Dividend comparison

DGRO vs SCHG: Which Is Better?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF and Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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DGRO vs SCHG: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. SCHG is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.08% for DGRO. On $10,000 that is $4 a year less in fees.
  • Income. DGRO pays more income, yielding 1.88% over the last twelve months versus 0.39% for SCHG. That is about $149 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, SCHG returned 85.2% versus 64.5% for DGRO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,525 in SCHG and $16,454 in DGRO.
  • Risk. SCHG has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -34.6%, against -19.3% for DGRO.
  • Diversification. DGRO holds 391 positions and SCHG holds 189.
  • Dividend growth. SCHG grew its yearly payout 9.4% a year over the last 4 years, versus 7.9% for DGRO.

Bottom line: DGRO fits better if you care most about more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. SCHG fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricDGRO
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
SCHG
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)1.88%0.39%
Dividend / share (TTM)$1.49$0.14
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.3850 on Sep 18, 2026$0.0371 on Sep 28, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 15, 2026Sep 23, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.9% over 4 yrs9.4% over 4 yrs
Price$79.26$35.53
Dividend growth streak10 years4 years
Beta0.671.20
Max drawdown (5Y)-19.3%-34.6%
Market cap$43.96B$63.06B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.08%0.04%
Assets under management$44.19B$63.70B
Number of holdings391189
Top 10 concentration—60.9%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

DGRO

$15.71/mo

$188 /yr at 1.88% yield

SCHG

$3.26/mo

$39 /yr at 0.39% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. DGRO pays quarterly; SCHG pays quarterly.
YearDGROSCHG
2025$1.4506$0.1168
2024$1.3851$0.1163
2023$1.3159$0.0903
2022$1.1679$0.0817
2021$1.0718$0.0817
Strategy: Large-cap growth
Funds that hold the faster-growing half of the large-cap market, selected by measures like earnings growth, sales growth and price momentum. In practice that means heavy weights in technology and communication companies, with the largest few names often making up a third of the fund or more. Dividends are small because growth companies reinvest their cash instead of paying it out.

Concentration in a handful of mega-cap stocks makes these funds swing harder than the broad market in both directions, and they offer little current income.

What DGRO vs SCHG actually do

DGRO
An iShares fund holding a wide set of US companies with a record of raising their dividends.

It tracks the Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index, which requires at least five consecutive years of dividend growth, a payout ratio under 75%, a positive earnings forecast, no REITs, and excludes the top 10% of the universe by yield. The five-year requirement is looser than VIG's ten, so the portfolio is broader, running to several hundred names. Holdings are weighted by the total dollar value of dividends paid rather than by market cap, which tilts weight toward the largest actual dividend payers rather than the largest companies.

Suits an investor who wants dividend growth with more names and a slightly higher starting yield than a stricter growth screen delivers. Less suitable for someone who wants concentrated exposure to only the longest-running dividend raisers.

Dividend growth, broad

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $16,454 in DGRO and $18,525 in SCHG.
PeriodDGROSCHG
1 month3.08%0.40%
3 months2.75%4.16%
Year to date14.17%9.29%
1 year15.72%10.38%
3 years70.71%99.05%
5 years64.54%85.25%
  • DGRO
  • SCHG
62130199202120222023202420252026165185

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.
  • DGRO
  • SCHG
0%14%27%41%54%Technology19.5%54.3%Financial Services19.7%5.0%Healthcare17.2%6.6%Financials19.2%Industrials11.2%7.0%Information Technology17.8%Health Care17.4%Consumer Cyclical5.9%10.1%Communication Services0.1%13.7%Consumer Defensive12.2%1.1%Other36.8%2.3%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

SCHG189 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA12.13%
AAPLAPPLE11.73%
MSFTMICROSOFT9.19%
AMZNAMAZON COM INC5.74%
GOOGLALPHABET CLASS A4.68%
METAMETA PLATFORMS CLASS A4.25%
AVGOBROADCOM INC4.00%
GOOGALPHABET CLASS C3.75%
LLYELI LILLY2.73%
TSLATESLA INC2.71%

Quick verdict

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

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Frequently asked questions

Is DGRO or SCHG better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DGRO currently yields 1.88% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SCHG yields 0.39%. 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 DGRO and SCHG?
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) 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 is cheaper, DGRO or SCHG?
SCHG has the lower expense ratio. DGRO charges 0.08% a year and SCHG charges 0.04%, a difference of $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, DGRO or SCHG?
Over the last 5 years, SCHG has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: DGRO returned 64.5% and SCHG returned 85.2%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, DGRO or SCHG?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, SCHG has been riskier: DGRO fell as much as 19.3% and SCHG as much as 34.6%. Their betas are 0.67 and 1.20.
How often do DGRO and SCHG pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.3850 for DGRO and $0.0371 for SCHG.
How much income does $10,000 in DGRO vs SCHG generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in DGRO would generate roughly $15.71 per month ($188 annually). The same amount in SCHG would produce about $3.26 per month ($39 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both DGRO and SCHG?
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 DGRO vs SCHG with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how DGRO and SCHG 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.