IQDF vs SCHD
Northern Trust International Quality Dividend ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, IQDF or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. IQDF led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over the full window. IQDF is less concentrated, with 19.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | IQDF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.98% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 265 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +19.45% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +33.11%Best | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.56%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.91%Best | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.3% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,553Best | $16,274 |
| Top 10 Weight | 19.9%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 12, 2013 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 16, 2013 to Sep 4, 2026 (13.4 years).
IQDF 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 13.4 years both funds cover.
IQDF vs SCHD Performance
Northern Trust International Quality Dividend ETF (IQDF) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year IQDF returned +33.11% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, IQDF is up 19.45% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, IQDF compounded at +24.56% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +11.91% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.81% annualized vs +5.00%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IQDF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 14.1% 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 -47.3% for IQDF 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IQDF charges 0.47% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $6 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IQDF currently yields 2.98% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 188 holdings in IQDF and 100 in SCHD, totalling 97.5% 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 188 positions we hold weights for in IQDF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 265 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for IQDF (99.9% of the fund), and 3 for IQDF that do not appear in SCHD (1.7%).
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 IQDF 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, IQDF or SCHD?
IQDF has an expense ratio of 0.47% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IQDF or SCHD?
Over the past year IQDF returned +33.11% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so IQDF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), IQDF annualized +5.00% vs +10.81% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IQDF or SCHD?
IQDF has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.1% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: IQDF -47.3% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both IQDF and SCHD?
IQDF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, IQDF or SCHD?
IQDF yields 2.98% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than IQDF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. IQDF led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over the full window. IQDF is less concentrated, with 19.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.