DIVS vs SCHD
Guinness Atkinson Dividend Builder ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, DIVS or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. DIVS led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. DIVS is less concentrated, with 33.7% 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 | DIVS | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $40M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.58% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 37 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +9.40% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.72% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.41% | +15.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.75% | +10.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -20.7% | -16.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,923 | $16,223Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.7%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | SmartETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 30, 2012 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 29, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5.5 years).
DIVS 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 5.5 years both funds cover.
DIVS vs SCHD Performance
Guinness Atkinson Dividend Builder ETF (DIVS) is an ETF from SmartETFs and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year DIVS returned +10.72% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, DIVS is up 9.40% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, DIVS compounded at +13.41% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +9.75% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, DIVS has the edge at +10.27% annualized vs +9.63%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 12.9% for DIVS. 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 -20.7% for DIVS and -16.9% 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIVS 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, DIVS currently yields 2.58% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
14.8% of DIVS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 15.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings DIVS also owns.
SCHD and DIVS share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in DIVS and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 37 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for DIVS (84.2% of the fund), and 15 for DIVS that do not appear in SCHD (43.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DIVS 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, DIVS or SCHD?
DIVS 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, DIVS or SCHD?
Over the past year DIVS returned +10.72% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), DIVS annualized +10.27% vs +9.63% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DIVS or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 12.9% for DIVS. Worst drawdown: DIVS -20.7% vs SCHD -16.9%.
Should I hold both DIVS and SCHD?
DIVS and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 DIVS and SCHD?
15.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings DIVS also owns. 15.8% of SCHD's is in holdings DIVS also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in DIVS and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, DIVS or SCHD?
DIVS yields 2.58% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than DIVS?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. DIVS led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. DIVS is less concentrated, with 33.7% 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.