GAL vs SCHD
State Street Global Allocation ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, GAL or SCHD?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 88.8%.
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 | GAL | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $317M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.22% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 19 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +9.29% | +23.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.42% | +28.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.75% | +16.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.19% | +10.25%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.0%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.3%Best | -33.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,150 | $16,289Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 88.8% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 25, 2012 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2012 to Sep 21, 2026 (14.4 years).
GAL 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 14.4 years both funds cover.
GAL vs SCHD Performance
State Street Global Allocation ETF (GAL) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year GAL returned +12.42% while SCHD returned +28.29%. Year to date, GAL is up 9.29% versus a gain of 23.60% for SCHD.
Over three years, GAL compounded at +14.75% per year against +16.25% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +7.19% and +10.25% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.83% annualized vs +5.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 10.0% for GAL. 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 -28.3% for GAL 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GAL charges 0.35% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $6 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAL currently yields 3.22% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 17 holdings in GAL and 100 in SCHD, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 17 positions we hold weights for in GAL and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 19 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for GAL (99.9% of the fund), and 17 for GAL that do not appear in SCHD (99.9%).
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 GAL 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, GAL or SCHD?
GAL has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GAL or SCHD?
Over the past year GAL returned +12.42% vs +28.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), GAL annualized +5.60% vs +10.83% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GAL or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 10.0% for GAL. Worst drawdown: GAL -28.3% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both GAL and SCHD?
GAL and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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, GAL or SCHD?
GAL yields 3.22% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so GAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than GAL?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 88.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.