GOVT vs SCHD
iShares US Treasury Bond ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, GOVT or SCHD?
SCHD has been ahead.
GOVT has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 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 | GOVT | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.06% |
| AUM | $41.5B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.65% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 211 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -3.87% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.44% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.26% | +15.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.66% | +10.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.5%Best | 13.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.4%Best | -33.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,197 | $16,223Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 14, 2012 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2012 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.6 years).
GOVT 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
GOVT vs SCHD Performance
iShares US Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year GOVT returned -3.44% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, GOVT is down 3.87% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, GOVT compounded at +2.26% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -1.66% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.84% annualized vs +0.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 4.5% for GOVT. 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 -23.4% for GOVT 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 0.03. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GOVT charges 0.05% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $6 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GOVT currently yields 3.65% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 172 holdings in GOVT and 100 in SCHD, totalling 81.4% 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 172 positions we hold weights for in GOVT and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 211 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GOVT 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, GOVT or SCHD?
GOVT has an expense ratio of 0.05% while SCHD charges 0.06%. GOVT is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GOVT or SCHD?
Over the past year GOVT returned -3.44% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), GOVT annualized +0.92% vs +10.84% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GOVT or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 4.5% for GOVT. Worst drawdown: GOVT -23.4% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both GOVT and SCHD?
GOVT and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.03, 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, GOVT or SCHD?
GOVT yields 3.65% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so GOVT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than GOVT?
GOVT has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.