AQLT vs SCHD
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AQLT or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. AQLT is less concentrated, with 35.9% 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 | AQLT | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $329M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 521 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +11.52% | +24.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.60% | +28.75%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8% | -14.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,729Best | $12,697 |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.9%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2024 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 9, 2026 (1.7 years).
AQLT 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.
AQLT vs SCHD Performance
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF (AQLT) 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 AQLT returned +19.60% while SCHD returned +28.75%. Year to date, AQLT is up 11.52% versus a gain of 24.96% 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 13.1% compared with 12.8% for AQLT. 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 -16.8% for AQLT 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 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQLT 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, AQLT currently yields 0.98% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
7.2% of AQLT's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 43.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings AQLT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, AQLT as of Jun 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.
21 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 521 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 78 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for AQLT (56.2% of the fund), and 118 for AQLT that do not appear in SCHD (60.3%).
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 AQLT | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 1.07% | 4.77% | 3.70% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.05% | 4.17% | 3.12% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.02% | 3.83% | 2.81% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.54% | 3.64% | 3.10% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 0.79% | 3.13% | 2.34% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.30% | 3.33% | 3.03% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.32% | 2.79% | 2.47% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 0.25% | 2.84% | 2.59% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 0.26% | 2.78% | 2.52% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.47% | 2.52% | 2.05% |
43.7% of SCHD is already inside AQLT.
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, AQLT or SCHD?
AQLT 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, AQLT or SCHD?
Over the past year AQLT returned +19.60% vs +28.75% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AQLT annualized +15.25% vs +15.08% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQLT or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 12.8% for AQLT. Worst drawdown: AQLT -16.8% vs SCHD -14.0%.
Should I hold both AQLT and SCHD?
AQLT and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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 AQLT and SCHD?
43.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings AQLT also owns. 43.7% of SCHD's is in holdings AQLT also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQLT or SCHD?
AQLT yields 0.98% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AQLT?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. AQLT is less concentrated, with 35.9% 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.