FTAG vs SCHD
First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FTAG or SCHD?
Agriculture 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 63.4%.
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 | FTAG | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $15M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.30% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 61 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +18.36% | +26.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.63% | +30.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.76% | +16.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.44% | +9.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.2% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -97.5% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,842 | $16,069Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.4% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Agriculture | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 11, 2010 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 8, 2026 (14.9 years).
FTAG 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.
FTAG vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF (FTAG) 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 FTAG returned +17.63% while SCHD returned +30.01%. Year to date, FTAG is up 18.36% versus a gain of 26.13% for SCHD.
Over three years, FTAG compounded at +6.76% per year against +16.09% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +3.44% and +9.95% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.43% annualized vs -16.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTAG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.2% 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 -97.5% for FTAG 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTAG charges 0.70% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $6 annually, a gap of $64 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTAG currently yields 1.30% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 53 holdings in FTAG and 100 in SCHD, totalling 99.9% 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 53 positions we hold weights for in FTAG and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 61 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FTAG (99.7% of the fund), and 13 for FTAG that do not appear in SCHD (34.6%).
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 FTAG 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, FTAG or SCHD?
FTAG has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $64 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTAG or SCHD?
Over the past year FTAG returned +17.63% vs +30.01% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FTAG annualized -16.18% vs +11.43% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTAG or SCHD?
FTAG has been the more volatile fund at 30.2% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FTAG -97.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both FTAG and SCHD?
FTAG and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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, FTAG or SCHD?
FTAG yields 1.30% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FTAG?
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 63.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.