GUG vs SCHD
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, GUG or SCHD?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | GUG | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.22% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $542M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.71% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 1,262 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +7.02% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.54% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.58% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.8% | -16.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $11,949 | $15,760Best |
| Fund Family | Guggenheim Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2021 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 24, 2021 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.8 years).
GUG 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
GUG vs SCHD Performance
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund (GUG) is an ETF from Guggenheim Investments and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year GUG returned +4.54% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, GUG is up 7.02% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, GUG compounded at +13.58% per year against +16.37% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GUG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 14.9% 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 -32.8% for GUG and -16.9% 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUG charges 2.22% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $222 vs $6 annually, a gap of $216 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUG currently yields 8.71% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 5.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings GUG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GUG, our book for it covers 62.0% 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 GUG share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 250 days apart, GUG as of Nov 30, 2025 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.
10 positions in common, counted across the 777 positions we hold weights for in GUG and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 1,262 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GUG | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TGTTarget Corp-1477 | 0.02% | 1.70% | 1.68% |
| FFord Motor Co | 0.04% | 1.37% | 1.33% |
| TROWT Rowe Price Grp | 0.07% | 0.61% | 0.54% |
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 0.04% | 0.40% | 0.36% |
| SWKSSkyworks Solutions Inc. | 0.06% | 0.27% | 0.21% |
| COLBColumbia Banking System Inc Common Stock | 0.00% | 0.23% | 0.23% |
| MMacy'S Inc. | 0.01% | 0.17% | 0.16% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.01% | 0.11% | 0.10% |
| RHIRobert Half Inc | 0.01% | 0.11% | 0.10% |
| VRTSVirtus Investment Partners Inc | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GUG 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, GUG or SCHD?
GUG has an expense ratio of 2.22% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $216 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUG or SCHD?
Over the past year GUG returned +4.54% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GUG or SCHD?
GUG has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 14.9% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: GUG -32.8% vs SCHD -16.9%.
Should I hold both GUG and SCHD?
GUG and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 GUG and SCHD?
At least 5.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings GUG also owns. Our book for GUG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 777 positions we hold weights for in GUG and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, GUG or SCHD?
GUG yields 8.71% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so GUG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than GUG?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.