Top 10 dividend ETFs in Australia to watch in 2026

Dividend-focused ETFs select holdings based on expected income rather than broad market size, aiming to build a portfolio weighted toward companies with relatively high forecast yields. The ten funds on this list take different routes to that goal – most track ASX-focused dividend indices, but one covers A-REITs exclusively and another targets high-yielding U.S. companies from the S&P 500.

How we built this list: We selected these funds based on their income objective and fund size and ordered them by assets under management. Prices are updated daily, and the list and supporting content are reviewed roughly every quarter. All data is sourced from Stake. This list isn't a recommendation and isn't ordered by suitability.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Source: Stake market data. Figures in A$. Data updated as of 24 August 2026.

✅ Learn more: Top 10 Vanguard ETFs in Australia to watch in 2026→

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1. Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF ($VHY)

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (VHY) share price over the last year: started at A$78.84, ended at A$85.22, a change of +8.1%. Range over the period: high A$87.31, low A$76.01. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $85.22 · Daily: 0.2% · AUM: $8.04B · MER: 0.25%

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF ($VHY) is designed to track the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index. That index is built from the FTSE Australia 200 Index – a market capitalisation-weighted universe of ordinary and preferred equity securities listed on the ASX – but with a dividend-yield filter applied. Only companies with above-average forecast dividend yields relative to others in that universe are included.

A-REITs are excluded from the eligible universe entirely. So $VHY concentrates on operating companies across the ASX, outside the property trust sector. The index selects on forecast income rather than market size, giving it a different composition from a plain broad-market fund.

2. State Street SPDR MSCI Aus Sel High Div Yld ETF ($SYI)

State Street SPDR MSCI Aus Sel High Div Yld ETF (SYI) share price over the last year: started at A$30.44, ended at A$31.29, a change of +2.8%. Range over the period: high A$31.90, low A$28.85. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $31.29 · Daily: -0.3% · AUM: $718.2M · MER: 0.20%

The State Street SPDR MSCI Aus Sel High Div Yld ETF ($SYI) aims to closely track the MSCI Australia Select High Dividend Yield Index, before fees and expenses. That index is designed to reflect listed Australian companies with relatively high dividend income and quality characteristics. The quality filter means the index looks beyond headline yield when selecting companies.

The index methodology also targets companies with the potential for franked dividend income. Companies can attach franking credits to dividends when they've already paid tax at company level. That screen shapes which Australian equities end up in the State Street SPDR MSCI Aus Sel High Div Yld ETF ($SYI) portfolio.

3. Betashares Australian Top 20 Eqs Yld Max Cmpx ETF ($YMAX)

Betashares Australian Top 20 Eqs Yld Max Cmpx ETF (YMAX) share price over the last year: started at A$7.89, ended at A$7.41, a change of −6.1%. Range over the period: high A$7.92, low A$7.24. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $7.41 · Daily: 0.0% · AUM: $679.0M · MER: 0.64%

Betashares Australian Top 20 Eqs Yld Max Cmpx ETF ($YMAX) holds the 20 equities that make up the Solactive Australia 20 Index – a group of blue-chip Australian names. On top of that equity portfolio, the fund writes call options against those same holdings, a strategy often called covered calls.

Writing call options generates additional income from option premiums, but it also caps how much the portfolio can gain if share prices rise sharply. The structure aims to produce regular income and reduced return volatility, though the trade-off is a limit on upside participation. The MER is 0.64%.

4. State Street SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property ETF ($SLF)

State Street SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property ETF (SLF) share price over the last year: started at A$14.68, ended at A$11.98, a change of −18.4%. Range over the period: high A$14.79, low A$11.34. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $11.98 · Daily: 0.0% · AUM: $466.3M · MER: 0.16%

State Street SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property ETF ($SLF) is the only fund on this list built entirely around Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts, or A-REITs. It aims to match the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index – a sub-index of the broader S&P/ASX 200 that covers listed property trusts classified as A-REITs under the Global Industry Classification Standard.

Because the index is a property-specific carve-out of the S&P/ASX 200, $SLF holds a narrower slice of the market than a broad Australian equity ETF would. That concentration means the fund's return profile is tied closely to the Australian listed property sector rather than the wider sharemarket.

5. iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opp ESG Screened ETF ($IHD)

iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opp ESG Screened ETF (IHD) share price over the last year: started at A$16.09, ended at A$17.06, a change of +6.0%. Range over the period: high A$17.79, low A$15.90. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $17.06 · Daily: 0.2% · AUM: $402.4M · MER: 0.23%

Fifty ASX-listed stocks form the index that iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opp ESG Screened ETF ($IHD) aims to track. The S&P/ASX Sustainability Screened Dividend Opportunities Index is designed to measure companies offering high dividend yields that also meet requirements for diversification, profitability and tradability. A sustainability screen adds another layer – stocks must also pass those considerations before qualifying for inclusion. $IHD holds the Australian equity securities that make up the index, keeping the portfolio focused on domestic equities.

6. Russell Inv High Dividend Australian Shares ETF ($RDV)

Russell Inv High Dividend Australian Shares ETF (RDV) share price over the last year: started at A$35.61, ended at A$34.52, a change of −3.1%. Range over the period: high A$35.88, low A$33.06. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $34.52 · Daily: -0.2% · AUM: $343.5M · MER: 0.34%

Russell Inv High Dividend Australian Shares ETF ($RDV) aims to match the total return of the Russell Australia High Dividend Index before costs and tax. The index weights its holdings toward companies expected to make high dividend payments, drawing from Australian shares and trusts listed on the ASX. Derivatives may be used to a limited extent to adjust exposure to the underlying securities.

7. Betashares Australian Dividend Harvester ETF ($HVST)

Betashares Australian Dividend Harvester ETF (HVST) share price over the last year: started at A$14.02, ended at A$13.53, a change of −3.5%. Range over the period: high A$14.21, low A$12.78. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $13.53 · Daily: 0.4% · AUM: $283.8M · MER: 0.72%

The fund's stated objective is to provide income from Australian shares – comprising dividends and franking credits – that exceeds the net income yield of the S&P/ASX 200 Index on an annual basis. Franking credits reflect corporate tax already paid at company level and form part of the income calculation alongside cash dividends. The portfolio is also designed to provide broad market exposure through a diversified range of Australian shares.

8. Global X S&P/ASX 200 High Dividend ETF ($ZYAU)

Global X S&P/ASX 200 High Dividend ETF (ZYAU) share price over the last year: started at A$9.74, ended at A$10.20, a change of +4.7%. Range over the period: high A$10.64, low A$9.53. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $10.20 · Daily: -0.5% · AUM: $96.4M · MER: 0.24%

Global X S&P/ASX 200 High Dividend ETF ($ZYAU) aims to track the S&P/ASX 200 High Dividend Index, drawing its holdings from the broader S&P/ASX 200. Each constituent must carry a positive 12-month forecast dividend yield, and companies classified as real estate investment trusts (REITs) are excluded from the index. Stocks ranked in the bottom 10% by momentum value are also screened out. The index is denominated in AUD.

9. Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF ($ZYUS)

Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF (ZYUS) share price over the last year: started at A$15.17, ended at A$14.77, a change of −2.6%. Range over the period: high A$15.40, low A$13.62. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $14.77 · Daily: -0.3% · AUM: $72.5M · MER: 0.35%

The S&P 500 Low Volatility High Dividend Index is designed to hold 50 high-yielding companies from within the S&P 500, applying diversification, volatility and tradability requirements to each selection. Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF ($ZYUS) aims to track that index. At 50 stocks, the portfolio is more concentrated than a broad market U.S. fund.

The combined yield-and-volatility screen means the stocks the index holds can look quite different from the market-cap names that dominate the broader S&P 500. Because both requirements apply simultaneously, $ZYUS's sector mix can diverge from a standard market-cap weighted U.S. fund. Income criteria, rather than company size, drive which stocks from the S&P 500 make the cut.

10. Intelligent Investor Australian Eq Inc-Active ETF ($INIF)

Intelligent Investor Australian Eq Inc-Active ETF (INIF) share price over the last year: started at A$2.96, ended at A$2.85, a change of −3.7%. Range over the period: high A$3.11, low A$2.61. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: $2.85 · Daily: -0.3% · AUM: $67.1M · MER: 0.97%

Intelligent Investor Australian Eq Inc-Active ETF ($INIF) holds ASX and NZX-listed companies chosen through active management rather than by tracking a dividend index. The 'Inc' in its name points to an income focus, and the fund also carries some cash alongside its equity positions.

The fund's stated mandate is to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns over the medium to long-term while reducing the risk of permanent capital loss. Unlike a passive index fund, the portfolio isn't bound to any fixed set of constituents or weighting rules. The MER is 0.97%.

➡️ Top 9 ethical ETFs in Australia to watch in 2026→

Common questions

How do you invest in dividend ETFs in Australia?

You can buy individual high-dividend shares directly through a share trading platform, or hold them through a diversified fund. All ten funds in this article trade on the ASX, so you buy them the same way you'd buy a single stock – search the ticker, place an order, and it settles in two business days. The funds vary in approach: some track domestic high-dividend indices, one covers ASX-listed property trusts, one targets high-yielding U.S. companies, and one is actively managed.

What are the key risks of dividend ETFs?

Dividends aren't guaranteed – companies can cut or cancel payments during downturns, and a fund's distributions fall when that happens. High-dividend strategies often hold a narrower range of sectors than a broad market fund, which can make performance more sensitive to conditions in those areas. Funds using options overlays or active management carry additional complexity, and higher fees compound as a drag on returns over time. The one fund here tracking U.S. equities also carries exposure to movements between the Australian dollar and the U.S. dollar.

What's the difference between passive dividend ETFs and strategy-based ones?

Most funds in this list track a rules-based index, holding a basket of high-dividend stocks that rebalances mechanically when the index changes. The passive trackers here charge MERs between 0.16% and 0.35%. $YMAX takes a different route, pairing equity holdings with written call options – a technique that can generate extra income but may cap gains when markets rise sharply. $HVST uses a dividend harvesting approach aimed at capturing dividends and franking credits from Australian shares, and $INIF is actively managed by a portfolio team rather than following a published index. Those three funds charge MERs of 0.64%, 0.72% and 0.97% respectively.

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Disclaimer

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. When you invest, your capital is at risk. You should consider your own investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs before making an investment decision. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may receive back less than your original investment. As always, do your own research and consider seeking appropriate financial advice before investing.

This is not personal financial advice nor a recommendation to invest in the securities listed. Any advice provided by Stake is of general nature only and does not take into account your specific circumstances. Trading and volume data from the Stake investing platform is for reference purposes only, the investment choices of others may not be appropriate for your needs and is not a reliable indicator of performance.

Please refer to hellostake.com/pricing for the fees that apply. When you trade securities priced in another currency, currency conversion fees may apply and movements in the exchange rate may affect your returns.

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