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Why You Should Buy Dividend ETFs Now

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A global gauge of stocks hit a record high as traders bet big on the fact that the Federal Reserve is likely to deliver its first interest-rate cut in more than four years. The MSCI All Country World Index is hovering around its peak close from July 16, hinting at growing confidence in an imminent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole economic symposium Friday signaled a September rate cut following revised payroll data and dovish Fed minutes. However, caution needs to be exercised. While French services showed robust growth, Germany's composite PMI suggested an economic slowdown. In Britain, the private sector growth strengthened with easing price pressures.

The report for annual benchmark revisions from the Bureau of Labor Statistics out Wednesday showed there were 818,000 fewer people employed as of this March than had been previously reported. The team at Capital Economics pointed out that this indicates the average monthly job gains seen from March 2023 through March 2024 were closer to 174,000 rather than the 242,000 initially reported, according to Yahoo Finance.

Although this data should not change the likelihood of the Fed cutting rates by 25 bps in September, volatility may be in the cards. Gerry Fowler, head of European equity strategy and global derivative strategy at UBS suggested an increase in volatility this year due to declining nominal GDP, interest rate cuts, and uncertainty in the jobs market.

Here’s why dividend ETFs should be considered now.

Focus on Dividend Stocks

Dividend-paying stocks provide a steady income stream and help mitigate potential losses during weaker market periods. These stocks offer the best of both worlds — safety in the form of payouts and stability in the form of mature companies that are less volatile to the large swings in stock prices.

The Power of High-Dividend ETFs

High-dividend ETFs can be a good investment during times of economic uncertainty, as they provide a steady source of income regardless of market conditions. These types of stocks and ETFs typically pay out a higher percentage of their profits as dividends than other stocks, which means that they can make up for the capital losses, if there are any.

Examples of such ETFs are Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM - Free Report) (which charges 6 bps in fees and yields 2.86% annually), Global X SuperDividend ETF (SDIV - Free Report) (which charges 58 bps in fees and yields 10.85% annually) and Global X SuperDividend U.S. ETF (DIV - Free Report) (which charges 45 bps in fees and yields 6.26% annually).

Dividend-Growth ETFs in Focus

High-quality dividend stocks with a history of consistent dividend payments and growth can offer both income and the potential for capital appreciation over the long term. Examples of such ETFs are Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG - Free Report) and ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL - Free Report) . The VIG ETF and NOBL ETF charge 6 bps and 35 bps in fees, respectively.


 

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