SCHD vs WCMI
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs First Trust WCM International Equity ETF
Which is better, SCHD or WCMI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, WCMI over the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%.
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 | WCMI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $112.2B | $2.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.13% | 0.55% |
| Holdings | 103 | 97 |
| YTD Return | +27.56%Best | +15.34% |
| 1Y Return | +30.29%Best | +27.67% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.37% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.23% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8% | 13.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1% | -12.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $13,188 | $14,505Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.5%Best | 41.9% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Mar 31, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.9 years).
SCHD vs WCMI 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs WCMI Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and First Trust WCM International Equity ETF (WCMI) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year SCHD returned +30.29% while WCMI returned +27.67%. Year to date, SCHD is up 27.56% versus a gain of 15.34% for WCMI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 13.3% for WCMI. 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 -12.8% for WCMI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.26. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while WCMI charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $85 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.13% against 0.55% for WCMI.
Holdings Overlap
1.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings WCMI also owns. 1.9% of WCMI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
WCMI and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 44 in WCMI, against full books of 103 and 97.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 5 positions for WCMI that do not appear in our book for SCHD (7.2% of the fund), and 98 for SCHD that do not appear in WCMI (98.0%).
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 WCMI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 1.89% | 1.91% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and WCMI 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 WCMI?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while WCMI charges 0.85%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or WCMI?
Over the past year SCHD returned +30.29% vs +27.67% for WCMI, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SCHD annualized +15.68% vs +21.62% for WCMI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or WCMI?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 13.3% for WCMI. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.1% vs WCMI -12.8%.
Should I hold both SCHD and WCMI?
SCHD and WCMI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.26, 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 WCMI?
1.9% of WCMI's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 1.9% of WCMI'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 44 in WCMI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or WCMI?
SCHD yields 3.13% while WCMI yields 0.55%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WCMI better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, WCMI over the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.