SmarterDividends

SCHB vs SPY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, SCHB yields more: 1.07% (dividend yield) against 1.02% for SPY. SCHB is cheaper to own at 0.03% a year vs 0.09%. Over the same 16 years (Nov 2009 to Oct 2026), SPY returned 14.1% a year with distributions reinvested, and SCHB 13.4%.

ComparedSCHBSPY
YieldDividend yield1.07%1.02%
Expense ratio0.03%0.09%
Total return, 1 yr+11.9%+12.0%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+23.1%+23.3%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)+11.0%+12.0%
Total return, 10 yr (a year)+14.4%+15.3%
Worst drop since Nov 2009-24.8%-23.9%
Share price since Nov 2009+578%+587%
PaysQuarterlyQuarterly
IssuerSchwabState Street Investment Management
Assets$44.2B$796.9B
Started20091993
TypeLarge BlendLarge Blend

Higher yield

SCHB

1.07%

Lower cost

SCHB

0.03%

Better total return

SPY

14.1%/yr

Smaller worst drop

SPY

-23.9%

Key facts: SCHB vs SPY

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, SCHB yields 1.07% (dividend yield) and SPY yields 1.02% (dividend yield).
  • SCHB's expense ratio is 0.03% and SPY's is 0.09%: $3 vs $9 a year on $10,000.
  • From Nov 2009 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in SCHB grew to $83,534 (13.4% a year) and $10,000 in SPY to $92,852 (14.1% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -24.8% for SCHB and -23.9% for SPY.
  • 10 of SCHB's top ten holdings are also in SPY's top ten, an overlap of at least 33% of the fund.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "SCHB vs SPY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/schb-vs-spy

$10,000 in each, Nov 2009 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.

SCHB became

$83,534

13.4% a year

SPY became

$92,852

14.1% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearSCHBSPY
2025+16.9%+17.7%
2024+23.9%+24.9%
2023+26.1%+26.2%
2022−19.4%−18.2%
2021+25.8%+28.7%
2020+19.6%+18.3%
2019+29.5%+31.2%
2018−6.1%−4.6%
2017+20.0%+21.7%
2016+14.7%+12.0%
2015−0.7%+1.2%
2014+11.5%+13.5%
2013+31.8%+32.3%
2012+14.8%+16.0%
2011+1.0%+1.9%
2010+16.2%+15.1%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

Top holdings

10 of the top ten overlap, at least 33% of each fund.

SCHB

  1. AAPL Apple Inc6.9%
  2. NVDA NVIDIA Corp6.8%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.3%
  4. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.2%
  5. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.2%
  6. AVGO Broadcom Inc2.1%
  7. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A1.9%
  8. GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C1.8%
  9. LLY Eli Lilly and Co1.5%
  10. TSLA Tesla Inc1.5%

SPY

  1. AAPL Apple Inc7.7%
  2. NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.6%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.9%
  4. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.6%
  5. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.5%
  6. AVGO Broadcom Inc2.4%
  7. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.1%
  8. GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C2.0%
  9. LLY Eli Lilly and Co1.7%
  10. TSLA Tesla Inc1.7%

SCHB vs SPY: questions

Is SCHB or SPY better?

It depends on the job. SCHB pays more today (1.07% vs 1.02%), SCHB costs less, and SPY has the better total return over Nov 2009 to Oct 2026, with SPY holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.

Which pays a higher dividend, SCHB or SPY?

SCHB, at 1.07% against 1.02% for SPY as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $107 vs $102 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

SPY. From Nov 2009 to Oct 2026, it returned 14.1% a year with distributions reinvested, against 13.4% for SCHB. $10,000 became $92,852 vs $83,534.

Which is cheaper, SCHB or SPY?

SCHB, with a 0.03% expense ratio against 0.09%.

Do SCHB and SPY hold the same things?

Partly. 10 of their top ten holdings match (AAPL, NVDA, MSFT, AMZN), at least 33% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. SPY leads on 6 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.