SCHG vs VUG: Which ETF Is Better in 2026?
A metric-by-metric comparison of Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) and Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (VUG) — both US Large Cap Growth funds — using ETFValuer's daily-updated rankings.
Educational content — not financial advice. Data as of July 5, 2026. ~5 minute read.
The Verdict
On ETFValuer's overall model — which blends return, risk-adjusted performance, cost, drawdown, size and volatility — VUG scores higher: 63.1 (Grade C) versus 62.0 for SCHG. That doesn't make SCHG a bad fund; it means VUG currently edges it out on this specific mix of factors. Read the metric-by-metric breakdown below before deciding which matters more for your own portfolio.
Head-to-Head: Every Metric
| SCHG | VUG | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | US Large Cap Growth | US Large Cap Growth |
| Expense ratio | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Fund size (AUM) | $61.1B | $393.8B |
| Dividend yield | 0.36% | 1.79% |
| 1-year return | +18.47% | +18.72% |
| 3-year return | +86.40% | +85.90% |
| Volatility | 16.28% | 17.05% |
| Max drawdown | -23.39% | -22.85% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.83 | 0.80 |
| ETFValuer score | 62.0 | 63.1 |
| Grade | C | C |
| Rank (of ~150) | #63 | #59 |
Bold marks the better value in each row. "Better" is directional only (e.g. lower cost, higher return) — it isn't a recommendation by itself. See the full methodology.
Cost
On cost, the two are essentially tied — SCHG charges 0.04% a year versus VUG's 0.03%. A difference this small (about $1.00 a year on a $10,000 position) isn't a reason to choose one fund over the other.
Performance & Risk
Over the trailing 3 years, SCHG returned +86.40% versus +85.90% for VUG — a gap of about 0.5 percentage points. On risk, VUG has held up better historically, with a shallower max drawdown (-22.85% vs. -23.39%). SCHG currently has the better risk-adjusted return (Sharpe ratio of 0.83 vs. 0.80), meaning it delivered more return per unit of volatility taken on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SCHG or VUG better?
On ETFValuer's overall model — which blends return, risk-adjusted performance, cost, drawdown, size and volatility — VUG scores higher: 63.1 (Grade C) versus 62.0 for SCHG. That doesn't make SCHG a bad fund; it means VUG currently edges it out on this specific mix of factors. Read the metric-by-metric breakdown below before deciding which matters more for your own portfolio.
Which has the lower expense ratio, SCHG or VUG?
VUG currently has the lower expense ratio (0.03% vs. 0.04%).
Can I hold both SCHG and VUG?
Since SCHG and VUG are both US Large Cap Growth funds, they likely hold significant overlapping positions — owning both usually adds cost and complexity without meaningfully improving diversification. Pick one rather than holding both at full weight.
Go deeper on either fund
Full daily-updated metrics, holdings context, and category peers.