SCHD vs SMCO
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Hilton Small-MidCap Opportunity ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SMCO?
Large Cap Value against Mid Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SMCO is less concentrated, with 23.8% 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 | SMCO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.55% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $137M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 0.94% |
| Holdings | 103 | 65 |
| YTD Return | +25.84%Best | +3.48% |
| 1Y Return | +30.18%Best | +5.65% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.08% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.97% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1%Best | -22.7% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $15,884Best | $14,263 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 23.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Hilton Capital Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Nov 28, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 29, 2023 to Sep 15, 2026 (2.8 years).
SCHD vs SMCO 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SMCO Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Hilton Small-MidCap Opportunity ETF (SMCO) is an ETF from Hilton Capital Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +30.18% while SMCO returned +5.65%. Year to date, SCHD is up 25.84% versus a gain of 3.48% for SMCO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMCO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 12.9% 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 -22.7% for SMCO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SMCO charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $55 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 0.94% for SMCO.
Holdings Overlap
1.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings SMCO also owns. 4.8% of SMCO's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SMCO and SCHD share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 65 in SMCO, against full books of 103 and 65.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 59 positions for SMCO that do not appear in our book for SCHD (90.9% of the fund), and 95 for SCHD that do not appear in SMCO (98.1%).
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 SMCO 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 SMCO?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SMCO charges 0.55%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SMCO?
Over the past year SCHD returned +30.18% vs +5.65% for SMCO, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SMCO?
SMCO has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 12.9% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.1% vs SMCO -22.7%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SMCO?
SCHD and SMCO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 SMCO?
4.8% of SMCO's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.8% of SMCO'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 65 in SMCO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SMCO?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SMCO yields 0.94%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMCO better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SMCO is less concentrated, with 23.8% 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.