SCHD vs VMBS
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF
Which is better, SCHD or VMBS?
SCHD has been ahead.
VMBS has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | VMBS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $112.1B | $17.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 4.22% |
| Holdings | 103 | 5,254 |
| YTD Return | +25.07%Best | -0.88% |
| 1Y Return | +27.61%Best | +0.20% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.74%Best | +4.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.89%Best | +0.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.6% | 4.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4% | -18.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,025Best | $10,045 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Value | - |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Nov 19, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 11, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs VMBS 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SCHD vs VMBS Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (VMBS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCHD returned +27.61% while VMBS returned +0.20%. Year to date, SCHD is up 25.07% versus a loss of 0.88% for VMBS.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.74% per year against +4.60% for VMBS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.89% and +0.09% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.36% annualized vs +0.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.6% compared with 4.3% for VMBS. 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 -18.4% for VMBS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while VMBS 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, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 4.22% for VMBS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 5 in VMBS, totalling 100.0% and 0.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026 and VMBS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 5 in VMBS, against full books of 103 and 5,254.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and VMBS 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 VMBS?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VMBS charges 0.03%. VMBS is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or VMBS?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.61% vs +0.20% for VMBS, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.36% vs +0.26% for VMBS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or VMBS?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 4.3% for VMBS. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs VMBS -18.4%.
Should I hold both SCHD and VMBS?
SCHD and VMBS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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 VMBS?
SCHD yields 3.00% while VMBS yields 4.22%, so VMBS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VMBS better than SCHD?
VMBS has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.