SCHD vs SMDV
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs ProShares S&P SmallCap 600 Dividend Aristocrats ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SMDV?
Large Cap Value against Small Cap Blend.
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 | SMDV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.40% |
| AUM | $119.9B | $662M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.96% | 2.35% |
| Holdings | 204 | 211 |
| YTD Return | +33.09%Best | +13.73% |
| 1Y Return | +37.17%Best | +13.95% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.32%Best | +12.47% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.36%Best | +4.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 16.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,370Best | $12,379 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Feb 3, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2015 to Nov 11, 2026 (11.8 years).
SCHD vs SMDV 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SMDV Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and ProShares S&P SmallCap 600 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (SMDV) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year SCHD returned +37.17% while SMDV returned +13.95%. Year to date, SCHD is up 33.09% versus a gain of 13.73% for SMDV.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +20.32% per year against +12.47% for SMDV; over five years the annualized figures are +10.36% and +4.36% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.67% annualized vs +7.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMDV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.0% 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 -34.1% for SMDV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SMDV charges 0.40%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $40 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 2.96% against 2.35% for SMDV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings SMDV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SMDV, our book for it covers 94.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
7 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 67 in SMDV, against full books of 204 and 211.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCHD | Weight in SMDV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHCOCity Holding Co Common Stock Usd2.5 | 0.05% | 1.52% | 1.47% |
| NSPInsperity Inc | 0.04% | 1.51% | 1.47% |
| STBAS&T Bancorp Inc | 0.04% | 1.47% | 1.43% |
| LKFNLakeland Financial Corp. | 0.04% | 1.41% | 1.37% |
| CNSCohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. | 0.05% | 1.28% | 1.23% |
| NBHCNational Bank Holdings Corp Class A | 0.04% | 1.29% | 1.25% |
| RHIRobert Half International Inc. | 0.09% | 1.21% | 1.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SMDV 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 SMDV?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SMDV charges 0.40%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SMDV?
Over the past year SCHD returned +37.17% vs +13.95% for SMDV, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SCHD annualized +10.67% vs +7.69% for SMDV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SMDV?
SMDV has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.0% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SMDV -34.1%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SMDV?
SCHD and SMDV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 SMDV?
SCHD yields 2.96% while SMDV yields 2.35%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMDV 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.