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ETF Comparison

DGRW vs SCHD: Dividend-Growth Quality, or a Dividend-Quality Screen?

A head-to-head of WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity covering how each screen is built.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • DGRWInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
  • SCHDInvestors who want higher current income (3.26% vs 2.08% for DGRW).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

DGRW has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 11.56% total return against 23.02%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — DGRW has compounded at 13.99% a year, ahead of SCHD at 12.55%. 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.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince May 2013Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
DGRW10.35%11.56%17.46%12.45%13.99%13.01%12.6%0.931.35-16.2%
SCHD20.89%23.02%15.99%9.29%12.55%11.88%13.2%0.791.15-16.1%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since May 2013” measures every fund from May 22, 2013 — the start of shared available history — 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.
MetricDGRWSCHD
Full nameWisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth FundSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
IssuerWisdomTreeSchwab
Underlying indexBasket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks)Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
Last Close$98.16 as of October 2, 2026$32.72 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate2.08%3.26%
Trailing 12-month yield1.21%3.22%
Distribution Safety Score™ 85100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.77%3.26%
Expense ratio0.28%0.06%
AUM$17.1B$110B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Index, a fundamentally weighted index of dividend-paying U.S. common stocks with growth characteristics.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 date05/22/201310/20/2011
Beta0.820.56
Last dividend$0.17$0.2665
Ex-dividend date09/25/202609/23/2026

Bottom lineChoose DGRW if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose SCHD if you want higher current income (3.26% vs 2.08% for DGRW).

Dividend-growth quality versus a dividend-quality screen

DGRW screens for quality and dividend growth. SCHD screens for quality plus dividend yield. Overlap is not identity.

DGRWSCHD
ScreenQuality dividend growersQuality dividend payers
Expense ratio0.28%0.06%
Distribution rate2.08%3.26%
Fund size$17.1B$110B
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Income calculator

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

WisdomTree
ETFs94
Total AUM$102B

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

WisdomTree is known for developing thematic and factor-based ETFs that go beyond traditional market-cap weighting approaches. The issuer maintains a broad lineup spanning dividend and income strategies, international equities, commodities, bonds, digital assets, and specialized thematic areas like megatrends and alternatives. WisdomTree's diverse fund family appeals to investors seeking both traditional income exposure and more specialized strategies, with popular tickers across equity, fixed income, and alternative asset classes.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGRW.

See all WisdomTree ETFs
Schwab
ETFs33
Total AUM$612B

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

DGRW (WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund) and SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SCHD offers the higher yield at 3.26% vs 2.08% for DGRW. 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 0.28%.

They have different reference exposures: DGRW is linked to Basket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks) while SCHD is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($110B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DGRW would generate roughly $17.33 cash per distribution, while SCHD would produce $81.50 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.

DGRW yield2.08%
SCHD yield3.26%
Cash diff on $10K$64.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DGRW would cost approximately $280 in fees vs $60 for SCHD (simplified, not compounded). The $220.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DGRW ER0.28%
SCHD ER0.06%

Strategy & risk

DGRW tracks Basket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks), while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. Beta is 0.82 for DGRW and 0.56 for SCHD, making SCHD the less volatile of the two by this measure.

DGRW beta0.82
SCHD beta0.56

Fund details

DGRW is managed by WisdomTree (launched 05/22/2013) with $17.1B in assets. SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $110B in assets.

DGRW AUM$17.1B
SCHD AUM$110B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DGRW and SCHD?

DGRW (WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund) screens US stocks for quality and dividend growth. SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) screens for quality plus dividend yield. Both are equity dividend funds; the screen differs. Cost is 0.28% versus 0.06%; size is $17.1B versus $110B. Distributions are 2.08% and 3.26% as of October 2026. Screen design, not a one-date yield, is the split.

What is the current distribution rate for DGRW and SCHD?

DGRW currently distributes 2.08% and SCHD 3.26%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is DGRW 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.

Can I hold both DGRW 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 DGRW 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 — SCHD scores 100, DGRW scores 85, so SCHD's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. SCHD has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.56 vs 0.82 for DGRW). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, DGRW or SCHD?

DGRW has an expense ratio of 0.28% 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 DGRW vs SCHD generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in DGRW would generate roughly $17.33 cash per distribution ($208.00 annually). The same in SCHD would produce about $81.50 cash per distribution ($326.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, DGRW or SCHD?

DGRW has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 11.56% total return against 23.02%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — DGRW has compounded at 13.99% a year, ahead of SCHD at 12.55%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

DGRW vs SCHD — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

DGRW and SCHD are both dividend-focused U.S. equity ETFs, but they target different corners of the dividend market. DGRW emphasizes stocks with growth characteristics alongside dividends, using a fundamentally weighted index and delivering monthly payouts. SCHD targets high-yielding, established dividend payers with consistent payout histories, tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index and distributing quarterly. The key distinction is growth tilt versus income purity: DGRW blends dividend yield with capital appreciation potential, while SCHD prioritizes the highest-yielding, most-stable dividend stocks.

How they differ

SCHD yields 3.26%, nearly 1.2 percentage points higher than DGRW's 2.08%, reflecting SCHD's focus on maximum current income. SCHD also carries a much lower expense ratio—0.06% versus 0.28%—a gap of 0.22% that compounds over time, especially for buy-and-hold investors. DGRW has a higher beta of 0.82 compared to SCHD's 0.56, suggesting DGRW responds more sharply to broad market moves, consistent with its growth tilt. SCHD's asset base is substantially larger at $110B versus $17.1B, though both are sizable.

Who each is best for

DGRW: Fits investors seeking a blend of current income and long-term capital appreciation, comfortable with moderate market sensitivity and willing to accept a higher expense ratio in exchange for growth-oriented dividend stocks and monthly income frequency.

SCHD: Fits income-focused investors prioritizing the highest current yield and minimal drag from fees, who value stability and established payout histories over growth, and prefer quarterly distributions and lower portfolio turnover.

Key risks to know

  • Dividend sustainability and yield pressure. SCHD's high yield (3.26%) leaves less room for dividend growth and may indicate limited upside if yields compress; DGRW's lower yield offers more cushion for rising payouts but also less immediate income.
  • Beta and drawdown magnitude. DGRW's 0.82 versus SCHD's 0.56 means DGRW will likely fall further and recover slower in market downturns, a material consideration for income-dependent investors who may need to sell at adverse prices.
  • Selection methodology risk. DGRW's fundamentally weighted approach and growth filter differ materially from SCHD's Dow Jones dividend-ranking method; the funds' holdings may diverge significantly, and either approach could underperform depending on what market conditions reward.
  • Dividend concentration. Both funds hold U.S. dividend stocks, and their performance is highly sensitive to sector rotation (energy, financials, utilities) and the tax treatment of dividends; a sustained shift in dividend-friendly policy could affect both simultaneously.

Bottom line

If you want maximum current income and cost efficiency from an established dividend universe, SCHD's 3.26% yield and 0.06% expense ratio are hard to match. If you're willing to sacrifice some immediate yield for growth exposure and monthly cash flow, DGRW's dividend-growth tilt and lower beta may appeal to longer time horizons. Neither fund is better or worse—the choice hinges on whether you prioritize income right now or balanced growth with inflation protection. 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.

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

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.