NOBL is the only ETF to track the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which holds S&P 500 Index stocks with at least 25 consecutive years of increasing dividends. The strategy is no longer effective, which I'll prove with a factor analysis that compares NOBL to 25 other dividend ETFs on the dividend, quality, growth, value, and risk factors. Essentially, NOBL has become a one-trick pony that's built primarily for flat or declining markets. Instead, I recommend readers take a multi-factor approach and will suggest six superior long-term alternatives.
A smart beta exchange traded fund, the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) debuted on 10/09/2013, and offers broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value category of the market.
I am upgrading NOBL to a "Buy," driven by falling Treasury yields and the potential for renewed interest in dividend growth stocks. NOBL offers a 2.03% yield, solid fundamentals, and a track record of dividend growth, despite recent underperformance versus the S&P 500. Valuation remains a concern, but sector headwinds may ease as lower rates favor defensive, high-quality dividend payers like those in NOBL.
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The fund described is a dedicated investment vehicle that focuses on replicating the performance of a specific index. This index is defined by having a broad diversification across a minimum of 40 equally weighted stocks, ensuring no single sector overdominates with more than 30% of the index's weight. The fund's strategy is to maintain a full investment position in a mix of securities and/or financial instruments which collectively mirror the returns of the target index, regardless of the prevailing market conditions, trends, or direction. By adhering to a policy of investing at least 80% of its total assets in the components that form the index, the fund positions itself as a stable instrument aiming for consistent exposure to its benchmark.
This product is the core offering, structured to invest a significant majority of its assets into the securities making up a particular index. By doing so, it provides investors with a diversified exposure to the market segments covered by the index. The fund aims to minimize risks associated with market volatility by embracing a diversified and disciplined investment approach, ensuring that no single sector disproportionately influences the fund's performance.
An integral part of the fund's strategy involves capping any single sector's weight to a maximum of 30% of the index composition. This regulation is in place to prevent overexposure to sectorial risks and to promote a balanced and diversified portfolio. By implementing this rule, the fund ensures a healthy spread of investments across different industries, enhancing the potential for stable returns.
The fund adopts an equal weighting approach to its stock selection within the index it tracks. Each of the minimum 40 stocks is given an identical weight in the investment strategy, which means that the performance of smaller companies has the same impact on the index as that of larger companies. This methodology promotes an egalitarian view of investing, where every constituent has the potential to contribute equally to the overall performance of the fund.