FMTL vs SCHD
First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FMTL or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.5%.
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 | FMTL | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $32M | $119.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.71% | 2.96% |
| Holdings | 108 | 204 |
| YTD Return | +11.63% | +33.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +27.89% | +37.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.32% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 39.2% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.4% | -6.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $13,592 | $13,958Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.5% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 4, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 5, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1 years).
FMTL 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 years both funds cover.
FMTL vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF (FMTL) 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 FMTL returned +27.89% while SCHD returned +37.17%. Year to date, FMTL is up 11.63% versus a gain of 33.09% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FMTL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 39.2% compared with 16.6% 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 -22.4% for FMTL and -6.9% 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FMTL 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, FMTL currently yields 1.71% against 2.96% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 47 holdings in FMTL and 98 in SCHD, totalling 99.3% and 99.8% 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 47 positions we hold weights for in FMTL and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 108 and 204.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FMTL (99.8% of the fund), and 12 for FMTL that do not appear in SCHD (22.7%).
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 FMTL 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, FMTL or SCHD?
FMTL 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, FMTL or SCHD?
Over the past year FMTL returned +27.89% vs +37.17% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FMTL annualized +35.92% vs +39.58% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FMTL or SCHD?
FMTL has been the more volatile fund at 39.2% annualized versus 16.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FMTL -22.4% vs SCHD -6.9%.
Should I hold both FMTL and SCHD?
FMTL and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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, FMTL or SCHD?
FMTL yields 1.71% while SCHD yields 2.96%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FMTL?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.