SCHD vs SMDX
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Intech S&P Small-Mid Cap Diversified Alpha ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SMDX?
Large Cap Value against Mid Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, SMDX over the full window. SMDX is less concentrated, with 9.0% 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 | SMDX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $128M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 0.52% |
| Holdings | 103 | 529 |
| YTD Return | +24.59%Best | +12.34% |
| 1Y Return | +28.14%Best | +16.12% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.58% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.90% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.0%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $12,523 | $12,916Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 9.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Intech ETF |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.5 years).
SCHD vs SMDX 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SMDX Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Intech S&P Small-Mid Cap Diversified Alpha ETF (SMDX) is an ETF from Intech ETF. Over the past year SCHD returned +28.14% while SMDX returned +16.12%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.59% versus a gain of 12.34% for SMDX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 12.7% for SMDX. 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 -14.0% for SCHD and -14.5% for SMDX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SMDX charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $35 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 0.52% for SMDX.
Holdings Overlap
2.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings SMDX also owns. 4.2% of SMDX's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SMDX and SCHD share little of their money.
19 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 557 in SMDX, against full books of 103 and 529.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 524 positions for SMDX that do not appear in our book for SCHD (93.1% of the fund), and 81 for SCHD that do not appear in SMDX (97.3%).
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 SMDX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.42% | 0.96% | 0.54% |
| DINOHollyfrontier | 0.38% | 0.91% | 0.53% |
| ORIOld Republic International Corp | 0.23% | 0.30% | 0.07% |
| AFGAmerican Financial Group Inc/Oh | 0.24% | 0.27% | 0.03% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.11% | 0.38% | 0.27% |
| MMacy'S Inc. | 0.14% | 0.25% | 0.11% |
| BAHBooz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | 0.22% | 0.16% | 0.06% |
| ALVAutoliv, Inc. Com | 0.20% | 0.16% | 0.04% |
| COLBColumbia Banking System Inc Common Stock | 0.21% | 0.05% | 0.16% |
| MURMurphy Oil Corp | 0.12% | 0.12% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SMDX 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 SMDX?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SMDX charges 0.35%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SMDX?
Over the past year SCHD returned +28.14% vs +16.12% for SMDX, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SCHD annualized +16.18% vs +18.60% for SMDX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SMDX?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 12.7% for SMDX. Worst drawdown: SCHD -14.0% vs SMDX -14.5%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SMDX?
SCHD and SMDX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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 SMDX?
4.2% of SMDX's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.2% of SMDX's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 557 in SMDX.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SMDX?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SMDX yields 0.52%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMDX better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, SMDX over the full window. SMDX is less concentrated, with 9.0% 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.