PTRB vs SCHZ
PGIM Total Return Bond ETF vs Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF
Which is better, PTRB or SCHZ?
Nearly the same fund. SCHZ costs less.
SCHZ has a lower expense ratio. PTRB led over 3Y and the full window, SCHZ over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | PTRB | SCHZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $10.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.75% | 4.33% |
| Holdings | 2,659 | 24,843 |
| YTD Return | -2.27% | -2.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.12% | -1.99%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.15%Best | +4.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | -0.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.1% | 6.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.2% | -17.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $9,847Best | $9,715 |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Dec 2, 2021 | Jul 14, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 8, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.8 years).
PTRB vs SCHZ 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
PTRB vs SCHZ Performance
PGIM Total Return Bond ETF (PTRB) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF (SCHZ) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PTRB returned -2.12% while SCHZ returned -1.99%. Year to date, PTRB is down 2.27% versus a loss of 2.13% for SCHZ.
Over three years, PTRB compounded at +5.15% per year against +4.41% for SCHZ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PTRB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 7.1% compared with 6.7% for SCHZ. 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 -19.2% for PTRB and -17.0% for SCHZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PTRB charges 0.49% per year while SCHZ charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PTRB currently yields 5.75% against 4.33% for SCHZ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 675 holdings in PTRB and 10,307 in SCHZ, totalling 52.1% and 61.5% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 261 positions appear in both.
261 positions in common, counted across the 675 positions we hold weights for in PTRB and 10,307 in SCHZ, against full books of 2,659 and 24,843.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PTRB | Weight in SCHZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 4.125 08/15/44United States Treasury Bond 0.04% Aug 15/44 | 3.06% | 0.11% | 2.95% |
| T 4.625 11/15/44Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.63% Nov 15, 2044 | 2.57% | 0.12% | 2.45% |
| FNCL 5.5 10/11Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac 2050-10-01 | 2.12% | 0.20% | 1.92% |
| T 4 11/15/42Us Treasury N/B 4 11/15/2042 | 0.88% | 0.10% | 0.78% |
| T 3 02/15/49Government Of The United States Of America 3.0% 15-Feb-2049 | 0.73% | 0.10% | 0.63% |
| T 5 05/15/45Us Treas Bds 5% 05/15/45 | 0.68% | 0.13% | 0.55% |
| T 4.625 05/15/44U.S. Treasury Bonds 2044-05-15 | 0.62% | 0.12% | 0.50% |
| T 3.25 05/15/42Us Treas Bds 3.25% 05/15/42 | 0.61% | 0.09% | 0.52% |
| T 4 02/15/34United States Treasury 4.00% 15-Feb-2034 | 0.30% | 0.35% | 0.05% |
| T 1.875 02/15/32Treasury Note (Otr) 1.88% Feb 15, 2032 | 0.33% | 0.29% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PTRB and SCHZ 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, PTRB or SCHZ?
PTRB has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SCHZ charges 0.03%. SCHZ is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PTRB or SCHZ?
Over the past year PTRB returned -2.12% vs -1.99% for SCHZ, so SCHZ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PTRB or SCHZ?
PTRB has been the more volatile fund at 7.1% annualized versus 6.7% for SCHZ. Worst drawdown: PTRB -19.2% vs SCHZ -17.0%.
Should I hold both PTRB and SCHZ?
PTRB and SCHZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, PTRB or SCHZ?
PTRB yields 5.75% while SCHZ yields 4.33%, so PTRB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHZ better than PTRB?
SCHZ has a lower expense ratio. PTRB led over 3Y and the full window, SCHZ over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.