MDY vs SCHD
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, MDY or SCHD?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MDY is less concentrated, with 7.8% 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 | MDY | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $26.1B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.02% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 401 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +9.60% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.32% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.86% | +15.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.09% | +10.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.5% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,755 | $16,223Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.8%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 4, 1995 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.9 years).
MDY 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
MDY vs SCHD Performance
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year MDY returned +11.32% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, MDY is up 9.60% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, MDY compounded at +13.86% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +8.09% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs +10.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MDY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 13.7% 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 -42.5% for MDY 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MDY charges 0.23% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $6 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MDY currently yields 1.02% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
4.0% of MDY's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings MDY also owns.
MDY and SCHD share little of their money.
18 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in MDY and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 401 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 81 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for MDY (96.5% of the fund), and 373 for MDY that do not appear in SCHD (91.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MDY | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.48% | 0.42% | 0.06% |
| DINOHF Sinclair Corp | 0.43% | 0.38% | 0.05% |
| FNFFidelity Nationa | 0.33% | 0.29% | 0.04% |
| WSOWatsco Inc | 0.30% | 0.26% | 0.04% |
| AFGAmerican Financial Group Inc/Oh | 0.27% | 0.24% | 0.03% |
| ORIOld Republic International Corp | 0.26% | 0.23% | 0.03% |
| BAHBooz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | 0.25% | 0.22% | 0.03% |
| COLBColumbia Banking System Inc Common Stock | 0.24% | 0.21% | 0.03% |
| ALVAllianz Ag | 0.23% | 0.20% | 0.03% |
| MMacy'S Inc. | 0.16% | 0.14% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MDY 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, MDY or SCHD?
MDY has an expense ratio of 0.23% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MDY or SCHD?
Over the past year MDY returned +11.32% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), MDY annualized +10.85% vs +11.25% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MDY or SCHD?
MDY has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: MDY -42.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both MDY and SCHD?
MDY and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 MDY and SCHD?
4.0% of MDY's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.5% of SCHD's is in holdings MDY also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in MDY and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, MDY or SCHD?
MDY yields 1.02% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than MDY?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MDY is less concentrated, with 7.8% 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.