Should iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Insights - The iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) is a passively managed fund launched on March 29, 2011, with assets exceeding $11.67 billion, focusing on the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market [1] - Large cap companies, with market capitalizations above $10 billion, are considered more stable and less volatile compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Value stocks typically have lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, and while they have outperformed growth stocks in the long term, they may underperform during strong bull markets [3] Costs - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.08%, making it one of the least expensive options in its category, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.29% [4] Sector Exposure and Top Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Healthcare sector at approximately 22.9%, followed by Energy and Consumer Staples [5] - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM) constitutes about 8.29% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing around 50.64% of total assets under management [6] Performance and Risk - HDV aims to match the performance of the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index, which includes high-quality U.S. companies with strong financial health and sustainable dividend payouts [7] - The ETF has gained about 11.43% year-to-date and approximately 8.22% over the past year, with a trading range between $108.41 and $123.66 in the last 52 weeks [7] - With a beta of 0.64 and a standard deviation of 13% over the trailing three years, HDV is classified as a medium-risk investment [8] Alternatives - HDV carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to the Large Cap Value market [9] - Other comparable ETFs include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) with $72.51 billion in assets and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) with $143.81 billion, with expense ratios of 0.06% and 0.04% respectively [10] Bottom-Line - Passively managed ETFs like HDV are increasingly popular among retail and institutional investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [11]