What is the symbol for iShares Core High Dividend ETF?

The symbol for the iShares Core High Dividend ETF is HDV.

Does HDV pay monthly dividends?

The iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) pays quarterly dividends.

What is the downside of a dividend ETF?

Dividend ETFs can have lower tax efficiency compared to individual stocks due to dividend taxation and may also suffer from sector concentration, depending on the index methodology.

Are iShares ETFs a good investment?

It depends on the ETF, but most iShares ETFs are well-capitalized, low-cost, and broadly diversified, making them a strong choice for many investors.

How to Buy iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

How to Invest in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

By Tony Dong – Updated Feb 25, 2026 at 11:56 AM EST | Fact-checked by Parker Hicks

Key Points

iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) tracks 75 high-yield U.S. stocks, using filters to ensure dividend reliability.
HDV's high 67% turnover rate and sector concentration may limit long-term gain potential.
HDV distributes dividends quarterly and has a low expense ratio of 0.08%.

The iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV +0.28%) provides simple exposure to 75 of the highest-yielding U.S. stocks at an affordable cost.

However, the ETF has underperformed other dividend ETFs in recent years due to structural issues within its methodology.

Before investing, it’s important to understand why and take a closer look at what’s under the hood.

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Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, allows investors to buy many stocks or bonds at once.

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What is iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)?

The iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) tracks the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index, giving investors access to 76 high-yielding U.S. dividend stocks.

Unlike simple dividend ETFs that only screen for yield, this iShares ETF applies three additional filters to help select companies with more reliable dividend payouts.

Morningstar analysts score stocks for this index based on the following:

Economic moat rating: This identifies companies with sustainable competitive advantages, meaning they have strong brand power, cost advantages, or other factors that make it difficult for competitors to take market share.
Uncertainty rating: This measures the predictability of a company’s future earnings. The more stable a company's profits, the more likely it is to sustain its dividend over time.
Distance to default score: This assesses a company's financial health by analyzing volatility and debt levels. Companies with too much leverage or unstable stock prices are more likely to cut dividends, so this ETF filters them out.

By using these additional safety screens, this iShares ETF aims to select high-yield stocks with more reliable dividends, rather than just chasing the highest yields available.

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How to buy iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

If you’ve decided to invest in this ETF, follow these steps to purchase shares through your brokerage account:

Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Search for the ETF: Enter the ticker "HDV" into the search bar to bring up the ETF's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this ETF.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Holdings of iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

This ETF's portfolio is currently heavily overweight on consumer staples and energy stocks, with each sector accounting for just under a quarter of the fund.

Unlike most dividend ETFs, this iShares ETF reconstitutes and rebalances its portfolio more frequently on a quarterly basis.

Reconstitution means the ETF adds or removes stocks based on its index criteria, while rebalancing ensures each stock’s weight stays aligned with the methodology.

As a result, its holdings change frequently. Morningstar reports that the ETF has an 82% turnover rate, meaning that in a given year, over two-thirds of its portfolio is replaced.

As of mid-October 2025, the top holdings included:

Exxon Mobil (XOM +1.12%) – 8.62%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ -5.73%) – 6.71%
Chevron (CVX +1.27%) – 6.40%
AbbVie Inc (ABBV -2.40%) - 6.36%
Procter & Gamble (PG -0.10%) – 4.60%
The Home Depot (HD +1.14%) - 4.13%
Philip Morris International (PM -1.34%) – 4.11%
PepsiCo (PEP +0.49%) – 3.80%
Merck & Co Inc (MRK -2.39%) - 4.02%
Coca-Cola (KO +0.36%) – 4.49%

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Should you invest in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)?

This iShares ETF may not be the best ETF for income investors or beginner ETF investors due to its relative complexity and high turnover rate, despite offering a high yield and a low expense ratio.

One drawback is that its index methodology is not fully transparent, since it relies on qualitative scoring from analysts to select stocks. This makes it harder to evaluate why certain companies are included or excluded compared to simpler dividend ETFs that use more objective, rules-based criteria.

Additionally, this ETF is heavily concentrated in just two sectors—consumer staples and energy, which together make up more than 50% of the fund.

With only 75 holdings, diversification is more limited than in broader dividend ETFs or mutual funds.

Finally, its high turnover rate means the ETF is constantly replacing stocks, making it difficult for long-term winners to compound gains.

Investors seeking a more stable, long-term dividend growth strategy may prefer an ETF with lower turnover and broader diversification.

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Does iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) pay a dividend?

This ETF pays a dividend on a quarterly basis. As of mid-October 2025, it had a 3.1% 30-day SEC yield. Since this iShares ETF excludes real estate investment trusts (REITs), its dividends are more tax-efficient than those from ETFs that include real estate holdings, since they qualify for lower tax rates on eligible dividends.

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What is iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)’s expense ratio?

This iShares ETF has an expense ratio of 0.08%, meaning investors pay $8 annually for every $10,000 invested. This cost is not paid directly but is deducted from the ETF’s performance over time, slightly reducing total returns.

For a high-dividend ETF, this expense ratio is considered low, making it a cost-effective choice for long-term ETF investors who want dividend income without excessive fees eating into their returns.

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Expense Ratio

A percentage of mutual fund or ETF assets deducted annually to cover management, operational, and administrative costs.

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Historical performance of iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

Here's a look at this ETF's annualized total return (i.e., with dividends reinvested) over various trailing periods:

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HDV Historical Performance as of Jan. 31, 2025.
Metric	1-year	3-year	5-year	10-year
Market Price	14.17%	7.06%	-6.47%	-0.26%
Net Asset Value	14.16%	7.06%	-6.48%	-0.26%

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The bottom line

The iShares Core High Dividend ETF offers high-yield dividend exposure with a low expense ratio, but its qualitative stock selection process, sector concentration, and high turnover rate make it less straightforward than other dividend ETFs.

While it provides high income and tax efficiency, its limited diversification of 75 holdings and frequent rebalancing may not appeal to all investors.

Beginner investors seeking a simple, stable dividend strategy may prefer an ETF with broader holdings and lower turnover.

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Investing in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) FAQs

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Tony Dong has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AbbVie, Chevron, Home Depot, and Merck. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson and Philip Morris International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

How to Invest in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

Key Points

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

What is iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)?

How to buy iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

Holdings of iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

Should you invest in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)?

Does iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) pay a dividend?

What is iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)’s expense ratio?

Expense Ratio

Historical performance of iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

The bottom line

Related investing topics

Best ETFs for Beginners and How to Invest

7 Best ETFs to Buy in October 2026

How to Invest in Dividend Stocks: A Guide to Dividend Investing

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Investing in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) FAQs

What is the symbol for iShares Core High Dividend ETF?

What is the symbol for iShares Core High Dividend ETF?

Does HDV pay monthly dividends?

Does HDV pay monthly dividends?

What is the downside of a dividend ETF?

What is the downside of a dividend ETF?

Are iShares ETFs a good investment?

Are iShares ETFs a good investment?

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Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

What is iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)?

How to buy iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

Should you invest in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)?

Does iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) pay a dividend?

What is iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)’s expense ratio?

Expense Ratio

Historical performance of iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)

The bottom line

Best ETFs for Beginners and How to Invest

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How to Invest in Dividend Stocks: A Guide to Dividend Investing

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Investing in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) FAQs

What is the symbol for iShares Core High Dividend ETF?

What is the symbol for iShares Core High Dividend ETF?

Does HDV pay monthly dividends?

Does HDV pay monthly dividends?

What is the downside of a dividend ETF?

What is the downside of a dividend ETF?

Are iShares ETFs a good investment?

Are iShares ETFs a good investment?

Holdings of iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV)