MCSE vs SCHD

MCSE vs SCHD

Which is better, MCSE or SCHD?

Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.

SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%.

Lower Fees: SCHDHigher Returns: SCHDLess Concentrated: SCHD

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

MetricMCSESCHD
Expense Ratio0.59%0.06%Best
AUM$3M$112.2B
Dividend Yield3.77%3.13%
Holdings28103
Volatility (annualized)19.2%12.9%Best
Max Drawdown-25.9%-16.1%Best
$10,000 over 3.2 years$12,200$13,033Best
Top 10 Weight51.7%41.5%Best
Fund FamilyFranklin Templeton Investments (US)Charles Schwab Asset Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleMid Cap GrowthLarge Cap Value
InceptionOct 31, 2022Oct 20, 2011

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).

The two price series end 239 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. MCSE has data through Jan 8, 2026 and SCHD through Sep 4, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 31, 2022 to Jan 8, 2026 (3.2 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

MCSE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 12.9% 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 -25.9% for MCSE and -16.1% 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

MCSE charges 0.59% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $6 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MCSE currently yields 3.77% against 3.13% for SCHD.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 26 holdings in MCSE and 100 in SCHD, totalling 96.3% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

The two holdings books were reported 252 days apart, MCSE as of Nov 28, 2025 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.

0 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in MCSE and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 28 and 103.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for MCSE (99.9% of the fund), and 3 for MCSE that do not appear in SCHD (14.6%).

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 MCSE and SCHD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

MCSESCHD

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, MCSE or SCHD?

MCSE has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, MCSE or SCHD?

MCSE has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 12.9% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: MCSE -25.9% vs SCHD -16.1%.

Should I hold both MCSE and SCHD?

MCSE and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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, MCSE or SCHD?

MCSE yields 3.77% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so MCSE currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SCHD better than MCSE?

SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.