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ETF Comparison

ITOT vs SCHB: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF and Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • ITOTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • SCHBInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

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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.

ITOT has outpaced SCHB over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.15% total return against 16.06%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHB has compounded at 14.87% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.82%. 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 Nov 2009Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ITOT13.45%16.15%22.82%12.52%14.82%14.34%15.3%1.051.53-19.4%
SCHB13.46%16.06%22.81%12.58%14.87%14.34%15.1%1.071.54-19.3%

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 Nov 2009” measures every fund from November 3, 2009 — 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.
MetricITOTSCHB
Full nameiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETFSchwab U.S. Broad Market ETF
IssueriSharesSchwab
Underlying indexS&P Total Market IndexDow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index
Last Close$167.95 as of October 2, 2026$29.61 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate1.08%1.09%
Trailing 12-month yield1.00%1.04%
Distribution Safety Score™ 96100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.04%1.09%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$96.9B$44.9B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveProvide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/20/200411/03/2009
Beta1.031.03
Last dividend$0.453$0.0809
Ex-dividend date09/15/202609/23/2026

Bottom lineITOT and SCHB are both for investors who want broad equity exposure — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Fees and payouts are close too, so it comes down to which your broker offers commission-free and any share-price or tax-lot preference.

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iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4683B

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 ITOT.

See all iShares 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 SCHB.

See all Schwab ETFs

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Quick verdict

ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) and SCHB (Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SCHB offers the higher yield at 1.09% vs 1.08% for ITOT. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: ITOT is linked to S&P Total Market Index while SCHB is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

ITOT is the larger fund by assets ($96.9B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $27.00 cash per distribution, while SCHB would produce $27.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

ITOT yield1.08%
SCHB yield1.09%
Cash diff on $10K$0.25

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, ITOT would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $30 for SCHB (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

ITOT ER0.03%
SCHB ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

ITOT tracks S&P Total Market Index with an index approach, while SCHB tracks Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index with an index approach.

ITOT beta1.03
SCHB beta1.03

Fund details

ITOT is managed by iShares (launched 01/20/2004) with $96.9B in assets. SCHB is managed by Schwab (launched 11/03/2009) with $44.9B in assets.

ITOT AUM$96.9B
SCHB AUM$44.9B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for ITOT and SCHB?

ITOT currently distributes 1.08% and SCHB 1.09%, 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 ITOT or SCHB better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SCHB 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 ITOT and SCHB?

ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) tracks S&P Total Market Index with an index approach, while SCHB (Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both ITOT and SCHB?

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 ITOT or SCHB safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SCHB scores 100, ITOT scores 96, so SCHB'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, ITOT or SCHB?

ITOT and SCHB both charge the same expense ratio of 0.03%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

How much income does $10,000 in ITOT vs SCHB generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in ITOT would generate roughly $27.00 cash per distribution ($108.00 annually). The same in SCHB would produce about $27.25 cash per distribution ($109.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ITOT or SCHB?

ITOT has outpaced SCHB over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.15% total return against 16.06%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHB has compounded at 14.87% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.82%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

ITOT vs SCHB — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

ITOT and SCHB are both broad-market U.S. stock ETFs tracking slightly different underlying indexes—the S&P Total Market Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index, respectively. They compete directly on cost and simplicity, with nearly identical expense ratios and yield profiles.

How they differ

Both charge 0.03%, making expense ratio a non-factor in the choice. The real differences are structural. Broad Stock Market Index with $44.9B. ITOT has been operating since 01/20/2004, while SCHB launched 11/03/2009. Distribution yields are nearly identical—ITOT at 1.08% and SCHB at 1.09%, both paid quarterly. Both ETFs report a beta of 1.03, indicating similar market-tracking behavior.

The practical difference comes down to index methodology. The S&P Total Market Index and Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index use different weighting and constituent selection rules, which can produce slight performance divergences over time—though both aim for comprehensive U.S. equity coverage.

Who each is best for

ITOT: Fits investors seeking the longest-established broad-market core holding, with the largest asset base and oldest inception date appealing to those who value institutional adoption and track record depth.

SCHB: Fits investors who prefer Schwab's index methodology or who already hold other Schwab products and value operational simplicity through a single issuer.

Key risks to know

  • Index tracking divergence. Despite nearly identical expense ratios and goals, the S&P Total Market Index and Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index differ in weighting methodology and constituent selection. Over longer periods, these differences can produce measurable performance gaps. Investors should verify which index construction aligns with their view of "broad market" representation.
  • Large-cap and technology concentration. Both ETFs hold broad U.S. equity exposure, meaning performance is likely to be heavily influenced by the largest technology and financial stocks. The underlying indexes may exhibit similar sector tilts that warrant examination before selecting one.
  • Market-level equity risk. Both track the overall U.S. stock market with a beta near 1.0, so they move roughly with the broader market. Economic downturns, interest-rate shocks, and sector-wide corrections will affect both similarly. The 0.03% fee and near-identical 1.08% yield mean the decision hinges on index methodology preference and issuer relationship, not cost. Past performance of either index does not predict 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.

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

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.