ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF (RFDA) is a ETF from ALPS Advisors and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is a ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year RFDA returned +25.69% while SCHD returned +31.38%. Year to date, RFDA is up 16.12% versus a gain of 24.26% for SCHD.

Over three years, RFDA compounded at +19.05% per year against +15.08% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +13.07% and +9.72% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, RFDA has the edge at +12.48% annualized vs +11.39%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

RFDA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% 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 -34.8% for RFDA and -33.4% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

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 1.79% against 3.31% for SCHD.