SCHD vs USA
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Liberty All-Star Equity Fund
Which is better, SCHD or USA?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. USA is less concentrated, with 25.0% 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 | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.92% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $2.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 9.81% |
| Holdings | 103 | 139 |
| YTD Return | +21.33%Best | +0.91% |
| 1Y Return | +25.15%Best | +0.85% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.43%Best | +10.02% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.32%Best | +1.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 17.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -48.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,613Best | $10,762 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 25.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Liberty All Star Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Oct 31, 1986 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 24, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs USA 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 USA Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (USA) is an ETF from Liberty All Star Funds. Over the past year SCHD returned +25.15% while USA returned +0.85%. Year to date, SCHD is up 21.33% versus a gain of 0.91% for USA.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.43% per year against +10.02% for USA; over five years the annualized figures are +9.32% and +1.48% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.11% annualized vs +5.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% 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 -48.1% for USA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while USA charges 0.92%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $92 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 9.81% for USA.
Holdings Overlap
40.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings USA also owns. 8.2% of USA's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, SCHD as of Aug 31, 2026 and USA as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
13 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 147 in USA, against full books of 103 and 139.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 117 positions for USA that do not appear in our book for SCHD (84.0% of the fund), and 86 for SCHD that do not appear in USA (59.1%).
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 USA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 4.70% | 0.52% | 4.18% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 4.77% | 0.41% | 4.36% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 3.82% | 0.87% | 2.95% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 4.17% | 0.45% | 3.72% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 4.02% | 0.37% | 3.65% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 3.97% | 0.39% | 3.58% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 3.83% | 0.31% | 3.52% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 3.33% | 0.65% | 2.68% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 2.84% | 0.98% | 1.86% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 2.52% | 0.53% | 1.99% |
40.9% of SCHD is already inside USA.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SCHD or USA?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while USA charges 0.92%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or USA?
Over the past year SCHD returned +25.15% vs +0.85% for USA, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.11% vs +5.75% for USA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or USA?
USA has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs USA -48.1%.
Should I hold both SCHD and USA?
SCHD and USA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 USA?
40.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings USA also owns. 8.2% of USA's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 147 in USA.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or USA?
SCHD yields 3.00% while USA yields 9.81%, so USA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USA better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. USA is less concentrated, with 25.0% 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.