Schwab Ariel ESG ETF (SAEF)

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in Schwab Ariel ESG ETF, comparing it to the performance of the S&P 500 index or another benchmark. All prices have been adjusted for splits and dividends.

Schwab Ariel ESG ETF (SAEF) has returned 0.10% so far this year and 12.83% over the past 12 months.

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Nov 16, 2021, SAEF's average daily return is +0.02%, while the average monthly return is +0.41%. At this rate, your investment would double in approximately 14.1 years.

Historically, 51% of months were positive and 49% were negative. The best month was Jan 2023 with a return of +12.5%, while the worst month was Jun 2022 at -12.2%. The longest winning streak lasted 5 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 4 months.

On a daily basis, SAEF closed higher 51% of trading days. The best single day was Apr 9, 2025 with a return of +9.2%, while the worst single day was Apr 3, 2025 at -7.7%.

Schwab Ariel ESG ETF has an annualized alpha of -4.48%, beta of 1.04, and R² of 0.72 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since November 17, 2021.

• This ETF participated in 126.09% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 109.39% of its upside — more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
• This ETF had an annualized alpha of -4.48% versus S&P 500 Index — delivering less than market exposure alone would predict.
• With beta of 1.04 and R² of 0.72, this ETF moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index — much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.

SAEF has an expense ratio of 0.59%, placing it in the medium range.

SAEF ranks 29 for risk / return — below 29% of ETFs on our site. The returns aren't fully compensating for the risk involved. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but factor it into your decision — especially if you're risk-averse.

The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab Ariel ESG ETF (SAEF) and compare them to a chosen benchmark (S&P 500 Index).

Schwab Ariel ESG ETF provided a 0.38% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.10 per share.

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Schwab Ariel ESG ETF. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.

The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.

The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Schwab Ariel ESG ETF. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.

The maximum drawdown for the Schwab Ariel ESG ETF was 28.05%, occurring on Sep 30, 2022. Recovery took 446 trading sessions.

The current Schwab Ariel ESG ETF drawdown is 9.69%.

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.