SCHK vs SPY
Schwab 1000 Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SCHK or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SCHK costs less.
SCHK has a lower expense ratio. SCHK led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. SCHK is less concentrated, with 35.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | SCHK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $5.8B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 986 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.06%Best | +13.82% |
| 1Y Return | +16.86% | +16.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.00%Best | +22.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.03% | +13.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 16.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,449 | $19,027Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 11, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2017 to Sep 21, 2026 (8.9 years).
SCHK 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
SCHK vs SPY Performance
Schwab 1000 Index ETF (SCHK) 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 SCHK returned +16.86% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, SCHK is up 14.06% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, SCHK compounded at +23.00% per year against +22.97% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +13.03% and +13.73% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.15% annualized vs +13.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 16.2% 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 -34.8% for SCHK 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 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHK charges 0.03% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHK currently yields 1.01% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
92.4% of SCHK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 99.4% of SPY's money is in holdings SCHK also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside SCHK. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
495 positions in common, counted across the 980 positions we hold weights for in SCHK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 986 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SCHK (0.1% of the fund), and 428 for SCHK that do not appear in SPY (7.1%).
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 SCHK | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.50% | 8.01% | 0.51% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.53% | 7.26% | 0.73% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.29% | 5.66% | 0.37% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.57% | 3.79% | 0.22% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.79% | 2.99% | 0.20% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.46% | 2.66% | 0.20% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.22% | 2.39% | 0.17% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.76% | 1.93% | 0.17% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.52% | 1.60% | 0.08% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.45% | 1.52% | 0.07% |
99.4% of SPY is already inside SCHK.
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, SCHK or SPY?
SCHK has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPY charges 0.09%. SCHK is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHK or SPY?
Over the past year SCHK returned +16.86% vs +16.96% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), SCHK annualized +13.89% vs +14.15% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHK or SPY?
SCHK has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 16.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SCHK -34.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SCHK and SPY?
SCHK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SCHK and SPY?
99.4% of SPY's money is in holdings SCHK also owns. 99.4% of SPY's is in holdings SCHK also owns. They hold 495 positions in common, counted across the 980 positions we hold weights for in SCHK and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHK or SPY?
SCHK yields 1.01% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SCHK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SCHK?
SCHK has a lower expense ratio. SCHK led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. SCHK is less concentrated, with 35.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.