The Rise of Income ETFs: A Steady Approach to Investing
Low-fee income exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer stability and cash flow for investors nearing retirement.
As investors approach retirement, their investment strategies often shift from seeking high-risk, high-reward opportunities to prioritizing stability and steady cash flow. In recent years, income exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have emerged as a popular choice for these investors. These funds focus on income-producing assets, such as dividend stocks and bonds, providing a diversified and low-fee option for those looking to generate regular income. In this article, we will explore the benefits of income ETFs, highlight some top-performing options, and discuss their potential for stable returns.
What is an Income ETF?
An income ETF is a publicly traded fund that prioritizes income-producing assets over capital gains. These funds typically consist of a variety of income-generating assets, such as dividend-paying stocks or fixed-income securities. By investing in income ETFs, investors gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of income-producing assets without the need to individually select and manage each investment. This diversification helps spread risk and can contribute to more stable returns.
Benefits of Income ETFs
One of the key benefits of income ETFs is the time and effort they save investors. Fund managers conduct extensive research to identify assets that fulfill the fund’s income criteria, saving investors from the burden of building and managing a portfolio of dividend stocks and bonds themselves. Additionally, income ETFs help reduce risk by diversifying investments across various income-generating assets.
Michael Hammelburger, CEO of The Bottom Line Group, explains, “Income ETFs provide a diversified way to generate regular income. These funds typically consist of a variety of income-generating assets, such as dividend-paying stocks or fixed-income securities. This diversification helps spread risk and can contribute to more stable returns.”
Top Income ETFs to Consider
When selecting an income ETF, investors should review the fund’s assets, expense ratio, and historical performance to align with their financial objectives and risk tolerance. Here are some top-performing income ETFs:
1. Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM): This ETF focuses on large-value stocks with high yields. With a 30-day SEC yield of 3.25% and a low expense ratio of 0.06%, VYM offers investors a stable income stream. The fund has a 0.77 beta, indicating it may be less volatile than other investments.
2. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD): SCHD aims to mirror the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. With a 30-day SEC yield of 3.74% and an expense ratio of 0.06%, this ETF provides investors with exposure to large-value stocks in the industrial, health care, and financial sectors.
3. Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF (PEY): PEY uses the Nasdaq U.S. Dividend Achievers 50 Index as its benchmark. With a 30-day SEC yield of 5.12% and a reasonable expense ratio of 0.52%, this ETF offers investors the potential for higher yields and lower volatility.
4. iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV): HDV provides exposure to 75 dividend-paying U.S. stocks. With a 30-day SEC yield of 4.34% and an expense ratio of 0.08%, this ETF offers investors a diversified portfolio of high dividend-yielding assets.
5. Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ): VNQ focuses on real estate investment trusts (REITs) and aims to track the MSCI U.S. Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. Although it does not quote a 30-day SEC yield due to tax issues related to REITs, VNQ has a 3.9% unadjusted effective yield as of Nov. 30. With an expense ratio of 0.12% and a 1.17 beta, this ETF provides investors with exposure to the real estate sector.
6. SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY): SDY only invests in companies that have increased their dividends for at least 20 consecutive years. With a 30-day SEC yield of 2.65% and an expense ratio of 0.35%, this ETF offers investors stability and a history of consistent dividend growth.
7. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO): DGRO focuses on dividend growth by investing in companies with a history of increasing their dividends. With a 30-day SEC yield of 2.78% and an expense ratio of 0.08%, this ETF offers investors exposure to companies with a track record of sustainable dividend growth.
8. WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund (DGRW): DGRW has a strong track record of delivering consistent returns. With a 30-day SEC yield of 1.85% and an expense ratio of 0.28%, this ETF provides investors with exposure to high-quality dividend growth stocks.
Conclusion:
Income ETFs offer investors a stable and low-fee option for generating regular income. These funds prioritize income-producing assets such as dividend stocks and bonds, providing diversification and reducing risk. Investors can choose from a range of top-performing income ETFs, each with its own unique characteristics and potential for stable returns. As investors near retirement and prioritize stability and cash flow, income ETFs can be a valuable addition to their portfolios.