SCHD vs YLD
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Principal Active High Yield ETF
Which is better, SCHD or YLD?
Large Cap Value against Allocation/Balanced.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | YLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $112.1B | $602M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 7.31% |
| Holdings | 103 | 148 |
| YTD Return | +23.68%Best | +3.92% |
| 1Y Return | +28.36%Best | +4.11% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.20%Best | +8.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.07%Best | +4.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9% | 8.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4% | -30.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,156Best | $12,474 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Principal Funds |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Jul 8, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 9, 2015 to Sep 22, 2026 (11.2 years).
SCHD vs YLD 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 11.2 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs YLD Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Principal Active High Yield ETF (YLD) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year SCHD returned +28.36% while YLD returned +4.11%. Year to date, SCHD is up 23.68% versus a gain of 3.92% for YLD.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.20% per year against +8.52% for YLD; over five years the annualized figures are +10.07% and +4.52% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.96% annualized vs +2.62%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 8.6% for YLD. 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 -30.3% for YLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while YLD charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $39 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.00% against 7.31% for YLD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings YLD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for YLD, our book for it covers 76.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 95 in YLD, against full books of 103 and 148.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCHD | Weight in YLD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GVMXXState Street Institutional US Government Money Market Fund | 0.06% | 5.69% | 5.63% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and YLD 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 YLD?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while YLD charges 0.39%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or YLD?
Over the past year SCHD returned +28.36% vs +4.11% for YLD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), SCHD annualized +10.96% vs +2.62% for YLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or YLD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 8.6% for YLD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs YLD -30.3%.
Should I hold both SCHD and YLD?
SCHD and YLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 YLD?
SCHD yields 3.00% while YLD yields 7.31%, so YLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YLD better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.