Is iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) is a smart beta ETF launched on March 29, 2011, providing broad exposure to the Large Cap Value category [1] - HDV is sponsored by Blackrock and has accumulated over $11.22 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index, which includes high-quality U.S. companies with strong financial health and above-average dividend payouts [5] Fund Characteristics - HDV has an annual operating expense of 0.08%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market [6] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.38% [6] - The fund's largest sector allocation is in Healthcare, comprising approximately 22.5% of the portfolio, followed by Energy and Consumer Staples [7] Holdings and Performance - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM) is the largest holding, accounting for about 8.97% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing approximately 50.15% of HDV's total assets [8] - The ETF has returned roughly 8.49% year-to-date and 11.81% over the past year, with a trading range between $108.41 and $121.28 in the last 52 weeks [10] - HDV has a beta of 0.64 and a standard deviation of 13.12% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), with SCHD having $71.39 billion in assets and VTV at $141.38 billion [12] - SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV at 0.04%, presenting lower-cost alternatives for investors [12]