DV
Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

IDV vs SCHY: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares International Select Dividend ETF and Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 21, 2026

Best for

  • IDVInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
  • SCHYInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.

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.

IDV has outpaced SCHY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 28.05% total return against 20.83%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: IDV has compounded at 14.58% a year, against 9.47% for SCHY. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Apr 2021Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IDV14.45%28.05%25.94%14.58%12.46%13.8%1.361.95-11.9%
SCHY10.74%20.83%16.58%9.47%8.86%12.1%0.901.29-12.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 21, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Apr 2021” measures every fund from April 29, 2021 — 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.
MetricIDVSCHY
Full nameiShares International Select Dividend ETFSchwab International Dividend Equity ETF
IssueriSharesSchwab
Underlying indexDow Jones EPAC Select Dividend IndexDow Jones International Dividend 100 Index
Last Close$43.90 as of September 21, 2026$32.70 as of September 21, 2026
Distribution rate4.83%4.37%
Distribution Safety Score™ 8797
Safety-Adjusted Yield 4.20%4.24%
Expense ratio0.50%0.08%
AUM$8.51B$2.60B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index, investing at least 80% of assets in 100 high dividend-paying companies across Europe, the Pacific, Asia and Canada.Seeks to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date06/11/200704/29/2021
Beta0.710.81
Last dividend$0.53$0.357
Ex-dividend date09/15/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineIDV and SCHY are both for investors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Cost is: SCHY charges 0.08% against 0.50% for IDV, and between two funds this similar that gap comes straight out of your return every year you hold.

Model this comparison:
Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Income calculator

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

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4608B

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 IDV.

See all iShares ETFs
Schwab
ETFs33
Total AUM$610B

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 SCHY.

See all Schwab ETFs

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Quick verdict

IDV (iShares International Select Dividend ETF) and SCHY (Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IDV offers the higher yield at 4.83% vs 4.37% for SCHY. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SCHY is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.08% compared to 0.50%.

They have different reference exposures: IDV is linked to Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index while SCHY is linked to Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IDV is the larger fund by assets ($8.51B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IDV would generate roughly $40.25/month, while SCHY would produce $36.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IDV yield4.83%
SCHY yield4.37%
Monthly diff on $10K$3.83

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IDV would cost approximately $500 in fees vs $80 for SCHY (simplified, not compounded). The $420.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IDV ER0.50%
SCHY ER0.08%

Strategy & risk

IDV tracks Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index, while SCHY tracks Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index with a dividend approach. Beta is 0.71 for IDV and 0.81 for SCHY, making IDV the less volatile of the two by this measure.

IDV beta0.71
SCHY beta0.81

Fund details

IDV is managed by iShares (launched 06/11/2007) with $8.51B in assets. SCHY is managed by Schwab (launched 04/29/2021) with $2.60B in assets.

IDV AUM$8.51B
SCHY AUM$2.60B
Ready to act?
Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Enjoyed this page?

Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IDV and SCHY?

IDV currently distributes 4.83% and SCHY 4.37%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IDV or SCHY better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IDV 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 IDV and SCHY?

IDV (iShares International Select Dividend ETF) tracks Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index, while SCHY (Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index with a dividend approach. They are issued by iShares and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both IDV and SCHY?

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 IDV or SCHY safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SCHY scores 97, IDV scores 87, so SCHY's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IDV or SCHY?

IDV has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SCHY charges 0.08%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in IDV vs SCHY generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IDV would generate roughly $40.25 per month ($483.00 annually). The same in SCHY would produce about $36.42 per month ($437.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IDV or SCHY?

IDV has outpaced SCHY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 28.05% total return against 20.83%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: IDV has compounded at 14.58% a year, against 9.47% for SCHY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IDV vs SCHY — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

IDV and SCHY are both international dividend ETFs tracking Dow Jones dividend indexes, but they differ materially in scope, cost, and age. IDV targets 100 high-dividend payers across Europe, the Pacific, Asia, and Canada via the EPAC Select Dividend Index, while SCHY tracks the International Dividend 100 Index with a narrower geographic focus (excluding North America). IDV has been running since 06/11/2007, while SCHY launched 04/29/2021 — a nearly 14-year gap that matters for performance history.

How they differ

The biggest distinction is cost: SCHY charges 0.08% against IDV's 0.50%, a 42-basis-point gap that compounds meaningfully over time on a $10,000 position. IDV's 4.83% yield edges SCHY's 4.37%, but that difference partly reflects IDV's broader geographic universe and larger AUM ($8.51B vs. $2.60B). IDV's lower beta of 0.71 suggests it has historically moved less sharply with broad market swings than SCHY's 0.81, though both remain closely tethered to international equity markets. Both distribute Quarterly, so reinvestment timing and frequency are identical.

Who each is best for

IDV: Fits investors seeking a diversified basket of 100 international dividend payers with nearly two decades of track record and modest downside dampening relative to the broader market.

SCHY: Fits cost-conscious investors willing to accept a newer fund and slightly narrower geographic exposure in exchange for significantly lower fees and competitive yield.

Key risks to know

  • Geographic overlap and currency exposure. Both funds concentrate in developed markets outside North America and carry currency risk that can amplify or dampen dollar-denominated returns. Their index universes may overlap considerably, so holdings are likely to be correlated.
  • Index-tracking divergence. SCHY, as a newer fund, has a shorter performance history against its benchmark; IDV's longer track record allows comparison, but neither guarantees future tracking precision.
  • Dividend sustainability in international equities. International dividend payers face sector concentration (financials, energy, real estate) and are vulnerable to policy changes, currency headwinds, and economic slowdowns that can force dividend cuts or suspensions.
  • Beta and drawdown risk. Both carry meaningful equity beta; during market downturns, these funds will decline. IDV's lower beta suggests slightly less volatility, but both remain equity-like in their downside exposure.

Bottom line

If you prioritize lower fees and are comfortable with a newer fund, SCHY's 0.08% cost structure and 4.37% yield offer strong value. If you value longer operating history, broader geographic reach, and a touch of downside dampening, IDV's 0.71 beta and $8.51B in AUM provide a more seasoned alternative — though you'll pay for it. Past performance does not predict future results; dividend policy and currency movements will ultimately drive returns for both.

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 to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener