SCHD vs VIG vs VYM: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
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 SCHD.
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 VIG and VYM.
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares
Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares
Issuer
Schwab
Vanguard
Vanguard
Last Close
$32.20 as of July 15, 2026
$237.30 as of July 15, 2026
$160.18 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield
3.14%
1.68%
2.45%
Distribution Safety Score
100
100
100
Expense ratio
0.06%
0.06%
0.06%
AUM
$95.2B
$108B
$78.3B
Distribution frequency
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Underlying index
Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings
a basket of Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF holdings
Objective
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.
Seeks to track the performance of the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which consists of common stocks of companies that have a record of at least 10 years of increasing regular cash dividend payments.
Seeks to track the performance of the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which offers exposure to dividend-paying large-cap companies that exhibit value characteristics within the U.S. equity market. The index includes stocks with a history of paying above-average dividends.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Equity
Inception date
10/20/2011
04/21/2006
11/10/2006
Beta
0.58
0.75
0.69
Last dividend
$0.2525
$0.9990
$0.9800
Ex-dividend date
06/24/2026
06/26/2026
06/18/2026
Most used
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
SCHD tops the group on trailing twelve-month total return at 22.24%, with VIG at 16.92% and VYM at 21.57%. Across the 10-year window, VIG has the strongest compounding at 12.90% a year. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows 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.
Quick verdict
SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF), VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares), VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares) are dividend ETFs that take different approaches.
SCHD offers the highest reported yield at 3.14%, followed by VYM at 2.45%, VIG at 1.68%.
All funds share the same expense ratio of 0.06%, so cost is not a differentiator here.
VIG is the largest fund by assets ($108B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment: SCHD generates ~$26.17/month, VIG generates ~$14.00/month, VYM generates ~$20.42/month at current distribution rates.
SCHD yield3.14%
VIG yield1.68%
VYM yield2.45%
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000: SCHD costs ~$60, VIG costs ~$60, VYM costs ~$60 in fees (simplified, not compounded).
SCHD ER0.06%
VIG ER0.06%
VYM ER0.06%
Strategy & risk
SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index; VIG holds a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings with an index approach; VYM holds a basket of Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF holdings with an index approach.
SCHD beta0.58
VIG beta0.75
VYM beta0.69
Fund details
SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $95.2B in assets. VIG is managed by Vanguard (launched 04/21/2006) with $108B in assets. VYM is managed by Vanguard (launched 11/10/2006) with $78.3B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Which of SCHD, VIG, VYM is best for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SCHD currently offers the highest reported distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility, and funds without an established distribution history have no comparable yield to evaluate. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between SCHD, VIG, VYM?
SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, issued by Schwab. VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) holds a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings with an index approach, issued by Vanguard. VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares) holds a basket of Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF holdings with an index approach, issued by Vanguard.
Can I hold SCHD, VIG, VYM together?
Yes — nothing prevents holding them together. 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 the lowest fees among SCHD, VIG, VYM?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06%, VIG has an expense ratio of 0.06%, VYM has an expense ratio of 0.06%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 generate in each?
$10,000 in SCHD yields ~$26.17/month ($314.00/year). $10,000 in VIG yields ~$14.00/month ($168.00/year). $10,000 in VYM yields ~$20.42/month ($245.00/year).
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