SCHR vs SPY
Schwab Intermediate-Term US Treasury ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SCHR or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SCHR has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 | SCHR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $13.5B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.95% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 100 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.81% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.27% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.56% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.39% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.2%Best | 14.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.6%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,807 | $18,327Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 5, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 5, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16.1 years).
SCHR 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SCHR vs SPY Performance
Schwab Intermediate-Term US Treasury ETF (SCHR) 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 SCHR returned -1.27% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, SCHR is down 1.81% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, SCHR compounded at +3.56% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.39% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.13% annualized vs +0.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.2% compared with 4.2% for SCHR. 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 -16.6% for SCHR 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 0.03. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHR 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, SCHR currently yields 3.95% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 74 holdings in SCHR and 504 in SPY, totalling 74.5% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in SCHR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 100 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHR and SPY 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, SCHR or SPY?
SCHR has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPY charges 0.09%. SCHR is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHR or SPY?
Over the past year SCHR returned -1.27% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SCHR annualized +0.75% vs +13.13% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHR or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 4.2% for SCHR. Worst drawdown: SCHR -16.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SCHR and SPY?
SCHR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.03, 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, SCHR or SPY?
SCHR yields 3.95% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SCHR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SCHR?
SCHR has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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.