Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
SCHD vs SCHY
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF versus Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
SCHD wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SCHY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
SCHD or SCHY — which is better?
SCHD wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. SCHD yields 3.24% — lower than SCHY's 3.33% — and carries a 7.9/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 7.3/10 for SCHY (Solid). SCHD wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SCHY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On dividend safety, SCHD scores 7.9/10 (Solid) vs 7.3/10 (Solid) for SCHY — SCHD has a stronger composite of payout coverage, yield zone, and dividend trend signals. On yield, SCHY's 3.33% vs 3.24% represents a $90 annual income gap on $100,000 invested.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | SCHD | SCHY | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.24% | 3.33% | SCHY wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.9/10 | 7.3/10 | SCHD wins |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 6.00% | 8.00% | SCHD wins |
| Scale | $107.9B | $2.5B | SCHD wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | SCHD wins |
Dimension by dimension
SCHY wins on yield (3.33% vs 3.24%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $9 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
SCHD wins on safety (7.9/10 vs 7.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. SCHD scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
SCHD (7.9/10) scores 0.6 points higher than SCHY (7.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
SCHD is cheaper (6.00% vs 8.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $200/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
SCHD is 42.8× larger by AUM
Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
Full breakdown per ticker: are SCHD dividends qualified and are SCHY dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
SCHD or SCHY — which is better?
SCHD is better on our scoring, winning 3–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. SCHD wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SCHY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, SCHD or SCHY?
SCHD wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SCHY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
SCHD vs SCHY: which has a higher dividend yield?
SCHD yields 3.24% and SCHY yields 3.33%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $9 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is SCHD or SCHY a safer dividend in 2026?
SCHD scores 7.9/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. SCHY scores 7.3/10 (Solid). SCHD is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, SCHD or SCHY?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
SCHD vs SCHY: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put SCHD and SCHY into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding SCHD diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.