International dividend ETFs can provide decent yields and remove the need to do research on foreign stocks. Instead of trying to pick foreign holdings on limited information, there are funds that have pulled together some high-quality, dividend-paying companies that you can hold in a basket, thus spreading out the risk. (See why dividends have outperformed growth this year.)

Todd Shcriber for Investopedia reports that ETFs that hold high-quality stocks with reliable dividend histories that focused on sectors that are typically viewed as safe dividend bets. (Why dividend ETFs are good for tough times).

For more stories about dividends, visit our dividend category.

Among the many available are:

• WisdomTree International Utilities (NYSEArca: DBU): yield 9.89%; Utility funds can be a good bet no matter where you are, because there is always a need for the services utilities provide. These companies tend to pay out steady dividends that are predictable.



• WisdomTree International Large Cap Dividend (NYSEArca: DOL): yield 8.04%; This ETF does not focus on one sector, rather it tends toward large, high-quality dividend stocks. It is a thinly traded fund, but has nice performance. Countries ranging from China to Brazil are featured in this ETF, both hot spots.



• iShares S&P Global Telecommunications (NYSEArca: IXP): yield 5%; Telecom stocks are another sure play as they are indispensible and growing. This is not as international a play as the other two funds, as AT&T and Verizon are in the top 10 holdings. Nevertheless, the ETF contains quality names across the world.

This brings the Spider line to include 80 ETFs, with 31 of those focused on global access to international markets. The new offerings enter a market space that WisdomTree had been cornering.

Why would you choose one or the other? As Gary Gordon for ETF Expert says: it’s a matter of preference. State Street’s funds have a traditional market-cap weighted methodology. WisdomTree’s funds have a dividend-weighted index methodology. Dividends in the WisdomTree funds will come annually, while State Street’s will be quarterly.

The expense ratio for the State Street funds is set at 0.5%, while the WisdomTree funds come in at 0.58%.

The 10 new ETFs are are international sector SPDRs and they give access to investments outside the U.S. benchmarked to a series of S&P World ex-US Broad Market Indices. The following ETFs are market-cap weighted, include only non-U.S. holdings, and use the Global Industry Classification Standard, or GICS.

The ETFs are:

• SPDR S&P International Consumer Discretionary Sector (IPD)
• SPDR S&P International Consumer Staples (IPS)
• SPDR S&P International Financial Sector (IPF)
• SPDR S&P International Health Care Sector (IRY)
• SPDR S&P International Industrial Sector (IPN)
• SPDR S&P International Materials Sector (IRV)
• SPDR S&P International Technology Sector (IPK)
• SPDR S&P International Telecommunications Sector (IST)
• SPDR S&P International Utilities Sector (IPU)
• SPDR S&P International Energy Sector (IPW)

WisdomTree’s funds launched Oct. 13, 2006 and they are:

• WisdomTree International Basic Materials Sector (DBN)
• WisdomTree International Communications Sector (DGG)
• WisdomTree International Consumer Discretionary Sector (DPC)
• WisdomTree International Consumer Staples Sector (DPN)
• WisdomTree International Energy Sector (DKA)
• WisdomTree International Financial Sector (DRF)
• WisdomTree International Health Care Sector (DBR)
• WisdomTree International Industrial Sector (DDI)
• WisdomTree International Technology Sector (DBT)
• WisdomTree International Utilities Sector (DBU)