Dividend comparison
SCHY vs IGRO: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF and iShares International Dividend Growth ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SCHY vs IGRO: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SCHY is cheaper at 0.08% a year versus 0.15% for IGRO. On $10,000 that is $7 a year less in fees.
- Income. SCHY pays more income, yielding 3.57% over the last twelve months versus 2.64% for IGRO. That is about $93 more a year on $10,000. SCHY pays semi-annual, IGRO pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SCHY returned 51.5% versus 49.5% for IGRO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $15,147 in SCHY and $14,951 in IGRO.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -24.0% for SCHY and -26.0% for IGRO from peak to trough.
- Diversification. IGRO holds 546 positions and SCHY holds 134. The ten largest positions make up 40.5% of SCHY and 26.8% of IGRO.
- Overlap. At least 13% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 11 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Dividend growth. SCHY grew its yearly payout 8.3% a year over the last 3 years, versus 7.7% for IGRO.
- Size. SCHY is the larger fund with $2.7 billion in assets, against $1.3 billion for IGRO.
Bottom line: SCHY fits better if you care most about lower fees and more income today. IGRO fits better if you care most about broader diversification.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SCHY Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF | IGRO iShares International Dividend Growth ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 3.57% | 2.64% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.17 | $2.41 |
| Payout frequency | Semi-annual | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.3160 on Sep 28, 2026 | $0.4251 on Sep 18, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 23, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 8.3% over 3 yrs | 7.7% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $32.90 | $91.38 |
| Beta | 0.76 | 0.74 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.0% | -26.0% |
| Market cap | $1.84B | $1.29B |
| Exchange | AMEX | CBOE |
| Expense ratio | 0.08% | 0.15% |
| Assets under management | $2.65B | $1.28B |
| Number of holdings | 134 | 546 |
| Top 10 concentration | 40.5% | 26.8% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SCHY
$29.76/mo
$357 /yr at 3.57% yield
IGRO
$22.01/mo
$264 /yr at 2.64% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SCHY pays semi-annual; IGRO pays quarterly.
| Year | SCHY | IGRO |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.0582 | $2.0760 |
| 2024 | $1.0720 | $1.6568 |
| 2023 | $0.9774 | $1.8362 |
| 2022 | $0.8327 | $1.5179 |
| 2021 | — | $1.5410 |
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.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $15,147 in SCHY and $14,951 in IGRO.
| Period | SCHY | IGRO |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.20% | 1.12% |
| 3 months | 1.11% | 1.53% |
| Year to date | 10.33% | 10.40% |
| 1 year | 15.76% | 12.79% |
| 3 years | 63.52% | 67.06% |
| 5 years | 51.47% | 49.51% |
- SCHY
- IGRO
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.
- SCHY
- IGRO
SCHY vs IGRO holdings overlap
At least 13% overlap by weight, with 11 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | SCHY weight | IGRO weight |
|---|---|---|
| BATS.LBRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO | 4.26% | 3.23% |
| ROP.SWROCHE PS PAR AG | 4.30% | 3.07% |
| ENEL.MIENEL | 3.89% | 1.86% |
| ENI.MIENI | 4.26% | 1.06% |
| INFY.NSINFOSYS | 2.69% | 0.93% |
| MFC.TOMANULIFE FINANCIAL | 0.90% | 1.00% |
| SLF.TOSUN LIFE FINANCIAL INC | 0.54% | 0.65% |
| PUB.PAPUBLICIS GROUPE | 2.46% | 0.43% |
| KPN.ASKONINKLIJKE KPN NV | 1.63% | 0.35% |
| WKL.ASWOLTERS KLUWER | 1.83% | 0.35% |
Quick verdict
SCHY fits better if you care most about lower fees and more income today. IGRO fits better if you care most about broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how SCHY vs IGRO fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is SCHY or IGRO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SCHY currently yields 3.57% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while IGRO yields 2.64%. 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 SCHY and IGRO?
Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (SCHY) is an ETF listed on AMEX. iShares International Dividend Growth ETF (IGRO) is an ETF listed on CBOE. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, SCHY or IGRO?
SCHY has the lower expense ratio. SCHY charges 0.08% a year and IGRO charges 0.15%, a difference of $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SCHY or IGRO?
Over the last 5 years, SCHY has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SCHY returned 51.5% and IGRO returned 49.5%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SCHY or IGRO?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, IGRO has been riskier: SCHY fell as much as 24.0% and IGRO as much as 26.0%. Their betas are 0.76 and 0.74.
How much do SCHY and IGRO overlap?
At least 13% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 11 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are BATS.L, ROP.SW, ENEL.MI. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do SCHY and IGRO pay dividends?
SCHY pays semi-annual and IGRO pays quarterly.
How much income does $10,000 in SCHY vs IGRO generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SCHY would generate roughly $29.76 per month ($357 annually). The same amount in IGRO would produce about $22.01 per month ($264 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SCHY and IGRO?
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 SCHY vs IGRO with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SCHY and IGRO 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.