SCHB vs VTI: fees, holdings and returns
SCHB and VTI both hold the whole US stock market, from giant to small companies. SCHB holds about 2,400 companies and VTI about 3,500. Big companies make up most of both, so their returns have been very close. Over the same dates since November 2009, SCHB returned about 14.2% a year and VTI returned about 14.3% a year.
Written by the Tactfolio research team. Fund facts checked October 17, 2026. Prices through October 20, 2026.
Key points
- Both charge 0.03% a year.
- SCHB started trading in November 2009. VTI started in May 2001.
- Worst drops since 2009: SCHB −35.3%, VTI −35.0%.
- Daily correlation: 1.00 (1 means they always move together).
What is the difference between SCHB and VTI?#
SCHB tracks an index of the largest 2,500 US stocks. VTI tracks a Morningstar index that goes further down into the very smallest companies. Those extra companies are a tiny slice of VTI by value, so they barely change the result. Both charge the same very low fee, so the choice often comes down to which brokerage someone uses.
| Fact | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF | Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
| Issuer | Schwab | Vanguard |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% a year | 0.03% a year |
| Started trading | November 3, 2009 | May 24, 2001 |
| Tracks | Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index | Morningstar US Total Market Index |
| Holdings | 2,409 holdings as of February 28, 2026 | 3,519 holdings as of September 30, 2026 |
| Type | US stocks, ETF | US stocks, ETF |
Fund facts checked on the Schwab SCHB page and the Vanguard VTI page.
Is SCHB or VTI cheaper?#
Both charge 0.03% a year. On $10,000, that is about $3 a year for SCHB and $3 for VTI. The fund takes its fee out of its own value a little each day, so you never get a bill.
SCHB vs VTI performance over the same dates#
Both funds are measured from November 2009 to October 2026, the dates both traded. SCHB returned about 14.2% a year and VTI returned about 14.3% a year. VTI came out ahead over this period, which does not mean it will again.
| Measure | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 grew to | $95,581 | $96,284 |
| Total return | 855.8% | 862.8% |
| Return per year (CAGR) | 14.2% | 14.3% |
| Worst drop from a high | −35.3% | −35.0% |
| Volatility (how much it swings) | 17.4% | 17.4% |
| Last 12 months | 15.2% | 15.2% |
| Last 3 years, per year | 23.4% | 23.4% |
| Last 5 years, per year | 11.6% | 11.5% |
| Last 10 years, per year | 14.9% | 14.9% |
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.
SCHB and VTI returns by year#
| Year | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (part of the year) | 13.4% | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 16.9% | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 23.9% | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 26.2% | 26.1% |
| 2022 | −19.5% | −19.5% |
| 2021 | 25.8% | 25.7% |
| 2020 | 20.8% | 21.1% |
| 2019 | 30.8% | 30.7% |
| 2018 | −5.3% | −5.2% |
| 2017 | 21.2% | 21.2% |
| 2016 | 12.1% | 12.8% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 2014 | 12.7% | 12.6% |
| 2013 | 33.2% | 33.5% |
| 2012 | 16.4% | 16.4% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | 1.0% |
| 2010 | 17.1% | 17.4% |
| 2009 (part of the year) | 7.5% | 7.6% |
Which fell further in bad times?#
A drawdown is how far a fund falls from its last high point. SCHB’s worst fall was −35.3%, from February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 12, 2020.
VTI’s worst fall was −35.0%, from February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 12, 2020.
Their daily moves had a correlation of 1.00. 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 SCHB or VTI#
SCHB. People who use Schwab, or want the whole market in a Schwab fund, often pick SCHB.
VTI. People who use Vanguard, or want the most companies in one fund, often pick VTI.
Strategies that hold SCHB or VTI#
These classic strategies hold one or both at least some of the time. Each is a set of written rules you can open, test and copy.
- Baby Bear Portfolio (Muscular Portfolios), by Brian Livingston, 2018 (holds VTI)
- All Weather Portfolio (Ray Dalio’s All Seasons), by Ray Dalio and Tony Robbins, 2014 (holds VTI)
- Harry Browne’s Permanent Portfolio, by Harry Browne, 1999 (holds VTI)
- Golden Butterfly Portfolio, by Tyler (Portfolio Charts), 2015 (holds VTI)
- Three-Fund Portfolio (Taylor Larimore, Bogleheads), by Taylor Larimore, 2018 (holds VTI)
Other funds like SCHB and VTI#
Each fund has more funds that hold the same kind of investments, ranked by how closely they move with it: SCHB alternatives and VTI alternatives.
Test a mix of SCHB and VTI#
Open the builder, add SCHB and VTI, 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 SCHB and VTI, 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#
Is SCHB the same as VTI?#
Very close. Both cover nearly the whole US stock market, weighted by company size, at the same fee. VTI holds more of the very smallest companies.
Why do SCHB and VTI hold different numbers of stocks?#
Their indexes draw the line at different sizes. SCHB’s stops near the largest 2,500 companies. VTI’s goes further down into tiny companies.
Which is cheaper, SCHB or VTI?#
Both charge 0.03% a year. Fees come from each issuer and were checked on October 17, 2026.
Which did better, SCHB or VTI?#
From November 2009 to October 2026, SCHB returned about 14.2% a year and VTI returned about 14.3% a year, with dividends reinvested. Their worst drops were −35.3% and −35.0%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.