XYLD vs SCHD: Income Fund Comparison

GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) 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.

XYLD: MER is 0.6%. SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. XYLD fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds. SCHD oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

XYLD SCHD
Fund Name GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US
Fund Type Index Based Fund Index Based Fund
Exchange NYSE/NASDAQ NYSE/NASDAQ
Last Reviewed 2025-12-24 2025-12-15
Author , Income Investing Analyst
XYLD
SCHD
Overall Score
Dependability

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Fund Attributes: XYLD 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.

Criterion
XYLD
SCHD
Expense Ratio
3/5

MER is 0.6%.

5/5

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

Fund Company Size
5/5

Mirae Asset Global Investments - a South Korean financial services company - manages over US$200 billion in assets worldwide.

5/5

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

Fund History
5/5

Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds.

5/5

Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.

Fund AUM
5/5

3.1 billion in this fund.

5/5

72 Billion in this fund.

Risk: XYLD 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.

Criterion
XYLD
SCHD
Volatility
5/5

Beta is 0.41 which is lower than the S&P 500 itself.

4/5

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

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 XYLD and SCHD — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

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Return: XYLD 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.

Criterion
XYLD
SCHD
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
4/5

Pays monthly.

3/5

Pays dividends quarterly.

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

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

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: XYLD vs SCHD

Which has a lower expense ratio, XYLD or SCHD?

XYLD: MER is 0.6%.
SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.

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

XYLD: 3.1 billion in this fund.
SCHD: 72 Billion in this fund.

Which fund has been trading longer, XYLD or SCHD?

XYLD: Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds.
SCHD: Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.

Who manages XYLD vs SCHD?

XYLD: Mirae Asset Global Investments - a South Korean financial services company - manages over US$200 billion in assets worldwide.
SCHD: Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.

Where can I see the full XYLD 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 XYLD and SCHD?

GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF is a Index Based Fund. MER is 0.6%. 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, XYLD or SCHD?

XYLD: MER is 0.6%. Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds. 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 XYLD and SCHD pay monthly distributions?

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

See the Full XYLD 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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