Generated July 2026 from current fund data.
Overview
SCHG and VOO are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs tracking passive indexes, but they differ in composition and growth orientation. SCHG tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth index—favoring companies with higher expected earnings growth—while VOO tracks the S&P 500, a broader blend of large-cap growth, value, and dividend stocks. The key distinction: SCHG isolates the growth segment of the U.S. market, whereas VOO captures the entire large-cap ecosystem.
How they differ
SCHG's largest difference from VOO is its growth tilt. By construction, SCHG holds companies screened for growth characteristics, whereas VOO includes all 500 constituents of the S&P 500 regardless of growth or value style. This shows up in beta: SCHG's 1.21 beta suggests it amplifies market moves, while VOO's 1.0 beta tracks the market directly.
The second difference is yield. VOO distributes 1.13% annually versus SCHG's 0.39%, reflecting the S&P 500's inclusion of higher-dividend value and dividend-aristocrat stocks that SCHG's growth filter excludes. Both pay quarterly.
Third is scale and cost. VOO's $1033B in assets dwarfs SCHG's $58.4B, but SCHG's expense ratio of 0.04% is only 0.01% higher than VOO's 0.03%—a negligible difference in absolute terms.
Who each is best for
SCHG: Fits investors prioritizing capital appreciation over current income, with a higher risk tolerance and a longer time horizon. The growth tilt appeals to those seeking exposure to faster-growing large-cap companies without the value or dividend drag.
VOO: Designed for investors seeking broad large-cap market exposure with a lower volatility profile and regular dividend income. Works well for buy-and-hold allocators indifferent to growth versus value style, or as a core equity holding.
Key risks to know
- Growth concentration risk (SCHG). A growth-only filter concentrates the portfolio in technology, healthcare, and discretionary sectors. In periods when value outperforms growth—as happened in 2022–2023—SCHG underperforms the broader market significantly.
- Market-cycle sensitivity (SCHG). A beta of 1.21 means SCHG amplifies both upside and downside moves. In a sharp correction, SCHG is likely to fall harder than VOO, which carries a 1.0 beta.
- Valuation risk (both). Large-cap growth and broad large-cap stocks are cyclically sensitive to interest rates and earnings multiples. Rising rates or recession fears compress valuations across both funds, though SCHG faces steeper pressure given its growth weighting.
- Style rotation (SCHG). Growth and value stocks cycle in and out of favor. Extended periods of value leadership leave SCHG trailing a diversified large-cap benchmark like the S&P 500.
Bottom line
VOO offers diversified large-cap exposure with higher yield and lower volatility; SCHG concentrates on growth at the cost of more pronounced market swings and sector concentration. If you want broad market participation with income, VOO is the simpler choice; if you're comfortable with larger moves in pursuit of growth, SCHG's lower yield reflects its different mandate. Either way, 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.