RFDA vs SCHD
ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, RFDA or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. RFDA led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. RFDA is less concentrated, with 26.6% 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 | RFDA | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $82M | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.85% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 79 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +15.53% | +24.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.63% | +27.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.74%Best | +15.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.29%Best | +9.97% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Tie | 15.1%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,662Best | $16,083 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.6%Best | 41.8% |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 6, 2016 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 7, 2016 to Sep 17, 2026 (10.3 years).
RFDA 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 10.3 years both funds cover.
RFDA vs SCHD Performance
ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF (RFDA) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year RFDA returned +19.63% while SCHD returned +27.90%. Year to date, RFDA is up 15.53% versus a gain of 24.23% for SCHD.
Over three years, RFDA compounded at +19.74% per year against +15.55% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +13.29% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, RFDA has the edge at +12.28% annualized vs +11.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFDA and SCHD have been equally volatile, both at 15.1% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -34.8% for RFDA 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFDA charges 0.52% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $6 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFDA currently yields 1.85% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
23.3% of RFDA's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 40.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings RFDA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
17 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in RFDA and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 79 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 82 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for RFDA (59.2% of the fund), and 57 for RFDA that do not appear in SCHD (71.8%).
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 RFDA | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.28% | 4.77% | 2.49% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 2.80% | 3.82% | 1.02% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 2.49% | 3.94% | 1.45% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.56% | 4.17% | 2.61% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.46% | 3.97% | 2.51% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.03% | 3.33% | 1.30% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 1.77% | 2.78% | 1.01% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 1.19% | 2.79% | 1.60% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.04% | 2.52% | 1.48% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 1.03% | 2.19% | 1.16% |
40.7% of SCHD is already inside RFDA.
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, RFDA or SCHD?
RFDA has an expense ratio of 0.52% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RFDA or SCHD?
Over the past year RFDA returned +19.63% vs +27.90% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), RFDA annualized +12.28% vs +11.27% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RFDA or SCHD?
RFDA and SCHD have been equally volatile, both at 15.1% annualized. Worst drawdown: RFDA -34.8% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both RFDA and SCHD?
RFDA and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 RFDA and SCHD?
40.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings RFDA also owns. 40.7% of SCHD's is in holdings RFDA also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in RFDA and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, RFDA or SCHD?
RFDA yields 1.85% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than RFDA?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. RFDA led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. RFDA is less concentrated, with 26.6% 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.