QLD vs SCHD
ProShares Ultra QQQ vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, QLD or SCHD?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QLD 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 | QLD | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $13.8B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.13% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 127 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +25.79% | +25.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | +32.30%Best | +30.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +40.80%Best | +16.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.30%Best | +10.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 35.6% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.7% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,207Best | $16,230 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2006 | 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 14, 2026 (14.9 years).
QLD 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QLD vs SCHD Performance
ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) is an ETF from ProShares and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QLD returned +32.30% while SCHD returned +30.22%. Year to date, QLD is up 25.79% versus a gain of 25.88% for SCHD.
Over three years, QLD compounded at +40.80% per year against +16.05% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +17.30% and +10.17% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QLD has the edge at +32.65% annualized vs +11.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 35.6% 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 -63.7% for QLD 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLD charges 0.95% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $6 annually, a gap of $89 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLD currently yields 0.13% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 21.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings QLD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for QLD, our book for it covers 78.0% 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 QLD share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in QLD and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 127 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QLD | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.70% | 4.70% | 4.00% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.58% | 3.64% | 3.06% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.72% | 3.13% | 2.41% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.34% | 2.79% | 2.45% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.54% | 2.52% | 1.98% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 0.29% | 2.31% | 2.02% |
| FASTFastenal Co. | 0.17% | 1.38% | 1.21% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 0.14% | 1.00% | 0.86% |
21.5% of SCHD is already inside QLD.
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, QLD or SCHD?
QLD has an expense ratio of 0.95% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $89 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLD or SCHD?
Over the past year QLD returned +32.30% vs +30.22% for SCHD, so QLD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), QLD annualized +32.65% vs +11.41% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLD or SCHD?
QLD has been the more volatile fund at 35.6% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: QLD -63.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both QLD and SCHD?
QLD and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 QLD and SCHD?
At least 21.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings QLD also owns. Our book for QLD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in QLD and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QLD or SCHD?
QLD yields 0.13% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than QLD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QLD 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.