NIE vs SCHD
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, NIE or SCHD?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. NIE led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 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 | NIE | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $794M | $111.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.47% | 3.24% |
| Holdings | 196 | 206 |
| YTD Return | +8.51% | +24.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.07% | +29.85%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.78%Best | +16.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.41% | +9.54%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.4% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,678 | $15,771Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2007 | Oct 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).
NIE 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 15 years both funds cover.
NIE vs SCHD Performance
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year NIE returned +11.07% while SCHD returned +29.85%. Year to date, NIE is up 8.51% versus a gain of 24.55% for SCHD.
Over three years, NIE compounded at +17.78% per year against +16.64% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +9.41% and +9.54% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.26% annualized vs +7.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NIE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% 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 -40.4% for NIE 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NIE charges 1.07% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $6 annually, a gap of $101 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NIE currently yields 9.47% against 3.24% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 21.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings NIE also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NIE, our book for it covers 77.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SCHD and NIE share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 64 days apart, NIE 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.
6 positions in common, counted across the 113 positions we hold weights for in NIE and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 196 and 206.
21.0% of SCHD is already inside NIE.
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, NIE or SCHD?
NIE has an expense ratio of 1.07% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $101 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NIE or SCHD?
Over the past year NIE returned +11.07% vs +29.85% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), NIE annualized +7.85% vs +11.26% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NIE or SCHD?
NIE has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: NIE -40.4% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both NIE and SCHD?
NIE and SCHD 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 NIE and SCHD?
At least 21.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings NIE also owns. Our book for NIE is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 113 positions we hold weights for in NIE and 98 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, NIE or SCHD?
NIE yields 9.47% while SCHD yields 3.24%, so NIE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than NIE?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. NIE led over 3Y, SCHD over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.