Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF

CGDG

Market cap $3.78B

The Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF offers global dividend growth exposure but carries a relatively high expense ratio of 0.47%. CGDG is well-diversified with significant international holdings, including 30% in Europe and 16% in Asia, differentiating it from U.S.-focused peers. Despite solid short-term performance, CGDG's limited track record and heavy European exposure are key concerns given Europe's structural challenges and lower growth prospects.

AI-driven tech stocks dominate 2025 returns, leaving dividend and high-yield ETFs lagging due to limited AI exposure. REITs face mixed fortunes: ARE and DOC struggle with life science oversupply, while IVT, AMT, ADC, and VICI offer attractive dividend growth and value. My current buy list focuses on undervalued REITs and ETFs with strong dividend growth.

These dividend exchange-traded funds have all you can ask for. You can use the first one as a core holding and selectively pick out the satellites.

CGDG has rapidly gained traction since its 2023 launch, outperforming the S&P 500 and dividend indices with strong total returns and robust price appreciation. The ETF's active, fundamentals-driven approach and global diversification across sectors support both dividend growth and risk mitigation. Top holdings like Broadcom, RTX Corp and Philip Morris combine value and growth, fuelling earnings and dividend growth, while the fund maintains attractive valuations.

Given heightened economic uncertainty, I am leaning more defensive and sticking with my dividend growth investing strategy, emphasizing diversification and income stability. The frozen housing market, soft labor conditions, and stagnating consumer spending signal potential economic weakness, despite optimism in select sectors like tech. My ETF portfolio review shows shifting leadership, with midstream energy outperforming previously, but preferreds and tech-focused ETFs now leading as trends evolve.

Are we in an AI bubble? And will it be AI or tariffs that determine the trajectory of the market going forward? I'm focusing on dividend growth stocks and ETFs with attractive yields and solid projected dividend growth rates. I estimate most of the stocks on my buy list will deliver mid- to high-single-digit dividend growth going forward.

In an uncertain market, I stick to five core investing principles: stay the course, specialize, diversify, trust proven experts, and keep some cash. Dividend growth investing (DGI) remains my strategy, with a focus on reliable cash flow compounding and growing dividends to eventually replace labor income. I diversify beyond my real estate core by blending passive DGI ETFs and selecting active ETFs with proven outperformance.

Tariff uncertainty and renewed trade tensions may keep market returns muted until more clarity emerges. Despite volatility, I believe investors should continue buying and seek out attractive deals in the market. Now is an opportune time to diversify portfolios, especially with non-U.S. investments, given the dollar's historic decline.

CGDG offers strong total returns and dividend growth potential, outperforming peer dividend ETFs since inception, though its history is short. The fund provides global diversification and unique technology sector exposure, setting it apart from more US-centric, or traditional dividend ETFs. CGDG may underperform index-tracking ETFs like SPY and QQQ over the long term, due to limited exposure to high-growth, non-dividend stocks.

Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF offers a rare, actively managed international dividend growth strategy with strong manager diversification, mitigating groupthink and concentration risks. The ETF balances US and developed markets exposure, with reasonable sector diversification and a focus on quality, low-risk, slow compounding stocks. The yield is modest at ~2%, but the fund prioritizes long-term compounding over high payouts, supporting inflation-adjusted income growth for investors.