NATO vs SCHD
Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, NATO or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. NATO led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.6%.
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 | NATO | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $98M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 94 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -3.31% | +21.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.57% | +25.15%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.32% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.0%Best | -16.1% |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $15,109Best | $12,430 |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.6% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Themes ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 10, 2024 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2024 to Sep 24, 2026 (2 years).
NATO 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 2 years both funds cover.
NATO vs SCHD Performance
Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF (NATO) is an ETF from Themes ETFs and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year NATO returned -0.57% while SCHD returned +25.15%. Year to date, NATO is down 3.31% versus a gain of 21.33% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NATO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 14.5% 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 -16.0% for NATO 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 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NATO charges 0.35% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $6 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NATO currently yields 0.43% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
4.7% of NATO's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 2.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings NATO also owns.
NATO and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in NATO and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 94 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for NATO (97.2% of the fund), and 57 for NATO that do not appear in SCHD (59.1%).
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 NATO | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 4.71% | 2.78% | 1.93% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NATO 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, NATO or SCHD?
NATO has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NATO or SCHD?
Over the past year NATO returned -0.57% vs +25.15% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NATO annualized +22.92% vs +11.49% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NATO or SCHD?
NATO has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 14.5% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: NATO -16.0% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both NATO and SCHD?
NATO and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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 NATO and SCHD?
4.7% of NATO's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 2.8% of SCHD's is in holdings NATO also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in NATO and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, NATO or SCHD?
NATO yields 0.43% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than NATO?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. NATO led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.