QDF vs SCHD
Northern Trust Quality Dividend ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, QDF or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QDF led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. QDF is less concentrated, with 38.1% 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 | QDF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.47% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 119 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +12.07% | +23.46%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.61% | +27.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.34%Best | +15.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.14%Best | +10.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.2% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,734Best | $16,223 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.1%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 14, 2012 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2012 to Sep 18, 2026 (13.7 years).
QDF 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 13.7 years both funds cover.
QDF vs SCHD Performance
Northern Trust Quality Dividend ETF (QDF) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QDF returned +16.61% while SCHD returned +27.20%. Year to date, QDF is up 12.07% versus a gain of 23.46% for SCHD.
Over three years, QDF compounded at +18.34% per year against +15.41% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +12.14% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.08% annualized vs +10.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QDF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 14.1% 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 -37.2% for QDF 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QDF charges 0.39% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $6 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QDF currently yields 1.47% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
11.6% of QDF's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 41.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings QDF also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
24 positions in common, counted across the 140 positions we hold weights for in QDF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 119 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 75 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for QDF (58.3% of the fund), and 114 for QDF that do not appear in SCHD (86.5%).
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 QDF | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.97% | 3.83% | 2.86% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.01% | 4.77% | 4.76% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.95% | 3.33% | 2.38% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.03% | 4.17% | 4.14% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.02% | 3.82% | 3.80% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.24% | 2.52% | 1.28% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 0.80% | 2.84% | 2.04% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.79% | 2.79% | 2.00% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.79% | 2.79% | 2.00% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 0.36% | 2.78% | 2.42% |
41.7% of SCHD is already inside QDF.
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, QDF or SCHD?
QDF has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QDF or SCHD?
Over the past year QDF returned +16.61% vs +27.20% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), QDF annualized +10.53% vs +11.08% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QDF or SCHD?
QDF has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 14.1% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: QDF -37.2% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both QDF and SCHD?
QDF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QDF and SCHD?
41.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings QDF also owns. 41.7% of SCHD's is in holdings QDF also owns. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 140 positions we hold weights for in QDF and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QDF or SCHD?
QDF yields 1.47% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than QDF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QDF led over 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. QDF is less concentrated, with 38.1% 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.