PQDI vs SCHD
Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PQDI or SCHD?
Preferred Stock 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 | PQDI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $111M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.69% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 105 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +0.58% | +25.07%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.58% | +27.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.00% | +15.74%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.68% | +9.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.3%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.4% | -16.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,414 | $16,025Best |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2020 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 17, 2020 to Sep 11, 2026 (6.2 years).
PQDI 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 6.2 years both funds cover.
PQDI vs SCHD Performance
Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF (PQDI) 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 PQDI returned +2.58% while SCHD returned +27.61%. Year to date, PQDI is up 0.58% versus a gain of 25.07% for SCHD.
Over three years, PQDI compounded at +8.00% per year against +15.74% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +2.68% and +9.89% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +14.51% annualized vs +3.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 6.3% for PQDI. 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 -17.4% for PQDI and -16.9% 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
PQDI charges 0.60% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $6 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PQDI currently yields 5.69% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings PQDI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PQDI, our book for it covers 60.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SCHD and PQDI share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 72 positions we hold weights for in PQDI and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 105 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PQDI 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, PQDI or SCHD?
PQDI has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PQDI or SCHD?
Over the past year PQDI returned +2.58% vs +27.61% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), PQDI annualized +3.81% vs +14.51% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PQDI or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 6.3% for PQDI. Worst drawdown: PQDI -17.4% vs SCHD -16.9%.
Should I hold both PQDI and SCHD?
PQDI 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 PQDI and SCHD?
At least 1.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings PQDI also owns. Our book for PQDI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 72 positions we hold weights for in PQDI and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PQDI or SCHD?
PQDI yields 5.69% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so PQDI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PQDI?
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.