PCM vs SCHD
PCM Fund Inc. vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PCM or SCHD?
SCHD has been ahead.
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 | PCM | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.63% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $69M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 13.99% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 318 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -8.19% | +24.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | -13.05% | +27.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -7.56% | +15.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.92% | +9.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.7% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,770 | $16,083Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 2, 1993 | 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 17, 2026 (14.9 years).
PCM 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.
PCM vs SCHD Performance
PCM Fund Inc. (PCM) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PCM returned -13.05% while SCHD returned +27.90%. Year to date, PCM is down 8.19% versus a gain of 24.23% for SCHD.
Over three years, PCM compounded at -7.56% per year against +15.55% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -4.92% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.30% annualized vs -0.45%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% 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 -53.7% for PCM 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 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCM charges 1.63% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $163 vs $6 annually, a gap of $157 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCM currently yields 13.99% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings PCM also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PCM, our book for it covers 7.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 335 days apart, PCM as of Sep 30, 2025 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 16 positions we hold weights for in PCM and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 318 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PCM | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GVMXXState Street Institutional US Government Money Market Fund | 0.15% | 0.06% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCM 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, PCM or SCHD?
PCM has an expense ratio of 1.63% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $157 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCM or SCHD?
Over the past year PCM returned -13.05% vs +27.90% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PCM annualized -0.45% vs +11.30% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCM or SCHD?
PCM has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PCM -53.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PCM and SCHD?
PCM and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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, PCM or SCHD?
PCM yields 13.99% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so PCM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PCM?
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.