QVAL vs SCHD
Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, QVAL or SCHD?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QVAL led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over the full window. QVAL is less concentrated, with 20.3% 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 | QVAL | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.28% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $708M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.35% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 52 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +22.15% | +23.68%Best |
| 1Y Return | +29.79%Best | +28.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.37%Best | +16.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.35%Best | +10.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.3% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,711Best | $16,156 |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.3%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 22, 2014 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2014 to Sep 22, 2026 (11.9 years).
QVAL 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 11.9 years both funds cover.
QVAL vs SCHD Performance
Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF (QVAL) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QVAL returned +29.79% while SCHD returned +28.36%. Year to date, QVAL is up 22.15% versus a gain of 23.68% for SCHD.
Over three years, QVAL compounded at +19.37% per year against +16.20% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +13.35% and +10.07% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.41% annualized vs +8.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QVAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% compared with 14.7% 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 -53.3% for QVAL 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QVAL charges 0.28% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $28 vs $6 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QVAL currently yields 1.35% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
20.0% of QVAL's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 21.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings QVAL also owns.
SCHD and QVAL share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in QVAL and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 52 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 88 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for QVAL (78.7% of the fund), and 38 for QVAL that do not appear in SCHD (76.1%).
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 QVAL | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 2.00% | 3.94% | 1.94% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.00% | 3.33% | 1.33% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 1.98% | 2.79% | 0.81% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 1.98% | 2.31% | 0.33% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.00% | 3.97% | 3.97% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 1.99% | 1.88% | 0.11% |
| TGTTarget Corp Common Stock Usd.0833 | 2.02% | 1.78% | 0.24% |
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 2.02% | 0.38% | 1.64% |
| DINOHF Sinclair Corp | 2.01% | 0.38% | 1.63% |
| APAApa Corp | 2.00% | 0.37% | 1.63% |
21.3% of SCHD is already inside QVAL.
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, QVAL or SCHD?
QVAL has an expense ratio of 0.28% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QVAL or SCHD?
Over the past year QVAL returned +29.79% vs +28.36% for SCHD, so QVAL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QVAL annualized +8.52% vs +10.41% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QVAL or SCHD?
QVAL has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 14.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: QVAL -53.3% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both QVAL and SCHD?
QVAL and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 QVAL and SCHD?
21.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings QVAL also owns. 21.3% of SCHD's is in holdings QVAL also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in QVAL and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QVAL or SCHD?
QVAL yields 1.35% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than QVAL?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QVAL led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SCHD over the full window. QVAL is less concentrated, with 20.3% 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.