FAI vs SCHD
First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FAI or SCHD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. FAI led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.9%.
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 | FAI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $175M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 108 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +31.84%Best | +28.59% |
| 1Y Return | +48.64%Best | +31.77% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.70% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.9% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.8% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $18,162Best | $12,939 |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.9% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 20, 2024 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2024 to Sep 3, 2026 (1.8 years).
FAI 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
FAI vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF (FAI) 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 FAI returned +48.64% while SCHD returned +31.77%. Year to date, FAI is up 31.84% versus a gain of 28.59% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.9% compared with 13.8% 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 -27.8% for FAI 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 -0.01. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FAI charges 0.65% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $6 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FAI currently yields 0.00% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
1.3% of FAI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 2.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings FAI also owns.
SCHD and FAI share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FAI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 108 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FAI (97.3% of the fund), and 41 for FAI that do not appear in SCHD (85.2%).
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 FAI | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.29% | 2.55% | 1.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FAI 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, FAI or SCHD?
FAI has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FAI or SCHD?
Over the past year FAI returned +48.64% vs +31.77% for SCHD, so FAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FAI annualized +39.31% vs +15.39% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FAI or SCHD?
FAI has been the more volatile fund at 30.9% annualized versus 13.8% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FAI -27.8% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both FAI and SCHD?
FAI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of -0.01, 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 FAI and SCHD?
2.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings FAI also owns. 2.5% of SCHD's is in holdings FAI also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FAI and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FAI or SCHD?
FAI yields 0.00% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FAI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. FAI led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.