JCE vs SCHD
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, JCE or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. JCE led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.3%.
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 | JCE | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.02% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | - | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.58% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 128 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +13.78% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.85% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.80%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.10%Best | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.8% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.5% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,927Best | $16,274 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.3% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 27, 2007 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
JCE 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.
JCE vs SCHD Performance
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE) is an ETF from Nuveen and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year JCE returned +17.85% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, JCE is up 13.78% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, JCE compounded at +19.80% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +11.10% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +6.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JCE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.8% 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 -54.5% for JCE 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JCE charges 1.02% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $102 vs $6 annually, a gap of $96 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JCE currently yields 7.58% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
7.3% of JCE's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 26.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings JCE also owns.
SCHD and JCE share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 189 days apart, JCE as of Jan 30, 2026 and SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
10 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in JCE and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 128 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 89 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for JCE (73.9% of the fund), and 104 for JCE that do not appear in SCHD (91.8%).
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 JCE | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 1.07% | 4.32% | 3.25% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.12% | 4.26% | 3.14% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.14% | 3.96% | 2.82% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.83% | 3.31% | 2.48% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 0.92% | 2.99% | 2.07% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.09% | 3.74% | 3.65% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.74% | 2.55% | 1.81% |
| DINOHollyfrontier | 0.59% | 0.31% | 0.28% |
| FNFFidelity Nationa | 0.49% | 0.32% | 0.17% |
| SWKSSkyworks Solutions Inc. | 0.26% | 0.27% | 0.01% |
26.0% of SCHD is already inside JCE.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, JCE or SCHD?
JCE has an expense ratio of 1.02% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $96 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JCE or SCHD?
Over the past year JCE returned +17.85% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), JCE annualized +6.34% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JCE or SCHD?
JCE has been the more volatile fund at 20.8% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: JCE -54.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both JCE and SCHD?
JCE and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 JCE and SCHD?
26.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings JCE also owns. 26.0% of SCHD's is in holdings JCE also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in JCE and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, JCE or SCHD?
JCE yields 7.58% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so JCE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than JCE?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. JCE led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.