Past performance is not a guarantee of future results, but these ASX ETFs are practical building blocks for income-aware, globally diversified portfolios.

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

Income and stability start at home. Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF is the ASX's go-to high dividend yield ETF. This ASX ETF targets the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index. The ETF backs it with some of the biggest names on the local market like BHP and Commonwealth Bank of Australie.

Its trailing dividend yield sits well above the ASX 200 average, appealing to income-hungry investors. The ASX fund pays quarterly distributions. Over the longer term it has delivered respectable total returns by blending dividends with capital growth.

While precise six-month figures aren't always front-and-centre, the ASX ETF's broader performance has outpaced many local benchmarks. As a result VHY is underscoring its role as an Australian income anchor in diversified portfolios.

Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF (ASX: ZYUS)

Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF gives you direct US dividend exposure with a growth tilt. This ASX ETF plays on the power of high-yielding, lower-volatility US large caps like Pfizer and UPS.

ZYUS tracks the S&P 500 Low Volatility High Dividend Index, aiming to smooth market swings while putting cash in your pocket. Its trailing dividend yield is around mid-single digits, which is solid compared to broader US ETFs.

Its six-month total return to the end of December 2025 registered just over 1%. This reflected a modest rebound in markets over that horizon. US dividends and selective stock quality help this ETF balance yield and growth within global portfolios.

iShares Asia 50 ETF (ASX: IAA)

To capture growth and dividends from Asia's corporate engine, this ASX ETF delivers exposure to 50 of the region's largest companies. iShares Asia 50 ETF spans technology champions like Taiwan Semiconductor, Alibaba, Samsung and Tencent.

Its current dividend yield hovers around the mid-2% range. It's not as high as dedicated income funds but meaningful for regional equities. However, its six-month total return is impressive at over 23%.

That blend of solid recent performance with recurring income makes this Asia focussed ETF a compelling Asian component alongside more income-centric Aussie and US holdings.

How they fit together

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF anchors your portfolio with strong local, franked income and defensive Aussie exposure. Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF brings US dividend payers and downside cushioning traits into the mix. On the other hand, iShares Asia 50 ETF turbocharges your Asia exposure, leaning into growth markets without abandoning distributions entirely.

The post 3 ASX ETFs for global growth and income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

These include Global X Defence Tech ETF (ASX: DTEC) and Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI).

ASX DTEC, which returned 64% to investors last year, is benefiting from a major increase in worldwide defence spending.

This includes a commitment made last year by the 32 NATO nations to raise their spending from 2% to 5% of GDP over the next decade.

SEMI ETF, which returned 56% in 2025, is leveraging the artificial intelligence (AI) investment theme, as the world's next generation of innovative technology will require semiconductors to power it.

How much will Global X ETF investors receive?

We have summarised the dividend amounts and dividend reinvestment prices (DRPs), rounded to two decimal places.

The post Own DTEC or SEMI ETFs? Here's why it's a big day for you appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

These include Global X Copper Miners ETF (ASX: WIRE), which exposes investors to copper shares all over the world.

ASX WIRE has tailwinds due to a 37% lift in the copper price over the past year, as global demand increases due to the energy transition.

It also includes Global X Defence Tech ETF (ASX: DTEC), which has had a stellar run since inception in October 2024.

ASX DTEC is leveraging a massive increase in worldwide defence spending amid growing geopolitical tensions.

Global X reveals next lot of dividends for ASX ETFs

We have summarised the dividend amounts and dividend reinvestment prices (DRPs), rounded to two decimal places.

Global X will pay investors this Friday, 16 January.

The post Global X announces dividends for DTEC, WIRE and other ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Many leading ASX companies also offer franked dividends, giving investors potential tax benefits on the extra income they earn.

Now, I've analysed and written about a large number of high-yielding ASX dividend shares over the years. And many of those stocks continue to pay market-beating yields today.

But if I were aiming to build a more bulletproof passive income stream with a $10,000 investment today, I wouldn't invest in just a few high-yielding stocks.

Sure, that might see me earning a yield north of 10% next year.

But it might not.

To garner a reasonably reliable second income, I'd need to invest in at least 10 different ASX dividend shares operating across a range of sectors and ideally some different countries. For really rock-solid diversity that portfolio might even number 20 shares.

But there's an easier way for me to secure a reliable passive income with my $10,000 investment.

And that's to invest in leading, high-yielding ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Two ASX ETFs to deliver my passive income

As with ASX dividends stocks, there are a number of quality ASX ETFs that pay bank-busting dividend yields.

Here are two that I'd buy for passive income today.

First up is the BetaShares Australian Dividend Harvester Fund (ASX: HVST).

According to the company's website, "HVST aims to provide franked income that exceeds the net income yield of the broad Australian sharemarket on an annual basis."

The ETF provides investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of Australian shares which, atop the passive income, also have the potential for capital gains.

On average, HVST holds 40 to 60 ASX shares. Currently, its top three holdings are BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and CSL Limited (ASX: CSL).

Roughly every quarter the fund's managers rebalance the portfolio to give shareholders reweighted exposure to ASX stocks expected to pay a dividend during the ensuing quarter.

Pleasingly, the ASX ETF makes its passive income payments (currently franked at 77%) on a monthly basis.

As at 31 October, the 12-month yield comes out to 7.4%. The 12-month grossed-up yield, which includes franking credits, equates to 9.9%.

Management costs are on the higher end, at 0.72%.

Which brings us to the second ASX ETF I'd invest my $10,000 in for a bulletproof passive income, the Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF (ASX: ZYUS).

ZYUS gives ASX investors exposure to 50 of the highest dividend-yielding stocks listed on the US S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX).

Which offers that multi-nation diversification I mentioned up top to help reduce the risk to my income stream.

The ETF pays quarterly distributions. And its top three holdings are Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ), AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) and Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO). Management also aims to provide low-volatility returns.

Over the past 12 months, ZYUS delivered a yield of 8.1%, unfranked.

Management costs are 0.35%.

On to the maths

If I were to split my $10,000 investment evenly between these two ASX ETFs I'd earn a trailing yield of 7.8% (ignoring the potential benefits of the franking credits from HVST).

That would earn me an annual passive income of $780.

The post How I'd aim to build a bulletproof monthly ASX passive income portfolio with just $10,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But as we all know, dividends can vary from year to year, depending on a company's performance.

One way for ASX investors to potentially ensure the most reliable income stream possible is to consider an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or listed managed fund with a dividend-focused strategy.

This is where you get a fund manager running the ETF or fund. Their job is to constantly assess which shares to invest in to achieve the highest dividend yields possible for investors.

So, which ETFs and listed managed funds are doing best?

Helpfully, the ASX publishes monthly data on these sorts of things.

We've analysed all the ASX ETFs and listed managed funds that have been around for at least five years to determine which ones deliver the best historical dividend yields.

Some funds are based on Australian shares, and some are based on international shares.

Here we go…

The top 5 ETFs or managed funds for dividend yields

Here are the top 5 dividend-focused ETFs or listed managed funds ranked by their historical yields:

Intelligent Investor Australian Equity Income Fund (Managed Fund) (ASX: INIF) delivered a historical dividend yield of 8.74%.

The BetaShares Australia Top 20 Equity Yield Maximiser (Managed Fund) (ASX: YMAX) also delivered a historical yield of 8.74%.

Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF (ASX: ZYUS) delivered a historical dividend yield of 7.5%.

BetaShares Australian Dividend Harvester (Managed Fund) (ASX: HVST) delivered a yield of 6.9%.

BetaShares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Fund (Managed Fund) (ASX: UMAX) delivered a historical dividend yield of 6.19%.

The post Which ASX dividend ETFs offer the highest yields for income investors? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.