An STI ETF is an investment fund that attempts to imitate the STI’s performance. This is accomplished by investing in as many of the same companies that make up the STI as possible, while attempting to maintain similar weightings. As a result, if the STI increases OCBC’s weighting, individuals in charge of the STI ETF will increase their holdings in OCBC.
Which STI ETF is better?
Because it is the oldest and largest STI ETF, SPDR STI ETF (stock code: ES3) would be preferable. It was founded in 2002 and has $1.6 billion in assets under administration as of October 13, 2021.
Both ETFs, however, track the same index and are likely to perform similarly over time.
Is STI ETF a good investment?
Because it comprises a portfolio of firms that represent Singapore’s future economy, the STI ETF can be an excellent long-term investment. Investing in the STI ETF exposes you to some of Singapore’s most well-known corporations, such as DBS and SingTel.
Does STI ETF pay a dividend?
Yes, the STI ETF pays dividends, and the amount you get is proportional to the ownership of the underlying companies and your unitholding. The STI ETF’s average dividend yield is roughly 3 to 4%.
What exactly is STI stock?
The Straits Times Index (STI) is a capitalization-weighted stock market index that is widely considered as the benchmark index for the Singapore stock market. It monitors the performance of the top 30 Singapore Exchange-listed companies (SGX).
It is calculated jointly by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and the FTSE Group in addition to the SGX (FTSE).
Is the STI ETF a dividend payer?
Stocks in Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI) are regarded for paying a respectable dividend. The STI’s dividend yield is 3.60 percent as of November 30, 2021. Other indexes, such as the Hang Seng Index (HSI) in Hong Kong and the S&P 500 index in the United States, pay only 2.53 percent and 1.35 percent (as of 14 December 2021), respectively.
While the dividends paid by STI are appealing, they only represent half (or less) of the picture. This is because we aren’t looking at the index’s growth, or total returns, which include price appreciation. Again, the HSI and S&P 500 have increased 21.66 percent and 17.66 percent, respectively, during the last five years, compared to the STI’s 4.7 percent total return.
Investors Who Benefit From Dividend Investing
There are various ways we can employ to develop our portfolio when we begin our investing adventure. Dividend investment is a lucrative and vital way to create income for many people.
Individuals in retirement or partial retirement, for example, may require monthly income to cover their living expenditures. Others pursuing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) may wish to consider diversifying their assets to include income.
Another way to look about income investing is that only well-established corporations with stable cash flows can afford to pay out regular dividends. As a result, when market downturns occur, such businesses may be well positioned to weather the storm.
However, because of their nature, such businesses may not be at the growth stage of their development. This is one reason why STI businesses’ total returns may lag behind those of the Hang Seng Index or the S&P 500 Index.
Even The STI ETFs Do Not Pay The Same Dividend Yield
While the STI pays a 3.6 percent dividend yield, this does not guarantee that we would earn the same income if we invest in a STI ETF. This is because we must invest in either the SPDR STI ETF or the Nikko AM STI ETF, which are the two STI exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The dividend we receive will be different and should be slightly lower due to additional fees and tracking issues.
The distribution yield of the SPDR STI ETF, for example, is 2.61 percent (as at 14 December 2021). While Nikko AM STI ETF does not explicitly indicate this, it should be rather close.
Also see: SPDR STI ETF vs. Nikko AM STI ETF: What’s The Difference Between These Two SGX-Listed STI ETFs?
Stocks On The STI Pay Out Different Dividend Yields
The Straits Times Index (STI) is comprised of 30 of Singapore’s largest and most liquid stocks. As previously said, such businesses often have robust cash flows and can pay out regular dividends, although they may not be high-growth. In addition, the STI includes seven REITs, all of which are known for paying out reasonable payments on a regular basis.
It should also be self-evident that each of the STI’s 30 constituents will pay a distinct distribution yield. Below is a list of the dividends paid by the various stocks on the STI:
*Unless otherwise noted, dividend yield is based on SGX Stock Screener data.
** CapitalandInvest is a new company that has yet to declare its first dividend.
Best-Yield STI Stocks
The five best yielding STI equities, as shown in the table below, are mostly REITs. This isn’t surprising, given REITs’ proclivity for paying out high dividends. They easily outperform the STI’s overall rate of 3.6 percent.
The remaining STI stocks, with the exception of Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust, all saw their prices fall. DairyFarm International, in reality, has lost roughly a third of its worth. This is a cautionary lesson about not diversifying our investments, and it stands in stark contrast to the STI’s year-to-date total return of 10.4 percent (as at 30 November 2021).
Also see: A Complete Guide To Investing In Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI) ETFs
What exactly is the STI index ETF?
The Singapore Stock Exchange (STI) is a market capitalization weighted index that serves as a benchmark for the Singapore stock market. Both ETFs create a fund that invests in the index’s component equities in order to mirror it. The goal of the investment is to match the STI’s performance as closely as feasible.
What is the total number of stocks in the STI?
The Straits Times Index (STI) is a market capitalization-weighted index that follows the performance of the top 30 firms listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).
What are the components of STI?
The Straits Times Index (STI) is made up of the top 30 businesses on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) in terms of complete market capitalization that meet certain criteria, such as free float and liquidity.
The STI is calculated and published in real time, based on the most recent traded prices of index constituents and, when applicable, a real-time currency conversion rate. The issued share capital of index constituents and their corresponding Investability Weighting Factor (i.e. Free float percent) disclosed by FTSE Russell determine the weighting of index constituents.
How is the STI determined?
The STI calculates performance using a capitalization-weighted formula. That is to say, it takes the market value of each STI stock and compares it to the stock’s market share %.
Assume Stock A has a 15% weighting and Stock B has a 2% weighting (with both stocks being on the same index , of course). Because of its weight, changes in the value of Stock A will have a far greater impact on the total index than changes in the value of Stock B.
Are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) safer than stocks?
The gap between a stock and an ETF is comparable to that between a can of soup and an entire supermarket. When you buy a stock, you’re putting your money into a particular firm, such as Apple. When a firm does well, the stock price rises, and the value of your investment rises as well. When is it going to go down? Yipes! When you purchase an ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund), you are purchasing a collection of different stocks (or bonds, etc.). But, more importantly, an ETF is similar to investing in the entire market rather than picking specific “winners” and “losers.”
ETFs, which are the cornerstone of the successful passive investment method, have a few advantages. One advantage is that they can be bought and sold like stocks. Another advantage is that they are less risky than purchasing individual equities. It’s possible that one company’s fortunes can deteriorate, but it’s less likely that the worth of a group of companies will be as variable. It’s much safer to invest in a portfolio of several different types of ETFs, as you’ll still be investing in other areas of the market if one part of the market falls. ETFs also have lower fees than mutual funds and other actively traded products.
