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ETF Comparison

SCHG vs VOO: A Growth Sleeve, or Broad Large Caps?

A head-to-head of Schwab's U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF and Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF covering style tilt, overlap, cost, and core role.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

  • SCHGInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
  • VOOInvestors who want higher current income (1.11% vs 0.39% for SCHG).

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 VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.87% total return against 20.95%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHG has compounded at 18.48% a year, ahead of VOO at 15.30%. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 19.5% for SCHG. 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 Sep 2010Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHG9.35%15.87%24.84%14.15%18.48%17.29%19.5%0.911.31-23.4%
VOO13.20%20.95%22.16%13.44%15.30%15.02%14.9%1.051.51-18.7%

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 Sep 2010” measures every fund from September 9, 2010 — 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.
MetricSCHGVOO
Full nameSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFVanguard S&P 500 ETF
IssuerSchwabVanguard
Last Close$35.25 as of August 19, 2026$705.40 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield0.39%1.11%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Expense ratio0.04%0.03%
AUM$62.8B$1045B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexDow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market IndexS&P 500 Index
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.Track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date12/11/200909/07/2010
Beta1.211.0
Last dividend$0.0340$1.9622
Ex-dividend date06/24/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHG if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside. Choose VOO if you want higher current income (1.11% vs 0.39% for SCHG).

SCHG vs VOO: growth sleeve or the S&P 500?

VOO is every major sector at S&P 500 weights. SCHG is a large-cap growth style. Holding both doubles mega-cap growth names already inside VOO.

SCHGVOO
IndexDow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market IndexS&P 500 Index
StyleLarge-cap growthBroad US large caps
Expense ratio0.04%0.03%
Distribution yield0.39%1.11%
If you already own the otherAdds growth concentration on top of VOOAlready includes most SCHG mega caps
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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 VOO.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VOO offers the higher yield at 1.11% vs 0.39% for SCHG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.04%.

They track different benchmarks: SCHG is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1045B), 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 VOO would produce $9.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHG yield0.39%
VOO yield1.11%
Monthly diff on $10K$6.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHG would cost approximately $40 in fees vs $30 for VOO (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SCHG ER0.04%
VOO ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 1.21 for SCHG and 1.0 for VOO, making VOO the less volatile of the two by this measure.

SCHG beta1.21
VOO beta1.0

Fund details

SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $62.8B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1045B in assets.

SCHG AUM$62.8B
VOO AUM$1045B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SCHG and VOO?

VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index — about 500 US large caps in every major sector. SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, so it is a growth-style sleeve, more concentrated in mega-cap technology. Cost is 0.04% versus 0.03%. Distributions are 0.39% and 1.11% as of August 2026 — neither is an income fund. Holding both doubles the growth names that already sit inside VOO.

What is the current distribution yield for SCHG and VOO?

SCHG currently distributes 0.39% and VOO 1.11%, 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 VOO better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VOO 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 VOO?

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 VOO safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: SCHG scores 100, VOO scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. VOO has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.00 vs 1.21 for SCHG). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, SCHG or VOO?

SCHG has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VOO charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHG would generate roughly $3.25 per month ($39.00 annually). The same in VOO would produce about $9.25 per month ($111.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHG or VOO?

SCHG has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.87% total return against 20.95%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHG has compounded at 18.48% a year, ahead of VOO at 15.30%. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 19.5% for SCHG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SCHG vs VOO — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

SCHG and VOO are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs tracking broad indexes, but they differ in scope and growth tilt. VOO holds the 500 largest U.S. companies in a market-weighted blend; SCHG is narrower, tracking only growth-classified names among the top 750 by market cap. The result is that SCHG emphasizes momentum and valuation characteristics while VOO aims to represent the entire large-cap market.

How they differ

VOO's universe is wider and more balanced. It holds 500 stocks using the S&P 500 Index, while SCHG filters for growth characteristics and holds fewer positions by design. The biggest structural difference: SCHG carries a beta of 1.21 versus VOO's 1.0, meaning SCHG amplifies market moves in both directions—a direct consequence of its growth-stock concentration.

Distribution yields tell a related story. VOO yields 1.10%, more than triple SCHG's 0.38%, because growth stocks typically reinvest earnings rather than pay dividends. SCHG's lower yield reflects the nature of its holdings, not a penalty.

On fees, both are exceptionally cheap. VOO's 0.03% expense ratio edges out SCHG's 0.04%, a negligible difference. AUM differs dramatically: VOO holds $1032B against SCHG's $62.4B, meaning VOO has far more trading liquidity and tighter bid-ask spreads.

Who each is best for

SCHG: Fits investors who expect growth stocks to outpace the broader market and have a higher risk tolerance for above-market volatility. Works well for long time horizons where reinvested capital appreciation matters more than current income.

VOO: Designed for investors seeking broad large-cap exposure without a growth or value tilt. Suits those who view large-cap index returns as the baseline performance target and prefer maximum diversification within the large-cap space.

Key risks to know

  • Growth concentration risk in SCHG. By filtering for growth characteristics, SCHG excludes value and dividend-paying stocks. If value outperforms growth, or if the market penalizes high-growth multiples, SCHG will lag VOO by a wide margin. This isn't diversification; it's a bet.
  • Beta mismatch. SCHG's 1.21 beta means it will fall faster than the market in downturns. Investors assuming it tracks the market may be surprised by outsized losses during corrections.
  • Yield sustainability in low-rate environments. VOO's higher yield (1.10%) is partly a function of the current dividend payout cycle. If corporate earnings compress or payout ratios decline, both funds' yields will fall, though VOO's starting point gives it more buffer.
  • Overlap exposure. Both funds hold many of the same large-cap stocks, particularly mega-cap tech names. Sector and company concentration may be higher than the index structures alone suggest.

Bottom line

VOO delivers broad market exposure with minimal fees and strong liquidity; SCHG bets on growth outperformance with higher volatility. If you want to own the large-cap market with the simplest, most diversified approach, VOO's structure and scale stand out. If you have conviction that growth will lead and can tolerate above-market drawdowns, SCHG's tilt offers that exposure—but it's a directional choice, not a neutral baseline.

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

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