ROBO vs SCHD
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, ROBO or SCHD?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROBO is less concentrated, with 17.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.6%.
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 | ROBO | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2.0B | $111.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.37% | 3.24% |
| Holdings | 160 | 206 |
| YTD Return | +10.30% | +24.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.51% | +29.85%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.49% | +16.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.80% | +9.54%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.4% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.6% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,050 | $15,771Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 17.3%Best | 41.6% |
| Fund Family | Robo Global | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 22, 2013 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2013 to Oct 14, 2026 (13 years).
ROBO 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 13 years both funds cover.
ROBO vs SCHD Performance
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO) is an ETF from Robo Global and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year ROBO returned +17.51% while SCHD returned +29.85%. Year to date, ROBO is up 10.30% versus a gain of 24.55% for SCHD.
Over three years, ROBO compounded at +16.49% per year against +16.64% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +3.80% and +9.54% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +10.25% annualized vs +9.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ROBO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.4% compared with 14.3% 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 -43.6% for ROBO 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ROBO charges 0.95% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $6 annually, a gap of $89 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ROBO currently yields 0.37% against 3.24% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
1.4% of ROBO's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 4.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings ROBO also owns.
SCHD and ROBO share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 79 positions we hold weights for in ROBO and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 160 and 206.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for ROBO (95.1% of the fund), and 32 for ROBO that do not appear in SCHD (41.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ROBO | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.36% | 4.61% | 3.25% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ROBO 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, ROBO or SCHD?
ROBO has an expense ratio of 0.95% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $89 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ROBO or SCHD?
Over the past year ROBO returned +17.51% vs +29.85% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), ROBO annualized +9.25% vs +10.25% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ROBO or SCHD?
ROBO has been the more volatile fund at 21.4% annualized versus 14.3% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: ROBO -43.6% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both ROBO and SCHD?
ROBO and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 ROBO and SCHD?
4.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings ROBO also owns. 4.6% of SCHD's is in holdings ROBO also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 79 positions we hold weights for in ROBO and 98 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, ROBO or SCHD?
ROBO yields 0.37% while SCHD yields 3.24%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than ROBO?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROBO is less concentrated, with 17.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.