Which Is the Better Dividend ETF: Schwab's Defensive SCHD or Fidelity's Tech-Tilted FDVV?
Key Points
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF offers a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.06% compared to 0.15% for Fidelity High Dividend ETF.
Fidelity High Dividend ETF is heavily weighted toward technology at 29%, while Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF prioritizes healthcare and consumer defensives.
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF provides a higher dividend yield of 3.1% and has historically exhibited lower price volatility.
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT:SCHD) offers a lower-cost, lower-volatility approach compared to the Fidelity High Dividend ETF (NYSEMKT:FDVV), which leans heavily into growth-oriented sectors like technology and financial services.
Income investors often choose between high current yield and long-term growth potential. While both funds target dividend-paying stocks, they take diverging paths through the market. The Fidelity fund seeks enhanced income through tactical sector tilts, whereas the Schwab fund tracks a disciplined index of high-quality companies. Choosing between them requires weighing sector exposure against cost efficiency.
Snapshot (cost & size)
| Metric | FDVV | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Fidelity | Schwab |
| Share price | $64.33 (as of 2026-08-13) | $34.43 (as of 2026-08-13) |
| Expense ratio | 0.15% | 0.06% |
| 1-yr return (as of 2026-08-13) | 20.9% | 29.9% |
| Dividend yield | 2.7% | 3.1% |
| Beta | 0.86 | 0.68 |
| AUM | $10.2 billion | $108.7 billion |
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.
The Schwab fund is significantly more affordable with an expense ratio of 0.06%, compared to 0.15% for the Fidelity fund. Additionally, it offers a higher payout, providing a 0.36 percentage point advantage in trailing-12-month dividend yield.
Performance & risk comparison
| Metric | FDVV | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Max drawdown (5 yr) | (20.2%) | (16.8%) |
| Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return) | $1,961 | $1,587 |
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF focuses on defensive stability, weighting its portfolio toward healthcare at 21%, consumer defensive at 20%, and energy at 15%. Its largest positions include Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) at 4.78%, Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) at 4.63%, and Merck (NYSE:MRK) at 4.42%. It holds 103 stocks and currently has no structural quirks. The fund was launched in 2011. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has paid $1.05 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$34.43 share price works out to a 3.1% yield.
Fidelity High Dividend ETF takes a more aggressive approach, holding 119 stocks with heavy concentrations in technology at 29%, financial services at 19%, and consumer cyclical at 13%. Its top holdings include Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) at 7.18%, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) at 5.94%, and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) at 5.09%. This strategy captures more technology upside but typically involves higher volatility as evidenced by its higher beta. The fund was launched in 2016. Fidelity High Dividend ETF has paid $1.73 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$64.33 share price works out to a 2.7% yield.
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Which looks like the better buy
Income investing is back in fashion, and for good reason. After years of playing second fiddle to high-growth technology stocks, dividend-paying companies have reasserted themselves in 2026, rewarding patient investors who prioritized cash flow over capital appreciation.
The dividend label is where the similarity between SCHD and FDVV begins and ends. SCHD is built around companies with long track records of paying and growing dividends, like Amgen, Abbott Labs, and Merck, which anchor the portfolio. This gives it a defensive, income-first character that held up particularly well as markets rotated away from high-growth names this past year.
FDVV stretches the definition of dividend investing to include Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, which pay minimal dividends but score well on FDVV's forward-looking growth screen. That tech tilt powered stronger five-year returns than SCHD but worked against FDVV over the past 12 months as traditional dividend stalwarts surged ahead.
For income-focused investors who want a lower-cost, more defensive dividend foundation, SCHD is the stronger buy right now. FDVV appeals to those willing to pay more for a dividend fund that keeps one foot in technology and has delivered stronger long-term total returns as a result.
Sara Appino has positions in Apple and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Apple, Merck, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.