Generated August 15, 2026.
Overview
SCHG and SPYG are both large-cap growth equity ETFs tracking different indices of U.S. large-cap growth stocks. SCHG follows the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index and holds up to 750 components, while SPYG tracks the narrower S&P 500 Growth Index. Both charge 0.04% in expenses, but they differ in scope—SCHG casts a wider net across the large-cap growth universe, whereas SPYG's index is more concentrated.
How they differ
The most significant difference is index construction: SPYG's S&P 500 Growth Index is a subset of the 500 largest U.S. companies classified as growth, while SCHG's Dow Jones index includes components ranked 1-750 by market cap and filtered for growth classification. This means SCHG's opportunity set is roughly 50% larger, potentially capturing mid-range large-cap growth names that SPYG excludes.
Both ETFs carry identical 0.04% expense ratios and pay distributions quarterly, though SPYG yields slightly higher at 0.48% versus SCHG's 0.38%. SPYG has deeper history, dating to 2000 versus SCHG's 2009 inception, and both exhibit the same 1.21 beta. SCHG commands greater assets at $62.4B compared to SPYG's $54.7B, reflecting stronger inflows into the Schwab platform.
Who each is best for
SCHG: Fits investors seeking broad exposure to large-cap growth beyond the S&P 500's largest constituents, or those who value slightly lower yield if it reflects exposure to a wider range of growth equities and reduced single-name concentration.
SPYG: Designed for investors who specifically want pure S&P 500 Growth exposure and prefer the index's long-established methodology and transparent, widely-referenced construction rules.
Key risks to know
- Index overlap risk: The two indices likely share 80–90% of holdings, so the difference in performance may be modest despite different construction methods; verifying actual holdings overlap is important before holding both.
- Large-cap growth concentration: Both funds concentrate risk in mega-cap technology and consumer discretionary names. Large-cap growth indices tend to weight their largest constituents heavily, and any sector downturn in growth-sensitive businesses will pressure both similarly.
- Valuation sensitivity: Large-cap growth equities trade on earnings growth and low cash yields, leaving them vulnerable to rising interest rates. Neither fund offers dividend income to cushion volatility; the 0.38–0.48% distribution rates reflect capital appreciation focus, not income generation.
- Beta above 1.0: Both ETFs carry a beta of 1.21, amplifying market swings in both directions. During growth corrections, these funds will likely underperform the broader market.
Bottom line
If you want the broadest large-cap growth mandate within ETF structure, SCHG's wider index eligible universe and marginally lower yield may appeal; if you prefer the simplicity and historical track record of S&P 500 Growth exposure, SPYG delivers that with comparable costs. The choice hinges on whether the extra 250 index slots in SCHG's universe matter to your strategy, since both funds will likely move in tight lockstep during market cycles. 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.