SCHD vs SPLS
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs PIMCO US Stocks PLUS Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund
Which is better, SCHD or SPLS?
Large Cap Value against Allocation/Balanced.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | SPLS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $111.6B | $88M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.24% | 0.54% |
| Holdings | 206 | 3 |
| YTD Return | +24.55%Best | +10.71% |
| 1Y Return | +29.85%Best | +10.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.64% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.54% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 152.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -58.6% |
| $10,000 over 15 years | $49,555Best | $47,267 |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | PIMCO (US) |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 15 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Oct 14, 2026 (15 years).
SCHD vs SPLS 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 15 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs SPLS Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and PIMCO US Stocks PLUS Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund (SPLS) is an ETF from PIMCO (US). Over the past year SCHD returned +29.85% while SPLS returned +10.71%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.55% versus a gain of 10.71% for SPLS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPLS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 152.4% compared with 13.7% 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 -33.4% for SCHD and -58.6% for SPLS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SPLS charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $18 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.24% against 0.54% for SPLS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 98 holdings in SCHD and 3 in SPLS, totalling 99.8% and 98.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 3 in SPLS, against full books of 206 and 3.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCHD and SPLS 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 SPLS?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SPLS charges 0.18%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or SPLS?
Over the past year SCHD returned +29.85% vs +10.71% for SPLS, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SCHD annualized +11.26% vs +10.91% for SPLS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or SPLS?
SPLS has been the more volatile fund at 152.4% annualized versus 13.7% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -33.4% vs SPLS -58.6%.
Should I hold both SCHD and SPLS?
SCHD and SPLS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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, SCHD or SPLS?
SCHD yields 3.24% while SPLS yields 0.54%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPLS better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.