FCTE vs SCHD
SMI 3Fourteen Full-Cycle Trend ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, FCTE or SCHD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.3%.
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 | FCTE | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $243M | $111.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.08% | 3.24% |
| Holdings | 46 | 206 |
| YTD Return | +16.72% | +24.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.76% | +29.85%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.54% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.7% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.3 years | $11,977 | $14,195Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.3% | 41.6%Best |
| Fund Family | 3FourteenSMI | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 2, 2024 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.3 years).
FCTE vs SCHD 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 2.3 years both funds cover.
FCTE vs SCHD Performance
SMI 3Fourteen Full-Cycle Trend ETF (FCTE) is an ETF from 3FourteenSMI and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year FCTE returned +12.76% while SCHD returned +29.85%. Year to date, FCTE is up 16.72% versus a gain of 24.55% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FCTE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 13.7% 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 -19.7% for FCTE and -16.1% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FCTE charges 0.85% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $6 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FCTE currently yields 0.08% against 3.24% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
14.9% of FCTE's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 8.3% of SCHD's money is in holdings FCTE also owns.
FCTE and SCHD share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 20 positions we hold weights for in FCTE and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 46 and 206.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for FCTE (91.4% of the fund), and 17 for FCTE that do not appear in SCHD (85.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FCTE and SCHD 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, FCTE or SCHD?
FCTE has an expense ratio of 0.85% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FCTE or SCHD?
Over the past year FCTE returned +12.76% vs +29.85% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FCTE annualized +8.16% vs +16.45% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FCTE or SCHD?
FCTE has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: FCTE -19.7% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both FCTE and SCHD?
FCTE and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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 FCTE and SCHD?
14.9% of FCTE's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 8.3% of SCHD's is in holdings FCTE also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 20 positions we hold weights for in FCTE and 98 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FCTE or SCHD?
FCTE yields 0.08% while SCHD yields 3.24%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than FCTE?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.