ETFs have been gaining traction in Singapore. In a market where many stocks already deliver solid dividends, we’ve identified five SGX-listed ETFs that pay out at least 5% yield.
This means you don’t have to pick individual stocks or worry about when to buy and sell—these ETFs offer instant diversification while delivering attractive income.
For consistency, we’ve used yield data from the SGX ETF Screener, focusing on the SGD share class where multiple currency options exist.
Below, we rank the five ETFs from the lowest to the highest yield.
#5 NikkoAM-StraitsTrading Asia ex Japan REIT ETF (CFA) – 5.61%
#4 Lion-Phillip S-REIT ETF (CLR) – 5.98%
#3 CSOP iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index ETF (SRT) – 6.02%
It’s no surprise that REIT ETFs dominate the top-yield list—by law, REITs distribute most of their rental income to investors.
| NikkoAM-StraitsTrading Asia ex Japan REIT ETF (CFA) | Lion-Phillip S-REIT ETF (CLR) | CSOP iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index ETF (SRT) | |
| Dividend Yield | 5.61% | 5.98% | 6.02% |
| Dividend Frequency | Quarterly | Semi-annual | Semi-annual |
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.6% | 0.5% to 0.8% |
| Top 10 Holdings | CLAR – 10.1% CICT – 10% Link REIT – 9.7% Embassy Office Parks REIT – 6.4% MIT – 5.3% KDCREIT – 5.3% MLT – 5% FCT – 3.7% MPACT – 3.6% Suntec REIT – 3% | CICT – 9.89% CLAR – 9.76% MPACT – 9.63% MLT – 9.61% MINT – 9.46% KDCREIT – 9.11% FCT – 8.15% KREIT – 5.66% CLAS – 3.18% PREIT – 3.14% | CICT -10.55% KDCREIT – 10.15% CLAR – 9.72% MINT – 9.23% MPACT -8.85% MLT – 8.65% FLT – 7.78% Suntec REIT – 7% FCT – 6.6% KREIT – 5.83% |
While their holdings are largely similar, the CFA ETF stands out for including foreign-listed REITs such as Link REIT and Embassy Office Parks REIT, whereas the other two focus solely on SGX-listed REITs.
If you want steady cash flow without picking individual REITs, these ETFs do the job. Yes, REIT prices have fallen in recent years, but with interest rates likely peaking, the worst may be behind us. And if your priority is income, temporary price swings matter less than avoiding permanent capital loss.
#2 Lion-OCBC Securities Singapore Low Carbon ETF (ESG) – 6.34%
Here’s an option that blends responsible investing with high yield. This ETF screens for companies with a lower carbon footprint and distributes dividends twice a year.
Top 10 holdings:
- Sea – 9.07%
- Singtel – 8.58%
- DBS – 7.47%
- Trip.com – 7.46%
- OCBC – 7.24%
- UOB – 7.2%
- SGX – 6.24%
- CICT – 5.18%
- ST Engineering 4.62%
- Grab – 3.91%
The yield is partly boosted by banks, which have paid special dividends and capital distributions recently. Excluding these one-off payouts, a yield above 6% may not be sustainable, but staying above 5% is more realistic—helped by the ETF’s 21% allocation to REITs, which can provide steady income support.
This ETF is also more diversified than the STI ETF—its constituents include overseas-listed companies headquartered in Singapore (e.g., Sea, Grab) and foreign firms like Trip.com.
#1 Lion-OCBC Securities APAC Financials Dividend Plus ETF (YLD) – 6.67%
Dividend investors love banks for their high payouts and profitability. This ETF holds the three Singapore banks plus large Asia-Pacific financial institutions. It’s a convenient way to own a basket of financial heavyweights across the region—sectors that are often “too big to fail.”
Top 10 holdings:
- DBS – 6.58%
- OCBC – 6.38%
- Mizuho Financial – 6.32%
- MS&AD Insurance – 5.81%
- UOB – 5.44%
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia – 5.16%
- KB Financial – 4.57%
- National Australia Bank – 4.48%
- China Construction Bank – 4.34%
- Westpac Banking – 4.31%
Building a Dividend Portfolio with ETFs
ETFs can deliver attractive yields without the effort of stock-picking. That said, buying all five here isn’t efficient due to overlapping holdings.
- For one-ETF exposure, the Lion-OCBC Securities Singapore Low Carbon ETF (ESG) offers the best mix of banks and REITs.
- For two-ETF pairing, consider the Lion-OCBC Securities APAC Financials Dividend Plus ETF (YLD) with one REIT ETF for balance.
I help investors design portfolios that generate income and long-term growth. If you’d like advice, you can reach me here.
