DAK vs SCHD
Dakota Active Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, DAK or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. DAK is less concentrated, with 32.9% 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 | DAK | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.43% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $44M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.73% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 140 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +13.93% | +23.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.09% | +28.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.25% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.6%Best | 13.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.9% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,139 | $12,892Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.9%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Dakota | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.1 years).
DAK 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
DAK vs SCHD Performance
Dakota Active Equity ETF (DAK) is an ETF from Dakota and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year DAK returned +16.09% while SCHD returned +28.29%. Year to date, DAK is up 13.93% versus a gain of 23.60% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.4% compared with 11.6% for DAK. 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 -7.9% for DAK 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 0.34. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DAK charges 0.43% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $43 vs $6 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DAK currently yields 0.73% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
10.0% of DAK's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 51.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings DAK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in DAK and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 140 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 81 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for DAK (48.7% of the fund), and 118 for DAK that do not appear in SCHD (89.5%).
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 DAK | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.12% | 4.77% | 2.65% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.10% | 2.79% | 0.69% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.99% | 3.64% | 2.65% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.31% | 4.17% | 3.86% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.57% | 3.83% | 3.26% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.35% | 3.88% | 3.53% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.68% | 2.52% | 0.84% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.10% | 4.02% | 3.92% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 0.07% | 3.94% | 3.87% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.07% | 3.33% | 3.26% |
51.2% of SCHD is already inside DAK.
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, DAK or SCHD?
DAK has an expense ratio of 0.43% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DAK or SCHD?
Over the past year DAK returned +16.09% vs +28.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), DAK annualized +19.27% vs +25.98% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DAK or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.4% annualized versus 11.6% for DAK. Worst drawdown: DAK -7.9% vs SCHD -4.6%.
Should I hold both DAK and SCHD?
DAK and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.34, 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 DAK and SCHD?
51.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings DAK also owns. 51.2% of SCHD's is in holdings DAK also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in DAK and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, DAK or SCHD?
DAK yields 0.73% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than DAK?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. DAK is less concentrated, with 32.9% 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.