Dividend comparison
SCHY vs VXUS: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SCHY vs VXUS: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. VXUS is cheaper at 0.05% a year versus 0.08% for SCHY. On $10,000 that is $3 a year less in fees.
- Income. SCHY pays more income, yielding 3.57% over the last twelve months versus 2.37% for VXUS. That is about $120 more a year on $10,000. SCHY pays semi-annual, VXUS pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SCHY returned 51.5% versus 44.9% for VXUS, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $15,147 in SCHY and $14,485 in VXUS.
- Risk. VXUS has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -28.9%, against -24.0% for SCHY.
- Diversification. VXUS holds 8,602 positions and SCHY holds 134. The ten largest positions make up 40.5% of SCHY and 13.4% of VXUS.
- Overlap. At least 3% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 9 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 5.1% for VXUS.
- Size. VXUS is the larger fund with $649.3 billion in assets, against $2.7 billion for SCHY.
Bottom line: SCHY fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. VXUS fits better if you care most about lower fees and 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 | VXUS Vanguard Total International Stock ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 3.57% | 2.37% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.17 | $1.98 |
| Payout frequency | Semi-annual | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.3160 on Sep 28, 2026 | $0.1562 on Sep 22, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 23, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 8.3% over 3 yrs | 5.1% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $32.90 | $83.74 |
| Dividend growth streak | — | 1 year |
| Beta | 0.76 | 0.92 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.0% | -28.9% |
| Market cap | $1.84B | $667.22B |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Assets under management | $2.65B | $649.30B |
| Number of holdings | 134 | 8602 |
| Top 10 concentration | 40.5% | 13.4% |
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
VXUS
$19.75/mo
$237 /yr at 2.37% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SCHY pays semi-annual; VXUS pays quarterly.
| Year | SCHY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.0582 | $2.3988 |
| 2024 | $1.0720 | $1.9842 |
| 2023 | $0.9774 | $1.8808 |
| 2022 | $0.8327 | $1.5990 |
| 2021 | — | $1.9678 |
Strategy: Broad index
Low-cost funds that hold an entire market or index at market-cap weights and make no attempt to select securities. Return is the index return less a small fee, and dividends are a by-product of what the underlying companies choose to pay rather than an objective of the strategy. Differences between funds tracking the same index usually come down to fee, wrapper structure, share price and trading liquidity, not to holdings.
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
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 $14,485 in VXUS.
| Period | SCHY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.20% | -2.49% |
| 3 months | 1.11% | 0.44% |
| Year to date | 10.33% | 11.00% |
| 1 year | 15.76% | 11.76% |
| 3 years | 63.52% | 72.73% |
| 5 years | 51.47% | 44.85% |
- SCHY
- VXUS
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
- VXUS
SCHY vs VXUS holdings overlap
At least 3% overlap by weight, with 9 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 | VXUS weight |
|---|---|---|
| ROP.SWROCHE PS PAR AG | 4.30% | 0.65% |
| BHP.AXBHP GROUP LTD | 3.66% | 0.31% |
| ULVR.LUNILEVER PLC | 4.06% | 0.28% |
| D05.SIDBS GROUP HOLDINGS LTD | 1.46% | 0.27% |
| BATS.LBRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO | 4.26% | 0.25% |
| 0939.HKCHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK CORP H | 1.52% | 0.25% |
| ZURN.SWZURICH INSURANCE GROUP AG | 1.38% | 0.22% |
| GSK.LGLAXOSMITHKLINE | 3.94% | 0.21% |
| ENEL.MIENEL | 3.89% | 0.17% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
SCHY134 holdings total
VXUS8602 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| 2330.TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 4.24% |
| 005930.KSSamsung Electronics Co Ltd | 2.02% |
| 000660.KSSK hynix Inc | 1.65% |
| ASML.ASASML Holding NV | 1.54% |
| 0700.HKTencent Holdings Ltd | 0.76% |
| HSBA.LHSBC Holdings PLC | 0.76% |
| ROP.SWRoche Holding AG | 0.65% |
| SHEL.LShell PLC | 0.62% |
| RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada | 0.61% |
| NOVN.SWNovartis AG | 0.59% |
Quick verdict
SCHY fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. VXUS fits better if you care most about lower fees and 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 VXUS fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is SCHY or VXUS better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SCHY currently yields 3.57% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VXUS yields 2.37%. 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 VXUS?
Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (SCHY) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, SCHY or VXUS?
VXUS has the lower expense ratio. SCHY charges 0.08% a year and VXUS charges 0.05%, a difference of $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SCHY or VXUS?
Over the last 5 years, SCHY has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SCHY returned 51.5% and VXUS returned 44.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SCHY or VXUS?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VXUS has been riskier: SCHY fell as much as 24.0% and VXUS as much as 28.9%. Their betas are 0.76 and 0.92.
How much do SCHY and VXUS overlap?
At least 3% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 9 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are ROP.SW, BHP.AX, ULVR.L. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do SCHY and VXUS pay dividends?
SCHY pays semi-annual and VXUS pays quarterly.
How much income does $10,000 in SCHY vs VXUS generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SCHY would generate roughly $29.76 per month ($357 annually). The same amount in VXUS would produce about $19.75 per month ($237 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SCHY and VXUS?
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 VXUS with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SCHY and VXUS 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.