Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is a ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCHD returned +30.94% while SPYD returned +21.16%. Year to date, SCHD is up 22.69% versus a gain of 15.99% for SPYD.

Over three years, SCHD compounded at +14.20% per year against +13.79% for SPYD; over five years the annualized figures are +9.59% and +9.38% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.31% annualized vs +7.06%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

SPYD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% 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 -47.3% for SPYD. 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

SCHD charges 0.06% per year while SPYD charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $7 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCHD currently yields 3.31% against 4.26% for SPYD.