MLPI vs SCHD
NEOS MLP & Energy Infrastructure High Income ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, MLPI or SCHD?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.8%.
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 | MLPI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.68% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $936M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.92% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 27 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +4.35% | +23.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.82% | +28.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.25% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 119.1% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.4% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 14.9 years | $27,866 | $48,963Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.8% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | NEOS | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 18, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 14.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 21, 2026 (14.9 years).
MLPI 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.
MLPI vs SCHD Performance
NEOS MLP & Energy Infrastructure High Income ETF (MLPI) is an ETF from NEOS and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year MLPI returned +5.82% while SCHD returned +28.29%. Year to date, MLPI is up 4.35% versus a gain of 23.60% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MLPI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 119.1% 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 -81.4% for MLPI 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 0.15. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MLPI charges 0.68% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $6 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MLPI currently yields 10.92% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
5.8% of MLPI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings MLPI also owns.
MLPI and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in MLPI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 27 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for MLPI (98.5% of the fund), and 19 for MLPI that do not appear in SCHD (71.8%).
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 MLPI | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKEOneok Inc. | 5.77% | 1.47% | 4.30% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MLPI 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, MLPI or SCHD?
MLPI has an expense ratio of 0.68% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MLPI or SCHD?
Over the past year MLPI returned +5.82% vs +28.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), MLPI annualized +7.12% vs +11.25% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MLPI or SCHD?
MLPI has been the more volatile fund at 119.1% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: MLPI -81.4% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both MLPI and SCHD?
MLPI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.15, 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 MLPI and SCHD?
5.8% of MLPI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.5% of SCHD's is in holdings MLPI also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in MLPI and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, MLPI or SCHD?
MLPI yields 10.92% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so MLPI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than MLPI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.