FAS vs SCHD
Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FAS or SCHD?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. FAS led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.5%.
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 | FAS | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.88% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.82% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 88 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +1.19% | +25.84%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.63% | +30.18%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +40.78%Best | +16.08% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.45%Best | +9.97% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 50.7% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -86.0% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,437Best | $16,083 |
| Top 10 Weight | 65.5% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 6, 2008 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 15, 2026 (14.9 years).
FAS 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.
FAS vs SCHD Performance
Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X ETF (FAS) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year FAS returned +5.63% while SCHD returned +30.18%. Year to date, FAS is up 1.19% versus a gain of 25.84% for SCHD.
Over three years, FAS compounded at +40.78% per year against +16.08% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +10.45% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, FAS has the edge at +27.67% annualized vs +11.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FAS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 50.7% 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 -86.0% for FAS 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FAS charges 0.88% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $88 vs $6 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FAS currently yields 7.82% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
2.5% of FAS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 7.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings FAS also owns.
SCHD and FAS share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 79 positions we hold weights for in FAS and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 88 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 91 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FAS (92.9% of the fund), and 69 for FAS that do not appear in SCHD (99.0%).
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 FAS | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BXBlackstone Group Inc. Class A | 0.90% | 2.59% | 1.69% |
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 0.42% | 1.19% | 0.77% |
| ARESAres Management Corp A | 0.26% | 0.74% | 0.48% |
| CINFCincinnati Financial Corp. | 0.23% | 0.64% | 0.41% |
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 0.22% | 0.62% | 0.40% |
| TROWT Rowe Price Grp | 0.21% | 0.58% | 0.37% |
| PFGPrincipalfinancialgroupinc. | 0.19% | 0.53% | 0.34% |
| ERIEErie Indemnity-a | 0.06% | 0.16% | 0.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FAS 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, FAS or SCHD?
FAS has an expense ratio of 0.88% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FAS or SCHD?
Over the past year FAS returned +5.63% vs +30.18% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FAS annualized +27.67% vs +11.40% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FAS or SCHD?
FAS has been the more volatile fund at 50.7% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FAS -86.0% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both FAS and SCHD?
FAS and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 FAS and SCHD?
7.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings FAS also owns. 7.0% of SCHD's is in holdings FAS also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 79 positions we hold weights for in FAS and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FAS or SCHD?
FAS yields 7.82% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so FAS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FAS?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. FAS led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.