AQEC vs SCHD
AQE Core ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AQEC or SCHD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AQEC is less concentrated, with 36.0% 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 | AQEC | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $618M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 67 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +1.57% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.0%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Arlington Partners, LLC | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AQEC 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AQEC vs SCHD Performance
AQE Core ETF (AQEC) is an ETF from Arlington Partners, LLC and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Year to date, AQEC is up 1.57% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQEC charges 0.49% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $6 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQEC currently yields 0.91% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
10.1% of AQEC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 69.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings AQEC also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
20 positions in common, counted across the 143 positions we hold weights for in AQEC and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 67 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 79 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for AQEC (30.0% of the fund), and 112 for AQEC that do not appear in SCHD (84.0%).
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 AQEC | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.84% | 4.70% | 3.86% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 1.00% | 4.32% | 3.32% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.99% | 4.20% | 3.21% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.99% | 3.96% | 2.97% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.32% | 4.62% | 4.30% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.47% | 4.26% | 3.79% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.51% | 4.11% | 3.60% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.80% | 3.71% | 2.91% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.53% | 3.74% | 3.21% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.28% | 3.84% | 3.56% |
69.9% of SCHD is already inside AQEC.
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, AQEC or SCHD?
AQEC has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AQEC and SCHD?
69.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings AQEC also owns. 69.9% of SCHD's is in holdings AQEC also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 143 positions we hold weights for in AQEC and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQEC or SCHD?
AQEC yields 0.91% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AQEC?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AQEC is less concentrated, with 36.0% 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.