If You Have $10,000: 3 Dividend ETFs Worth Buying Before September

When it comes to investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF), there's no fixed rule regarding how much money you need to get started. However, if you have $10,000 and are looking for a dividend-paying investment that can provide a steady income stream with potential growth, these three ETFs are worth a closer look.

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Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHD)

If you're seeking an index fund that homes in on companies with excellent records of paying and growing dividends, SCHD may be precisely what you're looking for. The ETF is a low-cost, passive fund that tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 index, providing exposure to roughly 100 high-quality U.S. dividend-paying stocks.

SCHD screens companies for at least 10 consecutive years of dividends, while also looking for strong fundamentals. With a 0.06% expense ratio and a recent 30-day dividend yield of 3.20%, SCHD is one of the most popular dividend ETFs available.

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSEMKT: VYM)

Another low-cost, passively managed ETF is VYM. VYM seeks to track the FTSE High Dividend Yield index, which consists of U.S. companies with above-average dividend yields. The ETF uses the full replication approach, holding nearly all stocks in its benchmark.

The fund holds roughly 604 stocks (primarily large-cap U.S. stocks) across multiple sectors, offering instant portfolio diversification. With an expense ratio of only 0.04% and a recent 30-day dividend yield of around 2.2%, VYM appeals to investors seeking broad diversified equity income for the long term.

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: DGRO)

DGRO seeks to replicate the performance of the Morningstar U.S. Dividend Growth index, which includes companies expected to grow their dividends over time. By primarily investing in large-cap stocks across diversified sectors -- such as Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson, and ExxonMobil -- the fund emphasizes quality and financial stability.

With around 390 holdings and a 0.08% expense ratio, the fund has a recent 30-day yield of 2.01%, paid quarterly.

Each of these funds offers something different, depending on what you're looking for. For example:

• SCHD is a quality dividend leader with excellent 2026 performance.
• VYM provides broad high-dividend exposure with solid gains.
• DGRO focuses on companies expected to increase dividends over time.

This has been a year of unprecedented ETF investment, and there are plenty of reasons why. Where else can you pay a low expense ratio for portfolio diversification and, as with these ETFs, earn a dividend?

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Dana George has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.