HCOW vs SCHD
Amplify COWS Covered Call ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, HCOW or SCHD?
SCHD has been ahead.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. HCOW is less concentrated, with 32.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | HCOW | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $18M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.01% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 175 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +8.46% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.18% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.21% | +15.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8% | 13.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.1% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $13,386 | $15,440Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.5%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2023 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 20, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (3 years).
HCOW 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 3 years both funds cover.
HCOW vs SCHD Performance
Amplify COWS Covered Call ETF (HCOW) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year HCOW returned +12.18% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, HCOW is up 8.46% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, HCOW compounded at +10.21% per year against +15.41% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HCOW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 13.4% 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 -24.1% for HCOW and -16.1% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HCOW charges 0.65% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $6 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HCOW currently yields 12.01% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
3.1% of HCOW's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings HCOW also owns.
HCOW and SCHD share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in HCOW and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 175 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for HCOW (96.9% of the fund), and 40 for HCOW that do not appear in SCHD (97.4%).
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 HCOW 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, HCOW or SCHD?
HCOW has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HCOW or SCHD?
Over the past year HCOW returned +12.18% vs +27.20% 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, HCOW or SCHD?
HCOW has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 13.4% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: HCOW -24.1% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both HCOW and SCHD?
HCOW and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 HCOW and SCHD?
3.1% of HCOW's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.1% of SCHD's is in holdings HCOW also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in HCOW and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, HCOW or SCHD?
HCOW yields 12.01% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so HCOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than HCOW?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. HCOW is less concentrated, with 32.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.