KNG ETF — FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF

FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF (KNG)

Updated October 2, 2026.

KNG is an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index. its distribution rate is 8.58%, its trailing-12-month yield is 8.73%, its expense ratio is 0.74%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 91/100 (Safe). Total return is 96.8% over the past 8.5 years, 15.6 points behind NOBL at 112.4%.

At the current 8.58% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $858 per year, or $71.50 per month.

KNG performance versus NOBL

Price and return data through 2026-10-02.

Total return is 96.8% over the past 8.5 years, 15.6 points behind NOBL at 112.4%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 6.2%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 8.6%.

KNG key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

91 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

7.81%

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

03/26/2018

Expense ratio

0.74%

Distribution rate

8.58%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

8.73%

Last close

$48.20 (as of 2026-10-02)

AUM

$3,253,560,775

Average volume

245852.0

Last dividend

$0.3447

Last ex-dividend date

09/24/2026

Last payment date

09/30/2026 (as of 2026-09-30)

Beta

0.53

P/E ratio

21.4698

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (8.58%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (8.73%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: First Trust or company page; Index: S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

KNG risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed NOBL over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 8.6%.

Who may consider KNG — and who may not

KNG may suit someone looking for a high Distribution Safety Score. It is a weaker fit for investors whose main goal is matching NOBL total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Frequently asked questions

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