QEFA vs SCHD
State Street SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, QEFA or SCHD?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QEFA led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. QEFA is less concentrated, with 14.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | QEFA | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.75% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 659 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +12.24% | +26.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.53% | +30.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.99%Best | +16.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.29% | +9.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.3%Best | 14.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.7%Best | -33.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,892 | $16,069Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.6%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 4, 2014 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 5, 2014 to Sep 8, 2026 (12.3 years).
QEFA 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 12.3 years both funds cover.
QEFA vs SCHD Performance
State Street SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF (QEFA) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QEFA returned +18.53% while SCHD returned +30.01%. Year to date, QEFA is up 12.24% versus a gain of 26.13% for SCHD.
Over three years, QEFA compounded at +16.99% per year against +16.09% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +8.29% and +9.95% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.17% annualized vs +5.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.5% compared with 13.3% for QEFA. 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 -32.7% for QEFA 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
QEFA charges 0.30% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $6 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QEFA currently yields 2.75% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings QEFA also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 635 positions we hold weights for in QEFA and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 659 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for QEFA (99.6% of the fund), and 12 for QEFA that do not appear in SCHD (3.8%).
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 QEFA | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GVMXXState Street Institutional US Government Money Market Fund | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QEFA 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, QEFA or SCHD?
QEFA has an expense ratio of 0.30% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QEFA or SCHD?
Over the past year QEFA returned +18.53% vs +30.01% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QEFA annualized +5.69% vs +10.17% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QEFA or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.5% annualized versus 13.3% for QEFA. Worst drawdown: QEFA -32.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both QEFA and SCHD?
QEFA 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, QEFA or SCHD?
QEFA yields 2.75% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than QEFA?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QEFA led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. QEFA is less concentrated, with 14.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.