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Is the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF a Buy Now?

July 19, 2025
11:13 AM
5 min read
AI Enhanced
investmentmoneystocksfinancialenergyconsumer stapleshealthcaremarket cycles

Key Takeaways

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has attracted massive inflows lately. Here's what income investors need to know about this $70 billion fund.

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investment

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Published

July 19, 2025

11:13 AM

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The Motley Fool

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Key Topics
investmentmoneystocksfinancialenergyconsumer stapleshealthcaremarket cycles

Market analysis reveals It's worth noting that The Schwab U

Dividend Equity ETF has attracted massive inflows lately

Here's what income investors need to know this $70 billion fund (noteworthy indeed)

Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD -0 (fascinating analysis). 42%) is a index fund, tied to the Dow Jones U, in today's financial world

The index and fund focus on generous, high-quality dividend policies

As a result, the ETF is centered around the classic dividend payer sectors of energy, consumer staples, and healthcare, in today's financial world

This's indeed a very fund. 1 billion of assets under management, the Schwab Dividend Equity fund ranks among the 30 largest exchange-traded funds (ETFs) today

Additionally, But is it a good ETF to buy today, given current economic conditions

Furthermore, Let's dive a little deeper into the Schwab U, amid market uncertainty

In contrast, Dividend Equity ETF

Image source: Getty Images, given the current landscape

Investors are pouring money into this Schwab fund This fund is having a moment in the sun right now

Furthermore, Among the five largest dividend-focused ETFs, the fund has seen the largest capital inflows over the last year -- by far

Its asset portfolio has grown by 24% in 52 weeks, far ahead of runner-up is Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO -0. 25%) at 5%

Income investors often care less stock prices than other investor types do, but the price performance still matters

Moreover, So it should be noted that the Schwab U (something worth watching), in today's financial world

Dividend Equity fund tends to underperform broad market trackers the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0, in today's market environment

However, 01%) in the long run

The Schwab ETF's average annual price gain over the last decade was 7. 6%, well behind the S&P 500's average increase of 11

The competing dividend ETF from is posted a stronger yearly increase of 9 (which is quite significant). 3%, but neither one could come close to the overall stock market's price gains

On the other hand, This period includes three presidential elections, the coronavirus pandemic, the start of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, and the panic-and-recovery inflation cycle from 2022 to 2024 (noteworthy indeed)

Price gains recorded across that diverse time period should be fairly representative of average long-term results, considering recent developments

Moreover, But wait, there's more (dividends, that is) The picture changes dramatically when you include dividend payouts in the performance charts (something worth watching)

The S&P 500's average dividend yield over the last decade stopped at 1

The is dividend fund floated around a much richer 2 (fascinating analysis), in today's market environment. 3%, but the Schwab Dividend Equity ETF came out on top, considering recent developments

This leads to the conclusion that s average yield was 3

As a very direct result, the Schwab fund dered a robust total return of 11. 1% per year over the last decade

This metric assumes that any dividends along the way were reinvested in more s of the same stock or fund -- a fantastic advantage for this generous dividend payer

Furthermore, Being out of favor can create opportunities Large-cap stocks with high-quality dividend plans haven't exactly been market darlings recently, given current economic conditions

Meanwhile, After an underwhelming performance in recent months, the Schwab fund is stuck 9% below its annual highs and 14% above recent lows (remarkable data), given current economic conditions

Meanwhile, the broader market is setting new price records on a regular basis, amid market uncertainty

Conversely, On the upside of a soft price chart, the Schwab U, in this volatile climate

Dividend Equity ETF offers an above-average dividend yield of 4% right now

You can lock in that effective yield by grabbing some s today

The fund's largest holdings include world-class es Coca-Cola, The Depot, and Chevron -- long-term cash machines that should survive pretty much any economic calamity I could imagine (which is quite significant), in today's financial world

From this perspective, the dividend fund also serves as a direct bet on top-quality giants

That concept often goes hand in hand with generous and consistently growing dividend payouts

In contrast, It's also a low-cost index fund with an annual expense ratio of 0

At the same time, And if you the stock list of the underlying Dow Jones U

Dividend 100 index, this Schwab fund appears to be the only ETF that s this exact index (an important development)

On the other hand, Is the SCHD ETF right for you

Fully committed income investors could very well build their portfolio around this robust ETF (this bears monitoring)

Others can include it to get deeper exposure to the dividend-rich corner of Wall Street, or to skew their holdings closer to large-cap value investments

Furthermore, Either way, this period of lagging price performance looks a good time to explore the Schwab U

You don't need to back up your verbial truck, but this ETF looks a solid buy today

Nevertheless, Anders Bylund has no position in any of the stocks mentioned, in today's financial world

The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron and Depot

This demonstrates that Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.