IWC vs SCHD
iShares Microcap ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, IWC or SCHD?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. IWC led over 1Y and 3Y, SCHD over 5Y and the full window. IWC is less concentrated, with 5.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | IWC | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 1,380 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +21.77% | +24.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +35.19%Best | +28.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.89%Best | +15.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.72% | +9.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.1% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,843 | $16,003Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.2%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 12, 2005 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 9, 2026 (14.9 years).
IWC 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.
IWC vs SCHD Performance
iShares Microcap ETF (IWC) 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 IWC returned +35.19% while SCHD returned +28.75%. Year to date, IWC is up 21.77% versus a gain of 24.96% for SCHD.
Over three years, IWC compounded at +23.89% per year against +15.71% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +6.72% and +9.86% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.36% annualized vs +11.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 13.6% 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 -48.1% for IWC 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWC charges 0.60% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $6 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWC currently yields 1.00% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
1.5% of IWC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings IWC also owns.
IWC and SCHD share little of their money.
9 positions in common, counted across the 1,353 positions we hold weights for in IWC and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 1,380 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 90 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for IWC (99.8% of the fund), and 1,209 for IWC that do not appear in SCHD (95.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IWC | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| THFFFirst Financial Corporation | 0.22% | 0.02% | 0.20% |
| ORRFOrrstown Financial Services Inc | 0.19% | 0.02% | 0.17% |
| IBCPIndependent Bank Corp | 0.17% | 0.02% | 0.15% |
| CCBGCapital City Bank Group Inc | 0.17% | 0.02% | 0.15% |
| CPFCentral Pacific Financial Corp | 0.17% | 0.02% | 0.15% |
| PFBCPreferred Bank La | 0.16% | 0.03% | 0.13% |
| HAFCHanmi Financial Corp Common Stock USD 0.001 | 0.16% | 0.02% | 0.14% |
| ETDEthan Allen Interiors Inc | 0.13% | 0.01% | 0.12% |
| EBFEnnis Inc | 0.13% | 0.01% | 0.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IWC 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, IWC or SCHD?
IWC has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWC or SCHD?
Over the past year IWC returned +35.19% vs +28.75% for SCHD, so IWC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), IWC annualized +11.19% vs +11.36% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWC or SCHD?
IWC has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: IWC -48.1% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both IWC and SCHD?
IWC and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 IWC and SCHD?
1.5% of IWC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.2% of SCHD's is in holdings IWC also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 1,353 positions we hold weights for in IWC and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWC or SCHD?
IWC yields 1.00% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than IWC?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. IWC led over 1Y and 3Y, SCHD over 5Y and the full window. IWC is less concentrated, with 5.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.