VUG vs SCHG: Which ETF Is Better in 2026?
Short answer
VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth at 0.04%; SCHG (Schwab US Large-Cap Growth ETF) tracks Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market at 0.04%. They give you different exposure, so pick by what you want to own: VUG for CRSP US Large Cap Growth, SCHG for Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market. Neither is universally better.
VUG vs SCHG at a glance
| VUG | SCHG | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund | Vanguard Growth ETF | Schwab US Large-Cap Growth ETF |
| Tracks | CRSP US Large Cap Growth | Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market |
| Expense ratio | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Dividend yield | ~0.5% | ~0.4% |
| AUM | ~$170 billion | ~$45 billion |
| Top holding | MSFT | MSFT |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Charles Schwab |
Approximate as of early 2026; verify with each issuer.
What is VUG?
Tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, the growth half of the US large-cap market. Heavily weighted toward technology and consumer growth names, with meaningful overlap with the top of VOO and QQQ. A low-cost growth style tilt rather than a broad-market core. Verify current figures on the issuer's site.
What is SCHG?
Tracks the Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, the growth half of the US large-cap market. Heavily weighted toward technology and consumer growth names, with meaningful overlap with VUG, VOO, and QQQ. A low-cost growth style tilt rather than a broad-market core. Verify current figures on the issuer's site.
VUG or SCHG: which should you pick?
- Pick VUG if you want CRSP US Large Cap Growth exposure at 0.04%.
- Pick SCHG if you want Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market exposure at 0.04%.
- Overlap: they share top holdings (MSFT, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, META), so owning both adds less diversification than it appears.
- Cost: 0.04% vs 0.04%, a small but compounding difference.
The bottom line: VUG vs SCHG
VUG (CRSP US Large Cap Growth) and SCHG (Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market) give you different exposure, so pick by what you want to own, not by which is "better". They overlap heavily, so owning both mostly doubles a fee. Walnut can show the overlap against your real portfolio before you decide.
Build a portfolio around VUG with Walnut
Walnut connects your real brokerage so you can see how VUG and SCHG overlap with what you already own, analyze either by chatting through Claude or ChatGPT, and place any trade yourself.
FAQ
What is the difference between VUG and SCHG?
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VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth (0.04% expense ratio); SCHG tracks Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market (0.04%). They track different indexes, so they give you different exposure.
Is VUG or SCHG cheaper?
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VUG charges 0.04% and SCHG charges 0.04% as of early 2026. Over decades the cheaper fund keeps more of your return, but verify current figures with each issuer.
Do VUG and SCHG hold the same stocks?
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They overlap meaningfully: shared top holdings include MSFT, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, META, GOOGL. Owning both can mean less diversification than it looks.
Which has a higher dividend yield, VUG or SCHG?
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VUG yields about ~0.5% and SCHG about ~0.4% (early 2026, approximate). If income matters, that gap is one input, but total return and cost matter more for most long-term investors.
Should you own both VUG and SCHG?
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Often not, because they overlap heavily (MSFT, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN and more), so holding both adds cost without much extra diversification. Walnut can show the overlap against your real portfolio.
Walnut is informational, not investment advice. ETF figures are approximations stamped to early 2026; verify current data with each issuer before deciding. Nothing here is a recommendation.