On January 28, Cornerstone Advisory disclosed a buy of 195,336 shares of the Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:GPIX), an estimated $10.23 million trade based on quarterly average pricing. What happened According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated January 28, Cornerstone Advisory increased its position in the Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF by 195,336 shares during the fourth quarter. The estimated value of the shares added was $10.23 million, calculated ...

This article continues my coverage of the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF ( VYM ), a $71B product that's performed well this year relative to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF ( SPY ). Though many analysts have declaredThe Sunday Investor is focused exclusively on U.S. Equity ETFs. He has a strong analytical background, has received a Certificate of Advanced Investment Advice from the Canadian Securities Institute, and has completed all the educational requirements for the Chartered Investment Manager designation.Havin ...

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF is considered a superior choice compared to the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF for investors seeking high-yield dividend equity ETFs due to its more robust selection criteria and focus on dividend quality [2][8]. Group 1: ETF Overview - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index and includes the top half of U.S. stocks ranked by indicated dividend yield, resulting in a portfolio of over 560 stocks [3]. - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF follows the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index and employs a selection process that considers dividend payment history, yield, and fundamental metrics like cash flows and return on equity [5][6]. Group 2: Selection Criteria - The Schwab ETF's selection criteria are more comprehensive, focusing on dividend growth, quality, and high yield, which enhances its ability to select top-performing dividend stocks [6]. - In contrast, the Vanguard ETF's method, while producing an above-average yield, lacks consideration for dividend sustainability, making it susceptible to including stocks that may cut dividends [7]. Group 3: Performance and Strategy - Despite the Schwab ETF's poor performance in recent years, this is attributed to its investment style being out of favor rather than flaws in its strategy, which has a long track record of success [9]. - The Schwab ETF's multi-faceted strategy serves as a cross-check to exclude underperforming stocks, reinforcing its position as a better investment option for high-yield equity [8].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of passive income, particularly through dividends and dividend-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as effective investment strategies [1][2] Dividend Performance - Dividend-paying stocks have historically outperformed non-dividend payers, with dividend growers and initiators achieving an average annual total return of 10.24% from 1973 to 2024, compared to 4.31% for non-payers [3] - The average annual total return for dividend payers stands at 9.20%, while those with no change in dividend policy yield 6.75% [3] Dividend-Paying ETFs - The article lists 12 attractive dividend-paying ETFs, highlighting their yields and historical performance over various time frames [4][6] - For instance, the iShares Preferred & Income Securities ETF (PFF) has a yield of 6.37% with a 5-year average annual return of 2.05% [4] - The State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) offers a yield of 4.53% with a 5-year average annual return of 10.37% [4] Benefits of Dividends - Healthy dividend-paying stocks tend to increase their payouts over time, which helps investors keep pace with inflation [5] - Dividends provide a consistent income stream without the need to sell off portfolio assets, allowing for reinvestment opportunities [5] Investment Strategies - Investors can diversify their investments across multiple ETFs to balance yield and growth potential [8] - Specific ETFs are recommended based on sector outlooks, such as the Vanguard Energy ETF for those bullish on energy due to AI data center growth, and the Vanguard Real Estate ETF for real estate investments [8]

Key Points SCHD holds $71B in assets and charges a 0.06% expense ratio while yielding nearly 4%. JEPI generates over 8% yield by combining dividend stocks with options selling strategies. VYM provides broad diversification across 500+ stocks with $84B in net assets and a 0.06% fee. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. Investors, especially retirees, seek a lifetime of passive income to ...

Key Points SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index with a 4% yield and 0.06% expense ratio. JEPI generates an 8% yield by investing in large cap stocks and selling options. SDY invests in Dividend Aristocrats that have raised dividends for at least 20 consecutive years. Investors rethink ‘hands off’ investing and decide to start making real money After spending decades working hard and saving, retirees want their portfolios to get them through. At this point in their lives, they depend ...

Core Insights - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) focuses on high current yield, while the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) emphasizes companies with a history of growing dividends, leading to differences in sector exposure, dividend payout, and risk profile [1][2] Cost & Size Comparison - VYM has an expense ratio of 0.06% and assets under management (AUM) of $84.5 billion, while VIG has a slightly lower expense ratio of 0.05% and a larger AUM of $120.4 billion [3] - The 1-year total return for VYM is 19.8%, compared to VIG's 18.6%, and VYM offers a higher dividend yield of 2.4% versus VIG's 1.6% [3][4] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, VYM experienced a maximum drawdown of 15.9%, while VIG had a higher drawdown of 20.4% [5] - The growth of $1,000 over five years is $1,566 for VYM and $1,573 for VIG, indicating similar performance [5] Portfolio Composition - VIG holds 338 stocks with significant exposure to technology (27.8%), financial services (21.4%), and healthcare (16.7%), with top positions in Broadcom, Microsoft, and Apple [6] - VYM has a broader portfolio with 566 holdings, primarily focused on financial services (21%) and technology (14.3%), with top stocks including Broadcom, JPMorgan Chase, and ExxonMobil [7] Investment Strategy - VYM targets high-yield companies and tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which reflects the performance of companies with high dividend yields across all market capitalizations [9] - VIG tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, focusing on companies that have increased their dividend payouts for at least 10 years, thus favoring stable and expanding firms [10][12]

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) offers broader diversification, higher recent returns, and a lower expense ratio compared to the ProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), which has a more concentrated sector mix and focuses on companies with long dividend growth histories [1][2]. Cost & Size Comparison - VYM has an expense ratio of 0.06%, significantly lower than NOBL's 0.35% - The one-year return for VYM is 12.2%, while NOBL's is 4.3% - VYM has a dividend yield of 2.4%, compared to NOBL's 2.1% - VYM's assets under management (AUM) stand at $84.5 billion, while NOBL's AUM is $11.2 billion [3][4]. Performance & Risk Comparison - Over five years, NOBL experienced a maximum drawdown of 17.92%, while VYM had a lower maximum drawdown of 15.83% - An investment of $1,000 would grow to $1,601 in VYM compared to $1,327 in NOBL over the same period [5]. Portfolio Composition - VYM holds 589 stocks with major sector exposures in financial services (21%), technology (18%), and healthcare (13%) - Top positions in VYM include Broadcom Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Exxon Mobil Corp. [6]. - NOBL consists of 70 stocks, primarily concentrated in consumer defensive (23%), industrials (21%), and financial services (13%) - Key holdings in NOBL include Albemarle Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. [7][8]. Investment Implications - VYM's diverse portfolio allows it to better withstand downturns in specific sectors, benefiting from its inclusion of technology stocks - NOBL's focus on companies with a history of increasing dividends results in a smaller, more concentrated portfolio, which may limit diversification [9][10].

Core Insights - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) both focus on dividend-paying U.S. stocks but differ in sector allocation, portfolio concentration, and yield [1][2] Group 1: Fund Characteristics - SCHD has a higher dividend yield of 3.8% compared to VYM's 2.4% [3][4] - Both funds have an expense ratio of 0.06% [3][4] - SCHD has assets under management (AUM) of $72.8 billion, while VYM has $68.6 billion [3] Group 2: Performance Metrics - Over the past year, VYM has returned 9.6%, while SCHD has seen a decline of 1.4% [3] - The maximum drawdown over five years for VYM is 15.85%, compared to SCHD's 16.86% [5] - An investment of $1,000 in VYM would have grown to $1,573 over five years, while the same investment in SCHD would have grown to $1,285 [5] Group 3: Portfolio Composition - SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index and holds approximately 100 stocks, with significant allocations in energy (20%), consumer staples (18%), and healthcare (16%) [6] - VYM holds over 565 companies, with a tilt towards financial services (21%), technology (14%), and healthcare (13%) [7] - SCHD's top holdings include Merck, Cisco Systems, and Amgen, while VYM's largest positions are Broadcom, JPMorgan Chase, and Exxon Mobil [6][7] Group 4: Investment Strategy - VYM aims for broad exposure to high-yield dividend stocks, weighting companies based on market capitalization [8][9] - SCHD focuses on high-quality dividend stocks, screening companies based on dividend yield and growth characteristics [10] - VYM is suitable for investors seeking broad exposure, while SCHD appeals to those prioritizing high-quality dividend stocks [11]

Core Insights - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV) both target U.S. companies with above-average dividend yields but differ in their strategies and characteristics [1][2]. Cost and Size Comparison - FDVV has an expense ratio of 0.15% and assets under management (AUM) of $7.7 billion, while VYM has a lower expense ratio of 0.06% and AUM of $84.6 billion [3]. - As of December 18, 2025, FDVV's one-year return is 10.62% compared to VYM's 9.99%, and FDVV offers a higher dividend yield of 3.02% versus VYM's 2.42% [3]. Performance and Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, FDVV experienced a maximum drawdown of -20.17%, while VYM had a drawdown of -15.87% [4]. - An investment of $1,000 in FDVV would grow to $1,754 over five years, compared to $1,567 for VYM [4]. Portfolio Composition - VYM tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index with 566 holdings, primarily in financial services (21%), technology (18%), and healthcare (13%), featuring top stocks like Broadcom, JPMorgan Chase, and Exxon Mobil [5]. - FDVV has a more concentrated portfolio with 107 holdings, focusing heavily on technology (26%) and consumer defensive (12%) sectors, with major positions in Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple [6]. Investment Implications - While FDVV offers a higher dividend yield, its higher expense ratio may offset some income benefits, making the net earnings from both funds relatively similar for most investors [7][8]. - The sector allocation indicates that VYM is more stable due to its focus on financial services, whereas FDVV's heavier tech exposure may lead to higher volatility and potential returns [9][10].