SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF

SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF (ADIV) is an actively managed fund from Guinness Atkinson Asset Management. It holds about 35 dividend-paying stocks tied to the Asia Pacific region, each at a similar weight, with Taiwan and China as its biggest countries. It looks for companies with long records of high returns that may raise dividends over time. Its 0.78% expense ratio is higher than the 0.62% average for similar funds.

• Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, ADIV returned +8.6%, 7th of 7 among similar funds.
• Its 5-year annualized return was +8.0%.
• Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-18.0%); its best was 2025 (+21.9%).
• The deepest fall in its price history was 31.6% (Jan 12, 2022 to Oct 31, 2022), recovered by Aug 23, 2024.

As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 36 securities; the ten largest made up 34.59% of assets.

• Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors added a net $5.6M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
• Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -3.19%, +3.53%, +8.04%.

ADIV does not track an index. Guinness Atkinson Asset Management picks the stocks using its own research into each company's business. At least 80% of net assets goes into dividend-paying stocks of companies economically tied to the Asia Pacific region. The fund spreads these across at least four countries, which can be developed or emerging markets. The prospectus names Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan as examples. Up to 20% can be invested outside the region, generally in the US or UK. Broadcom, at 3.02% of the fund as of June 30, 2026, is one such holding.

The manager looks for "dividend builders," meaning companies it expects to raise their dividends over time. One key test is a real (inflation-adjusted) cash flow return on investment of at least 8% in each of the last eight years. Not every holding has to pass it. The team also weighs valuation, debt compared with equity, dividend history and company size. Companies normally need a market value of at least $500 million.

The fund typically holds around 35 stocks at roughly equal weights, and the range can run from 25 to 75. As of June 30, 2026, it held 36, and no single stock was more than 4.61% of the fund. Portfolio turnover of 18.13% points to modest trading. Many holdings trade in foreign currencies, and the June 30, 2026 holdings report showed no currency hedges, so exchange-rate swings flow straight through to returns.

• ADIV charges 0.78% a year, versus an average of 0.62% for the similar funds below (6th of 7, cheapest first).
• Of that, 0.75% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
• The fee includes a 1.17% waiver from the adviser, which may end.
• Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $80 in the first year and $1,969 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).

It holds dividend-paying Asia Pacific stocks that differ from a typical US-heavy portfolio, but its price swings make it a supporting piece rather than a core one.

ADIV could add Asia Pacific stocks, which many US-focused portfolios own little of, plus quarterly income. Its trailing 12-month yield was 3.15% as of October 27, 2026. The fund costs 0.78% a year. In the SEC's standard $10,000 example, that comes to $80 in the first year and $1,969 over 10 years. Its record doesn't reach back to 2008, but the prospectus shows a worst quarter of -21.11% in early 2020. In the 2022 bear market, shares fell 29.8% from January 12 to October 12, 2022. They didn't recover until August 23, 2024, about 22 months later. The prospectus lists 2022 as the fund's worst calendar year, at -16.92%. Someone selling shares to cover spending in a year like that would lock in losses. Past results don't predict future ones, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.

Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).