AFSC vs SCHD
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AFSC or SCHD?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. AFSC is less concentrated, with 30.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | AFSC | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 45 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +23.40% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +24.87% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 13.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.7% | -14.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $12,685 | $13,037Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.2%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 31, 1997 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 18, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.5 years).
AFSC 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
AFSC vs SCHD Performance
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF (AFSC) is an ETF from Aberdeen and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year AFSC returned +24.87% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, AFSC is up 23.40% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 13.5% 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 -21.7% for AFSC and -14.0% 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 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFSC charges 0.65% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $6 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFSC currently yields 0.06% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
2.3% of AFSC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings AFSC also owns.
AFSC and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in AFSC and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 45 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 43 and 100 positions we hold weights for.
SCHD holds 97 positions AFSC does not, 99.6% of the fund.
Largest: ABT 4.70%, AMGN 4.62%, HD 4.32%, MRK 4.26%, KO 4.20%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AFSC | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BANRBanner Corp | 2.33% | 0.06% | 2.27% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFSC 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, AFSC or SCHD?
AFSC has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFSC or SCHD?
Over the past year AFSC returned +24.87% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AFSC annualized +17.18% vs +19.34% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFSC or SCHD?
AFSC has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 13.5% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: AFSC -21.7% vs SCHD -14.0%.
Should I hold both AFSC and SCHD?
AFSC and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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 AFSC and SCHD?
2.3% of AFSC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's is in holdings AFSC also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in AFSC and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFSC or SCHD?
AFSC yields 0.06% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AFSC?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. AFSC is less concentrated, with 30.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.