DLS vs SCHD
WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, DLS or SCHD?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. DLS led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. DLS is less concentrated, with 5.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | DLS | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.50% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 1,014 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +12.78% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.90% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.10%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.07% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.4% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,071 | $16,274Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.6%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2006 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
DLS 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.
DLS vs SCHD Performance
WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend Fund (DLS) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year DLS returned +18.90% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, DLS is up 12.78% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, DLS compounded at +19.10% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +7.07% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +6.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DLS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 13.6% 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 -48.4% for DLS 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DLS charges 0.58% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $6 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DLS currently yields 3.50% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of DLS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings DLS 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 1,005 positions we hold weights for in DLS and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 1,014 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for DLS (99.6% of the fund), and 12 for DLS that do not appear in SCHD (1.5%).
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 DLS | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPARInter Parfums Inc | 0.19% | 0.06% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DLS 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, DLS or SCHD?
DLS has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DLS or SCHD?
Over the past year DLS returned +18.90% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), DLS annualized +6.30% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DLS or SCHD?
DLS has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: DLS -48.4% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both DLS and SCHD?
DLS and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, DLS or SCHD?
DLS yields 3.50% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so DLS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than DLS?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. DLS led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. DLS is less concentrated, with 5.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.