SCHD vs SDHY
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund
Which is better, SCHD or SDHY?
Large Cap Value against Short Term High Quality.
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 | SCHD | SDHY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 1.90% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $441M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 7.54% |
| Holdings | 103 | 572 |
| YTD Return | +25.07%Best | -0.49% |
| 1Y Return | +27.61%Best | -1.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.74%Best | +9.74% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.89%Best | +4.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5% | 10.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.9%Best | -23.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,025Best | $12,379 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | PGIM Investments |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Short Term High Quality |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Nov 25, 2020 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 25, 2020 to Sep 11, 2026 (5.8 years).
SCHD vs SDHY 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 5.8 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SDHY Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund (SDHY) is an ETF from PGIM Investments. Over the past year SCHD returned +27.61% while SDHY returned -1.28%. Year to date, SCHD is up 25.07% versus a loss of 0.49% for SDHY.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.74% per year against +9.74% for SDHY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.89% and +4.36% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +12.17% annualized vs +3.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.5% compared with 10.1% for SDHY. 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 -16.9% for SCHD and -23.1% for SDHY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SDHY charges 1.90%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $190 annually, a gap of $184 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 7.54% for SDHY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 456 in SDHY, totalling 100.0% and 83.4% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 213 days apart, SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026 and SDHY as of Jan 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 456 in SDHY, against full books of 103 and 572.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SDHY 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 SDHY?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SDHY charges 1.90%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $184 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SDHY?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.61% vs -1.28% for SDHY, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SCHD annualized +12.17% vs +3.54% for SDHY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SDHY?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.5% annualized versus 10.1% for SDHY. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.9% vs SDHY -23.1%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SDHY?
SCHD and SDHY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 SDHY?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SDHY yields 7.54%, so SDHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SDHY better than SCHD?
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.