SCHD vs TRFM
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs AAM Transformers ETF
Which is better, SCHD or TRFM?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, TRFM over 3Y and the full window. TRFM is less concentrated, with 8.8% 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 | TRFM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.49% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $264M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 0.14% |
| Holdings | 103 | 313 |
| YTD Return | +23.46%Best | +19.52% |
| 1Y Return | +27.20%Best | +19.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.41% | +28.14%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.16% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 23.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1%Best | -28.4% |
| $10,000 over 4.2 years | $16,308 | $24,673Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 8.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Jul 11, 2022 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 12, 2022 to Sep 18, 2026 (4.2 years).
SCHD vs TRFM 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 4.2 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs TRFM Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and AAM Transformers ETF (TRFM) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc.. Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% while TRFM returned +19.61%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.46% versus a gain of 19.52% for TRFM.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.41% per year against +28.14% for TRFM. Across the full 4-year window we track, TRFM has the edge at +23.99% annualized vs +12.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TRFM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.9% compared with 14.7% 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 -16.1% for SCHD and -28.4% for TRFM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while TRFM charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $49 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 0.14% for TRFM.
Holdings Overlap
3.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings TRFM also owns. 0.9% of TRFM's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SCHD and TRFM share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 309 in TRFM, against full books of 103 and 313.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 247 positions for TRFM that do not appear in our book for SCHD (83.4% of the fund), and 96 for SCHD that do not appear in TRFM (96.2%).
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 TRFM 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 TRFM?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while TRFM charges 0.49%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or TRFM?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% vs +19.61% for TRFM, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SCHD annualized +12.35% vs +23.99% for TRFM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or TRFM?
TRFM has been the more volatile fund at 23.9% annualized versus 14.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.1% vs TRFM -28.4%.
Should I hold both SCHD and TRFM?
SCHD and TRFM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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 TRFM?
3.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings TRFM also owns. 0.9% of TRFM'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 309 in TRFM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or TRFM?
SCHD yields 3.00% while TRFM yields 0.14%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TRFM better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, TRFM over 3Y and the full window. TRFM is less concentrated, with 8.8% 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.