FYX vs SCHD
First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FYX or SCHD?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. FYX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FYX is less concentrated, with 4.8% 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 | FYX | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.90% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 1,052 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +23.37% | +24.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +31.41%Best | +28.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.41%Best | +15.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.11%Best | +9.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.7% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,186Best | $16,003 |
| Top 10 Weight | 4.8%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 8, 2007 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 9, 2026 (14.9 years).
FYX 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.
FYX vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (FYX) 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 FYX returned +31.41% while SCHD returned +28.75%. Year to date, FYX is up 23.37% versus a gain of 24.96% for SCHD.
Over three years, FYX compounded at +20.41% per year against +15.71% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +10.11% and +9.86% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, FYX has the edge at +11.97% annualized vs +11.36%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FYX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% 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 -49.7% for FYX 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FYX charges 0.58% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $6 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FYX currently yields 0.90% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
3.5% of FYX's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings FYX also owns.
FYX and SCHD share little of their money.
18 positions in common, counted across the 508 positions we hold weights for in FYX and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 1,052 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 82 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FYX (99.1% of the fund), and 478 for FYX that do not appear in SCHD (90.6%).
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 FYX | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFYKorn Ferry International | 0.41% | 0.11% | 0.30% |
| VRTSVirtus Investment Partners Inc | 0.37% | 0.03% | 0.34% |
| BANRBanner Corp_None_0 | 0.27% | 0.06% | 0.21% |
| OFG:PROfg Bancorp Common Stock | 0.27% | 0.05% | 0.22% |
| BKEBuckle Inc | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.23% |
| WUWestern Union | 0.24% | 0.05% | 0.19% |
| FLOFlowers Foods Inc | 0.22% | 0.04% | 0.18% |
| AGMFederal Agricultural Mortgage Corp | 0.21% | 0.05% | 0.16% |
| GABCGerman American Bancorp Inc Common Stock | 0.20% | 0.05% | 0.15% |
| SRCE1st Source Corp Common Stock | 0.20% | 0.04% | 0.16% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FYX 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, FYX or SCHD?
FYX has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FYX or SCHD?
Over the past year FYX returned +31.41% vs +28.75% for SCHD, so FYX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FYX annualized +11.97% vs +11.36% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FYX or SCHD?
FYX has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FYX -49.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both FYX and SCHD?
FYX and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 FYX and SCHD?
3.5% of FYX's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.9% of SCHD's is in holdings FYX also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 508 positions we hold weights for in FYX and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FYX or SCHD?
FYX yields 0.90% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FYX?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. FYX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FYX is less concentrated, with 4.8% 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.