LSAF vs SCHD
LeaderShares AlphaFactor US Core Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, LSAF or SCHD?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. LSAF led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. LSAF is less concentrated, with 13.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | LSAF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $125M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.55% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 103 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +19.91% | +24.04%Best |
| 1Y Return | +24.98% | +27.95%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.91%Best | +15.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.00%Best | +9.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 16.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.7% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,851Best | $15,959 |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.2%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | LeaderShares | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 1, 2018 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 2, 2018 to Sep 16, 2026 (8 years).
LSAF 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 8 years both funds cover.
LSAF vs SCHD Performance
LeaderShares AlphaFactor US Core Equity ETF (LSAF) is an ETF from LeaderShares and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year LSAF returned +24.98% while SCHD returned +27.95%. Year to date, LSAF is up 19.91% versus a gain of 24.04% for SCHD.
Over three years, LSAF compounded at +19.91% per year against +15.51% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +11.00% and +9.80% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.09% annualized vs +10.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LSAF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 16.5% 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 -41.7% for LSAF 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LSAF 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, LSAF currently yields 0.55% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
1.7% of LSAF's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings LSAF also owns.
SCHD and LSAF share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in LSAF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 103 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for LSAF (96.8% of the fund), and 96 for LSAF that do not appear in SCHD (94.1%).
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 LSAF 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, LSAF or SCHD?
LSAF 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, LSAF or SCHD?
Over the past year LSAF returned +24.98% vs +27.95% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), LSAF annualized +10.97% vs +11.09% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LSAF or SCHD?
LSAF has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 16.5% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: LSAF -41.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both LSAF and SCHD?
LSAF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between LSAF and SCHD?
3.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings LSAF also owns. 3.1% of SCHD's is in holdings LSAF also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in LSAF and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, LSAF or SCHD?
LSAF yields 0.55% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than LSAF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. LSAF led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. LSAF is less concentrated, with 13.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.