BUI vs SCHD
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, BUI or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. BUI led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. BUI is less concentrated, with 39.6% 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 | BUI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $711M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.21% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 52 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +3.63% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.23% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.29%Best | +15.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.01% | +10.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.3% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,032 | $16,223Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.6%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2011 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.8 years).
BUI 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 14.8 years both funds cover.
BUI vs SCHD Performance
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) 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 BUI returned +10.23% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, BUI is up 3.63% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, BUI compounded at +16.29% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +7.01% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.54% annualized vs +4.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 13.7% 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 -48.3% for BUI 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUI charges 1.07% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $6 annually, a gap of $101 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUI currently yields 10.21% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 54 holdings in BUI and 100 in SCHD, totalling 101.1% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, BUI 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 52 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for BUI (99.9% of the fund), and 32 for BUI that do not appear in SCHD (69.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUI 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, BUI or SCHD?
BUI has an expense ratio of 1.07% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $101 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUI or SCHD?
Over the past year BUI returned +10.23% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), BUI annualized +4.46% vs +11.54% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUI or SCHD?
BUI has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: BUI -48.3% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both BUI and SCHD?
BUI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, BUI or SCHD?
BUI yields 10.21% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so BUI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than BUI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. BUI led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. BUI is less concentrated, with 39.6% 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.