FXA vs SCHD
Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FXA or SCHD?
Single Currency against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | FXA | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $96M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.02% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 3 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +7.14% | +24.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.09% | +27.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.72% | +15.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.41% | +9.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.9%Best | 13.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.8% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,207 | $16,083Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Single Currency | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 21, 2006 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 17, 2026 (14.9 years).
FXA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
FXA vs SCHD Performance
Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust (FXA) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year FXA returned +8.09% while SCHD returned +27.90%. Year to date, FXA is up 7.14% versus a gain of 24.23% for SCHD.
Over three years, FXA compounded at +4.72% per year against +15.55% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +0.41% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.30% annualized vs -2.20%.
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 9.9% for FXA. 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 -46.8% for FXA 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FXA charges 0.40% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $6 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FXA currently yields 1.02% against 3.00% for SCHD.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FXA 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, FXA or SCHD?
FXA has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FXA or SCHD?
Over the past year FXA returned +8.09% vs +27.90% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FXA annualized -2.20% vs +11.30% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FXA or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 9.9% for FXA. Worst drawdown: FXA -46.8% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both FXA and SCHD?
FXA and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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, FXA or SCHD?
FXA yields 1.02% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FXA?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.