Looking to diversify abroad? Many investors are turning to foreign equity ETFs to diversify from domestic risk to start 2025. With tariffs and policy-related volatility impacting the U.S. stock market, foreign firms could provide a helpful off ramp. What’s more, they also offer their own upside opportunities for savvy investors to exploit. The right international ETF, then, could provide a strong option to boost portfolios, with IDOG a strong contender in the category.
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The ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG ) launched in 2013. The strategy tracks an equal-weighted index including the five top dividend payers from each of the 10 international GICS sectors. That “Dogs of the Dow” theory applied to international non-U.S. stocks could help investors find firms with strong internal outlooks. Dividends say a lot about foreign firms in markets where many U.S. investors regularly lack information.
Current Income in International ETF IDOG
What kind of stocks does that lead IDOG to? The international ETF holds a wide variety of firms, given its approach to the GICS sectors. Some standout firms include Sanofi Sa (SNY), a biotech and pharmaceuticals firm. SNY has returned 22.85% YTD, per YCharts, with a solid 23.76 P/E ratio. It also offers a 3.44% dividend yield, focusing on drugs in oncology, immunology, diabetes, and more.
The fund also invests in firms like Credit Agricole S.A. (CRARY), a group of French banks. CRARY has returned 32% YTD and offers a 6.3% dividend yield, per YCharts. The firm excludes core retail and commercial banking, instead focusing on corporate and investment banking and insurance operations.
Finally, the international ETF invests in Orange SA (ORANY), also based in France. The telecom company is the market leader, offering a 5% dividend yield, per YCharts, as of March 10. What’s more, it has returned a very appealing 30% YTD.
Taken together, IDOG’s approach and offering of exposure to strong dividend firms abroad may have a role for investors this year. With U.S. investors looking for diversification, IDOG’s strong dividend contenders might intrigue.
VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”) is the index provider for IDOG, for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, IDOG is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi, and VettaFi has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of IDOG.
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