LENS vs SCHD
Sarmaya Thematic ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, LENS or SCHD?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. LENS led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.0%.
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 | LENS | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $66M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.53% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 45 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +21.38% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +53.65%Best | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.4% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.6% | -14.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $18,780Best | $13,133 |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.0% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Sarmaya Partners | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 28, 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: Jan 29, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.6 years).
LENS 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.
LENS vs SCHD Performance
Sarmaya Thematic ETF (LENS) is an ETF from Sarmaya Partners and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year LENS returned +53.65% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, LENS is up 21.38% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LENS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.4% compared with 13.2% 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 -24.6% for LENS 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LENS charges 0.79% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $6 annually, a gap of $73 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LENS currently yields 1.53% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
9.0% of LENS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 6.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings LENS also owns.
LENS and SCHD share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in LENS and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 45 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for LENS (93.0% of the fund), and 23 for LENS that do not appear in SCHD (58.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LENS 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, LENS or SCHD?
LENS has an expense ratio of 0.79% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $73 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LENS or SCHD?
Over the past year LENS returned +53.65% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so LENS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), LENS annualized +48.27% vs +18.57% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LENS or SCHD?
LENS has been the more volatile fund at 26.4% annualized versus 13.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: LENS -24.6% vs SCHD -14.0%.
Should I hold both LENS and SCHD?
LENS and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 LENS and SCHD?
9.0% of LENS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 6.9% of SCHD's is in holdings LENS also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in LENS and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, LENS or SCHD?
LENS yields 1.53% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than LENS?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. LENS led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.