Investment Q&A

Q: I have held SCHD for several years and just compared its total return with that of SPY and VIG:
SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF)
• 1 Year: 15.73%
• 3 Years: 15.80%
• 5 Years: 76.76%
• 10 Years: 204.74%
SPY: SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust:
• 1 Year: 27.37%
• 3 Years: 44.86%
• 5 Years: 98.26%
• 10 Years: 254.08%
VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF)
• 1 Year: 27.48%
• 3 Years: 45.14%
• 5 Years: 98.81%
• 10 Years: 256.38%
Are my calculations correct? Return on SCHD doesn't look right to me. The data supports Mr. Buffett’s view on SPY being better overall.

This question is prompted by concerns that my portfolios are in mostly high growth businesses and thus vulnerable. I wonder if one should lean towards dividend growth this year and trim the now-expensive high growth companies. Ignoring tax impact, would you today stay with SCHD, or switch to VIG, SPY , or do you have another US dividend-growth ETF to balance a high beta folio?
:ao:sab

Q: Which do you prefer for 2025 VIG vs SCHD?

Q: Hi 5i Team,

I am pondering selling some positions in my cash account and buy a few USD income producing investments. Could you please give me your opinions and analysis of OBDC and OCSL given the current interest rate and macro outlook?

SCHD is an EFT I have heard a lot about and looks like a quality holding in an income focused portfolio. Are there any other U.S. ETFs with a similar yield that you would recommend as an alternative or addition to SCHD?

Finally what are the tax implications for a Canadian holding these investments in a non-registered account?

Thanks for the Great Service and Happy Holidays!

Colin

Q: Please provide a suggestion for an US ETF that invests in basket of US dividend paying stocks such as PM, BAC, HD, MCD, BLK. Thank you

Q: What is your top pick for a high-quality dividend grow to ETF for a long term hold (25+ years)? I have heard SCHD and DGRO are top choices.

Q: Hi, are there any Canadian dollar alternatives to SCHD.?

Thanks!

Q: Can you suggest 2 or 3 U.S. dividend ETFs that trade in U.S. dollars ? Preferably low volatility. Thanks. Joe

Q: I've decided to buy VIG and SCHD to increase my US portion of my portfolio. What is a fair entry point for them? I tend to wait until stocks go "on sale" but have watched these go up and up over the last few months. VIG's top holdings are Apple and Microsoft, so if the Tech sell-off continues it could go down. SCHD has not hit it's all time high but is getting close. What are your thoughts? Thanks so much!

Q: What US Dividend ETf's would you recommend that are focused on quality companies, and still pays a decent dividend? Would you be buying now or wait for a pullback? Thank you.

Q: You have recommended SPYD ETF in recent answers, and on doing some research, see Morningstar rates it as a one star and Seeking Alpha has a dismal article on it. Just wondering why you like it? They seem to like SCHD much better. Would you agree with this thesis for a Dividend ETF?
Thanks!

Q: Hi Team,

Which ETF would you be adding new money to in a U.S RRSP account?

IWP has been on a tare and can potentially keep moving but SCHD seems to represent better value. These are long term core positions 20+ years.

Thanks,

Q: Hello,

Do you have data showing the 5 yr divided growth rate for the listed ETF's?

Thanks,
Brent

Q: Hi, looking to invest 70,000 in two etf’s one Canada one U.S in a rrsp. (or two U.S. etf’s as I have no U.S holding yet)
Two suggestions that are a conservative sleep at night, and longer term hold, with a 2+% dividend.
Also would like to have if possible a balanced sector allocation. I already have lots of financial and oil- gas stocks, which is heavy in Canada.
Hope this makes sense?
Thanks

Q: Searching for a stable high dividend US ETF for my RRSP. Looking at VYM and SCHD or perhaps you can recommend a different high dividend ETF? VYM has 450 holdings and SCHD 104; VYM appears to have a bit lower P/B and P/E. 10 year return for SCHD is 11.03% and 9.38% for VYM; SCHD also has a higher yield. Thanks for your comments!

Q: What would be the closestCanadian ETF that has characteristics similar to US SCHD?

Q: hello 5i:
I'm looking for ideas for a covered call health care etf in US dollars. LIFE.B seems to be a little to thinly traded, so something other than this? If choices are very limited, would a general etf like SCHD or DIVO be the next best option?
thanks
Paul L

Q: hello 5i:
In our various portfolios, we own DIVO, SCHD and MTUM. MOAT is not owned. I've done a fairly deep dive trying to compare the 4 etf's as I'd like to consolidate some of our single companies eg. MRK, LMT etc etc into ETFs to simplify things, and in the case of the RRIFs, to enhance yield. By my metrics, DIVO seems to come out on top on a risk/reward basis and a good balance of yield with growth. I've included MOAT as I'm interested in the concept (but not sold on the ETF). Can you confirm my findings? Would you agree, or what could you add to my findings? Is there a source (Morningstar does a good job, but not great) that would allow me to better compare risk/return of the listed etf's?
I realize there are a few questions here: take as many credits as necessary to answer as I have a lot banked.
thanks
Paul L

Q: Is there a way to avoid the foreign withholding tax on US dividends?

Q: Is there a Canadian équivalent ETF ,or close to it,to this excellent sélection approach and choice of Cies like this US ETF?

Q: I presently have QQQ and VIG in a USD TFSA, in roughly equal weightings. I'm looking to add one or possibly two more USD ETFs to this TFSA account to diversify a bit more, resulting in rougly 33% or 25% equal weightings depending on whether I end up with three or four in total. If adding just one I would be willing to sacrifice some growth opportunity in favour of some stability and yield in the roughly 3-4% (+/-) range, if possible. If adding two I would prefer something just as described, plus something growth oriented with little or no yield. I'm hoping to minimize duplication or overlap with the existing QQQ and VIG combination, to the extent possible. These would all be securities purchased in USD for long term term holds, and I am not too concerned about the withholding tax on US dividends in a USD TFSA. Can you offer some suggestions? Thanks.