REGL ETF: What Is It? A Complete Guide to Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs
A dividend growth ETF that selects high-quality US mid-cap stocks with more than 15 years of consistent dividend increases and invests in them at equal weights.
What Is This ETF?
It tracks the S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats Index, building its portfolio from mid-cap stocks that have passed strict dividend increase requirements.
It suits investors who want to move beyond large-cap-focused dividend investing and enjoy both the performance of the mid-cap market and dividend growth.
Launched by ProShares in 2015, it is a passively managed (index-tracking) ETF.
How Does It Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Index | S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats Index |
| Management Style | Passive (index-tracking) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Quarterly |
| Dividend Frequency | Quarterly |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.40% |
The fund uses a standard of 15 consecutive years of dividend increases to select mid-cap stocks with verified financial soundness. The key feature is that every holding is kept at the same weight to prevent concentration in any single stock.
- The only ETF focused solely on US mid-cap dividend aristocrats
- Strong diversification benefits through its equal-weighting approach
Size and Costs
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $1.7B, and the expense ratio is 0.40% per year.
Compared with large-cap-focused dividend ETFs such as VIG, SCHD, and VYM shown in the table, REGL offers differentiated exposure in the mid-cap space. In particular, it places greater weight on the "sustainability" and "growth" of dividends than high-dividend-focused strategies such as DVY.
Performance and Trends
Its performance has combined the overall economic sensitivity of the mid-cap market with the stable pattern typical of dividend stocks, and it tends to post relatively solid returns in environments where value styles are favored.
In periods of high interest rate volatility, preference rises for dividend growth stocks with proven earnings strength, and fund inflows have been steady. The fund is used as a risk management tool within the mid-cap segment.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Its strategy captures stable dividend growth and mid-cap growth potential at the same time, but investors should be mindful of its higher volatility compared with large caps.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Alternative ETFs and Related Products
If VIG and SCHD in the table are the standards for large-cap dividend growth, REGL is the mid-cap alternative. Investors who want large-cap dividend aristocrats can consider NOBL, and the small-cap version is SMDV. For broader dividend growth exposure, SDY is an option, and for a stronger focus on mid-cap value characteristics, DON is also a valid choice.
| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF | $35.30 | +0.1% | $118.7B | 0.06% | 2.98% | +30.6% | |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation FTF | $244.43 | +0.5% | $113.7B | 0.04% | 1.49% | +11.9% | |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield Indx ETF | $162.41 | +0.6% | $82.1B | 0.04% | 2.26% | +14.7% | |
| U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio-ETF Class Shares | $45.02 | +0.6% | $49.0B | 0.18% | 0.88% | +15.2% | |
| First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | $79.07 | +0.5% | $25.2B | 0.47% | 0.86% | +16.9% |
| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Littelfuse Inc | 0.04% | $364.03 | +3.6% | $9.2B | - | 0.52% | |
| Cabot Corp | 0.02% | $72.88 | -1.2% | $3.8B | 20.6 | 2.55% | |
| Polaris Inc | 0.02% | $55.15 | +0.6% | $3.1B | - | 4.88% | |
| Chemed Corp | 0.02% | $512.90 | -0.0% | $6.7B | 25.8 | 0.47% | |
| Reliance Inc | 0.02% | $421.87 | +1.5% | $21.5B | 19.7 | 1.18% | |
| Westlake Corp | 0.02% | $65.31 | +1.2% | $8.3B | - | 3.35% | |
| Ensign Group Inc | 0.02% | $176.92 | +0.8% | $10.3B | 27.7 | 0.15% | |
| Ryder System Inc | 0.02% | $282.11 | +4.1% | $10.8B | 21.6 | 1.3% | |
| Sonoco Products Co | 0.02% | $49.27 | -1.7% | $4.9B | - | 4.34% |
Investor Checkpoints
These are the key checkpoints to review before investing in REGL. Consider carefully whether combining the growth potential of the US mid-cap market with a dividend growth strategy fits your own portfolio goals.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Dividend Growth Power | Whether the record of 15+ years of increases is maintained | Maintained |
| 📊 Mid-Cap Allocation | Complementarity with a large-cap-focused portfolio | Needs review |
| 📈 Management Cost | Comparison of fee levels within the same category | Reasonable |
Mid-cap dividend stocks can face downward price pressure when interest rates rise, and during economic recessions they can be exposed to greater psychological and actual volatility than large caps.
This product suits investors who want to invest in high-quality mid-cap companies with a record of sustained dividend growth. It can be used in long-term investment strategies that pursue portfolio diversification and stable income growth at the same time.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.