VB vs SCHA

Portfolio characteristics

Net assets are for the ETF share class on different dates (VB $77.22B; SCHA $22.32B), so they are not matched. Figures that were not available are left out rather than estimated.

Top ten sums: VB 5.0% · SCHA 2.8%. 0 shared top-ten stocks. Weights change.

The sector mirror

Same funds, different lenses

Company size

Both hold small U.S. companies, and some also hold mid-size names. VB holds 1,301 stocks and SCHA holds 1,743.

What you actually own

The first rows are market price total returns computed on the same dates for both funds (to Nov 9, 2026), so they compare like for like. The 10-year figure runs from the Dec 30, 2016 close (9.9 years). The issuer NAV rows are dated separately (VB to Oct 31, 2026, SCHA to Nov 9, 2026) and include the since-inception figures. “Since inception” starts in different years (VB 2004, SCHA 2009). Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Growth of a hypothetical $10,000 · Market price total return, both to Nov 9, 2026

Both funds derived from annualized market price total returns on matched dates (compounded). Distributions reinvested; fund expenses are already in the price. Illustration, not a forecast.

Paid per share, last 12 months vs the 12 months before

Payouts are listed by ex-dividend date. Small cap funds pay low, uneven dividends, so the like-for-like comparison is the total paid over the last 12 months against the 12 months before (cards above: VB $3.649 per share, SCHA $0.369 per share). Dividend yields here are 1% to 2%, so most of the return comes from price change. See yield vs total return.

Rank by rank, the ten largest positions of each fund. Top five: VB 2.9%, SCHA 1.5%. Top ten: VB 5.0%, SCHA 2.8%.

Large funds like these usually trade with small spreads, but check the live spread before you trade. A spread of 0.01% is about $10 between the buy and sell price on $100,000. Small company shares can trade less actively than large ones, so spreads can widen on volatile days. Use limit orders for large trades and avoid the first and last minutes of the session. See creation, redemption and trading for how NAV, premiums and spreads arise.

Expense ratio is taken from fund assets, not billed. It excludes the bid/ask spread, any premium or discount to NAV, brokerage commissions, and taxes.

Exact eligibility rules, caps and rebalance dates sit in each prospectus and index methodology; read them before relying on this summary.

The two funds follow different indexes. The Morningstar US Small Cap Index covers the small slice of the market by size and also includes some mid-size companies. The Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index covers small cap stocks across the market and holds the most names of the group.

VB follows the Morningstar US Small Cap Index and SCHA follows the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index. Because each index sets its own rules, the funds hold different numbers of stocks (1,301 against 1,743) and different mixes of sectors such as health care, financials and industrials. Over any window the results can diverge in either direction, and the gap comes mostly from what each index holds and when it rebalances, not from fees.

Start with what separates them: The two funds follow different indexes. The Morningstar US Small Cap Index covers the small slice of the market by size and also includes some mid-size companies. The Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index covers small cap stocks across the market and holds the most names of the group. Then check what you already own: the funds overlap by 40.6%, so holding both is a real decision about how much of each market you want.

• Step 1 · Market: VB holds U.S. small companies and some mid-size ones; SCHA holds a wide range of U.S. small cap stocks.
• Step 2 · Cost: VB 0.03% vs SCHA 0.03%.
• Step 3 · Concentration: ten largest positions 5.0% vs 2.8%.
• Step 4 · Overlap: use the Diversification Calculator against what you own.

Size the position against your whole portfolio, including any U.S. stock fund you hold.

VB and SCHA are U.S.-listed and trade in U.S. dollars, so buying them from a Canadian account usually involves converting Canadian dollars, which adds a cost on both entry and exit. Because the funds hold U.S. companies, a move in the U.S. dollar also changes your return in Canadian dollars.

U.S. dividends paid to Canadian residents are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax under the tax treaty; the treaty exemption usually applies inside an RRSP, while a TFSA is not exempt. Rules depend on the fund and the account, so confirm them with a tax professional. This is general education, not tax advice.

Both funds invest in U.S. stocks. Their dividends can include qualified dividends, which may be taxed at lower rates in a taxable U.S. account when holding-period rules are met, and most of the long-run return comes from price gains that are taxed when you sell. Check each fund’s tax documents for details.

For Canadian account types and withholding tax, see the Canadian section above. Confirm the rules for your account with a tax professional, and read how to build an ETF portfolio.

Investors comparing VB and SCHA often also look at the other small cap funds in this group: IWM, VTWO, IJR, VB, SCHA and VBR. See the other Small Cap ETFs comparisons and the ETF research hub.

Is VB or SCHA better?

In the VB vs SCHA question, neither is better for everyone. VB and SCHA differ in what they hold and what they charge. The two funds follow different indexes. The Morningstar US Small Cap Index covers the small slice of the market by size and also includes some mid-size companies. The Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index covers small cap stocks across the market and holds the most names of the group.

Expense ratios are 0.03% and 0.03%. Market price total returns, annualized (both to Nov 9, 2026): 1 year 17.75% vs 21.78%; 3 years 19.21% vs 20.82%; 5 years 5.85% vs 5.45%; 10 years 10.29% vs 9.66%. Neither is better for everyone; the choice turns on cost, which markets you want, and what you already own.

VB vs SCHA, what are the expense ratios?

VB charges 0.03% and SCHA charges 0.03%, which is $3 and $3 a year per $10,000.

VB vs SCHA, how much do the funds overlap?

About 40.6% of the weight is held by both funds, matched by ticker in full holdings files dated Sep 30, 2026 and Nov 6, 2026. 0 stocks appear in both top-ten lists.

VB vs SCHA, what does each ETF track?

VB tracks the Morningstar US Small Cap Index. SCHA tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index.

VB vs SCHA, what are the top holdings?

VB (Sep 30, 2026): Natera 0.72%, Twilio 0.57%, Revolution Medicines 0.53%, Illumina 0.52%, Everpure 0.52%. SCHA (Nov 6, 2026): Glaukos 0.33%, Wayfair 0.32%, American Healthcare REIT 0.31%, Halozyme Therapeutics 0.29%, BrightSpring Health Services 0.28%.

VB vs SCHA, which has performed better?

Market price total returns, annualized (both to Nov 9, 2026): 1 year 17.75% vs 21.78%; 3 years 19.21% vs 20.82%; 5 years 5.85% vs 5.45%; 10 years 10.29% vs 9.66%. Returns depend on what each fund holds, and past performance does not guarantee future results.

VB vs SCHA, can I own both?

On VB vs SCHA, you can, but they overlap by about 40.6%. 0 top-ten stocks are shared. The funds overlap only partly, so owning both is a real choice about how much of each market you want.

VB vs SCHA, how often do the funds pay dividends?

VB pays quarterly and SCHA pays quarterly. Trailing yields are 1.33% and 1.28%; check each issuer page for the schedule.

VB vs SCHA, are they suitable for Canadian investors?

On VB vs SCHA, both are U.S.-listed and trade in U.S. dollars, so Canadians face currency conversion costs and U.S. withholding tax on dividends. Treatment differs across TFSA, RRSP and taxable accounts. This is general education, not tax advice.

VB vs SCHA, how do the funds differ by sector?

VB (Sep 30, 2026): industrials 20.3%, information technology 16.1%, health care 14.1%. SCHA (Nov 6, 2026): financials 18.2%, health care 17.1%, industrials 16.3%.

Third-party sources

StockAnalysis VB · StockAnalysis SCHA.

Methodology and limits

• VB figures come from Vanguard fund pages and SCHA figures from Schwab fund pages.
• Dates are shown beside each figure; the issuer documents are linked below.
• Holdings overlap is the sum of the smaller weight of each ticker held by both funds, using each issuer’s full holdings file: iShares and Schwab files are dated Nov 6, 2026 and Vanguard files Sep 30, 2026. Cash, futures and unmatched tickers are excluded and dates differ for some pairs, so treat it as an estimate.
• Vanguard figures come from vanguard.com, the Vanguard compare tool and the Sep 30, 2026 fact sheets; iShares figures from ishares.com including the holdings file; Schwab figures from schwabassetmanagement.com and its holdings file; market data (shares, beta, range) from StockAnalysis, dated Nov 9, 2026.
• Sector labels differ by provider; technology, telecommunications and basic materials were mapped to information technology, communication and materials. The VTWO sector table is calculated from its holdings using iShares Russell 2000 sector labels. Cross-provider gaps are approximate.
• Figures that were unavailable are left out, and nothing was filled from memory or from another fund.
• Growth of $10,000 is derived from annualized market price total returns on matched dates; dollar values are approximate.
• Returns are computed from daily adjusted closing prices (distributions reinvested) so both funds share the same dates (the 10-year figure runs from Dec 30, 2016, 9.9 years); issuer NAV returns, where captured, are shown beside them with their dates.

Pathways, not rankings or recommendations.