SCHD vs. GDE
SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) and GDE (WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - SCHD is a Dividend fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while GDE is a Gold fund actively managed by WisdomTree. SCHD is passively managed, while GDE is actively managed. Over the past 3 years, SCHD returned 13.54%/yr vs 39.14%/yr for GDE. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SCHD charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for GDE.
Performance
SCHD vs. GDE - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCHD achieves a 21.36% return, which is significantly higher than GDE's -1.30% return.
SCHD
- 1D
- -0.49%
- 1M
- 3.61%
- 6M
- 15.19%
- YTD
- 21.36%
- 1Y
- 25.66%
- 3Y*
- 13.54%
- 5Y*
- 9.15%
- 10Y*
- 12.32%
- ALL TIME*
- 13.25%
GDE
- 1D
- -0.20%
- 1M
- -4.95%
- 6M
- -7.43%
- YTD
- -1.30%
- 1Y
- 32.45%
- 3Y*
- 39.14%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 29.17%
SCHD vs. GDE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 21.36% | 4.34% | 11.66% | 4.54% | 0.38% |
GDE WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund | -1.30% | 73.76% | 44.79% | 33.85% | -8.58% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCHD and GDE is 0.22, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 17, 2022 | 0.44 |
Over the past year, the correlation between SCHD and GDE has dropped to 0.22 - well below their long-term average of 0.44, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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
SCHD vs. GDE — Risk / Return Rank
SCHD
GDE
SCHD vs. GDE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund (GDE). 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.
| SCHD | GDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.28 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.17 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.21 | +0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.59 | 1.44 | +4.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.64 | 3.38 | +10.26 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
SCHD vs. GDE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCHD drawdown since its inception was -33.37%, roughly equal to the maximum GDE drawdown of -32.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHD and GDE.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| SCHD | GDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.37% | -32.01% | -1.36% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.61% | -22.66% | +18.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.13% | -22.66% | +6.53% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.85% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.37% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.88% | -20.14% | +19.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.30% | -8.16% | +4.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.89% | 9.62% | -7.73% |
Volatility
SCHD vs. GDE - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is 3.63%, while WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund (GDE) has a volatility of 7.43%. This indicates that SCHD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GDE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| SCHD | GDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.63% | 7.43% | -3.80% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.97% | 26.34% | -18.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.05% | 30.85% | -19.80% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.37% | 27.10% | -12.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.71% | 27.10% | -10.39% |
SCHD vs. GDE - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCHD has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than GDE's 0.20% 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
SCHD vs. GDE - Dividend Comparison
SCHD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.20%, less than GDE's 4.38% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDE WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund | 4.38% | 4.32% | 7.14% | 2.22% | 0.81% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 3.20% | 3.82% | 3.64% | 3.49% | 3.39% | 2.78% | 3.16% | 2.98% | 3.06% | 2.63% | 2.89% | 2.97% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SCHD and GDE have a correlation of 0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GDE has higher volatility (7.43%) compared to SCHD (3.63%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHD dropped -33.37% vs GDE's -32.01%.
On 3-year performance, GDE leads with 39.14% vs 13.54% for SCHD. On fees, SCHD is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, SCHD 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 3-year period, GDE has performed better with a 39.14% return vs 13.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SCHD is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for GDE.
GDE has the higher dividend yield at 4.38%, compared with 3.20% for SCHD.
SCHD is categorized as Dividend, while GDE is Gold. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and WisdomTree. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for SCHD and 0.20% for GDE.
SCHD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.34 vs 1.06), 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.
Find the right allocation for SCHD and GDE
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer