SCHD vs XSLV
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Invesco S&P SmallCap Low Volatility ETF
Which is better, SCHD or XSLV?
Large Cap Value against Small Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XSLV is less concentrated, with 11.5% 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 | XSLV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.25% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $249M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 2.11% |
| Holdings | 103 | 119 |
| YTD Return | +24.59%Best | +12.77% |
| 1Y Return | +28.14%Best | +12.72% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.58%Best | +10.77% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.90%Best | +3.98% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 16.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -45.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,032Best | $12,155 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 11.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Feb 12, 2013 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2013 to Sep 10, 2026 (13.6 years).
SCHD vs XSLV 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 13.6 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs XSLV Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Invesco S&P SmallCap Low Volatility ETF (XSLV) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year SCHD returned +28.14% while XSLV returned +12.72%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.59% versus a gain of 12.77% for XSLV.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +15.58% per year against +10.77% for XSLV; over five years the annualized figures are +9.90% and +3.98% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.92% annualized vs +6.31%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XSLV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.1% 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 -45.3% for XSLV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while XSLV charges 0.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $25 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 2.11% for XSLV.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of SCHD's money is in holdings XSLV also owns. 11.8% of XSLV's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
XSLV and SCHD share little of their money.
14 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 115 in XSLV, against full books of 103 and 119.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for XSLV that do not appear in our book for SCHD (86.5% of the fund), and 86 for SCHD that do not appear in XSLV (99.3%).
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 XSLV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHCOCity Holding Co Common Stock Usd2.5 | 0.05% | 1.16% | 1.11% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.11% | 0.91% | 0.80% |
| STBAS&T Bancorp Inc | 0.04% | 0.94% | 0.90% |
| APAMArtisan Partners Asset Management, Inc. | 0.07% | 0.88% | 0.81% |
| CNSCohen & Steers Inc | 0.05% | 0.88% | 0.83% |
| OFG:PROfg Bancorp | 0.05% | 0.88% | 0.83% |
| CVBFCvb Financial Corp | 0.09% | 0.83% | 0.74% |
| BANRBanner Corp | 0.06% | 0.85% | 0.79% |
| PFBCPreferred Bank/los Angeles Ca | 0.03% | 0.86% | 0.83% |
| CPFCentral Pacific Financial Company | 0.02% | 0.85% | 0.83% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and XSLV 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 XSLV?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while XSLV charges 0.25%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or XSLV?
Over the past year SCHD returned +28.14% vs +12.72% for XSLV, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SCHD annualized +10.92% vs +6.31% for XSLV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or XSLV?
XSLV has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.1% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs XSLV -45.3%.
Should I hold both SCHD and XSLV?
SCHD and XSLV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 XSLV?
11.8% of XSLV's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 11.8% of XSLV's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 115 in XSLV.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or XSLV?
SCHD yields 3.00% while XSLV yields 2.11%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XSLV better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XSLV is less concentrated, with 11.5% 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.