Head-to-head over the 11-year window both funds have in common (2015-09-14 → 2026-09-11): SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) vs VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF) — total return with dividends reinvested, both starting at $10,000 on the same date.
On risk-adjusted return, SCHD came out ahead of VYM —
but the gap is only half the story. Drawdown and yield often matter more.
SCHD vs VYM — the numbers
| Metric | SCHD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| CAGR | 13.7% | 12.4% |
| Volatility | 16.4% | 16.1% |
| Sharpe | 0.86 | 0.81 |
| Sortino | 1.09 | 0.99 |
| Max drawdown | -33.4% | -35.2% |
| Dividend yield | 3.07% | 2.23% |
| $10k → today | $40,881 | $36,098 |
Compared over the exact period both funds existed, so the window is shorter than 10 years when one fund is newer. Past performance doesn't predict the future — try your own dates in the tool.