ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and Vanguard Growth 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.

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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 VUG.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	SCHD	VUG
Full name	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Vanguard Growth ETF
Issuer	Schwab	Vanguard
Last Close	$32.20 as of July 15, 2026	$86.96 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield	3.14%	0.42%
Distribution Safety Score	100	91
Expense ratio	0.06%	0.04%
AUM	$95.2B	$222B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index	CRSP US Large Cap Growth 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 CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index for diversified exposure to U.S. growth equities.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	10/20/2011	01/26/2004
Beta	0.58	1.26
Last dividend	$0.2525	$0.0923
Ex-dividend date	06/24/2026	06/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHD if you want higher current income (3.14% vs 0.42% for VUG). Choose VUG if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

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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.

Quick verdict

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

SCHD offers the higher yield at 3.14% vs 0.42% for VUG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VUG 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 VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VUG is the larger fund by assets ($222B), 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 0.42% for VUG.
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.6 vs 1.3 for VUG.

Choose VUG

Vanguard Growth ETF

Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
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 VUG would produce $3.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHD yield3.14%

VUG yield0.42%

Monthly diff on $10K$22.67

Cost & efficiency

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

SCHD ER0.06%

VUG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. Beta is 0.58 for SCHD and 1.26 for VUG, indicating SCHD is less volatile relative to the market.

SCHD beta0.58

VUG beta1.26

Fund details

SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $95.2B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $222B in assets.

SCHD AUM$95.2B

VUG AUM$222B

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Frequently asked questions

Is SCHD or VUG 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 VUG?

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. They are issued by Schwab and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SCHD and VUG?

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 VUG?

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

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHD would generate roughly $26.17 per month ($314.00 annually). The same in VUG would produce about $3.50 per month ($42.00 annually).

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