Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is a ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +31.88% while SPMD returned +24.85%. Year to date, SCHD is up 24.08% versus a gain of 16.43% for SPMD.

Over three years, SCHD compounded at +14.92% per year against +14.29% for SPMD; over five years the annualized figures are +9.85% and +9.19% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.39% annualized vs +7.42%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

SPMD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 13.6% 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 -60.5% for SPMD. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SPMD charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $3 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.31% against 1.20% for SPMD.