SCHD Review: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US (SCHD) is a index based fund listed on the NYSE/NASDAQ. Below is our independent review using the Dependable Income Investing 13-factor scoring system, covering Fund Attributes, Risk, and Return — designed specifically for income-focused investors.
Fund Attributes 20% of overall score
Fund Attributes cover the foundational characteristics of SCHD: cost, company backing, track record, and size. These factors reflect the fund's stability and cost-efficiency.
Expense Ratio
One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.
Fund Company Size
Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.
Fund History
Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.
Fund AUM
72 Billion in this fund.
Risk 35% of overall score
Risk factors evaluate how SCHD manages volatility, diversification, and the nature of its underlying assets. These are critical for income investors who prioritise capital preservation.
Volatility
Lower volatility may indicate more stability — important for investors living off their income.
Sector Diversification
Holding across more sectors reduces the impact of any single industry downturn.
Geographic Diversification
Exposure across geographies can reduce risk from any single country's economic conditions.
Fund Risk
The fund's overall risk profile, based on self-reported classifications where available.
Underlying Assets
What the fund actually holds — stocks, bonds, synthetics, or other funds — affects risk profile significantly.
See our full Risk analysis for SCHD — including analyst notes on volatility, diversification, and underlying assets.
View Plans →Return 45% of overall score
Return factors assess the income generation quality of SCHD: current yield, distribution consistency, price history, and payment frequency. This is the most heavily weighted category for income investors.
Yield
The current dividend yield, reflecting the annual income generated relative to fund price.
Yield Stability
How consistent the distribution amounts have been over time — critical for income investors who budget around payments.
Capital History
The fund's track record of price appreciation or depreciation, reflecting total return alongside income.
Distribution Frequency
How often the fund pays distributions — monthly payments are generally preferred by income investors.
See our full Return analysis for SCHD — yield rating, distribution consistency score, 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 is designed to answer the question income investors care about most: can I depend on this fund to pay me reliably?
Full scores, ratings, and analyst notes are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Frequently Asked Questions About SCHD
What is SCHD's expense ratio?
One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.
How long has SCHD been trading?
Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.
How large is SCHD by assets under management?
72 Billion in this fund.
Who manages SCHD?
Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.
Where can I see the full SCHD review?
The complete 13-factor review — including all Risk and Return scores, analyst notes, and your Dependability Score — is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Also Compare SCHD
See the Full SCHD Review
The Dependable Income Investing app gives you the complete picture: all 13 scoring factors, analyst notes, Dependability Score, and tools to compare SCHD against other income funds side by side.
View Plans →Also available: free fund comparison tools in the app.