International ETF investing has been a key theme so far in 2025, boosting portfolios significantly for numerous investors. Already, on a YTD basis, numerous such strategies have outperformed key domestic funds, offering diversification alongside those returns. One such strategy, the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG), has benefitted from some key trends entering 2025 and, potentially, entering 2026, as well.

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IDOG charges a 50 basis point fee. The international ETF tracks an equal-weighted index that looks at the five highest dividend-yielding firms from each of the ten GICS sectors. By equal-weighting the sectors, the fund avoids overweighting to traditional dividend-paying heavyweight sectors like financials and utilities.

That has helped the fund return 29.5% YTD, outperforming both its ETF Database Category and FactSet Segment averages in that time. Those averages come in at 26.3% and 21.6%, respectively, as of September 17. 

IDOG and 2025’s International ETF Surge

SS&C ALPS Advisors Head of Fund Sales and Strategy Paul Baiocchi recently joined VettaFi Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth to discuss how IDOG has spiked this year. According to Baiocchi, following sixteen years of domestic U.S. equities outperformance, investors are returning to neutral or even overweight foreign equities exposures. What’s more, the dollar dropping off had poised the year for an international ETF resurgence. 

That’s where IDOG comes in, amid more than $120 billion in net inflows into international ETF strategies. 

“What IDOG does is [avoid]concentration in any given sector, certainly in any one stock, and allows advisors who are looking to generate yield and have a cyclical value orientation in that developed ex-U.S. allocation to do so,” Baiocchi said.

Looking ahead, IDOG could make for a solid, appealing option for durable international equities performance. For those looking to diversify into that growing trend, the fund can appeal.

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