DGRO vs SCHD: fees, holdings and returns
DGRO holds about 390 US companies with a record of raising their dividends. SCHD holds about 100 US companies picked for steady dividends and strong finances. DGRO is wider and pays less now, while SCHD pays a higher dividend. Over the same dates since June 2014, DGRO returned about 12.4% a year and SCHD returned about 12.1% a year.
Written by the Tactfolio research team. Fund facts checked October 17, 2026. Prices through October 20, 2026.
Key points
- SCHD costs less: 0.06% a year against 0.08%.
- DGRO started trading in June 2014. SCHD started in October 2011.
- Worst drops since 2014: DGRO −35.1%, SCHD −33.4%.
- Daily correlation: 0.96 (1 means they always move together).
What is the difference between DGRO and SCHD?#
DGRO’s index looks for companies that keep raising dividends, and leaves out the very highest payers, whose dividends are more likely to be cut. That lets in large companies with modest dividends, including some tech. SCHD ranks companies on yield as well as quality, so it leans toward higher payers and holds far fewer companies. Both charge low fees.
| Fact | DGRO | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
| Issuer | iShares (BlackRock) | Schwab |
| Expense ratio | 0.08% a year | 0.06% a year |
| Started trading | June 10, 2014 | October 20, 2011 |
| Tracks | Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index | Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index |
| Holdings | 391 holdings as of October 15, 2026 | 98 holdings as of February 28, 2026 |
| Type | US stocks, ETF | US stocks, ETF |
Fund facts checked on the iShares (BlackRock) DGRO page and the Schwab SCHD page.
Is DGRO or SCHD cheaper?#
SCHD costs less: 0.06% a year against 0.08%. On $10,000, that is about $8 a year for DGRO and $6 for SCHD. The fund takes its fee out of its own value a little each day, so you never get a bill.
DGRO vs SCHD performance over the same dates#
Both funds are measured from June 2014 to October 2026, the dates both traded. DGRO returned about 12.4% a year and SCHD returned about 12.1% a year. DGRO came out ahead over this period, which does not mean it will again.
| Measure | DGRO | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 grew to | $42,427 | $41,207 |
| Total return | 324.3% | 312.1% |
| Return per year (CAGR) | 12.4% | 12.1% |
| Worst drop from a high | −35.1% | −33.4% |
| Volatility (how much it swings) | 16.0% | 16.1% |
| Last 12 months | 18.1% | 33.0% |
| Last 3 years, per year | 20.3% | 18.8% |
| Last 5 years, per year | 10.9% | 9.7% |
| Last 10 years, per year | 13.9% | 13.5% |
Prices through October 20, 2026. Figures use daily closing prices adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They do not include taxes or the cost of buying and selling. Past results do not tell you what will happen next.
DGRO and SCHD returns by year#
| Year | DGRO | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (part of the year) | 15.8% | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 15.7% | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 16.6% | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 10.5% | 4.5% |
| 2022 | −7.9% | −3.3% |
| 2021 | 26.7% | 29.9% |
| 2020 | 9.5% | 15.0% |
| 2019 | 29.9% | 27.3% |
| 2018 | −2.4% | −5.6% |
| 2017 | 23.0% | 20.8% |
| 2016 | 14.5% | 16.4% |
| 2015 | −0.7% | −0.3% |
| 2014 (part of the year) | 8.6% | 7.1% |
Which fell further in bad times?#
A drawdown is how far a fund falls from its last high point. DGRO’s worst fall was −35.1%, from February 12, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on November 9, 2020.
SCHD’s worst fall was −33.4%, from January 23, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on September 2, 2020.
Their daily moves had a correlation of 0.96. A correlation of 1 means two funds always move up and down together. Near 0 means they move on their own. So holding both adds little variety.
Why people choose DGRO or SCHD#
DGRO. People who want a broad set of companies that keep raising dividends tend to pick DGRO.
SCHD. People who want a higher dividend today from a short list of strong companies tend to pick SCHD.
Strategies that hold DGRO or SCHD#
No classic strategy holds DGRO or SCHD yet.
Other funds like DGRO and SCHD#
Each fund has more funds that hold the same kind of investments, ranked by how closely they move with it: DGRO alternatives and SCHD alternatives.
Test a mix of DGRO and SCHD#
Open the builder, add DGRO and SCHD, and give each a weight, such as 50% and 50%. The backtest shows how the mix would have done, with its worst drop, on daily prices. You can also add a rule, for example to switch between them, and compare. Read the full pages for DGRO and SCHD, or see more ETF comparisons.
The details#
Both funds use Tactfolio’s stored daily prices, adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They are compared only on days both traded, starting the later fund’s first day, so neither gets a head start. Correlation uses daily returns over the same days. Read what a backtest simulates for more on these measures.
Common questions#
Do DGRO and SCHD hold the same stocks?#
Some overlap, because both buy steady dividend payers. DGRO holds about four times as many companies.
What is dividend growth?#
Dividend growth means a company raises the cash it pays per share over time. A fund like DGRO looks for companies that have done this for years.
Which is cheaper, DGRO or SCHD?#
SCHD costs less: 0.06% a year against 0.08%. Fees come from each issuer and were checked on October 17, 2026.
Which did better, DGRO or SCHD?#
From June 2014 to October 2026, DGRO returned about 12.4% a year and SCHD returned about 12.1% a year, with dividends reinvested. Their worst drops were −35.1% and −33.4%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.