PSF vs SCHD
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund Inc. vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PSF 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 | PSF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.59% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2,687.94 | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.02% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 332 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -2.82% | +25.07%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.79% | +27.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.73% | +15.74%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.66% | +9.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.4% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,674 | $16,025Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 24, 2010 | 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 11, 2026 (14.9 years).
PSF 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.
PSF vs SCHD Performance
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund Inc. (PSF) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PSF returned -1.79% while SCHD returned +27.61%. Year to date, PSF is down 2.82% versus a gain of 25.07% for SCHD.
Over three years, PSF compounded at +9.73% per year against +15.74% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -0.66% and +9.89% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.36% annualized vs +1.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PSF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 13.6% 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 -55.4% for PSF 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSF charges 1.59% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $159 vs $6 annually, a gap of $153 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSF currently yields 7.02% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings PSF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PSF, our book for it covers 86.8% 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 PSF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, PSF as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 186 positions we hold weights for in PSF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 332 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PSF 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, PSF or SCHD?
PSF has an expense ratio of 1.59% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $153 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSF or SCHD?
Over the past year PSF returned -1.79% vs +27.61% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PSF annualized +1.49% vs +11.36% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSF or SCHD?
PSF has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PSF -55.4% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PSF and SCHD?
PSF 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 PSF and SCHD?
At least 1.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings PSF also owns. Our book for PSF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 186 positions we hold weights for in PSF and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PSF or SCHD?
PSF yields 7.02% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so PSF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PSF?
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.