Global dividends took a big hit in Q2, but U.S. dividend investors were spared the carnage

• Global dividends fell by $108B (-22%) to $382B in Q2, according to Janus Henderson's August Global Dividend Index report.
• This was the largest quarterly drop since 2009, when Janus began tracking changes in dividend payments of the world's largest 1,200 companies.
• That said, in North America dividends barely moved (+0.1% year-over-year) at $123B. 10% of all companies cut or terminated dividends.
• By region:
• North America: +0.1%. U.S. was down 0.1% and Canada was +4.1%
• U.K.: -54%
• Europe excluding the U.K.: -45%
• Japan: -4.2%
• Asia-Pacific excluding Japan: -11.8%
• Janus estimates full-year dividends will fall between 17% and 23%.
• This chart tells the story:

• The largest U.S. dividend ETFs by AUM are: VIG, VYM, SCHD, and DGRO.
• The largest non-U.S. dividend ETFs are: IDV, FNDC, and DLS.