BUL vs SCHD
Pacer US Cash Cows Growth ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, BUL or SCHD?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. BUL led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.1%.
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 | BUL | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $143M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.21% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 51 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +15.30% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.38% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.94%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.86%Best | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 16.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.3% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,745Best | $16,274 |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.1% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 2, 2019 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 3, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.3 years).
BUL 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 7.3 years both funds cover.
BUL vs SCHD Performance
Pacer US Cash Cows Growth ETF (BUL) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year BUL returned +20.38% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, BUL is up 15.30% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, BUL compounded at +20.94% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +10.86% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, BUL has the edge at +14.28% annualized vs +12.31%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 16.2% 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 -37.3% for BUL 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUL charges 0.60% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $6 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUL currently yields 0.21% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 50 holdings in BUL and 100 in SCHD, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BUL and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 51 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for BUL (99.9% of the fund), and 49 for BUL that do not appear in SCHD (96.5%).
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 BUL 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, BUL or SCHD?
BUL has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUL or SCHD?
Over the past year BUL returned +20.38% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BUL annualized +14.28% vs +12.31% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUL or SCHD?
BUL has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 16.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: BUL -37.3% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both BUL and SCHD?
BUL and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, BUL or SCHD?
BUL yields 0.21% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than BUL?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. BUL led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.