Franklin International Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF is rated a buy for its superior risk-adjusted returns vs. the market benchmark VEA. DIVI's strategy focuses on dividend quality, delivering lower drawdowns and volatility without sacrificing total returns, outperforming VEA on several time horizons. The ETF offers a low expense ratio (0.09%) and strong downside protection, though liquidity remains a concern due to lower trading volume and higher bid/ask spreads.
DIVI stands out among international dividend ETFs due to its methodology emphasizing value, earnings stability, and profitability, not just high yield. The ETF's optimization process allows for growth exposure while maintaining a focus on stable dividends, avoiding typical value traps and sector concentration. DIVI's portfolio is highly diversified by stock and sector, with low concentration risk and a strong track record of superior risk-adjusted returns versus peers.
Franklin International Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF offers exposure to developed world equities, ignoring the U.S. and Canada. In the current iteration, DIVI is heavy in Japanese, UK, and Australian stocks. Financials and industrials are key sectors. By international dividend ETF standards, its expense ratio is wafer-thin at just 11 bps.
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The fund described is an investment vehicle that primarily focuses on maximizing dividend returns from markets outside North America. It commits at least 80% of its assets to securities that are part of its benchmark index, as well as depositary receipts linked to those securities. This benchmark index derives from the Morningstar® Developed Markets ex-North America Target Market Exposure Index. A distinct feature of the fund is its optimization process, which is designed to enhance the dividend yield relative to the Parent Index while keeping the tracking error— the divergence between the performance of the fund and its Parent Index—to a minimum. The strategic approach signals a balance between seeking higher income through dividends and maintaining alignment with the overall market performance tracked by the Parent Index.
The fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the component securities of its benchmark index. This investment strategy is aimed at reflecting the performance of the index, focusing on developed markets outside North America. By mirroring the index's composition, the fund positions itself to capture the financial performance of a diverse set of companies that are deemed to have a stable and potentially growing dividend payout.
Aside from direct investment in securities, the fund also allocates its assets to depositary receipts. These financial instruments represent a specified number of shares (or one share) in a foreign company's stock, allowing the fund to gain exposure to international markets without the complexities of direct investments abroad. This method facilitates broader diversification across different geographic regions and sectors, enhancing the potential for dividend income and growth.
The fund employs an optimization process with the objective of securing a higher dividend yield than its Parent Index. This process involves selecting stocks within the Parent Index that have the potential to offer higher dividends without significantly increasing the risk or deviating greatly from the overall market performance the Parent Index represents. This strategy is particularly appealing to income-focused investors seeking to maximize dividend income while still having a balanced exposure to international developed markets.