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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • IVVInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
  • SCHDInvestors who want higher current income (2.90% vs 1.03% for IVV).

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

IVV has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.07% total return against 30.72%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.31% a year, ahead of SCHD at 13.04%. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Oct 2011Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IVV13.39%21.07%21.29%12.78%15.31%15.26%15.0%0.991.43-18.8%
SCHD27.56%30.72%16.37%9.91%13.04%13.60%13.2%0.811.19-16.1%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Oct 2011” measures every fund from October 20, 2011 — 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.
MetricIVVSCHD
Full nameiShares Core S&P 500 ETFSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
IssueriSharesSchwab
Underlying indexS&P 500 IndexDow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
Last Close$773.92 as of September 4, 2026$34.80 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate1.03%2.90%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.03%2.90%
Expense ratio0.03%0.06%
AUM$871B$112B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large-capitalization U.S. equities, measuring the performance of the large-cap sector of the U.S. equity market as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices.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 classEquityEquity
Inception date05/15/200010/20/2011
Beta1.00.56
Last dividend$1.9956$0.2525
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose IVV if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund. Choose SCHD if you want higher current income (2.90% vs 1.03% for IVV).

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Income calculator

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

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4668B

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 IVV.

See all iShares ETFs
Schwab
ETFs33
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 SCHD.

See all Schwab ETFs

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Quick verdict

IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) 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 2.90% vs 1.03% for IVV. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

IVV is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.06%.

They have different reference exposures: IVV is linked to S&P 500 Index while SCHD is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IVV is the larger fund by assets ($871B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose IVV

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

  • Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.06% for SCHD.

Choose SCHD

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

  • Want higher current income — SCHD yields 2.90% vs 1.03% for IVV.
  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.6 vs 1.0 for IVV.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IVV would generate roughly $8.58/month, while SCHD would produce $24.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IVV yield1.03%
SCHD yield2.90%
Monthly diff on $10K$15.58

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IVV would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $60 for SCHD (simplified, not compounded). The $30.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IVV ER0.03%
SCHD ER0.06%

Strategy & risk

IVV tracks S&P 500 Index, while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. Beta is 1.0 for IVV and 0.56 for SCHD, making SCHD the less volatile of the two by this measure.

IVV beta1.0
SCHD beta0.56

Fund details

IVV is managed by iShares (launched 05/15/2000) with $871B in assets. SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $112B in assets.

IVV AUM$871B
SCHD AUM$112B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IVV and SCHD?

IVV currently distributes 1.03% and SCHD 2.90%, 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 IVV 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 IVV and SCHD?

IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index, while SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. They are issued by iShares and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both IVV 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 IVV 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 — they are effectively tied: IVV scores 100, SCHD scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. SCHD has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.56 vs 1.00 for IVV). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IVV or SCHD?

IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% 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 IVV vs SCHD generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IVV would generate roughly $8.58 per month ($103.00 annually). The same in SCHD would produce about $24.17 per month ($290.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IVV or SCHD?

IVV has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.07% total return against 30.72%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.31% a year, ahead of SCHD at 13.04%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IVV vs SCHD — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

IVV and SCHD are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs, but they pursue fundamentally different selection strategies. IVV tracks the S&P 500 Index by market capitalization, holding roughly 500 companies with no income screen. SCHD focuses on a narrower universe of 100 high-dividend-yielding stocks with consistent payout histories and underlying financial strength, tracked through the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. The key distinction is that SCHD intentionally filters for dividend payers and valuation quality, while IVV captures the full spectrum of the broad market. The second major difference is risk profile: SCHD carries a 0.56 beta, indicating lower market sensitivity than IVV's 1.0, reflecting its tilt away from growth and toward established dividend payers. SCHD's 0.06% expense ratio is slightly higher than IVV's 0.03%, though both remain extremely low. Scale differs too—IVV holds $871B in assets versus $112B for SCHD, making IVV one of the largest equity ETFs globally. Both distribute quarterly, so cash flow timing is identical.

Who each is best for

IVV: Fits investors seeking broad, cap-weighted U.S. large-cap exposure with minimal interference from selection criteria. Appeals to those building a core equity holding that mirrors overall market composition and accepts the market's dividend distribution as-is.

SCHD: Fits investors prioritizing current income and seeking exposure to established dividend-paying companies with financial discipline, accepting a narrower opportunity set in exchange for higher yield and lower volatility than the full market.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration risk in SCHD: A 100-stock universe versus 500 creates higher single-name and sector concentration; dividend sustainability depends on the underlying holdings' ability to maintain payouts through economic cycles.
  • Yield reliance on valuations: SCHD's 2.90% distribution rate partly reflects the current valuation environment for its dividend universe; if dividend stocks underperform in a growth-oriented cycle, yield may compress or dividend cuts could follow.
  • Sector and style drift: SCHD's dividend screen inherently tilts toward financials, utilities, and energy—sectors that may behave differently from the broader market, especially during rate-sensitive periods.
  • Market-cap weighting in IVV: Concentration in the largest companies (primarily technology) means IVV's performance moves with mega-cap sentiment; during tech downturns, SCHD's defensive tilt may provide relative protection.
  • Beta divergence sustainability: SCHD's lower 0.56 reflects historical defensiveness, but this relationship depends on continued preference for dividend stocks over growth; structural shifts in investor demand could reduce that advantage.

Bottom line

If you want truly broad market representation with the lowest possible friction costs, IVV is the default—it holds the entire large-cap universe and lets the market's own composition determine income. If you prioritize quarterly income and a quality-focused screen on fewer holdings, SCHD's 2.90% yield and 0.56 beta come with higher concentration and style risk. Past performance of either approach doesn't predict which will outperform going forward.

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.

What the distribution rate really tells you Why a high yield isn't high income How to read a fund's stats

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