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ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated July 21, 2026

ETFs34
Total AUM$586B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Schwab is known for offering low-cost, broad-based ETFs that serve both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies. Their 33-fund lineup spans multiple asset classes including bonds, equities, international markets, digital assets, and factor-based strategies, with a notable emphasis on dividend-focused funds like SCHD alongside core index options. The issuer emphasizes accessibility for individual investors through competitive expense ratios and a diverse range of fund families designed to support various investment objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHB.

ETFs116
Total AUM$4488B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VTI.

Side-by-side snapshot

SCHBVTI
Full nameSchwab U.S. Broad Market ETFVanguard Total Stock Market ETF
IssuerSchwabVanguard
Last Close$28.68 as of July 21, 2026$366.25 as of July 21, 2026
Distribution yield1.05%1.14%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$43.0B$660B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexDow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market IndexCRSP US Total Market Index
ObjectiveProvide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.Track the CRSP US Total Market Index, representing the broad U.S. equity market.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date11/03/200905/24/2001
Beta1.031.0379
Last dividend$0.0753$1.0437
Ex-dividend date06/24/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHB if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VTI if you want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.

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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

SCHB has lagged VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.62% total return against 19.74%. Over 10 years the two are effectively even, compounding at 14.55% and 14.55% a year. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Nov 2009Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHB9.60%19.62%19.09%12.41%14.55%14.28%15.2%0.861.24-19.3%
VTI9.56%19.74%19.09%12.37%14.55%14.30%15.4%0.851.22-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 20, 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.

Quick verdict

SCHB (Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VTI offers the higher yield at 1.14% vs 1.05% for SCHB. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

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

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($660B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHB would generate roughly $8.75/month, while VTI would produce $9.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHB yield1.05%
VTI yield1.14%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.75

Cost & efficiency

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

SCHB ER0.03%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

SCHB tracks Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index with an index approach, while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. Beta is 1.03 for SCHB and 1.0379 for VTI, indicating SCHB is less volatile relative to the market.

SCHB beta1.03
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

SCHB is managed by Schwab (launched 11/03/2009) with $43.0B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $660B in assets.

SCHB AUM$43.0B
VTI AUM$660B

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Frequently asked questions

Is SCHB or VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VTI 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 SCHB and VTI?

SCHB (Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index with an index approach, while VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. They are issued by Schwab and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SCHB and VTI?

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.

Which has lower fees, SCHB or VTI?

SCHB and VTI 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 SCHB vs VTI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHB would generate roughly $8.75 per month ($105.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.50 per month ($114.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHB or VTI?

SCHB has lagged VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.62% total return against 19.74%. Over 10 years the two are effectively even, compounding at 14.55% and 14.55% a year. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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SCHB vs VTI — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

SCHB and VTI are both ultra-low-cost broad-market U.S. equity ETFs tracking slightly different indices—SCHB follows the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index while VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index. Both charge 0.03% in expenses and pay quarterly dividends, making them functionally similar core holding vehicles. The meaningful differences lie in scale, age, and minor index composition variations that create a modest yield gap.

How they differ

VTI is nearly 15 times larger, with $654B in assets versus SCHB's $42.3B, which translates to tighter bid-ask spreads and deeper liquidity for VTI. The two indices they track overlap substantially but diverge slightly in construction: CRSP (VTI's benchmark) and Dow Jones (SCHB's) weight and include securities marginally differently, and CRSP extends further into micro-cap territory. That structural difference shows up in yield: VTI distributes 1.12% annually while SCHB yields 1.03%, a modest 9-basis-point gap. Both have identical 0.03% expense ratios and quarterly payout schedules, so the yield difference reflects index composition, not fee drag.

Who each is best for

  • SCHB: Fits investors who want a lean, low-cost total-market vehicle and have no strong preference between index methodologies; the smaller asset base is immaterial for most account sizes.
  • VTI: Designed for investors prioritizing the deepest possible liquidity and the broadest U.S. equity exposure (including micro-cap representation); the longer track record and dominant scale reduce execution friction.

Key risks to know

  • Index tracking and rebalancing differences. SCHB and VTI track different indices with distinct methodologies and holdings overlap, so relative performance will drift modestly over time depending on how their respective indices weight sectors, size brackets, and individual securities. Neither tracks the other's benchmark.
  • Concentration in mega-cap growth. Both funds carry heavy exposure to large-cap technology and growth stocks; a significant correction in that segment would affect both similarly, though the degree of impact may vary slightly due to index composition differences.
  • Dividend sustainability during market stress. Yields depend on underlying corporate earnings; during recessions or sharp downturns, companies cut or suspend dividends, which would compress distributions for both funds.

Bottom line

If you value maximum liquidity and the deepest possible micro-cap representation, VTI's $654B scale and CRSP methodology stand out. If you want equally low costs and don't need that extra depth, SCHB delivers identical expense ratios with slightly lower yield, reflecting a marginally different index exposure. Neither choice erases broad-market volatility risk; past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

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