Is ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category of the market, the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG) is a smart beta exchange traded fund launched on 06/28/2013.What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.Market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, and are a good option for investors who believe in market efficiency.If you're the kind of investor who would rather try and beat the market through good stock selection, then smart beta funds are your best choice; this fund class is known for tracking non-cap weighted strategies.Based on specific fundamental characteristics, or a combination of such, these indexes attempt to pick stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance.The smart beta space gives investors many different choices, from equal-weighting, one of the simplest strategies, to more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting. However, not all of these methodologies have been able to deliver remarkable returns.Fund Sponsor & IndexThe fund is sponsored by Alps. It has amassed assets over $413.38 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs in the Foreign Large Value ETF. Before fees and expenses, IDOG seeks to match the performance of the S-Network International Sector Dividend Dogs Index.The S-Network International Sector Dividend Dogs Index identifies five high yielding securities, based on regular cash dividends, in each of the ten Global Industry Classification Standard sectors and is rebalanced quarterly.Cost & Other ExpensesFor ETF investors, expense ratios are an important factor when considering a fund's return; in the long-term, cheaper funds actually have the ability to outperform their more expensive cousins if all other things remain the same.Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.50% for IDOG, making it on par with most peer products in the space.The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 4.02%.Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsEven though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.When you look at individual holdings, Nokia Oyj (NOKIA) accounts for about 2.9% of the fund's total assets, followed by Fortum Oyj (FORTUMFH) and Kering Sa (KER).Its top 10 holdings account for approximately 23.17% of IDOG's total assets under management.Performance and RiskYear-to-date, the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF has added roughly 31.98% so far, and it's up approximately 31.45% over the last 12 months (as of 11/25/2025). IDOG has traded between $28.25 $37.99 in this past 52-week period. The fund has a beta of 0.71 and standard deviation of 14.38% for the trailing three-year period, which makes IDOG a medium risk choice in this particular space. With about 51 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .AlternativesALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Value ETF segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index and the Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) tracks Russell RAFI Developed ex US Large Co. Index (Net). Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF has $13.15 billion in assets, Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF has $18.34 billion. VYMI has an expense ratio of 0.17% and FNDF changes 0.25%.Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Large Value ETFBottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF InsightsZacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week.Don’t miss out on this valuable resource. It’s free!Get it now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG): ETF Research ReportsThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks