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ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated August 14, 2026

Best for

  • DGROInvestors who want higher current income (1.66% vs 0.38% for SCHG).
  • SCHGInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricDGROSCHG
Full nameiShares Core Dividend Growth ETFSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
IssueriSharesSchwab
Last Close$79.83 as of August 14, 2026$35.79 as of August 14, 2026
Distribution yield1.66%0.38%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Expense ratio0.08%0.04%
AUM$43.4B$62.4B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexBasket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock)Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market 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 the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, holding the components ranked 1-750 by full market capitalization that are classified as growth.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date06/10/201412/11/2009
Beta0.671.21
Last dividend$0.3310$0.0340
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose DGRO if you want higher current income (1.66% vs 0.38% for SCHG). Choose SCHG if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

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Income calculator

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

iShares
ETFs473
Total AUM$4664B

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$605B

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 SCHG.

See all Schwab ETFs

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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 outpaced SCHG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.91% total return against 16.99%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHG has compounded at 18.57% a year, ahead of DGRO at 13.56%. DGRO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 11.8% against 19.5% for SCHG. 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
DGRO15.41%22.91%17.66%11.11%13.56%12.68%11.8%1.001.46-14.0%
SCHG10.37%16.99%24.45%13.97%18.57%16.75%19.5%0.901.28-23.4%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 14, 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.

Quick verdict

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

DGRO offers the higher yield at 1.66% vs 0.38% for SCHG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SCHG is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.04% compared to 0.08%.

They track different benchmarks: DGRO is linked to Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock) while SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHG is the larger fund by assets ($62.4B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose DGRO

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF

  • Want higher current income — DGRO yields 1.66% vs 0.38% for SCHG.
  • Want broad equity exposure.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.7 vs 1.2 for SCHG.

Choose SCHG

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF

  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.04% expense ratio vs 0.08% for DGRO.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DGRO would generate roughly $13.83/month, while SCHG would produce $3.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

DGRO yield1.66%
SCHG yield0.38%
Monthly diff on $10K$10.67

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DGRO would cost approximately $80 in fees vs $40 for SCHG (simplified, not compounded). The $40.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DGRO ER0.08%
SCHG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

DGRO tracks Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock), while SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index. Beta is 0.67 for DGRO and 1.21 for SCHG, indicating DGRO is less volatile relative to the market.

DGRO beta0.67
SCHG beta1.21

Fund details

DGRO is managed by iShares (launched 06/10/2014) with $43.4B in assets. SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $62.4B in assets.

DGRO AUM$43.4B
SCHG AUM$62.4B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for DGRO and SCHG?

DGRO currently distributes 1.66% and SCHG 0.38%, 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 SCHG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. DGRO 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 SCHG?

DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) tracks Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock), while SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index. They are issued by iShares and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both DGRO and SCHG?

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 SCHG 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, SCHG scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. DGRO has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.67 vs 1.21 for SCHG). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, DGRO or SCHG?

DGRO has an expense ratio of 0.08% while SCHG charges 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in DGRO would generate roughly $13.83 per month ($166.00 annually). The same in SCHG would produce about $3.17 per month ($38.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, DGRO or SCHG?

DGRO has outpaced SCHG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.91% total return against 16.99%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHG has compounded at 18.57% a year, ahead of DGRO at 13.56%. DGRO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 11.8% against 19.5% for SCHG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

DGRO vs SCHG — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

DGRO and SCHG are both large-cap growth equity ETFs, but they serve different income and valuation strategies. DGRO targets companies with sustained dividend growth histories and below-average yields, while SCHG tracks a broader large-cap growth index with minimal income focus. The funds differ fundamentally in dividend philosophy: DGRO intentionally screens for growing payouts; SCHG accepts whatever dividend yield its growth-stock constituents happen to generate.

How they differ

DGRO's defining filter is dividend growth history and payout discipline—companies must show consistent dividend increases and keep payout ratios under 75%, which excludes high-yield stocks. SCHG, by contrast, simply ranks large-cap companies by market cap and selects the top 750 classified as growth stocks, with no dividend requirements or screens.

This leads to a stark yield gap: DGRO distributes 1.66% annually versus SCHG's 0.38%, a four-fold difference. DGRO's lower beta of 0.67 suggests it's a less volatile subset of growth stocks, while SCHG's 1.21 beta indicates it moves more closely with broader market swings. SCHG is cheaper to own at 0.04% in expenses versus DGRO's 0.08%, though both are low-cost. SCHG holds a larger asset base at $62.4B compared to DGRO's $43.4B.

Who each is best for

DGRO: Fits investors seeking capital appreciation paired with a meaningful income stream from companies demonstrating pricing power and shareholder-friendly capital allocation. Appeals to those who believe dividend-growth stocks offer a reliable hedge against inflation and may underperform less during sharp downturns.

SCHG: Designed for growth-focused investors who prioritize total return over current income and are indifferent to dividend policy. Suits allocations requiring broad large-cap growth exposure with minimal overlap to dividend-focused holdings.

Key risks to know

  • Dividend growth screening may lag momentum. Companies selected for consistent payout growth often miss the fastest-expanding tech and software firms that reinvest earnings rather than pay dividends. DGRO's 0.67 beta hints at this—it may trail SCHG in bull markets where unprofitable-but-high-growth names surge.
  • Valuation and sector concentration. Both funds hold similar large-cap equity pools and likely share significant overlap in mega-cap tech holdings. If growth-stock valuations compress sharply, both would suffer, though SCHG's broader constituent base may offer slightly more diversification.
  • Lower yield in rising-rate environments. DGRO's 1.66% distribution yield offers less cushion against capital losses if interest rates rise and investors rotate toward fixed income, compared to higher-yielding alternatives.
  • Beta mismatch in market reversals. DGRO's below-market beta suggests it may lag in strong bull markets but could cushion downturns; SCHG's above-market beta means it amplifies both gains and losses relative to the broader market.

Bottom line

If you want current income alongside growth and prefer lower volatility, DGRO's dividend-growth screen and 0.67 beta offer a different profile; if you're building a pure growth position and want the lowest fees and broadest constituent set, SCHG's 0.04% expense ratio and larger AUM stand out. Both have had strong long-term track records, though past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How covered-call funds work How to read a fund's stats The covered-call opportunity cost

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