PSET vs SCHD
Principal Quality ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PSET or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. PSET led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. PSET is less concentrated, with 34.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | PSET | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $119.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.69% | 2.96% |
| Holdings | 150 | 204 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 10.6 years | $33,783Best | $31,524 |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.2%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 21, 2016 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 18 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. PSET has data through Oct 19, 2026 and SCHD through Nov 6, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 10.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2016 to Oct 19, 2026 (10.6 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 15.0% for PSET. 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 -34.8% for PSET 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSET charges 0.15% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $6 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSET currently yields 0.69% against 2.96% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
2.9% of PSET's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings PSET also owns.
SCHD and PSET share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in PSET and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 150 and 204.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PSET (95.6% of the fund), and 68 for PSET that do not appear in SCHD (95.0%).
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 PSET 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, PSET or SCHD?
PSET has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, PSET or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 15.0% for PSET. Worst drawdown: PSET -34.8% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PSET and SCHD?
PSET and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 PSET and SCHD?
4.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings PSET also owns. 4.1% of SCHD's is in holdings PSET also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in PSET and 98 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PSET or SCHD?
PSET yields 0.69% while SCHD yields 2.96%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PSET?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. PSET led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. PSET is less concentrated, with 34.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.