POWR vs SCHD
iShares US Power Infrastructure ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, POWR or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. POWR led over 5Y, SCHD over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.3%.
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 | POWR | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $446M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.98% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 81 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +7.61% | +25.07%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.12% | +27.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.46% | +15.74%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.78%Best | +9.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.7% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -72.1% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,922Best | $16,025 |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.3% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2012 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2012 to Sep 11, 2026 (14.6 years).
POWR 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 14.6 years both funds cover.
POWR vs SCHD Performance
iShares US Power Infrastructure ETF (POWR) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year POWR returned +9.12% while SCHD returned +27.61%. Year to date, POWR is up 7.61% versus a gain of 25.07% for SCHD.
Over three years, POWR compounded at +4.46% per year against +15.74% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +14.78% and +9.89% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.07% annualized vs +1.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
POWR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.7% compared with 13.8% 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 -72.1% for POWR 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
POWR charges 0.39% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $6 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, POWR currently yields 5.98% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of POWR's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings POWR also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in POWR and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 81 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for POWR (99.8% of the fund), and 64 for POWR that do not appear in SCHD (96.4%).
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 POWR | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWENClearway Energy Inc | 0.15% | 0.09% | 0.06% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of POWR 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, POWR or SCHD?
POWR has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, POWR or SCHD?
Over the past year POWR returned +9.12% vs +27.61% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), POWR annualized +1.82% vs +11.07% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, POWR or SCHD?
POWR has been the more volatile fund at 22.7% annualized versus 13.8% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: POWR -72.1% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both POWR and SCHD?
POWR 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, POWR or SCHD?
POWR yields 5.98% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so POWR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than POWR?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. POWR led over 5Y, SCHD over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.