What is the dividend rule for ETFs?
To receive a
Most funds pay their dividends on either an annual or a quarterly basis. Investors must own their qualifying shares of the ETF by the fund's dividend record date in order to receive a payment, and so must purchase their shares by the ex-dividend date in order to record their ownership in time.
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.
How Do Dividends Work in an ETF? 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.
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.
It's possible to live off the income from high-dividend ETFs, but it may take some planning. You can find high-dividend ETFs by analyzing the ETF selection in your brokerage account.
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.
Cons. No guarantee of future dividends. Stock price declines may offset yield. Dividends are taxed in the year they are distributed to shareholders.
| Symbol | Name | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|
| TSL | GraniteShares 1.25x Long Tesla Daily ETF | 117.61% |
| KLIP | KraneShares China Internet and Covered Call Strategy ETF | 61.94% |
| TSLY | YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF | 59.37% |
| CONY | YieldMax COIN Option Income Strategy ETF | 56.65% |
Our recommendation for the best overall dividend ETF is the Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF (SCHD), thanks to a combination of high Morningstar rating, rigorous index methodology, low expense ratio, competitive yields and strong historical performance.
How often are dividends paid on ETFs?
As with stocks and many mutual funds, most ETFs pay their dividends quarterly—once every three months. However, ETFs that offer monthly dividend returns are also available.
Many financial experts recommend that you reinvest dividends most of the time – and I'm inclined to agree. The process is typically automated, doesn't incur any fees and gives your holdings a little (or a lot) of extra oomph.
QQQ Dividend Information
QQQ has a dividend yield of 0.64% and paid $2.64 per share in the past year. The dividend is paid every three months and the last ex-dividend date was Mar 18, 2024.
The ETF's prospectus will specify which months it pays dividends. You can also look up a fund's dividend history on various financial websites. For specific, upcoming dividend dates, follow the fund's news releases and shareholder communications, which can typically be found on the ETF's website.
The IRS considers any dividends you receive as taxable income, whether you reinvest them or not. When you reinvest dividends, for tax purposes you are essentially receiving the dividend and then using it to purchase more shares.
Reinvested dividends may be treated in different ways, however. Qualified dividends get taxed as capital gains, while non-qualified dividends get taxed as ordinary income. You can avoid paying taxes on reinvested dividends in the year you earn them by holding dividend stocks in a tax-deferred retirement plan.
And if you've got a large portfolio totaling more than $1.1 million, your dividend income could come in around $50,000 per year. By then, there could be other dividend-focused ETFs to choose from.
Investing in the stock market is one of the most effective ways to generate long-term wealth, and you don't need to be an experienced investor to make a lot of money. In fact, it's possible to retire a millionaire with next to no effort through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Stocks in the S&P 500 index currently yield about 1.5% on aggregate. That means, if you have $1 million invested in a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund that tracks the index, you could expect annual dividend income of about $15,000.
For instance, some ETFs may come with fees, others might stray from the value of the underlying asset, ETFs are not always optimized for taxes, and of course — like any investment — ETFs also come with risk.
How long should you hold an ETF?
Holding period:
If you hold ETF shares for one year or less, then gain is short-term capital gain. If you hold ETF shares for more than one year, then gain is long-term capital gain.
At least once a year, funds must pass on any net gains they've realized. As a fund shareholder, you could be on the hook for taxes on gains even if you haven't sold any of your shares.
Lower Dividend Yields
But if an investor can take on the risk, then owning individual stocks can mean much higher dividend yields. While you can pick the stock with the highest dividend yield, ETFs track a broader market, so the overall yield will average out to be lower.
Dividend ETFs and dividend stocks can both generate income and provide long-term growth for investors. However, they both carry similar degrees of market risk. Therefore, the choice of ETFs versus stocks comes down to an investor's personal preferences, investing goals and tolerance for risk.
Dividend ETFs or Dividend Stocks: Which Is Better? Dividend ETFs can be a good option for investors looking for a low-cost, diversified and reliable source of income from their investments. Dividend stocks may be a better option for investors who prefer to choose their own investments.
