SCHF vs. MBB
SCHF (Schwab International Equity ETF) and MBB (iShares MBS Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SCHF is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed ex U.S. Index, while MBB is a Mortgage Backed Securities fund tracking the Barclays Capital U.S. MBS Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SCHF returned 10.78%/yr vs 1.33%/yr for MBB. At a 0.02 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. Both charge a 0.06% expense ratio.
Performance
SCHF vs. MBB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCHF achieves a 16.81% return, which is significantly higher than MBB's 1.01% return. Over the past 10 years, SCHF has outperformed MBB with an annualized return of 10.78%, while MBB has yielded a comparatively lower 1.33% annualized return.
SCHF
- 1D
- 1.23%
- 1M
- 5.17%
- YTD
- 16.81%
- 6M
- 17.93%
- 1Y
- 33.37%
- 3Y*
- 19.26%
- 5Y*
- 10.11%
- 10Y*
- 10.78%
MBB
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- 1.37%
- YTD
- 1.01%
- 6M
- 1.52%
- 1Y
- 6.57%
- 3Y*
- 4.44%
- 5Y*
- 0.52%
- 10Y*
- 1.33%
SCHF vs. MBB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHF Schwab International Equity ETF | 16.81% | 34.55% | 3.28% | 18.35% | -14.80% | 11.40% | 9.48% | 22.26% | -14.29% | 26.03% |
MBB iShares MBS Bond ETF | 1.01% | 8.38% | 1.31% | 5.01% | -11.74% | -1.43% | 4.08% | 6.18% | 0.82% | 2.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCHF and MBB is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.37 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 3, 2009 | 0.02 |
Over the past year, SCHF and MBB have become more correlated (0.44) than their long-term average of 0.02, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
SCHF vs. MBB — Risk / Return Rank
SCHF
MBB
SCHF vs. MBB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) and iShares MBS Bond ETF (MBB). 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.
| SCHF | MBB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.52 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.27 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.92 | 2.24 | +0.68 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.21 | 7.12 | +4.09 |
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Drawdowns
SCHF vs. MBB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCHF drawdown since its inception was -34.87%, which is greater than MBB's maximum drawdown of -17.64%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHF and MBB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SCHF | MBB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.87% | -17.64% | -17.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.48% | -2.94% | -8.54% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.41% | -7.68% | -5.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.14% | -17.19% | -11.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.87% | -17.64% | -17.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -1.09% | +1.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.37% | -2.35% | -5.02% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.98% | 0.92% | +2.06% |
Volatility
SCHF vs. MBB - Volatility Comparison
Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) has a higher volatility of 7.00% compared to iShares MBS Bond ETF (MBB) at 1.58%. This indicates that SCHF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MBB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SCHF | MBB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.00% | 1.58% | +5.42% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.45% | 3.29% | +11.16% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.68% | 4.42% | +12.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.58% | 6.82% | +9.76% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.24% | 5.31% | +11.93% |
SCHF vs. MBB - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both SCHF and MBB have an expense ratio of 0.06%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SCHF vs. MBB - Dividend Comparison
SCHF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.93%, less than MBB's 4.26% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MBB iShares MBS Bond ETF | 4.26% | 4.21% | 3.94% | 3.40% | 2.31% | 1.05% | 2.10% | 2.77% | 2.64% | 2.23% | 2.58% | 2.66% |
SCHF Schwab International Equity ETF | 2.93% | 3.42% | 3.26% | 2.97% | 2.80% | 3.19% | 2.08% | 2.95% | 3.06% | 2.35% | 2.58% | 2.26% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SCHF and MBB have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SCHF has higher volatility (7.00%) compared to MBB (1.58%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHF dropped -34.87% vs MBB's -17.64%.
On 10-year performance, SCHF leads with 10.78% vs 1.33% for MBB. Both ETFs have the same 0.06% expense ratio. On volatility, MBB has been the lower-risk option at 1.58%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SCHF has performed better with a 10.78% return vs 1.33%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SCHF and MBB have the same expense ratio: 0.06% per year.
MBB has the higher dividend yield at 4.26%, compared with 2.93% for SCHF.
SCHF is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while MBB is Mortgage Backed Securities. SCHF tracks FTSE Developed ex U.S. Index, while MBB tracks Barclays Capital U.S. MBS Index. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and iShares.
SCHF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.01 vs 1.49), 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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