BSV vs. SCHO: Short-Term Bond ETFs with Long-Lasting Dividend Potential

Core Insights - The Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO) and Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV) provide low-cost, short-duration fixed-income exposure, appealing to investors seeking stability and modest income [1] Cost & Size Comparison - Both SCHO and BSV have an expense ratio of 0.03% [2] - As of February 7, 2026, SCHO has a 1-year return of 0.74% while BSV has a higher return of 1.68% [2] - SCHO offers a dividend yield of 4.02%, slightly higher than BSV's 3.86% [2] - SCHO has an Assets Under Management (AUM) of $11.68 billion, compared to BSV's $43.41 billion [2] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, SCHO experienced a maximum drawdown of -5.73%, while BSV had a higher drawdown of -8.55% [4] - The growth of $1,000 over five years is $947 for SCHO and $951 for BSV, indicating similar performance [4] Portfolio Composition - BSV holds a diverse mix of U.S. Treasuries and corporate and investment-grade international bonds, with 3,117 holdings, 73% of which are AAA-rated [5] - SCHO, launched 15 years ago, tracks the short-term U.S. Treasury bond market and holds 97 securities, all U.S. government bonds maturing within 1-3 years, mostly AA-rated [6] Investor Implications - Despite BSV's lower dividend yield, it pays out more than SCHO due to its higher price [7] - SCHO focuses on bonds maturing in 1-3 years, offering potentially less volatility compared to BSV's 1-5 year maturity range [8] - BSV provides more diverse bond exposure with over 200 times more holdings and spans across four different rate classes, while SCHO is more stable and lower risk [9]