EPEM vs SCHD
Harbor Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, EPEM or SCHD?
EPEM has been ahead.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. EPEM led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%.
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 | EPEM | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.85% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 44 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +28.82%Best | +23.60% |
| 1Y Return | +39.47%Best | +28.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.25% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.3% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $15,979Best | $13,474 |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.3% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 4, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 5, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.3 years).
EPEM 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
EPEM vs SCHD Performance
Harbor Emerging Markets Equity ETF (EPEM) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year EPEM returned +39.47% while SCHD returned +28.29%. Year to date, EPEM is up 28.82% versus a gain of 23.60% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 13.1% 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 -13.3% for EPEM and -4.6% 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 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPEM charges 0.84% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $6 annually, a gap of $78 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPEM currently yields 2.85% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 42 holdings in EPEM and 100 in SCHD, totalling 96.2% 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 42 positions we hold weights for in EPEM and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 44 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for EPEM (99.9% of the fund), and 3 for EPEM that do not appear in SCHD (4.5%).
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 EPEM 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, EPEM or SCHD?
EPEM has an expense ratio of 0.84% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $78 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPEM or SCHD?
Over the past year EPEM returned +39.47% vs +28.29% for SCHD, so EPEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EPEM annualized +43.41% vs +25.78% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPEM or SCHD?
EPEM has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 13.1% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: EPEM -13.3% vs SCHD -4.6%.
Should I hold both EPEM and SCHD?
EPEM and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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, EPEM or SCHD?
EPEM yields 2.85% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than EPEM?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. EPEM led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.