IRTR vs SCHD
iShares LifePath Retirement ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, IRTR or SCHD?
Target Date 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 96.8%.
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 | IRTR | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.08% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $59M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.13% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 15 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +5.13% | +23.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.14% | +28.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.56% | +16.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.25% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.7%Best | 13.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.3%Best | -16.1% |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $14,093 | $15,939Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 96.8% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Target Date | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 17, 2023 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 19, 2023 to Sep 21, 2026 (2.9 years).
IRTR 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 2.9 years both funds cover.
IRTR vs SCHD Performance
iShares LifePath Retirement ETF (IRTR) 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 IRTR returned +7.14% while SCHD returned +28.29%. Year to date, IRTR is up 5.13% versus a gain of 23.60% for SCHD.
Over three years, IRTR compounded at +12.56% per year against +16.25% 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 13.2% compared with 6.7% for IRTR. 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 -6.3% for IRTR 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
IRTR charges 0.08% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $8 vs $6 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IRTR currently yields 3.13% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 14 holdings in IRTR and 100 in SCHD, totalling 99.8% 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 14 positions we hold weights for in IRTR and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 15 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 14 and 100 positions we hold weights for.
SCHD holds 99 positions IRTR does not, 99.9% of the fund.
Largest: MRK 4.77%, AMGN 4.70%, ABT 4.69%, KO 4.17%, CVX 4.02%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IRTR 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, IRTR or SCHD?
IRTR has an expense ratio of 0.08% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IRTR or SCHD?
Over the past year IRTR returned +7.14% vs +28.29% 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, IRTR or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 6.7% for IRTR. Worst drawdown: IRTR -6.3% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both IRTR and SCHD?
IRTR 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, IRTR or SCHD?
IRTR yields 3.13% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so IRTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than IRTR?
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 96.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.