IYF vs SCHD
iShares US Financials ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, IYF or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. IYF led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.7%.
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 | IYF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $4.3B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.40% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 147 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +4.44% | +25.84%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.28% | +30.18%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.60%Best | +16.08% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.75%Best | +9.97% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.6% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,428Best | $16,083 |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.7% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 22, 2000 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 15, 2026 (14.9 years).
IYF 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.
IYF vs SCHD Performance
iShares US Financials ETF (IYF) 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 IYF returned +8.28% while SCHD returned +30.18%. Year to date, IYF is up 4.44% versus a gain of 25.84% for SCHD.
Over three years, IYF compounded at +21.60% per year against +16.08% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +11.75% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, IYF has the edge at +12.98% annualized vs +11.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% 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 -42.6% for IYF 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYF charges 0.38% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $6 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYF currently yields 1.40% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
5.5% of IYF's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 8.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings IYF also owns.
SCHD and IYF share little of their money.
15 positions in common, counted across the 142 positions we hold weights for in IYF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 147 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 84 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for IYF (91.0% of the fund), and 124 for IYF that do not appear in SCHD (93.2%).
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 IYF | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BXBlackstone Group Inc. Class A | 1.61% | 2.59% | 0.98% |
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 0.73% | 1.19% | 0.46% |
| ARESAres Management Corp A | 0.42% | 0.74% | 0.32% |
| CINFCincinnati Financial Corp. | 0.39% | 0.64% | 0.25% |
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 0.38% | 0.62% | 0.24% |
| TROWT Rowe Price Grp | 0.35% | 0.58% | 0.23% |
| PFGPrincipalfinancialgroupinc. | 0.36% | 0.53% | 0.17% |
| BRBroadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 0.32% | 0.51% | 0.19% |
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.26% | 0.42% | 0.16% |
| FNFFidelity Nationa | 0.15% | 0.29% | 0.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IYF 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, IYF or SCHD?
IYF has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYF or SCHD?
Over the past year IYF returned +8.28% vs +30.18% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), IYF annualized +12.98% vs +11.40% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYF or SCHD?
IYF has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: IYF -42.6% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both IYF and SCHD?
IYF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 IYF and SCHD?
8.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings IYF also owns. 8.9% of SCHD's is in holdings IYF also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 142 positions we hold weights for in IYF and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYF or SCHD?
IYF yields 1.40% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than IYF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. IYF led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.