VYM vs SCHD: which ETF is better?
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) compared on fees, holdings overlap, dividend yield, returns and risk, using the latest data.
- VYM and SCHD have moderate overlap: 22% of each fund by weight sits in the same holdings.
- VYM is cheaper at 0.04% a year against 0.06% for SCHD, about $2 less in fees per $10,000 invested each year.
- Over the last 10 years, SCHD returned an average of 13.6% a year against 11.9% for VYM, with dividends reinvested.
- VYM is more diversified, with 593 holdings against 99 in SCHD.
- SCHD pays more income, yielding 3.00% over the last 12 months against 2.31% for VYM.
- Overlap by weight
- 21.9%
- Shared holdings
- 79
| VYM | SCHD | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Schwab |
| Listed on | NYSE Arca · USD | NYSE Arca · USD |
| Expense ratio | 0.04% | 0.06% |
| Assets (AUM) | $78.9B | $120B |
| Launched | Nov 10, 2006 | Oct 20, 2011 |
| Holdings | 593 | 99 |
| Dividend yield (12m) | 2.31% · quarterly | 3.00% · quarterly |
| Asset class | Large Cap Equity | Equity |
| Annualised return | VYM | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +16.8% | +37.3% |
| 3 years | +18.6% | +18.9% |
| 5 years | +10.7% | +9.8% |
| 10 years | +11.9% | +13.6% |
| Volatility | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| Max drawdown | -35.2% | -33.4% |
Volatility is the annualised standard deviation of daily returns over 3 years. Max drawdown is the largest fall from a peak over the last 10 years, or since launch.
| Holding | VYM | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp | 1.61% | 3.95% |
| MRKMerck & Co Inc | 1.52% | 3.81% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Co/The | 1.44% | 4.45% |
| KOCoca-Cola Co/The | 1.42% | 4.27% |
| UNHUnitedHealth Group Inc | 1.41% | 3.89% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 1.20% | 4.32% |
| TXNTexas Instruments Inc | 1.08% | 4.29% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc | 0.89% | 4.09% |
| QCOMQUALCOMM Inc | 0.82% | 3.63% |
| VZVerizon Communications Inc | 0.81% | 3.61% |
Pull each fund's details, full price history and holdings into Google Sheets or Excel, so your comparison updates itself.
=SF("VYM","etfInfo","expenseRatio&assetsUnderManagement&holdingsCount")=SF_TIMESERIES("VYM","2016-10-01",TODAY(),"dailyAdj")=SF("SCHD","etfInfo","expenseRatio&assetsUnderManagement&holdingsCount")=SF_TIMESERIES("SCHD","2016-10-01",TODAY(),"dailyAdj")Prices to Nov 6, 2026; holdings last checked Nov 6, 2026. Returns are in each fund's trading currency (USD). Past performance doesn't predict future returns. For information only, not investment advice.
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VYM vs SCHD: frequently asked questions
How much do VYM and SCHD overlap?
21.9% by weight. They share 79 holdings, and that share of each fund is invested in exactly the same positions. They cover quite different parts of the market.
Is VYM or SCHD cheaper?
VYM is cheaper. VYM's expense ratio is 0.04% a year and SCHD's is 0.06%, so on $10,000 you'd pay about $4 and $6 a year.
Which has performed better, VYM or SCHD?
Over the last 10 years, SCHD has. VYM returned 11.9% and SCHD 13.6% a year on average, including reinvested dividends, as of Nov 6, 2026. Past returns don't predict future ones.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or SCHD?
SCHD does. Over the last 12 months VYM yielded 2.31%, paid quarterly, and SCHD 3.00%, paid quarterly.
Should I hold both VYM and SCHD?
They overlap by 22%, so holding both does spread your money more widely than either alone. Whether that suits you depends on the mix you want. This is general information, not advice.
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