Investors in the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: MHOT) will receive the largest payment of $10.99 per unit.

Those who hold the unhedged VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) will get the second-highest distribution of $7.56 per unit.

These two ETFs are different in that they do not try to mirror the performance of a major index like the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

Instead, the MOAT ETFs track about 50 US shares that have significant competitive advantages, or in other words, a wide 'moat'.

The wider the moat, the more protected a company's brand and its products or services are from competitors in the marketplace.

Here is a summary of VanEck ETFs that will be paying dividends to investors today.

It's payday for VanEck ASX ETF investors!

VanEck Global Clean Energy ETF (ASX: CLNE) will pay 7 cents per unit.

VanEck FTSE China A50 ETF (ASX: CETF) will pay $1.27 per unit.

VanEck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND) will pay 3 cents per unit. Find out more about this ETF here.

VanEck Morningstar Australian Moat Income ETF (ASX: DVDY) will pay 20 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: ESGI) will pay $2.34 per unit.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO) will pay $1.04 per unit.

VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) will pay 63 cents per unit.

VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT) will pay $1.66 per unit.

VanEck MSCI Australian Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: GRNV) will pay 57 cents per unit.

VanEck 5-10 Year Australian Government Bond ETF (ASX: 5GOV) will pay 11.5 cents per unit.

VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) will pay 2 cents per unit.

Here are a few more…

VanEck Australian Property ETF (ASX: MVA) will pay 42 cents per unit.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB) will pay 40 cents per unit.

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR) will pay 51 cents per unit.

VanEck Small Companies Masters ETF (ASX: MVS) will pay 32 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Small Companies Quality ETF (ASX: QSML) will pay 9 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) will pay $1.23 per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE) will pay $1.02 per unit.

VanEck ETFs among the market's top performers in FY25

According to ASX data, there were two VanEck ETFs among the six best-performing ETFs holding Aussie shares in FY25.

Ranked 4th, the VanEck Australian Banks ETF delivered a total annual return of 24.86%.

Ranked 6th, the VanEck Australian Property ETF produced a total annual return of 22.92%.

Another two VanEck ETFs featured in the six best-performing ETFs holding international shares in FY25.

Check them out here.

The post Invested in ASX MOAT or other VanEck ETFs? It's dividend day! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ex-dividend date for the distributions listed below is today, 1 July. The record date is 2 July.

The payment date is 25 July.

The biggest payment amount on the VanEck distribution list is a whopper at $10.99 per unit.

That will be paid to investors who own VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: MHOT).

Investors in the unhedged version, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT), will receive the second-highest distribution of $7.56 per unit.

The VanEck Wide Moat ETFs are a bit different to the norm. They do not seek to track the performance of a major index, like most ETFs.

Instead, the ETFs hold a portfolio of about 50 US shares that have significant competitive advantages, or in other words, a wide moat.

Here is a condensed list of VanEck ETFs and how much each ETF will pay in dividends to their investors later this month.

Payday for VanEck ASX ETF investors

VanEck Global Clean Energy ETF (ASX: CLNE) will pay 7 cents per unit.

VanEck FTSE China A50 ETF (ASX: CETF) will pay $1.27 per unit.

VanEck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND) will pay 3 cents per unit. Learn more about this ETF here.

VanEck Morningstar Australian Moat Income ETF (ASX: DVDY) will pay 20 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: ESGI) will pay $2.34 per unit.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO) will pay $1.04 per unit.

VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) will pay 63 cents per unit.

VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT) will pay $1.66 per unit.

VanEck MSCI Australian Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: GRNV) will pay 57 cents per unit.

VanEck 5-10 Year Australian Government Bond ETF (ASX: 5GOV) will pay 11.5 cents per unit.

VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) will pay 2 cents per unit.

Show us the money! Here are some more…

VanEck Australian Property ETF (ASX: MVA) will pay 42 cents per unit.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB) will pay 40 cents per unit.

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR) will pay 51 cents per unit.

VanEck Small Companies Masters ETF (ASX: MVS) will pay 32 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Small Companies Quality ETF (ASX: QSML) will pay 9 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) will pay $1.23 per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE) will pay $1.02 per unit.

The post VanEck ASX ETF dividends: How much you'll get and when appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Breaking down an ESG ETF

When it comes to ethical ESG ETFs, there are normally two classes that a fund will fall into. There are funds that follow a broad market index, such as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), but then 'filter' out any unsavoury companies from the index. And then there are those that invest in a particular ESG-aligned industry, such as renewable energy. There is a big difference between these two approaches.

Let's first look at the index funds. The BetaShares Australian Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: FAIR) is one such fund. This ETF tracks an index that screens ASX companies based on ESG criteria such as fossil fuel production, gambling, tobacco, alcohol, environmental destruction and animal cruelty. It holds 80 ASX shares, which includes some big names like Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS), CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) and Xero Limited (ASX: XRO). As such, you are still getting some of the diversification benefits a simple ASX 200 index fund might provide, but without the companies that have been identified as not possessing ESG characteristics.

There are other ASX ESG ETFs that follow a similar methodology. The Vanguard Ethically Conscious Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VETH) is one. The VanEck Vectors MSCI Australian Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: GRNV) is another. There are even funds available that take this approach and apply it to overseas shares instead of ASX companies. Such funds include the VanEck Vectors MSCI International Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: ESGI) and the BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI).

What about sector-specific ETFs?

That's only one side of the ASX ethical ESG ETF coin though. There are also a number of funds out there that chase specific ESG sectors. Take the ETFS Battery Tech & Lithium ETF (ASX: ACDC). This fund aims to give exposure to "the energy storage and production megatrend, including companies involved in the supply chain and production for battery technology and lithium mining."

Whilst this fund does not have a specific ESG mandate, it is still focused on an industry with 'green' credentials in aiming to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. However, a fund like this arguably provides less diversification than one of the funds named above. That's because all of the holdings in this ETF are companies that operate in a very specific sector.

The same can be said of the VanEck Vectors Global Clean Energy ETF (ASX: CLNE) or the BetaShares Climate Change Innovation ETF (ASX: ERTH).

Whilst there is nothing wrong with this approach, it's worth pointing out that there is a lot more concentration on one particular section of the ESG market. This carries its own set of risks compared to a more diversified fund.

Foolish takeaway

Ethical ESG investing looks as though it's here to stay as an investing trend. But if you are seeking out ESG funds to invest in, make sure you know what kind of exposure you are looking for. Not all ethical ETFs are equal — some of these funds might be offering a portfolio that's too concentrated for your goals, or risk profile. Just because something has 'ESG' or 'ethical' doesn't mean it's automatically a good investment.

The post An ASX investor's guide to ESG-focused ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.