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Vanguard Low-Cost ETFs offer a range of passive income opportunities in global markets.
With over 70 ETFs to choose from, investors can diversify their portfolios and tap into international markets, such as the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, which tracks the performance of developed markets outside the US.
Investing in these ETFs can provide a steady stream of income through dividends and interest payments.
Vanguard's ETFs have historically offered lower fees compared to actively managed funds, which can help investors keep more of their returns.
Investing in Global Stocks
Investing in global stocks can provide a solid foundation for your portfolio, especially if you're seeking regular income in times of low interest rates. Dividend stocks from established companies can offer attractive yields.
There are different index concepts available for investing with ETFs in global high-dividend equities. The FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield index, for example, tracks 2,165 stocks from developed and emerging economies worldwide, excluding REITs.
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The index is rebalanced semi-annually in March and September, and its constituents are selected based on the expected dividend yield for the next 12 months. Here's a breakdown of the index's methodology:
Alternatively, you can consider the STOXX Global Select Dividend 100 index, which tracks 100 dividend stocks from developed countries worldwide. This index is rebalanced annually in March and is weighted by indicated dividend yield.
Global Stock Investing
Investing in global stocks can be a great way to diversify your portfolio and potentially earn regular income through dividend stocks.
Dividend stocks are typically paid by profitable and established companies, making them a solid investment choice.
There are different index concepts available for investing in global high-dividend equities, such as the FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield Factsheet.
The FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield Factsheet tracks 2,165 stocks from developed and emerging economies worldwide.
The index selection criteria are based on the expected dividend yield for the next 12 months, and stocks with the highest dividend yields from the investment universe are selected, which is approximately 50 percent of the investable market capitalisation.
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The index is rebalanced semi-annually in March and September, and the constituents are weighted by free float market capitalisation.
Here's a brief overview of the FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield Factsheet methodology:
MSCI World ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select Factsheet
The MSCI World ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select Factsheet is a great resource for investors looking to diversify their global stock portfolio. It's based on the MSCI World index, which comprises 1,397 shares from developed countries worldwide.
The index excludes Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which can be a good thing if you're not interested in that sector. However, it's worth noting that the selection criteria for the MSCI World ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select are quite specific.
The index selects 177 dividend stocks from developed countries worldwide, with a focus on quality factors and a dividend yield of at least 30% above the average of the underlying index. This means you can expect a higher return on your investment.
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The index is rebalanced semi-annually in May and November, which is a common practice in the investment world. This ensures that the index remains up-to-date and reflects changes in the market.
Here's a breakdown of the key characteristics of the MSCI World ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select:
- Investment universe: MSCI World index
- Number of shares: 1,397 (as of 29.11.24)
- Number of dividend stocks: 177 (as of 28.06.24)
- Index weighted by free float market capitalization
- Maximum weight per individual stock: 5%
The index is designed to be a long-term investment, with a focus on quality and sustainability. By excluding REITs and focusing on dividend stocks, you can create a diversified portfolio that meets your investment goals.
S&P 500
The S&P 500 is a benchmark for the US stock market, and one of the most popular ways to invest in it is through the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). This ETF has a 0.03% expense ratio, making it one of the lowest-cost options available.
The VOO fund tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index, which means it holds the same names as the index. The top holdings in the fund are Microsoft, Apple, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Google. These companies have a median market capitalization of $212 billion.
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One of the benefits of investing in the S&P 500 through the VOO ETF is its low fees. On a $100,000 portfolio, the annual expense ratio would be just $30. This is significantly cheaper than other look-alike funds, such as the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), which charges 0.095% or $95 annually.
The VOO ETF has also been a top performer, returning 15.21% annually over the last five years and 20.81% during the past year. Year-to-date, shares returned 26.63% based on the ETF's net asset value (NAV) as of November 8, 2024.
Here are the top three sectors invested in by the VOO ETF:
- Information Technology
- Financials
- Health Care
The VOO ETF is also available through Vanguard's dividend reinvestment program (DRIP), which allows investors to automatically reinvest their dividends without incurring any additional fees.
Comparing ETFs
Comparing ETFs is a crucial step in finding the right investment for your passive income goals. The article lists several global dividend ETFs with their key characteristics, making it easier to compare them.
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A good starting point is to look at the fund size, which ranges from 15 million EUR to 4,748 million EUR. This gives an idea of the ETF's popularity and potential liquidity.
The TER (Total Expense Ratio) also varies, with some ETFs having a TER as low as 0.25% p.a. and others as high as 0.50% p.a. This is a significant factor to consider, as it directly affects your returns.
Here's a table summarizing the key characteristics of the ETFs listed:
Consideration of the fund domicile and replication method is also important, as they can impact the ETF's performance and costs.
Compared Indices Methodologies
The FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield index tracks high dividend stocks from developed and emerging economies worldwide, selecting the stocks with the highest dividend yields from its parent index.
The index has 2,165 constituents and is weighted by free float market capitalization. It aims to reflect 50 percent of the parent index, the FTSE All-World index (excluding REITs).
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The MSCI World High Dividend Yield ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select index has 177 constituents and is also weighted by free float market capitalization. However, it also considers ESG criteria, such as environmental, social, and corporate governance.
The S&P Global Dividend Aristocrats index, on the other hand, selects companies with a controlled dividend policy and rising or stable dividend payments for at least 10 consecutive years. It has 96 constituents and is weighted by indicated dividend yield.
Here's a comparison of the methodologies of the different indices:
As you can see, each index has its own unique methodology and selection criteria. The FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield index focuses on high dividend yields, while the MSCI World High Dividend Yield ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select index considers ESG criteria in addition to dividend yields. The S&P Global Dividend Aristocrats index selects companies with a controlled dividend policy and rising or stable dividend payments.
Stocks Comparison
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When comparing stocks and ETFs, it's essential to consider their underlying assets. Stocks, also known as equities, represent ownership in individual companies, such as Apple or Google.
The cost of buying and selling stocks can vary depending on the brokerage firm and the trading platform used. Brokerage commissions for individual stocks can range from $5 to $20 per trade.
In contrast, ETFs are traded on an exchange like stocks, and their prices are determined by supply and demand. The expense ratio of an ETF is a key factor in its overall cost, typically ranging from 0.05% to 1.0% per year.
Many people invest in individual stocks because they want to own a piece of a specific company, like Amazon. However, this approach can be time-consuming and requires a significant amount of research.
The expense ratio of an ETF is generally lower than the average cost of buying and holding individual stocks. This is because ETFs are designed to track a specific index or sector, such as the S&P 500 or technology stocks.
Investing in individual stocks can be riskier than investing in ETFs, as the value of individual stocks can fluctuate significantly. In contrast, ETFs tend to be less volatile and provide a more diversified portfolio.
Low-Cost ETFs
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The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) offers investors broad exposure to the fixed-income market with an expense ratio of just 0.03%. This ETF has $311.7 billion in assets under management.
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is another low-cost option, with a 0.03% expense ratio and $1.1 trillion in assets. It tracks the performance of the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index.
The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE: VTI) has an expense ratio of 0.04%, making it a low-cost option for investors. This ETF invests in public equity markets in the US and growth and value stocks of companies across diversified market capitalizations and sectors.
Here are some of the lowest-cost Vanguard ETFs:
FTSE All-World Factsheet
The FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield index is the largest available dividend index, tracking 2,165 constituents from developed and emerging economies worldwide. It aims to reflect 50 percent of its parent index, the FTSE All-World index, excluding REITs.
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The index selection method is straightforward, based on the expected dividend yield for the next 12 months. The selected companies are weighted by their free float market cap.
The investment universe of the FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield index includes 4,291 constituents from the FTSE All-World index, excluding REITs. This provides a broad range of stocks to choose from.
Here's a breakdown of the index's methodology:
- 2,165 stocks from developed and emerging economies worldwide (as of 28.06.24)
- Stock selection is based on the expected dividend yield for the next 12 months
- Index rebalancing takes place semi-annually in March and September
- Index weighted by free float market capitalisation
The FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield index is a reliable choice for investors seeking regular income in times of low interest rates.
MSCI World ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select Index
The MSCI World ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select Index is a great option for investors looking for a low-cost ETF that focuses on high dividend-yielding stocks with strong ESG credentials.
This index tracks 177 dividend stocks from developed countries worldwide, selected based on quality factors, dividend yield, and non-negative dividend growth over 5 years.
The index is based on the MSCI World index, which comprises 1,397 shares, but excludes REITs.
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Stocks in the index are weighted by their free float market capitalization, with a maximum weight per individual stock of 5%.
The index is rebalanced semi-annually in May and November.
Here are the key characteristics of the MSCI World ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select Index:
- 177 dividend stocks from developed countries worldwide
- Selected based on quality factors, dividend yield, and non-negative dividend growth over 5 years
- Weighted by free float market capitalization, with a maximum weight per individual stock of 5%
- Rebalanced semi-annually in May and November
SG Quality
The SG Global Quality Income index tracks 25 to 75 high dividend stocks from developed economies worldwide. Financials are excluded.
The selection process of the SG Global Quality Income index is based on comprehensive quality criteria. These criteria include profitability, solvency, and internal efficiency.
To be selected, a firm's dividend yield must be at least 4 percent. Both the expected and the indicated dividend yield are taken into account.
A special feature of the index is the equal weighting of all selected dividend stocks. This means that each stock has an equal influence on the overall performance of the index.
Cheapest by TER
The cheapest ETFs are a great option for those looking to save on fees. The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) has an expense ratio of 0.06%, making it a relatively affordable choice.
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If you're looking for an even lower TER (Total Expense Ratio), consider the Xtrackers MSCI World High Dividend Yield ESG UCITS ETF 1D, which has a TER of 0.25%. This ETF is a great option for those seeking high dividend yields.
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is another low-cost option, with an expense ratio of 0.03%. This ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, providing broad exposure to the US stock market.
Here are the top 3 cheapest global dividend ETFs by TER:
The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is another low-cost option, with an expense ratio of 0.03%. This ETF tracks the entire US stock market, providing broad exposure to the market.
Largest EUR Funds
If you're looking for low-cost ETFs that offer a high dividend yield, you're in the right place. The largest global dividend ETFs by fund size in EUR are worth considering.
Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield UCITS ETF Distributing is the largest global dividend ETF by fund size in EUR, with a massive €4,748 million in assets.
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iShares STOXX Global Select Dividend 100 UCITS ETF (DE) comes in second, with €2,596 million in assets.
VanEck Morningstar Developed Markets Dividend Leaders UCITS ETF rounds out the top three, with €1,240 million in assets.
Here are the top three largest EUR funds:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vanguard's best performing ETF?
Vanguard's best-performing ETF is the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG), with a year-to-date return of 38%. This ETF tracks large-cap growth stocks and is heavily weighted with the "Magnificent Seven" stocks.
What is the best Vanguard fund for income?
For investors seeking income, Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) is a popular choice, offering a balanced mix of dividend-paying stocks and a relatively stable distribution history. However, individual income needs may vary, and it's essential to review fund details and consult with a financial advisor before making a decision.
Sources
- https://www.justetf.com/en/how-to/dividend-etfs-world.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/040516/10-cheapest-vanguard-etfs-voo-vti.asp
- https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/etfs/best-vanguard-etfs
- https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-vanguard-dividend-etfs-for-passive-income-976984/
- https://www.etfstream.com/articles/the-year-of-vanguard-and-cheap-passive-etfs
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