SCHD vs SMB
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs VanEck Short Muni ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SMB?
Large Cap Value against Municipal Bond.
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 | SMB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.07% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $312M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 2.77% |
| Holdings | 103 | 326 |
| YTD Return | +25.07%Best | -2.10% |
| 1Y Return | +27.61%Best | -1.50% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.74%Best | +2.40% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.89%Best | +0.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.6% | 2.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4% | -12.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,025Best | $10,288 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | VanEck |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Feb 22, 2008 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 11, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs SMB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SCHD vs SMB Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and VanEck Short Muni ETF (SMB) is an ETF from VanEck. Over the past year SCHD returned +27.61% while SMB returned -1.50%. Year to date, SCHD is up 25.07% versus a loss of 2.10% for SMB.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.74% per year against +2.40% for SMB; over five years the annualized figures are +9.89% and +0.57% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.36% annualized vs +1.33%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.6% compared with 2.6% for SMB. 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 -12.6% for SMB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SMB charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $7 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 2.77% for SMB.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 178 in SMB, totalling 100.0% and 56.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 178 in SMB, against full books of 103 and 326.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SMB 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 SMB?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SMB charges 0.07%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SMB?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.61% vs -1.50% for SMB, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.36% vs +1.33% for SMB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SMB?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 2.6% for SMB. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SMB -12.6%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SMB?
SCHD and SMB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, 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 SMB?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SMB yields 2.77%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMB 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.