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RDVY First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF

Category: Large Cap Blend Equities

Inception: 2014-01-06 Issuer: First Trust
Net Assets
$13.4B
Expense Ratio
0.48 %
# of Holdings
77
Average Daily Volume
1.18M

Fund Overview

The First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (RDVY) is designed to track the performance of the Nasdaq US Rising Dividend Achievers Index. This index identifies companies that have consistently increased their dividends over time, demonstrating strong financial health and a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. RDVY focuses on U.S. companies with a history of rising dividends, offering investors exposure to firms with sustainable payout growth and potential for capital appreciation. The fund is rebalanced quarterly to ensure it maintains its target allocations and continues to reflect the index's methodology.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
N/A
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
Yes
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 1.51 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
57 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the RDVY ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Exposure to U.S. companies with a strong history of increasing dividends, which may indicate financial stability and growth potential.
  • Potential for both income generation and capital appreciation as dividend-growing companies often outperform over the long term.
  • Quarterly rebalancing helps maintain focus on the highest-quality dividend growers.
  • Diversification across sectors, reducing concentration risk compared to single-stock investments.
  • Lower expense ratio compared to some actively managed dividend-focused funds.

Potential Risks

  • Dividend-paying stocks may underperform during periods of rising interest rates as investors shift to fixed-income alternatives.
  • Concentration in certain sectors, such as financials or utilities, could lead to higher volatility if those sectors face headwinds.
  • Dividend cuts or suspensions by underlying holdings could negatively impact performance.
  • Market risk remains a factor, as dividend stocks are still subject to broader equity market fluctuations.
  • The fund's focus on U.S. companies limits geographic diversification.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
-0.19% -2.33% +18.29% +81.56% +80.75% +13.65% +19.20% +16.09% +392.44%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +4.0% 0.0% -5.3% +9.4% +0.7% +7.9% 0.0% +0.4% -3.7% +1.2% - -
2025 +5.7% -1.7% -4.4% -2.6% +5.6% +4.5% +1.0% +3.8% +2.5% 0.0% +1.6% +2.0%
2024 -0.6% +2.9% +6.7% -5.1% +3.6% -0.4% +6.8% +0.5% +1.1% -0.3% +8.9% -7.6%
2023 +9.1% -3.5% -2.5% +1.4% -3.1% +7.6% +5.3% -3.4% -3.6% -3.7% +9.1% +7.8%
2022 -2.8% -2.3% -0.1% -7.3% +3.9% -12.8% +8.6% -3.4% -8.9% +12.4% +7.7% -5.9%
2021 -2.1% +9.1% +6.9% +4.9% +2.3% -1.3% +0.2% +3.0% -4.0% +5.4% -1.6% +5.6%
2020 -4.1% -8.3% -18.4% +13.7% +3.6% +2.7% +3.3% +5.4% -2.2% -1.5% +16.6% +6.8%
2019 +10.8% +3.3% -1.3% +6.5% -10.1% +9.3% +3.5% -5.1% +4.8% +4.3% +4.5% +3.9%
2018 +4.3% -1.2% -3.1% +0.1% +1.1% -0.1% +2.7% +3.0% -0.1% -7.4% +1.7% -10.4%
2017 +2.4% +5.5% -0.2% +1.3% -0.1% +1.1% +1.6% -1.8% +3.6% +1.3% +4.6% +1.6%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
UNM UNUM GROUP 2.5 %
V VISA INC CLASS A 2.4 %
BK BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON CORP 2.3 %
EBAY EBAY INC 2.3 %
SNA SNAP-ON INC 2.3 %
CB CHUBB LTD 2.3 %
ADP AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING INC 2.3 %
HIG THE HARTFORD INSURANCE GROUP INC 2.2 %
MLI MUELLER INDUSTRIES INC 2.2 %
BKNG BOOKING HOLDINGS INC 2.2 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 77 total holdings.

Related ETFs: RDVY vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
DGRO iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF 0.08 % $30.4B 409 Equity
DIV Global X SuperDividend U.S. ETF 0.45 % $654.8M 51 Equity
DVY iShares Select Dividend ETF 0.38 % $20B 101 Equity
FVD First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund 0.60 % $9.2B 224 Equity
NOBL ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF 0.35 % $11.8B 70 Equity
PEY Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers™ ETF 0.53 % $1.2B 51 Equity
SCHD Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF 0.06 % $70.8B 101 Equity
SDY SPDR S&P Dividend ETF 0.35 % $20.1B 151 Equity
SPHD Invesco S&P 500® High Dividend Low Volatility ETF 0.30 % $3.5B 52 Equity
VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF 0.05 % $102.3B 338 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

RDVY tracks the Nasdaq US Rising Dividend Achievers Index, which selects companies based on consistent dividend growth, financial health metrics, and liquidity. The index employs a rules-based methodology that screens for companies with increasing dividends over time, ensuring a focus on sustainable payouts. The fund primarily holds common stocks of U.S. companies and is rebalanced quarterly to maintain alignment with the index. RDVY's approach combines dividend growth with fundamental strength, aiming to deliver both income and capital appreciation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RDVY's dividend yield?

RDVY's dividend yield varies over time but generally aligns with or slightly exceeds the broader market, as it focuses on companies with rising dividends rather than the highest absolute yields.

How often does RDVY pay dividends?

RDVY typically distributes dividends quarterly, in line with most U.S. dividend-paying stocks.

Does RDVY invest in international companies?

No, RDVY focuses exclusively on U.S.-listed companies that meet its rising dividend criteria.

What sectors are most represented in RDVY?

RDVY's sector exposure varies, but it often has significant weightings in financials, industrials, and consumer staples—sectors known for consistent dividend growth.

Is RDVY suitable for retirement accounts?

RDVY can be appropriate for retirement accounts seeking dividend growth, though investors should consider their overall asset allocation and risk tolerance.

Industry Overview

The First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (RDVY) provides exposure to U.S. companies with a proven track record of increasing dividends. Investing in dividend-growing stocks is a popular strategy for income-focused investors seeking both yield and potential capital appreciation. Dividend achievers are often seen as financially stable companies with strong cash flows and disciplined management teams. RDVY's focus on rising dividends aligns with long-term wealth-building strategies, particularly in environments where companies prioritize shareholder returns.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to peers like NOBL and VIG, RDVY emphasizes companies with recent dividend increases rather than just long-term dividend histories. This can provide exposure to firms in earlier stages of dividend growth. RDVY also tends to have a slightly higher yield than some competitors, though this comes with potentially higher volatility. Unlike SCHD, which uses a broader dividend quality screen, RDVY specifically targets rising dividends, making it more focused on growth in payouts rather than absolute yield.

Issuer Overview

First Trust is a leading ETF issuer known for its thematic and factor-based investment strategies. The firm offers a wide range of ETFs targeting specific market segments, including dividend growth, smart beta, and sector-specific funds. First Trust emphasizes rigorous index methodology and transparency in its product offerings.

Conclusion

RDVY offers a compelling option for investors seeking exposure to U.S. companies with growing dividends. Its focus on rising payouts, combined with quarterly rebalancing, provides a disciplined approach to dividend investing. While the fund carries typical equity market risks, its emphasis on financially healthy companies with increasing dividends may appeal to long-term investors looking for income and growth potential.

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