SCHD vs. VYM: Returns, Risk and $10,000 Compared

SCHD vs. VYM Calculator

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What would $10,000 in SCHD vs. VYM be worth?

Invested	SCHD	VYM	SCHD per year	VYM per year
1 year	$13,466	$11,541	+34.7%	+15.4%
3 years	$16,608	$16,657	+18.4%	+18.5%
5 years	$16,966	$17,859	+11.2%	+12.3%
10 years	$35,080	$29,881	+13.4%	+11.6%
15 years	$66,839	$58,487	+13.5%	+12.5%

SCHD vs. VYM returns by year

Year	SCHD	VYM	Ahead
2026 (so far)	+34.1%	+16.2%	SCHD
2025	+4.3%	+15.4%	VYM
2024	+11.7%	+17.6%	VYM
2023	+4.6%	+6.6%	VYM
2022	-3.2%	-0.5%	VYM
2021	+29.9%	+26.2%	SCHD
2020	+15.1%	+1.1%	SCHD
2019	+27.3%	+24.1%	SCHD
2018	-5.6%	-5.9%	SCHD
2017	+20.8%	+16.4%	SCHD
2016	+16.4%	+17.0%	VYM
2015	-0.3%	+0.3%	VYM
2014	+11.7%	+13.5%	VYM
2013	+32.9%	+30.1%	SCHD
2012	+11.4%	+12.7%	VYM

Prices run through 2026-11-02, with dividends reinvested.

Which has returned more, SCHD or VYM?

Over the last 10 years, SCHD returned 13.4% a year and VYM returned 11.6%, with dividends reinvested. So $10,000 in SCHD would be worth about $35,080 now, against $29,881 in VYM. Over 15 years, the longest stretch both have prices for, the yearly figures are 13.5% for SCHD and 12.5% for VYM. We use month-end prices through November 2026, adjusted for splits and dividends, before taxes and fees.

The ride matters as much as the result. SCHD's monthly returns swung about 13.7% a year, measured as annualized standard deviation, against 12.8% for VYM, so VYM has been the calmer of the two. SCHD's largest fall from a high was 21.5%, from December 2019 to March 2020. VYM's was 24.0%, from December 2019 to March 2020.

Year by year, SCHD beat VYM in 6 of 14 full calendar years. SCHD's best year was 2013, at 32.9%, and VYM's was 2013, at 30.1%. Both had their worst year in 2018, when SCHD returned -5.6% and VYM returned -5.9%. Month to month, they moved closely together, with a correlation of 0.96. That difference is why some investors hold both: one can soften the other's bad stretches, though not always.

Buying a little each month narrows the gap from timing. Putting $100 a month into each for the last 10 years would have cost $12,000 and be worth about $24,661 in SCHD and $23,099 in VYM. These results are historical and hypothetical, and past performance doesn't indicate future results. A fund spreads your money across its holdings, but it still falls when they fall, as the drops above show. See each on its own on our SCHD calculator and VYM calculator.

How we compare SCHD and VYM

We line up both histories by month, starting November 2011, the first month both have prices. The calculator above runs any amount and period for SCHD, and shows the same money in VYM beside it. Price data from Alpha Vantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SCHD or VYM better?

Neither is better for everyone. SCHD has returned more over the last 10 years, 13.4% a year against 11.6%, and it has also swung more. Consider what you already own, how long you'll stay invested and how you'd handle a large drop. Nothing here is investment advice.

What is the 10-year return of SCHD vs. VYM?

Over the last 10 years, SCHD returned 13.4% a year and VYM returned 11.6% a year, with dividends reinvested. That's a total return of 250.8% for SCHD and 198.8% for VYM. The table above shows other periods, and the calculator runs any dates you choose.

How much would $10,000 in SCHD vs. VYM be worth today?

Invested 15 years ago, $10,000 would be worth about $66,839 in SCHD and $58,487 in VYM, as of November 2026. Over 10 years, it's $35,080 and $29,881. These assume dividends were reinvested, and leave out taxes and fees.

Which is riskier, SCHD or VYM?

By how much each swung, SCHD has been riskier: about 13.7% a year against 12.8%. VYM has had the deeper fall, 24.0% from its high, measured at month ends. Higher swings mean a wider range of outcomes, so the dates you buy and sell matter more.

How did SCHD and VYM do in their worst years?

Both had their worst full calendar year in 2018. SCHD returned -5.6% and VYM returned -5.9%. Bad years tend to arrive together for investments that move closely together.

How often has SCHD beaten VYM?

SCHD came out ahead in 6 of 14 full calendar years, or 43% of the time, and VYM in the rest. So far in 2026, through November 2026, SCHD is up 34.1% and VYM is up 16.2%. Leadership often changes from year to year, which is hard to predict ahead of time.

Should I invest in both SCHD and VYM?

It depends on how much they overlap. Their monthly returns have a correlation of 0.96, where 1 means they move exactly together. That's low enough that owning both has spread your risk somewhat, since one hasn't always fallen when the other did. Check what each holds before splitting your money.

What if I invested $100 a month in SCHD or VYM?

Over the last 10 years, $100 at each month end would have cost $12,000 and be worth about $24,661 in SCHD and $23,099 in VYM, with dividends reinvested. Monthly buying spreads your entry prices, so the result depends less on one lucky or unlucky start date. Use the Buying option above to test it.

Are SCHD and VYM the same kind of investment?

They're both ETFs. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF trades as SCHD, and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF trades as VYM. Their returns have often differed, which suggests different holdings or strategies. Read each one's prospectus or annual report for fees and holdings, which we don't cover here.

Do these returns include dividends?

Yes. We use prices adjusted for splits and dividends, which assumes every dividend was reinvested. That matters most when one pays out more than the other, because a plain price chart would understate its return. Our figures leave out brokerage fees and the tax you'd owe on dividends in a regular account.

How are gains on SCHD and VYM taxed?

In a taxable US account, you owe capital gains tax when you sell at a profit, at long-term rates of 0%, 15% or 20% if you held for more than a year. Dividends are usually taxed in the year you receive them. In a Roth IRA or 401(k), different rules apply. Check IRS guidance or ask a tax professional about your situation.