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ETF Comparison

DGRO vs SCHD: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

  • DGROInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
  • SCHDInvestors who want higher current income (2.93% vs 1.66% for DGRO).

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

DGRO has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.11% total return against 31.25%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — DGRO has compounded at 13.57% a year, ahead of SCHD at 12.97%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Jun 2014Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
DGRO15.19%23.11%18.31%11.04%13.57%12.65%11.8%1.061.53-14.0%
SCHD26.50%31.25%16.27%9.78%12.97%12.20%13.2%0.811.18-16.1%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jun 2014” measures every fund from June 12, 2014 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricDGROSCHD
Full nameiShares Core Dividend Growth ETFSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
IssueriSharesSchwab
Last Close$79.68 as of August 19, 2026$34.51 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield1.66%2.93%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Expense ratio0.08%0.06%
AUM$43.8B$109B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexMorningstar US Dividend Growth IndexDow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
ObjectiveSeeks to track the investment results of the Morningstar U.S. Dividend Growth Index, which measures the performance of U.S. equities with a history of consistently growing dividends. Companies must have a payout ratio less than 75% and are excluded if in the top decile based on dividend yield.Seeks to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which measures the performance of high dividend yielding stocks issued by U.S. companies with a record of consistently paying dividends, selected for fundamental strength relative to their peers based on financial ratios.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date06/10/201410/20/2011
Beta0.670.56
Last dividend$0.3310$0.2525
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose DGRO if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose SCHD if you want higher current income (2.93% vs 1.66% for DGRO).

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Income calculator

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iShares
ETFs473
Total AUM$4710B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGRO.

See all iShares ETFs
Schwab
ETFs34
Total AUM$616B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Schwab is a major provider of low-cost, broad-based ETFs known for making investing accessible to individual investors through its discount brokerage platform. The issuer's fund lineup spans multiple categories including core index funds, dividend and income-focused strategies, factor-based approaches, international exposure, fixed income, and digital assets, with popular core holdings like SCHB (U.S. broad market) and SCHD (dividend appreciation) alongside more specialized thematic offerings. Schwab's ETF suite is characterized by its breadth across asset classes and investment styles, competitive expense ratios, and integration with its retail brokerage ecosystem.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHD.

See all Schwab ETFs

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Quick verdict

DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) and SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SCHD offers the higher yield at 2.93% vs 1.66% for DGRO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SCHD is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.06% compared to 0.08%.

They track different benchmarks: DGRO is linked to Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($109B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DGRO would generate roughly $13.83/month, while SCHD would produce $24.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

DGRO yield1.66%
SCHD yield2.93%
Monthly diff on $10K$10.58

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DGRO would cost approximately $80 in fees vs $60 for SCHD (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DGRO ER0.08%
SCHD ER0.06%

Strategy & risk

DGRO tracks Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index, while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. Beta is 0.67 for DGRO and 0.56 for SCHD, making SCHD the less volatile of the two by this measure.

DGRO beta0.67
SCHD beta0.56

Fund details

DGRO is managed by iShares (launched 06/10/2014) with $43.8B in assets. SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $109B in assets.

DGRO AUM$43.8B
SCHD AUM$109B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for DGRO and SCHD?

DGRO currently distributes 1.66% and SCHD 2.93%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is DGRO or SCHD better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SCHD currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between DGRO and SCHD?

DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) tracks Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index, while SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. They are issued by iShares and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both DGRO and SCHD?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is DGRO or SCHD safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: DGRO scores 100, SCHD scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, DGRO or SCHD?

DGRO has an expense ratio of 0.08% while SCHD charges 0.06%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in DGRO vs SCHD generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in DGRO would generate roughly $13.83 per month ($166.00 annually). The same in SCHD would produce about $24.42 per month ($293.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, DGRO or SCHD?

DGRO has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.11% total return against 31.25%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — DGRO has compounded at 13.57% a year, ahead of SCHD at 12.97%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

DGRO vs SCHD — at a glance

Generated August 16, 2026.

Overview

DGRO and SCHD are both large-cap U.S. dividend equity ETFs, but they target different ends of the dividend spectrum. DGRO tracks the Morningstar U.S. Dividend Growth Index, favoring companies with rising dividend histories and modest payout ratios (under 75%), while SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, emphasizing high current yields and financial strength. The result: DGRO leans toward slower-growing but safer dividend growers; SCHD tilts toward higher-yielding, more mature dividend payers.

How they differ

The biggest difference is yield: SCHD offers 2.93% versus DGRO's 1.66%, a gap driven by SCHD's focus on the highest-yielding 100 U.S. dividend stocks versus DGRO's broader, growth-oriented filter. DGRO's payout-ratio cap (under 75%) and exclusion of the top-decile yielders create a more conservative dividend-growth profile with lower current income but more room for future dividend increases. On structure and cost, SCHD has a slight edge: lower expense ratio (0.06% vs. 0.08%), triple the AUM ($109B vs. $43.8B), and a longer track record (inception October 2011 vs. June 2014). DGRO carries a higher beta (0.67 vs. 0.56), suggesting modest additional volatility relative to the broader market.

Who each is best for

DGRO: Fits investors prioritizing dividend growth over current yield, seeking exposure to companies building sustainable payout increases from a conservative capital-allocation base. Suits longer time horizons where reinvested dividend growth compounds meaningfully.

SCHD: Fits investors wanting immediate dividend income from a disciplined basket of high-yielding, financially sound dividend stocks. Suits portfolios where current cash flow matters alongside total return, or where dividend stability is the primary draw.

Key risks to know

  • Yield-compression risk for SCHD. A yield of 2.93% on a large-cap dividend stock basket leaves less room for price appreciation to deliver total return; if dividend growth stalls or yields compress, total return may lag growth-focused peers.
  • Dividend-cut risk in recession. Both funds hold mature companies with strong payout histories, but high payout ratios (especially in SCHD's 100-stock basket) mean recessions or earnings declines can force dividend cuts that erode NAV and income.
  • Overlapping holdings and sector concentration. Both track dividend-focused large-cap baskets and likely hold significant overlap in financials, utilities, and energy—the sectors that dominate high-dividend equity indexes. Holdings concentration in these cyclical sectors means both funds share sensitivity to interest-rate and commodity moves.
  • Beta differential suggests style drift. DGRO's higher beta (0.67) indicates it retains more growth tilt despite its dividend focus, while SCHD's lower beta (0.56) reflects a deeper value/income slant. Performance divergence may widen in growth-led or value-led markets.

Bottom line

SCHD delivers nearly double the current yield and marginally lower fees, fitting investors who need dividend income today from a large, established fund. DGRO prioritizes future dividend growth over today's payout, appealing to those who can reinvest and have a longer compounding horizon. Past performance doesn't predict future results; the choice hinges on whether immediate yield or dividend-growth potential aligns better with your cash-flow timeline.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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