PDX vs SCHD
PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PDX or SCHD?
Short Term High Quality against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. PDX led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD 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 | PDX | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.29% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 19.41% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 442 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +21.55% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.42% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.53%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.46%Best | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 39.3% | 16.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,864Best | $16,274 |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term High Quality | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 30, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.6 years).
PDX 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 7.6 years both funds cover.
PDX vs SCHD Performance
PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund (PDX) 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 PDX returned +10.42% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, PDX is up 21.55% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, PDX compounded at +21.53% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +24.46% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +13.21% annualized vs +8.00%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PDX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 39.3% compared with 16.2% 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 -83.0% for PDX 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDX charges 3.29% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $329 vs $6 annually, a gap of $323 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PDX currently yields 19.41% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in PDX and 100 in SCHD, totalling 20.8% 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 311 days apart, PDX as of Sep 30, 2025 and SCHD as of Aug 7, 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 7 positions we hold weights for in PDX and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 442 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDX 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, PDX or SCHD?
PDX has an expense ratio of 3.29% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $323 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDX or SCHD?
Over the past year PDX returned +10.42% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PDX annualized +8.00% vs +13.21% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDX or SCHD?
PDX has been the more volatile fund at 39.3% annualized versus 16.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PDX -83.0% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PDX and SCHD?
PDX and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, PDX or SCHD?
PDX yields 19.41% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so PDX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PDX?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. PDX led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.