SCHH vs SPY
Schwab US REIT ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SCHH or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SCHH has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.6%.
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 | SCHH | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $11.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.80% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 120 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +8.56% | +12.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.99% | +16.73%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.77% | +22.52%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.62% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,837 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.6% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 13, 2011 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 13, 2011 to Sep 23, 2026 (15.7 years).
SCHH vs SPY 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 15.7 years both funds cover.
SCHH vs SPY Performance
Schwab US REIT ETF (SCHH) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCHH returned +6.99% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, SCHH is up 8.56% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, SCHH compounded at +10.77% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +1.62% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.60% annualized vs +4.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 14.2% for SPY. 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 -44.2% for SCHH and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHH charges 0.07% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $9 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHH currently yields 2.80% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
74.0% of SCHH's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.7% of SPY's money is in holdings SCHH also owns.
Most of SCHH is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
28 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in SCHH and 504 in SPY, against full books of 120 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 469 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SCHH (97.6% of the fund), and 89 for SCHH that do not appear in SPY (26.1%).
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 SCHH | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 11.06% | 0.26% | 10.80% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 8.79% | 0.20% | 8.59% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | 4.59% | 0.10% | 4.49% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 4.54% | 0.10% | 4.44% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 4.28% | 0.15% | 4.13% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corporation | 4.24% | 0.12% | 4.12% |
| ORealty Income Corp. | 4.02% | 0.09% | 3.93% |
| PSAPublic Storage | 3.62% | 0.08% | 3.54% |
| EQRVivmark Residential | 3.36% | 0.07% | 3.29% |
| VTRVentas Inc . | 3.12% | 0.07% | 3.05% |
74.0% of SCHH is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SCHH or SPY?
SCHH has an expense ratio of 0.07% while SPY charges 0.09%. SCHH is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHH or SPY?
Over the past year SCHH returned +6.99% vs +16.73% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SCHH annualized +4.75% vs +12.60% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHH or SPY?
SCHH has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 14.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SCHH -44.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SCHH and SPY?
SCHH and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 SCHH and SPY?
74.0% of SCHH's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.7% of SPY's is in holdings SCHH also owns. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in SCHH and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHH or SPY?
SCHH yields 2.80% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SCHH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SCHH?
SCHH has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.