SCHD vs SEA
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs US Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SEA?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SEA led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.8%.
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 | SCHD | SEA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $111.6B | $20M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.24% | 4.77% |
| Holdings | 206 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +24.55% | +48.80%Best |
| 1Y Return | +29.85% | +61.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.64% | +25.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.54% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 24.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1%Best | -39.5% |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $15,195 | $17,636Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.6%Best | 47.8% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | ETF Series Solutions |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Jan 19, 2022 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 20, 2022 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.7 years).
SCHD vs SEA 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 4.7 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SEA Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and US Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF (SEA) is an ETF from ETF Series Solutions. Over the past year SCHD returned +29.85% while SEA returned +61.57%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.55% versus a gain of 48.80% for SEA.
Over three years, SCHD compounded at +16.64% per year against +25.87% for SEA.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.4% compared with 15.0% 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 -16.1% for SCHD and -39.5% for SEA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SEA charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $65 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.24% against 4.77% for SEA.
Holdings Overlap
1.8% of SCHD's money is in holdings SEA also owns. 2.7% of SEA's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SEA and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 30 in SEA, against full books of 206 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for SEA that do not appear in our book for SCHD (29.8% of the fund), and 96 for SCHD that do not appear in SEA (98.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCHD | Weight in SEA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 1.79% | 2.67% | 0.88% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SEA 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, SCHD or SEA?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SEA charges 0.65%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SEA?
Over the past year SCHD returned +29.85% vs +61.57% for SEA, so SEA leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SEA?
SEA has been the more volatile fund at 24.4% annualized versus 15.0% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.1% vs SEA -39.5%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SEA?
SCHD and SEA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 SCHD and SEA?
2.7% of SEA's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 2.7% of SEA's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 30 in SEA.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SEA?
SCHD yields 3.24% while SEA yields 4.77%, so SEA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEA better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SEA led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.