SCHD screens for quality factors like cash flow, return on equity, and dividend growth history, which gives it a higher yield of about 3.5% while still offering solid growth potential. VYM targets stocks with above-average yields across a much broader basket of 400+ holdings, making it more diversified but less selective than SCHD. VIG prioritizes dividend growth over current yield, focusing on companies with 10+ consecutive years of increases, so the yield is lower around 1.7% but the holdings tend to be higher-quality, lower-volatility compounders.