SCHA vs. EMLC
SCHA (Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF) and EMLC (VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SCHA is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index, while EMLC is a Emerging Markets Bonds fund tracking the J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index Emerging Markets Global Core Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SCHA returned 10.95%/yr vs 1.99%/yr for EMLC. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SCHA charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.30%/yr for EMLC.
Performance
SCHA vs. EMLC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCHA achieves a 17.78% return, which is significantly higher than EMLC's -0.23% return. Over the past 10 years, SCHA has outperformed EMLC with an annualized return of 10.95%, while EMLC has yielded a comparatively lower 1.99% annualized return.
SCHA
- 1D
- 0.93%
- 1M
- 0.12%
- YTD
- 17.78%
- 6M
- 16.92%
- 1Y
- 36.31%
- 3Y*
- 17.52%
- 5Y*
- 6.45%
- 10Y*
- 10.95%
EMLC
- 1D
- -0.16%
- 1M
- -1.80%
- YTD
- -0.23%
- 6M
- 1.29%
- 1Y
- 7.90%
- 3Y*
- 6.04%
- 5Y*
- 0.97%
- 10Y*
- 1.99%
SCHA vs. EMLC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHA Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF | 17.78% | 11.60% | 11.16% | 18.46% | -19.81% | 16.45% | 19.34% | 26.50% | -11.79% | 14.94% |
EMLC VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | -0.23% | 18.81% | -2.97% | 11.18% | -10.58% | -9.72% | 3.08% | 9.79% | -7.57% | 13.84% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCHA and EMLC is 0.52, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 26, 2010 | 0.43 |
The correlation between SCHA and EMLC shifts across timeframes, from 0.41 (10 years) to 0.52 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SCHA vs. EMLC — Risk / Return Rank
SCHA
EMLC
SCHA vs. EMLC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA) and VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (EMLC). 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.
| SCHA | EMLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.86 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.19 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.22 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.84 | 1.28 | +2.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.05 | 4.34 | +9.71 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SCHA | EMLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.00 | 1.14 | +0.86 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.29 | 0.11 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.48 | 0.20 | +0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.57 | 0.10 | +0.47 |
Drawdowns
SCHA vs. EMLC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCHA drawdown since its inception was -42.41%, which is greater than EMLC's maximum drawdown of -32.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHA and EMLC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SCHA | EMLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -42.41% | -32.43% | -9.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.50% | -6.19% | -3.31% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.29% | -9.15% | -18.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.79% | -25.26% | -5.53% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.41% | -26.47% | -15.94% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.50% | -5.38% | +2.88% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.58% | -14.36% | +6.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.59% | 1.82% | +0.77% |
Volatility
SCHA vs. EMLC - Volatility Comparison
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA) has a higher volatility of 5.79% compared to VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (EMLC) at 2.20%. This indicates that SCHA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than EMLC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SCHA | EMLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.79% | 2.20% | +3.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.28% | 6.08% | +7.20% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.31% | 7.00% | +11.31% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.98% | 9.13% | +12.85% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.74% | 10.05% | +12.69% |
SCHA vs. EMLC - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCHA has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than EMLC's 0.30% expense ratio.
Dividends
SCHA vs. EMLC - Dividend Comparison
SCHA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.02%, less than EMLC's 6.26% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EMLC VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | 6.26% | 5.91% | 6.55% | 5.97% | 5.54% | 5.25% | 4.90% | 6.25% | 6.50% | 5.34% | 5.32% | 6.25% |
SCHA Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF | 1.02% | 1.26% | 1.51% | 1.42% | 1.37% | 1.19% | 1.05% | 1.39% | 1.58% | 1.24% | 1.50% | 1.48% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SCHA and EMLC have a correlation of 0.52, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SCHA has higher volatility (5.79%) compared to EMLC (2.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHA dropped -42.41% vs EMLC's -32.43%.
On 10-year performance, SCHA leads with 10.95% vs 1.99% for EMLC. On fees, SCHA is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, EMLC has been the lower-risk option at 2.20%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SCHA has performed better with a 10.95% return vs 1.99%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SCHA is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.30% for EMLC.
EMLC has the higher dividend yield at 6.26%, compared with 1.02% for SCHA.
SCHA is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while EMLC is Emerging Markets Bonds. SCHA tracks Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index, while EMLC tracks J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index Emerging Markets Global Core Index. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.04% for SCHA and 0.30% for EMLC.
SCHA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.00 vs 1.14), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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