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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 14, 2026

Best for

  • SCHDInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
  • SCHYInvestors who want higher current income (4.30% vs 2.93% for SCHD).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricSCHDSCHY
Full nameSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFSchwab International Dividend Equity ETF
IssuerSchwabSchwab
Last Close$34.52 as of August 14, 2026$33.18 as of August 14, 2026
Distribution yield2.93%4.30%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10097
Expense ratio0.06%0.14%
AUM$106B$2.53B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexDow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 IndexDow Jones International Dividend 100 Index
ObjectiveSeeks 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.Seeks to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date10/20/201104/28/2021
Beta0.560.81
Last dividend$0.2525$0.3570
Ex-dividend date06/24/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHD if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose SCHY if you want higher current income (4.30% vs 2.93% for SCHD).

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Income calculator

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

Schwab
ETFs34
Total AUM$605B

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 and SCHY.

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Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

SCHD has outpaced SCHY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 30.33% total return against 22.00%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SCHD has compounded at 9.72% a year, against 8.70% for SCHY. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Apr 2021Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHD26.54%30.33%15.81%9.72%10.10%13.2%0.781.13-16.1%
SCHY12.37%22.00%16.76%8.70%9.35%12.2%0.911.29-12.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Apr 2021” measures every fund from April 29, 2021 — 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

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) and SCHY (Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SCHY offers the higher yield at 4.30% vs 2.93% for SCHD. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SCHD is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.06% compared to 0.14%.

They track different benchmarks: SCHD is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index while SCHY tracks Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($106B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose SCHD

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.06% expense ratio vs 0.14% for SCHY.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.6 vs 0.8 for SCHY.

Choose SCHY

Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF

  • Want higher current income — SCHY yields 4.30% vs 2.93% for SCHD.
  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.

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, SCHD would generate roughly $24.42/month, while SCHY would produce $35.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHD yield2.93%
SCHY yield4.30%
Monthly diff on $10K$11.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHD would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $140 for SCHY (simplified, not compounded). The $80.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SCHD ER0.06%
SCHY ER0.14%

Strategy & risk

SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while SCHY tracks Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index with a dividend approach. Beta is 0.56 for SCHD and 0.81 for SCHY, indicating SCHD is less volatile relative to the market.

SCHD beta0.56
SCHY beta0.81

Fund details

SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $106B in assets. SCHY is managed by Schwab (launched 04/28/2021) with $2.53B in assets.

SCHD AUM$106B
SCHY AUM$2.53B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for SCHD and SCHY?

SCHD currently distributes 2.93% and SCHY 4.30%, 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 SCHD or SCHY better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SCHY 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 SCHD and SCHY?

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while SCHY (Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index with a dividend approach. They are issued by Schwab and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both SCHD and SCHY?

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 SCHD or SCHY safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SCHD scores 100, SCHY scores 97, so SCHD's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. SCHD has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.56 vs 0.81 for SCHY). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, SCHD or SCHY?

SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SCHY charges 0.14%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in SCHD vs SCHY generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHD would generate roughly $24.42 per month ($293.00 annually). The same in SCHY would produce about $35.83 per month ($430.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHD or SCHY?

SCHD has outpaced SCHY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 30.33% total return against 22.00%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SCHD has compounded at 9.72% a year, against 8.70% for SCHY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SCHD vs SCHY — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

SCHD and SCHY are both Schwab dividend-focused ETFs tracking Dow Jones indexes of high-yielding, financially stable companies, but they operate in different geographic markets. SCHD targets U.S. large-cap dividend payers, while SCHY extends the strategy to developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. The key distinction is geographic: one captures domestic dividend growth; the other captures international dividend opportunity at a higher yield.

How they differ

SCHD holds U.S. companies tracked by the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while SCHY focuses on non-U.S. dividend payers via the Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index. That geographic split drives the second key difference: SCHY yields 4.30% against SCHD's 2.93%, reflecting higher payout ratios abroad and currency exposure. SCHY also carries a higher expense ratio at 0.14% versus 0.06% and materially lower assets under management at $2.53B compared to SCHD's $106B, reflecting the smaller market for international dividend strategies. Beta tells a complementary story: SCHD's 0.56 beta suggests less volatility than the broad U.S. market, while SCHY's 0.81 beta indicates it will swing more with international equity moves.

Who each is best for

SCHD: Fits investors seeking steady U.S. dividend income with lower portfolio volatility, particularly those whose income or spending needs anchor to domestic currency and corporate earnings.

SCHY: Fits investors willing to accept currency risk and higher beta in exchange for elevated yield and exposure to international dividend-paying companies, or those building geographically diversified income streams.

Key risks to know

  • Currency risk (SCHY only): Dividends and share price fluctuations are denominated in foreign currencies; strengthening dollars reduce returns when converted back, and currency moves can amplify or offset dividend gains.
  • NAV erosion at yields above fundamental growth: SCHY's 4.30% distribution rate may rely partly on return of capital or outpace earnings growth in its underlying index, risking gradual share-price declines if the index cannot sustain that payout level.
  • Tracking error and index turnover divergence: Both funds track indexes, but SCHY's younger inception (April 2021) means less historical data on how closely the International Dividend 100 Index replicates long-term dividend stability relative to the U.S. version (which dates to October 2011).
  • Emerging-market exposure within SCHY: The International index likely includes emerging-market dividend payers; these carry higher political and credit risk than developed-market holdings and may face dividend cuts or currency devaluation during market stress.
  • Smaller AUM for SCHY: With $2.53B in assets, SCHY faces higher per-share operating costs absorbed by the fund and lower trading liquidity than SCHD, which can widen bid-ask spreads and increase trading friction.

Bottom line

If you prioritize steady U.S. dividend income with minimal volatility, SCHD's lower yield and beta align with that objective. If you're comfortable with currency and emerging-market risk and want higher current yield, SCHY offers that trade-off — though its distribution rate may rely on return of capital rather than earnings growth alone. Past performance doesn't 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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