GDV vs SCHD
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, GDV or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. GDV led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 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 | GDV | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.30% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $3.5B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.23% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 715 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +13.15% | +28.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.60% | +31.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.65%Best | +16.70% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.59% | +10.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.1% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,099 | $16,171Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2003 | 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 3, 2026 (14.9 years).
GDV 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.
GDV vs SCHD Performance
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV) 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 GDV returned +19.60% while SCHD returned +31.77%. Year to date, GDV is up 13.15% versus a gain of 28.59% for SCHD.
Over three years, GDV compounded at +20.65% per year against +16.70% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +8.59% and +10.09% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.59% annualized vs +7.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% 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 -58.1% for GDV 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDV charges 1.30% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $130 vs $6 annually, a gap of $124 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDV currently yields 5.23% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 69.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings GDV also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for GDV, our book for it lists positions totalling 110.5% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 129 days apart, GDV as of Mar 31, 2026 and SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
34 positions in common, counted across the 679 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 715 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GDV | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.59% | 4.20% | 3.61% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.08% | 4.70% | 4.62% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.52% | 4.26% | 3.74% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.02% | 4.62% | 4.60% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 0.95% | 3.59% | 2.64% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.07% | 4.32% | 4.25% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.61% | 3.74% | 3.13% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.80% | 3.53% | 2.73% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.34% | 3.96% | 3.62% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.38% | 3.84% | 3.46% |
69.6% of SCHD is already inside GDV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GDV or SCHD?
GDV has an expense ratio of 1.30% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $124 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDV or SCHD?
Over the past year GDV returned +19.60% vs +31.77% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), GDV annualized +7.53% vs +11.59% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDV or SCHD?
GDV has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: GDV -58.1% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both GDV and SCHD?
GDV and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 GDV and SCHD?
At least 69.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings GDV also owns. Our book for GDV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 34 positions in common, counted across the 679 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDV or SCHD?
GDV yields 5.23% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so GDV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than GDV?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. GDV 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.