The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. GLD is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors N/A fund and SCHD is a Schwab ETFs Large Value fund. So, what’s the difference between GLD and SCHD? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of GLD is 0.34 percentage points higher than SCHD’s (0.4% vs. 0.06%). GLD also has a lower exposure to the technology sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, GLD has provided lower returns than SCHD over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare GLD vs. SCHD. We’ll look at industry exposure and annual returns, as well as at their fund composition and risk metrics. Moreover, I’ll also discuss GLD’s and SCHD’s performance, portfolio growth, and holdings and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| GLD | SCHD | |
| Name | SPDR Gold Shares | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
| Category | N/A | Large Value |
| Issuer | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Schwab ETFs |
| AUM | 59.26B | 26B |
| Avg. Return | 5.81% | 14.80% |
| Div. Yield | 0.0% | 2.89% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.4% | 0.06% |
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is a N/A fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 59.26B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 5.81% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.0% with an expense ratio of 0.4%.
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is a Large Value fund that is issued by Schwab ETFs. It currently has 26B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 14.80% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.89% with an expense ratio of 0.06%.
GLD’s dividend yield is 2.89% lower than that of SCHD (0.0% vs. 2.89%). Also, GLD yielded on average 9.00% less per year over the past decade (5.81% vs. 14.80%). The expense ratio of GLD is 0.34 percentage points higher than SCHD’s (0.4% vs. 0.06%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| GLD | SCHD | |
| Technology | 0.0% | 16.26% |
| Industrials | 0.0% | 18.05% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 1.87% |
| Communication Services | 0.0% | 4.96% |
| Utilities | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Healthcare | 0.0% | 12.64% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.0% | 14.04% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Financial Services | 0.0% | 21.69% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 0.0% | 8.36% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 2.13% |
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 0.0%. This is followed by Industrials and Energy at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Financial Services (0.0%), and Real Estate (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
GLD’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, and Energy stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0%.
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 21.69%. This is followed by Industrials and Technology at 18.05% and 16.26% respectively. Utilities (0.0%), Energy (1.87%), and Basic Materials (2.13%) only make up 4.00% of the fund’s total assets.
SCHD’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Communication Services, Consumer Cyclical, Healthcare, Consumer Defensive, and Technology stocks at 4.96%, 8.36%, 12.64%, 14.04%, and 16.26%.
GLD is 16.26% less exposed to the Technology sector than SCHD (0.0% vs 16.26%). GLD’s exposure to Industrials and Energy stocks is 18.05% lower and 1.87% lower respectively (0.0% vs. 18.05% and 0.0% vs. 1.87%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Financial Services, and Real Estate also make up 30.05% less of the fund’s holdings compared to SCHD (0.00% vs. 30.05%).
Holdings
| GLD Holdings | Weight |
| Gold Trust | 100.0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
GLD’s Top Holdings are Gold Trust, N/A, N/A, N/A, and N/A at 100.0%, 0%, 0%, 0%, and 0%.
N/A (0%), N/A (0%), and N/A (0%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. N/A and N/A are also represented in the GLD’s holdings at 0% and 0%.
| SCHD Holdings | Weight |
| Merck & Co Inc | 4.24% |
| The Home Depot Inc | 4.19% |
| Texas Instruments Inc | 4.16% |
| Broadcom Inc | 4.15% |
| Amgen Inc | 4.11% |
| PepsiCo Inc | 4.09% |
| BlackRock Inc | 4.05% |
| Pfizer Inc | 3.97% |
| Verizon Communications Inc | 3.96% |
| Cisco Systems Inc | 3.96% |
SCHD’s Top Holdings are Merck & Co Inc, The Home Depot Inc, Texas Instruments Inc, Broadcom Inc, and Amgen Inc at 4.24%, 4.19%, 4.16%, 4.15%, and 4.11%.
PepsiCo Inc (4.09%), BlackRock Inc (4.05%), and Pfizer Inc (3.97%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Verizon Communications Inc and Cisco Systems Inc are also represented in the SCHD’s holdings at 3.96% and 3.96%.
Risk Analysis
| GLD | SCHD | |
| Mean Return | 0.21 | 0 |
| R-squared | 16.21 | 0 |
| Std. Deviation | 16.58 | 0 |
| Alpha | 3.91 | 0 |
| Beta | 0.48 | 0 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.12 | 0 |
| Treynor Ratio | 1.21 | 0 |
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a Standard Deviation of 16.58 with a Alpha of 3.91 and a Treynor Ratio of 1.21. Its Beta is 0.48 while GLD’s Sharpe Ratio is 0.12. Furthermore, the fund has a R-squared of 16.21 and a Mean Return of 0.21.
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has a Standard Deviation of 0 with a Beta of 0 and a R-squared of 0. Its Mean Return is 0 while SCHD’s Treynor Ratio is 0. Furthermore, the fund has a Alpha of 0 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.
GLD’s Mean Return is 0.21 points higher than that of SCHD and its R-squared is 16.21 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 16.58, GLD is slightly more volatile than SCHD. The Alpha and Beta of GLD are 3.91 points higher and 0.48 points higher than SCHD’s Alpha and Beta.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | GLD | SCHD |
| 2020 | 23.68% | 15.11% |
| 2019 | 18.36% | 27.28% |
| 2018 | -1.54% | -5.46% |
| 2017 | 11.41% | 20.88% |
| 2016 | 8.69% | 16.25% |
| 2015 | -11.78% | -0.21% |
| 2014 | -0.58% | 11.66% |
| 2013 | -28.09% | 32.9% |
| 2012 | 5.26% | 11.4% |
| 2011 | 11.2% | 0.0% |
| 2010 | 27.25% | 0.0% |
GLD had its best year in 2010 with an annual return of 27.25%. GLD’s worst year over the past decade yielded -28.09% and occurred in 2013. In most years the SPDR Gold Shares provided moderate returns such as in 2012, 2016, and 2011 where annual returns amounted to 5.26%, 8.69%, and 11.2% respectively.
The year 2013 was the strongest year for SCHD, returning 32.9% on an annual basis. The poorest year for SCHD in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -5.46%. Most years the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2012, 2014, and 2020, when gains were 11.4%, 11.66%, and 15.11% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| GLD | $10,000 | $11,007 | 5.81% |
| SCHD | $10,000 | $28,823 | 14.80% |
A $10,000 investment in GLD would have resulted in a final balance of $11,007. This is a profit of $1,007 over 8 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.81%.
With a $10,000 investment in SCHD, the end total would have been $28,823. This equates to a $18,823 profit over 8 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.80%.
GLD’s CAGR is 9.00 percentage points lower than that of SCHD and as a result, would have yielded $17,816 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, GLD performed worse than SCHD by 9.00% annually.
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