What is an exchange-traded fund?

An ETF is a basket of securities that trades on an exchange like a stock. It allows investors to gain exposure to a specific market, sector, or asset class through a single transaction. ETFs typically aim to track an underlying index, providing diversified exposure while offering the flexibility to buy and sell shares throughout the trading day, combining features of mutual funds and stocks.

What does the term expense ratio mean?

The expense ratio represents the annual fee charged by a fund to manage its assets, expressed as a percentage of the investment. This fee covers operational costs such as management, administration, and marketing. A lower expense ratio generally means more of the investment return remains with the investor. It is deducted from the fund's assets, so a higher ratio can slightly reduce net returns over time.

What is the difference between gross and net assets?

Gross assets refer to the total value of all holdings before any liabilities or expenses are deducted. Net assets, often called net asset value (NAV), represent the total value of assets minus liabilities. For ETFs, the market price usually trades close to the NAV. Understanding net assets helps investors assess the actual value backing each share of the fund after accounting for its operational costs and debts.

How do the expense ratios of SCHF and VXUS compare?

SCHF has an expense ratio of 0.03%, while VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05%. SCHF is therefore 0.02 percentage points cheaper to hold annually. While this difference appears small, over long investment horizons, lower costs can enhance compound growth by retaining more of the return. Investors often evaluate these minor fee discrepancies when choosing between broad-market international equity funds.

How do the asset bases of SCHF and VXUS differ?

VXUS holds significantly larger net assets at $164.0 billion compared to SCHF's $68.2 billion. A larger asset base can indicate high demand and potentially better liquidity, making it easier to buy or sell shares without affecting the price significantly. However, SCHF's substantial size still suggests it is a well-established and widely used vehicle for international equity exposure among investors.

Which fund offers a higher dividend yield?

SCHF offers a dividend yield of 3.00%, whereas VXUS provides a yield of 2.28%. For income-focused investors, SCHF's higher yield may be attractive as it generates more cash flow relative to the share price. However, yield alone does not indicate total return performance. Investors should consider that yields fluctuate and are not guaranteed, reflecting the distribution payments made by the fund's underlying holdings.

What is the typical investing goal for these funds?

Both SCHF and VXUS are typically associated with gaining broad exposure to international developed and emerging equity markets. They serve investors seeking diversification outside their domestic holdings. Neither fund is recommended for a specific goal, but they generally suit long-term strategies aiming to capture global market growth or, in SCHF's case, potentially higher income streams based on its yield profile.

What index or market do these funds track?

According to the provided data, the specific index tracked is not available for either SCHF or VXUS. Both funds fall under the Foreign Large Blend category, indicating they target large-cap international companies. Without confirmed index details, investors cannot determine the precise benchmark methodology. This lack of transparency regarding the tracked index limits the ability to assess how closely the funds mirror specific global market segments.

Do these funds hold the same top stocks?

There are no shared top-10 holdings between SCHF and VXUS. This suggests that despite both being categorized as Foreign Large Blend, they may follow different selection methodologies or weightings. The absence of overlapping top positions indicates distinct portfolios, which could result in different performance drivers and risk exposures, even though both target international large-cap equity markets.

Are sector weights and top holdings transparent?

Detailed top holdings and sector weights are not available for either fund in this dataset. This lack of transparency prevents investors from conducting a granular analysis of their exposure to specific industries or individual companies. While both funds are international equity ETFs, the inability to review exact constituent weights limits the assessment of concentration risk and sector diversification.

Which fund has been established for a longer period?

SCHF was established on November 3, 2009, while VXUS was inceptioned on January 26, 2011. SCHF therefore has a longer operational track record by approximately one year and two months. A longer history allows investors to review performance data across more market cycles, though past performance is not indicative of future results. Both funds have been available for over a decade.

What are the limitations of comparing these funds?

This comparison is limited by missing data, including the specific indexes tracked, top holdings, and sector weights for both SCHF and VXUS. Investors relying solely on expense ratios, yields, and asset sizes may overlook critical structural differences. Due to these unavailable details, a comprehensive evaluation of tracking error, precise diversification, or underlying company exposure cannot be fully conducted using the current dataset.

SCHF vs VXUS

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in September 2026.

Compare Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) and Total International Stock Vanguard ETF (VXUS) on fees, holdings, dividends and market tracking. SCHF has a 0.03% expense ratio and 3.00% yield, while VXUS has a 0.05% expense ratio and 2.28% yield. Index focus is not available for either fund. Educational content, not financial advice.

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

SCHF

Metric

VXUS

0.03%

Expense Ratio

0.05%

3.00%

Dividend Yield

2.28%

$68.24B

Net Assets

$164.04B

1,494

Holdings

8,860

Nov 3, 2009

Inception Date

Jan 26, 2011

–

Index Tracked

–

Foreign Large Blend

Fund Category

Foreign Large Blend

SCHF costs about $2.00 less per year for every $10,000 invested.

Shared Top Holdings

These funds do not share any of their top holdings.

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Compare AVDE and VXUS international equity ETFs. Analyze expense ratios, dividend yields, top holdings, and tracking differences between the two funds.

Investment Analysis

SCHF

Pros

SCHD offers a lower expense ratio, enhancing potential net returns for investors.
It maintains a higher dividend yield, which may benefit income-focused investors.
The fund has been established since 2009, providing over a decade of investment history.

Considerations

Top holdings and sector weights are not available, limiting transparency.
It has a smaller asset base compared to VXUS, potentially indicating less liquidity.
SCHD focuses on a specific category, possibly lacking broader diversification.

VXUS

Pros

VXUS holds a significantly larger asset base, suggesting enhanced liquidity and scale advantages.
Established in 2011, it benefits from a longer track record in international markets.
Despite a higher expense ratio, its size may offer robust management and operational stability.

Considerations

The expense ratio is slightly higher, which could reduce net returns over time.
Like SCHD, top holdings and sector weights are unavailable, limiting detailed analysis.
Its lower dividend yield might be less appealing to income-oriented investors compared to SCHD.

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About SCHF and VXUS

SCHF (SCHF)

The Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) is designed to provide broad exposure to developed international markets outside the United States. This fund tracks a market capitalisation-weighted index that includes companies from key regions such as Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. With a low expense ratio of just 0.03%, it aims to offer a cost-effective way for investors to diversify their portfolios beyond domestic equities. The ETF holds approximately 1,494 companies, capturing large and mid-sized businesses across various sectors. While it offers access to global growth opportunities, investors should remain aware that international stocks can be influenced by currency fluctuations and regional economic conditions. As with all investments, capital is at risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. This fund is generally suitable for those seeking a balanced approach to international equity exposure.

VXUS (VXUS)

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) offers investors broad exposure to non‑US equities across developed and emerging markets. The fund tracks a global index that excludes the United States and holds thousands of stocks spanning large-, mid- and small-cap companies. It is structured as a passive, market‑capitalisation‑weighted ETF, which aims to replicate international equity market performance while keeping trading simplicity and diversification benefits. VXUS is typically unhedged to sterling or other home currencies, so returns can be affected by currency movements as well as underlying stock performance. Investors should note that, like all equity funds, values can fall as well as rise and past performance does not guarantee future results. This summary provides general, educational information and is not personalised investment advice; suitability depends on an individual’s circumstances, risk tolerance and investment horizon.

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SCHF vs VXUS

Fund Snapshot