Dividend comparison

ARCC vs SCHD: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Ares Capital Corporation and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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ARCC vs SCHD: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Income. ARCC pays more income, yielding 10.43% over the last twelve months versus 3.04% for SCHD. That is about $739 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, SCHD returned 57.9% versus 28.1% for ARCC, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $15,790 in SCHD and $12,810 in ARCC.
  • Risk. ARCC has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -23.3%, against -16.8% for SCHD.
  • Dividend growth. SCHD grew its yearly payout 8.7% a year over the last 4 years, versus 4.3% for ARCC.

Bottom line: ARCC fits better if you care most about more income today. SCHD fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricARCC
Ares Capital Corporation
SCHD
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)10.43%3.04%
Dividend / share (TTM)$1.92$1.05
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.4800 on Sep 30, 2026$0.2665 on Sep 28, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 15, 2026Sep 23, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)4.3% over 4 yrs8.7% over 4 yrs
Price$18.51$34.69
Payout ratio (TTM)138.4%—
Dividend growth streak—13 years
Beta0.660.58
Max drawdown (5Y)-23.3%-16.8%
Market cap$13.44B$98.31B
ExchangeNASDAQAMEX
Expense ratio—0.06%
Assets under management—$114.71B
Number of holdings—102
Top 10 concentration—41.7%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

ARCC

$86.91/mo

$1043 /yr at 10.43% yield

SCHD

$25.32/mo

$304 /yr at 3.04% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. ARCC pays quarterly; SCHD pays quarterly.
YearARCCSCHD
2025$1.9200$1.0476
2024$1.9200$0.9944
2023$1.9200$0.8862
2022$1.8700$0.8540
2021$1.6200$0.7499
Strategy: Dividend equity
Rules-based equity funds that screen for companies paying sustainable or rising dividends, aiming at income plus long-term share-price participation. The screen is what defines the fund: yield-ranked indexes deliver more cash now, dividend-growth indexes deliberately exclude the highest payers in favor of durability. Both approaches produce a sector mix that looks nothing like the broad market, typically heavier in financials, healthcare, staples and industrials.

Expect stretches of underperformance versus the broad market whenever leadership comes from the high-growth, low-yield companies these screens exclude.

What ARCC vs SCHD actually do

SCHD
An index ETF holding about 100 US dividend payers screened for balance-sheet strength and a long payment record.

It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which first requires at least ten consecutive years of dividends, then ranks the survivors on a composite of cash flow to total debt, return on equity, dividend yield and five-year dividend growth. The top 100 are held at market-cap weights with a 4% cap per stock and 25% per sector, reconstituted annually and rebalanced quarterly. Those quality screens push the portfolio toward mature value sectors and largely out of high-growth technology, which is the single biggest reason its return diverges from the S&P 500 in either direction.

Suits an investor who wants a growing dividend stream plus share-price participation and can sit out technology-led rallies without changing course. Not a match for someone who needs the highest available current yield or wants full market exposure.

Core dividend holding

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $12,810 in ARCC and $15,790 in SCHD.
PeriodARCCSCHD
1 month-4.59%3.83%
3 months-3.44%6.77%
Year to date-8.50%29.59%
1 year-5.56%33.01%
3 years18.12%66.22%
5 years28.10%57.90%
  • ARCC
  • SCHD
84124164202120222023202420252026128158

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • ARCC
  • SCHD
0%5%10%15%20%Consumer Defensive20.1%Healthcare19.3%Technology16.0%Energy15.3%Financial Services9.2%Industrials7.3%Consumer Cyclical6.7%Communication Services6.0%Utilities0.1%Cash & Others0.0%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

SCHD102 holdings total

NameWeight
TXNTEXAS INSTRUMENT4.40%
PGPROCTER & GAMBLE4.34%
CVXCHEVRON4.31%
KOCOCA-COLA4.30%
COPCONOCOPHILLIPS4.30%
QCOMQUALCOMM4.15%
UNHUNITEDHEALTH GROUP4.14%
HDHOME DEPOT3.95%
AMGNAMGEN INC3.90%
PEPPEPSICO3.86%

Quick verdict

ARCC fits better if you care most about more income today. SCHD fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions

Is ARCC or SCHD better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. ARCC currently yields 10.43% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SCHD yields 3.04%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between ARCC and SCHD?
Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) is a stock listed on NASDAQ. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which has performed better, ARCC or SCHD?
Over the last 5 years, SCHD has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: ARCC returned 28.1% and SCHD returned 57.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, ARCC or SCHD?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, ARCC has been riskier: ARCC fell as much as 23.3% and SCHD as much as 16.8%. Their betas are 0.66 and 0.58.
How often do ARCC and SCHD pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.4800 for ARCC and $0.2665 for SCHD.
How much income does $10,000 in ARCC vs SCHD generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in ARCC would generate roughly $86.91 per month ($1043 annually). The same amount in SCHD would produce about $25.32 per month ($304 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both ARCC and SCHD?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare ARCC vs SCHD with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how ARCC and SCHD fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.