PFD vs SCHD
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Inc vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PFD or SCHD?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Value.
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 | PFD | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.06% |
| AUM | $158M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.58% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 245 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -2.25% | +24.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.24% | +27.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.97% | +15.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.75% | +9.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.4% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,631 | $16,083Best |
| Fund Family | Flaherty & Crumrine | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 31, 1991 | 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).
PFD 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.
PFD vs SCHD Performance
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Inc (PFD) is an ETF from Flaherty & Crumrine and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PFD returned -1.24% while SCHD returned +27.90%. Year to date, PFD is down 2.25% versus a gain of 24.23% for SCHD.
Over three years, PFD compounded at +12.97% per year against +15.55% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -0.75% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.30% annualized vs +0.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PFD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% 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 -53.4% for PFD 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings PFD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PFD, our book for it covers 81.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SCHD and PFD share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 92 days apart, PFD as of May 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 216 positions we hold weights for in PFD and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 245 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFD | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 1.20% | 1.19% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFD 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 performed better, PFD or SCHD?
Over the past year PFD returned -1.24% vs +27.90% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PFD annualized +0.85% vs +11.30% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFD or SCHD?
PFD has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PFD -53.4% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PFD and SCHD?
PFD and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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 PFD and SCHD?
At least 1.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings PFD also owns. Our book for PFD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 216 positions we hold weights for in PFD and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFD or SCHD?
PFD yields 6.58% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so PFD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PFD?
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.