EMDM vs SCHD
First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, EMDM or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. EMDM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.8%.
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 | EMDM | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $40M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.89% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 107 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +35.22%Best | +27.56% |
| 1Y Return | +73.19%Best | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +32.81%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.5 years | $23,994Best | $15,688 |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.8% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 2, 2023 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 3, 2023 to Sep 4, 2026 (3.5 years).
EMDM 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 3.5 years both funds cover.
EMDM vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ETF (EMDM) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year EMDM returned +73.19% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, EMDM is up 35.22% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, EMDM compounded at +32.81% per year against +16.37% for SCHD. Across the full 4-year window we track, EMDM has the edge at +28.41% annualized vs +13.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMDM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 13.2% 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 -18.8% for EMDM and -16.1% 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMDM charges 0.75% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $6 annually, a gap of $69 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMDM currently yields 2.89% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in EMDM and 100 in SCHD, totalling 99.5% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in EMDM and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 107 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for EMDM (99.7% of the fund), and 7 for EMDM that do not appear in SCHD (16.4%).
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 EMDM 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, EMDM or SCHD?
EMDM has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $69 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMDM or SCHD?
Over the past year EMDM returned +73.19% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so EMDM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), EMDM annualized +28.41% vs +13.73% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMDM or SCHD?
EMDM has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 13.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: EMDM -18.8% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both EMDM and SCHD?
EMDM and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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, EMDM or SCHD?
EMDM yields 2.89% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than EMDM?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. EMDM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.