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 May 20, 2026

BlackRock

ETFs44

Total AUM$3107.6B

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

BlackRock is one of the world's largest asset managers and a major provider of ETFs across multiple investment strategies. The company's dividend-focused lineup emphasizes income-generating investments, with funds designed to deliver regular distributions to investors seeking yield. Their portfolio includes eight notable ETFs such as BALI (emerging markets income), DIVB (dividend equity), and DGRO (dividend growth), alongside complementary funds that span income, growth, and fixed-income strategies.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGRO.

See all BlackRock ETFs

Schwab

ETFs16

Total AUM$446.3B

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

Schwab is known for offering low-cost, broadly accessible ETFs designed for individual investors seeking simplicity and affordability. The company's focused lineup of two ETFs targets complementary investment strategies: SCHD emphasizes dividend income for conservative investors, while SCHG pursues growth opportunities for those seeking capital appreciation. Both funds reflect Schwab's commitment to minimizing fees and providing straightforward core portfolio holdings.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHD.

See all Schwab ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	DGRO	SCHD
Full name	iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Issuer	BlackRock	Schwab
Last Close	$73.79 as of May 20, 2026	$32.04 as of May 20, 2026
Distribution yield	1.90%	3.25%
Expense ratio	0.08%	0.06%
AUM	$39.6B	$91.1B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock)	Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
Objective	Seeks 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 class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	06/10/2014	10/20/2011
Beta	0.72	0.61
Last dividend	$0.33	$0.26
Ex-dividend date	03/17/2026	03/25/2026

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — no signup required.

Build a sample portfolio Forecast income

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

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 3.25% vs 1.90% 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 Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock) while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($91.1B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DGRO would generate roughly $15.83/month, while SCHD would produce $27.08/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

DGRO yield1.90%

SCHD yield3.25%

Monthly diff on $10K$11.25

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 Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock) with a basket approach, while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index using a basket strategy. Beta is 0.72 for DGRO and 0.61 for SCHD, indicating SCHD is less volatile relative to the market.

DGRO beta0.72

SCHD beta0.61

Fund details

DGRO is managed by BlackRock (launched 06/10/2014) with $39.6B in assets. SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $91.1B in assets.

DGRO AUM$39.6B

SCHD AUM$91.1B

Ready to act?

Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Frequently asked questions

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 Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock) with a basket strategy, while SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index with a basket approach. They are issued by BlackRock and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both DGRO and SCHD?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

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 $15.83 per month ($190.00 annually). The same in SCHD would produce about $27.08 per month ($325.00 annually).

More comparisons to explore

People also compare DGRO with

People also compare SCHD with

Popular comparisons

DGRO vs SCHD — at a glance

Generated April 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

DGRO and SCHD are both large-cap U.S. dividend ETFs, but they chase different versions of dividend investing. DGRO emphasizes dividend growth—stocks raising their payouts consistently—and screens out the highest-yielding names to avoid yield traps. SCHD targets dividend yield directly through the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on fundamentally sound high-payers regardless of growth trajectory. The result: SCHD yields 3.39% versus DGRO's 1.93%, but DGRO's lower beta (0.78 vs. 0.66) and growth tilt expose you to different return drivers.

How they differ

The core split is yield strategy. SCHD hunts for established high-dividend payers and screens for financial strength; DGRO excludes dividend stocks in the top yield decile (cutting out the ultra-high-yielders SCHD might own) and caps payout ratios at 75% to hunt for growers. That dividend yield gap—175 basis points—reflects this directly. SCHD's distribution rate of 3.39% versus DGRO's 1.93% means SCHD sends significantly more cash to your account each quarter, though whether that comes from earnings growth or capital drawdown matters for long-term returns. Both charge minimal fees (SCHD at 0.06%, DGRO at 0.08%), and SCHD holds $84.8 billion in AUM against DGRO's $37.5 billion, giving SCHD deeper liquidity. DGRO's beta of 0.78 suggests it's less volatile than the broad market; SCHD's 0.66 beta implies even tighter price swings, though the higher yield concentration in SCHD may introduce different downside risks than DGRO's growth orientation.

Who each is best for

* DGRO: Investors under 50 with a 15+ year horizon who want equity exposure through dividend growth but don't need maximum current income; comfortable with lower payouts because they're optimizing for total return and capital appreciation.

* SCHD: Retirees or near-retirees seeking a steady income stream from large-cap stocks; willing to accept lower capital-appreciation potential in exchange for quarterly cash; suited for taxable accounts where the higher distribution rate matters.

Key risks to know

* Yield sustainability. SCHD's 3.39% yield is robust but concentrates more heavily in sectors and stocks that may face margin pressure if rates stay elevated; dividend cuts cascade quickly from that income base.

* Growth versus value drag. DGRO's exclusion of high-yield names means it misses established dividend payers (like utilities or REITs) that dominate yield indexes; this can lag in value-tilted markets.

* Sector concentration. Both funds lean toward financials, healthcare, and consumer staples; neither diversifies into growth sectors, so both underperform in tech-led rallies.

* Rate sensitivity. SCHD's yield-focused approach means rising rates can pressure share prices if investors shift to bonds; DGRO's growth tilt offers some insulation.

Bottom line

If you're building wealth over decades and want dividends that grow faster than inflation, DGRO's lower yield and growth screen fit a compounding mindset. If you need quarterly income checks now and can accept slower capital gains, SCHD's 3.39% yield and financial-strength filters deliver more cash in hand. Past performance doesn't predict future results—tax efficiency, sector concentration, and interest-rate environment will all shape which works harder in your portfolio.

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