SCHD vs HDV: Which Dividend ETF Actually Wins?

Comparing two popular dividend ETFs? Here’s the real breakdown:

SCHD (Schwab) wins on cost and yield:

• 0.06% expense ratio (vs HDV’s 0.08%)
• 3.8% dividend yield (vs HDV’s 3.1%)
• $70.1B in assets (way bigger)
• 10-year return: 199.5%

HDV (iShares) has recent momentum:

• 1-year return: 3.6% (SCHD did -5.7%)
• 75 stocks vs SCHD’s 103
• Heavier energy/healthcare tilt

The catch? SCHD focuses on dividend growth (up 29.9% over 5 years), while HDV chases high yields now (only up 2.85% in payouts).

Bottom line: Want steady income + cheaper fees? SCHD. Want current yield and recent gains? HDV. Most long-term players pick SCHD.