AKAF vs SCHD
The Frontier Economic Fund ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AKAF or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. AKAF is less concentrated, with 18.3% 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 | AKAF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $119.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.30% | 2.96% |
| Holdings | 308 | 204 |
| YTD Return | +12.06% | +32.38%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.08% | +38.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.13% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.0%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3% | -6.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,262 | $14,280Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 18.3%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Frontier Economic Fund | 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 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Nov 10, 2026 (1.4 years).
AKAF 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
AKAF vs SCHD Performance
The Frontier Economic Fund ETF (AKAF) is an ETF from Frontier Economic Fund and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year AKAF returned +17.08% while SCHD returned +38.54%. Year to date, AKAF is up 12.06% versus a gain of 32.38% 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 15.1% compared with 14.0% for AKAF. 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 -9.3% for AKAF and -6.9% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AKAF charges 0.20% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $6 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AKAF currently yields 3.30% against 2.96% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
13.3% of AKAF's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 32.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings AKAF also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
16 positions in common, counted across the 148 positions we hold weights for in AKAF and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 308 and 204.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 81 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for AKAF (67.6% of the fund), and 99 for AKAF that do not appear in SCHD (64.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AKAF | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 2.41% | 4.27% | 1.86% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.76% | 4.28% | 3.52% |
| HDHome Depot Inc | 0.69% | 3.82% | 3.13% |
| PEPPepsico Inc | 0.67% | 3.79% | 3.12% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.67% | 3.64% | 2.97% |
| LMTLockheed Martin | 0.70% | 2.65% | 1.95% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service Inc | 1.44% | 1.79% | 0.35% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 1.36% | 1.80% | 0.44% |
| TGTTARGET CORP | 0.46% | 1.76% | 1.30% |
| APAApa Corp | 1.66% | 0.41% | 1.25% |
32.2% of SCHD is already inside AKAF.
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, AKAF or SCHD?
AKAF has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AKAF or SCHD?
Over the past year AKAF returned +17.08% vs +38.54% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AKAF annualized +22.34% vs +28.98% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AKAF or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.0% for AKAF. Worst drawdown: AKAF -9.3% vs SCHD -6.9%.
Should I hold both AKAF and SCHD?
AKAF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 AKAF and SCHD?
32.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings AKAF also owns. 32.2% of SCHD's is in holdings AKAF also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 148 positions we hold weights for in AKAF and 98 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, AKAF or SCHD?
AKAF yields 3.30% while SCHD yields 2.96%, so AKAF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AKAF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. AKAF is less concentrated, with 18.3% 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.