ICLN vs SCHD
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, ICLN or SCHD?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.9%.
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 | ICLN | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 152 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +4.55% | +23.68%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.30% | +28.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.99% | +16.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.06% | +10.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.4% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -66.8% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,561 | $16,156Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.9% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2008 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 22, 2026 (14.9 years).
ICLN 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
ICLN vs SCHD Performance
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) 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 ICLN returned +17.30% while SCHD returned +28.36%. Year to date, ICLN is up 4.55% versus a gain of 23.68% for SCHD.
Over three years, ICLN compounded at +7.99% per year against +16.20% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -3.06% and +10.07% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.26% annualized vs +4.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ICLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.4% compared with 13.7% 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 -66.8% for ICLN 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 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ICLN charges 0.39% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $6 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ICLN currently yields 1.06% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
2.0% of ICLN's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings ICLN also owns.
ICLN and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in ICLN and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 152 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for ICLN (99.8% of the fund), and 14 for ICLN that do not appear in SCHD (35.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ICLN | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWENClearway Energy, Inc., Class C | 1.96% | 0.09% | 1.87% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ICLN 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, ICLN or SCHD?
ICLN has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ICLN or SCHD?
Over the past year ICLN returned +17.30% vs +28.36% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), ICLN annualized +4.86% vs +11.26% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ICLN or SCHD?
ICLN has been the more volatile fund at 26.4% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: ICLN -66.8% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both ICLN and SCHD?
ICLN and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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 ICLN and SCHD?
2.0% of ICLN's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's is in holdings ICLN also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in ICLN and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, ICLN or SCHD?
ICLN yields 1.06% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than ICLN?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.