KAT vs SCHD
Scharf ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, KAT or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%.
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 | KAT | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $672M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 35 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +5.74% | +23.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.77% | +28.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.25% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3%Best | 13.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,697 | $12,661Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.4% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Scharf Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 30, 2011 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 25, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.1 years).
KAT 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
KAT vs SCHD Performance
Scharf ETF (KAT) is an ETF from Scharf Funds and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year KAT returned +3.77% while SCHD returned +28.29%. Year to date, KAT is up 5.74% versus a gain of 23.60% 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 13.6% compared with 12.3% for KAT. 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 -9.3% for KAT and -4.6% 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KAT charges 0.75% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $6 annually, a gap of $69 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KAT currently yields 0.45% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
5.1% of KAT's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 7.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings KAT also owns.
SCHD and KAT share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in KAT and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 35 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for KAT (92.7% of the fund), and 24 for KAT that do not appear in SCHD (81.3%).
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 KAT 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, KAT or SCHD?
KAT has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $69 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KAT or SCHD?
Over the past year KAT returned +3.77% vs +28.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), KAT annualized +6.32% vs +23.92% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KAT or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 12.3% for KAT. Worst drawdown: KAT -9.3% vs SCHD -4.6%.
Should I hold both KAT and SCHD?
KAT and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 KAT and SCHD?
7.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings KAT also owns. 7.2% of SCHD's is in holdings KAT also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in KAT and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, KAT or SCHD?
KAT yields 0.45% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than KAT?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.