SCHD vs. UNH

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) is Dividend fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while UNH (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, SCHD returned 12.64%/yr vs 13.14%/yr for UNH. At a 0.45 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

SCHD vs. UNH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SCHD achieves a 18.75% return, which is significantly lower than UNH's 21.95% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with SCHD having a 12.64% annualized return and UNH not far ahead at 13.14%.

SCHD

• 1D: -0.89%
• 1M: 2.02%
• YTD: 18.75%
• 6M: 18.75%
• 1Y: 27.90%
• 3Y*: 15.14%
• 5Y*: 8.31%
• 10Y*: 12.64%

UNH

• 1D: 0.76%
• 1M: 8.76%
• YTD: 21.95%
• 6M: 22.48%
• 1Y: 38.84%
• 3Y*: -4.57%
• 5Y*: 1.42%
• 10Y*: 13.14%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SCHD vs. UNH - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	18.75%	4.34%	11.66%	4.54%	-3.26%	29.87%	15.03%	27.29%	-5.56%	20.85%
UNH UnitedHealth Group Incorporated	21.95%	-33.14%	-2.41%	0.80%	6.94%	45.20%	21.25%	20.00%	14.52%	39.83%

Correlation

The correlation between SCHD and UNH is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.33
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.25
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.36
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.42
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 21, 2011	0.45

The correlation between SCHD and UNH shifts across timeframes, from 0.25 (3 years) to 0.45 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

SCHD vs. UNH — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

SCHD

SCHD Risk / Return Rank: 83
SCHD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 80
SCHD Sortino Ratio Rank: 88
SCHD Omega Ratio Rank: 78
SCHD Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
SCHD Martin Ratio Rank: 78

UNH

UNH Risk / Return Rank: 67
UNH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
UNH Sortino Ratio Rank: 64
UNH Omega Ratio Rank: 68
UNH Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
UNH Martin Ratio Rank: 66

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.

SCHD vs. UNH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). 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.

	SCHD	UNH	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.55	0.97	+1.58
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.94	1.44	+2.49
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.46	1.22	+0.24
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	6.07	1.35	+4.73
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	14.90	2.95	+11.95
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SCHD vs. UNH - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SCHD Sharpe Ratio is 2.55, which is higher than the UNH Sharpe Ratio of 0.97. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SCHD and UNH, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SCHD	UNH	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.55	0.97	+1.58
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.58	0.04	+0.54
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.76	0.44	+0.32
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.86	0.64	+0.22

Drawdowns

SCHD vs. UNH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SCHD drawdown since its inception was -33.37%, smaller than the maximum UNH drawdown of -74.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHD and UNH.

Drawdown Indicators

	SCHD	UNH	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.37%	-74.37%	+41.00%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.61%	-28.96%	+24.35%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-16.13%	-61.39%	+45.26%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.85%	-61.39%	+44.54%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.37%	-61.39%	+28.02%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.61%	-33.78%	+32.17%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.32%	-14.76%	+11.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.88%	13.19%	-11.31%

Volatility

SCHD vs. UNH - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is 2.87%, while UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) has a volatility of 8.18%. This indicates that SCHD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UNH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SCHD	UNH	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.87%	8.18%	-5.31%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.61%	30.89%	-23.28%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.98%	40.16%	-29.18%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.38%	31.86%	-17.48%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.72%	30.18%	-13.46%

Dividends

SCHD vs. UNH - Dividend Comparison

SCHD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.27%, more than UNH's 2.21% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	3.27%	3.82%	3.64%	3.49%	3.39%	2.78%	3.16%	2.98%	3.06%	2.63%	2.89%	2.97%
UNH UnitedHealth Group Incorporated	2.21%	2.64%	1.62%	1.38%	1.21%	1.12%	1.38%	1.41%	1.38%	1.30%	1.48%	1.59%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SCHD and UNH in my portfolio?

SCHD and UNH have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SCHD or UNH?

UNH has higher volatility (8.18%) compared to SCHD (2.87%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHD dropped -33.37% vs UNH's -74.37%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SCHD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.55 vs 0.97), 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.