ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 15, 2026

First Trust

ETFs306

Total AUM$271B

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

First Trust operates a broad multi-strategy ETF platform with 50 funds spanning allocation, income, alternatives, and thematic investing. The issuer focuses heavily on specialized income strategies, including dividend funds, covered call strategies (Buffer series), and sector-specific income plays, alongside factor-based and alternative investments. Notable tickers like FDN (tech), FAN (clean energy), and the Buffer series (BUFD, BUFQ, BUFR) reflect the issuer's emphasis on income generation and downside protection strategies across diverse market segments.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on FVD.

See all First Trust ETFs

Schwab

ETFs34

Total AUM$574B

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

Schwab is known for offering low-cost, broad-based ETFs that serve both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies. Their 33-fund lineup spans multiple asset classes including bonds, equities, international markets, digital assets, and factor-based strategies, with a notable emphasis on dividend-focused funds like SCHD alongside core index options. The issuer emphasizes accessibility for individual investors through competitive expense ratios and a diverse range of fund families designed to support various investment objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHD.

See all Schwab ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	FVD	SCHD
Full name	First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Issuer	First Trust	Schwab
Last Close	$48.92 as of July 15, 2026	$32.20 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield	2.38%	3.14%
Distribution Safety Score	92	100
Expense ratio	0.65%	0.06%
AUM	$8.08B	$95.2B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	First Trust Value Line Dividend Index	Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
Objective	—	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	08/19/2003	10/20/2011
Beta	0.49	0.58
Last dividend	$0.2910	$0.2525
Ex-dividend date	06/25/2026	06/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose FVD if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose SCHD if you want higher current income (3.14% vs 2.38% for FVD).

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Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Quick verdict

FVD (First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund) 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 3.14% vs 2.38% for FVD. 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 0.65%.

They track different benchmarks: FVD is linked to First Trust Value Line Dividend Index while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($95.2B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, FVD would generate roughly $19.83/month, while SCHD would produce $26.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

FVD yield2.38%

SCHD yield3.14%

Monthly diff on $10K$6.33

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, FVD would cost approximately $650 in fees vs $60 for SCHD (simplified, not compounded). The $590.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

FVD ER0.65%

SCHD ER0.06%

Strategy & risk

FVD tracks First Trust Value Line Dividend Index with a dividend approach, while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. Beta is 0.49 for FVD and 0.58 for SCHD, indicating FVD is less volatile relative to the market.

FVD beta0.49

SCHD beta0.58

Fund details

FVD is managed by First Trust (launched 08/19/2003) with $8.08B in assets. SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $95.2B in assets.

FVD AUM$8.08B

SCHD AUM$95.2B

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Frequently asked questions

Is FVD 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 FVD and SCHD?

FVD (First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund) tracks First Trust Value Line Dividend Index with a dividend approach, while SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. They are issued by First Trust and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both FVD 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.

Which has lower fees, FVD or SCHD?

FVD has an expense ratio of 0.65% 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 FVD vs SCHD generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in FVD would generate roughly $19.83 per month ($238.00 annually). The same in SCHD would produce about $26.17 per month ($314.00 annually).

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