SCHD vs SMU
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Tradr 2X Long SMR Daily ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SMU?
Large Cap Value against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
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 | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 1.30% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $48M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 103 | 4 |
| YTD Return | +24.59%Best | -46.27% |
| 1Y Return | +28.14%Best | -92.68% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.58% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.90% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2%Best | 170.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.6%Best | -98.2% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,989Best | $490 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Tradr ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Jul 10, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 11, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.2 years).
SCHD vs SMU 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SMU Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Tradr 2X Long SMR Daily ETF (SMU) is an ETF from Tradr ETFs. Over the past year SCHD returned +28.14% while SMU returned -92.68%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.59% versus a loss of 46.27% for SMU.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 170.4% compared with 13.2% 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 -4.6% for SCHD and -98.2% for SMU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SMU charges 1.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $130 annually, a gap of $124 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 0.00% for SMU.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 1 in SMU, totalling 100.0% and 117.7% 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 1 in SMU, against full books of 103 and 4.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SMU 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 SMU?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SMU charges 1.30%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $124 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SMU?
Over the past year SCHD returned +28.14% vs -92.68% for SMU, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SCHD annualized +24.35% vs -91.90% for SMU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SMU?
SMU has been the more volatile fund at 170.4% annualized versus 13.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -4.6% vs SMU -98.2%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SMU?
SCHD and SMU have a monthly-return correlation of -0.30, 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 SMU?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SMU yields 0.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMU 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.