FYT vs SCHD
First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FYT or SCHD?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FYT is less concentrated, with 8.3% 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 | FYT | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $198M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.43% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 526 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +27.58%Best | +27.56% |
| 1Y Return | +29.35% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.78% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.13% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.1% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.7% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,478 | $16,274Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.3%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2011 | 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).
FYT 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.
FYT vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (FYT) 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 FYT returned +29.35% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, FYT is up 27.58% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, FYT compounded at +15.78% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +9.13% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +10.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FYT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.1% 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 -51.7% for FYT 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FYT 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, FYT currently yields 1.43% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
5.0% of FYT's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings FYT also owns.
FYT and SCHD share little of their money.
15 positions in common, counted across the 260 positions we hold weights for in FYT and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 526 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 85 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FYT (99.1% of the fund), and 236 for FYT that do not appear in SCHD (90.3%).
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 FYT | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.61% | 0.11% | 0.50% |
| VRTSVirtus Investment Partners Inc | 0.68% | 0.03% | 0.65% |
| WUWestern Union | 0.46% | 0.06% | 0.40% |
| FLOFlowers Foods Inc | 0.45% | 0.04% | 0.41% |
| OFG:PROfg Bancorp Common Stock | 0.39% | 0.06% | 0.33% |
| BANRBanner Corp_None_0 | 0.38% | 0.06% | 0.32% |
| BKEBuckle Inc/the | 0.38% | 0.04% | 0.34% |
| WENWendy's Co/the | 0.34% | 0.03% | 0.31% |
| SRCE1st Source Corp Common Stock | 0.27% | 0.04% | 0.23% |
| GABCGerman American Bancorp Inc Common Stock | 0.26% | 0.05% | 0.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FYT 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, FYT or SCHD?
FYT 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, FYT or SCHD?
Over the past year FYT returned +29.35% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FYT annualized +10.50% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FYT or SCHD?
FYT has been the more volatile fund at 22.1% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FYT -51.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both FYT and SCHD?
FYT and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 FYT and SCHD?
5.0% of FYT's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.8% of SCHD's is in holdings FYT also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 260 positions we hold weights for in FYT and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FYT or SCHD?
FYT yields 1.43% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FYT?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FYT is less concentrated, with 8.3% 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.