SCHD vs SPAB
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SPAB?
SCHD has been ahead.
SPAB 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 | SPAB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $112.1B | $10.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 4.12% |
| Holdings | 103 | 8,339 |
| YTD Return | +24.04%Best | -1.36% |
| 1Y Return | +27.95%Best | -0.99% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.51%Best | +4.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.80%Best | -0.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.6% | 4.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4% | -19.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,959Best | $9,718 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Value | - |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | May 23, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 16, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs SPAB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SCHD vs SPAB Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +27.95% while SPAB returned -0.99%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.04% versus a loss of 1.36% for SPAB.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.51% per year against +4.01% for SPAB; over five years the annualized figures are +9.80% and -0.57% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.29% annualized vs +0.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.6% compared with 4.5% for SPAB. 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 -19.5% for SPAB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SPAB charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $3 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 4.12% for SPAB.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 68 in SPAB, totalling 100.0% and 7.6% 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 68 in SPAB, against full books of 103 and 8,339.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SPAB 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 SPAB?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SPAB charges 0.03%. SPAB is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SPAB?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.95% vs -0.99% for SPAB, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.29% vs +0.17% for SPAB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SPAB?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 4.5% for SPAB. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SPAB -19.5%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SPAB?
SCHD and SPAB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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 SPAB?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SPAB yields 4.12%, so SPAB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPAB better than SCHD?
SPAB 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.