SCHD vs STRN
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF vs SMART Trend 25 ETF
Which is better, SCHD or STRN?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, STRN over the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.7%.
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 | STRN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $111.6B | $30M |
| Dividend Yield | 3.24% | 0.15% |
| Holdings | 206 | 52 |
| YTD Return | +24.55%Best | +21.37% |
| 1Y Return | +29.85%Best | +24.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.64% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.54% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 26.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.9%Best | -15.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,669 | $13,385Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.6%Best | 56.7% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | SMART Wealth, LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2011 | Aug 20, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 20, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
SCHD vs STRN 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
SCHD vs STRN Performance
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and SMART Trend 25 ETF (STRN) is an ETF from SMART Wealth, LLC. Over the past year SCHD returned +29.85% while STRN returned +24.63%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.55% versus a gain of 21.37% for STRN.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
STRN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.0% compared with 14.3% 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 -6.9% for SCHD and -15.4% for STRN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.09. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCHD charges 0.06% per year while STRN charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $59 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.24% against 0.15% for STRN.
Holdings Overlap
12.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings STRN also owns. 9.0% of STRN's money is in holdings SCHD also owns.
SCHD and STRN share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 29 in STRN, against full books of 206 and 52.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 26 positions for STRN that do not appear in our book for SCHD (91.1% of the fund), and 94 for SCHD that do not appear in STRN (86.8%).
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 STRN 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 STRN?
SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while STRN charges 0.59%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCHD or STRN?
Over the past year SCHD returned +29.85% vs +24.63% for STRN, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SCHD annualized +23.99% vs +30.35% for STRN. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCHD or STRN?
STRN has been the more volatile fund at 26.0% annualized versus 14.3% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: SCHD -6.9% vs STRN -15.4%.
Should I hold both SCHD and STRN?
SCHD and STRN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.09, 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 STRN?
12.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings STRN also owns. 9.0% of STRN's is in holdings SCHD also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in SCHD and 29 in STRN.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCHD or STRN?
SCHD yields 3.24% while STRN yields 0.15%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STRN better than SCHD?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, STRN over the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.