PFLD vs SCHD
AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PFLD or SCHD?
Preferred Stock 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 | PFLD | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $402M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.44% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 324 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +2.87% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.77% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.37% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.95% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.1%Best | 16.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.5% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,484 | $16,274Best |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 19, 2019 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 20, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (6.8 years).
PFLD 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 6.8 years both funds cover.
PFLD vs SCHD Performance
AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFLD) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PFLD returned +4.77% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, PFLD is up 2.87% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, PFLD compounded at +4.37% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +0.95% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +12.62% annualized vs +1.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 9.1% for PFLD. 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 -33.5% for PFLD 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
PFLD charges 0.45% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $6 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFLD currently yields 5.44% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings PFLD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PFLD, our book for it covers 71.6% 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 PFLD share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 188 days apart, PFLD as of Jan 31, 2026 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 230 positions we hold weights for in PFLD and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 324 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFLD | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 0.31% | 1.30% | 0.99% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFLD 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, PFLD or SCHD?
PFLD has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFLD or SCHD?
Over the past year PFLD returned +4.77% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), PFLD annualized +1.27% vs +12.62% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFLD or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 9.1% for PFLD. Worst drawdown: PFLD -33.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PFLD and SCHD?
PFLD 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.
What is the holdings overlap between PFLD and SCHD?
At least 1.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings PFLD also owns. Our book for PFLD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 230 positions we hold weights for in PFLD and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFLD or SCHD?
PFLD yields 5.44% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so PFLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PFLD?
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.