SCHZ vs VYM
Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SCHZ or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
SCHZ has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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 | SCHZ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.04% |
| AUM | $10.6B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 12,372 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.35% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.50% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.95% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.66% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.5%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.7%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,674 | $17,861Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 14, 2011 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (15.2 years).
SCHZ vs VYM 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.
SCHZ vs VYM Performance
Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF (SCHZ) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCHZ returned -0.50% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, SCHZ is down 1.35% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, SCHZ compounded at +3.95% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.66% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.85% annualized vs +0.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 4.5% for SCHZ. 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 -19.7% for SCHZ and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHZ charges 0.03% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $4 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHZ currently yields 4.19% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings SCHZ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SCHZ, our book for it covers 63.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and SCHZ share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 10,446 positions we hold weights for in SCHZ and 557 in VYM, against full books of 12,372 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCHZ | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.00% | 0.40% | 0.40% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.02% | 0.34% | 0.32% |
| KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc (kdp Us) | 0.00% | 0.16% | 0.16% |
| ADMArcher-Daniels-Midland Co. | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| CNPCenterpoint Energy Inc. | 0.00% | 0.11% | 0.11% |
| HUBBHubbell Inc | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| RPRXRoyalty Pharma Plc Cl A | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| LYBLyondellbasell-a | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| SFStifel Finl Corp | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| NOVNov Inc Common Stock | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHZ and VYM 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, SCHZ or VYM?
SCHZ has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VYM charges 0.04%. SCHZ is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHZ or VYM?
Over the past year SCHZ returned -0.50% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHZ annualized +0.48% vs +9.85% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHZ or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 4.5% for SCHZ. Worst drawdown: SCHZ -19.7% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SCHZ and VYM?
SCHZ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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 SCHZ and VYM?
At least 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings SCHZ also owns. Our book for SCHZ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 10,446 positions we hold weights for in SCHZ and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHZ or VYM?
SCHZ yields 4.19% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SCHZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SCHZ?
SCHZ has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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.