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ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated July 21, 2026

Schwab
ETFs34
Total AUM$586B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Schwab is known for offering low-cost, broad-based ETFs that serve both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies. Their 33-fund lineup spans multiple asset classes including bonds, equities, international markets, digital assets, and factor-based strategies, with a notable emphasis on dividend-focused funds like SCHD alongside core index options. The issuer emphasizes accessibility for individual investors through competitive expense ratios and a diverse range of fund families designed to support various investment objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHG.

See all Schwab ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4488B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VUG.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

SCHGVUG
Full nameSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFVanguard Growth ETF
IssuerSchwabVanguard
Last Close$34.15 as of July 21, 2026$85.33 as of July 21, 2026
Distribution yield0.40%0.43%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10091
Expense ratio0.04%0.04%
AUM$59.8B$220B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexDow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market IndexCRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
ObjectiveCapital AppreciationTrack the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index for diversified exposure to U.S. growth equities.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date12/11/200901/26/2004
Beta1.211.26
Last dividend$0.0340$0.0923
Ex-dividend date06/24/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineSCHG and VUG are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar large-cap growth exposure with very similar cost and risk. Fees are effectively identical, so it comes down to which your broker offers commission-free and any share-price or tax-lot preference.

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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 outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.00% total return against 14.26%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SCHG has compounded at 18.33% a year, against 17.47% for VUG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Dec 2009Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHG5.31%15.00%21.86%13.80%18.33%16.39%19.4%0.791.13-23.4%
VUG5.54%14.26%21.80%12.92%17.47%15.93%19.6%0.781.12-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 20, 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 VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VUG offers the higher yield at 0.43% vs 0.40% for SCHG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

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

VUG is the larger fund by assets ($220B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHG would generate roughly $3.33/month, while VUG would produce $3.58/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHG yield0.40%
VUG yield0.43%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.25

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHG would cost approximately $40 in fees vs $40 for VUG (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

SCHG ER0.04%
VUG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index with a capital appreciation approach, while VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.21 for SCHG and 1.26 for VUG, indicating SCHG is less volatile relative to the market.

SCHG beta1.21
VUG beta1.26

Fund details

SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $59.8B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $220B in assets.

SCHG AUM$59.8B
VUG AUM$220B
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Frequently asked questions

Is SCHG or VUG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VUG 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 VUG?

SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index with a capital appreciation approach, while VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. They are issued by Schwab and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SCHG and VUG?

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.

Which has lower fees, SCHG or VUG?

SCHG and VUG both charge the same expense ratio of 0.04%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHG would generate roughly $3.33 per month ($40.00 annually). The same in VUG would produce about $3.58 per month ($43.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHG or VUG?

SCHG has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.00% total return against 14.26%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SCHG has compounded at 18.33% a year, against 17.47% for VUG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SCHG vs VUG — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

SCHG and VUG are both large-cap growth index ETFs tracking similar but distinct market segments. SCHG follows the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index while VUG tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. Both charge 0.04% in expenses and pay quarterly distributions, but they differ in size, tracking universe, and factor exposure.

How they differ

The biggest structural difference is their underlying indices: SCHG uses Dow Jones methodology (which tends to include a broader set of large-cap growth names) while VUG uses CRSP (which has a narrower, more concentrated growth tilt). VUG is substantially larger at $222B in AUM versus SCHG's $58.4B, which typically translates to tighter bid-ask spreads and greater liquidity. Both charge identical 0.04% expense ratios, so cost is a wash. VUG carries a beta of 1.26 versus SCHG's 1.21, suggesting VUG holds companies with slightly higher systematic volatility relative to the broader market. Distribution rates are nearly identical at 0.39% for SCHG and 0.42% for VUG — growth stocks prioritize capital appreciation over current yield, and both funds reflect that.

Who each is best for

SCHG: Fits investors seeking exposure to a broader Dow Jones-defined growth universe with slightly lower volatility and who value Schwab's brand integration if they maintain other Schwab accounts.

VUG: Designed for investors who prefer Vanguard's fund family ecosystem, value the scale advantages of $222B in assets, or specifically want CRSP's index methodology and the slightly concentrated growth tilt that comes with it.

Key risks to know

  • Index concentration risk: Both funds carry beta above 1.20, indicating they're meaningfully more volatile than the broad market. Growth indices naturally concentrate in a smaller set of mega-cap technology and software names; periods of growth-style underperformance can amplify losses.
  • Tracking universe divergence: SCHG and VUG will not hold identical positions. The Dow Jones and CRSP indices define large-cap growth differently, so relative performance between the two can diverge by 50–200 basis points in any given year depending on which specific stocks are favored.
  • Sensitivity to interest-rate expectations: Growth equities are particularly sensitive to rising interest rates because their valuations rest on future cash flows. In a rising-rate environment, both funds are likely to underperform value-oriented or dividend-heavy strategies.
  • Valuation-driven drawdowns: Large-cap growth stocks have historically experienced sharp drawdowns when investor sentiment shifts away from growth toward value or when perceived earnings growth disappoints.

Bottom line

Both funds deliver low-cost, tax-efficient exposure to U.S. large-cap growth with identical expense ratios and nearly identical yields. SCHG offers a slightly broader index with marginally lower beta; VUG offers substantially greater liquidity and scale at the cost of a narrower, more concentrated growth mandate. If you prioritize index breadth and moderate volatility, SCHG merits consideration; if you value maximum liquidity and Vanguard's ecosystem, VUG's larger size is an advantage. 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.

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