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ETF Comparison

SCHY vs VYMI: A Short International List, or Broad High Yield?

A head-to-head of Schwab International Dividend Equity and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield covering screens and cost.

Data updated September 21, 2026

Best for

  • SCHYInvestors who want higher current income (4.37% vs 3.14% for VYMI).
  • VYMIInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.

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

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

SCHY has lagged VYMI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.83% total return against 27.97%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: VYMI has compounded at 14.90% a year, against 9.47% for SCHY. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Apr 2021Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHY10.74%20.83%16.58%9.47%8.86%12.1%0.901.29-12.2%
VYMI17.65%27.97%23.53%14.90%13.37%13.7%1.231.78-12.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 21, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Apr 2021” measures every fund from April 29, 2021 — the start of shared available history — 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.
MetricSCHYVYMI
Full nameSchwab International Dividend Equity ETFVanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF
IssuerSchwabVanguard
Underlying indexDow Jones International Dividend 100 IndexFTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index
Last Close$32.70 as of September 21, 2026$104.01 as of September 21, 2026
Distribution rate4.37%3.14%
Distribution Safety Score™ 9788
Safety-Adjusted Yield 4.24%2.76%
Expense ratio0.08%0.07%
AUM$2.60B$21.7B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index.Seeks to track the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, investing at least 80% of net assets in the international high-dividend stocks that make up the target index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date04/29/202102/25/2016
Beta0.810.71
Last dividend$0.357$0.817 declared, pays 09/22/2026
Ex-dividend date06/24/202609/18/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHY if you want higher current income (4.37% vs 3.14% for VYMI). Choose VYMI if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.

SCHY vs VYMI: short list or broad high yield abroad?

SCHY is a tighter international dividend screen. VYMI is a broader high-yield book outside the US.

SCHYVYMI
ScreenInternational dividend 100International high dividend yield
Expense ratio0.08%0.07%
Distribution rate4.37%3.14%
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Income calculator

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

Schwab
ETFs33
Total AUM$610B

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 SCHY.

See all Schwab ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4697B

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 VYMI.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

SCHY (Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF) and VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SCHY offers the higher yield at 4.37% vs 3.14% for VYMI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VYMI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.07% compared to 0.08%.

They have different reference exposures: SCHY is linked to Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index while VYMI is linked to FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VYMI is the larger fund by assets ($21.7B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose SCHY

Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF

  • Want higher current income — SCHY yields 4.37% vs 3.14% for VYMI.
  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.

Choose VYMI

Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF

  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.07% expense ratio vs 0.08% for SCHY.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHY would generate roughly $36.42/month, while VYMI would produce $26.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHY yield4.37%
VYMI yield3.14%
Monthly diff on $10K$10.25

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHY would cost approximately $80 in fees vs $70 for VYMI (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SCHY ER0.08%
VYMI ER0.07%

Strategy & risk

SCHY tracks Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index with a dividend approach, while VYMI tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index. Beta is 0.81 for SCHY and 0.71 for VYMI, making VYMI the less volatile of the two by this measure.

SCHY beta0.81
VYMI beta0.71

Fund details

SCHY is managed by Schwab (launched 04/29/2021) with $2.60B in assets. VYMI is managed by Vanguard (launched 02/25/2016) with $21.7B in assets.

SCHY AUM$2.60B
VYMI AUM$21.7B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SCHY and VYMI?

SCHY (Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF) uses a shorter international dividend screen. VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) holds a broader high-yield book outside the US. Cost is 0.08% versus 0.07%; distributions are 4.37% and 3.14% as of September 2026. Screen rules, not a small yield gap, are the decision.

What is the current distribution rate for SCHY and VYMI?

SCHY currently distributes 4.37% and VYMI 3.14%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is SCHY or VYMI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SCHY 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 SCHY and VYMI?

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 SCHY or VYMI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SCHY scores 97, VYMI scores 88, so SCHY's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, SCHY or VYMI?

SCHY has an expense ratio of 0.08% while VYMI charges 0.07%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in SCHY vs VYMI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHY would generate roughly $36.42 per month ($437.00 annually). The same in VYMI would produce about $26.17 per month ($314.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHY or VYMI?

SCHY has lagged VYMI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.83% total return against 27.97%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: VYMI has compounded at 14.90% a year, against 9.47% for SCHY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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SCHY vs VYMI — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

SCHY and VYMI are both international dividend-focused ETFs tracking non-US equity indexes, but they differ meaningfully in scope and income generation. This difference drives SCHY's 4.37% yield against VYMI's 3.14%, and shapes the underlying volatility and regional tilt of each fund.

How they differ

The single largest difference is index composition: SCHY's 100-name Dow Jones index is a curated list of the largest international dividend payers, while VYMI's FTSE universe is broader and includes all developed and emerging markets outside the US that meet a high-dividend-yield screen. SCHY delivers 4.37% in yield versus 3.14% for VYMI — a 122-basis-point spread that reflects SCHY's concentration in the highest-yielding names. SCHY's beta of 0.81 is also notably higher than VYMI's 0.71, indicating SCHY moves more in line with broader market swings.

Who each is best for

SCHY: Fits investors who want a concentrated, higher-income stream from large international dividend payers and are comfortable with tighter index construction and somewhat more market-correlated moves.

VYMI: Fits investors seeking broader international dividend exposure across developed and emerging markets with a more systematic high-yield filter, lower volatility, and the liquidity benefits of a larger fund.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration risk in SCHY. A 100-name index is more vulnerable to idiosyncratic events affecting a handful of holdings than a broader dividend-screened universe. Dividend cuts or business deterioration in the largest positions can have outsized impact on fund performance and yield sustainability.
  • Yield-premium erosion. SCHY's 4.37% yield meaningfully exceeds VYMI's 3.14%, suggesting the market has priced SCHY's holdings for higher current income. If dividend growth stalls or cuts occur, that premium could compress and create NAV headwinds.
  • Regional and currency exposure overlap. Both funds track non-US developed and emerging markets with substantial overlap in holdings and currency risk. Economic slowdown in Europe or EM weakness would likely pressure both simultaneously.
  • Beta and market sensitivity asymmetry. SCHY's 0.81 beta versus VYMI's 0.71 indicates that during equity-market sell-offs, SCHY will likely decline more steeply, offsetting some of its yield advantage in down periods.

Bottom line

If you prioritize current income and accept concentration risk, SCHY's 4.37% yield and tighter dividend-payer focus stand out. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and dividend policies across international markets can shift rapidly with economic conditions.

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

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