Core Insights - The article introduces a 4-Factor Dividend Growth Strategy as an alternative to the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) [1] - The author has over 10 years of experience in the investment field, starting as an analyst and advancing to a management role [1] Group 1 - The 4-Factor Dividend Growth Strategy is presented as a customized investment approach for dividend investing [1] - The author holds a master's degree in Analytics and a bachelor's degree in Accounting, indicating a strong educational background in finance [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the author's personal interest in dividend investing, suggesting a passion for the subject matter [1]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the advantages of investing in dividend exchange-traded funds (ETFs) over individual dividend stocks, highlighting the benefits of regular payouts and diversification [1] - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is identified as a top choice for income investors in 2025, particularly due to its strong performance and low expense ratio [2][4] - The SCHD ETF tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on stocks with a history of consistent dividend payouts and superior fundamentals [3] Group 2 - The SCHD ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.06%, translating to $6 in annual fees per $10,000 invested, and manages total net assets of $71 billion [4] - The top holdings of the SCHD ETF include companies from dividend-friendly sectors such as healthcare, energy, consumer cyclical, and industrial [5] - The SCHD ETF offers one of the highest dividend yields compared to other funds in its class, making it appealing for income-focused investors [7][9] Group 3 - While the SCHD ETF provides consistent payouts, the actual distribution amounts may vary due to different dividend schedules of the underlying companies [5] - The article notes a limited exposure to the technology sector within the SCHD ETF, which may be a concern for investors looking to capitalize on tech trends [10] - Investors are advised to consider adding a tech ETF or top-performing tech stocks to their portfolio for exposure to major trends like artificial intelligence, alongside the SCHD ETF [11]

Core Insights - Investing in ETFs provides instant diversification and simplifies the investment process, especially during uncertain market conditions [1][2] Group 1: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) - SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on companies with consistent cash flow and a strong balance sheet, requiring at least 10 years of dividend payouts [4][5] - The ETF offers a dividend yield of over 3.7%, which is above its decade average and nearly three times that of the S&P 500 [5] - SCHD has increased its dividend payout by over 160% in the past decade, enhancing the compounding effect through reinvested dividends [7] - Consistent dividends provide dual benefits: they boost returns during upward trends and cushion losses during downturns [8] Group 2: Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) - VXUS offers geographic diversification by providing exposure to companies from both developed and emerging markets, covering thousands of companies globally [9][10] - The ETF's regional allocation includes 39% in Europe, 27.2% in emerging markets, 25.4% in the Pacific, 7.7% in North America, and 0.7% in the Middle East [11] - Although VXUS has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past decade, it has nearly doubled the S&P 500's returns this year [12] - With the S&P 500 at historically high levels, VXUS serves as a hedge against potential market pullbacks, suggesting a target allocation of around 10% in international stocks for many investors [14]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF is highlighted as a strong investment option for those seeking growing dividend income, emphasizing the reliability of cash flows in companies that pay dividends [1][10] - Historical data indicates that reinvested dividends have significantly contributed to the total returns of the S&P 500 Index, accounting for 85% of cumulative returns since 1960 [2] Performance Metrics - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.05%, translating to an annual cost of $5 for every $10,000 invested [5] - Recent performance averages for the ETF are as follows: - 3 years: 16.01% - 5 years: 12.69% - 10 years: 13.24% - 15 years: 12.79% - The ETF currently offers a dividend yield of 1.7%, compared to the S&P 500's yield of 1.2% [5][6] Dividend Growth - The ETF tracks the S&P US Dividend Growers Index, focusing on companies that have increased dividends for at least 10 consecutive years, suggesting potential for dividend growth at a rate faster than the S&P 500 [6] - Historical quarterly dividend payments show significant growth, with the dividend amount increasing from $0.288 in 2013 to $0.938 in 2025, more than tripling over 12 years [6] Top Holdings - The ETF includes approximately 330 holdings, with notable top stocks and their respective yields and weights: - Broadcom: 0.65%, 5.94% - Microsoft: 0.64%, 4.82% - JPMorgan Chase: 1.81%, 4.04% - Apple: 0.44%, 3.74% - Eli Lilly: 0.80%, 2.76% - Visa: 0.70%, 2.69% - ExxonMobil: 3.52%, 2.38% - Mastercard: 0.52%, 2.33% - Johnson & Johnson: 2.93%, 2.04% - Walmart: 0.91%, 2.01% [7] Growth Potential - Some companies within the ETF, like Broadcom, exhibit high dividend growth rates, with a 10-year average annual growth rate exceeding 30%, indicating potential for substantial share-price appreciation [8] Investment Considerations - When selecting a dividend-focused ETF, investors should weigh the importance of high yields versus fast-growing yields, with alternatives like the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF also being viable options [9] - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF is recommended for those seeking solid dividend income that is expected to grow over time, with a suggestion to invest incrementally rather than attempting to time the market [10]

Core Viewpoint - The Invesco Large Cap Value ETF (PWV) is a passively managed fund aimed at providing broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $1.20 billion, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in this category [1]. Group 1: Fund Overview - Launched on March 3, 2005, PWV is designed to track the performance of the Large Cap Value segment [1]. - The fund is sponsored by Invesco and has accumulated over $1.20 billion in assets [1]. Group 2: Investment Characteristics - Large cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations above $10 billion, are generally more stable and exhibit predictable cash flows, making them less volatile compared to mid and small cap companies [2]. - Value stocks, characterized by lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, have historically outperformed growth stocks in most markets, although growth stocks tend to excel in strong bull markets [3]. Group 3: Costs and Performance - The annual operating expense ratio for PWV is 0.53%, which is relatively high compared to other ETFs, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.22% [4]. - As of September 12, 2025, PWV has gained approximately 15.75% year-to-date and 17.11% over the past year, with a trading range between $52.26 and $64.99 in the last 52 weeks [7]. Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising about 31.5% of the portfolio, followed by Energy and Healthcare [5]. - Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is the largest holding at approximately 3.76% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 35.09% of total assets under management [6]. Group 5: Risk Profile - PWV has a beta of 0.82 and a standard deviation of 14.35% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8]. - The ETF consists of about 52 holdings, which helps to diversify company-specific risk [8]. Group 6: Alternatives - PWV carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to the Large Cap Value segment [9]. - Alternative ETFs in this space include the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios of 0.06% and 0.04%, respectively [10]. Group 7: Conclusion - Passively managed ETFs like PWV 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].

Core Viewpoint - The SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF (ONEY) is a smart beta ETF designed to provide broad exposure to the large-cap value segment of the market, with a focus on high yield characteristics [1][5][6]. Fund Overview - Launched on December 2, 2015, ONEY has accumulated over $897.86 million in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [1][5]. - Managed by State Street Investment Management, the fund aims to match the performance of the Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index [5]. Cost and Performance - ONEY has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.20%, making it one of the cheaper options in the market [7]. - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 3.01% [7]. - As of September 12, 2025, ONEY has gained approximately 7.75% year-to-date and 9.85% over the past year, with a trading range between $95.52 and $117.55 during the last 52 weeks [11]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The fund has a significant allocation in the Consumer Staples sector, accounting for about 13.5% of the portfolio, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Industrials [8]. - United Parcel Service Cl B (UPS) represents about 2.1% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings comprising approximately 13.74% of total assets under management [9]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the large-cap value space include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), which have larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [12][13].

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX ETF (FTA) is a smart beta ETF that aims to provide broad exposure to the large-cap value segment of the market, utilizing a unique stock selection methodology to potentially outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - Launched on May 8, 2007, FTA has accumulated assets exceeding $1.14 billion, positioning it as an average-sized ETF within its category [1][5]. - The fund is managed by First Trust Advisors and seeks to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Large Cap Value Index, which employs an enhanced stock selection methodology [5]. Cost Structure - FTA has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.58%, making it one of the more expensive options in the large-cap value ETF space [6]. - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.95% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF's largest sector allocation is in Financials, comprising approximately 20.1% of the portfolio, followed by Healthcare and Industrials [7]. - D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) represents about 1.08% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for around 10% of total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - As of September 11, 2025, FTA has increased by approximately 8.92% year-to-date and 10.04% over the past year [10]. - The ETF has traded within a range of $67.12 to $83.49 over the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.92 and a standard deviation of 16.57% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10]. Alternatives - While FTA is a viable option for investors looking to outperform the large-cap value segment, alternatives such as Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) are available, with SCHD having $71.6 billion in assets and VTV at $145.21 billion [11][12]. - SCHD has a lower expense ratio of 0.06%, and VTV charges 0.04%, making them attractive options for cost-conscious investors [12].

Core Viewpoint - The Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) is a large-cap value ETF that has gained significant assets and aims to provide broad exposure to the large-cap value segment of the US equity market [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - Launched on December 16, 2016, COWZ has amassed over $19.57 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in its category [1] - The ETF is passively managed and designed to match the performance of the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 Index, which targets large and mid-cap U.S. companies with high free cash flow yields [7] Group 2: Investment Characteristics - Large-cap companies typically have market capitalizations above $10 billion and are known for their stability and predictable cash flows [2] - Value stocks, which COWZ focuses on, generally have lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, but they have historically outperformed growth stocks in the long term [3] Group 3: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.49% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.07% [4] - COWZ has gained approximately 2.8% year-to-date and 6.16% over the past year, with a trading range between $47.46 and $61.35 in the last 52 weeks [7] Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Healthcare sector, comprising about 20.1% of the portfolio, followed by Energy and Information Technology [5] - Nike Inc (NKE) is the largest individual holding at approximately 2.17% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 20.95% of total assets under management [6] Group 5: Alternatives and Market Position - COWZ carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to the large-cap value segment [9] - Other comparable ETFs include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), which have larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [10] Group 6: Investor Appeal - Passively managed ETFs like COWZ are increasingly favored by retail and institutional investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [11]

Core Insights - The iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (VLUE) is a smart beta ETF that debuted on April 16, 2013, providing broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value category [1] - VLUE is managed by Blackrock and has accumulated over $7.2 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The fund seeks to match the performance of the MSCI USA Enhanced Value Index, which is based on a traditional market capitalization-weighted index [5] Cost and Expenses - VLUE has an annual operating expense of 0.15%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market [6] - The fund offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.51% [6] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The Information Technology sector represents 32.6% of VLUE's portfolio, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [7] - Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) is the largest holding at approximately 7.16%, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 33.85% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - As of September 10, 2025, VLUE has increased by approximately 15.04% year-to-date and 17.58% over the past year [10] - The fund has a beta of 0.98 and a standard deviation of 16.67% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), with SCHD having $71.46 billion in assets and VTV at $144.33 billion [12] - SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV at 0.04%, presenting lower-cost alternatives for investors [12]

Group 1 - The article presents a 4-Factor Dividend Growth Strategy as an alternative to the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) [1] - The author has over 10 years of experience in the investment field, starting as an analyst and advancing to a management role [1] - The author holds a master's degree in Analytics and a bachelor's degree in Accounting, indicating a strong educational background in finance [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the author's personal interest in dividend investing, suggesting a passion for the subject matter [1]