SAWS vs SCHD
AAM Sawgrass US Small Cap Quality Growth ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, SAWS or SCHD?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SAWS is less concentrated, with 28.8% 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 | SAWS | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 75 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +11.09% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.21% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.0% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $12,368 | $13,610Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.8%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2024 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (2.1 years).
SAWS 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SAWS vs SCHD Performance
AAM Sawgrass US Small Cap Quality Growth ETF (SAWS) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year SAWS returned +11.21% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, SAWS is up 11.09% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAWS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 13.0% 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 -22.0% for SAWS and -16.1% 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 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAWS charges 0.55% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $6 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAWS currently yields 0.02% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 73 holdings in SAWS and 100 in SCHD, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in SAWS and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 75 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for SAWS (99.9% of the fund), and 71 for SAWS that do not appear in SCHD (98.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SAWS 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, SAWS or SCHD?
SAWS has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SAWS or SCHD?
Over the past year SAWS returned +11.21% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SAWS annualized +10.65% vs +15.81% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAWS or SCHD?
SAWS has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 13.0% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SAWS -22.0% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both SAWS and SCHD?
SAWS and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SAWS or SCHD?
SAWS yields 0.02% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than SAWS?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SAWS is less concentrated, with 28.8% 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.