ECF vs SCHD
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, ECF or SCHD?
Convertibles against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. ECF led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y 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 | ECF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.16% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $220M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.82% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 99 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +4.13% | +24.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.36% | +27.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.04%Best | +15.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.37% | +9.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.3% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,802 | $16,083Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 30, 1986 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 17, 2026 (14.9 years).
ECF 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.
ECF vs SCHD Performance
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year ECF returned +5.36% while SCHD returned +27.90%. Year to date, ECF is up 4.13% versus a gain of 24.23% for SCHD.
Over three years, ECF compounded at +19.04% per year against +15.55% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +3.37% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.30% annualized vs +10.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ECF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% 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 -47.3% for ECF 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECF charges 1.16% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $116 vs $6 annually, a gap of $110 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECF currently yields 3.82% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 4.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings ECF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ECF, our book for it covers 63.6% 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 ECF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, ECF as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 99 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ECF | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.47% | 3.97% | 2.50% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ECF 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, ECF or SCHD?
ECF has an expense ratio of 1.16% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $110 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECF or SCHD?
Over the past year ECF returned +5.36% vs +27.90% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), ECF annualized +10.65% vs +11.30% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ECF or SCHD?
ECF has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: ECF -47.3% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both ECF and SCHD?
ECF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 ECF and SCHD?
At least 4.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings ECF also owns. Our book for ECF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, ECF or SCHD?
ECF yields 3.82% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so ECF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than ECF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. ECF led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.