ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated July 15, 2026

Schwab

ETFs34

Total AUM$574B

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.

See all Schwab ETFs

Vanguard

ETFs115

Total AUM$4484B

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 VNQ.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	SCHD	VNQ
Full name	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Vanguard Real Estate ETF
Issuer	Schwab	Vanguard
Last Close	$32.20 as of July 15, 2026	$97.57 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield	3.14%	3.51%
Distribution Safety Score	100	93
Expense ratio	0.06%	0.12%
AUM	$95.2B	$37.7B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index	MSCI US IMI Real Estate 25/50 Index
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.	Track the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	10/20/2011	09/23/2004
Beta	0.58	1.0
Last dividend	$0.2525	$0.8554
Ex-dividend date	06/24/2026	06/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHD if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose VNQ if you want real-estate income and inflation sensitivity.

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Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Quick verdict

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

VNQ offers the higher yield at 3.51% vs 3.14% 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 0.12%.

They track different benchmarks: SCHD is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index while VNQ tracks MSCI US IMI Real Estate 25/50 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($95.2B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHD would generate roughly $26.17/month, while VNQ would produce $29.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHD yield3.14%

VNQ yield3.51%

Monthly diff on $10K$3.08

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHD would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $120 for VNQ (simplified, not compounded). The $60.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SCHD ER0.06%

VNQ ER0.12%

Strategy & risk

SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while VNQ tracks MSCI US IMI Real Estate 25/50 Index with a dividend approach. Beta is 0.58 for SCHD and 1.0 for VNQ, indicating SCHD is less volatile relative to the market.

SCHD beta0.58

VNQ beta1.0

Fund details

SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $95.2B in assets. VNQ is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/23/2004) with $37.7B in assets.

SCHD AUM$95.2B

VNQ AUM$37.7B

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Frequently asked questions

Is SCHD or VNQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VNQ 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 VNQ?

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while VNQ (Vanguard Real Estate ETF) tracks MSCI US IMI Real Estate 25/50 Index with a dividend approach. They are issued by Schwab and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SCHD and VNQ?

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, SCHD or VNQ?

SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VNQ charges 0.12%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHD would generate roughly $26.17 per month ($314.00 annually). The same in VNQ would produce about $29.25 per month ($351.00 annually).

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