NDVG vs SCHD
Nuveen Dividend Growth ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, NDVG or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.3%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | NDVG | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $13M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.09% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 43 | 103 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.7% | -16.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $14,252 | $14,320Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.3% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 4, 2021 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 151 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. NDVG has data through Apr 6, 2026 and SCHD through Sep 4, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 5, 2021 to Apr 6, 2026 (4.7 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.1% for NDVG. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -19.7% for NDVG and -16.9% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NDVG charges 0.65% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $6 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NDVG currently yields 1.09% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
7.9% of NDVG's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 15.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings NDVG also owns.
SCHD and NDVG share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 219 days apart, NDVG as of Dec 31, 2025 and SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in NDVG and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 43 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for NDVG (84.8% of the fund), and 31 for NDVG that do not appear in SCHD (78.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NDVG and SCHD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NDVG or SCHD?
NDVG has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, NDVG or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.1% for NDVG. Worst drawdown: NDVG -19.7% vs SCHD -16.9%.
Should I hold both NDVG and SCHD?
NDVG and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between NDVG and SCHD?
15.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings NDVG also owns. 15.1% of SCHD's is in holdings NDVG also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in NDVG and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, NDVG or SCHD?
NDVG yields 1.09% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than NDVG?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.