SABA vs SCHD
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, SABA or SCHD?
SCHD has been ahead.
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 | SABA | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.71% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $254M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.33% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 740 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +4.61% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.71% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.37% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.12% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 13.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -57.8% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,660 | $16,274Best |
| Fund Family | Saba Capital | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 17, 1988 | 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).
SABA 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.
SABA vs SCHD Performance
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II (SABA) is an ETF from Saba Capital and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year SABA returned -2.71% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, SABA is up 4.61% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, SABA compounded at +10.37% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +3.12% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs -2.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.6% compared with 10.7% for SABA. 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 -57.8% for SABA 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 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SABA charges 0.71% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $71 vs $6 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SABA currently yields 8.33% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 14.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings SABA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SABA, our book for it covers 38.1% 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 SABA share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 372 days apart, SABA as of Jul 31, 2025 and SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
7 positions in common, counted across the 379 positions we hold weights for in SABA and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 740 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SABA | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | -0.02% | 4.32% | 4.34% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | -0.03% | 4.11% | 4.14% |
| VZVerizon Communic | -0.02% | 3.84% | 3.86% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | -0.03% | 1.80% | 1.83% |
| WSOWatsco Inc | -0.06% | 0.29% | 0.35% |
| BAHBooz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | -0.02% | 0.23% | 0.25% |
| CWENClearway Energy, Inc., Class C | -0.02% | 0.10% | 0.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SABA 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, SABA or SCHD?
SABA has an expense ratio of 0.71% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SABA or SCHD?
Over the past year SABA returned -2.71% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SABA annualized -2.41% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SABA or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 10.7% for SABA. Worst drawdown: SABA -57.8% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both SABA and SCHD?
SABA and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, 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 SABA and SCHD?
At least 14.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings SABA also owns. Our book for SABA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 379 positions we hold weights for in SABA and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, SABA or SCHD?
SABA yields 8.33% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SABA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than SABA?
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.