ETF Comparison

VEA vs SCHF: Same Developed-Ex-US Idea, Two Issuers

A head-to-head of Schwab International Equity and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets covering index, cost, and overlap.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

SCHFInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
VEAInvestors who want higher current income (2.04% vs 1.15% for SCHF).

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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

SCHF has outpaced VEA over the trailing twelve months, posting a 31.04% total return against 30.13%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SCHF has compounded at 10.16% a year, against 10.07% for VEA. 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.
Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Nov 2009	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
SCHF	18.03%	31.04%	21.42%	10.32%	10.16%	7.94%	15.7%	0.95	1.39	-13.4%
VEA	17.52%	30.13%	21.30%	10.03%	10.07%	8.06%	15.7%	0.95	1.38	-13.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Nov 2009” measures every fund from November 3, 2009 — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	SCHF	VEA
Full name	Schwab International Equity ETF	Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF
Issuer	Schwab	Vanguard
Underlying index	FTSE Developed ex US Index (Net)	FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index
Last Close	$28.58 as of September 4, 2026	$73.76 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution yield	1.15%	2.04%
Distribution Safety Score™	35	89
Safety-Adjusted Yield	0.40%	1.82%
Expense ratio	0.03%	0.03%
AUM	$69.4B	$236B
Distribution frequency	Semi-Annual	Quarterly
Objective	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.	Track the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	11/03/2009	07/20/2007
Beta	1.04	0.97
Last dividend	$0.165	$0.377
Ex-dividend date	06/24/2026	06/18/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHF if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VEA if you want higher current income (2.04% vs 1.15% for SCHF).

VEA vs SCHF: two developed-ex-US market funds

Both hold developed markets outside the US. Issuer, index, and cost differ; holding both mostly doubles the same book.

	SCHF	VEA
Geography	Developed ex-US	Developed ex-US
Issuer	Schwab	Vanguard
Expense ratio	0.03%	0.03%
Fund size	$69.4B	$236B

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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$616B

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 SCHF.

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Vanguard

ETFs116

Total AUM$4650B

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 VEA.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

SCHF (Schwab International Equity ETF) and VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VEA offers the higher yield at 2.04% vs 1.15% for SCHF. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: SCHF is linked to FTSE Developed ex US Index (Net) while VEA is linked to FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VEA is the larger fund by assets ($236B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHF would generate roughly $9.58/month, while VEA would produce $17.00/month, at current distribution rates.

SCHF yield1.15%

VEA yield2.04%

Monthly diff on $10K$7.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHF would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $30 for VEA (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

SCHF ER0.03%

VEA ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

SCHF tracks FTSE Developed ex US Index (Net) with an index approach, while VEA tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index with an international approach. Beta is 1.04 for SCHF and 0.97 for VEA, making VEA the less volatile of the two by this measure.

SCHF beta1.04

VEA beta0.97

Fund details

SCHF is managed by Schwab (launched 11/03/2009) with $69.4B in assets. VEA is managed by Vanguard (launched 07/20/2007) with $236B in assets.

SCHF AUM$69.4B

VEA AUM$236B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between VEA and SCHF?

Both hold developed markets outside the US. SCHF (Schwab International Equity ETF) is Schwab's international equity fund. VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) is Vanguard's FTSE developed-markets fund. Cost is 0.03% versus 0.03%; size is $69.4B versus $236B. Distributions are 1.15% and 2.04% as of September 2026. Holding both mostly doubles the same developed-ex-US book.

What is the current distribution yield for SCHF and VEA?

SCHF currently distributes 1.15% and VEA 2.04%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is SCHF or VEA better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VEA 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 SCHF and VEA?

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 SCHF or VEA safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VEA scores 89, SCHF scores 35, so VEA's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, SCHF or VEA?

SCHF and VEA both charge the same expense ratio of 0.03%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

How much income does $10,000 in SCHF vs VEA generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHF would generate roughly $9.58 per month ($115.00 annually). The same in VEA would produce about $17.00 per month ($204.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHF or VEA?

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SCHF vs VEA — at a glance

Generated August 29, 2026.

Overview

SCHF and VEA are both broad-market ETFs tracking developed international equities ex-US, but they differ in their index construction and distribution mechanics. Both charge 0.03% in expenses and aim to replicate their respective benchmarks with minimal tracking error.

How they differ

The most significant difference is their underlying index scope. VEA's All Cap index includes mid and small-cap stocks alongside large-cap holdings, giving it broader exposure within developed markets. SCHF uses the standard Developed ex US Index, which leans larger-cap. This difference translates directly to yield: VEA distributes at 2.04% compared to SCHF's 1.15%, reflecting the higher dividend contribution of mid and small-cap stocks in its portfolio. VEA is substantially larger at $236B in assets versus SCHF's $69.4B, offering tighter spreads and deeper liquidity.

Who each is best for

SCHF: Fits investors seeking exposure to large-cap developed international equities with minimal income expectations, preferring the simplicity of semi-annual distributions and a narrower, more predictable holdings universe.

VEA: Designed for those wanting broader developed-market participation across the full market-cap spectrum, willing to accept higher dividend yield and more frequent distribution payments in exchange for exposure to mid and small-cap international stocks.

Key risks to know

Index-composition mismatch. Holdings overlap significantly but are not identical; the All Cap versus ex-US distinction means VEA carries more mid and small-cap concentration, which typically exhibits higher volatility in downturns than large-cap equities.

Currency exposure. Both funds hold diversified developed-market currencies (euro, yen, pound, etc.) without hedging. Strengthening dollar headwinds or weakening foreign currencies can drag returns independent of underlying stock performance.

Developed-market growth sensitivity. A beta near 1.0 for both signals market-level sensitivity to economic cycles and interest-rate shifts, particularly in Europe and Japan—regions with slower growth profiles and demographic headwinds.

Dividend sustainability in recessions. VEA's higher distribution rate relies on mid and small-cap dividend stability, which tends to contract more sharply than large-cap payouts during extended economic slowdowns.

Bottom line

If you want pure large-cap developed-market exposure with lower income expectations, SCHF's tighter index focus may fit. If you prefer broader mid and small-cap inclusion and don't mind higher yield and quarterly payouts, VEA's All Cap methodology offers that trade-off. Past performance does not predict future results.

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

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