AOK vs SCHD
iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AOK or SCHD?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | AOK | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $797M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.36% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 9 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +3.17% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.32% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.22% | +15.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.45% | +10.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.0%Best | 13.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.9%Best | -33.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,848 | $16,223Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 4, 2008 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.9 years).
AOK 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
AOK vs SCHD Performance
iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF (AOK) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year AOK returned +5.32% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, AOK is up 3.17% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, AOK compounded at +9.22% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +3.45% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs +3.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.7% compared with 6.0% for AOK. 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 -18.9% for AOK 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AOK charges 0.15% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $6 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AOK currently yields 3.36% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8 holdings in AOK and 100 in SCHD, totalling 99.8% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 8 positions we hold weights for in AOK and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 9 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for AOK (99.9% of the fund), and 8 for AOK that do not appear in SCHD (99.8%).
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 AOK 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, AOK or SCHD?
AOK has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AOK or SCHD?
Over the past year AOK returned +5.32% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), AOK annualized +3.39% vs +11.25% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AOK or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.7% annualized versus 6.0% for AOK. Worst drawdown: AOK -18.9% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both AOK and SCHD?
AOK and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, AOK or SCHD?
AOK yields 3.36% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so AOK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AOK?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.