CSQ vs SCHD
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, CSQ or SCHD?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. CSQ led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y 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 | CSQ | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.03% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $5.2B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 816 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +12.71% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.98% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.28%Best | +15.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.94%Best | +10.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,805Best | $16,223 |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2004 | 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 18, 2026 (14.9 years).
CSQ 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.
CSQ vs SCHD Performance
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) 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 CSQ returned +14.98% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, CSQ is up 12.71% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, CSQ compounded at +20.28% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +10.94% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs +9.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CSQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% 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 -48.6% for CSQ 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CSQ charges 2.03% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $203 vs $6 annually, a gap of $197 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSQ currently yields 2.35% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 36.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings CSQ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CSQ, our book for it covers 93.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, CSQ 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.
13 positions in common, counted across the 452 positions we hold weights for in CSQ and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 816 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CSQ | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.51% | 4.77% | 4.26% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.56% | 4.69% | 4.13% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.53% | 4.17% | 3.64% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.42% | 3.88% | 3.46% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.44% | 3.83% | 3.39% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.22% | 4.02% | 3.80% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.34% | 3.82% | 3.48% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.08% | 2.79% | 2.71% |
| FFord Motor Credit | 0.26% | 1.33% | 1.07% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 0.02% | 1.47% | 1.45% |
36.8% of SCHD is already inside CSQ.
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, CSQ or SCHD?
CSQ has an expense ratio of 2.03% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $197 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CSQ or SCHD?
Over the past year CSQ returned +14.98% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), CSQ annualized +9.34% vs +11.25% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CSQ or SCHD?
CSQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: CSQ -48.6% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both CSQ and SCHD?
CSQ and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 CSQ and SCHD?
At least 36.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings CSQ also owns. Our book for CSQ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 452 positions we hold weights for in CSQ and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, CSQ or SCHD?
CSQ yields 2.35% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than CSQ?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. CSQ led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.