GAM vs. SCHD
Compare and contrast key facts about General American Investors Company, Inc. (GAM) and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD).
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.
Performance
GAM vs. SCHD - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
GAM vs. SCHD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GAM General American Investors Company, Inc. | -0.44% | 28.63% | 29.55% | 26.84% | -14.84% | 20.56% | 5.85% | 41.76% | -10.25% | 21.32% |
SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 12.79% | 4.34% | 11.66% | 4.54% | -3.26% | 29.87% | 15.03% | 27.29% | -5.56% | 20.85% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GAM achieves a -0.44% return, which is significantly lower than SCHD's 12.79% return. Over the past 10 years, GAM has outperformed SCHD with an annualized return of 14.54%, while SCHD has yielded a comparatively lower 12.31% annualized return.
GAM
- 1D
- 2.63%
- 1M
- -5.37%
- YTD
- -0.44%
- 6M
- 4.50%
- 1Y
- 29.07%
- 3Y*
- 25.04%
- 5Y*
- 14.77%
- 10Y*
- 14.54%
SCHD
- 1D
- 0.66%
- 1M
- -2.61%
- YTD
- 12.79%
- 6M
- 14.49%
- 1Y
- 13.97%
- 3Y*
- 12.05%
- 5Y*
- 8.44%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
GAM vs. SCHD — Risk / Return Rank
GAM
SCHD
GAM vs. SCHD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for General American Investors Company, Inc. (GAM) and Schwab U.S. 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.
| GAM | SCHD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.84 | 0.89 | +0.95 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.63 | 1.35 | +1.29 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.19 | +0.22 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.61 | 1.19 | +1.42 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.20 | 3.99 | +10.21 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GAM | SCHD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.84 | 0.89 | +0.95 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.93 | 0.59 | +0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.83 | 0.74 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 0.84 | -0.40 |
Correlation
The correlation between GAM and SCHD is 0.74, 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.
Dividends
GAM vs. SCHD - Dividend Comparison
GAM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.95%, more than SCHD's 3.44% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GAM General American Investors Company, Inc. | 10.95% | 11.32% | 8.82% | 6.17% | 4.15% | 1.38% | 6.72% | 6.49% | 9.67% | 9.56% | 10.20% | 3.60% |
SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 3.44% | 3.82% | 3.64% | 3.49% | 3.39% | 2.78% | 3.16% | 2.98% | 3.06% | 2.63% | 2.89% | 2.97% |
Drawdowns
GAM vs. SCHD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GAM drawdown since its inception was -66.63%, which is greater than SCHD's maximum drawdown of -33.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GAM and SCHD.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| GAM | SCHD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -66.63% | -33.37% | -33.26% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.00% | -12.74% | +1.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.09% | -16.85% | -9.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.78% | -33.37% | -8.41% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.09% | -2.89% | -3.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.62% | -3.34% | -8.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.03% | 3.89% | -1.86% |
Volatility
GAM vs. SCHD - Volatility Comparison
General American Investors Company, Inc. (GAM) has a higher volatility of 5.92% compared to Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) at 2.40%. This indicates that GAM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SCHD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| GAM | SCHD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.92% | 2.40% | +3.52% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.42% | 7.96% | +0.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.85% | 15.74% | +0.11% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.95% | 14.40% | +1.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.62% | 16.70% | +0.92% |