PCQ vs SCHD
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PCQ or SCHD?
Municipal California 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 | PCQ | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.20% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $566M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.51% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 263 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -3.37% | +23.68%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.84% | +28.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.38% | +16.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -11.47% | +10.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.0% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $5,438 | $16,156Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal California | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2001 | 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 22, 2026 (14.9 years).
PCQ 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.
PCQ vs SCHD Performance
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund (PCQ) 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 PCQ returned -1.84% while SCHD returned +28.36%. Year to date, PCQ is down 3.37% versus a gain of 23.68% for SCHD.
Over three years, PCQ compounded at +3.38% per year against +16.20% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -11.47% and +10.07% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.26% annualized vs -1.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 13.7% 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 -55.0% for PCQ 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 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCQ charges 1.20% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $120 vs $6 annually, a gap of $114 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCQ currently yields 4.51% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 84 holdings in PCQ and 100 in SCHD, totalling 60.0% 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 153 days apart, PCQ as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 84 positions we hold weights for in PCQ and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 263 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCQ 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, PCQ or SCHD?
PCQ has an expense ratio of 1.20% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $114 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCQ or SCHD?
Over the past year PCQ returned -1.84% vs +28.36% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PCQ annualized -1.15% vs +11.26% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCQ or SCHD?
PCQ has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PCQ -55.0% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PCQ and SCHD?
PCQ and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, 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, PCQ or SCHD?
PCQ yields 4.51% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so PCQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PCQ?
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.