PPH vs SCHD
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PPH or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. PPH led over 1Y and 5Y, SCHD over 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.8%.
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 | PPH | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $985M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 26 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +7.83% | +21.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | +27.48%Best | +25.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.07% | +15.66%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.53%Best | +9.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.0% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,497Best | $15,728 |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.8% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2011 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 23, 2026 (14.9 years).
PPH 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.
PPH vs SCHD Performance
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) is an ETF from VanEck and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PPH returned +27.48% while SCHD returned +25.92%. Year to date, PPH is up 7.83% versus a gain of 21.99% for SCHD.
Over three years, PPH compounded at +13.07% per year against +15.66% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +10.53% and +9.48% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.15% annualized vs +9.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PPH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 13.7% 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 -36.0% for PPH 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PPH charges 0.36% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $6 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PPH currently yields 1.86% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
15.9% of PPH's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 8.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings PPH also owns.
PPH and SCHD share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in PPH and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 26 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PPH (91.8% of the fund), and 14 for PPH that do not appear in SCHD (47.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PPH 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, PPH or SCHD?
PPH has an expense ratio of 0.36% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PPH or SCHD?
Over the past year PPH returned +27.48% vs +25.92% for SCHD, so PPH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PPH annualized +9.15% vs +11.15% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PPH or SCHD?
PPH has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PPH -36.0% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PPH and SCHD?
PPH and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 PPH and SCHD?
15.9% of PPH's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 8.1% of SCHD's is in holdings PPH also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in PPH and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PPH or SCHD?
PPH yields 1.86% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PPH?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. PPH led over 1Y and 5Y, SCHD over 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.