ISPY vs SCHD: Income Fund Comparison
Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US (ISPY) and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US (SCHD) are both income-focused funds. Below is our independent side-by-side review using the Dependable Income Investing 13-factor scoring system — designed specifically for income investors seeking reliable, sustainable distributions.
Also see: ISPY individual review · SCHD individual review
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56% SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. ISPY inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history SCHD oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.
| ISPY | SCHD | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Index Based Fund | Index Based Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | 2026-04-07 | 2025-12-15 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: ISPY vs SCHD 20% of overall score
Fund Attributes cover the foundational characteristics of each fund: cost, company backing, track record, and size. These factors reflect stability and cost-efficiency for long-term income investors.
Expense ratio is 0.56%
One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.
ProShares has surpassed $100 billion in assets under management
Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.
Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history
Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.
Fund AUM approximately $1.14 billion as of February 28 2026
72 Billion in this fund.
Risk: ISPY vs SCHD 35% of overall score
Risk factors evaluate how each fund manages volatility, diversification, and the nature of its underlying assets — critical considerations for income investors who prioritise capital preservation.
Calculation result: beta 0.91 vs SPY (period 2023-12-29 to 2026-03-28) - standalone volatility 12.99% annualized (weekly returns) - low-to-moderate price variability
Beta is 0.85 which is lower volatility than the S&P500.
See the full Risk analysis for both ISPY and SCHD — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: ISPY vs SCHD 45% of overall score
Return factors assess income generation quality: current yield, distribution consistency, price history, and payment frequency. This is the most heavily weighted category for income investors.
Monthly distributions
Pays dividends quarterly.
See the full Return analysis for both ISPY and SCHD — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.
View Plans →Our Review Methodology
Every fund reviewed on Dependable Income Investing is scored using our 13-factor Fund Report Card, organised into three weighted categories: Fund Attributes (20%), Risk (35%), and Return (45%). Each criterion is rated 1–5 by our analysts based on publicly available fund data.
We also calculate a Dependability Score — a weighted composite of six income-specific factors ranked by importance for retirement income investors: Yield Stability, Yield, Volatility, Capital History, Fund Risk, and Underlying Assets. This score answers the question income investors care about most: can I depend on this fund to pay me reliably?
Full scores, ratings, and analyst notes for both ISPY and SCHD are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: ISPY vs SCHD
Which has a lower expense ratio, ISPY or SCHD?
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56%
SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.
Which fund has more assets under management, ISPY or SCHD?
ISPY: Fund AUM approximately $1.14 billion as of February 28 2026
SCHD: 72 Billion in this fund.
Which fund has been trading longer, ISPY or SCHD?
ISPY: Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history
SCHD: Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.
Who manages ISPY vs SCHD?
ISPY: ProShares has surpassed $100 billion in assets under management
SCHD: Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.
Where can I see the full ISPY vs SCHD comparison with scores?
The complete side-by-side comparison — including all Risk and Return scores, analyst notes, Overall Score, and Dependability Score for both funds — is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
What is the difference between ISPY and SCHD?
Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 0.56%. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Which is better for income investors, ISPY or SCHD?
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56%. Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history. SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Do ISPY and SCHD pay monthly distributions?
ISPY: Monthly distributions. SCHD: Pays dividends quarterly. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See the Full ISPY vs SCHD Comparison
The Dependable Income Investing app gives you the complete picture: all 13 scoring factors for both funds, Risk and Return analyst notes, Dependability Scores, and tools to compare any income fund side by side.
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