It's hard to describe the 'perfect' ASX dividend stock. Some investor look for the highest yield, while others like to buy income stocks that are growing their payouts at fast rates.
But for me, the perfect ASX dividend stock combines elements of both strategies.
That's why I think the BetaShares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD) could fit the bill.
This exchange-traded fund (ETF) has only been on the ASX for a few weeks, launching back in early August. Even so, it has quickly become an intriguing investment for those investors seeking high levels of reliable, franked dividend income.
This ETF holds around 50 ASX dividend stocks within its underlying portfolio. These stocks are all selected not just on their current dividend yields, but on their potential as future, income-paying investments.
According to the provider, stocks that are judged to have a high risk of being "potential 'dividend traps' such as companies projected to pay unsustainably high dividend yields, as well as companies that exhibit high levels of volatility relative to their forecast dividend payout" are excluded from consideration.
Some of its current major constituents include Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).
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This ETF allows us to buy the ASX's top dividend stocks
As this ASX ETF is so new to the local stock exchange, it is impossible to make too many judgments based on its past performance or future dividend potential. Saying that, Betashares has told investors that, as of the ETF's inception, it was sporting a trailing dividend yield of 4.5%.
Since then, the provider has revealed that this ETF's first dividend distribution, due for payment on 16 September later this month, will be worth 11.92 cents per unit. If annualised, that would equate to a yield of roughly 4.6%.
As you may have gleaned from those statistics, HYLD is an investment that pays out dividend distributions on a monthly basis. As biannual dividend payments are the norm in Australia, many ASX dividend stock investors will probably find this immensely appealing. After all, even quarterly dividend payers are rare on the ASX. Monthly payers, even rarer still.
On a final note, although the Betashares Australian Shares High Yield ETF has only been around for a month or so, the index that it tracks has a far longer life. The S&P/ASX 200 High Yield Select Index has returned an average of 14.08% over the past three years, and 14.95% per annum over the past five. That beats the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by about 2% per annum for both periods.
Past performance is not a guarantee of future success, of course. However, that arguably bodes well for investors in this fund.
