PBW vs SCHD
Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PBW or SCHD?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PBW is less concentrated, with 19.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | PBW | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $385M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.47% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 70 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -1.87% | +28.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +29.05% | +31.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -3.25% | +16.70%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -15.69% | +10.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 35.4% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -89.1% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $4,260 | $16,171Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 19.8%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 3, 2005 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 3, 2026 (14.9 years).
PBW 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.
PBW vs SCHD Performance
Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PBW returned +29.05% while SCHD returned +31.77%. Year to date, PBW is down 1.87% versus a gain of 28.59% for SCHD.
Over three years, PBW compounded at -3.25% per year against +16.70% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -15.69% and +10.09% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.59% annualized vs +1.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PBW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 35.4% 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 -89.1% for PBW 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PBW charges 0.64% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $6 annually, a gap of $58 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PBW currently yields 1.47% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 72 holdings in PBW and 100 in SCHD, totalling 99.8% 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 72 positions we hold weights for in PBW and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 70 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PBW (99.9% of the fund), and 61 for PBW that do not appear in SCHD (85.7%).
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 PBW 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, PBW or SCHD?
PBW has an expense ratio of 0.64% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $58 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PBW or SCHD?
Over the past year PBW returned +29.05% vs +31.77% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PBW annualized +1.48% vs +11.59% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PBW or SCHD?
PBW has been the more volatile fund at 35.4% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PBW -89.1% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PBW and SCHD?
PBW and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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, PBW or SCHD?
PBW yields 1.47% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PBW?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PBW is less concentrated, with 19.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.