Relative Intelligence · US Large-Cap Growth

How Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on SCHG alone. It places SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where SCHG stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: SCHG's full trading record, from December 2009 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
On this page12 sections
Key findings
- What you're buyingSCHG is a technology bet first: 54% of assets, versus 38% in the S&P 500. SCHG and IWF (iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF) have tracked each other (0.99). The larger fund is IWF. Consistency ↓
- Right nowAfter a 23.4% loss from December 2024 to April 2025, SCHG has bounced 25.6% off the low. Both SCHG and the S&P 500 are within a few percent of a record high. At a glance ↓
- Fund or market?SCHG rose 4.2% over the past 3 months, in line with the S&P 500, which rose 3.9%: a market move, not its own.
- Long termSCHG turned $10,000 into $55,100 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500. Over the past decade, SCHG returned 451%, ahead of 97% of the ETFs with at least $100 million in assets. The S&P 500 returned 321%. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashSCHG has tended to fall harder than the S&P 500 in crashes, about 1.2 times the index's decline. The 2022 bear market took 32.2% off SCHG, against 24.5% for the S&P 500. That was more than IWF (iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF, 31.2%) but less than QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1, 33.4%). Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationAgainst the S&P 500, SCHG has a correlation of 0.94 over 5 years, more closely than 89% of ETFs with at least $100 million in assets. Next to an index fund it is more of the same, not a cushion. When the S&P 500 had a down month, SCHG usually fell with it (18 of 22 months). By year ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- SPMO (Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF) earned more than SCHG with less volatility over the past 5 years: 18.7% a year at 20.8% volatility, against 13.1% a year at 22.4%.
- Nearby categories and themes
- VLUE (iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF, US large-cap value) and PVAL (Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF, US large-cap value) earned more than SCHG with less volatility over the past 5 years. VLUE returned 15.9% a year at 18.4% volatility, against 13.1% a year at 22.4%.
- Versus the S&P 500
- The S&P 500 matched SCHG's return over the past 5 years (12.7% a year against 13.1%) with 24% less volatility.
How much would $10,000 in SCHG have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in SCHG over the past 16 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of SCHG over the same span and SCHG's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
Note: SCHG began trading on December 11, 2009, so the chart cannot reach back to the dot-com bust or the 2008 financial crisis. It covers the most recent 16 years of SCHG's record, starting at the end of September 2010.
- $10,000 invested in SCHG at the end of September 2010 would have grown to $124,338 by September 2026, more than the $88,503 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Five of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of SCHG, and NVDA finished highest, at $8,585,151.
Choose a period
From the end of September 2010 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 264 of the 2,048 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of SCHG; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- NVDA$9M+85,752% total · +52.5% a year
- XLK$209,365+1,994% total · +20.9% a year
- QQQ$172,922+1,629% total · +19.5% a year
- IWY$130,315+1,203% total · +17.4% a year
- MGK$127,620+1,176% total · +17.3% a year
- SCHG$124,338+1,143% total · +17.1% a year
- SPYG$117,670+1,077% total · +16.7% a year
- IUSG$111,154+1,012% total · +16.2% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$88,503+785% total · +14.6% a year
- SCHX$87,976+780% total · +14.6% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 798 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of SCHG; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- XLK$27,207+172% total · +22.2% a year
- SPMO$26,579+166% total · +21.6% a year
- VLUE$22,395+124% total · +17.5% a year
- PVAL$21,761+118% total · +16.8% a year
- QQQ$21,295+113% total · +16.3% a year
- MGK$20,216+102% total · +15.1% a year
- SPYG$20,007+100% total · +14.9% a year
- SCHG$19,862+98.6% total · +14.7% a year
- JQUA$19,289+92.9% total · +14.0% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
SCHG at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the fund, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
Note: SCHG began trading on December 11, 2009, so every figure here, including its worst decline, covers only the time since then. None of them reflect the dot-com bust or the 2008 financial crisis.
- SCHG's deepest decline since it began trading in 2009 was 34.5%, from November 2021 to January 2023. It took 11 months from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 16 full calendar years, SCHG's best was 2023, when it returned 50.1%, and its worst was 2022, when it lost 31.8%. It lost money in three of those years.
- SCHG is 3.8% below its all-time high.
The fund
- Issuer
- Schwab
- Began trading
- December 2009
- Expense ratio
- 0.04%per year
- Assets
- $63B
- Category
- Broad Market
Returns
- Past 1 year
- +10.4%total return
- Past 3 years
- +99.2%+25.8% a year
- Past 5 years
- +85.4%+13.1% a year
- Past 10 years
- +451%+18.6% a year
- Best calendar year
- +50.1%2023
- Worst calendar year
- −31.8%2022
- Losing years
- 3 of 16full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 22.4%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.67return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −34.5%Nov 2021 to Jan 2023
- From its all-time high
- −3.8%below the peak
SCHG against the whole market
Where SCHG ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does SCHG rank among all ETFs?
This section ranks SCHG on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every ETF worth at least $100 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how SCHG stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- SCHG's 10-year return ranks in the top 3% of the 958 ETFs with at least $100 million in assets with 10 years of history.
- SCHG is among the more volatile ETFs: its price swings rank in the bottom 18% of the 1,560 ETFs with at least $100 million in assets, where the top is the calmest.
Ranked against U.S.-listed ETFs with at least $100M in assets that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller ETFs and leveraged funds are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | SCHG | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +10.4% | 1,232 of 2,485 | top 50% |
| 3-year return | +99.2% | 235 of 1,949 | top 12% |
| 5-year return | +85.4% | 205 of 1,560 | top 13% |
| 10-year return | +451% | 30 of 958 | top 3% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 22.4% | 1,281 of 1,560 | bottom 19% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.67 | 603 of 1,560 | top 39% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −34.5% | 323 of 951 | top 34% |
What has beaten SCHG on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). SCHG sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than SCHG with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- 11 stocks and 42 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than SCHG over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 1% of the 3,633 screened. Few investments beat it on both counts.
- Among those with at least half SCHG's swings, DXJ has the best return for its risk: 26.6% a year at 19.1% volatility, 15% less than SCHG's 22.4%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.34 against 0.67 for SCHG.
- Among SCHG's popular alternatives, SPMO is in the region. SPMO earned 18.7% a year against 13.1% a year for SCHG, at 20.8% volatility, 7% less than SCHG's 22.4%.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to SCHG; faint dots are 29 more of the 53 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
Is there a better investment than SCHG?
Investments that beat SCHG over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among SCHG's popular alternatives, SPMO earned more than SCHG with less volatility over the past 5 years: 18.7% a year at 20.8% volatility, against 13.1% a year at 22.4%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, VLUE (US large-cap value) and PVAL (US large-cap value) earned more than SCHG with less volatility over the past 5 years. VLUE returned 15.9% a year at 18.4% volatility, against 13.1% a year at 22.4%.
- The S&P 500 matched SCHG's return over the past 5 years (12.7% a year against 13.1%) with 24% less volatility.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat SCHG over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes, and, for funds, the same exposure at a lower expense ratio. It checks SCHG's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than SCHG follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than SCHG's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× SCHG's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than SCHG's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 10Y returntotal | Corr. with SCHG?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| +13.1% | 22.4% | 0.67 | −34.5% | +451% | 1.00 | 0.04% | |||
| +12.7% | 17.1% | 0.79 | −33.7% | +321% | 0.94 | 0.09% | |||
| Popular alternativesbest 4 shownThe investments people most often weigh against SCHG. 6 of 20 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF · US Momentum Equity | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +18.7% | 20.8% | 0.93 | −30.9% | +499% | 0.75 | 0.13% | |
| Higher return in most periods | +14.5% | 23.0% | 0.71 | −35.1% | +553% | 0.97 | 0.18% | ||
| Higher return in most periods | +19.4% | 26.0% | 0.82 | −33.6% | +767% | 0.92 | 0.08% | ||
JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Similar return, lower volatility | +13.6% | 15.7% | 0.89 | −32.9% | — | 0.87 | 0.12% | |
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in US Large-Cap Growth and US Large-Cap Equity and the categories next to it (US Growth Equity, US Large-Cap Value, US Mid-Cap Equity, US Total Market, US Quality Equity), plus SCHG's specific themes. 22 of 64 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
VLUEiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +15.9% | 18.4% | 0.90 | −39.5% | +286% | 0.66 | 0.15% | |
AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +14.0% | 16.9% | 0.86 | −19.5% | — | 0.71 | 0.15% | |
BKLCBNY Mellon US Large Cap Core Equity ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +13.8% | 17.3% | 0.84 | −26.2% | — | 0.95 | 0.00% | |
PVALPutnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Higher return, lower volatility | +16.1% | 15.1% | 1.07 | −41.3% | — | 0.70 | 0.56% | |
MGVVanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Similar return, lower volatility | +12.6% | 13.4% | 0.95 | −35.4% | +244% | 0.60 | 0.05% | |
DFUSDimensional U.S. Equity ETF · US Total Market | Similar return, lower volatility | +12.3% | 17.3% | 0.76 | −24.6% | — | 0.93 | 0.09% | |
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 261 of 3,550 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +17.3% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | +352% | 0.44 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +20.8% | 22.6% | 0.96 | −25.7% | +508% | 0.37 | — | ||
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.45 | 0.48% | |
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +15.8% | 20.0% | 0.84 | −42.0% | +310% | 0.39 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +17.1% | 20.7% | 0.87 | −26.8% | +226% | 0.13 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +26.1% | 23.4% | 1.11 | −45.1% | +603% | 0.00 | — | ||
| Higher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +15.8% | 24.6% | 0.72 | −30.7% | +576% | 0.37 | — | ||
AVDVAvantis International Small Cap Value ETF · International Equity | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +13.9% | 17.4% | 0.84 | −43.0% | — | 0.54 | 0.36% | |
What these numbers mean for SCHG
- Annual return
- SCHG returned 13.1% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $18,500. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- SCHG's volatility over the past 5 years was 22.4%, 1.3 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, SCHG's return lands within 22.4% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- SCHG's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.67, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so SCHG earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- SCHG's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 34.5%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 34.5% fall takes a 52.8% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, SCHG's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.94 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They move almost in lockstep, so holding both adds little diversification. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against SCHG instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a SCHG holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 53 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than SCHG with less volatility
Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 36 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 10Y return | Corr. with SCHG | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole market | +17.3% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | +352% | 0.44 | — | |
| 2 | DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | Whole market | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.45 | 0.48% |
| 3 | Whole market | +15.8% | 20.0% | 0.84 | −42.0% | +310% | 0.39 | — | |
| 4 | Whole market | +17.1% | 20.7% | 0.87 | −26.8% | +226% | 0.13 | — | |
| 5 | Whole market | +17.7% | 18.9% | 0.96 | −26.4% | +213% | 0.10 | 0.40% | |
| 6 | DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +14.8% | 16.4% | 0.93 | −25.4% | — | 0.45 | 0.27% |
| 7 | TDIVFirst Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund · Technology Equity | Whole market | +16.2% | 21.3% | 0.81 | −32.0% | +388% | 0.86 | 0.50% |
| 8 | SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF · US Momentum Equity | Popular alternative | +18.7% | 20.8% | 0.93 | −30.9% | +499% | 0.75 | 0.13% |
| 9 | VLUEiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Same or nearby category | +15.9% | 18.4% | 0.90 | −39.5% | +286% | 0.66 | 0.15% |
| 10 | CRAKVanEck Oil Refiners ETF · Energy | Whole market | +19.8% | 20.9% | 0.97 | −58.8% | +336% | 0.25 | 0.61% |
| 11 | Whole market | +23.5% | 18.8% | 1.22 | −75.2% | +350% | 0.29 | — | |
| 12 | NXTGFirst Trust Indxx NextG ETF · Technology | Whole market | +16.2% | 19.1% | 0.89 | −33.6% | +330% | 0.76 | 0.70% |
| 13 | FFLCFidelity Fundamental Large Cap Core ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +15.7% | 16.8% | 0.95 | −19.7% | — | 0.81 | 0.38% |
| 14 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +17.0% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.33 | 0.40% |
| 15 | Whole market | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.10 | — | |
| 16 | Whole market | +15.7% | 20.4% | 0.82 | −42.6% | +248% | 0.05 | — | |
| 17 | Whole market | +16.4% | 17.1% | 0.98 | −58.1% | +178% | 0.26 | — | |
| 18 | Whole market | +19.0% | 20.8% | 0.95 | −54.9% | +335% | 0.21 | — | |
| 19 | Whole market | +14.7% | 17.5% | 0.87 | −34.7% | — | 0.94 | 0.26% | |
| 20 | SDCIUSCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund · Bonds | Whole market | +20.6% | 18.4% | 1.12 | −45.7% | — | -0.01 | 0.80% |
| 21 | ATOAtmos Energy Corporation · Gas Utilities | Whole market | +14.9% | 18.4% | 0.85 | −32.9% | +194% | 0.31 | — |
| 22 | LLoews Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +14.3% | 19.2% | 0.80 | −48.5% | +180% | 0.24 | — |
| 23 | NINiSource Inc · Gas Utilities | Whole market | +15.1% | 20.3% | 0.80 | −30.9% | +158% | 0.27 | — |
| 24 | AMLPAlerian MLP ETF · Energy Equity | Whole market | +16.1% | 18.9% | 0.89 | −72.9% | +91.0% | 0.30 | 1.01% |
| 25 | IOOiShares Global 100 ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +15.7% | 17.2% | 0.94 | −31.4% | +361% | 0.92 | 0.40% |
| 26 | ITAiShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF · Aerospace & Defense | Whole market | +14.6% | 20.4% | 0.78 | −51.0% | +258% | 0.44 | 0.37% |
| 27 | EMLPFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund · Energy Infrastructure | Whole market | +14.9% | 14.5% | 1.04 | −43.6% | +150% | 0.41 | 0.95% |
| 28 | PVALPutnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Same or nearby category | +16.1% | 15.1% | 1.07 | −41.3% | — | 0.70 | 0.56% |
| 29 | MLPXGlobal X - MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF · Energy | Whole market | +18.6% | 19.7% | 0.97 | −64.6% | +186% | 0.33 | 0.45% |
| 30 | SPUSSP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF · Technology | Whole market | +15.0% | 19.5% | 0.82 | −30.8% | — | 0.97 | 0.45% |
| 31 | EWPiShares MSCI Spain ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +19.2% | 20.3% | 0.97 | −46.4% | +196% | 0.37 | 0.50% |
| 32 | IUSInvesco RAFI Strategic US ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +14.7% | 14.9% | 1.00 | −34.7% | — | 0.79 | 0.19% |
| 33 | VFMFVanguard U.S. Multifactor ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +14.3% | 17.6% | 0.85 | −41.3% | — | 0.66 | 0.18% |
| 34 | DBJPXtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF · International | Whole market | +20.9% | 19.2% | 1.09 | −31.3% | +348% | 0.60 | 0.45% |
| 35 | EWJViShares MSCI Japan Value ETF · International | Whole market | +14.9% | 18.2% | 0.86 | −30.1% | — | 0.42 | 0.15% |
| 36 | GVALCambria Global Value ETF · International | Whole market | +14.4% | 18.7% | 0.82 | −46.8% | +173% | 0.38 | 0.68% |
SCHG against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against SCHG, compared period by period and year by year.
How do SCHG's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at SCHG, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- SPMO, JQUA and SPYG were both more rewarding and calmer than SCHG over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, SCHG returned 13.2% a year, more than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (22.4% against 17.1%).
Green points earned more than SCHG with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | +19.4% | 26.0% |
| SPMO Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | +18.7% | 20.8% |
| QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | +14.5% | 23.0% |
| JQUA JPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF | +13.6% | 15.7% |
| MGK Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF | +13.5% | 23.0% |
| SPYG State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | +13.3% | 21.5% |
| SCHG This pageSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | +13.2% | 22.4% |
| IWY iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF | +13.0% | 21.9% |
| IUSG iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | +12.9% | 21.2% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.7% | 17.1% |
| FBCG Fidelity Blue Chip Growth ETF | +12.3% | 26.1% |
| VUG Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | +12.3% | 22.5% |
| SCHX Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | +12.0% | 17.2% |
| VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | +11.9% | 21.7% |
| SCHV Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF | +10.2% | 14.4% |
| QGRO American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF | +9.9% | 21.2% |
| FDG American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF | +8.8% | 25.2% |
| VOT Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF | +3.6% | 21.7% |
Has SCHG consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares SCHG with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than SCHG helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Five of the 21 popular alternatives, led by XLK, QQQ and SPMO, outperformed SCHG in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- XLK outperformed SCHG in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- SPMO, JQUA and XLK earned more for the risk they took than SCHG (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in their worst decline of the past 10 years.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than SCHG over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (this page) | — | −1.9% | +4.2% | +9.4% | +9.7% | +10.4% | +99.2% | +85.4% | +451% | 22.4% | 0.67 | −34.5% | 0.04% | $63B | — |
| XLK QualifiedState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0% | 0.82 | −33.6% | 0.08% | $125B | 54% |
| QQQ QualifiedInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 3/5 short3/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 | −35.1% | 0.18% | $492B | 90% |
| SPMO QualifiedInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.7% | −1.6% | +11.6% | +19.3% | +18.1% | +156% | +136% | +499% | 20.8% | 0.93 | −30.9% | 0.13% | $22B | 85% |
| MGK QualifiedVanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | −2.6% | +4.7% | +9.8% | +10.8% | +11.9% | +104% | +88.2% | +464% | 23.0% | 0.67 | −36.0% | 0.05% | $35B | 90% |
| QQQM QualifiedInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | −3.2% | +3.3% | +11.2% | +17.5% | +18.0% | +106% | +98.0% | — | 22.9% | 0.71 | −35.0% | 0.15% | $110B | 90% |
| JQUA Broad MarketJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF | 5/5 short1/3 long | +1.9% | +6.2% | +16.0% | +21.2% | +22.2% | +84.2% | +88.9% | — | 15.7% | 0.89 | −32.9% | 0.12% | $9.2B | 79% |
| SPYG Broad MarketState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −2.4% | +4.0% | +9.9% | +13.9% | +15.8% | +110% | +86.5% | +418% | 21.5% | 0.69 | −32.7% | 0.04% | $57B | 94% |
| VOOG Broad MarketVanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −2.3% | +4.0% | +9.9% | +13.9% | +15.8% | +110% | +86.0% | +416% | 21.6% | 0.69 | −32.7% | 0.07% | $28B | 94% |
| IVW Broad MarketiShares S&P 500 Growth ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −2.4% | +4.0% | +9.8% | +13.8% | +15.7% | +109% | +85.3% | +413% | 21.5% | 0.68 | −32.7% | 0.18% | $77B | 95% |
| IUSG Broad MarketiShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −2.3% | +3.8% | +9.4% | +13.9% | +15.9% | +107% | +83.7% | +405% | 21.2% | 0.68 | −32.4% | 0.04% | $33B | 95% |
| FBCG Broad MarketFidelity Blue Chip Growth ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −4.2% | +1.7% | +6.0% | +11.1% | +14.0% | +114% | +78.6% | — | 26.1% | 0.58 | −43.5% | 0.57% | $7.6B | 95% |
| IWY Broad MarketiShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF | 0/5 short1/3 long | −3.1% | +3.1% | +4.0% | +4.7% | +4.7% | +90.1% | +83.8% | +466% | 21.9% | 0.67 | −32.7% | 0.20% | $16B | 93% |
| FDG Broad MarketAmerican Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF | 0/5 short1/3 long | −3.5% | +2.0% | +0.8% | +3.2% | +5.4% | +113% | +52.4% | — | 25.2% | 0.46 | −43.7% | 0.45% | $457M | 80% |
| SCHX Broad MarketSchwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | 3/5 short0/3 long | −0.8% | +3.6% | +8.7% | +13.0% | +15.1% | +89.1% | +76.6% | +317% | 17.2% | 0.75 | −34.3% | 0.03% | $74B | 79% |
| SCHV Broad MarketSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF | 3/5 short0/3 long | +0.9% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +16.4% | +20.0% | +75.4% | +62.3% | +195% | 14.4% | 0.75 | −37.1% | 0.04% | $15B | 49% |
| QGRO Broad MarketAmerican Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF | 1/5 short0/3 long | −1.0% | +2.2% | +2.3% | +2.5% | +2.8% | +78.8% | +60.3% | — | 21.2% | 0.55 | −32.6% | 0.29% | $1.9B | 86% |
| VONG Broad MarketVanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.0% | +2.6% | +3.4% | +4.2% | +4.1% | +88.3% | +75.1% | +422% | 21.7% | 0.63 | −32.7% | 0.06% | $56B | 96% |
| VUG Broad MarketVanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −2.5% | +4.0% | +8.2% | +9.8% | +10.2% | +100% | +78.6% | +419% | 22.5% | 0.63 | −35.6% | 0.03% | $392B | 94% |
| IWF Broad MarketiShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.0% | +2.6% | +3.3% | +4.1% | +4.0% | +87.7% | +74.1% | +416% | 21.8% | 0.62 | −32.7% | 0.18% | $125B | 96% |
| VOT Broad MarketVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −2.0% | −0.5% | +2.2% | +4.0% | +0.1% | +58.0% | +19.6% | +201% | 21.7% | 0.27 | −37.2% | 0.05% | $33B | 66% |
| CGGR Broad MarketCapital Group Growth ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −2.2% | +3.9% | +5.7% | +5.7% | +5.8% | +97.0% | — | — | — | — | −28.9% | 0.39% | $26B | 87% |
How did SCHG do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2010, along with where SCHG ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with SCHG and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
Note: SCHG began trading on December 11, 2009, so the table starts with 2010, its first full calendar year, and cannot show how it fared during the dot-com bust or the 2008 financial crisis.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, SCHG finished in the top quarter in four of 16 years and in the bottom quarter in one. In 2025, it ranked 14 of 18.
- SCHG finished ahead of the S&P 500 in ten of its 16 full calendar years.
- Among its popular alternatives, QQQ came out ahead of SCHG most often, in 12 of the 16 years both traded.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of SCHG; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places SCHG among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of SCHG | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHG This pageSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | — | +17.4% | +34.9% | +50.1% | −31.8% | +28.1% | +39.1% | +35.9% | −1.3% | +27.4% | +8.9% | +3.4% | +15.9% | +34.4% | +16.5% | −0.6% | +16.6% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 4 of 16 | 14 of 18 | 6 of 18 | 5 of 18 | 12 of 17 | 7 of 17 | 5 of 15 | 7 of 15 | 6 of 14 | 8 of 13 | 4 of 13 | 8 of 12 | 3 of 12 | 2 of 12 | 4 of 12 | 11 of 12 | 5 of 11 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 3 of 16 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% | −18.2% | +28.7% | +18.3% | +31.2% | −4.6% | +21.7% | +12.0% | +1.2% | +13.5% | +32.3% | +16.0% | +1.9% | +15.1% |
| XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 11 of 16 | +24.6% | +21.6% | +56.0% | −27.7% | +34.8% | +43.6% | +49.9% | −1.7% | +34.3% | +15.0% | +5.5% | +17.9% | +26.2% | +15.4% | +2.5% | +11.5% |
| QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 12 of 16 | +20.8% | +25.6% | +54.9% | −32.6% | +27.4% | +48.6% | +39.0% | −0.1% | +32.7% | +7.1% | +9.4% | +19.2% | +36.6% | +18.1% | +3.4% | +19.9% |
| SPMO Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 3 of 10 | +26.6% | +45.8% | +17.6% | −10.4% | +22.7% | +28.2% | +25.9% | −0.9% | +27.8% | +7.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MGK Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF | 7 of 16 | +20.7% | +32.9% | +51.7% | −33.6% | +28.6% | +40.9% | +37.4% | −2.9% | +29.6% | +6.6% | +3.7% | +13.6% | +32.6% | +17.3% | +3.2% | +14.6% |
| JQUA JPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF | 1 of 8 | +11.7% | +21.2% | +25.1% | −13.4% | +28.7% | +16.6% | +28.5% | −2.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SPYG State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | 7 of 16 | +22.1% | +36.0% | +30.0% | −29.4% | +32.0% | +33.4% | +30.8% | −0.1% | +27.3% | +6.9% | +5.1% | +14.8% | +32.5% | +14.3% | +4.6% | +16.3% |
| IUSG iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 7 of 16 | +21.2% | +34.7% | +29.3% | −28.8% | +31.3% | +32.6% | +30.6% | −0.8% | +27.0% | +7.3% | +5.0% | +12.4% | +34.0% | +14.9% | +1.9% | +17.3% |
| FBCG Fidelity Blue Chip Growth ETF | 3 of 5 | +18.6% | +39.0% | +58.0% | −39.1% | +21.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| IWY iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF | 7 of 16 | +18.2% | +34.9% | +46.5% | −29.9% | +31.1% | +39.0% | +36.2% | −0.7% | +31.7% | +6.9% | +7.9% | +13.4% | +32.4% | +14.6% | +4.6% | +11.9% |
| FDG American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF | 2 of 5 | +22.1% | +45.9% | +37.2% | −35.7% | +8.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SCHX Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | 3 of 16 | +17.5% | +24.9% | +26.8% | −19.4% | +26.8% | +21.0% | +31.2% | −4.5% | +21.6% | +12.1% | +1.0% | +13.3% | +32.6% | +16.4% | +1.6% | +15.9% |
| SCHV Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF | 3 of 16 | +16.0% | +14.1% | +8.9% | −7.6% | +25.5% | +2.6% | +25.9% | −7.3% | +15.7% | +18.2% | −1.0% | +10.9% | +31.1% | +14.9% | +3.5% | +14.8% |
| QGRO American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF | 1 of 7 | +15.2% | +31.4% | +32.4% | −24.5% | +24.6% | +38.0% | +35.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 5 of 15 | +18.4% | +33.2% | +42.7% | −29.2% | +27.6% | +38.3% | +36.0% | −1.6% | +30.1% | +7.0% | +5.6% | +12.9% | +33.2% | +15.2% | +2.4% | — |
| VUG Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | 4 of 16 | +19.4% | +32.7% | +46.8% | −33.1% | +27.4% | +40.2% | +37.0% | −3.3% | +27.8% | +6.2% | +3.3% | +13.6% | +32.6% | +17.1% | +1.8% | +17.1% |
| VOT Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF | 2 of 16 | +10.7% | +16.4% | +23.1% | −28.9% | +20.5% | +34.5% | +33.8% | −5.6% | +21.8% | +6.9% | −1.1% | +13.5% | +32.4% | +16.0% | −3.9% | +29.1% |
| CGGR Capital Group Growth ETF | 1 of 3 | +19.8% | +32.1% | +42.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Risk and diversification
How SCHG has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were SCHG's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents SCHG's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2009, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
Note: SCHG began trading on December 11, 2009, so this list cannot include the dot-com bust or the 2008 financial crisis. The crash tests on this page show how older funds and the S&P 500 fared through those years.
- In four of SCHG's five worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- None of these declines kept SCHG below its old high for long; the longest climb back took 11 months.
Green means SCHG fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | SCHG fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 bear market | −34.5% | −17.5% | Nov 2021 | Jan 2023 | 14 months | Dec 2023 | 11 months |
| Covid crash | −32.3% | −33.7% | Feb 2020 | Mar 2020 | 1 month | Jun 2020 | 3 months |
| No named crash | −23.4% | −17.7% | Dec 2024 | Apr 2025 | 4 months | Jun 2025 | 2 months |
| Late-2018 sell-off | −21.6% | −19.2% | Oct 2018 | Dec 2018 | 2 months | Apr 2019 | 4 months |
| 2011 euro debt crisis | −20.6% | −18.4% | Jul 2011 | Oct 2011 | 3 months | Feb 2012 | 4 months |
How did SCHG do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far SCHG, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
Note: SCHG began trading on December 11, 2009, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust or the 2008 financial crisis. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.
- Among its popular alternatives, SPYG held up best, falling less than SCHG in six of the eight crashes they both traded through.
- SCHG began trading after the 2008 financial crisis, but six of its popular alternatives lived through it. The mildest fall among them was VUG's 50.7%, against 55.2% for the S&P 500.
- SCHG fell further than the S&P 500 in four of the eight crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2022 bear market, when SCHG fell 32.2% and the S&P 500 fell 24.5%.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than SCHG.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHG This pageSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | — | −3.6% | −32.2% | −32.3% | −21.6% | −6.4% | −16.2% | −20.2% | −1.8% | Not yet trading | Not yet trading |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 4 of 8 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3 of 8 | −3.2% | −32.4% | −31.1% | −23.8% | −6.7% | −12.7% | −15.9% | −2.1% | −53.0% | −82.0% |
| QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 2 of 8 | −3.1% | −33.4% | −28.6% | −22.7% | −6.8% | −16.1% | −16.1% | −2.5% | −53.4% | −83.0% |
| SPMO Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 3 of 5 | −2.4% | −22.7% | −30.9% | −23.4% | −6.7% | — | — | — | — | — |
| MGK Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF | 3 of 8 | −3.3% | −33.9% | −31.2% | −22.6% | −6.3% | −15.0% | −16.8% | −2.0% | — | — |
| JQUA JPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF | 2 of 5 | −3.2% | −21.8% | −32.9% | −17.1% | −8.4% | — | — | — | — | — |
| SPYG State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | 6 of 8 | −3.0% | −31.3% | −31.3% | −20.6% | −6.4% | −13.4% | −16.3% | −2.6% | −51.3% | — |
| IUSG iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 5 of 8 | −3.0% | −30.8% | −32.4% | −20.7% | −6.5% | −14.1% | −18.9% | −2.1% | −51.8% | — |
| FBCG Fidelity Blue Chip Growth ETF | 0 of 2 | −4.6% | −38.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| IWY iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF | 4 of 8 | −3.1% | −31.5% | −30.8% | −22.2% | −6.5% | −12.3% | −15.8% | −2.3% | — | — |
| FDG American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF | 0 of 2 | −4.4% | −37.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SCHX Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | 5 of 8 | −3.7% | −25.2% | −34.3% | −19.4% | −6.4% | −13.4% | −18.5% | −1.2% | — | — |
| SCHV Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF | 4 of 8 | −4.2% | −19.8% | −36.6% | −17.7% | −6.5% | −11.1% | −17.0% | −1.4% | — | — |
| QGRO American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF | 1 of 4 | −3.9% | −28.9% | −32.6% | −22.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 4 of 7 | −3.5% | −31.2% | −31.7% | −22.0% | −6.4% | −13.4% | −17.8% | — | — | — |
| VUG Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | 3 of 8 | −3.5% | −33.7% | −31.8% | −22.3% | −6.2% | −15.2% | −18.3% | −2.0% | −50.7% | — |
| VOT Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF | 0 of 8 | −5.2% | −32.1% | −36.2% | −21.5% | −6.2% | −20.8% | −25.0% | −2.8% | −60.2% | — |
| CGGR Capital Group Growth ETF | 0 of 1 | −4.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How closely does SCHG move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares SCHG with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- Seven of the 12 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than SCHG's 1.06, led by SPMO, XLK and QQQ.
- SPMO took just 76% of the S&P 500's losses, against 107% for SCHG, while still keeping 102% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, SCHG captured 114% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 107% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 1.12. It amplified the market's moves in both directions.
Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than SCHG's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHG This pageSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | 114% | 107% | 1.06 | 1.12 |
| SPMO Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 102% | 76% | 1.35 | 0.99 |
| XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 128% | 100% | 1.28 | 1.19 |
| QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 118% | 102% | 1.16 | 1.13 |
| IWY iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF | 113% | 102% | 1.10 | 1.09 |
| MGK Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF | 115% | 107% | 1.07 | 1.14 |
| SPYG State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | 109% | 102% | 1.07 | 1.08 |
| VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 111% | 104% | 1.07 | 1.10 |
| IUSG iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 109% | 103% | 1.05 | 1.08 |
| VUG Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | 113% | 108% | 1.04 | 1.13 |
| SCHX Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | 100% | 101% | 0.99 | 1.01 |
| SCHV Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF | 84% | 95% | 0.88 | 0.91 |
| VOT Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF | 95% | 113% | 0.84 | 1.12 |
What diversifies SCHG?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with SCHG's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing SCHG with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in SCHG into GLD would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 16% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+14.7% for SCHG alone, +16.0% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and EMLP have moved largely independently of SCHG over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.45 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- XLE made money in two of the three calendar years in which SCHG lost money.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which SCHG lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% SCHG and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2022 | 2018 | 2011 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (this page) | 1.00 | +85.4% | 0.67 | −31.8% | −1.3% | −0.6% | 19.9% | +14.7% |
| LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.33 | +119% | 1.48 | +3.8% | −5.2% | — | 16.7% | +15.5% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.45 | +225% | 1.34 | +6.0% | −19.8% | −16.1% | 17.2% | +17.4% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.41 | +101% | 1.04 | +10.4% | −8.7% | — | 17.3% | +15.2% |
| EWP Broad MarketiShares MSCI Spain ETF | 0.37 | +140% | 0.97 | −5.2% | −15.3% | −9.8% | 17.7% | +16.3% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.10 | +126% | 0.96 | −0.8% | −1.9% | +9.6% | 16.7% | +16.0% |
| XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.08 | +177% | 0.93 | +64.4% | −18.2% | +2.8% | 17.2% | +17.2% |
| AMLP EnergyAlerian MLP ETF | 0.30 | +111% | 0.89 | +25.5% | −12.6% | +10.2% | 17.4% | +15.9% |
| EFV InternationaliShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF | 0.44 | +89.0% | 0.88 | −5.2% | −14.7% | −12.4% | 17.5% | +14.9% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2022 | 2018 | 2011 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (this page) | 1.00 | +85.4% | 0.67 | −31.8% | −1.3% | −0.6% | 19.9% | +14.7% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.18 | +479% | 1.55 | +54.1% | −24.5% | +8.1% | 17.7% | +19.8% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | 0.09 | +413% | 1.44 | +51.8% | −28.4% | +11.8% | 17.2% | +19.3% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 0.14 | +690% | 1.41 | +86.6% | −8.2% | — | 18.1% | +22.0% |
| HWM Aerospace & DefenseHowmet Aerospace Inc. | 0.40 | +594% | 1.36 | +24.2% | −37.5% | −42.9% | 19.8% | +21.8% |
| ATI Manufacturing - Metal FabricationATI Inc. | 0.22 | +1,008% | 1.34 | +87.5% | −9.8% | −12.2% | 20.3% | +25.1% |
Common questions
What was SCHG's worst drawdown?
SCHG's deepest decline since it began trading in 2009 was 34.5%, from November 2021 to January 2023. It took 11 months from the low to climb back to its old high. Because SCHG launched in December 2009, that record does not include the dot-com bust or the 2008 financial crisis.
What were SCHG's best and worst years?
Over 16 full calendar years, SCHG's best year was 2023, when it returned 50.1%. Its worst was 2022, with a return of -31.8%.
Is there a better investment than SCHG?
Among SCHG's popular alternatives, SPMO earned more than SCHG with less volatility over the past 5 years: 18.7% a year at 20.8% volatility, against 13.1% a year at 22.4%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, VLUE (US large-cap value) and PVAL (US large-cap value) earned more than SCHG with less volatility over the past 5 years. VLUE returned 15.9% a year at 18.4% volatility, against 13.1% a year at 22.4%.
Is SCHG more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. SCHG's volatility over the past 5 years was 22.4%, 1.3 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, SCHG's return lands within 22.4% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is SCHG's Sharpe ratio?
SCHG's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.67, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so SCHG earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is SCHG with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, SCHG's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.94 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They move almost in lockstep, so holding both adds little diversification. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against SCHG instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a SCHG holding.
What are the best alternatives to SCHG?
Of the 21 popular alternatives we compared, five outperformed SCHG in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: XLK, QQQ and SPMO.
Did SCHG outperform the S&P 500?
SCHG finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in ten of 16 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +17.5%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did SCHG do in stock market crashes?
SCHG fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in one of the eight major crashes it has traded through, and further in four. The clearest case was the 2022 bear market, when SCHG fell 32.2% and the S&P 500 fell 24.5%.
What diversifies SCHG?
These had a low correlation with SCHG over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.33), DXJ (correlation 0.45) and EMLP (correlation 0.41); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.18), MCK (correlation 0.09) and MPC (correlation 0.14). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than SCHG's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of SCHG's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.
More research
Popular alternatives to SCHG
XLKState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
QQQMInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETF
SPYGState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF
IVWiShares S&P 500 Growth ETF
SCHXSchwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF
VONGVanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF
VUGVanguard Morningstar Growth ETF
IWFiShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF