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Dear Fellow Investor,

Protect Your Portfolio With High-Yielding ETFs

If you are looking for a more defensive way to stay invested—while collecting yield along the way—dividend growth strategies are a logical place to start.

Two of the most useful “quality filters” in the dividend world are Dividend Aristocrats and Dividend Kings.

  • Dividend Aristocrats are widely understood as companies that have raised dividends for at least 25 consecutive years.

  • Dividend Kings are the heavyweights—companies that have raised dividends for 50 consecutive years or more.

What makes those long streaks impressive is not simply the number. It is the environment those companies survived: inflation spikes, recessions, rising rate cycles, market crashes, booms and busts, and major industry disruption. If a business can navigate decades of turmoil and still raise its dividend year after year, it is usually doing something right—strong cash generation, disciplined balance sheets, and management teams that prioritize shareholder returns.

That said, dividends are not a magic shield. Dividend stocks are still equities. They can (and do) fall in bear markets. The real portfolio benefit is typically less extreme volatility and better “staying power” versus purely speculative growth—plus a tangible cash return that can be reinvested or used as income.

The “problem” with Kings—and what investors can do instead

Many investors want a single, simple ETF that tracks Dividend Kings. Historically, that has been difficult because the “Kings” list is relatively small, and index construction is not always standardized.

However, there is now an ETF specifically built around 50+ year dividend increasers: the Roundhill S&P Dividend Monarchs ETF (SYM: KNGS), which tracks an index of companies that have increased dividends for at least 50 years. The fund launched in November 2023, and its own materials describe it as the only U.S.-listed ETF focused on “Dividend Monarchs” (50+ year increasers).

Still, many investors prefer larger, more liquid “core” dividend ETFs with longer track records. If your goal is practical, diversified exposure to dividend durability, the next best approach is to use high-quality dividend ETFs—particularly those built around dividend growth screens—and/or pair dividend strategies with value exposure.

Below are three ETFs that can help you do that, each with a different emphasis.

Trading Whisperer

The Payments ETF That Just Launched on NASDAQ:

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Recent digital-asset ETFs proved the demand for simplicity — volume surged, liquidity deepened, and institutions took notice.

This launch takes that same discipline and applies it to the payments network at the core of real-time finance.

If faster settlement is the future, this is how you hold it — without leaving your brokerage account.

Discover the ETF’s name and ticker here.

ETF: ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (SYM: NOBL)

NOBL is one of the cleanest “quality dividend growth” ETFs in the market. It focuses on S&P 500 companies that have increased dividends for at least 25 years, effectively filtering for consistency and shareholder-friendly capital return policies.

Cost and yield snapshot (as of the issuer’s latest fact sheet):

  • Expense ratio: 0.35%

  • Distribution frequency: Quarterly

  • 30-day SEC yield: 2.19% (as of 09/30/2025 fact sheet)

  • 12-month yield: 2.09% (as of 09/30/2025 fact sheet)

Why it can help “protect” a portfolio
Aristocrat constituents often exhibit steadier earnings and more mature business models. In turbulent periods, that can translate into fewer dramatic drawdowns than the broad market—though there are no guarantees. The core value proposition is that NOBL prioritizes dividend growth durability over high yield.

Key trade-off
You are paying more in fees than ultra-low-cost index ETFs. In exchange, you are getting a stringent dividend-growth screen and a purpose-built quality factor tilt.

Small Caps Daily

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As gold and silver hit record highs, markets demand verifiable proof of origin and custody. SMX (NASDAQ: SMX) uses patented molecular identity technology to embed an invisible "barcode" into materials, creating tamper-resistant, blockchain-backed records. The platform scales across industries, supporting a $4.5 trillion circular economy with proven national-scale operations.

Discover how SMX is turning verification into infrastructure—and why it’s set to play a critical role in the next era of gold, silver, and global materials markets

ETF: Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF (SYM: SCHV)

Not every “defensive income” solution has to be a dividend-only fund. Sometimes the best portfolio stabilizer is value exposure—especially when the market is rotating away from expensive growth and toward cash-flow-generating, lower-multiple businesses.

SCHV holds a broad portfolio of U.S. large-cap value stocks and does it at an exceptionally low cost.

Cost and yield snapshot (from Schwab’s fund page):

  • Total expense ratio: 0.040%

  • Distribution yield (TTM): 2.03% (as of 11/30/2025)

  • SEC yield (30-day): 1.98% (as of 12/26/2025)

Why it can help “protect” a portfolio
Value funds often hold companies with more established cash flows, which can provide ballast when speculative segments unwind. SCHV also gives you broad diversification (hundreds of holdings) while keeping fees minimal—useful if you want a foundational equity allocation that is less dependent on high-growth narratives.

Key trade-off
SCHV is not a pure dividend strategy. You are getting value exposure first, and dividend yield as a secondary byproduct of that style.

ETF: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SYM: SCHD)

SCHD is often treated as a core holding for dividend-focused investors because it combines dividend orientation with quality screens and a long operating history. It aims to track the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index.

Cost and yield snapshot (from Schwab’s fund page):

  • Total expense ratio: 0.060%

  • SEC yield (30-day): 3.81% (as of 12/26/2025)

  • Distribution yield (TTM): 3.74% (as of 11/30/2025)

Why it can help “protect” a portfolio
SCHD’s yield profile is meaningfully higher than many broad-market ETFs, but it is still rooted in large, established companies. That combination—income plus quality-oriented selection—often makes SCHD attractive for investors who want a “middle ground” between pure low-volatility equity exposure and aggressive yield-chasing.

Key trade-off
Dividend-focused ETFs can become concentrated in certain sectors or factors at different points in time. Investors should periodically check exposures and ensure the fund still matches their broader diversification goals.

Chaikin Analytics

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Are there any other dividend ETFs you swear by? What other sectors of the market are you currently interested in? Hit "reply" to this email and let us know your thoughts!

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This disclosure is made as of 12/29/25.

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For standardized returns of the Canary XRP ETF, please visit [XRP ETF - Canary Capital]. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses should be considered before investing. 

The prospectus contains this and other important information, and it may be obtained at https://etfs.canary.capital/XRPC/prospectus/. Read it carefully before investing.
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Investing Involves Significant Risk. The loss of principal is possible. Canary XRP ETF (the "Fund") may not be suitable for all investors. This document does not constitute a recommendation of any investment strategy or product for a particular investor. Investors should consult a financial advisor/financial consultant before making any investment decisions.

The fund is new with a limited operating history.

Digital assets, such as XRP, are a relatively new asset class, and the market for digital assets is subject to rapid changes and uncertainty. Digital assets are largely unregulated and digital asset investments may be more susceptible to fraud and manipulation than more regulated investments.

XRP is subject to unique and substantial risks, including significant price volatility and lack of liquidity, and theft. The value of an investment in the Fund could decline significantly and without warning, including to zero. XRP is subject to rapid price swings, including as a result of actions and statements by influencers and the media, changes in the supply of and demand for digital assets, and other factors. There is no assurance that XRP will maintain its value over the long-term.  The Fund is not actively managed and will not take any actions to take advantage, or mitigate the impacts, of volatility in the price of XRP. An investment in the Fund is not a direct investment in XRP. Investors will not have any rights that XRP holders have and will not have the right to receive any redemption proceeds in XRP. Shares of the Fund are generally bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Only Authorized Participants may trade directly with the Fund and only large blocks of Shares called "creation units." Your brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

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We are issuing this disclosure in compliance with Section 17(b) of the Securities Act, which requires us to disclose any compensation received or expected to be received in cash or in kind in connection with the purchase or sale of any security.

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This communication should not be considered as an endorsement of the securities of adviser Supply Chain Management, (NASDAQ: SMX) and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions in any information provided about the securities of Supply Chain Management,  (NASDAQ: SMX) or Interactive Offers.

We encourage you to conduct your own due diligence and research before making any investment decisions. You should also consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

This disclosure is made as of 12/31/2025.

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