RUSC vs SCHD
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, RUSC or SCHD?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | RUSC | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $81M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 490 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +21.07% | +26.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | +25.02% | +30.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 12.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.2% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $14,245Best | $13,788 |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.0%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Russell Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 13, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2025 to Sep 8, 2026 (1.3 years).
RUSC 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
RUSC vs SCHD Performance
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF (RUSC) is an ETF from Russell Investments and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year RUSC returned +25.02% while SCHD returned +30.01%. Year to date, RUSC is up 21.07% versus a gain of 26.13% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RUSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 12.1% 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 -9.2% for RUSC and -4.6% 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 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RUSC charges 0.64% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $6 annually, a gap of $58 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RUSC currently yields 0.32% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
2.3% of RUSC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings RUSC also owns.
RUSC and SCHD share little of their money.
13 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 490 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 86 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for RUSC (98.7% of the fund), and 364 for RUSC that do not appear in SCHD (75.2%).
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 RUSC | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHIRobert Half International Inc. | 0.28% | 0.11% | 0.17% |
| WSOWatsco, Inc. | 0.04% | 0.29% | 0.25% |
| NBHCNational Bank Holdings Corp | 0.27% | 0.05% | 0.22% |
| GABCGerman American Bancorp Inc Common Stock | 0.25% | 0.05% | 0.20% |
| IPARInter Parfums Inc | 0.22% | 0.06% | 0.16% |
| NXSTNexstar Media Group Inc | 0.14% | 0.14% | 0.00% |
| AGMFederal Agricultural Mortgage Corp | 0.22% | 0.05% | 0.17% |
| OFG:PROfg Bancorp Common Stock | 0.21% | 0.06% | 0.15% |
| BANRBanner Corp | 0.19% | 0.06% | 0.13% |
| CCBGCapital City Bank Group Inc | 0.15% | 0.02% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RUSC 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, RUSC or SCHD?
RUSC has an expense ratio of 0.64% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $58 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RUSC or SCHD?
Over the past year RUSC returned +25.02% vs +30.01% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RUSC annualized +31.28% vs +28.03% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RUSC or SCHD?
RUSC has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 12.1% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: RUSC -9.2% vs SCHD -4.6%.
Should I hold both RUSC and SCHD?
RUSC and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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 RUSC and SCHD?
2.3% of RUSC's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.0% of SCHD's is in holdings RUSC also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, RUSC or SCHD?
RUSC yields 0.32% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than RUSC?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over the full window, SCHD over 1Y. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.