Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat, I am 72 years old and have a million-dollar-plus investment portfolio, mainly in blue chip, dividend-paying stocks. I recently bought some of BMO International Dividend ETF. Could you give me your opinion on this ETF. Have been an Inner Circle member for years and value your advice.

Article Excerpt

A: BMO International Dividend ETF, $19.68, symbol ZDI on Toronto (Units outstanding: 15.0 million; Market cap: $295.2 million; www.bmo.com), aims to provide exposure to a yield-weighted portfolio of dividend-paying companies in developed markets outside of North America. This could include foreign ADRs trading on U.S. exchanges. The ETF’s manager looks at the three-year dividend growth rate, yield, and payout ratio of the stocks it selects. Its holdings also need to meet minimum liquidity requirements. The fund started up in November 2014. Its MER is a reasonable 0.44%, and the units currently yield a high 5.5%. The ETF focuses on leading large-cap global companies. Its top stocks are Bayer AG at 2.7% of assets; Total SA, 2.3%; BASF SE, 2.1%; Deutsche Telekom AG, 1.9%; Sanofi, 1.8%; Banco Santander SA, 1.8%; AXA SA, 1.8%; Hennes & Mauritz AB, 1.7%; ING Groep NV, 1.7% and Royal Dutch Shell plc, 1.7%. The breakdown by industry is as follows: Financials, 24.3%; Consumer Discretionary, 14.4%; Industrials, 12.1%; Energy, 9.3%; Utilities, 9.1%;…