NMI vs SCHD
Nuveen Municipal Income Fund Inc. vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, NMI or SCHD?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 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 | NMI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.73% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | - | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.65% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 220 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +7.69% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.85% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.12% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.53% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.7%Best | 13.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.4%Best | -33.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,789 | $16,274Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 20, 1988 | 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 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
NMI 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
NMI vs SCHD Performance
Nuveen Municipal Income Fund Inc. (NMI) is an ETF from Nuveen and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year NMI returned +12.85% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, NMI is up 7.69% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, NMI compounded at +9.12% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +1.53% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +1.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.6% compared with 11.7% for NMI. 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 -32.4% for NMI 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 0.07. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NMI charges 0.73% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $73 vs $6 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NMI currently yields 4.65% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 95 holdings in NMI and 100 in SCHD, totalling 44.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 188 days apart, NMI as of Jan 31, 2026 and SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 95 positions we hold weights for in NMI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 220 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NMI 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, NMI or SCHD?
NMI has an expense ratio of 0.73% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NMI or SCHD?
Over the past year NMI returned +12.85% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), NMI annualized +1.13% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NMI or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 11.7% for NMI. Worst drawdown: NMI -32.4% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both NMI and SCHD?
NMI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.07, 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, NMI or SCHD?
NMI yields 4.65% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so NMI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than NMI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.