What Is SCHF? Schwab International Equity ETF
Last updated July 2026
Short answer
SCHF is the Schwab International Equity ETF, holding roughly 1,500 large- and mid-cap stocks in developed markets outside the US at a 0.03% expense ratio, one of the lowest in the category. It tracks a developed-markets index, so it covers Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia but excludes emerging markets. Top holdings include ASML, Nestle, Novartis, Roche, and Toyota. Its closest peers are Vanguard's VEA and iShares's IEFA, which do nearly the same job at similarly tiny fees. SCHF's distinguishing trait is simply that ultra-low cost paired with Schwab's commission-free platform.
SCHF is issued by Schwab Asset Management and tracks FTSE Developed ex US Index. It charges a 0.03% expense ratio, holds approximately ~$66 billion in assets under management, yields about ~3.0%, and launched in November 2009.
What is SCHF?
SCHF is the Schwab International Equity ETF, managed by Schwab Asset Management. It holds roughly 1,500 large- and mid-cap stocks in developed markets outside the US, tracking a FTSE Developed ex US index. In one ticker it covers Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia, weighted by market capitalization.
It launched in November 2009 and charges just 0.03%, one of the lowest fees in international investing. Importantly, SCHF excludes both the US and emerging markets, so it is designed to be the developed-international piece of a broader portfolio rather than a standalone global fund.
SCHF holdings: what is actually inside
Approximate weights as of mid-2026; refresh quarterly from Schwab Asset Management's fund page. Each ticker links to its individual stock guide in Walnut.
| Rank | Ticker | Company | % of SCHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASML | ASML Holding | ~2.4% | |
| 2 | 005930.KS | Samsung Electronics | ~1.9% | |
| 3 | NESN.SW | Nestle | ~1.1% | |
| 4 | HSBA.L | HSBC Holdings | ~1.1% | |
| 5 | ROG.SW | Roche Holding | ~1.0% | |
| 6 | NOVN.SW | Novartis | ~1.0% | |
| 7 | AZN.L | AstraZeneca | ~1.0% | |
| 8 | RY.TO | Royal Bank of Canada | ~0.9% | |
| 9 | SAP | SAP | ~0.9% | |
| 10 | 7203.T | Toyota Motor | ~0.8% |
The top of the fund reads like a list of Europe and Asia-Pacific blue chips: ASML, Samsung Electronics, Nestle, HSBC, Roche, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Royal Bank of Canada, SAP, and Toyota. No single company dominates, and the top ten make up a relatively small share of the fund.
By sector, SCHF leans toward financials, healthcare, industrials, and consumer staples, with less weight in technology than a US index because the largest tech companies are American. This gives the fund a more value-oriented, dividend-rich character than a typical US large-cap fund.
SCHF vs VEA vs IEFA: which to pick
SCHF, VEA, and IEFA all do essentially the same job: broad developed-international exposure at a very low fee. VEA (Vanguard) tracks a FTSE developed-ex-US index much like SCHF. IEFA (iShares) tracks MSCI EAFE, which historically excluded Canada, one of the few real differences among the three.
Because the exposures overlap so heavily, the decision usually comes down to platform and cost. SCHF is commission-free at Schwab and carries a 0.03% fee; the others are similarly cheap on their home platforms. For most investors, holding any one of the three is fine, and mixing them adds little diversification.
SCHF performance and outlook
SCHF's returns track developed international equities, which have often lagged US stocks over the past decade as US technology led global markets. When the dollar weakens or international markets rotate into favor, SCHF can outperform US-focused funds, and its higher dividend yield adds to total return.
The outlook for SCHF is the outlook for developed markets outside the US. Its role in a portfolio is diversification: it reduces reliance on the US market and adds currency and regional exposure. It will not outperform during a US-led rally, but it can cushion a portfolio when US leadership fades.
Is SCHF a good fit for your portfolio?
SCHF suits investors who want to balance a US-heavy portfolio with cheap developed-international exposure. Its 0.03% fee and broad diversification make it an efficient international sleeve, typically paired with US funds and, if desired, a separate emerging-markets fund for complete global coverage.
Whether SCHF belongs in your portfolio depends on your goals, your desired international weighting, and your view on US versus international markets. Walnut is not an investment adviser, and nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell SCHF. It is a description of what the fund is and how it compares to VEA and IEFA.
How to buy SCHF
SCHF trades on major brokerages including Schwab, Robinhood, Fidelity, and Public. It is commission-free at Schwab, and many brokers support fractional shares so you can start with a partial position. It trades throughout the day like any stock, with liquidity from its large asset base.
To track SCHF alongside a broader strategy, you can connect your brokerage to Walnut and hold it inside a thematic basket. Walnut leaves the trading at your own broker and acts as the tracking and intelligence layer on top.
The bottom line on SCHF
The bottom line on SCHF: it is a dirt-cheap, one-ticket way to own developed international stocks (Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia) at 0.03%, with no emerging-market exposure. It plays the international sleeve of a diversified core. VEA and IEFA are near-identical alternatives, so the choice usually comes down to platform and cost preference.
More on SCHF
Whether SCHF is worth buying today depends more on your time horizon and what you already hold than on any single call. We walk through valuation, concentration, and what would have to be true for it to outperform from here in is SCHF a buy?
SCHF yields ~3.0% as of mid-2026, paid by passing through the dividends of its underlying holdings. For the payout schedule, history, and how the distributions are taxed, see SCHF dividend: yield and schedule.
Build a portfolio around SCHF with Walnut
Use SCHF as your core holding, then let Walnut's AI propose thematic satellites: AI infrastructure, dividend growth, clean energy, whatever you believe in. Connect your broker, build the basket in conversation, track it as one unit.
FAQ
What is SCHF?
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SCHF is the Schwab International Equity ETF. It holds roughly 1,500 large- and mid-cap stocks in developed markets outside the US, tracking a FTSE developed-ex-US index. In one ticker it gives you Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia, without US or emerging-market stocks.
Who issues SCHF and what does it track?
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SCHF is issued by Schwab Asset Management. It tracks a FTSE Developed ex US index, a market-cap-weighted benchmark of developed-market companies outside the United States. It launched in November 2009 and is a cornerstone of Schwab's low-cost core ETF lineup.
What is the difference between SCHF and VEA?
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SCHF and VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) are nearly identical: both track developed markets outside the US at a very low fee, around 0.03% to 0.05%. The differences are minor index and platform details. For most investors they are interchangeable developed-international holdings.
What is the difference between SCHF and IEFA?
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IEFA, the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF, tracks a similar developed-ex-US universe. One nuance: some EAFE-based funds exclude Canada, while SCHF's FTSE index includes it. Both are low-cost and broadly comparable, so the choice usually comes down to platform, index provider, and cost.
Does SCHF include emerging markets?
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No. SCHF holds only developed markets outside the US, such as the UK, Japan, Switzerland, France, Germany, Canada, and Australia. For emerging markets like China, India, or Brazil, you would need a separate emerging-markets fund. This keeps SCHF focused on established economies.
What is inside SCHF?
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SCHF holds roughly 1,500 developed-market companies. Top positions include ASML, Samsung Electronics, Nestle, HSBC, Roche, Novartis, and Toyota. It spans healthcare, financials, consumer staples, industrials, and technology across Europe and Asia-Pacific.
What is SCHF's expense ratio?
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SCHF charges just 0.03% annually, about $3 per year on a $10,000 position. That makes it one of the cheapest international equity ETFs available, consistent with Schwab's low-cost core ETF strategy.
Does SCHF pay a dividend?
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Yes. SCHF distributes dividends from its underlying stocks, with a trailing yield of roughly 3% as of mid-2026, higher than most US index funds. International developed-market companies, especially in Europe, tend to pay larger dividends than US growth names, lifting the fund's yield.
How do I buy SCHF?
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SCHF trades on brokers such as Schwab, Robinhood, Fidelity, and Public, many of which support fractional shares. It is commission-free at Schwab. You can also connect your broker to Walnut to track SCHF inside a thematic basket alongside your other holdings.
How big is SCHF?
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SCHF holds roughly $66 billion in assets as of mid-2026, one of the larger international equity ETFs. That scale supports tight spreads and reliable liquidity for investors building a global portfolio.
Is SCHF a good investment?
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SCHF offers cheap, diversified developed-international exposure, useful for investors who want to balance a US-heavy portfolio. Whether it fits you depends on your goals and how much international exposure you want. Walnut is not an investment adviser and this is not a recommendation to buy or sell SCHF.
When was SCHF created?
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SCHF launched in November 2009 as part of Schwab's push into low-cost proprietary ETFs. It has since grown into a core holding for investors seeking inexpensive access to developed markets outside the US.
Why does SCHF yield more than US funds?
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Developed-international companies, particularly in Europe, tend to distribute a larger share of earnings as dividends than US firms, which often favor buybacks and reinvestment. That gives SCHF a trailing yield near 3%, notably higher than a typical US large-cap index fund.
Is SCHF a core or satellite holding?
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SCHF is usually the developed-international sleeve of a diversified core, paired with US and often emerging-market funds. It is broad and low-cost enough to be a foundational holding rather than a tactical bet. How it fits your plan is a personal decision, and this is not advice.
How do I compare SCHF to similar ETFs?
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Put a few fields side by side: the expense ratio (fees compound over decades), the index or strategy it tracks, the top holdings and how much they overlap with what you already own, the dividend yield, and the AUM, liquidity, and bid-ask spread that affect trading costs. For index funds, tracking error (how closely it follows its index) and tax efficiency matter too. SCHF's figures are above; the full method is in Walnut's guide on how to compare ETFs.
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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Holdings weights and fund statistics on this page are approximations stamped to mid-2026; verify current figures against Schwab Asset Management's fund page or your broker before investing.