AAUS vs SCHD
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AAUS or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. AAUS is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AAUS | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $500M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 354 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +11.42% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.14% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 13.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.1% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,314 | $12,872Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 22, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 23, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.2 years).
AAUS vs SCHD growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.2 years both funds cover.
AAUS vs SCHD Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year AAUS returned +15.14% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, AAUS is up 11.42% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.5% compared with 12.2% for AAUS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -9.1% for AAUS and -4.6% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.25. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAUS charges 0.09% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $6 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAUS currently yields 0.33% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
7.8% of AAUS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 82.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings AAUS also owns.
Most of SCHD is already inside AAUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
32 positions in common, counted across the 294 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 354 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 67 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for AAUS (17.8% of the fund), and 260 for AAUS that do not appear in SCHD (92.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AAUS | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.54% | 4.77% | 4.23% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.29% | 4.69% | 4.40% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.58% | 4.17% | 3.59% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.60% | 4.02% | 3.42% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.57% | 3.82% | 3.25% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.48% | 3.88% | 3.40% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.52% | 3.83% | 3.31% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.34% | 3.97% | 3.63% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 0.26% | 3.94% | 3.68% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.29% | 3.64% | 3.35% |
82.2% of SCHD is already inside AAUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAUS or SCHD?
AAUS has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAUS or SCHD?
Over the past year AAUS returned +15.14% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AAUS annualized +18.94% vs +23.42% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAUS or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.5% annualized versus 12.2% for AAUS. Worst drawdown: AAUS -9.1% vs SCHD -4.6%.
Should I hold both AAUS and SCHD?
AAUS and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.25, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AAUS and SCHD?
82.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings AAUS also owns. 82.2% of SCHD's is in holdings AAUS also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 294 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAUS or SCHD?
AAUS yields 0.33% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AAUS?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. AAUS is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.