PWS vs SCHD
Pacer WealthShield ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PWS or SCHD?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PWS is less concentrated, with 30.4% 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 | PWS | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $25M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 359 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -0.53% | +25.84%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.86% | +30.18%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.96% | +16.08%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.14% | +9.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 16.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.9%Best | -33.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,583 | $16,083Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.4%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2017 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2017 to Sep 15, 2026 (8.8 years).
PWS 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 8.8 years both funds cover.
PWS vs SCHD Performance
Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PWS returned +1.86% while SCHD returned +30.18%. Year to date, PWS is down 0.53% versus a gain of 25.84% for SCHD.
Over three years, PWS compounded at +6.96% per year against +16.08% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +1.14% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.81% annualized vs +4.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 12.5% for PWS. 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 -24.9% for PWS 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
PWS 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, PWS currently yields 1.27% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
9.9% of PWS's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 39.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings PWS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
19 positions in common, counted across the 352 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 359 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 80 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PWS (60.4% of the fund), and 325 for PWS that do not appear in SCHD (88.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PWS | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp | 3.52% | 4.02% | 0.50% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 1.46% | 3.94% | 2.48% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.24% | 4.70% | 4.46% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.20% | 3.13% | 2.93% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.40% | 2.79% | 2.39% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 0.39% | 2.78% | 2.39% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 0.82% | 2.19% | 1.37% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 0.10% | 2.84% | 2.74% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.15% | 2.52% | 2.37% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 0.70% | 1.88% | 1.18% |
39.5% of SCHD is already inside PWS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PWS or SCHD?
PWS 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, PWS or SCHD?
Over the past year PWS returned +1.86% vs +30.18% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PWS annualized +4.20% vs +10.81% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PWS or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 12.5% for PWS. Worst drawdown: PWS -24.9% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PWS and SCHD?
PWS 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.
What is the holdings overlap between PWS and SCHD?
39.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings PWS also owns. 39.5% of SCHD's is in holdings PWS also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 352 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, PWS or SCHD?
PWS yields 1.27% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PWS?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PWS is less concentrated, with 30.4% 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.