ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated July 4, 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.

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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 VTV.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	SCHD	VTV
Full name	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Vanguard Value ETF
Issuer	Schwab	Vanguard
Last Close	$32.39 as of July 4, 2026	$219.17 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield	3.12%	1.97%
Distribution Safety Score	100	100
Expense ratio	0.06%	0.04%
AUM	$95.2B	$180B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index	CRSP US Large Cap Value 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.	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	10/20/2011	01/26/2004
Beta	0.59	0.72
Last dividend	$0.2525	$1.0820
Ex-dividend date	06/24/2026	06/26/2026

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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

SCHD has lagged VTV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.16% total return against 24.69%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VTV has compounded at 12.67% a year, against 12.50% for SCHD. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Oct 2011	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
SCHD	17.79%	23.16%	13.81%	8.69%	12.50%	13.16%	13.1%	0.65	0.94	-16.1%
VTV	14.30%	24.69%	17.89%	12.17%	12.67%	13.32%	12.3%	0.98	1.41	-14.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 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) and VTV (Vanguard Value ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SCHD offers the higher yield at 3.12% vs 1.97% for VTV. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VTV 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 VTV tracks CRSP US Large Cap Value Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTV is the larger fund by assets ($180B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHD would generate roughly $26.00/month, while VTV would produce $16.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHD yield3.12%

VTV yield1.97%

Monthly diff on $10K$9.58

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHD would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $40 for VTV (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SCHD ER0.06%

VTV ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index with a basket approach, while VTV tracks CRSP US Large Cap Value Index with an index approach. Beta is 0.59 for SCHD and 0.72 for VTV, indicating SCHD is less volatile relative to the market.

SCHD beta0.59

VTV beta0.72

Fund details

SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $95.2B in assets. VTV is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $180B in assets.

SCHD AUM$95.2B

VTV AUM$180B

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Frequently asked questions

Is SCHD or VTV 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 VTV?

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index with a basket approach, while VTV (Vanguard Value ETF) tracks CRSP US Large Cap Value Index with an index approach. They are issued by Schwab and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SCHD and VTV?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has lower fees, SCHD or VTV?

SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VTV 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 VTV generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHD would generate roughly $26.00 per month ($312.00 annually). The same in VTV would produce about $16.42 per month ($197.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHD or VTV?

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SCHD vs VTV — at a glance

Generated June 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

SCHD and VTV are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs tracking fundamentally different stock-selection approaches. SCHD targets the highest-yielding dividend payers with consistent dividend-growth histories, while VTV captures the broader large-cap value universe using a market-cap-weighted methodology. The key distinction: SCHD's Dow Jones Dividend 100 Index selects just 100 stocks screened for yield and dividend consistency, whereas VTV's CRSP index includes hundreds of undervalued large-cap stocks regardless of income orientation.

How they differ

SCHD's concentrated income focus produces a 3.16% distribution rate versus VTV's 1.96%—that gap reflects both higher-yielding underlying holdings and the dividend-growth filter that excludes many cheaper non-payers. SCHD's 100-stock portfolio is dramatically more concentrated than VTV's broad value universe; concentration also shows in the beta: SCHD's 0.59 beta suggests it moves much less with the broader market than VTV's 0.72. Fees are nearly identical (0.06% vs 0.04%), but VTV's AUM of $180B dwarfs SCHD's $95.2B, giving VTV deeper liquidity and tighter trading spreads. Finally, SCHD's newer inception (2011) versus VTV's longer 20-year history means VTV has documented performance across multiple market cycles, while SCHD lacks a full 2008 bear-market test.

Who each is best for

SCHD: Fits investors prioritizing current income from dividend-paying equities and willing to accept the higher concentration risk that comes with a 100-stock screened basket—income-focused allocations where reinvestment of dividends is secondary to the payout stream itself.

VTV: Fits investors seeking broad large-cap value exposure with lower-cost diversification across hundreds of undervalued stocks, where value factors matter more than dividend yield—those building a core equity holding or treating value as a standalone strategic tilt rather than an income vehicle.

Key risks to know

Concentration risk in SCHD: A 100-stock portfolio means individual positions carry outsized influence on performance; a dividend cut in a top-5 holding can meaningfully drag on the fund's yield and NAV. VTV's broader index provides natural diversification across the large-cap value universe.

Dividend-cut vulnerability: SCHD's screening for "consistent dividend payers" can lag in identifying deteriorating credit quality; economic stress may force dividend cuts among SCHD's holdings faster than the index methodology catches up, eroding both yield and principal.

Relative underperformance in growth-led markets: Both funds carry value exposure and lower beta, meaning they tend to lag in rallies led by growth and technology stocks—a structural drag in bull markets dominated by high-multiple names.

Smaller asset base liquidity: While SCHD's $95.2B is substantial, VTV's $180B liquidity advantage becomes relevant for very large trades or in stress scenarios when bid-ask spreads can widen.

Bottom line

If you prioritize higher current income and accept concentrated exposure to proven dividend payers, SCHD delivers yield with lower market sensitivity. If you want broad value exposure with deeper liquidity and lower fees as a foundational holding, VTV offers a more diversified alternative—though with less income. Both carry value-style risk in growth-heavy markets; the choice hinges on whether income concentration or index diversification matters more to your strategy. 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.