SCHD vs TSPY: Income Fund Comparison

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US (SCHD) and TappAlpha SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF - US (TSPY) 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%. TSPY: 0.77% Management Expense Ratio. SCHD oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. TSPY inception date was August 15th 2024. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

SCHD TSPY
Fund Name Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US TappAlpha SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF - US
Fund Type Index Based Fund Index Based Fund
Exchange NYSE/NASDAQ NYSE/NASDAQ
Last Reviewed 2025-12-15 2025-08-25
Author , Income Investing Analyst
SCHD
TSPY
Overall Score
Dependability

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Fund Attributes: SCHD vs TSPY 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
TSPY
Expense Ratio
5/5

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

2/5

0.77% Management Expense Ratio.

Fund Company Size
5/5

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

1/5

TappAlpha is a small Seattle based fund company that launched TSPY mid August 2024.

Fund History
5/5

Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.

2/5

Inception date was August 15th 2024.

Fund AUM
5/5

72 Billion in this fund.

1/5

About $66 million in AUM - small fund.

Risk: SCHD vs TSPY 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
TSPY
Volatility
4/5

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

3/5

Beta is similar to SPY which it holds.

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 TSPY — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

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Return: SCHD vs TSPY 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
TSPY
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

Pays monthly.

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

See the full Return analysis for both SCHD and TSPY — 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 TSPY are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: SCHD vs TSPY

Which has a lower expense ratio, SCHD or TSPY?

SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.
TSPY: 0.77% Management Expense Ratio.

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

SCHD: 72 Billion in this fund.
TSPY: About $66 million in AUM - small fund.

Which fund has been trading longer, SCHD or TSPY?

SCHD: Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.
TSPY: Inception date was August 15th 2024.

Who manages SCHD vs TSPY?

SCHD: Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.
TSPY: TappAlpha is a small Seattle based fund company that launched TSPY mid August 2024.

Where can I see the full SCHD vs TSPY 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 TSPY?

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. TappAlpha SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. 0.77% Management Expense Ratio. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Which is better for income investors, SCHD or TSPY?

SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. TSPY: 0.77% Management Expense Ratio. Inception date was August 15th 2024. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Do SCHD and TSPY pay monthly distributions?

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

See the Full SCHD vs TSPY 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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