QTUM vs SCHD
Defiance Quantum ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, QTUM or SCHD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QTUM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QTUM is less concentrated, with 16.9% 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 | QTUM | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $5.4B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.80% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 179 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +30.05%Best | +24.59% |
| 1Y Return | +50.80%Best | +28.14% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +44.04%Best | +15.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.10%Best | +9.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.1% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.5% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,435Best | $16,032 |
| Top 10 Weight | 16.9%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 4, 2018 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 5, 2018 to Sep 10, 2026 (8 years).
QTUM 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 years both funds cover.
QTUM vs SCHD Performance
Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QTUM returned +50.80% while SCHD returned +28.14%. Year to date, QTUM is up 30.05% versus a gain of 24.59% for SCHD.
Over three years, QTUM compounded at +44.04% per year against +15.58% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +24.10% and +9.90% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QTUM has the edge at +25.57% annualized vs +11.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QTUM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.1% compared with 16.6% 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 -38.5% for QTUM 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QTUM charges 0.40% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $6 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QTUM currently yields 0.80% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
3.4% of QTUM's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 8.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings QTUM also owns.
SCHD and QTUM share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in QTUM and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 179 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for QTUM (91.5% of the fund), and 52 for QTUM that do not appear in SCHD (59.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QTUM 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, QTUM or SCHD?
QTUM has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QTUM or SCHD?
Over the past year QTUM returned +50.80% vs +28.14% for SCHD, so QTUM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), QTUM annualized +25.57% vs +11.13% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QTUM or SCHD?
QTUM has been the more volatile fund at 26.1% annualized versus 16.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: QTUM -38.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both QTUM and SCHD?
QTUM and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 QTUM and SCHD?
8.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings QTUM also owns. 8.4% of SCHD's is in holdings QTUM also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in QTUM and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QTUM or SCHD?
QTUM yields 0.80% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than QTUM?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QTUM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QTUM is less concentrated, with 16.9% 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.