SCHD vs. VYM: A Higher Yield Or High Total Return Potential

Core Insights - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) both focus on dividend-paying U.S. stocks but differ in sector allocation, portfolio concentration, and yield [1][2] Group 1: Fund Characteristics - SCHD has a higher dividend yield of 3.8% compared to VYM's 2.4% [3][4] - Both funds have an expense ratio of 0.06% [3][4] - SCHD has assets under management (AUM) of $72.8 billion, while VYM has $68.6 billion [3] Group 2: Performance Metrics - Over the past year, VYM has returned 9.6%, while SCHD has seen a decline of 1.4% [3] - The maximum drawdown over five years for VYM is 15.85%, compared to SCHD's 16.86% [5] - An investment of $1,000 in VYM would have grown to $1,573 over five years, while the same investment in SCHD would have grown to $1,285 [5] Group 3: Portfolio Composition - SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index and holds approximately 100 stocks, with significant allocations in energy (20%), consumer staples (18%), and healthcare (16%) [6] - VYM holds over 565 companies, with a tilt towards financial services (21%), technology (14%), and healthcare (13%) [7] - SCHD's top holdings include Merck, Cisco Systems, and Amgen, while VYM's largest positions are Broadcom, JPMorgan Chase, and Exxon Mobil [6][7] Group 4: Investment Strategy - VYM aims for broad exposure to high-yield dividend stocks, weighting companies based on market capitalization [8][9] - SCHD focuses on high-quality dividend stocks, screening companies based on dividend yield and growth characteristics [10] - VYM is suitable for investors seeking broad exposure, while SCHD appeals to those prioritizing high-quality dividend stocks [11]