ETF Versus

DGRO vs SCHD

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF vs Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

Last updated: 2026-04-10

DGRO iShares

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 2.05%. Launched in 2014, the fund has a 12-year track record.

AUM: $38.7B ER: 0.08% Yield: 2.05% Since: Jun 10, 2014
SCHD Schwab

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Schwab that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.06%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.44%. Launched in 2011, the fund has a 15-year track record.

AUM: $86.0B ER: 0.06% Yield: 3.44% Since: Oct 20, 2011

Quick Verdict

SCHD has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.06% vs 0.08%), saving about $40 per $10,000 over 10 years. DGRO has edged ahead over the past year (25.5% vs 22.8%). Income investors may prefer SCHD for its higher yield (3.4% vs 2.0%).

Key Metrics

Metric DGRO SCHD
Expense Ratio 0.08% 0.06%
Dividend Yield 2.0% 3.4%
Fund Family iShares Schwab
Category US Dividend US Dividend

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

85 98 111 124 137 150 2021-04 2022-07 2023-10 2025-01 2026-04
DGRO +45.4%
SCHD +23.5%

Performance Comparison

Period DGRO SCHD Difference
1 Month +0.94% -1.10% +2.04%
3 Months +1.25% +7.58% -6.33%
6 Months +6.45% +15.13% -8.68%
YTD +3.09% +10.57% -7.48%
1 Year +25.47% +22.79% +2.68%
3 Years +42.75% +25.07% +17.68%
5 Years +45.37% +23.53% +21.84%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period DGRO Fees SCHD Fees You Save
$10,000 10 years $159 $120 $40
$10,000 20 years $686 $515 $171
$10,000 30 years $2,212 $1,664 $549
$50,000 10 years $797 $598 $199
$50,000 30 years $11,061 $8,318 $2,743
$100,000 30 years $22,123 $16,637 $5,486

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric DGRO SCHD
Annualized Volatility 14.0% 14.6%
Max Drawdown -20.7% -18.9%
Sharpe Ratio 0.29 0.06

Dividend Comparison

Metric DGRO SCHD
Annual Dividend (per share) $1.47 $1.06
Dividend Yield 2.04% 3.44%
Distribution Frequency Quarterly Quarterly

Top Holdings

1 of top 10 holdings overlap (10% overlap in top holdings)

DGRO Top Holdings

NameWeight
JPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM3.06%
Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM3.00%
Apple Inc.AAPL2.86%
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ2.83%
Broadcom Inc.AVGO2.79%
Microsoft CorporationMSFT2.73%
AbbVie Inc.ABBV2.58%
The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG2.08%
Merck & Co., Inc.MRK2.02%
The Home Depot, Inc.HD1.98%

SCHD Top Holdings

NameWeight
Chevron CorporationCVX4.41%
ConocoPhillipsCOP4.28%
Merck & Co., Inc.MRK4.15%
The Coca-Cola CompanyKO4.08%
Texas Instruments IncorporatedTXN4.07%
UnitedHealth Group IncorporatedUNH3.98%
Verizon Communications Inc.VZ3.96%
PepsiCo, Inc.PEP3.95%
Abbott LaboratoriesABT3.73%
Amgen Inc.AMGN3.73%

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose SCHD if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose DGRO if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Choose SCHD if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

Either works if...

you just need broad us dividend exposure. Both are solid options — pick whichever your brokerage offers commission-free.

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