Latest figures on SCHD Yahoo Finance reveal a 1-year total return of roughly 6.2%, outperforming some defensive equity peers. Market strategists anticipate continued strength in dividend-heavy sectors if inflation moderates further in Q Click here to learn more about the Ascent Income Fund and start generating a reliable, high-yield passive income stream. While there are several funds available in the space, we have highlighted five ETFs that have a solid Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), which promise outperformance amid the current market conditions. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF ( VIG ) Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF is the largest and the most popular ETF in the dividend space, with an AUM of $93 billion and an average daily volume of 804,000 shares. The fund follows the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which is composed of stocks of companies that have a record of increasing dividends over time. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holds 337 stocks in its basket and charges 5 bps in annual fees. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #1. Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF ( VYM ) Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF provides exposure to high-yielding dividend stocks by tracking the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index. It has amassed $61.8 billion in its asset base while trading in volumes of 1.1 million shares a day on average. Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF holds 582 stocks in its basket and charges 6 bps in annual fees. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #1. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF ( DGRO ) iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF provides exposure to 397 companies having a history of sustained dividend growth by tracking the Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index. It has AUM of $32.5 billion and trades in solid volumes of about 1.5 million shares. DGRO charges 8 bps in fees per year and has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 (read: 5 ETF Predictions for the Second Half of 2025). SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF ( SPYD ) SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF provides exposure to stocks with a high level of dividend income and the opportunity for capital appreciation by tracking the S&P 500 High Dividend Index. Holding 77 stocks in its basket, the fund has key holdings in real estate, utilities, financials, and consumer staples. SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF has AUM of $7 billion and trades in an average volume of 1.2 million shares. It charges 7 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF ( SCHD ) Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF offers exposure to 103 high-dividend-yielding U.S. companies that have a record of consistent dividend payments, supported by fundamental strength based on financial ratios and ample liquidity. This can be easily done by tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF charges 6 bps in annual fees and trades in a solid volume of about 17 million shares a day. It has an AUM of $71.3 billion and a Zacks ETF Rank #2. Traders eye potential breakouts if earnings season surprises on the upside.
