CTEF vs SCHD
Castellan Targeted Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, CTEF or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. CTEF led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.2%.
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 | CTEF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $651M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 47 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +31.14%Best | +27.56% |
| 1Y Return | +49.04%Best | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.4% | 12.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.0% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $17,713Best | $13,631 |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.2% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Castellan ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).
CTEF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
CTEF vs SCHD Performance
Castellan Targeted Equity ETF (CTEF) is an ETF from Castellan ETFs and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year CTEF returned +49.04% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, CTEF is up 31.14% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CTEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 12.3% 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 -15.0% for CTEF and -4.6% 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 0.10. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CTEF charges 0.45% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $6 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CTEF currently yields 0.06% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 23 holdings in CTEF and 100 in SCHD, totalling 98.8% 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 23 positions we hold weights for in CTEF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 47 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for CTEF (99.9% of the fund), and 23 for CTEF that do not appear in SCHD (98.8%).
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 CTEF 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, CTEF or SCHD?
CTEF has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CTEF or SCHD?
Over the past year CTEF returned +49.04% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so CTEF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CTEF annualized +61.03% vs +29.45% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CTEF or SCHD?
CTEF has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 12.3% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: CTEF -15.0% vs SCHD -4.6%.
Should I hold both CTEF and SCHD?
CTEF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.10, 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, CTEF or SCHD?
CTEF yields 0.06% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than CTEF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. CTEF led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.