SCHD vs SPSM
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SPSM?
Large Cap Value against Small Cap Blend.
SPSM has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPSM is less concentrated, with 5.3% 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 | SPSM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $112.1B | $16.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 1.40% |
| Holdings | 103 | 611 |
| YTD Return | +25.88%Best | +16.98% |
| 1Y Return | +30.22%Best | +20.70% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.05%Best | +14.79% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.17%Best | +7.03% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2%Best | 19.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -44.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,230Best | $14,045 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 5.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Jul 8, 2013 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 9, 2013 to Sep 14, 2026 (13.2 years).
SCHD vs SPSM 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 13.2 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SPSM Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +30.22% while SPSM returned +20.70%. Year to date, SCHD is up 25.88% versus a gain of 16.98% for SPSM.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.05% per year against +14.79% for SPSM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.17% and +7.03% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.48% annualized vs +8.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPSM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 14.2% 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 -33.4% for SCHD and -44.4% for SPSM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SPSM 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 1.40% for SPSM.
Holdings Overlap
1.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings SPSM also owns. 3.0% of SPSM's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SPSM and SCHD share little of their money.
24 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 601 in SPSM, against full books of 103 and 611.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 566 positions for SPSM that do not appear in our book for SCHD (94.7% of the fund), and 76 for SCHD that do not appear in SPSM (98.7%).
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 SPSM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCMoelis & Co_None_0 | 0.12% | 0.28% | 0.16% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.11% | 0.25% | 0.14% |
| RHIRobert Half International Inc. | 0.11% | 0.25% | 0.14% |
| CVBFCvb Financial Corp. | 0.09% | 0.21% | 0.12% |
| CWENClearway Energy, Inc., Class C | 0.09% | 0.21% | 0.12% |
| APAMArtisan Partners Asset Management, Inc. | 0.07% | 0.17% | 0.10% |
| BANRBanner Corp_None_0 | 0.06% | 0.13% | 0.07% |
| CNSCohen & Steers Inc | 0.05% | 0.13% | 0.08% |
| WUWestern Union Co (The) | 0.05% | 0.13% | 0.08% |
| IPARInter Parfums Inc | 0.05% | 0.12% | 0.07% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SPSM 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 SPSM?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SPSM charges 0.03%. SPSM is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SPSM?
Over the past year SCHD returned +30.22% vs +20.70% for SPSM, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), SCHD annualized +10.48% vs +8.64% for SPSM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SPSM?
SPSM has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 14.2% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SPSM -44.4%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SPSM?
SCHD and SPSM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 SPSM?
3.0% of SPSM's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.0% of SPSM's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 601 in SPSM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SPSM?
SCHD yields 3.00% while SPSM yields 1.40%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPSM better than SCHD?
SPSM has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPSM is less concentrated, with 5.3% 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.