PIEQ vs SCHD
Principal International Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PIEQ or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. PIEQ led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.9%.
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 | PIEQ | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.48% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.14% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 48 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +9.91% | +25.07%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.54% | +27.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.74% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.8%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.2%Best | -16.1% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $14,645Best | $12,459 |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.9% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 6, 2024 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 6, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.8 years).
PIEQ 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
PIEQ vs SCHD Performance
Principal International Equity ETF (PIEQ) 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 PIEQ returned +17.54% while SCHD returned +27.61%. Year to date, PIEQ is up 9.91% versus a gain of 25.07% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 9.8% for PIEQ. 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 -15.2% for PIEQ and -16.1% 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PIEQ charges 0.48% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $48 vs $6 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PIEQ currently yields 1.14% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
1.6% of PIEQ's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings PIEQ also owns.
PIEQ and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in PIEQ and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 48 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PIEQ (99.9% of the fund), and 3 for PIEQ that do not appear in SCHD (9.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PIEQ | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GVMXXSsi Us Gov Money Market Class | 1.62% | 0.06% | 1.56% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PIEQ 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, PIEQ or SCHD?
PIEQ has an expense ratio of 0.48% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PIEQ or SCHD?
Over the past year PIEQ returned +17.54% vs +27.61% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PIEQ annualized +23.61% vs +12.99% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PIEQ or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 9.8% for PIEQ. Worst drawdown: PIEQ -15.2% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both PIEQ and SCHD?
PIEQ and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 PIEQ and SCHD?
1.6% of PIEQ's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's is in holdings PIEQ also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in PIEQ and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PIEQ or SCHD?
PIEQ yields 1.14% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PIEQ?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. PIEQ led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.