SCHD vs SCOW
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Pacer S&P SmallCap 600 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SCOW?
Large Cap Value against Small Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCOW is less concentrated, with 39.9% 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 | SCHD | SCOW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $112.2B | $2M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.13% | 0.36% |
| Holdings | 103 | 81 |
| YTD Return | +27.56%Best | +17.87% |
| 1Y Return | +30.29%Best | +15.32% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.37% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.23% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7% | 11.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -4.6%Best | -10.1% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $12,907Best | $11,536 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.5% | 39.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Pacer ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Aug 27, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 28, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1 years).
SCHD vs SCOW 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 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SCOW Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Pacer S&P SmallCap 600 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF (SCOW) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs. Over the past year SCHD returned +30.29% while SCOW returned +15.32%. Year to date, SCHD is up 27.56% versus a gain of 17.87% for SCOW.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.7% compared with 11.7% for SCOW. 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 -4.6% for SCHD and -10.1% for SCOW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SCOW charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $59 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.13% against 0.36% for SCOW.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings SCOW also owns. 4.6% of SCOW's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SCOW and SCHD share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 80 in SCOW, against full books of 103 and 81.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 74 positions for SCOW that do not appear in our book for SCHD (94.4% of the fund), and 93 for SCHD that do not appear in SCOW (99.3%).
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 SCHD and SCOW 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 SCOW?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SCOW charges 0.59%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SCOW?
Over the past year SCHD returned +30.29% vs +15.32% for SCOW, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SCHD annualized +29.07% vs +15.36% for SCOW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SCOW?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 12.7% annualized versus 11.7% for SCOW. Worst drawdown: SCHD -4.6% vs SCOW -10.1%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SCOW?
SCHD and SCOW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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 SCHD and SCOW?
4.6% of SCOW's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.6% of SCOW's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 80 in SCOW.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SCOW?
SCHD yields 3.13% while SCOW yields 0.36%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCOW better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCOW is less concentrated, with 39.9% 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.