FDL vs. SCHD
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD).
FDL and SCHD are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FDL is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index. It was launched on Mar 9, 2006. SCHD is a passively managed fund by Charles Schwab that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. It was launched on Oct 20, 2011. Both FDL and SCHD are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: FDL or SCHD.
Key characteristics
| FDL | SCHD | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 2.29% | 0.51% |
| 1Y Return | 5.08% | 6.50% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 7.37% | 3.81% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 8.53% | 10.75% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 8.94% | 10.85% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.41 | 0.60 |
| Daily Std Dev | 13.20% | 11.70% |
| Max Drawdown | -65.93% | -33.37% |
| Current Drawdown | -5.46% | -5.83% |
Correlation
The correlation between FDL and SCHD is 0.90, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
FDL vs. SCHD - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FDL achieves a 2.29% return, which is significantly higher than SCHD's 0.51% return. Over the past 10 years, FDL has underperformed SCHD with an annualized return of 8.94%, while SCHD has yielded a comparatively higher 10.85% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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FDL vs. SCHD - Expense Ratio Comparison
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FDL vs. SCHD - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Dividends
FDL vs. SCHD - Dividend Comparison
FDL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.58%, more than SCHD's 3.52% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 4.58% | 4.58% | 3.58% | 4.59% | 4.48% | 3.75% | 3.97% | 3.18% | 2.93% | 3.65% | 3.35% | 3.13% |
SCHD Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF | 3.52% | 3.49% | 3.39% | 2.78% | 3.16% | 2.98% | 3.06% | 2.63% | 2.89% | 2.97% | 2.63% | 2.47% |
Drawdowns
FDL vs. SCHD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDL drawdown since its inception was -65.93%, which is greater than SCHD's maximum drawdown of -33.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDL and SCHD. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FDL vs. SCHD - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) have volatilities of 3.64% and 3.80%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.