SCHD vs ZTR
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Virtus Total Return Fund Inc
Which is better, SCHD or ZTR?
Large Cap Value against Allocation/Balanced.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, ZTR over 3Y.
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 | ZTR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 2.53% |
| AUM | $112.2B | $372M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.13% | 8.06% |
| Holdings | 103 | 796 |
| YTD Return | +27.56%Best | +13.56% |
| 1Y Return | +30.29%Best | +19.04% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.37% | +20.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.23%Best | +3.71% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.6%Best | 18.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -65.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,274Best | $11,998 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Feb 24, 2005 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
SCHD vs ZTR 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 ZTR Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Virtus Total Return Fund Inc (ZTR) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year SCHD returned +30.29% while ZTR returned +19.04%. Year to date, SCHD is up 27.56% versus a gain of 13.56% for ZTR.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.37% per year against +20.01% for ZTR; over five years the annualized figures are +10.23% and +3.71% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +0.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ZTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.5% compared with 13.6% 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 -65.1% for ZTR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while ZTR charges 2.53%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $253 annually, a gap of $247 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.13% against 8.06% for ZTR.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings ZTR also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for ZTR, our book for it lists positions totalling 129.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
SCHD and ZTR share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 70 days apart, SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026 and ZTR as of May 29, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 514 in ZTR, against full books of 103 and 796.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCHD | Weight in ZTR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKEOneok Inc. | 1.36% | 1.73% | 0.37% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and ZTR 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 ZTR?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while ZTR charges 2.53%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $247 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or ZTR?
Over the past year SCHD returned +30.29% vs +19.04% for ZTR, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.53% vs +0.18% for ZTR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or ZTR?
ZTR has been the more volatile fund at 18.5% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs ZTR -65.1%.
Should I hold both SCHD and ZTR?
SCHD and ZTR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 ZTR?
At least 1.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings ZTR also owns. Our book for ZTR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 514 in ZTR.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or ZTR?
SCHD yields 3.13% while ZTR yields 8.06%, so ZTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZTR better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, ZTR over 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.