As its name implies, the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG) is a play on ex-U.S. dividend- paying equities. To be specific, the $394.22 million ETF focuses on developed market equities and it's a dividend yield strategy. But that doesn't mean IDOG isn't levered to rising payouts in Europe. All but four of the ETF's country exposures are European nations. And the four that aren't combine for less than 30% of the fund's portfolio. IDOG's Europe exposure is pertinent. That's because dividends h ...

International equities have finally gotten their respective acts together relative to U.S. stocks. That resurgence includes dividend payers. Take the case of the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG). Following a gain of half a percent last Friday, IDOG went into the weekend sitting at 52-week high, while sporting a year-to-date gain of nearly 26%. Think about IDOG this way: A dedicated developed markets ETF focusing on high dividend payers with just 10.57% allocated to technology stocks is bea ...

Core Insights - International ETF investing has significantly boosted portfolios in 2025, with many strategies outperforming key domestic funds, providing diversification and returns [1][2] - The ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG) has returned 29.5% year-to-date (YTD), surpassing both its ETF Database Category average of 26.3% and FactSet Segment average of 21.6% as of September 17 [2] - IDOG charges a 50 basis point fee and tracks an equal-weighted index of the five highest dividend-yielding firms from each of the ten GICS sectors, avoiding concentration in traditional dividend-heavy sectors [1][2] Investment Trends - Investors are shifting towards neutral or overweight foreign equities after sixteen years of domestic U.S. equities outperformance, aided by a decline in the dollar [2] - There have been over $120 billion in net inflows into international ETF strategies, indicating a resurgence in international ETF interest [2] Future Outlook - IDOG is positioned as a solid option for durable international equities performance, appealing to those looking to diversify into this growing trend [3]

Core Viewpoint - The ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG) is a smart beta ETF launched to provide broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category, with a focus on high-yield securities [1][5]. Fund Overview - IDOG was launched on June 28, 2013, and is designed to match the performance of the S-Network International Sector Dividend Dogs Index, which identifies five high-yield securities in each of the ten Global Industry Classification Standard sectors [1][5]. - The fund is sponsored by Alps and has accumulated over $355.3 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [5]. Cost Structure - IDOG has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.50%, which is competitive with most peer products in the Foreign Large Value ETF space [6]. - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is reported at 4.19% [6]. Holdings and Sector Exposure - The fund's top holdings include Neste Oyj (2.41% of total assets), Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., and Enel Spa, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 22.48% of total assets [7][8]. - IDOG offers diversified exposure, minimizing single stock risk, and discloses its holdings daily [7]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, IDOG has increased by approximately 20.86%, and it has risen about 15.87% over the last 12 months as of July 21, 2025 [9]. - The fund has traded between $28.25 and $34.63 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.71 and a standard deviation of 15.74% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [9][10]. Alternatives - IDOG may not be suitable for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Value ETF segment, with alternatives such as the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) and Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) available [11][12]. - VYMI has $10.93 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.17%, while FNDF has $16.39 billion in assets with a 0.25% expense ratio [12].