FWD vs SCHD
AB Disruptors ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FWD or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. FWD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FWD is less concentrated, with 24.8% 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 | FWD | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $3.2B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 125 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +20.52% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +38.47%Best | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.68%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.0% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -29.0% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.5 years | $26,762Best | $16,842 |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.8%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | AllianceBernstein L.P. | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 22, 2023 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2023 to Sep 4, 2026 (3.5 years).
FWD 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 3.5 years both funds cover.
FWD vs SCHD Performance
AB Disruptors ETF (FWD) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P. and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year FWD returned +38.47% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, FWD is up 20.52% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, FWD compounded at +31.68% per year against +16.37% for SCHD. Across the full 4-year window we track, FWD has the edge at +32.48% annualized vs +16.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FWD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.0% compared with 13.2% 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 -29.0% for FWD and -16.1% 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 0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FWD 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, FWD currently yields 0.09% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
3.7% of FWD's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 15.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings FWD also owns.
SCHD and FWD share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 106 positions we hold weights for in FWD and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 125 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FWD (84.3% of the fund), and 74 for FWD that do not appear in SCHD (69.8%).
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 FWD 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, FWD or SCHD?
FWD 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, FWD or SCHD?
Over the past year FWD returned +38.47% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so FWD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), FWD annualized +32.48% vs +16.06% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FWD or SCHD?
FWD has been the more volatile fund at 24.0% annualized versus 13.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FWD -29.0% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both FWD and SCHD?
FWD and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.29, 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 FWD and SCHD?
15.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings FWD also owns. 15.6% of SCHD's is in holdings FWD also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 106 positions we hold weights for in FWD and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FWD or SCHD?
FWD yields 0.09% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FWD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. FWD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FWD is less concentrated, with 24.8% 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.