KDEF vs SCHD
PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, KDEF or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. KDEF led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.2%.
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 | KDEF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $110M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.86% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 21 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -5.51% | +23.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -8.12% | +28.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.25% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 54.6% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -14.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $21,196Best | $12,700 |
| Top 10 Weight | 70.2% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | PLUS ETF | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 5, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.6 years).
KDEF 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
KDEF vs SCHD Performance
PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) is an ETF from PLUS ETF and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year KDEF returned -8.12% while SCHD returned +28.29%. Year to date, KDEF is down 5.51% versus a gain of 23.60% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 54.6% compared with 14.0% 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 -48.6% for KDEF and -14.0% 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 0.20. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KDEF charges 0.65% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $6 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KDEF currently yields 5.86% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 20 holdings in KDEF 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 20 positions we hold weights for in KDEF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 21 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for KDEF (99.9% of the fund), and 0 for KDEF that do not appear in SCHD (0.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of KDEF 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, KDEF or SCHD?
KDEF has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KDEF or SCHD?
Over the past year KDEF returned -8.12% vs +28.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), KDEF annualized +59.92% vs +16.11% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KDEF or SCHD?
KDEF has been the more volatile fund at 54.6% annualized versus 14.0% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: KDEF -48.6% vs SCHD -14.0%.
Should I hold both KDEF and SCHD?
KDEF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.20, 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, KDEF or SCHD?
KDEF yields 5.86% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so KDEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than KDEF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. KDEF led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.