FVD vs SCHD
First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FVD or SCHD?
SCHD has been ahead.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. FVD is less concentrated, with 4.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | FVD | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.62% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $8.2B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.23% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 498 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +9.77% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.92% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.67% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.47% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0%Best | 13.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.3% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,682 | $16,274Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 4.5%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 19, 2003 | 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).
FVD 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.
FVD vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund (FVD) 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 FVD returned +10.92% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, FVD is up 9.77% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, FVD compounded at +11.67% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +6.47% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +9.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.6% compared with 12.0% for FVD. 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 -35.3% for FVD 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FVD charges 0.62% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $62 vs $6 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FVD currently yields 2.23% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
12.2% of FVD's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 59.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings FVD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
30 positions in common, counted across the 247 positions we hold weights for in FVD and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 498 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 69 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FVD (40.2% of the fund), and 182 for FVD that do not appear in SCHD (73.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FVD | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.41% | 4.70% | 4.29% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.44% | 4.62% | 4.18% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.42% | 4.32% | 3.90% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.39% | 4.26% | 3.87% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.41% | 4.20% | 3.79% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.40% | 3.96% | 3.56% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.39% | 3.84% | 3.45% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.39% | 3.74% | 3.35% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.40% | 3.71% | 3.31% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.41% | 3.31% | 2.90% |
59.7% of SCHD is already inside FVD.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FVD or SCHD?
FVD has an expense ratio of 0.62% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FVD or SCHD?
Over the past year FVD returned +10.92% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FVD annualized +9.19% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FVD or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 12.0% for FVD. Worst drawdown: FVD -35.3% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both FVD and SCHD?
FVD and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between FVD and SCHD?
59.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings FVD also owns. 59.7% of SCHD's is in holdings FVD also owns. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 247 positions we hold weights for in FVD and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FVD or SCHD?
FVD yields 2.23% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FVD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. FVD is less concentrated, with 4.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.