SCHC vs SPY
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SCHC or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SCHC has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHC is less concentrated, with 3.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | SCHC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $5.7B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.27% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 2,271 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +9.13% | +12.66%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.46% | +16.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.70% | +22.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.77% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,875 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.5%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 14, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 14, 2010 to Sep 28, 2026 (16.7 years).
SCHC vs SPY 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 16.7 years both funds cover.
SCHC vs SPY Performance
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCHC returned +14.46% while SPY returned +16.31%. Year to date, SCHC is up 9.13% versus a gain of 12.66% for SPY.
Over three years, SCHC compounded at +19.70% per year against +22.83% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.77% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.52% annualized vs +5.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 14.4% for SPY. 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 -47.1% for SCHC and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHC charges 0.06% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $9 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHC currently yields 3.27% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SCHC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SCHC also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 2,147 positions we hold weights for in SCHC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 2,271 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SCHC (99.3% of the fund), and 25 for SCHC that do not appear in SPY (2.1%).
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 SCHC and SPY 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, SCHC or SPY?
SCHC has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SPY charges 0.09%. SCHC is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHC or SPY?
Over the past year SCHC returned +14.46% vs +16.31% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SCHC annualized +5.08% vs +12.52% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHC or SPY?
SCHC has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SCHC -47.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SCHC and SPY?
SCHC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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, SCHC or SPY?
SCHC yields 3.27% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SCHC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SCHC?
SCHC has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHC is less concentrated, with 3.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.