3 ASX ETFs to buy for passive income in December

If you're looking to boost your passive income this December, you don't need to pick individual dividend stocks.

A handful of ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) specialise in delivering steady distributions, broad diversification, and simple set-and-forget investing.

Here are three ASX ETFs worth considering for passive income this month:

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF is one of the most popular income ETFs on the ASX for a reason. It invests in a basket of Australian shares with some of the highest forecast dividend yields based on broker expectations. This typically includes large, well-established businesses such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC).

These blue chip names generate strong cash flows, have long histories of returning capital to shareholders, and tend to weather economic cycles better than smaller, more volatile companies. In addition, the fund's diversified approach helps reduce the risk of relying on any single sector.

For investors wanting a simple way to tap into the market's strongest dividend payers, this ASX ETF could be a natural starting point.

The fund typically trades with a dividend yield around 5%.

Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD)

The Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF also focuses on dividend-rich Australian shares but uses a different methodology. It targets the 50 highest-yielding companies in the S&P/ASX 300 Index after screening out potential dividend traps. That gives investors exposure to higher-than-average income while avoiding some of the risks associated with chasing yield blindly.

Holdings often include major banks, miners, energy producers, and established retailers such as ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). These are companies with strong underlying cash generation.

It currently trades with a 4.6% dividend yield.

Betashares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Complex ETF (ASX: UMAX)

Finally, the Betashares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Complex ETF takes a different approach to generating passive income.

Instead of relying solely on dividends, it boosts distributions through a covered-call strategy, which effectively exchanges some potential share price upside for higher ongoing income.

The fund is based on the S&P 500 Index, which is home to the 500 largest stocks in the United States.

Because the ETF collects option premiums each month, this fund can offer significantly higher income than traditional dividend funds. For example, it currently trades with a trailing dividend yield of 5.3%.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to buy for passive income in December appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Fund. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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