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.
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 | $9M | $119.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 2.96% |
| Holdings | 88 | 204 |
| YTD Return | +19.53% | +33.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.30% | +37.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.32% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.7% | -14.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,326 | $13,634Best |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 31, 1997 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 18, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.7 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 1.7 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 +21.30% while SCHD returned +37.17%. Year to date, AFSC is up 19.53% versus a gain of 33.09% 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 17.1% compared with 15.5% 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 0.34. 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 2.96% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings AFSC also owns.
Stated as a floor: for AFSC, our book for it covers 94.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in AFSC and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 88 and 204.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AFSC | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BANRBanner Corp_None_0 | 2.27% | 0.06% | 2.21% |
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 +21.30% vs +37.17% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AFSC annualized +13.09% vs +20.00% 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 17.1% annualized versus 15.5% 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 0.34, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFSC or SCHD?
AFSC yields 0.06% while SCHD yields 2.96%, 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. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.