SCHC vs VTI
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SCHC or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHC is less concentrated, with 3.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | SCHC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.7B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.27% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 2,271 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +9.13% | +12.43%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.46% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.70% | +22.42%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.77% | +12.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.1% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,875 | $17,916Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.5%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 14, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 14, 2010 to Sep 28, 2026 (16.7 years).
SCHC vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 16.7 years both funds cover.
SCHC vs VTI Performance
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCHC returned +14.46% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, SCHC is up 9.13% versus a gain of 12.43% for VTI.
Over three years, SCHC compounded at +19.70% per year against +22.42% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.77% and +12.37% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.33% annualized vs +5.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 14.8% for VTI. 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 -47.1% for SCHC and -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHC charges 0.06% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $3 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHC currently yields 3.27% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.6% of SCHC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings SCHC also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
6 positions in common, counted across the 2,147 positions we hold weights for in SCHC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 2,271 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,148 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SCHC (97.4% of the fund), and 22 for SCHC that do not appear in VTI (1.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCHC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCCSCcc Intelligent Solutions Hold | 0.17% | 0.00% | 0.17% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc | 0.14% | 0.00% | 0.14% |
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| CRLCharles River Laboratories International Inc | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| CLWClearwater Paper Corp | 0.07% | 0.00% | 0.07% |
| SRGSeritage Growth Properties | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.06% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHC and VTI 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, SCHC or VTI?
SCHC has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHC or VTI?
Over the past year SCHC returned +14.46% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SCHC annualized +5.08% vs +12.33% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHC or VTI?
SCHC has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 14.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SCHC -47.1% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both SCHC and VTI?
SCHC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHC or VTI?
SCHC yields 3.27% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SCHC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SCHC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHC is less concentrated, with 3.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.