RETL vs SCHD
Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, RETL or SCHD?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD 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 | RETL | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.49% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 82 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -7.42% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | -16.63% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.79% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -26.77% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 72.7% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -92.0% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $2,106 | $16,274Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 14, 2010 | 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 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
RETL 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
RETL vs SCHD Performance
Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X ETF (RETL) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year RETL returned -16.63% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, RETL is down 7.42% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, RETL compounded at +10.79% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -26.77% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +10.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RETL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 72.7% 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 -92.0% for RETL 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
RETL charges 0.96% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $6 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RETL currently yields 0.49% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings RETL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RETL, our book for it covers 93.6% 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 RETL share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in RETL and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 82 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RETL 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, RETL or SCHD?
RETL has an expense ratio of 0.96% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RETL or SCHD?
Over the past year RETL returned -16.63% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), RETL annualized +10.48% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RETL or SCHD?
RETL has been the more volatile fund at 72.7% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: RETL -92.0% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both RETL and SCHD?
RETL 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 RETL and SCHD?
At least 2.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings RETL also owns. Our book for RETL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in RETL and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, RETL or SCHD?
RETL yields 0.49% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than RETL?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD 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.