Is SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Viewpoint - The SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) is a smart beta ETF that provides broad exposure to the Large Cap Value category, focusing on high dividend-paying stocks [1][5]. Fund Overview - SPYD was launched on October 21, 2015, and is managed by State Street Investment Management, with assets exceeding $6.87 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [1][5]. - The fund aims to replicate the performance of the S&P 500 High Dividend Index, which includes the top 80 dividend-paying securities based on yield [5]. Cost and Performance - SPYD has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.07%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market [6]. - The ETF's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 4.48% [6]. - As of August 12, 2025, SPYD has returned approximately 1.41% year-to-date and 4.77% over the past year, with a trading range between $38.81 and $47.32 in the last 52 weeks [10]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The fund's largest sector allocation is in Real Estate at 22.4%, followed by Utilities and Financials [7]. - Philip Morris International constitutes about 1.85% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 15.78% of total assets [8]. Risk Profile - SPYD has a beta of 0.83 and a standard deviation of 16.69% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10]. - The fund holds around 80 securities, effectively diversifying company-specific 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 $69.78 billion in assets and VTV at $139.64 billion [11]. - SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06%, while VTV has a ratio of 0.04%, suggesting lower-cost alternatives for investors [11].