Generated August 29, 2026.
Overview
FTEC and SCHG are both low-cost equity ETFs that track U.S. large-cap indexes, but they slice the market along different dimensions. FTEC captures the information technology sector across all large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks using a modified market-cap-weighted approach. SCHG targets large-cap growth stocks across all sectors using the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index. The distinction matters: FTEC is a sector play, while SCHG is a style play spanning the entire market.
How they differ
FTEC's primary exposure is to technology as a sector—it holds companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia alongside smaller tech names. SCHG casts a broader net across sectors but filters for growth characteristics; its top holdings include tech stocks but also health care and industrial companies classified as growth. The sector concentration difference is fundamental: technology represents roughly one-third of the S&P 500, while SCHG's growth filter spreads exposure across many industries.
FTEC's higher beta of 1.46 versus SCHG's 1.21 reflects this concentration—technology stocks tend to swing harder than the broader market. Both have minimal yields (0.40% and 0.38%) because growth stocks prioritize capital appreciation over dividends. Expense ratios are nearly identical (0.08% vs. 0.04%), though SCHG's $62.4B in assets dwarfs FTEC's $21.3B, a scale advantage that may provide tighter trading spreads. Inception dates differ by roughly four years, with SCHG arriving in 2009 and FTEC in 2013, giving SCHG a longer performance history.
Who each is best for
FTEC: Fits investors who believe U.S. technology fundamentals are strong and want pure-play sector exposure without dilution from non-tech growth stocks. Best suited to portfolios that already own diversified equity and want to overweight a specific sector conviction.
SCHG: Fits investors seeking large-cap growth exposure across the entire market without sector concentration. Designed for those who value broad style-based diversification and lower volatility than a sector-focused approach.
Key risks to know
- Sector concentration in FTEC. Technology stocks are correlated; a sector-wide downturn in valuations, regulation, or earnings will affect all holdings simultaneously. SCHG's multi-sector growth filter provides more dispersion of risk.
- Higher volatility in FTEC. A beta of 1.46 means FTEC will amplify market swings roughly 46% more than the broad market. Investors with lower risk tolerance will experience larger drawdowns during equity sell-offs.
- Growth-style drawdown risk. Both funds are growth-oriented and underperform during value rallies and rising-rate environments. Neither fund includes value anchors to cushion those periods.
- Technology earnings sensitivity. FTEC's portfolio depends heavily on tech profit margins and capital expenditure cycles. Economic slowdowns or margin compression hit technology stocks harder than the broader market.
Bottom line
If you're building a concentrated sector bet on technology, FTEC offers pure, low-cost exposure with a higher volatility profile. If you prefer growth exposure with diversification across multiple industries, SCHG accomplishes that with a lower expense ratio and gentler beta. Past performance does not predict future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.