SCHD vs SPMD
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SPMD?
Large Cap Value against Mid Cap Blend.
SPMD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPMD is less concentrated, with 7.8% 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 | SPMD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $112.1B | $18.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 1.23% |
| Holdings | 103 | 404 |
| YTD Return | +25.84%Best | +10.38% |
| 1Y Return | +30.18%Best | +13.19% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.08%Best | +14.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.97%Best | +7.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.6%Best | 17.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -42.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,083Best | $14,571 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 7.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Nov 8, 2005 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 15, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs SPMD 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 SPMD Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +30.18% while SPMD returned +13.19%. Year to date, SCHD is up 25.84% versus a gain of 10.38% for SPMD.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.08% per year against +14.18% for SPMD; over five years the annualized figures are +9.97% and +7.82% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.40% annualized vs +9.38%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPMD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 13.6% 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 -42.2% for SPMD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SPMD 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 1.23% for SPMD.
Holdings Overlap
3.5% of SCHD's money is in holdings SPMD also owns. 4.0% of SPMD's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SPMD and SCHD share little of their money.
18 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 401 in SPMD, against full books of 103 and 404.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 373 positions for SPMD that do not appear in our book for SCHD (92.1% of the fund), and 81 for SCHD that do not appear in SPMD (96.5%).
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 SPMD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.42% | 0.49% | 0.07% |
| DINOHF Sinclair Corp | 0.38% | 0.44% | 0.06% |
| FNFFidelity Nationa | 0.29% | 0.33% | 0.04% |
| WSOWatsco Inc | 0.26% | 0.30% | 0.04% |
| AFGAmerican Financial Group Inc/Oh | 0.24% | 0.28% | 0.04% |
| ORIOld Republic International Corp | 0.23% | 0.26% | 0.03% |
| BAHBooz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | 0.22% | 0.26% | 0.04% |
| COLBColumbia Banking System Inc Common Stock | 0.21% | 0.24% | 0.03% |
| ALVAllianz Ag | 0.20% | 0.23% | 0.03% |
| MMacy'S Inc. | 0.14% | 0.16% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SPMD 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 SPMD?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SPMD charges 0.03%. SPMD is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SPMD?
Over the past year SCHD returned +30.18% vs +13.19% for SPMD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.40% vs +9.38% for SPMD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SPMD?
SPMD has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SPMD -42.2%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SPMD?
SCHD and SPMD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 SPMD?
4.0% of SPMD's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.0% of SPMD's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 401 in SPMD.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SPMD?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SPMD yields 1.23%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPMD better than SCHD?
SPMD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPMD is less concentrated, with 7.8% 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.