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SCHB vs. QUAL
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

SCHB vs. QUAL

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

SCHB (Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF) and QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds - SCHB tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index while QUAL tracks the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SCHB returned 15.01%/yr vs 14.46%/yr for QUAL. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. SCHB charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for QUAL.

Performance

SCHB vs. QUAL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with SCHB having a 9.68% return and QUAL slightly lower at 9.44%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with SCHB having a 15.01% annualized return and QUAL not far behind at 14.46%.

SCHB

1D
0.49%
1M
-0.35%
YTD
9.68%
6M
9.76%
1Y
26.16%
3Y*
20.63%
5Y*
12.26%
10Y*
15.01%

QUAL

1D
0.47%
1M
2.14%
YTD
9.44%
6M
9.29%
1Y
22.87%
3Y*
19.30%
5Y*
11.97%
10Y*
14.46%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SCHB vs. QUAL - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
SCHB
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF		9.68%16.94%23.93%26.16%-19.46%25.84%20.76%30.79%-5.43%21.20%
QUAL
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF		9.44%12.65%22.29%30.88%-20.50%26.94%17.04%33.89%-5.70%22.26%

Correlation

The correlation between SCHB and QUAL is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.94

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.95

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.96

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.96

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 18, 2013

0.96

The correlation between SCHB and QUAL has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.

SCHB vs. QUAL - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
SCHB
QUAL

Technology

37.3%
38.8%

Financial Services

11.4%
10.8%

Communication Services

9.8%
11.8%

Consumer Cyclical

9.8%
9.3%

Industrials

9.1%
7.2%

Healthcare

8.8%
8.7%

Consumer Defensive

4.3%
4.4%

Energy

3.3%
3.2%

Real Estate

2.3%
1.8%

Utilities

2.1%
2.1%

Basic Materials

1.9%
1.9%

Technology

SCHB
37.3%
QUAL
38.8%

Financial Services

SCHB
11.4%
QUAL
10.8%

Communication Services

SCHB
9.8%
QUAL
11.8%

Consumer Cyclical

SCHB
9.8%
QUAL
9.3%

Industrials

SCHB
9.1%
QUAL
7.2%

Healthcare

SCHB
8.8%
QUAL
8.7%

Consumer Defensive

SCHB
4.3%
QUAL
4.4%

Energy

SCHB
3.3%
QUAL
3.2%

Real Estate

SCHB
2.3%
QUAL
1.8%

Utilities

SCHB
2.1%
QUAL
2.1%

Basic Materials

SCHB
1.9%
QUAL
1.9%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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

Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

Often compared with SCHB:
SCHB vs. VTISCHB vs. SCHGSCHB vs. SCHXSCHB vs. VOOSCHB vs. SCHDSCHB vs. SWTSXSCHB vs. SPY
Often compared with QUAL:
QUAL vs. SPHQQUAL vs. SPYQUAL vs. MTUMQUAL vs. USMVQUAL vs. VOOQUAL vs. IVVQUAL vs. SCHD

Return for Risk

SCHB vs. QUAL — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
SCHB
SCHB Risk / Return Rank: 6969
Overall Rank
SCHB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7070
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SCHB Sortino Ratio Rank: 6868
Sortino Ratio Rank
SCHB Omega Ratio Rank: 6969
Omega Ratio Rank
SCHB Calmar Ratio Rank: 6464
Calmar Ratio Rank
SCHB Martin Ratio Rank: 7676
Martin Ratio Rank
QUAL
QUAL Risk / Return Rank: 5959
Overall Rank
QUAL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5959
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QUAL Sortino Ratio Rank: 6060
Sortino Ratio Rank
QUAL Omega Ratio Rank: 5656
Omega Ratio Rank
QUAL Calmar Ratio Rank: 5353
Calmar Ratio Rank
QUAL Martin Ratio Rank: 6767
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

SCHB vs. QUAL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

SCHBQUALDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.96
1.74

+0.23

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.66
2.46

+0.20

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.35

1.31

+0.05

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.78

2.32

+0.46

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

12.44

10.60

+1.84

SCHB vs. QUAL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SCHB Sharpe Ratio is 1.96, which is comparable to the QUAL Sharpe Ratio of 1.74. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SCHB and QUAL, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

SCHB vs. QUAL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SCHB drawdown since its inception was -35.27%, roughly equal to the maximum QUAL drawdown of -34.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHB and QUAL.

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Drawdown Indicators

SCHBQUALDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-35.27%

-34.06%

-1.21%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.91%

-9.03%

+0.12%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-19.34%

-18.00%

-1.34%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.41%

-28.23%

+2.82%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-35.27%

-34.06%

-1.21%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.15%

-0.19%

-1.96%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-4.11%

-4.10%

-0.01%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.99%

1.99%

0.00%

Volatility

SCHB vs. QUAL - Volatility Comparison

Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) has a higher volatility of 4.60% compared to iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) at 3.63%. This indicates that SCHB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than QUAL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

SCHBQUALDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.60%

3.63%

+0.97%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

9.86%

9.43%

+0.43%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.63%

12.10%

+0.53%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.31%

17.36%

-0.05%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.35%

18.11%

+0.24%

SCHB vs. QUAL - Expense Ratio Comparison

SCHB has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than QUAL's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

SCHB vs. QUAL - Dividend Comparison

SCHB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.03%, more than QUAL's 0.87% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
QUAL
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF		0.87%0.94%1.02%1.23%1.59%1.20%1.39%1.60%2.00%1.76%1.96%1.63%
SCHB
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF		1.03%1.11%1.24%1.40%1.61%1.21%1.63%1.80%2.00%1.65%1.86%2.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.94, SCHB and QUAL move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

SCHB has higher volatility (4.60%) compared to QUAL (3.63%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHB dropped -35.27% vs QUAL's -34.06%.

On 10-year performance, SCHB leads with 15.01% vs 14.46% for QUAL. On fees, SCHB is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, QUAL has been the lower-risk option at 3.63%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, SCHB has performed better with a 15.01% return vs 14.46%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

SCHB is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for QUAL.

SCHB has the higher dividend yield at 1.03%, compared with 0.87% for QUAL.

SCHB tracks Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index, while QUAL tracks MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for SCHB and 0.15% for QUAL.

SCHB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.96 vs 1.74), 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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