Most dividend investors swear by Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD).
But what if 86% of SCHD’s holdings already exist inside another ETF that almost nobody talks about?
Even more surprising… that ETF is cheaper, more diversified, and holds over 570 dividend-paying companies.
Let’s talk about the underrated giant: Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM).
And once you see the numbers, you might rethink your dividend strategy.
(Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. Always do your own research before investing.)
The Hidden Overlap Most Investors Miss
Many investors build their dividend portfolio around SCHD because it focuses on quality dividend companies.
SCHD carefully selects about 101 stocks using metrics like:
Return on equity
Cash flow strength
Debt ratios
Dividend growth history
This high-quality, concentrated approach is exactly why so many investors love it.
But here’s the twist.
Another ETF — VYM — already contains 86% of SCHD’s holdings.
The difference?
VYM takes the opposite strategy.
Instead of selecting a small list of elite companies, it simply buys almost every large U.S. company that pays above-average dividends.
That means:
SCHD: ~101 companies
VYM: 572 companies
So while SCHD is focused and selective, VYM is massively diversified.
And that difference matters.
A Dividend ETF With a Tech Surprise
When people hear “dividend ETF,” they usually imagine industries like:
Banks
Oil companies
Consumer staples
And yes, VYM holds major names like:
JPMorgan Chase
ExxonMobil
Johnson & Johnson
Walmart
Procter & Gamble
But here’s the surprising part.
The largest holding in VYM is actually Broadcom, a semiconductor giant.
Why?
Because demand for AI technology pushed Broadcom’s stock price dramatically higher.
At the same time, the company raised its dividend by 11% in 2025.
That allowed it to stay inside the dividend index while becoming the largest position in the entire ETF.
So without many investors realizing it, VYM quietly gained significant exposure to the booming tech sector.
A Big Dividend Signal Investors Noticed
In late 2025, something interesting happened.
VYM’s quarterly dividend jumped from $0.8417 to $0.9474 per share.
That’s a 12.56% increase in a single quarter.
For a massive $73 billion ETF, that’s a meaningful signal.
However, there’s an important detail many people miss.
Year-over-year dividend growth was actually almost flat:
2025: $3.50 per share
2024: $3.49 per share
So why did Q4 jump?
Because many underlying companies raised dividends during the year, and year-end adjustments and special dividends are typically paid in the fourth quarter.
Still, it shows something important:
The companies inside VYM are generating more cash and returning more to investors.
And that’s good news for income investors.
Vanguard Just Made It Even Cheaper
In February 2026, Vanguard announced one of the largest fee cuts in its history.
Nearly $600 million in annual fee reductions across dozens of funds.
VYM benefited from that move.
Its expense ratio dropped from:
0.06% → 0.04%
That makes VYM cheaper than SCHD.
For example:
$100,000 investment = $40 per year in fees
$500,000 investment = $200 per year
It may sound small, but over decades lower fees compound into real money.
Performance: VYM vs SCHD
Over the last 12 months:
VYM: 18.28% return
SCHD: 15.34%
Over 5 years:
VYM: 12.23% annual return
SCHD: 9.69%
However, SCHD still wins in some areas.
Dividend yield today:
SCHD: 3.37%
VYM: 2.32%
Dividend growth rate:
SCHD: ~8–9% annually
VYM: ~3.2%
So the truth is simple.
Neither ETF is strictly better.
They just serve different investing goals.
Example: What $100,000 Could Generate
Imagine investing $100,000 in VYM.
With a 2.32% yield, that could produce about:
$2,320 per year
About $580 per quarter
Roughly $193 per month
If dividends are reinvested and returns stay near historical averages:
After 5 years, the portfolio could grow to around $178,000.
After 10 years, it could reach roughly $300,000+, with nearly $7,000 per year in dividends.
That’s passive income from a single ETF.
Why Many Investors Choose VYM
There are three main reasons investors prefer VYM.
1. Massive diversification
572 companies mean very little risk from any single company failure.
2. Stable dividend structure
VYM excludes REITs, which simplifies taxes and focuses on corporate dividends.
3. Hidden SCHD exposure
Since 86% of SCHD already exists inside VYM, owning VYM essentially gives you most of SCHD plus hundreds more dividend stocks.
The Real Question Investors Should Ask
The debate isn’t really VYM vs SCHD.
The real question is:
Is your portfolio designed for where you want to be in 10 years?
Because sometimes the biggest opportunities are hiding in ETFs most investors overlook.
And VYM might be one of them.
Start Investing in ETFs Easily
If you want to start investing in powerful dividend ETFs like VYM or SCHD, you can do it easily using the **Moomoo trading platform.
With Moomoo, you can:
✔ Buy U.S. stocks and ETFs
✔ Access powerful trading tools and analytics
✔ Monitor dividend income easily
✔ Invest directly from your phone
👉 Open your account and start investing here:
https://j.moomoo.com/0xFRE4
Your future passive income could start with just one smart ETF investment today.
Hashtags (for viral reach)
#DividendInvesting #PassiveIncome #ETFInvesting #StockMarket #FinancialFreedom #VYM #SCHD #DividendPortfolio #InvestSmart #MoomooApp
