SCHD vs VIG: which was the better investment?
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF against Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Oct 20, 2011 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SCHD beat VIG?
Yes — measured from Oct 20, 2011 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SCHD came out ahead: $66,852 versus $62,455 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 13.6% annual return against 13.1%.
What would $10,000 in SCHD be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) on Oct 20, 2011 would be worth about $66,852 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 568.5% (13.6% per year). The same $10,000 in VIG would be worth $62,455.
Which was riskier — SCHD or VIG?
SCHD swung with an annualized volatility of 15.4% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -33.4%; VIG ran at 15.0% volatility with a -31.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.76 for SCHD vs 0.74 for VIG.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Oct 20, 2011 through Aug 28, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with SCHD vs VIG. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.