NUSC vs SCHD
Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, NUSC or SCHD?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NUSC is less concentrated, with 9.3% 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 | NUSC | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.31% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 406 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +10.56% | +24.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.21% | +27.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.84% | +15.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.81% | +9.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.3% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.5% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,648 | $16,083Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.3%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 13, 2016 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 14, 2016 to Sep 17, 2026 (9.8 years).
NUSC 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 9.8 years both funds cover.
NUSC vs SCHD Performance
Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) is an ETF from Nuveen and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year NUSC returned +15.21% while SCHD returned +27.90%. Year to date, NUSC is up 10.56% versus a gain of 24.23% for SCHD.
Over three years, NUSC compounded at +12.84% per year against +15.55% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +4.81% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.11% annualized vs +9.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.3% compared with 15.4% 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 -41.5% for NUSC 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUSC charges 0.31% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $31 vs $6 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUSC currently yields 0.91% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
2.2% of NUSC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings NUSC also owns.
NUSC and SCHD share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in NUSC and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 406 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 88 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for NUSC (98.9% of the fund), and 375 for NUSC that do not appear in SCHD (94.3%).
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 NUSC | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 1.02% | 0.42% | 0.60% |
| RHIRobert Half International Inc. | 0.32% | 0.11% | 0.21% |
| CWENClearway Energy, Inc., Class C | 0.28% | 0.09% | 0.19% |
| MMacy'S Inc. | 0.12% | 0.14% | 0.02% |
| WUWestern Union Co (The) | 0.17% | 0.05% | 0.12% |
| FLOFlowers Foods Inc | 0.10% | 0.04% | 0.06% |
| WENWendy's Co/the | 0.10% | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| BANRBanner Corp_None_0 | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| ETDEthan Allen Interiors Inc | 0.03% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| CPFCentral Pacific Financial Corp | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NUSC 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, NUSC or SCHD?
NUSC has an expense ratio of 0.31% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUSC or SCHD?
Over the past year NUSC returned +15.21% vs +27.90% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), NUSC annualized +9.39% vs +11.11% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUSC or SCHD?
NUSC has been the more volatile fund at 21.3% annualized versus 15.4% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: NUSC -41.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both NUSC and SCHD?
NUSC and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 NUSC and SCHD?
2.2% of NUSC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.0% of SCHD's is in holdings NUSC also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in NUSC and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUSC or SCHD?
NUSC yields 0.91% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than NUSC?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NUSC is less concentrated, with 9.3% 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.