BME vs SCHD
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, BME or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, SCHD over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.2%.
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 | BME | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.14% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $602M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.05% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 159 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +17.52% | +28.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +34.88%Best | +31.77% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | +16.70%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.67% | +10.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.3% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.6% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,175 | $16,171Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.2% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2005 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 3, 2026 (14.9 years).
BME 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.
BME vs SCHD Performance
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year BME returned +34.88% while SCHD returned +31.77%. Year to date, BME is up 17.52% versus a gain of 28.59% for SCHD.
Over three years, BME compounded at +12.95% per year against +16.70% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +5.67% and +10.09% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.59% annualized vs +6.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BME has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% compared with 13.6% 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 -41.6% for BME 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BME charges 1.14% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $114 vs $6 annually, a gap of $108 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BME currently yields 7.05% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
15.2% of BME's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 21.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings BME also owns.
SCHD and BME share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 129 days apart, BME as of Mar 31, 2026 and SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 138 positions we hold weights for in BME and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 159 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for BME (78.9% of the fund), and 114 for BME that do not appear in SCHD (77.2%).
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.
21.0% of SCHD is already inside BME.
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, BME or SCHD?
BME has an expense ratio of 1.14% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $108 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BME or SCHD?
Over the past year BME returned +34.88% vs +31.77% for SCHD, so BME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), BME annualized +6.35% vs +11.59% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BME or SCHD?
BME has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: BME -41.6% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both BME and SCHD?
BME and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 BME and SCHD?
21.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings BME also owns. 21.0% of SCHD's is in holdings BME also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 138 positions we hold weights for in BME and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, BME or SCHD?
BME yields 7.05% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so BME currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than BME?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, SCHD over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.