The combination of Europe and dividends in the wrapper of one exchange traded fund has proven alluring this year.
Even as investors have pulled cash from other developed markets and an array of emerging markets ETFs, Europe funds have been on the receiving end of plentiful inflows. “The bright spots for flows in January were in non-US Developed Markets Equity, which gathered $11.2bn as a number of key themes from 2013 continued into the new year,” said BlackRock. “Pan-European Equity brought in $4.0bn aided by the most encouraging January Euro Zone PMI reading since 2011.” [Europe ETFs Raking in Plenty off Cash]
In fact, one of this year’s most prolific asset-gathering ETFs combines Europe exposure with the rewards of dividends. With that in mind, well-timed may be the January debut of the Market Vectors MSCI International Quality Dividend ETF (NYSEArca: QDXU). [Market Vectors Launches Four Factor ETFs]
QDXU was launched as part of four-fund suite of so-called quality or factor-based, two of which are emerging markets plays and two of which are developed market funds. To be sure, QDXU is not a pure-play Europe ETF.
The new fund offers exposure to 20 countries, including seven emerging markets. China and Russia are the two largest emerging markets allocations in QDXU, combining for 10.6% of the ETF’s weight. While stocks in both countries have struggled this year, it is worth noting China and Russia are among the largest emerging markets dividend payers. [Russia Looks to Assert Dividend Dominance]