SCHD vs XRT
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF
Which is better, SCHD or XRT?
Large Cap Value against Mid Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XRT is less concentrated, with 18.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | XRT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $361M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 0.78% |
| Holdings | 103 | 77 |
| YTD Return | +23.46%Best | -4.04% |
| 1Y Return | +27.20%Best | -6.55% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.41%Best | +11.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.16%Best | -1.03% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 23.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -48.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,223Best | $9,496 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 18.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Jun 19, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs XRT 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs XRT Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% while XRT returned -6.55%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.46% versus a loss of 4.04% for XRT.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.41% per year against +11.42% for XRT; over five years the annualized figures are +10.16% and -1.03% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.25% annualized vs +8.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XRT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.9% compared with 13.7% 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 -48.6% for XRT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while XRT charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $35 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 0.78% for XRT.
Holdings Overlap
2.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings XRT also owns. 7.5% of XRT's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
XRT and SCHD share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 76 in XRT, against full books of 103 and 77.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 70 positions for XRT that do not appear in our book for SCHD (91.1% of the fund), and 94 for SCHD that do not appear in XRT (97.5%).
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 XRT 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 XRT?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while XRT charges 0.35%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or XRT?
Over the past year SCHD returned +27.20% vs -6.55% for XRT, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.25% vs +8.67% for XRT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or XRT?
XRT has been the more volatile fund at 23.9% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs XRT -48.6%.
Should I hold both SCHD and XRT?
SCHD and XRT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 XRT?
7.5% of XRT's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 7.5% of XRT's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 76 in XRT.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or XRT?
SCHD yields 3.00% while XRT yields 0.78%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XRT better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XRT is less concentrated, with 18.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.