Quick answer: SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) has paid quarterly dividends every year since launching in October 2011. The annual dividend per share has grown from $0.28 in 2012 to approximately $1.05 in 2025 — a roughly 13-year streak of annual dividend growth. The Q1 2026 payment was $0.26/share. The fund’s trailing 12-month yield sits at ~3.28%–3.33%.
Last updated: May 31, 2026 · 8:00 a.m. ET
SCHD Annual Dividend Per Share — Historical Record
| Year | Annual Dividend/Share | Approx. YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $0.28 | — |
| 2014 | $0.60 | ~+15% vs 2013 |
| 2016 | $0.78 | ~+7% |
| 2018 | $0.89 | ~+7% |
| 2020 | $0.84 | −6% (COVID impact) |
| 2021 | $0.90 | +7% |
| 2022 | $0.96 | +7% |
| 2023 | $0.99 | +3% |
| 2024 | $1.04 | +5% |
| 2025 | ~$1.05 | +1% |
| 2026 Q1 | $0.26 (quarterly) | Annualizing ~$1.04–$1.06 |
Source: Charles Schwab Asset Management, Dividend History aggregators. Note: 2020 saw the only annual decline — dividends from underlying holdings dropped during COVID. Every other year has been flat or higher.
Why SCHD’s Dividend Growth Has Been Consistent
SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which screens for: (1) 10+ consecutive years of dividend payments, (2) cash flow to total debt, (3) return on equity, (4) dividend yield, and (5) 5-year dividend growth rate. Companies that stop growing dividends or cut them get removed at the quarterly rebalance.
This built-in growth screen is why SCHD’s annual dividend has compounded while peers focused on current yield alone (like VYM) have had more variable growth records.
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The One Exception: 2020
SCHD’s annual dividend dipped from $0.90 (2019) to $0.84 (2020) — the only year-over-year decline in fund history. The cause: COVID-19 prompted widespread corporate dividend cuts across SCHD’s underlying holdings. The fund recovered fully by 2021 and resumed growth. This illustrates that SCHD’s dividend is not guaranteed; it reflects what its ~100 underlying holdings actually pay.
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FAQ
Has SCHD ever cut its dividend?
Not permanently. The 2020 annual total was lower than 2019 due to COVID-related cuts by underlying holdings, but the fund recovered within a year. No permanent cut has occurred since inception.
What is SCHD’s 5-year dividend growth rate?
Approximately 10%–12% annualized over the past 5 years, depending on the start date used. This compares favorably with peer dividend ETFs.
Where is the official SCHD dividend history?
Charles Schwab Asset Management publishes full distribution history at schwabassetmanagement.com/products/schd.
Sources
- Schwab Asset Management — SCHD: schwabassetmanagement.com/products/schd
- S&P Dow Jones — DJ U.S. Dividend 100 Methodology
- SEC EDGAR — SCHD N-PORT and annual filings
Not financial advice. Written by Aybars Y. · EskiSignal Editorial · May 31, 2026
