FRI vs SCHD
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FRI or SCHD?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%.
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 | FRI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $198M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.40% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 254 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +15.19% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.26% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.92% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.60% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.7% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.2% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,934 | $16,274Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.7% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 8, 2007 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
FRI 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
FRI vs SCHD Performance
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI) 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 FRI returned +15.26% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, FRI is up 15.19% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, FRI compounded at +11.92% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +3.60% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +6.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FRI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% 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 -44.2% for FRI 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FRI charges 0.50% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $6 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FRI currently yields 2.40% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 126 holdings in FRI and 100 in SCHD, totalling 96.1% and 100.0% 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 126 positions we hold weights for in FRI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 254 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FRI (99.9% of the fund), and 125 for FRI that do not appear in SCHD (96.1%).
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 FRI 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, FRI or SCHD?
FRI has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FRI or SCHD?
Over the past year FRI returned +15.26% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FRI annualized +6.46% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FRI or SCHD?
FRI has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FRI -44.2% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both FRI and SCHD?
FRI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, FRI or SCHD?
FRI yields 2.40% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FRI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.