SCHA vs SCHD
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF vs Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Schwab that provides exposure to small-cap U.S. equities with higher growth potential and volatility. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.04%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.16%. Launched in 2009, the fund has a 17-year track record.
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Schwab that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.06%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.46%. Launched in 2011, the fund has a 15-year track record.
Quick Verdict
SCHA has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.04% vs 0.06%), saving about $40 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, SCHA has significantly outperformed with a 25.0% return vs 9.5%. Income investors may prefer SCHD for its higher yield (3.5% vs 1.2%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
0 of top 10 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
SCHA Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Sandisk CorporationSNDK | 2.27% |
| Lumentum Holdings Inc.LITE | 1.25% |
| ATI Inc.ATI | 0.48% |
| Nextpower Inc.NXT | 0.44% |
| Coeur Mining, Inc.CDE | 0.44% |
| Revolution Medicines, Inc.RVMD | 0.42% |
| EchoStar CorporationSATS | 0.39% |
| MKS Inc.MKSI | 0.37% |
| MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.MTSI | 0.36% |
| The New York Times CompanyNYT | 0.33% |
SCHD Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Chevron CorporationCVX | 4.66% |
| ConocoPhillipsCOP | 4.33% |
| Merck & Co., Inc.MRK | 4.08% |
| Verizon Communications Inc.VZ | 4.03% |
| The Coca-Cola CompanyKO | 3.98% |
| Texas Instruments IncorporatedTXN | 3.86% |
| PepsiCo, Inc.PEP | 3.83% |
| Amgen Inc.AMGN | 3.78% |
| Abbott LaboratoriesABT | 3.78% |
| The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG | 3.70% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose SCHA if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose SCHA if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose SCHD if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.