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.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

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

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

ITOT has outpaced SCHB over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.31% total return against 21.16%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHB has compounded at 14.79% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.76%. 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.
Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Nov 2009	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
ITOT	13.66%	21.31%	21.90%	12.48%	14.76%	14.47%	15.4%	1.00	1.44	-19.4%
SCHB	13.61%	21.16%	21.93%	12.51%	14.79%	14.45%	15.2%	1.01	1.46	-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 19, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Nov 2009” measures every fund from November 3, 2009 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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.
Metric	ITOT	SCHB
Full name	iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF	Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF
Issuer	iShares	Schwab
Last Close	$168.33 as of August 19, 2026	$29.68 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield	1.00%	1.01%
Distribution Safety Score™	98	100
Expense ratio	0.03%	0.03%
AUM	$98.4B	$45.2B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	S&P Total Market Index	Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index
Objective	Provide 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 class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	01/20/2004	11/03/2009
Beta	1.03	1.03
Last dividend	$0.4190	$0.0753
Ex-dividend date	06/15/2026	06/24/2026

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.

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

ETFs473

Total AUM$4710B

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

ETFs34

Total AUM$616B

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

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

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 1.01% vs 1.00% for ITOT. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

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

ITOT is the larger fund by assets ($98.4B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Still deciding? Track ITOT & SCHB 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.

Add to my watchlist See what a free account includes

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $8.33/month, while SCHB would produce $8.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

ITOT yield1.00%

SCHB yield1.01%

Monthly diff on $10K$0.08

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 $98.4B in assets. SCHB is managed by Schwab (launched 11/03/2009) with $45.2B in assets.

ITOT AUM$98.4B

SCHB AUM$45.2B

Ready to act?

Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for ITOT and SCHB?

ITOT currently distributes 1.00% and SCHB 1.01%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield 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 — they are effectively tied: SCHB scores 100, ITOT scores 98. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. 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 $8.33 per month ($100.00 annually). The same in SCHB would produce about $8.42 per month ($101.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ITOT or SCHB?

More comparisons to explore

People also compare ITOT with

People also compare SCHB with

Popular comparisons

ITOT vs SCHB — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

ITOT and SCHB are broad U.S. stock market ETFs with nearly identical expense ratios and yield profiles. Both track complete market indexes—ITOT uses the S&P Total Market Index, while SCHB follows the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index—giving them near-complete overlap in holdings and performance. The main distinctions lie in fund size, inception history, and the specific composition of their underlying indexes.

How they differ

The single largest difference is asset size: ITOT holds $97.6B in AUM versus SCHB's $44.7B, giving ITOT roughly double the capital and significantly tighter bid-ask spreads in most market conditions. Both charge 0.03% in expense ratios and distribute quarterly yields around 1% (ITOT 0.98%, SCHB 1.00%), so costs and income are functionally equivalent. ITOT has a longer track record, launched in January 2004 versus SCHB's November 2009 inception. Their underlying indexes differ slightly—the S&P Total Market Index and Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index weight holdings somewhat differently and may exclude or include micro-cap names at different thresholds—but both achieve near-complete market exposure with beta of 1.03 each.

Who each is best for

ITOT: Fits investors building a core U.S. equity holding who value liquidity and the longest available history of index-tracking performance, or those who prefer funds with deeper institutional roots.

SCHB: Designed for investors who already use Schwab's brokerage or fund platform, or those indifferent to the AUM difference and comfortable with a 15-year track record.

Key risks to know

Index methodology divergence: The S&P Total Market Index and Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index use different weighting and inclusion rules, which can lead to performance tracking differences over longer periods, particularly in periods when micro-cap or small-cap dynamics shift sharply.

Liquidity concentration in ITOT: ITOT's substantially larger AUM may create structural liquidity advantages; conversely, SCHB's smaller size could widen its bid-ask spread during periods of heavy trading or market stress.

Market concentration risk: Both funds track the entire U.S. stock market, which means exposure to whatever sector or mega-cap concentration dominates at any given time—currently technology and a handful of large-cap names represent a significant portion of both indexes.

Bottom line

If you prioritize liquidity and want the longest institutional track record, ITOT's $97.6B AUM and January 2004 inception offer a meaningful edge; if you hold an existing Schwab account or have no preference between functionally similar indexes, SCHB delivers identical low-cost broad-market exposure at the same price. Neither fund has a structural advantage in returns or yield—index tracking is remarkably similar across these two, so the choice hinges on liquidity comfort and brokerage ecosystem fit rather than performance.

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.

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