A head-to-head comparison of Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral 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.
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares
Issuer
Schwab
Vanguard
Last Close
$32.20 as of July 15, 2026
$181.42 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield
3.14%
1.11%
Distribution Safety Score
100
100
Expense ratio
0.06%
0.04%
AUM
$95.2B
$1000B
Distribution frequency
Quarterly
Quarterly
Underlying index
Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
US Total Market
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 CRSP US Total Market Index.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
10/20/2011
—
Beta
0.58
1.03
Last dividend
$0.2525
$0.5040
Ex-dividend date
06/24/2026
06/26/2026
Bottom lineChoose SCHD if you want higher current income (3.14% vs 1.11% for VTSAX). Choose VTSAX if you want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.
Most used
Income calculator
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Quick verdict
SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) is an ETF, while VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) is a mutual fund — they take fundamentally different approaches.
SCHD offers the higher yield at 3.14% vs 1.11% for VTSAX. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
VTSAX is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.04% compared to 0.06%.
They track different benchmarks: SCHD is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index while VTSAX tracks US Total Market, which means their performance drivers differ.
VTSAX is the larger fund by assets ($1000B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose SCHD
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Want higher current income — SCHD yields 3.14% vs 1.11% for VTSAX.
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.6 vs 1.0 for VTSAX.
Choose VTSAX
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares
Want the broadest single-fund diversification across the entire market.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.04% expense ratio vs 0.06% for SCHD.
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 $26.17/month, while VTSAX would produce $9.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
SCHD yield3.14%
VTSAX yield1.11%
Monthly diff on $10K$16.92
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHD would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $40 for VTSAX (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
SCHD ER0.06%
VTSAX ER0.04%
Strategy & risk
SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while VTSAX tracks US Total Market with an index approach. Beta is 0.58 for SCHD and 1.03 for VTSAX, indicating SCHD is less volatile relative to the market.
SCHD beta0.58
VTSAX beta1.03
Fund details
SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $95.2B in assets. VTSAX is managed by Vanguard with $1000B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is SCHD or VTSAX 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.
What is the difference between SCHD and VTSAX?
SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) tracks US Total Market with an index approach. They are issued by Schwab and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both SCHD and VTSAX?
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 VTSAX?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VTSAX charges 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in SCHD vs VTSAX generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in SCHD would generate roughly $26.17 per month ($314.00 annually). The same in VTSAX would produce about $9.25 per month ($111.00 annually).
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