Should WisdomTree U.S. High Dividend ETF (DHS) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Viewpoint - The WisdomTree U.S. High Dividend ETF (DHS) is a passively managed ETF that provides exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $1.28 billion [1]. Group 1: ETF Overview - DHS was launched on June 16, 2006, and is sponsored by WisdomTree [1]. - The ETF targets companies with a market capitalization above $10 billion, which are generally considered stable with lower risk compared to mid and small cap companies [2]. Group 2: Value Stocks Characteristics - Value stocks typically exhibit lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, along with lower sales and earnings growth rates [3]. - Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in long-term performance, although growth stocks may perform better in strong bull markets [3]. Group 3: Costs and Performance - The annual operating expenses for DHS are 0.38%, which is competitive within its peer group, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.42% [4]. - As of August 18, 2025, DHS has increased approximately 8.58% year-to-date and 14.15% over the past year, with a trading range between $87.71 and $100.58 in the last 52 weeks [7]. Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Energy sector, with the top three sectors being Energy, Industrials, and Materials [5]. - The top 10 holdings account for about 139.08% of total assets, with major holdings including Philip Morris International Inc (PM) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) [6]. Group 5: Risk and Diversification - DHS aims to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. High Dividend Index, which focuses on companies with high dividend yields [7]. - The ETF has a beta of 0.69 and a standard deviation of 14.43% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile and effective diversification with approximately 372 holdings [8]. Group 6: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), which have significantly larger asset bases of $71.11 billion and $141.73 billion, respectively [11]. - SCHD has a lower expense ratio of 0.06%, while VTV charges 0.04% [11]. Group 7: Bottom Line - Passively managed ETFs like DHS are increasingly popular due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investors [12].