SCHD vs SCHF
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Schwab International Equity ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SCHF?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHF has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window, SCHF over 3Y and 5Y. SCHF is less concentrated, with 13.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | SCHD | SCHF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $112.1B | $69.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 2.98% |
| Holdings | 103 | 1,493 |
| YTD Return | +23.46%Best | +14.52% |
| 1Y Return | +27.20%Best | +23.21% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.41% | +20.03%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.16% | +10.57%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 14.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -38.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,223 | $16,527Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 13.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Nov 3, 2009 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs SCHF 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.
SCHD vs SCHF Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% while SCHF returned +23.21%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.46% versus a gain of 14.52% for SCHF.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.41% per year against +20.03% for SCHF; over five years the annualized figures are +10.16% and +10.57% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs +6.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 13.7% 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 -33.4% for SCHD and -38.6% for SCHF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SCHF charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $3 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 2.98% for SCHF.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings SCHF also owns. 0.1% of SCHF's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 1,447 in SCHF, against full books of 103 and 1,493.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 20 positions for SCHF that do not appear in our book for SCHD (3.6% of the fund), and 98 for SCHD that do not appear in SCHF (99.9%).
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 SCHD | Weight in SCHF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GVMXXState Street Institutional US Government Money Market Fund | 0.06% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SCHF 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, SCHD or SCHF?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SCHF charges 0.03%. SCHF is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SCHF?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% vs +23.21% for SCHF, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.25% vs +6.76% for SCHF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SCHF?
SCHF has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SCHF -38.6%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SCHF?
SCHD and SCHF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, SCHD or SCHF?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SCHF yields 2.98%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHF better than SCHD?
SCHF has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window, SCHF over 3Y and 5Y. SCHF is less concentrated, with 13.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.