The ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG ) gained 3.1% in January, driven by double-digit rallies in mining and energy holdings that reported record production and benefited from surging commodity prices.
BHP Group (BHP) climbed 16% after announcing record copper and iron ore output, while Norwegian energy producer Equinor ASA (EQNR) advanced 13.5% following strong fourth quarter results, according to ETF Database data.
IDOG’s “dividend dogs” strategy selects the five highest-yielding stocks in each market sector and rebalances each December. This equal-weighted approach positioned IDOG to capture January’s rally in resource-heavy companies just as they announced improved production outlooks and increased shareholder returns.
BHP’s surge followed the company’s announcement of record first-half copper and iron ore production, according to the BHP operational review for the half year ended Dec. 31. The Australian miner achieved record concentrator throughput at its flagship Escondida copper operation in Chile while raising full-year production guidance.
Copper prices, which have climbed 32% year-over-year, provided additional momentum, the BHP review shows. The company increased its copper production outlook to between 1.9 and 2.0 million tonnes for fiscal 2026, up from previous guidance of 1.8 to 2.0 million tonnes.
BHP represents a 2.1% weighting in IDOG’s portfolio, according to ETF Database.
Nordic Energy Dominance
Three Norwegian companies ranked among IDOG’s top five performers in January, according to ETF Database data. Beyond Equinor’s 13.5% gain, telecommunications provider Telenor advanced 15.6% while oil producer Aker BP climbed 14.7%.
The Norwegian concentration reflects broader strength among high-yielding Nordic equities, according to a Morningstar report published Tuesday. That report highlighted how energy and materials companies dominated January performance among dividend-paying stocks in the region.
Equinor reported record-high production in 2025 and outlined a 3% production growth target for 2026, according to its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results. The Norwegian energy giant also announced a $1.5 billion share buyback program while maintaining its dividend at 39 cents per share.
Energy strength extended beyond Norway, according to ETF Database data. Polish refiner Orlen gained 13.50%, matching Equinor’s return, while Australian petroleum exploration and producer Woodside Energy Group climbed 12.2%. French electric utility company Engie advanced 13%.
Financial sector holdings also contributed to January’s performance. French bank BNP Paribas gained 13.86%, ranking fourth among the fund’s performers during the month, according to the data.
IDOG attracted $4.85 million in new investor capital during January and maintains a 4.27% trailing twelve-month dividend yield, according to ETF Database data and the fund’s factsheet.
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