According to YCharts the Franklin International Dividend Booster Index ETF (XIDV) has returned 8.95% year-to-date, narrowly outperforming the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA), which is up 8.75% over the same period. At first glance, the difference may appear modest.
IEFA offers higher recent returns and a significantly higher dividend yield than SPGM. SPGM provides broader global exposure including U.S. and emerging markets, while IEFA focuses on developed markets outside North America.
IEFA carries an identical expense ratio to IXUS but offers a slightly higher dividend yield. IXUS delivered a stronger 1-year return and covers a broader set of international stocks, including emerging markets.
| BATS Exchange | US Country |
The fund operates as an investment vehicle, focusing primarily on capturing the equity market performance across various geographies including Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. It employs a strategy that involves allocating at least 80% of its assets towards securities that are included in its underlying index or those that bear economic characteristics significantly identical to the index components. The emphasis is on diversifying investments across large-, mid-, and small-capitalization companies, aiming to offer investors broad exposure to global equity markets beyond domestic opportunities.
The service encompasses thorough market analysis to identify equities that not only are part of the underlying index but also possess qualities likely to yield substantial economic benefits identical to those index components. This strategy enables the fund to tap into diverse market dynamics, capitalizing on global economic variations and opportunities.