SCHG vs SCHD: Growth or Dividends From Schwab
Same fund family, opposite bets. SCHG buys the growth half of the US large-cap market. SCHD buys 100 quality dividend payers. They barely hold the same stocks.
SCHG and SCHD are not really competitors. They are two sides of the same market. SCHG tracks the Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth index, roughly 250 names that are about half technology, and it rode the megacap tech decade to strong returns. SCHD tracks the Dow Jones US Dividend 100, screening for dividend consistency and financial health, which lands it in financials, healthcare, and staples instead of tech. The result is that SCHG leads in years the Nasdaq runs and SCHD leads when value rotates back and markets sell off. Neither is a core holding on its own. A total-market fund like VTI or an S&P 500 fund like VOO already owns both sides at lower cost. The honest read: if you are years from needing the money and want maximum growth exposure, SCHG is the more aggressive pick, but understand it doubles down on the same megacaps your core fund already holds in size. If you want income and a smoother ride, SCHD is the better fit. Holding both at equal weight roughly recreates the market you could have bought in one fund.
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
📋 SCHG vs SCHD — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | SCHG | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
| Issuer | Schwab | Schwab |
| Tracks Index | Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth | Dow Jones US Dividend 100 |
| Expense Ratio | 0.04% ✓ | 0.06% |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $4.00 | $6.00 |
| AUM | $55.6B | $91.1B |
| Holdings | 250 | 100 |
| Inception | 2009 | 2011 |
| 1-Year Return | +28.01% | +31.70% |
| 3-Year Return | +27.26% | +16.36% |
| 5-Year Return | +15.51% | +8.83% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.38% | 3.29% |
| Holdings Overlap | Very low. SCHG holds growth megacaps; SCHD holds dividend-paying value names. The two funds barely share holdings. — see full overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.01% | 0.00% |
Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated May 25, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 SCHG vs SCHD — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Should You Buy SCHG or SCHD?
- You want the lowest fees — saves ~$2/yr per $10K vs SCHD
- You want broader diversification (250 holdings vs 100)
- You want tech-heavy large-cap growth exposure via Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth
- You want regular dividend income from quality dividend payers
- You already use Schwab and prefer staying within their fund family
💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs
Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.
Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
⚙️ Want the Full Interactive Comparison?
Side-by-side holdings overlap, sector breakdown, and live performance tabs, all in one place.
Run Full SCHG vs SCHD Comparison → Free · No signup · Instant resultsGet smarter about ETFs — one concept a week, free forever
The ETF BFF newsletter breaks down one ETF concept per week — clear, jargon-free, and actually useful.
Free to learn forever · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
❓ SCHG vs SCHD — Frequently Asked Questions
New to ETF investing? See answers to the most common ETF questions →