SCHD vs SMLL
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs Harbor Active Small Cap ETF
Which is better, SCHD or SMLL?
Large Cap Value against Small Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SMLL is less concentrated, with 36.3% 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 | SCHD | SMLL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.80% |
| AUM | $111.6B | $12M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.24% | 1.63% |
| Holdings | 206 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +24.55%Best | +2.49% |
| 1Y Return | +29.85%Best | -0.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.64% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.54% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9%Best | 17.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1%Best | -23.6% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $13,034Best | $10,541 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.6% | 36.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Harbor Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Aug 27, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 29, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.1 years).
SCHD vs SMLL 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SMLL Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Harbor Active Small Cap ETF (SMLL) is an ETF from Harbor Funds. Over the past year SCHD returned +29.85% while SMLL returned -0.71%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.55% versus a gain of 2.49% for SMLL.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMLL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 13.9% 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 -23.6% for SMLL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SMLL charges 0.80%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $80 annually, a gap of $74 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.24% against 1.63% for SMLL.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of SCHD's money is in holdings SMLL also owns. 3.6% of SMLL's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SMLL and SCHD share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 51 in SMLL, against full books of 206 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 49 positions for SMLL that do not appear in our book for SCHD (93.8% of the fund), and 95 for SCHD that do not appear in SMLL (99.6%).
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 SCHD and SMLL 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 SMLL?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SMLL charges 0.80%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $74 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SMLL?
Over the past year SCHD returned +29.85% vs -0.71% for SMLL, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SCHD annualized +13.45% vs +2.54% for SMLL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SMLL?
SMLL has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 13.9% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -16.1% vs SMLL -23.6%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SMLL?
SCHD and SMLL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 SMLL?
3.6% of SMLL's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 3.6% of SMLL's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 51 in SMLL.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or SMLL?
SCHD yields 3.24% while SMLL yields 1.63%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMLL better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SMLL is less concentrated, with 36.3% 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.