Is STMEF or SCHD a better dividend investment in 2026?

STMEF currently yields 4.00% with a 5% 5-year dividend growth rate. SCHD yields 3.77% with 13.05% growth. The better choice depends on your goal: STMEF offers higher current income, while SCHD is better for long-term compounding. Use the DRIP calculator above to model your specific scenario.

What is the dividend yield difference between STMEF and SCHD?

STMEF has a forward dividend yield of 4.00% (2.00/share annually). SCHD yields 3.77% (1.05/share annually). The yield gap is 0.23 percentage points.

How much would $10,000 in STMEF vs SCHD pay in dividends per year?

With $10,000 invested: STMEF would pay approximately $400/year in dividends. SCHD would pay approximately $377/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these amounts grow substantially due to compounding.

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STMEF vs SCHD: Dividend Comparison 2026

STMEF yields 4.00% · SCHD yields 3.77% · See full DRIP projection below

vsEnter any two US tickers

After 10 years · $10,000 invested · DRIP enabled

🏆 SCHD wins by $8.7K in total portfolio value

INVESTMENT

TIME HORIZON10 years

STMEF

4.00%

Share price

$50.00

Annual div

$2.00

5Y div CAGR

Payout ratio

50%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$28.0K

Annual income

$899.19

Full STMEF calculator →

SCHD

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

3.77%

Share price

$27.84

Annual div

$1.05

5Y div CAGR

13.05%

Payout ratio

38%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$36.7K

Annual income

$1,925.82

Full SCHD calculator →

Portfolio growth — STMEF vs SCHD

Annual dividend income

MetricSTMEFSCHD

Forward yield	4.00% ✓	3.77%
Annual dividend / share	$2.00 ✓	$1.05
Payout ratio	50%	38% ✓
1-year div growth	5%	5.18% ✓
5-year div CAGR	5%	13.05% ✓
Portfolio after 10y	$28.0K	$36.7K ✓
Annual income after 10y	$899.19	$1,925.82 ✓
Total dividends collected	$6.4K	$10.1K ✓
Payment frequency	quarterly	quarterly
Sector	Stock	ETF

Year-by-year: STMEF vs SCHD ($10,000, DRIP)

Year	STMEF Portfolio	STMEF Income/yr	SCHD Portfolio	SCHD Income/yr	Gap
1	$11,120	$420.00	$11,306	$426.37	$186.00 → SCHD
2	$12,357	$458.31	$12,802	$500.91	$445.00 → SCHD
3	$13,721	$499.76	$14,518	$589.33	$797.00 → SCHD
4	$15,227	$544.58	$16,490	$694.43	$1.3K → SCHD
5	$16,885	$593.02	$18,761	$819.56	$1.9K → SCHD
6	$18,713	$645.34	$21,381	$968.84	$2.7K → SCHD
7	$20,724	$701.81	$24,409	$1,147.26	$3.7K → SCHD
8	$22,938	$762.73	$27,918	$1,360.94	$5.0K → SCHD
9	$25,372	$828.41	$31,993	$1,617.39	$6.6K → SCHD
10	$28,047	$899.19	$36,734	$1,925.82	$8.7K → SCHD

STMEF vs SCHD: Complete Analysis 2026

STMEF — Stock

STMEF is a dividend-paying stock. Use this calculator to estimate your future dividend income, DRIP compounding returns, and passive income potential from investing in STMEF shares.

Full STMEF Calculator →

SCHD — ETF

SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on quality companies with consistent dividend histories. With $60B+ AUM, it's the most popular dividend ETF in the US — combining income with quality. Only companies with 10+ consecutive years of dividends qualify. The ETF rebalances annually and has delivered market-beating total returns since inception in 2011.

Full SCHD Calculator →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is STMEF or SCHD better for dividend income in 2026?

STMEF currently offers a 4.00% yield (2.00/share/year) while SCHD offers 3.77% (1.05/share/year). STMEF provides higher current income. However, SCHD has grown its dividend faster (13.05% 5Y CAGR), which may lead to better long-term income through compounding.

How much would $10,000 in STMEF vs SCHD earn per year?

With $10,000 invested today: STMEF pays approximately $400/year. SCHD pays approximately $377/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these grow to $899/year (STMEF) and $1,926/year (SCHD).

Does STMEF or SCHD pay monthly dividends?

STMEF pays quarterly dividends. SCHD pays quarterly dividends. Neither pay monthly — both use a quarterly schedule, which is preferred by investors who need regular cash flow.

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⚠️ Educational purposes only. Not financial advice. All projections use historical data; actual results will vary.