FTKI vs SCHD
First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FTKI or SCHD?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. FTKI is less concentrated, with 20.8% 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 | FTKI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.86% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.26% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 300 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +12.18% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.81% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.4%Best | 14.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.2% | -14.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $11,848 | $12,715Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.8%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 26, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.6 years).
FTKI 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
FTKI vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF (FTKI) 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 FTKI returned +16.81% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, FTKI is up 12.18% 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 14.0% compared with 10.4% for FTKI. 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 -15.2% for FTKI and -14.0% 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTKI charges 0.86% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $86 vs $6 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTKI currently yields 12.26% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
2.6% of FTKI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings FTKI also owns.
FTKI and SCHD share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 144 positions we hold weights for in FTKI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 300 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FTKI (99.6% of the fund), and 116 for FTKI that do not appear in SCHD (79.9%).
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 FTKI 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, FTKI or SCHD?
FTKI has an expense ratio of 0.86% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTKI or SCHD?
Over the past year FTKI returned +16.81% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FTKI annualized +11.18% vs +16.20% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTKI or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.0% annualized versus 10.4% for FTKI. Worst drawdown: FTKI -15.2% vs SCHD -14.0%.
Should I hold both FTKI and SCHD?
FTKI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 FTKI and SCHD?
2.6% of FTKI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.3% of SCHD's is in holdings FTKI also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 144 positions we hold weights for in FTKI and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTKI or SCHD?
FTKI yields 12.26% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so FTKI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FTKI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. FTKI is less concentrated, with 20.8% 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.