SCHD vs FEPI: Income Fund Comparison

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US (SCHD) and REX FANG & Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF - US (FEPI) 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.

SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. FEPI: Total expense ratio is 0.65%. SCHD oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. FEPI inception date was October 11 2023. As of March 6 2026 the fund is approximately 2 years and 4 months old. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

SCHD FEPI
Fund Name Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US REX FANG & Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF - US
Fund Type Index Based Fund Sector Based Fund - Information Technology
Exchange NYSE/NASDAQ NYSE/NASDAQ
Last Reviewed 2025-12-15 2026-03-06
Author , Income Investing Analyst
SCHD
FEPI
Overall Score
Dependability

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Fund Attributes: SCHD vs FEPI 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.

Criterion
SCHD
FEPI
Expense Ratio
5/5

One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.

3/5

Total expense ratio is 0.65%.

Fund Company Size
5/5

Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.

5/5

Over $10 billion in assets under management for Rex Financial.

Fund History
5/5

Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.

3/5

Inception date was October 11 2023. As of March 6 2026 the fund is approximately 2 years and 4 months old.

Fund AUM
5/5

72 Billion in this fund.

3/5

Fund AUM is approximately $591.6 million as of March 4 2026.

Risk: SCHD vs FEPI 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.

Criterion
SCHD
FEPI
Volatility
4/5

Beta is 0.85 which is lower volatility than the S&P500.

3/5

Beta is 1.12 vs SPY over the available price series (October 2023 to March 2026). Standalone annualized volatility is 21.39% (weekly total returns). Both measures score 3.

Lower volatility may indicate more stability — important for investors living off their income.
Sector Diversification
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Holding across more sectors reduces the impact of any single industry downturn.
Geographic Diversification
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Exposure across geographies can reduce risk from any single country's economic conditions.
Fund Risk
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The fund's overall risk profile, based on self-reported classifications where available.
Underlying Assets
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What the fund actually holds — stocks, bonds, synthetics, or other funds — affects risk profile significantly.

See the full Risk analysis for both SCHD and FEPI — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

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Return: SCHD vs FEPI 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.

Criterion
SCHD
FEPI
Yield
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The current dividend yield, reflecting the annual income generated relative to fund price.
Yield Stability
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How consistent the distribution amounts have been over time — critical for income investors who budget around payments.
Capital History
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The fund's track record of price appreciation or depreciation, reflecting total return alongside income.
Distribution Frequency
3/5

Pays dividends quarterly.

4/5

Fund pays monthly distributions.

How often the fund pays distributions — monthly payments are generally preferred by income investors.

See the full Return analysis for both SCHD and FEPI — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.

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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 SCHD and FEPI are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: SCHD vs FEPI

Which has a lower expense ratio, SCHD or FEPI?

SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.
FEPI: Total expense ratio is 0.65%.

Which fund has more assets under management, SCHD or FEPI?

SCHD: 72 Billion in this fund.
FEPI: Fund AUM is approximately $591.6 million as of March 4 2026.

Which fund has been trading longer, SCHD or FEPI?

SCHD: Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.
FEPI: Inception date was October 11 2023. As of March 6 2026 the fund is approximately 2 years and 4 months old.

Who manages SCHD vs FEPI?

SCHD: Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.
FEPI: Over $10 billion in assets under management for Rex Financial.

Where can I see the full SCHD vs FEPI 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 SCHD and FEPI?

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. REX FANG & Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF - US is a Sector Based Fund - Information Technology. Total expense ratio is 0.65%. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Which is better for income investors, SCHD or FEPI?

SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. FEPI: Total expense ratio is 0.65%. Inception date was October 11 2023. As of March 6 2026 the fund is approximately 2 years and 4 months old. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Do SCHD and FEPI pay monthly distributions?

SCHD: Pays dividends quarterly. FEPI: Fund pays monthly distributions. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See the Full SCHD vs FEPI 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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