CHI vs SCHD
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, CHI or SCHD?
Convertibles against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. CHI led over 1Y, SCHD over 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 | CHI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.83% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.02% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 624 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +23.12% | +25.07%Best |
| 1Y Return | +28.05%Best | +27.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.23% | +15.74%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.23% | +9.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.5% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,903 | $16,025Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2002 | 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 11, 2026 (14.9 years).
CHI 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.
CHI vs SCHD Performance
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund (CHI) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year CHI returned +28.05% while SCHD returned +27.61%. Year to date, CHI is up 23.12% versus a gain of 25.07% for SCHD.
Over three years, CHI compounded at +15.23% per year against +15.74% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +5.23% and +9.89% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.36% annualized vs +4.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CHI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% 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 -59.5% for CHI 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CHI charges 1.83% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $183 vs $6 annually, a gap of $177 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHI currently yields 4.02% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings CHI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CHI, our book for it covers 85.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SCHD and CHI share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, CHI as of Jan 31, 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 383 positions we hold weights for in CHI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 624 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CHI 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, CHI or SCHD?
CHI has an expense ratio of 1.83% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $177 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CHI or SCHD?
Over the past year CHI returned +28.05% vs +27.61% for SCHD, so CHI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), CHI annualized +4.08% vs +11.36% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CHI or SCHD?
CHI has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: CHI -59.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both CHI and SCHD?
CHI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 CHI and SCHD?
At least 3.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings CHI also owns. Our book for CHI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 383 positions we hold weights for in CHI and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, CHI or SCHD?
CHI yields 4.02% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so CHI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than CHI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. CHI led over 1Y, SCHD over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.