BTAL vs SCHD
AGF US Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, BTAL or SCHD?
Multi Alternative 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 | BTAL | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.40% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $306M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.92% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 402 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -11.81% | +24.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | -19.71% | +27.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -10.42% | +15.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.77% | +9.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -52.7% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,252 | $16,083Best |
| Fund Family | AGFiQ | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 13, 2011 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 17, 2026 (14.9 years).
BTAL 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.
BTAL vs SCHD Performance
AGF US Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund ETF (BTAL) is an ETF from AGFiQ and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year BTAL returned -19.71% while SCHD returned +27.90%. Year to date, BTAL is down 11.81% versus a gain of 24.23% for SCHD.
Over three years, BTAL compounded at -10.42% per year against +15.55% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -3.77% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.30% annualized vs -3.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BTAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.5% 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 -52.7% for BTAL 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 -0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BTAL charges 1.40% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $140 vs $6 annually, a gap of $134 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BTAL currently yields 2.92% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 43.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings BTAL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BTAL, our book for it covers 79.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
27 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in BTAL and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 402 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BTAL | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.39% | 4.77% | 4.38% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.39% | 4.70% | 4.31% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.37% | 4.69% | 4.32% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.41% | 3.97% | 3.56% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.41% | 2.79% | 2.38% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.40% | 2.79% | 2.39% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 0.36% | 2.78% | 2.42% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 0.40% | 2.31% | 1.91% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 0.39% | 1.88% | 1.49% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | -0.41% | 2.19% | 2.60% |
43.2% of SCHD is already inside BTAL.
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, BTAL or SCHD?
BTAL has an expense ratio of 1.40% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $134 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BTAL or SCHD?
Over the past year BTAL returned -19.71% vs +27.90% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), BTAL annualized -3.40% vs +11.30% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BTAL or SCHD?
BTAL has been the more volatile fund at 14.5% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: BTAL -52.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both BTAL and SCHD?
BTAL and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of -0.43, 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 BTAL and SCHD?
At least 43.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings BTAL also owns. Our book for BTAL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in BTAL and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, BTAL or SCHD?
BTAL yields 2.92% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than BTAL?
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.