CFA vs SCHD
VictoryShares US 500 Volatility Weighted ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, CFA or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. CFA is less concentrated, with 3.7% 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 | CFA | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $544M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.20% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 502 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +7.06% | +21.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.60% | +25.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.68% | +15.66%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.32% | +9.48%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.9% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,237 | $15,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.7%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Victory Capital Management Inc. | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 1, 2014 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 2, 2014 to Sep 23, 2026 (12.2 years).
CFA 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 12.2 years both funds cover.
CFA vs SCHD Performance
VictoryShares US 500 Volatility Weighted ETF (CFA) is an ETF from Victory Capital Management Inc. and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year CFA returned +8.60% while SCHD returned +25.92%. Year to date, CFA is up 7.06% versus a gain of 21.99% for SCHD.
Over three years, CFA compounded at +13.68% per year against +15.66% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +7.32% and +9.48% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +9.82% annualized vs +9.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CFA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 14.6% 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 -37.9% for CFA 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CFA charges 0.35% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $6 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CFA currently yields 1.20% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
10.4% of CFA's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 90.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings CFA also owns.
Most of SCHD is already inside CFA. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
45 positions in common, counted across the 500 positions we hold weights for in CFA and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 502 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 54 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for CFA (9.0% of the fund), and 448 for CFA that do not appear in SCHD (88.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CFA | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.24% | 4.77% | 4.53% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.22% | 4.70% | 4.48% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.22% | 4.69% | 4.47% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.37% | 4.17% | 3.80% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.30% | 4.02% | 3.72% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.23% | 3.97% | 3.74% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 0.23% | 3.94% | 3.71% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.29% | 3.83% | 3.54% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.21% | 3.88% | 3.67% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.17% | 3.82% | 3.65% |
90.9% of SCHD is already inside CFA.
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, CFA or SCHD?
CFA has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CFA or SCHD?
Over the past year CFA returned +8.60% vs +25.92% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), CFA annualized +9.39% vs +9.82% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CFA or SCHD?
CFA has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 14.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: CFA -37.9% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both CFA and SCHD?
CFA and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between CFA and SCHD?
90.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings CFA also owns. 90.9% of SCHD's is in holdings CFA also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 500 positions we hold weights for in CFA and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, CFA or SCHD?
CFA yields 1.20% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than CFA?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. CFA is less concentrated, with 3.7% 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.