SCHD vs SMTH
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs ALPS Smith Core Plus Bond ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SMTH?
Large Cap Value against High Yield Bond.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y 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 | SMTH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $3.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 4.43% |
| Holdings | 103 | 959 |
| YTD Return | +25.88%Best | -1.18% |
| 1Y Return | +30.22%Best | -0.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.05% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.17% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7% | 4.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1% | -4.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $15,715Best | $11,236 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | ALPS Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Value | High Yield Bond |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Dec 5, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 6, 2023 to Sep 14, 2026 (2.8 years).
SCHD vs SMTH 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 SMTH Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and ALPS Smith Core Plus Bond ETF (SMTH) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors. Over the past year SCHD returned +30.22% while SMTH returned -0.75%. Year to date, SCHD is up 25.88% versus a loss of 1.18% for SMTH.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.7% compared with 4.0% for SMTH. 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 -4.1% for SMTH. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SMTH charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $59 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 4.43% for SMTH.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 144 in SMTH, totalling 100.0% and 34.9% 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 144 in SMTH, against full books of 103 and 959.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SMTH 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 SMTH?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SMTH charges 0.59%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SMTH?
Over the past year SCHD returned +30.22% vs -0.75% for SMTH, 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 SMTH?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 12.7% annualized versus 4.0% for SMTH. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.1% vs SMTH -4.1%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SMTH?
SCHD and SMTH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 SMTH?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SMTH yields 4.43%, so SMTH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMTH better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.