PFXF vs SCHD
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PFXF or SCHD?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | PFXF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $111.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.29% | 3.24% |
| Holdings | 240 | 206 |
| YTD Return | +0.17% | +24.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.60% | +29.85%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.76% | +16.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.47% | +9.54%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 14.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.3% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,298 | $15,771Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 41.6%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 16, 2012 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2012 to Oct 14, 2026 (14.2 years).
PFXF 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 14.2 years both funds cover.
PFXF vs SCHD Performance
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (PFXF) is an ETF from VanEck and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PFXF returned +2.60% while SCHD returned +29.85%. Year to date, PFXF is up 0.17% versus a gain of 24.55% for SCHD.
Over three years, PFXF compounded at +9.76% per year against +16.64% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +2.47% and +9.54% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.99% annualized vs +1.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.0% compared with 10.1% for PFXF. 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 -37.3% for PFXF 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFXF charges 0.40% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $6 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFXF currently yields 6.29% against 3.24% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 114 holdings in PFXF and 98 in SCHD, totalling 95.3% and 99.8% 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 114 positions we hold weights for in PFXF and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 240 and 206.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PFXF (99.8% of the fund), and 110 for PFXF that do not appear in SCHD (92.7%).
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 PFXF 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, PFXF or SCHD?
PFXF has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFXF or SCHD?
Over the past year PFXF returned +2.60% vs +29.85% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), PFXF annualized +1.53% vs +10.99% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFXF or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 14.0% annualized versus 10.1% for PFXF. Worst drawdown: PFXF -37.3% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PFXF and SCHD?
PFXF and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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, PFXF or SCHD?
PFXF yields 6.29% while SCHD yields 3.24%, so PFXF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PFXF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.