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.
HDV has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 17.85% total return against 23.02%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SCHD has compounded at 12.55% a year, against 9.49% for HDV. 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.
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 Oct 2011” measures every fund from October 20, 2011 — 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.
Seeks to track the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index, investing at least 80% of assets in income-paying U.S. securities screened for company quality and financial health.
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.
Bottom lineChoose HDV if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose SCHD if you want higher current income (3.26% vs 2.40% for HDV).
High-dividend screen versus quality dividend screen
HDV screens for high dividend yield. SCHD screens for quality plus dividend. Overlap is not identity.
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 HDV.
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.
HDV (iShares Core High Dividend ETF) 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 2.40% for HDV. 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 have different reference exposures: HDV is linked to Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index 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.
Who should choose each?
Choose HDV
iShares Core High Dividend ETF
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.3 vs 0.6 for SCHD.
Choose SCHD
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Want higher current income — SCHD yields 3.26% vs 2.40% for HDV.
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.06% expense ratio vs 0.08% for HDV.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track HDV & SCHD for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, HDV would generate roughly $20.00 cash per distribution, while SCHD would produce $81.50 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.
HDV yield2.40%
SCHD yield3.26%
Cash diff on $10K$61.50
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, HDV would cost approximately $80 in fees vs $60 for SCHD (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
HDV ER0.08%
SCHD ER0.06%
Strategy & risk
HDV tracks Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index, while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. Beta is 0.29 for HDV and 0.56 for SCHD, making HDV the less volatile of the two by this measure.
HDV beta0.29
SCHD beta0.56
Fund details
HDV is managed by iShares (launched 03/29/2011) with $14.7B in assets. SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $110B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HDV and SCHD?
HDV (iShares Core High Dividend ETF) screens US stocks for high dividend yield. SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) screens for quality plus dividend. The screens overlap but are not the same book. Cost is 0.08% versus 0.06%; size is $14.7B versus $110B. Distributions are 2.40% and 3.26% as of October 2026. Screen design, not a one-date yield, is the split.
What is the current distribution rate for HDV and SCHD?
HDV currently distributes 2.40% 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 HDV 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 HDV 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 HDV 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, HDV scores 79, so SCHD's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. HDV has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.29 vs 0.56 for SCHD). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
Which has lower fees, HDV or SCHD?
HDV 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 HDV vs SCHD generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in HDV would generate roughly $20.00 cash per distribution ($240.00 annually). The same in SCHD would produce about $81.50 cash per distribution ($326.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, HDV or SCHD?
HDV has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 17.85% total return against 23.02%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SCHD has compounded at 12.55% a year, against 9.49% for HDV. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
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