SCHD vs VPL
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF
Which is better, SCHD or VPL?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over the full window, VPL over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. VPL is less concentrated, with 23.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | VPL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.07% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $8.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 2.61% |
| Holdings | 103 | 2,342 |
| YTD Return | +23.60% | +28.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +28.29% | +36.50%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.25% | +23.69%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.25% | +10.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4% | -32.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,289 | $16,482Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 23.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Mar 4, 2005 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 21, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs VPL 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs VPL Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (VPL) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCHD returned +28.29% while VPL returned +36.50%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.60% versus a gain of 28.52% for VPL.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.25% per year against +23.69% for VPL; over five years the annualized figures are +10.25% and +10.51% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs +9.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VPL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 13.7% 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 -32.9% for VPL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while VPL charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $7 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 2.61% for VPL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 2,313 in VPL, totalling 100.0% and 96.4% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 2,313 in VPL, against full books of 103 and 2,342.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 5 positions for VPL that do not appear in our book for SCHD (0.3% of the fund), and 99 for SCHD that do not appear in VPL (99.9%).
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 SCHD and VPL 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 VPL?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VPL charges 0.07%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or VPL?
Over the past year SCHD returned +28.29% vs +36.50% for VPL, so VPL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.25% vs +9.12% for VPL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or VPL?
VPL has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs VPL -32.9%.
Should I hold both SCHD and VPL?
SCHD and VPL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 VPL?
SCHD yields 3.00% while VPL yields 2.61%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VPL better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over the full window, VPL over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. VPL is less concentrated, with 23.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.