How are dividends handled in ETFs? (2024)

How are dividends handled in ETFs?

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.

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.

If you want to live off ETF dividends you'll need to consider the money you may have from Social Security benefits, pension benefits, 401(k)s, IRAs, and any other sources of income. Then you can start to estimate how much you'll need to fill in the gaps with ETF dividends.

Not all ETF dividends are taxed the same; they are broken down into qualified and unqualified dividends. Qualified dividends are taxed between 0% and 20%. Unqualified dividends are taxed from 10% to 37%. High earners pay additional tax on dividends, but only if they make a substantial income.

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.

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.

ETF dividends can provide a source of income, which may be attractive for certain investors, especially those in their retirement years. If an investor chooses to reinvest their ETF dividends, they can benefit from compound interest, helping their investments grow over time. ETFs invest in several assets at once.

As we demonstrated in this article, with a simple seven-fund portfolio and a $1 million retirement nest egg, you can live comfortably off of just your cash flow, especially when supplemented by social security checks.

In a market that generates a 2% annual yield, you would need to invest $600,000 up front in order to reliably generate $12,000 per year (or $1,000 per month) in dividend payments.

To generate $5,000 per month in dividends, you would need a portfolio value of approximately $1 million invested in stocks with an average dividend yield of 5%. For example, Johnson & Johnson stock currently yields 2.7% annually. $1 million invested would generate about $27,000 per year or $2,250 per month.

What is the downside of ETFs?

However, there are disadvantages of ETFs. They come with fees, can stray from the value of their underlying asset, and (like any investment) come with risks.

ETFs allow investors to circumvent a tax rule found among mutual fund transactions related to capital gains. ETFs are structured in a way that avoids taxable events for ETF shareholders.

In fact, an ETF called the Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (NASDAQ:QYLD), launched in 2013, currently boasts an eye-catching yield of 12%. While the ETF holds appeal for income investors, there are also several things that investors should be aware of before jumping in right after seeing that eye-popping yield.

The largest Dividend ETF is the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF VIG with $74.78B in assets. In the last trailing year, the best-performing Dividend ETF was DXJS at 36.32%. The most recent ETF launched in the Dividend space was the Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Growers ETF DIVG on 12/06/23.

$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.

The IRS requires you to pay taxes on dividends, even if you reinvest. However, when you reinvest, you should keep track of your "basis" in the stock so you don't get double-taxed when you eventually sell the stock.

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.

You may be able to avoid all income taxes on dividends if your income is low enough to qualify for zero capital gains if you invest in a Roth retirement account or buy dividend stocks in a tax-advantaged education account.

Cons. No guarantee of future dividends. Stock price declines may offset yield. Dividends are taxed in the year they are distributed to shareholders.

Is it better to buy dividend stocks or dividend ETFs?

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.

Dividend reinvestment has some drawbacks. One downside is that investors have no control over the price at which they buy shares. If the stock gains significant value, they'd still buy shares at what could be a high price.

If you have more than $1 million saved in retirement accounts, you are in the top 3% of retirees. According to EBRI estimates based on the latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts, while just 0.1% have $5 million or more.

Yes, if you've managed to gather $3 million to fund your retirement, you should find that in most cases, this is more than enough to see you through.

It's definitely possible, but there are several factors to consider—including cost of living, the taxes you'll owe on your withdrawals, and how you want to live in retirement—when thinking about how much money you'll need to retire in the future.