10 Dividend ETFs to Buy With $1,000 and Hold Forever -- for Lots of Passive Income

Core Insights - Dividend ETFs are effective for generating consistent, passive income by investing in a diversified basket of dividend-paying stocks [1][2] - There are approximately 180 dividend equity ETFs available, making them accessible for investors with a modest initial investment [2] Total Dividend ETFs - WisdomTree U.S. Total Dividend ETF (DTD) invests in dividend-paying companies across the U.S. equity market, weighted by anticipated dollar dividends over the next 12 months, providing broad diversification [4] - Current price of DTD is $85.27, with a 52-week range of $67.09 to $85.86 [6] Dividend Growth ETFs - Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) targets companies that have raised dividends for at least 10 consecutive years, resulting in a portfolio with a higher concentration of tech stocks [6][11] - iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) requires a five-year track record of dividend growth and a low payout ratio to enhance quality [7] Dividend Quality ETFs - Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) evaluates cash flows, return on equity, dividend growth history, and yield to identify high-quality dividend stocks [8][10] - FlexShares Quality Dividend Index ETF (QDF) screens for profitability and cash flows, optimizing for quality score and dividend yield [9][12] High Dividend Yield ETFs - State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) targets the 80 highest-yielding components of the S&P 500, balancing risk through equal weighting [13] - Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) includes the top half of dividend yields from a broad U.S. stock universe, with a current price of $145.58 and a 52-week range of $112.05 to $147.88 [15][17] Conclusion - These dividend ETFs serve as strong foundational elements for building a long-lasting income stream [16]