Tony Dong is the founder of ETF Portfolio Blueprint.
This is the dividend growth lane.
It's finally time to upgrade Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) back to a Buy, reflecting remarkable resilience amid rising bond yields and a favorable risk-reward profile. SCHD's recent reconstitution increased technology exposure to over 16%, while maintaining significant energy holdings, enhancing diversification and upside potential. At just over 15x earnings, SCHD trades at a discernible discount to the S&P 500 and offers a stable 3.3% trailing 12-month dividend yield.
Changing market conditions require updates to positions held under old regimes. The last couple of months has brought with it a definitive changing of the structure of equity markets. Against that back-drop, I offer my updated view on the relative performance expectations of the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) over the next 6-12 months.
Tony Dong is the founder of ETF Portfolio Blueprint.
The dividend growth trade is doing something unusual in 2026: it is crushing the broad market.
Income-focused investors are in a real dilemma as government bond yields surge amid the rising inflation rate in the United States. Do they invest in the blue-chip Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) or invest in the higher-yielding JPMorgan Premium Income ETF (JEPI).
The Schwab US Dividend Equity (SCHD) ETF has remained on edge in the past few days and is now hovering near its all-time high of $32.15. It has soared by 20% in the last 12 months and is about 4% in the last 30 days.
Common wisdom is that the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF responds negatively to higher rates due to its bond-proxy flavor. Contradictory to this wisdom, historical data suggest no obvious correlation between SCHD's earnings or price performance with respect to rates. Further, there are other factors at play beyond rates that could impact SCHD.
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF remains a reliable, low-volatility core holding for steady income and moderate growth, not rapid capital appreciation. SCHD's recent portfolio turnover changed the sector balance, with consumer staples and healthcare now each at 19% and energy reduced to 16%. Top holdings—TXN, UNH, QCOM, CVX, KO—provide blue-chip stability but concentrate risk; SCHD underperforms in tech-led rallies but buffers macro shocks.
VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” For more news, information, and strategy, visit ETF Trends.
The Schwab U.S. Equity Dividend ETF (SCHD) has outperformed the S&P 500 year-to-date, delivering a 14.5% total return versus 4.8% for the index. SCHD's outperformance has been driven by strong energy sector exposure, attractive valuation metrics, and a high dividend yield of 3.44%. With an 18 P/E ratio, a 3.66 P/B ratio, and a 27% ROE, SCHD offers compelling value compared to the pricey S&P 500.