SCHD vs SEPI
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Shelton Equity Premium Income ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SEPI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, SEPI over the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.3%.
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 | SEPI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.54% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $185M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 7.32% |
| Holdings | 103 | 151 |
| YTD Return | +21.99%Best | +16.68% |
| 1Y Return | +25.92%Best | +23.24% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.66% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.48% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 10.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -5.5%Best | -7.7% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $12,462 | $12,539Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8%Best | 47.3% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Shelton Capital Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Sep 8, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 8, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1 years).
SCHD vs SEPI 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 SEPI Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Shelton Equity Premium Income ETF (SEPI) is an ETF from Shelton Capital Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +25.92% while SEPI returned +23.24%. Year to date, SCHD is up 21.99% versus a gain of 16.68% for SEPI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 10.5% for SEPI. 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 -5.5% for SCHD and -7.7% for SEPI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.18. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SEPI charges 0.54%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $54 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 7.32% for SEPI.
Holdings Overlap
14.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings SEPI also owns. 5.5% of SEPI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SCHD and SEPI share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 40 in SEPI, against full books of 103 and 151.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 36 positions for SEPI that do not appear in our book for SCHD (95.7% of the fund), and 95 for SCHD that do not appear in SEPI (85.5%).
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 SEPI 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 SEPI?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SEPI charges 0.54%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SEPI?
Over the past year SCHD returned +25.92% vs +23.24% for SEPI, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SCHD annualized +24.62% vs +25.39% for SEPI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SEPI?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 10.5% for SEPI. Worst drawdown: SCHD -5.5% vs SEPI -7.7%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SEPI?
SCHD and SEPI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.18, 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 SEPI?
14.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings SEPI also owns. 5.5% of SEPI's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 40 in SEPI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SEPI?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SEPI yields 7.32%, so SEPI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEPI better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, SEPI over the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.