- The ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG) gained 3.10% in August, outperforming broad-based international and US indices as the fund’s deep-value portfolio benefitted from broad sector gains and a weakening US dollar amid central bank interest rate cuts.
- IDOG’s allocation to Europe (78.50% weight*) continues to bolster fund performance in 2024 as the largest GDP producers (United Kingdom (UK), France and Germany; 37.10% combined weight*) saw a positive wave of corporate earnings, coupled with slowing inflation that prompted the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BOE) to cut interest rates in August. Leading IDOG’s UK exposure, pharmaceutical producer, GSK PLC (GSK LN, 1.99% weight*), jumped 13.23% in August following positive drug pipeline news and a Delaware court ruling in favor of allowing expert evidence in litigation over its heartburn drug, Zantac. French renewable energy company, Engie (ENGI FP, 2.32% weight*), also gained over 12% last month after boosting its full-year (FY) earnings guidance on the back of stronger liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices. Additionally, pharmaceutical & crop protection provider, Bayer AG (BAYN GR, 1.99% weight*), rose 3.71% last month after winning a major litigation appeal in US courts over its popular pesticide product, Roundup.
- On a sector level, IDOG’s overweight to defensive sectors (Healthcare, Utilities and Consumer Staples; 31.70% combined weight*) complemented an improving economic backdrop for its value-tilted portfolio. Prescription drug and vaccine manufacturer, Sanofi of France (SAN FP, 2.26% weight*), returned 8.63% in IDOG last month after investors got in front of an expected September US approval for its immunotherapy to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). IDOG Consumer Staples’ name, Coles Group Ltd. (COL AU, 2.12% weight*), rose nearly 8% in August as the company’s supermarket sales saw better-than-expected volume growth and pricing power. Notably, IDOG’s Information Technology sector also fared well last month, with imaging technology company, Canon Inc. (7751 JP, 2.28% weight*), surging over 9% after announcing a buyback program for over 3.3% of its outstanding shares, given strong FY cash flow generation.
“Most global equity markets on average have celebrated [Federal Reserve (Fed)] cutting cycles outside of recessions, yet a clear and consistent winning market is historically elusive. The only consistency in global returns appears to be that while US returns tend to be positive after a Fed cut, they've never led global markets.”
– Bloomberg Intelligence Director of Equity Strategy, Gina Adams, August 4, 2024
The Long-Awaited International Rotation Paints the Primer on IDOG
- For over a decade, US equities have undeniably provided better investment returns than international peers as the global dominance of US mega-cap stocks, alongside a strong US dollar, have overshadowed attractive international valuations. However, US mega-cap stocks may no longer have the upper hand, as they now contend with slowing growth and a weakening US dollar that helps to propel translation values on international stocks for US-based investors.
- Developed international stock prices have typically exhibited a strong negative correlation to the US dollar, meaning they tend to perform opposite the US dollar over periods of time. With possible Federal Reserve (Fed) cuts on the horizon and a November US presidential election, where agendas on both sides of the aisle appear to increase the US fiscal deficit, a further weakening of the US dollar is a strong possibility. A potential solution for investors in this new regime is the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG), which provides an equal-weighted sector approach and an enhanced dividend yield with its portfolio of deep-value, developed international stocks. Importantly, IDOG’s equal sector weighting limits sector concentration risk compared to broad-based international funds that tend to be overweight Financials, where a weak US dollar tends to weigh on their repatriated US-based banking profits.
- Negative correlations to the dollar have historically driven ex-US stocks higher and this was especially pronounced in August as the Fed embarks on its potential first rate cut in September.
- Notably, over the past year, IDOG exhibited a larger negative correlation of -0.61 to the US Dollar (spot rate), while the MSCI EAFE Index exhibited a negative correlation of only -0.39 over the same period, due to its concentration in the Financials sector.
- IDOG’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 11.22x remains favorable relative to broad international stocks (MSCI EAFE Index) P/E of 16.72x, while offering an improving outlook on earnings growth as European inflation slows.
Performance Summary
| Cumulative | Annualized |
|||||||
| 1 M | YTD | 1 Y | 3 Y | 1 Y | 5 Y | 10 Y | SI | |
| IDOG - NAV (Net Asset Value) | 3.10% | 9.18% | 17.94% | 28.78% | 11.04% | 7.31% | 3.74% | 5.92% |
| IDOG - Market Price | 3.41% | 9.29% | 18.29% | 29.35% | 10.90% | 7.44% | 3.74% | 5.96% |
| S-Network International Sector Dividend Dogs Index - NTR | 3.13% | 9.37% | 18.50% | 30.22% | 11.54% | 7.75% | 4.14% | 6.33% |
| Morningstar Developed Markets ex-North America Index - NTR | 3.04% | 11.41% | 18.76% | 9.76% | 11.04% | 6.14% | 4.22% | 5.88% |
Source: Bloomberg L.P. and SS&C ALPS Advisors, cumulative performance as of 08/31/2024 and annualized performance as of 06/30/2024
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. For current month-end performance call 1-866-759-5679 or visit www.alpsfunds.com. Performance includes reinvested distributions and capital gains.
Market Price is based on the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4 p.m. ET and does not represent the returns an investor would receive if shares were traded at other times.
Fund inception date: 06/27/2013
Total Operating Expenses: 0.50%
* Weight in IDOG as of 08/31/2024
Top 10 Holdings
| Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsso | 2.38% | Nokia Oyj | 2.27% | |
| Engie SA | 2.32% | Sanofi SA | 2.26% | |
| British American Tobacco PLC | 2.29% | Isuzu Motors Ltd | 2.19% | |
| Canon Inc | 2.28% | National Grid PLC | 2.19% | |
| Roche Holding AG | 2.28% | Intesa Sanpaolo SpA | 2.18% |
As of 08/31/2024, subject to change
Important Disclosures & Definitions
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus containing this and other information, call 1-866-759-5679 or visit www.alpsfunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemable.
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results; current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted.
All investments are subject to risks, including the loss of money and the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. Additional information regarding the risks of this investment is available in the prospectus.
The Fund is subject to the additional risks associated with concentrating its investments in companies in the market sector.
Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.
The Fund’s investments in non-US issuers may involve unique risks compared to investing in securities of US issuers, including, among others, less liquidity generally, greater market volatility than US securities and less complete financial information than for US issuers. In addition, adverse political, economic or social developments could undermine the value of the Fund’s investments or prevent the Fund from realizing the full value of its investments. Finally, the value of the currency of the country in which the Fund has invested could decline relative to the value of the US dollar, which may affect the value of the investment to US investors.
The Fund employs a “passive management” - or indexing - investment approach and seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the performance of its underlying index. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell or buy a security unless that security is removed from or added to the underlying index, respectively.
Morningstar Developed Markets ex-North America Index: measures the performance of companies in developed markets ex-North America. It covers approximately 97% of the full market capitalization in the Developed Markets ex-North America.
MSCI EAFE Index: an equity index which captures large- and mid-cap representation across 21 developed markets countries around the world, excluding the US and Canada, covering approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each country.
Price/Earnings (P/E) Ratio: a valuation ratio of a company's current share price compared to its per-share earnings.
S-Network International Sector Dividend Dogs Index (IDOGX): a portfolio of stocks derived from a universe of mainly large capitalization stocks domiciled in developed markets outside the Americas (the “S-Network Developed International Equity 1000 Index”). The IDOGX methodology selects the five stocks in each of the ten GICS sectors that make up the universe which offer the highest dividend yields as of the last trading day of November. The fifty stocks that are selected for inclusion in the portfolio are equally weighted.
One may not invest directly in an index.
ALPS Advisors, Inc., registered investment adviser with the SEC, is the investment adviser to the Fund. ALPS Advisors, Inc. is affiliated with ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the distributor for the Fund.
Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value
DOG001437 12/31/2024
