FGSI vs SCHD
FT Vest Growth Strength & Target Income ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FGSI or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. FGSI is less concentrated, with 23.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | FGSI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.14% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 104 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +7.22% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.51% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.2%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.6% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,083 | $13,143Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.7%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.2 years).
FGSI 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
FGSI vs SCHD Performance
FT Vest Growth Strength & Target Income ETF (FGSI) 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 FGSI returned +4.51% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, FGSI is up 7.22% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 9.2% for FGSI. 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 -8.6% for FGSI 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FGSI charges 0.85% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $6 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FGSI currently yields 8.14% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
6.1% of FGSI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings FGSI also owns.
FGSI and SCHD share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FGSI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 104 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FGSI (96.5% of the fund), and 47 for FGSI that do not appear in SCHD (93.3%).
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 FGSI 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, FGSI or SCHD?
FGSI has an expense ratio of 0.85% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FGSI or SCHD?
Over the past year FGSI returned +4.51% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FGSI annualized +8.95% vs +25.58% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FGSI or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 9.2% for FGSI. Worst drawdown: FGSI -8.6% vs SCHD -4.6%.
Should I hold both FGSI and SCHD?
FGSI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 FGSI and SCHD?
6.1% of FGSI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.4% of SCHD's is in holdings FGSI also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FGSI and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FGSI or SCHD?
FGSI yields 8.14% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so FGSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FGSI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. FGSI is less concentrated, with 23.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.