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Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

VT vs SCHD: Everything Global, or a US Dividend Screen?

A head-to-head of Vanguard's Total World Stock ETF and Schwab's U.S. Dividend Equity ETF covering breadth, cost, and overlap.

Updated September 30, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • SCHDInvestors who want higher current income (3.28% vs 1.03% for VT).
  • VTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

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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

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

SCHD has outpaced VT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.24% total return against 16.81%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SCHD has compounded at 12.52% a year, against 12.39% for VT. 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.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince Oct 2011Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHD20.19%24.24%15.79%9.12%12.52%13.08%13.2%0.781.13-16.1%
VT12.03%16.81%21.71%11.20%12.39%11.52%14.5%1.051.53-16.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 30, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Oct 2011” measures every fund from October 20, 2011 — the start of shared available history — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricSCHDVT
Full nameSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFVanguard Total World Stock ETF
IssuerSchwabVanguard
Underlying indexDow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 IndexFTSE Global All Cap Index
Last Close$32.53 as of September 30, 2026$157.85 as of September 30, 2026
Distribution rate3.28%1.03%
Trailing 12-month yield3.24%1.53%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10089
Safety-Adjusted Yield 3.28%0.92%
Expense ratio0.06%0.06%
AUM$110B$82.9B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
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.Track the FTSE Global All Cap Index, covering developed and emerging markets.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date10/20/201106/24/2008
Beta0.560.98
Last dividend$0.2665$0.408
Ex-dividend date09/23/202609/18/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHD if you want higher current income (3.28% vs 1.03% for VT). Choose VT if you want broad equity exposure.

SCHD vs VT: US dividend quality or the world?

SCHD is a US quality-dividend screen. VT is the whole world market. Different jobs.

SCHDVT
What it ownsQuality US dividend payersFTSE Global All Cap Index
Expense ratio0.06%0.06%
Distribution rate3.28%1.03%
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Income calculator

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

Schwab
ETFs33
Total AUM$612B

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.

See all Schwab ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4677B

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

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VT.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) and VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SCHD offers the higher yield at 3.28% vs 1.03% for VT. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: SCHD is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index while VT is linked to FTSE Global All Cap Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($110B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHD would generate roughly $82.00 cash per distribution, while VT would produce $25.75 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHD yield3.28%
VT yield1.03%
Cash diff on $10K$56.25

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHD would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $60 for VT (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

SCHD ER0.06%
VT ER0.06%

Strategy & risk

SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while VT tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index with an international approach. Beta is 0.56 for SCHD and 0.98 for VT, making SCHD the less volatile of the two by this measure.

SCHD beta0.56
VT beta0.98

Fund details

SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $110B in assets. VT is managed by Vanguard (launched 06/24/2008) with $82.9B in assets.

SCHD AUM$110B
VT AUM$82.9B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between VT and SCHD?

VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) holds the whole world market. SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) screens US dividend payers for quality. Cost is 0.06% versus 0.06%; distributions are 1.03% and 3.28% as of September 2026. Global breadth versus a US dividend screen is the decision.

What is the current distribution rate for SCHD and VT?

SCHD currently distributes 3.28% and VT 1.03%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is SCHD or VT better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SCHD 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.

Can I hold both SCHD and VT?

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 VT 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, VT scores 89, so SCHD's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. SCHD has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.56 vs 0.98 for VT). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, SCHD or VT?

SCHD and VT both charge the same expense ratio of 0.06%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHD would generate roughly $82.00 cash per distribution ($328.00 annually). The same in VT would produce about $25.75 cash per distribution ($103.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHD or VT?

SCHD has outpaced VT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.24% total return against 16.81%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SCHD has compounded at 12.52% a year, against 12.39% for VT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SCHD vs VT — at a glance

Generated September 26, 2026.

Overview

SCHD and VT are both broad equity ETFs with identical expense ratios, but they pursue fundamentally different geographic and dividend strategies. SCHD focuses on 100 high-dividend-yielding U.S. large-cap stocks with consistent payout histories, while VT tracks the entire global stock market—developed and emerging economies combined. The choice between them hinges on whether you want concentrated U.S. dividend income or diversified global market exposure.

How they differ

The most significant difference is geographic scope: SCHD is U.S.-only, holding 100 dividend-focused names, while VT spans developed and emerging markets worldwide. The beta tells the story of their volatility profiles: SCHD's 0.56 indicates lower market sensitivity (likely because dividend stocks tend to be more defensive), while VT's 0.98 sits near 1.0, moving in line with broad equity markets.

Who each is best for

SCHD: Fits investors seeking higher current income from U.S. equities, with a preference for lower volatility and stocks with established dividend payout discipline. Works well for those building a portfolio around domestic dividend reinvestment.

VT: Designed for investors who want a single, globally diversified equity holding covering both U.S. and international markets. Suits those prioritizing broad market participation over dividend yield, or who want minimal overlap with other holdings.

Key risks to know

  • Dividend-selection concentration in SCHD. Screening for high yield and payout consistency narrows the opportunity set to 100 stocks, likely overweighting sectors such as utilities, REITs, and financials. This creates sector concentration risk absent in a broader index.
  • U.S. market timing risk in SCHD. By excluding non-yielding or low-yielding stocks, SCHD may miss growth-stage companies and introduces timing risk if high-dividend sectors underperform for extended periods.
  • Emerging-market currency and political risk in VT. The FTSE Global All Cap Index includes emerging-market exposure, which carries currency volatility and geopolitical uncertainty beyond developed-market equities.
  • Yield-chasing erosion in SCHD. High-dividend screens can attract value traps—firms paying unsustainably high yields due to earnings weakness. If dividends are cut, total returns may lag.
  • Low yield environment sensitivity. SCHD's relative attractiveness depends on dividend policy; in a low-rate regime where companies favor buybacks or reinvestment over payouts, the dividend screen may underperform broader markets.

Bottom line

If you prioritize current income and accept concentration in high-dividend U.S. stocks, SCHD's 3.28% and lower beta appeal; if you want global diversification and are comfortable with 1.03% yield, VT's worldwide mandate makes more sense. Both charge the same 0.06%, so the choice is strategy, not cost. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.