Get Indexology® Blog updates via email.


CONTRIBUTOR
Contributor Image
george-valantasis

George Valantasis

Director, Factors and Dividends, S&P Dow Jones Indices

George Valantasis is Director, Factors and Dividends at S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI). He focuses on alternate beta strategies, including factor-based indices, dividends and volatility, as well as quantitative, thematic and asset-allocation strategies. In his role, George works closely with the Sales, Marketing and Global Research & Design departments to bring new ideas to market.
Full Bio
Aug 18, 2026

Targeting the Drivers of Dividend Strength: A First Look at the S&P 500 Dividend Drivers Index

S&P Dow Jones Indices is pleased to introduce the new S&P 500® Dividend Drivers Index, which offers a holistic approach to identifying dividend-paying companies within the S&P 500. Unlike traditional approaches that emphasize a single metric—such as high yield or dividend growth—the index focuses on the key drivers of dividend strength. It combines historical and…

READ

Aug 14, 2026

The S&P Developed Ex-North America Dividend Growers Index: Dividend Discipline, Defensive Characteristics and Outperformance

In November 2025, S&P DJI expanded its S&P Dividend Growers Index Series by launching the S&P Developed Ex-North America Dividend Growers Index. Like its counterparts, the index focuses on companies with a consistent history of dividend payments, while excluding those with the highest yields to help reduce the risk of yield traps.1 Over the back-tested…

READ

Jul 30, 2026

S&P 500 Quality Index: Why Outperformance Is Only Half the Story

While headline returns often steal the spotlight, the path to those returns can be equally important—especially for those seeking to weather the market’s ups and downs over the long term. This underscores what makes the S&P 500® Quality Index particularly interesting: it hasn’t just outperformed the S&P 500 over the long term, but it has…

READ

Jul 13, 2026

A Three-Year Milestone: Revisiting the S&P 500 Sector-Neutral Dividend Aristocrats Index

In June 2023, S&P DJI expanded the S&P Dividend Aristocrats® Series with the launch of the S&P 500® Sector-Neutral Dividend Aristocrats Index. The addition proved timely, as over the past three years, the technology-driven Information Technology and Communication Services sectors have fueled much of the S&P 500’s significant gains amid the rise of AI. While…

READ

May 14, 2026

Forecasting Tomorrow’s Dividends: Introducing the S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Growth Index

Introduction As an industry leader in dividend index development, S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) is committed to launching new and innovative dividend indices across global markets. The newly launched S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Growth Index reflects this, representing the first application of the S&P Global Market Intelligence Dividend Forecasting Dataset within the S&P/TSX Composite…

READ

Feb 3, 2026

The Momentum Factor: Continuing to Thrive beyond U.S. Borders

Last August, we published a blog highlighting the impressive H1 2025 performance of the S&P World Ex-U.S. Momentum Index compared to both its benchmark universe and the S&P 500®. This strong momentum persisted through the remainder of 2025, with the S&P World Ex-U.S. Momentum Index closing the year with an impressive 43.22% gain (see Exhibit…

READ

Dec 3, 2025

High Dividend Yield Meets Quality: Introducing the S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend Index

The recently launched S&P 500® Quality FCF High Dividend Index measures high-dividend stocks supported by strong free cash flow (FCF), offering an approach that blends income generation and financial resilience. Companies that consistently generate excess cash may be better equipped to sustain and grow dividends, even during periods of market stress. This focus on income…

READ

Oct 17, 2025

Examining the S&P 500 High Dividend Index amid Changes in Monetary Policy

Whether it’s the beginning of the school year or the drop in temperatures, September is often seen as a month of change. This year, there’s an additional factor reinforcing this idea: on Sept. 17, 2025, the U.S. Federal Reserve reduced the Fed Funds rate to 4.00%-4.25%, representing the first change in monetary policy since late…

READ

Aug 5, 2025

The Momentum Factor: Thriving beyond U.S. Borders

Many market participants have likely observed that the momentum factor has been among the top-performing equity styles in recent years. At the same time, a notable shift has occurred in regional performance: after years of underperformance, international developed equities are now outpacing U.S. equities—both YTD and over the past 12 months (see Exhibit 1).  By…

READ

Jun 2, 2025

One Year Live: The S&P 500 Economic Moat Index Outperforms Its Benchmark

Long before Warren Buffett popularized the term “economic moat” in his 1986 “Berkshire Hathaway Letter to Shareholders,”1 savvy investors have zealously sought out businesses with sustainable competitive advantages. On April 15, 2024, S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) took a pioneering step by introducing a purely systematic approach to identify and track companies possessing this…

READ


Get Indexology® Blog updates via email.

Indexology® Blog
Contributors

SEE ALL