DFSE vs SCHD
Dimensional Emerging Markets Sustainability Core 1 ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, DFSE or SCHD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. DFSE led over 3Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. DFSE is less concentrated, with 23.4% 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 | DFSE | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.41% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $646M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 1,875 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +15.14% | +24.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.11% | +28.14%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.05%Best | +15.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.8% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $20,822Best | $16,173 |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.4%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 1, 2022 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 2, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (3.9 years).
DFSE 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
DFSE vs SCHD Performance
Dimensional Emerging Markets Sustainability Core 1 ETF (DFSE) is an ETF from Dimensional and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year DFSE returned +21.11% while SCHD returned +28.14%. Year to date, DFSE is up 15.14% versus a gain of 24.59% for SCHD.
Over three years, DFSE compounded at +19.05% per year against +15.58% for SCHD. Across the full 4-year window we track, DFSE has the edge at +20.69% annualized vs +13.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFSE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 13.2% 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 -19.8% for DFSE and -16.1% 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFSE charges 0.41% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $41 vs $6 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFSE currently yields 1.86% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings DFSE also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 3,640 positions we hold weights for in DFSE and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 1,875 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for DFSE (99.8% of the fund), and 48 for DFSE that do not appear in SCHD (2.3%).
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 DFSE | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCMoelis & Co | 0.00% | 0.12% | 0.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFSE 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, DFSE or SCHD?
DFSE has an expense ratio of 0.41% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFSE or SCHD?
Over the past year DFSE returned +21.11% vs +28.14% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), DFSE annualized +20.69% vs +13.12% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFSE or SCHD?
DFSE has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 13.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: DFSE -19.8% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both DFSE and SCHD?
DFSE and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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, DFSE or SCHD?
DFSE yields 1.86% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than DFSE?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. DFSE led over 3Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. DFSE is less concentrated, with 23.4% 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.