Small-caps are rebounding this year as highlighted by a gain of 4.1% for the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEArca: IWM), the largest small-cap ETF. That is well ahead of the 2.9% returned by the S&P 500 this year.
Investors looking for a more conservative, income-oriented approach to the Russell 2000, the benchmark U.S. small-cap index, have a compelling option in the ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (NYSEArca: SMDV).
SMDV, which debuted in February, tracks the Russell 2000 Dividend Growth Index. That index includes small-cap firms with dividend increase streaks of at least a decade. Index constituents are screened for liquidity and dividend status, then selected and equal weighted subject to a maximum sector weight of 30%, according to Russell Investments.[ProShares Doubles Dividend Growth Lineup]
Recent data indicate income investors should give small-caps and the corresponding exchange traded funds a new look. “From the end of 2013 there has been a 10.2% increase in the number of issues paying a dividend in the S&P SmallCap 600,” according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.
SMDV has returned half a percent since coming to market. While that is well behind the traditional Russelll 2000 Index, investors should remember SMDV offers a more conservative approach to small-caps with a superior yield to the Russell 2000. For example, SMDV’s 30-day SEC yield is 2.22%, or nearly 100 basis points higher than the comparable metric on IWM. Then there is the potential for dividend growth.
“Much of the potential return differential of small cap dividend growers have over other small caps can be attributed to lower historical risk,” according to a ProShares note. “Not only have small cap dividend growers had lower volatility compared with the overall small cap space, they have also had lower drawdowns. It is ‘winning by not losing as much’ that has translated to better returns over time.”