PFDE vs SCHD
Pathfinder Disciplined US Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PFDE or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.8%.
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 | PFDE | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $160M | $119.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.26% | 2.96% |
| Holdings | 181 | 204 |
| YTD Return | +4.18% | +29.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +37.26% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.87% |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.8% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Pathfinder ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 31, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
PFDE 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.
PFDE vs SCHD Performance
Pathfinder Disciplined US Equity ETF (PFDE) is an ETF from Pathfinder ETFs and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Year to date, PFDE is up 4.18% versus a gain of 29.95% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFDE charges 0.59% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $6 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFDE currently yields 0.26% against 2.96% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
6.5% of PFDE's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 17.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings PFDE also owns.
SCHD and PFDE share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 88 positions we hold weights for in PFDE and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 181 and 204.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 90 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PFDE (81.9% of the fund), and 81 for PFDE that do not appear in SCHD (93.5%).
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 PFDE 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, PFDE or SCHD?
PFDE has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between PFDE and SCHD?
17.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings PFDE also owns. 17.9% of SCHD's is in holdings PFDE also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 88 positions we hold weights for in PFDE and 98 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFDE or SCHD?
PFDE yields 0.26% while SCHD yields 2.96%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PFDE?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.