In this article, we discuss 12 best performing dividend ETFs in 2023. You can skip our detailed analysis of dividend exchange-traded funds and their importance in today’s market, and go directly to read 5 Best Performing Dividend ETFs in 2023. 

Dividend-focused exchange-traded funds invest in stocks of companies that pay dividends. These ETFs can track different dividend strategies such as high-dividend yield, consistent dividend growth, or a combination of both. Some dividend ETFs may focus on a particular sector, such as utilities or consumer staples, while others may have a more broad-based approach and invest in stocks across multiple sectors.

The consistent changes in monetary policies last year presented a challenging environment for investors because the Fed struggled to tame inflation. This scenario opened new investment ideas for investors as they searched to generate additional income. Dividend ETFs provided a way out for investors because they offered regular income, long-term growth potential, diversification, and lower volatility than non-dividend stocks. Morningstar reported that dividend-centric ETFs raked in $69.7 billion in net inflows in 2022, $51.6 billion of which was directed into the large-value category. The report also mentioned that many high-dividend strategies performed well because of their investments in strong energy stocks.

After experiencing solid inflows in 2022, dividend ETFs keep attracting attention this year as well. In our article titled 25 Things Every Dividend Investor Should Know, we reported that investors have poured over $2.8 billion in dividend ETFs this year through April 14. The report also highlighted that there are nearly 180 dividend-focused ETFs in the US, with over $384 billion in total assets. To know more about dividend funds, readers can have a look at 10 Best Dividend ETFs in 2023.

When investing in dividend ETFs, investors are more focused on dividend growth as compared with high yields. One of the main reasons for this inclination is that dividend growth stocks have historically shown resilience in periods of economic downturns. Insider Monkey has previously covered various aspects of dividend growth stocks and reported that stocks with consistent dividend growth tracks have outperformed the market over the years. Some of the best dividend stocks in this regard are The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) which have raised their dividends for decades. Considering the popularity of dividend stocks and their performance in the past, we will discuss the best performing dividend ETFs in 2023 in this article.

Our Methodology:

For this list, we selected ETFs that mainly invest in high-quality dividend stocks and offer stable yields to investors. The EFTs mentioned below have generated positive returns in 2023 so far. The major holdings of these ETFs are also mentioned to provide an in-depth analysis of these funds. The list is ranked in ascending order of ETFs’ year-to-date returns, as of May 3.

12. iShares Global REIT ETF (NYSE:REET)

Year-to-Date Returns as of May 3: 0.79%

iShares Global REIT ETF (NYSE:REET) provides broad exposure to real estate investment trusts from around the world and mainly access income-oriented real estate. As of May 3, the fund has nearly $3 billion in net assets and has 348 holdings. The fund’s expense ratio is 0.14%.

Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) is one of the main holdings of iShares Global REIT ETF (NYSE:REET), representing 2.86% of the fund’s portfolio. The company pays monthly dividends to shareholders and recently announced a monthly payout of $0.255 per share. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) has been raising its dividends consistently for the past 29 years. The stock has a dividend yield of 5.02%, as of May 4.

Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) can be added to dividend portfolios alongside The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV).

At the end of December 2022, 24 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported having stakes in Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O), compared with 28 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a collective value of nearly $327 million.

11. Fidelity High Dividend ETF (NYSE:FDVV)

Year-to-Date Returns as of May 3: 1.75%

Fidelity High Dividend ETF (NYSE:FDVV) tracks the performance of large and mid-cap dividend-paying companies with high dividend yields and a record of paying consistent dividends. The fund also provides exposure to a diversified portfolio of high dividend-paying U.S. companies across different sectors, including healthcare, technology, and consumer staples.

As of April 30, Fidelity High Dividend ETF (NYSE:FDVV) has total assets worth over $1.5 billion and its net expense ratio came in at 0.29%. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is one of the fund’s main holdings, accounting for 2.64% of its portfolio. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.41%, as of May 4. It has raised its dividends for 40 years in a row.

At the end of Q4 2022, the number of hedge funds owning stakes in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) grew to 79, from 75 a quarter earlier, according to Insider Monkey’s Q4 data. These stakes have a collective value of over $7.1 billion.

10. ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (BATS:NOBL)

Year-to-Date Returns as of May 3: 2.02%

ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (BATS:NOBL) tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which consists of companies that have raised their dividends for at least 25 years straight. The fund’s net assets amount to over $11.1 billion and has a net expense ratio of 0.35%. ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (BATS:NOBL) currently has a yield of 1.91%.

One of the fund’s main holdings is PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP), which is an American beverage and snack company. On May 2, the company declared a 10% hike in its quarterly dividend to $1.265 per share. This marked the company’s 51st consecutive year of dividend growth. The stock’s dividend yield on May 4 came in at 2.62%.

According to Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2022, 70 hedge funds owned stakes in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP), with a total value of over $4.4 billion. Among these hedge funds, Fundsmith LLP was the company’s largest stakeholder in Q4.

9. iShares UK Dividend UCITS ETF (NYSE:IUKD)

Year-to-Date Returns as of May 3: 2.03%

iShares UK Dividend UCITS ETF (NYSE:IUKD) seeks to track the performance of high-yielding dividend stocks listed in the UK. The fund provides investors exposure to a broad range of UK companies without having to purchase individual stocks themselves. The fund’s total expense ratio stands at 0.40% and has 51 holdings.

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI), a British multinational tobacco company is the largest holding of iShares UK Dividend UCITS ETF (NYSE:IUKD). The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.735 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.63%, as recorded on May 4. The stock is famous among investors as it maintains a 23-year streak of consistent dividend growth.

Of the 943 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 19 funds owned investments in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) in the fourth quarter of 2022, up from 14 in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $2.1 billion.

8. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund (NYSE:VIG)

Year-to-Date Returns as of May 3: 2.18%

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund (NYSE:VIG) tracks the performance of the S&P US Dividend Growers, belonging to the large-cap space, with a history of growing their dividends over time. The fund’s investment strategy is based on the belief that companies with a history of increasing their dividends tend to be financially stable and have strong competitive positions in their respective markets.

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund (NYSE:VIG) has total assets of over $77.7 billion with an expense ratio of 0.06%. An American pharmaceutical industry company, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) was one of the fund’s main holdings. The company holds one of the longest dividend growth track records in the market. On April 18, the company raised its quarterly dividend for the 62nd consecutive year. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.19 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.93%, as of May 1.

According to Insider Monkey’s Q4 2022 database, 84 hedge funds owned investments in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), with a total value of over $5.5 billion. Bridgewater Associates was one of the company’s leading stakeholders in Q4.

7. Global X MSCI SuperDividend EAFE ETF (NASDAQ:EFAS)

Year-to-Date Returns as of May 3: 2.40%

Global X MSCI SuperDividend EAFE ETF (NASDAQ:EFAS) tracks the performance of some of the highest-yielding securities from the MSCI EAFE Index. The fund has 50 holdings as of May 2023, with total net assets of over $12 million. The fund’s expense ratio stands at 0.57%.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Performing Dividend ETFs in 2023.

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Disclosure. None. 12 Best Performing Dividend ETFs in 2023 is originally published on Insider Monkey.