SCHD vs WDAF
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund ETF
Which is better, SCHD or WDAF?
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 62.3%.
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 | WDAF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $20M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 0.12% |
| Holdings | 103 | 69 |
| YTD Return | +21.99%Best | +4.10% |
| 1Y Return | +25.92%Best | -3.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.66% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.48% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 34.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.5%Best | -28.2% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $12,474Best | $9,778 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8%Best | 62.3% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Sep 12, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 12, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1 years).
SCHD vs WDAF 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 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs WDAF Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund ETF (WDAF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year SCHD returned +25.92% while WDAF returned -3.34%. Year to date, SCHD is up 21.99% versus a gain of 4.10% for WDAF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WDAF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 34.7% compared with 14.3% 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 -5.5% for SCHD and -28.2% for WDAF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while WDAF charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $45 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 0.12% for WDAF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 60 in WDAF, totalling 100.0% and 99.3% 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 60 in WDAF, against full books of 103 and 69.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for WDAF that do not appear in our book for SCHD (8.9% of the fund), and 99 for SCHD that do not appear in WDAF (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 WDAF 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 WDAF?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while WDAF charges 0.45%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or WDAF?
Over the past year SCHD returned +25.92% vs -3.34% for WDAF, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SCHD annualized +24.74% vs -2.22% for WDAF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or WDAF?
WDAF has been the more volatile fund at 34.7% annualized versus 14.3% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -5.5% vs WDAF -28.2%.
Should I hold both SCHD and WDAF?
SCHD and WDAF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 WDAF?
SCHD yields 3.00% while WDAF yields 0.12%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WDAF 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 62.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.