AFOS vs SCHD
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AFOS or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%.
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 | AFOS | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $301M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.22% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 33 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +28.43%Best | +21.99% |
| 1Y Return | +50.17%Best | +25.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.66% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.8% | -5.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $17,577Best | $12,954 |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.7% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | ARS Investment | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 25, 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: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.2 years).
AFOS 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.
AFOS vs SCHD Performance
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF (AFOS) 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 AFOS returned +50.17% while SCHD returned +25.92%. Year to date, AFOS is up 28.43% versus a gain of 21.99% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFOS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 13.6% for SCHD. 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 -11.8% for AFOS and -5.5% 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 0.19. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFOS charges 0.45% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $6 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFOS currently yields 0.22% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
7.0% of AFOS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings AFOS also owns.
AFOS and SCHD share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 33 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for AFOS (95.5% of the fund), and 28 for AFOS that do not appear in SCHD (90.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFOS and SCHD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AFOS or SCHD?
AFOS has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFOS or SCHD?
Over the past year AFOS returned +50.17% vs +25.92% for SCHD, so AFOS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AFOS annualized +60.00% vs +24.07% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFOS or SCHD?
AFOS has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: AFOS -11.8% vs SCHD -5.5%.
Should I hold both AFOS and SCHD?
AFOS and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.19, 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 AFOS and SCHD?
7.0% of AFOS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.5% of SCHD's is in holdings AFOS also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFOS or SCHD?
AFOS yields 0.22% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AFOS?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.