SCHD Ex-Dividend Date & Dividend Calculator

Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is a dividend-growth name with a track record of steady dividend increases, currently paying a quarterly distribution at a yield of 3.0%. The annual growth rate of the dividend matters more than the absolute yield for long-run compounding. Combined with a dividend-reinvestment (DRIP) strategy, long-term portfolio income can grow substantially.

For dividend-growth names, a track record of maintaining or raising the dividend even through recessions is a key selection criterion. Check dividend continuity and payout ratio together. See the complete dividend-types guide and the full dividend-dates guide.

Strategy structure — SCHD (Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF) uses no options at all — it's a pure index-tracking fund. It follows the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which screens companies with 10+ years of consecutive dividend payments by cash-flow-to-debt, return on equity (ROE), dividend yield, and 5-year dividend growth rate, holding roughly the top 100 names and rebalancing quarterly.

Payout mechanics and outcome — The distribution is actual qualified dividends paid by the underlying holdings — not option premium. Paid quarterly, it has no NAV-erosion mechanism of the kind DIVO, NVDY, and MSTY carry, since it doesn't sell options. The trade-off is that the headline yield looks lower than those three, since it isn't artificially boosted by premium income.

Things to watch — Broad diversification across ~100 names and a low expense ratio (around 0.06%) are strengths, but the fund has historically skewed toward financials, industrials, and healthcare over technology, which can lag the broader index in certain stretches. If you're expecting a high yield, SCHD's number will likely disappoint next to DIVO-style names — approach it as a long-run compounding play rather than an income play. Read dividend-growth investing basics and compare SCHD vs. JEPI, then check actual cumulative outcomes in the 5-year simulator.

The numbers right now (as of 2026.09.06) — the dividend yield is 3.0%, paid quarterly. SCHD currently sits below the threshold used to classify a name as variable-dividend. Recent payments has stayed very stable payment to payment (variability score 0.04). The per-payment amount is about $0.2530, paid roughly 4 times a year. This figure is recalculated every period, so it isn't guaranteed to hold going forward — it's a reference point based on past payment history.

What to check if you're holding it — SCHD's index constituents rebalance quarterly. If a holding cuts its dividend or falls outside the index's inclusion criteria (cash-flow-to-debt, ROE, and similar), it's automatically replaced at the next rebalance — small quarter-to-quarter shifts in the total distribution can often be traced back to this turnover. This ex-dividend date (2026-09-23) is inferred from payment-interval history rather than officially confirmed. See the dividend-growth ETF comparison to see how SCHD's rebalancing structure stacks up against other funds.