SCHD vs VCLN
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF
Which is better, SCHD or VCLN?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VCLN over 3Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%.
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 | VCLN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 1.94% |
| Holdings | 103 | 46 |
| YTD Return | +21.99%Best | +5.71% |
| 1Y Return | +25.92%Best | +20.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.66% | +17.91%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.48%Best | +2.70% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 27.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.9%Best | -45.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,728Best | $11,425 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8%Best | 49.5% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Aug 3, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 4, 2021 to Sep 23, 2026 (5.1 years).
SCHD vs VCLN 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 5.1 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs VCLN Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year SCHD returned +25.92% while VCLN returned +20.92%. Year to date, SCHD is up 21.99% versus a gain of 5.71% for VCLN.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.66% per year against +17.91% for VCLN; over five years the annualized figures are +9.48% and +2.70% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VCLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.2% compared with 15.0% 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 -16.9% for SCHD and -45.7% for VCLN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while VCLN charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $59 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 1.94% for VCLN.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings VCLN also owns. 3.6% of VCLN's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
VCLN and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 41 in VCLN, against full books of 103 and 46.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 14 positions for VCLN that do not appear in our book for SCHD (39.5% of the fund), and 98 for SCHD that do not appear in VCLN (99.8%).
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 VCLN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWENClearway Energy, Inc., Class C | 0.09% | 3.59% | 3.50% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and VCLN 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 VCLN?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VCLN charges 0.59%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or VCLN?
Over the past year SCHD returned +25.92% vs +20.92% for VCLN, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or VCLN?
VCLN has been the more volatile fund at 27.2% annualized versus 15.0% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.9% vs VCLN -45.7%.
Should I hold both SCHD and VCLN?
SCHD and VCLN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 VCLN?
3.6% of VCLN's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.6% of VCLN's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 41 in VCLN.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or VCLN?
SCHD yields 3.00% while VCLN yields 1.94%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VCLN better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VCLN over 3Y. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.