At a glance
INEQ charges 0.45% a year, above the 0.24% average of the 6 funds most like it (the 6th cheapest of 7). It has $102.5M in assets, the 7th largest of that group; it paid 10.19% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +14.0% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 4th of those 7 funds. Its ten largest positions make up 39.6% of the fund, out of 100 in all.
The short version
Columbia International Equity Income ETF (INEQ) is an actively managed fund. It holds about 100 dividend-paying large and mid-size companies in developed markets outside the US, picked by a rules-based screen. It charges 0.45% a year, above the 0.24% average of the funds it was compared with. Its trailing 12-month yield was 10.19% as of October 27, 2026, and its payouts can vary widely.
Price history
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INEQ +14.0% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INEQ official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +38.55% | — | +13.10% | — | +9.53% |
| MSCIEAFE Value Index Net index, same period | — | +42.25% | — | +13.36% | — | +9.55% |
| INEQ price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +8.3% | +14.0% | — | — | — | +16.8% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, INEQ returned +14.0%, 4th of 7 among similar funds.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2025 (+39.9%); its best was 2025 (+39.9%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 14.4% (Mar 19, 2025 to Apr 8, 2025), recovered by May 12, 2025.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +8.3% | — |
| 2025 | +39.9% | +38.55% |
| 2024 | — | +5.79% |
| 2023 | — | +21.09% |
| 2022 | — | -5.41% |
| 2021 | — | +10.22% |
| 2020 | — | -1.22% |
| 2019 | — | +15.52% |
| 2018 | — | -15.42% |
| 2017 | — | +24.69% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Not in the price data, which starts Jun 3, 2024 |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Not in the price data, which starts Jun 3, 2024 |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.9800 | |
| 2025 | $3.6400 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 100 securities; the ten largest made up 39.56% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| DBS Group Holdings Ltd | 4.84% | |
| UniCredit SpA | 4.79% | |
| Shell PLC | 4.61% | |
| BHP Group Ltd | 4.23% | |
| TotalEnergies SE | 4.15% | |
| Deutsche Telekom AG | 4.13% | |
| Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | 3.41% | |
| Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG in Muenchen | 3.27% | |
| NatWest Group PLC | 3.17% | |
| Vinci SA | 2.97% | |
| Deutsche Post AG | 2.60% | |
| Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | 2.30% | |
| Standard Chartered PLC | 2.25% | |
| KDDI Corp | 2.22% | |
| Hoya Corp | 2.21% |
By country
Japan 26.73%Germany 14.89%United Kingdom 13.8%France 9.47%Australia 8.18%By asset type
Stocks 99.43%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors added a net $19.7M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +1.28%, -3.50%, +6.97%.
How it works
INEQ does not track an index. Its manager, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, part of Ameriprise Financial, keeps at least 80% of net assets in dividend-paying stocks. It mainly buys common stocks and depositary receipts, which are certificates that stand for shares of a foreign company. The focus is large and mid-size companies in developed markets worth more than $2 billion, spread across at least three countries other than the US.
The screen scores companies on dividend yield, dividend growth and cash-based dividend coverage, which measures how easily a company's cash covers its payout. Each company is compared with others in its own sector and region. The result is usually 100 stocks, weighted by company size. As of July 31, 2026, the largest were DBS Group (4.8%), UniCredit (4.8%), Shell (4.6%) and BHP (4.2%). The top 10 made up about 40%.
The rules are re-run every quarter. Between updates, a stock may be sold if its issuer goes bankrupt or its forward dividend yield drops below 1%. The manager decides whether to replace it. Portfolio turnover was 139%, which can add trading costs and taxable gains. The fund may lean toward Europe, Japan, financials and industrials. Japan made up 26.7% of assets as of July 31, 2026, and the fund held no derivatives.
What it really costs
- INEQ charges 0.45% a year, versus an average of 0.24% for the similar funds below (6th of 7, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $46 in the first year and $567 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INEQ | $46 | $144 | $252 | $567 |
In a retirement portfolio
It adds dividend-paying stocks from developed markets outside the US, such as Japan, Germany and the UK, to a portfolio that may lean on US stocks.
INEQ pays quarterly. Its trailing 12-month yield was 10.19% ($4.01 a share) as of October 27, 2026. Payouts depend on what the fund earns and realizes, so that level may not repeat. Under the SEC's standard example, $10,000 would cost $46 in fees in the first year and $567 over 10 years.
The fund launched in 2016, so it has no 2008 record. It lost 15.42% in 2018, its weakest calendar year. It fell 26.82% in the first quarter of 2020 but ended that year down only 1.22%. It lost 5.41% in 2022. In price data since June 2024, its deepest drop was 14.4%, from March 19 to April 8, 2025. It recovered by May 12. Anyone forced to sell in a slump like early 2020 would have locked in losses. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting dividend-paying stocks outside the US, led by Japan, Germany and the UK as of July 31, 2026.
- Income-focused holders comfortable with quarterly payouts that vary; the trailing 12-month yield was 10.19% as of October 27, 2026.
- Investors who prefer a rules-based dividend screen run by a manager over a broad index fund like EFA or IEFA.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-conscious investors: INEQ charges 0.45% a year, against 0.07% for IEFA and 0.11% for DIVI.
- Taxable-account investors who want low trading; INEQ's 139% turnover can bring extra costs and taxable gains.
- Those who prefer a large fund; INEQ held about $102 million as of July 31, 2026, the smallest in its comparison group.
Close alternatives
Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INEQ this fund | — | 0.45% | $102.5M | +14.0% | — |
| JIRE JPMorgan International Research Enhanced Eq… · different strategy | 14% | 0.24% | $11.18B | +11.6% | +19.5% |
| EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF · different strategy | 12% | 0.32% | $77.98B | +13.5% | +18.2% |
| DIVI Franklin International Core Dividend Tilt I… · different strategy | 12% | 0.11% | $2.56B | +15.4% | +21.6% |
| IDV iShares International Select Dividend ETF · different strategy | 11% | 0.49% | $8.45B | +19.5% | +27.1% |
| IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF · different strategy | 10% | 0.07% | $190.11B | +13.7% | +18.5% |
| DFAI Dimensional International Core Equity Marke… · different strategy | 10% | 0.18% | $17.47B | +16.2% | +19.9% |
Questions investors ask
Is INEQ good for retirement income?
It can provide income, but not a steady paycheck. INEQ pays quarterly, and its trailing 12-month yield was 10.19% ($4.01 a share) as of October 27, 2026. The prospectus warns that payouts depend on the income and gains the fund earns, so that figure may not repeat. The share price also swings with foreign stocks. The fund lost 15.42% in 2018. It may suit investors who use it as one part of a broader mix.
Does INEQ pay monthly dividends?
No. INEQ pays distributions quarterly, not monthly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $4.01 a share, a trailing yield of 10.19%. The size of each payment changes with the dividends the fund collects from its roughly 100 foreign stocks, minus expenses, plus any capital gains it realizes. Investors who want monthly cash may need to set aside money between payments or hold other funds.
What's the difference between INEQ and IDV?
Both hold international dividend stocks, but they use different strategies and share only about 11% of holdings. INEQ is actively managed. It screens for yield, dividend growth and dividend coverage, then weights about 100 stocks by company size. IDV, the iShares International Select Dividend ETF, charges 0.49% to INEQ's 0.45% and is far larger, at about $8.4 billion versus $102 million. Over one year to October 27, 2026, IDV returned 19.5% and INEQ 14%.
What does INEQ invest in?
INEQ holds about 100 dividend-paying large and mid-size companies in developed markets outside the US. As of July 31, 2026, its largest holdings were DBS Group, UniCredit, Shell, BHP, TotalEnergies and Deutsche Telekom, each about 4% to 5% of assets. Japan made up 26.7% of the fund, Germany 14.9%, the UK 13.8%, France 9.5%, Australia 8.2% and Singapore 6%. Stocks made up 99.4% of assets, with no derivatives.
How has INEQ performed compared with its benchmark?
It has slightly lagged its benchmark, the MSCI EAFE Value Index (Net). As of December 31, 2025, INEQ returned 38.55% over one year, against 42.25% for the index. Over five years it averaged 13.10% a year, against 13.36%. Since its 2016 launch it averaged 9.53% a year, against 9.55%. Calendar years have been uneven, from a 15.42% loss in 2018 to a 38.55% gain in 2025.