Dividend comparison
SCHD vs VT: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. Both charge about 0.06% a year, so cost is not what separates them.
- Income. SCHD pays more income, yielding 3.04% over the last twelve months versus 1.53% for VT. That is about $151 more a year on $10,000. SCHD pays quarterly, VT pays annual.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VT returned 60.7% versus 57.9% for SCHD, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $16,069 in VT and $15,790 in SCHD.
- Risk. VT has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -26.4%, against -16.8% for SCHD.
- Diversification. VT holds 9,773 positions and SCHD holds 102. The ten largest positions make up 41.7% of SCHD and 22.3% of VT.
- Overlap. At least 3% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 12 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Dividend growth. SCHD grew its yearly payout 8.7% a year over the last 4 years, versus 7.1% for VT.
Bottom line: SCHD fits better if you care most about more income today, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. VT fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and broader diversification.
| Metric | SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 3.04% | 1.53% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.05 | $2.41 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Annual |
| Last dividend | $0.2665 on Sep 28, 2026 | $0.4084 on Sep 22, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 23, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 8.7% over 4 yrs | 7.1% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $34.69 | $157.80 |
| Dividend growth streak | 13 years | — |
| Beta | 0.58 | 0.93 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -16.8% | -26.4% |
| Market cap | $98.31B | $101.30B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Assets under management | $114.71B | $101.20B |
| Number of holdings | 102 | 9773 |
| Top 10 concentration | 41.7% | 22.3% |
SCHD
$25.32/mo
$304 /yr at 3.04% yield
VT
$12.75/mo
$153 /yr at 1.53% yield
| Year | SCHD | VT |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.0476 | $2.5732 |
| 2024 | $0.9944 | $2.2939 |
| 2023 | $0.8862 | $2.1419 |
| 2022 | $0.8540 | $1.8957 |
| 2021 | $0.7499 | $1.9550 |
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
What SCHD vs VT actually do
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
It tracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index at market-cap weights, so US companies make up the majority of the fund simply because they are the majority of world market value, with the remainder spread across developed international and emerging markets. Weights shift as those markets grow or shrink relative to each other, so the allocation decision is made by the market rather than by you. Holding non-US companies brings currency exposure and foreign withholding tax, and the headline yield is usually a little higher than a US-only fund because many international companies pay out more of their earnings.
Suits an investor who wants a single, permanently self-rebalancing global equity holding and no home-country judgment call. Not for someone who wants to control their US weighting deliberately, and not an income fund.
Core holding, global
| Period | SCHD | VT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 3.83% | -0.47% |
| 3 months | 6.77% | 1.95% |
| Year to date | 29.59% | 11.87% |
| 1 year | 33.01% | 13.16% |
| 3 years | 66.22% | 80.78% |
| 5 years | 57.90% | 60.69% |
- SCHD
- VT
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- SCHD
- VT
| Largest shared holdings | SCHD weight | VT weight |
|---|---|---|
| CVXCHEVRON | 4.31% | 0.32% |
| MRKMERCK & CO INC | 3.85% | 0.30% |
| PGPROCTER & GAMBLE | 4.34% | 0.29% |
| KOCOCA-COLA | 4.30% | 0.28% |
| UNHUNITEDHEALTH GROUP | 4.14% | 0.28% |
| HDHOME DEPOT | 3.95% | 0.24% |
| TXNTEXAS INSTRUMENT | 4.40% | 0.22% |
| AMGNAMGEN INC | 3.90% | 0.19% |
| QCOMQUALCOMM | 4.15% | 0.16% |
| VZVERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC | 3.57% | 0.16% |
SCHD102 holdings total
Quick verdict
SCHD fits better if you care most about more income today, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. VT fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is SCHD or VT better for dividend income?
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Which is cheaper, SCHD or VT?
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How much do SCHD and VT overlap?
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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.