DMA vs SCHD
Destra Multi-Alternative Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, DMA or SCHD?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. DMA led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window.
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 | DMA | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.69% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $80M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 14.02% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 181 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -4.44% | +24.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.44% | +28.14%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.78%Best | +15.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.2% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.9% | -16.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $12,816 | $14,718Best |
| Fund Family | Destra Capital Investment LLC | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 13, 2022 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 13, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (4.7 years).
DMA 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 4.7 years both funds cover.
DMA vs SCHD Performance
Destra Multi-Alternative Fund (DMA) is an ETF from Destra Capital Investment LLC and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year DMA returned +3.44% while SCHD returned +28.14%. Year to date, DMA is down 4.44% versus a gain of 24.59% for SCHD.
Over three years, DMA compounded at +18.78% per year against +15.58% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DMA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.2% compared with 14.8% 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 -38.9% for DMA and -16.7% 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 0.25. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DMA charges 3.69% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $369 vs $6 annually, a gap of $363 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DMA currently yields 14.02% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 8.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings DMA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DMA, our book for it covers 39.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SCHD and DMA share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 243 days apart, DMA as of Dec 31, 2025 and SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in DMA and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 181 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DMA 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, DMA or SCHD?
DMA has an expense ratio of 3.69% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $363 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DMA or SCHD?
Over the past year DMA returned +3.44% vs +28.14% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DMA or SCHD?
DMA has been the more volatile fund at 21.2% annualized versus 14.8% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: DMA -38.9% vs SCHD -16.7%.
Should I hold both DMA and SCHD?
DMA and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.25, 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 DMA and SCHD?
At least 8.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings DMA also owns. Our book for DMA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in DMA and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, DMA or SCHD?
DMA yields 14.02% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so DMA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than DMA?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. DMA led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.