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ETF Comparison

SCHG vs VTI: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 14, 2026

Best for

  • SCHGInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
  • VTIInvestors who want higher current income (1.09% vs 0.38% for SCHG).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricSCHGVTI
Full nameSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFVanguard Total Stock Market ETF
IssuerSchwabVanguard
Last Close$35.79 as of August 14, 2026$383.85 as of August 14, 2026
Distribution yield0.38%1.09%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Expense ratio0.04%0.03%
AUM$62.4B$696B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexDow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market IndexCRSP US Total Market 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 CRSP US Total Market Index, representing the broad U.S. equity market.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date12/11/200905/24/2001
Beta1.211.0379
Last dividend$0.0340$1.0437
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 VTI if you want higher current income (1.09% vs 0.38% for 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$605B

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$4658B

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 VTI.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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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

SCHG has lagged VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.99% total return against 22.25%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHG has compounded at 18.57% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.91%. VTI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.5% 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 Dec 2009Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHG10.37%16.99%24.45%13.97%18.57%16.64%19.5%0.901.28-23.4%
VTI14.82%22.25%21.44%12.33%14.91%14.24%15.5%0.971.40-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 14, 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.

Quick verdict

SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VTI offers the higher yield at 1.09% vs 0.38% for SCHG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VTI 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 VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($696B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHG would generate roughly $3.17/month, while VTI would produce $9.08/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHG yield0.38%
VTI yield1.09%
Monthly diff on $10K$5.92

Cost & efficiency

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

SCHG ER0.04%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. Beta is 1.21 for SCHG and 1.0379 for VTI, indicating VTI is less volatile relative to the market.

SCHG beta1.21
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $62.4B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $696B in assets.

SCHG AUM$62.4B
VTI AUM$696B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for SCHG and VTI?

SCHG currently distributes 0.38% and VTI 1.09%, 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 VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VTI 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.

What is the difference between SCHG and VTI?

SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, while VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. They are issued by Schwab and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SCHG and VTI?

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 VTI 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, VTI scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. VTI has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.04 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 VTI?

SCHG has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VTI 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 VTI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHG would generate roughly $3.17 per month ($38.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.08 per month ($109.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHG or VTI?

SCHG has lagged VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.99% total return against 22.25%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHG has compounded at 18.57% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.91%. VTI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.5% 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 VTI — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

SCHG and VTI are both broad U.S. equity ETFs that track different market segments. SCHG focuses exclusively on large-cap growth stocks (the top 750 by market cap classified as growth), while VTI represents the entire U.S. stock market across all capitalizations and styles. The key distinction is breadth: SCHG is a style-tilted subset; VTI is comprehensive market coverage.

How they differ

SCHG's largest differentiator is its growth tilt. It holds only large-cap growth stocks, which means it excludes value stocks, mid-caps, and small-caps entirely. VTI includes all of those—large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and both growth and value styles. That structural difference drives their performance profiles: SCHG has a beta of 1.21, meaning it swings more sharply than the broad market, while VTI's beta of 1.0379 stays closest to overall market movement.

Income generation differs markedly. SCHG yields 0.38%, reflecting the lower dividend payout typical of growth companies. VTI yields 1.09%, closer to the broader market's dividend contribution. Both pay quarterly, but VTI's higher yield reflects its inclusion of dividend-paying value stocks and smaller companies.

The fee picture is nearly identical—SCHG at 0.04% and VTI at 0.03%—but VTI's vastly larger asset base ($696B versus $62.4B) gives it deeper liquidity and may offer slightly tighter bid-ask spreads.

Who each is best for

SCHG: Fits growth-focused investors comfortable with concentrated exposure to large-cap growth stocks and willing to tolerate higher volatility in exchange for a defined style bet rather than total market exposure.

VTI: Designed for investors seeking one-fund simplicity with exposure to the entire U.S. market across all sizes and styles, minimizing the need to actively choose between growth and value or large and small caps.

Key risks to know

  • Growth concentration risk. SCHG's exposure to growth stocks means it will underperform materially during value-led or small-cap rallies. Its beta of 1.21 amplifies both gains and losses relative to VTI.
  • Style drift sensitivity. During periods when growth underperforms the broad market—as happened in 2022—SCHG will lag VTI. Past performance doesn't predict future results, but the style premium is cyclical.
  • Overlap with VTI. SCHG's holdings are entirely contained within VTI's universe. Holding both introduces redundancy rather than diversification.
  • Lower income for growth tilts. SCHG's 0.38% yield means less reinvestment income and may feel sparse for income-focused portfolios, though this reflects the nature of growth companies rather than fund design.

Bottom line

If you want maximum simplicity and true market-cap-weighted exposure to all U.S. equities, VTI's breadth and $696B in AUM make it the lower-friction choice. If you're specifically seeking a growth-tilted portfolio and accept higher volatility and style cyclicality as a tradeoff, SCHG delivers that conviction with minimal fees. The choice hinges on whether you want style flexibility or a deliberate growth bet.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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