SCHG vs VOO: Which Should You Buy?
Same 0.04% fee.
Over the period we can measure, SCHG has returned about 3.2% a year more and overlap about 55% by weight. Pick SCHG for the tighter 196-holding portfolio; pick VOO to own 505 instead. Both cost 0.04% per year.
This is purely for informational purposes, not investment advice. Always consult a professional before making investment decisions.
SCHG wins if...
You want the tighter portfolio: 196 holdings rather than 505, tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index.
VOO wins if...
You want maximum diversification: 505 holdings covering the broader market, tracking the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
SCHG vs VOO, side by side
The numbers that actually differ are highlighted.
| Metric | SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Index tracked | Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index | Standard & Poor's 500 Index |
| Number of holdings | 196 | 505 |
| Expense ratio | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Dividend yield | 0.37% | 1.05% |
| AUM | $65.80B | $1.80T |
| Top 10 concentration | 52.0% | 37.8% |
| 10-yr total return | 18.7% | 15.4% |
| 5-yr total return | 13.9% | 13.5% |
| Beta (vs S&P 500) | 1.20 | 1.01 |
| Max drawdown (10yr) | -34.6% | -34.0% |
| Market-cap coverage | Large + mid + small | Large cap |
| Inception | 2009 | 2010 |
SCHG holds 196 positions tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index. VOO holds 505, a broader slice of the same market.
How much do SCHG and VOO overlap?
The single most decision-relevant fact, and the one most comparisons skip.
- Shared
- 55.0%
- VOO-only
- 45.0%
~55% identical by weight
122 weighted positions appear in both funds, and by weight about 55% of the two portfolios is the same exposure. Where a stock sits in both, the shared share is whichever weight is smaller. That is the part of a dollar that behaves identically in either fund.
The difference is VOO's remaining 309 positions, which SCHG does not hold at all. They are smaller by weight, which is why the two track each other closely and drift apart only at the margins.
Growth of $10,000: SCHG vs VOO
Growth of $10,000
10 years
Which should you choose?
- You want concentrated exposure: 196 holdings, not 505
- You want to track the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index
- You want the wider net: 505 holdings against 196
- You want to track the Standard & Poor's 500 Index
- You want the higher yield: 1.05% against 0.37%
- You want the larger, more heavily traded fund ($1.8T)
Compare and track all ETFs in your sheet
Type =WISE("SCHG","dividend yield","ttm") or =WISEFUNDS("SCHG","expense ratio") in Excel or Google Sheets and the fund's data lands in your sheet, ready to be refreshed when you want.
Get The Add-in - FreeSCHG vs VOO frequently asked questions
SCHG has the stronger record, by about 3.2% a year and they overlap roughly 55% by weight. Both charge 0.04%, so cost is not the deciding factor.
SCHG holds 196 positions tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index. VOO holds 505, a broader slice of the same market.
Yes, by about 55% by weight. 122 weighted positions appear in both funds. Because the largest positions dominate both portfolios, the two behave similarly day to day.
Yes. At about 55% overlap the two hold substantially different positions, so holding both does broaden the exposure.