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HDEF

Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF (HDEF)

Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:$36.00â–²(4.71% Upside)

HDEF, the Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF, earns a solid overall rating thanks to strong, diversified holdings like Novartis, TotalEnergies, Roche, and DBS Group, which combine solid financial performance, attractive dividends, and generally positive business outlooks. However, some holdings such as Allianz and Unilever show bearish or cautious technical signals and valuation concerns, and the fund’s sizable positions in a few large companies and sectors mean investors should be aware of concentration risk in major non-U.S. dividend payers.

Positive Factors
Strong Top Holdings PerformanceSeveral of the largest positions, including major energy and healthcare companies, have shown strong gains this year, supporting the ETF’s overall results.
Low Expense RatioThe fund charges a relatively low fee, which helps investors keep more of the returns generated by the portfolio.
Broad International DiversificationThe ETF spreads its investments across many countries in Europe and Asia, reducing the impact of problems in any single market.
Negative Factors
Concentrated Country ExposureA large share of the portfolio is invested in just a few countries like the UK and Switzerland, which increases sensitivity to economic or political issues there.
Heavy Sector TiltThe fund is heavily tilted toward general and consumer defensive sectors, which may limit gains if other areas of the market outperform.
Reliance on a Few Large PositionsTop holdings such as Shell, Roche, Novartis, Nestlé, and TotalEnergies make up a significant portion of the ETF, so any weakness in these companies could weigh on performance.

HDEF vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AUM
2.34B
Region
Developed Markets
Expense Ratio
0.09%
Beta
0.35
Issuer
Xtrackers
Inception Date
Aug 12, 2015
Dividend Yield
3.69%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield

HDEF Summary

HDEF is an ETF that follows the MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Index, focusing on companies in developed markets outside North America that pay relatively high dividends. It holds well-known international names like Shell, Nestlé, Novartis, and Unilever, giving investors broad exposure to sectors such as consumer goods, energy, and financials. Someone might invest in HDEF to seek regular income from dividends while diversifying beyond the U.S. market. A key risk is that international stock prices and dividend payments can go up and down with global markets and currency movements.

How much will it cost me?

HDEF has an expense ratio of 0.09%, which means you’ll pay about $0.90 per year for every $1,000 invested. This cost is lower than the average ETF because HDEF is passively managed, tracking an index rather than paying for a team to actively pick stocks.

What would affect this ETF?

HDEF could benefit if developed markets outside North America remain stable or grow, supporting steady profits and dividends from its large holdings in consumer staples, health care, and financial companies like Nestlé, Novartis, and Allianz, and if interest rates fall, making dividend income more attractive. On the negative side, slower economic growth in Europe or Asia, stricter regulations on energy and financial firms, or rising interest rates that make bonds more appealing than dividend stocks could weigh on the ETF’s future performance.

HDEF Top 10 Holdings

HDEF leans heavily on European blue chips, with energy and healthcare names doing most of the heavy lifting. TotalEnergies and Shell have been rising steadily, giving the fund a strong boost from the energy patch, while Roche and Novartis add a healthy dose of momentum from pharma. On the defensive side, consumer staples like Nestlé and Unilever have been more mixed, occasionally losing steam and softening overall returns. With broad exposure across developed markets outside North America, this ETF is essentially a high-dividend play on Europe’s corporate heavyweights.

HDEF top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
GB:SHELGB:SHELShell (UK)5.99%$140.64MGBP 229.30B40.01%73Outperform
RHHVFRHHVFRoche Holding AG――――73Outperform
CH:NOVNCH:NOVNNovartis AG5.10%$119.71MCHF 244.89B35.30%80Outperform
CH:NESNCH:NESNNestlé SA4.81%$112.88MCHF 217.87B9.36%71Outperform
DE:ALVDE:ALVAllianz4.32%$101.46MEUR 166.13B23.20%67Neutral
FR:TTEFR:TTETotalEnergies SE4.29%$100.75MEUR 190.70B59.27%78Outperform
ES:IBEES:IBEIberdrola3.56%$83.63MEUR 146.27B26.31%67Neutral
GB:ULVRGB:ULVRUnilever3.26%$76.53MGBP 104.93B-6.01%72Outperform
GB:BATSGB:BATSBritish American Tobacco2.85%$67.01MGBP 98.70B17.93%71Outperform

HDEF Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price34.38

Price Trends

50DMA33.37Positive
100DMA33.07Positive
200DMA32.36Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.32Negative
RSI67.51Neutral
STOCH77.95Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HDEF, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 34.38 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 33.35, above the 50-day MA of 33.37, and above the 200-day MA of 32.36, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.32 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 67.51 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 77.95 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for HDEF.

HDEF Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

HDEF against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
HDEFHDEF$34.38$36.00(4.71% Upside)$2.34B0.09%67Neutral
IDVIDV$42.74$47.84(11.92% Upside)$8.32B0.50%59Neutral
DIVIDIVI$42.37$50.80(19.89% Upside)$2.65B0.09%66Neutral
FGDFGD$33.66$36.48(8.37% Upside)$1.60B0.55%58Neutral
DTHDTH$55.70$61.96(11.24% Upside)$635.86M0.58%61Neutral
EFASEFAS$22.30$24.67(10.62% Upside)$60.56M0.55%56Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%30%HDEFIDVDIVIFGDDTHEFASDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
HDEF and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
HDEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF34.386.1421.72%
IDViShares International Select Dividend ETF42.747.3920.90%
DIVIFranklin LibertyQ International Equity Hedged ETF42.375.9316.29%
FGDFirst Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund33.666.2322.70%
DTHWisdomTree International High Dividend Fund55.708.9619.17%
EFASGlobal X MSCI SuperDividend EAFE ETF22.304.6826.58%
Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer

This AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.