ACEP vs SCHD
ARS Core Equity Portfolio ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, ACEP or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y. ACEP is less concentrated, with 38.3% 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 | ACEP | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.46% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $98M | $119.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 2.96% |
| Holdings | 74 | 204 |
| YTD Return | +21.73% | +33.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +33.36% | +37.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.32% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 16.6% |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.3%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | ARS Investment | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 20, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
ACEP 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
ACEP vs SCHD Performance
ARS Core Equity Portfolio ETF (ACEP) is an ETF from ARS Investment and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year ACEP returned +33.36% while SCHD returned +37.17%. Year to date, ACEP is up 21.73% versus a gain of 33.09% 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 16.6% compared with 14.6% for ACEP. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACEP charges 0.46% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $46 vs $6 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACEP currently yields 0.11% against 2.96% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
23.1% of ACEP's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 23.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings ACEP also owns.
SCHD and ACEP share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in ACEP and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 74 and 204.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 89 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for ACEP (76.3% of the fund), and 22 for ACEP that do not appear in SCHD (61.0%).
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 ACEP | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp | 4.06% | 4.32% | 0.26% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 2.43% | 4.18% | 1.75% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 3.29% | 3.28% | 0.01% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 3.12% | 2.78% | 0.34% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.50% | 3.02% | 0.52% |
| BXBlackstone Group Inc. Class A | 2.86% | 1.99% | 0.87% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 2.70% | 2.02% | 0.68% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp. Class A | 2.09% | 1.86% | 0.23% |
23.4% of SCHD is already inside ACEP.
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, ACEP or SCHD?
ACEP has an expense ratio of 0.46% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACEP or SCHD?
Over the past year ACEP returned +33.36% vs +37.17% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACEP or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.6% for ACEP.
Should I hold both ACEP and SCHD?
ACEP and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 ACEP and SCHD?
23.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings ACEP also owns. 23.4% of SCHD's is in holdings ACEP also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in ACEP and 98 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACEP or SCHD?
ACEP yields 0.11% while SCHD yields 2.96%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than ACEP?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y. ACEP is less concentrated, with 38.3% 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.