GF vs SCHD
New Germany Fund Inc. vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, GF or SCHD?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GF is less concentrated, with 37.2% 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 | GF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.10% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $213M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.27% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 53 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -0.35% | +26.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.05% | +30.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.01% | +16.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.36% | +9.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.1% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -61.0% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,002 | $16,069Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.2%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | DWS ETF Trust | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 30, 1990 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 8, 2026 (14.9 years).
GF 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.
GF vs SCHD Performance
New Germany Fund Inc. (GF) is an ETF from DWS ETF Trust and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year GF returned +0.05% while SCHD returned +30.01%. Year to date, GF is down 0.35% versus a gain of 26.13% for SCHD.
Over three years, GF compounded at +11.01% per year against +16.09% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -4.36% and +9.95% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.43% annualized vs +1.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.1% 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 -61.0% for GF 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GF charges 1.10% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $110 vs $6 annually, a gap of $104 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GF currently yields 2.27% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in GF and 100 in SCHD, totalling 98.8% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 189 days apart, GF as of Jan 30, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in GF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 53 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for GF (99.7% of the fund), and 2 for GF that do not appear in SCHD (3.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GF 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, GF or SCHD?
GF has an expense ratio of 1.10% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $104 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GF or SCHD?
Over the past year GF returned +0.05% vs +30.01% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), GF annualized +1.85% vs +11.43% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GF or SCHD?
GF has been the more volatile fund at 23.1% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: GF -61.0% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both GF and SCHD?
GF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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, GF or SCHD?
GF yields 2.27% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than GF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GF is less concentrated, with 37.2% 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.