This Forgotten Mid-Cap Dividend ETF Returned 70% In 5 Years While Paying Monthly Income

The WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Dividend Fund (NYSEARCA:DON) generates income by holding a diversified portfolio of mid-cap dividend-paying stocks. With $3.7 billion in assets and a 2.45% yield, DON collects dividends from approximately 400 mid-cap companies and distributes them monthly to investors. The fund focuses on mid-cap value stocks with proven dividend track records, creating a middle ground between large-cap stability and small-cap growth potential. DON targets mid-cap dividend payers, positioning itself as a middle ground between large-cap stability and small-cap growth potential where large-cap multiples look stretched.

Top Holdings Show Mixed Dividend Safety

DON’s diversification is evident in its holdings: no single position exceeds 1.2% of the portfolio. The top five holdings demonstrate varied dividend sustainability profiles.

Best Buy (NYSE:BBY | BBY Price Prediction) (1.20% weighting) yields 5.66% but shows a concerning 125% earnings payout ratio, meaning dividends exceed current profits. However, the retailer’s 22.5% return on equity and 90.6% institutional ownership provide some cushion. Viatris (NASDAQ:VTRS) (1.09%) presents a red flag with negative earnings, making its 3.86% yield unsustainable from current operations. Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) (1.06%) carries a stretched 141% payout ratio at 5.36% yield. In contrast, Omnicom (NYSE:OMC) (1.04%) and American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) (1.02%) show healthy sustainability with payout ratios of 41% and 34% respectively.

The mixed picture among top holdings demonstrates DON’s diversification benefit. With no position above 1.2%, individual dividend cuts have minimal portfolio impact. The fund’s 25.3% allocation to Financials and 16.5% to Industrials provides exposure to sectors with historically stable dividend traditions, while its minimal 4% Technology weighting avoids stretched valuations plaguing mega-cap growth stocks.

Total Return Context and Alternative

DON’s 2.45% yield must be evaluated alongside total return. The fund has returned 70% over five years, translating to roughly 11% annualized when including dividends. While trailing the S&P 500’s 85% gain, DON offers significantly higher current income and lower concentration risk. At $52.10 per share, the fund trades near its recent range, providing stable income without capital erosion that plagues some high-yield strategies.

For investors seeking a different approach, the WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund (NYSEARCA:DLN) offers an alternative worth exploring. DLN holds large-cap dividend payers with a 1.99% yield and lower expense ratio of 0.28%. The fund’s top holdings include Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM), and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), providing exposure to mega-cap dividend growers with stronger balance sheets but lower current yield. DLN’s 19% allocation to both Financials and Technology creates a more balanced sector profile than DON’s value tilt.

DLN targets investors prioritizing large-cap stability over higher current yield, trading 46 basis points of yield for exposure to mega-cap dividend aristocrats.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.