If you're an owner of Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) units, then today is a good day for you for a couple of reasons.
The first is that thanks to a strong night of trade on Wall Street, the Australian share market is rebounding strongly today.
This has seen the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF unit price rise almost 1.5%.
The other reason to smile is that today is payday for unitholders, with the latest Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF dividend being paid to shareholders.
Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF dividend
Earlier this month, the operator of the ETF, Vanguard, announced that the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF would be paying unitholders a quarterly dividend of 145.0577 cents per unit.
This is an increase of almost 4.5 cents per unit over the prior corresponding period and equates to a yield of 1.7% at today's prices.
It also brings the total dividends paid over the last 12 months to approximately $6.30 per unit, which is the equivalent of a 7.5% yield.
Where next for the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF?
Given that the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF seeks to track the return of the S&P/ASX 300 Index before fees, expenses and tax, its future performance will depend entirely on how Australian shares perform over the next 12 months.
Unfortunately, this is incredibly difficult to predict in the current uncertain economic environment.
However, it is worth remembering that the Australian share market has provided strong returns for investors over the last few decades. And once it finds its legs again, the same is likely for the next few decades.
So, it could pay to be patient through the volatility.
