NFJ vs SCHD
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, NFJ or SCHD?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. NFJ led over 1Y and 3Y, SCHD over 5Y and the full window.
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 | NFJ | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.39% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 182 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +23.91%Best | +21.33% |
| 1Y Return | +27.81%Best | +25.15% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.54%Best | +15.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.69% | +9.32%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.2% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,169 | $15,613Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 28, 2005 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 24, 2026 (14.9 years).
NFJ 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.
NFJ vs SCHD Performance
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NFJ) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year NFJ returned +27.81% while SCHD returned +25.15%. Year to date, NFJ is up 23.91% versus a gain of 21.33% for SCHD.
Over three years, NFJ compounded at +19.54% per year against +15.43% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +8.69% and +9.32% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.11% annualized vs +3.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NFJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% 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 -59.2% for NFJ 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NFJ charges 0.96% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $6 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NFJ currently yields 7.39% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 17.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings NFJ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NFJ, our book for it covers 86.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SCHD and NFJ share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 107 positions we hold weights for in NFJ and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 182 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NFJ | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.81% | 4.02% | 3.21% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.79% | 3.88% | 3.09% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.75% | 3.82% | 3.07% |
| DINOHF Sinclair Corp | 3.17% | 0.38% | 2.79% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 1.55% | 1.88% | 0.33% |
| HSYHershey Co. | 2.74% | 0.64% | 2.10% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 0.72% | 1.90% | 1.18% |
| CINFCincinnati Financial Corp. | 0.72% | 0.64% | 0.08% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NFJ 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, NFJ or SCHD?
NFJ has an expense ratio of 0.96% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NFJ or SCHD?
Over the past year NFJ returned +27.81% vs +25.15% for SCHD, so NFJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), NFJ annualized +3.06% vs +11.11% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NFJ or SCHD?
NFJ has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: NFJ -59.2% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both NFJ and SCHD?
NFJ and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 NFJ and SCHD?
At least 17.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings NFJ also owns. Our book for NFJ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 107 positions we hold weights for in NFJ and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, NFJ or SCHD?
NFJ yields 7.39% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so NFJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than NFJ?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. NFJ led over 1Y and 3Y, SCHD over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.