SCHD vs VGI
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund
Which is better, SCHD or VGI?
Large Cap Value against Diversified Sectoral Bond.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VGI is less concentrated, with 11.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | SCHD | VGI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 1.74% |
| AUM | $112.2B | $88M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.13% | 12.31% |
| Holdings | 103 | 646 |
| YTD Return | +28.59%Best | +1.75% |
| 1Y Return | +31.77%Best | +3.70% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.70%Best | +12.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.09%Best | +2.25% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -63.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,171Best | $11,177 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.5% | 11.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Diversified Sectoral Bond |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Feb 23, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2012 to Sep 3, 2026 (14.5 years).
SCHD vs VGI 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 14.5 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs VGI Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund (VGI) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year SCHD returned +31.77% while VGI returned +3.70%. Year to date, SCHD is up 28.59% versus a gain of 1.75% for VGI.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.70% per year against +12.16% for VGI; over five years the annualized figures are +10.09% and +2.25% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.18% annualized vs -2.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VGI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 13.8% for SCHD. 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 -33.4% for SCHD and -63.3% for VGI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while VGI charges 1.74%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $174 annually, a gap of $168 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.13% against 12.31% for VGI.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings VGI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 70 days apart, SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026 and VGI as of May 29, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 472 in VGI, against full books of 103 and 646.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 465 positions for VGI that do not appear in our book for SCHD (99.8% of the fund), and 98 for SCHD that do not appear in VGI (99.2%).
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 SCHD | Weight in VGI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARESAres Management Corp A | 0.72% | 0.01% | 0.71% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and VGI 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, SCHD or VGI?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VGI charges 1.74%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $168 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or VGI?
Over the past year SCHD returned +31.77% vs +3.70% for VGI, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.18% vs -2.35% for VGI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or VGI?
VGI has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 13.8% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs VGI -63.3%.
Should I hold both SCHD and VGI?
SCHD and VGI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, SCHD or VGI?
SCHD yields 3.13% while VGI yields 12.31%, so VGI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VGI better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VGI is less concentrated, with 11.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.