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ETF Comparison

SCHG vs VGT: Growth Style or a Technology Bet?

A head-to-head of the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF and the Vanguard Information Technology ETF covering holdings overlap, sector concentration, cost, and portfolio role.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

  • SCHGInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
  • VGTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

SCHG has lagged VGT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.87% total return against 35.97%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VGT has compounded at 24.36% a year, against 18.48% for SCHG. SCHG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 19.5% against 24.6% for VGT. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Dec 2009Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHG9.35%15.87%24.84%14.15%18.48%16.57%19.5%0.911.31-23.4%
VGT26.00%35.97%31.57%19.20%24.36%20.05%24.6%0.941.34-27.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 19, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Dec 2009” measures every fund from December 11, 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.
MetricSCHGVGT
Full nameSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFVanguard Information Technology ETF
IssuerSchwabVanguard
Last Close$35.25 as of August 19, 2026$119.79 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield0.39%0.46%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10093
Expense ratio0.04%0.09%
AUM$62.8B$151B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexDow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Indexa basket of Vanguard Information Technology ETF holdings
ObjectiveSeeks to track the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, holding the components ranked 1-750 by full market capitalization that are classified as growth.Seeks to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index/Information Technology 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the information technology sector, including technology software and services, hardware and equipment, and semiconductor manufacturers.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date12/11/200901/26/2004
Beta1.211.47
Last dividend$0.0340$0.1384
Ex-dividend date06/24/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHG if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside. Choose VGT if you want broad equity exposure.

SCHG vs VGT: style box or sector bet?

They share mega-cap technology names, so performance often rhymes. SCHG is a large-cap growth style fund. VGT is information technology only. A year that favors chips and software lifts VGT more; a year that favors growth outside tech lifts SCHG.

SCHGVGT
What it ownsUS large-cap growth stocks across sectorsUS information-technology companies only
OverlapThe largest growth-tech names sit in bothThe same mega-cap names, without the non-tech growth sleeve
Distribution yield0.39%0.46%
Expense ratio0.04%0.09%
If you already own the otherAdds non-tech growth on top of VGTConcentrates the tech slice you already hold in SCHG
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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

Schwab
ETFs34
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 SCHG.

See all Schwab ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4703B

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 VGT.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) and VGT (Vanguard Information Technology ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VGT offers the higher yield at 0.46% vs 0.39% for SCHG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SCHG is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.04% compared to 0.09%.

They track different benchmarks: SCHG is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index while VGT tracks a basket of Vanguard Information Technology ETF holdings, which means their performance drivers differ.

VGT is the larger fund by assets ($151B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHG would generate roughly $3.25/month, while VGT would produce $3.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHG yield0.39%
VGT yield0.46%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.58

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHG would cost approximately $40 in fees vs $90 for VGT (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SCHG ER0.04%
VGT ER0.09%

Strategy & risk

SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, while VGT holds a basket of Vanguard Information Technology ETF holdings. Beta is 1.21 for SCHG and 1.47 for VGT, making SCHG the less volatile of the two by this measure.

SCHG beta1.21
VGT beta1.47

Fund details

SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $62.8B in assets. VGT is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $151B in assets.

SCHG AUM$62.8B
VGT AUM$151B
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Frequently asked questions

Do SCHG and VGT perform the same?

Not reliably. They share many of the largest US technology names, so they often move together — but they are not the same bet. SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) is a large-cap growth style fund: technology is the biggest slice, yet it also holds growth names in consumer, communications, and other sectors. VGT (Vanguard Information Technology ETF) is a sector fund: information technology only. A year when software and hardware lead, VGT can outpace SCHG; a year when growth outside tech leads, the reverse happens. Costs are 0.04% and 0.09%, with distribution yields of 0.39% and 0.46%, as of August 2026. Holding both mostly doubles the same mega-cap chip and software names.

What is the current distribution yield for SCHG and VGT?

SCHG currently distributes 0.39% and VGT 0.46%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is SCHG or VGT better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VGT 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 SCHG and VGT?

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 SCHG or VGT safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SCHG scores 100, VGT scores 93, so SCHG's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. SCHG has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.21 vs 1.47 for VGT). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, SCHG or VGT?

SCHG has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VGT charges 0.09%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in SCHG vs VGT generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHG would generate roughly $3.25 per month ($39.00 annually). The same in VGT would produce about $3.83 per month ($46.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHG or VGT?

SCHG has lagged VGT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.87% total return against 35.97%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VGT has compounded at 24.36% a year, against 18.48% for SCHG. SCHG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 19.5% against 24.6% for VGT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SCHG vs VGT — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

SCHG and VGT are both large, low-cost equity ETFs that provide exposure to U.S. growth stocks through index tracking. The fundamental difference is scope: SCHG targets the largest 750 U.S. growth companies across all sectors, while VGT focuses exclusively on information technology—a single sector that represents a substantial portion of the broad growth universe.

How they differ

SCHG tracks a broad large-cap growth index (Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth) and holds roughly 750 names with diversified sector exposure. VGT is a sector-specific play on technology alone, holding a concentrated basket of large-, mid-, and small-cap tech stocks indexed to the MSCI U.S. Information Technology segment. This makes VGT significantly more concentrated: technology is one of the largest components of growth-oriented portfolios, so VGT's beta of 1.47 is materially higher than SCHG's 1.21, reflecting greater sensitivity to market moves. On cost, SCHG's expense ratio is 0.04% versus VGT's 0.10%—a small but real advantage for the broader fund. AUM also differs substantially ($62.4B for SCHG versus $147B for VGT), meaning VGT has attracted significantly more capital despite the narrower mandate. Both have minimal yield (0.38% and 0.45% respectively), reflecting the low-dividend nature of growth equities.

Who each is best for

SCHG: Fits investors seeking broad large-cap growth exposure without betting on any single sector, suitable for those building a diversified core equity allocation or those uncomfortable concentrating in technology despite its historical strength.

VGT: Designed for investors with a conviction view on information technology's secular tailwinds and who are comfortable accepting higher volatility and sector concentration in exchange for pure-play tech exposure.

Key risks to know

  • Sector concentration (VGT). Technology represents a large and correlated segment of the market. An extended tech downturn or multiple compression would hit VGT substantially harder than a broad-based fund; the 1.47 beta underscores this asymmetric downside.
  • Valuation sensitivity (both). Growth stocks are particularly vulnerable to rising interest rates and inflation expectations, which compress price-to-earnings multiples. Both funds would see extended drawdowns in a sustained hiking cycle; SCHG has less volatility cushion but broader diversification across growth subsectors.
  • Momentum reversal (both). Growth investing has experienced regime shifts where value or other factors outperform for extended periods. Neither fund performs well in value-led markets.
  • Overlapping holdings (VGT and growth index). Large-cap tech companies (Microsoft, Apple, NVIDIA, etc.) are likely to be significant components of both SCHG and VGT. This means a significant portion of SCHG's exposure is already anchored to the technology sector, so the funds' returns may be more correlated than the sector designation alone suggests.

Bottom line

If you want broad large-cap growth with multiple sector exposures and lower fees, SCHG's 0.04% expense ratio and diversification across 750 holdings offer simplicity and cost efficiency. If you believe technology will outperform and are comfortable with a 1.47 beta and 0.10% expense ratio for concentrated sector exposure, VGT delivers that conviction play at scale. Past performance does not guarantee future results; both funds' returns depend on sustained growth valuations and sector relative strength.

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

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