SCEC vs SCHZ
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF vs Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF
Which is better, SCEC or SCHZ?
Nearly the same fund. SCHZ costs less.
SCHZ has a lower expense ratio. SCHZ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.
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 | SCEC | SCHZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $604M | $10.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.20% | 4.33% |
| Holdings | 360 | 24,843 |
| YTD Return | -5.77% | -1.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.96% | -1.50%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +4.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | -0.47% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.2% | 3.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -7.9% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $9,848 | $10,330Best |
| Fund Family | Sterling Capital Active ETF | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Mar 14, 2025 | Jul 14, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 14, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026 (1.6 years).
SCEC 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
SCEC vs SCHZ Performance
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF (SCEC) is an ETF from Sterling Capital Active ETF and Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF (SCHZ) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year SCEC returned -5.96% while SCHZ returned -1.50%. Year to date, SCEC is down 5.77% versus a loss of 1.60% for SCHZ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCEC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 4.2% compared with 3.8% 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 -7.9% for SCEC and -4.6% 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCEC charges 0.39% per year while SCHZ charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCEC currently yields 5.20% against 4.33% for SCHZ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 178 holdings in SCEC and 10,307 in SCHZ, totalling 40.9% 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, 80 positions appear in both.
80 positions in common, counted across the 178 positions we hold weights for in SCEC and 10,307 in SCHZ, against full books of 360 and 24,843.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCEC | Weight in SCHZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 4.25 08/15/54Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.25% Aug 15, 2054 | 2.74% | 0.18% | 2.56% |
| T 1.375 08/15/50United States Treas Bds 1.375% 08/15/2050 | 2.37% | 0.09% | 2.28% |
| T 2.5 02/15/45Us Treasury Bond 2.5% Feb 15 45 | 2.13% | 0.07% | 2.06% |
| T 3.375 11/15/48United States Treasury Note/Bond 3.38% 11/15/2048 | 0.67% | 0.10% | 0.57% |
| T 4 02/15/34United States Treasury 4.00% 15-Feb-2034 | 0.24% | 0.35% | 0.11% |
| MS V5.25 04/21/34 MTMorgan Stanley 2034-04-21 | 0.47% | 0.01% | 0.46% |
| T 2.625 02/15/29Us Treasury N/b 02/29 2.625 | 0.30% | 0.18% | 0.12% |
| T 0.875 11/15/30U.S. Treasury Note 0.875%, 11/15/30 | 0.09% | 0.30% | 0.21% |
| WFC V4.897 07/25/33 | 0.29% | 0.01% | 0.28% |
| CD 2017-CD3 A4Cd 2017-cd3 Mortgage Trust | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.24% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCEC 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, SCEC or SCHZ?
SCEC has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SCHZ charges 0.03%. SCHZ is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCEC or SCHZ?
Over the past year SCEC returned -5.96% vs -1.50% for SCHZ, so SCHZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SCEC annualized -0.95% vs +2.05% for SCHZ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCEC or SCHZ?
SCEC has been the more volatile fund at 4.2% annualized versus 3.8% for SCHZ. Worst drawdown: SCEC -7.9% vs SCHZ -4.6%.
Should I hold both SCEC and SCHZ?
SCEC and SCHZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, 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, SCEC or SCHZ?
SCEC yields 5.20% while SCHZ yields 4.33%, so SCEC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHZ better than SCEC?
SCHZ has a lower expense ratio. SCHZ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.