GCV vs SCHD

GCV vs SCHD

Which is better, GCV or SCHD?

Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Value.

SCHD has a lower expense ratio. GCV led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SCHDHigher Returns: split

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

MetricGCVSCHD
Expense Ratio3.20%0.06%Best
AUM$93M$112.1B
Dividend Yield10.61%3.00%
Holdings124103
YTD Return+12.80%+25.84%Best
1Y Return+19.15%+30.18%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+18.98%Best+16.08%
5Y Return (annualized)+3.72%+9.97%Best
Volatility (annualized)17.2%13.6%Best
Max Drawdown-50.5%-33.4%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$12,004$16,083Best
Fund FamilyGabelli FundsCharles Schwab Asset Management
CategoryAllocation/BalancedEquity
StyleEquity-oriented BalancedLarge Cap Value
InceptionMar 31, 1995Oct 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 15, 2026 (14.9 years).

GCV 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.

GCV vs SCHD Performance

Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund (GCV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year GCV returned +19.15% while SCHD returned +30.18%. Year to date, GCV is up 12.80% versus a gain of 25.84% for SCHD.

Over three years, GCV compounded at +18.98% per year against +16.08% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +3.72% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.40% annualized vs +3.01%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

GCV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% 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 -50.5% for GCV 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

GCV charges 3.20% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $320 vs $6 annually, a gap of $314 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCV currently yields 10.61% against 3.00% for SCHD.

Holdings Overlap

SCHD already in GCV4.8%

At least 4.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings GCV also owns.

Stated as a floor: for GCV, our book for it covers 50.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

SCHD and GCV share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, GCV as of Mar 31, 2026 and SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

1 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 124 and 103.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in GCVWeight in SCHDDifference
MRKMerck & Company Inc0.12%4.77%4.65%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of GCV and SCHD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

GCVSCHD

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GCV or SCHD?

GCV has an expense ratio of 3.20% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $314 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, GCV or SCHD?

Over the past year GCV returned +19.15% vs +30.18% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), GCV annualized +3.01% vs +11.40% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, GCV or SCHD?

GCV has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: GCV -50.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.

Should I hold both GCV and SCHD?

GCV and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 GCV and SCHD?

At least 4.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings GCV also owns. Our book for GCV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 100 in SCHD.

Which pays a higher dividend, GCV or SCHD?

GCV yields 10.61% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so GCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SCHD better than GCV?

SCHD has a lower expense ratio. GCV led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.