Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF

CGDG

Market cap $4.7B

On this episode of the “ETF of the Week” podcast, VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life. The pair discussed several topics related to the fund to give investors a deeper understanding of the ETF.

Dividend stocks have sharply outperformed AI-related tech stocks since November 2025, reversing a multi-year trend. I see the rally in dividend ETFs like SCHD as overextended, prompting a pause in new purchases despite recent gains. AI is likely to benefit users more than makers, with sectors like banks, energy, and consumer staples positioned as early winners.

The Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF offers a unique, actively managed global dividend growth strategy with a reasonable 0.47% expense ratio. CGDG's portfolio blends U.S. and international equities, including REITs, providing diversification and exposure to both income and growth. The ETF outperformed major peers over the past year, benefiting from international equity strength and attractive sub-17x P/E valuation.

The Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF is rated a buy with a $43 price target, implying ~20% upside for 2026. CGDG's portfolio of high-momentum, global dividend growth stocks outperformed peers and the S&P 500 in 2025, delivering a 24% total return. The ETF benefits from attractive valuations (16x earnings), strong liquidity, moderate risk, and sector exposure poised for robust earnings growth.

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.