SCHD vs XCEM
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF
Which is better, SCHD or XCEM?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over the full window, XCEM over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. XCEM is less concentrated, with 34.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | XCEM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.16% |
| AUM | $112.2B | $2.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.13% | 2.77% |
| Holdings | 103 | 484 |
| YTD Return | +28.59% | +31.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +31.77% | +55.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.70% | +25.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.09% | +11.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 19.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -41.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,171 | $17,126Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.5% | 34.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Columbia Threadneedle Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Sep 1, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 2, 2015 to Sep 3, 2026 (11 years).
SCHD vs XCEM 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 11 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs XCEM Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (XCEM) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Over the past year SCHD returned +31.77% while XCEM returned +55.10%. Year to date, SCHD is up 28.59% versus a gain of 31.34% for XCEM.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.70% per year against +25.16% for XCEM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.09% and +11.36% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +12.15% annualized vs +12.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XCEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 14.9% 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 -41.2% for XCEM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while XCEM charges 0.16%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $16 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.13% against 2.77% for XCEM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in SCHD and 443 in XCEM, totalling 100.0% and 98.3% 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 443 in XCEM, against full books of 103 and 484.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for XCEM that do not appear in our book for SCHD (2.1% of the fund), and 99 for SCHD that do not appear in XCEM (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 XCEM 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 XCEM?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while XCEM charges 0.16%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or XCEM?
Over the past year SCHD returned +31.77% vs +55.10% for XCEM, so XCEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), SCHD annualized +12.15% vs +12.03% for XCEM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or XCEM?
XCEM has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 14.9% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs XCEM -41.2%.
Should I hold both SCHD and XCEM?
SCHD and XCEM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 XCEM?
SCHD yields 3.13% while XCEM yields 2.77%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XCEM better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over the full window, XCEM over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. XCEM is less concentrated, with 34.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.