SCHD vs SEPQ
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SEPQ?
Large Cap Value against Multi Alternative.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, SEPQ over 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | SEPQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $86M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 11.33% |
| Holdings | 103 | 100 |
| YTD Return | +23.60%Best | +20.36% |
| 1Y Return | +28.29%Best | +20.32% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.25% | +23.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.25% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 17.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1%Best | -23.4% |
| $10,000 over 4.3 years | $15,822 | $18,486Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Shelton Capital Management |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | May 18, 2022 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2022 to Sep 21, 2026 (4.3 years).
SCHD vs SEPQ 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 4.3 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SEPQ Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (SEPQ) is an ETF from Shelton Capital Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +28.29% while SEPQ returned +20.32%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.60% versus a gain of 20.36% for SEPQ.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.25% per year against +23.73% for SEPQ. Across the full 4-year window we track, SEPQ has the edge at +15.36% annualized vs +11.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEPQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 15.1% 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 -16.1% for SCHD and -23.4% for SEPQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.25. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SEPQ charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $65 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 11.33% for SEPQ.
Holdings Overlap
21.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings SEPQ also owns. 4.7% of SEPQ's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SCHD and SEPQ share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 97 in SEPQ, against full books of 103 and 100.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 85 positions for SEPQ that do not appear in our book for SCHD (89.6% of the fund), and 91 for SCHD that do not appear in SEPQ (78.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCHD | Weight in SEPQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 4.70% | 1.10% | 3.60% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 3.64% | 0.93% | 2.71% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 3.13% | 0.27% | 2.86% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 2.52% | 0.88% | 1.64% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.79% | 0.54% | 2.25% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 2.31% | 0.47% | 1.84% |
| FASTFastenal Co. | 1.38% | 0.28% | 1.10% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 1.00% | 0.20% | 0.80% |
21.5% of SCHD is already inside SEPQ.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SCHD or SEPQ?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SEPQ charges 0.65%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SEPQ?
Over the past year SCHD returned +28.29% vs +20.32% for SEPQ, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SCHD annualized +11.26% vs +15.36% for SEPQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SEPQ?
SEPQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 15.1% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.1% vs SEPQ -23.4%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SEPQ?
SCHD and SEPQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.25, 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 SEPQ?
21.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings SEPQ also owns. 4.7% of SEPQ's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 97 in SEPQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SEPQ?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SEPQ yields 11.33%, so SEPQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEPQ better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, SEPQ over 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.