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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 18, 2026

Best for

  • IVVInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
  • SCHDInvestors who want higher current income (3.00% vs 1.15% 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

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

IVV has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 17.17% total return against 27.11%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.45% a year, ahead of SCHD at 12.93%. 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
IVV12.39%17.17%21.26%13.10%15.45%15.15%15.0%0.991.43-18.8%
SCHD23.46%27.11%15.30%9.83%12.93%13.32%13.2%0.741.08-16.1%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 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 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.
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$764.92 as of September 18, 2026$33.68 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate1.15%3.00%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.15%3.00%
Expense ratio0.03%0.06%
AUM$818B$110B
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$2.2026 payable today$0.2525
Ex-dividend date09/15/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose IVV if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund. Choose SCHD if you want higher current income (3.00% vs 1.15% for IVV).

Model this comparison:
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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$4551B

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$609B

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 3.00% vs 1.15% 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 ($818B), 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 3.00% vs 1.15% 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 $9.58/month, while SCHD would produce $25.00/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IVV yield1.15%
SCHD yield3.00%
Monthly diff on $10K$15.42

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 $818B in assets. SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $110B in assets.

IVV AUM$818B
SCHD AUM$110B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IVV and SCHD?

IVV currently distributes 1.15% and SCHD 3.00%, 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 $9.58 per month ($115.00 annually). The same in SCHD would produce about $25.00 per month ($300.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IVV or SCHD?

IVV has lagged SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 17.17% total return against 27.11%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.45% a year, ahead of SCHD at 12.93%. 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 19, 2026.

Overview

IVV and SCHD are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs, but they pursue fundamentally different philosophies. Dividend 100 Index and focuses on high-yielding, dividend-paying stocks with consistent payout histories. The key distinction is scope: IVV is a full-market-cap index play; SCHD is a screens-based dividend strategy that excludes non-payers and favors lower-volatility names.

How they differ

The most obvious difference is yield. SCHD distributes at 3.00%, roughly three times IVV's 1.15%, because SCHD's underlying index deliberately selects dividend payers while IVV captures the whole market—growth stocks included, many of which return capital through buybacks rather than dividends.

Second, SCHD's portfolio tilts toward lower-volatility, financially stable large-caps and carries a 0.56 beta versus 1.0 for IVV, meaning SCHD tends to move less sharply than the broad market. That stability comes from screening for dividend consistency and balance-sheet strength, not just yield.

Third, the size gap is substantial: IVV manages $818B while SCHD manages $110B, reflecting IVV's role as a core index vehicle versus SCHD's more specialized dividend mandate. Expense ratios are both low—0.03% for IVV and 0.06% for SCHD—so cost is not a distinguishing factor.

Who each is best for

IVV: Fits investors seeking broad, cap-weighted exposure to U.S. large-caps without stock-selection filters, favoring simplicity and full market participation regardless of dividend policy.

SCHD: Fits investors prioritizing current dividend income and lower portfolio volatility, accepting a narrower stock universe in exchange for higher cash payouts and historically less cyclical price behavior.

Key risks to know

  • Dividend sustainability risk (SCHD): Screening for past dividend consistency does not guarantee future payouts. Economic downturns, sector rotation, or company missteps can prompt cuts. SCHD's tighter selection also concentrates exposure within fewer, more economically mature firms, potentially lagging if growth or innovation drives the market cycle.
  • Distribution yield pressure (SCHD): A 3.00% yield in a rising interest-rate environment can make SCHD's share price vulnerable if new-issue bonds or money-market funds become more attractive. If yields normalize higher, NAV compression risk could offset income gains.
  • Growth underperformance (SCHD): Because SCHD excludes or underweights non-dividend-paying stocks, it may lag during rallies driven by high-growth, low-yield names that dominate the S&P 500's index-weight gains.
  • Market-cap concentration (IVV): While IVV holds 3.00% stocks, its market-cap weighting means the largest ten holdings typically account for a sizable portion of returns, concentrating idiosyncratic risk in mega-cap technology and finance.

Bottom line

If you want core U.S. large-cap exposure with minimal selection bias and full market participation, IVV's broad S&P 500 tracking and 0.03% cost are hard to beat. If you prioritize regular dividend income, lower volatility, and can accept a dividend-screened portfolio, SCHD's 3.00% yield and 0.56 beta may feel more aligned to your cash-flow needs—though the tradeoff is narrower diversification and potential growth-cycle underperformance. Past performance does not guarantee 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.

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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