Investors looking for equity schemes with lower volatility and more tax-efficient way to receive pay outs

Aditya Birla Sun Life, UTI and ICICI Prudential and HDFC are among the asset managers that offer dividend yield funds. The new fund offer of Tata Mutual Dividend Yield is open for subscription

With the market recovery expected to be broad-based, fund managers believe dividend yield companies trading at attractive valuations could run up faster.

“Dividend yield fund will be a blend of value and stable growth companies. With value coming back in the reckoning globally we believe the dividend yield strategy will capitalize on the investment opportunities in that segment,” says Rahul Singh, Chief Investment Officer, Tata Mutual Fund. He said dividend yield schemes provide downside protection in uncertain times such as these.

The Nifty Dividend Opportunities 50 Total Returns Index (TRI) has outperformed the Nifty 50 TRI by an annualized 1.98% over a period of 14 years. While Nifty 50 TRI has returned an annualized 9.47% from October, 2007—just before the global financial crisis in 2008-09– to March 31, 2021 the Nifty Dividend Opportunities 50 TRI has delivered 11.45%. Over the past 10 years, the Nifty Dividend Opportunities 50 Price Return Index (PRI) has returned 106.93%, while the Nifty Dividend Opportunities 50 TRI, which also takes dividend into account has returned 170.33%.

Financial planners recommend this category to conservative investors with low-risk appetite

“Conservative investors who need low volatility and a regular income should opt for a systematic withdrawal plan which would lower their tax liability,” says Rupesh Bhansali, Head (Distribution), GEPL Capital.

Bhansali said that an investor can buy the growth option of such an equity mutual fund scheme.

After dividend income from stocks became taxable in the hands of the investors, those in the high tax bracket would pay 30% income tax on dividends received. On the other hand, if they invest in an equity mutual fund like a dividend yield scheme and withdraw after one year, they would pay only 10% capital gains tax.