MQY vs SCHD

MQY vs SCHD

Which is better, MQY or SCHD?

Municipal Bond against Large Cap Value.

SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SCHDHigher Returns: SCHD

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

MetricMQYSCHD
Expense Ratio1.90%0.06%Best
AUM$1.7B$111.6B
Dividend Yield6.40%3.24%
Holdings456206
YTD Return-8.12%+24.55%Best
1Y Return-9.28%+29.85%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+4.57%+16.64%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-4.68%+9.54%Best
Volatility (annualized)13.1%Best13.7%
Max Drawdown-38.5%-33.4%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$7,869$15,771Best
Fund FamilyBlackRock, Inc. (US)Charles Schwab Asset Management
CategoryTax PreferredEquity
StyleMunicipal BondLarge Cap Value
InceptionJun 26, 1992Oct 20, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Oct 14, 2026 (15 years).

MQY 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 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.

MQY vs SCHD Performance

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc (MQY) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year MQY returned -9.28% while SCHD returned +29.85%. Year to date, MQY is down 8.12% versus a gain of 24.55% for SCHD.

Over three years, MQY compounded at +4.57% per year against +16.64% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -4.68% and +9.54% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.26% annualized vs -0.63%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.7% compared with 13.1% for MQY. 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 -38.5% for MQY and -33.4% 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 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

MQY charges 1.90% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $190 vs $6 annually, a gap of $184 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MQY currently yields 6.40% against 3.24% for SCHD.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 279 holdings in MQY and 98 in SCHD, totalling 75.4% and 99.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

The two holdings books were reported 64 days apart, MQY as of Jul 31, 2026 and SCHD as of Oct 3, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

0 positions in common, counted across the 279 positions we hold weights for in MQY and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 456 and 206.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of MQY and SCHD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

MQYSCHD

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, MQY or SCHD?

MQY has an expense ratio of 1.90% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $184 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, MQY or SCHD?

Over the past year MQY returned -9.28% vs +29.85% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), MQY annualized -0.63% vs +11.26% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, MQY or SCHD?

SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 13.7% annualized versus 13.1% for MQY. Worst drawdown: MQY -38.5% vs SCHD -33.4%.

Should I hold both MQY and SCHD?

MQY and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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, MQY or SCHD?

MQY yields 6.40% while SCHD yields 3.24%, so MQY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SCHD better than MQY?

SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD 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.