SCHE vs VTI
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SCHE or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHE is less concentrated, with 29.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | SCHE | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $13.1B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 2,210 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +10.52% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.24% | +18.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.45% | +23.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.83% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.1% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,914 | $17,734Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 29.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 14, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 14, 2010 to Sep 25, 2026 (16.7 years).
SCHE vs VTI 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 16.7 years both funds cover.
SCHE vs VTI Performance
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCHE returned +15.24% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, SCHE is up 10.52% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, SCHE compounded at +19.45% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.83% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.41% annualized vs +3.24%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 14.8% for VTI. 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 -43.1% for SCHE and -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHE charges 0.06% per year while VTI 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, SCHE currently yields 2.64% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of SCHE's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
4 positions in common, counted across the 2,133 positions we hold weights for in SCHE and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 2,210 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,148 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SCHE (97.4% of the fund), and 24 for SCHE that do not appear in VTI (2.5%).
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 SCHE and VTI 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, SCHE or VTI?
SCHE has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHE or VTI?
Over the past year SCHE returned +15.24% vs +18.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SCHE annualized +3.24% vs +12.41% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHE or VTI?
SCHE has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 14.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SCHE -43.1% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both SCHE and VTI?
SCHE and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, SCHE or VTI?
SCHE yields 2.64% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SCHE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SCHE?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHE is less concentrated, with 29.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.