SCHD vs SPEM
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SPEM?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, SPEM over 3Y. SPEM is less concentrated, with 24.2% 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 | SPEM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.07% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $17.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 2.46% |
| Holdings | 103 | 3,044 |
| YTD Return | +23.46%Best | +10.75% |
| 1Y Return | +27.20%Best | +15.20% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.41% | +18.02%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.16%Best | +7.35% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 15.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -39.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,223Best | $14,256 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 24.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Mar 19, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs SPEM 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SPEM Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% while SPEM returned +15.20%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.46% versus a gain of 10.75% for SPEM.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.41% per year against +18.02% for SPEM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.16% and +7.35% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs +4.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 13.7% 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 -39.3% for SPEM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SPEM charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $7 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 2.46% for SPEM.
Holdings Overlap
7.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings SPEM also owns. 0.1% of SPEM's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SCHD and SPEM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026 and SPEM as of Mar 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 2,856 in SPEM, against full books of 103 and 3,044.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 48 positions for SPEM that do not appear in our book for SCHD (3.3% of the fund), and 96 for SCHD that do not appear in SPEM (92.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SPEM 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 SPEM?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SPEM charges 0.07%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SPEM?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% vs +15.20% for SPEM, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.25% vs +4.92% for SPEM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SPEM?
SPEM has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SPEM -39.3%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SPEM?
SCHD and SPEM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 SPEM?
7.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings SPEM also owns. 0.1% of SPEM's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 2,856 in SPEM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SPEM?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SPEM yields 2.46%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPEM better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, SPEM over 3Y. SPEM is less concentrated, with 24.2% 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.