MFDX vs SCHD
PIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor International Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, MFDX or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. MFDX led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. MFDX is less concentrated, with 8.1% 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 | MFDX | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $457M | $108.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.84% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 1,300 | 206 |
| YTD Return | +7.45% | +20.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.19% | +22.79%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.06%Best | +15.93% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.34%Best | +9.26% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 16.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.1% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,356Best | $15,571 |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.1%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 31, 2017 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 6, 2017 to Oct 1, 2026 (9.1 years).
MFDX 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 9.1 years both funds cover.
MFDX vs SCHD Performance
PIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor International Equity ETF (MFDX) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year MFDX returned +13.19% while SCHD returned +22.79%. Year to date, MFDX is up 7.45% versus a gain of 20.67% for SCHD.
Over three years, MFDX compounded at +19.06% per year against +15.93% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +10.34% and +9.26% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.15% annualized vs +7.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 14.8% for MFDX. 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 -39.1% for MFDX 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MFDX charges 0.39% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $6 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MFDX currently yields 2.84% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings MFDX also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,272 positions we hold weights for in MFDX and 99 in SCHD, against full books of 1,300 and 206.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for MFDX (99.7% of the fund), and 31 for MFDX that do not appear in SCHD (5.0%).
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 MFDX | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALVAllianz Ag | 0.03% | 0.21% | 0.18% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MFDX 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, MFDX or SCHD?
MFDX has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MFDX or SCHD?
Over the past year MFDX returned +13.19% vs +22.79% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), MFDX annualized +7.54% vs +11.15% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MFDX or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 14.8% for MFDX. Worst drawdown: MFDX -39.1% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both MFDX and SCHD?
MFDX and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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, MFDX or SCHD?
MFDX yields 2.84% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than MFDX?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. MFDX led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. MFDX is less concentrated, with 8.1% 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.