SCHD vs SDVY
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SDVY?
Large Cap Value against Mid Cap Growth.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDVY is less concentrated, with 10.5% 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 | SDVY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.58% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $11.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 0.96% |
| Holdings | 103 | 348 |
| YTD Return | +24.23%Best | +8.55% |
| 1Y Return | +27.90%Best | +11.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.55%Best | +14.98% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.97%Best | +9.77% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1%Best | 22.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -45.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,083Best | $15,937 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 10.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Nov 2, 2017 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 3, 2017 to Sep 17, 2026 (8.9 years).
SCHD vs SDVY 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SDVY Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year SCHD returned +27.90% while SDVY returned +11.40%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.23% versus a gain of 8.55% for SDVY.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.55% per year against +14.98% for SDVY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.97% and +9.77% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.02% annualized vs +9.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SDVY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.1% compared with 16.1% 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 -45.2% for SDVY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SDVY charges 0.58%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $58 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 0.96% for SDVY.
Holdings Overlap
5.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings SDVY also owns. 9.8% of SDVY's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SDVY and SCHD share little of their money.
15 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 172 in SDVY, against full books of 103 and 348.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 155 positions for SDVY that do not appear in our book for SCHD (88.1% of the fund), and 85 for SCHD that do not appear in SDVY (94.9%).
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 SDVY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 1.19% | 0.48% | 0.71% |
| CINFCincinnati Financial Corp. | 0.64% | 0.87% | 0.23% |
| SNASnap-On Inc. | 0.49% | 0.89% | 0.40% |
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.42% | 0.94% | 0.52% |
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 0.62% | 0.69% | 0.07% |
| TROWT Rowe Price Grp | 0.58% | 0.69% | 0.11% |
| ORIOld Republic International Corp | 0.23% | 0.83% | 0.60% |
| IPARInter Parfums Inc | 0.05% | 1.00% | 0.95% |
| OFG:PROfg Bancorp Common Stock | 0.05% | 0.99% | 0.94% |
| OZKBank Ozk | 0.12% | 0.83% | 0.71% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SDVY 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 SDVY?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SDVY charges 0.58%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SDVY?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.90% vs +11.40% for SDVY, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), SCHD annualized +11.02% vs +9.89% for SDVY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SDVY?
SDVY has been the more volatile fund at 22.1% annualized versus 16.1% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SDVY -45.2%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SDVY?
SCHD and SDVY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 SDVY?
9.8% of SDVY's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 9.8% of SDVY's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 172 in SDVY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SDVY?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SDVY yields 0.96%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SDVY better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDVY is less concentrated, with 10.5% 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.