DMCY vs SCHD
Democracy International Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, DMCY or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.1%.
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 | DMCY | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.94% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 5 | 103 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.6% | -16.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.9 years | $14,521 | $15,357Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.1% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Democracy Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2021 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 208 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. DMCY has data through Feb 13, 2026 and SCHD through Sep 9, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 1, 2021 to Feb 13, 2026 (4.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 14.7% for DMCY. 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 -28.6% for DMCY 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DMCY charges 0.50% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $6 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DMCY currently yields 2.94% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 198 holdings in DMCY and 100 in SCHD, totalling 100.6% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 335 days apart, DMCY as of Sep 30, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 198 positions we hold weights for in DMCY and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 5 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for DMCY (99.9% of the fund), and 23 for DMCY that do not appear in SCHD (51.4%).
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 DMCY 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, DMCY or SCHD?
DMCY has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, DMCY or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 14.7% for DMCY. Worst drawdown: DMCY -28.6% vs SCHD -16.9%.
Should I hold both DMCY and SCHD?
DMCY and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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, DMCY or SCHD?
DMCY yields 2.94% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than DMCY?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.