Generated July 2026 from current fund data.
Overview
SCHB and VOO are both ultra-low-cost US equity ETFs tracking broad market indexes, but they differ fundamentally in scope. SCHB tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index, capturing roughly 3,500 US-listed stocks across all market caps—large, mid, and small. VOO tracks the S&P 500, covering only the 500 largest US companies. This makes SCHB a true total-market fund and VOO a large-cap focused one.
How they differ
The biggest difference is breadth: SCHB includes mid and small-cap stocks that VOO excludes entirely. That's why SCHB reports a beta of 1.03 while VOO's is 1.0—SCHB's exposure to smaller, more volatile companies pushes its movements slightly above the broad market average. Both charge 0.03% in expenses, so cost isn't a differentiator. VOO is roughly 24 times larger by assets ($1033B versus SCHB's $42.3B), reflecting its status as one of the industry's most popular funds. Dividend yield is nearly identical (1.13% for VOO, 1.03% for SCHB), though the slight difference likely reflects the composition mismatch rather than any strategic choice. Both distribute quarterly.
Who each is best for
SCHB: Fits investors seeking truly comprehensive US market exposure, including the thousands of mid and small-cap names that make up nearly 30% of US equity market capitalization by weight. Works well for those who want to own the entire investable US stock market in a single fund.
VOO: Designed for investors who believe large-cap US equities are sufficient for their equity allocation and prefer the simplicity and massive liquidity of tracking the 500-stock benchmark. Aligns with buy-and-hold portfolios where the extra holdings in SCHB add complexity without meaningful expected return enhancement.
Key risks to know
- Market-cap exposure gap: SCHB's inclusion of mid and small-cap stocks means it will outperform VOO in years when smaller companies lead the market and underperform when large-cap stocks dominate. This isn't leverage or derivative risk, but rather a structural bet embedded in the fund choice itself.
- Liquidity and tracking divergence: Despite similar expense ratios, SCHB's smaller asset base and more complex index may experience slightly wider bid-ask spreads and occasional minor tracking error relative to VOO's massive scale and tight implementation.
- Small-cap volatility drag in downturns: During market corrections, small and mid-cap stocks often fall harder than large-cap names. SCHB's beta of 1.03 reflects this—it will likely decline more steeply in a broad selloff, even though its longer-term volatility is marginal.
Bottom line
If you want maximum US equity diversification and believe small-cap inclusion matters for your long-term returns, SCHB's broad index has appeal despite its smaller size. If you're indifferent to companies outside the Fortune 500 and value the unmatched liquidity and simplicity of the S&P 500, VOO's vastly larger asset base and established market presence make it the more convenient vehicle. Neither fund's yield is attractive relative to its capital-appreciation purpose, so income should not be the deciding factor. 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.