SCHO vs. DGS
SCHO (Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF) and DGS (WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - SCHO is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while DGS is a Emerging Markets Diversified fund tracking the WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SCHO returned 1.71%/yr vs 10.14%/yr for DGS. At a correlation of -0.04, they often move in opposite directions. SCHO charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.58%/yr for DGS.
Performance
SCHO vs. DGS - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCHO achieves a 0.54% return, which is significantly lower than DGS's 14.94% return. Over the past 10 years, SCHO has underperformed DGS with an annualized return of 1.71%, while DGS has yielded a comparatively higher 10.14% annualized return.
SCHO
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.18%
- YTD
- 0.54%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 3.35%
- 3Y*
- 4.25%
- 5Y*
- 1.82%
- 10Y*
- 1.71%
DGS
- 1D
- 0.65%
- 1M
- 1.57%
- YTD
- 14.94%
- 6M
- 17.07%
- 1Y
- 23.81%
- 3Y*
- 15.36%
- 5Y*
- 8.06%
- 10Y*
- 10.14%
SCHO vs. DGS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 0.54% | 5.49% | 3.65% | 4.31% | -3.87% | -0.64% | 3.11% | 3.47% | 1.37% | 0.33% |
DGS WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund | 14.94% | 21.18% | 1.13% | 19.08% | -12.35% | 15.33% | 4.06% | 18.90% | -16.52% | 37.47% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCHO and DGS is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 5, 2010 | -0.04 |
The correlation between SCHO and DGS shifts across timeframes, from -0.04 (all time) to 0.28 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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
SCHO vs. DGS — Risk / Return Rank
SCHO
DGS
SCHO vs. DGS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO) and WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund (DGS). 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.
| SCHO | DGS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.02 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.99 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.50 | 1.27 | +0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.91 | 2.38 | +1.54 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 16.48 | 7.84 | +8.64 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
SCHO vs. DGS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCHO drawdown since its inception was -5.69%, smaller than the maximum DGS drawdown of -61.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHO and DGS.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| SCHO | DGS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.69% | -61.83% | +56.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.86% | -10.06% | +9.20% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.98% | -19.31% | +18.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.69% | -24.86% | +19.17% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.69% | -44.08% | +38.39% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.14% | -1.05% | +0.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.61% | -12.57% | +11.96% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.20% | 3.05% | -2.85% |
Volatility
SCHO vs. DGS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO) is 0.43%, while WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund (DGS) has a volatility of 7.30%. This indicates that SCHO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DGS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| SCHO | DGS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.43% | 7.30% | -6.87% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.93% | 14.27% | -13.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.37% | 16.60% | -15.23% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.98% | 15.08% | -13.10% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.56% | 17.39% | -15.83% |
SCHO vs. DGS - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCHO has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than DGS's 0.58% expense ratio.
Dividends
SCHO vs. DGS - Dividend Comparison
SCHO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.90%, more than DGS's 3.20% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DGS WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund | 3.20% | 3.45% | 3.36% | 4.55% | 5.34% | 3.98% | 3.69% | 3.95% | 4.24% | 2.81% | 3.42% | 3.28% |
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 3.90% | 4.06% | 4.29% | 3.76% | 1.34% | 0.41% | 1.27% | 2.27% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 0.82% | 0.68% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SCHO and DGS have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DGS has higher volatility (7.30%) compared to SCHO (0.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHO dropped -5.69% vs DGS's -61.83%.
On 10-year performance, DGS leads with 10.14% vs 1.71% for SCHO. On fees, SCHO is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, SCHO has been the lower-risk option at 0.43%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, DGS has performed better with a 10.14% return vs 1.71%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SCHO is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.58% for DGS.
SCHO has the higher dividend yield at 3.90%, compared with 3.20% for DGS.
SCHO is categorized as Government Bonds, while DGS is Emerging Markets Diversified. SCHO tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while DGS tracks WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and WisdomTree. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for SCHO and 0.58% for DGS.
SCHO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.46 vs 1.44), 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 SCHO and DGS
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