Core Insights - The Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (SCHY) is a passively managed fund aimed at tracking the Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index, providing low-cost, income-oriented international exposure with a 3.72% dividend yield [2][3][10] Fund Overview - SCHY was launched on April 29, 2021, by Charles Schwab, with an expense ratio of 8 basis points and approximately $1.3 billion in assets under management (AUM) [3][15] - The fund has an average daily trading volume of 364,000 shares, indicating minimal spread risk for investors [3] - SCHY is fully invested in international equities, comprising 103 holdings, primarily mid- to large-cap stocks [7] Performance Metrics - Cumulative returns for SCHY show a year-to-date increase of 18.60% and a one-year return of 12.14% [4] - The fund's annualized return since inception is 5.57%, which is lower compared to peer strategies [4][15] Index and Stock Selection - SCHY is indexed to the Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index, which includes mid- and large-cap international dividend-paying companies, excluding REITs [5] - The stock screening process involves evaluating fundamental qualities such as free cash flow, return on equity, indicated dividend yield, and 5-year dividend growth rate [5][14] Portfolio Composition - The top three country exposures in SCHY are the UK (15.36%), Australia (12%), and France (11.65%) [7] - The portfolio is heavily weighted towards financials (15%) and consumer staples (14.84%) [7] - The top 10 holdings account for 40% of the total portfolio weight, with British American Tobacco, Wesfarmers, and BHP Group being the largest positions [8] Distribution and Income Strategy - SCHY pays a quarterly distribution rate of $1.05 per share, yielding 3.72% on a trailing twelve-month basis, and has shown annual growth in distributions since inception [10][12] - The fund is suitable for passive income strategies and can be beneficial for tax-deferred accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s [12] Competitive Landscape - SCHY is noted as the lowest-cost strategy among its peers, with a significant AUM of $1.3 billion, although it has underperformed compared to other international dividend income strategies [15] - The Global X MSCI SuperDividend EAFE ETF (EFAS) is highlighted as a top-performing peer, despite its smaller AUM of $30 million [16]

Group 1: Dividend Stocks Overview - The S&P 500 index currently has a low dividend yield of 1.2%, which is less attractive compared to U.S. Treasury bonds [1] - There are high-yield dividend stocks available that can enhance portfolio income [1] Group 2: British American Tobacco (BTI) - British American Tobacco has seen a 40% increase year-to-date and offers a dividend yield of around 6% [2][5] - The company's growth is attributed to new nicotine categories such as vaping and nicotine pouches, with its Velo brand holding a 30% global market share in nicotine pouches [4] - U.S. revenue from nicotine pouches is growing in triple digits, helping to offset declines in traditional cigarette sales [4] Group 3: PepsiCo (PEP) - PepsiCo's stock has experienced a 30% drawdown, resulting in a dividend yield of 4% [7] - Despite concerns over slowing volume growth and competition from weight loss drugs, PepsiCo projects organic revenue growth in 2025 due to its historical pricing power [8] - Over the past decade, PepsiCo's dividend per share has increased by 100%, and the current yield is the highest in 10 years, presenting a buying opportunity [9] Group 4: Altria Group (MO) - Altria Group has the highest dividend yield on the list at 7% [11] - The company primarily relies on cigarette sales for profits, facing challenges in expanding into new nicotine categories [12] - Altria has managed to maintain profitability through price increases and share buybacks, reducing shares outstanding by 15% over the last decade, which supports dividend growth [13][14]

Investment Rating - Industry rating: Outperform the market (maintained) [8] Core Insights - Japan Tobacco's PloomX revenue increased by 44% year-on-year, continuing to expand in global markets [1] - Japan Tobacco's total revenue reached 3.15 trillion yen, a 10.9% increase year-on-year, while operating profit grew by 3.7% to 697.2 billion yen [1] - Altria's NJOY brand saw significant growth, with consumable shipments increasing by 102.61% and device shipments by 284.62% in 2024 [5] - Altria's overall net revenue for 2024 was $24.018 billion, a decrease of 1.9% compared to 2023, but diluted EPS rose by 3.4% to $5.12 [4] Summary by Sections Japan Tobacco - The harm reduction product segment achieved revenue of 98.9 billion yen, a 21.1% increase year-on-year, with sales volume rising by 24.2% [2] - The traditional tobacco segment saw sales of 541.9 billion sticks, a 2% increase, although traditional tobacco sales in Japan declined by 5.3% [3] Altria - NJOY's consumable shipments reached 46.6 million units, with device shipments at 5 million units, both showing substantial year-on-year growth [5] - Altria expects EPS for 2025 to be between $5.22 and $5.37, indicating a year-on-year growth of 2% to 5% [6] - The company plans to repurchase an additional $1 billion in shares in 2025, building on a previously completed $3.4 billion buyback program [6] Investment Recommendations - Key recommendations include focusing on Smoore International and monitoring companies in the vaping supply chain and tobacco supply chain [6]