MDEV vs SCHD
First Trust Indxx Medical Devices ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, MDEV or SCHD?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MDEV is less concentrated, with 25.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | MDEV | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 53 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -0.14% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.39% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.85% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.65% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.3% | -16.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,477 | $16,274Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.4%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 22, 2021 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 23, 2021 to Sep 4, 2026 (5.2 years).
MDEV 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 5.2 years both funds cover.
MDEV vs SCHD Performance
First Trust Indxx Medical Devices ETF (MDEV) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year MDEV returned +2.39% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, MDEV is down 0.14% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, MDEV compounded at +2.85% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -5.65% and +10.23% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MDEV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 14.6% 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 -42.3% for MDEV and -16.9% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MDEV charges 0.70% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $6 annually, a gap of $64 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MDEV currently yields 0.11% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
2.0% of MDEV's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings MDEV also owns.
SCHD and MDEV share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in MDEV and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 53 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for MDEV (95.2% of the fund), and 29 for MDEV that do not appear in SCHD (59.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MDEV | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 2.01% | 4.70% | 2.69% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MDEV 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, MDEV or SCHD?
MDEV has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $64 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MDEV or SCHD?
Over the past year MDEV returned +2.39% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MDEV or SCHD?
MDEV has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 14.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: MDEV -42.3% vs SCHD -16.9%.
Should I hold both MDEV and SCHD?
MDEV and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 MDEV and SCHD?
4.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings MDEV also owns. 4.7% of SCHD's is in holdings MDEV also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in MDEV and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, MDEV or SCHD?
MDEV yields 0.11% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than MDEV?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MDEV is less concentrated, with 25.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.