Key Points The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF has returned 29.6% year to date, versus 15.6% for the S&P 500. The fund yields 3.95% from 1,531 international stocks across 40 countries with a 0.17% expense ratio. A weaker dollar and attractive valuations are driving international dividend stocks higher after years of lagging U.S. markets. 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF › For years, international stocks were the portfolio allocation every ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the benefits of long-term investment in low-cost ETFs, highlighting their potential for wealth accumulation through dollar-cost averaging and compounding [2][5]. Group 1: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is recommended as a top choice for long-term investment, mirroring the performance of the S&P 500 and providing exposure to 500 major U.S. companies [3][4]. - The ETF has shown strong performance with average annual gains of 13.6% over the past decade, encompassing both bull and bear markets [4]. - It features a low expense ratio of 0.03%, making it an attractive core holding for investors [5]. Group 2: Vanguard Growth ETF - The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) is positioned as a suitable option for investors seeking growth stocks, focusing on large-cap companies with strong sales and earnings momentum [6][8]. - This ETF has outperformed the broader market with average annual returns of 16.3% over the past decade, benefiting from a higher weighting in growth-oriented companies like Nvidia [7]. - It maintains a low expense ratio of 0.04%, providing a cost-effective alternative to actively managed funds [8]. Group 3: Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) offers international exposure and dividend income, tracking non-U.S. companies with above-average dividend yields [9][11]. - The ETF has performed well, with a nearly 27% increase this year and average annual returns of nearly 14% over the past five years [10]. - It has a higher expense ratio of 0.17% compared to domestic Vanguard ETFs, but remains competitive for international funds, adding diversification and yield to U.S.-focused portfolios [11].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of not waiting for market pullbacks to invest, as this strategy can lead to missed opportunities for gains [2] - Dollar-cost averaging is presented as a more effective investment strategy, allowing investors to gradually invest over time and benefit from compound growth [3] Vanguard ETFs Overview - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) provides exposure to 500 major U.S. companies, delivering an average annualized return of 13.6% over the past decade, with a low expense ratio of 0.03% [6][7][8] - The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) focuses on fast-growing companies, averaging annualized returns of nearly 16.3% over the past decade, with an expense ratio of 0.04% [9][10][11] - The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) offers concentrated exposure to the tech sector, achieving an average annual gain of 21.6% over the past decade, with an expense ratio of 0.09% [12][13][14] - The Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF (MGV) targets large value-oriented companies, delivering a 14.3% annualized return over the past five years and a 10.8% return over the past decade, with an expense ratio of 0.07% [15][16][17] - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) provides international exposure and has gained nearly 26.8% year to date, with annualized returns of 13.8% over the past five years, and an expense ratio of 0.17% [18][19][20]

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) is trading at an all-time high and has gained 18% in 2025, driven by favorable trade deals and tariff pauses [1][2]. Group 1: ETF Overview - VYMI invests in international companies with above-average dividend yields, tracking an index of over 1,500 stocks [5][6]. - The portfolio composition includes 44% European companies, 26% from the Asia-Pacific region, 21% from emerging markets, and 8% from North American companies [6]. Group 2: Notable Holdings - The ETF includes well-known companies such as Nestle, Roche Holding, Novartis, HSBC Holdings, Shell, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toyota [7][8][9]. Group 3: Investment Metrics - VYMI has a low annual expense ratio of 0.17%, which is favorable for a specialized international index fund [9]. - Key valuation metrics show VYMI has an average P/E ratio of 12.0, compared to 19.8 for its U.S. counterpart, the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) [10][11]. - VYMI's earnings growth rate is 13.3%, higher than VYM's 10.8%, and its PEG ratio is 0.90, indicating attractive valuation [11]. Group 4: Long-term Investment Potential - Despite being at an all-time high, VYMI is considered not too expensive for long-term investment, with a significant valuation gap compared to U.S. stocks [12].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of creating a balanced investment portfolio by mixing stocks and bonds, suggesting a typical allocation of 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds, with variations based on individual risk tolerance [1][2][4]. Group 1: Stock Investments - A balanced portfolio should include both U.S. and international dividend-paying stocks, with the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) focusing on U.S. stocks and the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) covering international stocks [5][7]. - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF consists of over 580 U.S. dividend-paying companies, with a dividend yield of 2.8%, which is more than double that of the S&P 500 index [6]. - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF includes over 1,500 international stocks, offering a higher dividend yield of 4.1% [7]. Group 2: Bond Investments - The bond market is larger and more complex than the stock market, making bond ETFs a suitable choice for most investors. The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) provides exposure to the entire U.S. bond market [9]. - The Vanguard Total International Bond Market ETF (BNDX) complements the U.S. bond exposure by offering a diversified global bond portfolio, with yields of approximately 3.8% for BND and 4.2% for BNDX [10]. - A recommended allocation for bonds is to keep 60% to 75% in domestic bonds and the remainder in international bonds, ensuring diversification across the bond market [11]. Group 3: Portfolio Management - The proposed portfolio consisting of four ETFs is designed for long-term income and capital appreciation, requiring minimal management with only four trades to start and annual rebalancing [12].