Is Franklin U.S. Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (LVHD) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The Franklin U.S. Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (LVHD) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value category, launched on December 28, 2015 [1] Fund Overview - LVHD is sponsored by Franklin Templeton Investments and has assets exceeding $584.78 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the QS Low Volatility High Dividend Index, focusing on profitable U.S. companies with high dividend yields and lower price and earnings volatility [5] Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for LVHD are 0.27%, which is competitive within its peer group [6] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.34% [6] Sector Allocation and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Utilities sector, comprising approximately 24.9% of the portfolio, followed by Consumer Staples and Real Estate [7] - Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) represents about 2.65% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for roughly 25.11% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - As of August 13, 2025, LVHD has increased by about 7.67% year-to-date and approximately 10.71% over the past year [10] - The fund has traded between $37.37 and $41.26 in the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.66 and a standard deviation of 13.37% over the trailing three-year period [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), with SCHD having $70.45 billion in assets and VTV at $140.9 billion [12] - SCHD has a lower expense ratio of 0.06%, while VTV charges 0.04%, making them potentially attractive alternatives for investors [12]