AIO vs SCHD
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AIO or SCHD?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AIO led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y.
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 | AIO | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.47% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $954M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.01% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 96 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +19.51% | +24.04%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.55% | +27.95%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.35%Best | +15.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.86%Best | +9.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.1% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.2% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,745Best | $15,959 |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 31, 2019 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 29, 2019 to Sep 16, 2026 (6.9 years).
AIO 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 6.9 years both funds cover.
AIO vs SCHD Performance
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (AIO) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year AIO returned +16.55% while SCHD returned +27.95%. Year to date, AIO is up 19.51% versus a gain of 24.04% for SCHD.
Over three years, AIO compounded at +23.35% per year against +15.51% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +10.86% and +9.80% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, AIO has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs +12.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.1% compared with 16.6% 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 -45.2% for AIO and -33.4% 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIO charges 1.47% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $147 vs $6 annually, a gap of $141 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIO currently yields 11.01% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 9.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings AIO also owns.
Stated as a floor: for AIO, our book for it covers 83.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SCHD and AIO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 123 days apart, AIO as of Apr 30, 2026 and SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in AIO and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 96 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AIO 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, AIO or SCHD?
AIO has an expense ratio of 1.47% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $141 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIO or SCHD?
Over the past year AIO returned +16.55% vs +27.95% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AIO annualized +13.04% vs +12.18% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIO or SCHD?
AIO has been the more volatile fund at 22.1% annualized versus 16.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: AIO -45.2% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both AIO and SCHD?
AIO and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 AIO and SCHD?
At least 9.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings AIO also owns. Our book for AIO is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in AIO and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIO or SCHD?
AIO yields 11.01% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so AIO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AIO?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AIO led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.