Apple, Microsoft, Google and Cisco Systems (NasdaqGS: CSCO) have a combined $345 billion in cash. Although Google is not yet a dividend payer, Apple, Microsoft and Cisco, a combined 25.2% of QQQ’s weight, have delivered exponential dividend growth in recent years. Even before recently announced increases, Microsoft’s dividend had more than doubled since 2010 while Cisco’s payout had more than tripled since 2011. [Embracing Old Tech ETFs]
“It is worth noting that while the dividend yield of the Nasdaq-100 is lower than that of the other indexes, it has been growing. For example, ten years ago the dividend yield was only 0.18%; one-sixth of today’s level. The last ten years have seen steady growth in the dividend yield to today’s level,” according to Nasdaq.
Today, the Nasdaq-100 and QQQ are actually home to 107 stocks because Nasdaq last year changed its methodology to include multiple share classes. In addition to two share classes from Google, QQQ features two shares classes for Discovery Communications (NasdaqGS: DISCA) and Liberty Media (NasdaqGS: LMCK), among others. [QQQ Methodology Changes]
NASDAQ OMX offers NASDAQ-100 index products in 29 countries with comparable exchange traded products available in 13 countries, including the U.S.
QQQ Top 10 Holdings
Table Courtesy: PowerShares
Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and QQQ.