ProShares SMDV targets small-cap dividend growers
SMDV targets Russell 2000 firms with 10+ years of rising dividends, charges a 0.40% fee, yields 2.51% and has returned 11.29% year-to-date.
The ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (SMDV) selects companies in the Russell 2000 index that have raised dividends for at least 10 consecutive years. The fund charges a 0.40% expense ratio, pays quarterly distributions and reported a 12-month yield of 2.51% as of March 31. ProShares reports the fund’s dividend grew at a compound annual rate of 10.2% since inception.
SMDV returned 11.29% year-to-date, per ETF Database data, compared with the ETF Database Small Blend Equities Category average of 10.19% over the same period. ProShares data show the fund posted gains in March and rose above its 50- and 200-day simple moving averages in early April.
Holdings combine dividend-growth stocks with companies that have potential for capital appreciation. Power Integrations Inc. (POWI) was a top contributor this year, rising about 100.4% year-to-date. Sector exposure including semiconductors contributed to that result.
Financial advisers have used SMDV to seek income and potential equity upside in a single ETF. Market participants cited rising volatility and expectations for higher inflation in 2026 as reasons for interest in ETFs that combine yield and growth.
The fund’s focus on small-cap dividend growers can produce wider price swings than large-cap dividend strategies. Performance figures are historical and reported by ProShares; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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