ESSC vs SCHD
Eventide Small Cap ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, ESSC or SCHD?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y. ESSC is less concentrated, with 7.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | ESSC | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $37M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.41% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 373 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +16.94% | +26.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.18% | +30.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5% | 13.0%Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.4%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Eventide | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
ESSC 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
ESSC vs SCHD Performance
Eventide Small Cap ETF (ESSC) is an ETF from Eventide and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year ESSC returned +21.18% while SCHD returned +30.01%. Year to date, ESSC is up 16.94% versus a gain of 26.13% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ESSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.5% compared with 13.0% for SCHD. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.16. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESSC charges 0.49% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $6 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESSC currently yields 0.41% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
1.5% of ESSC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings ESSC also owns.
ESSC and SCHD share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 373 positions we hold weights for in ESSC and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 373 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for ESSC (98.4% of the fund), and 349 for ESSC that do not appear in SCHD (97.2%).
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 ESSC | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFRegions Financial Corp | 0.11% | 0.67% | 0.56% |
| SWKSSkyworks Solutions Inccommon Stock | 0.18% | 0.27% | 0.09% |
| CVBFCvb Financial Corp | 0.34% | 0.09% | 0.25% |
| MSMMsc Industrial Direct Co Inc | 0.29% | 0.14% | 0.15% |
| CPFCentral Pacific Financial Corp | 0.35% | 0.03% | 0.32% |
| CWENClearway Energy Inc Cl C | 0.19% | 0.10% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ESSC 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, ESSC or SCHD?
ESSC has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESSC or SCHD?
Over the past year ESSC returned +21.18% vs +30.01% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESSC or SCHD?
ESSC has been the more volatile fund at 14.5% annualized versus 13.0% for SCHD.
Should I hold both ESSC and SCHD?
ESSC and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.16, 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 ESSC and SCHD?
1.5% of ESSC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.3% of SCHD's is in holdings ESSC also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 373 positions we hold weights for in ESSC and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESSC or SCHD?
ESSC yields 0.41% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than ESSC?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y. ESSC is less concentrated, with 7.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.