Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a great way to diversify at less cost.
They’re even better if they pay out dividends.
Look at the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (SYM: VNQ), for example.
With an expense ratio of 0.13%, a yield of about 3.7%, and 155 holdings, including a great deal of real estate investment trusts (REITs), VNQ is a safe, long-term real estate opportunity.
Making it even more attractive is the recovery in commercial real estate. According to analysts at Deloitte, the CRE market is showing signs of recovery in 2025, with some predicting a generational opportunity, as noted in Deloitte’s 2025 Commercial Real Estate Outlook.
It also just paid a dividend of just over 86 cents per share on June 30. Before that, it paid out a dividend of just over 93 cents per share on March 27.
Some of the ETFs top holdings include Welltower, Prologis, American Tower Corp., Equinix, Digital Realty Trust, and Simon Property Group.
ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (SYM: NOBL)
One of the best ways to generate reliable income is by investing in dividend aristocrats because they’re among the most reliable dividend payers.
Not only have these stocks paid out dividends for more than 25 years, they’re also some of the most reliable companies on the planet even in the worst of times. And while you could always buy a basket of aristocrats, you can instead pick up the NOBL ETF, which holds 69 of them and yields 2.54%. Its expense ratio is 0.35%.
NOBL also paid out a dividend of just over 55 cents on July 1. Before that, it paid a dividend of just over 46 cents on. April 1. Some of its top holdings include AbbVie, Lowe’s, Archer Daniels Midland, and Pentair.
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SYM: SCHD)
There’s also the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF.
With an expense ratio of 0.06%, the ETF tracks the total return of the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend index. It also yields 3.93%, and has holdings in Amgen, AbbVie, Home Depot, Cisco Systems, Broadcom, Chevron, UPS, and Coca-Cola to name just a few.
The ETF includes a total of 103 dividend stocks. So, by buying into the ETF, you’re diversified with a great deal of dividend stocks.
Today's Market News: Our #1 AI Stock of 2026 (not AI)
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Written by Ian Cooper