Equity investors will appreciate international stocks as a means to diversify their portfolios, but also as a way to achieve other avenues for dividends. They can meld both benefits with the Fidelity International High Dividend ETF (FIDI).
FIDI offers solid international dividend exposure with a unique methodology, but its long-term diversification benefits are limited in today's global markets. Yield and total return are competitive with US peers, but FIDI is outperformed by international alternatives like LVHI, which boasts better risk-reward and drawdown management. FIDI's portfolio construction is thoughtfully diversified by country and sector, though its yield and returns don't significantly outshine the competition.
Fidelity International High Dividend ETF focuses on high dividend stocks from developed markets but has a short-term selection methodology. FIDI's 12-month yield-based approach results in weaker dividend growth and total returns compared to IDV's 3-5 year evaluation period. FIDI's total return since inception is 18.8%, significantly lower than IDV's 37.1%, indicating inferior long-term performance.
For those looking to build a portfolio of income-producing assets that may allow one to live off of dividends in retirement (without having to sell much, if all, of one's invested shares), the following three Fidelity ETFs may be worth considering.
Building a sizable nest egg can take decades. But once it's there, it can fuel a sizable income stream for a lifetime.
When seeking higher dividend yields without compromising on quality, investors might consider international equities. FIDI is one of the existing low-cost options for high-dividend factor exposure. FIDI targets a developed world equity universe utilizing a tripartite factor score, with the dividend yield as a cornerstone.