ETF Versus

AGG vs SCHD

iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

Last updated: 2026-04-02

AGG iShares

iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to the broad U.S. investment-grade bond market. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.94%. Launched in 2003, the fund has a 23-year track record.

AUM: $137.9B ER: 0.03% Yield: 3.94% Since: Sep 22, 2003
SCHD Schwab

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Schwab that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.06%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.46%. Launched in 2011, the fund has a 15-year track record.

AUM: $83.9B ER: 0.06% Yield: 3.46% Since: Oct 20, 2011

Quick Verdict

AGG has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.03% vs 0.06%), saving about $60 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, SCHD has significantly outperformed with a 9.5% return vs 0.0%.

Key Metrics

Metric AGG SCHD
Expense Ratio 0.03% 0.06%
Dividend Yield 3.9% 3.5%
Fund Family iShares Schwab
Category US Aggregate Bond US Dividend

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

80 90 100 110 120 130 2021-04 2022-06 2023-09 2024-12 2026-04
AGG -13.0%
SCHD +23.3%

Performance Comparison

Period AGG SCHD Difference
1 Month -1.67% -4.24% +2.57%
3 Months -0.85% +10.03% -10.88%
6 Months -1.18% +11.31% -12.49%
YTD -0.85% +10.03% -10.88%
1 Year +0.04% +9.47% -9.43%
3 Years -0.82% +24.43% -25.25%
5 Years -13.01% +23.27% -36.28%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period AGG Fees SCHD Fees You Save
$10.000 10 years $60 $120 $60
$10.000 20 years $258 $515 $257
$10.000 30 years $835 $1.664 $828
$50.000 10 years $299 $598 $299
$50.000 30 years $4.176 $8.318 $4.142
$100.000 30 years $8.352 $16.637 $8.285

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric AGG SCHD
Annualized Volatility 6.1% 14.6%
Max Drawdown -21.4% -18.9%
Sharpe Ratio -1.17 0.05

Dividend Comparison

Metric AGG SCHD
Annual Dividend (per share) $3.90 $1.06
Dividend Yield 3.94% 3.46%
Distribution Frequency Monthly Quarterly

Top Holdings

SCHD Top Holdings

NameWeight
Chevron CorporationCVX4.66%
ConocoPhillipsCOP4.33%
Merck & Co., Inc.MRK4.08%
Verizon Communications Inc.VZ4.03%
The Coca-Cola CompanyKO3.98%
Texas Instruments IncorporatedTXN3.86%
PepsiCo, Inc.PEP3.83%
Amgen Inc.AMGN3.78%
Abbott LaboratoriesABT3.78%
The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG3.70%

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose AGG if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose SCHD if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Choose AGG if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

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