QABA vs SCHD
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, QABA or SCHD?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QABA led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. QABA is less concentrated, with 25.6% 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 | QABA | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $99M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 322 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +18.01% | +23.68%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.57% | +28.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.29%Best | +16.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.23% | +10.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.3% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.0% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,177 | $16,156Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.6%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2009 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 22, 2026 (14.9 years).
QABA 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.
QABA vs SCHD Performance
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QABA returned +17.57% while SCHD returned +28.36%. Year to date, QABA is up 18.01% versus a gain of 23.68% for SCHD.
Over three years, QABA compounded at +21.29% per year against +16.20% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +7.23% and +10.07% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.26% annualized vs +8.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QABA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.3% compared with 13.7% 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 -51.0% for QABA 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QABA 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, QABA currently yields 2.22% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
10.7% of QABA's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings QABA also owns.
QABA and SCHD share little of their money.
14 positions in common, counted across the 160 positions we hold weights for in QABA and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 322 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 85 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for QABA (99.3% of the fund), and 144 for QABA 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 QABA | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| OZKBank Ozk | 2.17% | 0.12% | 2.05% |
| CVBFCvb Financial Corp. | 1.58% | 0.09% | 1.49% |
| BANRBanner Corp_None_0 | 0.96% | 0.06% | 0.90% |
| SRCE1st Source Corp Common Stock | 0.83% | 0.04% | 0.79% |
| CHCOCity Holding Co Common Stock Usd2.5 | 0.82% | 0.05% | 0.77% |
| GABCGerman American Bancorp Inc Common Stock | 0.75% | 0.05% | 0.70% |
| STBAS&T Bancorp Inc | 0.72% | 0.04% | 0.68% |
| LKFNLakeland Financial Corp. | 0.60% | 0.04% | 0.56% |
| PFBCPreferred Bank La | 0.49% | 0.03% | 0.46% |
| THFFFirst Financial Corporation | 0.38% | 0.02% | 0.36% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QABA 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, QABA or SCHD?
QABA 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, QABA or SCHD?
Over the past year QABA returned +17.57% vs +28.36% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), QABA annualized +8.84% vs +11.26% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QABA or SCHD?
QABA has been the more volatile fund at 22.3% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: QABA -51.0% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both QABA and SCHD?
QABA and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 QABA and SCHD?
10.7% of QABA's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.6% of SCHD's is in holdings QABA also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 160 positions we hold weights for in QABA and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QABA or SCHD?
QABA yields 2.22% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than QABA?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QABA led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. QABA is less concentrated, with 25.6% 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.