A couple of years ago, I started adding select ETFs and CEFs to my income portfolio. At the time, my thought process was that these funds would diversify my risk and add a degree of stability to my income portfolio. Initially, I had high hopes for their success.  Here’s what I am holding and a synopsis of how they have performed:

Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH)

Vanguard® Financials ETF seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of financial stocks.

I first purchased VFH in August 2007. Like the financials it tracks, VFH’s dividend has steadily fell from $0.45/share in October 2007 to $0.06/share in March 2009.

PowerShares International Dividend Achievers Portfolio (PID)

PID seeks to match the performance of the International Dividend Achievers Index by investing at least 90% of its total assets in dividend paying common stocks of this index. This index tracks the performance of dividend paying American Depositary Receipts or ordinary stocks trading on the NYSE, NASDAQ or AMEX.

I initially invested in this fund back in July 2008.  It has paid out three dividends since then, each less than the one before (9/08-$0.14/share, 12/08-$0.09/share and 3/09-$0.03/share). Not a good trend.

Vanguard REIT ETF (VNQ)

Vanguard® REIT ETF seeks to provide a high level of income and moderate long-term capital appreciation by tracking the performance of a benchmark index that measures the performance of publicly traded equity REITs.

I initiated my VNQ position in August 2007.  VNQ’s dividends have been unpredictable and inconsistent.

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY)

The Fund seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before expenses, the price and yield of the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. The Fund uses a passive management strategy designed to track the price and yield performance of the Dividend Index.

I first purchased SDY in August 2007. I have received seven dividends ranging between a low of $0.4410 (April 2009) to a high of $0.5917 (January 2009). I found it somewhat odd that the low and high dividends both came in 2009.

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM)

Vanguard® High Dividend Yield ETF seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of common stocks of companies that are characterized by high dividend yields.

I first bought into VYM in August 2007.  It dividends have slowly drifted lower since that time. They have not been as volatile, but there is no question as to the direction.

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)

Vanguard® Dividend Appreciation ETF seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of common stocks of companies that have a record of increasing dividends over time.

VIG is another ETF that I first purchased in August 2007. During the time I owned it, VIG’s dividend has flucuated between $0.22/share and $0.28/share.

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunity (ETO)

ETO is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of after-tax total return. It invests primarily in dividend-paying common and preferred stocks.

I first purchased ETO in July 2008. ETO paid a steady dividend of $0.1795/share through December 2008. It then dropped its dividend to $0.1167/share.

Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (AOD)

AOD attempts to optimize both dividend income and long-term growth of capital. This is a very diverse and flexible fund. It employs a global, multi-cap, multi-sector, and multi-style investment approach. The fund combines four research-driven investment strategies – Growth, Value, Special Dividends, and Dividend Capture Rotation.

I first purchased AOD in December 2007. It paid monthly dividends of $0.18/share through February 2009 before cutting its monthly dividend to $0.12/share.

Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV)

The Fund seeks to match the investment performance of the Lehman Brothers Mutual Fund Long Government/Corporate Index. Holdings include Corporate Notes/Bond 51.5%, Treasury Notes/Bonds 40.2% and Government Agency Securities 6.5%.

I first purchased BLV in December 2008. Since that time I have received five dividend all approximately $0.34/share. This has been the one bright spot amoung the group. As a long-bond fund, it has behaved as I expected it would.

Conclusion

Back to the original question: Are Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Closed Ended Funds (CEFs) a good fit for this dividend investing? At this point, I would say no, for the most part. For many of the same reasons that international investments are not a good fit for a dividend-based investing strategy, I have found the same true with ETFs and CEFs.

It has been my experience that ETFs/CEFs dividends exhibit a higher degree of volatility than individual dividend stocks. Since most of the above funds are based on an index, they are forced to buy the bad stocks with the good stocks. This will inherently increase the volatility of the funds dividend payments. Those with international holdings are subject to currency conversion and a different dividend payout philosophy. In the income portion of my portfolio, I place a great deal of value on stability and consistency. ETFs and CEFs have a difficult time delivering either.

The funds are listed is ascending order from least desirable to most. I have already stopped purchasing the above funds, except BLV.  I will now work on eliminating or minimizing my position in most of them, starting at the top of the list and working down.

Full Disclosure: Long VFH, PID, VNQ,  SDY, VIG, VYM, ETO, AOD, BLV.  See a list of all my income holdings here.

I. International Fund in my 401(k)

This International Equity Index Fund seeks to match the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index which consists of approximately 1,200 stocks in 21 developed market countries outside of North and South America, and represents approximately 85% of the total market capitalization in those countries.  When compared to other options in my 401(k), I have been generally pleased with this funds performance over time. YTD Return:  (-7.2%)

II. International Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) Within My Asset Allocation Portfolio

The international component on my asset allocation portfolio is in iShares MSCI EAFE (EFA).  EFA seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the European, Australasian and Far Eastern markets, as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index. This fund is tracking the same index as my 401(k) above, but with somewhat better results. YTD Return: (-5.1%)

III. Individual International Dividend Stocks

It was my desire to have international representation within my income investments, so I first looked to identify good non-U.S. dividend individual stocks that had an ADR trading on the New York Stock Exchange.  To identify these stocks I used the International Dividend Achievers™ list.  To become eligible for inclusion, a company must be incorporated outside of the United States. The companies must be have an American Depository Receipt or common stock trading on NYSE, NASDAQ or AMEX. Companies must have paid increasing regular annual dividends for five or more consecutive years. What I found is that most companies outside the U.S. follow a different dividend model.  Here are some of the differences:

• Many Foreign Companies Pay Dividends Based on a Percent of Earnings
  This produces a very erratic cash stream. Consider Unilever plc (UL). Its ADR paid $0.353 in Nov/07, $0.668 in May/08 and $0.33 in Nov/08.
• Many Foreign Companies Only Pay Dividends Annually
  I need more feedback than this. I would hate to wait a full year before learning a company plans to slash its dividend. Examples of annual dividends include Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. (SHEN), Siemens AG (SI) and Stryker Corp. (SYK).
• Most Foreign Companies Pay Dividends in Their Local Currency
  Most Canadian companies pay quarterly consistent dividends, similar to companies in the U.S. However, they pay the dividends in Canadian dollars, so the currency risk is with the U.S. investor.  There is probably much less fluctuation between the U.S. and Canadian dollars than most other currencies. However, it exists. Consider the last five dividends on Canadian National Railway Company (CNI): Mar/08 $0.223, June/08 $0.225, Sep/08 $0.217, Dec/08 $0.189 and Mar/09 $0.200. The quarterly dividend dropped 10% from Mar/08 to Mar/09 in U.S. Dollars while it increased its dividend 10% over the same period in Canadian dollars.

I am sure there are more, but one exception to all the above is BP plc (BP). BP’s ADR has paid a consistent quarterly dividend denominated in U.S. dollars.

IV. International Income ETFs and Income Closed-End Funds (CEFs)

One thought was that a market basket of international stocks in either an ETF or CEF would help mitigate some of the issues above. Many of these created problems of their own. Some such as Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (AOD) has the option to invest in the U.S. also and when things turned ugly, they brought the cash home.  Other funds such as Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (ETO) and PowerShares International Dividend Achievers Portfolio (PID) have not performed well as dividend investments. Each has cut its dividend, with PID cutting multiple times.  I now question the wisdom of ETFs and CEFs inclusion in an income portfolio, but that is a different discussion.

Conclusion

After much consideration, I have concluded that income investing and international securities don’t mix very well for all the reasons listed above.  Going forward, my primary focus will be on U.S. equities for my dividend income portfolio.  I will use my 401(k) and my Asset Allocation Portfolio to ensure an adequate international allocation. As for the securities that I currently hold, I will individually evaluate the appropriateness of them remaining in my portfolio. Consistent with this methodology, I will remove most International Achievers from the Stock Ideas page, leaving only those that I own or have identified as being an excellent income investment.

Full Disclosure: Long EFA, CNI, BP, AOD, ETO, PID

1. Number of Dividend Payments per Year
Most international countries pay dividends only once or twice a year – far less than the quarterly dividends that we Americans have grown accustomed to. For me dividends are one form of feedback as to how well the company is performing. I prefer more feedback to less.

2. The Amount of the Dividend Payments
It is the custom in many international countries to payout dividends as a fixed percentage of earnings each year. This will often result in larger overall payouts, but the payouts are irregular. In America we are accustomed to steady growing dividends, valuing consistency over maximum payout.

3. The Amount and Timing of Taxes on Foreign Dividends
Most foreign countries will deduct their tax before sending you the dividend. Fortunately, most have treaties with the U.S. where you can claim a credit for the tax withheld.

4. Currency Risk
Recently as the U.S. dollar has strengthen vs. other currencies, I have seen a steady decline in the dividends received, even though none of the securities have lowered their local currency dividend.

5. Risk of Political Unrest
That wonderful dividend company you found may be located in a not so wonderful country. An unstable geopolitical environment can potentially destroy a company that is under its control.

International Income Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)/Closed-End Funds (CEF)
I have tried to increase my international exposure by purchasing ETF/CEFs with a high percentage of international stocks. Below are three that I currently own:

• Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (AOD)
• Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Glbl Div Opp (ETO)
• PowerShares Intnl Dividend Achievers Ptf (PID)

The problem with this route is the investment quality, or lack thereof. These funds have woefully underperformed my individual dividend stocks.

Individual International Income Stocks
If individual stocks are out-performing the above ETF/CEFs then why not focus on individual international dividend stocks? I currently hold the following ADRs:

• BP Plc (BP)
• Canadian National Railway Company (CNI)
• Manulife Financial Corp (MFC)
• Royal Bank of Canada (RY)

That is three Canadian and one British company. Not much diversification there. It shouldn’t be surprising that the two countries represented above are those whose culture, government and financial markets are most similar to the U.S. Most international companies that meet my financial criteria are disqualified based on one of the five issues listed above – generally #1. I refuse to buy a dividend stock that pays less frequently than semi-annual.

Conclusion
If the numbers do not work, you should never force-buy any security just to meet an allocation. I will continue to look for promising international income ETF/CEFs and individual stocks, but I will not buy any securities below my minimum standards. I will rely on my 401(k) and capital appreciation portfolio to meet the majority of my international allocation.

Disclosure: Long AOD, ETO, PID, BP, CNI, MFC, RY