SAEF vs SCHH
Schwab Ariel Opportunities ETF vs Schwab US REIT ETF
Which is better, SAEF or SCHH?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHH has a lower expense ratio. SAEF led over 1Y, SCHH over the full window. SAEF is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.2%.
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 | SAEF | SCHH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.07%Best |
| AUM | $19M | $10.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 3.08% |
| Holdings | 59 | 120 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.6% | 19.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.1%Best | -33.3% |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $9,883 | $11,417Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.6%Best | 51.2% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2021 | Jan 13, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 89 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SAEF has data through Jul 17, 2026 and SCHH through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2021 to Jul 17, 2026 (4.7 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% compared with 19.0% for SCHH. 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 -28.1% for SAEF and -33.3% for SCHH. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAEF charges 0.59% per year while SCHH charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $7 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAEF currently yields 0.33% against 3.08% for SCHH.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 58 holdings in SAEF and 119 in SCHH, totalling 98.3% and 99.5% 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 186 days apart, SAEF as of Mar 31, 2026 and SCHH 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 58 positions we hold weights for in SAEF and 119 in SCHH, against full books of 59 and 120.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 119 positions for SCHH that do not appear in our book for SAEF (99.5% of the fund), and 55 for SAEF that do not appear in SCHH (94.0%).
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 SAEF and SCHH 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, SAEF or SCHH?
SAEF has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SCHH charges 0.07%. SCHH is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SAEF or SCHH?
SAEF has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 19.0% for SCHH. Worst drawdown: SAEF -28.1% vs SCHH -33.3%.
Should I hold both SAEF and SCHH?
SAEF and SCHH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, SAEF or SCHH?
SAEF yields 0.33% while SCHH yields 3.08%, so SCHH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHH better than SAEF?
SCHH has a lower expense ratio. SAEF led over 1Y, SCHH over the full window. SAEF is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.