SCHD vs VTG
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total Treasury ETF
Which is better, SCHD or VTG?
SCHD has been ahead.
VTG has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y 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 | VTG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $112.1B | $180M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 3.63% |
| Holdings | 103 | 286 |
| YTD Return | +23.68%Best | -1.22% |
| 1Y Return | +28.36%Best | -0.39% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.20% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.07% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.4% | 3.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -4.6% | -3.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,805Best | $10,155 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Value | - |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Jul 7, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 9, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.2 years).
SCHD vs VTG 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs VTG Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard Total Treasury ETF (VTG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCHD returned +28.36% while VTG returned -0.39%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.68% versus a loss of 1.22% for VTG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.4% compared with 3.2% for VTG. 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 -4.6% for SCHD and -3.4% for VTG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while VTG 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 3.63% for VTG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 1 in VTG, totalling 100.0% and 0.5% 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 1 in VTG, against full books of 103 and 286.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and VTG 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 VTG?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VTG charges 0.03%. VTG is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or VTG?
Over the past year SCHD returned +28.36% vs -0.39% for VTG, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SCHD annualized +22.88% vs +1.29% for VTG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or VTG?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.4% annualized versus 3.2% for VTG. Worst drawdown: SCHD -4.6% vs VTG -3.4%.
Should I hold both SCHD and VTG?
SCHD and VTG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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 VTG?
SCHD yields 3.00% while VTG yields 3.63%, so VTG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTG better than SCHD?
VTG has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.