HISF vs SCHD
First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, HISF or SCHD?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 95.0%.
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 | HISF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $100M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.12% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 24 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -0.74% | +24.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.16% | +28.14%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.70% | +15.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.5%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.4%Best | -16.1% |
| $10,000 over 4.5 years | $10,736 | $15,513Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 95.0% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2014 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (4.5 years).
HISF 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 4.5 years both funds cover.
HISF vs SCHD Performance
First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (HISF) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year HISF returned +0.16% while SCHD returned +28.14%. Year to date, HISF is down 0.74% versus a gain of 24.59% for SCHD.
Over three years, HISF compounded at +4.70% per year against +15.58% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 5.5% for HISF. 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 -10.4% for HISF 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HISF charges 0.83% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $6 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HISF currently yields 5.12% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11 holdings in HISF and 100 in SCHD, totalling 100.0% 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 11 positions we hold weights for in HISF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 24 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for HISF (99.9% of the fund), and 11 for HISF that do not appear in SCHD (100.0%).
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 HISF 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, HISF or SCHD?
HISF has an expense ratio of 0.83% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HISF or SCHD?
Over the past year HISF returned +0.16% vs +28.14% 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, HISF or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 5.5% for HISF. Worst drawdown: HISF -10.4% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both HISF and SCHD?
HISF 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, HISF or SCHD?
HISF yields 5.12% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so HISF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than HISF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 95.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.