CALF vs SCHD
Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, CALF or SCHD?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. CALF led over 1Y, SCHD over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. CALF is less concentrated, with 20.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | CALF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $4.0B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 200 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +28.28%Best | +27.56% |
| 1Y Return | +31.63%Best | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.70% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.34% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.3% | 15.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.6% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,250 | $16,274Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.1%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2017 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 19, 2017 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.2 years).
CALF 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 9.2 years both funds cover.
CALF vs SCHD Performance
Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows ETF (CALF) 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 CALF returned +31.63% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, CALF is up 28.28% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, CALF compounded at +11.70% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +7.34% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.63% annualized vs +10.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CALF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.3% compared with 15.8% 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 -47.6% for CALF 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CALF charges 0.59% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $6 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CALF currently yields 1.12% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
7.5% of CALF's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings CALF also owns.
CALF and SCHD share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 199 positions we hold weights for in CALF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 200 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 89 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for CALF (98.2% of the fund), and 184 for CALF that do not appear in SCHD (89.3%).
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 CALF | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 1.65% | 0.40% | 1.25% |
| DINOHollyfrontier | 1.62% | 0.31% | 1.31% |
| APAApa Corp | 1.34% | 0.33% | 1.01% |
| MMacy'S Inc. | 1.01% | 0.17% | 0.84% |
| BAHBooz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | 0.85% | 0.23% | 0.62% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.30% | 0.11% | 0.19% |
| FLOFlowers Foods Inc | 0.27% | 0.04% | 0.23% |
| LANCLancaster Colony Corp | 0.23% | 0.06% | 0.17% |
| BKEBuckle Inc/the | 0.21% | 0.04% | 0.17% |
| ETDEthan Allen Interiors Inc | 0.05% | 0.01% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CALF 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, CALF or SCHD?
CALF has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CALF or SCHD?
Over the past year CALF returned +31.63% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so CALF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), CALF annualized +10.83% vs +11.63% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CALF or SCHD?
CALF has been the more volatile fund at 23.3% annualized versus 15.8% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: CALF -47.6% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both CALF and SCHD?
CALF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 CALF and SCHD?
7.5% of CALF's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.7% of SCHD's is in holdings CALF also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 199 positions we hold weights for in CALF and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, CALF or SCHD?
CALF yields 1.12% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than CALF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. CALF led over 1Y, SCHD over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. CALF is less concentrated, with 20.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.