VEA vs SCHD: which was the better investment?
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF against Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Oct 20, 2011 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VEA beat SCHD?
No — measured from Oct 20, 2011 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SCHD came out ahead: $62,111 versus $35,190 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 13.2% annual return against 8.9%.
What would $10,000 in VEA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) on Oct 20, 2011 would be worth about $35,190 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 251.9% (8.9% per year). The same $10,000 in SCHD would be worth $62,111.
Which was riskier — VEA or SCHD?
VEA swung with an annualized volatility of 17.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -35.7%; SCHD ran at 15.4% volatility with a -33.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.40 for VEA vs 0.73 for SCHD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Oct 20, 2011 through Jul 15, 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 VEA vs SCHD. 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.