“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.
Some ETFs emphasize small-cap dividend growth, including the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Growth Fund (NasdaqGM: DGRS). DGRS tracks the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Growth Index, which is weighed by fundamental factors such as growth expectations, return on equity and return on assets, according to WisdomTree.
The new ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (NYSEArca: SMDV) 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.
SMDV is overweight the utilities sector by nearly 2,000 basis points relative to the Russell 2000. [Small-Caps Become Sources of Dividend Growth]
ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF
