NIE vs SCHD
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, NIE or SCHD?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. NIE led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. NIE is less concentrated, with 28.3% 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 | NIE | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $793M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.01% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 196 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +4.96% | +24.04%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.95% | +27.95%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.20%Best | +15.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.42% | +9.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.4% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,981 | $15,959Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.3%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2007 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 16, 2026 (14.9 years).
NIE 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.
NIE vs SCHD Performance
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE) 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 NIE returned +9.95% while SCHD returned +27.95%. Year to date, NIE is up 4.96% versus a gain of 24.04% for SCHD.
Over three years, NIE compounded at +17.20% per year against +15.51% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +8.42% and +9.80% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.29% annualized vs +7.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NIE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 13.6% 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 -40.4% for NIE 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NIE charges 1.07% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $6 annually, a gap of $101 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NIE currently yields 9.01% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
3.2% of NIE's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 18.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings NIE also owns.
SCHD and NIE share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 185 days apart, NIE as of Feb 27, 2026 and SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 161 positions we hold weights for in NIE and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 196 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for NIE (81.1% of the fund), and 151 for NIE that do not appear in SCHD (91.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NIE 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, NIE or SCHD?
NIE has an expense ratio of 1.07% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $101 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NIE or SCHD?
Over the past year NIE returned +9.95% vs +27.95% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), NIE annualized +7.65% vs +11.29% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NIE or SCHD?
NIE has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: NIE -40.4% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both NIE and SCHD?
NIE and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 NIE and SCHD?
18.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings NIE also owns. 18.8% of SCHD's is in holdings NIE also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 161 positions we hold weights for in NIE and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, NIE or SCHD?
NIE yields 9.01% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so NIE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than NIE?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. NIE led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. NIE is less concentrated, with 28.3% 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.