PPT vs SCHD
Putnam Premier Income Trust vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PPT or SCHD?
Short Term Low Quality 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 | PPT | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.93% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1,660.6 | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.57% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 766 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -0.44% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.64% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.48% | +15.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.36% | +10.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.2%Best | 13.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.9% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,237 | $16,223Best |
| Fund Family | Putnam Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Low Quality | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 29, 1988 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.9 years).
PPT 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
PPT vs SCHD Performance
Putnam Premier Income Trust (PPT) is an ETF from Putnam Investments and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PPT returned -2.64% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, PPT is down 0.44% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, PPT compounded at +7.48% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +2.36% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs -0.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.7% compared with 9.2% for PPT. 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 -35.9% for PPT 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 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PPT charges 0.93% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $93 vs $6 annually, a gap of $87 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PPT currently yields 8.57% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 4 holdings in PPT and 100 in SCHD, totalling 2.8% 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 274 days apart, PPT as of Nov 30, 2025 and SCHD as of Aug 31, 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 4 positions we hold weights for in PPT and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 766 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PPT 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, PPT or SCHD?
PPT has an expense ratio of 0.93% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $87 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PPT or SCHD?
Over the past year PPT returned -2.64% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PPT annualized -0.27% vs +11.25% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PPT or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.7% annualized versus 9.2% for PPT. Worst drawdown: PPT -35.9% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PPT and SCHD?
PPT and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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, PPT or SCHD?
PPT yields 8.57% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so PPT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PPT?
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.