| Attribute | SCHD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF |
| Index tracked | Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index | FTSE High Dividend Yield Index |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.04% |
| Annual cost on $10,000 | $6.00 | $4.00 |
| Inception | October 20, 2011 | November 10, 2006 |
| Holdings | 101 | 605 |
| 30-day SEC yield | 3.35% (June 30, 2026) | Not on VYM fact sheet cited here |
| ETF net assets | Not on SCHD fact sheet cited here | $78.990 billion (June 30, 2026) |
| Top-10 weight | 42.01% | 25.9% |
| 10-year NAV return to June 30, 2026 | 12.37% a year | 11.61% a year |
ETF comparison · fact sheets as of June 30, 2026
SCHD vs VYM: Which Dividend ETF Should You Buy?
SCHD and VYM are large U.S. dividend ETFs, but they track different indexes and charge different fees. SCHD costs 0.06% a year and posted a 3.35% 30-day SEC yield as of June 30, 2026. VYM costs 0.04% and held 605 stocks on its June 30, 2026 fact sheet, versus 101 for SCHD.
What is the difference between SCHD and VYM?
Both funds seek dividend income from U.S. stocks, but they use different indexes. SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. VYM tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which excludes REITs. SCHD held 101 securities and VYM 605 as of June 30, 2026.
SCHD is Schwab’s U.S. Dividend Equity ETF. VYM is Vanguard’s High Dividend Yield ETF share class. Both pay dividends quarterly on the documents cited here. For other Vanguard pairs, see VOO vs VTI and VTI vs VTSAX.
Which is cheaper, SCHD or VYM?
VYM is cheaper on the prospectus expense ratio: 0.04% versus 0.06% for SCHD. On $10,000 that is $4.00 a year for VYM and $6.00 for SCHD, by WealthyBud arithmetic. Fee gaps compound when returns are similar. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below.
| Cost item | SCHD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Total annual operating expenses / expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.04% |
| Cost on $10,000 a year | $6.00 | $4.00 |
| Cost on $100,000 a year | $60.00 | $40.00 |
What yield does SCHD report?
SCHD's fact sheet listed a 3.35% 30-day SEC yield and a 3.30% distribution yield as of June 30, 2026. The VYM fact sheet cited here does not publish a matching SEC yield line, so WealthyBud does not invent one. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below.
Schwab defines 30-day SEC yield as approximate current income over a 30-day period after expenses. Distribution yield sums trailing 12-month income distributions divided by ending NAV, excluding capital gains. Always verify the latest yield on the Schwab SCHD product page before you trade.
How have SCHD and VYM returned over time?
Over 10 years to June 30, 2026, SCHD's NAV returned 12.37% a year and VYM's 11.61%, a 0.76-point yearly gap favoring SCHD on these fact sheets. One-year NAV returns were 24.08% for SCHD and 21.52% for VYM. Past returns do not guarantee future results.
| Period | SCHD NAV | SCHD market | VYM NAV | VYM market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter | 4.21% | 4.18% | 7.40% | 7.37% |
| Year to date | 17.46% | 17.50% | 11.49% | 11.45% |
| 1 year | 24.08% | 24.03% | 21.52% | 21.50% |
| 3 years | 13.52% | 13.52% | 17.44% | 17.42% |
| 5 years | 8.51% | 8.51% | 11.78% | 11.77% |
| 10 years | 12.37% | 12.37% | 11.61% | 11.60% |
| Since inception | 13.09% | 13.09% | 9.33% | 9.32% |
VYM’s summary prospectus also reports calendar returns through December 31, 2025:
| Measure | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return before taxes (NAV) | 15.43% | 12.68% | 11.32% |
| After taxes on distributions | 14.73% | 11.90% | 10.51% |
| After taxes on distributions and sale | 9.58% | 9.99% | 9.15% |
| Market price before taxes | 15.42% | 12.67% | 11.32% |
How concentrated are SCHD and VYM holdings?
SCHD is more concentrated: its top 10 were 42.01% of assets, led by Home Depot at 4.57%. VYM's top 10 were 25.9%, led by Broadcom at 7.3%. VYM's largest sector was financials at 20.6%. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below.
SCHD top holdings (June 30, 2026)
- Home Depot: 4.57%
- Merck: 4.54%
- UnitedHealth Group: 4.47%
- Amgen: 4.34%
- Procter & Gamble: 4.24%
Top 10: 42.01% of assets. SCHD’s fact sheet listed Health Care at 20.7% of the portfolio.
VYM top holdings (June 30, 2026)
- Broadcom: 7.3%
- JPMorgan Chase: 3.4%
- Johnson & Johnson: 2.5%
- Exxon Mobil: 2.4%
- Caterpillar: 2.0%
Top 10: 25.9% of assets. Largest sectors:
- Financials: 20.6%
- Technology: 14.6%
- Industrials: 14.4%
- Health Care: 12.4%
- Consumer Staples: 8.5%
VYM ETF net assets were $78.990 billion and fund net assets $96.195 billion as of June 30, 2026, with portfolio turnover of 11.3% for the most recent fiscal year on the fact sheet.
Which should you buy, SCHD or VYM?
Choose VYM if you want a broader high-dividend basket at 0.04%. Choose SCHD if you prefer the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 screen and accept a 0.06% fee for the fact-sheet yield and return profile shown here. Neither page is personalized advice; compare taxable-account impact with your tax pro.
- Prefer lower headline cost and a broader high-dividend basket: start with VYM at 0.04%.
- Prefer the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 screen and SCHD’s published SEC yield: compare SCHD at 0.06%.
- Already hold either in a taxable account: switching can realize capital gains; check with a tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is SCHD or VYM better?
It depends on fee, yield and concentration. VYM charges 0.04% versus 0.06% for SCHD. SCHD published a 3.35% 30-day SEC yield as of June 30, 2026. Over 10 years to June 30, 2026, SCHD's NAV return was 12.37% a year and VYM's 11.61%.
Which has the lower expense ratio, SCHD or VYM?
VYM is lower at 0.04% versus 0.06% for SCHD, per the issuer documents cited on this page. On $10,000 that is $4.00 a year for VYM and $6.00 for SCHD. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below.
What is SCHD's SEC yield?
Schwab's SCHD fact sheet listed a 3.35% 30-day SEC yield and a 3.30% distribution yield as of June 30, 2026. SEC yield is a standardized income measure after expenses; it is not a guaranteed future payout. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below.
How many stocks does VYM hold compared with SCHD?
VYM held 605 stocks and SCHD 101 securities as of June 30, 2026, per their fact sheets. SCHD's top 10 were 42.01% of assets; VYM's top 10 were 25.9%. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below.
Do SCHD and VYM track the same index?
No. SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. VYM tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which is built from high dividend-yield U.S. stocks and excludes REITs. Different screens mean different holdings and sector mixes. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below.
Which dividend ETF is better for beginners?
Many long-term investors start with the lower-cost broad option, which here is VYM at 0.04%. SCHD may fit if you want its Dividend 100 screen and accept 0.06%. This is education, not a recommendation for your account. See the tables and the issuer documents cited below.
For education only, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. ETF shares trade at market prices, which may differ from NAV.