Dividend comparison

SCHD vs CGDV: Which Is Better for Income?

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

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SCHD vs CGDV: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. SCHD is cheaper at 0.06% a year versus 0.33% for CGDV. On $10,000 that is $27 a year less in fees.
  • Income. SCHD pays more income, yielding 3.04% over the last twelve months versus 1.23% for CGDV. That is about $181 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 3 years, CGDV returned 94.7% versus 66.2% for SCHD, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $19,473 in CGDV and $16,622 in SCHD.
  • Risk. CGDV has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 3 years was -21.9%, against -16.8% for SCHD.
  • Diversification. SCHD holds 102 positions and CGDV holds 58.
  • Dividend growth. SCHD grew its yearly payout 8.7% a year over the last 2 years, versus 7.0% for CGDV.
  • Size. SCHD is the larger fund with $114.7 billion in assets, against $38.8 billion for CGDV.

Bottom line: SCHD fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. CGDV fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricSCHD
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
CGDV
Capital Group Dividend Value ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)3.04%1.23%
Dividend / share (TTM)$1.05$0.60
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.2665 on Sep 28, 2026$0.1522 on Oct 1, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 23, 2026Sep 30, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)8.7% over 4 yrs7.0% over 2 yrs
Price$34.69$49.17
Dividend growth streak13 years2 years
Beta0.580.90
Max drawdown (5Y)-16.8%-21.9%
Market cap$98.31B$38.84B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.06%0.33%
Assets under management$114.71B$38.84B
Number of holdings10258
Top 10 concentration41.7%—
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

SCHD

$25.32/mo

$304 /yr at 3.04% yield

CGDV

$10.21/mo

$123 /yr at 1.23% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SCHD pays quarterly; CGDV pays quarterly.
YearSCHDCGDV
2025$1.0476$0.5649
2024$0.9944$0.5636
2023$0.8862$0.4932
2022$0.8540—
2021$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 SCHD vs CGDV 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 Feb 24, 2022 would now be worth $16,302 in SCHD and $21,148 in CGDV.
PeriodSCHDCGDV
1 month3.83%0.43%
3 months6.77%0.78%
Year to date29.59%12.67%
1 year33.01%16.68%
3 years66.22%94.73%
5 years57.90%—
  • SCHD
  • CGDV
7515323120222023202420252026163211

Both series indexed to 100 on 2022-02-24 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.
  • SCHD
  • CGDV
0%9%19%28%38%Technology16.0%37.8%Healthcare19.3%7.9%Consumer Defensive20.1%5.4%Industrials7.3%11.8%Energy15.3%3.7%Communication Services6.0%11.4%Consumer Cyclical6.7%8.1%Financial Services9.2%5.1%Basic Materials4.2%Cash & Others0.0%2.7%Other0.1%1.8%
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

SCHD fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. CGDV fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is SCHD or CGDV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SCHD currently yields 3.04% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while CGDV yields 1.23%. 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 SCHD and CGDV?
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV) 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, SCHD or CGDV?
SCHD has the lower expense ratio. SCHD charges 0.06% a year and CGDV charges 0.33%, a difference of $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SCHD or CGDV?
Over the last 3 years, CGDV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SCHD returned 66.2% and CGDV returned 94.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SCHD or CGDV?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, CGDV has been riskier: SCHD fell as much as 16.8% and CGDV as much as 21.9%. Their betas are 0.58 and 0.90.
How often do SCHD and CGDV pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.2665 for SCHD and $0.1522 for CGDV.
How much income does $10,000 in SCHD vs CGDV generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SCHD would generate roughly $25.32 per month ($304 annually). The same amount in CGDV would produce about $10.21 per month ($123 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SCHD and CGDV?
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 SCHD vs CGDV with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SCHD and CGDV 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.