NPFI vs SCHD
Nuveen Preferred and Income ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, NPFI or SCHD?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y 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 | NPFI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.56% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $174M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.46% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 163 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +0.59% | +21.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.08% | +25.15%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.32% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.6%Best | 13.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.2%Best | -16.1% |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $11,831 | $13,966Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 5, 2024 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 6, 2024 to Sep 24, 2026 (2.6 years).
NPFI 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
NPFI vs SCHD Performance
Nuveen Preferred and Income ETF (NPFI) is an ETF from Nuveen and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year NPFI returned +2.08% while SCHD returned +25.15%. Year to date, NPFI is up 0.59% versus a gain of 21.33% for SCHD.
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 3.6% for NPFI. 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 -3.2% for NPFI 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NPFI charges 0.56% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $56 vs $6 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NPFI currently yields 6.46% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 116 holdings in NPFI and 100 in SCHD, totalling 64.1% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 116 positions we hold weights for in NPFI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 163 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NPFI 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, NPFI or SCHD?
NPFI has an expense ratio of 0.56% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NPFI or SCHD?
Over the past year NPFI returned +2.08% vs +25.15% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NPFI or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 3.6% for NPFI. Worst drawdown: NPFI -3.2% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both NPFI and SCHD?
NPFI and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, NPFI or SCHD?
NPFI yields 6.46% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so NPFI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than NPFI?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.