PGZ vs SCHD
Principal Real Estate Income Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PGZ or SCHD?
Mid Cap Blend 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 | PGZ | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.16% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $73M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.39% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 110 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +6.21% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.91% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.80% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.74% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.8% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,901 | $16,274Best |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2013 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2013 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
PGZ 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.
PGZ vs SCHD Performance
Principal Real Estate Income Fund (PGZ) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PGZ returned +4.91% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, PGZ is up 6.21% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, PGZ compounded at +13.80% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +1.74% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs -0.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PGZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% 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 -56.8% for PGZ 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGZ charges 2.16% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $216 vs $6 annually, a gap of $210 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PGZ currently yields 11.39% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 61 holdings in PGZ and 100 in SCHD, totalling 59.8% 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 188 days apart, PGZ 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 61 positions we hold weights for in PGZ and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 110 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PGZ 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, PGZ or SCHD?
PGZ has an expense ratio of 2.16% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $210 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PGZ or SCHD?
Over the past year PGZ returned +4.91% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), PGZ annualized -0.93% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PGZ or SCHD?
PGZ has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PGZ -56.8% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PGZ and SCHD?
PGZ and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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, PGZ or SCHD?
PGZ yields 11.39% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so PGZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PGZ?
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.