SCHB vs VTI ETF Comparison 2026: Schwab vs Vanguard Total Market: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
SCHB and VTI are virtually identical broad US stock market ETFs with the same 0.03% expense ratio. SCHB is the Schwab-branded version tracking 2,500 US stocks; VTI is the Vanguard version tracking 3,600+ US stocks. Performance correlation over any meaningful period exceeds 0.999. The choice is purely logistical — which brokerage you use and where you receive commission-free trading.
SCHB vs VTI is essentially the same broad US equity market index at the same cost — the only differentiation is provider (Schwab vs Vanguard) and index methodology (Dow Jones US Broad Market vs CRSP US Total Market) with negligible practical impact on performance.
VTI holds the edge across 4 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. VTI has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+11.57% vs +11.40% for SCHB).
- prefer Schwab's brokerage platform and receive commission-free trading on Schwab-branded ETFs
- value Schwab's customer service and platform integration for a simpler one-provider financial experience
- want broad US market exposure at minimum cost with a trusted provider aligned with their primary brokerage relationship
- are comfortable with Dow Jones US Broad Market index tracking (2,500 stocks) vs CRSP's broader 3,600+ coverage
- prefer Vanguard's ETFs as the world's largest and most liquid broad market fund with universal commission-free availability
- value maximum US market completeness with 3,600+ stocks including micro-cap that SCHB's 2,500-stock universe excludes
- want the original cost-minimization leader with Vanguard's unique investor-owned structure ensuring permanent cost alignment
- are comfortable with holding VTI through any brokerage as its liquidity and universality make it cost-efficient at any provider
| Metric | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 27.2 | 27.2 |
| Latest closei | $28.95 | $370.00 |
| 1M returni | -2.23% | -2.11% |
| 3M returni | -0.82% | -0.78% |
| 6M returni | +5.00% | +5.09% |
| 1Y returni | +11.40% | +11.57% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.26K (+12.6%) started 2025-11-03 | $11.27K (+12.7%) started 2025-11-03 |
| 5Y ago | $17.72K (+77.2%) started 2021-11-03 | $17.72K (+77.2%) started 2021-11-03 |
| 10Y ago | $48.24K (+382.4%) started 2016-11-03 | $48.22K (+382.2%) started 2016-11-03 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $44.43B | $2.32T |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.05% | 1.06% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 23.34 | 23.38 |
| Betai | 1.03 | 1.03 |
| 52-week change | 11.40% | 11.57% |
| Metric | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +11.40% | +11.57% |
| 6M returni | +5.00% | +5.09% |
| 3M returni | -0.82% | -0.78% |
| 1M returni | -2.23% | -2.11% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.55 | 0.56 |
| Betai | 1.03 | 1.03 |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.05% | 1.06% |
| 5Y CAGR | +10.57% | +10.53% |
Over the past year, SCHB and VTI have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 1.00), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +11.32% | +11.44% |
| CAGRi | +11.36% | +11.48% | |
| Volatilityi | 13.05% | 12.99% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.55 | 0.56 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.78 | 0.80 | |
| Max drawdowni | 8.91% | 8.92% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.53% | 3.48% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 1.51% | 1.50% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 2.18% | 2.17% | |
| Max daily dropi | 2.70% | 2.68% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 3.71% | 3.66% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +65.18% | +64.90% |
| CAGRi | +10.57% | +10.53% | |
| Volatilityi | 17.35% | 17.50% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.41 | 0.41 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.58 | 0.58 | |
| Max drawdowni | 25.41% | 25.36% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.53% | 3.48% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.21% | 6.24% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 9.20% | 9.23% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.90% | 5.87% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 11.61% | 11.61% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +305.69% | +305.99% |
| CAGRi | +15.04% | +15.05% | |
| Volatilityi | 18.34% | 18.32% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.61 | 0.61 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.85 | 0.86 | |
| Max drawdowni | 35.27% | 35.00% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.53% | 3.48% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 4.67% | 4.68% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 7.70% | 7.72% | |
| Max daily dropi | 11.99% | 11.38% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 18.80% | 18.80% |
| Category | SCHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF | Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $44.43B | $2.32T |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.05% | 1.06% |
- 0.03% expense ratio matches the industry minimum for broad US market exposure
- Commission-free trading on Schwab platforms for Schwab account holders with no minimums
- Covers 2,500+ US stocks providing comprehensive large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap exposure
- World's largest ETF by assets — highest liquidity and tightest bid-ask spreads of any broad market ETF
- 3,600+ holdings provides the most complete US market exposure including micro-cap segments excluded from SCHB
- Vanguard's ownership structure (investors own the fund company) creates structural incentive to minimize costs permanently
- Tracks the Dow Jones US Broad Market index rather than CRSP — slightly different index composition than VTI but virtually identical performance
- Schwab product loyalty benefit disappears if you transfer to a different brokerage — VTI is universally commission-free across all major brokerages
- 2,500 holdings vs VTI's 3,600+ means slightly less micro-cap exposure, but the difference is immaterial given micro-cap weighting
- Available commission-free at most brokerages but not automatically commission-free everywhere — Schwab may charge commissions for VTI
- Slightly higher number of holdings (3,600+ vs SCHB's 2,500) adds micro-cap exposure that increases very marginally in volatile markets
- Vanguard's operational advantages are structural, not product-specific — the quality difference between VTI and SCHB is minimal
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