Dividend vs total market
Compare a high-dividend US fund against a total US market fund with the tax character of their distributions in view.
SCHD tracks about 100 higher-yielding US dividend stocks, so it pays out more of its return as dividends each year. VTI holds the total US market at a lower yield, so more of its return stays as unrealized price appreciation until shares are sold.
In a taxable account that difference matters: yearly qualified dividends are taxed in the year they are paid, while unrealized gains defer tax until a sale. This page frames the comparison so you can run it with your own dates and tax assumptions.
Historical results
Historical results for a $10,000 lump sum with dividends reinvested and monthly rebalancing, as of 2025-12-31. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Not investment advice.
After-tax assumptions: Single filer, $150,000 income, taxable account, HIFO lots, 2026 federal brackets, no state tax.
Run it live with your own dates and tax profileDoes a higher dividend yield mean higher after-tax return?
Not by itself. A higher yield means more of the return is distributed and taxed each year in a taxable account. Whether that helps or hurts the after-tax result depends on total return, your bracket, and the account type.
Does the account type change the comparison?
Yes. In an IRA or Roth, distributions are not taxed yearly, so the dividend difference has no annual tax cost. The taxable-account view is where the distribution difference shows up as tax drag.
Run this comparison with your own dates, account type, and tax profile.
Open the prefilled backtest