Better Dividend ETF: Schwab's SCHD vs. Vanguard's VYM

Core Insights - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) has outperformed the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) in recent returns, while SCHD offers a higher dividend yield and focuses on specific sectors [1][4]. Cost and Size Comparison - Both VYM and SCHD have an expense ratio of 0.06% - As of January 30, 2026, VYM's one-year return is 15.7%, compared to SCHD's 11.3% - VYM has a dividend yield of 2.3%, while SCHD has a higher yield of 3.5% - VYM has a beta of 0.76 and assets under management (AUM) of $84.6 billion, while SCHD has a beta of 0.74 and AUM of $78.4 billion [3]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, VYM's maximum drawdown is -15.83%, while SCHD's is -16.86% - An investment of $1,000 in VYM would have grown to $1,636 over five years, compared to $1,393 for SCHD [5]. Portfolio Composition - SCHD holds 101 U.S. dividend-paying stocks, with significant allocations in energy (19%), consumer defensive (18%), and healthcare (18%). Major holdings include Lockheed Martin Corp. (4.90%), Texas Instruments Inc. (4.51%), and Chevron Corp. (4.25%) [6]. - VYM takes a broader approach with 589 stocks, focusing more on financial services (21%) and technology (18%), alongside healthcare (13%). Key holdings include Broadcom Inc. (7.58%), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (4.15%), and Exxon Mobil Corp. (2.41%) [7]. Investment Implications - Both SCHD and VYM are low-cost ETFs aimed at providing passive income through dividends, with the choice between them depending on specific investment priorities [8]. - SCHD's higher dividend yield contrasts with VYM's recent strong performance, attributed to its technology sector holdings, particularly benefiting from the growth in the artificial intelligence market [9].