SCHD vs VTSAX
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Class
Which is better, SCHD or VTSAX?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTSAX has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, VTSAX over 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 | VTSAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $112.1B | $480.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 1.02% |
| Holdings | 103 | 3,543 |
| YTD Price Return | +22.03%Best | +10.84% |
| 1Y Price Return | +23.41%Best | +14.44% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +11.33% | +19.10%Best |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | +5.95% | +10.25%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2%Best | 16.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.9%Best | -26.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,351 | $16,289Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Nov 13, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for VTSAX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. SCHD yields 3.00% and VTSAX 1.02% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 17, 2021 to Sep 15, 2026 (5 years).
SCHD vs VTSAX 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
SCHD vs VTSAX Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Class (VTSAX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCHD returned +23.41% while VTSAX returned +14.44%. Year to date, SCHD is up 22.03% versus a gain of 10.84% for VTSAX.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +11.33% per year against +19.10% for VTSAX; over five years the annualized figures are +5.95% and +10.25% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTSAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 15.2% 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 -18.9% for SCHD and -26.3% for VTSAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while VTSAX charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $4 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 1.02% for VTSAX.
Structure and taxes
VTSAX is a mutual fund and SCHD is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 96.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings VTSAX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTSAX, our book for it covers 92.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of SCHD is already inside VTSAX. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026 and VTSAX as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
80 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 2,727 in VTSAX, against full books of 103 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCHD | Weight in VTSAX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 4.77% | 0.44% | 4.33% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 4.70% | 0.27% | 4.43% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 4.69% | 0.22% | 4.47% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 4.17% | 0.38% | 3.79% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 4.02% | 0.43% | 3.59% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 3.88% | 0.48% | 3.40% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 3.82% | 0.52% | 3.30% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 3.83% | 0.47% | 3.36% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 3.97% | 0.22% | 3.75% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 3.94% | 0.17% | 3.77% |
96.9% of SCHD is already inside VTSAX.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SCHD or VTSAX?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VTSAX charges 0.04%. VTSAX is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or VTSAX?
Over the past year SCHD returned +23.41% vs +14.44% for VTSAX, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or VTSAX?
VTSAX has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 15.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -18.9% vs VTSAX -26.3%.
Should I hold both SCHD and VTSAX?
SCHD and VTSAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SCHD and VTSAX?
At least 96.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings VTSAX also owns. Our book for VTSAX is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 80 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 2,727 in VTSAX.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or VTSAX?
SCHD yields 3.00% while VTSAX yields 1.02%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VTSAX or SCHD in a taxable account?
SCHD is an ETF and VTSAX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VTSAX better than SCHD?
VTSAX has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, VTSAX over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.