DON vs SCHD
WisdomTree US MidCap Dividend Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, DON or SCHD?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DON is less concentrated, with 11.8% 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 | DON | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $4.0B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.32% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 297 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +8.30% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.93% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.47% | +15.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.98% | +10.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.9% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,372 | $16,223Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.8%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | 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 18, 2026 (14.9 years).
DON 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.
DON vs SCHD Performance
WisdomTree US MidCap Dividend Fund (DON) 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 DON returned +7.93% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, DON is up 8.30% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, DON compounded at +12.47% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +8.98% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs +9.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DON has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 13.7% 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 -46.9% for DON 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DON charges 0.38% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $6 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DON currently yields 2.32% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
12.9% of DON's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings DON also owns.
DON and SCHD share little of their money.
21 positions in common, counted across the 291 positions we hold weights for in DON and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 297 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 78 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for DON (95.3% of the fund), and 264 for DON that do not appear in SCHD (84.2%).
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 DON | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 1.41% | 0.38% | 1.03% |
| APAApa Corp | 1.29% | 0.37% | 0.92% |
| DINOHF Sinclair Corp | 1.22% | 0.38% | 0.84% |
| SNASnap-On Inc. | 0.88% | 0.49% | 0.39% |
| AFGAmerican Financial Group Inc/Oh | 0.97% | 0.24% | 0.73% |
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.56% | 0.42% | 0.14% |
| SWKSSkyworks Solutions Inc. | 0.69% | 0.25% | 0.44% |
| FNFFidelity Nationa | 0.64% | 0.29% | 0.35% |
| COLBColumbia Banking System Inc Common Stock | 0.66% | 0.21% | 0.45% |
| PAGPenske Automotive Group Inc | 0.73% | 0.10% | 0.63% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DON 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, DON or SCHD?
DON has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DON or SCHD?
Over the past year DON returned +7.93% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), DON annualized +9.55% vs +11.25% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DON or SCHD?
DON has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: DON -46.9% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both DON and SCHD?
DON and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 DON and SCHD?
12.9% of DON's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.7% of SCHD's is in holdings DON also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 291 positions we hold weights for in DON and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, DON or SCHD?
DON yields 2.32% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than DON?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DON is less concentrated, with 11.8% 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.