SCHD vs USAF
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Atlas America Fund ETF
Which is better, SCHD or USAF?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.2%.
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 | USAF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.89% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $17M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 2.36% |
| Holdings | 103 | 73 |
| YTD Return | +23.46%Best | +4.48% |
| 1Y Return | +27.20%Best | +6.32% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.41% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.16% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 4.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1% | -4.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,467Best | $11,415 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8%Best | 72.2% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Atlas Capital Team |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Nov 19, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 20, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.8 years).
SCHD vs USAF 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs USAF Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Atlas America Fund ETF (USAF) is an ETF from Atlas Capital Team. Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% while USAF returned +6.32%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.46% versus a gain of 4.48% for USAF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 4.8% for USAF. 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 -4.5% for USAF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while USAF charges 0.89%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $89 annually, a gap of $83 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 2.36% for USAF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 62 in USAF, totalling 100.0% and 97.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 62 in USAF, against full books of 103 and 73.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 62 positions for USAF that do not appear in our book for SCHD (97.0% of the fund), and 99 for SCHD that do not appear in USAF (99.9%).
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 USAF 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 USAF?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while USAF charges 0.89%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $83 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or USAF?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% vs +6.32% for USAF, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SCHD annualized +13.03% vs +7.63% for USAF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or USAF?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 4.8% for USAF. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.1% vs USAF -4.5%.
Should I hold both SCHD and USAF?
SCHD and USAF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or USAF?
SCHD yields 3.00% while USAF yields 2.36%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USAF better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.