HFSI vs SCHD
Hartford Strategic Income ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, HFSI or SCHD?
Diversified Sectoral Bond against Large Cap Value.
SCHD 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 | HFSI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.26% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 1,019 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -3.11% | +25.07%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.88% | +27.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.43% | +15.74%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.46% | +9.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.7%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3% | -16.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,752 | $16,025Best |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Diversified Sectoral Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 21, 2021 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2021 to Sep 11, 2026 (5 years).
HFSI 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 5 years both funds cover.
HFSI vs SCHD Performance
Hartford Strategic Income ETF (HFSI) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year HFSI returned -2.88% while SCHD returned +27.61%. Year to date, HFSI is down 3.11% versus a gain of 25.07% for SCHD.
Over three years, HFSI compounded at +6.43% per year against +15.74% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +1.46% and +9.89% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 6.7% for HFSI. 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 -19.3% for HFSI 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HFSI charges 0.49% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $6 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HFSI currently yields 5.26% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings HFSI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HFSI, our book for it covers 46.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 243 days apart, HFSI as of Dec 31, 2025 and SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 363 positions we hold weights for in HFSI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 1,019 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HFSI | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARESAres Management Corp Common Stock | 0.25% | 0.74% | 0.49% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HFSI 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, HFSI or SCHD?
HFSI has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HFSI or SCHD?
Over the past year HFSI returned -2.88% vs +27.61% 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, HFSI or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 6.7% for HFSI. Worst drawdown: HFSI -19.3% vs SCHD -16.9%.
Should I hold both HFSI and SCHD?
HFSI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, HFSI or SCHD?
HFSI yields 5.26% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so HFSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than HFSI?
SCHD 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.