burdened by their dividends and could cut or suspend those payouts.
CFRA has Overweight&nbsp;ratings on each of the ETFs mentioned here. Over the past three years, DVY and HDV have been the least volatile of the four big yield-based ETFs.
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Analyst Color

iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund

Talking About Yield With Dividend ETFs

The Vanguard High Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>) is one of the largest domestic dividend exchange traded funds, ascending to favored status among income investors due to a combination of low fees and an emphasis on high dividend stocks with yields that are not so high that the payouts are at risk of being cut.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
VYM&#39;s success spurred the creation of an international counterpart, the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vymi#NASDAQ">VYMI</a>). VYMI follows the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, which is a collection of ex-US dividend payers with above-average yields. This is not a dedicated developed markets fund <a href="https://investor.vanguard.com/etf/profile/portfolio/vymi">as 21.4%</a>&nbsp;of VYMI&#39;s 1,021 holdings hail from emerging markets.
Indeed, VYMI&#39;s yield of 4.22% is above average. That is nearly 200 basis points higher than the yield on the MSCI All Country World ex-US Index.
&ldquo;Strategies that emphasize stocks with high dividend yields can be attractive for the income that they provide, and regular dividend payments can help investors stay invested through market downturns,&rdquo; said Morningstar <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/articles/933254/a-better-highyield-strategy.html">in a recent note</a>. &ldquo;But high dividend yields are often a consequence of price declines, and high-yielding stocks tend to trade at lower valuations than the broader market. Declining stock prices are usually caused by weakening fundamentals and poor growth prospects, which makes them risky.&rdquo;
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
How high-yield dividend funds are constructed matters. VYMI has a sturdy template to follow in its established domestic counterpart VYM, a fund with an above-average yield, but <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/19/02/13262348/a-dividend-etf-perfect-for-retirement-accounts">surprisingly low</a> allocations to sectors often viewed as high-yield destinations.
VYMI &ldquo;mitigates the impact of risky stocks through broad diversification and weights its holdings by market cap,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;This approach emphasizes large, stable firms and can indirectly tilt the portfolio toward companies that are highly profitable and more likely to continue their dividend payments.&rdquo;
The median market value of VYMI&#39;s holdings is $41.4 billion and the fund is not risky at the geographic level as the U.K. and Japan combine for about a third of the fund&#39;s weight. Foreign dividends can be more volatile than U.S. payouts and VYMI seeks to temper some of that volatility by not capping sector weights, which can lead to some large sector-level bets.
&ldquo;This approach was intentionally employed to preserve the emphasis on stocks with high dividend yields,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;Currently, this fund has 35% of its assets in stocks from the financial-services sector compared with 22% for its starting universe. This bias is a source of sector-specific risk.&rdquo;
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
While VYMI features some emerging markets exposure, its returns and annualized volatility over the past three years are more comparable to major ex-US developed markets benchmarks. Morningstar has a Bronze rating on VYMI.
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VYMI

A Classic High Dividend ETF Still Looks Strong

Vanguard, the second-largest U.S. issuer of exchange traded funds, is again wielding its low-cost sword.
On April 26, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/vanguard-review/">Vanguard</a> said it&#39;s lowering fees on 21 of its ETFs, including its two largest funds, the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>) and the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vti#NYSE">VTI</a>).
<h3>What Happened</h3>
VTI and VOO are the third- and fourth-largest U.S.-listed ETFs, respectively, and are <a href="https://etfdb.com/compare/market-cap/">two of the four</a> ETFs with more than $100 billion in assets under management. The $114.79 billion VTI is now charging 0.03 percent year, or $3 on a $10,000 investment, down from 0.04 percent. The $112.94 billion VOO also saw its annual fee reduced to 0.03 percent from 0.04 percent.
Including VOO and VTI, Vanguard announced lower fees on <a href="https://investornews.vanguard/lower-expense-ratios-on-21-vanguard-etfs-means-more-savings-for-you/">eight domestic ETFs</a>. The following ETFs saw their fees reduced to 0.04 percent from 0.05 percent: The Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vug#NYSE">VUG</a>), the Vanguard Value ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vtv#NYSE">VTV</a>), the Vanguard Large-Cap ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vv#NYSE">VV</a>) and the Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vo#NYSE">VO</a>).
The Vanguard Extended Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vxf#NYSE">VXF</a>) saw its annual fee pared to 0.07 percent from 0.08 percent while the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>) is charging 0.06 percent, down from 0.08 percent.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
As issuers have reduced fees across product lineups, international funds have steadily gotten cheaper. Nine international equity ETFs are part of the latest round of Vanguard fee reductions.
The following funds are now charging 0.09 percent, down from 0.10 percent: the Vanguard Total World Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vt#NYSE">VT</a>), the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vgk#NYSE">VGK</a>) and the Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vpl#NYSE">VPL</a>).
The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vxus#NASDAQ">VXUS</a>) and the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/veu#NYSE">VEU</a>) are now charging 0.09 percent, down from 0.11 percent.
The $72.16 billion Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>), the sixth-largest U.S.-listed ETF, saw its fee reduced to 0.05 percent from 0.07 percent,&nbsp;while the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vss#NYSE">VSS</a>) saw a modest fee reduction of one basis point to 0.12 percent.
The Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vwo#NYSE">VWO</a>) and the Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vnqi#NASDAQ">VNQI</a>) both now charge 0.12 percent annually, down from 0.14 percent. Home to $65.35 billion in assets under management, VWO is the world&#39;s largest emerging markets ETF.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
Vanguard also lowered the fees on four fixed income ETFs. The Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vwob#NASDAQ">VWOB</a>) now charges 0.30 percent, down from 0.32 percent. The Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bndx#NASDAQ">BNDX</a>) also a fee cut of two basis points to 0.09 percent.
The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bnd#NYSE">BND</a>) and the Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vteb#NASDAQ">VTEB</a>), Vanguard&#39;s first municipal bond ETF, both lowered fees by one basis point.
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Bonds

Emerging Market ETFs

BNDX

VNQI

Vanguard FTSE All World ex US Small Cap ETF

VTEB

VWOB

VXUS

Vanguard Drops The Hammer In ETF Fee War With 21 Price Cuts

Dividend stocks and exchange traded funds are ideal for long-term investors and fit nicely into tax-advantaged accounts, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/investing/best-ira-accounts/">individual retirement accounts</a>.
Remember that when a company pays a dividend, that&#39;s&nbsp;a taxable event and shareholders pay taxes on those dividends, unless the dividend-paying security resides in a tax-advantaged account.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
The Vanguard High Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>), one of the largest U.S. dividend ETFs, is among the payout funds suitable for inclusion in retirement accounts for multiple reasons. In addition to its dividend profile, VYM charges just 0.06 percent per year, or $6 on a $10,000 investment, making it one of the least expensive dividend funds on the market. The less investors pay in fees, the better their long-term returns are likely to be.
Second, VYM&#39;s volatility profile is favorable. Over the past three years, the Vanguard fund has been 130 basis points less volatile than the S&amp;P 500.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
There are other advantages to consider with VYM and how the fund can be implemented in IRAs.
&ldquo;One, dividends impose discipline on managers,&rdquo; said Morningstar <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/videos/914617/4-etfs-for-iras.html">in a recent note</a>. &ldquo;It prevents them from hoarding cash and makes it harder for them to invest in low-return pet projects and things like that. But also dividends allow investors the fortitude to stay invested through the markets&#39; rough patches.&rdquo;
While dividend stocks do decline when broader markets falter, their declines are often less than those of the broader market&#39;s and as VYM shows, dividend payers can be less volatile.
&ldquo;Yes, during market downturns, these stocks will go down, but you will still be able to collect the dividend payments,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;For a lot of investors, that can give them the fortitude to stick with these investments through thick and thin, and it can be easier than holding nondividend-payers.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
VYM holds 396 stocks with a median market value of $109.3 billion, <a href="https://investor.vanguard.com/etf/profile/portfolio/vym">according to issuer data</a>. While it&#39;s&nbsp;positioned as a high dividend strategy, VYM has no real estate exposure and allocates just 8 percent of its weight to utilities stocks. The financial services and health care sectors combine for 29.20 percent of VYM&#39;s weight.
Morningstar has a Silver rating on VYM.
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Personal Finance

A Dividend ETF Perfect For Retirement Accounts

The S&amp;P 500 closed lower on an annual basis in 2018, weighing on dividend exchange traded funds in the process, but it was still a good year for dividend growth.
S&amp;P 500 dividends hit a record $14.19 per share on a quarterly basis, or $119.80 billion. The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>), the world&#39;s largest ETF, has a trailing <a href="https://us.spdrs.com/en/etf/spdr-sp-500-etf-SPY">12-month dividend yield </a>of 2.04 percent.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
With the Federal Reserve having raised interest rates four times in 2018, it&#39;s unsurprising that some dividend stocks and ETFs struggled. The upside to that scenario is that some companies may have been compelled to boost dividends to compete with the higher yields offered by less risky U.S. government debt.
The &ldquo;average Q4 2018 dividend increase in the S&amp;P 500 was 10.24 percent, down from 10.41 percent&nbsp;during Q4 2017; 2018 average is 13.48 percent, up from 2017&rsquo;s 11.36 percent,&rdquo; <a href="http://www.indexologyblog.com/">according to S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices</a>.
Last year, the aggregate dividend increase was slightly off 2017&#39;s level, but so were dividend cuts.
&ldquo;For Q4 2018, aggregate increases amounted to $11.9 billion, down from Q4 2017&rsquo;s $12.4 billion,&rdquo; said S&amp;P Dow Jones. &ldquo;Aggregate dividend cuts decreased to $4.5 billion from $7.9 billion for Q4 2017.&rdquo;
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
Amid 2018&#39;s backdrop of rising interest rates, dividend growth ETFs fared less poorly than their high dividend counterparts. The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vig#NYSE">VIG</a>) and the SPDR S&amp;P Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sdy#NYSE">SDY</a>) posted an average loss of 2.4&nbsp;percent last year.
VIG requires member firms to have dividend increase streaks of at least a decade, while SDY components must have dividend increase streaks of <a href="https://us.spdrs.com/en/etf/spdr-sp-dividend-etf-SDY">at least 20 years</a>.
Conversely, the Vanguard High Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>) and the iShares Select Dividend ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dvy#NASDAQ">DVY</a>) &mdash; both high dividend strategies &mdash; posted an average annual decline of about 6 percent last year.
High dividend ETFs could find some support this year if the Federal Reserve slows its pace of rate hikes or if investors embrace defensive sectors&nbsp;such as consumer staples and utilities. Utilities stocks account for nearly a third of DVY&#39;s weight.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
The stage is set for more dividend growth in 2019.
&ldquo;Based on their current payout policies, S&amp;P 500 2019 dividends already have a 3.5-percent&nbsp;tailwind built in, setting the stage for potentially another record year, with the increase again expected to outpace wage growth and inflation,&rdquo; said Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices.
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Dividends Eclipsed More Records In 2018 Even As ETFs Fell

Markets outside the United States, both developed and emerging, offer income investors compelling opportunities to find dividend growth and higher yields than equivalent U.S. stocks. Exchange-traded funds increase the accessibility of international dividend stocks.
One of the more interesting options among international dividend ETFs is also one of the newer members of that group of funds: the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vymi#NASDAQ">VYMI</a>). VYMI, which turns two years old in a few weeks, is the international equivalent of the highly popular Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>).
VYMI tracks the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index and holds 884 stocks, good for one of the largest rosters among all international dividend ETFs. The fund has rapidly established a following with investors, garnering $708.1 million in assets under management in just under two years on the market.
<h3>
	A Yield Play</h3>
VYMI&#39;s &ldquo;index ranks large- and mid-cap stocks by their expected dividend yield over the next 12 months and selects those that represent the higher-yielding half by market value,&rdquo;<a href="http://beta.morningstar.com/articles/845737/a-better-approach-to-highyielding-foreign-stocks.html"> said Morningstar</a>. &ldquo;Stocks that make the cut are weighted by market cap, which emphasizes companies that are large, stable, and less likely to be in financial distress. This increases the likelihood of holding stocks that can maintain or grow their dividend payments in the future.&rdquo;
On a trailing 12-month basis, VYMI yields around 3.2 percent, about 80 basis points above the dividend yield on the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index.
VYMI&#39;s geographic exposure is extensive, including a 19 percent allocation to emerging markets, but the UK and Switzerland combine for 26.1 percent of the ETF&#39;s weight. Those are two of the steadier ex-US dividend growth markets. Australia, one of the highest-yielding developed markets, and Canada combine for over 15 percent of VYMI&#39;s weight.
<h3>
	Currency Risk </h3>
&ldquo;This fund has exposure to multiple currencies from both developed and emerging markets,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;Fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and these currencies can be an additional source of volatility. Like many of its peers, this fund does not take action to hedge this currency risk. Over long time periods, these fluctuations should wash out.&rdquo;
VYMI isn&#39;t a currency hedged ETF and is benefiting from the lengthy U.S. dollar slump. After sliding 9.1 percent last year, the U.S. Dollar Index is lower by nearly 3.2 percent to start 2018.
VYMI&#39;s portfolio sports a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.2, implying a significant discount to the S&amp;P 500. The ETF&#39;s holdings have a median market value of $52 billion.
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A Nifty Idea For International Dividends

U.S. companies have been more generous than ever in returning excess cash to shareholders via dividends. However, thanks to the strong performance of the stock market this year, dividend yields are actually lower than they were in 2016.
According to the latest report from S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices, domestic U.S. companies increased their dividends by a total of $15.5 billion in the third quarter. For the 12 month period ending September 2017, net dividend increases climbed 99.9 percent to $41.5 billion.
<h3>More Hikes, Fewer Cuts</h3>
In the third quarter alone, 238 companies raised their dividends, and a total of 2,625 companies have done so over the past year.
Not only are more companies raising dividends, fewer companies are cutting them. Only 93 companies lowered their dividends in Q3. In the past year, only 465 companies slashed dividend payouts, a 30.3 percent decrease from the previous 12-month period.
Looking specifically at S&amp;P 500 stocks, 82.6 percent of the index&rsquo;s component stocks currently pay a dividend. The average dividend increase within the S&amp;P 500 in Q3 was 14.4 percent, and S&amp;P 500 stocks paid out a record $105.4 billion on the quarter.
&ldquo;For full-year 2017 dividends are on track to post a 7% gain, compared to a 5.6% gain for 2016, and income tax reductions could increase payments&rdquo; analyst Howard Silverblatt said.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/17/09/10089873/texas-instruments-raises-dividend-by-24-and-itll-likely">Texas Instruments Raises Dividend By 24%, And It&#39;ll Likely Raise Again</a>
<h3>Rising Payouts, Falling Yields</h3>
Surprisingly, large-cap stock yields dipped from 1.99 percent in Q2 to 1.97 percent in Q3.
Declining yield is a phenomenon that has been playing out for decades in the S&amp;P 500. Overall market gains have outpaced dividend hikes, leading to a net overall decline in yields. Despite record dividend payouts, the S&amp;P 500&rsquo;s current 1.88 percent dividend yield is <a href="http://www.multpl.com/s-p-500-dividend-yield/">well below</a> the 2.0 to 3.0 percent dividend yield the index averaged in the early 1990s and the 4.3 percent historical average yield dating back to the 1800s.
<h3>How To Play It</h3>
For investors who are happy to capture S&amp;P 500 gains and see dividends as simply a bonus, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>) is one of the most popular index funds among investors. However, for investors looking for even higher dividend yields, the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>) is comprised of high dividend stocks yielding an average of nearly 3.0 percent.
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Education

S&P Reports Record Dividend Payments, Falling Yields

Home to $18.9 billion in assets under management as of the end of August, the Vanguard High Yield Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>) is one of the largest U.S. dividend exchange-traded funds. While size does matter to some extent with ETFs, there is more to VYM&#39;s story.
VYM tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, &ldquo;which measures the investment return of common stocks of companies characterized by high dividend yields,&rdquo; according to Vanguard. As is the case with many Vanguard ETFs, VYM is fee-friendly. With an annual expense ratio of just 0.08 percent, or $8 on a $10,000 investment, VYM is cheaper than 92 percent of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/investing/compare-online-brokers/">competing funds</a>.
While it is positioned as a high-yield ETF, VYM&#39;s trailing 12-month dividend yield of 2.9 percent, is not alarmingly high, but it is better than what investors find on the S&amp;P 500 or 10-year U.S. Treasuries. VYM does not hold <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/investing/real-estate-investment/">real estate investment trusts</a>.
<h3>A Helpful Approach</h3>
Dividend stocks typically arrive at what appear to be impressive yields because of falling share prices. Additionally, high dividend yields can financially strain some companies, leading to dividend cuts or suspensions, so focusing on large-caps can be advisable with high-yield dividend payers. That is what VYM does.
&ldquo;Although the fund targets high-yielding companies, its market-cap-weighting approach helps it to effectively diversify the risk of solely focusing on yield,&rdquo; said Morningstar <a href="http://beta.morningstar.com/articles/825992/this-fund-finds-yield-without-loading-up-on-risky-stocks.html">in a recent note</a>. &ldquo;In fact, its portfolio represents nearly 38 percent of the holdings in the Russell 3000 Index. And while the fund has meaningful exposure to a few of its largest holdings, they are not among its riskiest positions.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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The median market value of VYM&#39;s 406 holdings is $129.6 billion, indicating this is primarily a large- and mega-cap ETF. VYM&#39;s top 10 holdings, which combine for almost a third of the ETF&#39;s weight, include mega-cap fare such as Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/jnj#NYSE">JNJ</a>).
<h3>Reducing Risk </h3>
VYM takes steps to reduce some of the risks associated with high-yield dividend stocks.
&ldquo;This fund mitigates some of this risk through its broad diversification,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;It holds more than 400 names and market-cap-weights its holdings, so the larger and more stable dividend payers make up a greater portion of its holdings. These firms should be better able to maintain their dividend payments during a market downtown than smaller, higher-yielding stocks.&rdquo;
Consumer staples and technology stocks combine for 28.4 percent of VYM&#39;s weight and with financials and healthcare combining for 27 percent.
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