An exchange-traded fund (ETF) includes a basket of securities and trades on an exchange. If the stocks owned by the fund pay dividends, the money is passed along to the investor. Most ETFs pay these dividends quarterly on a pro-rata basis, where payments are based on the number of shares the investor owns.
Key Takeaways
- ETFs pay dividends earned from the underlying stocks held in the ETF.
- An ETF that receives dividends must pay them to investors in cash or additional shares of the ETF.
- Dividends may be taxed at the long-term capital gains rate or the investor's ordinary income tax rate.
Allocating Dividends
If an ETF has 100 shares of a company outstanding, the investor who owns ten shares has the right to 10% of the dividends earned by the ETF. The financial institution managing the ETF will receive the distribution and pass it to investors, usually quarterly.
If five stocks in the ETF pay quarterly dividends of $1 each and the fund owns ten shares of each of the stocks, the fund earns $50 in dividends per quarter. The investor who owns 10% of the shares of the ETF earns a quarterly dividend payment of $5.
The first ETF introduced in 1993 was the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which tracks theS&P 500 Index.
Types of Dividends
There are two types of dividends that an ETF can pay to investors: qualified dividends and non-qualified dividends. The tax consequences for the two are different. Most investors will pay a lower rate on capital gains than on ordinary income. As of 2023, the capital gains tax was 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income. The earned income tax rates range up to 37%.
- Qualified dividends: The ETF designates if the dividends distributed are qualified. The dividends are then taxed at the capital gains rate based on an investor's modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and the taxable income rate that ranges from 0% to 20% in 2023, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). An investor only earns the ETF-qualified dividend if they own the shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins 60 days before the ex-dividend date.
- Non-qualified dividends: Non-qualified dividends are the remaining ETF dividends equal to the total dividends minus any dividends treated as qualified dividends. These dividends are taxed at the investor's ordinary income tax rate and are commonly paid on stocks held by the ETF for 60 days or less.
8,800
The number of ETFs available to investors globally in 2023.
How Are ETF Dividends Paid to Investors?
How Do Individuals Invest in ETFs?
ETFs can be purchased or sold on a stock exchange in the same way as individual stocks. An ETF contains a basket of securities and is commonly structured to follow an index or industry sector, such as commodities, technology, or biotechnology.
How Do Investors Determine What Dividends Are Paid by an ETF?
Investors can research the dividend yield for the ETF, which is expressed as a percentage. The yield reveals how much a company pays out individendseach year relative to its stock price. Some ETFs focus on high-dividend investments. Two ETFs that focus on dividends include the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY), which tracks the S&P High-Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index, and the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG), which invests in companies that have increased dividends for at least ten consecutive years.
The Bottom Line
Exchange-traded funds are similar to stocks in that they can be bought and sold throughout the trading day. An investor who wants to reap the benefits of dividends can choose an ETF that focuses on dividend-paying stocks. Dividends can be distributed as cash or reinvested in the ETF. With or without a dividend, the best ETFs offer investors a way to diversify their portfolio through a single, low-expense ratio product.
Correction—Dec. 1, 2022: This article was edited to update the definitions of both qualified and unqualified dividends that may be paid to investors in an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).
FAQs
ETF issuers collect any dividends paid by the companies whose stocks are held in the fund, and they then pay those dividends to their shareholders. They may pay the money directly to the shareholders, or reinvest it in the fund.
How does ETF pay dividends? ›
Key Takeaways. ETFs pay dividends earned from the underlying stocks held in the ETF. An ETF that receives dividends must pay them to investors in cash or additional shares of the ETF. Dividends may be taxed at the long-term capital gains rate or the investor's ordinary income tax rate.
How do I know if an ETF pays qualified dividends? ›
Qualified. To receive a qualified dividend, you must hold an ETF for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins 60 days before the ex-dividend date and ends 60 days after that date. This is the last day when new owners can qualify for the next dividend.
Do ETFs automatically reinvest dividends? ›
Automatic dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) directly from the fund sponsor aren't yet available on all ETFs although most brokerages will allow you to set up a DRIP for any ETF that pays dividends. This can be a smart idea because there's often a longer settlement time required by ETFs.
How are ETF dividend yields calculated? ›
The dividend yield is calculated by dividing the most recent dividend payment by the price of the fund. For our purposes, we are using the latest closing price here.
How are dividends paid? ›
Cash dividends are paid out either as a check sent to the investor or as a credit to a brokerage account, which can then be reinvested. Stock dividends are paid in fractional shares. If a company issues a stock dividend of 5%, shareholders will receive 0.05 shares in dividends for every share they already own.
How do ETFs make money? ›
Traders and investors can make money from an ETF by selling it at a higher price than what they bought it for. Investors could also receive dividends if they own an ETF that tracks dividend stocks. ETF providers make money mainly from the expense ratio of the funds they manage, as well as through transaction costs.
Are you taxed on ETF dividends? ›
Dividends and interest payments from ETFs are taxed similarly to income from the underlying stocks or bonds inside them. For U.S. taxpayers, this income needs to be reported on form 1099-DIV. 2 If you earn a profit by selling an ETF, they are taxed like the underlying stocks or bonds as well.
Does TSLY pay a monthly dividend? ›
TSLY has a dividend yield of 92.58% and paid $14.21 per share in the past year. The dividend is paid every month and the last ex-dividend date was May 6, 2024.
Do any ETFs pay monthly dividends? ›
If you own shares of an exchange-traded fund (ETF), you may receive distributions in the form of dividends. These may be paid monthly or at some other interval, depending on the ETF. It's important to know that not all dividends are treated the same from a tax perspective.
Can you live off ETF dividends? While it is possible to live off ETF dividends, you'll need to do some careful planning to make it happen. You'll need to balance how much income your investments bring in, and how much you spend.
Is it better to reinvest dividends or take cash? ›
It May Take Longer To Achieve Long-Term Financial Goals: Dividend reinvestment leads to compounded growth. This makes it easier (and faster) to achieve your long-term financial goals versus keeping cash in a savings account.
What is the best ETF for dividends? ›
7 Best High-Dividend ETFs to Buy Right Now
| High-Dividend ETF | Assets Under Management | Trailing Dividend Yield* |
|---|
| VanEck BDC Income ETF (BIZD) | $1.1 billion | 10.7% |
| Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) | $7.2 billion | 8.8% |
| SPDR Blackstone High Income ETF (HYBL) | $153 million | 8.1% |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) | $6.7 billion | 4.6% |
3 more rowsThe dividend payout ratio shows the percentage of earnings paid out to shareholders in dividends. It is calculated by dividing total dividend payments by net income. The dividend yield shows the annual dividend income earned per share as a percentage of the current stock price.
What is the difference between ETF distribution and dividend? ›
Dividends are payments by a company out of its profits to investors who own shares in the company. A dividend is usually paid in the form of cash or in additional shares of the company. Distributions are payments made by a 'Fund' like a managed fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) to an investor.
Are dividends taxed? ›
Dividends can be classified either as ordinary or qualified. Whereas ordinary dividends are taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividends that meet certain requirements are taxed at lower capital gain rates.
Do ETF pay monthly dividends? ›
If you own shares of an exchange-traded fund (ETF), you may receive distributions in the form of dividends. These may be paid monthly or at some other interval, depending on the ETF. It's important to know that not all dividends are treated the same from a tax perspective.
What is the downside of dividend ETF? ›
Cons. No guarantee of future dividends. Stock price declines may offset yield. Dividends are taxed in the year they are distributed to shareholders.
Do you pay taxes on dividends in an ETF? ›
Dividends and interest payments from ETFs are taxed similarly to income from the underlying stocks or bonds inside them. For U.S. taxpayers, this income needs to be reported on form 1099-DIV. 2 If you earn a profit by selling an ETF, they are taxed like the underlying stocks or bonds as well.
Which ETF pays the highest dividend? ›
- Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP)
- First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (FPE)
- ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF (ISPY)
- VanEck BDC Income ETF (BIZD)
- Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN)
- SPDR Blackstone High Income ETF (HYBL)
- SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD)
