The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) is all about investing in the best ASX dividend shares at any given time.
The VHY ETF tracks the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index before fees.
ETF provider Vanguard says the ASX VHY provides exposure to shares that have higher forecast dividends relative to their peers.
Vanguard says the ASX ETF is also a good pick for income investors who'd like some long-term capital growth as well.
Over the past five years, the VHY ETF has risen by 53%.
Today, the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF is trading at $78.33 per unit, down 0.22%.
That's not far off its record high of $79.91, which was set during the August earnings season.
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Which ASX dividend shares does VHY ETF hold?
The VHY ETF employs a few rules to ensure diversification.
One of them is not investing more than 40% of funds in any one industry, and it won't invest more than 10% in any one company.
ASX VHY holds 75 shares across all market sectors except real estate investment trusts (REITs).
Almost 70% of its holdings are ASX 200 large-cap shares because established companies tend to pay higher dividends.
Given its focus on income, its largest holdings are ASX financials, materials (including miners), and energy shares.
A very small portion of the portfolio is in technology and healthcare shares, which are known to pay lower dividends.
The VHY ETF's top 10 shares by weight are (in this order): BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).
According to Vanguard's latest update, the ASX VHY has $5.64 billion in funds under management (FUM).
Let's talk dividends…
VHY ETF pays dividends quarterly. That sort of frequency is very handy for income investors, particularly those in retirement.
The last dividend was just under $2.18 per unit, paid on 16 July.
The past four dividends add up to just over $6.51 per unit.
That gives VHY ETF a trailing annual dividend yield of 8.3%.
That's about 2.5x the trailing cash dividend yield of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which Betashares estimates is 3.34%.
Is the VHY ETF a no-brainer buy?
You be the judge.
